You're listening to the Anchor Faith Church message podcast,
enjoy the message. Did you have a good
Thanksgiving? Did you eat enough?
Did you eat too much? That's kind of where I want to
start out today. Talking about food, I want to go
to first Thessalonians chapter 5.
Kind of start off with a buffet that the Apostle Paul spoke to
this church at thessalonica. You know, that the Apostle Paul
was only there for a what they say, three Sabbath's or less.
In a month. At this particular City, this
Roman colony. And, you know, there's been
meetings of a moment that's had a lifetime of impact.
And so, this is a very short time that he physically spent
with them, but it had a lifetime of impact.
So, right out of the gate today, I wanted as Believers.
How many Believers? Spirit-filled blood bot?
Jesus, love and truth walking. Believers, do we have in the
room today? So, I'm just challenge you this
week, as you go out as you're in the marketplace, whether you're
at the gas station, the grocery store the bank at your place of
employment. Wherever you go, you're a change
agent and I will God wants you to see yourself that way because
there's meetings of a moment that's having a lifetime of
impact and God will make Divine appointments for you this week
to be a What we call an ambassador and second
Corinthians chapter 5. The word says that you're an
ambassador of Christ. You have the ministry of
reconciliation whereby, you can tell love others, truth that
will completely transform their life, take them out of Darkness,
bring them out into light, take them out of fear, bring them
into Faith, taking them out of hopelessness and bring him into
Destiny and hope, right? So you are a Believer Spirit
lead and God wants to use you this.
This week in 1st Thessalonians, chapter 5, though to at the last
chapter of this book that the Apostle Paul wrote to this
church. He really gives a buffet type
approach and I'm going to read this starting in verse number
12. I know my Thanksgiving started a
little bit early on Wednesday. We had the opportunity to
fellowship with some church friends after service on
Wednesday night. And in doing that, they brought
a couple different things with them.
One was mint chocolate chip ice cream. and the other was, if I
got though the right flavor, it was a chocolate Trinity and it
was divine And then we spill on into to Thursday, right?
Get the opportunity to have Thanksgiving with some church
family and there was just a smorgasbord of different items
there. Hallelujah.
They had something I tried for the first time called lamb.
That was pretty good and they had a couple different turkeys.
They had a honey-baked ham. Hallelujah.
They had green bean casserole, they had some green beans.
I think they were kind of marinated in teary Aki sauce and
I think it had bacon too and that was good.
I can talk to the a 30 crew like this because the 11:00 service
may not survive. You know, their stomachs may be
talking louder than their spirit.
But anyways, I'm getting to a point and then, you know, you
always leave a little bit of room for dessert, right?
And so, I went to the dessert table and you know how it is
when you're at a buffet, you go. The first time, just to kind of
get a little bit of everything and then you kind of zero in on
what you actually want, right? So, I had a variety of desserts,
you know, there was a vanilla wafer cookies with what a this,
this brown stuff is what my daughter called, it gray stuff,
but it was really just some kind of chocolate But with Oreos
crush up in it that you dip the wafers in got the traditional
pumpkin pie but then one person have brought some cheesecake but
pineapple cheesecake. I said, hmm, I don't have
pineapple cheesecake go together but let me try this thing and I
tell you was so scrumdiddlyumptious that I went
back for seconds on that. Amen.
Are you with me Church? Anyways, the greatest Buffet
we're getting ready to take of right now.
Spiritually is in 1st. After five because Paul sort of
just lays out this great Buffet of spiritual truths and we're
going to launch out from here today.
So follow along with me and on your digital device or if you
have a hard copy Bible, either one, but follow along because
the word is, what sets us free. Hey man, I just want to
encourage you to we're taking a little pause because pastor of
Marcy are investing in the grandkids.
But boy, has he been on fire with his love series and what
great reville reville? Elation and Truth.
Is he being laid out? I feel like you know, there's
certain things that are being said, you know, in his day
Martin Luther had this Revelation that the just shall
live by faith and as pastors preaching on love, I'm thinking
the church at hold needs this across the world because love
has been misconstrued and missed a fine in the church needs.
What's being sus pokin behind this Podium?
You know on Sundays we need this Revelation on love, God's love,
just not The the world says about love, but what does the
word say about love? Amen.
So first Thessalonians chapter 5.
Verse number 12, I'm reading from the new King James version
and it says, we urge, you Brethren to recognize those who
labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish.
Ooh! Hallelujah!
You know, we could stop on each of these verses and just you
know just teach but we're going to just take this a big buffet
and then we're going to zero in on one point.
Amen. And it says to us esteem them
very highly in love for their work sake and then it says this
be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort your brother and
warn those who are unruly that's love, isn't it?
Warn those who are unruly Comfort the faint-hearted and
boy, man, there's a lot going on.
If you just watch the news, guess what you can get
faint-hearted. It says, Is to uphold the weak
glory to God. Be patient with some be patient
with all. See that no one renders evil for
evil to anyone but always pursue what is good both for yourselves
and for all verse 16 Rejoice sometimes Rejoice, when the
circumstances are just right Rejoice always Rejoice rejoice.
It says pray without ceasing. One translation says, develop an
attitude or cultivate an attitude of Prayer in
everything. Give thanks for.
This is, the will of God in Christ Jesus.
For you, do not quench the spirit.
Do not quench the spirit. Thank God for the Holy Ghost.
But you realize you couldn't quench suppress stifle the holy
spirit in your life. Do not despise.
Prophecies you ever been to one of those Services where you been
praying for people to come? A relative, a friend a co-worker
and then all of a sudden a tongue comes that service,
right? Usually happens when you invite
somebody that has never heard of tongue and interpretation.
Right? But the Bible says despise not
prophecies that divide utterance and inspiration of God for that
moment. All right, we want to embrace
matter of fact. The Bible says to earnestly
desire the best gifts and sometimes I wonder coming to
church if it's just routine, or are we really coming with an
expectation for the Holy Ghost to move?
Is there an Earnest desire for you to see the Holy Ghost move?
Because this isn't just words, it should be demonstrations of
the spirit that take place, a man, so we don't want to despise
prophecies, listen to verse 21, it says, Is test one
translation, says prove, all things.
And it says hold fast that which is good.
He reminds me of one time that a minister came home and saw that
a young man was holding his daughter.
And he said, what are you doing? He said I'm holding fast to
that, which is good. That's not that scripture.
Amen. It says, abstain from every form
of evil verse 23. Now may the God of Peace himself
sanctify. You completely sanctify, you
completely. Now, may the very God of Peace
himself sanctify. You completely.
Now, this is Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit right into
the church. So sanctification, even though
we've been bought through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ,
the payment has been made. We are redeemed.
There is an ongoing Fine work of sanctification in our life, not
with your spirit, your spirits mid-may been.
I've been made brand new. The Bible says in second
Corinthians chapter 5, If any man be in Christ, behold, all
things have become new old things, have passed away.
All things have become new. What's new?
The, the spirit man that was separated from God, that was
born into the sin. Nature has been paid for you,
get a brand new spirit. You're a brand new person on the
inside, but guess what? Your body and your Soul have not
changed. Right?
If you were bald headed before, you got born again, your
bald-headed after you get born again and guess what?
Just because you come to the Altar and receive the great
payment of what the Lord Jesus did for us when you get up from
the altar or the prayer, worker leads you through that prayer,
just doesn't matter. The automatically mean that your
soul realm otter automatically your mind, your soul is your
mind, your will, your emotions automatically is renewed.
All of a sudden, you have all these Heavenly thoughts.
No, There's still a battle daily between the spirit and the flesh
is what Galatians says, right? But he, that's what he's saying.
So I've paid the price for you, spiritually, your brand new
creature, but listen, you need to go on in this.
This work of sanctification in your soul realm and your body.
Amen. Well let's just pause right
there. Go to Romans chapter 12.
I want y'all to see this and we'll come back to this Buffet.
Romans chapter 12 verse number 1 and 2 says this.
I'm getting there. All right, it says, I beseech
you Brethren by the mercies of God that you that you that, you
present, your bodies, a Living Sacrifice.
Right. Holy acceptable, to God, which
is your reasonable service. So what do you do you present
your body, a Living Sacrifice holy acceptable to God, which is
your reasonable service and do not be conformed to this world
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
That you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect
will of God. So God's tell you do something
with your body and with your mind This is the ongoing work of
sanctification. Okay.
So going back to 1st Thessalonians, chapter 5.
He said I pray that your whole body, right?
Be preserved, but sanctify be preserved blameless until the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. And then I like what it says to
end this section that we're reading.
He said in verse 24 he who calls you is faithful.
He will also do it. Hey Min sohee that called you is
faithful and Pastor has been hammering.
This home. Listen Church, salvation isn't
just about getting you to heaven.
It does include that but there is a calling, there's a destiny.
There's a purpose for your life in the earth.
That's why I said your change agents this week.
As you got in the community, man.
God has a destiny. Has a plan has the anointing has
the grace upon your life, to go out and make a difference
through truth. Amen.
He that called you as faithful. So there's a Divine assignment.
Everybody say that there's a Divine assignment for me, let's
say it again. There's a Divine assignment for
me so doesn't matter if you're eight years old or 80 years old,
There's still a work in the Earth for God to use you to
accomplish through you this week.
This month this year, he that called you is faithful and he
will do it. Now let's go over to Ephesians
chapter 6 verse number 18. Ephesians chapter 6 verse number
18. And I want you to jot this down.
If you're taking notes because you know, you got to have
takeaways from church, And you need to study the word of God,
okay? And so I'm going to give you a
lots of scripture today for you to go home and be a disciple, a
discipline learner of Truth. Amen.
And so in Ephesians chapter 6, verse number 18 is one of them.
John chapter 15 verse number 7 is another scripture.
I want you to jot down and go back and look at this week.
Amen. And of course, Mark chapter 11
verses 22 through. 24 are some others.
These are all. Prayer scriptures.
That I'm giving you, okay? So Ephesians chapter 6 verse
number 18, John chapter 15 verse number 7 and Mark chapter 11
verses 22 through 24. There's a lot that you can learn
about prayer through these three scriptures.
There's others in the Bible, obviously.
But really, you could build a strong foundation for a
successful prayer life off of these three scriptures.
So, if you want to go further with God, you want to go deeper
with God. Odd.
If you just getting these three scriptures, you really set a
good foundation for having a great prayer, life and great
fellowship with the Lord, John 15:7 says, if you abide in the
word of God and the word of God abides in you, One translation
says, if you stay vitally connected to the word of God and
the message lives in your heart. You shall ask what you will and
it shall be done. Sometimes, I wonder if prayers
are hindered or unanswered because we're not abiding in the
word body means to be remain to be present.
It's really like roll call at school as they're calling.
Your last name. Are you here?
Yes, nobody means I'm present. I'm there, I'm active in the
word of God and one of the greatest things you can do.
As a believer in your walk with the Lord, as a thing called
meditation. Meditation will keep you in a
constant state of abiding. You realize everybody's thinking
about something. I mean you watch the news,
right? You start to get a thought
process about something. You look at your smartphone, you
start to get a thought process about something, right, emails?
Everything external. He's just driven to really
program what we think. But God says, listen, I want you
to abide in the word, there's no greater way to buy them to
meditate, and if you're going to think about something, you might
as well think about the word. What does meditation mean?
Meditation means to revolve it over and over again in your
mind. I like going to multiple
translations and just looking at At it, from a little different
view. It's all saying the same thing
in context or in principle, but it's just a little different
view of what's being said, right?
And so meditation is really just muttering to yourself.
You know, I can do all things through Christ, I can sometimes
you just emphasize one word in the verse I can, I can not, I
can or it might happen. Know, I can do all things.
How through So abide in the word, stay vital United, the
word, let the message live in your heart Mark 11:22 through
24, another great foundation for a prayer, but listen in
Ephesians chapter 6 verse number 18, the word of God says this
and I'm going to give this to you from a few different
translations. Hallelujah.
Aren't you thankful for the word of God?
Man, it is the power of God. It is the power of God.
Ephesians 6:18 says, it's praying.
Always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit,
being watchful to this end with all perseverance and
supplication for all the saints. So, praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the spirit, being watchful to this
end with all perseverance and supplication.
Datian for all the saints. One translation says praying
with all manner of prayer, another translation saying says
praying with all kinds of prayer, so there's more than one
type of Prayer. we kind of get stuck in a box one time and
sometimes I think that prayers just asking God for things
Right. Prayers are saying, Lord, this
is my need. Please meet my need.
But he says praying with all kinds of prayer, all manner of
prayer and supplication in the spirit, you supplicate for
believers because there is a prayer of intercession.
So, we're talking about different kinds of prayer
supplication. Is you got more umpf, more,
desire, there's a, there's a fire on the inside and it's for
believers, right? Kind of like, we're listening
this love series. There's many Believers that That
name the name of Christ. But we know that not are all are
living up to standards are dimensions of Truth, like they
should be. So there's an Earnest desire on
the inside that you want to supplicate a burden, right?
That says, father, man, I want to see the spirit of wisdom and
Revelation, open up the eyes of their understanding, right?
That they would know you the hope of your calling there's
this this fire Jeremiah said it's like fire shut up in my
bones and that's a supplication. Should be open to being led by
the spirit in that recently. When I went to the Call to Arms
with Pastor Earle, we were the Men's Conference in Oklahoma.
We were able to have fellowship with Pastor Daryl Huffman and he
was talking about the founder of our Bible School.
Kenneth Hagin who's gone on and be home with gone on to be home,
with the gone on to be home with the Lord.
There we go. And he was talking about his
prayer life, and he made a commitment to God.
That said, anytime I get a burden to pray Lord, I'll stop
whatever I'm doing and I'll pray.
So they're at a meeting one time.
They went out to Fellowship afterwards and he's eaten.
They had just ordered the food just came and all of a sudden,
he looked at the minister said, hey I need you to take me home
right now and The Minister's like what?
We just got our food. He said I need to go right now
and on the way home in the car, Kenneth Hagin said, listen, I
made a promise to the Lord. If I ever get an unction or a
burden of pray, I'll stop whatever I'm doing and pray.
So they walked into the place where they were staying the
minister and just about 50 minutes.
Brother Hagin just start praying in the spirit until we got to a
breakthrough. Her He's but he had a
supplication of Burden Earnest desire to pray and he prayed
until he got a breakthrough. And so that Minister learned a
great lesson that day from him, but he was supplicating or
interceding for someone. So you intercede for the lost
you supplicate for believers, those are two different types of
prayers, right? The intercede, the word and
means they're, you're trying to get them in to the kingdom of
God. Right?
And that's not an accident. It's not the sovereignty of God.
It is seedtime and harvest It's you praying for Laborers to be
sent across their path. So if you have a relative or
friend, a co-worker, that's not in the kingdom of God, you can
start praying according to the word of God and say, father, I
pray for Laborers. Matthew chapter 9, verse 37 says
the the harvest is plentiful. There's plenty of people that
need truth out there but the laborers are few.
Pray to the Lord of the Harvest. Isn't it?
Interesting that God just as an automatically released, laborers
into his Harvest he said you have to ask me.
You know why? Because we are supposed to rain
in this earth as kings. Amen.
So we have to ask God to send out laborers into the Harvest
field. So there's that kind of
pressure. There's a prayer of faith, which
that's what most of us, pray, the prayer of faith changes
things for you. Do you realize that you really
only have authority to pray the prayer of faith in your
household? Right now.
If somebody comes to me and they say, I want you to pray the
prayer of faith with me, that would actually combine the
prayer of agreement with them, but they have to be in faith
when we pray. If you give access to someone
else to agree with you, then they can join together with you
in the prayer of faith and see things change in your life.
But I can't pray, you know, this person's bugging me.
And I need you to you know, you need to take care of them.
God. That's like the sons of thunder
call down fire from heaven. And Jesus said, you don't know
what Spirit your of, right. So the prayer faith is really
for you individually and really, for your household.
Even with spouses, you can't really even prayer the prayer of
faith for your spouse. You could pray it with your
spouse, you get that. You can't really pray it for
them. You could pray it with him.
Okay, so there's a prayer Faith. There's a prayer of agreement in
Philippians chapter 4 Hallelujah, we're getting to
that pineapple cheesecake, and we're going to get a couple
slices of that today, but right now it's just the buffet.
Amen, in Philippians chapter 4 verse number 6.
Philippians chapter 4 verse number 6.
So, there's different kinds of prayer and we need to make sure
that we're understand that and that we want.
Do you want your prayer life to be effective?
You know? Do you want to be successful?
Yes, you know Pastor. Oh, said this for years, we just
don't. Now, we're not just a church
that prayers where the church that gets answered.
We're not, you're surprised were Church of gets answered prayers,
right? And so you got to realize what
different types of prayers, there's different types of rules
and just like with sports, you can't take a basketball rules
and apply them to football. Alleluia, you can't take hockey
rules and apply them to soccer, right?
And that's how we are sometimes. We kind of take all these
things. We shake it together and hope
it's going to work. But we live by faith.
Not by just hope, right? And faith is a conviction based
upon the word of God. So I'm telling your church.
If you want a successful prayer life, you need to understand.
There's a prayer supplication. There's a prayer of
intercession, there's a prayer of faith.
There's a prayer of agreement. There's United prayer, corporate
prayer happens at 10:00. And man, the corporate anointing
is strong. I would encourage you and
challenge you at 10:00 come from 10 to 10:45 come expecting.
Come. To participate and man, there's
a United prayer that happens from 10 to 10:45 and an axe,
chapter 4, when they all got together.
Verse number 23, to in one place in one location, the place shook
Because there was a corporate anointing, there was a United
prayer that was taken place and corporate prayer is powerful in
Philippians 4, though. There's also a prayer of what we
call commitment, or casting your cares on the Lord.
So it says this in Philippians chapter 4.
Verse number 6, it says be anxious.
For some things, no, be anxious for what, nothing?
Be anxious for nothing, be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with with, with let
your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will
guard your hearts and your minds through Christ.
Jesus. Think about that.
The peace of God. God's Peace Garden your heart
and your mind. I don't know about you, but this
year has been radically different than years past.
There's been a lot going on in our nation and the world this
year, a lot of stuff that could disturb you agitate.
You get you anxious, fill you full of anxiety.
From the pandemic to the riots to the election.
Listen church, I got good news. No matter what happens with the
election. God will see you through.
You maintain your walk in your righteousness with him and he
will see you through Daniel went into captivity about 17 years
old. He went into captivity, right?
He stayed right in captivity and came out of captivity, right?
So you just maintain your righteousness.
Even in the midst of captivity, Daniel serving Heathen Kings.
And really it was a failure of the church.
It became a kingdom sanction because through idolatry and
living like the world. They were overthrown by the
enemy, but even in the midst of that, you can have great peace.
If you maintain righteousness in your walk with God, and Daniel
was able to do great exploits. Daniel, 11:32 says those that
know their God shall be strong and do great exploits so it
doesn't matter. Sometimes God will show himself
strong through the Mists of great, persecution.
The lines in the fiery furnace, guess what?
God delivered him out of all. So there's been a lot going on
this year and you don't need. You do not need worldly
medication to get peace in your life.
I am telling the truth of the word will liberate you and set
you free. And give you the peace of God,
but you have to do this prayer of commitment.
Which means cast throw, I like in funds.
Psalms 55:22, the message says this, it says, put your burdens
on the lowered shoulders and He will carry them.
So you don't have to carry the burden, the weight, the anxiety
of what's going on. You just need to be in alignment
with the king of kings and with the Lord of lords.
Hallelujah. And he will take care of you.
And watch over you and sustain you, amen.
So another translation says this, this is the way
translation. It says, let no anxieties fret
you met in every matter. Let the things you would ask me
made known by means of Prayer by definite request.
Linked linked with Thanksgiving at God's Throne.
The basic translation says it like this, have no cares, but in
everything with prayer and praise put your request.
Before God, listen to what the message.
Translation says, the paraphrase, don't fret or worry
instead of worrying, pray, let petitions and praises.
Let petitions and Praises shape your worries into prayers
letting God know your concerns before you know it a sense of
God's holiness everything coming together for good will come and
settle you down. It's wonderful.
What happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of
your life? Hallelujah.
Uh, so that's the prayer commit, where we were just rolling
concerns in any situation in life, whatever happens always
ask yourself this question. What does the Bible say, if you
start to get anxious about work tomorrow, what does the Bible
say it Financial finance and start to worry you.
What does the Bible say? If you need change in your life,
if you need healing, what does the Bible say, right?
If you need strength in the marriage, covenant, What does
the Bible say? If you're depressed down
discourage, what does the Bible say?
Say, Amen. So this is the pineapple
cheesecake. And it's this thing called
Thanksgiving or praise. Thanksgiving her praise
Thanksgiving. Her praise.
Go with me to chapter of Acts chapter 16.
Acts chapter 16. And let's start in verse.
Number 6. Hallelujah.
You know what? Let's just go back to verse
number 1. And let's just read a good
portion of scripture this morning, amen.
So follow along with me. Verse number 1, then he came to
derbe and lystra and be heard, they're the behold.
There was a certain disciple was there named Timothy.
The son of a certain Jewish woman who believe, but his
father was Greek. One of the reasons I backed up
and start in verse number 1 was because it's good to see in the
word, the daily activities of the disciples because you need
to see yourself in Daily activity with God.
So just think about it if you put yourself in their shoes
their following God. And so Paul comes to do two
different locations. And guess what?
He meets a man named Timothy Right?
And he was well spoken of by the brother who are in lystra and
Iconium Paul wanted to have him, go on with him and took and he
took him in circumcise him because of the Jews who are in
that region for they all knew that his father was a Greek.
So an instant mentorship takes place in the life of a Young Man
by The Apostle. Paul, what's God going to do
with you this week? And as they went through the
cities as they went through this City's, they delivered to them
the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and
Elders at Jerusalem. So, listen, the churches were
strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.
Now, this next prayer is a prayer of what we would call
dedication. And the prayer of dedication or
submission to the will of God and that's just saying God, what
do you want me to do with my life, right?
So we see the Apostle Paul verse number 6.
Now when they are gone through fit frigg phrygia and the region
of galatia they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the
word Neza. So the Holy Spirit actually said
don't go to this location. The Holy Spirit, restrain them
from being at a certain place at a certain time, but they were
seeking God. And there were asking for a
direction right after that, come to my Zia, they try to go to
Bethany about the spirit did not permit them.
Second time the Holy Ghost restrain them from being in a
certain place, you know, God knows exactly where you need to
be when you need to be there. And it's just not a shotgun
approach with God. God is very accurate in his
dealings with humanity and with the Destiny for your life.
So, so passing by Messiah, they came down to troas and a vision
appeared to Paul in the night. So they're just seeking God with
all their heart asking. What direction do you want us to
go? Now after they had seen the
vision? Well let's read the vision.
A man of Macedonia, this is the vision stood over and pleaded
with Paul saying come over to me.
Macedonian help us. So this is a vision that he had
at night. Now, after seeing the vision
immediately, I like that immediately we sought to go to
Macedonia concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the
gospel to them. Therefore so man, they made
every effort to be where God told them to be there for
sailing from Truro, as we ran a straight course.
And the next day we came to neapolis and from there to
Philippi So they landed in Philippi which is the foremost
city of that part of Macedonia. So because of a vision, they get
to City the chief City Philippi in Macedonia, and they stayed in
that City for some days and on the Sabbath day.
So they're just looking for opportunity.
In this city to do, whatever God wants them to do.
And on the Sabbath day, we went out of the city to the
Riverside, where prayer was customarily.
Made and we sat down there and we spoke to the woman who met
their now, they meet, they meet a female entrepreneur.
Now, a certain woman named Lydia heard us.
She was a seller of purple from a certain city.
She worshipped God and the Lord opened her heart to he the
things spoken by Paul. So the first encounter in
Philippi was with a lady of female lady, that's old clothes.
And then it says, and when she and her household were baptized,
she begged us saying, if you have judged me to be faithful to
the Lord, come to my house and stay.
So she persuaded us. So one lady in her family starts
a church in Philippi. Now it happened verse 16 second
encounter. Hallelujah, it happened is.
We went to prayer that a certain slave girl possessed with a
spirit of divination met us, a fortune teller.
A palm reader, right? This girl followed Paul and us,
they cried out. And she cried out saying, these
men are the Servants of the most high, God, who proclaimed to us
the way of salvation. And this she did for many days.
So can you imagine some of us went last five minutes.
If somebody's following you around a fortune teller saying
this is the servant of most high God.
It'll be annoying, right? But for many days, they didn't
say anything. But then Paul it says he was
greatly annoyed. Hallelujah.
Turn and said to the spirit member, we don't wrestle against
flesh and blood but against principalities and Powers rulers
of wickedness in high places, he turned to the spirit that was
motivating and driving this woman.
And he said, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ, man.
This week's going to be exciting for you.
Come out of her. And he came out that very hour.
Whoo, so Deliverance. So you think things are going to
get better. Let's read verse number 19.
So we start with the lady. That was an entrepreneur.
Her family gets born again, we get another demonically
possessed, lady delivered. So we're seeing the church start
to increase with a variety of people, right?
It says, when her master's the palm reader, the fortune tellers
Masters, saw that their hope of profit was gone.
They seized Paul and Silas. Silas.
Right. And they drag them into the, to
the marketplace, to the authorities.
They brought them to the magistrates and said, these men
being Jews. They trouble our city,
Hallelujah. And then a days ahead.
We need to be ready. Church.
You know, America has had a great time of being having a
great amount of religious freedom.
But there are certain principalities and Powers
working behind people that want to restrict that and even
persecute that and prosecute that Are you with me?
I'm telling you, there's certain principalities and powers that
one, a lock-up religious freedom, even meeting in a place
like this, being able to hear the word of God freely.
They want to not just persecuted, but prosecute it put
a clamp down on what you can and can't say such as the biblical
definition of marriage. But we're of good.
Share. We stay in the will of God, we
maintain our righteousness and God will take Take care of us.
So because this lady got delivered, she quit doing what
she was doing. There was repentance in her
life, she turned from fortune telling and start to serve God
and then the people that were her master's got mad because all
their money disappeared from the palm reading.
She's doing. So they take Paul and Silas,
they said we're going to you're messing with our profit.
We're going to mess with you. And so, listen, they, they went
through before the city council and the magistrates tore their
clothes, commanded them to be beaten with rods.
And when they laid, many stripes on them, they threw them into
prison. Commanding in the commanding,
the Jailer to keep them securely.
Having received such a charge. He put them in the inner prison
and fastened their feet in the stocks or in Chains.
So man. Could you imagine they tried to
go to two different places? The Holy Spirit forbid them,
they had a vision to go to fill a pie and mash Donia, they went
and here. They find themselves in prison.
Some people thinking God, did I miss you?
That wasn't a dream. That was a nightmare. but right
in the midst of it, Right in the midst of it, they knew their in
the will of God, they knew there's a Grace there, there's
the anointing, the Holy Ghost. And verse number 25, what they
do? They start to complain.
Do they start to gripe? Do they start to grumble?
Right. It says, at midnight, Paul and
Silas were praying and singing they were praying and they were
praying, and they were praying. And so there's a combination of
things going on, right? They were praying and singing,
Now, this wasn't This Little Light of Mine, I'm gonna know
that. Listen, they were singing hymns
of God, the prisoners were listening, so they were vocal
about it. They were allowed about it. and
listen, it says, suddenly Some people want suddenly is in their
life. Things to happen breakthrough.
Are you lying in yourself up through faith, median, the
god-given qualifications for a suddenly to happen.
I guarantee you if they were grumbling, if there were
complaining, if they were backbiting, if they were
doubting, I guarantee you there's no.
Suddenly that takes place. The Bible says they were praying
and singing hymns to God and the prisoners heard them.
And then suddenly there was a great earthquake.
So the foundations of the prison were shaken and immediately all
the doors were open and everyone's chains were loosed.
The Keeper of the prison Awakening from sleep and seeing
the prison doors open. Supposing the prisoners had fled
drew, his sword is about to kill himself.
He knew that the prisoners escaped, it was on his life.
But Paul called with a loud voice saying, do yourself no
harm for we all here and then he called for a light.
He ran in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
So he start at a by the riverbank with Lydia, we see a
demon girl, that was possessed, get delivered, we see her
master's get mad because their prophets God throws him into
prison. Now, we see a Jailer, what a
great way to start a church. A jailer.
Falling down before them and he said, sir, what must I do to be
saved. So they said believe on the
Lord, Jesus Christ, you and you and you will be saved you and
your household, then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and
all who were with him in the house, he took in that same hour
the night and washed their stripes, man, it's amazing.
What the love of God will do. They were beaten with rods but
this same jailers cleaning the wounds man.
Only the kingdom of God can cure prejudiced.
As many laws is America or any other Nation tries to put in
place to get equality across the board.
It's the kingdom of God, that truly, truly, truly liberates
and brings people together. And unites I'm looking at a
multi-ethnic church right now. Hallelujah of Believers that
love one another. With the love of Christ, because
we abide by the love, the love and the law of God.
Amen. And so says immediately hit his
family were baptized. Now when he had brought them
into his house, he said food before them and he rejoiced, and
I had believed in a god with him and all of us household, I like
that because it's just not one person getting saved whole
households coming into the kingdom of God.
Now, let's go back to Philippians chapter 4.
Because where was Paul at in Acts chapter 16 at Philippi.
So we get a glimpse in his letter.
Of things that he's experiencing right while he was there.
So we go back to Philippians chapter 4.
And verse number 6, it says be anxious for nothing, right?
But in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God.
Do you realize that Paul practice what he preached?
So he was at midnight and then that can be symbolic in your
life of the darkest moment, or the most distressed, you're
having or the most oppression, you're experiencing, or the most
impression that you're going through midnight.
They literally wrap, midnight, singing, hymns and songs to God.
But at midnight in your life, A lot of us have experienced
difficult times tribulations trials, but God's telling the
church today there is a prayer of Thanksgiving that you need to
mix with your other prayers. If you want to get breakthrough
in your life, it says with prayers and praise or with
singing and praise and thanksgiving.
Go hand-in-hand. So I'm asking your church hat.
How's your prayer of Thanksgiving like your praise
life. You're worshipping of God
worship is just not slow music. Worship is an attitude of the
heart. Where your over filled with
gratitude for what Christ has done for you and your bowing
down on the inside and saying, my God, my God, my God, thank
you that you're for me. Thank you that you've redeemed
me. You know, we have the gospel,
the good news. Thank God, that he's saved us.
We're going to heaven, but there's also a promise of
healing man, if you've been through trouble as a child, if
you've been abused, if you've been neglected, Jesus said, the
spirit of the Lord is upon me to heal the brokenhearted.
Broken hearted, man. That's a praiseworthy thing.
When you say all the mess that I've been through, you've turned
it into a message. All of the tests that I've been
through, you turned it into a testimony.
I know this boy, this young man in 1993, after I graduate from
high, school had no idea what I wanted to do lost man without an
anchor drifting in the ocean so to speak nothing.
It had no idea what I wanted to do drinking party and lifting
but God But God, but God one of the friends I used to run with
in high school that party with me that lifted with me.
You know. He got born again.
I didn't. Well I stayed away from him
because he was always talking about the things of Jesus and I
didn't want to hear about it, but he was relentless what
Relentless pursuit of Christ? Are you going to have this week
in this community? And he would not give up on me
and he kept on, calling me, finally, I just gave in to
really get them to get off my back and went to a church
conference and got born again. Hallelujah.
Gave my life to the Lord in 1997.
And you know what? It's been the best adventure for
the last 23 years. And I'm thankful to God Almighty
for all that he has done. All that is doing and man God is
faithful to plant me at Rhema. Christian Center in Columbus,
Ohio faithful to get me out of there to go to Broken Arrow.
Oklahoma to go to Bible school and God just makes everything
work out. Do your eyes or I'm thankful.
That I connected with Pastor Earle Marcy.
At that time, I mean we did jail Ministry together, youth jail
detention center Ministry with him for a season stay connected
with him in 2004. When they said they were going
to start the church, we prayed about said we need to come.
I'm thankful to God Almighty for his leading for his provision
but it's with prayer and Thanksgiving that things are
going to be manifest in your life.
You'd have you heard people say I prayed and I prayed and I
prayed and I prayed, but nothing changed.
Have you heard that before? But have you ever heard?
Anybody say I have praised and I've praised and I praised and
nothing changed. No, you don't hear that.
Because praise will get a breakthrough for you.
Praise will bring down the walls of Jericho when you lift up your
voice and say, oh my God, thank you for redeeming me.
Thank you for the holy spirit's activity in my life.
Listen, I want to close with this testimony and challenge you
this week. Man, if you want true
breakthrough, sustaining in your life, no matter what the
circumstances are learn, how to activate a life of Praise.
Did you notice in Philippians 4, it says make your requests known
to God with one translation had linked together with
Thanksgiving. You know, as a parent, it's one
thing when your kids come up to you and say, hey can I have some
money? You know, you want to bless your
kids. It's nothing.
Like when they say, hey, I took out the trash, I put up my
laundry. I appreciate you as a parent.
You're got you like well, let me just give you some money, right?
I'm not talking about flatly. I'm talking about a sincere
authentic. Thanksgiving, how much more God
sometimes? The Bible says in Psalms that
the the Melton the the mountains will melt like wax in his
presence. So those things that seemed like
a mountain sometimes, if you just getting praise, you don't
have to pray about the situation.
God just says, let me give you some of this.
We need to take some time before the throne and thank him.
So the testimony I want to share with enclosing with you in this.
There was a Pentecostal missionary years and years ago
that during the smallpox disease.
It was going on in the nation in the world, she contracted it.
And so she came off the mission field.
I went to the doctors and she was praying about God healing
her during that time. And nothing was changing in her
body with that small pipe smallpox.
But she had a vision and God showed her scales.
Do you remember the old balance scales?
It for weights where you put an item on one side of certain way
and it would go down. And then if you want to see if
it was equal, you'd find something that was pretty
similar in weight and put on the other side and would balance out
the scales, right? Well, God told her, when your
prayers and your praise Become equal, you're going to have
breakthrough within 24 hours. She was healed of the smallpox
without a vaccine. Coronavirus rious election and
the midst of everything that's going on this year or whatever
else is going on in your life, balance out your prayer life
with heartfelt, gratitude, that's active language daily to
the king. Father, we thank you for your
word, it's incorruptible. Thank you so much for listening
to this message. If you want more subscribe to
our message podcast on iTunes, Google play Spotify and
SoundCloud rating and leaving a comment.
Will go a long way with helping our messages.
Get better circulation. If you'd enjoy watching our
weekend messages. Visit youtube.com forward slash
anchor Faith, we'd love it. If you'd subscribe, leave a
comment or a like on the messages.
If you'd like to find out more information about us and how we
are influencing the world and help support the work.
We're doing by giving just visit anchor faith.com,