1 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:05,560 Thanks for checking out the Anchor Faith Message podcast 2 00:00:05,560 --> 00:00:06,960 from St. Augustine, FL. 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:16,920 Now enjoy this message. You can open up your Bibles. 4 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:22,640 We're going to launch from the Gospel of Luke today. 5 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:24,760 We're going to go to the 19th chapter. 6 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,160 Actually, I'm going to back up. I'm going to read a good portion 7 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:30,360 of scripture. Are you ready? 8 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:34,720 It's going to be lengthy, but it's going to be necessary. 9 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,120 So Luke, chapter 18. I'm going to start in verse 35 10 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:44,760 and I'm going to go all the way through Luke 19, verse #26. 11 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:52,160 I just want to set the context historically for this scripture. 12 00:00:53,680 --> 00:01:00,880 Amen. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday, and 13 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:06,800 that is the triumphant entry of Christ in the week of His 14 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:10,280 Passion right leading up to Passover. 15 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:16,120 And historically we are very close in time to what's taking 16 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:18,880 place in the in the Gospel of Luke when I read the 18th 17 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:22,960 chapter and the 19th chapter the the passage I'm going to read. 18 00:01:22,960 --> 00:01:28,480 So just want to put the setting that this is the third year of 19 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:33,400 the ministry of Jesus and he's he's coming to his destiny on 20 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:38,000 the cross and his disciples. There's never a greater example 21 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,640 of leadership or a greater role model we can aspire to than the 22 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:46,960 Lord Jesus Christ. He is, was, and will come a man 23 00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:50,000 on a mission. And he taught. 24 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,080 Us. The greatest model leadership. 25 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:54,760 It's just not how you start, it's how you finish. 26 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:58,640 And just 'cause you started this walk of faith, where you at 27 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,560 right now? The thing I love about the story 28 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:02,760 of. Daniel, when he went into 29 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:06,640 captivity, he started right, He stayed right and he ended, 30 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:10,479 right. And for your life in Christ, you 31 00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:13,920 started this journey. Are you on course right now and 32 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:17,760 are you going to finish strong? The word says he's the author 33 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,200 and the finisher of our faith. It's he that began a good work 34 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:23,520 in us. He wants to see it completed 35 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:25,680 Now. You ain't need to participate 36 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:30,240 with them daily. It's a 24 hour a day lifestyle. 37 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:32,600 24 hour a day lifestyle in Christ. 38 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,280 Amen. So let's listen to this. 39 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,880 As I read, I'll be reading out the new King James Version. 40 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,080 It says in verse 35 of Luke, Luke 18. 41 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:47,840 Then it happened as Jesus was coming near Jericho that a 42 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,560 certain blind man sat by the road begging and hearing a 43 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:57,480 multitude passing by. He asked them what it meant, so 44 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:00,240 they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 45 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:05,240 This blind man cried out, saying, Jesus, son of David, 46 00:03:05,640 --> 00:03:09,520 have mercy on me. Then those who went before 47 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,320 warned this blind man that he should be quiet. 48 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:18,920 But he cried out all the more. Son of David, have mercy on me. 49 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:25,320 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to 50 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,200 him. And when the blind man had come 51 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:32,440 near, Jesus asked him, saying what? 52 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:38,400 Do you want me to do for you? The blind man said, Lord, I want 53 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,920 to receive my sight. Then Jesus said to him, because 54 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:43,880 you're He said, receive your sight. 55 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:48,520 Your faith has made you well. Immediately he received his 56 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:55,840 sight, and he followed Jesus, glorifying God and all the 57 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:59,720 people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. 58 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,960 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 59 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:10,920 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief 60 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:19,640 tax collector, and he was rich. He sought to see who Jesus was, 61 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:24,800 but he could not because of the crowd and because he was short 62 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,000 of stature. So he ran. 63 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,240 Ahead. He climbed up into a Sycamore 64 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:35,160 tree to see Jesus, for he was going to pass that way. 65 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:41,200 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and he saw 66 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:45,800 Zacchaeus. And Jesus said, Zacchaeus, make 67 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:52,400 haste come down, for today I must stay at your house. 68 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:57,600 So Zacchaeus made haste and came down and received Jesus 69 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:02,240 joyfully. But when they saw it, they all 70 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:08,400 complained saying Jesus has gone to be a guest with a man who is 71 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:13,760 a Sinner. Then Zacchaeus stood and said to 72 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:18,720 the Lord, Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor, 73 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:23,840 and if I take anything from anyone by false accusation, I 74 00:05:23,840 --> 00:05:30,280 restore 4 fold. Jesus said to him today, 75 00:05:31,280 --> 00:05:36,760 salvation has come to this house because he's also son of 76 00:05:36,760 --> 00:05:46,680 Abraham, for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that 77 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,440 which is lost. Now as they heard these things 78 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:55,000 he spoke another parable, because he was near Jerusalem, 79 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:59,440 and because they thought the Kingdom of God would appear 80 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,920 immediately. Therefore Jesus said, a certain 81 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:08,640 noble man went to a far country to see for himself a Kingdom and 82 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,040 to return. So he called ten of his 83 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:15,080 servants. He delivered to them 10 minus, 84 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:17,440 and said to them do business till I come. 85 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,240 But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, 86 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,600 saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 87 00:06:25,280 --> 00:06:28,960 And so it was when he returned, having received from the 88 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:32,880 servants to Me, had given the money to be called to him, that 89 00:06:32,880 --> 00:06:36,240 he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 90 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:41,200 Then came the first saying, Master, your mind has earned 10 91 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,400 minus. And he said to him, well done, 92 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,520 good servant, because you were faithful and a very little have 93 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:52,040 authority over 10 cities. And the second came, saying, 94 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:54,320 Master, your mind has earned 5 minus. 95 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:58,640 Likewise he said to him you also be over 5 cities. 96 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,400 Then another came, saying, Master, here is your mind, in 97 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,040 which I've kept put away in a handkerchief, For I feared you, 98 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:09,000 because you're an austere man. You collect what you did not 99 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:10,920 deposit, and reap what you have not sown. 100 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,160 And he said to him out of your own mouth, I will judge you, you 101 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,800 wicked servant. You knew that I was a austere 102 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:21,080 man, collecting that which I did not deposit, and reap what I did 103 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,960 not sow. Why then, did you not put my 104 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,680 money into the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it 105 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,520 with interest? And he said to those who stood 106 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:34,160 by him, take the minor from him, and give it to him as 10. 107 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:36,680 But he said to a master he has 10. 108 00:07:38,440 --> 00:07:42,720 Jesus said, I say to you, everyone who has will be given, 109 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:46,880 and from him who does not have even what he has, will be taken 110 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:52,400 away from him. Now, during offering, I gave you 111 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:55,920 the parable of the talents, and this is the parable of the minor 112 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:58,840 minors. Now there are two different 113 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,520 parables in a very close period of time. 114 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,760 The parable of talent was actually during the Passover 115 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,480 week, the the passion week. All right. 116 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,600 But I think it's very important to know Jesus is finishing his 117 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:13,960 assignment. He gives 2 parables that are 118 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:17,040 very similar in context and principle. 119 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,880 But why? 'cause he's depositing a message 120 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:24,800 of instruction for his church. They were looking for what the 121 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:27,360 Kingdom of God, What do we preach at anchor? 122 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:27,920 Faith. Church. 123 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:33,120 The Kingdom of God? The Basilias, The Kingdom? 124 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:36,000 The realm? Or a a territory where a king is 125 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:40,720 in charge? There's a difference, although 126 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,360 similarity, between the Kingdom of heaven, the Kingdom of God, 127 00:08:44,560 --> 00:08:47,160 the Kingdom of Heaven, the Heaven's, the Oranos where God 128 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:51,960 literally is right now, where his throne's at, but the Kingdom 129 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:55,480 of God is anywhere where you permit him to be. 130 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:59,400 Lord. If we backed up a couple 131 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,680 chapters of Luke 17, they said, Lord, what's going to be the 132 00:09:02,680 --> 00:09:03,960 sign of your Kingdom? When's it coming? 133 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:05,840 He said, Behold, the Kingdom of God does not come with 134 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:09,080 observation. The Kingdom of God is within 135 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,720 you. So in Anchor Faith Church. 136 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:17,640 We preach, teach the truth that right now we're in the Kingdom. 137 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,560 Why? Because you're permitting Jesus 138 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:21,880 to be Lord. For those of you that have 139 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,760 received him, guess what? You're a Kingdom citizen in 140 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:28,760 operation right now, and he gives these parables because God 141 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:33,880 has delivered something to you to do while you're on the earth. 142 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:38,240 There's a purpose. There's an assignment. 143 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,880 Amen. So if we. 144 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,240 Look at this story, the 1st place he went to in Luke chapter 145 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,200 19 and he was on a mission, you know he just didn't. 146 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:49,840 He wasn't went. He was sent. 147 00:09:56,200 --> 00:10:02,520 So be sent, just don't go. I'll give you one example and 148 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,720 you can find others in scripture in Acts chapter 16. 149 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,200 Paul wanted to go. Certain cities in the Holy 150 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,080 Spirit forbade or restricted him. 151 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:14,640 Hallelujah. So you want to listen to the 152 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:16,640 Holy Ghost? He's given us the great God, the 153 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,040 great comfort of the great counselor on the inside, and as 154 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:21,000 many as are led by the Spirit. These are what? 155 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,800 The sons and daughters of God. So guess what? 156 00:10:23,960 --> 00:10:28,200 You'll be sent on a mission and assignments, but you just don't 157 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,000 want to go if God doesn't want you to be there. 158 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:35,200 The anointing, the grace, the resources are where he sends 159 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,240 you. God blesses his plans. 160 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:42,280 You don't make your plans and ask God to bless your plans. 161 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:46,400 You follow his plans. His plans are blessed. 162 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:51,760 So I believe with all my heart the greatest example. 163 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:53,960 Leadership. Jesus, as we see in the end of 164 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,760 Luke 18 leading up to the Palm Sunday. 165 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,120 He's on a mission. He knew the. 166 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,480 Blind man was going to be there. Amen. 167 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:08,040 There was a mission to that. Listen, Jesus had a threefold 168 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:11,120 assignment. He He taught in the synagogues, 169 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:17,520 He preached the gospel of the Kingdom, and he healed every 170 00:11:17,520 --> 00:11:21,560 manner of sickness and disease. And the mission of the Church is 171 00:11:21,560 --> 00:11:28,080 still the same, to teach in this synagogue, this sanctuary, to 172 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:30,800 proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God and the 173 00:11:30,800 --> 00:11:32,200 principles that go with. It. 174 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:38,000 And to heal every manner and every sickness and every dis 175 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:42,600 ease. Any dis ease you have, there's 176 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:46,320 healing power for it, as Pastor Marcus said, Heaviness try to. 177 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:49,200 Come up on Friday, that's a dis ease. 178 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:54,600 And there's an antidote in the Word called praise and the 179 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:57,000 sovereignty of God. As pastors been preaching only 180 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:58,800 works when you. Do the word of God. 181 00:11:59,760 --> 00:12:02,080 Depression would have stayed on him, although it's God's will 182 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:03,480 for him have joy. But guess what? 183 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:09,520 He had to activate a thing called praise for it to work. 184 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:12,160 I just got a debit card for our business. 185 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,880 Last week because our old one's expiring and guess what it just 186 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:21,800 didn't work. I had to call A1 800 number and 187 00:12:21,800 --> 00:12:23,280 activate. If I would have took that to the 188 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,280 store and tried to run it, it would have said decline. 189 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:32,160 Don't let your life be declined in any transaction because 190 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:33,760 you're not activating the word of God. 191 00:12:39,620 --> 00:12:46,020 So the first thing he did in Luke 19, he's on a mission he's 192 00:12:46,020 --> 00:12:48,980 sent, he's being led by the Holy Ghost. 193 00:12:50,540 --> 00:12:55,300 And it's interesting to me in the close proximity of time, 194 00:12:56,100 --> 00:12:59,340 that he's getting ready to go into Palm Sunday, the week of 195 00:12:59,340 --> 00:13:03,600 his passion leading up to Passover that's coming up. 196 00:13:03,640 --> 00:13:05,280 Amen. Where we celebrate. 197 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:09,200 And really, every day we should celebrate the redemption of the 198 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,480 Lord Jesus Christ, His death, burial and resurrection. 199 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:14,520 Our lives should be a living example and testimony to the 200 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:16,440 goodness of God of what he's done in our life. 201 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,320 Amen. But he enters Jericho. 202 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,120 Now we know what happened in Jericho, right? 203 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:25,880 That was the walled city that the children of Israel had to 204 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,120 conquer in order to get into Canaan land. 205 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:31,200 Hallelujah. So I think it's purposeful. 206 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:34,960 That God sent Jesus through Jericho because he's on a 207 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:38,680 mission and assignment there. And what happens at Jericho? 208 00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:42,440 Something large that obstructed the way in the road and the 209 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:45,840 journey of his people had to be brought down. 210 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,320 Jesus is still bringing walls down today. 211 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:55,640 Jericho in the Bible is a place of fragrance and know how sweet 212 00:13:55,640 --> 00:14:00,160 it is to have victory in the Lord, to be able to shout with 213 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,400 His method and his plan of redemption to bring down 214 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,920 anything or anyone that stands in the plan of purpose of God 215 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:11,000 for your life. But at and near Jericho, guess 216 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:14,480 what he encountered a man named Zacchaeus. 217 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:19,720 Now Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. 218 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:26,280 Now chief tax collector means they actually bid out to other 219 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:28,240 tax collectors to go get the funds. 220 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:32,640 So we have Matthew as a tax collector, but really of rank. 221 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:36,440 Zacchaeus was a higher degree of a tax collector than Matthew. 222 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:39,480 The interesting thing about this, Matthew and Zacchaeus were 223 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,720 both taking money for the Roman Empire from their own 224 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:45,840 nationality and background. The Jewish people. 225 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,560 That's why they didn't like him. They said this man's a Sinner. 226 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:57,000 Hallelujah. Now his name means Zacchaeus 227 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:01,800 means to be pure, justified. And I got to thinking about this 228 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:04,120 and I thought, Lord, whatever I'm doing in life, I don't want 229 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:07,760 to justify my way or be pure in my own eyes. 230 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,560 I'm going to be pure in your eyes and I'll be truly justified 231 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:14,120 and sanctified, really to your plan. 232 00:15:14,800 --> 00:15:18,360 You know, we can make excuses for why we do what we do, and 233 00:15:18,360 --> 00:15:21,080 the reason sounds good. As Angie, my wife, ministered on 234 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:23,480 Wednesday, don't lean to your own understanding, but is it 235 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:26,280 really God's way and God's method and God's plan for your 236 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:31,080 life? Now, now, Zacchaeus, when he 237 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:34,200 heard Jesus was coming, there was something on the inside of 238 00:15:34,200 --> 00:15:40,240 him that said, I've got to see this man now, Jesus being our 239 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,200 greatest model, Let me ask you this question. 240 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:44,760 Is there something that attracts people to you? 241 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:48,600 Come on, come on. If people were attracted to 242 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:54,040 Jesus and said, I got to see this person and listen, he was 243 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:57,400 rich, so you think that he's got it all together. 244 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:00,200 Well, let me tell you this. Riches are not wealth. 245 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:08,040 You could be rich and broke. You could have sickness or 246 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:09,760 disease in your body and the money in the bank. 247 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,880 'S going to do you no good. But Jesus came to what? 248 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:16,920 Heals, sickness and disease. You could be rich and your 249 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:20,280 mind's a vice, grip of confusion, depression. 250 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:24,520 But when you're in the Kingdom, God gives you something called 251 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:29,880 wealth, which includes riches. But it comes with a sound mind. 252 00:16:29,880 --> 00:16:33,480 The Blessed Lord makes 1 rich and he adds no sorrow with it. 253 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:36,320 So Zacchaeus was rich, but he understood this. 254 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:39,480 I'm missing something. There's something empty, there's 255 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,040 something vacant, there's something void in my life, and 256 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:45,120 I've got to see Jesus. Now there's two things that 257 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,520 hindered Zacchaeus #1, the crowd. 258 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:54,000 He was short. He couldn't see right. 259 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:57,040 I was thinking, that's not the only crowd that stood in the way 260 00:16:57,040 --> 00:16:58,760 of some people before. Are you going to do what's 261 00:16:58,760 --> 00:17:04,599 necessary to touch Jesus today? The crowd, those that should be 262 00:17:04,599 --> 00:17:06,920 celebrating Jesus, were actually standing in the way of his 263 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,800 viewpoint, but it reminds me of the woman with the issue of 264 00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,160 blood that she couldn't get to Jesus because of the crowd. 265 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:15,720 So guess what? She pressed in. 266 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:20,000 And Zacchaeus is another example of pressing in today to get all 267 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:23,560 the words of God, all the impartation, all the instruction 268 00:17:23,560 --> 00:17:26,520 that he wants to give out today. Are you pressing in to receive 269 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:29,560 what he wants to say today? And because he was short of 270 00:17:29,560 --> 00:17:32,400 stature, the second thing is I got to get a new new vantage 271 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:34,520 point, a new viewpoint. I can't see him from my current 272 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:37,040 location. So my prayer for you today is 273 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:40,840 let's get a viewpoint of Jesus. Today he had to climb up into a 274 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,600 Sycamore tree to actually see where Jesus was. 275 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:49,280 I remember when we first came to Saint Augustine, you know, 276 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,200 hardly go to the beach anymore. But when you come from 277 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:58,160 landlocked position in Oklahoma and then relatives come to 278 00:17:58,160 --> 00:17:59,400 visit, you guess what they want to do? 279 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:06,000 They want to go see the beach. So we went out on a boat, and 280 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:08,520 what is that called when they take you up with the parachute 281 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:11,720 parasailing? We did that. 282 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:15,800 That was kind of freaky. You know, honestly, I'm thinking 283 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:17,400 sharks. And I thought I saw some. 284 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:18,520 It could be in my mind playing with me. 285 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:23,480 But what I realized is when I was way up there, it was a 286 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:25,160 different view than I was way down low. 287 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:30,560 And it was quiet. And what I'm praying is that you 288 00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:34,200 get a new perspective. Today of the Lord and Zacchaeus 289 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:39,920 did right. So he went through Jericho on a 290 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:43,840 mission to see Zacchaeus. And you know what happens with 291 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:47,520 Zacchaeus? His repentance comes. 292 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:52,080 I want to give you a key in this story. 293 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:57,600 Repentance, restoration and release. 294 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,760 What happened with Zacchaeus? Repentance means I'm, I'm done 295 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:05,880 living life my way, head in that direction. 296 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:08,240 Repentance means I'm, I'm done going down that road. 297 00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:11,400 I'm going to turn around and I'm going to start following God. 298 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:13,600 That's repentance. It's a change of mind. 299 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:16,720 It's a change of thinking. If you're still thinking the 300 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:21,520 same way today that you were five years ago, you're not truly 301 00:19:21,520 --> 00:19:26,600 in repentance. You could have slid back some. 302 00:19:28,120 --> 00:19:30,800 But today, God's saying today is a day of salvation. 303 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,800 Right. And then there's there's 304 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:38,560 repentance, but there's restoration. 305 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:43,200 God's all about restoring lives. He's about repairing you, making 306 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:46,240 you whole for the purpose and the plan that he has for you. 307 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:49,400 And then there's release. Meaning he's got a plan. 308 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:51,000 He's got employment. He's got an activity. 309 00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:56,440 For you to do in the earth. With true repentance comes 310 00:19:56,440 --> 00:20:02,280 repair and restitution. You can't just say I had an 311 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:04,720 experience with God and there's no change in your life. 312 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:07,960 Guess what happened was Zacchaeus. 313 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:12,800 He said Lord, they were accusing him because he was rich. 314 00:20:13,000 --> 00:20:15,840 This is a notorious Sinner. He's greedy. 315 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:18,400 He's all about money. He doesn't care about people. 316 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:22,440 He cares about the dollar or whatever their currency was. 317 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,280 And that's always about his gaining more riches and not 318 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:31,080 about helping people. But guess what happens when the 319 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:33,840 Kingdom of God comes and has an impact on your life? 320 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:37,280 There's repentance, there's restoration, then there's 321 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:41,040 release, which included repair and restitution. 322 00:20:41,720 --> 00:20:44,600 Now what does Zacchaeus say? He said. 323 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:49,000 Lord. I give half my goods to the poor 324 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:51,040 now. The Jewish culture, given up to 325 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:56,040 20% of your income, was generous, he said. 326 00:20:56,040 --> 00:21:01,480 I'm going to do more than that. I'm going to add 30% of that to 327 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:05,560 show the reality of the impact that the Lord's had in my life. 328 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:07,880 I'm giving. And then he said to top that 329 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:12,200 off, if I've taken anything unrighteously or wickedly or 330 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:14,960 greedy, I'm going to restore fourfold. 331 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:19,840 So he goes back to Exodus 22. Restitution means I want to make 332 00:21:19,840 --> 00:21:26,360 things right. You know, when I got saved, born 333 00:21:26,360 --> 00:21:26,960 again. Come on. 334 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:34,680 Filled with the Holy Ghost, sanctified and set apart for the 335 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:37,320 work of the master. There's some things in high 336 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:41,040 school that I did BC that I wasn't very proud of. 337 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:43,320 Matter of fact, I still have thoughts today. 338 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:49,960 People would not know my conduct or character compared. 339 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:55,280 To what I used to be now, right? And I remember thinking, man, 340 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,120 there's there's people I'd like to go to. 341 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:02,920 And say I'm sorry, that wasn't the real real me. 342 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:07,080 Are you with me? That's where repair and 343 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:11,040 restitution is to make things right, that we're wrong and 344 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:15,560 that's true salvation. Jesus mission is found in the 345 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:19,120 9th. Verse and the 10th salvation has 346 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:20,680 come to this house. Because why? 347 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:22,720 Because. There was restitution and 348 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:25,240 repair. Zacchaeus, literally. 349 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:27,040 Isn't it interesting? The first thing he did is 350 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:34,640 loosened his wallet. Let me say it again. 351 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:39,520 The first thing that happened was Zacchaeus as he loosened his 352 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,640 wallet. I'll say it one more time. 353 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:55,400 The rich man Jesus got the crowbar out through love, stuck 354 00:22:55,400 --> 00:22:59,760 it down that wallet, spread it open and said what you going to 355 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:09,600 do now Zacchaeus see Law verse 10. 356 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:12,440 The the Son of man. You know Jesus is reference in 357 00:23:12,440 --> 00:23:17,280 scripture as the Son of God, but he's also the Son of man. 358 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:23,080 You know, he can relate to our humanity, every emotion, every. 359 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:28,720 Test. Every temptation that you walk 360 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:32,280 through Jesus have been through. If you go over to the Gospel of 361 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:36,040 Hebrews chapter, the gospel, what is good news? 362 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:42,800 But the book of Hebrews chapter 4, it says that he was tempted 363 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:48,640 as on all points, like we are yet without sin. 364 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:52,120 Now if Jesus is our highest model leadership, which he is, 365 00:23:52,120 --> 00:23:54,280 guess what? He was tempted the same way you 366 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:56,000 were. He was tested the same way you 367 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:59,920 were. This says the Son of Man came, 368 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:03,080 which means all the humanity, everything that you feel with 369 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:06,200 being human. You know human beings are prone 370 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:10,840 to malfunction at any time. That's why truth is so 371 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:14,400 important. But he's experienced everything 372 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:17,080 yet without sin. So what a great example for us. 373 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:19,520 You know, you could live life without missing the mark. 374 00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:24,440 You get enough word in, you listen. 375 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:27,160 The Holy Ghost. close enough You can live life without missing 376 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:30,080 the mark. You get enough word in you. 377 00:24:31,520 --> 00:24:32,880 You listen the Holy Ghost. Enough. 378 00:24:33,120 --> 00:24:34,720 Does that mean that sin doesn't try to come? 379 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:36,680 No. But it never attaches itself to 380 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:39,640 me. The Bible says he was tempted on 381 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:41,880 all points like we are yet without sin. 382 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:45,200 That means temptation is going to come, but it's what you do 383 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:48,640 with the temptation that defines if you're an overcomer or you're 384 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:53,160 a victim. And Jesus always overcame. 385 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:56,920 What he say, it is written. What he say it is written. 386 00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:00,200 What he say it is written. So the Son of Man. 387 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:06,400 This is his mission, to come and to seek and to save that which 388 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:09,200 was lost. We understand in Anchor Faith 389 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:10,800 Church that what was lost the Kingdom. 390 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:15,640 The Kingdom of God Jesus message was the Kingdom of God. 391 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:18,120 The Kingdom is like this. The Kingdom is like that. 392 00:25:18,120 --> 00:25:19,720 He spoke parables about the Kingdom. 393 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,200 He spoke the parables of the talents in relation to the 394 00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:24,400 Kingdom of God. The parable of the mine is what 395 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:25,200 he spoke. Why? 396 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:29,880 Because it related it to the Kingdom of God He came to seek. 397 00:25:29,880 --> 00:25:31,560 That means he came in order to find something. 398 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:37,800 He was on a mission for those that would receive to save. 399 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:42,360 Now salvation means deliverance. It means redemption. 400 00:25:42,360 --> 00:25:45,720 It means health. Amen. 401 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:48,760 It means you're no longer molested by the enemy. 402 00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:53,000 I know that's strong, but when I'm saved, I'm no longer 403 00:25:53,000 --> 00:25:58,640 molested by the enemy, the lost. That means people that were 404 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:02,040 perishing, that were apart from God, that were destitute, that 405 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:04,760 were broke, that were disgusted and busted. 406 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:09,000 I came. To seek and save those people. 407 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:19,520 So listen, God's Word comes to change our lives. 408 00:26:20,600 --> 00:26:22,960 God's Word. Just like it did with Zacchaeus. 409 00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:27,080 Just like it did with the. Blind man comes to change our 410 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:30,600 lives. He changes our life in stages, 411 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:38,160 over time and permanently. Jesus word, the word of God, 412 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:44,240 changes our lives in stages, over time and permanently. 413 00:26:45,080 --> 00:26:47,760 When you first get the word of God, it's information. 414 00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:54,440 Information which means I get it and hopefully you're getting 415 00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:59,120 something today. Secondly, it comes as 416 00:26:59,120 --> 00:27:01,480 inspiration. Just like Zacchaeus, I got to 417 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:04,440 get to him. Inspiration. 418 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:07,720 Means I desire it. I crave it. 419 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:13,600 I long for it, right? Inspiration. 420 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:15,960 Impartation means I got it in my heart. 421 00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:20,040 I got it in my heart. It's part of me now. 422 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:24,920 Hallelujah. What's in you is going to come 423 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:30,800 out. When I was younger, my my 424 00:27:31,120 --> 00:27:34,280 parents owned a Dairy Queen and I would work there for $5.00 an 425 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:36,760 hour. That was big money for a 426 00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:44,360 teenager, $5.00 an hour. Can you make it for $5.00 an 427 00:27:44,360 --> 00:27:50,760 hour today? But I remember working at there 428 00:27:51,120 --> 00:27:53,800 at the Dairy Queen. Blizzards. 429 00:27:56,800 --> 00:28:02,480 Dilly bars. Hallelujah. 430 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:08,760 I was a master at dipping the cone upside down, flipping it up 431 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:16,000 with the trademark swirl. But when I leave work, you know 432 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,280 what I smelled like? Dairy Queen. 433 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:23,120 Wayne Salisbury can relate to this in Dexios. 434 00:28:24,120 --> 00:28:25,920 He just raised his hand. What do you smell like when you 435 00:28:25,920 --> 00:28:26,920 go? Home What? 436 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:30,840 You cooked bacon? What am I saying? 437 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,760 Impartation. What's in you is going to come 438 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:37,760 out. Revelation. 439 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:39,880 I see it. I see it. 440 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:43,200 I see it. Zacchaeus Solid. 441 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:45,840 I give half my goods to the poor Lord. 442 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,920 I restore fourfold If I given anything on on if I've taken 443 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:53,440 anything unrighteously. Revelation, I see it. 444 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:57,080 Realization it's working in my life and in my life is changing. 445 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,360 I'm not the same as I used to be. 446 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:06,000 Actualization means others see it working in my life. 447 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:14,120 You're not the same. Transformation means I'm changed 448 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:17,760 so much I'm never going back to what I used to be. 449 00:29:18,960 --> 00:29:21,520 He didn't call us to live a conformed life, but to be 450 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:25,760 transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may present 451 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:29,520 your bodies a living sacrifice to God. 452 00:29:32,040 --> 00:29:36,480 He came to seek and to save that which was lost. 453 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:41,920 Now he gets to the parable of the 10 minors after this. 454 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:49,000 He gives each 110. Now 10 minors was about four 455 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:53,520 months of wages. All right. 456 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:56,560 So just to bring it. Home, let's say average person 457 00:29:56,560 --> 00:30:03,560 makes about $3000 a month. So I said, here's $12,000, whose 458 00:30:03,560 --> 00:30:06,960 money is it? Whose money is it? 459 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:13,160 And he gives it to Kingdom citizens, and then he goes. 460 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:20,360 Away for a long time, right? But then he comes back and he 461 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:26,520 takes account of the $12,000 he gave you to see what you did 462 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:30,120 with it. You can say Hallelujah, Amen or 463 00:30:30,120 --> 00:30:41,400 O me. Listen, this is the introduction 464 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:48,600 before we get to the Meet Luke 1913, I'm going to read this 465 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:52,960 from a King James Version. He called his 10 servants, he 466 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:56,160 delivered to them 10 lbs. And he said to them. 467 00:30:56,240 --> 00:31:02,440 Occupy till I come, he said. Here's $12,000. 468 00:31:04,160 --> 00:31:07,320 I want you to occupy They were looking for the Kingdom of God. 469 00:31:07,720 --> 00:31:10,760 The Kingdom of God does not come with what observation, but it's 470 00:31:10,760 --> 00:31:13,200 within you. God gave you something and. 471 00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:18,080 He said. Occupy till I come, there's a 472 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:19,360 work. For the church. 473 00:31:19,840 --> 00:31:24,520 In the earth today, the word occupy means a carry on business 474 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:31,760 to be a banker or a traitor. And what's bankers and traders? 475 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:39,120 Do they invest now? An investment is an asset or 476 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:43,040 item acquired with the goal of generating income or 477 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:47,120 appreciation. Appreciation refers to an 478 00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:51,640 increase in the value of an asset over time. 479 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:57,200 When an individual purchases a good as an investment, the 480 00:31:57,200 --> 00:31:59,080 intent is not to consume the good. 481 00:31:59,080 --> 00:32:01,840 But rather to use it to create future wealth. 482 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:06,920 An investment always concerns the outlay of some resource 483 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:12,560 today. Time, effort, money, or an asset 484 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:15,560 in hopes of returning a greater. Payoff in the future. 485 00:32:17,440 --> 00:32:23,000 Jesus invested life into you, truth into you, redemption into 486 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:25,280 you. Gifts and grace into you. 487 00:32:25,600 --> 00:32:27,320 And he's going to come back one day. 488 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:29,160 What? And he's going to ask what did 489 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:33,040 you do with my investment? Have you increased in value? 490 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:39,920 The word occupy means this? And I want to go to Romans 517 491 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:42,720 first, because pastoral prophetically said this is the 492 00:32:42,720 --> 00:32:49,000 year of the reigning spirit. This is the year of the what 493 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:52,880 reigning spirit. Romans 517 says, For by one 494 00:32:52,880 --> 00:32:56,760 man's offense, death reign. By one much more they which 495 00:32:56,760 --> 00:32:59,800 receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness 496 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:04,200 shall reign in life by the one Jesus Christ. 497 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:10,600 Now the word reign means this that you exercise kingly power. 498 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:13,680 You're the governor of a province. 499 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:17,120 Let me put it this way. You're the governor of your own 500 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:19,560 life. Let me put it this way, before 501 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:26,480 you conquer the world, you got to conquer yourself, he said. 502 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:31,160 You came to reign in life. He came to seek and save that 503 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:32,240 which is lost. Guess what? 504 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:36,720 He gave Adam in the garden a territory, a place to work with. 505 00:33:36,720 --> 00:33:39,400 Same thing. He's given you your life as a 506 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,800 territory to work with. He's coming back one day to see 507 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:44,720 what you've done with the investment he's given. 508 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:49,720 Listen to this the the word reign metaphorically, and I want 509 00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:51,200 this to be etched in your mind and heart. 510 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:59,680 Means to exercise the highest influence or to control the word 511 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:03,720 reign metaphorically means to exercise the highest influence. 512 00:34:03,720 --> 00:34:06,680 What does influence mean? This is the year of the reigning 513 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:11,239 spirit, so we are to exercise the highest influence. 514 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:16,199 Influence literally means according to eighteen 81828 515 00:34:16,199 --> 00:34:19,840 Webster's dictionary. It's a flowing into or on. 516 00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:24,920 It refers to a substance spiritual, too subtle to be 517 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:29,360 visible, like inspiration. So influence means you don't 518 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:31,040 even know what you're around right now. 519 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:33,600 But it's in me. It's going to get on you. 520 00:34:35,199 --> 00:34:36,920 Let me say you don't let me say it again. 521 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:39,719 You don't even know what's around you right now. 522 00:34:40,120 --> 00:34:43,000 But what's in me is going to flow into you and onto you. 523 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:51,040 Listen, the yeast always impacts the dough, and your influence as 524 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:55,840 a righteous person before God Almighty should impact every 525 00:34:55,840 --> 00:35:00,640 area, every sector of society. Everywhere you go, you should 526 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:03,960 have influence. Are you going to meet a blind 527 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:05,800 man today that needs healing? Are you going to need Zacchaeus? 528 00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:08,600 That needs direction? Are you going to meet a woman 529 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:10,040 with issue of blood that needs healing? 530 00:35:11,280 --> 00:35:14,360 Kingdom Reign. This is the year, the reigning 531 00:35:14,560 --> 00:35:17,320 spirit. Now the word occupy means this. 532 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:20,520 It means work. Everybody say work. 533 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:26,640 Say work, say work. Did you know that work was in 534 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:30,400 the earth before the fall? Work is not a profanity. 535 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:34,880 It's not a dirty 4 letter word. Matter of fact. 536 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:39,320 Work is what God's given you to establish dominion on the earth. 537 00:35:40,680 --> 00:35:44,480 He's called his people to be creative, industrious and 538 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:47,720 productive on the planet, he said. 539 00:35:47,720 --> 00:35:49,880 You're made in my image, so guess what I put creative 540 00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:52,920 ability on the inside of. You are you managing that 541 00:35:52,920 --> 00:35:59,240 creative ability to be into industrious, to be productive or 542 00:35:59,240 --> 00:36:02,800 fruitful? Occupy means this. 543 00:36:02,800 --> 00:36:09,560 You work until everything. Everybody say everything fills 544 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:17,720 the influence of your presence, he said. 545 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:25,920 Occupy till I come, work until everything fills the influence 546 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:31,120 of your presence. Let me ask you this. 547 00:36:31,120 --> 00:36:36,280 Did everybody, when they around Jesus, feel the influence of his 548 00:36:36,280 --> 00:36:39,160 presence? As He is? 549 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:48,640 So are we. This is the year of the reigning 550 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:51,320 spirit. I want to give you 1 ingredient 551 00:36:51,320 --> 00:36:57,520 to rain this year. There's other ingredients, Amen. 552 00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:03,240 But this is one I think the church is lacking, and where 553 00:37:03,240 --> 00:37:11,440 there's slack, there's lack. Well, Lord, I just don't have 554 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:15,280 enough. The reason you don't have more 555 00:37:15,280 --> 00:37:22,840 is because you settle for less. He went to Jericho, conquered 556 00:37:22,840 --> 00:37:23,160 it. Why? 557 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:24,960 To get to Canaan land. You know, that's where they 558 00:37:24,960 --> 00:37:27,320 divided the land. It's land that's more than 559 00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:28,840 enough. It's a land still today that God 560 00:37:28,840 --> 00:37:30,120 wants us to live in by faith and. 561 00:37:31,320 --> 00:37:34,000 When the Church of Israel went in, they divided every all the 562 00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:36,920 inheritance out and he said to one of the tribes, he said, if 563 00:37:36,920 --> 00:37:39,280 it's not enough. Go get some more. 564 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:44,360 The reason you don't have more is because you settle for less. 565 00:37:45,160 --> 00:37:47,400 And the the one tribe said we need some more space. 566 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:49,000 Well, what are you waiting on? Go take it. 567 00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:54,280 Occupy. Occupy Proverbs 12/20. 4 568 00:37:57,080 --> 00:37:59,840 Proverbs 12/24 I'm going to read it some 4 translations. 569 00:38:02,680 --> 00:38:09,320 It says this from the NIV. Diligence hands will rule, but 570 00:38:09,320 --> 00:38:15,160 laziness ends in forced labor. The New Living Translation says 571 00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:17,280 this work hard and become a lit leader. 572 00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:21,960 Be lazy and become a slave prover. 573 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:24,480 The amplified says it like this. The hand of the diligent will 574 00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:29,160 rule, but the negligent and lazy will be put to forced labor. 575 00:38:31,080 --> 00:38:32,920 The passion translation says it like this. 576 00:38:32,920 --> 00:38:40,160 If you want to reign in life, don't sit on your hands. 577 00:38:42,040 --> 00:38:46,720 Instead, work hard at doing right for the slacker. 578 00:38:48,520 --> 00:38:51,240 We'll end up working to make someone else succeed. 579 00:38:54,280 --> 00:38:55,080 The word. Rule. 580 00:38:55,080 --> 00:39:02,440 Literally means to reign and the hand of the diligent will what 581 00:39:02,440 --> 00:39:05,320 Rey this is the year, the reigning spirit. 582 00:39:06,000 --> 00:39:08,640 So let me ask you this, where's your diligent level? 583 00:39:08,640 --> 00:39:10,360 At how? Full. 584 00:39:10,360 --> 00:39:15,160 Is your diligent tank, are you experience God's best? 585 00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:22,200 Are you reigning and thriving, or is there slack and lack 586 00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:30,080 because you're not diligent? Let me give you some the 587 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:32,480 negative side of slothfulness, because it's literally the King 588 00:39:32,480 --> 00:39:35,480 James says if you're slothed will, it'll lead to tribute, 589 00:39:35,560 --> 00:39:36,920 which means you'll be under force. 590 00:39:36,920 --> 00:39:43,880 Rule Proverbs 18-9 says he also slothed on his work as a brother 591 00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:48,040 to him, that's a great waster. He that slothed on his work as a 592 00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:50,520 brother to him who's a great waster. 593 00:39:50,720 --> 00:39:54,040 He gave you 10 minus and said what are you going to do? 594 00:39:55,320 --> 00:39:56,800 And if you're slothed with it, guess what? 595 00:39:56,800 --> 00:39:59,760 You wasted God's gift in your life. 596 00:40:01,200 --> 00:40:04,760 Proverbs 24 verses 30 through 31 says, I went by the field of the 597 00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:07,120 slothful and by the vineyard of the the man void of 598 00:40:07,120 --> 00:40:12,080 understanding, and lo was grown over with thorns and nettles had 599 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:14,560 covered the face thereof, and the Stonewall was broken down. 600 00:40:19,240 --> 00:40:23,040 Ecclesiastes chapter 10 verse #18 says by much slothfulness. 601 00:40:23,360 --> 00:40:26,760 The building decays and through idleness of hands the house 602 00:40:26,760 --> 00:40:32,760 drops through. Hebrews chapter 6 verse #12 says 603 00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:36,280 don't be slothful, don't be slothful but followers of them 604 00:40:36,280 --> 00:40:40,120 who through faith and patience inherit the. 605 00:40:40,120 --> 00:40:45,280 Promises, he's now. Let's go to the positive side of 606 00:40:45,280 --> 00:40:48,200 this verse if you want to reign this year with this one 607 00:40:48,200 --> 00:40:54,120 ingredient, he said. The hand of the diligent shall. 608 00:40:54,440 --> 00:40:59,880 Rule. Now the word hand indicates 609 00:40:59,880 --> 00:41:04,920 work. It indicates power. 610 00:41:06,400 --> 00:41:11,880 It indicates position. Remember, when Esther had to go 611 00:41:11,880 --> 00:41:17,200 see the king, He extended his right hand with the scepter. 612 00:41:18,240 --> 00:41:22,080 The hand represents position. Where has God placed you? 613 00:41:23,480 --> 00:41:26,720 Positioned you in the body of Christ. 614 00:41:28,760 --> 00:41:41,360 It means direction and power. Deuteronomy 28 one through verse 615 00:41:41,360 --> 00:41:46,640 14 talks about the blessing of God, right? 616 00:41:47,560 --> 00:41:50,960 We live in a new covenant with better promises. 617 00:41:51,560 --> 00:41:53,640 So this is wonderful. It was in the Old Testament. 618 00:41:53,640 --> 00:41:56,000 But listen, Proverbs 28. One says this. 619 00:41:56,000 --> 00:42:02,400 It shall come to pass if you diligently, if you diligently 620 00:42:03,040 --> 00:42:05,720 obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all 621 00:42:05,720 --> 00:42:07,360 those commands which I command you today. 622 00:42:07,680 --> 00:42:10,360 The Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of 623 00:42:10,360 --> 00:42:12,680 the earth. Well, Lord, I don't see that in 624 00:42:12,680 --> 00:42:14,560 the church. Is the Church diligent enough? 625 00:42:16,400 --> 00:42:20,040 Jump down to verse 8. The Lord will command blessings 626 00:42:21,240 --> 00:42:26,440 on you in your storehouse and to all in which you set your hand. 627 00:42:30,520 --> 00:42:33,440 The hand of the diligence. Show what rule? 628 00:42:33,640 --> 00:42:36,200 Notice there's no blessing if you don't set your hand to do 629 00:42:36,200 --> 00:42:39,880 something. Let me put it this way. 630 00:42:39,880 --> 00:42:42,400 It doesn't fall on you like ripe cherries off of a tree. 631 00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:48,720 Faith without works is dead. What are you doing with your 632 00:42:48,720 --> 00:42:50,160 hands? Hand shows what you do with your 633 00:42:50,160 --> 00:42:59,720 life. The Eastern Bible Dictionary 634 00:42:59,960 --> 00:43:02,920 says the hand was called the instrument of all instruments. 635 00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:07,480 With my hand I can make peace. With my hand I can go to. 636 00:43:07,480 --> 00:43:12,120 War with my hand I could tithe with my hand, I could take 637 00:43:12,120 --> 00:43:18,240 bribes. Everything you set your hand to 638 00:43:20,480 --> 00:43:23,640 the hand of the diligent. But diligence is the key. 639 00:43:24,120 --> 00:43:27,440 I'm going to give you 3 definitions of diligence. #1 640 00:43:28,640 --> 00:43:33,840 means this to be sharp, pointed, sharp, pointed. 641 00:43:38,160 --> 00:43:40,080 That means you're keen in attention. 642 00:43:40,600 --> 00:43:44,760 You're fixed. Listen, if a sword is sharp, 643 00:43:44,760 --> 00:43:46,080 guess what? It's pointed. 644 00:43:46,840 --> 00:43:49,440 And it could. It could Pierce through what it 645 00:43:49,440 --> 00:43:50,760 needs to get through, right? But if it's. 646 00:43:50,760 --> 00:43:53,080 Dull. Because it hasn't been 647 00:43:53,080 --> 00:43:56,080 sharpened, it's not going to be as effective. 648 00:43:56,840 --> 00:43:59,120 So don't be a dull Christian. Stay sharp. 649 00:44:02,280 --> 00:44:04,400 Secondly, it means a strict decision. 650 00:44:05,240 --> 00:44:11,640 Diligence is a strict decision and that means you're you're 651 00:44:11,640 --> 00:44:16,040 rigorously conforming to the principles the truths from the 652 00:44:16,400 --> 00:44:20,240 from the Kingdom of God. And you've made the choice. 653 00:44:21,000 --> 00:44:24,520 You've made the choice. You've made the choice. 654 00:44:25,160 --> 00:44:27,360 As I was praying, praying today, there's. 655 00:44:27,360 --> 00:44:30,600 And Pastor Marcus even said, I said thank you Holy Spirit. 656 00:44:31,040 --> 00:44:34,240 There's no turning back. Once I put my hand to the plow. 657 00:44:35,160 --> 00:44:38,120 It's a decision. I'm not looking back. 658 00:44:38,120 --> 00:44:39,880 I'm not looking to the left or right. 659 00:44:40,680 --> 00:44:44,640 I am full focus, full force full concentrate on doing what God 660 00:44:44,640 --> 00:44:48,720 wants me to do. Don't be distracted, Saints. 661 00:44:50,560 --> 00:44:54,120 Don't be dull. Make a strict decision. 662 00:44:54,120 --> 00:44:59,200 Today is the day of salvation. Make the decision, Man, with 663 00:44:59,240 --> 00:45:02,400 everything that's within me. I'm going to occupy and be 664 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:04,400 diligent to do what God's called me to do. 665 00:45:06,000 --> 00:45:10,080 And thirdly, it's determination. Determination. 666 00:45:10,600 --> 00:45:13,080 I couldn't even say this definition without honoring 667 00:45:14,200 --> 00:45:21,120 Pastor Kenneth Hagin. Who obviously Pastor Earl is 668 00:45:21,120 --> 00:45:24,280 submitted to as a mentor and as a man of God. 669 00:45:24,960 --> 00:45:28,960 But he has a saying. I cannot be defeated and I will 670 00:45:29,040 --> 00:45:32,800 not quit. That's determination. 671 00:45:34,200 --> 00:45:38,240 And not to be too carnal. But all I can see is Mick in the 672 00:45:38,240 --> 00:45:42,360 corner. Come on, get up. 673 00:45:42,360 --> 00:45:47,000 You bumming ain't over. Oh, y'all, didn't hear no bell. 674 00:45:51,080 --> 00:45:54,200 I don't do that as good as Pastor Roddy, but it ain't over 675 00:45:56,040 --> 00:45:57,880 if you fail. Then get back up. 676 00:45:58,560 --> 00:46:00,680 Get back in the fight. Get in the ring. 677 00:46:01,240 --> 00:46:03,440 Occupy. Be diligent. 678 00:46:05,760 --> 00:46:08,640 You may have taken a cut. You got a great quarter man in 679 00:46:08,640 --> 00:46:11,280 the Holy Ghost. He'll put some ice on that thing 680 00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:13,240 and encourage you say get back in the ring. 681 00:46:14,960 --> 00:46:22,080 Take down Ivan Drago. Come on, Saints Church. 682 00:46:22,520 --> 00:46:24,840 It's time to rise. It's time to reign. 683 00:46:28,320 --> 00:46:29,960 Determination means I'm committed. 684 00:46:29,960 --> 00:46:34,280 I'm bound to a course of action. Spiritually, physically, 685 00:46:34,480 --> 00:46:37,760 financially, emotionally. I will not relent. 686 00:46:38,520 --> 00:46:42,000 Martin Luther, when he had the 95 thesis, I will not recant. 687 00:46:42,400 --> 00:46:47,800 I'm determined that this is the infallible, everlasting, 688 00:46:48,440 --> 00:46:51,840 incorruptible word of God, and I'm not going to do what 689 00:46:51,840 --> 00:47:00,920 religious people say. Great men and women of God have 690 00:47:00,920 --> 00:47:04,040 been burned at the stake because they won't recay it. 691 00:47:06,520 --> 00:47:11,200 I'd rather lose my life to gain it than gain my life and lose 692 00:47:11,200 --> 00:47:16,920 him. Diligence, diligence, diligence. 693 00:47:20,160 --> 00:47:29,680 I want to give you one case study from the Bible of a man 694 00:47:29,680 --> 00:47:34,560 who was diligent. This comes from David's mighty 695 00:47:34,560 --> 00:47:36,440 man, which he had thirty of them, right? 696 00:47:37,680 --> 00:47:42,120 Second Samuel 23, though I want to highlight one of the three 697 00:47:42,320 --> 00:47:51,240 that were his chief advisors. Second Samuel 23 is a delicious 698 00:47:51,240 --> 00:47:56,200 chapter. I mean, it is awesome. 699 00:47:57,000 --> 00:48:07,400 It's a load of baked potato with sour cream, butter, cheese and 700 00:48:07,400 --> 00:48:11,400 chives, and it gets a little bit of sprinkled bacon on it. 701 00:48:17,760 --> 00:48:21,400 Hallelujah. Not to defend vegans out there, 702 00:48:21,400 --> 00:48:27,160 but it's a good piece of prime steak. 703 00:48:30,120 --> 00:48:33,840 But it is delicious. David opens it up. 704 00:48:33,880 --> 00:48:38,440 And what the 1st 9 verses are powerful talking about his life? 705 00:48:38,760 --> 00:48:43,560 Actually, I think it's the first eight, but we get to verse 9 and 706 00:48:43,560 --> 00:48:48,520 David, listen. He occupied, he spread out until 707 00:48:48,520 --> 00:48:53,200 everything felt the influence of his presence. 708 00:48:53,520 --> 00:48:56,440 You know, he he went in a cave and people went in with him. 709 00:48:57,280 --> 00:49:00,040 And those people weren't mighty warriors when they went in. 710 00:49:00,880 --> 00:49:03,200 The Bible says three things about they were discontent, 711 00:49:03,920 --> 00:49:07,720 distraught and broke. What a way to start a church. 712 00:49:09,720 --> 00:49:11,640 We're broke. People that are distraught and 713 00:49:11,640 --> 00:49:15,640 discontent, but they got in a they got in a cave with a giant 714 00:49:15,640 --> 00:49:18,880 killer and guess what was on David Gut in them. 715 00:49:20,040 --> 00:49:23,040 What's on Pastor Earl. You keep coming, gets on you. 716 00:49:25,480 --> 00:49:27,760 Hallelujah. It's important. 717 00:49:27,760 --> 00:49:36,400 Listen who you associate with so it says. 718 00:49:36,400 --> 00:49:45,720 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, Dodo the Hoatite, one of 719 00:49:45,720 --> 00:49:48,480 the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines 720 00:49:48,480 --> 00:49:49,760 who were gathered there for battle. 721 00:49:49,760 --> 00:49:52,760 For the men of Israel had retreated, he arose, and he 722 00:49:52,760 --> 00:49:56,520 attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand 723 00:49:56,960 --> 00:50:01,840 stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great 724 00:50:01,840 --> 00:50:05,000 victory that day, and the people returned after him to the 725 00:50:05,000 --> 00:50:09,000 plunder. Not everybody's going to go with 726 00:50:09,000 --> 00:50:11,760 you in this walk of faith, number one, you read this person 727 00:50:11,760 --> 00:50:13,400 contacts and some people retreated. 728 00:50:14,600 --> 00:50:16,440 They said, we can't handle this, we can't do this. 729 00:50:16,440 --> 00:50:18,360 But guess what? The hand of the diligent shall. 730 00:50:18,720 --> 00:50:23,000 Rule Now you got to be strong. If you were the son of Dodo, 731 00:50:25,720 --> 00:50:27,040 that'll get you picked on in school. 732 00:50:31,360 --> 00:50:33,760 But there was something in Eleazar that said, I've been 733 00:50:33,760 --> 00:50:36,760 around David. I've seen the diligence, the 734 00:50:36,760 --> 00:50:39,680 call, the purpose. Now there's something in me. 735 00:50:40,080 --> 00:50:43,400 My life is transformed. My life is transformed. 736 00:50:43,720 --> 00:50:46,680 My life is transformed. And listen, the Philistines were 737 00:50:46,680 --> 00:50:50,960 coming and it says he defied the Philistines. 738 00:50:52,000 --> 00:50:56,720 That means he resisted. He refused to obey their 739 00:50:56,720 --> 00:51:00,280 culture, their plan and their intent. 740 00:51:01,320 --> 00:51:03,720 Matter of fact. That sounds a lot like David. 741 00:51:04,200 --> 00:51:09,320 Who is this uncircumcised giant that ain't coming in my house. 742 00:51:10,000 --> 00:51:11,840 Pornography ain't coming to my house. 743 00:51:13,240 --> 00:51:15,040 Alcohol ain't coming to my house. 744 00:51:16,400 --> 00:51:17,960 Vulgar language. You ain't going to hear me 745 00:51:17,960 --> 00:51:20,760 speaking that. You ain't going to see me 746 00:51:20,760 --> 00:51:25,480 beating my wife. Who is this uncircumcised giant? 747 00:51:29,160 --> 00:51:32,800 So he defied the Philistines. Something on the inside of him, 748 00:51:32,800 --> 00:51:35,320 though, says he arose. That means he came on the scene. 749 00:51:36,400 --> 00:51:43,400 He stood up, and it's said that he attacked the Philistines 750 00:51:44,240 --> 00:51:46,520 until his hand the hand of the Diligent. 751 00:51:47,120 --> 00:51:52,400 Was weary and his hand stuck to the sword he had. 752 00:51:52,720 --> 00:51:55,760 He was holding on that sword so tight and diligence that it his 753 00:51:55,760 --> 00:51:57,600 hand literally bonded with the sword. 754 00:51:57,760 --> 00:51:59,600 It it's the same word for a husband. 755 00:51:59,600 --> 00:52:02,320 Leave your father, mother and cleave to your wife. 756 00:52:04,080 --> 00:52:07,080 He grabbed on a sword so hard said I'm not coming off of this 757 00:52:07,240 --> 00:52:11,240 and listen with the sword of the spirit don't come off. 758 00:52:11,240 --> 00:52:13,280 Be diligent man. Keep on swinging. 759 00:52:13,440 --> 00:52:15,760 Keep on swinging. It says he grew weary. 760 00:52:15,760 --> 00:52:18,440 But the Bible says don't grow weary and well doing for due 761 00:52:18,440 --> 00:52:22,760 season you shall reap. Listen weariness isn't a normal 762 00:52:23,080 --> 00:52:26,200 human emotion but you it's only temporary. 763 00:52:26,200 --> 00:52:30,480 Say it's only temporary. He kept swinging till it it 764 00:52:30,480 --> 00:52:32,000 stuck to the sword. Man. 765 00:52:35,280 --> 00:52:37,960 And listen, it says the Lord brought about a great victory 766 00:52:37,960 --> 00:52:39,800 that day. I love it because through a man 767 00:52:39,800 --> 00:52:42,640 or a woman of God that's diligent, whose hands at work, 768 00:52:42,640 --> 00:52:45,520 there's going to be great victories in the church. 769 00:52:45,760 --> 00:52:50,200 If we got a lazy, LAX idol, unoperative, inactive church, 770 00:52:50,200 --> 00:52:53,000 we're going to have no great victories in the city, nation or 771 00:52:53,000 --> 00:52:54,280 world. This is the year of the reigning 772 00:52:54,280 --> 00:52:57,280 spirit and God said if you want to reign, you need to get 773 00:52:57,280 --> 00:53:01,400 diligent. You need to get diligent now, 774 00:53:01,400 --> 00:53:04,440 like First Chronicles 11 as we wrap up this story about our key 775 00:53:04,840 --> 00:53:08,440 key player here with Eleazar, it gives a little more insight 776 00:53:08,880 --> 00:53:12,200 about the Philistines. It says that he had a barley 777 00:53:12,200 --> 00:53:16,480 field and the Philistines were coming. 778 00:53:16,480 --> 00:53:20,720 And basically in this story, as we relate them together, he 779 00:53:20,720 --> 00:53:24,520 said. You ain't taking my field, these 780 00:53:24,520 --> 00:53:29,160 are lentils. I got some beans, and I'm not 781 00:53:29,160 --> 00:53:31,200 letting you take my beans. Don't let the devil take your 782 00:53:31,200 --> 00:53:39,040 beans. Listen, they have beans and rice 783 00:53:39,320 --> 00:53:42,840 for breakfast in Nicaragua. And lunch and dinner. 784 00:53:44,000 --> 00:53:47,640 We're blessed. If you had money, you ate meats 785 00:53:47,640 --> 00:53:51,800 once a day in Nicaragua. It wasn't eggs and bacon for 786 00:53:51,800 --> 00:53:54,080 breakfast. It was beans and rice. 787 00:53:55,240 --> 00:53:57,880 Praise the Lord. We got it Good. 788 00:53:58,880 --> 00:54:00,360 But he stood and he was swinging. 789 00:54:00,360 --> 00:54:01,640 He said You ain't taking my field. 790 00:54:01,840 --> 00:54:03,120 Where's your diligence this year? 791 00:54:03,120 --> 00:54:04,560 That said, Devil, you are not taking. 792 00:54:04,680 --> 00:54:07,760 Matter of fact, I'm advancing. I'm on quick. 793 00:54:07,960 --> 00:54:11,520 I'm going to stand having done all to stand what stand there 794 00:54:11,520 --> 00:54:17,800 for And listen, the great thing about when you occupy as God's 795 00:54:17,800 --> 00:54:20,840 called you to do for the Kingdom and you want to reign, 'cause 796 00:54:20,840 --> 00:54:23,480 you're diligent not as it impacts your life. 797 00:54:23,560 --> 00:54:27,440 It's a way where people start to feel the influence of your 798 00:54:27,440 --> 00:54:30,080 presence. Because it said the people that 799 00:54:30,080 --> 00:54:35,120 left before the battle came back after because there was plunder. 800 00:54:36,000 --> 00:54:39,040 There was spoil. God wants you to use you so 801 00:54:39,040 --> 00:54:40,680 mighty. There's a thing called overflow 802 00:54:40,680 --> 00:54:44,840 in your life where others get to come and partake of the 803 00:54:44,840 --> 00:54:49,840 victories you win, and hopefully it inspires them to be diligent 804 00:54:50,120 --> 00:54:52,520 about the masters business. I want to close. 805 00:54:53,520 --> 00:54:57,240 I want to close with this. Now, this isn't comprehensive, 806 00:54:58,280 --> 00:55:03,240 but these are just, say some area, say some of diligence that 807 00:55:03,240 --> 00:55:07,800 God requires from you, OK, And they'll put this on the screen. 808 00:55:09,600 --> 00:55:13,280 Number one, God requires diligence in you seeking him. 809 00:55:14,760 --> 00:55:20,920 Hebrews 11/6 But without faith it's impossible to please him. 810 00:55:20,920 --> 00:55:23,520 For he come, he that come to God must believe that he is and that 811 00:55:23,520 --> 00:55:29,280 he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him, those that 812 00:55:29,280 --> 00:55:32,720 are sharp and pointed, those that have a strict decision, and 813 00:55:32,720 --> 00:55:37,240 those that are determined right. Secondly, God requires 814 00:55:37,240 --> 00:55:42,560 diligence, and you obeying him. Deuteronomy Chapter 11, verse 815 00:55:42,560 --> 00:55:48,200 #13 says, it shall come to pass if you hearken diligently unto 816 00:55:48,200 --> 00:55:51,600 my commands which I command you this day to the love the Lord 817 00:55:51,600 --> 00:55:54,800 your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your 818 00:55:54,800 --> 00:55:57,520 soul. A third area God requires is in 819 00:55:57,520 --> 00:56:03,480 listening to him diligence. Isaiah 55, verse #2. 820 00:56:04,040 --> 00:56:07,440 Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread, and you 821 00:56:07,440 --> 00:56:13,000 labor for that which satisfies not hearken, Or listen 822 00:56:13,000 --> 00:56:17,600 diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul 823 00:56:17,920 --> 00:56:21,840 delight in its fatness or prosperity. 824 00:56:22,680 --> 00:56:27,840 A fourth area is in development. God wants you to grow, grow up, 825 00:56:27,840 --> 00:56:32,480 and mature. Second Peter, chapter One verse 826 00:56:32,480 --> 00:56:36,200 #5. And beside this, giving all 827 00:56:36,200 --> 00:56:40,600 diligence, giving all diligence, Add to your faith virtue and the 828 00:56:40,600 --> 00:56:48,640 virtue knowledge 5th area, Keeping the soul, your mind, 829 00:56:48,640 --> 00:56:51,920 your will and your emotions. He wants you to be diligent. 830 00:56:53,520 --> 00:56:55,600 I can give you another verse on this and I will right now. 831 00:56:55,600 --> 00:56:58,520 Proverbs chapter 4 says guard your heart or be diligent. 832 00:56:58,960 --> 00:57:02,080 Guard in your heart. For out of it flow the issues of 833 00:57:02,080 --> 00:57:05,680 life. Deuteronomy Chapter 4 verse #9 834 00:57:05,680 --> 00:57:09,640 says only take heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, 835 00:57:09,640 --> 00:57:13,120 lest you forget the things what your eyes have seen, unless they 836 00:57:13,120 --> 00:57:16,240 depart from your heart all the days of your life and then teach 837 00:57:16,240 --> 00:57:19,600 them to your sons and to your son's sons. 838 00:57:20,240 --> 00:57:24,640 Another area God expects diligent is in self examination. 839 00:57:26,080 --> 00:57:31,280 Psalm 77 Six says Call. When I call to remembrance my 840 00:57:31,280 --> 00:57:35,840 song in the night, I commune with mine own heart and my 841 00:57:35,840 --> 00:57:40,560 spirit, made diligent search examination. 842 00:57:41,800 --> 00:57:45,440 The 7th area is offense or unforgiveness. 843 00:57:46,640 --> 00:57:53,360 Hebrews chapter 12, verse #15. Looking diligently lest any man 844 00:57:53,360 --> 00:57:57,520 fail of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springs 845 00:57:57,520 --> 00:58:01,040 up, troubles you, and thereby many be defiled. 846 00:58:01,040 --> 00:58:04,280 Wow. You got to be diligent not to be 847 00:58:04,280 --> 00:58:06,920 offended. You want to occupy. 848 00:58:07,560 --> 00:58:09,080 You want to finish your assignment. 849 00:58:09,520 --> 00:58:11,200 You need to be a man and woman of God. 850 00:58:11,760 --> 00:58:15,800 That takes that sword of forgiveness and says I release 851 00:58:15,800 --> 00:58:20,840 things. I cut off any unforgiveness the 852 00:58:20,840 --> 00:58:24,840 8th area. Is in your business, your 853 00:58:24,840 --> 00:58:27,640 employment, what's caught? What? 854 00:58:27,640 --> 00:58:30,160 What has God called you to do in the marketplace or the sacred 855 00:58:30,160 --> 00:58:35,960 place? Proverbs 2723 says be diligent 856 00:58:37,880 --> 00:58:41,040 to know the state of your flocks and look well to your herds. 857 00:58:42,560 --> 00:58:44,240 It reminds me of a Dave Ramsey story. 858 00:58:44,240 --> 00:58:47,680 When he met with somebody he was trying to reconcile their 859 00:58:47,680 --> 00:58:50,360 checkbook. Everybody know what checkbook 860 00:58:50,360 --> 00:58:54,000 is. A register, a check register. 861 00:58:57,400 --> 00:59:03,240 It has debits and credits. If your outcome is more than 862 00:59:03,240 --> 00:59:05,480 your income, then your upkeep becomes your downfall. 863 00:59:08,680 --> 00:59:11,720 But he was looking at it and he saw he kept on seeing ESP. 864 00:59:11,720 --> 00:59:15,680 So every every once in a while on the lines and he said what is 865 00:59:15,800 --> 00:59:19,200 ESP and they just said it stands for error someplace. 866 00:59:24,600 --> 00:59:27,160 I used to drive my wife bonkers with our check register 'cause I 867 00:59:27,160 --> 00:59:31,760 would always not include the change, so would cushion the 868 00:59:31,760 --> 00:59:35,320 account. And then our, our bank was like, 869 00:59:35,320 --> 00:59:37,000 whoa, there's a lot more in the account than what's in the 870 00:59:37,000 --> 00:59:39,040 checkbook. Well, yeah, because I'm, I'm not 871 00:59:39,040 --> 00:59:41,600 factoring the change. Just be accurate. 872 00:59:43,880 --> 00:59:47,280 Proverbs 2723 says 23, says be diligent to know the state of 873 00:59:47,280 --> 00:59:49,720 your flocks and look well to your herds. 874 00:59:49,720 --> 00:59:52,520 You got to know some things. If you're in business, there's a 875 00:59:52,560 --> 00:59:55,480 diligence. Listen, we got some business 876 00:59:55,480 --> 00:59:58,520 people in the church you want to excel and occupy. 877 00:59:59,040 --> 01:00:02,280 You better be good at just not only the work but the back end 878 01:00:02,280 --> 01:00:04,920 stuff as well. There's administrative side, 879 01:00:04,920 --> 01:00:08,520 then there's a production side. And if you haven't want to have 880 01:00:08,520 --> 01:00:10,680 a There's a marketing side. Lord, what I need to do to 881 01:00:10,680 --> 01:00:15,240 expand what you've given me. Last thing I want to go over is 882 01:00:15,240 --> 01:00:18,000 your purpose and calling. You got to be diligent about 883 01:00:18,000 --> 01:00:21,760 what God's called you to do. Second, Peter 110 says 884 01:00:22,120 --> 01:00:24,280 wherefore, brother, brother. And give diligence. 885 01:00:24,360 --> 01:00:27,840 Give diligence to make your calling and your election. 886 01:00:27,840 --> 01:00:32,600 Sure, for if you do these things you shall never fall. 887 01:00:34,160 --> 01:00:36,120 Listen, Church, I close with this. 888 01:00:38,560 --> 01:00:42,880 Every day is a gift from God. And don't despise a day of small 889 01:00:42,880 --> 01:00:44,720 beginnings He wants you to occupy. 890 01:00:45,280 --> 01:00:48,000 He wants you to reign this year. But it's going to require 891 01:00:48,000 --> 01:00:50,680 diligence. I just end with some testimonies 892 01:00:50,680 --> 01:00:53,680 from the Bible of people that started with what God gave them. 893 01:00:53,680 --> 01:00:55,160 Listen, he don't give you everything at once. 894 01:00:55,160 --> 01:00:58,640 He gave them four months supply. It's kind of like that one show 895 01:00:58,640 --> 01:01:00,520 where they drop you off in the middle of nowhere and just give 896 01:01:00,520 --> 01:01:05,520 you a little bit the survivor and say you got to excel in this 897 01:01:05,520 --> 01:01:08,320 right? Now listen, these people from 898 01:01:08,320 --> 01:01:09,920 the Bible. Moses had a rod. 899 01:01:11,200 --> 01:01:13,120 Samson had the jawbone of a donkey. 900 01:01:14,000 --> 01:01:18,280 David had a sling. The widow woman had a pot of 901 01:01:18,280 --> 01:01:22,720 oil. The little boy had a few loaves 902 01:01:22,720 --> 01:01:25,960 and a few fishes. Dorcas. 903 01:01:26,320 --> 01:01:30,160 I love saying that name had a needle and a thread. 904 01:01:32,680 --> 01:01:35,280 The lower, the lower. Of the distant and difficult and 905 01:01:35,280 --> 01:01:38,240 deceptive The great opportunity is where you are today. 906 01:01:45,680 --> 01:01:47,800 Thank you so much for listening to this message. 907 01:01:47,880 --> 01:01:51,240 If you want more, subscribe to our Message podcast on iTunes, 908 01:01:51,400 --> 01:01:53,440 Google Play, Spotify, and SoundCloud. 909 01:01:53,600 --> 01:01:56,040 Rating and leaving a comment will go a long way with helping 910 01:01:56,040 --> 01:01:57,760 our messages get better circulation. 911 01:01:58,280 --> 01:02:00,560 If you'd enjoy watching our weekend messages, visit 912 01:02:00,560 --> 01:02:03,760 youtube.com/anchor Faith. We'd love it. 913 01:02:03,760 --> 01:02:05,920 If you'd subscribe, leave a comment or a like on the 914 01:02:05,920 --> 01:02:07,800 messages. 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