1 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:22,680 Hallelujah. Well, Apostle Earl Marcy are out 2 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:27,880 this week. They are praying, preparing and 3 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:30,880 planning for next year. Hey, man. 4 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,640 So we just want to be in agreement with them that they're 5 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,200 getting a download of direction. Amen. 6 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,280 However the Holy Spirit wants to. 7 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:43,240 I'm working on saying not the Holy Spirit. 8 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:46,440 If you're with us over the weekend. 9 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:50,120 And Doctor Mary was with us and I got to thinking about when she 10 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,680 was saying that, I thought, well, I don't, I don't call him 11 00:00:52,680 --> 00:00:57,440 the Thaddeus or the Casey. I mean, there is the Ohio State 12 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:02,840 University, but that's a place but to make it personal Holy 13 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:04,680 Spirit, right? So we want to be agreeing with 14 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:08,280 them for the, for Holy Spirit to be directing them, leading them 15 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:12,480 and everything that God has assigned this ministry to do in 16 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:17,000 2026 that we're on point, that were accurate, that were 17 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:22,440 precise, Amen 'cause we, we want to be effective and just not 18 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,520 busy, right? We want to be doing what God 19 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:29,480 wills and wants us to do as a ministry, and it takes all of us 20 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:31,440 to accomplish that. Amen. 21 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,680 And that's why you're assigned to this local body church, 22 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,200 Anchor Faith 'cause you are unique and there's a gift in 23 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:40,560 you. And so I want to start off 24 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:45,400 tonight just kind of talking just briefly about Doctor Mary 25 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:47,320 Francis. How many of you were in service 26 00:01:47,320 --> 00:01:49,560 on Sunday night or Sunday morning? 27 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:54,360 Good a good majority of you, you know Paul sorrow when he talked 28 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,360 to me on Sunday about minister and Knight said, hey, I'm going 29 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:58,320 to be out have you cover on Wednesday. 30 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:01,960 He said maybe you can touch base on some things that Doctor Mary 31 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:05,840 had said on Sunday and so but then he also, I think he said, 32 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,759 said during introduction into one of the services, he may 33 00:02:09,759 --> 00:02:14,680 expound and talk more on this Sunday, maybe possibly more 34 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,240 about what she covered or some things that she covered on 35 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:18,200 Sunday. So you don't want to miss 36 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:19,000 Sunday. Amen. 37 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:21,920 You want to come ready to receive whatever's on his heart 38 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:25,480 to minister Angie and I did have the privilege of taking her back 39 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:29,360 to the airport on a Monday. It was a great ride with her. 40 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:34,560 Just a sweet, sweet lady. She got as soon as we got in the 41 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:38,120 car, she got to talking and about a halfway through she said 42 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,840 I've been talking non-stop. Tell me about you, but real 43 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:45,880 sweet, easy to listen to and you know, I want I want to know more 44 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,800 about her husband and, you know, ministry things that she was 45 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,120 doing. So just a great ride to listen 46 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,360 to her. But 82 years old. 47 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:03,200 What an example that he's the author and the finisher of our 48 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,560 faith, right. So doesn't matter how young you 49 00:03:06,560 --> 00:03:14,040 are or, or how old you are, God still desires to use you. 50 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,120 Amen. And it should get better as you 51 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:22,560 go on in life with Christ. You should have more wisdom, 52 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:28,760 more knowledge, more grace, more faith to pour on into the next 53 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:30,880 generation. And one thing that kind of stood 54 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:34,080 out when we were taking her back to the airport was, you know, at 55 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,440 this season of her life, I could tell how much she wants to 56 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:41,120 connect people that she knows with other people. 57 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:44,520 Like we're talking about the Apostolic anointing on a, you 58 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:48,680 know, pastoral, which she's really excited and really 59 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,600 emphasize that that flows onto the body itself too. 60 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,120 You know, so an apostle wants to build, has great vision and 61 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:58,520 wants to run with what God caused him to do. 62 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,400 But that really spills over into your life, too. 63 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,960 So she was excited about that. And she knows some other pastors 64 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,960 that have flown that are transitioning and start to flow 65 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,520 more in that Apostolic anointing. 66 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:12,280 You can see she wants to try to, you know, connect to Apostle 67 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:14,480 Earl with some of these people that are doing it now. 68 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:19,399 So, but 40 years of service, you know, she got called at 42 years 69 00:04:19,399 --> 00:04:23,360 old and now she's 82, so still going strong. 70 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,120 And as a prophetess, you know, she wants her. 71 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:29,400 She wanted to encourage, correct. 72 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:32,880 Amen. Thank God if you got off course 73 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,560 like I did taking her to Jacksonville Airport that you 74 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:39,000 can get correction. Amen. 75 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,760 Yes, that's right. I was listening to her talk and 76 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,280 I promised I saw the sign that said Jacksonville Airport and 77 00:04:44,280 --> 00:04:46,720 all the construction. And I, I got off of that exit 78 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,040 and I was like, this isn't going the right way. 79 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:52,280 So she's talking and I graciously said to my wife, hey, 80 00:04:52,280 --> 00:04:55,000 can you put that in the GPS so I can get back on course? 81 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,280 I don't even know if if Doctor Mary knew what was going on, but 82 00:04:59,280 --> 00:05:00,440 I was trying not to interrupt her. 83 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,360 And you know, I did a little hand back to my wife who's 84 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,280 sitting in the back seat, got the got the phone and kind of 85 00:05:05,280 --> 00:05:07,080 put it up there and got her back to the airport. 86 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,440 Amen. But you know, as a prophetess, 87 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:12,400 you know, she encouraged, she corrects, she obviously impart 88 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,280 instruction and, and just wants to keep you on course. 89 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:17,040 Amen. And we know that in Ephesians 90 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:23,040 chapter 4, verses 11 and 12, the word of God says, and he himself 91 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:29,600 who is Jesus, Jesus gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some 92 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,840 evangelists, some pastors and teachers for the equipping of 93 00:05:32,840 --> 00:05:34,680 the Saints. That's you. 94 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:40,080 You've been born again. If you've received Jesus Christ 95 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:43,000 as your Lord and Savior, you've been taken out of the Kingdom of 96 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:44,920 darkness. Now you're in the Kingdom of 97 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,960 light and you're not a Sinner. You're a St. 98 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:54,960 Did you get that? You, you're saved, you've been 99 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,760 delivered, the old sin nature has been taken out, you got a 100 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:02,560 brand new spirit man on the inside of you and you're now a 101 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:03,760 St. What's a St. mean? 102 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:08,320 You're separated, you're consecrated, you're dedicated to 103 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:10,760 God. Amen. 104 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,560 So it's for the equipping of the Saints. 105 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:18,920 That means the furnishing, the supplying, putting you, helping 106 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:21,920 put you in the fit in the place where God wants you to be in his 107 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:26,520 body, 'cause it takes all of us working together to accomplish 108 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:29,360 the the mission that the Father wants us to do. 109 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:32,120 So it's for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of 110 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,840 the body of Christ. And so we've been taken out of 111 00:06:35,840 --> 00:06:39,960 darkness and brought into light. And now I want to say this way, 112 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:42,400 we are a part of our Father's business. 113 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:47,280 Amen. He is God Almighty, but he's 114 00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:53,080 also father and in in in Luke chapter 2, verse 49, this is 115 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:57,320 when Jesus was 12 years old and there wasn't an Amber Alert for 116 00:06:57,320 --> 00:07:00,080 him. But he got away from his parents 117 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:02,440 on the journey and they couldn't find him. 118 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,800 And so they were looking frantically for him, but they 119 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:10,680 found him in the temple. Really confounding the priests 120 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,280 religiously that day. And they said, did you not, did 121 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:14,520 you not know we were worried about you? 122 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:19,000 And he basically what he said to them, he said, did you not know 123 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:22,880 that I must be about my father's business? 124 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,280 Amen. And so God has called us into 125 00:07:27,280 --> 00:07:30,280 his business. We are to, we are in his 126 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:33,240 enterprise, we're in his undertaking, we're in the 127 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:37,640 Father's mission. What the Father invests in and 128 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,240 his business we want to invest in and what God is investing in 129 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:43,920 his people. God wants to take his truth and, 130 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:47,400 and, and give it and impart it and give that instruction of 131 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:49,960 people. So we are in the Father's plan 132 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:51,880 of redemption. We're in the Father's business. 133 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:58,160 In Luke chapter 19 verse #13 the word says this. 134 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:03,160 He called his 10 servants and he delivered them 10 lbs. 135 00:08:03,160 --> 00:08:08,440 And he said, Occupy till I come. So what? 136 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:10,840 Since we're in the Father's business, what he's called us to 137 00:08:10,840 --> 00:08:13,880 do is occupy. Occupy means to carry on 138 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:18,600 business. It's just not that we're saved. 139 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:24,000 We're saved for a purpose. I'll put it this way, God wants 140 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:28,880 you to work in the business, His business, until everything feels 141 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:34,679 the impact of your presence. God wants you to work in his 142 00:08:34,679 --> 00:08:39,960 business until everything feels the impact of your presence. 143 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:44,920 What Doctor Mary said one word that stuck out to me that I'm 144 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:46,520 going to actually title the message tonight. 145 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:52,000 She said contend for destiny. You remember that and we're all 146 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:53,920 destined for the Father's business. 147 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,320 What's important to him should be important to us. 148 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:58,880 What's in his heart should be in our heart. 149 00:08:58,880 --> 00:09:01,040 What's in his will should be in our will. 150 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,160 What he wants done, we should be doing. 151 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:08,680 And basically as I was preparing for tonight, it came up in my 152 00:09:08,680 --> 00:09:12,960 spirit that he's appointed you as like Aceo. 153 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,280 You know what Aceo is. That's what we in the in the 154 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:22,920 world, we called him a chief executive officer and their 155 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:28,000 responsibility at that at that executive level in a company, 156 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:31,720 they're responsible for making major decisions, managing, 157 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:35,440 managing overall operations and directing a company strategy and 158 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:43,240 vision. Now the CE OS not the owner, but 159 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:47,760 employed by the owner who's the owner of our life, Jesus Christ. 160 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:51,160 He is the King of kings and the Lord of Lords. 161 00:09:52,560 --> 00:09:55,600 He's bought us, He's paid for us, He's redeemed us. 162 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,640 And Lord really means that. You're supreme in authority. 163 00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:02,360 I belong to you. You are a master and you have 164 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,640 the final say. And you want God. 165 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:07,880 You want to listen to what God says 'cause he's got the best 166 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:11,320 plan and the best strategy and the best life for you. 167 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:16,040 It's a life of adventure. It's a life of joy. 168 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:18,240 There's going to be twists, there's going to be turns. 169 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:20,520 Hallelujah. It's going to be like a roller 170 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:24,640 coaster at times. Amen. 171 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,040 Now, not everybody likes roller coasters, but they are fun. 172 00:10:29,560 --> 00:10:31,680 Early on in our marriage, Angie and I, when we lived in 173 00:10:31,680 --> 00:10:35,680 Oklahoma, we went to Texas to Six Flags and we did a roller 174 00:10:35,680 --> 00:10:37,280 coaster. That made her not one ever do a 175 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:42,680 roller coaster again 'cause we took two quick bank turns and 176 00:10:42,680 --> 00:10:47,560 she blacked out. But you know, God has a way of 177 00:10:47,560 --> 00:10:50,200 reviving you. So what I'm saying it's going to 178 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,480 be an adventure with Him. It's a life, it's an epic 179 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:55,920 journey with the Lord Jesus Christ. 180 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:00,880 And so we as Aceo, though there's responsibility that you 181 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:04,880 have, you are the really the keeper of your soul in a sense, 182 00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:08,120 because one thing Aceo does is make choices. 183 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,560 And Joshua and Joshua 24 says, Rose, me and my house, we're 184 00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:13,960 going to serve the Lord. He said, choose you this day 185 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,040 whom you going to serve. So there's a responsibility for 186 00:11:18,040 --> 00:11:21,920 you to make the right choices every day, to be managing things 187 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:25,400 well every day, to make sure you're following His strategy 188 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,320 and His plan and His vision every day. 189 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,040 As much as you may come to church on a Sunday or Wednesday, 190 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:33,800 do your Bible, and it's really up to you to make that choice 191 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:35,440 'cause God can't make it for you. 192 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,880 He's sovereign, but His sovereignty is just over His 193 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,840 Word, not your choice. You are a free will moral agent. 194 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,920 And this is the question, how far do you want to go with God 195 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:53,760 'cause man, He could take your life and expand it and do mighty 196 00:11:53,760 --> 00:12:03,600 things, or you could be mediocre Hallelujah and barely do 197 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,160 anything for the Kingdom of God. Are you still saved? 198 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:09,320 Yeah, but you could be living life on a low spiritual level. 199 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:11,680 But that's not God's will or God's best for you. 200 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:13,880 And really comes down to the power of choice. 201 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:16,040 Your choices determine your destiny. 202 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,280 We're talking about contending for destiny. 203 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,040 You got to make the right choices if you're going to stay 204 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,080 in the right destiny or the right pathway with God. 205 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:28,960 So every day, This is why it's so important to read the Word of 206 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:33,080 God and not only read the Word of God, but to meditate upon the 207 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:34,800 Word of God. The more you read the Word of 208 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,440 God and meditate upon the Word of God, the more it's in you, 209 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,680 the more your choices will line up with His will and His path. 210 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:43,880 The more blessed you'll be, the more influence you'll have, the 211 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:45,280 greater things He will do with you. 212 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:49,400 I think about Doctor Mary, when she started off at 42, guess 213 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:51,880 what her gift made room for? Because she made a choice to 214 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:56,320 give herself to that gift and that's why it's developed. 215 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,080 That's why she's been in over 40 nations. 216 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,200 She didn't go to 40 nations in four years. 217 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:04,880 This is 4 decades of being faithful to the service and 218 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,560 business of God. What's He have in store for you 219 00:13:07,560 --> 00:13:11,240 over the next 40 years? Amen. 220 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:15,400 There's great things if you make the right choice, but this 221 00:13:15,400 --> 00:13:19,640 really requires a life of consecration and dedication to 222 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:24,600 Him in order for Him to maximize your life in the destiny that He 223 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:26,720 has for you. And that word contend means 224 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:28,320 there's going to be some struggles, there's going to be 225 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,200 some fights, there's going to be some adversity. 226 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:32,680 It's not going to be like you're tiptoeing through the tulips in 227 00:13:32,680 --> 00:13:37,120 a flower bed of ease and everything's just going to 228 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:41,720 always just go perfect. But when God is with you, who 229 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:48,600 can be against you? You know, I obviously one of my 230 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:52,680 passions in life is lifting and it always, it's not always easy 231 00:13:52,680 --> 00:13:56,680 getting up at 5:30 in the morning, glory to God. 232 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:01,920 One person looked at me when we're on vacation. 233 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:07,760 I can't remember when we went to Vermont for my 50th but said how 234 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:10,000 did you get that way? I said, well, I started when I 235 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:16,680 was 13 and I'm 50 and I just have never stopped. 236 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:20,040 So how did Doctor Mary get that way? 237 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:24,680 She started when she's 42 and she just has never stopped. 238 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:27,720 She keeps, she keeps giving herself to the things of God, 239 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:32,000 right? And so there's going to be 240 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:33,360 adversity, there's going to be struggles. 241 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:34,880 Sometimes there's going to be some pain. 242 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,600 I like when we say in lifting, pain is just weakness leaving 243 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:42,160 the body spiritually. Some things you're going to go 244 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:45,480 through. It's just to strengthen you out 245 00:14:45,480 --> 00:14:47,560 of your weakness. He's made strong. 246 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:55,080 I want to go to 1st Corinthians Chapter 9, verses 24 through 27. 247 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,280 And this is the Apostle Paul talking to the church at 248 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:01,720 Corinth. And this goes along with 249 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:06,800 contending for destiny and for the the the Father's business 250 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,000 and what he's called us into as a ministry. 251 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:12,200 And Paul says this to the church at Corinth. 252 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,000 And he's really, you know, when you're reading the epistles, 253 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,680 it's like reading a letter to yourself, even though the 254 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:22,440 apostle Paul's writing this to them this through time. 255 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:25,000 The anointing extends to us right now. 256 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:29,680 So it's a relevant word in due season says, do you not know 257 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:37,520 that those who run in a race all run but one receives the prize, 258 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:43,080 run in such a way that you may obtain it, and everyone who 259 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:45,880 competes for the prize is temperate in all things. 260 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:50,160 Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an 261 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:54,920 imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus, not with 262 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:59,760 uncertainty, thus I fight, not as one who beats the air, but I 263 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:04,160 discipline my body and I bring it into subjection, lest when I 264 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:08,040 have preached to others, I myself should become 265 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,920 disqualified. So the apostle Paul is given the 266 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:16,320 analogy or the metaphor that in this race with Christ, in this 267 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:20,840 contending for the destiny, it's like entering into a race. 268 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,240 And when you're running, that means that you're spending your 269 00:16:26,240 --> 00:16:30,520 strength and performing to attain something. 270 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,520 That means you're there's, you're exerting yourself. 271 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:37,880 I could stop service right now and say, hey, we're going to go 272 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:42,440 run 2 miles outside all of us now, Christopher says no 273 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:52,720 problem, I'm an Olympic athlete. Yeah, but we, some of us will be 274 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:57,080 exerting more than others, right? 275 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:04,160 But in a race, it's a course or a destiny or a pathway that God 276 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:06,760 has for you. And you know what, I, when I was 277 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,040 thinking about this today, when it comes to the Olympics or 278 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:12,359 races, I remember back in May, we went to go see my niece's 279 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:16,480 graduation from Oklahoma Baptist University and they, she can run 280 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:17,440 a long time. Seth. 281 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:19,440 I'm not built to run a long time. 282 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:22,040 Seth. I don't have all those type 1 283 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:25,319 fibers, but it intrigued me to see them run all these 284 00:17:25,319 --> 00:17:27,280 distances. But all these runners had their 285 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:33,360 own lanes that they were in. And the awesome thing about God 286 00:17:33,360 --> 00:17:35,920 is we're not comparing ourselves to one another and measuring 287 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,320 ourselves by one another. You're in your own lane. 288 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:41,520 You're in your own race as part of the body of Christ. 289 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:46,960 And listen, God is cheering you on, but it's up for you to run 290 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:50,040 your race. And that means there's going to 291 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:51,320 be times we're going to have to exert. 292 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:53,400 There's going to be times of pain, there's going to be times 293 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:57,160 of trials, there'll be times of temptations or tests, but you 294 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:01,520 just need to keep going. You know, my niece is able to 295 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:04,120 break several records. It was her senior year, but she 296 00:18:04,120 --> 00:18:05,960 was giving. This was her last time running. 297 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:08,200 She knew she wouldn't go on, go on beyond this. 298 00:18:08,360 --> 00:18:10,480 So guess what? She decided to exert herself 299 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:15,000 with everything that she had, and because of that man, she was 300 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:16,880 running to win. And that's what God's saying to 301 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,200 you. You run your race to win. 302 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,680 Don't run your ways to lose. Who wants to lose? 303 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:25,640 Nobody. God wants you to win. 304 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,720 He wants you to be a champion. Matter of fact, we're of the 305 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:33,560 same DNA, the same fabric of God, and He is a champion. 306 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:36,480 Therefore, we are a champion. We are more than conquerors 307 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,560 through Christ, who gives us strength. 308 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:42,800 We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength 309 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:47,080 over and Deuteronomy says we are the head and not the tail above 310 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:54,880 and not beneath. If God be for you, who can be 311 00:18:55,240 --> 00:19:00,360 against you? No good thing will you withhold 312 00:19:00,360 --> 00:19:05,040 from those who walk uprightly. God wants things to go well for 313 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,680 you. He's cheering you on from 314 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:13,440 heaven, saying go son, go daughter, work until everything 315 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:17,800 feels the impact of your presence and there is a prize 316 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:22,120 we're looking for A prize is the award to the victor. 317 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:25,040 When I was going over today and studying, I thought when I got 318 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:30,560 to this, this point in the verse when Paul says run your race to 319 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:34,680 obtain the prize man, I tell you what the parable, the talents 320 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:39,840 just sprung right up in me. In Matthew 25, we get the 321 00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:44,520 parable of talents where God gave 151211. 322 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:47,280 And what was he saying? This is your race. 323 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:50,600 I'm giving you 5 talents. I'm giving you 2 talents, I'm 324 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:54,640 giving you one talent. Now run to win, obtain the 325 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:57,160 prize. And we know the outcome of that 326 00:19:57,160 --> 00:20:00,640 story right to the five man. He ran his race. 327 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:05,360 She ran her race. And she was they he or she was 328 00:20:05,360 --> 00:20:08,160 looking for that prize right, and we know that the Father said 329 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:11,800 well done. My good and faith was serving. 330 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:15,520 You have been faithful over a few things. 331 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:18,280 Here's your prize. I'm going to make you rule over 332 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:23,760 many things enter into the joy of the Lord, the one that 333 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:27,760 received the two talents. This God said run your race for 334 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:31,400 the prize to obtain it. Same thing, even though they 335 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:37,840 weren't comparing themselves, the one that had five wasn't 336 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:40,280 jealous of the one that had two. The one that 2 wasn't jealous of 337 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:42,720 the one that had five. They said this is my lane. 338 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,120 This is my uniqueness. This is my gift. 339 00:20:45,120 --> 00:20:46,760 This is what God's put inside of me. 340 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:48,400 I'm going to take what He put inside of me. 341 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:50,280 I'm going to with everything within me. 342 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:55,240 I'm going to run with all of my passion and pursue Him with 343 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:58,080 everything. The one that had the two got the 344 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:00,800 same thing had the prize. He said well done you good and 345 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:02,880 faithful servant. You've been faithful over a few 346 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:04,400 things. I'll make you rule over many 347 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,000 enter into the joy of the Lord but the one that received the 348 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:16,080 one talent did not run the race and what you miss out in 349 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:18,720 disobedience God can assign to somebody else who's going to 350 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:21,680 pick it up and run with it because the one that had the one 351 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:23,720 what was given to somebody else who was going to be productive 352 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:30,840 with it, right. And Paul goes on to say run in 353 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:33,720 such a way that you may obtain. We are to lay a hold of this. 354 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,680 We're to take possession. We're to be eager about the 355 00:21:36,680 --> 00:21:39,720 Father's business. We're to be eager about a life 356 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,680 of consecration and separation of God. 357 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:48,600 This whole verse exudes with the Olympic Games and to be at that 358 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:53,000 level of an athlete takes a certain discipline and a certain 359 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:58,480 level of living of right choices, and you got to take a 360 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,240 hold of this thing. When I read this part of it, I 361 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:04,240 thought, man, this is the promised land in the Old 362 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:08,000 Testament. God brought them out to to bring 363 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:09,920 them in. God just didn't deliver you from 364 00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:12,440 an altar just to leave you where you're at in life. 365 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:17,160 You, you responded by the Holy Spirit during an altar call to 366 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,080 give your life to him so he can bring you out, to bring you into 367 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:23,160 something. God took him out of Egypt, a 368 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:28,760 life of bondage and said I'm taking you into my desire, my 369 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:31,200 will, my plan was to take you to Canaan land. 370 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:35,600 But you realize a lot of that, a lot of those people for 40 years 371 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:39,120 meandered in mediocrity in the wilderness. 372 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,840 When God brought them out of Egypt, it was an 11 day journey 373 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:48,520 to get to the Canaan land. But because of their choices, it 374 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:54,840 took him 40 years. And so whole generation just 375 00:22:54,840 --> 00:23:00,280 meandered in mediocrity. But there was a generation that 376 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:01,600 went into the land. Amen. 377 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,800 And Canaan Land is still the same today as it was for us back 378 00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:08,680 then. It wasn't heaven 'cause there 379 00:23:08,680 --> 00:23:13,160 were seven nations in Canaan land that they had to dispossess 380 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:15,600 enemies. And there's no enemies in 381 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:20,120 heaven. So it was real for them. 382 00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:23,520 But it was also real for us because God said, I'm going to 383 00:23:23,520 --> 00:23:25,800 take you into the land. It's a land that's flown with 384 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,280 milk and honey. It's a sweet life. 385 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:30,080 It's a land that's more than enough. 386 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:32,200 In the wilderness, you have just enough. 387 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:36,240 You may be saved, love God, but just you're barely getting by. 388 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,760 But that's not God's desire for you saying I want you to run 389 00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:42,120 your waste race in such a way that you obtain the prize. 390 00:23:42,120 --> 00:23:44,560 You take hold of everything that I have for you. 391 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:47,640 The modern day equivalent of this is John 1010. 392 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:49,760 He said the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. 393 00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:54,040 But I have come that I may give you life and to give it to you 394 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:59,760 more abundantly. One translation says a rich and 395 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:06,000 a satisfying life. So we want to take hold of this. 396 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,400 There were seven nations they had to dispossess in order to 397 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:13,320 take possession of the land. What is it that you have to put 398 00:24:13,320 --> 00:24:15,760 out of your life to take possession of what God has for 399 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:22,680 your life? You know one thing Doctor Mary 400 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:26,600 said too, she kind of got on this evangelism. 401 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:28,800 I think it was the night service on Sunday. 402 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:32,560 As we're running our race, part of the Father's business is to 403 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:38,320 bring this good news, this gospel to everybody we 404 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:43,600 encounter. Amen. 405 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:47,000 As you're running your race, one thing we're trying to lay hold 406 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:53,160 of is the mercy, The grace that we've received is to impact 407 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:57,880 others with that. That's part of our assignment. 408 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:02,320 This church and churches should be growing because we are a 409 00:25:02,320 --> 00:25:07,600 witness and a testimony to Jesus Christ. 410 00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:10,920 And I want to remind you in Matthew chapter 5, the Bible 411 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:13,560 says that you are salt and you are light. 412 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:17,440 And part of part of the Father's business is when you go out in 413 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:21,920 your daily life, be salt and be light. 414 00:25:23,360 --> 00:25:25,560 Light does not make a sound, but you see it. 415 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:31,440 So evangelism is not always just talking about Jesus, Jesus, 416 00:25:31,480 --> 00:25:36,200 Jesus. It's not about It could be about 417 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:39,080 that, but it's also your conduct, your character. 418 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:46,240 How do you conduct yourself? That should attract. 419 00:25:46,240 --> 00:25:51,800 Light attracts and your life in Christ should be attractive to 420 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:55,120 people. Hallelujah. 421 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:59,560 Salt, in order for it to work, needs contact. 422 00:26:01,880 --> 00:26:04,600 So there are times you're going to say something to somebody. 423 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:10,080 Amen. So we got to realize when we 424 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:13,760 leave this building today, when we're going through our routine 425 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:16,920 tomorrow, when we're going to our jobs tomorrow, God has 426 00:26:16,920 --> 00:26:19,520 called us into his business. And we want to make sure that 427 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:22,760 the goodness that we've received, the grace that we've 428 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:25,640 received, the life that we've received, man, we have a heart 429 00:26:25,640 --> 00:26:28,760 to pour that out into a hurting and dying world. 430 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:34,320 But in order for you to obtain the promised land for you, what 431 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:39,360 do you need to cut off in order to receive His best? 432 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:44,040 You know, an athlete is temperate. 433 00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:46,160 They're disciplined. And Paul talks about this in 434 00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:48,200 this verse. They have a thing called 435 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:52,600 self-control. You know, they're not going home 436 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:58,400 tonight eating Ben and Jerry's ice cream, right? 437 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:01,880 So how? Yeah, I made your day. 438 00:27:02,120 --> 00:27:05,440 You eat that enough for enough consecutive days, your day is 439 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:10,840 not going to be made. They're they're tempering. 440 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:14,360 They know how to say no to the wrong things and say yes to the 441 00:27:14,360 --> 00:27:17,040 right things. And I wonder what I want to stir 442 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:19,840 you up by way of remembrance. There is so much God has put on 443 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:24,040 the inside of you. There's so much gifting, There's 444 00:27:24,040 --> 00:27:27,120 so much grace. There's an assignment for you. 445 00:27:27,120 --> 00:27:30,840 There's a purpose for you. There's a race for you and it's 446 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:35,480 up to you to be disciplined in that and that's what I want to 447 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:38,600 encourage you mostly in a nightmare means be disciplined 448 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:42,600 to do all that God wants to do with you for this lifetime. 449 00:27:44,560 --> 00:27:47,360 So what what do you need to say yes to and what do you see need 450 00:27:47,360 --> 00:27:50,720 to say no to? Are you with me? 451 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:58,640 You know, in this verse 2, Paul says that I I don't run with 452 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:01,040 uncertainty and I don't be there. 453 00:28:01,040 --> 00:28:04,880 Meaning he was pregnant with purpose, He was contending for 454 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:07,240 his destiny. He knew why he was on the earth. 455 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:11,960 And when you know why, that'll motivate you for the what? 456 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:19,280 When you know when you're aiming for something and it's coming 457 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:22,000 up, that's going to create discipline in your life. 458 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:26,080 I was talking to my wife today and we're just talking about 459 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:28,000 certain goals. Goals help bring discipline. 460 00:28:28,000 --> 00:28:31,280 When you have an aim from God that helps discipline you, 461 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:34,080 right? And we're just talking about we, 462 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:36,800 we'll go over goals every year, spirit, soul, body, family, 463 00:28:36,800 --> 00:28:38,520 financially, socially and ministry. 464 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:42,880 And we were talking about somebody goals and and now she's 465 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:44,440 didn't commit to this. So I don't want you to run out 466 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:46,480 and telling her, but she was like, maybe I should run a 467 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:51,400 marathon. Jan ran what? 468 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:56,200 Well, what was it 5K? Sorry, I want to tell the truth, 469 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:03,320 but but you know that when you know that's coming, that's going 470 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:04,680 to create discipline in your life. 471 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:09,400 You don't want to be like Pastor Denise Burns from from Kenneth 472 00:29:09,400 --> 00:29:11,040 Hagin Ministries and Rhema Bible Church. 473 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:13,960 She just got up one one. I think it was like a Monday. 474 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:16,400 There was a race that Sunday and she just decided to run it. 475 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:20,640 She said she went that next. It was like over the weekend. 476 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:21,800 So the next day she went to get out of bed. 477 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:25,040 She could hardly move. But that's not preparation, 478 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:26,920 correct? Preparation, right? 479 00:29:27,320 --> 00:29:30,960 It comes training, there's nutrition, there's rest, there's 480 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:34,000 knowledge that you need, right? How much more this life of God 481 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:38,720 do we need these things to do all that He wants us to do? 482 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:43,920 I want to go to the book of Hebrews 'cause this is a 483 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:48,320 fascinating book. You know, the book of Hebrews is 484 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:53,960 written between 65 and 70 AD. And in this book, there's many 485 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:58,880 strong warnings in this epistle to the Hebrew Christians. 486 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:01,920 And a lot of them were in a backslidden condition. 487 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:05,480 They were in danger of apostatizing against Jesus 488 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:09,600 Christ and returning to Judaism. Faith and conviction and 489 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:13,880 enthusiasm were waning. So was prayer and public worship 490 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:16,680 and scriptures are being neglected. 491 00:30:16,680 --> 00:30:20,360 Matter of fact, in Hebrews chapter 5, the author says by 492 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:23,840 now you should be teachers, but you still have need that one 493 00:30:23,840 --> 00:30:27,160 teach you the AB CS of the gospel. 494 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:34,760 So there was really an correction coming trying to stir 495 00:30:34,760 --> 00:30:37,200 them back up. Man, you should be beyond where 496 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,400 you're at spiritually. You realize when you get born 497 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:40,800 again. It's just like when you get, 498 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:45,280 when you're born as a baby, you are supposed to grow up. 499 00:30:47,160 --> 00:30:49,720 So it's one thing for somebody that gave their life to Lord 500 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:54,320 last month, and it's different for somebody that's been walking 501 00:30:54,320 --> 00:31:01,000 with Lord for 20 years, right? If you're 20 years old and 502 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:03,560 you're still wearing a diaper and have a passy in your mouth, 503 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:12,080 there's a problem, right? So the the writer of Hebrews is 504 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:15,880 really bringing a strong word to really try to stir them up. 505 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:22,320 It was really written to rekindle a dampening fire, a 506 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:25,520 feigning spirit, a dying enthusiasm, and a dullness of 507 00:31:25,520 --> 00:31:29,280 hearing. The letter of Hebrews was a 508 00:31:29,280 --> 00:31:34,280 response and it was sounding forth with teaching, with 509 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:41,840 warning, and with exhortation. And so there's 13 power packed 510 00:31:41,840 --> 00:31:49,080 chapters in Hebrews to try to stir up the people of God to the 511 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:55,640 race that he's called them to. So I'm actually going to read 2 512 00:31:55,640 --> 00:32:00,280 chapters now. I'm I want you to stay with me. 513 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:04,840 I thought about having all you stand up as I read. 514 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:07,960 And the cool thing about this, I'm only about two weeks behind 515 00:32:07,960 --> 00:32:13,520 you on your Bible reading. I thought I could help you on 516 00:32:13,520 --> 00:32:16,360 your Bible reading, but you're just going to get a repeat of 517 00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:18,760 what was about a week or two ago, 'cause if you were, if 518 00:32:18,760 --> 00:32:22,640 you're following your Bible reading plan, Hebrews 11 and 12 519 00:32:22,640 --> 00:32:25,640 was about a week or two ago. All right, So if you're behind 520 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:27,200 two weeks, I'm really helping you out. 521 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:31,120 So thank you, Pastor Mike, for helping me get my Bible reading 522 00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:34,600 done tonight. But there's a reason why we're 523 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:37,600 going here, Amen. So whether you're on your 524 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:41,080 digital device or with the paper Bible, I want you to follow 525 00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:44,960 along with me as we read this, Amen. 526 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:52,800 So Hebrews Chapter 11 and chapter 12, there's nothing 527 00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:57,480 better than the word of God, Amen. 528 00:33:00,960 --> 00:33:06,120 It builds our faith, it renews our mind, it gives us 529 00:33:06,120 --> 00:33:08,480 inspiration. Matter of fact, man shall not 530 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:12,720 live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of 531 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:14,600 the mouth of God. And you're going to get a good 532 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:18,040 meal tonight from Hebrews Chapter 11 and chapter 12. 533 00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:19,920 And when we're reading this, I want you to think about what 534 00:33:19,920 --> 00:33:23,120 we've spoken about so far, contending for destiny and 535 00:33:23,120 --> 00:33:26,120 running the race that is set before us 'cause Hebrews Chapter 536 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:29,920 11 is really the Hall of Fame of faith of people that had have 537 00:33:29,920 --> 00:33:34,960 already ran their race. And then Hebrews chapter 12 is 538 00:33:34,960 --> 00:33:39,040 really an exhortation to us for us to run our race. 539 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,280 So listen to this now. Faith is a substance of things 540 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:47,040 hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 541 00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:51,360 For by faith the elders obtained a good testimony. 542 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:54,880 By faith we understand that the world's were framed by the word 543 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:58,320 of God, so that the things which are seen were not made are the 544 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:01,440 things which are visible. By faith. 545 00:34:01,440 --> 00:34:06,160 Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, 546 00:34:06,680 --> 00:34:09,760 through which Abel obtained witness that he was righteous. 547 00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:15,719 God, testifying of his gifts, and through it being dead, still 548 00:34:15,719 --> 00:34:19,520 speaks. By faith. 549 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:23,920 Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, did not taste 550 00:34:23,920 --> 00:34:27,560 death. It was not found because God had 551 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:31,040 taken him. For before Enoch was taken, he 552 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:34,360 had this testimony that he pleased God. 553 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:38,600 But without faith it's impossible to please God, for he 554 00:34:38,600 --> 00:34:42,639 that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he's a 555 00:34:42,639 --> 00:34:47,480 rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 556 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:51,840 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, 557 00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:55,560 move with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his 558 00:34:55,560 --> 00:34:59,840 household, by which he condemned the world and became the heir of 559 00:34:59,840 --> 00:35:01,800 righteousness, which is according to faith. 560 00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:06,120 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the 561 00:35:06,120 --> 00:35:08,600 place which he would receive as an inheritance. 562 00:35:09,160 --> 00:35:12,440 And Abraham went out, not knowing where he was going. 563 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:17,560 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise, as in a foreign 564 00:35:17,560 --> 00:35:21,400 country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with 565 00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:25,320 him, with the same promise, for he waited for the city which had 566 00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:27,920 foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 567 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:33,560 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive, 568 00:35:33,560 --> 00:35:36,840 seed, and and bore a child when she was past the age, because 569 00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:40,720 she judged God faithful who had promised. 570 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:45,880 Therefore from one man and him as good as dead were born many 571 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:49,400 as the stars of the sky, multitude innumerable as a 572 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:54,760 sandwiches by the seashore. These all died in faith, not 573 00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:58,160 having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, 574 00:35:58,520 --> 00:36:02,080 were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they 575 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:04,240 were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 576 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:07,760 For those who say such things, declare plainly that they seek a 577 00:36:07,760 --> 00:36:10,400 homeland. And truly, if they had called to 578 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:13,040 mind that country from which they had come out, they would 579 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:15,640 have had an opportunity to return. 580 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:19,520 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. 581 00:36:19,520 --> 00:36:23,040 Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God. 582 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:26,680 He has prepared a city for them. Verse 17. 583 00:36:26,680 --> 00:36:33,400 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, who 584 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:36,320 had received the promises, offered up his only begotten 585 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:40,840 Son, of whom it it was said, in Isaac your seed shall be called, 586 00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:45,000 concluding that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, 587 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:47,680 which he also received him in a figurative sense. 588 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:52,320 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 589 00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:55,800 By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each one of the 590 00:36:55,800 --> 00:37:00,440 sons of Joseph and worship, leaning on the top of his staff. 591 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:03,840 By faith, Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the 592 00:37:03,840 --> 00:37:06,800 departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions 593 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:12,280 concerning his bones. By faith, Moses, when he was 594 00:37:12,280 --> 00:37:15,600 born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he 595 00:37:15,600 --> 00:37:18,680 was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the King's 596 00:37:18,680 --> 00:37:21,520 command. By faith Moses, when he became 597 00:37:21,520 --> 00:37:25,320 of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 598 00:37:25,320 --> 00:37:29,080 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of 599 00:37:29,080 --> 00:37:35,360 God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the 600 00:37:35,360 --> 00:37:38,800 reproach of Christ's greater riches in the treasure in Egypt, 601 00:37:39,160 --> 00:37:45,400 For he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not 602 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:48,840 fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing whom 603 00:37:49,240 --> 00:37:54,200 who is invisible. By faith Moses kept the Passover 604 00:37:54,200 --> 00:37:57,640 and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the first 605 00:37:57,640 --> 00:38:00,960 born should touch him. By faith they pass through the 606 00:38:00,960 --> 00:38:04,240 Red Sea as that dry land, whereas the Egyptians, 607 00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:06,200 attempting to do so, were drowned. 608 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:10,440 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were 609 00:38:10,440 --> 00:38:14,000 encircled for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab did 610 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:20,040 not perish when she had received the spies with peace. 611 00:38:21,720 --> 00:38:24,000 What more shall I say? For the time would not, would 612 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:29,120 fail me to tell of Gideon, of baracks, Samson, Shephada, and 613 00:38:29,120 --> 00:38:31,800 of David and Sam and all the prophets who through face 614 00:38:31,800 --> 00:38:35,240 subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained 615 00:38:35,240 --> 00:38:40,400 promises, stopped the mouth of lions, quenched the violence of 616 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:42,320 fire, escaped the edge of the sword. 617 00:38:42,560 --> 00:38:46,040 Out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in 618 00:38:46,040 --> 00:38:49,560 battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens, women 619 00:38:49,560 --> 00:38:52,440 received their dead, raised to life again. 620 00:38:52,960 --> 00:38:56,200 Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they 621 00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:58,200 may obtain a better resurrection. 622 00:38:58,560 --> 00:39:01,720 Still others had trials of mocking scourges, yes, and 623 00:39:01,720 --> 00:39:04,680 chains, and imprisonment. Imprisonment. 624 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:07,760 They were stoned, they were saunas, and two they were 625 00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:10,280 tempted, were slain with the sword. 626 00:39:10,280 --> 00:39:13,400 They wandered about in sheepskins and goat skins, being 627 00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:17,200 destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not 628 00:39:17,200 --> 00:39:20,480 worthy. They wander in deserts and 629 00:39:20,480 --> 00:39:26,800 mountains and dens and caves of the earth and all these, all of 630 00:39:26,800 --> 00:39:31,600 these, and I'll say this, that ran their race to obtain the 631 00:39:31,600 --> 00:39:35,960 prize. They obtained a good testimony 632 00:39:35,960 --> 00:39:38,760 through faith, but did not receive the promise. 633 00:39:38,760 --> 00:39:42,480 God having provided something better for us, they should do 634 00:39:42,480 --> 00:39:45,800 not be made perfect apart from us. 635 00:39:47,720 --> 00:39:51,320 This specifically just went over the lives of 16 men and women 636 00:39:52,400 --> 00:39:55,360 that ran their race and finished their course. 637 00:39:56,360 --> 00:39:59,600 And I give that to you as an encouragement for you to run 638 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:04,600 your race and finish your course 'cause this Hall of Fame of 639 00:40:04,600 --> 00:40:07,160 faith is not limited to Hebrews Chapter 11. 640 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:11,600 God is still authoring things today and still wanting to 641 00:40:11,600 --> 00:40:16,240 finish things today. And God and in verse 40 said God 642 00:40:16,240 --> 00:40:19,320 provided something better, that all these men and women, they 643 00:40:19,320 --> 00:40:21,720 should be made perfect apart from us. 644 00:40:22,240 --> 00:40:25,360 So chapter 12, even though the Bible's written in chapter and 645 00:40:25,360 --> 00:40:28,920 verse, it's one continuous letter that's going on Chapter 646 00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:34,840 12 comes to us today. Therefore, when it says, 647 00:40:34,840 --> 00:40:41,800 therefore, you need to see what is there for we also, since we 648 00:40:41,800 --> 00:40:47,200 are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses. 649 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:55,160 Listen, I've been reading a book by Kenneth Hagin, which they 650 00:40:55,160 --> 00:40:57,320 recommended a Bible school for us to read once a year. 651 00:40:57,320 --> 00:41:00,920 So I try to stay true to that. And he was talking about this 652 00:41:00,920 --> 00:41:02,920 verse and what God revealed to him. 653 00:41:03,480 --> 00:41:08,000 It's like you have this grandstand in heaven just like a 654 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:11,640 stadium. And he said you got all these 655 00:41:11,640 --> 00:41:14,200 men and women of faith watching what you're doing. 656 00:41:15,320 --> 00:41:17,520 And he said they're not so interested or do not so know 657 00:41:17,520 --> 00:41:20,200 much about the natural things of life, but the spiritual things 658 00:41:20,200 --> 00:41:23,240 of life. And so they're more interested 659 00:41:23,240 --> 00:41:25,360 in what are you doing spiritually. 660 00:41:26,200 --> 00:41:27,840 And it's like they're cheering you on. 661 00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:32,160 You know, when you're running a race and you're tired, but when 662 00:41:32,160 --> 00:41:35,720 you get somebody that's cheering you on, it makes a difference 663 00:41:36,400 --> 00:41:38,760 when somebody's saying you can do it, you can finish. 664 00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:40,200 Hey, they're catching up with you. 665 00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:46,040 Run faster, kicking into higher gear and that's what all these 666 00:41:46,040 --> 00:41:49,840 witnesses are doing. They are seeing your spiritual 667 00:41:49,840 --> 00:41:52,880 race and they are cheering you on. 668 00:41:54,160 --> 00:41:59,200 It goes on to say let us lay aside this is our 669 00:41:59,200 --> 00:42:02,480 responsibility. Going back to first Corinthians 670 00:42:02,480 --> 00:42:07,520 Chapter 9 member says in an an athlete is temperate and 671 00:42:07,520 --> 00:42:10,520 self-discipline. They they put their body under. 672 00:42:11,760 --> 00:42:13,320 Well, this author saying the same thing. 673 00:42:13,320 --> 00:42:17,120 You need to lay aside every weight and the sin which so 674 00:42:17,120 --> 00:42:22,960 easily besets you and run with endurance the race that is set 675 00:42:22,960 --> 00:42:26,200 before you. You know, there's weights in 676 00:42:26,200 --> 00:42:34,240 life that we need to throw off burdens, encumbrances. 677 00:42:35,280 --> 00:42:38,080 I like what doctor Faith said or I'm sorry, Doctor Faith. 678 00:42:38,080 --> 00:42:41,800 She's with faith Christian University doctor Mary said 679 00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:45,760 Francis on Sunday when she's getting ready to take her 680 00:42:45,760 --> 00:42:47,320 grandkids. I think to the store she went to 681 00:42:47,320 --> 00:42:49,680 reach for the knob if you didn't hear the story, and she's just 682 00:42:49,680 --> 00:42:53,280 going to take her grandkids out. And all of a sudden God spoke up 683 00:42:54,240 --> 00:42:57,960 in a very authoritative verse and a voice and said you need to 684 00:42:57,960 --> 00:43:01,280 quit worrying. And she's like, God, I'm only 685 00:43:01,280 --> 00:43:04,840 taking my kids store. But what he was saying to her is 686 00:43:04,840 --> 00:43:09,160 that becomes a weight or a burden to you and you can't run 687 00:43:09,160 --> 00:43:14,280 your your race when you're weighed down with anxiety when 688 00:43:14,280 --> 00:43:18,480 you're weighed down with stress, the the word of God tells us 689 00:43:19,600 --> 00:43:23,920 that we are to be anxious for nothing but all things through 690 00:43:23,920 --> 00:43:26,000 prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving. 691 00:43:26,000 --> 00:43:31,160 Make your request known to God and it says the peace of God 692 00:43:31,160 --> 00:43:33,800 that passes understanding will guard your heart and your mind. 693 00:43:34,040 --> 00:43:35,760 God's not going to do that for you. 694 00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:39,800 You should be responsible as Aceo of your life to make the 695 00:43:39,800 --> 00:43:42,000 choice. Man, I'm casting that off. 696 00:43:43,720 --> 00:43:46,680 I'm not going to let that be a weight or a burden somewhere 697 00:43:46,680 --> 00:43:50,000 where you may have blown it in life and the devil wants to 698 00:43:50,000 --> 00:43:51,760 come. And if you know, if the the 699 00:43:51,760 --> 00:43:53,720 devil can't tempt you, he'll accuse you. 700 00:43:56,200 --> 00:43:58,960 If he can't get you in temptation, he'll try to get you 701 00:43:58,960 --> 00:44:03,320 an accusation. Oh, you thought the thought that 702 00:44:03,320 --> 00:44:08,920 could be a weight to your race that you need to cast off first? 703 00:44:08,920 --> 00:44:12,680 John 19 says if anyone confesses his sin, God is faithful and 704 00:44:12,680 --> 00:44:16,360 just to forgive you and to cleanse you from all 705 00:44:16,360 --> 00:44:19,680 unrighteousness. It's an Etch A Sketch moment. 706 00:44:22,080 --> 00:44:24,000 You know what Etch A Sketch is? You know, you try to make all 707 00:44:24,000 --> 00:44:26,400 the symbols and stuff with it and you shake it. 708 00:44:27,160 --> 00:44:30,560 And what do you get? A clean slate And thank God for 709 00:44:30,560 --> 00:44:32,280 the blood that's on the mercy seat. 710 00:44:33,680 --> 00:44:36,880 And when you say, Father, I blew it, I'm sorry, please forgive 711 00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:39,120 me. I want to receive your 712 00:44:39,120 --> 00:44:41,280 forgiveness. He just has an Etch A Sketch 713 00:44:41,280 --> 00:44:43,360 moment with you. Psalms 103 says as far as the 714 00:44:43,360 --> 00:44:45,320 East is the West. He will remove your 715 00:44:45,320 --> 00:44:49,600 transgressions. So if God doesn't remember your 716 00:44:49,600 --> 00:44:54,960 sins, why are you remembering them if you've repented of them, 717 00:44:54,960 --> 00:44:58,640 right? It says to cast off every weight 718 00:44:58,640 --> 00:45:03,400 and the sin that so easily besets a sin means to be without 719 00:45:03,400 --> 00:45:08,560 a share in, or to miss the mark, or to wander from the divine law 720 00:45:08,560 --> 00:45:11,000 of God. Man. 721 00:45:11,000 --> 00:45:16,080 Sin will cloud you. Sin will mess up your judgement. 722 00:45:17,000 --> 00:45:21,840 Sin will slow your race down. Remember when I said St. 723 00:45:21,840 --> 00:45:24,400 That means we're we are consecrated to God. 724 00:45:24,400 --> 00:45:29,040 That you know, purity brings great focus, but sin brings 725 00:45:29,040 --> 00:45:35,400 great distortion and we need to strip off weight and sin and the 726 00:45:35,400 --> 00:45:38,320 Bible says it easily besets us. That means it skillfully 727 00:45:38,320 --> 00:45:43,520 surrounds us and you need to take authority over weights and 728 00:45:43,520 --> 00:45:48,600 sins and cast those off. Listen, all sin promises A 729 00:45:48,600 --> 00:45:51,840 servant please, but it only enslaves and dominates. 730 00:45:53,400 --> 00:45:57,960 In Hebrews Chapter 11 it says that Moses chose to forsake the 731 00:45:57,960 --> 00:46:04,280 pleasure of sin for a season. The temptation of sin is nothing 732 00:46:04,280 --> 00:46:07,200 to compare with the consequence of sin. 733 00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:12,320 It's one thing to be tempted, but we're overcomers. 734 00:46:12,600 --> 00:46:17,000 Jesus was tempted in all points, like we are, yet without sin. 735 00:46:18,680 --> 00:46:21,440 So we're to cast off weights. We're to cast off sin. 736 00:46:21,640 --> 00:46:23,960 We understand that they try to easily beset us. 737 00:46:23,960 --> 00:46:25,920 They try to skillfully surround us. 738 00:46:26,240 --> 00:46:28,600 And boy, the devil is a master. I was thinking about this. 739 00:46:28,600 --> 00:46:34,280 Today, more than ever, we are skillfully surrounded by sin, 740 00:46:35,080 --> 00:46:39,120 but we can overcome every time, 'cause the greater is he that's 741 00:46:39,120 --> 00:46:42,400 in us than he that's in the world. 742 00:46:43,200 --> 00:46:46,600 And so we're to lay aside every weight and sin, and we're to run 743 00:46:46,600 --> 00:46:50,440 with patience. The race that is set before us. 744 00:46:50,680 --> 00:46:54,000 That word set before means there's a destiny before us. 745 00:46:54,680 --> 00:46:56,200 And we're to run that with patience. 746 00:46:56,200 --> 00:47:01,000 That means to be steadfast, to be constant, to have endurance. 747 00:47:01,520 --> 00:47:05,000 Patience means it's a characteristic of a person who 748 00:47:05,000 --> 00:47:09,280 has not swerved or doesn't get off the path from his or her 749 00:47:09,280 --> 00:47:12,320 purpose. They are loyal to the faith, 750 00:47:12,320 --> 00:47:15,040 they're loyal to God. Even among the greatest trials 751 00:47:15,200 --> 00:47:18,200 and sufferings. I I will not give in. 752 00:47:18,200 --> 00:47:20,560 I will not relent. I will not negotiate with the 753 00:47:20,560 --> 00:47:22,920 enemy. I'm going to say steadfast to my 754 00:47:22,920 --> 00:47:28,560 king. I will not compromise. 755 00:47:29,760 --> 00:47:32,280 And even in that, in that thought, I will not be mediocre. 756 00:47:32,280 --> 00:47:38,000 I want to do everything that God wants me to do 'cause I'm 757 00:47:38,000 --> 00:47:40,520 grateful that he saved me and set me free. 758 00:47:41,360 --> 00:47:44,040 And it goes on in verse #1 Let me finish reading the rest of 759 00:47:44,040 --> 00:47:45,160 this chapter. Are you ready? 760 00:47:46,760 --> 00:47:50,200 It's hey, listen, it's only 29 verses verses the 40 that we 761 00:47:50,200 --> 00:47:54,240 just read. It says, therefore we also, 762 00:47:54,240 --> 00:47:56,800 since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let 763 00:47:56,800 --> 00:48:00,960 us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares 764 00:48:00,960 --> 00:48:04,000 us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set 765 00:48:04,000 --> 00:48:08,840 before us, looking unto Jesus, looking unto Jesus, looking unto 766 00:48:08,840 --> 00:48:12,680 Jesus. Did he run his race and finish 767 00:48:12,680 --> 00:48:14,280 his course? We're to look unto him. 768 00:48:14,480 --> 00:48:16,520 That means our eyes don't need to get off on anything else. 769 00:48:16,520 --> 00:48:21,960 They need to be fixed on Him. Listen, King of Country didn't 770 00:48:21,960 --> 00:48:26,120 come up with this phrase. First, fix your eyes on Him. 771 00:48:26,120 --> 00:48:31,800 It's found in Hebrews chapter 12 verse #2 Fix your eyes on Him. 772 00:48:32,080 --> 00:48:34,800 The author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was 773 00:48:34,800 --> 00:48:38,440 set before Him endure the cross, despising the shame, and sat 774 00:48:38,440 --> 00:48:40,600 down at the right hand of the throne of God. 775 00:48:40,880 --> 00:48:45,040 For consider Jesus, who endured such hostility from sinners 776 00:48:45,040 --> 00:48:48,600 against Himself, lest you become weary and discourage in your 777 00:48:48,600 --> 00:48:51,560 souls. You have not yet resisted A 778 00:48:51,560 --> 00:48:56,840 bloodshed striving against sin, and have you forgotten the 779 00:48:56,840 --> 00:48:58,920 exhortation which speaks to you as sons? 780 00:48:59,200 --> 00:49:02,280 My Son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be 781 00:49:02,280 --> 00:49:05,760 discouraged when you are rebuked by Him for whom the Lord loves. 782 00:49:06,000 --> 00:49:09,720 He chastens and scourges every son whom He receives. 783 00:49:09,720 --> 00:49:13,280 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as a son. 784 00:49:13,280 --> 00:49:17,080 For what son is there Whom does a Father not chasten? 785 00:49:17,480 --> 00:49:20,120 But if you're without chasing none of which all have become 786 00:49:20,120 --> 00:49:23,760 partakers, then you're illegitimate, and not sons. 787 00:49:24,120 --> 00:49:27,680 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we 788 00:49:27,680 --> 00:49:30,920 pay them respect. Shall we not much more readily 789 00:49:30,920 --> 00:49:33,720 be in subjection of the Father of spirits, and live? 790 00:49:34,120 --> 00:49:38,160 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to 791 00:49:38,160 --> 00:49:43,120 them, but God for our profit, that we may be partakers of His 792 00:49:43,480 --> 00:49:46,560 Holiness. Now no chastening seems to be 793 00:49:46,560 --> 00:49:50,240 joyful for the present, but painful nevertheless afterward. 794 00:49:50,240 --> 00:49:54,200 It yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have 795 00:49:54,200 --> 00:50:01,000 been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands 796 00:50:01,000 --> 00:50:03,240 which hang down, and the feeble knees. 797 00:50:03,240 --> 00:50:06,760 Make straight your pass for your feet, so that which is lame may 798 00:50:06,760 --> 00:50:09,520 not be dislocated, but rather be healed. 799 00:50:10,240 --> 00:50:13,080 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness without which no 800 00:50:13,080 --> 00:50:15,880 one will see the Lord. Looking carefully lest anyone 801 00:50:15,880 --> 00:50:19,160 fall short of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness 802 00:50:19,160 --> 00:50:23,000 springing up cause trouble. And by this many become defiled, 803 00:50:23,000 --> 00:50:26,280 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau. 804 00:50:26,280 --> 00:50:29,680 For one morsel of food sold his birthright. 805 00:50:29,680 --> 00:50:32,040 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to reinherit the 806 00:50:32,040 --> 00:50:35,120 blessing, he was rejected. For he found no place of 807 00:50:35,120 --> 00:50:38,280 repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears. 808 00:50:38,280 --> 00:50:41,120 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched, 809 00:50:41,120 --> 00:50:44,240 and that burned with fire, and to the blackness and darkness 810 00:50:44,240 --> 00:50:47,320 and temptest, and to the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of 811 00:50:47,320 --> 00:50:50,400 words, so that those who heard it beg that the word should not 812 00:50:50,400 --> 00:50:53,400 be spoken to them anymore, for they could not endure what was 813 00:50:53,400 --> 00:50:55,760 commanded. And if so much as a beast 814 00:50:55,760 --> 00:50:58,600 touched the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow. 815 00:50:58,880 --> 00:51:02,520 And so terrifying was a sight that Moses said, I'm exceedingly 816 00:51:02,800 --> 00:51:06,760 afraid and trembling. But you have come to Mount Zion, 817 00:51:07,520 --> 00:51:09,880 the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an 818 00:51:09,880 --> 00:51:13,200 innumerable company of angels, to the generally assembly, 819 00:51:13,240 --> 00:51:16,240 General Assembly, and the Church of the first born who are 820 00:51:16,240 --> 00:51:19,840 registered in heaven. Hallelujah to God the Judge of 821 00:51:19,840 --> 00:51:23,840 all, to the spirits of just men made perfect to Jesus, Jesus the 822 00:51:23,840 --> 00:51:27,240 Mediator of the new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling. 823 00:51:27,240 --> 00:51:29,360 That speaks better things than that of Abel. 824 00:51:29,720 --> 00:51:34,200 See that you do not refuse Jesus who speaks, for if they did not 825 00:51:34,200 --> 00:51:37,760 escape, He refused him who spoke on earth much show, much more. 826 00:51:37,760 --> 00:51:40,480 Shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from 827 00:51:40,480 --> 00:51:42,920 heaven, Whose voice and then shook the earth? 828 00:51:42,920 --> 00:51:45,960 But now he has promised, saying, yet once more, I'll shake not 829 00:51:45,960 --> 00:51:49,680 only the earth, but also heaven. And now this yet once more 830 00:51:49,680 --> 00:51:53,480 indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, of 831 00:51:53,480 --> 00:51:56,480 things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken 832 00:51:56,480 --> 00:51:59,320 may remain. Verse 28 Therefore, since we are 833 00:51:59,320 --> 00:52:03,720 receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, 834 00:52:04,040 --> 00:52:06,920 whereby we may serve God acceptedly with reverence and 835 00:52:06,920 --> 00:52:09,760 godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. 836 00:52:09,760 --> 00:52:13,160 God is shaking things so that those things that can't be 837 00:52:13,160 --> 00:52:17,080 shaken will remain. You know, when you're when 838 00:52:17,080 --> 00:52:19,400 you're training for a race, there are things that you need 839 00:52:19,400 --> 00:52:23,200 to cast off. And the reason that God comes 840 00:52:23,200 --> 00:52:26,640 like in John 15, he has a spiritual scalpel to cut things 841 00:52:26,640 --> 00:52:29,200 off that are ineffective or unproductive in your life. 842 00:52:30,160 --> 00:52:32,240 Holy Spirit will guide you and lead you. 843 00:52:33,280 --> 00:52:35,800 Amen. I want to encourage you as we 844 00:52:35,800 --> 00:52:41,560 close with a few verses just to stir you up, encourage you and 845 00:52:41,560 --> 00:52:45,440 make you realize there is a race set before you and you're to go 846 00:52:45,440 --> 00:52:47,600 after that race with everything that you got. 847 00:52:48,320 --> 00:52:51,040 Listen, there's a sphere of influence all of us have. 848 00:52:52,520 --> 00:52:57,640 It first starts with you as a man or woman of God. 849 00:52:59,120 --> 00:53:01,360 Before you conquer the world, conquer yourself. 850 00:53:04,200 --> 00:53:07,200 Some of the greatest battles have not been on a field, but 851 00:53:07,200 --> 00:53:12,280 between the two years you need to conquer your thoughts, you 852 00:53:12,280 --> 00:53:16,200 need to renew your mind. You need to run that race and 853 00:53:16,200 --> 00:53:18,680 you say, no, I am a man or woman of God that's going to meditate 854 00:53:18,680 --> 00:53:22,200 on the word of God. Secondly, you have a house or a 855 00:53:22,200 --> 00:53:24,680 home, you're to, you're to have that sphere of influence there 856 00:53:24,680 --> 00:53:28,000 and run that race there. If you're married, be the best 857 00:53:28,000 --> 00:53:31,120 husband, be the best father you can be with kids. 858 00:53:31,120 --> 00:53:33,600 If you're, if you're married and you're a wife, you know, be the 859 00:53:33,600 --> 00:53:38,680 best wife or a mother that you could be after that. 860 00:53:38,680 --> 00:53:41,640 What are those assignments? You know, those seven nations, 861 00:53:43,280 --> 00:53:48,080 when God said to go into all the world and conquered nations, 862 00:53:51,040 --> 00:53:54,760 it's there's been a study that's gone around and really any 863 00:53:55,000 --> 00:53:59,400 sector of society or any civilization has had always has 864 00:53:59,400 --> 00:54:03,200 seven areas in it. And I call them a through A 865 00:54:03,200 --> 00:54:06,280 through G arts and entertainment, business, 866 00:54:06,280 --> 00:54:10,720 congregations, direct media, government, family education and 867 00:54:11,120 --> 00:54:13,600 and government. Well, government was the last 868 00:54:13,600 --> 00:54:16,080 one. Just like there were seven 869 00:54:16,080 --> 00:54:17,680 nations that conquer in your race. 870 00:54:17,680 --> 00:54:21,320 What has God called you to? Some are in the education field. 871 00:54:23,720 --> 00:54:26,400 You're to go out there and run that race and that education 872 00:54:26,400 --> 00:54:28,760 field and pour out that gift into it. 873 00:54:29,760 --> 00:54:31,680 Some. Some might be called into the 874 00:54:31,680 --> 00:54:35,160 political field, right? Some are called in the full time 875 00:54:35,160 --> 00:54:37,240 ministry. Some are called into the 876 00:54:37,240 --> 00:54:41,640 business sector of society. We need Kingdom businesses. 877 00:54:41,680 --> 00:54:44,960 Amen. We're to go out and conquer 878 00:54:45,360 --> 00:54:50,520 these nations and overtake them being salt and light by help and 879 00:54:50,520 --> 00:54:53,960 anointing of the Holy Spirit. So these are the verses that I 880 00:54:53,960 --> 00:54:57,080 want to encourage you with. God has a plan for you as a 881 00:54:57,080 --> 00:54:59,840 pathway for you, as a destiny for you, but it's going to take 882 00:54:59,840 --> 00:55:04,120 you contending for it. It's going to take you fighting 883 00:55:04,120 --> 00:55:05,760 for it. So listen to Philippians chapter 884 00:55:05,760 --> 00:55:10,560 3, verses 12 through 14. This is the apostle Paul. 885 00:55:10,560 --> 00:55:13,960 Not that I've already attained or I'm already perfected, but I 886 00:55:13,960 --> 00:55:17,800 press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has 887 00:55:17,800 --> 00:55:20,960 laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself 888 00:55:20,960 --> 00:55:25,800 to have apprehended but one thing I do, forgetting those 889 00:55:25,800 --> 00:55:29,520 things which are behind, I reach forward to those things that are 890 00:55:29,520 --> 00:55:32,120 ahead. I press forward to the goal for 891 00:55:32,120 --> 00:55:37,720 the prize of the upward call in God, in Christ Jesus. 892 00:55:39,320 --> 00:55:42,920 James chapter one verse #12 from the Amplified Bible. 893 00:55:44,920 --> 00:55:50,560 Blessed, happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God as a 894 00:55:50,560 --> 00:55:54,800 man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres them when 895 00:55:54,800 --> 00:55:57,680 tempted. For when he has passed the test 896 00:55:57,680 --> 00:56:00,960 and been approved, he will receive the victor's crown of 897 00:56:00,960 --> 00:56:05,160 life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. 898 00:56:07,280 --> 00:56:11,840 Man, I try to get my crew in the morning stirred up at the gym. 899 00:56:13,720 --> 00:56:18,520 Yes, 'cause they, they, they encounter trials. 900 00:56:20,360 --> 00:56:23,160 I have this saying. There's always five more reps. 901 00:56:26,200 --> 00:56:28,040 I want to push you till you puke. 902 00:56:31,000 --> 00:56:32,560 But I'm on a mission. No, you're in. 903 00:56:32,560 --> 00:56:35,200 You're doing Pilates. I heard that back there. 904 00:56:35,560 --> 00:56:39,480 It's a start. I'll see you in 2026. 905 00:56:41,120 --> 00:56:44,720 Well, it's not that I want to see them just puke, but I know 906 00:56:44,720 --> 00:56:48,600 there's so much in them. And I know this concept in 907 00:56:48,600 --> 00:56:51,200 lifting the same spiritually. It's once you get past failure 908 00:56:51,200 --> 00:56:58,600 that real growth happens. It's once you get past failure 909 00:56:58,600 --> 00:57:01,400 that real growth happens. Meaning I've gone as far as I 910 00:57:01,400 --> 00:57:06,560 can, but thank God for spiritual spotters 'cause I can get some 911 00:57:06,560 --> 00:57:11,760 forced reps in there for you. And I'm not asking you to do the 912 00:57:11,760 --> 00:57:14,320 five reps by yourself, but we should encourage one another 913 00:57:14,320 --> 00:57:17,800 while it's still called today. You got this, you can overcome. 914 00:57:18,120 --> 00:57:20,880 Don't give in, don't give up, don't draw back. 915 00:57:21,120 --> 00:57:23,400 That's what Hebrew says. My soul has no pleasure in those 916 00:57:23,400 --> 00:57:26,120 that draw back. We are to press forward into the 917 00:57:26,120 --> 00:57:30,360 things of God. So when trials come, when 918 00:57:30,360 --> 00:57:33,680 temptation comes, when test comes, bring it on. 919 00:57:37,000 --> 00:57:40,800 All you're going to do is strengthen me because I'm not 920 00:57:40,800 --> 00:57:45,440 going to give in. I'm going to go over Hallelujah. 921 00:57:45,440 --> 00:57:49,080 Second Peter chapter 1 verses 10 through 11 says, therefore, 922 00:57:49,080 --> 00:57:54,280 brother or believers, be all the more diligent to make certain 923 00:57:54,280 --> 00:57:57,560 about his calling and choosing you. 924 00:57:57,560 --> 00:58:01,440 Be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your 925 00:58:01,440 --> 00:58:06,400 relationship with God for by doing these things, actively 926 00:58:06,400 --> 00:58:12,800 developing these virtues by actively you can't be passive in 927 00:58:12,800 --> 00:58:18,720 this life in a race, you need to be active. 928 00:58:19,960 --> 00:58:22,760 One thing about Doctor Marish, I heard her say several times, 929 00:58:22,960 --> 00:58:30,000 I've learned how to exert my actively developing. 930 00:58:30,000 --> 00:58:34,000 What does God put in you that you need to actively develop? 931 00:58:35,040 --> 00:58:40,200 What gift in you needs fed and cultivated and incubated? 932 00:58:41,480 --> 00:58:45,080 We should be focusing on this. We want to develop these 933 00:58:45,080 --> 00:58:47,920 virtues. You will never stumble in your 934 00:58:47,920 --> 00:58:51,560 spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from 935 00:58:51,560 --> 00:58:56,920 sin. Are you leading a life that 936 00:58:59,160 --> 00:59:02,440 pushes sin away or leads other people away from sin? 937 00:59:02,680 --> 00:59:07,200 Your life has so much righteousness in it, so much 938 00:59:07,200 --> 00:59:12,960 joy, so much peace that it pushes back the work of the 939 00:59:12,960 --> 00:59:16,040 enemy. I mean, I want you to see 940 00:59:16,040 --> 00:59:19,400 yourself when you go in that mission field of Walmart, 941 00:59:23,280 --> 00:59:28,280 because it's not Publix. We're shopping as a pleasure, as 942 00:59:28,280 --> 00:59:31,040 light. Literally. 943 00:59:31,040 --> 00:59:34,800 You're just not going in there for just some items. 944 00:59:36,200 --> 00:59:38,960 You're asking God, is there a divine connection, 'cause I'm 945 00:59:38,960 --> 00:59:43,360 bringing light up in this place and I'm pushing back the work of 946 00:59:43,360 --> 00:59:45,480 the enemy when you're at the gas station. 947 00:59:47,360 --> 00:59:52,000 I went last week, I only got one more verse and we're closing 948 00:59:52,720 --> 01:00:00,000 because I served my wife and in 2023 for Christmas we got her a 949 01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:03,840 Keurig 'cause she likes coffee, but this Keurig did not have a 950 01:00:03,840 --> 01:00:11,800 strong button on it. And the one at work has a strong 951 01:00:11,800 --> 01:00:15,240 button on it. And she made a comment. 952 01:00:15,240 --> 01:00:18,320 She said I did not enjoy my coffee this morning. 953 01:00:18,320 --> 01:00:20,640 This was last week. Yes. 954 01:00:20,640 --> 01:00:26,160 Oh my goodness, yes. And I even went and got black 955 01:00:26,160 --> 01:00:32,320 rifle coffee that was beyond black thinking this would 956 01:00:33,080 --> 01:00:37,360 satisfy my wife's craving. I'm sure she's, you know, don't 957 01:00:37,360 --> 01:00:42,640 go bombard her after this. So I went, she's like, I'll just 958 01:00:42,640 --> 01:00:44,000 order one online. I was like, no, I want to, I 959 01:00:44,000 --> 01:00:47,360 want to go, I want to serve you. I want to go by Walmart and 960 01:00:47,360 --> 01:00:50,280 look. And so I went and I'm in the 961 01:00:50,280 --> 01:00:53,320 aisle and this this Walmart worker, you know, I want to get 962 01:00:53,320 --> 01:00:58,560 in and out. You ever done that at the store? 963 01:01:02,280 --> 01:01:04,840 And I'm there and he starts talking about my physique. 964 01:01:07,840 --> 01:01:12,440 It wasn't nothing unrighteous. He just want to know how to 965 01:01:12,440 --> 01:01:15,920 obtain in that race. How did you do that? 966 01:01:16,800 --> 01:01:19,520 So you know, I, I, I'm not having this just I want to be in 967 01:01:19,520 --> 01:01:23,840 and outside to pause patience and I'm listening. 968 01:01:23,840 --> 01:01:30,320 Lord, is this an encounter? So about 10-15 minutes went by 969 01:01:30,320 --> 01:01:32,000 and I'm answering questions as he's asking. 970 01:01:32,000 --> 01:01:34,480 But then I said, I'm not going to miss out on this. 971 01:01:34,480 --> 01:01:42,320 I said, do you worship anywhere? I said, 'cause that's the most 972 01:01:42,320 --> 01:01:45,520 important thing of everything we just talked about. 973 01:01:46,160 --> 01:01:47,760 And so he did. He said, I go up to a church up 974 01:01:47,760 --> 01:01:48,880 in Jacksonville. Actually. 975 01:01:49,480 --> 01:01:51,720 I said, good, 'cause you need to stay focused on that. 976 01:01:52,920 --> 01:01:54,440 And he said, what church you go to? 977 01:01:55,600 --> 01:01:58,640 I said anchor faith. And I'm thinking, Lord, we're 978 01:01:58,640 --> 01:02:00,840 not trying to steal sheep. But he did ask me what time 979 01:02:00,840 --> 01:02:04,240 services were, so I let him know. 980 01:02:08,000 --> 01:02:11,600 So what I'm saying is when you, when you're out and about God in 981 01:02:11,600 --> 01:02:15,640 this race that is set before you, we want to evangelize. 982 01:02:16,160 --> 01:02:22,240 Now good news, I went from a $79 Keurig to a rollback Keurig that 983 01:02:22,240 --> 01:02:28,000 was 109 dollars 'cause it was a multi faceted whatever stream 984 01:02:28,000 --> 01:02:32,880 flowing. And you know what, coffee was 985 01:02:32,880 --> 01:02:37,240 great for my wife. So it was a good day. 986 01:02:37,920 --> 01:02:41,280 Got to evangelize and upgraded the coffee for my wife. 987 01:02:41,960 --> 01:02:44,760 Took advantage of the seer of my influence. 988 01:02:46,360 --> 01:02:52,160 Last Scripture, First Timothy chapter 6 verse #12 it says this 989 01:02:52,160 --> 01:02:58,880 fight, the good fight of faith in the conflict with evil, in 990 01:02:58,880 --> 01:03:06,080 the middle of the tests, of the trials, of the temp temptations 991 01:03:06,080 --> 01:03:11,000 of contending for your destiny, fight the good fight of faith. 992 01:03:12,360 --> 01:03:15,920 What's a good fight? One that you win. 993 01:03:17,120 --> 01:03:19,360 I've never been in a good fight that I've lost. 994 01:03:23,200 --> 01:03:25,120 Did you? You know God wants you to win. 995 01:03:27,000 --> 01:03:32,240 And I'm not trying to be non sacred, but it's like Rocky 996 01:03:32,240 --> 01:03:36,520 Balboa, you know, like Mick the corner man. 997 01:03:37,520 --> 01:03:42,320 When when Rocky gets knocked down, Mick says get up your bum, 998 01:03:42,320 --> 01:03:48,880 it ain't over, right. So in contended man, sometimes 999 01:03:48,880 --> 01:03:52,240 you may get knocked down, but that's not the end. 1000 01:03:52,680 --> 01:03:56,040 A just man falls down, buddy rises back up again. 1001 01:03:56,040 --> 01:03:59,120 So fight the good fight of faith in the conflict with evil. 1002 01:03:59,480 --> 01:04:01,920 Take hold. Remember, he said in in First 1003 01:04:01,920 --> 01:04:06,120 Corinthians 9, he said, lay hold of each, lay hold of the race. 1004 01:04:06,120 --> 01:04:08,480 It's set before you. This source says, take hold of 1005 01:04:08,480 --> 01:04:11,840 eternal life. Make it yours to which you were 1006 01:04:11,840 --> 01:04:16,280 called, and for which you were made, which you made the good 1007 01:04:16,280 --> 01:04:19,440 confession of faith in the presence of many witnesses.