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 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:17,440 Now enjoy this message. We don't take it lightly when we 4 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,160 ask people to come and minister to us. 5 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:24,160 We know the character of the ones who come. 6 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:28,800 We know the lifestyle, we know they reflect the Kingdom, and 7 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,880 more importantly, we know that they're doing the will of God 8 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,960 for their lives. And it's been a little bit since 9 00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:40,520 Brother Marty has been with us. We were reflecting back in my 10 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,200 office. It was probably 2015 and some of 11 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:45,520 you haven't been, were not here when he came. 12 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:48,000 He's been with us a couple of times. 13 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:53,520 He travels extensively. He first started his ministry by 14 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:56,480 traveling with Brother Hagen, not Pastor Hagen, but Brother 15 00:00:56,480 --> 00:00:59,360 Hagen. And he was on the worship team 16 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,280 with them and they traveled all over the nation doing some 17 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,440 pretty amazing things. And then he went on staff with 18 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,120 Rhema Bible Church with Pastor Hagan and served there for a 19 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:13,800 number of years, a number of years, 17 years. 20 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:19,440 Was it, what was it, 11? OK, 11 all together. 21 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:23,080 And man, I mean, God just used him in many facets. 22 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:25,680 Then he went and started traveling again. 23 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,160 And obviously he's been doing that for quite some time now. 24 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:32,080 And his schedule stays really full because God's utilizing him 25 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:33,320 again. When you're called to do 26 00:01:33,320 --> 00:01:35,280 something, you'll have the grace to do it. 27 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,400 Amen. And so this year when we were 28 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:42,200 putting together our Rhema regional meetings, both in the 29 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:44,720 South and the north that seem right with us in the Holy Ghost 30 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:48,720 that we ask Marty and Lola to come and share to the Ram of 31 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:52,720 family for our regional meeting. And we had an awesome time down 32 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,480 in West Palm ministering to those that were there. 33 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:59,400 And it was such a great word. And so obviously we follow up by 34 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,600 coming up here. And he's going to minister 35 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:02,640 today. Amen. 36 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:06,960 So would you give a warm welcome to Marty Blackwell as he comes 37 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,800 to minister to us the Word of God? 38 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:20,600 Thank you, Pastor Earl, praise the Lord you can be seated this 39 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:24,800 morning. So blessed to have my wife Lola 40 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:26,360 with me. Honey, stand up real quick. 41 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:32,440 Thank you, Lord. We, we start a little later with 42 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,520 our kids. So we got one graduating from 43 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,520 high school and one that's still a sophomore heading next year to 44 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,320 be a junior. So she doesn't get to travel 45 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:41,800 with me as often as I would like. 46 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,360 But she's here today, and I'm so glad. 47 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:47,720 How many of you would rather be here than in the hospital? 48 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:53,240 Come on. How many of you rather be here 49 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,120 than in jail? I asked that question one time. 50 00:02:57,120 --> 00:02:59,160 I said, how many of you rather be here than in jail? 51 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:01,120 This woman jumped up on the front row. 52 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:03,360 She started dancing. I said, what in the world? 53 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,560 She said I just got out of jail. Amen. 54 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,080 I said, glad to have you. Amen. 55 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,000 Can you hear me nice and clear out there? 56 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:12,880 OK, good. All right. 57 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,000 Well, listen, we're, we're delighted to be here with you. 58 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:16,800 We're going to have a great time this morning. 59 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:19,480 It's going to be a part A and Part B. 60 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:24,000 You know, I, I don't as a rule, consult with pastors as to what 61 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,440 I'm going to minister. That way my spirit is free to 62 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,400 minister what God would have me say. 63 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:33,520 And I'm not clouded in my mind by any conversations or so 64 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:35,680 forth. So I want you to know that what 65 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,880 we're sharing with you initially is something that came into my 66 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,520 heart to share with you. So we'll have part A and Part B. 67 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,480 Is that all right? Give me just a little bit more 68 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,680 of this, if you don't mind. That way I can relax. 69 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:50,160 Thank you. That's, that's awesome. 70 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:55,000 So how many of you believe you're in the right place at the 71 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,280 right time with the right people doing the right thing? 72 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:04,000 Amen. I I can agree with you, you know 73 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,200 something very dear to the heart of God and I know that you're 74 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,400 well versed, you're well taught. So this will just be a review. 75 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:14,200 But sometimes we just need to be reminded of realities and 76 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:17,240 truths. Something very dear to the heart 77 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:22,440 of God is the local church. Jesus said in Matthew 16 and 18, 78 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:28,120 as you well know, He said, I will build my church and the 79 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,760 gates of hell will not prevail against it. 80 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:35,160 And ever since He uttered those words, He's been busy 81 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:40,600 establishing His Kingdom, building His church, the 82 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:45,400 ecclesia, the elect, those who are called out, separated from 83 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:51,960 the world, separated unto His divine purpose, and empowered to 84 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,800 establish His will and His Kingdom in the earth. 85 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:59,920 In a very essential part of that building program and process is 86 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:03,360 the local church. And your pastor didn't pay me to 87 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,840 say this this morning. It's just something I had in my 88 00:05:05,840 --> 00:05:09,760 spirit to share with you. You know, I'm not sure that most 89 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,920 believers understand that probably one of the most 90 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:17,960 significant decisions you will ever make in your life as a 91 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,720 Christian is where you go to church. 92 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:26,560 That one decision will have tremendous impact on your life 93 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:32,440 personally as a believer, on your family, and potentially on 94 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,680 your purpose and destiny in the body of Christ. 95 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:39,200 I think it's interesting that Paul noted in First Corinthians 96 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:46,640 12 and 18, he said, as you've read before, God has set the 97 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:51,840 members, each one of them in the body, noticed just as he 98 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:55,160 pleased. Now notice it doesn't say just 99 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,000 as we pleased, but just as he pleased. 100 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:04,080 The Moffitt translation says. As it is, we see that God has 101 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:10,280 carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted 102 00:06:10,280 --> 00:06:14,320 it. So what that tells me and what I 103 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:18,640 think it would infer to all of us is that if God has set the 104 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:24,200 members, if he's placed each part where He wants it, then 105 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,280 where I go to church and where you go to church is not 106 00:06:27,280 --> 00:06:33,800 necessarily a matter of personal preference or choice as much as 107 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:38,040 it is a matter of divine appointment and placement. 108 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:42,400 And there are several reasons, of course, for this reality. 109 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:46,120 If you know, every sheep needs a shepherd and a sheepfold. 110 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:52,800 So God will place us in a local church under the care of a 111 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:57,760 pastor, where we can be fed the Word of God, we can grow up 112 00:06:57,760 --> 00:07:03,320 spiritually, We can be protected and nurtured as a young 113 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,320 believer. We can be encouraged and 114 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:10,640 preserved and utilized in the Kingdom as a mature believer. 115 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:15,680 And where we can receive the necessary truth, spiritual 116 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:20,920 equipment, impartations to keep us from the snares of the enemy 117 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:26,600 along our journey and to put us on the right path to fulfilling 118 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:30,240 our divine purpose and our destiny in Christ. 119 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:36,560 I also say many times that the local church is where each of us 120 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:40,400 find our significance as a Christian. 121 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:45,880 It's where our individual purposes are discovered within 122 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,600 the context of the corporate purpose. 123 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,000 I thought Pastor was going to preach my sermon when he start 124 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:55,760 first got up here. Because you know, none of us 125 00:07:55,760 --> 00:08:01,240 were intended as a believer to be an entity unto ourselves. 126 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:08,440 As a believer, our lives, our destinies and our purposes are 127 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:13,720 interconnected in Christ. So my life as a Christian and 128 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:17,520 your life as a Christian can never truly find its 129 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:23,000 significance until we discover how we relate to the body of 130 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:27,960 Christ as a whole. And that discovery primarily 131 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:33,159 takes place for most of us within the context of the local 132 00:08:33,159 --> 00:08:35,039 church. And of course, you know, the 133 00:08:35,039 --> 00:08:39,559 local churches where we should meet together, fellowship to 134 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:43,120 want with one another, forge relationships with other 135 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,920 believers, stand by each other. When I grew up, I was raised 136 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:50,440 Southern Baptist man. And back in the day, the local 137 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:53,160 church was the hub of the community. 138 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:58,440 And when one was down, everybody rallied around, you know, in 139 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:04,960 Hebrews 10/25 of this scripture was written on purpose because 140 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:08,080 Paul knew that the day would come when this particular 141 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:13,800 scripture would be challenged. Not forsaking the assembling of 142 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:19,200 ourselves together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one 143 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,520 another. And so much the more as you see 144 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:27,120 the day approaching the the NIV says, let's not give up meeting 145 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,840 together as some are in the habit of doing. 146 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:32,720 Let's encourage one another and so much more. 147 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:35,440 Once again, as we see the day approaching, you know, the 148 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:40,240 ideologies of our present society, individualism, 149 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:45,760 isolation, non accountability, all of those ideologies are 150 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:50,880 completely contrary to the ideologies of the Kingdom, which 151 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:54,800 are the communion and the community of the Saints. 152 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:58,160 Service in the Kingdom of God, service to others. 153 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:01,840 So we want to make sure, man, that we stay together and we 154 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:03,760 stick together. Are you with me? 155 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,800 Because there's some things coming in the future and we've 156 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:13,680 had a rehearsal and we know what to do. 157 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:16,640 Amen. I, I saw this little joke, you 158 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:20,760 know, on, on Facebook. I think it was some social media 159 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:24,840 platform and, and of course, in it was a cartoon. 160 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:29,120 And in this cartoon, Mr. Jones passed away, and he goes up, you 161 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:31,560 know, to the pearly Gates. And Peter's waiting there with 162 00:10:31,560 --> 00:10:34,720 the roll, and he's looking. Mr. Jones. 163 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:36,360 Mr. Jones. Oh, yes. 164 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,080 Mr. Edward Jones, I see you right here. 165 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:42,400 Congratulations, Sir. Now, he said, I do see a little 166 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:46,040 side note next to your name. You didn't actually attend 167 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:48,480 church, but you did watch it online. 168 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,560 So you don't actually get to go into heaven, but you may watch 169 00:10:52,560 --> 00:10:58,760 it online. Now, you know, that's a joke. 170 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:01,440 That's a joke. Some people can't get out. 171 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:03,440 And we thank God for modern technology. 172 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,080 But man, if you can come together, if you can get up and 173 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:08,120 get dressed, come on. Right. 174 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:14,440 I would never be in my life where I am, nor my family nor 175 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:18,920 our ministry if it were not for my constant and continual 176 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,920 relationship with the local church throughout my life. 177 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:26,160 I was born and raised, as I said, Southern Baptist in the 178 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,960 local church. I started serving as the church 179 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:33,960 pianist when I was 16 years old. I was trained in the local 180 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,080 church. I met my wife in a local church 181 00:11:37,080 --> 00:11:39,880 setting. Our ministry was launched from a 182 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:44,160 local church and a large emphasis of our ministry of 183 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,480 today is still to the local church. 184 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:51,040 So once again, I said to you, where we go to church is not 185 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:56,400 necessarily a matter of personal preference or choice as much as 186 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,720 it is a matter of divine appointment and placement. 187 00:11:59,720 --> 00:12:02,360 And I said to you, there are many reasons for that. 188 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:07,720 First of all, God knows what each of us personally are going 189 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:13,320 to need along our journey to fulfill His purpose, right? 190 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,760 He knows the, once again, the knowledge, the truth, the 191 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,320 spiritual equipment, the impartations that will be 192 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:24,040 necessary. He also knows the relationships 193 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:30,240 that need to be formulated and forged in our lives that will be 194 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:35,800 mutually beneficial, right? And it could be beneficial in 195 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:40,320 many ways, but also there are relationships formed and 196 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:45,920 formulated in local church churches that will also promote 197 00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:49,280 Kingdom purposes. Are you with me? 198 00:12:49,680 --> 00:12:53,640 So being in the right place with the right people is essential 199 00:12:54,120 --> 00:12:58,520 because it's not only about what we can personally receive, but 200 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:01,000 it's also about what we can supply. 201 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:05,840 As you well know, there's a great scripture, and before you 202 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:07,720 put it up, let me talk about it for a moment. 203 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:12,120 In Exodus 31, you'll remember God had given Moses a Commission 204 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:14,880 to build him a Tabernacle, right? 205 00:13:15,120 --> 00:13:18,200 Build me a Tabernacle, man. Build me a place where my 206 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,680 presence can dwell among the people. 207 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:24,680 And so in response to that, he began this assignment. 208 00:13:24,680 --> 00:13:29,040 But I want you to notice Exodus 31, verses one through 6, and 209 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,880 then also verse 11. The Lord spoke to Moses saying 210 00:13:32,880 --> 00:13:37,000 now he's given the Commission. But watch, see, I've called by 211 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:41,720 name Bazil, the son of Yuri, the son of her of the tribe of 212 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:45,200 Judah. I have filled him with the 213 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:50,680 Spirit of God in wisdom, understanding, knowledge, in all 214 00:13:50,680 --> 00:13:55,520 manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, 215 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:59,480 silver, bronze, in cutting jewels for setting and carving 216 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,760 wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship. 217 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:08,200 And I indeed have appointed with him a holy AB, the son of 218 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:13,600 Ahishma of the tribe of Dan. And I have put wisdom in the 219 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:19,600 hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all 220 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:26,080 that I have commanded you, verse 11, and the anointing oil and 221 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:30,040 the sweet incense for the holy place according to all that I've 222 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:34,320 commanded you. Shall they do? 223 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,800 Isn't that interesting? God said, Moses, I've got a 224 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,960 Commission for you, but I'm going to surround you and 225 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:45,960 personally endow with wisdom, gifts, graces, and abilities the 226 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:50,320 individuals that will stand beside you, work beside you, and 227 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:54,760 bring that vision into fruition. So the point is when God calls 228 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:59,760 pastors to a city or region and entrusts them with a vision, he 229 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:08,600 simultaneously calls a people, if they're listening, with the 230 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:12,320 gifts and the graces and the resources and the abilities to 231 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:17,520 bring that vision into fruition. So I simply want to encourage 232 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:25,760 you part A this morning, never let anyone or anything separate 233 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:29,880 you from your God appointed placement in the body of Christ 234 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:32,360 as it pertains to the local church. 235 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:35,240 Now the reason I say that is because I worked in local 236 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:40,080 churches for 17 years and then of course I went to Rhema and I 237 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:44,240 was an associate there, taught in the school and so forth. 238 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:48,920 So I've been around a while and working in churches, I've seen 239 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:52,560 people, you know, they get offended over something or they 240 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:57,400 have a disagreement or maybe personal agenda or even life's 241 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:03,520 trials and and struggles and people pull away from the place 242 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:06,400 God has set them in. And because I've been around a 243 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,880 while, it's not manipulation, it's just observation. 244 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:14,560 I've seen in the long run, it doesn't always fare well. 245 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:18,080 It can impact them personally, their families, and even their 246 00:16:18,080 --> 00:16:21,760 future purpose and destiny because of the fact that's where 247 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:24,880 God ordained them to be. Are you with me now? 248 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:30,720 We certainly understand people transition in the body of Christ 249 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,840 and in life by the leading of the Spirit. 250 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:37,120 I did that several times as along my journey. 251 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:40,640 We understand that reality, but I believe that there is an 252 00:16:40,640 --> 00:16:43,560 eternal reward. Who for those who will find 253 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:48,160 their God appointed place and stick with it, right, and not 254 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:51,520 let anybody or anything take them out? 255 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:53,960 Are you with me? Did you know that you can be 256 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:57,680 born and raised in the same city and attend the same local church 257 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:01,680 your entire life by the divine will of God? 258 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:09,280 Oh absolutely glory. So with that said, Proverbs 4 259 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:15,520 and 18 says the path of the righteous, that's you and me, is 260 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:20,960 like the light of dawn. It shines brighter and brighter 261 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:25,040 until it reaches full strength at noonday. 262 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:29,320 So this path that you and I are on, as, as it's been noted and 263 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:34,400 spoken many times, I'm sure, this is a faith to faith, glory 264 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,840 to glory, strength to strength, journey, right? 265 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:41,080 Our path is growing brighter and brighter. 266 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:45,520 And even the day we lay down our head in this physical body is 267 00:17:45,520 --> 00:17:48,440 relieved of its occupation temporarily, right? 268 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:50,960 Women is going to even grow brighter. 269 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:57,480 Well, if it would be God's divine intention for our 270 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:02,840 personal paths as believers to grow brighter and brighter, 271 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:06,200 Amen, to move from faith to faith, glory to glory, strength 272 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:08,480 to strength. And quite naturally, it would 273 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:12,720 also be his divine intention for the corporate and the collective 274 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:17,640 body, right? So you and I understand that our 275 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:22,280 personal lives as a believer is comprised of what we call 276 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,440 seasons. Just as there are natural 277 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:28,440 seasons, winter, spring, summer, fall, right? 278 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:34,680 Each season has its designated purpose and intention. 279 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:38,440 The same reality holds true with our lives. 280 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:43,320 Our lives are comprised of a series of seasons, each with 281 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:47,920 their designated purpose and intention, which ultimately 282 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:51,720 culminate to our destiny and our end. 283 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:56,200 Well, the same reality holds true in the life and the 284 00:18:56,200 --> 00:19:01,120 progression of a local church. Local churches will move from 285 00:19:01,120 --> 00:19:05,080 one season to the next most often. 286 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:08,520 And as I've witnessed and I believe also see, you know, a 287 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:12,960 scriptural basis most often in the seasons of of churches, 288 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:18,760 you're going to see challenges, you're going to see changes, 289 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:24,120 you're going to see transitions, you're going to see redirection, 290 00:19:24,120 --> 00:19:28,880 reorganization. And then things will settle out, 291 00:19:29,360 --> 00:19:34,280 plateau for a while, and then they break forth into a new 292 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:37,560 season. And with all that said, it just 293 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:41,640 seemed my heart was drawn to First Chronicles 4:00 and 10:00 294 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:45,040 this morning regarding Anchor Faith Church. 295 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:47,160 This was known as the Prayer of Jabez. 296 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:48,920 How many of you ever heard of that prayer? 297 00:19:49,120 --> 00:19:51,080 It was made into a little book years ago. 298 00:19:51,360 --> 00:19:54,600 The Bible testifies of Jabez that was he was an honorable 299 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:59,000 man, but watch his prayer. Jabez called on the God of 300 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:05,040 Israel, saying, Oh, that you would bless me indeed and 301 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:12,080 enlarge my territory, right? Enlarge my territory and that 302 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:17,200 your hand would be with me. And that you would keep me from 303 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:20,960 evil, that it may not grieve me or cause pain. 304 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:26,480 And God granted him that which he requested. 305 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:30,800 It just seems to me this morning by the Spirit of God that this 306 00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:35,200 Scripture holds prophetic implication for you as a church 307 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:41,440 and as a people, that as you navigate this present season and 308 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:47,640 then progress into or emerge into the next one, God is going 309 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:51,760 to bless you. Indeed, He is going to enlarge 310 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,880 your territory. He's going to expand your 311 00:20:55,880 --> 00:21:00,040 influence and he's going to grant you favor. 312 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:05,360 And his hand, his spirit is going to rest mightily upon this 313 00:21:05,360 --> 00:21:08,880 place and upon this people. Can I get an Amen? 314 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:13,800 Oh, Hallelujah. And so our expectation for 315 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:17,240 Anchor Faith Church is that the best is yet to come. 316 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:20,440 Amen. Come on, come on. 317 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:29,040 So let's navigate this season and all that it holds and make 318 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:33,200 preparation for the emergence into a new one because it's 319 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:34,880 coming. Are you with me? 320 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:39,960 So you know, that's part A, now Part B. 321 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:45,160 As I look around me this morning at your faces, I look at this 322 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,160 amazing facility. And as Pastor said, I've been 323 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:51,280 with you through the years. Many of you may have not met us, 324 00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:55,600 but back when it was in a school, then in a storefront, 325 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:58,440 now here. And I've watched the progression 326 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:02,440 of a vision and I look at you and I, I, I can see that you 327 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:08,520 have been faithful to supply the visions and the the assignment 328 00:22:08,520 --> 00:22:11,600 of this house. But once again, our anticipation 329 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,920 is the best is yet to come. But it just seemed good to me 330 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:21,240 this morning that we should offer as a body what the Bible 331 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:26,880 calls the sacrifice of praise. And what I mean by that is 332 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:33,600 calling to mind the goodness of God, the blessings of God, the 333 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:38,920 faithfulness of God, not only to us personally but to us 334 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:43,800 corporately, and then offer on the basis of those things what 335 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:46,720 the Scripture terms the sacrifice of praise. 336 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:50,480 But before we offer the sacrifice, I realize we may have 337 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:53,920 some visitors, right? So I want you to know that 338 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:56,560 everything you're going to see is scriptural. 339 00:22:56,960 --> 00:22:59,400 We might as well base it off the Word, right? 340 00:22:59,960 --> 00:23:02,840 And maybe some need to be reminded or you're relatively 341 00:23:02,840 --> 00:23:05,560 new to the body of Christ. This will be helpful to you. 342 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:10,880 OK, so you know, in the Old Testament there was a 343 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:16,160 priesthood, Did you know that? And it was the responsibility of 344 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:20,800 the priesthood to offer the various sacrifices that were 345 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:25,880 required as ordinances of worship under the old covenant. 346 00:23:26,360 --> 00:23:29,600 So, you know, they had the temple right, outer court, inner 347 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:32,320 court, holy of holies, and it was the responsibility of the 348 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:35,240 priesthood to offer these various sacrifices. 349 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:39,600 There were daily sacrifices, weekly sacrifices, annual 350 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:45,240 sacrifices, wave offerings, grain offerings, praise 351 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:50,240 offerings, offerings given for restored health, sin offerings, 352 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:54,360 you name it, they had it. And it was the once again the 353 00:23:54,360 --> 00:23:58,840 responsibility of the priesthood to offer those sacrifices. 354 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:02,640 But what I want us to realize this morning, and I know you do, 355 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:08,040 is that in the New covenant dispensation, the institution of 356 00:24:08,040 --> 00:24:12,200 the priesthood still exists. How do we know? 357 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:16,520 Because the Bible tells us so. Look here in first Peter, first 358 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:23,640 Peter chapter 2 and verse 9. But you, that's you and I, you 359 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:34,040 are a chosen generation, a what? Royal priesthood, a holy nation, 360 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:39,120 his own special people. So if someone comes up to you 361 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:40,880 and say, well, aren't you special? 362 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:48,680 You say, yes, I am, I sure AM, that you may proclaim the 363 00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:54,520 praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his 364 00:24:54,520 --> 00:25:00,960 marvelous life. So here we are. 365 00:25:01,160 --> 00:25:04,840 We're the New Testament priesthood, and as the 366 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:07,840 priesthood it's our responsibility to offer the 367 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:13,680 sacrifices that are required as ordinances of worship under the 368 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,520 new covenant. Now, just to mention, you 369 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:18,680 understand, in the Old Testament, there's a sin 370 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:21,240 problem. The wages of sin is death, but 371 00:25:21,240 --> 00:25:24,320 the gift of God is eternal life. So God said, look, we got a sin 372 00:25:24,320 --> 00:25:26,880 problem. I'm going to devise a temporary 373 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:28,760 solution. Here's what we're going to do. 374 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:32,880 Every year, and once a year, the high priest, and only the high 375 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:36,600 priest will come into the Holy of Holies, and he will shed the 376 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:41,720 blood of a sacrificial animal on the altar before me. 377 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:45,480 He will sprinkle its blood upon the mercy seat, and I will 378 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:51,000 receive the blood of that animal as payment or compensation for 379 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:54,200 the sins of the people for one year. 380 00:25:54,360 --> 00:25:58,480 There's a lot we could look at, but I'm just capsulizing, OK? 381 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:03,920 And so he said, we're going to do this every year until I can 382 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:07,240 send the final Solution, which he did. 383 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:15,480 She shall bring forth a son shall call his name Jesus. 384 00:26:16,120 --> 00:26:19,280 He will save his people from their sin. 385 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:23,520 How? How will he save him? 386 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:31,040 By shedding his own blood on the altar of the cross, the Lamb of 387 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:36,320 God, slain from the foundations of the world, eternally purging 388 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:41,640 the sins of all those who will receive the sacrifice by faith. 389 00:26:41,800 --> 00:26:44,200 How many of you have received that sacrifice? 390 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:50,680 That's why Hebrews 9 and 12 says, not with the blood of 391 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:56,120 goats and calves, but with his own blood, He entered once into 392 00:26:56,120 --> 00:27:00,800 the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption. 393 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:05,920 So that particular sacrifice, the sin offering, never has to 394 00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:09,760 be offered again. It has eternally satisfied the 395 00:27:09,760 --> 00:27:15,560 claims of justice, and we've been declared not guilty. 396 00:27:16,360 --> 00:27:21,280 Hallelujah. However, there are still 397 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:25,000 sacrifices required. And what are they, brother 398 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:25,440 Marty? Where? 399 00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:27,120 Laurent? It's not the blood of pigeons, 400 00:27:27,120 --> 00:27:29,640 goats, doves, right? Bulls, heifers. 401 00:27:30,160 --> 00:27:31,520 What are they? Aren't you glad? 402 00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:35,240 The Bible tells us first Peter chapter 2 and verse five. 403 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:41,120 Notice you also as lively stones are being built together or 404 00:27:41,120 --> 00:27:47,760 built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to OfferUp 405 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:56,560 spiritual sacrifices, spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by 406 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:59,760 Jesus Christ. So the sacrifices that you and I 407 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:04,880 are to offer as the New Testament priesthood are are, 408 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:09,760 you know, predominantly spiritual in nature and origin. 409 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:13,160 Are you with me and the and the New Testament gives us insight 410 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:17,280 as to what these sacrifices actually consist of one that 411 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:21,680 you're familiar with in Romans chapter 12 verses one and two. 412 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:27,680 You remember Paul said I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the 413 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:34,720 mercies of God that you present your body a living, which means 414 00:28:34,720 --> 00:28:41,200 lifetime sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is 415 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:44,600 your reasonable service. One translation says your 416 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:49,080 spiritual worship and be not conformed to this world, but be 417 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:52,560 transformed by the renewing of your mind. 418 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:56,080 So you and I understand that one of the sacrifices that we're to 419 00:28:56,080 --> 00:29:00,880 offer is our bodies and our lives, moment by moment, day by 420 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:05,480 day, a living sacrifice lived in honor, submission and reverence 421 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:07,440 to our Father. Are you with me? 422 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:10,280 I like the message Bible. I didn't give it to you guys. 423 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:11,880 No need to worry about it. I'll just quote it. 424 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:14,920 But Paul said this in the message, same verses he said, 425 00:29:14,920 --> 00:29:17,920 here's what I want you to do. God helping you. 426 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:22,600 I want you to take your everyday ordinary life. 427 00:29:23,280 --> 00:29:27,760 You're sleeping, you're eating, you're going to work, walking 428 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:31,760 around life, and I want you to place it before me as an 429 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:35,280 offering. And don't become so well 430 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:40,400 adjusted to your culture that you fit in without even 431 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:45,080 realizing it. Instead, fix your attention on 432 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:49,840 God and you will be changed from the inside out. 433 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:54,600 Amen. So that's one of the sacrifices 434 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:58,320 that we're to offer, but the one we want to camp on, experience 435 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:04,160 and express this morning is over in Hebrews chapter 13, verse 15. 436 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:09,440 You know it well. The Bible says therefore by him, 437 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:16,240 that means by Christ, let us continually offer the sacrifice 438 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:19,960 of praise to God. Now aren't you glad there's not 439 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:23,200 a period there? He didn't leave us in the dark 440 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:28,320 as to what this sacrifice actually consists of. 441 00:30:28,840 --> 00:30:36,560 He goes on to say that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks 442 00:30:36,560 --> 00:30:41,680 unto His name. So the sacrifice of praise 443 00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:49,400 scripturally demands the expression of the heart in 444 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:54,160 Thanksgiving to God through the lips or the mouth. 445 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:57,800 Are you with me now? I travel extensively and, and 446 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:02,200 not speaking disparagingly of any of any local churches or 447 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:06,440 bodies, but I, I found that many times people say, let's praise 448 00:31:06,440 --> 00:31:10,320 the Lord and everyone begins to applaud. 449 00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:15,160 Now listen, oh, clap your hands, all your people shout unto God 450 00:31:15,160 --> 00:31:17,640 with the voice of triumph. I have no problem. 451 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:19,880 Clap with the music, enjoy yourself. 452 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:25,120 But when somebody says, Hey, let's praise God, that's when 453 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:28,760 the hands go up. That's when the heart opens and 454 00:31:28,760 --> 00:31:32,080 we begin to express through our mouth and through our lips our 455 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:35,400 Thanksgiving to God. Are you with me? 456 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:40,200 Oh, here's a couple of scriptures. 457 00:31:40,680 --> 00:31:46,000 Psalm 34 in verse one, the psalmist said, I will bless the 458 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:51,880 Lord at all times. His what his praise shall 459 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:56,200 continually beware in my mouth, in my mouth. 460 00:31:56,640 --> 00:32:03,120 Psalm 71 and verse eight, Let my mouth be filled with your 461 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:05,880 praise. Let my mouth be filled with your 462 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:09,680 praise and with your honor all the day. 463 00:32:09,680 --> 00:32:13,120 So we see the association between the heart and the mouth 464 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:15,920 where praise is involved. I could give you numerous, 465 00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:18,880 numerous scriptures. So I taught in the school of 466 00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:21,000 worship at Rhema. So you know, you do a little 467 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:24,200 investigation. So I want to give you some 468 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:28,080 several aspects of of the meaning of the word praise from 469 00:32:28,080 --> 00:32:31,240 the Hebrew. OK, I think there's basically 5, 470 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:34,520 but the first one is when you talk about praising God, the 471 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:39,760 implication in the Hebrew, it means to shine, shine. 472 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:45,920 So what that means is there's something that is is obvious and 473 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:50,160 visible in your countenance. Are you with me? 474 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:54,040 When you're praising God, you can't praise him with an old 475 00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:57,560 Mully grub face. Hallelujah. 476 00:32:57,560 --> 00:33:00,200 God is good. Really. 477 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:04,480 I don't believe you. No, no, no, no, no, man. 478 00:33:04,960 --> 00:33:09,160 The Bible says man. Woo, let lift up your 479 00:33:09,160 --> 00:33:12,400 countenance, all ye Saints of the Lord. 480 00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:17,160 Woo, let the glory on the inside show up on the outside. 481 00:33:17,640 --> 00:33:21,640 You ought to walk into a place of business and light the place 482 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:25,360 up. They should know we're carrying 483 00:33:25,360 --> 00:33:31,040 something divine life, Amen, Joy and peace. 484 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:36,200 So, so it means to shine. The second meaning of the word 485 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:41,720 praise is to make a show. Make a show? 486 00:33:42,400 --> 00:33:45,480 What in the world? Well, that tells me that when 487 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:50,600 people are praising God, there's something observable occurring. 488 00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:55,160 Now we're not making a show of ourselves, but we're making a 489 00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:58,000 show of Him and his triumph and his Kingdom. 490 00:33:58,280 --> 00:34:03,400 Are you with me? So something's happening in the 491 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:06,000 room when people are praising God. 492 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:11,080 So shine, make a show. And of course, the third meaning 493 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:15,960 is to boast, to boast. Now basically if you think about 494 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:17,639 the word boast, what does that mean? 495 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:21,360 Means to brag? So when we're praising God, 496 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:24,120 we're bragging on our Heavenly Father. 497 00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:27,080 You know, when I was a kid on the playground, if you got in a 498 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:31,440 tussle with somebody and you started losing and you'd get up 499 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:38,760 and say my daddy can whip your daddy now, they'll shoot you. 500 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:43,040 But used to, used to. We just start talking about our 501 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:46,600 daddy and my dad's 6 foot two. He'll whip you and your daddy. 502 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:49,600 You know how it is. So when we're praising God, 503 00:34:49,600 --> 00:34:51,880 that's what we're doing. We're bragging on him. 504 00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:55,320 Whoa. There is none above you. 505 00:34:56,679 --> 00:35:00,440 There's none beside you. There's none before you. 506 00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:05,000 You alone are God. You have all power, all 507 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:08,040 authority, all dominion, all glory. 508 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:13,360 That's our Father. Oh, man, I'm getting happy 509 00:35:13,360 --> 00:35:18,680 already. It means to shine, make a show, 510 00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:20,960 boast. Now, here's my favorite, and 511 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:24,320 this is scriptural. The 4th aspect of praise from 512 00:35:24,320 --> 00:35:29,560 the Hebrew is to celebrate. Celebrate. 513 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:32,760 I mean, I grew up in a place, dear Lord, if anybody said, hey, 514 00:35:32,760 --> 00:35:37,040 man, hey, everybody, just jump. You know, nobody made a noise. 515 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:42,000 This is a House of celebration. Now. 516 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:44,880 Now, think about it. You know, have you ever seen 517 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:47,240 anybody celebrate? Of course, you ever been to a 518 00:35:47,240 --> 00:35:52,680 ball game, football game, basketball, baseball, soccer, 519 00:35:52,680 --> 00:35:59,160 whatever your sport is. Now, listen, if you are a fan, 520 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:04,840 you're a bona fide fan and your team is down, but there's only, 521 00:36:04,840 --> 00:36:07,360 you know, a minute or so left and they're at the goal line, 522 00:36:07,360 --> 00:36:10,280 man. And they hike that ball and the 523 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:15,120 and the quarterback throws that thing and the receiver catches 524 00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:18,000 it. And I mean, he crosses and, you 525 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:22,120 know, that's it. There's no way they can make it 526 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:25,680 back down the field. We just won. 527 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:30,400 And you're a fan. You don't sit there and say, 528 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:32,160 well, isn't that wonderful, Martha? 529 00:36:35,160 --> 00:36:39,960 My team got a touchdown. Not if you're a fan, you don't. 530 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:43,200 I mean, if you're a fan and they make that touchdown, you're 531 00:36:43,200 --> 00:36:48,720 jumping up and down, you're dancing around, you're hugging 532 00:36:48,720 --> 00:36:54,360 people, and nobody, nobody thinks anything. 533 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:57,760 So think about it. Oh, man, he's a fan. 534 00:36:58,280 --> 00:37:02,160 Well, he's just excited. Well, how many of you know I'm a 535 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:05,440 fan of Jesus? Oh yes, I am. 536 00:37:07,240 --> 00:37:11,920 And he did a lot more than take a bag of wind down the field. 537 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:19,720 I said he did a lot more than take a bag of wind down the 538 00:37:19,720 --> 00:37:25,200 field. I'm going to put this over here 539 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:27,840 so I don't knock it over. Amen. 540 00:37:27,840 --> 00:37:32,000 So we celebrate, man. And it is, it is in order when 541 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:34,240 it's in order. Are you with me? 542 00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:36,120 You can sit down. I'm going. 543 00:37:36,160 --> 00:37:37,360 I'm, we're going to get up in a minute. 544 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:43,760 Now. Shine, make a show, boast, 545 00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:49,000 celebrate some people who come to church, they, you know, fold 546 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:50,720 their hands. I just don't see any need and 547 00:37:50,720 --> 00:37:53,200 all of that emotionalism and commotion. 548 00:37:53,880 --> 00:37:58,000 But the same person will sit in that chair Monday Night Football 549 00:37:58,000 --> 00:38:01,440 with a bag of chips and a Doctor Pepper and go crazy. 550 00:38:02,360 --> 00:38:03,960 Are you with me? Once again? 551 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:06,800 It's what we're a fan of. Amen. 552 00:38:07,080 --> 00:38:09,720 We need to be enthusiastic about our salvation. 553 00:38:10,480 --> 00:38:14,320 So shine, make a show, both celebrate and then of course, 554 00:38:14,320 --> 00:38:19,680 the last means to commend or speak favourably of. 555 00:38:20,120 --> 00:38:23,680 So when we're praising, like if I said I commended the worship 556 00:38:23,680 --> 00:38:27,720 team, wow, that was awesome. That was a beautiful, beautiful 557 00:38:27,720 --> 00:38:29,960 presence of the Lord, I'm commending them. 558 00:38:30,240 --> 00:38:32,320 I'm speaking favourably of what they've done. 559 00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:35,640 That's a part of praise, commending Him for all that he 560 00:38:35,640 --> 00:38:40,120 has done for us in Christ. Thank you, Lord, that you 561 00:38:40,120 --> 00:38:44,080 brought us out of death, into life, out of darkness, into 562 00:38:44,080 --> 00:38:48,040 light, raised us up and made us sit in heavenly places, redeemed 563 00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:49,920 us from the curse of the law. Thank you. 564 00:38:50,760 --> 00:38:53,760 Are you with me commending and speaking favourably. 565 00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:55,480 OK. And then the Greek. 566 00:38:55,480 --> 00:38:59,200 The Greek means once again you, you can see this here. 567 00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:02,640 The genuine. Now what's that mean? 568 00:39:02,880 --> 00:39:09,680 Heartfelt, genuine, the genuine confession of facts in one's 569 00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:15,520 life that brings glory to God. So that's what he's done for us 570 00:39:15,520 --> 00:39:19,120 personally, right? The things that he's done for us 571 00:39:19,720 --> 00:39:23,600 and wrought in our lives, and we thank him for it. 572 00:39:23,600 --> 00:39:26,360 So here's what we're going to do this morning in the house. 573 00:39:26,360 --> 00:39:30,640 Whoa. We're going to offer the 574 00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:35,520 sacrifice of praise with Thanksgiving, right? 575 00:39:36,320 --> 00:39:41,920 The Bible says in the First Chronicles 1634, it says, oh, 576 00:39:42,240 --> 00:39:45,800 give thanks to the Lord. Why? 577 00:39:46,800 --> 00:39:50,640 Because he's good and his mercy endures forever. 578 00:39:51,400 --> 00:39:54,680 Now I love this scripture, Psalm 92 verse one and two in the 579 00:39:54,680 --> 00:40:01,600 living Bible. It says it is good to say thank 580 00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:07,360 you to the Lord, to sing praises to God who is above all gods. 581 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:12,640 Every morning. Tell him thank you for your 582 00:40:12,640 --> 00:40:17,360 kindness. Every evening, rejoice in all of 583 00:40:17,360 --> 00:40:20,400 his faithfulness, man, when you open your eyes in the morning, 584 00:40:20,400 --> 00:40:22,960 say, Lord, thank you for your kindness. 585 00:40:23,680 --> 00:40:27,000 When you lay your head down at night, thank you for your 586 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:29,400 faithfulness. Now this is where you're going 587 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:32,120 to come in this morning. See, this is a participator 588 00:40:32,120 --> 00:40:35,160 service. This isn't a spectator service, 589 00:40:35,480 --> 00:40:37,440 right? And if you don't like today's 590 00:40:37,440 --> 00:40:39,920 service and you're visiting you, come on back. 591 00:40:40,120 --> 00:40:42,760 I'm not the pastor. I won't be here. 592 00:40:43,360 --> 00:40:45,520 I didn't like that guy. Well, come on back. 593 00:40:45,800 --> 00:40:47,560 All right. Next week, give it another try. 594 00:40:48,080 --> 00:40:52,480 All right, but but notice Psalm 35 and 28. 595 00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:59,880 I will tell everyone how great and how good you are. 596 00:41:01,440 --> 00:41:08,520 I'll praise you all day long. I will tell everyone how good 597 00:41:08,520 --> 00:41:10,920 and great you are. So here's what we're going to do 598 00:41:10,920 --> 00:41:12,800 this morning. Maybe a little different, I 599 00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:14,920 don't know. I think years ago we may have 600 00:41:14,920 --> 00:41:17,160 had a service like this, but we're going to have one today. 601 00:41:18,160 --> 00:41:22,240 Amen. In a moment, not right now, but 602 00:41:22,240 --> 00:41:27,280 in a moment, I'm going to ask everybody to stand and then I'm 603 00:41:27,280 --> 00:41:31,480 going to count to 3. And when I do, we are going to 604 00:41:31,480 --> 00:41:38,880 release a corporate shout of praise, thanking, calling to 605 00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:43,960 mind his goodness, his faithfulness to us personally 606 00:41:43,960 --> 00:41:46,480 and corporately. We're going to give a shout of 607 00:41:46,480 --> 00:41:52,120 praise to God for all that he has done in reflection up to 608 00:41:52,120 --> 00:41:55,360 this point. Thank you in Christ in our 609 00:41:55,360 --> 00:41:57,840 lives. OK, we're going to scare every 610 00:41:57,840 --> 00:42:03,680 devil in Saint Augustine. You say, well, I'm visiting. 611 00:42:03,680 --> 00:42:06,160 Do I have to shout? Well, it'll do some good. 612 00:42:06,760 --> 00:42:09,760 You know they had that that the commercial for the tough stains 613 00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:12,960 shouted out, right? Sometimes you need to give a 614 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:15,320 shout. You just put your head back and 615 00:42:15,320 --> 00:42:16,840 let her rip. Amen. 616 00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:20,640 It's good for you, you say. How do you know it's good for 617 00:42:20,640 --> 00:42:22,600 you? Well, God obviously likes it. 618 00:42:23,240 --> 00:42:26,640 I'm telling you, all you have to do is read the Old covenant 619 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:29,240 every time. Father God just about was in 620 00:42:29,240 --> 00:42:34,400 charge of the battle plan. I mean, it just, it tickles me 621 00:42:34,560 --> 00:42:37,920 whether it was Joshua in the battle of Jericho, Gideon and 622 00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:40,720 the Midianites, Israel and the Philistines, Father God would 623 00:42:40,720 --> 00:42:45,200 say, all right, guys, do this, this, this, this, and then 624 00:42:45,200 --> 00:42:50,040 shout, you know, and man, when they shouted, it released 625 00:42:50,040 --> 00:42:54,280 something, it activated something in the unseen realm. 626 00:42:54,280 --> 00:42:57,600 You can read it yourself. So I say if he likes it, I like 627 00:42:57,600 --> 00:42:59,880 it, right? So we're going to start with a 628 00:42:59,880 --> 00:43:04,520 corporate shout of praise and then I'm going to ask different 629 00:43:04,520 --> 00:43:07,600 ones of you as your heart prompts you. 630 00:43:07,600 --> 00:43:10,880 Now we got a lot of people, but I, I want some of you as your 631 00:43:10,880 --> 00:43:19,120 heart prompts you, if God has healed you, saved you, delivered 632 00:43:19,120 --> 00:43:23,640 you from alcohol, drug addiction, anxiety, fear, 633 00:43:23,640 --> 00:43:27,040 depression, if he has blessed you with the word that has gone 634 00:43:27,040 --> 00:43:29,680 forth here in your life, has been transformed into marriage, 635 00:43:29,680 --> 00:43:35,440 restored or your kids, anything good God has done, I will tell 636 00:43:35,720 --> 00:43:39,280 everyone how good and how great you are. 637 00:43:39,680 --> 00:43:42,280 Now why do you tell it? Well, because it gives glory to 638 00:43:42,280 --> 00:43:46,800 Him and it encourages others who may be in the same situation 639 00:43:47,080 --> 00:43:50,080 that if He did it for you, He'll do it for me. 640 00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:53,960 But we want to celebrate the goodness of God in the house by 641 00:43:53,960 --> 00:43:56,080 having different ones. Come now, listen to me. 642 00:43:56,760 --> 00:43:59,080 This is not your opportunity to preach. 643 00:44:00,720 --> 00:44:02,000 OK? I'm just going to lay a little 644 00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:06,640 groundwork here, right? I will hold the microphone. 645 00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:10,280 I'm going to hold the microphone so I can hold it close to your 646 00:44:10,280 --> 00:44:11,640 mouth. All right? 647 00:44:11,640 --> 00:44:18,680 And, and what we need is a short, concise testimony of what 648 00:44:18,680 --> 00:44:22,080 something good God has done so that we can, what, celebrate his 649 00:44:22,080 --> 00:44:25,000 goodness with you, right? So, you know, when you read the 650 00:44:25,000 --> 00:44:28,440 newspaper or the magazine and you got headlines and fine 651 00:44:28,440 --> 00:44:33,440 print, this is headlines. If you're a fine print person, 652 00:44:33,760 --> 00:44:36,680 go ahead and start thinking how you can do headlines. 653 00:44:36,960 --> 00:44:39,560 OK, 'cause we want to keep it rolling. 654 00:44:39,560 --> 00:44:43,240 OK? So I want to hear what, what 655 00:44:43,560 --> 00:44:45,920 maybe when, how, what he did for you. 656 00:44:46,040 --> 00:44:48,520 Just headlines. I had this, this, this and God 657 00:44:48,640 --> 00:44:50,160 did this. Are you with me? 658 00:44:50,560 --> 00:44:52,000 You say, well, do I have to tell it? 659 00:44:52,000 --> 00:44:54,800 Well, it'll be a blessing. We want to celebrate the 660 00:44:54,800 --> 00:44:57,160 goodness of God in the house today. 661 00:44:57,640 --> 00:44:59,480 So we're going to start with a corporate shout. 662 00:44:59,680 --> 00:45:03,160 I'll call different ones and, and, and when I get to that 663 00:45:03,160 --> 00:45:08,280 part, you just line up over here and line up over here and then 664 00:45:08,280 --> 00:45:11,720 I'll call you one at a time. You'll stand here, I'll hold the 665 00:45:11,720 --> 00:45:15,800 mic and you tell us and don't sit there like God hadn't done 666 00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:18,800 something good for you 'cause I know He has. 667 00:45:19,560 --> 00:45:22,280 And when you get to your testimony part, we're going to 668 00:45:22,280 --> 00:45:24,760 celebrate with you. Are you with me? 669 00:45:25,480 --> 00:45:28,000 And then, so we'll start off with a corporate shout. 670 00:45:28,000 --> 00:45:30,480 We'll do some personal testimonies and then we're going 671 00:45:30,480 --> 00:45:36,080 to give a final shout of praise. But that shout has significance. 672 00:45:36,320 --> 00:45:39,280 The first was in reflection for all he has done. 673 00:45:39,600 --> 00:45:42,320 The last one will be in anticipation for what we're 674 00:45:42,320 --> 00:45:47,560 expecting him to do Amen. As we navigate the present 675 00:45:47,560 --> 00:45:49,800 season and emerge into the next one. 676 00:45:49,960 --> 00:45:52,360 So we're going, that's going to be a shout of expectation. 677 00:45:52,600 --> 00:45:55,800 And listen, those are powerful. If you have some things that 678 00:45:55,800 --> 00:45:58,840 you're believing for personally that you have not yet seen 679 00:45:58,840 --> 00:46:01,600 manifested, go ahead and praise Him in advance. 680 00:46:01,800 --> 00:46:04,120 Is that scriptural? It really is. 681 00:46:04,480 --> 00:46:09,400 Lillian B Oman said praise hastens victory. 682 00:46:09,760 --> 00:46:13,720 Praise hastens victory. There's something about praising 683 00:46:13,720 --> 00:46:17,240 God in advance that activates his power on our behalf. 684 00:46:17,440 --> 00:46:20,840 Is everybody with me? All right, so everybody stand up 685 00:46:20,840 --> 00:46:25,160 this this morning. Now I'm trying to hear up here, 686 00:46:25,160 --> 00:46:28,720 so I don't want to bust your ears, but did you turn that down 687 00:46:28,720 --> 00:46:31,160 or is it the same volume? I had this microphone. 688 00:46:31,840 --> 00:46:33,680 OK, It's the same one. All right, I'm going to stand 689 00:46:33,680 --> 00:46:36,400 out here where I can hear everybody. 690 00:46:36,600 --> 00:46:41,240 Now listen, we said this is a participator surface, so and you 691 00:46:41,240 --> 00:46:43,480 don't have to worry. Nobody's looking at you. 692 00:46:44,280 --> 00:46:46,080 Everybody's going to be shouting. 693 00:46:46,560 --> 00:46:50,400 So if you've never done it before, just go ahead, right? 694 00:46:51,000 --> 00:46:53,040 And do it under God. All right? 695 00:46:53,240 --> 00:46:56,720 What are we shouting about? All he has done. 696 00:46:57,360 --> 00:46:59,680 Are you with me? Then I'm going to take some 697 00:46:59,680 --> 00:47:02,240 personal testimonies. Then we're going to thank God 698 00:47:02,320 --> 00:47:04,080 for what he's going to do. All right? 699 00:47:04,080 --> 00:47:06,000 Are you ready? I got AI got a track. 700 00:47:06,640 --> 00:47:08,360 I got a track. Oh. 701 00:47:08,360 --> 00:47:10,160 Oh, the podium. OK. 702 00:47:10,760 --> 00:47:14,360 Are you ready? Thank you, honey. 703 00:47:15,400 --> 00:47:18,400 All right. You ready to scare every devil, 704 00:47:18,400 --> 00:47:19,600 isn't it? Where am I? 705 00:47:19,600 --> 00:47:23,160 Saint Augustine set forth some Thanksgiving. 706 00:47:23,440 --> 00:47:25,160 All right, here we go. Testing. 707 00:47:25,360 --> 00:47:30,280 Did I do something wrong? Testing. 1-2, Three. 708 00:47:30,280 --> 00:47:33,240 Come on. Hey. 709 00:47:33,880 --> 00:47:37,080 Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus. 710 00:47:38,720 --> 00:47:49,920 Hey. Thank you so much for listening 711 00:47:49,920 --> 00:47:52,360 to this message. If you want more, subscribe to 712 00:47:52,360 --> 00:47:55,760 our message podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, and 713 00:47:55,760 --> 00:47:57,800 SoundCloud. Rating and leaving a comment 714 00:47:57,800 --> 00:47:59,960 will go a long way with helping our messages get better 715 00:47:59,960 --> 00:48:02,240 circulation. If you'd enjoy watching our 716 00:48:02,240 --> 00:48:05,520 weekend messages, visit youtube.com/anchorfaith. 717 00:48:06,240 --> 00:48:08,800 We'd love it if you'd subscribe, leave a comment or a like on the 718 00:48:08,800 --> 00:48:10,680 messages. If you'd like to find out more 719 00:48:10,680 --> 00:48:13,240 information about us and how we're influencing the world and 720 00:48:13,240 --> 00:48:15,760 help support the work we're doing by giving, just visit 721 00:48:15,760 --> 00:48:16,960 anchorfaith.com.