1 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:14,680 Hallelujah. I want to launch out from the 2 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:22,280 book of James today. 5 powerful chapters and James is a 3 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,840 fascinating book. There's four people in the New 4 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:30,800 Testament named James. One is James, which was a son of 5 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,080 Zebedee and the brother of brother of John. 6 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,920 You can find that in Matthew chapter 4 verse #21 The second 7 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,960 James was the son of Alpheus and he was called the yes Sir, the 8 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,400 the younger or the lesser. That's in Matthew chapter 10 9 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:48,280 verse #3 then you have James the father of Judas. 10 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,840 You can find that in Luke chapter 6 verse 16. 11 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:55,760 But the author of this book, James, was the brother of Jesus, 12 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:59,200 the half brother of Jesus. You can find this in the Gospel 13 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,560 of Mark, the 6th chapter, the third verse. 14 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:06,720 The interesting thing about James his brother, I was 15 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,160 reflecting on this. He grew up around Jesus. 16 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:12,040 Jesus had four brothers, at least two sisters. 17 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,440 So he was in the household with Joseph and Mary and Jesus. 18 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:18,160 Could you imagine being around Jesus all the time as your 19 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:22,640 sibling? See Law. 20 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,880 The interesting thing while Jesus was doing his ministry in 21 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:30,200 the earth you realize that realized that James was not a 22 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:36,600 believer in Jesus Christ as the Messiah. 23 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,600 You can find that in John Chapter 7 verses 2 through 8. 24 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:46,080 It says none of his brothers really believed that he was the 25 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:49,480 Messiah. So he had a radical conversion 26 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:57,400 post resurrection because in first Corinthians 15, seven it 27 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:00,120 says that when Jesus was raised from the dead, he appeared to 28 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:04,440 certain Peter people. First he he appeared to Peter, 29 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:09,840 then he appeared to the 12, then he appeared to 500 brethren at 30 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:14,000 once, then he appeared to James's brother, and then he 31 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:17,440 appeared to Paul. And at that appearance James 32 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,520 committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. 33 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,840 And the great thing we can learn about James as he was a finisher 34 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,360 from the time he was radically converted till he was martyred 35 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,840 in 62AD, which is a run about 33 to 34 years. 36 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,520 He say wholeheartedly devoted and dedicated to God. 37 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:39,600 And what what a example for us. It's not how you start, but how 38 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:42,160 you finish. Even if it cost me my life and 39 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,680 martyrdom, I'm not going to renounce or denounce Jesus 40 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:49,000 Christ. He is my savior, He's my king. 41 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,280 He gave everything for me, so I'm giving everything for him. 42 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,240 And James had that wholehearted conversion. 43 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,400 He was among those that were waiting for the outpouring of 44 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,720 the Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 1, verses 14. 45 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,440 In Acts chapter one, verse 14, he was waiting for the 46 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,880 outpouring of the Holy Ghost. And you just see the progression 47 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:11,240 as you're faithful and little God will make you ruler. 48 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:15,200 And much by the time we get over to Acts chapter 12, when Peter's 49 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:19,000 released supernaturally from prison, Peter was a a leader at 50 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,280 the Church of Jerusalem. But then it said he departed and 51 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,560 went elsewhere. James took up that mantle of 52 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:25,840 leadership at the Church of Jerusalem, became the lead 53 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,600 pastor, and you can see him at the Council of Jerusalem in Acts 54 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:33,400 chapter 15. So God's got a plan and a 55 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,960 purpose for all of us. Let me say it again, God's got a 56 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,760 plan and purpose for all of us, but we can't be wastefully 57 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:41,920 wondering. We got to be world changers. 58 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:44,880 That means we have to have conversion and concentration. 59 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:48,000 James stated You don't despise a day of small beginnings. 60 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:49,520 You could despise a day of small beginnings. 61 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:53,360 But James did not. And God took him from where he 62 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,360 was when he got saved to where he needed to be as a leader in 63 00:03:56,360 --> 00:04:00,600 the church. Even Paul in Galatians called 64 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:07,520 him a pillar to the church. And James? 65 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:10,040 This is one of the earliest epistles, written sometimes 66 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:15,640 between between 46 and 50 AD. And James's writing has a 67 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,640 striking resemblance to the teachings of Jesus. 68 00:04:20,959 --> 00:04:25,320 He heard them all those years. He heard them all those years, 69 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,520 He heard them all those years. But he finally surrendered and 70 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,520 submitted. So his teaching was strikingly 71 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,520 resembling Jesus Christ, specifically the Sermon on the 72 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:38,440 Mount. And like the Proverbs in the Old 73 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,800 Testament, James, in his book deals with practical application 74 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:44,960 of spiritual truth for everyday situations. 75 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,120 He sets forth the ethical requirements for the life of a 76 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,280 belief. And so he really builds from the 77 00:04:51,280 --> 00:04:53,680 first chapter to the fifth. The first chapter really deals 78 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,080 with your private conduct, but then it starts to spill out over 79 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,840 to your public performance. You can only perform in public 80 00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:02,280 to the degree you're willing to practice in private. 81 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:09,240 And so when James says count it all joy, right, when you fall, 82 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:11,600 that's a private thing. Somebody may not know you're 83 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,720 struggling or going through things, but James said count it 84 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,240 all joy. He goes on about listening, 85 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:18,560 right? Be quick to listen, slow to 86 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,840 speak, slow to anger, right? He's dealing with you. 87 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,560 He said look into the perfect law of liberty, glory to God. 88 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:28,680 There's a perfect law of liberty that we with that word is like a 89 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:31,520 mirror and we when we look at it, we see a reflection of who 90 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:35,320 we really are. And then he gets over in chapter 91 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,120 2 and some of the public things that goes on over in chapter 3 92 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:40,800 talks about the weight of a teacher and making sure that we 93 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:43,800 give you the unadulterated word of God because teachers are 94 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,160 going to be judged more strictly for what they minister. 95 00:05:46,280 --> 00:05:49,480 He talks about wisdom to deal with the fears of man versus the 96 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:51,600 versus the evil wisdom of this world. 97 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:54,320 He gets over in a chapter 4. He talks about commercial 98 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:56,200 business. Don't go say I'm going to plan a 99 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,240 business over there when you haven't even asked God what he 100 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,560 wants you to do today. And then he gets over in a 101 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,120 chapter 5 and are really I'm going to launch out from the 102 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:07,800 last two verses in this book, which is verse 19 and 20. 103 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,160 I'm going to read this from three different translations. 104 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:14,720 Hallelujah. So we're going to be reading 105 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:16,760 from three different translations. 106 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:20,160 It said brother and from the King James Version brother. 107 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,960 And if you do not hear from the truth, if if anyone of you hear 108 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:28,040 from the truth, and one convert him, let him know that he which 109 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,200 convert US, the Sinner from the air of his way, shall save a 110 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:35,760 soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. 111 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:38,960 The Passion translation says it like this. 112 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:44,400 Finally, as member of God's beloved family, we must go after 113 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:51,360 the one who wanders from the truth and bring him back for one 114 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:55,760 who restores the sinning believer back to God from the 115 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,600 air of his way, gives back to his soul and life from the dead, 116 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:04,560 and covers over countless sins by the demonstration of love. 117 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,720 The message reads it like this. My dear friends, if you know 118 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:13,440 people who have wandered off from God's truth, don't write 119 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:21,560 them off, Go after them. Get them back and you have 120 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:26,240 rescued precious lies from destruction and prevented an 121 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:31,440 epidemic of wandering away from God. 122 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:40,360 The power of conversion, The power of conversion. 123 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:46,120 Converting is changing the way we think and there is power in 124 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,880 conversion. When we convert our mind and 125 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:55,160 change the way we think is when we will stop wandering. 126 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:03,320 When we convert our mind and change the way we think, that is 127 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:11,040 when we will stop wandering. Psalms 19 verse #7 The law of 128 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:18,000 the Lord is perfect. Converting the soul The word of 129 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:22,480 the Lord is perfect. Converting the soul The truth of 130 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:27,000 the Lord is perfect, and it converts the soul. 131 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:32,720 Wandering is a common theme throughout Scripture. 132 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:39,919 Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. 133 00:08:45,790 --> 00:08:51,840 First Corinthians chapter 10, verses 5 through 10 gives us an 134 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:54,600 example of what they were doing. And they're wandering. 135 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,520 They were full of murmuring and complaining. 136 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:06,440 They were full of lust, they were full of sex sins. 137 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:11,000 They were full of idolatry, and they were full of tempting, of 138 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:14,960 temp, of tempting Christ. And they wandered for an 11 day 139 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:19,360 journey from the Deliverance in Egypt. 140 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,600 To get where God wanted them to go was 11 days. 141 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:31,640 But they wastefully wandered for 40 years around the same space. 142 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:38,280 It was like a merry go round. Wandering is movement without 143 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:43,560 progress and counseling. We call this a hamster wheel. 144 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,560 That hamster moves a lot, but he doesn't go anywhere. 145 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:55,600 And that's what a wandering believer is, a lot of movement 146 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:59,320 without progress. It's possible to have movement 147 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:04,040 without progress. And this time while they were 148 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:09,280 wandering, it was full of mourning and death because they 149 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,360 disobeyed God and wandered from his commands. 150 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,440 God said, I, even though my desire, my aim, my goal, my 151 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:20,880 purpose was to take you out from Egypt through the wilderness. 152 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,600 My desire was to take you into Canaan land. 153 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:28,640 He promised back in Abraham and Abraham's life, Abraham's life 154 00:10:28,640 --> 00:10:32,800 that I'm taking to, into a land flowing with milk and honey. 155 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:37,080 Abraham pass it off to his son, who pass it off to his son, who 156 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:38,680 pass it off to the 12 patriarchs. 157 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,520 Moses still communicates about it in the book of Exodus. 158 00:10:41,680 --> 00:10:44,320 Listen, there's a day he's going to bring you into the land. 159 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:48,320 And the New Testament reality for us as believers is John 160 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:51,120 1010, because Canaan land is a sweet life. 161 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,640 John 1010 says it's a thief who comes to steal, kill and 162 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:57,840 destroy. But it is I who came to give you 163 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:00,360 life and to give it to you more abundantly. 164 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:05,040 Canaan land is an abundant life, the wilderness is a barely get 165 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:09,680 along broken, disgusted life, and Egypt is a life of bondage. 166 00:11:09,680 --> 00:11:12,200 God brought them out to bring them in, but then instead of 167 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:15,280 taking an 11 day journey they circled around the same place 168 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,360 for 40 years. I don't have 40 years to waste. 169 00:11:19,560 --> 00:11:22,680 I don't want to be wastefully wandering for 40 years. 170 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,520 Could you imagine the amount of funerals that Moses had to 171 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,240 perform? Some scholars estimate there was 172 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:30,280 a million people that died in the wilderness. 173 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:39,520 That's a lot of funerals. You can die prematurely if you 174 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:46,160 wander. You can't. 175 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,160 Is it God's will? No. 176 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:51,360 But if you wander from the law of God, if you wander from the 177 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,160 local body assembly, if you wander from your devotional 178 00:11:54,160 --> 00:11:59,280 life, it can cost you. Listen, Nebuchadnezzar, in the 179 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:03,320 Old Testament, he failed to recognize the sovereignty in the 180 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:05,320 hand of God. And he said it was me that built 181 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,040 this Kingdom. And when he made that 182 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,600 declaration that it's my effort and my work, he lost his mind 183 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,800 for seven years. I don't know about you, but I 184 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,400 don't want to lose my mind for seven years. 185 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:20,760 That's a long time to be out of your mind. 186 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:24,000 Eating grass. Yeah. 187 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:34,120 I want some steak. Followers of Jesus Christ can 188 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:39,600 wander. Merriam Webster's defines wonder 189 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:43,200 as this to move about from one place to another aimlessly 190 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,960 without a fixed course, purpose or goal. 191 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:53,080 Merriam Webster's also says this about the definition it lose. 192 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:57,800 It means to lose normal mental contact or stray in thought. 193 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:05,440 For example, his mind wandered, you know, the other day I on, on 194 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:09,800 Thursday, I was in the office. And so I go back to my office 195 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:11,920 and you know, I'm, I'm on to the next assignment also. 196 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:15,680 And I hear Jan and her voice isn't the same. 197 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:19,600 And I know Jan's voice, 'cause I made a cup of coffee before. 198 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:23,080 And in her graciousness and her kindness, sometimes my mind will 199 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,200 wander and I forgot I made the cup of coffee. 200 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:28,640 And she'll say, hey, Pastor Mike, did you make a cup of 201 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:31,000 coffee? And she'll bring it to me, 202 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:33,320 which, you know, is awesome because she serves. 203 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:35,320 She got a heart to serve. But this voice was a little 204 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:40,400 different. And all of a sudden, what I did 205 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,080 is my mind wondered, I forgot to put a cup under the K-Cup. 206 00:13:50,100 --> 00:13:53,700 Hallelujah. You could say Amen or oh, me. 207 00:13:57,620 --> 00:14:01,180 And so, you know, you realize when you wander from the truth, 208 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:07,480 it takes up time when you could have been doing God's will. 209 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:13,240 Do you realize that that took about 1520 minutes to clean up, 210 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:15,760 which could have been 15 to 20 minutes of something else? 211 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:21,040 How many have been traveling before and you've missed your 212 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:26,760 turn or missed your exit? I remember one time Angie and I 213 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:30,640 are on the highway trying to go somewhere and, and I was the GPS 214 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:32,840 is on, but I just my mind wandered, I missed the 215 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:36,120 instruction. And you know, when we're on that 216 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:37,680 highway, we're on a time constraint too. 217 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:42,000 It was 8 miles till the next place to turn around. 218 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:47,280 So we had to go 8 miles up the road to get come 8 miles back to 219 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:51,240 go 8 miles the same way. So that's about, you know, at 220 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:54,360 least 25 to 30 minutes right there and we're on a time 221 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:57,560 constraint. Thank God for his mercy. 222 00:14:57,560 --> 00:15:00,680 You can be restored when you wonder, but how much better is 223 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:04,560 it just to stay on point and to have Kingdom conversion and 224 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:08,960 concentration. Some of your mind is have 225 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:14,440 wondered right now. Maybe a notification went off. 226 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,880 Maybe you have were tempted to look at social media during 227 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:25,600 church service. Maybe you were tempted to look 228 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,040 at social media during church service. 229 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:34,040 Some of you thinking about what you're going to eat after 230 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:38,000 church. Some of you are thinking about 231 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:46,600 the Super Bowl tonight. Don't let your mind wander when 232 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:50,560 it comes to attention span as I looked up some statistics on 233 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:55,480 this A2 year old has an average attention span of four to six 234 00:15:55,480 --> 00:16:01,680 minutes, a four year old 8 to 12 minutes, a six year old 12 to 18 235 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:07,800 minutes, an 8 year old 16 to 24 minutes, a 10 year old 20 to 30 236 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:11,080 minutes, a 12 year old 25 to 35 minutes. 237 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:16,560 A 14 year old has an attention span of 28 to 42 minutes and 16 238 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,720 year old plus 32 to 50 minutes plus. 239 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:24,280 I've heard, I've also heard another statistic it said you 240 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:27,200 have a minute of attention per year, you old. 241 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:30,880 So if you're 1 years old, you got about one minute. 242 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,480 So if if anybody's 100, I got the greatest attention span in 243 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:39,160 the building right now to go a long time today. 244 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,400 But I believe this, your man, your mind can be converted and 245 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:52,040 you can't concentrate to think. It's like a muscle. 246 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:55,600 If you exercise it, it will grow. 247 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,960 You know, the average person picks up their phone about 1500 248 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,240 times a week. That's an average of about once 249 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:08,119 every 5 1/2 minutes. Maybe part of your conversion 250 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:11,319 and concentration is not to pick it up. 251 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:17,920 Amen. I'm not saying to completely put 252 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:21,920 it down, but you know when it's important and you know when it's 253 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:26,640 not Amen. I know some people like to 254 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:30,160 decompress, so they at at night, they like to scroll. 255 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:39,870 Why don't you read the scroll? I guarantee you're probably 256 00:17:39,990 --> 00:17:43,790 sleep in better peace reading this scroll. 257 00:17:44,510 --> 00:17:46,350 But then some of the stuff that's on the social media 258 00:17:46,350 --> 00:17:50,070 scroll that could stir you up, stir your emotions up. 259 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:56,880 Hallelujah. So James is not talking about 260 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:00,960 wicked transgressional transgressional people, but 261 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:04,960 those in the church that have wandered off from the truth. 262 00:18:05,120 --> 00:18:07,640 Truth. He is Speaking of brothers and 263 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:12,440 sisters in the Lord that have wandered off path and are 264 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:18,680 aimlessly roaming without purpose and hopeless. 265 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:23,680 James isn't talking about evangelism winning a lost soul. 266 00:18:24,200 --> 00:18:26,480 He's talking about rescuing a lost soul. 267 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:34,880 Ezekiel chapter 34 verse #4 says this. 268 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:39,600 Ezekiel 34 four. You have not strengthened those 269 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:41,560 who are weak. You have not healed the sick. 270 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:43,400 You have not bandaged the cripple. 271 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:46,680 You have not brack. You have not brought back those 272 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:50,480 gone astray. You have not looked for the 273 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:53,000 lost, but you've ruled them with force and violence. 274 00:18:54,520 --> 00:18:58,240 Now if you jump down to the 16th verse of that same chapter, it 275 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:01,320 says I will seek the lost. I will bring back the scattered, 276 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:03,520 bandage the crippled, and strengthen the weak and the 277 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:05,760 sick. But I will destroy the fat and 278 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,360 the strong who have become hard hearted and perverse. 279 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:10,800 I will feed them with judgment and punishment. 280 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:17,440 So just like Ezekiel James is saying there are lost people 281 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:21,600 that or there are saved people that have got off track that 282 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:26,120 have wandered from the path and they're they're sick and they're 283 00:19:26,120 --> 00:19:29,120 not doing well. What I mean by sick, just not 284 00:19:29,120 --> 00:19:34,000 physically but mentally, emotionally, even spiritually, 285 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:37,760 they have disease which means they're at dis ease cause 286 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:41,160 they've wandered from the truth of the word of God and it should 287 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,960 be our heart. When Jesus saw the multitude 288 00:19:43,960 --> 00:19:48,760 over in the Gospel of Matthew, he was moved with compassion and 289 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,960 he said the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. 290 00:19:52,360 --> 00:19:55,200 Pray to the Lord of the harvest that he would send out laborers 291 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:57,840 into his harvest. And I'm telling you, there's a 292 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:01,840 harvest of those unsaved, but there's also a harvest of those 293 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:05,480 that are saved but have wandered from the path of truth. 294 00:20:06,360 --> 00:20:10,160 And it should be our compassion, our motivation, our desire to 295 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:17,600 see all mankind connected with Christ, connected with Christ. 296 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:21,720 Luke chapter 15, if you read that whole chapter, it talks, it 297 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:27,440 gives a picture of lostness, it talks about lost sheep, it talks 298 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:32,080 about lost coins, and it talks about the lost son. 299 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:36,120 I want to zero in on the lost son. 300 00:20:36,120 --> 00:20:39,280 You know the parable of the prodigal, That is the story of 301 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:42,240 the lost son. The son was in the father's 302 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:47,960 house. The Son saw the goodness, the 303 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:54,120 provision, the love, the purpose of the Father, but yet he chose 304 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:02,320 to say, give me, give me my share of the inheritance. 305 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:06,320 He became very selfish and self-centered in his pursuit in 306 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:10,440 life. And I'll tell you this love 307 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:15,560 Church always gives at the expense of yourself, and lust 308 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:19,480 always takes at the expense of somebody else. 309 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:24,880 God so loved the world that he gave love gives at the expense 310 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:28,280 of yourself. This son was in lust just like 311 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:31,760 the children of Israel wandered for 40 years because one of the 312 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:36,560 things they were in was lust. Well, this son said, give me. 313 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:39,200 And we know the story. He took off from the Father's 314 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:43,520 house. And man, when you get separated, 315 00:21:43,520 --> 00:21:47,480 it may all sin. Seems pleasurable in the moment 316 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:51,520 and I'm sure he had a good time for a while. 317 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,920 Hallelujah. You know, partaking of a benefit 318 00:21:57,920 --> 00:21:59,560 out. I'm keeping this G rated outside 319 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:06,800 of the marriage covenant. Or if you're single and taking a 320 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,640 benefit that should only be in marriage may seem fun for that 321 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:15,320 moment. But if a sexual STD, I'll put it 322 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:25,320 that way, hit your life or the emotional tie and weight of the 323 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:32,320 guilt, shame and dishonor. So even though this son seemed 324 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,400 like man, I'm going to go have a good time, I'm going to do life 325 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:38,840 my way. He finally hit rock bottom when 326 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:43,600 he had spent all the money. You know, sin will take you 327 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:47,640 further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to 328 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:52,040 stay, and sin will make you pay more than you wanted to. 329 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:57,760 And this, this son spent it all. And he, he had to become a slave 330 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,880 in that community. And then he finally came to 331 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:05,720 himself, though he finally said it was better in my father's 332 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,560 house. And oh, that Anchor Faith Church 333 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:13,840 will rise up and pray and we say we we have people come back to 334 00:23:13,840 --> 00:23:16,040 the altar. Come back to it was better when 335 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:18,200 I was connected with that local body church. 336 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:21,040 It was better, you know, the banana that gets away from the 337 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:22,840 bunch is the one that gets peeled. 338 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:28,560 It was better to be grouped together than by myself. 339 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:32,680 You know, God just revealed this to me this morning. 340 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:35,880 I was meditating on Abraham. Abraham, his name was Abraham at 341 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:38,600 that time over in Genesis 14, because that is our mission 342 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,480 statement in 318. So I was thinking about it and 343 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:44,960 it said that Lot was in Sodom, but that Abraham was down by 344 00:23:44,960 --> 00:23:48,480 Miriam and he was with Isko, the brother of so and so. 345 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:51,760 And I looked up that word. 1 Miriam meant to strengthen. 346 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,760 So Abraham put around himself, around people that strengthen 347 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:58,240 him, but the other brother's name meant a cluster. 348 00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:01,240 And it just hit me this morning. We are Better Together because 349 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:04,240 there's a cluster of believers in this house. 350 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:08,720 And we are stronger together when we're all doing our part, 351 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:11,440 our fit, and our assignment in the body of Christ. 352 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:15,320 Don't be a wasteless wanderer, but be a world changer. 353 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:20,840 And so the in the prodigal he finally came to himself and 354 00:24:20,840 --> 00:24:23,240 we're praying for people to come to themselves. 355 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:27,200 Nebuchadnezzar's mind finally was back. 356 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:31,960 Glory to God. We should rejoice man. 357 00:24:31,960 --> 00:24:33,920 When the father saw the son coming. 358 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:38,520 You know that, you know, that story went from give me father 359 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,200 and his heart when he was at the bottom. 360 00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:46,120 A bottom was make me. And that was the difference in 361 00:24:46,120 --> 00:24:48,160 the story. We need a bunch of believers 362 00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:51,240 that are pliable in the hands of the Master. 363 00:24:51,440 --> 00:24:58,880 God cannot mow dry clay. The prophet Isaiah said you're 364 00:24:58,880 --> 00:25:00,640 like clay in the hand of the Potter. 365 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:03,320 And when we have the water in corporate prayer, Angie, I think 366 00:25:03,320 --> 00:25:07,280 it talked about the water of the word and man, we need to let 367 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:09,920 that water daily saturate us. Why 'cause that's so the 368 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:12,760 Father's hand could just shape us the way he wants us to be. 369 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:18,560 And that that Son said make me His heart was right before he 370 00:25:18,560 --> 00:25:21,360 got back in the house. Glory to God, I believe that's a 371 00:25:21,360 --> 00:25:24,080 testimony this year. People are going to come back. 372 00:25:24,520 --> 00:25:27,560 People are going to come back. People are going to come back. 373 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:30,720 People are going to come back. People that have strayed, that 374 00:25:30,720 --> 00:25:32,280 have wondered are going to come back. 375 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:36,280 God's dealing them with them right now by the power of the 376 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:38,880 Holy Ghost. They said I had an attitude to 377 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:41,680 give me, but now I have an attitude to make me and we need 378 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:47,360 to have open arms and say yes, welcome back, welcome back. 379 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:55,600 We're not going to judge them. We're not going to critique 380 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:57,000 them. We're not going to consider size 381 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:58,560 them. We're going to love them and say 382 00:25:58,560 --> 00:26:01,520 get back on the pathway. I know you went 20-4 miles out 383 00:26:01,520 --> 00:26:05,320 of your way. I know you forgot to put the cup 384 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:10,240 under the the K-Cup. You've wasted some time. 385 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:16,520 But now, But now, and thank God for my wife and thank God for 386 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,680 Audrey, because they were there when I made the mess. 387 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,040 And I got to that after I heard Jan's voice that sounded 388 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:26,560 different. There they are sweeping paper 389 00:26:26,560 --> 00:26:31,640 towels out. Amen. 390 00:26:32,360 --> 00:26:33,960 And that's how we want to be. They made a mess, but we're 391 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:37,320 going to help you clean it up. We're going to give you truth. 392 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:38,760 We're going to give you the Holy Ghost. 393 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:40,720 We're going to love you. We're going to encourage you. 394 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:42,400 We're going to instruct you. We're going to correct you. 395 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:43,800 We're going to keep you accountable. 396 00:26:44,600 --> 00:26:46,360 Why? Because God has a plan for his 397 00:26:46,360 --> 00:26:54,080 church in the earth today, man. Peter wandered in denial. 398 00:26:56,320 --> 00:27:00,760 Peter wandered in denial. The apostle Peter wandered in 399 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:03,120 denial. Remember when Jesus said you're 400 00:27:03,120 --> 00:27:07,040 going to deny me three times before the rooster crows twice 401 00:27:07,760 --> 00:27:13,160 and Jesus makes his powerful statement to Peter, He said, 402 00:27:13,160 --> 00:27:17,160 you're going to do this. Peter was like, Nah, he said, 403 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:20,960 but when you're converted, strengthen the brethren. 404 00:27:22,760 --> 00:27:25,000 When you're converted, Peter, strengthen the brethren. 405 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,240 And so then we see in Peter's epistle, the first first 406 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:30,720 epistle, Peter the 4th chapter, the eighth verse from the 407 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:35,600 Amplified Bible, first Peter 48. It says above all have fervent 408 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:41,360 love, above all have fervent and unfailing love for one another, 409 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:44,280 because love covers a multitude of sins. 410 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:49,160 It overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for 411 00:27:49,160 --> 00:27:52,600 others. Man Peter wandered and now, but 412 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:56,680 he got back on the path and thank God for his mercy when we 413 00:27:56,680 --> 00:27:59,800 can get back on the path. In the parable, the prodigal 414 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,560 son. The key to this whole thing is 415 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:06,600 repentance. Repentance. 416 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:10,120 If I had, we would go left to right. 417 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:12,400 If I had, repentance in the center. 418 00:28:13,120 --> 00:28:17,160 That is the pivotal point between reconciliation. 419 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:23,640 If I don't repent, it's going to lead to rebellion, and rebellion 420 00:28:23,640 --> 00:28:27,400 leads to ruin, which is where the devil wants you. 421 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:31,360 Complete spoiling and destruction of your life. 422 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:37,720 But if I repent, I can be reconciled. 423 00:28:37,720 --> 00:28:40,560 You know what reconciliation means in the banking or 424 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:42,880 financial? It means the account's settled. 425 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:48,160 Everything's balanced. The blood of Christ, the blood 426 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:50,720 of Christ. Repentance isn't a one time 427 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:56,200 event that I did in 1997. I've repented many times over 428 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:59,480 over the decades. Not a not a gross sin, but when 429 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:06,000 God deals with you, when God deals with you, when God shows 430 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:09,320 you some things in John 15, he said if you abide in the word, 431 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:12,000 the word abides and you'll breathe forth much fruit. 432 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:14,080 But he said he's going to prune the vine. 433 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:18,320 He's going to cut off those dead unproductive places in your 434 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:20,080 life. Those ways of thinking that 435 00:29:20,080 --> 00:29:22,560 aren't lined up with his way of thinking. 436 00:29:24,120 --> 00:29:26,640 The Father's going to instruct you and correct you. 437 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:29,920 Apostle roll. Read this on on Wednesday in our 438 00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:33,440 service when he said no discipline for the moment seems 439 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:39,520 fun, but afterwards it it it yields, it yields. 440 00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:42,880 That's another financial term when you yield something you've 441 00:29:42,880 --> 00:29:48,400 got a return on your investment, the peaceable fruit of 442 00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:51,760 righteousness and all. I wouldn't be trained by the 443 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:55,800 Father, Amen. And then restoration means God 444 00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:59,760 is his heart is always to get mankind back to where he 445 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:02,960 designed them. So if I repent, I can be 446 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:07,960 reconciled and I can be restored and restorations like it never 447 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:09,800 happened. Psalms 103 says he'll remove 448 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:12,000 your sins as far as the east from the West. 449 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,280 This is why when you go after somebody, it covers a multitude 450 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:17,400 of sins. It's saying that they're atoned 451 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,960 for, they're redeemed. The blood of Christ has been 452 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:24,280 applied, that transgression or that wandering has been taken 453 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:27,960 care of because they have taken responsibility and come before 454 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:31,840 God and said I am sorry, I don't want to do that again. 455 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:35,200 Hallelujah. I'm locked in on K cups right 456 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:39,680 now. Had a pretty good one, pretty 457 00:30:39,680 --> 00:30:44,120 good run I think it was. I think that was my first time 458 00:30:44,120 --> 00:30:47,080 ever. Glory to God, but I'm locked in. 459 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:50,000 I'm determined not to wander from the K-Cup. 460 00:30:54,280 --> 00:31:00,480 As believers, we need to be fixed, firm, and established. 461 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:05,920 As believers, we need to be fixed, firm, and established. 462 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:14,080 How can I go after others if I'm not fixed and firm myself? 463 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:22,520 If I'm wondering how can I go after wonderers, it's time for 464 00:31:22,520 --> 00:31:25,240 judgment to begin in the household of God, is what Peter 465 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:29,640 said. So an evaluation of your life. 466 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:31,600 Where are you at with Christ right now? 467 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:34,280 Are you growing in the things of God? 468 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:35,920 Are you hungry for the things of God? 469 00:31:35,920 --> 00:31:39,840 Are you affectionate and desiring and pursuing the things 470 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:42,440 of God in your life? Are you going through the 471 00:31:42,440 --> 00:31:47,800 motions? We need to be fully devoted 472 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:52,080 disciples of Jesus Christ, fully devoted disciples of Jesus 473 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:54,680 Christ. So we need to be firm, fixed and 474 00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:59,160 established. Hallelujah to go go after those 475 00:31:59,160 --> 00:32:01,240 that are lost and got off the path. 476 00:32:02,880 --> 00:32:08,080 So we need to cultivate a concentration that's unknown to 477 00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:11,240 most mankind. I think about the life of Jesus, 478 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:15,640 who's the greatest example we have of leadership in in the on 479 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:18,040 the face of the planet. He was focused. 480 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:23,960 His face was set like Flint. We are to be like he was in the 481 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:27,560 earth. You know, When I go home, I'm 482 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:31,560 focused. When I'm in my car, I'm focused. 483 00:32:31,560 --> 00:32:36,480 When I'm at work, I'm focused. If I stray, Lord, I'm sorry, 484 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:40,040 forgive me. I let my thoughts wander. 485 00:32:41,560 --> 00:32:44,480 And you're you're really in moral and thought before you are 486 00:32:44,480 --> 00:32:50,040 indeed. Jesus said this in the Gospel of 487 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:52,240 Matthew dealing with people wondering. 488 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:55,360 He said if you even look at a woman to lust after, you've 489 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:58,800 already committed adultery with you with her in your heart. 490 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:01,720 If you look at your brother with anger, you've already committed 491 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:03,480 murder. What was he saying? 492 00:33:03,480 --> 00:33:11,760 Don't let your thoughts wander. We, we need to be whole so we 493 00:33:11,760 --> 00:33:17,080 can help others be whole. I do not want to take advice 494 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:20,280 from somebody's been divorced 6 times, give me marriage advice. 495 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:25,320 Thank God for mercy and getting back on the on the path of life. 496 00:33:25,320 --> 00:33:27,680 But I want to know somebody that's doing, has been married 497 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:31,760 for 40 years and it's not just existing, but they're thriving, 498 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:36,200 right? So we need to demonstrate this 499 00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:39,480 and live and live this out. Listen, when there's something 500 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:43,760 broken in life or off course, we need to be builders. 501 00:33:44,960 --> 00:33:51,080 And I was as I was coming into this year praying about 2026, I 502 00:33:51,080 --> 00:33:58,400 had a few things hit my spirit. And to to close this up for this 503 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:02,800 sermon, I'm going to give you those thoughts and those 504 00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:08,520 impressions that God gave me. But before I cover these two 505 00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:11,719 scriptures, I want to take you to one more, and then we'll 506 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:13,560 bring this plane in for a landing. 507 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:25,920 Hallelujah. Hebrews chapter 6, verse #19 508 00:34:29,239 --> 00:34:35,560 says this. This hope we have as an anchor 509 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:41,920 for the soul, both sure and steadfast, which enters the 510 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:45,360 presence behind the veil where the Forerunner has entered 511 00:34:45,880 --> 00:34:48,639 Jesus, have become our High Priest after the Order of 512 00:34:48,639 --> 00:34:53,120 Melchizedek. This hope we have for an anchor 513 00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:57,280 of the soul. Keep your soul anchored in 2026. 514 00:34:58,480 --> 00:35:00,560 Keep your soul. It's your responsibility. 515 00:35:00,720 --> 00:35:03,160 Listen, your kids can't do it for you. 516 00:35:03,360 --> 00:35:04,880 Your parents can't do it for you. 517 00:35:04,880 --> 00:35:06,080 Your friends can't do it for you. 518 00:35:06,080 --> 00:35:07,880 Your coworkers can't do it for you. 519 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:10,800 Your spouse can't do it for you. It's your responsibility. 520 00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:14,760 You are the priest of your own life, basically, and you are. 521 00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:17,640 It's your responsibility to keep your soul anchored. 522 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:21,480 Don't let your soul wander. What is your soul with? 523 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:24,360 Your mind, What you think, your will, what you choose, and your 524 00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:28,840 emotions, what you feel. And 2nd Corinthians chapter 10 525 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:32,160 says to cast down any thought or imagination that tries to exalt 526 00:35:32,160 --> 00:35:33,920 itself against the knowledge of Christ. 527 00:35:34,160 --> 00:35:35,640 What does an anchored soul look like? 528 00:35:35,920 --> 00:35:38,880 I am constantly putting down any kind of thought that doesn't 529 00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:40,400 line up with the Holy Word of God. 530 00:35:40,960 --> 00:35:43,000 And I'm doing one thing with it. I've been called to have 531 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:44,520 dominion. This is the reigning church. 532 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:49,920 I put the the thought under my foot and I'm not. 533 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:51,360 I'm not going to play around with it. 534 00:35:51,360 --> 00:35:54,720 I'm going to kill it. I like King David even though 535 00:35:54,720 --> 00:35:59,240 King David, King David, King David even even though he took 536 00:35:59,240 --> 00:36:02,720 down Goliath, which some of you may think I got Goliath 537 00:36:02,720 --> 00:36:06,000 thoughts. They seem so insurmountable. 538 00:36:06,600 --> 00:36:10,280 God saying throw that sling, sling the slingshot, the sling, 539 00:36:10,280 --> 00:36:12,600 the rock and the at it and it's going to go down. 540 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:20,040 But David, just to make sure it was dead, he took his sword and 541 00:36:20,240 --> 00:36:22,920 and no weapon form to get you shall prosper. 542 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:25,520 He took his sword and said I'm just going to decapitate this 543 00:36:25,520 --> 00:36:32,080 guy so doesn't raise back up. This isn't the freaky Jason 544 00:36:32,080 --> 00:36:36,560 movie in that I watched BC where that guy keeps getting back up. 545 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:40,680 Now I'm going to kill this Joker. 546 00:36:43,080 --> 00:36:45,480 It's dead. I'm a new man. 547 00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:48,040 I'm identified with Christ. I'm a new woman. 548 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:51,080 I'm identified with Christ. No more stinking thinking for 549 00:36:51,080 --> 00:36:54,080 me. I'm going to have an anchor in 550 00:36:54,080 --> 00:36:55,840 my soul. It's called the word of God. 551 00:36:55,840 --> 00:36:58,360 It's called the leading of the Holy Ghost. 552 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:00,720 It's called me. It's called me connected with 553 00:37:00,720 --> 00:37:06,840 the local body church fused to go back. 554 00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:10,200 I won't negotiate with the enemy. 555 00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:14,080 I won't live in mediocrity. I'm all in for God. 556 00:37:14,200 --> 00:37:17,760 And because of that I can expect lost people are going to be 557 00:37:17,760 --> 00:37:20,640 saved and wondering believers are going to be restored. 558 00:37:27,740 --> 00:37:38,600 So it's an anchor for my soul. Isaiah 5812 Isaiah 5812 it says 559 00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:43,720 this is from the amplified Bible said and your people will 560 00:37:43,720 --> 00:37:51,280 rebuild the ancient ruins. You will raise up and restore 561 00:37:52,040 --> 00:37:56,280 the age-old foundations of buildings that have been laid 562 00:37:56,280 --> 00:37:59,360 waste. You will be called to repair the 563 00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:01,680 breach. A restore of streets with 564 00:38:01,680 --> 00:38:05,120 dwelling. Let me read that one more time, 565 00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:10,200 just so it sinks down into your heart and is etched in your mind 566 00:38:10,200 --> 00:38:15,800 and your people. Let me say this, Anchor Faith 567 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:19,520 Church will rebuild ancient ruins. 568 00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:23,720 Anchor Faith Church will raise up and restore the old age 569 00:38:23,720 --> 00:38:26,680 foundations of buildings that have been laced waste. 570 00:38:26,760 --> 00:38:29,960 Anchor Faith Church will be called the repair of the breach. 571 00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:33,320 Anchor Faith Church will be a restorer for streets to dwell 572 00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:38,320 in. Now in this when I, when I got 573 00:38:38,320 --> 00:38:42,200 to restore repair of the breach, God led me to Nehemiah. 574 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:49,320 And in Nehemiah there were Nehemiah was moved with 575 00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:54,520 compassion when he heard the report, when he heard that the 576 00:38:54,520 --> 00:38:59,760 wall was broken down and the gates were busted, he was moved 577 00:38:59,760 --> 00:39:04,160 with compassion and he said I've got to do something. 578 00:39:05,240 --> 00:39:09,000 So he actually got a release to go back to Jerusalem. 579 00:39:10,120 --> 00:39:13,600 And in that release he helped re establish 10 gates. 580 00:39:15,360 --> 00:39:19,040 But the thing I want you to stick with today is you know 581 00:39:19,040 --> 00:39:22,480 Jesus said I will build my church in the gates of hell, 582 00:39:22,480 --> 00:39:25,240 shall not prevail against the church. 583 00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:29,160 But when he was rebuilding his gates, he went to the sheep 584 00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:31,920 gate, the fish gate, the valley gate, all these different gates 585 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:34,120 and rebuild it. But one thing that was common 586 00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:37,800 with all the gates has said he set the bars, the doors and the 587 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:42,280 locks. And that gives a picture of us 588 00:39:42,280 --> 00:39:44,840 being firm and established in the word of God. 589 00:39:46,040 --> 00:39:48,960 A gate allows entrance or access. 590 00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:53,840 Listen, a gate to a city. We had the city gates in Saint 591 00:39:53,840 --> 00:39:58,680 Augustine that that was only one way into the city. 592 00:39:58,680 --> 00:40:06,040 There's only one way, but the gate helps protect. 593 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:10,160 And when the gates are busted down, anything can come in. 594 00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:14,520 So for your individual life, you need to set your your, your mind 595 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:18,240 like Flint this year and say, man, I'm going to stay focused 596 00:40:18,240 --> 00:40:21,640 this this year. I'm going to do Ephesians 597 00:40:21,640 --> 00:40:27,280 chapter 6, which is having done all the stand stand there for 598 00:40:27,800 --> 00:40:30,560 I'm going to put on this year. I'm going to put on this year 599 00:40:30,560 --> 00:40:32,120 every day. I'm going to get dressed. 600 00:40:33,200 --> 00:40:35,080 I'm going to put truth around my waist. 601 00:40:35,960 --> 00:40:38,160 I'm going to put on the breastplate of righteousness. 602 00:40:38,160 --> 00:40:40,240 Thank God for the blood of Jesus. 603 00:40:40,520 --> 00:40:42,320 Thank God for the blood of Jesus. 604 00:40:42,480 --> 00:40:45,720 In the Passover, when the blood was applied to the door posted, 605 00:40:45,720 --> 00:40:50,680 the death Angel passed over. I thank God for peace upon my 606 00:40:50,680 --> 00:40:52,480 feet. I don't have to be agitated or 607 00:40:52,480 --> 00:40:56,080 annoyed or disturbed this year, or get into the flesh or get 608 00:40:56,080 --> 00:40:59,480 emotional. No, I got peace upon my feet. 609 00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:02,640 I got the gospel upon my feet. I'm going to take up the shield 610 00:41:02,640 --> 00:41:06,840 of faith whereby I quench every fiery dart of the enemy, every 611 00:41:06,840 --> 00:41:09,960 flaming missile, every attack. I put up that shield of faith. 612 00:41:10,560 --> 00:41:12,200 That's up to you. Put up that shield of faith. 613 00:41:12,200 --> 00:41:14,160 It'll quench it. It'll put it out the same way 614 00:41:14,160 --> 00:41:16,560 you blow out a candle. It's the same way you can blow 615 00:41:16,560 --> 00:41:20,040 out those thoughts. I'm going to put on the helmet 616 00:41:20,040 --> 00:41:22,120 of salvation. I'm going to guard my mind. 617 00:41:22,240 --> 00:41:24,640 I'm going to meditate on the word of God today. 618 00:41:24,720 --> 00:41:26,600 I'm going to be like the person in Psalms one. 619 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:28,000 I'm not going to walk in the counsel. 620 00:41:28,000 --> 00:41:31,160 The ungodly stand in the way of the Sinner, sit in the seat of 621 00:41:31,160 --> 00:41:33,440 the scornful. My delight this year is going to 622 00:41:33,440 --> 00:41:36,040 be in the law of the Lord and in that law I'm not going to 623 00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:38,920 meditate day and night. And I'm going to be like a tree 624 00:41:38,920 --> 00:41:42,760 planted by the rivers of living water that brings forth fruit in 625 00:41:42,760 --> 00:41:46,680 every season of life. And my and whatever I do, it's 626 00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:51,320 going to prosper. I'm going to take the sword of 627 00:41:51,320 --> 00:41:55,080 the Spirit this year. Any cords of sin that try to 628 00:41:55,080 --> 00:41:56,720 come against me, I'm going to cut it off Why? 629 00:41:56,720 --> 00:42:03,200 Because life is greater than me and my existence is filled with 630 00:42:03,200 --> 00:42:06,560 purpose. Because I want to rescue lost 631 00:42:06,680 --> 00:42:09,480 people and I want to rescue lost believers.