1 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:05,560 Thanks for checking out the Anchor Faith Message podcast 2 00:00:05,560 --> 00:00:06,920 from St. Augustine, FL. 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:16,720 Now enjoy this message. That's what I want to be a 4 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:21,520 consistent, stable person with a strong spirit. 5 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:23,240 Isn't that what we've been talking about? 6 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:27,240 Amen. A reigning spirit, maintaining A 7 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:32,159 reigning spirit, which pastor spoke this year that we were 8 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:36,800 going to continue to talk about is a reigning spirit and a 9 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,920 strong spirit. A reigning spirit is consistent 10 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:44,600 through every trial, through every situation. 11 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:48,880 Come on through anything that you may go through because. 12 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,440 My spirit is strong in the Lord. Amen. 13 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:58,320 Because he's been faithful to his promises to my life. 14 00:00:58,440 --> 00:00:59,280 Amen. That's what? 15 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,480 That's what you stand on. It's what you. 16 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:07,200 Stand on that is living a life of faith. 17 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:14,320 Applying the Word of God to your life and practice in it, 18 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:20,520 practicing it every single day, will make you a stable, 19 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:25,240 consistent, strong spirit. Amen. 20 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:31,520 That is not moved in your emotions, not moved by your 21 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:35,920 flesh. My flesh does not own me. 22 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:41,200 Somebody else's flesh does not own me. 23 00:01:43,320 --> 00:01:50,200 I do not let someone else's flesh fit on my emotions because 24 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:54,840 I've learned how to what we talked about a little bit last 25 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:56,800 week. I know we jumped around on a 26 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:58,880 bunch of things being led by the spirit. 27 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:00,920 I hope y'all received something from it. 28 00:02:01,200 --> 00:02:09,280 I've learned how to what have a strong spirit, A strong spirit 29 00:02:09,479 --> 00:02:13,120 that is not moved by people's emotions. 30 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:21,080 They should not control your actions, should control them 31 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,360 because we've learned how to self govern which. 32 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:30,800 We read out of Psalms and was it Psalms or proverbs? 33 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:35,640 Last week, we've learned how it was Proverbs. 34 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:42,520 To rule over our own spirit, let me. 35 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,760 Remind us of that. In Proverbs 2528 it says whoever 36 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:52,440 has no rule over his own spirit. Is like a city broken down 37 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:58,320 without walls. I refuse to be a broken down 38 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:04,600 person without a wall of a fortitude of a strong spirit of 39 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,800 faith right? We have to learn how to self 40 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:15,440 govern our spirit by the word of God, having a strong spirit 41 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:21,760 letting nothing. Move us in that what he says, 42 00:03:22,520 --> 00:03:27,600 you know? And was it, James, you know, so 43 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,000 that you're not going to be? Tossed around. 44 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,960 To and fro from every wind of every doctrine. 45 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:38,080 Do you know he does not want wishy washy believers? 46 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:43,200 And I'm not even just talking about on doctrine. 47 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,600 He doesn't. Want wishy washy believers? 48 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:53,080 Just a. Saint living supposedly the life 49 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:57,120 of Christ. One minute you're living it and 50 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,680 the next minute you're not right. 51 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:05,880 Your situations and your circumstances is dictating how 52 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:08,760 you're walking this. Walk of faith. 53 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:14,720 And he doesn't want us to live by the dictates of the what 54 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:19,920 flesh? Because that will keep you in a 55 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:26,400 constant place of unrest. Because we know that our flesh 56 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:32,960 and our spirit battle what daily this is not even on my. 57 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:41,080 Thing today, our flesh and our spirit is battling daily and if 58 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:45,160 you don't have a fortified strong spirit that you've 59 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:50,520 learned how to govern. The flesh is always going to 60 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:55,560 rule and win out. It's always going to win. 61 00:04:56,080 --> 00:05:00,800 So that tells me then that anything that happens, any 62 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:06,440 circumstance, any situation that happens in the. 63 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:12,640 In this area of whatever, somebody may say something to 64 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:14,880 you wrong, and they say it in the flesh. 65 00:05:15,280 --> 00:05:18,320 And if you don't know how to govern your spirit, and your 66 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:22,880 spirit has not grown to be some a person of a strong spirit, 67 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:25,480 then guess how you are going to respond. 68 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:31,000 Back in your flesh and in your emotions, right? 69 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,040 Because that's what's going to dictate, because that's what's 70 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:39,640 stronger. That's what's stronger. 71 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:43,320 Brother Hagan used to always say it this way. 72 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:54,320 That our spirit should be the umpire calling the shots, The 73 00:05:54,400 --> 00:06:01,760 umpire over our over our flesh, over our mind, over our will, 74 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:06,840 over our emotions. We want our spirit so strong and 75 00:06:06,840 --> 00:06:13,560 so built up by the word of God that the minute a circumstance 76 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:19,480 happens or a situation happens, your first response is what the 77 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:26,920 word not you. Mouth and back with a loose 78 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:30,880 tongue. Actually, James says your 79 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:36,240 religion is worthless if you don't know how to bridle your 80 00:06:36,400 --> 00:06:47,490 tongue. Loose lips sink all the time. 81 00:06:47,850 --> 00:06:53,970 Every single day, every single minute, every single word. 82 00:06:55,050 --> 00:06:57,690 That's why he says every idle. Word. 83 00:06:58,650 --> 00:07:01,960 Will be given an account for. Amen. 84 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:07,360 So we want strong spirits and our spirit is going to have to 85 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:12,320 be strong if we're going to have a reigning spirit and we're 86 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:15,920 going to need the reigning spirit to operate more and more 87 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:19,000 in this day that we are living. Amen. 88 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:24,800 And we talked about the fact that if we are going to maintain 89 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,960 a reigning spirit, we are going to have to be people that know 90 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:33,160 the truth, because it's the truth that's going to what set 91 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:36,200 us free. And Marcy's translation. 92 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:39,120 Keep you free. Say it again. 93 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:41,680 Really loud. Say it again. 94 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:47,720 Say it again. Just because it's set you free 95 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:49,920 doesn't mean. You're free. 96 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,560 Amen. No, it's his truth. 97 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,640 It's going to keep you free. And aren't you thankful that we 98 00:07:57,640 --> 00:07:59,600 have His word? Who is truth? 99 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,440 And we have the Holy Spirit living on the inside who is 100 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:05,440 called the what? Spirit of truth? 101 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:13,680 That can always, always lead us into the right direction. 102 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:18,000 And then also we talked about the fact that we if we're going 103 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,520 to maintain a reigning spirit, then we're going to have to 104 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:25,320 know. God's love and operate in that 105 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,760 love. Not just say you love God, but 106 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:35,400 yet you still display differences with people because 107 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:41,679 you can't love God and not love people can't love God and not 108 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:44,280 love people. So saying you love God, you're a 109 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:49,000 liar. He actually says in John if you. 110 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:50,120 Can't. Love your. 111 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:55,000 Your brother? Isn't that what scripture said? 112 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,640 And so last week we talked about the fact that if we are going to 113 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,280 continue to maintain a reigning spirit. 114 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:06,280 Then we're going to have to have a strong spirit, and in order to 115 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:10,520 have a strong spirit, we are going to have to what continue 116 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:14,640 to be people that will allow ourselves to grow. 117 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:22,080 We have a responsibility to grow and mature because, he said. 118 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,720 Those that don't grow. Remember those that only want to 119 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:30,880 receive the milk. Of the word are what babies. 120 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:35,360 But a person that's a baby does not have a what, a strong 121 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,520 spirit. That means that people are 122 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:43,000 always having to care. For them and take care of them 123 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:48,560 and help them out of their. Messes, right? 124 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:52,040 A babe in Christ. Someone that's only used to the 125 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,240 bottle, only used to the the milk. 126 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,480 OK? And that's fine. 127 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:03,200 There's patience for God, you know, to allow you to grow and 128 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,520 to mature. But there comes a point where 129 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:10,120 he's saying OK you. Have to continue to grow, but 130 00:10:10,120 --> 00:10:14,160 many believers stop growing. They think just because they're 131 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:18,440 born again, they're good to go and they don't have to grow in 132 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:23,200 anything in their life anymore, right? 133 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:25,920 That you've already. I mean, what else is there? 134 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:27,680 When I die, I get to go to heaven. 135 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:33,840 No, for us to obtain the promises of God, for us to walk 136 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:38,800 as a mature believer, which he talks about in scripture, for us 137 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:42,080 to walk. In the fullness of all that God 138 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:48,360 has for us, we have to continue to grow and mature into the 139 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,080 things of God. Amen. 140 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:55,680 We have to be. Believers that want to what grow 141 00:10:55,680 --> 00:10:58,400 up. We want to grow up, we want to 142 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:00,600 mature. Because he tells us in Hebrews 143 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:05,040 that if we're only used to the milk of God's word and we don't 144 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:12,680 want to grow into righteousness, then we are going to be what 145 00:11:12,680 --> 00:11:15,680 deceived in these last days because we've. 146 00:11:15,680 --> 00:11:21,440 Not trained ourselves how to discern good and evil. 147 00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:24,760 A baby. When they're a baby, they just 148 00:11:24,760 --> 00:11:28,840 open up their mouth and you can stick whatever you want in their 149 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:35,400 mouth and they do it too, right? They'll chew on anything. 150 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:37,440 They'll pick up anything. On the floor. 151 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:39,240 Right. What am I saying? 152 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:43,240 They'll eat anything that's given to them until you start, 153 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:48,920 Until they start discerning broccoli or you know, something. 154 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:53,160 That's what good for them. It's going to help them what, 155 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:58,400 grow and bring a different type of nourishment as they are 156 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:00,440 growing older. They need more than milk. 157 00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:04,200 They need more than just, you know, baby food in a jar. 158 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,560 They need more than just cereal. Eventually, they're going to 159 00:12:07,560 --> 00:12:12,160 have to start eating some what? Meat, right? 160 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:14,560 They're going to have to start eating some raw. 161 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:18,720 Vegetables, you know, and those types of things so that what 162 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:23,320 they can grow properly. But as a baby, they've just got 163 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:29,360 their mouth wide open and they cannot discern on their own what 164 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:36,480 is good and what is bad for them, and how many believers are 165 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:38,800 we seeing because we've been talking about. 166 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:43,120 So many that are going to fall away in these last days because 167 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:47,840 they have not grown spiritually to mature with words of 168 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:51,960 righteousness, which is meat and which is a little. 169 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:59,880 Bit harder than milk, right? Where we know there's people 170 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:03,160 that only want to go to churches that make them feel good about 171 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:12,760 themselves so that they can live their best American life now and 172 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,840 it just makes them feel good all the time. 173 00:13:16,560 --> 00:13:20,880 If you go to a place like that, you're not going to spiritually 174 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:25,840 mature, right? Because the word we know is 175 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:30,480 there to do multiple things. It's there to instruct, It's 176 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:33,600 there to correct. It's there to admonish. 177 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:38,160 It's there to help you. What grow spiritually? 178 00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:43,320 So we want to have people with strong spirits that know how to 179 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:47,520 discern good and evil and that don't just walk around with 180 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,600 their mouth wide open. Because if you walk around with 181 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:55,120 your mouth wide open listening to anything that anybody is 182 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:57,040 saying, this is how you're going to be. 183 00:13:57,280 --> 00:14:01,520 Pulled away and seduced by doctrines of demons, seducing 184 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:09,880 spirits and false prophets. Because you've not trained your 185 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:13,720 senses, Hebrews says. Do I need to read that scripture 186 00:14:13,720 --> 00:14:17,120 for you? I'm sure I have it down here 187 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:19,640 somewhere in the 100 scriptures that I have. 188 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:23,880 Let's see if I have it. Here it is. 189 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:31,800 Hebrews he says this. Hebrews 511 through 14. 190 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:34,280 This is not where I wanted to start, but since we're here, 191 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:36,360 we're just going to read it concerning him. 192 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:40,200 We have much to say and it is hard to explain since you have 193 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:45,440 become dull of hearing point. You can sit in a church for 194 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:52,320 years and I said this become deceived because one, you've not 195 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:55,040 been a practicer. Of the word or a doer of the 196 00:14:55,040 --> 00:15:00,240 word or you have become what dull of hearing you think you've 197 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,200 already heard it. You know you've heard it 198 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,520 multiple times. You could quote. 199 00:15:06,360 --> 00:15:11,040 Genesis chapter one verses 26 through 28. 200 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:23,160 Let us make and let him. See this? 201 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:27,960 So he says. Listen in Hebrews, he says. 202 00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:32,720 You've become dull of hearing, for though by this time you 203 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,720 ought to be teachers. You have need again for someone 204 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,560 to teach you elementary principles, and I'm not going to 205 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,720 teach on the elementary principles of the oracles of 206 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,920 God. And you have come to have milk. 207 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,000 Need of milk. Not solid. 208 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:52,840 Food. So you know what this tells me? 209 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,200 That if you've become dull of hearing? 210 00:15:56,080 --> 00:15:57,200 I don't. Care how long? 211 00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,560 You've been in the church. Guess what you get to do? 212 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:10,120 Go back to the milk. You have need of milk again. 213 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:16,680 So you had milk as a babe, but you became dull of hearing, 214 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:22,440 which means you stopped growing, You stopped maturing. 215 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:25,200 So guess what? Because you've done that. 216 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:28,240 I don't care that you've been in the church 20 years. 217 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:30,640 Guess what? You have need of again. 218 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:36,600 We need to put you back on the bottle because you've gotten off 219 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:45,680 your foundation, You've gotten off the foundation of the word. 220 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:52,120 You see that? And because of that, we're going 221 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,200 to have to come. Back to need for milk and not 222 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:58,400 solid food. For everyone who partakes only 223 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:02,240 of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he 224 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:08,280 has is an infant, but solid food is for the what mature. 225 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,359 Who? Because of practice, they 226 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:16,680 practice. This is how you grow strong in 227 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:20,200 spirit. This is how you maintain a 228 00:17:20,200 --> 00:17:24,599 reigning spirit. You are going to have to be one 229 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:28,520 that actually practices the word. 230 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:34,080 That means when you know that the Scripture says that your 231 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:39,320 flesh and your spirit battle daily, and yet when a situation 232 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:44,720 you just encountered causes your flesh to rise up, you respond 233 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:48,640 that way instead of what you know to do. 234 00:17:51,120 --> 00:17:55,160 So when you don't do what you know to do, we know that's 235 00:17:55,160 --> 00:17:56,320 called. Sin. 236 00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:00,160 But not only. When you don't do what you know 237 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:01,800 to do. That means you're not 238 00:18:01,800 --> 00:18:07,840 practicing. You're not practicing what you 239 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:13,680 know to do, how you know you should respond in every 240 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:16,760 situation, in every circumstance. 241 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:25,160 We are to respond by the Spirit, not by the Where to walk by the 242 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:33,040 Spirit, not by the flesh, where to live, By the, not by the. 243 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:44,760 Right, so we have to. And he tells us that we must 244 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:46,960 mature. We read this last week out of 245 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:51,400 Ephesians and I believe that this is a church that's going to 246 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:56,200 get people off the milk. And get them over to the meat of 247 00:18:56,200 --> 00:19:01,280 righteousness, to maturity. Now, those who want to stay a 248 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:03,440 baby, we're still going to have babies. 249 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:10,680 And babies are always what? My life would be so easy if 250 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:15,200 there were no babies. You're always going to have 251 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:20,160 babies, period. Because you should be getting 252 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:25,440 new people in that's never heard the word and get born again and 253 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:27,080 they're going to be considered a babe. 254 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:30,840 But then we know we're always going to have babies, too. 255 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,360 Because people are going to become dull of hearing after 20 256 00:19:34,360 --> 00:19:38,880 years. You decide. 257 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,240 You decide what you're going to become. 258 00:19:46,480 --> 00:19:48,880 You decide what you're going to become. 259 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,680 You going to remain a baby and live by the dictates of the 260 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:57,720 flesh like everybody else and not grow and not mature? 261 00:19:57,920 --> 00:19:59,960 Or are you going to decide? You know what? 262 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:03,880 It's time for me to grow up. When I was a child, I used to. 263 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:14,080 But when I became a man, I put away childish things and the 264 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:18,560 flesh is childish things. Childish. 265 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:22,720 Just showing that you're acting like a baby. 266 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:28,160 You know, what would it be if if I actually am doing a counseling 267 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:31,680 meeting and someone's, you know, coming in my office and want to 268 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:34,640 have counsel and I just. Start crying. 269 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:45,240 I would. Like to do that because that 270 00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:52,120 would really freak some people out and just have a meltdown. 271 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:56,480 As they are having a meltdown, wouldn't that be fun? 272 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:59,880 Just two people in there just having meltdowns. 273 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:09,640 Oh, praise the Lord. You would like to look at them 274 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:11,640 and say just quit acting. Like a baby. 275 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:16,240 Grow up. Come on, Are we not beyond this 276 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:19,240 by now? But see, that's speaking the 277 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:22,280 truth in love. And you know, a lot of people 278 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:27,720 can't even handle that because they're OK. 279 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:29,920 Not you. Look at your neighbor and say, 280 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:35,840 not you, you're not a baby. Don't cry at them in their face, 281 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:40,120 OK? So we know this Ephesians 282 00:21:40,120 --> 00:21:42,320 chapter 4. We're going to move over into my 283 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:46,280 message because I'm meddling Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 11 284 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:47,440 and 15. It says. 285 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:51,520 And he himself gave some apostles, prophets, evangelists, 286 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:54,240 pastors, teachers, for the equipping of the Saints, for the 287 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,680 work of ministry, for the edifying of the body, till we 288 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:01,680 all come to the what unity of faith and the knowledge of the 289 00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:05,560 Son of God. To a perfect man, that word is 290 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:09,520 mature, a mature man. To the measure of the stature of 291 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:14,120 the fullness of Christ, that we should no longer be children 292 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:19,160 tossed to and fro, carried away by every wind of doctrine, by 293 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:26,120 the trickery of men, and by the cunning craftiness of deceitful 294 00:22:26,120 --> 00:22:31,160 plotting, you know. There's deceitful plots by 295 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:39,160 people that you encounter. It's not just, you know, false 296 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:44,560 prophets and all these things. Again, Pastor has told us we 297 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:49,600 have to learn how to discern what spirit this person's really 298 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:53,680 coming from in their behavior. And why they're even saying what 299 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:56,000 they're saying and acting like they're acting. 300 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:01,520 You can have a word of knowledge and know you know what you have 301 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:03,560 a wrong. Motive in what you just said. 302 00:23:07,160 --> 00:23:10,120 And the way you just acted and the way you just responded, 303 00:23:10,760 --> 00:23:15,240 that's a wrong motive, right? But he says, because you're 304 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:20,240 trying to be right deceitful, and you're plotting, you're 305 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:22,520 manipulating, you're trying to be. 306 00:23:22,520 --> 00:23:26,600 Crafty in the way that you're talking to me, but I will not be 307 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:33,320 manipulated nor controlled by any. 308 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,760 Of that kind of spirit, you see that? 309 00:23:37,360 --> 00:23:39,480 Not going to be made feel guilty. 310 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:46,360 I'm not going to be made feel ashamed because of your failure, 311 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:49,640 right? Not yours. 312 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:56,400 But whoever it is I'm dealing with or talking to, and it's not 313 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:59,520 even me dealing or talking. I mean, I mean, you know, 314 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:02,240 there's family members, there's people all the time. 315 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:06,880 You're encountering, right? But I will not be controlled by 316 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:09,560 people's emotions. I will not be manipulated by 317 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:14,040 people, right? Your own children. 318 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:16,800 I'm going to tell you, plenty of your teenage children are 319 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,840 manipulating you all day long and twice on Sunday. 320 00:24:25,720 --> 00:24:30,360 We got a wise up, parents, wise up. 321 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:40,800 Come on, because you have the Holy Ghost on the inside and you 322 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:44,080 ought to be able to know when your kid is lying to you or not. 323 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:49,720 Because that's from a different spirit and if you actually are 324 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:51,120 following. The. 325 00:24:51,120 --> 00:24:54,880 Spirit of Truth and have the Holy Spirit living within you. 326 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,480 You know whether they're lying or whether they're manipulating 327 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:00,760 you. But if you're a manipulator and 328 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:08,440 you're a liar. And don't act like there ain't 329 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:16,120 no Christians that do that. OK, so this is just the truth to 330 00:25:16,120 --> 00:25:17,040 help us. What? 331 00:25:18,320 --> 00:25:22,040 Say it again to grow up, to grow. 332 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:26,680 So he says deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, 333 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:32,200 that we may grow up in all things unto him who is the head 334 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:35,480 Christ. And when we He says He wants us 335 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:39,280 to grow up in the Greek, that means he wants us to become 336 00:25:39,280 --> 00:25:42,920 complete. He wants us to have complete 337 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:49,080 mental and moral character, not just growing spiritually or 338 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:51,920 physically. He wants our mental. 339 00:25:51,920 --> 00:26:00,760 Capacities or faculties? Not capacities faculties to grow 340 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:06,520 and to mature again, so that our emotions do not rule us in a 341 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:12,480 situation. You see that because our spirit. 342 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:19,640 Has grown completely matured in the moral character, the 343 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:25,440 completeness of fully mature, a perfect man, full stature of a 344 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:30,920 man, so he never wants us to remain babies in Christ. 345 00:26:33,120 --> 00:26:40,400 So we have to desire the sincere milk of the word so that we can 346 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:45,320 grow thereby, and not only desire the sincere milk of the 347 00:26:45,320 --> 00:26:50,200 word, but we need to desire the the words of righteousness so 348 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:55,040 that we can get beyond elementary principles right. 349 00:26:55,800 --> 00:27:00,680 So that we can actually learn how to discern some things and 350 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:07,120 we have actually become practicers of the word of God. 351 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:11,840 Within our lives daily that we practice the word. 352 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:14,920 How do you? Practice the word. 353 00:27:15,440 --> 00:27:18,960 You're going to be in those situations that you have to 354 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:24,200 apply the word. You're going to have to be in 355 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:27,360 situations that you're going to have to apply the word. 356 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:31,720 If you know where to live by faith and not by sight, and 357 00:27:31,720 --> 00:27:35,000 you're believing God because you're a tither, you're in 358 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:38,560 covenant, you are a sower that you know. 359 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:42,120 You come in your face with a huge bill that you just 360 00:27:42,120 --> 00:27:44,480 encountered. Do you think that took God by 361 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,040 surprise? Do you think that he did not 362 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:51,800 know about the $120,000 worth of taxes? 363 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:58,440 He knew. He knows, right? 364 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:03,920 So what are we going to do because we trust in him? 365 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:08,040 Lord. Because we're faithful, tithers. 366 00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:10,360 Because we're in covenant with you. 367 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:14,440 Because we're givers. Because we're walking in love, 368 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:16,160 Right? I know. 369 00:28:16,280 --> 00:28:19,160 By faith that this is already done. 370 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:27,000 So I don't have to worry about tomorrow because we what seek 371 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:31,680 first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and everything 372 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:36,160 else will be what added to us, right? 373 00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:42,360 So that's calling. That's called practicing living. 374 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:48,320 By faith, when everything looks like you're going under. 375 00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:52,440 I live by faith. That means I don't worry about 376 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:57,160 what I see in the natural because I don't live by what 377 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:03,240 sight I live by. Because my spirit is strong in 378 00:29:03,240 --> 00:29:07,840 the Lord, my spirit is strong in the Lord, and I'm going to 379 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:14,240 respond according to my spirit if my spirit has been growing 380 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:18,360 properly. You're not going to respond by 381 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:22,080 the spirit if you have not been what we called last week. 382 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:27,200 What Feeding your spirit. Feeding your spirit The proper 383 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:31,520 food, the proper nutrients, the proper things right. 384 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:35,520 And what feeds our spirit? The word of God? 385 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:38,640 Faith. Comes from what? 386 00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:45,840 Hearing And the hearing from the word of God. 387 00:29:45,840 --> 00:29:49,240 So we have to be people that say, you know what, I am going 388 00:29:49,240 --> 00:29:51,600 to grow. I'm going to mature. 389 00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:55,240 I'm going to feed my spirit man on the word of God coming to. 390 00:29:55,240 --> 00:30:04,600 Church once in 1/4, working your fingers to a bone, doing what 391 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:09,160 you want to. Do come on, not reading the 392 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:12,040 word. You do not have. 393 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,880 A. Strong spirit, Period. 394 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:19,760 Period. Because he says that we should 395 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:28,080 what, daily Meditate? On the word that His word is 396 00:30:28,080 --> 00:30:29,360 what? Bread. 397 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:34,000 Amen. So we are not going to develop 398 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:37,520 properly, and we're not you're going to be anorexic. 399 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:41,240 You're actually going to be deformed. 400 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:49,600 If you are not feeding your spirit as a Christian, you will 401 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:56,200 be a anorexic Christian and a deformed Christian deformities 402 00:30:56,200 --> 00:31:00,600 within you because you've not actually transformed. 403 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:10,600 OK, transform the renewing of your mind. 404 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:16,280 So let's go here. I want to go here in US 405 00:31:16,520 --> 00:31:21,680 developing a strong spirit in Colossians chapter 2. 406 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:27,560 Colossians chapter 2 and verse 6 through 8 says this. 407 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:31,080 And now, just as you have accepted Christ Jesus as your 408 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:35,680 Lord, you must to continue to follow Him. 409 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:42,840 Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built 410 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:48,520 on him. Then your faith will grow what 411 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:54,720 strong in the truth you were talked and you will overflow 412 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:58,880 with thankfulness. Do not let anyone capture you 413 00:31:58,880 --> 00:32:03,560 with empty philosophies and high sounding nonsense that come from 414 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:08,320 human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world 415 00:32:08,720 --> 00:32:14,000 rather than from Christ. So you also are complete through 416 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:19,680 your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler. 417 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:24,080 And authority, he lets us know right here. 418 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:30,920 That we must continue to let our roots grow down within him and 419 00:32:30,920 --> 00:32:34,400 our lives being built on him, right? 420 00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:37,680 We know that we have to be built upon the. 421 00:32:38,280 --> 00:32:44,320 Rock, because everything else is what sinking Sand. 422 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:50,960 Build your house upon the rock. Who is the rock? 423 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:53,600 Who is? Jesus. 424 00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:58,600 The Word. So if we don't want our house, 425 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:04,120 our temple, our who, we are built on the wrong things, we 426 00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:07,280 are going to have to recognize that we must build our house 427 00:33:07,280 --> 00:33:11,280 upon the rock. The revelation of who Christ is 428 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:14,960 the Word of God. He is the Word, and we have to 429 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:20,800 build our lives on His Word and nothing else, nothing else. 430 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:25,560 My. Life is built upon his word. 431 00:33:25,760 --> 00:33:30,280 He is my rock. And when I go before any 432 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:34,560 challenge, any situation, I can be assured that I'm not sinking. 433 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:38,560 I don't even feel like I'm sinking. 434 00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:45,760 I don't feel overwhelmed. I don't feel pressure. 435 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:55,560 I don't feel frustrated because I've built my house upon the 436 00:33:55,640 --> 00:34:00,080 unfallible word of God. Amen. 437 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:05,800 And do you know every believer should be in that position that 438 00:34:05,800 --> 00:34:11,120 we are so built upon. Our foundation is so strong, so 439 00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:14,280 sturdy. Nothing can knock us off the 440 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:18,320 foundation. Because I'm going to tell you 441 00:34:18,320 --> 00:34:23,880 what, many people are going to be thrown off the foundation 442 00:34:23,880 --> 00:34:28,920 that they once were on because they want continue to stay on 443 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:34,719 the milk of God's word and did not allow him to rebuild them 444 00:34:34,920 --> 00:34:38,239 because they became deceived and dull of hearing. 445 00:34:38,400 --> 00:34:41,679 And that's how he says many are going to fall away from the 446 00:34:41,679 --> 00:34:47,560 faith in the last days because they were not continually being 447 00:34:47,560 --> 00:34:52,719 built upon the rock and letting their roots grow deeper and 448 00:34:52,719 --> 00:34:55,920 deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper. 449 00:34:56,199 --> 00:35:01,120 Let's talk about a building. I'm going to tell you, most 450 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:07,400 believers quit growing because they get born again and they 451 00:35:07,400 --> 00:35:11,080 think they're good to go. And that one day when they die, 452 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:15,760 they're going to be with Jesus in heaven, they stop growing. 453 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:18,880 They become religious and they think just 'cause they're coming 454 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:24,240 to church maybe once in awhile and maybe serving once in 455 00:35:24,240 --> 00:35:26,640 awhile, they're good to go all along. 456 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:29,680 They're still shriveling up and not growing. 457 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:36,440 And then something rocks their world and the foundation they 458 00:35:36,440 --> 00:35:41,200 thought they were on. No, it wasn't rooted. 459 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:46,200 It was shallow. Do you know when a builder comes 460 00:35:46,200 --> 00:35:49,840 in? I know a little bit about 461 00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:51,640 building now. I feel like we've been building 462 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:55,800 for, well, for 20 years. We have been right. 463 00:35:56,800 --> 00:36:00,440 So you know when you go to build. 464 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:06,240 You cannot just put a house on top of the ground. 465 00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:11,720 But this is what believers think, that when they get born 466 00:36:11,720 --> 00:36:16,520 again, their house is built and they've just plopped it out on 467 00:36:16,520 --> 00:36:21,480 the top of the ground like no house is put on top of the 468 00:36:21,480 --> 00:36:23,960 ground. Huh. 469 00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:31,440 Yeah, just trailers. And they're called mobile homes. 470 00:36:32,200 --> 00:36:35,960 You know what that means? They can be uprooted and moved. 471 00:36:38,120 --> 00:36:43,320 But a path that's built, come on and firmly built and planted 472 00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:47,920 down in the they have to. Listen there, there's a lot that 473 00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:51,800 goes on before you actually see a house. 474 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:57,120 They have to. They have to actually. 475 00:36:57,440 --> 00:37:01,720 They have to grate the ground first. 476 00:37:03,160 --> 00:37:05,520 Well, first they have to measure out your plot. 477 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:13,040 Then they have to grade it right. 478 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:17,320 They have to grade the ground to make sure that the water is 479 00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:21,240 going to flow off properly and not stay right there at your 480 00:37:21,240 --> 00:37:23,160 house. You want it to roll off the 481 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:29,000 edges of your property, right? So they're grading the ground, 482 00:37:29,000 --> 00:37:33,560 and sometimes, if they have to bring in dirt because it's so 483 00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:39,320 low, guess what they have to do? Let it sit and. 484 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:46,240 Let it settle for a little while, right before they can 485 00:37:46,240 --> 00:37:52,040 even start measuring out for the cornerstone of the house. 486 00:37:53,240 --> 00:38:00,040 To then put in the the, the, the, you know, the foundations 487 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:05,040 and the pillars on every corner. They have to dig it out, they 488 00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:06,720 have to put it in. Depending on how. 489 00:38:06,720 --> 00:38:09,920 If you got a three story house, it's got to go down different 490 00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:14,840 depths into the ground. Now if you just want a shallow 491 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:17,120 house, you're not going to go down as deep. 492 00:38:18,720 --> 00:38:23,360 You want to live a shallow life. Don't go down as deep into the 493 00:38:23,360 --> 00:38:30,360 Word and you'll live a shallow Christian life and a life that 494 00:38:30,360 --> 00:38:36,640 never God intended for you. But if you actually want to be 495 00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:40,560 all that God wants for you and do all the things that God 496 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:44,200 actually had destined for you to do, you're going to have to dig 497 00:38:44,200 --> 00:38:53,120 down a little bit deeper so that your house, your capacity, can 498 00:38:53,120 --> 00:39:00,080 be larger, right? Then once they get those corner 499 00:39:00,080 --> 00:39:03,160 things all whatever they're called the the. 500 00:39:03,160 --> 00:39:07,880 Squared out and all the footers, thank you. 501 00:39:08,320 --> 00:39:09,920 Y'all knew what I was talking about. 502 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:12,120 I know what I'm talking about. I just don't know all the 503 00:39:12,120 --> 00:39:16,000 terminology. Then what do they do? 504 00:39:17,600 --> 00:39:22,360 They have to dig out for the septic and the plumbing. 505 00:39:23,640 --> 00:39:29,560 All that stuff before they can actually pour the concrete for 506 00:39:29,560 --> 00:39:34,960 the foundation, because all of that has to have pipes coming up 507 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:42,920 before they pour the concrete. What if I tried to build the 508 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:46,560 house and this is what Christians do? 509 00:39:46,560 --> 00:39:48,960 They try to bypass. They think because they're born 510 00:39:48,960 --> 00:39:55,000 again, they can bypass things. So what if I try to, you know, 511 00:39:55,040 --> 00:40:00,480 put my studs up to start building and framing in and I 512 00:40:00,480 --> 00:40:08,200 don't put the trashes up for the roof to support it and I just 513 00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:15,400 put them on top of the tops of the two by fours in the frame? 514 00:40:17,440 --> 00:40:22,640 It's going to collapse. But this is what Christians this 515 00:40:22,640 --> 00:40:24,480 is how their lives are being built. 516 00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:30,160 They're trying to build it their own way and bypass, maybe to 517 00:40:30,160 --> 00:40:35,360 save money. We're going to cheapen and cut 518 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:38,640 corners like some builders do. Don't go with a builder that 519 00:40:38,640 --> 00:40:43,680 does that, because then then the end you're going to pay. 520 00:40:44,160 --> 00:40:47,840 You going to have cracks in your foundation, Your walls are going 521 00:40:47,840 --> 00:40:51,640 to start cracking, The ceilings going to start cracking. 522 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:54,280 Come on. You going to have all kinds of 523 00:40:54,280 --> 00:41:00,200 cracks in your house That was. Built because you try to cut 524 00:41:00,200 --> 00:41:05,720 corners, save money and not build it properly. 525 00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:12,120 When God will build your house properly if you allow him to. 526 00:41:14,120 --> 00:41:20,000 So that your foundation can be shirt up so that your whole 527 00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:24,720 house can be built properly. That you never have to worry 528 00:41:24,720 --> 00:41:26,880 about. When the winds come and the 529 00:41:26,880 --> 00:41:30,480 rains come and the floods come. Because guess what? 530 00:41:30,680 --> 00:41:32,880 They're coming and they're going to come. 531 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:38,400 Because in this life you will have what trials, tribulations, 532 00:41:38,520 --> 00:41:45,400 and all kinds of problems. But what have you allowed God to 533 00:41:45,440 --> 00:41:51,120 do with your life? Have you allowed him to build 534 00:41:51,120 --> 00:41:56,200 you or to grow you, to be a person that's continually 535 00:41:56,200 --> 00:42:01,000 growing and allowing him to do whatever he needs to do within 536 00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:06,560 your life and within your? Heart so that you have a strong 537 00:42:06,720 --> 00:42:11,480 spirit, a reigning spirit. Through whatever's going on in 538 00:42:11,480 --> 00:42:16,640 life, you see that? So that we're not going to get 539 00:42:16,640 --> 00:42:18,280 called up. We're going to be built 540 00:42:18,280 --> 00:42:21,080 properly. You want to make sure that you 541 00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:23,400 are built properly, built on him. 542 00:42:23,680 --> 00:42:27,400 Then your faith will grow strong in the truth that you were 543 00:42:27,400 --> 00:42:32,480 taught. Amen, 'cause if you're not 544 00:42:32,480 --> 00:42:36,640 allowing him to build you properly, it's not true faith. 545 00:42:37,840 --> 00:42:41,600 It's religion, and it's what you want your faith to be. 546 00:42:44,280 --> 00:42:47,880 So it's going to be built wrong. Amen. 547 00:42:48,080 --> 00:42:50,920 And then you're going to wonder why there's always drama, 548 00:42:51,280 --> 00:42:55,440 there's always problems, there's always situations, because 549 00:42:55,440 --> 00:42:57,800 you're ruled by the circumstances. 550 00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:00,160 The. Situations of life because 551 00:43:00,160 --> 00:43:02,960 you've not allowed him to build you properly. 552 00:43:04,040 --> 00:43:07,800 And allowed yourself to continue to grow and mature. 553 00:43:08,040 --> 00:43:12,320 Because in the midst of the pain is where growth can come. 554 00:43:14,400 --> 00:43:18,920 In the midst of the challenge is where growth comes. 555 00:43:19,280 --> 00:43:23,400 And we we talked about this last week, the only way your muscles 556 00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:25,120 are going to grow is if you what? 557 00:43:26,560 --> 00:43:32,400 Tear them down. Break them down so that they can 558 00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:34,800 what? Grow stronger now? 559 00:43:34,800 --> 00:43:38,320 God's not tearing you down and breaking you down, but there's 560 00:43:38,320 --> 00:43:44,000 circumstances, situations, and trials in life that are there to 561 00:43:44,000 --> 00:43:47,600 try to tear you down, to break you down. 562 00:43:47,840 --> 00:43:51,560 Come on. That's a test of faith for you. 563 00:43:51,920 --> 00:43:56,880 And do you actually believe the words that you are being taught 564 00:43:58,360 --> 00:44:02,920 so that when you actually practice it or apply it in that 565 00:44:02,920 --> 00:44:07,080 situation, it's helping your what spirit to grow? 566 00:44:07,440 --> 00:44:11,160 Isn't that what we read last week in Romans about Abraham's 567 00:44:11,160 --> 00:44:18,080 faith grew? He grew strong in faith when he 568 00:44:18,080 --> 00:44:23,840 had to believe God, when his dead body was dead and Sarah's 569 00:44:23,840 --> 00:44:26,840 womb was closed up, right? It said. 570 00:44:26,840 --> 00:44:32,200 His faith was able to grow in the midst of that challenge 571 00:44:32,200 --> 00:44:38,120 because he had to believe God and he counted God. 572 00:44:38,120 --> 00:44:46,600 What faithful, faithful he trusted him beyond what he could 573 00:44:46,600 --> 00:44:51,760 see and his ability, even though his his body was what dead it 574 00:44:51,760 --> 00:44:56,080 said. And that's when you actually 575 00:44:56,080 --> 00:45:02,440 allow God to mature you and grow you through all of these types 576 00:45:02,680 --> 00:45:07,280 of things that you go through. When you as a believer know what 577 00:45:07,280 --> 00:45:09,440 the Word says, you've heard it preach. 578 00:45:09,440 --> 00:45:12,560 Now, are you going to do it right? 579 00:45:12,840 --> 00:45:16,920 Are you going to be a doer in the midst of the situation? 580 00:45:18,560 --> 00:45:23,960 That's how you grow and mature. You do not grow and mature, just 581 00:45:23,960 --> 00:45:30,320 'cause you know what to do, but you don't do it right. 582 00:45:30,320 --> 00:45:32,520 You're being faced with it. What are you going to do? 583 00:45:32,520 --> 00:45:36,240 You've got to apply the word. This is what's going to help you 584 00:45:36,240 --> 00:45:39,880 grow and mature. I want to give you 4 quick 585 00:45:39,880 --> 00:45:45,120 points on how. We can grow a. 586 00:45:45,120 --> 00:45:51,160 Strong Spirit, the number one thing is we must meditate on 587 00:45:51,160 --> 00:45:56,120 God's Word. We must meditate on God's word. 588 00:45:56,120 --> 00:46:01,000 If we are going to be those with a strong spirit, and when any 589 00:46:01,000 --> 00:46:05,200 situation arises in our life that the very first thing that 590 00:46:05,200 --> 00:46:07,960 comes up is, what does the word say? 591 00:46:09,480 --> 00:46:13,520 What does the word say? I hear what the doctor's report 592 00:46:13,520 --> 00:46:17,680 just said. I hear it because that came now. 593 00:46:17,680 --> 00:46:21,520 But what does the word say? That what? 594 00:46:21,520 --> 00:46:26,760 By his stripes I am healed no matter what the report of the 595 00:46:26,760 --> 00:46:28,960 Lord is. Whose report are you going to 596 00:46:28,960 --> 00:46:32,000 believe? People sing that song all day 597 00:46:32,000 --> 00:46:33,680 long. But when they hear the report, 598 00:46:33,680 --> 00:46:38,240 they crumble. Believers, that has even been 599 00:46:38,240 --> 00:46:42,480 taught. The good Word of Faith, they 600 00:46:42,480 --> 00:46:44,440 crumble. You know why? 601 00:46:44,600 --> 00:46:50,160 Because they have not remained build on the foundation. 602 00:46:50,360 --> 00:46:55,400 Of the word of God. You know what I was thinking the 603 00:46:55,440 --> 00:46:59,160 other day? And I was sharing this with 604 00:46:59,160 --> 00:47:02,240 Y'all last Wednesday night and I shared it and taught it to our 605 00:47:02,240 --> 00:47:04,200 staff and the ministry coordinators. 606 00:47:04,560 --> 00:47:06,520 About these children of Israel, he's. 607 00:47:06,520 --> 00:47:12,680 Just had me on this lately. These children of Israel, you 608 00:47:12,680 --> 00:47:20,360 know what? It took only 40 days for them to 609 00:47:20,360 --> 00:47:22,200 revert back. Well. 610 00:47:22,400 --> 00:47:26,640 It actually only took him three because right when he brings 611 00:47:26,640 --> 00:47:33,200 them into the cross in the Red Sea, right into the wilderness 612 00:47:33,800 --> 00:47:37,080 in three days, they were already looking back and want to go back 613 00:47:37,080 --> 00:47:42,600 and whining and crying, OK, I can give them three days. 614 00:47:43,400 --> 00:47:47,240 I'll give that to them because this is all new. 615 00:47:47,240 --> 00:47:51,040 This is a new experience, you know, This is a new thing they 616 00:47:51,040 --> 00:47:55,120 haven't encountered yet. That God's but this is like our 617 00:47:55,120 --> 00:48:01,280 spiritual growth. God delivers us. 618 00:48:01,520 --> 00:48:06,400 We get born again, and he's wanting to bring us into the 619 00:48:06,400 --> 00:48:10,960 promised land. But because it's out of our 620 00:48:10,960 --> 00:48:15,800 comfort zone and because it's not in our normal routine and 621 00:48:15,800 --> 00:48:21,360 the way we used to do life, you know, you're feeling a little 622 00:48:21,360 --> 00:48:25,760 out of sorts. That's what faith will do to 623 00:48:25,760 --> 00:48:29,520 you. And in three days they were 624 00:48:29,520 --> 00:48:31,560 whining and crying. But listen to. 625 00:48:31,560 --> 00:48:35,360 This after God did everything for them. 626 00:48:37,080 --> 00:48:40,680 Here they are, 40 days. When Moses goes up to the 627 00:48:40,680 --> 00:48:43,680 mountain, he was gone for 40 days, right up on the mountain, 628 00:48:44,440 --> 00:48:50,200 talking to God. In 40 days they had already 629 00:48:50,200 --> 00:48:57,400 forgotten what God had delivered them out of. 630 00:48:59,240 --> 00:49:07,800 How long does it take? We've said to create a habit, 21 631 00:49:07,800 --> 00:49:16,600 days to create a habit, right. I believe the 22nd day they 632 00:49:16,600 --> 00:49:23,720 started reverting back. They started reverting back. 633 00:49:23,720 --> 00:49:25,920 They like got Moses. Where is he at? 634 00:49:25,960 --> 00:49:30,480 I mean, come on, he's, he's been up in this mountain now, you 635 00:49:30,480 --> 00:49:33,240 know? And is he coming back? 636 00:49:34,720 --> 00:49:38,240 Because poof, that didn't just happen on the 40th day. 637 00:49:42,320 --> 00:49:46,720 So we have to be people that recognize that we are going to 638 00:49:46,720 --> 00:49:52,640 have to allow him time to do some things within our life so 639 00:49:52,640 --> 00:49:59,240 that it becomes a habit within us, which has to do with 640 00:49:59,280 --> 00:50:04,520 practicing. We have to practice this habit 641 00:50:04,840 --> 00:50:08,120 right for 21 days before it becomes a. 642 00:50:08,120 --> 00:50:09,600 Part of our. Routine. 643 00:50:11,240 --> 00:50:14,080 Isn't that what they say? 21 days to form a habit? 644 00:50:15,240 --> 00:50:17,440 So we're going to have to practice these things. 645 00:50:17,440 --> 00:50:22,840 How much more are we going to have to practice what His word 646 00:50:22,840 --> 00:50:27,200 says that we should do in the situations that we encounter? 647 00:50:30,760 --> 00:50:35,240 Because if they can revert in those forty days to where 648 00:50:35,240 --> 00:50:39,000 they're ready to worship this cow, that this golden calf, and 649 00:50:39,000 --> 00:50:43,240 create their own God again. How about us? 650 00:50:43,240 --> 00:50:48,200 Who are believers that are not doing what the Word of God says, 651 00:50:48,200 --> 00:50:51,480 that are not meditating in the word day and night, that are 652 00:50:51,480 --> 00:50:55,760 not, you know, applying His Word and practicing His Word on a 653 00:50:55,760 --> 00:50:59,640 daily basis? What are we doing? 654 00:51:01,880 --> 00:51:06,400 We're going to create our own ways, just as Pastor said, to 655 00:51:06,400 --> 00:51:10,760 work how we want to worship God and what will be acceptable for 656 00:51:10,760 --> 00:51:13,440 God. OK, but we're not going to grow 657 00:51:13,440 --> 00:51:17,880 with that Anyway. Meditating on the word Joshua 18 658 00:51:17,880 --> 00:51:21,000 says this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth. 659 00:51:21,000 --> 00:51:22,000 But you shall. What? 660 00:51:22,400 --> 00:51:26,400 Meditate in it day and night, so that you'll be careful to do 661 00:51:26,400 --> 00:51:30,080 according to all that is written in it. 662 00:51:30,080 --> 00:51:34,440 For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will 663 00:51:34,440 --> 00:51:36,720 have success. What does he say? 664 00:51:37,040 --> 00:51:39,520 Day. And night. 665 00:51:40,360 --> 00:51:42,520 You know what would be a good habit for you? 666 00:51:42,520 --> 00:51:47,680 If you want to continue to grow, we are going to have to read the 667 00:51:47,680 --> 00:51:51,760 word in the morning before you go to work and read the word 668 00:51:51,760 --> 00:51:53,680 before you put your head on the pillow. 669 00:51:54,440 --> 00:51:59,160 That is day and night, meditating on it Day and night. 670 00:51:59,400 --> 00:52:01,840 I want the first thing I read in the morning. 671 00:52:01,840 --> 00:52:09,000 Not to be the news outlet. Not to be Instagram, not to be 672 00:52:09,000 --> 00:52:12,520 whatever you like to read your romance. 673 00:52:12,520 --> 00:52:15,960 Novel. Your fiction book? 674 00:52:17,240 --> 00:52:19,800 No. The first thing you ought to put 675 00:52:19,800 --> 00:52:24,120 in you is the word of God when you wake up, so that it's your 676 00:52:24,120 --> 00:52:26,960 first. Thoughts in the morning and the 677 00:52:26,960 --> 00:52:30,000 last thoughts before you lay your head to rest. 678 00:52:30,800 --> 00:52:34,600 I'm going to put the word in it because he says if I meditate in 679 00:52:34,600 --> 00:52:40,040 it day and night right and not let it depart from my what? 680 00:52:41,040 --> 00:52:42,120 Oh my. Mouth. 681 00:52:44,280 --> 00:52:47,120 That means I actually should be speaking it. 682 00:52:47,120 --> 00:52:52,800 When I'm getting put in a situation, I'm going to speak 683 00:52:52,800 --> 00:52:54,960 the word only. What does the word say? 684 00:52:56,520 --> 00:52:59,840 What's the word say? What's the word say? 685 00:53:01,280 --> 00:53:03,480 What's the word say about this situation? 686 00:53:03,840 --> 00:53:06,160 That's the first thing I'm going to have come out of my mouth. 687 00:53:06,400 --> 00:53:08,960 But it's not going to come out if we're not putting it in. 688 00:53:10,200 --> 00:53:12,880 It's not going to come out just because you hear it on Sunday 689 00:53:12,880 --> 00:53:19,040 and Wednesday. It's day and night every day. 690 00:53:19,880 --> 00:53:24,520 It's Our Daily Bread, right? Then what will? 691 00:53:24,520 --> 00:53:28,840 Happen. He not only says we are to not 692 00:53:28,840 --> 00:53:32,320 let it depart from our mouth, he only also says that we're 693 00:53:32,320 --> 00:53:34,400 supposed to meditate on it day and night. 694 00:53:34,600 --> 00:53:38,680 But then he also says we are to what do it? 695 00:53:40,000 --> 00:53:46,880 Do be careful to do according to all that is written, not just 696 00:53:46,880 --> 00:53:52,160 part of what is written, not. Just pick and choose what you 697 00:53:52,160 --> 00:53:54,680 want to do and what you don't want to do. 698 00:53:54,680 --> 00:53:59,080 To the word, because, you know, this is really my personality 699 00:53:59,280 --> 00:54:03,160 and you know, God made me this way, so that's how I'm going to 700 00:54:03,160 --> 00:54:11,160 respond, period. Even though it may not be, 701 00:54:11,160 --> 00:54:14,240 according to what the word says, how you should. 702 00:54:14,240 --> 00:54:19,840 Respond right being quick to. Hear slow to speak. 703 00:54:19,840 --> 00:54:26,640 And slow to wrath. So be careful to do according to 704 00:54:26,640 --> 00:54:30,360 all that is written for. Then you will make your way 705 00:54:30,360 --> 00:54:34,400 prosperous and you will have what success? 706 00:54:34,960 --> 00:54:37,600 That's not like you're going to have a successful business. 707 00:54:37,600 --> 00:54:42,560 It's that your life will be a success in whatever you do 708 00:54:42,800 --> 00:54:46,680 because you've actually put the word to it. 709 00:54:49,080 --> 00:54:52,720 Now of course your business will be applied there if you put the 710 00:54:52,720 --> 00:54:57,120 word to it, if you actually do what you know you're supposed to 711 00:54:57,120 --> 00:55:00,440 be doing with your business. Plenty of business owners have 712 00:55:00,440 --> 00:55:04,120 multi $1,000,000 businesses but never give one cent to the 713 00:55:04,120 --> 00:55:07,200 church because they're a businessman and they want to 714 00:55:07,200 --> 00:55:11,240 control where the money goes, right? 715 00:55:11,960 --> 00:55:14,160 Well, that's not doing it according to all that is 716 00:55:14,160 --> 00:55:16,520 written. All right, I'll go. 717 00:55:16,520 --> 00:55:20,720 On anyway, Philippians, let's read this. 718 00:55:20,720 --> 00:55:25,040 Philippians 4/8 and 9:00 says this. 719 00:55:25,040 --> 00:55:27,480 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. 720 00:55:27,480 --> 00:55:32,360 Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right and 721 00:55:32,360 --> 00:55:38,080 pure and lovely and admirable. Think about these things that 722 00:55:38,080 --> 00:55:41,640 are excellent and worthy of praise keeping. 723 00:55:41,720 --> 00:55:46,600 Keep putting, say. Keep putting into practice, into 724 00:55:46,600 --> 00:55:51,040 practice. All that you learned and 725 00:55:51,040 --> 00:55:54,520 received from me everything that you have heard. 726 00:55:54,520 --> 00:55:59,040 From me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be 727 00:55:59,200 --> 00:56:01,360 with you. You see that? 728 00:56:01,680 --> 00:56:05,520 So he lets us know. Not only are we to meditate on 729 00:56:05,520 --> 00:56:09,040 the word day and night, but we're supposed to keep our our 730 00:56:09,040 --> 00:56:12,920 thoughts with has to do with meditation with has to do with 731 00:56:12,920 --> 00:56:16,320 our mind, our thinking on things that are right. 732 00:56:16,680 --> 00:56:18,440 Honorable. True. 733 00:56:18,600 --> 00:56:24,120 Pure, lovely and admirable and excellent and worthy of praise. 734 00:56:25,040 --> 00:56:27,400 Right? I'm not going to think about 735 00:56:27,840 --> 00:56:31,080 wickedness and what people are doing. 736 00:56:31,320 --> 00:56:32,440 Bitters. Wicked. 737 00:56:32,560 --> 00:56:34,600 I'm not going to. Meditate on that I'm. 738 00:56:34,640 --> 00:56:36,920 Not going to watch that garbage. I'm not going to. 739 00:56:36,920 --> 00:56:41,640 Listen to that stuff, right? But no, I'm going to think on 740 00:56:41,640 --> 00:56:44,680 things that are true. I'm not going to listen to lies. 741 00:56:44,680 --> 00:56:50,720 I'm not going to listen to liars when I know people are just 742 00:56:50,720 --> 00:56:52,720 lying. They're just lying dogs. 743 00:56:53,400 --> 00:56:56,600 I'm not going to listen to them. That is not going to be the 744 00:56:56,600 --> 00:57:02,920 truth that I put in my life. I don't build my life upon lies. 745 00:57:03,360 --> 00:57:11,480 No, I build my life upon truth. I build my life on honor, not 746 00:57:11,480 --> 00:57:16,920 going to participate in things that are dishonouring people or 747 00:57:17,440 --> 00:57:19,880 whatever. And I'm going to do what is 748 00:57:19,880 --> 00:57:21,800 right. I'm going to think about and 749 00:57:21,800 --> 00:57:24,280 meditate on things that are right, not things that are 750 00:57:24,280 --> 00:57:28,360 wrong. I'm going to think on things 751 00:57:28,360 --> 00:57:33,720 that are pure and holy and righteous and lovely and 752 00:57:33,720 --> 00:57:35,920 admirable. You see that. 753 00:57:36,360 --> 00:57:40,920 So we've got to be people. That meditate on the right 754 00:57:40,920 --> 00:57:45,040 things and put these things within our lives if we're going 755 00:57:45,040 --> 00:57:48,160 to continue to. Grow and mature and have a 756 00:57:48,160 --> 00:57:51,720 strong spirit and then he goes on to say, and we need to keep 757 00:57:51,720 --> 00:57:55,760 putting them into practice because many people are not 758 00:57:55,760 --> 00:58:01,200 practicing the word. They're not practicing the word, 759 00:58:01,480 --> 00:58:05,280 OK? We know one translation says 760 00:58:05,640 --> 00:58:09,200 fixed your mind on these things. The amplified. 761 00:58:09,600 --> 00:58:12,680 You know what else the amplified says about this scripture? 762 00:58:12,840 --> 00:58:17,600 It says to. Think on and weigh and take an 763 00:58:17,600 --> 00:58:24,640 account of these things. Think on these things. 764 00:58:25,240 --> 00:58:28,520 Take an account of these things. Fix your minds. 765 00:58:28,680 --> 00:58:30,800 What does it say? Way out. 766 00:58:30,840 --> 00:58:34,160 That means everything that I'm going to begin to think on. 767 00:58:34,160 --> 00:58:35,880 I'm going to weigh it with the word. 768 00:58:37,600 --> 00:58:39,400 I'm going to weigh it out with the word. 769 00:58:39,920 --> 00:58:43,440 I'm not going to just. Think on things that is not 770 00:58:43,440 --> 00:58:45,320 being. Weighed out with the word of 771 00:58:45,320 --> 00:58:47,160 God. Right. 772 00:58:48,040 --> 00:58:50,040 And when we do that, we can be assured. 773 00:58:50,440 --> 00:58:54,000 That we will continue to grow strong. 774 00:58:54,000 --> 00:58:58,000 Now look at Psalms One and three. 775 00:58:58,000 --> 00:58:59,840 This is the last scripture on meditation. 776 00:59:00,680 --> 00:59:02,280 Psalms. One, one through 3. 777 00:59:02,280 --> 00:59:08,240 Blessed, happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable. 778 00:59:08,520 --> 00:59:10,120 Enviable. Is that how you pronounce? 779 00:59:10,120 --> 00:59:14,720 That? Is the man who walks and lives 780 00:59:14,720 --> 00:59:17,560 not in the counsel of the ungodly? 781 00:59:19,520 --> 00:59:26,560 I would never listen to an ungodly, unsaved person and put 782 00:59:26,560 --> 00:59:34,160 what they say. First place in my life, period. 783 00:59:40,280 --> 00:59:44,920 I'm going to listen to what God's word says and what a 784 00:59:45,400 --> 00:59:49,440 hopefully a St. would say and a believer would say and take 785 00:59:49,440 --> 00:59:54,760 counsel from them speaking the truth rather than taking advice 786 00:59:54,760 --> 01:00:01,840 from an ungodly unsaved person. And how many Christians do that 787 01:00:03,320 --> 01:00:07,120 still have ungodly friends and trying to get in and? 788 01:00:07,200 --> 01:00:10,480 People that are whoring around, come on. 789 01:00:11,000 --> 01:00:15,760 People that are doing all kinds of ungodly things in your sphere 790 01:00:15,760 --> 01:00:20,480 of influence and you listen to their advice, give me a break 791 01:00:22,880 --> 01:00:27,560 that may it never be, God forbid. 792 01:00:30,000 --> 01:00:32,760 I mean, that's insanity. OK? 793 01:00:33,280 --> 01:00:35,760 So we're not. We should be doing that, 794 01:00:35,760 --> 01:00:41,440 listening to ungodly counsel, following their advice, their 795 01:00:41,440 --> 01:00:47,320 plans and purposes, Nor stand submissive and inactive in the. 796 01:00:47,320 --> 01:00:53,000 Path where sinners walk nor sit down to relax and rest where the 797 01:00:53,040 --> 01:01:00,720 scornful and mockers gather. But his delight and desires are 798 01:01:00,720 --> 01:01:07,120 in the law of the Lord. On his law, his precepts, his 799 01:01:07,120 --> 01:01:11,960 instructions, and the teachings of God, he habitually meditates, 800 01:01:12,280 --> 01:01:15,640 ponders, and studies by day and night. 801 01:01:15,640 --> 01:01:21,600 And he shall be like a what a tree, firmly planted and tended 802 01:01:21,800 --> 01:01:26,480 by the streams of water, ready to bring forth fruit in every 803 01:01:26,480 --> 01:01:31,560 season, and its leaves shall not fade wither, and everything you 804 01:01:31,560 --> 01:01:36,000 do shall prosper and. To maturity. 805 01:01:38,720 --> 01:01:43,200 The reason why some of you are not growing and maturing is 806 01:01:43,200 --> 01:01:44,840 because of this. Right here. 807 01:01:45,320 --> 01:01:49,480 You've got an ear to what ungodly people are saying. 808 01:01:50,440 --> 01:01:52,760 You're listening to their advice. 809 01:01:53,120 --> 01:01:55,960 You're listening. You're hanging out with scornful 810 01:01:55,960 --> 01:02:00,080 sinners, mockers against the things of God. 811 01:02:01,120 --> 01:02:06,280 And you are not putting what God's word says in your heart, 812 01:02:06,320 --> 01:02:09,400 in your ears. You're not feeding upon it. 813 01:02:09,880 --> 01:02:16,120 Remember, we have eye gates and we have an ear gate and that's. 814 01:02:16,120 --> 01:02:21,280 What gets into our soul? What are we listening to? 815 01:02:21,400 --> 01:02:24,920 What are we feeding on? What are we watching? 816 01:02:25,280 --> 01:02:28,760 What are we allowing to be put within our souls? 817 01:02:29,200 --> 01:02:32,600 Come on. And whatever that is is feeding 818 01:02:32,600 --> 01:02:35,720 us. What if you've heard this before 819 01:02:35,720 --> 01:02:39,120 the statement garbage in, garbage out. 820 01:02:39,120 --> 01:02:43,080 If you're feeding on garbage and listening to this junk and all 821 01:02:43,080 --> 01:02:46,560 these philosophies of the world and all these you know, 822 01:02:46,560 --> 01:02:51,760 so-called psychologist and self help people and Instagram is 823 01:02:51,760 --> 01:02:53,800 full of them. They're going to lead you down 824 01:02:53,800 --> 01:02:57,600 straight to. Hell, I'm telling you right now, 825 01:02:57,800 --> 01:03:03,120 you're on a dangerous Rd. if you're feeding on their counsel 826 01:03:03,240 --> 01:03:08,040 more than the counsel of God, which is the word of God. 827 01:03:09,200 --> 01:03:15,760 Hallelujah. So we need to meditate in the 828 01:03:15,760 --> 01:03:19,960 word of God if we are going to have a strong Spirit #2. 829 01:03:19,960 --> 01:03:24,120 We must be practicers or doers of the word if we're going to 830 01:03:24,120 --> 01:03:27,560 have a strong spirit. James 121 through 26 Out of the 831 01:03:27,600 --> 01:03:32,120 Amplified So get rid of all cleanly uncleanliness and the 832 01:03:32,120 --> 01:03:36,280 rampart outgrowth of wickedness. And in humble, gentle, modest 833 01:03:36,280 --> 01:03:41,040 spirit, receive and welcome the word which is implanted and 834 01:03:41,040 --> 01:03:45,160 rooted in your hearts, and contains the power to save your 835 01:03:45,160 --> 01:03:49,640 souls. Be not doers of the word right. 836 01:03:50,080 --> 01:03:54,440 Obey the message and not merely listeners to it, betraying 837 01:03:54,440 --> 01:03:59,400 yourselves into deception by reasoning contrary to the truth. 838 01:03:59,800 --> 01:04:01,760 What does? That mean you are hearing the 839 01:04:01,760 --> 01:04:04,720 truth. I can guarantee you every time 840 01:04:04,880 --> 01:04:08,080 you come to this church and the words that are going to come 841 01:04:08,080 --> 01:04:11,440 forth off of this platform is going to be the truth, the whole 842 01:04:11,440 --> 01:04:13,160 truth, and nothing but the truth. 843 01:04:13,160 --> 01:04:15,720 Soap. Help us God, unfiltered, 844 01:04:15,720 --> 01:04:20,520 unadulterated, unwatered down. And if you sit here for 20 845 01:04:20,520 --> 01:04:24,880 years, hearing the truth of God's word and not being a what 846 01:04:25,160 --> 01:04:28,800 doer of that word, what are you doing? 847 01:04:28,800 --> 01:04:36,080 Your reasoning out, why you don't have to do it, why you 848 01:04:36,120 --> 01:04:41,040 don't have to do it, and that you think you can still grow and 849 01:04:41,040 --> 01:04:45,960 mature and have a strong spirit. I mean, that's just deception, 850 01:04:45,960 --> 01:04:47,440 guys. And I don't want. 851 01:04:47,880 --> 01:04:56,520 Anyone to be deceived, It's just deception and you got to shake 852 01:04:56,520 --> 01:05:01,840 that off of you into deception by reasoning contrary to the. 853 01:05:01,840 --> 01:05:04,280 Truth, you're sitting there reasoning out. 854 01:05:04,680 --> 01:05:06,640 The. Truth that you don't really have 855 01:05:06,640 --> 01:05:15,280 to do that it says for anyone. Who listens to the word without 856 01:05:15,280 --> 01:05:18,120 obeying it and being a doer of it? 857 01:05:18,120 --> 01:05:22,000 He is like a man who looks carefully at his own natural 858 01:05:22,000 --> 01:05:25,600 face in a mirror, for he thoughtfully observes himself 859 01:05:25,600 --> 01:05:31,600 and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like. 860 01:05:31,840 --> 01:05:34,200 But. He who looks carefully into the 861 01:05:34,200 --> 01:05:38,920 faultless law. The faultless law, the law of 862 01:05:38,920 --> 01:05:44,160 liberty, what the law of freedom come on, and his faithful to, 863 01:05:44,560 --> 01:05:49,120 and perseveres into looking into it. 864 01:05:49,360 --> 01:05:55,160 Being not a heedless listener who forgets, but an active doer 865 01:05:55,160 --> 01:06:00,280 who obeys, he shall be blessed in his doing, his life of 866 01:06:00,280 --> 01:06:04,400 obedience, if anyone thinks himself to be religious. 867 01:06:06,800 --> 01:06:11,600 And does not bridle his tongue, deludes his own heart. 868 01:06:14,880 --> 01:06:17,760 You think you're religious. You think you're full of faith. 869 01:06:17,760 --> 01:06:21,000 You think just because you show up here once a quarter or 870 01:06:21,000 --> 01:06:23,920 whatever the case may be. But you ain't doing it. 871 01:06:23,920 --> 01:06:27,360 And you run off at the mouth. You have an unbridled tongue. 872 01:06:27,520 --> 01:06:33,440 You have no soul control. You're deceiving yourself. 873 01:06:33,960 --> 01:06:37,200 Deluding yourself. That you're right. 874 01:06:37,960 --> 01:06:41,640 You're reasoning it out contrary to the truth. 875 01:06:42,560 --> 01:06:46,920 And we cannot be people that do that if we are going to allow 876 01:06:46,920 --> 01:06:51,120 ourselves to grow and mature. Come on and have a strong 877 01:06:51,120 --> 01:06:55,160 spirit, a reigning spirit that he says we can have. 878 01:06:55,320 --> 01:06:59,400 We will not reign in life or do anything if we are deluded. 879 01:06:59,760 --> 01:07:01,960 It says he shall be blessed in his duty. 880 01:07:02,360 --> 01:07:05,720 Anyone who thinks to be religious right and does not 881 01:07:05,720 --> 01:07:07,840 bridle his trunk, he he tongue he. 882 01:07:07,840 --> 01:07:10,880 Deludes his own heart. This person is religious. 883 01:07:11,400 --> 01:07:17,560 Service is worthless. It's worthless. 884 01:07:19,520 --> 01:07:22,160 It's worthless. I didn't say that. 885 01:07:24,120 --> 01:07:29,800 The word of God said it. The word of God said it and we 886 01:07:29,800 --> 01:07:35,800 got to read it for what it says, Amen and then be doers of it. #3 887 01:07:35,800 --> 01:07:38,560 We have to give the Word first place, right? 888 01:07:39,640 --> 01:07:42,880 The Word is first place within our hearts and within our lives. 889 01:07:43,120 --> 01:07:45,160 If the Word says, I need to do that. 890 01:07:45,160 --> 01:07:47,120 If the Word says, I need to act like that. 891 01:07:47,120 --> 01:07:48,840 If the Word says, I need to change. 892 01:07:49,160 --> 01:07:51,400 If the word says, I need to respond like that. 893 01:07:51,400 --> 01:07:55,000 If the word says this, whatever the case may be, it's first 894 01:07:55,000 --> 01:07:57,680 place in my life. So I'm going to yield to it. 895 01:07:57,840 --> 01:08:00,880 I'm going to do it, I'm going to apply it, and I'm going to. 896 01:08:01,520 --> 01:08:06,600 It's first in that what Matthew 633 says, Seek ye. 1st. 897 01:08:06,880 --> 01:08:09,520 The Kingdom of God in his righteousness right. 898 01:08:10,000 --> 01:08:12,680 And all these things will be added unto you. 899 01:08:12,720 --> 01:08:18,040 Look at Proverbs 420. In proverbs 420 through 22, out 900 01:08:18,040 --> 01:08:25,920 of the Amplified my son, attend to my words, consent and submit 901 01:08:26,880 --> 01:08:30,920 to my sayings. And that's where most people are 902 01:08:30,920 --> 01:08:33,560 at. Are we submitting to his 903 01:08:33,560 --> 01:08:35,960 sayings? Are we submitting to his word? 904 01:08:36,200 --> 01:08:39,800 Are we putting at first place in our life and what he says that 905 01:08:39,800 --> 01:08:43,279 we should be doing? Or are we putting other people's 906 01:08:43,279 --> 01:08:47,479 opinions, other people's ideas of how we should do this thing? 907 01:08:47,720 --> 01:08:54,120 Other people's right philosophies, other people's 908 01:08:54,120 --> 01:08:56,840 doctrine? Because you're hearing sound 909 01:08:56,840 --> 01:09:00,399 doctrine here, but you may still be holding on to other people's 910 01:09:00,399 --> 01:09:02,560 doctrine. Maybe your mama's doctrine, 911 01:09:02,720 --> 01:09:04,760 maybe your daddy's doctrine. Come on. 912 01:09:04,920 --> 01:09:08,960 Maybe somebody else's belief system that's been put in you 913 01:09:09,160 --> 01:09:12,200 and you are holding on to that tradition, right? 914 01:09:12,200 --> 01:09:19,479 God in that way we say, and not wanting to go let go of it and 915 01:09:19,479 --> 01:09:23,080 not putting his. Word first in your heart, you 916 01:09:23,080 --> 01:09:25,720 see that? So it says this. 917 01:09:26,680 --> 01:09:31,200 Let them not depart from your eyes, your sight. 918 01:09:31,920 --> 01:09:35,439 Keep them in the center of your heart, for they are life to 919 01:09:35,439 --> 01:09:40,040 those who find them and healing and health to all your flesh. 920 01:09:41,800 --> 01:09:44,600 If you just start submitting to the Word, your body would start 921 01:09:44,600 --> 01:09:50,319 getting in alignment in every area of your life. 922 01:09:51,439 --> 01:09:54,880 Because it's health and healing, start submitting to the word of 923 01:09:54,880 --> 01:10:00,600 God and your body again in alignment some of you. 924 01:10:00,840 --> 01:10:03,440 That's a prophetic word. You need to submit to the word 925 01:10:03,440 --> 01:10:08,240 and your body will get in line instantly. 926 01:10:08,240 --> 01:10:09,920 Obey #4. Last one. 927 01:10:09,920 --> 01:10:13,280 We're closing with this. Instantly obey the. 928 01:10:13,280 --> 01:10:19,760 Voice of your spirit, the minute you hear the Holy Spirit, yeah, 929 01:10:19,760 --> 01:10:21,320 that's it. That's what you need to do. 930 01:10:21,320 --> 01:10:24,680 Obey it. Obey it immediately. 931 01:10:25,920 --> 01:10:32,480 Obey it whatever it is you can be sitting in. 932 01:10:32,920 --> 01:10:38,520 You could be walking in Walmart. And the Holy Spirit say, you 933 01:10:38,520 --> 01:10:41,320 know what, I want you to buy that person's groceries. 934 01:10:42,520 --> 01:10:48,840 Obey immediately. Be sitting in here, and the Holy 935 01:10:48,840 --> 01:10:52,760 Spirit say you need to go pay. For that person's rent. 936 01:10:53,480 --> 01:10:57,000 Obey immediately. You may be sitting in here in 937 01:10:57,000 --> 01:11:02,840 the Holy Spirit, say you need to deal with this root issue. 938 01:11:04,480 --> 01:11:11,440 Obey immediately. Obey the voice of the Spirit 939 01:11:11,640 --> 01:11:15,360 immediately. Because I'm going to tell you, 940 01:11:16,040 --> 01:11:24,240 it will save your life. If we don't obey it, then we're 941 01:11:24,240 --> 01:11:28,840 going to harden ourselves all the time. 942 01:11:28,840 --> 01:11:32,240 Those prompt things are coming. And if we don't learn to obey, 943 01:11:32,280 --> 01:11:35,480 that means we are practicing obeying. 944 01:11:35,720 --> 01:11:39,480 We're practicing obeying. Oh, that's what the Word said 945 01:11:39,480 --> 01:11:41,080 about that situation. OK. 946 01:11:41,320 --> 01:11:43,320 The next time I'm going to obey it. 947 01:11:44,440 --> 01:11:46,120 The next time I'm going to obey it. 948 01:11:46,120 --> 01:11:47,200 And you know what you should say? 949 01:11:47,200 --> 01:11:50,560 Thank you, Holy Spirit, that the next time I want to respond that 950 01:11:50,560 --> 01:11:53,880 way, you tell me and I'm going to obey it. 951 01:11:54,480 --> 01:11:58,880 And he will, and he does. I've used this example before. 952 01:11:59,600 --> 01:12:04,840 You know my husband, when he and I first got married, you know, I 953 01:12:04,840 --> 01:12:12,440 had a mouth on me and you know. I had I had a problem right? 954 01:12:13,000 --> 01:12:17,080 And he would come in from work or whatever, and I would just 955 01:12:17,080 --> 01:12:20,320 spout off or, you know, whatever, say whatever. 956 01:12:20,320 --> 01:12:23,000 We're getting into argument. You know, I'm going to have some 957 01:12:23,000 --> 01:12:27,880 stuff to say about it. And, you know, act in a fool, 958 01:12:28,280 --> 01:12:31,760 OK, Just say you act in a fool when you do it. 959 01:12:33,240 --> 01:12:39,800 So, you know, I'm growing as a woman of God, and this is years 960 01:12:39,800 --> 01:12:43,440 ago when we first got married, you know, And I I was taught you 961 01:12:43,440 --> 01:12:47,240 don't have to submit to a man. And so I wasn't going to submit, 962 01:12:47,320 --> 01:12:52,400 you know, and all these things. And all of a sudden I heard the 963 01:12:52,400 --> 01:12:55,120 Holy Spirit say, you need to bite your. 964 01:12:55,120 --> 01:12:58,040 Tongue. You need to quit talking to him 965 01:12:58,040 --> 01:13:01,320 like that. That is not honoring. 966 01:13:01,320 --> 01:13:04,040 That's not respectful. That's not how you should be 967 01:13:04,040 --> 01:13:10,560 talking to your husband. You know, and so I heard the 968 01:13:10,560 --> 01:13:18,320 holy now I have a choice. Now I have a choice to obey the 969 01:13:18,320 --> 01:13:25,440 voice of the Spirit or to not. So I have said OK to myself, 970 01:13:25,440 --> 01:13:30,480 self, and the Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord, that you're 971 01:13:30,480 --> 01:13:33,320 going to let me know the next time I want to start spouting 972 01:13:33,320 --> 01:13:35,640 off. You're going to let me know that 973 01:13:35,640 --> 01:13:38,400 I just need to keep my mouth shut and I'm going to yield to 974 01:13:38,400 --> 01:13:40,400 that. And what happened? 975 01:13:40,400 --> 01:13:42,560 I started practicing. It. 976 01:13:42,920 --> 01:13:45,960 Was I perfect? Immediately? 977 01:13:46,200 --> 01:13:51,680 No, because I had been practicing. 978 01:13:51,680 --> 01:13:54,200 It for what? Years? 979 01:13:56,880 --> 01:14:01,520 Been practicing it for years, so it took a little. 980 01:14:01,520 --> 01:14:08,280 While for that habit to become natural response. 981 01:14:09,680 --> 01:14:12,640 But it never would have become a habit, and it never would have 982 01:14:12,640 --> 01:14:17,800 been a natural response if I had not obeyed and yield to what the 983 01:14:17,800 --> 01:14:22,720 Holy Spirit said I recognized. It I received the correction, I 984 01:14:22,720 --> 01:14:24,600 said, you're right, I shouldn't be. 985 01:14:26,120 --> 01:14:30,360 And then I began yielding to it. And the Holy Spirit would help 986 01:14:30,360 --> 01:14:37,680 me because he's our what? He's our helper, He's our helper 987 01:14:37,680 --> 01:14:44,200 and he's there to help. Us become who it is that we need 988 01:14:44,200 --> 01:14:49,280 to become so that we can grow and we can mature into. 989 01:14:50,000 --> 01:14:52,720 A. Person who actually responds to 990 01:14:52,720 --> 01:14:56,280 the word 1st and not our emotions, not our situations 991 01:14:56,280 --> 01:15:02,640 because our spirit has become what strong and that's how you 992 01:15:02,640 --> 01:15:07,000 know you have a reigning spirit because pastor can say this is 993 01:15:07,000 --> 01:15:13,320 the year of a reigning spirit and not not one person operate 994 01:15:13,320 --> 01:15:17,200 in it. I don't care that you've been 995 01:15:17,200 --> 01:15:21,200 given the reigning Spirit, which we know who is Christ and the. 996 01:15:21,200 --> 01:15:24,400 Spirit of Truth that's living on the inside of you and the power 997 01:15:24,400 --> 01:15:27,320 of the Holy Ghost. I don't care that you've been 998 01:15:27,320 --> 01:15:31,040 given that spirit. You have to yield to it and 999 01:15:31,040 --> 01:15:36,800 actually walk it out and do it. OK. 1000 01:15:38,000 --> 01:15:42,760 So for us to maintain a strong spirit so that the first thing 1001 01:15:42,760 --> 01:15:46,840 we do is what does the word say? Because I've been meditating on 1002 01:15:46,840 --> 01:15:49,280 the word day and night. I've been putting it in my 1003 01:15:49,280 --> 01:15:51,040 heart. I've been meditating on it. 1004 01:15:51,040 --> 01:15:53,360 I've been making sure I'm thinking on these things. 1005 01:15:53,600 --> 01:15:56,440 I've been practicing the word. I've been doing the word. 1006 01:15:56,440 --> 01:15:59,760 I've been responding according to the word Amen. 1007 01:15:59,760 --> 01:16:02,000 I've been putting it first in my life. 1008 01:16:04,760 --> 01:16:10,040 And I actually am obeying. The voice of the Holy Spirit. 1009 01:16:10,600 --> 01:16:12,440 Amen. That's how we're going to 1010 01:16:12,440 --> 01:16:15,240 maintain a reigning spirit this year. 1011 01:16:15,680 --> 01:16:24,440 Hallelujah, Thank you so much for listening to this message. 1012 01:16:24,560 --> 01:16:27,920 If you want more, subscribe to our message podcast on iTunes, 1013 01:16:28,040 --> 01:16:30,080 Google Play, Spotify, and SoundCloud. 1014 01:16:30,240 --> 01:16:32,680 Rating and leaving a comment will go a long way with helping 1015 01:16:32,680 --> 01:16:34,400 our messages get better circulation. 1016 01:16:34,960 --> 01:16:37,200 If you'd enjoy watching our weekend messages, visit 1017 01:16:37,200 --> 01:16:40,440 youtube.com/anchor Faith. We'd love it. 1018 01:16:40,440 --> 01:16:42,600 If you'd subscribe, leave a comment or a like on the 1019 01:16:42,600 --> 01:16:44,480 messages. If you'd like to find out more 1020 01:16:44,480 --> 01:16:47,080 information about us and how we're influencing the world, and 1021 01:16:47,080 --> 01:16:49,600 help support the work we're doing by giving, just visit 1022 01:16:49,600 --> 01:16:50,720 anchorfaith.com.