Truth Collection: 07.26.26 (10:30am Testimonial Praise) | Pastor Terrence Gammage

whatever that looks like. Many of you will know

me from youth ministry as being the youth pastor

for our youth for some time now. Others will

know me from the counseling room of premarital

and or mayor's counseling and that's a beautiful

space as well. Others will know me from protectors

of the way and ushers and our greeters or whatever

the case may be, but I do want you to know that

I am the husband of Avery Gammage. I am the father

to both London and Raleigh Gammage, and I am

a servant more than anything. So, big ups to

our pastors, Pastor Brian and Pastor Rashida.

Big ups to our overseer, Pastor Deborah, in their

absence, and y 'all. I'm excited today, boy.

I'm excited. So I ain't gonna hold you too much

longer. Father God, let's pray. Lord God, I give

you glory, I give you honor, I give you praise.

I thank you so much, Lord God, for this moment

in time. I thank you, Lord God, that you look

forward and you saw us all right here. And I

just give you praise, Lord God, that you are

the author and the finisher of our faith, Lord

God. So everything that we hear today, Lord God.

it will be from heaven lord god you will be confirming

and connecting things uh that you've already

spoke to us lord god and so we thank you for

this moment we thank you for this moment we give

you praise in advance it's in jesus name that

we pray amen ladies and gentlemen you may have

a seat and i am going to say this off rip because

i was instructed to do it uh First Service, we

did. If you were not here, matter of fact, if

you were here at First Service, make some noise.

If you were here at First Service, make some

noise. If you were not, I encourage you to go

back and listen to the message from First Service

because it did set an amazing stage for where

we will pick up and keep moving. We are in our

Truth Collection. I have a reason you have a

reason to praise. We are still in that truth

connection or truth collection. And this morning

family, I want you to know that praise should

not should not be reserved only for the victory.

As we get into what we're getting ready to get

into this morning, I'm giving you permission

ahead of time to understand that you have full

right to be out of control. You have all the

right to acknowledge what it is that God has

done for you at the time that you remember it.

Holy Spirit tells us that he will bring all things

back to our memory. So I'm saying to you, do

not wait for a perfect moment. Do not wait for

my breath to stop and then that be a gap and

then you slide in there with a hallelujah I'm

saying there it is as the word is coming forth

as the Spirit of God Reminds you of things that

he's already done to you be vocal about what

it is that you are reminded of Here's why? We

are created three parts. We are created spirit

soul and body Your spirit is perfect with God.

God created it before the foundations of the

world. Your spirit is divine. Your soul is your

emotions, your thinking, your choosing, your

feelings. Your body is just a responder to whichever

one. I'm saying to you, I know for a fact. Many

of us, I ain't gonna even say you, many of us

are tired right now. Watch your hands, just slip

your hand up if you're tired. It's too early

to be that tired, y 'all, but it's all right.

I'm slipping my hand up, too. If we are tired,

we ain't gonna wanna, hallelujah, we ain't gonna

wanna slide that in there. I'm saying, as King

David said, you must command your soul to praise

God. You don't even... You're not gonna feel

it if you waiting for that perfect moment to

feel like this is where I can just jump in here

and say Amen, you're not There's too much happening

You're not I'm saying command your soul to praise

God Immediately when the Spirit of God reminds

you of what he's already done command you tell

your emotions now God I got this one Thank you

God. Thank you Lord wherever you find yourself.

So now that that's out of the way I just wanted

to make sure we got that out of the way you got

permission To talk in class, huh? You got from

thank you. You got not for me, but forgot. Thank

you. Um Ladies and gentlemen before we get started.

I do want to define two things Because I think

it's fun if we work off the same working definition.

So the very first word I want to define is a

word called testimonial. How many of you guys

have heard the word testimonial before? You good?

All right, all right. A testimonial is a formal

statement or message that recommends a product,

service, or person by sharing a positive real

-life experience. It acts as proof or social

backing to show that something or someone is

good, trustworthy, and high quality. For any

of my business owners out here, you know how

much a testimonial does for your business. You

know how well a testimonial can do if someone

writes it, even more if someone records it. A

testimonial is endless. It works well and sells

so much good product. Why? Because it lets the

person know that this thing that you're recommending

is trustworthy. It's credible. Why? Because you

put your stamp on it. Now, here's another thing

I want to define so that we all on the same order.

Praise. What does praise mean or working definition

for praise? It means to express approval, admiration,

or worship. It functions as both a noun, an expression

of respect or commendation, and a verb to commend

or glorify someone or something. So to praise

someone or to praise something, you are giving

it high esteem, you are being reminded of its

value, and now you are putting your weight on

it by saying, I like that. For some of us, we'll

even go so far to say, I love that. Mama Annie

makes banana pudding. All of her children say

they love that. I do love that. I ain't gonna

tell y 'all I don't love that. I do. I want to

make the note that other people make banana pudding

different than Mama Annie makes banana pudding.

And so other people will taste Mama Annie's banana

pudding and they'll be like, it's good. I like

that. Rumor has it, Jay. makes an amazing banana

pudding. I ain't never tasted it. I can't give

no credit. I can't give no testimonial about

that. I can't even put praise behind his because

I ain't had none. I do want to combine these

two words or these two. Phrases together testimonial

praise and that brings us to the title of our

message and I promise you ladies and gentlemen

We're gonna get into some scripture. So don't

you worry about that pitch a tent because we

are about to read a lot Pray a testimonial praise

last definition. We got to get this one a testimonial

praise It is a formal statement recommendation

or expression where one is sharing a positive

real life experience to display proof that the

character of God is good, trustworthy, and high

quality. A testimonial praise is a formal statement,

recommendation, or expression where one is sharing

a positive real -life experience. Does anyone

have a positive real -life experience of how

good God is? A testimonial praise is you giving

your recommendation or your expression of how

good that God's character is. Why is this so

important? Because when we start talking about

this series of you have a reason to praise, ladies

and gentlemen, before we go any further, and

if you would open up your Bibles to Psalms chapter

Psalms 100 · chapter mention

100. Psalms chapter 100. Here's what I want you

Psalms 100 · chapter mention

to know. You don't have to look ahead of you,

believer. You have all the evidence you need

already to put a testimonial praise on the character

of God. The question is, will you? Because it's

not that you don't know how good God is. It's

not that you don't know. It ain't that even right

now as I'm saying something that the spirit of

God ain't reminding you of something amazing

that he did for you. It's not that you don't

know. It comes down to whether or not we will

actually give a testimonial praise. What is a

testimonial praise? It is an expression. It is

me actually talking and making known how trustworthy

God is. And this is why we do it. In Psalms,

Psalms 100 · chapter mention

chapter 100, verses one through five. It says,

shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship

the Lord with gladness. Come before him singing

with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God. He

made us and we are his. We are his people, the

sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving.

Go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to

him and praise his name for the Lord is good.

His unfailing love continues forever and his

faithfulness continues to each generation. Ladies

and gentlemen, again, I say to you, we don't

need more. What we do need is a reminder that

God, you have done exploits in my life. Not just

that you've done them, not that you've done them,

but God, you've been loud about it. I am a testimony.

Pastor Brian said something a long time ago where

he said, we don't need to ask God for another

miracle because you're already the miracle. You,

I don't know you. You don't know me in detail,

but you know where God has delivered you from.

You know some of the thoughts that you used to

have. You know some of the thoughts that you

still have. And it's God that's a mind regulator.

It's God that's a keeper. Him and Him alone.

I'm saying, when will we be all right with, in

our working definition, be all right with giving

a testimonial praise? Yeah, it can happen during

praise and worship. Yeah, my worship unto God

during that time is corporate and I'm I'm doing

but ladies and gentlemen hit my heart when I

tell you this all through scripture we see where

Praise came before the victory many of us are

waiting for the victory many of us are waiting

You believe in God for something you thanking

God for something you waiting on something and

you also waiting until you get it to praise him

You do it, you know, you know you you do it has

ended You'll be like, nah, man, I'm telling you,

God is good, good. I promise you, you'll update

your status. You'll put up there the scripture

that you standing on, because that stuff is good.

That stuff feels good. And it actually is good.

I'm saying, though, at what point do you, if

we look back in Genesis, Moses or Abraham, Abraham

heard from God to sacrifice his son. He goes

to sacrifice his son and he tells the servants

when they get to the hill or the mountain, he

tells the servants, he said, hey y 'all, y 'all

stay here with the donkey. Me and the boy are

going up to worship. He already knew that he

was going to kill him. That was the sacrifice.

But instead he told the servants a yo y 'all

post up. We're going up here to worship He considered

what it was that he was doing an act of worship

Jehoshaphat you flip all the way through the

scripture Jehoshaphat was one knew that they

was getting ready to come kill him knew that

they were getting ready to come take over what

he had. Jehoshaphat was scared. He went to the

people and he said, hey, y 'all, listen, I don't

know what we're getting ready to do. Something

got to happen. They said something. This is so

good. Get familiar with your scripture, God.

This is so goddamn good. In second Chronicles,

when Jehoshaphat was getting ready to be overthrown,

he goes to the family and he says, y 'all, I

don't know what's going to happen to us. So the

Spirit of God came over someone in the audience

and they began to give a testimonial praise They

said to Jehoshaphat We need to praise God because

of how good he has always been His character

is good and he will deliver us from this. That's

what they told him Jehoshaphat then said Hey,

you know what? You are right. Remind me of how

good God is. Matter of fact, we're going to go

out here to fight. But when we go out here to

fight, you know what I need? I don't need the

guys who got the fastest draw time. I don't need

the guys with the biggest guns. I don't need

the guys with ... I want the praise and worship

leaders to come in front. Jehoshaphat said, when

we go out here, I want y 'all to just sing. Sing.

What did they do? They began to do it as they

went out and immediately the Spirit of God caused

confusion amongst them and they turned on each

other and killed each other. Guys, your praise

has so much power locked up in it. We could fast

forward to the New Testament. We could fast forward

into the book of Acts where it talks about how

Paul and Silas were locked up. We can talk about

that and how in there, I mean, the boys gonna

been wrongfully accused. They bleeding, bloody,

hurting. I can guarantee they, I mean, if you

got in a fight, how many of y 'all gonna got

in a fight before? That's some of the challenges.

Some of the challenges, some of us ain't never

been in no fight and don't know what it feel

like to get hit in the mouth. You know what it

feel like to get a light turned off, but you

don't know what it feel like to get hit in the

mouth. Them two different pains. Two different

pains. You know what it feel like to have your

water turned off? Anybody? Anybody know what

it feel like to turn that faucet on and it just

spit at you? Because the last little bit is in

that little little tunnel and that's it. How

many of you know what it feel like to go home

with your lip bleeding? How many of you know

what it feel like to go home because you called

somebody else lip to bleed? Let's talk about

that too. You see what I'm saying? This is what

I want you to know. God is so good. Paul and

Silas are locked up. In their being locked up,

they begin to praise. They don't praise when

the door is open. They didn't praise when they

got released from prison. They started praising

in prison. As a result of them praising, the

door is open. They now get free. Family, here's

what I want you to know. It would be phenomenal

if that was the only part of that account that

was beautiful. But here's the other beautiful

thing about that which shows us how powerful

our praise is. As Paul and Silas prayed and the

doors opened and they got released out of prison,

the Bible also records that the guard got saved.

The guard got saved as a result of their praise.

I'm saying to us, why? Why? Are we in spaces

where God is doing miraculous things in your

life and you ain't up loud talking about it?

You so reserved with the blessing Pastor Greg

read a scripture earlier when he was talking

about in Matthew where Jesus told us as believers

when you're fasting Don't hold your head low

and act like you sad and all of that because

you hungry, because we do be hungry while we're

fasting. He said, don't do that. Jesus said,

you know what I'm saying? Girt yourself up. Like

act like you are there. You know what I'm saying?

Like you fool. And you ain't, that's where your

reward comes from. I'm saying to us, ladies and

gentlemen, so many times we're asking God for

something. We're believing God for something.

And the moment he do it, we get silent. with

the receiving as if it ain't a big deal. I'm

telling you, it was a big deal when God delivered

me from pornography. It was a big deal when God

delivered me from cursing. It's a big deal when

God delivered me from anything that ain't God.

It's a big deal. And I ain't holding that quiet.

I'm not trying to be polished. I'm not trying

to be one that now that I'm holy and I'm good,

I got it. No. No. God, you've been too good for

that. You've been too good for that. For me to

act as if you ain't still good. But this is what

I'm saying. So many of us are focused in first

service. That's what I'm saying. Go back and

hear first service because it stitches it together.

So many of us are projecting our minds and our

thoughts forward. still God what else am I believing

you for what else am I do I know that you're

gonna give me Lord because your word your promises

of yes and Amen God I know you're gonna give

me and the whole time we're neglecting that testimony

of praise of saying but God look how far look

how much you've already done look how much you've

looked where you brought me from look what I

don't even do no more If you would, if you would,

this is so good. Turn to Habakkuk, Habakkuk chapter

three. This is why this is so good, family. Because

I remember, I remember when I used to go to the

mall looking for a fight. I remember, some of

you heard this story before. For any of the teens,

I know they've heard it. And this is, again.

Don't judge me, y 'all. I'm delivered now, okay?

None of this don't apply to me no more, you know

what I'm saying? Gargon took the taste out of

my mouth. However, I remember. I remember. My

brother and I, Andrew, we went to the mall. We

had just fought some dudes at the fair a couple

weeks in. I'm gonna keep their name out of it,

because you know what I'm saying? They all grown

now. Some of them, who's still alive. They grown.

Andrew and I went to the mall, and the boys that

we had fought a couple of weeks ago, one of them

mama was at the jewelry store, at the jewelry

counter. Ladies and gentlemen, I wish I could

make this stuff up, but this is where God has

delivered me from, and I remember it, so I'm

thankful. Andrew says, hey man, there goes such

and such mama. I said, that's what's up. That's

his mama like this, that is what it is. Andrew

said, I'm gonna go hit her. Andrew walks about

20 steps. He gets over to my man mama. He taps

her and she turns around. Now I'm right there

with Andrew, why? Not that she gonna hit him

back, I don't know that, but this is what we

do, we together. Andrew, she turns around, Andrew

fires on her. We book it running. A couple weeks

later, them same boys, we at the club, little

hood club in Avon Park, you know what I'm saying?

It was really a house, but we called it a club.

I'm lying, it was really an apartment, it wasn't

even a real house. Look at me being lofty with

my words. No, no, no, it was an apartment, and

it was made into a little club. Here we are at

the club, and guys, if I could make this up,

hit me when I tell you, the same dude that Andrew

slapped his mama. Buddy catches us while we in

the dance floor. Like, we getting it. Like, I

was a dancer, too, y 'all. Like, I had... I can

still... I can still move a little bit. Buddy

pulls out a gun and has it to Andrew's face like

this, and I see his hand doing like this. I've...

One of the few moments in my life that I've been

just froze. Like, I know what fear feels like.

I'm locked in fear. And my man is just pulling

the gun like this right here. And you think,

you think, oh, we'll just run. No, like you're

locked. Eventually, I don't know how long it

was happening, but eventually we both realize

it ain't going off. Andrew pipe out, I pipe out.

As soon as we get out of the door, guys, you

hear the gun go off, pow. Hear me tell you. I

remember these things. God has been too good

for me to be quiet about how good He is in my

life. That's one of the many. I ain't special.

I know all of us have things that God has delivered

us from, predicaments that we've been in that

it wasn't nobody but the Spirit of God that set

camp, that released warring angels to protect

you even in your wrong. For some of us that was

this weekend And God is just as faithful this

weekend as he was to me and all the rest of us

weekends ago and I'm saying to us when When will

we begin to get loud about the things that God

is doing? Not waiting for somebody to call a

testimony service. Not waiting for somebody to

say, hey, anybody got something to talk about?

No. Baby, let me talk to you about something

that God delivered me from right now. When? When?

Because the longer you hold off, you're hurting

somebody else's witness. Habakkuk, chapter three,

verse 17. And I apologize, because I normally

ask Zamar to hit the timer for me. They got one

right in front of me and I'm already late. You

know what I'm saying? I gotta get it. Habakkuk

chapter three, verse 17 through 19. It says,

verse 17, even though the fig trees have no blossoms

and there are no grapes on the vine, Even though

the olive crop fails and the fields lie empty

and barren, even though the flocks die in the

field and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will

rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in the

God of my salvation. The sovereign Lord is my

strength. He makes me as sure -footed as a deer

able to tread upon the heights." Ladies and gentlemen,

oh my God. Faith in your praise says that even

though God hadn't did it yet, I know he's able.

When you praise, you're not just waiting for

something to happen. When you praise, you're

saying, I'm putting weight on the fact that I

know God is capable. I know God is capable of

doing this. Whatever it is, be it healing, be

it financial, be it breakthrough, be it deliverance,

be it new job, whatever it is, my praise is saying,

God, I know that you're able, and my praise ain't

gonna be reserved. I refuse to hold back my praise

until you do it, God. I'm gonna praise right

here in the midst of it while the fields are

barren, while my bank account... is in overdraft,

whatever it looked like. God, I will give you

praise right here. Why? Because it's my testimonial

praise. I'm making sure to live out this witness

before the world because he's been too good.

Oh man, John. Oh, this is so good. John chapter

four. John chapter four. And ladies and gentlemen,

As we read this particular scripture, I need

you, as we do all other scripture, but I need

you, when you're listening to, or when you, when

you're in your private time, whenever you're

reading, your study time, as you read scripture,

pay attention to sentence structure. You see

what I'm saying? I pay attention all the way

down to punctuations. I take it literal. Every

period, every exclamation point. These things

matter to the author. So I'm saying as we get

ready to read this, check this out. John chapter

four, starting at verse three, and we're gonna

go all the way to verse 15 for anybody who taking

notes, you wanna write down that whole thing.

John chapter four, verse three through 15, starting

at verse three, it says, so he left Judea and

returned to Galilee. He had to go through Samaria

on the way. Eventually, he came to the Samaritan

village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob

gave to his son, Joseph. Jacob's well was there,

and Jesus, tired from a long walk, sat wearily

beside the well about noontime. Soon, a Samaritan

woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her,

please, give me a drink. Period. I mean he low

-talked it. You know I'm saying he just said

a man already said he was tired scripture already

said he's tired So he low -talked it. Hey, please

can I have a drink? Verse 8 He was alone at the

time because his disciples had gone into the

village to buy some food The woman was surprised

for Jews refused to have anything to do with

Samaritans She said to Jesus you are a Jew and

I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me

for a drink? Question mark because she asked

a question verse 10 Jesus replied if you only

knew The gift God has for you and who you are

speaking to You would ask me and I would give

you living water Jesus said, okay. Hold on now.

I'm tired, but you gonna put some respect on

my name. I May look like I'm weary right now

cuz I'm posted about as well But if you knew

what God had for you, you would ask for some

living water. Oh my God. Verse 11, but sir, you

don't have a rope or a bucket and this well is

very deep. Where would you get this living water?

I want to pause. Because it would be such like

a Christian to read this straight through and

not consider self. How many times has God said

to me, you're going to do X, you're going to

do this. And I then responded back to him by

saying, but how? Like, how am I supposed to get

this done? When am I going to be able to get

this done if I ain't got that yet? Like, okay,

but okay, bet. probably like another two weeks

I can make that happen. Jesus says, give me a

drink. She says, well, where am I gonna get a

drink from? Jesus said, well, you can ask me

and I'll give you living water. She's still looking

at the well and she thinking, bro, how you gonna

get me something to drink? You sitting here asking

me, you ain't got no rope. You ain't got nothing.

How you gonna ask me for something? But sir.

You don't have a rope or a bucket, she said.

And this well is very deep. Some of us already

know that. Our problems are very bad. Verse 12,

and besides, this is her, now this is just a

little slick talking, and besides, do you think

you're greater than our ancestor, Jacob, who

gave us this well? How can you offer better water

than he and his sons and his animals enjoy God?

No, she said she said not only do you look bummy

right now? You want me to give you something

you ain't got nothing to ask for like how you

gonna do this? Wait, wait, wait Besides you think

you better than the man who created as well that

his animals even drink from That right there

now Scripture is so good. Verse 13, Jesus replied,

anyone who drinks this water will soon become

thirsty again. But those who drink the water

I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes

a fresh bubbling spring within them, giving them

eternal life. Ladies and gentlemen, I've never

seen water bubble standing still. I'm saying

to us, for those of us who have received the

living water, why isn't it bubbling? Why isn't

it bubbling invisible? Why isn't it bubbling?

No. For some of us, that living water is sitting

still. And we're treating it just like the water

that the animals drink from. We're treating it

just like those who've had it before. We're looking

at other people's giftings and thinking, oh,

well, that's just how they do it. I'll wait until

somebody calls my name to do something. It should

be bubbling. Please, sir. Let me finish that

verse 14, but those who drink from the water

I will give will never be thirsty again It becomes

a fresh bubbling spring within them giving them

eternal life verse 15 says please sir The woman

said give me this water Then I'll never be thirsty

again, and I won't have to come here to get water

family. Here's what I'm saying Jesus presented

something to all of us We all have received I'm

talking to the believers in the room We've already

received that water once we received it became

living water It is bubbling on the inside of

you, which means as it bubbles every single day

There's motion every single day. There should

be motion. No signal Not no. Yeah, I know God

is good. Hear me. I understand poise I understand

control. I understand contentment. I understand

those things. But don't confuse your dormant.

Don't confuse your inactivity. Don't confuse

that with the perfect will of God. That's you.

You have become the refined individual. You have

chosen. to be the stoic individual. You have

chosen to be the individual that comes into service

in a praise and worship moment and not lift your

hands. You have chosen to be the person that

will hear worship music going, feel like it's

connecting with you, and just post up like it's

some, like God old talking to you. Like you deserve

to have the Spirit of God living on the inside

of you. How filthy, how filthy is the temple

and you deserve to have the living God living

on the inside of you? Get out of here man. The

living water is bubbling and because it's bubbling

it now becomes my testimonial praise. I refuse

to sit and not talk about the goodness of God.

I may talk about it in a low voice. I ain't saying

they gotta be all loud and out of control. What

I am saying is the lack, the lack of you saying

anything is dangerous. Why is it dangerous? Because

if we go to John chapter four, if we skip a little

further to verse 39, this is why it's dangerous

for you to hold back your testimonial praise.

Verse 39 says, many Samaritans from the village

believed in Jesus because the woman had said,

he told me everything I ever did. When they came

out to see him, they begged him to stay in their

village, so he stayed for two days, long enough

for many more to hear his message and believe.

Verse 42, then they said to the woman, now we

believe not just because of what you told us,

but because we have heard him ourselves. Now

we know that he is indeed the savior of the world.

Ladies and gentlemen. This woman went and received

the bubbling water. She then went and told every

single body. Now here's the part that I omit

it because it ain't even valid right now. It's

valid for scripture context and when we read

it for us to identify ourselves. But the woman,

the woman that did this, the woman that went

and ministered to all of these, Jesus caught

her. We can say it. as a whole right now. Like,

when he confronted her, he confronted her by

all of her adulterous behaviors. Immediately,

gave her the living water. She went. This is

what some of us have to find ourselves. It would

have been great for me to tell you all of the

many things that the Lord God has delivered me

from, but for why? For why? For me to then make

make it appeasing to somebody's flesh to be like,

oh, yeah, cuz I'm gonna have that one, too Bro,

it don't matter Whatever it is that God is delivered

you from it's a big deal You know how long it

took me to stop cussing. I Started over so many

times and I'm talking about as a Christian. I

Started over so many times why? Because I enjoyed

it to be honest with you like The curse words

were fine, coming out of my tongue. You see what

I'm saying? I had a way of putting them together

to make somebody feel very insignificant. Plus,

by the time I started doing it, danger was already

present. You see what I'm saying? I'm close enough

to you. If you can hear me, game over. Here's

what I want to point out, though. Here's what's

important about all of that. Here's what's important.

For some of us, cussing ain't never been an issue.

For some of us pornography ain't never been an

issue Sexual Premiscuity whatever that word is

and ain't never been an issue for you drinking

ain't never been an issue for you drugs ain't

never been an issue for you Selling drugs ain't

never been an issue for you I'm kind of just

going down my list. You know I'm saying natural

I'm trying to blanket it for all of y 'all, but

I'm just talking about me I'm saying some of

these things ain't never been an issue for most

of you But the thing that is your issue It's

just as big to God. It's just as big. Those things

that were big to me, they were only big to me

because of how much I put myself into them. God

is faithful. God is just. I got to get through

this. Mark chapter 10, and this is where we will

Mark 10 · chapter mention

close. Mark chapter 10, verse 46 through 52.

Mark 10:46–52

Ladies and gentlemen, hear me remind you, your

testimonial praise, first and foremost, is yours,

but it belongs to God. It ain't even, and that's

the challenge. Many of us hold on to it because

we think it's ours. Many of us reserve to talk

about it and to discuss it. because it's gonna

make me look some kind of way. God's saying,

bro, again I say, you believe as filthy as you

have been in private that the reason God still

chooses to speak to you, God still chooses to

speak to you. He loves you so much that even

as filthy as you are in private. He still speaks

to you. And you think that that deliverance is

yours? That belongs to Him. And your testimonial

praise should cause you to allow that bubbling

water to actually speak. For some of us, we thinking,

well, I'll speak when I'm fully delivered from

it. Lies you tell. Lies you tell. If you ain't

talking about it now, could it be you ain't really

got no hopes to be delivered from it? I submit

to you, whatever it is that you desire God release

you from, get it on your lips now. Talk about

it in front of other people. Make that testimonial

praise a thing that you say, hey, you know God

delivered me from this? And your homeboy passing

you the blunt and saying, no, bro, but. We literally

just rolled it. We bought this weed together.

Mark, Mark chapter 10. I can't just keep talking

Mark 10 · chapter mention

to y 'all about my business. I'm gonna tell y

'all this. I think I told some of y 'all this

before. I used to literally have Bible study

at my apartment, right? Once I got saved, God

was doing a thing with me. And other people saw

it. I didn't necessarily see it, see it, but

other people saw it. And the light has a way

of drawing individuals to it. The fellas that

I was with, we would come to my apartment. I

had a one -bedroom apartment in a project, Section

8. I was paying probably about $63 a month for

rent, lights, water, everything. I was living

the life, baby. I was balling. In this, right?

The fellows would come over to my house. We would

have Bible study because I'm saved. You know

what I'm saying? I'm saved. I'm probably like

19. Right at 19. I'm saved, man. I'm gonna fight

for God in the public eye. The fellows, we would

have Bible study. They would leave. As soon as

they would leave, I kept a little stash underneath

my couch. I would pull out the weed, roll it

up, smoke by myself. Reason I would smoke by

myself because I'm changed in front of them.

You see what I'm saying? I'm out here menacing

to these guys, they can't smoke with me no more,

bro. Like what the what? You gotta smoke by yourself.

Closet Christian, that's me. All right, all right,

all right, all right. Mark chapter 10, Mark chapter

Mark 10 · chapter mention Mark 10 · chapter mention

10, I thank God for deliverance. Mark chapter

Mark 10:46

10, verse 46. Then they reach Jericho. And as

Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd

followed him. A blind beggar named Bartima, son

of Tim, I think his name, was sitting beside

the road. When Bartima heard that Jesus of Nazareth

was nearby, he began to shout, Jesus, son of

David, have mercy on me. Be quiet. Many other

people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder,

son of David, have mercy on me. When Jesus heard

him, he stopped and said, tell him to come here.

So they called the blind man. Hey, bro, cheer

up, they said. Come on, he's calling you. Verse

50, Bartima threw aside his coat, jumped up and

came to Jesus. Oh, I wish I can spend time right

there. My man heard Jesus was coming through.

I just want y 'all to see this. I just want y

'all to see this. God, dawg, I want y 'all to

see this. If that bubbling water was such a rumble

in you and they heard that you were going to

be at this location, my man started yelling to

get Jesus' attention. Son of David, have mercy

on me. Everybody who's familiar with him said,

bro, chill out, be quiet. He says, nah, I need

his attention. I don't even want to be where

I'm at no more. God, help me. Verse 50. Bartima

threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to

Jesus. What do you want me to do for you? Jesus

asked. My rabbi, the blind man said, I want to

see. Ladies and gentlemen, as soon as he jumped

up, as soon as Jesus called him, as soon as it

happened, after his yelling, after him trying

to get God's attention, as soon as it happened,

he got there. Jesus says, bro, what do you want

from me? You making all that noise, what's up?

My man said, I don't want to be blind no more.

Verse 52, and Jesus said to him, go, for your

faith has healed you. Instantly, the man could

see and he followed Jesus down the road. Ladies

and gentlemen, hear me tell you this. If God...

never answers another promise. If he never answers

another promise that you request, understand

that Calvary was enough. If he never opens another

door for you, if he never allows you to move

forward into another door, The empty tomb was

enough Can we look behind us to see what he's

already done and put a praise right there If

he don't never give you anything else your salvation

is enough I get it, I too have desires, but I

refuse to allow those things in front of me.

And matter of fact, I would say this, that I

already even know God gonna do. But I go back

to say, praise. Praise is me saying, God, I believe

you have the authority to do it. Not that you've

already done it. I'm not gonna wait until I see

it done. God, I believe my praise will show forth

that I believe that you can do it. That's where

I want my praise to be. I don't want to be shackled

to this thought of, God, you gon' come through.

You gon' come through. And when you do come through,

ooh, God, watch what I do when you come through.

Watch how big I be by what you did, God. Watch

how bad. I'm going to have the best status update.

They ain't going to know. I'm going to put about

five scriptures in this thing. Nope, because

it's only like 140 characters. So you got to

go back. I'm saying to all of us, family, let

that living water bubble. Stop being quiet. Stop

holding back your praise because you're refined

now. No, no, no, no. Talk that talk if you gonna

be if God gonna deliver you from it talk about

it Be Serious this time and watch what God do

Stand to your feet father God You are faithful

You are faithful God. Oh You are faithful Lord

God, we give you glory. We give you honor. We

give you praise We thank you so much, Father

God, for meeting us here in this moment. We thank

you so much, Father God, again for confirming

and connecting us to all the promises you've

already said. But Lord God, in this moment, we

are very mindful. Holy Spirit, we thank you for

bringing back to our remembrance all things that

you've already done. And Father God, we thank

you for that. Thank you, Lord God. that our minds

aren't what they ain't the way they used to be.

Lord God we are further than what we used to

be. Thank you Lord God for healing us. Thank

you Father for allowing us to forgive others

because there was a time that we couldn't even

see forgiveness in our future but Father you

have softened our heart for even that. Lord God

thank you for loving us in such a way that You

would carve out an entire Sunday with whoever

is in this space to talk directly to me. I thank

you for that, God. I thank you for that. Your

word is sharper than any two -edged sword. Lord

God, all the while while I heard a natural man

speak, I thank you for your spirit cutting away

things on the inside of me. Lord God, I thank

you. I thank you. Because you love me that much.

You love me that much. Hallelujah, Father. Hallelujah,

Lord. If you're here today and you said, I hear...

I've heard and I am aware of all of the things

that we've talked about. But man, while sitting

here, or if I'm online, while listening, God,

I hear you and I am going to make that change

today. If you're here and you've never accepted

Jesus as your Lord and personal savior, some

people call it getting saved. some people call

it born again i'm saying to you if you're present

if you're viewing and you've never made jesus

lord of your life by your own personal relationship

with him then today is your day today god heaven

will record your name if you're here And that's

you. If you're online, put it in the chat. If

you're in the building, just raise your hand

and say, that's me. I am here today to stand

bold about the things that I desire from God

and that he's already done. I'm acknowledging

his hand all over my life. Likewise, if you're

here today and you say, or if you're online and

you say, man, I want prayer. I need prayer, someone

just to let me share with you some things that

I got going on and to come alongside me spiritually

and walk with me through this. If that's you

and you're in the building, slip up your hand.

If you're online, put that in the chat. We have

ministers online that will be happy to pray and

walk with you. Likewise, in the room, same exact

thing. If you raise your hand to any of those

two, when you exit the room, the first glass

room on your left, meet us in that space, please.

Do not walk up that for you. Alone. Because you

don't have to. Here at revealing truth church

we have community and we want to do life with

you Be it on person or online. We want to do

life with you Ladies and gentlemen, I love you.

I pray that as we exit today That we are reminded

again of how good God has been. If he never does

anything else, he's already done enough. You

being present is evidence that he's already done

enough. Because again, I go back to your soul

could have easily said, no, don't go to church

today. Your soul could have easily said, we don't

feel like it. But your spirit answered and responded.

And I thank you for that. Heaven thanks you for

that. So again, I leave you with this last parting

phrase. Do not wait for a miracle. You are the

miracle. That's you. In every communication that

we have with one another, each of us is talking

to another miracle. Because what God has done

with you, man couldn't change that. The things

that God has corrected, man couldn't do that.

That's God. And that was a miracle. I love you

all. I love you, I love you, I love you. Well,

that was fun. God is faithful. As we close, as

Pastor Greg said, first service, ladies and gentlemen,

come back next week because our pastors will

be back and yeah, but. I thank you all for your

faithfulness. I thank you for your commitment

to the house of God. I do want to say as we close,

boy, because it is a dying thing. It is a dying

thing. Many aren't committed to the things of

God anymore. I'm not just talking about in our

personal lives. I'm talking about the things

that matter to God, the church. It matters to

God. And many people aren't committed to the

church like they used to be. And by committed,

I ain't saying, oh, well, I come every Sunday

or I come every other Sunday. We got people who

come every Sunday that ain't committed. I ain't

talking about your presence. I'm talking about

your heart posture. That is what I'm praising

on each of you this day. Thank you. for your

heart posture toward the things of God. Thank

you for being sensitive to the things that God

tells you there's a need for that and you responded.

Thank you for whatever it is that God places

on your heart because you're a part of this vision.

And because you're a part of it, God has already

graced you with something that we didn't have.

If we had it, what would be the purpose of God

bringing you alongside? No, you add something

to this vision that we didn't have before. And

so I'm saying thank you for your obedience. Thank

you for your sensitivity to keep showing up and

keep doing the things that only God instructs

you to do. Thank you. All right, family, I love

you. I got to get out of here. I believe there

is a benediction that we are supposed to do,

and so if you know it already, repeat it after

me, or let's just say it together. Ready, begin.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling

and to present you faultless before the presence

of his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise

God, our savior, be glory and majesty, dominion

and power. both now and ever. Amen. Ladies and

gentlemen, have an amazing day.