Neck Deep In Gators - Bro Jeremy Howell 9-8-2024

Chisteine thirty three. Brother Nathaniel, First Corinthians, chapter number ten,

verse number thirteen, Brother Jesse's Second Corinthians, Chapter number one,

verse number eight. We're gonna read our golden texts first.

This morning the Bible said, these things have I spoken

unto you that in me you might have peace. In

the world. You shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer.

I have overcome the world. These are red words, words

written in red. These things I have spoken unto you,

that in me you might have peace. In the world.

You shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I

have overcome the world. Let's pray, Heavenly Father. We love

and we praise you. We thank you for the opportunity

to be in your house. I pray that you would

anoint this thy servant, said it, guard in my mouth,

and help me to say the things that you would

have me to say, nothing more or less an de

ears of this thy people, that they might hear what

the spirit of God says under this body of believers

has gathered here In eleven fifty three Cornelia Drive this day,

I pray that these words would go below the shoulders,

not into mind, only not in one ear and out

the other. So let them go below the shoulder, saturate

the spirit and the soul. May we be hear as Lord,

and also may we heave that that we've heard. We

pray that we would depart this place joyfully, well in

body and well in spirit. Lord, let us depart this

place joyfully and not sorrowfully, in Jesus' name. And the

church said, Amen, Brother the than Noel, first Corinth, Thence

chapter number ten and verse number thirteen.

Please, my brother, there have no temptation taken you, but

such as is common to man. But God is faithful,

who will not suffer you to be tempted above that

you are able, but will with temptation also make a

way to escape, that you may.

Be able to bear it. How many of you understand

that Jesus is that way of us, Brother Jesse's second Chrystians,

Chapter number one and verse number eight, Or we would

not have you ignorant of our trouble which came to

us in Asia.

That we were pressed out of measure a bus stript

in so much that we despaired even of life.

Sounds to Medlock he was unable to bear it.

Read that again, brother, Jesse, and y'all listen carefully to

the wedding of the apostle pad Or. We would not

rather have you ignorant of our.

Trouble which came to us in Asia. That we were

pressed out of measure a bus strength in so much

that we despaired even of life.

Sounds to me like that was more than he could bear.

It was unbearable, tristi I mint strain. But he was

able to bear it because he found that avenue of escape.

Jesus Christ reading our text again, John sixteen, verse number

thirty three. Jesus speaking, he said these things I have

spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace.

In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of

good cheer. I have overcome the world. Our golden text

is in a New Testament book of the Holy Bible,

Saint John's Gospel. The title of the sacred writing bears

the name of its author, the disciple, whom Jesus loved

and knew so well. He knew a lot about hardships

and suffering. Historians tell that the Romans tried their best

to eliminate John, as well as other apostles or followers

of the Lord Jesus Christ. We know that at one

point in history that John was banished to the Isle

of Patmos for the sake of Christ and because of

the message that he was preaching and promoting. Historians tell

us that John was boiled in oil. They tried to

extinguish his very life and that manner, but they were

unable to kill him. I don't know the accuracy of

such a report, but I do know that the biblical

record lets us know that John was told by the

Lord Savior Jesus Christ that he would have to endure

extreme hardships and suffer persecution at the hands of mere mortals.

And so we know that this disciple, whom the Lord loved,

his chosen disciple, the one that left everything a family business,

a very prosperous family business, he would encounter hardships and suffering.

And we know that this man is a follower of

Jesus Christ. He soon realized that our heavenly Father allows

bad things to happen. There is a song on a

gospel music radio station that plays often that goes like this,

sometimes God allows. I do agree with the lyrics of

that song. How many of you know that God allows

things when mankind, through Adam and Eve, made bad choices

and chose the free will as their option for life.

We find that because of their shoes, their choice, that

we are suffering immensely. Women suffer at the time of

child bearing in birth. Men suffer every day on the job.

We hear of accidents that take place in the workplace.

Brother Samuel was sharing with me recently that someone working

by the sweat of their face, they overheated, and that

one of his coworkers had to be given oxygen in

order to revive. Isn't that interesting that people suffer like

they do? But Our Lord allowed us to make the choice.

If we chose these things, God has nothing to do

with it. I want you to know that God provided

a place called Paradise for humanity, and God gave us

the ability to choose. Thank God for the free Will.

Bill comes a lot of choices, and a lot of

people make good choices. A lot of people make bad choices.

You know, those that commit habitual sin. Sometimes they fall

victim or pray to alcoholism or the drug addiction.

They abuse things, they abuse themselves.

We know that people have given themselves to sexual perversion

when they abuse themselves. We know that the sins of

Sodom and Gemara, and also the sins of Jerusalem that

the great prophets, namely Isaiah and Jeremiah preached against, are

prevalent today. And because of sin, there are consequences, and

sometimes because of the majority sin, the nation suffers. Good

people suffer. The nation that persae God as a whole

shall be turned into hell. And we find widows like

that one that Elijah and another one like the one

Elisha ministered to, suffering because of wicked leaders. And how

many of you know that this nation can expect to

suffer because of our national leadership. And I do know

the importance and the value of at least ten people

praying and seeking the Lord.

You will remember, I deal with the Lord.

He said, if there's at least ten, I will spare

such a wicked city as Sodom. I know that we

have at least ten in this building this morning, and

I pray that God would spare label Florida and our

surrounding cities from a lot of suffering and hardship that

no doubt God would like to send this way, because

he is angry with the wicked every day, and he

is a god of corporal punishment. He is a god

that definitely chastises and punishes a nation because of their sin.

And so Jesus let the disciples know right off the

back that they should expect difficult times to come. Jesus

done his part in preparing them for what was ahead.

They were prepared for persecution. As you read through the

sixteenth chapter of Saint John, you will see that the

Lord spent an entire teaching session on telling them what

they were to anticipate and to expect. Jesus said a

lot to them. He had more told you of a

lot of things that have disappointed you and brought sorrow

into your heart. But I want you to know there's

more to be said, but I'm not going to say

it right now because you and these were powerful men

of God, because you are unable to bear it at

this time. In the first eleven verses of this chapter,

we find a list of things forthcoming, things that should

be expected and anticipated by any believer. Some of these

things are undesirable and they are unavoidable. However, one of

them should be desirable to every believer, and it is attainable,

and that is the gift of the Holy Ghost. The

Holy Ghost desires to live in the bosom of every believer.

And it is through the Holy Ghost and our Lord

Jesus Christ that we are able to endure these unbearable

situations and circumstances. And so the victory is attainable, the

deliverance is attainable, the hardship and the suffering is unavoidable,

but the remedy is attainable. In the twelfth verse, we

see where Jesus said, I have yet many things to

say it to you, but she cannot bear them. Now, sister,

how will you let a song today about great sorrow?

Brother Jesse? You let a song today about when trouble comes? Sister?

How will He didn't say I have a few more

things to say to you, or I need just a

few more seconds to spend with you. What he was

saying is, I've got several hours of information that I

need to give to you to explain to you what's

gonna come to this generation and the forthcoming generations. But

you asked mer portals, you asked pleased. As cardinal people,

you're unable to bear a Your body will not be

able to withstand the pressure. Some of you may stroke out,

some of you may have a heart attack, some of

you may have nervous breakdown, and so the Lord knew

exactly how much they could handle or how much they

could take. In First corinth Ins, chapter number ten and

verse number thirteen, the apostle Paul writing he said that

God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be

tempted above that you are able, but will with the

temptation also make a way of escape that she may

be able to bear it. Our Lord Jesus, and the

sweet hole it goes is this way of escape. In

the sixteenth chapter of John, we read of sorrow feeling

the hearts of the disciples because of the Lord's impending departure,

and also because of the words that the Lord spoke.

You will remember that the Lord spoke to his disciples

at one point he said, I sent you for him

as lambs among wolves. Now you get the imagery of Jesus,

don't you. Brother Rick Jacob mentioned just a little while

ago of his brother's artistic ability, and as it's what

he was saying is without a vision, the people perish.

You have to have a proper understanding of what it

is you're trying to craft or create order for it

to come to fruition. And I know that Jesus was

speaking to these disciples, and he let them know through

that imagery that I'm sending you into some predicaments and

situations that are very, very disappointing. I'm telling you you

are going to be surprised. You think that you following

the Son of God is going to lead you always

into green pasture. You think that following the Son of

God that you will always be led to the steel waters. Hey,

I'm telling you, sometimes we get led to the bitter

waters of sorrow, and sometimes we get led to brown

grass or brown pastures. And so the Lord gave us

the imagery right off to this disciples. He said, you're

going to be as a lamb or as a sheikh

among us. Why would we expect anything less than that

you will find the prophecy of the great Man of God.

The Old Testament Prophetness said they would lead our master

to the slaughter as a lamb is led to the sawder.

That's exactly what happened. And Jesus told his followers what

they had done unto me, they will do up to you.

And so this a sheep amongst wolf imagery is fitting imagery,

and I see that as a believer. Jesus used that

imagery because the people of his day and hour and

over in that part of the country largely were shepherds.

They raised sheep. Now, if I was to put this

in perspective for you South Ploor idiots, those of you

that are true Florida swap people, the imagery would be

I send you forth as bait in the midst of

a bunch of alligators. As I was praying and I

asked the Lord to give me this morning's message, even

though I'm very sinking body, and I'm using wisdom with

how much energy I exert, how much I put forth today.

I want you to get a hold of this. That

non't matter what. You are going to face persecution, tribulation, trial, sickness, suffering,

and sorrow, but you do not have to face it alone.

And so God gave me that burden to tell you

can anticipate it, you should expect it. It's coming. You're

no greater than John, this beloved disciple, Oh Jesus, it

does not mean that you have a lesser love than John.

If you go through something. We know how much John

loved the Lord. We know the continuity between John and

the Lord. We know the relationship that John had with

the Lord. When you go through these kind of things,

it is not indicative that the Lord has left you.

And so I was praying that God was pouring into

my spirit what I was to preach of this precious

people this morning that God spoke to my heart this

phrase net deep engag. How many of you feel like

that sometimes that you are net deep in alligators? I

thought about the imagery of Jesus as sheep amongst Wilson. Well,

while we're living here in Florida, that is a reality

to some people. If they are not careful, they will

find themselves neck deep in gaiters. I remember reading an article,

probably seven to ten years ago, of a man that

was in Orlando. He worked for some sort of gator

farm and he was performing a stunt. Of His stunt

consisted of him grabbing a rope as a rope swing,

and he would swing out over the gator pit with

a little bit of bait drop it into the jaws

of the gator in order to perform that stunt and

to amuse and amaze the people. Brother Nathaniel, I remember

reading the article that that big thick rope snapped. I

think the man's name was Michael. That happened in or Lando,

Florida again, and he landed in that gator pit. To

everybody's surprise, he survived. They don't understand how, they don't

know why, but somehow he survived. Jesus was letting his

disciples know they had been shepherds. They were very familiar

with shepherd life. He was letting them know, even though

you go as a lamb in the midst of wolf's eye,

will help you. And Jesus has never asked us to

do something that he himself has not done. He has

shown them how to go neck deep in the wolves

and to come out a lion, To go in as

a lamb that deep and to come out as a lion.

Everybody in this building to know that no matter the

times that you feel like you were neck deep in gaiters,

God is with you. How many people in this building

today could say, up to my neck in alligators, it

means you have prison matters or obligations, or you have

found yourself in the midst of trouble. How many know

that it would not be a good situation to pine

yourself in the appy deepa in alligators made the swamp

people of Florida saying, amen. Well, I remember years ago

here in the full saying it said, it goes like this.

When you're up to your neck in alligators, it's hard

to remember that your initial objective was to drain the swap. Now,

how many of you know that Jesus's initial objective rosa

to expose the swap creatures of the swap and to

drain the swapper. Compass being one of the alligators. I

don't want to focus too much. O'donald J to that

of Jesus, and he said, my objective is to drain

the swamp. Well, you know what happens. I wish I

had to drink to preach to you this morning, but

you know what happens when you attempt to drain the swap.

When you begin that process, you've fired a marring of

the water supply and the water source, and before too long,

you've fired yourself in a narrow, restricted place in neck

deep in alligators. That's where Donald J. Trump is right now.

And as a Christian, the moment you gave your life

to Jesus, the world became your enemy. Not necessary to

that coworker for that tamily member. But the spirit of

the world became your enemy. Of course you're gonna be targeted.

Of course they're gonna have target practice on you. Of

Course they're gonna ridicule, mock and laugh at you. But

you know what, geezus sin, do not be fearful, do

not be simpful. If these things come. I have overcome

the world. Of course, that polical, sunning daughter is going

to persecute you relentlessly. That's long. That's the spirit of

the world. It's in them. They're gonna do the wheel

and the workers of their power that we must understand.

We've got somebody with us. So some of these things

are undesirable. But Preacher, I do not want to go

through it. You're gonna go through it, whether you walk

to or not. The alligator's gonna grab you by the

heel and pull you into that gator pit, and you're

gonna go through it, whether you walk to or not.

It's unavoidable. Pray for me not to vote and give

me in it so will win. So in the sixteenth

chapter John we read of sorrow feeling the hearts of

the disciples because of the Lord's words. You would think

that every message would be a prosperity message. You would

think that every message would be that of we're going

to be in perfect health and that we're not going

to face any problems. That's not the case. The Lord

wants you to be prepared him. I believe that God

is trying his bestness morning to prepare somebody for something

that is forthcoming, or perhaps prepare this generation for an

understanding that persecution could in fact came upon them and

their children.

Or perhaps it's for.

Somebody in this building right now this morning that is

let deep in a bunch of gators. And I don't

know your situation, and I don't know the depths of

your sorrow, and I don't know how deep your turmoil is.

But I will tell you, if you'll reach up and

get a hold of the Lord, he will pull you

out of that predictable. In verse number seven, the Lord said, nevertheless,

I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that.

I go away.

Say it's very important that I send the helper you're

going to need him. For If I go not away,

the comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart,

I will send him unto you and church, may I say,

when the Holy Ghost came, he comforted the church. But

also he began to pope the bear the same way.

John the Baptist did the same way Jesus did. He

began to pope the baron. How many have you know?

John made them upset up there at Kapphas's house. John

the Baptist I'm speaking of, he turned Herod's house upside down.

He pointed at that moment and said, you are married

to somebody you should not be married to. He pointed

to a world leader and said, you have your brother's wife,

and that's unlawful, is a trespass against God. These fellows

were not afraid to poke the man because they were

full of the Holy Ghost. And I want you to know,

as long as a preacher is a preacher of rats Us,

and if he is filling the Holy Ghost, he will

continue to pope the bearer of sin. Jesus did this.

The Holy Ghost did this. Jesus said, when the Holy

Ghost comes up, he's not gonna serve sugar cookies, so

to speak. He's gonna serve the bread of life. My paraphrasing.

They're trying to explain it to you. Jesus said, the

Holy Ghost will reprove the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. Now,

if you read our Golden Texas and these things I've

spoken unto you that in me you might have peace.

In this war of you shall have tribulation. You poke

the mayor, You're gonna have tribulation. Everybody says you need

a preacher, or we need a pastor, We need a

revivalist that will stand strong for truth and not compromised.

But let him stand strong for truth and righteousness and

not compromised. And immediately they become a target of a traptization.

Immediately they become a target of persecution. Will say one

thing and the action shows something else. And so when

the Bible students and the readers read through this sacred writing,

the sixteenth chapter of Saint John's Gospel, they read, at

times John is going to allow things to happen to

good people, and not always will they be good things,

sometimes faird things. If the disciples would have found themselves

as Sheeper and Wilsa, we're gonna find ourself in South Florida.

That's disciples. Yet deep in alligators. I'm trying to teach

to you this morning, given it everything I got it.

I know you're sick, that I sink too, and I

want you to know sickness. So the alligator of sickness,

there's no reason at all to set on our reason.

There's nothing to be spiritual minding enough to follow it

the hole in your stay. If we're seeking body, there's

no better time. And the practice our faith, and they've

given all their week taughtter us. Thank God, we're never

us to be in tech deeper in our logators. Sickness

make time silent, but I'm called would be through it all.

So we read in times where God allows trials, test

and tribulations. Seemingly at times, these situations appear to be unbearable.

I'm telling you there's been times in my ministry where

situations weren't unbearable. There's been times of my marriage, not

because of my wife, but situations have been unbearable. There's

been times in my time of fatherhood there has been

situations that were unbearable because things of that nature are

unavoidable Heaven, if you are bearing something right now, I'm

trying to bear my brother's burdens and trying to fulfill

the long Crist and to let you know, even though

I'm sick in body, God let me know to preach

to you this morning. Don't matter if you're necktied in gaiters,

you are the child of God. When we think of

Elijah the prophet, we think of that one that had

such a connection with God that it would rain higher

or water out of the heavens. We think of a

man that could pray and it not rain at all

for three and a half years, while that reason waited

on that man to have prayer meeting and to pray

that specific prayer again for rain. But what a lot

of people overlook is that time that an angel came

to Elijah's side and tried to wake him up. And

Elijah was so famish and so exhausted that he did

not respond to an angel for wakening him. I hope

somebody is responding this morning to an angel trying to

awaken you. But the Bible said the second time that

angel touched him and said get up and eat, because

the journey is too greater for you. A lot of

prosperity and faith teachers abuse that scripture that said God

will not put on you anything more than you could bear.

I've proven to you right here this morning, our remedyingness, Jesus,

our escape rou is took in the Holy Gess way.

But there was a time in Elijah's life whenever he

sat down and that elijah syndrome was trying to get

the best of him, and he said, I'm the only

one serving you. What about okadye? What about the other

prophets that are afraid for the very lifer in the cave.

I'm telling you sometimes invitemental battles and physical battles, but

that does not keep you from being a child of God.

You got to understand, you're still a child of God,

no matter to the liver, no matter the situation, no

matter the circumstances, you must still have faith that I

am with God and God is with me. So Elijah

had to be sustained by heavenly food. Heavenly sustenance sustained him.

As to how we find the angelic being saying the

journey is too great for you earthly flesh and blood.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. I

am literally exemplifying that to you this morning. Inside of me,

I'm old fire. I have a message that came straight

from the portals of glory neck deep gators. But you

are seeing by humanity, seeing my flesh, brother, chip Roy,

And I know that at any moment, God may heal

my body. He's done it before. He might heal it

while I'm being faithful preaching, or choose to just let

me endureance and make me stronger. Whatever he chooses to do,

it is in his hands. And I want you to

know that. The Apostle Paul, while addressing the Saints and

the Church in correct and saying Cryptians one tonight, he said,

for we would not brethren, have you ignret what it

was sin is. I'm being transparent with you, and I'm

letting you know it ain't always a bed of roses.

And this thing is just not coming easy, he said,

don't you be ignorant of our trouble. We're having trouble

and so overwhelming over here in Asia. We have been

pressed out of measure above street in so much that

we despaired even of life. The Great Apostle Paul was wondered,

will I live through this? Will I ever get through

for this? Will I ever get through this? Hey? I

don't know much about that man that was performing that

stud in that ga in Orderlando, Florida. But I can say,

for the child of God, you can go through the

gail pit, that deepot, as long as God is with you.

You can go through a lion's den man that keeping lines.

As long as God is with you. You can go

through a burning power of parness for being overwhelmed, my

fellows a pot. As long as God is with you,

the ball of this morning serving that is this, You

better have God with you. That's what Jesus such as

what's telling us disciples, you need the Holy Ghost. Of

course you're gonna be surrounded. But the good news is

the Holy Ghost is with you. But in that trimulation

being of good, cheer, for I have overcome the world.

Oh come on now, Paul went on to say, above strength.

Inso much as we despaired even of life. Paul went

on to say, my trust is not in myself, but

it is in the Lord. And then he offered this

detail which raises the dead. After saying all that about

being overwhelmed in Asia, he said, it was begd what

I could bear. I despaired even of my very life,

but my trust was in the Lord, which raises the dead,

and that's what you all need to remember. That's the

same spirit of job. No matter that I've been born

in this life a few days and my life has

been full of sorrow and trouble. I know though I

be slaved, I saw trust in the Lord. God has

been good. I said, God has been good in sickness

and in health. The bride group and the bride promised

to one another a week ago, and that's the same

these men had made the Jesus. We will go with you.

That's what Peter said that don't everybody else have to

turn aside it I will not turn aside. And I'm

asking somebody in this building today, if you received bad news,

turn bad diagnosis, that's been the field dead, will you

come towards I can haven't been child.

That's cure.

Go I care of you. This is what separate the

true Christian from the colony of Christian is their ability

to lay through a gavre, a Christian pity net deeper Sincessfulina.

It's because they are a child of God. That's why

the sumerset by my God. I have run to a

troop and leaked over the wall. Do you think the truth.

What's remeny do you think it was? Fellow commonbad or

soldiers in the battle know the truth represented an enemy,

overwhelming odds, an overwhelming obstacle, a health crisis. I'm preaching

of somebody, a health crisis. Sometimes all you got to

do is get a hold of that one that is

with you, and not understand it is with me. And

when we put our trust in him and we have

taith not doubting, we go through the powery furnace without

the sin of smoke. We go through the den of

a lion without one bite mark hold our body. We

get through that data pill nettiepo without a star. I'm

telling you about a Philippa and simpleted that. We walk

through a help CROSSI their sickness popin that to distressor

without Lord here Jesus is walking with you, that this

step of the way throughout yourue life. What says a fear?

Why sys your way that Lord? Let's Jesus he is present,

good preacher, preacher, how make me put gators? So what

who's holding you up? Who's holding you in his hand?

Jesus is Paul had put his trust in the Lord.

You gotta put your trust in the Lord, there's no

doubt I'm coming out. God's gonna bring me out. This

too shall pass. I know the first sermon is, and

it came to pass. I say the first sermon is

it shall come to pass. And the second sermon is,

and it came to pass. But I want you to

know the third sermon should be that is passed, that

is behind me, that is in my past. Come on now,

God brought me out because He went into it with me.

Cause does not stand on the other side of the

tests to trial, the turbulence of the tribulation pulling you out.

The truth is he goes through that cater pit with you.

He waits out neck deep in ther wh you thank

you for praying for me. I feel our healthy David,

the Sweet Somist of Israel, the beloved King of Israel,

the greatest general Israel's ever known. At one point he said,

in so many words, I'm surrounded by many troubles. I'm

overwhelmed by many sorrows. He went on to say, they

are numerous. They are so numerous that I'm unable to

see clearly. The waters of trouble are up to my neck,

who today is neck deep and trouble, sorrows are trials.

Who is facing more than you can handle on your own.

I know somebody is because for two days I said, gotcha,

I have somebody else preaching. I called brother Jesse yesterday afternoon.

I said, fether Nataniel's very sick as well. I said,

be ready to preach, just having a plan. But I

just felt like God wanted me to preach to somebody.

And there is no doubt to this morning's theme is

on him going through trouble with us. I'm telling you

I'm in trouble for my help. You walk and tell that,

but you can tell somebody. He's giving me a strength

that I should not have. Somebody is enabling me to

preach like I should not be able to preach with

this singer. So but I'm Jesse. He could be ready

to preach tonight. But I'm telling you right now, I

feel God out here in the water.

And that's what David said. Now my name walk through

the valley her a shadow of death. You know what's

in the valley. The dead people are tribal.

Though I walk to the valley, her a shadow of death,

the threats of death, the threat of sorrow that I'm

trouble tomorrow. The shadow that ain't here you, but that's coming,

turning right here yet that Chile's coming. Yeah, I walk

from a riding on the shadow up death. That satha

naive though, including death, because now b with me. It

goes on to say, now for Paris, a table before

me in the presence about intermition, right in the meta

of a gator pit, right when your neck deep in gators,

suddenly you're feasting, Brother chip Roy. They said that that guy,

I think his name was Baka Warmer. They said that

whenever he fell in that pit, when that beat large

diameter rope snapped, said that he was holding up like

a chicken, and he came up on his limbs, came

out with his torso intact. He came out with his

head intact. Isn't that something to help? God could prepare

a table for you in the presence of your right

in the middle of it, Right in the thick of it,

I got blessed like Jacob of Old, right in the

middle of wrestling with the Lord. I got blessed in

the middle of my trouble. I got blessed in the

middle of A preacher of my said I got blessed

in the middle of being persecuted. My fellow Christian's so calm.

I got bless in the middle of a Biden administration.

I got blessed, said David. He said, I'm never deep

in troubles, sorrows and trials who his face is breed

than they can handle. There's somebody here today in that situation.

You are not deep in alligator, so to speak. Remember

the purpose of the Lord and the Holy Ghost is

to drain the swamp. I'm here to expose the devil

today and to let you know nothing for him to

gets you can prosper, and to let you know that

God has got you nestled.

And cradled in his hand.

It doesn't matter if you're plunged into a fire, a persecution.

It doesn't matter if you're plunge into a herd of wolves,

a pack of wolves. It doesn't matter if you're plunge

into a dentilliance, or into a health crisis, order to

a financial crisis, or whatever. As long as he who

holds the world is hold you, you're good. Sarma said. No,

the earth be removed, and though it'll be cast into

the sea, God is in the midst of his people.

They shall be helped, and that right early all. We

hear the specking of the gators. We hear the anticipation

of the wolf's We hear the looking of the chops

of the wolves.

We know they desire the pray.

But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.

But be of good cheer, though you be surrounded. I

have overcome the world. That's what the preacher told the

young preacher. If you would, the prophet told his assistant,

you don't understand. Though we be outnumbered, we're not outnumbered

those singlarly we're outwitted and outgunned. We're not outnumbered outwitted,

nor are we outgunned. If God would just open your

eyes to see, you would see that the heels are bleazing,

would cheerots a fire the Angel of the Lord in

campas round about them that fear him. I'm telling you,

no matter what you're going through, the Lord is with you.

The modern sarmist wrote a song that goes like this,

Eric's go, Jesus is with me. When the storm clouds gather,

He's standing by my side. When I hear the thunder roll,

he holds my hand when I begin to trouble when

the winds of this world are growing strong. Hoven, if

you are learning a deep spiritual truth today that the

Lord has a purpose and a plan through it all.

Through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus. Through

it all, I've learned to trust in him. Jesus prepared

his own for things that were ahead. The reason why

a lot of these faith preachers are losing their parishioners

and their hearers is because the people are figuring out

that what they're promoting and preaching is a lie. God's

not going to park a catalogc in everybody's driveway. God

is not going to build everybody a five story, a bedroom,

six bath house in the church. Said Amen. But though

we live on meager fare.

At times, he did tromise a roof over our head.

He did promise to clothe our body and to put

shoes on our feet, and he.

Did promise to go with us each and every day,

every step of the way.

I want you to know it is a false expectation

of any Christian to think that they are immune from

tough trials and tribulations. I want to say that again.

It is a false expectation for any Christian to think

that you are immune from tough trials and tribulations. Can

anybody right now honestly stand up and declare immunity to

trouble When the Word of God itself said, man that

is born of woman is a few days and full

of trouble. So as soon as you declare immunity to hardships,

trials and tribulations, I will call you a liar.

Let God be true in his work, be true, and

let every man be a liar.

Pastor for eighteen something years this wonderful group of people,

I can tell you there has been things that have

happened that.

I do not understand.

Every time I will go to walk out of that office,

I look at three wonderful men, I look at their picture,

and I don't understand why God took them at critical.

Times of my ministry. I would love to have.

Them here today. But you know what I know one

day my picture will.

Be on that same canvas, and there'll be another preacher.

Another pastor asked in the same question as Joshua did,

why did you take Moses?

I could use Moses right now. You know what our

confidence is in Moses. But most importantly our utmost confidence

is in Jesus. Oh, I feel the Holy Ghost in

this place, at this very moment. What did Jesus say,

in this world you will have trouble.

I son't call you no, not my mind. In this

world you.

Shall have trouble. You won't go looking for it, but

it will find you. You can run, but you cannot

hide from trouble. I have heard of men in my

lifetime that were germ folks.

They had a germ phobia of some kind, and they

hit themselves away from society. They were afraid of contracting

some sickness or illness, only to be hunted down by

some dreadful disease and to have their life taken. Preacher,

I don't want trouble. Well, I'm sorry it's coming. But

the good news is, though trouble is on its way

and soon to arrive, or perhaps trouble is already here.

But though trouble is coming and on its way, the

good news is Jesus is already here. And before trouble

meets you, trouble meets Jesus, and before trouble can touch you,

Trouble's got to get a permission slip from Jesus. Is

that not demonstrated In the Book of job Right, Lucifer said,

you have a hedge round about this man, and the

Lord gave him permission to touch him and to trouble him.

How will you respond to trouble? How are you responding

right now to trouble? The Holy Ghost has been saying,

seek me, pray fast, seek me. You think you're out

of it, but you can find yourself neck deep and

alligators in overwhelming trouble. You better have God with you.

That's the purpose of I need the Holy Ghost so

that he could go with me through trouble. There's been times, Sister,

how it was said, I don't know how the world doesn't.

There's been times I've said to her, how we would

do it if we weren't saying if Jesus wasn't with us,

and if the Holy Ghost wasn't re signing us, hard

times are promised as sure as the Holy Ghost was promised.

Hard times are promised, brother Jesse when you come to

the piano. But the good news is he promised to

be there before trouble arrived. If he's a living in

your heart, he's already present. If someone leaves you during

the difficult days. He said he would never leave you

nor forsaken. I've heard of men before leaving their spous

that soul mate, so they said that they joined together

in holy matrimony. But because that soul mat went on

to battlefield and was marred beyond recognition. I've heard of

women walking out of hospital rooms saying, I just can't

do this. I marry the love of my life and

the man of my dreams, but I didn't marry a monster.

I've heard of men before, Brother Buford, with beautiful families,

find out that their wife has been diagnosed with cancer

and walk away from that wife and those children because

they said, I can't.

Cope with cancer and the consequences of cancer.

You know what, God uses troubles, trials, tennis, turbulets, and

tribulations to show us who's with us.

That's something I want everybody to think about.

God uses these type of circumstances and situations to show

you who your real friends are. I used to tell

sister how in the early years of pioneer ministry and

church planning, Brother chip Roy, I would tell her, I'd say,

whenever it comes right down to it, we can tell

who's really with us, because when the boat starts rocking eye,

when we start off persecution and people start missing service,

people stop showing up until there's no more turbulence. Jesus

used the Wise Man.

To write this proverb.

He said, a brother is born for adversity. Oftentimes I

ask people, are you sure? Are you sure?

Because I know what's ahead, I know how rough the

road is.

There's been a lot of people come to the altar,

Sister Howell, they pray prayers, they shed crocodile tears, and

we're so convinced they're going to show up that night

and become a true, genuine, pure blue, purevanilla grade ad holiness,

sanctified pentecostal, born again child of God, only to find

out as.

Soon as there was a bump in the road, they

were gone.

A brother is born for adversity. Something you'll notice about

the how old family the have old family right here

in Label Florida, your personal pastoral team. When we go

through something, we go through it together. I want to

say this again, it's a false expectation for any Christian

to think they're immune from tough times. And if somebody's

leaving you because you're going through tough times. They're not

a real brother and they're not a real sister. But

Jesus promised to go with us through it all. Let's

stand this morning, then close it. I want to mention this.

Jesus was no fair weather friend. Jesus was no fair

weather friend, and these disciples were no fair weather friends

of Jesus and Brother Philip. After he filled them with

a holy ghost, these men died for him his story

and say that. The Apostle Peter, while facing crucifixion, he said,

this is too much like what I saw Jesus go through.

Make it harder on me. He said, hang me upside

and down right, because I'm not even worthy to die

in the same man than my scene had died in.

He was no fair weather friend. I've seen the church

go through something, and Brother Jeremiah, because the people's heart

weren't closely did to one another. The church dissolved, disbanded

because there was no strength. The Bible said, if you

faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

If that marriage unravels in the time of trouble, it

was small.

The strength just wasn't present.

I wanted to valor this morning there's got to be

somebody in this building that I preach it to. If

you're neck deep at gators, would you come to this

altar right now? And I don't know what that gator represents,

what those numerous gators represent, but Jesus knows. Perhaps his

persecution for co workers, a boss man, children, prodigal sons,

and dollars. Perhaps it's a health crisis, of financial strain,

mental agony, english, his spirit sorrow. Are you here? Would

you come forward at this time? Anybody? Here's one, here's another,

here's another, another another, about ten or twelve of you.

I'm neck deefend gators. I want you to know Jesus

is with you. He's having your hand. That's it, Brothers.

Just see the shepherd is going to keep the sheep

from the wolfs. Living with alligators in Florida is a reality.

Living amongst wolves as a sheep of Jesus is a reality.

But he's overcame the world. Thank God for that creature.

I've been going through it.

Sorrows upon sorrowl trouble upon trouble, health, battle, health's trouble, illness, sickness.

Tell Jesus about it. Let's pray a wild. Let's tarry

a wild this morning. Can't we to the scorn passes

over here? The thunder sounds to the car from forever

from the sky. Who will be fast? Let me say

in the holl man, give me.

Saying to the storm basses, my.

Dear, the storm passes over to the thunder sounds now

to roll forever through the sky. Won he fastnes stands

in the hollow, Keep me say to.

The storm bases in the dark cover the midnight.

Hell dye hit my.

Face while the storm out above me in the stool

high place, in the crash of the thunder, precious lord.

My craft, keep me sin to the storm pass to

the storm.

Passes over to the thunder sounds Wall to the.

More from the sky.

Or depend me stand in the hollow, say fill the

storm pass by toil the storm massive over there, the

thunder sounds Wall. You're the guy forever from the sky

who holds me back. Let me stand in the halland.

Thy hand.

Oh yes, the stalls the storm past the throat woll

to the storm passes over to the thunder sells the

ball to the cloud roll forever from.

The sky, Who.

Me bass, Let me stand in the hollo, thy hand

gave me. Say dear, the storm passes.

Anytime seech On whispers. There is no to try, there's

no of the sorgns, there's no hold bye and bye bye.

I go with me and tomorrow.

Safe with the nose stores spar by, or to the

shore passes over to the thunder sounds, the wall, to

the clouds roll forever the sky.

War me by. Let me stand in the hall my head.

Keep me say to the storm mascyes in the dawn

of the midnight.

Will have.

I hid my face.

While the storm out above me in the store high

place in the.

Cart, the thunder ricious low here my cry, give me

save to the stone, pass.

To the storm passes over to the thunder south wall,

to the cloud.

Forever from the sky, pour me. Let me stand in

the hollow.

Ba le me see to the storm percies.

So so rash is a love