Sermon
A Life of Purpose - Kingdom Mandate - with Pastor Mike Krulcik
Publisher transcript
Transcript
-
Thanks for checking out the anchor Faith.
-
Message podcast from st. Augustine Florida.
-
Now, enjoy this message Bible is about a king.
-
His kingdom and his Royal Offspring, to make it real
-
simple. What is the Bible about a king,
-
his kingdom and his Royal Offspring?
-
I'll say it again. The Bible is about a king, his
-
kingdom, and his Royal offspring.
-
In Matthew, chapter 4, verse number 17, when Jesus comes onto
Matthew 4 chapter mention
-
the scene at 30 years old to start his ministry.
-
The first words out of his mouth publicly spoken is this, we find
-
this in Matthew chapter 4. Verse number 17.
Matthew 4 chapter mention
-
It says, from that time. So this was the start, but this
-
was his message. Jesus began to preach and say,
-
repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
-
Then in Matthew chapter 24. Verse number 14.
Matthew 24 chapter mention
-
The word says this. This Gospel of, the Kingdom will
-
be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations and
-
then the end will come. So it's this gospel.
-
This gospel, it's just not any gospel, gospel means, good news,
-
good news of Deliverance, good news of Freedom, good news of
-
redemption, but it's the good news of the kingdom of God.
-
What is a kingdom? The very Greek word because the
-
New Testament was written in Greek, the Old Testament Hebrew,
-
the Greek word for Kingdom, has boss Alia.
-
That means a realm or a territory work.
-
A king is in charge. So, let me put it this way.
-
God is not killing you or waiting for you to expire to
-
die, to get you into the kingdom of God.
-
The kingdom of God is anywhere where you permit him to be king.
-
And Luke chapter 17, Jesus addresses this to really thank
Luke 17 chapter mention
-
God for Jesus because he always brings truth to bring Clarity
-
and religion will bring a confusion.
-
That's why. I said the Bible is a book about
-
a king, his kingdom and his Royal offspring.
-
Luke chapter 17 verses 20 through 21.
-
The word says this when he was asked Jesus was asked by the
-
Pharisees, when the kingdom of God will come Jesus answered
-
them. And said, the kingdom of God
-
does not come with observation nor will they say, see hear or
-
see? Therefore, indeed.
-
The kingdom of God is within you.
-
Remember, I said, God for us, God with us, but we need to know
-
that God is in us. The kingdom of God, is in us.
-
It's not coming with observation wherever you permit Jesus to be
-
Lord. There is the kingdom being lived
-
out and being manifested. So once you give your life to
-
God and you start this New Journey, I read a book years ago
-
called a the ride of a lifetime. It was by the CEO of Disney.
-
Praise the lord. We should all stop and pray now.
-
Glory to God. But he at that time, titled that
-
book. But I thought man being with God
-
being in his kingdom, let us Kingdom manifest through us is
-
the ride of a lifetime. Because when you are born again,
-
that's just the start. Not the end.
-
Just like when you get married. Yes, what you don't say, honey,
-
we did our vows, that was awesome.
-
See you down the road sometime. I hope you didn't do that.
-
No, what you want to enjoy the relationship.
-
Ship the Covenant that you entered into right?
-
And that was that supposed to be a lifetime.
-
Commitment. Right?
-
How much more God the Father, when you're in a relationship
-
with him through Jesus? Does that become a lifetime
-
commitments? I'm not impressed with today.
-
I'm looking for where you at in a year from now where you at
-
five years from now where you at ten years from now if the Lord
-
tarries, where are you at 20 years from now?
-
Are you still participating in that living?
-
Covenant with God, Almighty growing and thriving in the
-
things of God. This brings me to five, six
-
questions. I want to ask you today, six
-
questions, I want to give you today, six questions.
-
I want to have you Ponder, not just today.
-
But throughout this week, the weeks to come and really the
-
years and the decades to come because I want you to stay on
-
point. God wants you to stay on point.
-
God wants you to stay committed. You realize the devil wants to
-
derail you off of God's plan for your life.
-
Number one, the first question is this and everybody's asking
-
these questions to themselves? Where did I come from?
-
That's a question of heritage. Listen. if you limit, where you
-
came from to ancestry.com, That's a question of source.
-
Thank God for ancestry can give you some genealogy records of
-
where you came from and the Earth but you got to realize,
-
where did I come from? The Bible says, I've been born
-
of God really. My DNA, my jeans?
-
Right? Is of the lineage of God.
-
If we could just see ourselves of that, boy, you dries up like
-
a thoroughbred. And say man I have God's DNA on
-
the inside of me. I didn't come from the wrong
-
side of the tracks. I didn't come out of poverty.
-
I don't come out of riches. I came out of God.
-
And I really get the fullness of what God wants to do in a
-
lifetime commitment, you with him, you got to realize and
-
meditate on man. I came from God, I'm of God, I'm
-
in God. Secondly, who am I?
-
You know, the world's asking this and coming up with all
-
kinds of crazy and ungodly. Answers that.
-
Who am I? Well, you know where you're
-
going to find yourself at because this is the answer that
-
is it's a question of identity. You find yourself in the word of
-
God. You find who you really are in
-
this word. The third thing is, what can I
-
do? People ask what can I do?
-
And that's a question of potential and I guarantee that
-
most people in this room have not even tapped into Scratch the
-
surface of what God has put on the inside of you.
-
I pray that it awakens today and it stays awake for the week's,
-
the months and the years to come.
-
Amen. Potential is everything you
-
could do. But haven't done potentials,
-
unused strength untapped ability, it's your capacity.
-
It's what God put on the inside of you.
-
And said this is this is my plan in my purpose for you.
-
I put the potential on the inside of you but listen
-
potential will not grow unless you develop it.
-
And give yourself to it. The fourth question is, why am I
-
here? That's a question of purpose.
-
Purpose. It's the why not the what?
-
And the why Always motivates the what, some people know what to
-
do, but they don't know why they're doing it.
-
Purpose answers. A question of I exist for this
-
reason. I exist for this plan and let me
-
say this. God has a plan for you.
-
Every Born Again. Child of God.
-
God said this is a, this is the plan or this is the purpose that
-
I have for you and there's different seasons and different
-
stages within that purpose. The fifth thing is, where am I
-
going? That's a question of Destiny.
-
And the sixth thing is what will I leave in the Earth?
-
What will I leave in the Earth? And that's a question of legacy.
-
The Bible says a good man, leaves an inheritance to his
-
children's children, and inheritance is what you leave.
-
But a legacy is, who you leave, Jesus left truth in the earth.
-
So our Legacy is Believers is always to maximize the gift that
-
got put on the inside of us so that we pour it out.
-
Paul said this way, I fought the good, right?
-
A fight, I finished. My course, I'm being poured out.
-
Was it the legacy of my assignment is being poured out?
-
And guess what? We Still partaking of what the
-
Apostle Paul did, right? He wrote a majority of the New
-
Testament Epistles and we are still feeding on that inspired
-
word by the Holy Ghost delivered.
-
By the Apostle. Paul, what are you going to
-
leave? What assignment is God put in
-
you that you're going to say at the end of your life?
-
I've poured it out. We poured it out.
-
The title of today's message is this Kingdom mandate a life of
-
purpose. Kingdom mandate a life of
-
purpose. Now mandate is this as defined?
-
It's an authoritative command of formal order.
-
I say this way. It's a Divine assignment.
-
It comes from the throne to the heart of a child of God.
-
One of his Royal offsprings and said this is what I want you to
-
do. And that creates a life of
-
purpose. Look at Jesus, he was filled
-
with purpose on the earth. He had a mandate, a Divine
-
assignment from the father. In John, chapter 18 verse number
John 18 chapter mention
-
37, the word says, this pilot said to Jesus, are you a king
-
then? Jesus answered, you say, rightly
-
that, I'm a king for this, cause I was born for this, cause I
-
have come into the world that I should bear witness to the
-
truth, everyone who is of the truth, hears my voice.
-
So Jesus knew that his purpose was to bring truth.
-
To the Earth. And first John chapter 3 verse
1 John 3 chapter mention
-
number 8. The Bible says, for this
-
purpose, the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy
-
the works of the devil. So the purpose of Jesus was to
-
destroy loosen, obliterate release the shackles of what the
-
devil is doing in the Earth. First John chapter 4 verse.
1 John 4 chapter mention
-
Number 17 says, as he is, Jesus is so, are we in this?
-
World. If Jesus lived a life on
-
purpose, we should live a life on purpose.
-
We should have a kingdom mandate and be Philip bit of be
-
fulfilling the intention, the design and the aim that God has
-
for us, the Apostle Paul demonstrated.
-
This as I said, the Apostle, Paul wrote, the book many books,
-
but to the Corinthian Church and my key text today is going to be
-
found in 1st Corinthians. Verses 24 through 27.
-
I read it in a minute. First Corinthians 9:24-27, now,
-
Paul on his first missionary journey, he went to the city at
-
Corinth, koretz Was a Roman colony.
-
And basically it was the Hub of their Commerce, one of the
-
greatest hubs of Commerce further.
-
Roman Colony, they were a port city, primarily filled of
-
Gentiles people. That had no clue about God.
-
Never heard about God. It was filled with Greeks, it
-
was filled with Rome is it was filled with orientals and
-
obviously, because it was a, it was a huge metropolitan area.
-
Some Scholars say between 100,000 to 700,000 people in
-
this city, But also, there was a lot of money flowing into it
-
because shipping was one of their primary Industries.
-
So they were able to make a lot of money.
-
So there was Sailors, there there was businessman but you
-
can imagine the moral fabric of this society which I'll tell you
-
there was a lot of money flowing into it.
-
And guess what? When you don't know, God, or
-
know the things of God, guess what money does?
-
It becomes everything you're living for?
-
So I'm sure there was greed. I'm sure there was bribery.
-
I'm sure there was a lust for money.
-
Not only that, but it was heavily Greek influenced.
-
Reminds me of America secularly. You know, many of our University
-
started off with a sacred purpose, a Christian foundation
-
and they have been derailed and start of just teaching secular
-
philosophy. But that's how the city was they
-
were huge on philosophy and intellectualism.
-
Matter of fact the Greeks out of he had great oratory skills that
-
set you apart. Not only that.
-
But it was a huge fornicating popularity of population.
-
I mean to say that you become Christian, I just meant that you
-
were one that committed fornication, the Temple of
-
Aphrodite, this was there where they actually had prostitution
-
at that Temple. So Paul comes in the great news
-
is God, has a purpose for Paul. Paul comes into the city of
-
Corinth with the gospel of the Kingdom.
-
In fifty a d-- he preaches the message, people listen to the
-
message and they respond and a church is started.
-
But five years later is guess what?
-
There's problems. In that church. 16 chapters in
-
First Corinthians 1 and there's a second book 2 Corinthians.
-
But Paul in the first chapter, first, nine verses to correct
-
some of these things that were gone on.
-
After five years of hearing the truth, he leaves to continue
-
missionary journey such leadership in the church.
-
But gets word that the church isn't going well.
-
So guess what? Leadership is going to good
-
leadership is going to bring correction Good leadership is
-
going to being truth. Listen, if you're going the
-
wrong way, on a one-way Road. You want somebody to say, stop
-
turn around when I used to work and coming out of Bible school,
-
this is amazing. I told you signs wonders and
-
miracles, follow the preaching. The word I was actually a car
-
salesman. After I got out of Bible school,
-
spirit filled selling cars, worked out good because I walked
-
in Integrity. I wasn't a line sleazy grease
-
here. Slick salesman not treated
-
people the right way and thank God.
-
We had a Spirit-filled owner whose whole reason purpose.
-
Lifetime commitment was to he knew what God had called him.
-
Do he knew why God had called him and mr.
-
Bobby Nelson, the whole reason, he had that business was to fund
-
the gospel. He was set.
-
Financially. But he continued open up more
-
dealerships because he knew that was his fit in the body of
-
Christ. Not everybody?
-
That gets born again, is going to be preaching behind a Pulpit
-
and I know, personally, he blessed my wife and I when we
-
left Florida, gave us a cheque said, you know, just be blessed.
-
We're coming to Florida to help Pastor.
-
Oh Marcy, start this church. I know that he's solely
-
supported missionaries over in China.
-
But that's the purpose. I'm trying to get ingrained and
-
you, what is God called you to do?
-
But I remember there, it was right off the highway.
-
There's an on-ramp in an off ramp, then unwrap is close to
-
the dealership. You have to go over the overpass
-
to get to the, the ramp coming onto the egg, onto the highway
-
that way. But I remember I was, I was one
-
Saturday morning, I was there. I was kind of looking out the
-
window getting prepared for my day.
-
Saturday's were a very long day in the car industry.
-
My wife had called me many times at 6:00 when you coming home,
-
Don't know was my consistent answer.
-
Because if you're in the middle of selling a car, you're a
-
hundred percent commission. You got to just can't say, hey,
-
I'm checking out. I mean, there's sometimes I work
-
from 9:00 to midnight selling cars, it's just the way it was,
-
but I'm getting ready. And all sudden I heard this huge
-
crash and what happened, an elderly person, actually, when
-
they were coming up to get onto the highway, they went down the
-
wrong way. So, instead of getting onto the
-
on-ramp correctly, they didn't go over the overpass.
-
They came coming, you know, for the other direction for the
-
people coming off the going, one way coming up that ramp, you
-
know. So they're coming.
-
On way another car, hit them head-on.
-
But that's what Paul was doing was saying, listen this, he was
-
correcting the church. There were things that were off.
-
So the first nine verses, the First Corinthians 1, he really
-
does a salutation but then he reestablishes the lordship of
-
Jesus Christ, he mentions it several times, that Jesus is
-
Lord, he's just not savior, thank God.
-
He saves us. He delivers us.
-
But lordship is a kingdom mindset where I'm saying you
-
have the final say, not my way, not my will, but whatever the
-
word of God says, that's what I want to live by.
-
That is my filter that My strength that is my source that
-
I draw from right, but then after the ninth verse, he gets
-
into the 10th. Verse of the first chapter, he
-
starts dealing with things like strife and division.
-
So in this church from the time they started 25 years later,
-
guess what their strife, and there's division in the Church
-
of Paul's bringing correction to the church.
-
The second chapter he goes over because this is a heavy, heavy
-
Heavenly intellectual Society, right?
-
He says, listen to things of God are just not grabbed
-
intellectually, you only know the things of the The Spirit by
-
the spirit, don't forget that. Don't don't start in the spirit
-
and then getting to the Flesh and just try to comprehend god
-
with your mind. It's by the holy ghost that you
-
get Revelation, knowledge, the 3rd and the 4th chapter
-
basically said your babies. It's been five years, you're
-
spiritually, immature. There's quarreling there's,
-
there's jealousy and he said, it's time to grow up.
-
He said and at the end of the fourth chapter he said this
-
listen, there's there's ten thousand instructors but there's
-
not many fathers. It's time to grow up touch your
-
neighbor and tell him. It's time to grow up.
-
The Fitch after he deals with sexual immorality. so there's
-
fornication known publicly going on and he addresses it and he
-
says, don't even eat with that person if they're not repenting
-
and he says, listen the world does that And that's one thing
-
but when a Believer is doing that and if they're not
-
repentant don't even talk to him.
-
Hallelujah. so, the sixth chapter deals with Really civil
-
litigation. And social sins and he saying
-
you guys can't even work it out between yourself.
-
You're taking your problems to a secular judge to figure out what
-
you should really be in resolving between yourself.
-
Right? The 7th chapter deals with
-
marriage and singleness the eighth chapter deals with
-
idolatry and then bam in the Night, chapter Paul
-
re-establishes, his purpose to the church.
-
He said I'm an apostle. The 10 chapter deals with the
-
Old Testament examples that they were written for our admonition,
-
our example. And what is he saying?
-
The Christian church has those Old Testament.
-
Say started off good but then they got off and he gives he
-
gave his reasons why they got off get off.
-
They gave him five reasons and he's saying there's a Maximized
-
Life. There's a John 10:10 life that
-
God came to give you life and to give it to you more abundantly.
-
Don't let the devil steal that life by doing things like you're
-
doing. he gets in the 11th chapter, it talks about the
-
Lord's table, the 12th chapter talks about spiritual gifts, the
-
13 chapters of the great love chapter The 14 chapter talks
-
about prophecy and praying in tongues the 15th chapter.
-
I like this because he builds to a big view.
-
He says, Jesus is coming back. The story of redemption.
-
He says one day this mortality will put on immortality you're
-
going to get a glorified body and the 16th chapter he gets
-
some admonitions but really to me it's like when the credits
-
roll at the end of the movie he starts naming people that have
-
been a help to the gospel. When you get to the end of your
-
life we need to see our names Rollin on the credits and saying
-
hey Pastor Brandon did his fit as a husband as a father and and
-
worship ministry as an electrician?
-
Chin and everything that God has called you to do.
-
First Corinthians chapter 9. There are key verse verses, 24
1 Corinthians 9 chapter mention
-
through, 27 says this, do you not know that those who run in a
-
race they all run but one receives the prize run in such a
-
way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for
-
the prize is temperate in all things.
-
Now they do it to obtain a perishable Crown but we an
-
imperishable Crown therefore I run the snot with uncertainty
-
thus I fight not as one who beats.
-
The air, but I discipline my body and bring it into
-
subjection lest when I preached to others.
-
I myself should become disqualified.
-
The Message Bible reads. It like this, you've all been to
-
the stadium and you've seen the athletes race.
-
Everyone runs one wins, run to win all good.
-
Athletes train hard, they do it for a gold medal that tarnishes
-
and Fades. You're after the one that's gold
-
eternally. I don't know.
-
About you. But I'm running hard for the
-
Finish Line, I'm giving it everything.
-
I've got no lazy living for me. I'm staying alert.
-
And in top condition, I'm not going to get caught napping,
-
telling everyone else about it and then missing out myself.
-
Hallelujah. Now, these Corinthians knew
-
exactly what Paul was talking about.
-
Because every two years they had these big games, they were like
-
the Olympics that they did in the city of Corinth.
-
So he's using a naturalist raishin, but giving a spiritual
-
point. And what is he saying?
-
Member hecqs? First Corinthians 9 is when he
-
States his purpose, but he's encouraging them to fulfill
-
their Kingdom mandate and their life, a purpose.
-
He's saying I'm in my Lane, I'm in my role.
-
You are what you are because of why you are, I want to insert
-
right now. Don't try to be somebody else.
-
God is too creative to make two people exactly the same.
-
That would be boring. Everybody's fingerprint.
-
This room is different. Why?
-
Because the Creator made you different, Psalms 139 verses 13
-
through. 14 says, this thou has possessed my reins.
-
That was covered me in my mother's room.
-
I will praise you for. I am fearfully and wonderfully.
-
Made marvelous are thy works and my soul knows, right?
-
Well, David was saying, man, I'm fearfully and wonderfully made.
-
I'm unique, God has destined me as king.
-
What does God Destin you for? What is your purpose?
-
Don't try to be somebody else and Galatians 5, it works at
-
list before the fruit of the spirit.
-
It lists the works of the flesh. One of those works is a thing
-
called emulation. Which means I'm trying to be
-
someone else. And you don't need to be anybody
-
else that comes to the question of identity.
-
Who am I right? God has made you fearfully and
-
wonderfully. There's not a pert.
-
Another person like you on the planet.
-
Thank God for all the different personalities we have.
-
We got same flag, Matic people that are just laid back and
-
their personality, we would say chilled, right?
-
You realize they help balance out the caloric person.
-
That's a type and driven. We're gonna do this till we
-
drop. It's gonna get done.
-
Thank God, we need those people. To write the saying, winds Peter
-
was a sanguine personality. Jesus is saying one time that if
-
I don't wash your feet, he's talking about washing the feet
-
of his disciples. Peter said I'm not going to let
-
the Lord wash my feet. And Jesus said, if you don't let
-
me wash your feet, I'm going to have no part with you.
-
And Jesus said, Peter said, wash my whole body then I mean the
-
extreme sanguine personality, right?
-
The life of the party. Hallelujah.
-
They come in the room boisterous.
-
Excited. Thank God, we need those people
-
to write The Melancholy people glory to God.
-
All the i's are dotted. All the t's are crossed.
-
They are administrative through and through, we need them.
-
So Melancholy doesn't need to try to fit themselves in a
-
saying when personality I will say this the best personalities
-
under constant checks and balances through truth.
-
But don't try to be anybody else.
-
Second Corinthians chapter 10 verse number. 12 says this
2 Corinthians 10 chapter mention
-
second Corinthians 10:12. We do not dare classify or
-
compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.
-
Listen to this. When they measure themselves by
-
themselves and comparing themselves with themselves, they
-
are not wise. Paul saying, when you measure
-
yourself against somebody else, or you compare yourself with
-
somebody else, you're not wise, you're never going to win the
-
comparison game. You're never going to win the
-
measurement game. You got to realize that man God
-
has created me in a certain way for my purpose.
-
And I need to do that purpose or the body of Christ is going to
-
miss out. 2nd Timothy chapter 1 verse.
-
Number 9 says this, Who has saved us and called us with a
-
holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his
-
own purpose and Grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus
-
Before Time began. He saved us, but he also called
-
us he saved us that's when the work of Salvation began but he
-
also called us to a mandate to a Divine assignment So thank God
-
for salvation, but he said, I'm calling you Jesus said in the
-
gospel that many are called but few are chosen.
-
So how do you go from being called to chosen?
-
It's because you understand, I have a mandate and I have a
-
purpose and I go to First Corinthians chapter 9.
1 Corinthians 9 chapter mention
-
And if I'm going to fulfill that mandate in that purpose, I need
-
to listen. What the Apostle Paul was saying
-
by the Holy Spirit. I need to run to win.
-
I need to run to win. No lazy living, I need
-
discipline. I need accountability.
-
I need Focus. I need to learn how to put my
-
body under. I don't want to preach to
-
somebody else. One translation says, you'll be
-
a Castaway if you don't live up to what you're ministering, when
-
your call and your character lineup, you have a thing called
-
credibility, And God is looking for a set of people in the
-
earth. His children, his raw spring to
-
have the calling of God and the character line up and then we
-
got a voice in the earth to minister his life.
-
And a minister is liberty and Hebrews chapter 12.
Hebrews 12 chapter mention
-
Verse number one, the word says, therefore we also since we are
-
surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
-
every weight and the sin, which so easily ensnares us.
-
Let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us.
-
See this author saying the same thing.
-
Paul said, there's a race before us.
-
We need to take care of every sin and every weight in order to
-
run that race with endurance, we're not in this for just a
-
good time wearing this for a long time.
-
It's a lifetime commitment in the Covenant and he said, you
-
got to take off the sin and the weight.
-
Not everybody's living in flat-out sin but there's weights
-
in our life that need to be relate release in order to run
-
the race. Things that weigh you down.
-
You realize that anxiety and worry and can put a weight on
-
you and keep you when your mind is just processing, feeding
-
considering Anxious thoughts, right?
-
Circumstances situations and you're just thinking about all
-
the negative, all the fearful things, right?
-
And you're just, what are you doing?
-
You're really just meditating over your revolving, it in your
-
mind. You realize that that really
-
distracts you from what God is trying to fill in your life.
-
There's an antidote to that which is to cast all your cares
-
on the Lord. Psalm 55:22 says to roll your
-
burdens on the Lord and leave them there.
-
Philippians chapter 4. Verse number six says, be
Philippians 4 chapter mention
-
anxious about nothing, but all things to prayer and
-
supplication with Thanksgiving, let your request be not.
-
Be made known to God. And then he said that the peace
-
that passes understanding will guard your heart and your mind.
-
He's giving a scripture to cast these weights off and anxiety,
-
is just one of those things anxiousness.
-
I mean, if you're feeding more on the news, And all the
-
negative than you are in the word of God, you're going to be
-
in a constant state, a constant position.
-
Of whirring. It's going to weigh you down.
-
So you may not be in pornography.
-
You may not be addicted to drugs but you still have this weight
-
of worry on you and God said, get it off.
-
It's going to hinder you from fulfilling the purpose of God.
-
And how do you get it off? You go before his throne?
-
And when the devil says, all, what are you going to do about
-
that? You say, listen, I've given it
-
to God. Hallelujah.
-
He's got the answer. He's got the provision 10
-
minutes later devil says, oh, what are you going to do about
-
it? I've given it to God.
-
It's before him, he'll give me wisdom.
-
He'll give me guidance on it. An hour later.
-
Hey, it's like Captain America. I could do this all day.
-
Keep coming. You keep on saying it, right?
-
And confessing it when he comes with those thoughts, you gotta
-
respond with the word of God. So keen and mandate a life of
-
purpose, you got to understand sin will definitely stop
-
progress and weights will slow you down.
-
So you gotta identifying the purpose that God has called me
-
to, is there things that I'm doing?
-
God will always fulfill his word and his plan, the questioner is,
-
are you going to have the joy of fulfilling your part in that
-
plan? Because if you choose, and it
-
comes down to choice, if you choose to be in sin, if you
-
choose to be Down you're going to miss out on the benefit and
-
the pleasure of doing God's Will and the Earth, but he will find
-
somebody else to do it. Catherine Coleman and her
-
Ministry. Healing Ministry.
-
She said really, I believe that God gave a man this mandate but
-
he of this healing Grace upon me but they skipped over it chose
-
not to do it and it passed to me.
-
So God our use men and women doesn't matter.
-
The question is, are you going to choose to be used?
-
Now, you're a purpose is really found in life, where your your
-
passion and your pain intersect people say how do I know what my
-
purpose is your passion, and your pain intersect.
-
I have a passion. To work out to stay fit but some
-
of the times it pains me. To see people in the gym
-
thinking. What are they doing?
-
That's very interesting. Never seen that motion or
-
movement before. Standing on.
-
What's That? Bouncy Ball with one leg?
-
Like a flamingo. I think about the karate kid,
-
you know, not saying some of those things are good, but I'm
-
thinking sometimes we focus on the minor so much we don't get
-
to the major. I remember at Publix one time,
-
I'm walking down the aisle with my shopping cart and in front of
-
me, there's a lady with think it was her son.
-
First of all, he looked too big to be in the buggy that pain me.
-
What came next? Pay me even more.
-
Was little Johnny, I don't know his name, they're in the water,
-
I'll he reaches up and grabs a water jug and knocks it off.
-
Mom reaches down, picks it up, puts it back on Little Johnny.
-
Knocks it off again I'm done. I mean like, I'm fuming.
-
I'm like alright is this seriously happening?
-
Little Johnny's then starts whining, and flaying.
-
And she's like moving quick. I'm in the shopping cart.
-
I don't know. She's trying to get out of the
-
store. What I'm like?
-
Oh that pain me why? Cuz there's a passion And there
-
was a pain to say, come on, there's a better way to parent
-
and it's according to the word of God.
-
And you don't have to let your kids rule the roost, right?
-
It reminds me of the, the salesman has anybody show of
-
hands. Had a vacuum salesman.
-
Come to your house before. Praise the Lord.
-
Did that pain? You know, I'm kidding.
-
And he knocks on the door and he eight-year-old son opens the
-
door and he said, I need to talk to who's in charge in the house.
-
Thus the little boy says, I'll be right back.
-
He comes and brings his little three-year-old brother to the
-
door. that ought not be so Come on now.
-
I'll stay on the soapbox one example longer at.
-
I've been at restaurants before where I've seen families have to
-
vacate. Because they couldn't control
-
their kids. You know, the Bible says you
-
spare the rod you spoil, the child Little Johnny's, got some
-
cushion on that back side for a reason.
-
You know, God always said, hit him on the glutes, right?
-
Little bit of pain is going to get their attention.
-
And it pay me because I'm thought I think knowledge.
-
Should they be able to sit down for a meal but they should the
-
kids should be well enough behaved.
-
That you can enjoy the meal and there can be discussion.
-
But why do I say that? Because there's a passion for
-
the family, in my heart, there's a passion to see men rise up and
-
be the man that God created them to be.
-
I truly believe that our society would not be where it's at
-
today. If men are taking their place, I
-
know the world says if mama ain't happy then nobody is Happy
-
by believes. God saying, if the man's not in
-
place, nobody's happy and women have their role.
-
Thank God for There are awesome and they have their assignment.
-
But if a man would be what the Bible says to be, like Jesus
-
said, the greatest in the kingdom is serving of all, if he
-
would learn how to do servant leadership in his home, Do some
-
laundry. Praise the Lord.
-
Vacuum a rug pick up your underwear.
-
Glory to God. Be engaged.
-
It's one thing. To come home.
-
But are you there? I don't want just a house.
-
I want a home. So are they active in their
-
confession? Are they speaking to their wife?
-
Are they speaking to their kids? Are they active and they're
-
their prayer life for their family?
-
And we wonder why the world is a mess because Malachi chapter 4,
Malachi 4 chapter mention
-
says this. I'll turn the hearts of the
-
father towards the children. And then I'll turn the
-
children's heart towards the fathers lest.
-
Remember, I told you all the promises of God have
-
qualifications. He said if this doesn't happen,
-
there's going to be a curse on the earth friends.
-
We're seeing a curse society today because divorce is rampant
-
and even in the church just like Paul had to address the
-
Corinthian Church because everything was going on, you
-
know, divisions, Coral, Strife, division, immaturity sexual
-
lust, and immorality idolatry. You know, he's going over all
-
these things, there was a curse, their, how much more today, you
-
know, are we addressing the same things in our society, to Y, to
-
get people back in position because God wants the best for
-
you. And when you get on the wrong,
-
going the wrong way, it's going to cause a catastrophe.
-
But the church is experienced some of the same, divorce rates
-
is the world and that ought not be.
-
So, they should have some of the most thriving, flourishing,
-
marriages that it attracts, you know, Jesus was attractive.
-
Not just physically. But I mean, people were drawn to
-
him because if there was sickness, he brought healing.
-
If there was doubt, he brought hope, right?
-
If there was bondage, he brought Deliverance, if there was lies,
-
he brought truth. If there was confusion, he
-
brought purpose. And people were drawn to him,
-
people chase after him. People will left the city to go
-
out into the country because they were so hungry for him.
-
But as he is, so should we be People should be coming and
-
saying, man, I see your marriage.
-
I see your life. I want it.
-
What's going on? And that opens up a platform I
-
believe in evangelism going out and winning the Lost vocally.
-
The Bible says that we are Salt and Light salt has to have
-
contact in order to work. Salt is what we call vocal
-
evangelism. Where you going out, man, how's
-
your journey go spiritual journey going, whatever phrase
-
you use to open up a conversation to win somebody to
-
Christ great. But also believe in silent
-
evangelism which is light. You don't, this isn't making any
-
sounds. He's light above us but it can
-
be seen. And being seeing can open up
-
salt or a voice to speak into somebody's life.
-
So when it comes to your purpose at God's calling you to, I want
-
to classify two different purposes.
-
There's a general purpose. And there's a specific purpose.
-
And if you've been with anchor, Faith Church for any time, you
-
know that Pastor arose told us that and taught us that over the
-
years. There's a general purpose and
-
there is a specific purpose. And what I mean by that there's
-
just things you generally need to be doing every day in purpose
-
to actually get to specific purposes.
-
Here's a general purpose, being a man or woman of God.
-
People want to go in. You know, hundreds of thousands
-
of people like, say a Billy Graham.
-
Which could be a specific calling as an evangelist, but
-
yet in their general purpose, they can't even do it.
-
First Timothy 5:8 says, if anyone does not provide for his
-
own house and especially for those in his household, he has
-
denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.
-
Before you win the world. When your house is what I'm
-
saying? And before your, when your
-
house, when your self, You can't conquer the world without
-
conquering yourself first. That's a general-purpose Genesis
-
Chapter 18, verses 17 through 19.
-
The Lord said, shall I hide from Abraham, what I'm doing since
-
Abraham? So surely become a great and
-
mighty nation, and all the nations of the Earth shall be
-
blessed in him for, I have known him in order that he may command
-
his children and his household after him that, they keep the
-
way the Lord to do righteousness and Justice that the Lord may
-
bring to Abraham. What he has spoken to him, man.
-
God gave Abraham a big vision of Plan a big mandate to start a
-
nation. but the reason that God chose Abraham because the
-
general purpose of just being a father and a husband was noticed
-
by God He said I know him that he will command the
-
qualification for you to get to the specific purpose.
-
At I know him, he was intimately acquainted, he had watched his
-
life, he had observed him over the years seeing the
-
faithfulness of this man of God and he said, I'm gonna drop this
-
specific purpose in you to start a nation.
-
But it's because for years and decades, you have been an
-
example, you have been a pillar, you have been steady and Caden,
-
and living out the things of God to your family.
-
And where did that come from? That came through him a Devotion
-
to God a relationship with God. Those are general purposes and
-
you're never going to get to the specific purpose.
-
If you don't do the general purpose, you know, Paul said to
-
run your race. Right, he said to win it.
-
Your lane your assignment. God wants you to win.
-
Turn to your neighbor. Say, God wants you to win.
-
Turn the one the other side. Say God wants you to win.
-
But you realize, there's things you're going to have to do in
-
order to fulfill what God has called you to do.
-
That general-purpose will always help get you to your specific
-
purpose, but it's just like an athlete.
-
You know, before Christ. when I was in the great state of Ohio,
-
Praise the Lord. My brother from Dayton is in a,
-
is in the building and we have conversation, Four Seasons.
-
Praise the Lord. Although I told my girls, I
-
think it was this morning. I am getting weak.
-
I mean, when it's 60 outside, I'm kind of getting cold now,
-
whereas in Ohio, I'd be swimming in that weather.
-
Because my body was more built up for the temperature.
-
But I, I've always had a passion for lifting.
-
But now it's become a platform. But when I was lifting there, I
-
was at a pretty renowned Jim, and the owner of that Jim always
-
taught us that there's General physical preparedness and then
-
their Sports specific preparedness.
-
And I thought what a correlation between just like Paul.
-
Use the Athletics at the church at Corinth.
-
To what I've experienced in my life.
-
And he said if you want to go somewhere, you need a big bass
-
is what he taught us. So you got to be generally
-
prepared, physically. So there are certain things that
-
you just do fundamentally all the time just like in football,
-
guess what? There's always a
-
general-purpose. I don't care if you're in Pop
-
Warner to the NFL, guess what those coaches are always working
-
with blocking. Tackling.
-
Catching the ball. Right, that never stops.
-
Those are general purposes from the time your little through a
-
professional career. Right now, there are specific
-
things that happen. You know, there's specific
-
things for the quarterback or for the running back or four
-
defensive linemen offensive lineman so on.
-
And so on that, they need specific training for, right?
-
But the general purposes are always there, right?
-
Same thing with God, you know what, our general purposes with
-
God, forgiveness. Confession.
-
Right. Renewing Your Mind.
-
Meditation. Walking In Love, right?
-
And the list can go on and on for those general purposes.
-
But if you're not doing the general thing, you're never
-
going to get to the sports specific or the specific plan
-
that God has for you. And it takes knowledge.
-
Paul said this, he said, do you not know all that run in a race?
-
Run to win. But that word.
-
Do you not know that word? No, not only means to see and to
-
perceive but it says you need knowledge of some things.
-
You know, my journey and weight training started, when I was 13
-
years old and my basement in Ohio was sold sand weights, you
-
drop them, right? And it would crack the plastic
-
in the Santa the concrete with some of the men in here.
-
Maybe women are understand. I'm talking about and it
-
actually make the weight on balance, but I started that
-
process at 13. And just like anything in life,
-
consistency is the key. I never have stopped.
-
But along the way I've gained some more knowledge Hosea said
-
my people perish because of a lack of knowledge for a long
-
time. I'd say 20 plus years, I trained
-
really hard, but ate like junk. Hallelujah.
-
You know, there was a long time, I have to admit it you know
-
where I do some McDonald's. I got a mad.
-
I did. Taco Bell.
-
I used to enjoy Tang on vanilla ice cream.
-
Praise the Lord. Now, I've said this before, some
-
of them don't have the Revelation to stay Comes.
-
Is it real meat? I don't know.
-
But I'm putting all this stuff in me.
-
Training really hard. But I have no knowledge base
-
about nutrition. So guess what?
-
The results aren't as forthcoming.
-
As they should be. And I thinking about this really
-
all equate, this Because I won't give you some points.
-
Three points if you're taking notes.
-
To grow in your purpose. I'll label and just a second,
-
but I thought about this, what? How I was living in.
-
That example, is, like, some Christians today that are
-
reading their Bible and praying working out really hard, but
-
they don't go to church. And guess what.
-
The results aren't as forthcoming as they should be.
-
That was me for many years in the sense that I was training
-
really hard. But not, where do you get fed a
-
good meal on a Sunday in a Wednesday, where do you get some
-
nutritional content, some sustenance, God's Place, some in
-
the body and I'll get to in a minute to equip you to feed you
-
and and they're, so in tune with God.
-
In this position, they know the word in due season that you
-
need. Defeat on so that you can
-
fulfill the Mandate in your life.
-
Side to learn nutrition. You know, I had to learn if I
-
eat ice cream all the time or Twinkies, all the time, guess
-
what? I'm going to be a Twinkie what
-
you sow, is what you read. For a long time.
-
I played, I played football back when I was in 8th grade and a
-
high school, and I didn't like running, But then I learned
-
straight training wasn't just enough because the comprehensive
-
program needs number one nutrition.
-
Number to rest. Number three, an aerobics, which
-
is strength or resistance training number for aerobics.
-
Cardiovascular training a number 5.
-
A needs flexibility. But I learned that
-
cardiovascular training was important because of the ticker,
-
right? I'm not just doing this.
-
I just started cardio my journey on that probably about three or
-
four years ago. But why am I doing that?
-
Because I realize the purpose, this body's got to carry me
-
around if the Lord tarries And so if I want to have a healthy
-
body, there's things I can do for the purpose of God's call me
-
too, but spiritually the same thing, you may be strong in one
-
area, but do you have endurance? Well then let God build a
-
spiritual endurance in you. A lot of people in pressure
-
comes our resistance. Come they pray for the pressure
-
to be removed. Go with me to Second
-
Corinthians. Real quick, this is most
-
Believers prayer, prayer or prayers.
-
Amen. 2nd Corinthians chapter 12.
-
So, we covered the first book of Corinthians.
-
This is the second letter that Paul is written to this church.
-
And he says this. In verse number one, it's
-
doubtless not profitable for me to boast.
-
I will come to visions and Revelations of the Lord.
-
I Know a Man in Christ who fourteen years ago, whether in
-
the body, I do not know whether out of the body.
-
I do not know, God knows such a one was caught up to the third
-
heaven. I know such a man, whether in
-
the body or out of the body, I do not know.
-
God knows how I was caught up into paradise and heard
-
inexpressible Words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
-
Such a one. I will boast yet for myself.
-
I will not boast. Except in my infirmities for
-
though. I might desire to boast, I will
-
not be a fool for. I will speak the truth, but I
-
refrain lest anyone should think of me above.
-
What he sees me to be or hears from me verse 7 and lest I
-
should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the
-
revelations. A thorn.
-
In the flesh was given to me a messenger of Satan to Buffet me.
-
Lest I be exalted above measure concerning this?
-
Thing. I pleaded, I begged with the
-
Lord, three times that it might depart from me.
-
And he said, to me, my grace is sufficient for you.
-
My strength is made, perfect. In weakness, Paul said,
-
therefore, I most gladly will rather boast in my infirmities.
-
That the power of Christ May rest upon me.
-
Now, I read that verse because verse 8 is most Believers
-
prayers concerning this. Lord, get it off me.
-
Remove it from me. Now you notice if you go back it
-
said the infirmities. Now, we need to know the Bible
-
Church. We need to rightly divide the
-
word of Truth. Some people say that Paul's
-
infirmity was an eye disease. And they get this through things
-
like this and hermeneutics Bible interpretation.
-
You need to know who's speaking who's being spoken to?
-
What's the subject under discussion and Bible
-
interpretation you, if you don't understand the verse you got to
-
read the verse before it and the verse after it if that doesn't
-
make sense, you need to read the whole chapter.
-
If that doesn't make sense, you need to read the whole book that
-
the verse is contained in, if that doesn't make sense, you
-
need to read the whole Testament that that verse Contained in.
-
If that doesn't make sense, you need to read the whole Bible.
-
You said that's a lot of work. The Bible says, study to show
-
yourself approved. So in Galatians, Paul makes a
-
statement, he says see how large a letter I've written to you.
-
Now, do you think Paul use 82 font?
-
It's a figure of speech. The heart of the letter.
-
The importance of what he was saying, but yet people read that
-
and they say all you wrote a large letter said not disease.
-
Then he made another comment. He said you said, you'd pluck
-
out your eyes and give them to me.
-
I'll see he had an eye disease. So he was saying other people
-
say, not help you out, I'll give you my eyes.
-
No was a figure of speech. The things he was seeing happen,
-
what was happening is he was going into places like Corinth
-
preaching truth, and then judaizers Jewish people are
-
coming beside. I belong, behind him and messing
-
up everything he was saying and it was painting him, he was
-
tired of seeing it. Everything that he was trying to
-
establish as getting unraveled because of Lies.
-
We can see 2 and verse 7. It says a thorn in the flesh.
-
Now, Paulo new. The Old Testament.
-
Well, I'm skimming, you some Bible interpretation.
-
So, when you're reading your correctly, dividing the word and
-
Thorn In the Flesh, is Mission the Old Testament.
-
God said, if you don't drive out the inhabitants, the people
-
they're going to be thorns in your side.
-
That was God saying, literally that people are going to be
-
sticking out of your side. Another going to be a pain to
-
you. And so Paul was saying these
-
things pain me when I see people come in and unravel truth,
-
right? But back to this, he said he
-
pleaded for Lord, three times that it would depart.
-
I'm bringing us all this all this up because if you have
-
sickness in your body, God's not asking you to put up with the
-
Sickness. If you have depression in your
-
mind, God's not asking you just to go through depression, he's
-
saying no take authority now, take your stance now, take your
-
position now. But there are some things called
-
infirmities. Where there's pressure, there's
-
resistance there could be pain, there could be turmoil, right?
-
And most the times are saying, Lord, get it off me.
-
And those situations God saying, listen, my grace is sufficient
-
for you because my strength is made perfect in your weakness.
-
Your learning, not how to depend upon anything in the flesh.
-
You're learning how to lean on the spirit and you're gaining
-
confidence that I will get you through.
-
And how do you get stronger? Resistance.
-
Pressure. Now, it's not always fun.
-
Praise the Lord. Sometimes when I'm in the gym,
-
I'm thinking about spiritual things.
-
I'm thinking, just 5 more reps. Why cause I want to dig a little
-
bit deeper. There's been times I've stopped
-
short and I thought, man, I should have pressed Paul said,
-
press into the high calling, right?
-
So resistance always isn't the enemy's.
-
What I'm saying? Resistance can be an opportunity
-
where God is saying, this is an opportunity for you to increase
-
your spiritual capacity, I heard Pastor, I'll just say the other
-
day. There was a prophecy that went
-
over him some time ago. He said, I'm walking that out
-
right now and I'm glad the prophecy came because this is
-
strengthening my love walk. God was so good.
-
That a couple years ago he sent a prophetic word to me about
-
some events that we're going to happen and now I get a feast on
-
that word and apply love and not anger.
-
Right? So God said, I'm not getting
-
that off you. I'm taking you through that
-
situation. So you understand the difference
-
are some things you cast off and cast out.
-
There's some things you say God your grace is gonna get me
-
through this. And on the other side I'm going
-
to be a little bit bigger. I'd rather be a thousand times
-
bigger on the inside than the outside, but it's going to take
-
some resistance. It's going to take some
-
training, it's going to take some pressure, right?
-
So, three things. To develop your prayer life.
-
Number one is your daily discipline.
-
I'm sorry. Did you develop your purpose,
-
your kingdom mandate. What has God called you to do
-
your daily disciplines? You know, we're called
-
Disciples, which means we're disciplined ones.
-
I believe we should have a plan in place.
-
I should. I believe we should live life on
-
purpose. I believe.
-
In when you even when you rest, you rest on purpose.
-
House meeting. And with an individual.
-
One time he said I'm just going to kill some time.
-
I said don't ever kill time, rest on purpose.
-
Be purposeful even in your rest. Maximize your hours, maximize
-
your ministers. 168 hours in a week.
-
What are you doing with all your time?
-
But be disciplined. How's your devotional life
-
going? The church provides Bible
-
reading plans. For the year.
-
Are you keeping up with that? Are you checking off the box and
-
just being obedient? But you're not really willing is
-
your heart connected to the reading?
-
Are you saying father this is my time with you if I'm going to be
-
fueled and if I'm going to be strong, then I need your word
-
today. I need a fresh word from Heaven.
-
I need the bread of life today. I don't want stale Mana, I don't
-
want crusty bread. I want something warm out of the
-
oven, right? Praise the Lord.
-
That smells good. That tastes good, you know.
-
Red enlarges the ministry. That's really funny to me, but
-
nobody's laughing. Like physical bread in large as
-
your physical body. Okay?
-
All those carbs. Praise the Lord.
-
But I need a fresh word from Heaven.
-
I need a Word of Life today so we should just open up this.
-
This book this Bible and rush into it.
-
You should pray. God speak, you know exactly
-
what's going on this day this week and I'm just going to be
-
listening. This is my time with you.
-
And then on another daily devotion is this just don't have
-
a place of devotion or daily daily discipline, but leave
-
something from that moment or that time, right?
-
Meaning meditation, what can you take away from the time you?
-
With God, reading the word. Say Lord, I need I need
-
something for this day that I can just chew on process.
-
Think on, you know, that thoughts are going to come at
-
you all day long. So what can I go back to?
-
As my rock, Jesus said Upon This Rock, I will build my church.
-
And the moments of it, the tension of the day, the
-
decisions of a day. I need the word of God.
-
Listen, you know, if you miss days without meals, guess what?
-
You start to get a little bit wary.
-
A little bit, run down and a little bit cranky.
-
How are you spiritually? If you're going days without
-
reading the word of God, My good, my good friend, Steve
-
Miller. Actually he passed away back in
-
1998, 99, but he was really instrumental my life.
-
I went to high school with him. He was actually from Florida
-
moved Ohio, his dad was a Quaker, State sales rep.
-
So they came up there. I ran with him hard.
-
We were both love football. We both love to lift weights.
-
We partied all the time. I'm I wasn't for God, then he
-
got born again, and I thought the guy went wacko, because he
-
was always calling me trying to get me.
-
Out to get into the things that God invited me to church.
-
Finally you did, I gave my life to the Lord.
-
Praise God, he didn't give up on me.
-
But one thing he told me that always sticks with me said
-
reading the word is one thing, it's like having a dirty pot or
-
dirty pan, whatever you cook that morning and you run water
-
on it, right? And you're trying to rinse it
-
off. Do you realize that?
-
Here's a little tip for men? Little insertion here.
-
Make sure that you wash the dishes off before you put them
-
in the dishwasher. Did you know peanut butter on a
-
plate? Not rinsed off going.
-
In the dishwasher just makes crusty peanut butter on a plate
-
coming out of the dishwasher. So it's one thing to run little
-
water over it. Because you know, peanut butter,
-
if you put in the sink right down, come off.
-
I have to get some to agitate that thing like my scrubbing,
-
brush to get it off. But what he said reading the
-
word is like getting some stuff off you, but meditating on the
-
word is like that SOS or that Brillo pad, that rubs a lot of
-
things off. So in your daily discipline man,
-
you got to say Lord, I'm leaving this place of devotion with you
-
reading the word but I want to come away with a meditation.
-
God would not call you or You to do something that you weren't
-
capable of doing. There's multiple verses that
-
talk about. Meditating upon the word you
-
want to become a I'll say this like a pro Christian
-
professional athlete type like Christian.
-
The difference is meditation, What do you thinking on
-
throughout the day? Man, let the word be real to
-
you. Think on it, ponder?
-
It speak it. Moderate confess.
-
It Joshua 1:8 says this book of the law shall not depart from
-
your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, to
-
observe to do all, that's written there and then you will
-
make your way prosperous and then you will have good success.
-
Paul told Timothy to meditate upon the prophecy, give himself,
-
wholly to it, who LLY? Give his entire self to that
-
prophecy. Think on it, chew on it.
-
The Mama said I'm going to meditate upon your word day and
-
night, so God will not put something in the Bible that we
-
weren't capable of doing. But how many people make that
-
choice that, man? I'm really going to just not
-
read the word, but I'm gonna think on the word, I'm gonna
-
speak the word. And I'll tell you that the
-
litmus test to know that you're really a doer of that is when
-
something hits you. And the first thing that comes
-
out of your mouth is the word and not the problem.
-
It could be but God, he may hit you with some he say.
-
But my God. He will bring me through this.
-
The second thing you need to develop your prayer life or your
-
purpose is your as a prayer life.
-
You're never going to know. Why you're created, if you don't
-
ask the Creator. You're never going to know the
-
why and last unless you ask him. Prayer precedes production, but
-
production is the evidence of Prayer.
-
Only the Creator can tell you why you were created.
-
In prayer, you need to come with an attitude, not just to talk
-
but to listen. So many times were coming asking
-
for things which is fine. We have, we have prayer of faith
-
and we can ask God for things and should ask God for things
-
but not a lot of us come with Psalms 46:10 which says be still
-
and know that he is God. If you're doing all the Talking
-
how can you do any listening? Hallelujah.
-
So be still and know that he is. God, psalms 37:4 says this
-
delight yourself also in the Lord and He Shall give you the
-
desires of your heart. In that prayer time that were
-
Delight means to be soft and to be pliable, you're coming and
-
saying father I'm seeking it a day with everything I got.
-
I'll be want to walk out your purpose.
-
I want to walk out your plan sir, just mold me and shape me.
-
The prophet Isaiah said he is the Potter and we are the clay.
-
And how can a Potter form clay if it's hard?
-
So, it takes time. This is not American
-
Christianity where it's a microwave Christianity.
-
You know, we want it and we want it now.
-
It can takes months and years praying out the seasons in the
-
stages of the plan that God has for you.
-
I know the founder of our Bible School, Kenneth E Hagin.
-
He went through three different, I'd say major seasons of his
-
life from a pastoring to field Ministry to start a bible school
-
but that was over decades but he was a man of prayer.
-
He spent time at the Throne of God seeking God and asking what
-
is it that you want me to do? You realize that the Bible does
-
not say hey Mike you need to move to st.
-
Augustine Florida in 2004. There's I'm not going to find
-
scripture in verse that came time.
-
Took time praying with Angie and I say in Lord.
-
Is that what you want us to do and after we got the
-
confirmation that piece, guess what?
-
We're following that plan and God works, everything else out.
-
Those General steps created the specific step.
-
I never thought I'm looking for a title as an associate pastor.
-
I just worked out that General and the specific manifested in
-
2009. I was getting my Nation for
-
Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Praise the lord, we will pick
-
you up. What a season?
-
And I get a phone call from Pastor.
-
Earle my daughter. Chloe had just been born.
-
I think it was the week before I actually was on Parental leave
-
and I was at the restaurant with my manager and he's he wanted
-
just to do the evaluation then get it done with so, but then
-
pasture land called me and said, hey do you want to come on to
-
the church? I'm like I need to pray about
-
that. That's the whole reason I'm
-
here. So yes, but I went back and told
-
the manager. Hey, I'm giving my two weeks
-
notice, I'll fulfill that boy that kind of shook his feathers
-
a little bit, he got up and went made a phone call but that
-
happened five years from the point of 2004 to 2009.
-
I graduated Bible School in 2000 and I kept doing a general
-
purpose of God, my daily devotion, my prayer life and
-
then nine years later. Is when God said, okay you're
-
coming on full-time in the church but I never asked for
-
that. I just kept on doing why am I
-
telling you that just keep on doing what you know to do?
-
Amen. Hebrews chapter 4.
Hebrews 4 chapter mention
-
Verse number 16 says this. So let us come boldly before the
-
throne of grace of our gracious God, there we will receive his
-
Mercy will find Grace to help when we need it most.
-
So at his throne, we need to take time, we need to spend
-
time, we need to find out what he wants us to do, what he Wills
-
us to do. We need to go take time, there's
-
to go on, love on him, and thank him.
-
Thank him that you're redeemed. Thank him that he paid for you.
-
Thank him that you're delivered. Thank him that he poured out the
-
Holy Spirit and you're not a weak barely getting by
-
Christian. But you got the power of the
-
Holy Ghost on the inside of you? Time to pray in the spirit.
-
Take time to sing in the spirit right.
-
Take time to meditate on the word, right?
-
But we come before. His throne to hang out with him
-
to fellowship with him, to sup with him, to learn of him.
-
John chapter 15 verses 5 through 8.
-
Says this. Yes I am the vine.
-
You are the branches, those who rate remain in me and I in them
-
will produce much fruit for apart.
-
From me, you can do nothing, anyone who does not remain in
-
me, he is thrown away like a useless, branch and Withers,
-
such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned, but if you
-
remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything
-
you want and it will be granted. When you produce much fruit, you
-
are my true disciples. This brings Great glory to my
-
father. This is an awesome picture of a
-
prayer position where I'm continually seeking the face of
-
God. I'm remaining in him.
-
And his word is remaining in me and that environment.
-
God is going to work everything out.
-
The Bible says the steps of a righteous man or a good man.
-
So the qualification when I'm in right standing with God, comes
-
through the word of God, through meditation and through a prayer
-
life, my steps are going to be ordered third and last Thing, I
-
want to cover to find your purpose is church attendance.
-
Ephesians chapter 4. Verses 11 through 12 says this.
Ephesians 4 chapter mention
-
He gave himself some to be Apostles, some prophets, some
-
evangelists and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of
-
the Saints for the work of Ministry.
-
For the edifying of the body of Christ.
-
God has called some in his church into these five roles
-
Apostles, prophets evangelists pastors and teachers.
-
But why are they there for the equipping of the Saints?
-
Why is church attendance so necessary?
-
Because every Sunday, every Wednesday, every men's event you
-
come to Women's event, you come to, there's an equipping, that
-
happens, the 11 definition of equipment is a Furnishing or a
-
supply. So it's one thing to have a
-
great devotional life and a great prayer life, but you're
-
never going to be fulfilled or fully in your purpose without
-
being in church because God gave gifts to the church.
-
These five gifts and they're going to help equip.
-
They're going to supply, they're going to feed, they're going to
-
give you a good meal. Amen.
-
We're talking you know, filet mignon.
-
I'm ending soon. Someone talk about food as not
-
as to upset your stomach over your minds to listen.
-
Loaded baked potato with sour cream.
-
Chives? Don't forget the Brussels spouts
-
because you brussel sprouts. You get that at church or
-
broccoli. Pastor is not always going to
-
skip to. Dessert.
-
A warm cookie with vanilla on it where the vanilla just kind of
-
running down from the heat of the cookie.
-
You're not always going to get that at church.
-
Why? Cuz you can't live off that.
-
It's good. It'll get you a quick as we call
-
simple sugar. A quick pickup but we need some
-
complex carbohydrates for some longevity too.
-
All you eat sugar? You going to be a yo-yo
-
Christian. for all, use it, drink those energy drinks with
-
all the sugar But what they're going to feed you.
-
Amen we're in. You need to come ready to
-
receive. Do you realize I want to say
-
this when you come to church, you have a part to play if you
-
come hungry. To hear the word of God, you're
-
going to pool. Sometimes pastors could be
-
limited in the delivery. Not not based upon their
-
preparation but based upon the receiving of those that are
-
coming. So if we can make that
-
correction, when you come, are you coming expecting?
-
Are you coming? Like Lord, I am so ready to
-
worship. I'm so ready to receive your
-
word. Just fill me up today.
-
Overflow me so that I could pour out to somebody else.
-
Hebrews chapter 10. Verse number 25 says don't
Hebrews 10 chapter mention
-
forsake the assembling of ourselves together as the manner
-
of some but exhorting, one another and so much more as you
-
see the day approaching Church. Attendance is important, man.
-
You do not want to forsake coming to church.
-
Since 1997, when I gave my life to the Lord.
-
I've attended three different churches, and I've only moved
-
when God told me to move, I started my journey in Columbus,
-
Ohio, with Apostle Lafayette scales at Rhema Christian
-
Center. Which some, you know, because
-
that's come full circle, he's been here for our kingdom rise
-
conferences, in the past. Then in 1998, when God told me
-
to move after praying, he told me to go to Bible school.
-
So I moved from Ohio to Oklahoma tenere.
-
Bible Church there, Faithfully And then got married in 2001.
-
Stay in touch with Pastor. Oh, Marcy.
-
They launched the vision of my wife.
-
And I three years about three years later in 2004 and prayed
-
about coming tanker Faith. So my journey with God since
-
1997 to 2022. I've always been faithful to
-
attend church. But why am I saying that?
-
Because to fulfill the purpose of God, I would never be where
-
I'm supposed to be. If I hadn't had that mixture of
-
the daily devotion, the prayer life and church attendance, and
-
it's been few and far between and twenty.
-
What four years that I've ever missed a service.
-
Ever. I mean, there's been some times
-
the vacation, maybe, if one of our girls wasn't feeling well,
-
but we're talking 99% of the time 99.9%, the time here.
-
Psalms 92, I close with this chapter and I'm going to read
-
the whole thing and this is just in relation to church
-
attendance. I gave you a fusion 4:11-12
-
Hebrews 10:25 and now I want to read psalms 92 as a last
-
scripture for church. Attendance first number one
-
says, it's good to give thanks to the Lord and the sing praises
-
to your name. O most high to declare your
-
loving. Kindness in the morning, your
-
faithfulness every night on an instrument of ten strings on the
-
loot on the ARP with harm and harmonious sound for you.
-
Lord has made me glad through your work.
-
I will Triumph in the works of your hands O Lord.
-
How great are your Works? Your thoughts are very deep.
-
A census man does not know nor does a fool understand this,
-
when the wicked spring up like grass.
-
And when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that
-
they may be destroyed forever. But you Lord are on high for
-
Evermore. For behold, your enemy is a
-
lord. Behold your enemies Shall
-
Perish. All the workers of iniquity
-
shall be scattered but my horn you have exalted like a wild ox.
-
I have been Anointed with fresh oil my eyes also have seen my
-
desire on my enemies my ears hear my desire on the wicked.
-
Who rise up against me verse 12. The righteous shall flourish
-
like a palm tree. He shall grow like a cedar in
-
Lebanon, those who are planted in the house of the Lord, shall
-
flourish in the courts of our God, they shall still bear fruit
-
and old age, they shall be fresh and flourishing to declare that
-
the Lord is upright. He is my rock and there is no
-
unrighteousness in him. Let me read verse 12 and 13.
-
Just think about this in your ear.
-
Read day or every Sunday your every Wednesday Church
-
attendance. Their righteous shall flourish
-
like a palm tree. You shall grow like a cedar and
-
Lebanon if you are planted in the house of the Lord. if you
-
are planted in the house of the Lord, if you are planted in the
-
house Lord the promise of God says if you keep coming to
-
church You're going to flourish and even in old age, you still
-
bringing forth fruit. The promise is not there for
-
those who get out of, it's the banana that gets away from the
-
bunch of gets peeled. Selah keep coming to church keep
-
connected man you'll miss out. Thank you so much for listening
-
to this message. If you want more subscribe to
-
our message podcast on iTunes, Google play Spotify and
-
SoundCloud rating and leaving a comment.
-
Will go a long way with helping our messages.
-
Get better circulation. If you did enjoy watching our
-
weekend messages, visit Come forward, slash anchor Faith,
-
we'd love it. If you'd subscribe, leave a
-
comment or a like on the messages.
-
If you'd like to find out more information about us and how we
-
are influencing the world and help support the work.
-
We're doing by giving just visit anchor faith.com,