9/12/25 2PM | OTH 2025 | Kent Christmas

IN HERE AND NOT GIVE HIM THE PRAISE THAT HE'S WORTHY OF

AND THEN EXPECT HEAVEN TO JUST COME DOWN TO THE EARTH.

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE

MINUTES TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE THE

MIRACULOUS CAN DWELL. CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE THE HOLY

SPIRIT CAN INHABIT. I'M JUST ASKING FOR THE NEXT TWO

MINUTES, WOULD YOU GIVE GOD A PRAISE REPRESENTATIVE OF

THE MIRACLE THAT YOU'RE BELIEVING HIM FOR? GIVE HIM

A PRAISE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WORD THAT YOU CAME

SEEKING. GIVE HIM A PRAISE ACCORDING TO HIS EXCELLENT

GREATNESS. COME ON, SOMEBODY LIFT UP THE KING OF KINGS

AND THE LORD OF LORDS IN THIS ARENA. HALLELUJAH! COME ON,

CROWN HIM KING OF KINGS WITH YOUR SONG AND WITH YOUR

PRAISE. OH, MAGNIFY AND EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER. THE KING OF

GLORY HAS COME TO THIS ARENA. HALLELUJAH. OH.

(MUSIC)

WOULD YOU GIVE GOD A HAND CLAP OF PRAISE THIS

AFTERNOON? HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH.

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD. HALLELUJAH. YOU CAN BE

SEATED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. THANK YOU FOR

WORSHIPPING OUR KING THE WAY HE'S WORTHY TO BE PRAISED.

HALLELUJAH. YOU KNOW, I WAS GETTING READY TO PREACH A

SERMON ABOUT A MAN NAMED GIDEON. BY THE WAY, I AM

ABOUT TO RECEIVE THE OFFERING. HALLELUJAH. THAT'S

WHY I WORE MY SHINY SUIT COAT. HALLELUJAH. I WAS

GETTING READY TO PREACH A SERMON ABOUT A MAN NAMED

GIDEON, AND I WAS GOING THROUGH THE STORY AND

PREPARING THE VERSES THAT I WAS PUTTING IN MY NOTES, AND

I GOT TO THIS PLACE IN THE STORY, BROTHER LEON, WHERE

WE'RE GETTING GOT INTO SOMETHING I CONSIDER A

LITTLE CONTROVERSIAL. HE WAS FLEECING THE LORD. NOW, HE

IS THE ORIGINATOR OF THIS DOCTRINE OF FLEECE IN THE

LORD AND LET ME TELL YOU WHERE I STAND ON THE ISSUE

I'M FOR IT WHEN IT WORKS. I'M AGAINST IT WHEN IT

DOESN'T AMEN HE HAD A WORD OVER HIS LIFE HE HAD

DIRECTION OVER HIS LIFE. HE IS VISITED BY THE ANGEL OF

THE LORD YET AFTER ANGELIC VISITATION AFTER PERSONAL

PROPHECY AND DIRECTION HE HAS A HARD TIME BELIEVING

WHAT THE SAYETH THE LORD AND HE DEMANDS A SIGN FROM GOD I

NEED YOU TO GIVE ME A SIGN AND I NEED YOU TO DO THIS

AND I NEED YOU TO DO THAT I MEAN HE GIVES CLEAR-CUT

INSTRUCTIONS I NEED THE FLEECE TO BE WET AND THE

GROUND TO BE DRY AND THEN WHEN THAT HAPPENS HE GOES

LET ME LET ME SWITCH IT UP JUST IN CASE THE DEVIL WERE

YOU BLESSED I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT JUST MADE ME THINK

ABOUT THIS MORNING SERMON WERE YOU BLESSED BY THE

MINISTRY OF EVANGELIST ISAAC PETRIE WAS THAT NOT A WORD?

WHO I SHOULD HAVE WORN MY SHINY SPORT COAT TO THAT

SERVICE. AMEN. I CAME IN A SWEATER. MAN, WHAT A WORD.

BUT GIDEON COMES BACK ONCE AND TWICE AND HE KEEPS, IT'S

ALMOST AS IF HE'S MAKING IT A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT JUST

TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE LORD. AND SO I'M PREPARING THESE

SERMON NOTES AND YOU KNOW TALKING ABOUT COMING BEFORE

THE LORD AND THE SIGNS THAT WE WANT. AND I READ

SOMETHING THAT I, I'M SURE I READ IT BEFORE BUT I NEVER

PAID ATTENTION TO THAT. HAVE YOU EVER DONE THAT BEFORE? I

KNOW YOU HAVE BECAUSE YOU'VE GONE AND BOUGHT SOMETHING

AND THEN TRIED TO RETURN IT AND THEY SAID "WELL YOU

SIGNED, YOU NEVER READ WHAT YOU SIGNED." I READ

SOMETHING IN JUDGES 6 AND 18 IN THE NEW LIVING

TRANSLATION I'D NEVER SEEN BEFORE. WELL ACTUALLY IT

STARTS IN 17. GIDEON SAID "IF YOU'RE TRULY GOING TO

HELP ME, SHOW ME A SIGN TO PROVE THAT IT'S REALLY THE

LORD SPEAKING." NOW I'VE READ THAT ONE BEFORE, BUT

I'D NEVER SEEN VERSE 18. IT SAYS "BUT DON'T GO AWAY

UNTIL I COME BACK AND BRING YOU AN OFFERING." I'D NEVER

READ THAT PART BEFORE. SO GIDEON HAS DEMANDS OF THE

LORD, BUT GIDEON KNOWS TOO MUCH TO MAKE DEMANDS OF THE

LORD AND COME TO THE LORD EMPTY-HANDED. I HAVE DEMANDS

BEFORE THE LORD TODAY. CAN I BE TRANSPARENT WITH YOU?

NOW, I DON'T MEAN THAT IN A DISRESPECTFUL WAY. THERE ARE

SOME THINGS I NEED ANSWERS FOR. THERE ARE SOME THERE

ARE SOME PRAYER REQUESTS THAT I HAVE BEFORE THE LORD,

BUT I KNOW BETTER THAN TO COME TO THE LORD

EMPTY-HANDED. AND HERE'S WHY. BECAUSE I'VE NEVER LEFT

HIS PRESENCE EMPTY-HANDED. SO I DON'T THIS SERVICE WILL

BE A LANDMARK SERVICE FOR SOME OF YOU IN THIS ROOM. I

STOOD OVER THERE TWO YEARS AGO, BUILDING LESS IN OUR

MINISTRY. I WAS BELIEVING THE LORD FOR PROPERTY, FOR

THE MINISTRY, BUT NO ONE KNEW THAT. AND STANDING

RIGHT OVER THERE, THE MAN THAT IS ABOUT TO PREACH

AFTER THIS LONG-WINDED OFFERING, HALLELUJAH. I'M

TAKING TIME 'CAUSE PASTOR BRENDA DIDN'T TAKE ANY TIME

THIS MORNING WITH THE OFFERING. (CONGREGATION

LAUGHING) WAIT, DON'T TELL, WELL, DON'T TELL HER I SAID

ANYTHING. HOLD UP, I'M GETTING A TEXT MESSAGE RIGHT

NOW. (CONGREGATION LAUGHING) I WAS STANDING RIGHT OVER

THERE AND I'M BELIEVING THE LORD FOR A BUILDING. I

HAVEN'T TOLD ANYBODY I'M BELIEVING THE LORD FOR A

BUILDING AND THE MAN THAT'S ABOUT TO PREACH CALLED ME

OUT RIGHT OVER THERE AND HE SAID TONY THE LORD HAS A

BUILDING FOR YOU AND HE STARTED GIVING ME THE

PROPHETIC WORD THAT WHAT THE LORD WAS GOING TO DO IN THE

NEXT YEAR DO YOU THINK I LEFT THAT SERVICE

EMPTY-HANDED? ABSOLUTELY NOT. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME,

WE HAD A CONTRACT ON A BUILDING. I'M TALKING ABOUT

24 HOURS AFTER THAT WORD, WE HAD A CONTRACT ON A

BUILDING. I DIDN'T LEAVE EMPTY-HANDED, BUT I'M GOING

TO TELL YOU I DIDN'T COME HERE EMPTY-HANDED.

HALLELUJAH. ARE THERE ANY GIVERS IN THE ROOM THAT CAN

BEAR WITNESS TO WHAT I'M SAYING? I DON'T COME INTO

THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD EMPTY-HANDED BECAUSE I NEVER

LEAVE EMPTY-HANDED. AND SO I WANT YOU TO GET YOUR VERY

BEST OFFERING READY RIGHT NOW. THE WAYS TO GIVE ARE

ABOUT TO APPEAR ON THE SCREEN AND I HAVE THEM ON

THIS CHEAT SHEET AS WELL. THEY GAVE ME A CHEAT SHEET

BECAUSE THEY SAW WHERE I WAS AT ANOTHER CHURCH RAISING

THE OFFERING AND I GAVE THE WRONG INFORMATION FOR THE

WRONG CHURCH. I WAS PREACHING AT WORD OF LIFE

AND I DIRECTED EVERYONE TO GO TO WORDOFFAITH.COM. WORD

OF FAITH GOT UP THAT NEXT WEEK AND TESTIFIED ABOUT ALL

THIS MIRACLE MONEY THEY'VE BEEN POURING INTO THEIR

MINISTRY. THEY SAID IT'S COMING FROM THE RIGHT, THE

LEFT, THE SOUTH, THE NORTH, PENTECOSTALS AND

PRESBYTERIANS. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.

AND WORD OF LIFE WAS PUTTING OUT PETITIONS, "PLEASE

SOMEBODY FIND THE MONEY." SO THEY MADE SURE, THEY COLOR

CODED IT FOR ME Y'ALL. THERE'S A NOTE HERE FROM

PASTOR HANK, "TONY, DON'T GIVE THEM YOUR CASH APP."

HALLELUJAH, ALRIGHT. HERE'S THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN GIVE,

AMEN. THERE'S ENVELOPES THAT I BELIEVE ARE AT YOUR SEATS,

AND IF NOT YOU CAN ASK ONE OF THOSE USHERS AND THEY'LL

GIVE YOU ONE. YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE. OH, EXCUSE ME.

I'M THANKFUL FOR THE THOUSANDS THAT ARE HERE, BUT

FOR THE MILLIONS THAT ARE WATCHING AT HOME. YOU ARE

INCLUDED IN TODAY'S OFFERING. HOW ABOUT THAT?

AH, YOU THOUGHT I DIDN'T SEE YOU. YOU'RE SITTING THERE

WITH YOUR POP-TART AND YOUR COFFEE AND YOU'RE JUST

CHILLING IN THAT RECLINER JUST, YOU SAID, I'M JUST

GOING TO TASTE AND SEE. THE LORD SAYS, I JUST FOUND YOU

RIGHT THERE IN THE RECLINER. YOU CAN GIVE AS WELL TO THIS

OFFERING TODAY. YOU CAN GIVE ON THE MOBILE APP. WHO HAS

THE LORD TO HOST MOBILE APP? AMEN. YOU CAN TEXT TO GIVE

TO 833-309-5698. YOU CAN CALL TO GIVE. YOU CAN, WELL,

YOU CAN'T GIVE THERE. YOU CAN, I THINK THERE'S A QR

CODE THAT YOU CAN SCAN. YOU CAN GIVE THAT WAY AS WELL.

THE POINT IS THERE'S SO MANY WAYS TO GIVE. THERE'S NO

EXCUSE NOT TO GIVE. AMEN. ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR OFFERING

READY, WOULD YOU STAND WITH ME SO I CAN PRAY OVER YOU?

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, BUT YOU SEE

SOMEONE STANDING, QUICKLY START NEGOTIATING AND SAY,

CAN YOU HOOK A BROTHER UP? CAN I GET IN ON WHAT YOU

HAVE? BROTHER LEON, CAN I GET IN ON WHAT YOU HAVE?

HALLELUJAH, I SEE YOU STAND. I KNOW WHO TO GO TO. AMEN.

AMEN. I WANT TO PRAY OVER YOU. I WANT TO PRAY OVER

THIS OFFERING AND I BELIEVE THE LORD'S GOING TO BLESS

YOU. I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE FOR

YOU TO WALK OUT OF THIS SERVICE EMPTY-HANDED TODAY.

THEREFORE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME BEFORE THE LORD

EMPTY-HANDED. AMEN. AMEN. I'M WAITING ON A FEW MORE

THAT ARE ABOUT TO STAND. I SEE YOU. I KNOW IT'S A

STRUGGLE, THOSE COMFORTABLE NON-PADDED CHAIRS. I KNOW

YOU'VE ALREADY KIND OF FOUND YOUR GROOVE AND YOU DON'T

WANT TO HAVE TO GIVE IT UP, BUT I SEE YOU, ALL RIGHT.

LET ME PRAY OVER YOU AND THEN WE'RE GONNA RECEIVE

THIS OFFERING. FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR EVERY GIVER

THAT'S IN THIS ROOM. LORD, I THANK YOU THAT I HAVE YET TO

EVER COME INTO YOUR PRESENCE AND LEAVE EMPTY-HANDED.

THEREFORE, I REFUSE TO COME INTO YOUR PRESENCE

EMPTY-HANDED. I ASK YOU TO RECEIVE THE GIFTS OF YOUR

PEOPLE NOW. RECEIVE THE OFFERINGS OF YOUR PEOPLE.

BLESS IT, MULTIPLY IT, AND MAY IT COME BACK TO THEM IN

SUCH A GREAT MEASURE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ROOM ENOUGH

TO CONTAIN THE HARVEST THAT'S COMING TO THEM, BOTH

IN THIS ARENA AND THOSE WATCHING AROUND THE WORLD

TODAY. BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS

CHRIST, WE SPEAK THE BLESSING OF PROSPERITY OVER

YOU NOW, AND WE SAY IT'S DONE. IN JESUS' NAME, AND

ALL GOD'S PEOPLE SAID, "AMEN." ALL RIGHT, NOW

REMAIN STANDING WHILE THE USHERS ARE SERVING YOU.

THERE'S A MAN OF GOD THAT'S ABOUT TO COME TO THIS

PODIUM. HE'S THE PASTOR OF ONE OF AMERICA'S GREATEST

REVIVAL CHURCHES IN THE CITY OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

THERE ARE SOME NASHVILLEITES IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW. YOU

CAN CATCH HIM AT REGENERATION CHURCH, HIS

PODCAST. HE'S AN AUTHOR, HE'S A PASTOR, HE'S A

PROPHET, AND FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS, HE'S BEEN A BLESSING TO

MY LIFE. HIS MINISTRY IS ANOINTED, AND I'M SO THANKFUL TO

GOD THAT I GET TO CALL HIM MY FRIEND AND MY ELDER. AND I THANK

GOD FOR THE MINISTRY OF PASTOR KENT CHRISTMAS. WOULD YOU DIRECT

YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN, AND THE NEXT VOICE YOU'RE GOING

TO HEAR IS THE PROPHETIC VOICE OF THE LORD.

- THIS SEASON OF THE OPEN HEAVEN THAT THE ENEMY CAN

COME IN AND PROSPER AGAIN AND SHUT MY CHURCH DOWN. YOU

MAY HAVE HID ME IN THE UPPER ROOM FOR TEN DAYS, SAITH THE

LORD, BUT I CAME OUT OF THAT UPPER ROOM AND I SPILLED

INTO THE NATIONS. I WILL NOT BE SILENCED THIS TIME, SAITH

THE LORD. YOU WILL NOT PUT A MASK ON MY MOUTH, FOR I HAVE

ALREADY SAID, GOD, I WILL NOT RECALL THE PROPHETIC. I

WILL NOT RECALL THE SOUND OF PRAISE. I WILL NOT ALLOW THE

ENEMY TO SHUT ME UP. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

AMEN. AMEN, THAT SOUNDED LIKE A WILD GUY RIGHT THERE.

[LAUGHTER] JUST FOR A MOMENT, REMAIN STANDING.

THANK YOU FOR HONORING THE PRESENCE OF GOD TODAY TO

COME TO CHURCH 2 O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON ON A SATURDAY.

THANK YOU THAT- AMEN. I DON'T HAVE TO PREACH TO 200 PEOPLE.

AMEN. IT'S AN HONOR TODAY TO BE ABLE TO PREACH TO GOD'S

PRECIOUS PEOPLE. I KNOW WITH ALL THE BURDENS THAT YOU

CARRY AND ALL THE FIGHTS THAT YOU'RE INVOLVED IN THAT

YOU ARE VALUABLE TO THE LORD AND I PRAY TODAY THAT I

WOULD BE A BLESSING TO YOU AND SPEAK TO YOU LIFE. I'VE

ONLY WRITTEN ONE BOOK IN MY LIFE AND THIS IS TURNING

SORROW INTO JOY THEY SAID THAT THEY'RE UP THERE

BETWEEN 210 AND 211 SO AFTER I GET DONE PREACHING I AM

GONNA BE UP THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE I CATCH

A PLANE IT TOOK ME ABOUT TWO YEARS TO POUR MY SOUL INTO

THIS BOOK IF YOU'RE STILL WONDERING WHY GOD IS NOT

USING YOU, IF YOU'VE BEEN FAITHFUL TO GOD OVER A

LIFETIME AND YOU'VE NOT YET SEEN WHY GOD IS NOT GIVING

YOU A HARVEST, THIS BOOK'S FOR YOU. IT TOOK ME, I'VE

BEEN PREACHING 54 YEARS AND IT WASN'T UNTIL MY 49TH YEAR

OF PREACHING THAT GOD OPENED THE HEAVENS. AND SO I'VE

LIVED WHERE MOST OF YOU HAVE LIVED MOST OF MY LIFE. SO I

UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU GO THROUGH, BUT I WANNA

ENCOURAGE YOU THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL. AND IF YOU WILL

STAY FAITHFUL TO THE LORD, GOD WILL NOT DESERT YOU.

AMEN. YOU CAN BE SEATED TODAY. I'M GOING TO MINISTER

A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TODAY. I HAVE TRANSCRIBED TO

SOME DEGREE WHAT I WANT TO PREACH TO YOU. I TRUST THAT

WHEN WE GET DONE TODAY, GOD WILL ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS

IN YOUR LIFE, THOSE OF YOU THAT FEEL LIKE, "GOD, I'M

PRESSED OUT OF MEASURE. I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT

LEFT." I THINK GOD WILL HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU TODAY.

WHEN JACOB, THE GREAT PATRIARCH OF ISRAEL, HAD THE

PEACE OF HIS LIFE DISRUPTED BY THE VISITATION OF HIS

SONS, WHO HANDED HIM A BLOODY COAT THAT HE KNEW

BELONGED TO HIS FAVORITE SON JOSEPH, WHOM THE ONLY WOMAN

THAT HE HAD EVER LOVED HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO, AND WAS TOLD

THAT JOSEPH HAS DIED A BLOODY, VIOLENT DEATH. THE

BOOK OF GENESIS RECORDS THAT JACOB IN GREAT GRIEF RENT

HIS CLOTHES, PUT ON SACKCLOTH, AND HE MOURNED.

AND IT SAYS THAT JACOB COULD NOT BE COMFORTED, BUT GOD

SAID, "THAT'S OKAY." WHEN MESSENGERS ONE BY ONE HAD

BROKEN THE STILLNESS OF JOB'S LIFE, WHOM GOD CALLED

A GREAT MAN TO DECLARE THE LOSS OF HIS SHEEP, OF HIS

OXEN, AND OF HIS CAMELS. AND WHILE THAT SERVANT IS THERE

BEARING THAT NEWS, ANOTHER SERVANT COMES IN TO TELL

HIM, "THIS GODLY MAN THAT ATE STRONG WIND HAS HIT THE

HOUSE OF HIS ELDEST SON AND COLLAPSED IT ON THE HEAD OF

HIS TEN CHILDREN. AND IN ONE DAY, ALL TEN OF HIS CHILDREN

DIED." THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JOB TORE HIS MANTLE, SHAVED

HIS HEAD, FELL DOWN ON THE GROUND, BUT GOD SAID THAT

WAS OKAY. WHEN JOSHUA AND CALEB RETURNED, EXCITED FROM

CANAAN LAND, TO TELL THE ISRAELITES, "WE'VE SEEN OUR

INHERITANCE. WE'VE HELD THE GRAPES OF ESHCOL. WE'VE SEEN

THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY." BUT ISRAEL, OUT OF UNBELIEF,

REFUSED TO GO IN. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THAT JOSHUA

AND CALEB, IN DISAPPOINTMENT, IN

FRUSTRATION, FELL DOWN, TORE THEIR GARMENTS BECAUSE THEY

KNEW IT WOULD BE DECADES BEFORE ISRAEL WOULD EVER

POSSESS THE LAND, BUT THAT WAS OKAY WITH GOD. WHEN

JOAB, A BLOODY MURDERER, DECEIVED AND ENTICED ABNER

TO COME OUT OF THE CITY OF REFUGE, AND JOAB EXTENDED

THE RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP, YET IN THE OTHER

HAND THERE WAS A KNIFE THAT HE DROVE INTO THE STOMACH OF

ABNER AND ABNER LAY DEAD IN A POOL OF BLOOD. KING DAVID

IN GREAT GRIEF TORE HIS GARMENTS AND MOURNED THIS

GREAT SOLDIER OF ISRAEL, BUT THAT WAS OKAY. KINGS,

LAWYERS, PROPHETS, THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WRONG,

GOD'S VERY OWN PEOPLE, THEY WERE ALL ALLOWED TO

PARTICIPATE IN THIS UNIQUE ACTION OF EXASPERATION BY

TEARING ONE'S GARMENTS. IT SIGNALED THIS. IT SIGNALED

GRIEF. IT DECLARED SORROW. IT DECLARED DESPERATION AND

DESPAIR. IT WAS AN OUTWARD SIGN THAT SOMETHING MORE

THAN THE MAN HAD OVERTAKEN THEM. IT WAS A PROBLEM FOR

WHICH THERE WAS NO SOLUTION. IT WAS A DILEMMA THAT

DEFINED THE TRAGEDY, A TRIAL THAT WENT BEYOND THE WORDS

THAT A MAN CAN EXPRESS. YET IT WAS AN ACCEPTED ISRAELI

EXPRESSION THAT WE ARE COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED. IT

WAS PRACTICED WITHOUT RESPECT TO CULTURE, WHETHER

ONE WAS GOOD OR ONE WAS EVIL, WHETHER ONE,

HALLELUJAH, HAD WEALTH OR THEY WERE POOR. YOU WILL

FIND IT FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS TO THE BOOK OF

REVELATION THAT THIS ACT OF TEARING ONE'S GARMENT, THE

BIBLE IS FULL OF MEN TEARING THEIR GARMENTS IN GRIEF AND

SORROW, DEVASTATION AND DESPAIR. SO, IT IS

SIGNIFICANT THAT IN LEVITICUS CHAPTER 1, WE READ

Leviticus 1 · chapter mention

THAT THE HIGH PRIEST, UPON WHOSE HEAD THE ANOINTING OIL

WAS POURED, WAS FORBIDDEN TO UNCOVER HIS HEAD OR REND HIS

CLOTHES. FOR THE HIGH PRIEST AND HIS SONS, FOR WHOM THE

HOLY GARMENTS WERE MADE, THAT THEY MIGHT MINISTER IN

THE OFFICE OF THE PRIEST. GOD SAID THEY COULD NOT

RENDER THEIR GARMENTS, THEY COULD NOT TEAR THEIR

CLOTHING. IT IS IN THE SAME STORY OR THE SAME SETTING WE

FIND THAT GOD WAS SERIOUS ABOUT THIS. HE SAID, "YOU

CANNOT PROFANE MY SANCTUARY. YOU CANNOT GO INTO ANY DEAD

BODY." YET IN CHAPTER 10 OF LEVITICUS, IT TELLS US A

STORY OF AARON'S TWO ROGUE SONS WHO WERE PRIESTS. WHEN

THEY OFFERED STRANGE FIRE ON THE ALTAR, GOD INSTANTLY

KILLED THEM. AND WHEN AARON WALKED INTO THE TEMPLE, HIS

TWO SONS LAY DEAD ON THE GROUND. EVERYTHING IN HIM

SAID, "TEAR YOUR GARMENTS." BUT GOD, MOSES TOLD AARON,

HE SAID, "THEY MAY BE YOUR SONS, BUT YOU WILL NOT REND

YOUR GARMENTS LEST YOU DIE." HE SAID, "YOUR BRETHREN CAN

MOURN. THE WHOLE HOUSE OF ISRAEL CAN MOURN. EVERYBODY

ELSE CAN GO TO PIECES AND WAIL OVER THE DEATH OF YOUR

SONS." BUT HE SAID, "YOU CANNOT REND YOUR GARMENTS

BECAUSE THE ANOINTING OIL OF THE LORD IS UPON YOU." SO

AARON THAT DAY MARCHED IN SILENT PROCESSION BEHIND HIS

COUSINS WHOM MOSES DESIGNATED TO CARRY THE

ASHES OF HIS BOYS IN THE FOLDS OF THEIR GARMENTS.

AARON WALKED BEHIND SILENT BECAUSE HE HAD ANOINTING OIL

ON HIM AND HE WAS A PRIEST WHO WORE THE PRIESTLY ROBES.

UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS AN ACCEPTED EXPRESSION. IT WAS

A COMMON FORM OF DECLARING, IF NOT A VERBAL WAY OF

SAYING SOMETHING CLEARLY. PROPHETS HAVE DONE IT. KINGS

HAVE DONE IT. THEY WOULD DO IT AGAIN. ALL MANNER OF MEN,

GOOD AND GODLY, WOULD TEAR THEIR GARMENTS, BUT NOT THE

HIGH PRIEST OR HIS SONS. AND THERE WAS AND THERE IS A

REASON WHY RENDERING ONE'S GARMENTS AND TEARING YOUR

MANTLE AS A PRIEST WAS FORBIDDEN. IT WAS AN

ADMISSION. I AM COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED. I AM

DEVASTATED. I AM DESPAIRING OF LIFE. SOME GRIEF, SOME

SORROW, SOME CIRCUMSTANCE HAS OVERTAKEN ME FOR WHICH

THERE IS NO ANSWER, THERE IS NO REMEDY, THERE IS NO

SOLUTION. IT MAY BE OKAY FOR PROPHETS AND KINGS AND

CONQUERORS TO MAKE THIS DECLARATION, BUT IT WAS NOT

OKAY FOR THE PRIESTS BECAUSE LIKE ALL THESE OTHER MEN,

THESE MEN HAD TO ONCE A YEAR PUT ON THE GARMENT AND TO

WALK INTO THE HOLIEST OF HOLIES AND STAND IN A PURE

AND UNDEFILED PRESENCE OF AN ALMIGHTY JEHOVAH LIVING GOD.

AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INSULT OR AN AFFRONT TO GOD

FOR ANYBODY WHO WALKED INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD TO

DECLARE TO GOD THAT HE HAD BEEN OVERWHELMED, THAT THERE

WAS ANY GRIEF, ANY SORROW, ANY SUFFERING, ANY TRIAL OR

TRAGEDY, TEMPTATION, DISEASE, DEATH, OR

DEVASTATION THAT WAS GREATER THAN THEIR GOD. EVERYBODY

ELSE COULD REND THEIR GARMENTS. EVERYBODY ELSE

COULD GO TO PIECES, BUT NOT YOU AARON, BECAUSE YOU STAND

BEFORE THE ALMIGHTY GOD AND TO COME BEFORE GOD WITH A

RIP IN YOUR GARMENT, INDICATED THAT SOMEWHERE,

SOME PARTICULAR DAY, SOME CIRCUMSTANCE, YOU DECIDED

THAT SOMETHING WAS BIGGER THAN YOUR GOD. IT IS NOT

ACCEPTABLE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD TO IMPLY THAT

THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE TODAY THAT SAYS

THERE IS A CIRCUMSTANCE, THERE IS A SICKNESS, THERE

IS A PROBLEM THAT GOD DOES NOT HAVE THE ANSWER FOR. TO

SUGGEST THAT THERE IS A NEED IN YOUR LIFE FOR WHICH GOD

IS NOT SUFFICIENT, IS UNSPEAKABLE. SO THE PRIEST

WHO WALKED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD COULD NOT,

HALLELUJAH, RUIN HIS GARMENT. HE HAD ACCESS, HE

HAD ANOINTING. AND TO DWELL IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

MEANS THAT FOR YOU AND I, THERE IS NEVER ANY MOMENT

THAT WE NEED TO DESPAIR. TODAY I WANT TO TELL YOU

THAT WE LIVE IN THE HOLY PRESENCE OF GOD. AND THE

SAME PRESENCE THAT DWELLS, HALLELUJAH, IN US IS THE

SAME PRESENCE THAT DWELT IN SOLOMON'S TEMPLE, THAT

DWELT, HALLELUJAH, IN THE TABERNACLE, THAT DWELT IN

THE RUINS OF ZERUBBABEL'S TEMPLE. AND I DECLARE TODAY,

HALLELUJAH, THAT THE GOD OF GLORY LIVES IN US. MAKE NO

MISTAKE, YOU ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE PAIN, GRIEF,

FRUSTRATION, FEAR, FAILURE, AND THERE WILL BE SEASONS OF

SICKNESS AND SORROW AND DISAPPOINTMENT. WE WILL

SUFFER. AND WE HAVE BEEN DECEIVED BY MEN WHO HAVE

TOLD US THAT WHEN YOU ARE SAVED AND YOU'RE A

CHRISTIAN, ALL THAT GOES AWAY. BUT CAN I TELL YOU

THAT THE GREATEST LOVE IS DEFINED BY WHAT KIND OF

PRAISE COMES OUT OF YOUR PAIN. THE GREATEST WORSHIP

IS WHAT COMES OUT WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE GOD VIOLATED HIS

WORD AND LET YOU DOWN. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO

DECLARE, "I AM PERSUADED THAT NOTHING IS GOING TO

SEPARATE ME FROM THE LOVE OF GOD." WE GOT TO GET OVER

BEING DRUNK ON PROSPERITY. WE GOT TO GET OVER BEING

DRUNK. IT'S ALL ABOUT ME. IT WAS NEVER ABOUT YOU, AND

IT'S NOT ABOUT ME. IT IS TO GOD BE THE GLORY. AND GOD

SAID, "DO I HAVE SOMEBODY IN THIS BUILDING THAT DOESN'T

LIVE ON THE MOUNTAINTOP, BUT THEY'RE STILL IN THE VALLEY,

BUT KNOW HOW TO REACH DOWN INTO THE DEPTH OF THE SOUL

AND SAY, 'YEAH, I KNOW I'M WALKING THROUGH THE VALLEY

AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH. I WILL FEAR NO EVIL.'

[APPLAUSE] WE'RE GONNA HAVE MAYBE REVERSAL OF FORTUNE.

YOU WILL BE BETRAYED BY PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE AND

THAT YOU LAID YOUR LIFE DOWN FOR. BUT WE KNOW THIS, THE

RAIN FALLS ON THE JUST AND THE UNJUST. IF YOU'RE

LOOKING FOR A WORLD WITHOUT PAIN OR A LIFE WITHOUT

PRESSURE, I GOT NEWS FOR YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO BE

DISAPPOINTED. BECAUSE GOD NEVER PROMISED YOU AN EASY

ROAD. HE JUST PROMISED YOU THAT WHEN YOU WALK ON IT,

I'LL BE BY YOUR SIDE AND I'LL HOLD YOUR HAND. AND

WHEN YOU STAND AT THE COFFIN OF YOUR LOVED ONE, THE LORD

SAID, I WILL BE YOUR COMFORT IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR. AND

WHEN YOU'RE BETRAYED BY YOUR LOVED ONES, YOU GOT A FRIEND

THAT STICK IT CLOSER THAN A BROTHER. AND WHEN YOU STAND

IN DIVORCE COURT OF NO FAULT OF YOUR OWN, GOD SAID, I'M

STILL YOUR HUSBAND AND I'M STILL YOUR WIFE. AND I WILL

SUPPLY ALL OF YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO MY RICHES AND

GLORY. GOD IS LOOKING FOR SOME MEN AND WOMEN THAT WILL

GIVE HIM THEIR BEST BECAUSE GOD HAS YET SAID THE LORD TO

RELEASE SOME UNKNOWN RICHES THAT ARE IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF

GOD. AND THE LORD SAID, I'VE SAVED MY BEST FOR LAST, BUT

I CAN'T GIVE IT TO THE LUKEWARM. I CAN'T GIVE IT TO

MEN AND WOMEN. I PUT A PRICE ON MY RELATIONSHIP. AND THE

LORD SAID, IF I NEVER BLESS YOU AGAIN, IF IT LOOKS LIKE

I'VE FORSAKEN YOU, CAN YOU STILL WALK WITH ME IN THE

MIDNIGHT HOUR? CAN YOU STILL HOLD ON TO THE WORD OF GOD?

WILL YOU STILL BELIEVE ME THAT I NEVER, NO NEVER, NO

MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, I WILL NEVER FORSAKE YOU AND I'LL

NEVER LET YOU DOWN. I CAN TELL YOU ON THE AUTHORITY OF

GOD'S WORD, THOUGH WE HAVE TRIBULATION IN THIS LIFE,

THERE IS NO NEED TO REND YOUR GARMENTS OR OUR

GARMENTS IN DESPAIR. GOD, AND I SAY THIS FROM PERSONAL

EXPERIENCE, GOD IS MORE THAN A MATCH FOR WHATEVER IS

COMING AFTER YOU. CHAOS MAY ENDURE FOR A SEASON IN YOUR

LIFE. MAY COME AND THE RAIN MAY FALL. BUT DON'T DECIDE

THAT THE STORM THAT YOU'RE IN IS BIGGER THAN GOD OR THE

PROBLEM IS TOO MUCH FOR GOD TO HANDLE. IF YOU'RE GOING

TO BE A PRIEST IN MY PRESENCE, GOD SAID YOU CAN'T

COME IN WITH YOUR GARMENT TORN. THAT'S WHY THE BIBLE

SAYS ENTER INTO HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING AND INTO

HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE. WHAT IS THAT? THE LORD SAID I'M

GONNA TAKE OFF OF YOU THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS AND GOD

SAID I'M GONNA DRESS YOU BACK UP IN THE GARMENTS OF

PRAISE. PRAISE DON'T MEAN A LOT ON THE MOUNTAIN, BUT

PRAISE MEANS A WHOLE MUCH WHEN YOU'RE IN THE VALLEY

AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE WORD IS WORKING AND YOU

CAN'T MAKE IT MAKE SENSE THAT GOD, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU

DIDN'T TELL THE TRUTH. BUT THE LORD SAID, WHEN YOU

DON'T UNDERSTAND, THAT'S WHEN YOU STEP OVER INTO THE

DIMENSION CALLED FAITH AND YOU TELL HIM I DON'T KNOW, I

DON'T UNDERSTAND, BUT I BELIEVE THAT I GOT A GOD

THAT CANNOT LIE AND NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE LORD.

APOSTLE PAUL WAS HONEST ABOUT HIS PERILS. HE OWNED

UP TO BEING TROUBLED AND PERPLEXED AND PERSECUTED AND

CAST DOWN. HE DESCRIBED HIS LABORERS, HIS STRIPES, HIS

PRISON, HIS DEATH, HIS BEATINGS, HIS STONINGS, HIS

SHIPWRECKS, HE COULD RECOUNT IN BITTER DETAIL HIS

JOURNEYS, HIS WEARINESS, HIS PAINFULNESS, HIS WATCHINGS,

HIS HUNGER, HIS THIRST, HIS FASTINGS, THE COLD, THE

NAKEDNESS, AND EIGHT OTHER PERILS THAT I'VE NOT NAMED.

BUT UNLESS YOU ARE MISLED BY HIS WRITINGS, YOU MUST

REMEMBER, HE SAID, "YES, I WAS TROUBLE ON EVERY SIGN,

BUT I WAS NOT DISTRESSED. I WAS PERPLEXED, BUT I WAS NOT

IN DESPAIR. I WAS PERSECUTED, BUT MY GOD DID

NOT FORSAKE ME. AND I WAS CAST DOWN, BUT I WAS NOT

DESTROYED BY THE DEVIL. I'VE GOT MY GARMENT INTACT. IT

DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU ARE TODAY. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF

YOU'RE ABOUNDING OR YOU'VE BEEN ABASED. IT DOESN'T

MATTER IF YOU GOT A LUMP OR THE DOCTOR SAYS YOU'RE GOING

TO DIE OF CANCER. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'VE LOST YOUR

LOVED ONE. IT DOESN'T LOOKS LIKE IT'S OVER. IF YOU ARE

STILL IN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, YOU WILL COME OUT

ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH VICTORY IN YOUR LIFE. GOD IN

THIS HOUR IS NOT LOOKING FOR THE WEALTHY OR THE

INTELLECT. HE'S NOT LOOKING JUST FOR THE EDUCATOR. BUT

HE SAID, CAN I GET ME SOME MEN AND WOMEN THAT LOVE ME

FOR ME AND NOT FOR WHAT I GIVE WILL LOVE ME IN THE

MIDST, HALLELUJAH, WHEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE AND STILL

STANDING ON THE ROCK OF AGES AND DECLARING, "I WILL NOT

THROW IN THE TOWEL." HALLELUJAH. HE SAID, "I GOT

MY GARMENT. IT'S WHOLE AND IT'S NOT TORN." NOW THANKS

BE UNTO GOD WHO ALWAYS, NOT MAYBE, NOT SOMETIMES, BUT

ALWAYS. HALLELUJAH. WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S OVER, WHEN

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN'T MAKE IT, WHEN YOU CAN'T SLEEP AT

NIGHT, AND YOU'RE ALL ALONE, WHO CAUSES ME TO TRIUMPH?

HALLELUJAH. IN JESUS CHRIST, OUR DEAR SAVIOR, GOD IS SO

SERIOUS ABOUT THAT GARMENT NOT BEING TORN THAT HE WROTE

IN EXODUS 32. HE SAID THIS, "DON'T," HE SAID, "REINFORCE

THE HOLE AROUND THE OPENING SO THAT GARMENT CANNOT BE

TORN." GOD IS SAYING TO SOME MEN AND WOMEN, "LISTEN, I

KNOW YOU'RE IN A DARK PLACE. I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE ANY

UNDERSTANDING. I KNOW THAT BUT THE LORD SAID, "WILL YOU

TRUST ME? WILL YOU HOLD ON TO ME? WILL YOU BELIEVE ME

THAT I WILL COME THROUGH?" HALLELUJAH. I CAN SHOW UP IN

THE FIERY FURNACE AND I CAN SHOW UP IN THE LION'S DEN. I

CAN SHOW UP WHEN THE BOAT'S GOING DOWN FOR THE LAST

TIME. MAYBE GOD WANTS TO SHOW YOU A SIDE OF HIM THAT

YOU'VE NEVER SEEN. YOU CAN'T FIND HIM ON THE MOUNTAINTOP

LIKE THAT. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS, WHEN YOU'VE MADE

YOUR BED IN HELL, YOU LOOK OVER AND GOD SAID, "I BEAT

YOU HERE. HALLELUJAH. THEN I'M GONNA BRING YOU BACK

OUT." I BELIEVE THAT GOD'S GOT SOME MEN AND WOMEN IN

THIS HOUSE WHO WANT TO TELL THE LORD, "I GOT MY GARMENT

INTACT AND I GOT SOME PRAISE IN MY SPIRIT." WE USED TO

SING A SONG IN OUR CHURCH, "WELL, WELL, WELL, WELL,

WELL, WELL, I WISH SOMEBODY'S SOUL WOULD CATCH

ON FIRE. HALLELUJAH. I BELIEVE GOD WANTS TO STRIKE

A MATCH ON SOME OF YOU AND TURN YOU ON LIKE A FIRE IN

YOUR BELLY AND WHEN PEOPLE BEGIN TO GET AROUND YOU,

THEY BEGIN TO FEEL THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY GHOST.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN CULTURALLY ACCEPTABLE, BUT CAN I TELL

YOU WHAT CULTURE ACCEPTS DOESN'T MEAN THAT GOD DOES.

WELL THIS IS WHAT EVERYBODY DOES NOW. NOT IN GOD'S

HOUSE. WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT IF IT

VIOLATES THE WORD OF THE LORD. AND LISTEN, WHENEVER

IN ORDER TO HAVE UNITY, YOU GOT TO COMPROMISE THE WORD

OF GOD. YOU DON'T HAVE UNITY. YOU JUST SOLD OUT.

SOMEWHERE YOU GOT TO DRAW A LINE. I WON'T STEP OVER

THIS. AND THE DEVIL'S SAYING, COME ON, I'LL TAKE

YOU WITH A RENT IN YOUR GARMENT. BUT I WANT TO STEP

BACK AND SAY I CAN'T COME OUT. I'M IN THE PRESENCE OF

THE LORD. THIS IS WHY GOD SAID, "I HAVE MADE YOU KINGS

AND PRIESTS UNTO THE LORD." YOU AIN'T LIKE EVERYBODY

ELSE. YOU DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF INDICTING GOD. YOU

CAN'T COME INTO GOD'S PRESENCE AND MOAN AND GROAN.

BUT YOU GOTTA COME IN AND BEGIN TO PROPHESY. MY GOD

WILL COME THROUGH FOR ME AND I WILL PRAISE HIM. JUST

BECAUSE THE GENERAL POPULATION CAN REND THEIR

GARMENTS IN DIFFICULT MOMENTS, DOESN'T MEAN GOD'S

MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE PRIESTS CAN. BECAUSE WE

MINISTER IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. THOUGH THE

TEMPTATION IS GREAT, YOU CAN'T TEAR YOUR GARMENT AND

COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND SAY, "GOD, WILL YOU

HELP ME?" AND HIM SAY, "WELL, BY THE LOOKS OF YOUR

GARMENT, YOU'VE ALREADY DECIDED I CAN'T." GOD, I

BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE GONNA COME THROUGH. AND THE LORD

SAID, "NO, YOU DON'T. LOOK AT YOUR GARMENT. IT'S GOT A

BIG RIP IN IT. BEFORE YOU EVER CAME IN MY PRESENCE,

YOU TORE YOUR GARMENT. AND YOU TORE IT AND YOU SAID, 'I

AM COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED. I AM DEVASTATED. SOME SORROW,

SOME DIAGNOSIS, SOME BETRAYAL OVERWHELM ME, AND

IT'S TOO BIG FOR GOD. THEN WE WANT TO COME IN THE

PRESENCE OF THE LORD AND SAY, "OKAY, GOD, DO YOUR

THING." HE SAID, "I CAN'T BECAUSE I NEED SOMEBODY TO

COME INTO AGREEMENT WITH ME." OUT OF THE MOUTH OF TWO

OR THREE WITNESSES, LET EVERY WORD BE ESTABLISHED.

AND WHEN YOU TELL YOUR GARMENT, YOU'VE ALREADY COME

INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE LIAR, WHO IS THE DEVIL, WHO

SAID, "I'VE GOT YOU." BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU, JESUS

SAID, "I AM THE WAY, I AM THE TRUTH, I AM THE LIFE,

AND NO MAN COMETH UNTO ME BUT BY THE WORD OF THE

LORD." YOU AND I ARE DEALING OR HAVE DEALT WITH

PRODIGALS, BETRAYAL BY FRIENDS, AGING PARENTS,

FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. BUT THE BIBLE DECLARES, "HAST

THOU NOT KNOWN, HAST THOU NOT HEARD THAT THE

EVERLASTING GOD, THE LORD, THE CREATOR OF THE END OF

THE EARTH, IS NEITHER WEARY, AND THERE IS NO SEARCHING,

HIS UNDERSTANDING, HE GIVETH POWER TO THE FAINT, AND TO

THEM THAT HAVE NO MIGHT, HE INCREASES THEIR STRENGTH.

OH, THE YOUTH SHALL FAINT AND BE WEARY, THE YOUNG MEN

SHALL UTTERLY FALL. BUT OH, THEY, HALLELUJAH, NOW WE

SHIFT, BUT THEY, BUT THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD

SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH. THEY'RE GONNA MOUNT UP WITH

WINGS AS EAGLES, AND THEIR FRIENDS AND THEY'RE GONNA

SAY, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? NOTHING'S GOING ON." AND YOU

SAY, "I'M IN A WAITING MODE." HALLELUJAH. I DON'T

KNOW WHEN, I DON'T KNOW HOW, I DON'T KNOW WHERE, BUT I

WANT TO TELL YOU, I GOT A GOD THAT I'M WAITING ON. AND

FINALLY GOD GETS UP OFF OF HIS THRONE ROOM AND SAYS, "I

CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. I GOTTA GO DOWN." THEY THAT

WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH.

THEY'RE GONNA MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES. WE'RE GONNA

RUN AND NOT BE AFRAID. CAN I TELL YOU, YOU NEED TO GET

READY. PUT ON YOUR TRACK SHOES. NO WONDER GOD TOLD

ISRAEL, GET READY. PUT ON YOUR SHOES BECAUSE YOU'RE

GETTING READY TO COME OUT OF SLAVERY. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE

SOMEBODY NEED TO GET THEIR SHOES ON BECAUSE THE LORD

SAID, YOU'RE GETTING READY TO COME OUT OF WHERE YOU'VE

BEEN AND YOU'RE GETTING READY TO GO BACK WHERE GOD

WANTS YOU TO GO. IS THERE SOMEBODY THAT CAN GIVE A

SHOUT OUT TO THE LORD AND DECLARE, THERE IS NOBODY

LIKE OUR GOD. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT YOU

AND I WILL EVER ENCOUNTER ON THE EARTH AND TIME IN THE

WHOLE OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT JESUS HAS

NOT ALREADY FACED. HALLELUJAH! HAS NOT ALREADY

FOUGHT AND ALREADY DEFEATED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY

GHOST. DAVID SAID IT WELL IN PSALM 61, "WHEN MY HEART IS

OVERWHELMED, SOMEBODY, WON'T YOU LEAD ME TO THE ROCK THAT

IS HIGHER THAN I?" PAUL PUT IT THIS WAY IN CORINTHIANS,

"NOW THERE HAS NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU, BUT SUCH IS

COMMON TO MEN. BUT GOD WHO IS FAITHFUL," HEAR ME, "BUT

GOD WHO IS FAITHFUL," NOT FINICKY, "BUT GOD WHO IS

FAITHFUL WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED OR TESTED

ABOVE," HALLELUJAH, "WHAT YOU ARE ABLE. BUT WITH EVERY

TEMPTATION HE WILL ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE THAT YOU MAY

BE ABLE TO BEAR IT." SAYING TO GOD, "I WANT TO TELL YOU,

DON'T TEAR YOUR ROBE TODAY. DON'T RAISE A WHITE FLAG,

BUT UNDERSTAND GOD IS IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR MESS. GOD IS

IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES. GOD KNOWS

WHERE YOU'RE AT. IF HE MADE YOU, HE CAN SUSTAIN YOU. IF

HE MADE YOU, HE CAN HEAL YOU. AND IF HE WANTS TO, HE

IS NOT ANY LESS. WHEN WE ARE IN BONDAGE, HE IS NOT ANY

GREATER. AND WHEN WE ARE WALKING THROUGH THE RED SEA

ON DRY GROUND, YOU MAY HAVE SURVEYED YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

THAT'S WHY I WROTE THIS BOOK, TO ENCOURAGE YOU THAT

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU ARE. YEARS AGO, I HAD JUST

COME OUT OF A DIFFICULT DIVORCE WITH AN UNFAITHFUL

WIFE. I GAVE UP MY CHURCH. I FOUND MYSELF 2,500 MILES

AWAY WITH AN OLD, BROKE-DOWN HOMELESS. I DIDN'T HAVE MY SON.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY. AND IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, I WAS

TRYING TO MAKE MY WAY TO ANOTHER STATE BECAUSE MY

UNCLE SAID I COULD SLEEP ON THE COUCH IN HIS LIVING

ROOM. MY HEADLIGHTS DIDN'T WORK ON MY CAR, SO THAT COLD

NIGHT I PULLED INTO A REST STOP, A TRUCK STOP, WITH

TEMPERATURES AROUND ZERO, AND PULLED EVERYTHING THAT I

OWNED IN THAT CAR OVER ME TO TRY TO STAY WARM. THERE EVER

WAS A TEMPTATION. SOMETIME BEFORE THAT, I REMEMBER

HEARING THE NEWS OF WHAT MY MARRIAGE HAD DETERIORATED

TO. AND I WALKED IN A DAZE FOR SEVERAL MILES DOWN A

ROAD. AS THE EVENING CAME, I FOUND MYSELF LOOKING AT A

NIGHTCLUB CALLED STARLIGHT THEATER. I HAD ABOUT $200 IN

MY POCKET STILL. AND THE DEVIL TOLD ME, "WHY DON'T

YOU JUST GO IN AND THROW IN THE TOWEL AND GET DRUNK."

THAT NIGHT I LOOKED UP INTO THE SKY AND I TOLD GOD, "YOU

DIDN'T DO THIS TO ME AND I WILL NOT DO THIS TO YOU."

AND I DID NOT REND MY GARMENT. I STAND HERE TODAY.

YOU MAY THINK I'M BLESSED. YOU MAY THINK I DON'T KNOW

WHAT IT IS TO SUFFER, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT THE

ANOINTING THAT GOD GAVE ME TODAY DIDN'T COME OUT OF A

BOOK AND IT DIDN'T COME OUT OF A SCHOOL, BUT IT CAME OUT

OF A SECRET PLACE WHERE I WAS, MY ENTRANCE WAS WHEN I

GOT TO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. THE GATEKEEPER SAID,

"I GOTTA LOOK AT YOUR GARMENT." AND WHEN HE LOOKED

AT MY GARMENT, HE LOOKED INSIDE AND SAID, "NO TEARS."

HALLELUJAH! NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW, NO MATTER

WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, DON'T LET THE ENEMY MAKE YOU

TEAR YOUR GARMENT. BETTER TO DIE WITH CANCER AND TO WAKE

UP ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH A GLORIFIED BODY THAN TO SHAKE

YOUR FINGER AT GOD AND SAY YOU LIED. YOU SAID YOU WILL

HEAL ALL MY DISEASE. CAN I TELL YOU THERE ARE SOME

THINGS YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT GOD. HE

WON'T EXPLAIN IT. HE WON'T GIVE YOU A REASON. HE'S JUST

GOING TO SAY, WILL YOU TRUST ME? I'VE GOT BETTER THINGS

FOR MY THOUGHTS TOWARDS YOU ARE GOOD AND NOT EVIL.

BEFORE YOU WERE FORMED IN THE WOMB OF YOUR MAMA'S

BELLY, I ORDAINED YOU FOR VICTORY. I ORDAINED YOU FOR

GLORY. I ORDAINED YOU TO WALK IN A REALM OF ABSOLUTE

VICTORY. PEOPLE WITH TORN GARMENTS ARE NOT GONNA TOUCH

GENERATION Z. IT'S A CHURCH THAT'S GOT THE SMELL OF

SMOKE ON THEM. THAT WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE PRESENCE OF

THE LORD, THE ENEMY, THE ANGELS OF THE LORD WILL LOOK

AT YOU AND GO, I CAN SMELL THE SMOKE OF HELL ON YOU,

BUT I CAN'T FIND ANY TERROR IN YOUR GARMENT. IT'S ALL

RIGHT TO SMELL LIKE THE VALLEY, BUT JUST MAKE SURE

THAT YOUR GARMENT IS INTACT. PSALM 73 AND 17, DAVID

DECLARED THIS, "MY STEPS ALMOST SLIPPED." THE KEY

WORD IS "ALMOST." HOW MANY BEEN ON THE EDGE OF THAT

CLIFF? HOW MANY BEEN ON THE EDGE, OR YOU'RE WALKING WITH

GOD, YOU'RE WALKING WITH THE LORD AND YOUR KNEES START

BUCKLING. YOU'RE NOT IN THE MIDST OF LISTENING TO PASTOR

KENT PREACH ABOUT DON'T TEAR YOUR GARMENTS. YOU'RE ALL BY

YOURSELF, AND YOUR STEPS SLIP, AND YOU BEGIN TO

STUMBLE. DAVID SAID, "MY STEPS ALMOST SLIPPED. I

ALMOST LOST MY FOOTING. I ALMOST GAVE UP. I ALMOST

RAISED THE WHITE FLAG. I ALMOST TORE MY GARMENT

BECAUSE I DECIDED THAT MY CIRCUMSTANCES WERE TOO

GREAT, EVEN FOR GOD WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND EARTH. HE

SAID, "BUT WHEN I GOT IN THE SANCTUARY, I GOT A DIFFERENT

VIEW OF HOW GREAT GOD IS." I'M TALKING TO SOMEBODY

TODAY UNDER THE SOUND OF MY VOICE WHO MAY BE ABOUT TO

RING YOUR PRIESTLY GARMENT AND RAISE THE WHITE FLAG. I

WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU. DON'T DO IT. DON'T DO IT. DON'T DO

IT. IT DON'T MATTER WHERE YOU ARE. GOD IS GREATER THAN

YOUR PROBLEM. YOU SAY, "BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY ELSE

COME OUT OF THIS." MAYBE GOD WANTS TO MAKE YOU THE

TEMPLATE TO YOUR FAMILY. IF YOU CAN COME OUT OF THIS

WITH PRAISE IN YOUR MOUTH. IF YOU CAN COME OUT OF THIS

WITH A JOY IN YOUR SPIRIT. IF YOU CAN COME OUT WITH ALL

THE PAIN, BUT YOU'RE SKIPPING LIKE HIND FEET IN

HOT PLACES. AND THEY SAY, "DON'T YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO

BE DEPRESSED? YOU WANT TO BE DISCOURAGED? YOU WANT TO BE

BURIED?" BUT I WANT TO SAY, "I'VE GOT A PRAISE,

HALLELUJAH, IN MY SPIRIT, AND I WANT TO GET IT OUT.

I'VE GOT A PRAISE IN MY SPIRIT, AND I WANT TO GET IT

OUT." GOD IS LOOKING FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT KNOW HOW TO

PRAISE HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF PAIN, IN THE MIDDLE OF

SORROW. GIVE GOD A CHANCE. I THINK HE DESERVES IT. HE'LL

NEVER LEAVE YOU. HE PROMISED YOU THAT. I FOUND GOD IN A

MUCH GREATER DIMENSION WHEN I WAS HOMELESS THAN WHEN I

EVER PASTORED OR STOOD IN A PULPIT. I FOUND GOD WHEN I

WAS BETRAYED IN A MUCH GREATER SCOPE THAN I WAS

SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS. I LIVED BROKE MOST OF MY LIFE.

I EVANGELIZED IN VEHICLES. I DROVE COMING HOME ONE NIGHT

FROM OUTSIDE OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, IN THE MIDDLE OF

WINTER IN AN OLD DODGE CONVERSION VAN WITH MY THREE

YEAR OLD DAUGHTER INSIDE AND MY WIFE SO BROKE THAT THE

HEATER CORE WAS OUT AND WE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO

FIX IT, AND I HAD JUST STOOD IN THE PULPIT AND PREACHED

HOW GREAT GOD WAS, AND YET I HAD A SIXTEENTH OF AN INCH

OF ICE ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS IN MY VAN, AND THE

DEVIL'S SAYING WHAT KIND OF GOD WOULD ALLOW YOU TO DO

THAT, AND WHAT KIND OF FATHER ARE YOU THAT WOULD

PUT YOUR BABY IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION? BUT CAN I TELL

YOU, HALLELUJAH, THOSE ARE THE TIMES THAT YOUR PRAISE

IS THE GREATEST. IT'S NOT TODAY WHEN WE JUST STAND AND

SAY, "OH GOD, YOU'RE GREAT," BUT IT'S IN THE DARK PLACES.

HALLELUJAH. IT'S IN THE PLACES WHERE THE WORD

DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO YOU, THAT PEOPLE CAN QUOTE YOU

VERSES AND YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM, "THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR

ME. I ALREADY TRIED THAT." BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,

WHEN THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, YOU JUST HAVE TO

DECIDE, "I WOULD RATHER GO TO HEAVEN SICK AND BROKE

THAN TO GO TO HELL WITH AN INDICTMENT IN MY SPIRIT AND

A ROBE THAT'S BEEN TORN." ALL I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS

THAT WHEN YOU AND I GET TO THE GATES OF PEARL AND THEY

CHECK US OUT, THEY SAY, "ROBE'S INTACT." HALLELUJAH.

YOU KNOW WHAT THAT SAY? THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD

SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD. MY PRODIGAL, MY

BETRAYAL, MY FINANCIAL REVERSAL, MY SICKNESS, MY

DISAPPOINTMENT, MY FAILURE. NOTHING GOT ME TO TEAR MY

ROBE, BUT I'VE GOT A ROBE INTACT. IS THERE SOME PEOPLE

TODAY THAT CAN DECLARE, I'VE GOT MY ROBE INTACT. I STILL

GOT PRAISE COMING OUT OF MY BELLY. (CONGREGATION

APPLAUDING) YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS, HELL ONLY

GOES AFTER THE PEOPLE THAT HE'S AFRAID OF. NO WONDER SO

MANY WICKED PEOPLE PROSPER. THE GREATEST BILLBOARDS THAT

HELL CAN HAVE. SLEEP AROUND, DENY GOD, BE AN ATHEIST, BE

WOKE, B-D-E-I, DO ALL KINDS OF MESS. AND THE DEVIL SAY,

"I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, YOUR

BUSINESS WILL PROSPER. EVERYTHING WILL BE GREAT."

BUT YOU ANNOUNCE YOUR INTENTION. I JUST ENROLLED

IN THE ARMY OF GOD. I'M A VOLUNTEER FOR THE LORD JESUS

CHRIST. JESUS SAID, "WELL, GET READY. THEY HATED ME AND

THEY'RE GONNA HATE YOU." HALLELUJAH. BUT I WILL BE

WITH YOU IN THE MIDNIGHT HOURS. I CLOSE TODAY. JESUS,

WHO IS OUR GREAT EXAMPLE, THAT'S WHY THE SCRIPTURE

SAYS, "THERE IS NO TEMPTATION TO OVERCOME YOU

THAT GOD HAS NOT ALREADY ENDURED." HE IS OVERWHELMED

WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE THAT ISAIAH HAS ALREADY FORETOLD

HIS DEATH, AND ISAIAH SAID, "HE'S GOING TO BE SO

TORMENTED AND SO TORTURED THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIM,

HE'S UNRECOGNIZABLE." HE SAID, "HE'LL BE MORE THAN

ANY MAN." JESUS FINDS HIMSELF IN THE GARDEN OF

GETHSEMANE, AND HE IS WARRING WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE

OF WHAT'S GETTING READY TO HAPPEN TO ME. AND IT IS OF

SUCH MAGNITUDE, HE IS UNDER SUCH EMOTIONAL STRAIN THAT

THE CAPILLARIES IN HIS FOREHEAD BEGIN TO BREAK AND

SWEAT MIXED WITH THEM AND IT BEGAN TO DROP OFF LIKE BLOOD

DROPLETS. AND HE IS PRAYING, "GOD, FATHER, DON'T DO THIS

TO ME. PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS." IF GOD IN FLESH AS

A MAN HAD TO GO TO THAT DEPTH TO WIN THE BATTLE, WHY

WOULD YOU THINK IT'S STRANGE THAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH

WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH? BUT DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT THE

FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH IS BUILT ON THE BLOOD OF

MARTYRS? THE FREEDOM THAT YOU AND I HAVE TODAY IS

BECAUSE SOMEBODY DIDN'T REND THEIR GARMENTS AND THEY TIED

HIM TO A STAKE OR THEY ASSASSINATED THEM OR THEY

SHOT THEM OR THEY CUT THEIR HEADS OFF. AND AFTER THE

THIRD TIME, JESUS, HALLELUJAH, SAID, "FATHER,

NOT MY WILL, BUT THY WILL BE DONE." AND HE STOOD UP. THE

BIBLE SAYS HE WAS A HIGH PRIEST. HE SAID, "I GOT MY

GARMENT INTACT." NOW, HOURS LATER, THEY COME AND ARREST

JESUS, AND PROPHECY BEGINS TO UNFOLD. HE HAS NOW BEEN

STRIPPED OF HIS PRIESTLY ROBE. THAT ONE PRIEST LIKE

UNTO GOD WHO HAS AN ENDLESS LIFE. AND HE'S HANGING ON

THE CROSS. BUT HELL KNOWS THAT HE CAN'T COME TO THE

PRESENCE OF GOD IF HIS ROBE IS TORN. AND AS HE'S HANGING

ON THE CROSS, THE SOLDIERS TOOK HIS CLOTHES AND THE

OUTER GARMENTS THEY BEGAN TO TEAR INTO PIECES, AND THEY

GAVE EACH ONE A PIECE, FOUR PIECES. BUT WHEN THEY GOT TO

HIS PRIESTLY ROBE AND THEY PUT THEIR HANDS ON IT TO

TEAR IT, THE FATHER SAID, "YOU AIN'T TEARING THE

PRIEST'S GARMENT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T TEAR IT." AND WHEN

THE DEVIL IS SCREAMING, "TEAR THE GARMENT, TEAR THE

GARMENT," BECAUSE HE KNEW IF THEY WOULD TEAR IT, JESUS,

HALLELUJAH, COULDN'T COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE

LORD WITH A ROBE THAT HAD BEEN TORN. GOD SAID NO, AND

WHEN THEY LOOKED AT IT, THE BIBLE SAID THEY DECIDED NOT

TO TEAR THE GARMENT. WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD,

WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS, HE PUT BACK ON HIS PRIESTLY

ROBE THAT WAS NOT TORN. HE TOLD MARY IN THE MORNING,

"DON'T TOUCH ME. I'M NOT YET A SINNER TO MY FATHER." BUT

THAT NIGHT HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES, "TOUCH ME." SO IN

BETWEEN THE MORNING AND THE EVENING, THE GREAT HIGH

PRIEST, WITH A ROBE THAT WAS NOT RENT, BEGAN TO MARCH UP

THE STAIRWAYS OF HEAVEN INTO THE HOLIEST OF HOLIES, STUCK

HIS FINGER IN THE DROP OF HIS OWN BLOOD, DRIPPED IT ON

THE MERCY SEAT, AND HEAVEN SAID, "IT IS ENOUGH."

HALLELUJAH! I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME OF YOU THAT

ARE GETTING READY TO COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE

LORD, AND YOU'RE GOING TO BRING YOUR LOVED ONE WITH

YOU, AND IN TYPE, YOU'RE GOING TO BRING, HALLELUJAH,

THEM INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD, AND WITH YOUR ROBE NOT

TORN, GOD'S GOING TO SAY, "IT IS ENOUGH." THAT'S WHEN

THE PRODIGALS ARE COMING HOME. THAT'S WHEN OUR

NATION'S GOING TO CHANGE. THAT'S WHEN THE APATHY'S

GOING TO BE GONE. THAT'S WHEN THE SEEKER-FRIENDLY'S

GOING TO SHUT UP. AND THAT'S WHEN THE CHURCH OF THE MOST

HIGH, THIS IS WHAT GOD'S BEEN WAITING FOR. IT'S GOD

THAT'S SAYING, "I NEED ME A PRIESTHOOD THAT DIDN'T

DECIDE SOMEWHERE, SOMETIME, THERE WAS SOME CIRCUMSTANCE,

SOME EVIL, SOME DISEASE THAT WAS TOO GREAT FOR MY GOD.

BUT CAN I TELL YOU, THE GOD IS GREATER IN YOU THAN HE

THAT IS IN THE WORLD. AND WITH GOD NOTHING IS

IMPOSSIBLE. IF YOU'RE BREATHING, YOU ARE STANDING

ON THE EDGE OF A MIRACLE. IF YOU'RE STILL ALIVE, YOU YOU

STILL GOT POSSIBILITIES THAT THE KING OF KINGS AND THE

LORD OF LORDS IS GETTING READY TO BREAK THROUGH INTO

YOUR WORLD OF DISAPPOINTMENT AND DILEMMA AND SAY, PEACE.

BE STILL. I CHALLENGE YOU TODAY, ALL OF THIS BUILDING

TO RUN AS AS FAST AS YOU CAN TO THIS FRONT AND BEGIN TO

DECLARE GOD. I'M COMING WITH MY ROBE INTACT. GIVE ME

SOMETHING. GIVE ME A SONG TO PLAY. HALLELUJAH. I WANT TO

CHALLENGE YOU TODAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A

DECLARATION TO THE LORD. HALLELUJAH. COME ON JUST FOR

A LITTLE BIT. DON'T TELL GOD HOW BAD IT IS TODAY. I WANT

YOU TO TELL GOD, LORD YOU ALREADY KNOW WHERE I'M AT.

BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU, I BELIEVE THAT YOU GOT A

SOLUTION. YOU GOT AN ANSWER FOR EVERY PROBLEM, EVERY

SITUATION, EVERY VALLEY, EVERY DISEASE, EVERY

FINANCIAL SETBACK. MY GOD IS GONNA COME THROUGH. MY GOD,

I FEEL THE ANOINTING. SOMEWHERE, THE WORD OF THE

LORD IS BREAKING SOME YOKES. (CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

OH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. COME ON, THERE'S

A SHOUT. THERE'S A SHOUT BUILDING UP IN THIS BUILDING

TODAY. THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT'S TELLING GOD, I'M COMING OUT

DIFFERENT THAN WHEN I CAME IN. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

- HALLELUJAH TO THE LAMB. (SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

HALLELUJAH, (SPEAKING IN TONGUES) HALLELUJAH,

HALLELUJAH (X6). THERE'S MORE THAT IS STILL COMING TO THIS

ALTAR. HALLELUJAH, WE'RE MAKING ROOM FOR YOU. THERE'S MORE

THAT ARE COMING. THERE'S ROOM IN THIS ALTAR. THERE'S

ROOM AT THE CROSS FOR YOU RIGHT NOW. YOU HAVE HEARD

THE WORD OF THE LORD AND WE MUST RESPOND. THERE'S

MINISTERS, PRAYER PARTNERS THAT ARE DOWN AND THEY'RE

GOING TO BE MOVING AMONGST YOU AND PRAYING FOR YOU.

HALLELUJAH. IT'S TIME TO TAKE THAT WORD AND PUT IT

INTO ACTION RIGHT NOW THROUGH THE POWER OF PRAISE.

HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. THOSE WATCHING AT HOME RIGHT

NOW, THOSE IN THIS ARENA, IT MIGHT BE A PAINFUL PRAISE,

BUT THAT'S THE MOST POWERFUL PRAISE. WE'VE HEARD WHAT TO

DO. NOW FOR THE NEXT FEW MOMENTS, WITHOUT ANY MORE

PROMPTING, WITHOUT ANYONE ELSE ENCOURAGING, JUST LET

THE SOUND OF PRAISE FLOW FROM THIS ROOM. NOT THE

SOUND OF PETITION, BUT THE SOUND OF PRAISE. HALLELUJAH.

HALLELUJAH. COME ON, LET THE SOUND OF PRAISE FLOW FROM

THE ROOM. AND AS YOU PRAISE THE LORD, MAY THE GIFT OF

HEALING AND THE WORKING OF MIRACLES BE RELEASED IN THIS

PLACE. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. MAY

GOD'S SUPERNATURAL PROVISION AND PROTECTION BE RELEASED

UPON YOU AS YOU GIVE GOD THIS PRAISE. HALLELUJAH TO

THE LAMB OF GOD. (SPEAKING IN TONGUES) HALLELUJAH (X7). COME

ON, GIVE HIM THAT PRAISE. HALLELUJAH (X4). COME ON, WE'RE

GOING TO GIVE HIM PRAISE THIS AFTERNOON. HEY, THE ENEMY'S BEEN

- (SINGING) DEFEATED. DEATH COULDN'T HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE

(SINGING) GOING TO LIFT OUR VOICE IN VICTORY. WE'RE GOING TO

(SINGING) MAKE YOUR PRAISES LOUD. THE ENEMY'S BEEN DEFEATED.

(SINGING) DEATH COULDN'T HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE GONNA LIFT OUR

(SINGING) VOICE IN VICTORY. WE'RE GONNA MAKE YOUR PRAISE END

(SINGING) NOW. THE ENEMY HAS BEEN DEFEATED. DEATH COULDN'T

(SINGING) HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE GONNA RAISE OUR VOICE IN

(SINGING) VICTORY. WE'RE GONNA MAKE YOUR PRAISE END NOW. THE

ENEMY HAS BEEN DEFEATED. DEATH COULDN'T HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE

(SINGING) GONNA RAISE OUR VOICE IN VICTORY. WE'RE GONNA MAKE

(SINGING) YOUR PRAISES NOW. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF

(SINGING) TRIUMPH. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF PRAISE.

(SINGING) SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH. WE LIFT YOUR

(SINGING) NAME UP. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A

(SINGING) VOICE OF TRIUMPH. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF

(SINGING) PRAISE. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH. WE LIFT

(SINGING) YOUR NAME UP. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. SHOUT UNTO GOD

(SINGING) WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A

(SINGING) VOICE OF PRAISE. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF

(SINGING) TRIUMPH. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP.

(SINGING) SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH. SHOUT UNTO GOD

(SINGING) WITH A VOICE OF PRAISE. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A

(SINGING) VOICE OF TRIUMPH. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. WE LIFT YOUR

(SINGING) NAME UP. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH.

(SINGING) SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF PRAISE. SHOUT UNTO GOD

(SINGING) WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP,

(SINGING) WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. THE ENEMY HAS BEEN DEFEATED.

(SINGING) DEATH COULDN'T HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE GONNA RAISE OUR

(SINGING) VOICE IN VICTORY. WE'RE GONNA MAKE YOUR PRAISES

(SINGING) LOUD. THE ENEMY HAS BEEN DEFEATED. DEATH COULDN'T

(SINGING) HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE GONNA LIFT OUR VOICE IN VICTORY.

(SINGING) WE'RE GONNA MAKE HIS PRAISES LOUD.

- COME ON, HALLELUJAH. - (SINGING) THE ENEMY HAS BEEN

(SINGING) DEFEATED. DEATH COULDN'T HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE

(SINGING) GONNA LIFT OUR VOICE IN VICTORY. WE'RE GONNA MAKE OUR

(SINGING) PRAISES LOUD. THE ENEMY HAS BEEN DEFEATED. DEATH

(SINGING) COULDN'T HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE GONNA LIFT OUR VOICE

(SINGING) IN VICTORY. WE'RE GONNA MAKE YOUR PRAISES LOUD.

(SINGING) HEAR THEM SAY YOU'RE DEFEATED. DEATH COULDN'T HOLD

(SINGING) YOU DOWN. WE'RE GONNA LIFT OUR VOICE IN VICTORY. WE'RE

(SINGING) GONNA MAKE YOUR PRAISES LOUD. SHOUT UNTO GOD

(SINGING) WITH THE VOICE OF TRIUMPH. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH

(SINGING) THE VOICE OF PRAISE. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH THE VOICE OF

(SINGING) TRIUMPH. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP.

(SINGING) SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH THE VOICE OF TRIUMPH. SHOUT UNTO

(SINGING) GOD WITH THE VOICE OF PRAISE. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH THE

(SINGING) VOICE OF TRIUMPH. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. WE LIFT YOUR

(SINGING) NAME UP. - COME ON, LIFT HIS NAME UP ON

HIGH. LIFT HIS NAME ON HIGH. I THANK GOD FOR A PROPHET NAMED

KENT CHRISTMAS WHO HAS DELIVERED WHAT THUS SAITH THE LORD. I

THINK SOMETIMES THERE'S AN ASSUMPTION IN THE SPIRIT-FILLED

FAITH, CHARISMATIC PENTECOSTAL, APOSTOLIC, WHATEVER YOU WANT

TO CALL IT MOVEMENT, THAT IT JUST ALWAYS GOES GOOD FOR US.

AND AN ASSUMPTION THAT EVERYONE KNOWS OUR TESTIMONY AND OUR

AND OUR STORIES AND OUR PAIN. EVERYONE THAT HAS COME TO

MINISTER HAS LIVED THROUGH HELL ON EARTH AT TIMES, AND THE

VALLEY THE SHADOW OF DEATH. IT WAS NINE YEARS AGO, RIGHT NOW

THAT I THOUGHT MY FIRST WIFE WAS HEALED OF CANCER. AND WE

WERE IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE GETTING HER RELEASE DATE.

AND WHILE I WAS PARKING THE CAR, SHE FAINTED AND FELL.

AND THREE WEEKS LATER PASSED AWAY FROM INTERNAL BLEEDING.

I HAD THREE KIDS THAT WERE 10, 8 AND 5. HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT

TO A KID? WE PRAYED ONE SIMPLE PRAYER EVERY DAY IN THAT SEASON

OF HELL. EVERY DAY, I TOOK MY LITTLE BABIES BECAUSE I

DIDN'T... HOW DO YOU GIVE A THEOLOGICAL DISSERTATION TO

LITTLE KIDS ABOUT THAT? WE'D SEEN THE SICK HEALED, THAT WE

WERE AFFLICTED IN OUR HOME. AND EVERY DAY I GOT MY BABIES

TOGETHER, AND I HAD COMMUNION WITH THEM, AND WE PRAYED. WE

SAID, "GOD, I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU, BUT I TRUST YOU." EVERY

DAY, WE PRAYED THAT PRAYER WITH OUR CHILDREN. THOSE THREE

CHILDREN MADE THEIR OWN DECISION TO HONOR THEIR

MOTHER BY BEING WATER BAPTIZED AT HER FUNERAL. MY

YOUNGEST WAS SIX YEARS OLD. HE DID NOT COME OUT OF THE

WATER SPEAKING IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH. HE CAME OUT OF THE

WATER SPEAKING IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE AS THE HOLY SPIRIT

BAPTIZED HIM AT HIS MOTHER'S FUNERAL. DO YOU KNOW, DO YOU

KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? THAT MEANS THAT THE COMFORTER

SHOWED UP WHEN WE NEEDED HIM THE MOST. AND I'M HERE A

LIVING WITNESS, A LIVING TESTIMONY TO TELL YOU THAT

WHEN YOU'RE LIVING THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF

DEATH AND IT FEELS LIKE ALL HOPE IS GONE. THE COMFORTER

WILL STAY WITH YOU. THE COMFORTER WILL BE WITH YOU.

(SILENCE)

THAT MAN THAT JUST PREACHED TO YOU BURIED A LOVED ONE

JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. THESE ARE NOT REHEARSED SERMONS

CREATED IN A BOARDROOM BY PEOPLE THAT SAY, "OH, THIS

POINT WILL MOVE THE CROWD. THIS WILL SOUND GOOD." THESE

ARE WORDS BIRTHED IN THE PAINS OF THIS LIFE. BUT GOD

HAS BEEN FAITHFUL. IT'S BEEN NINE YEARS IN MY TESTIMONY,

AND NINE YEARS LATER, MY CHILDREN SERVE THE LORD. MY

CHILDREN KNOW THE GOD THAT THEIR MOTHER ABOUT. OH,

WE'VE LIVED THROUGH THROUGH SOME STUFF. NO ONE TOLD

ABOUT THOSE TEENAGE YEARS, THE WAY THEY WERE GOING TO

COME. I NEVER PRAYED FOR THE RAPTURE MORE THAN I'VE EVER

PRAYED THE LAST NINE YEARS. BUT HE'S BEEN FAITHFUL. AND

FAITH. OUR GREAT MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE LIVED THAT

SERMON THAT YOU JUST HEARD AND MADE IT THEIR OWN. AND

I'M SO THANKFUL TODAY THAT I WAS A WITNESS TO THE WORD OF

THE LORD PREACHED THROUGH PASTOR KENT CHRISTMAS. CAN

YOU THANK GOD FOR HIS GIFT TODAY? WE'VE ALREADY HAD AN

INCREDIBLE TIME IN GOD'S HOUSE. TO OUR VIEWING

AUDIENCE, PASTOR HANK WILL BE IN THIS PULPIT PREACHING

TONIGHT. WE BEGIN AT 7 P.M. TUNE IN. MAKE SURE TO SHARE

IT. MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS TO TUNE IN AROUND THE WORLD.

THERE WILL BE A WORD FROM THE LORD THAT YOU DON'T WANT

TO MISS. FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE ROOM, I'D COME EARLY.

I'D FIGHT FOR THE FRONT SEATS. MAYBE DON'T FIGHT,

BUT JUST, WELL, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT. IT'S OKAY. BUT

I'D COME READY. AND THIS IS HOW YOU COME TONIGHT. DON'T

COME WITH YOUR FINGERS CROSSED. COME WITH YOUR

HANDS WIDE OPEN, EXPECTING THAT WHEN YOU COME IN THE

PRESENCE OF GOD, GOD IS GOING TO POUR OUT MIRACLES.

I WANT TO PRAY OVER YOU. AND THEN I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME

MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS. FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS WORD. I

DON'T LEAVE THIS WORD IN THIS ARENA. I TAKE IT HOME

WITH ME IN MY HEART. IT'S COME THROUGH THE GATEWAY OF

MY EARS, BUT IT'S NOW A SEED THAT'S BEEN PLANTED IN MY

HEART. AND I THANK YOU, LORD. AND I MAKE COVENANT WITH YOU

TODAY, LORD. I'LL PRAISE YOU NOT ONLY ON MY BEST DAYS, BUT YEAH,

EVEN ON MY WORST DAYS, AND YOU WON'T FIND MY GARMENTS TORN.

HALLELUJAH. BECAUSE YOU'RE FAITHFUL IN THE MIGHTY NAME THAT

IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND ALL

GOD'S PEOPLE SAID, "WOULD YOU PRAISE HIM ONE MORE TIME?"