6/29/25 9AM - The Truth About Christian Suffering Part 3

(MUSIC)

(ROARING)

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- COME ON, CHURCH. GET UP ON YOUR FEET. LET'S GIVE HIM SOME

WORSHIP THIS MORNING. WE'RE ON THE LORD'S SIDE, AMEN?

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- PRAISE THE LORD. HALLELUJAH! - HALLELUJAH! LORD, WE'RE ON

YOUR SIDE. YES! WE STAND IN THE HONOR

OF OUR RISEN KING. LORD JESUS. LORD, WE LOVE YOU

AND WE WELCOME YOU. GOD, WE ARE ON YOUR SIDE.

WE LOVE YOU WITH ALL OUR HEART, SOUL, MIND, AND STRENGTH.

- YES, WE DO.

- AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT LOVE GOD SAID...

- AMEN!

WOW, THAT'S NOT BAD. I HEARD NOTHING

FROM THIS SECTION OVER HERE. THIS IS

TWO WEEKS IN A ROW. SO ALL THOSE WHO LOVE GOD SAID,

- AMEN!

- I KNOW WHAT IT IS. - WHAT?

- NO, YOU ARE SAYING SOMETHING.

IT'S THAT YOUR VOICES GO THAT DIRECTION.

- IT MAY BE. OK, WELL, I GOT ONE

FOR YOU. - COULD THAT BE IT?

- I WANT TO HEAR THE INTERNET SAY AMEN.

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

- AMEN.

- SHOUT AMEN IF YOU'RE ONLINE. - GREAT, THEY JUST WOKE UP

THE BABY. ANYWAY, SO GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY, AND GOOD

MORNING, THOSE OF YOU ALSO THAT ARE WATCHING AROUND THE WORLD.

WE'RE SO HONORED YOU JOIN US. LISTEN, YOU KNOW, PUT YOUR HANDS

UP IN THE AIR, CLAP, APPLAUD. YOU KNOW, GOD IS A GOOD GOD. HOW

MANY OF YOU, YOU GOT UP THIS MORNING AND

YOU HEARD GOD'S VOICE, RIGHT? THUNDER, RIGHT?

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

- YEAH.

- DID ANYBODY WAKE UP TO THE SOUND

OF THUNDER OVER THEIR HOME?

- YES. - AND DOWNPOURS OF RAIN.

- COUPLE PLANTS OUTSIDE BLEW OVER.

- YEAH, IT WAS RAINING PRETTY GOOD.

- I WAS SWEEPING AT 6.30 IN THE MORNING.

- YEAH.

- IT'S ALL GOOD. SO EVERYBODY, GOOD, YOU WENT ALL RIGHT OUT IN

THE RAIN AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

- JUST WENT WELL. - YOU DID GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, AS WE SAID, WE WELCOME YOU THAT

ARE WATCHING AROUND THE WORLD. AND I'LL TELL YOU,

MY FAVORITE PREACHER IS IN THE HOUSE. AND IT'S

NOT A GUEST SPEAKER. IT'S YOU, BRENDA.

- OH, WELL, THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT.

- AND I WANNA SAY THIS FOR YOU THAT

ARE IN THE ROOM TODAY AND YOU THAT ARE

WATCHING, IF YOU HAVE JUST CAUGHT TODAY, FIRST TIME, WHAT

HER SERMON HAS BEEN ABOUT, SHE'S PREACHED, NOW THIS IS HER THIRD

WEEK, AND BRENDA, I THINK YOU NEED TO PUT THIS IN A BOOK.

SHE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE TRUTH ABOUT

CHRISTIAN SUFFERING. IS THAT THE BEST TITLE?

- WELL, I GUESS THAT'S THE TITLE FOR NOW.

- BREAK IT DOWN.

- WELL, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED WEEK ONE ABOUT JOB, AND WE'LL RECAP,

MAYBE A TOUCH ON THAT TODAY, BUT THEN WE'VE TALKED, WE'RE

COVERING FIVE REASONS THAT SUFFERING OCCURS IN THE LIVES OF

PEOPLE AND CHRISTIANS, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY, BUT WE HIT THREE

OF THOSE LAST WEEK, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HIT THE LAST TWO

TODAY. I THINK IT'S GONNA BE GOOD.

- WELL, CAN YOU GIVE US A HINT?

- NO, THEY GOTTA WAIT FOR THE PREACHING. I DON'T WANNA GIVE IT

ALL AWAY. THEY MIGHT TUNE OFF. - OKAY, SO THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE

IN YOUR HOME, YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU WATCH THE WEATHER

REPORT AND THEY'RE SAYING, "IT'S GOING TO SNOW," AND HERE IT IS

JULY. AND THEN YOU COME BACK ON AND IT'S LIKE, "YEAH, IT'S GOING

TO SNOW IN DECEMBER." SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THAT FELT LIKE.

- I GUESS SO, I GUESS SO. BUT I DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAY ALL THE

PUNCHLINES, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HIT ALL OF IT TODAY.

- WELL, WE'LL MAKE SURE WE ALL STAY

TUNED. BUT BY THE WAY, I GOT TO THINKING, WITH

ALL THE RAIN, HOW MANY OF YOU, WITH ALL THE RAIN, DID

ANYBODY IN HERE, LIKE ME, YOU THOUGHT OF

NOAH'S ARK? NOBODY THOUGHT OF NOAH'S ARK?

- NO. - I MEAN, I HONESTLY DID.

- I THOUGHT UMBRELLA MORE, BUT YEAH.

- SO BRENDA, IN MY CARTOONIST MIND, I THOUGHT OF NOAH'S ARK.

AND THEN IT HIT ME. I REALIZED THAT I JUST DISCOVERED WHERE

CARD GAMES CAME FROM. - I CAN'T GUESS.

- NO, THAT'S WHAT THEY DID ON NOAH'S ARK.

THAT'S WHERE YOU GOT A DECK OF CARDS.

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

I MADE THAT ONE UP. IT WAS, OH, OKAY. THEY DON'T LIKE ME, THEY

DON'T LIKE THE JOKE. THOSE OF YOU THAT LOVE ME ONLINE, PLEASE

PUT OUT AN APPLAUD. OR A THUMB, YOU CAN PUT A THUMBS DOWN. I

WILL LOOK TO SEE IF YOU PUT A THUMBS DOWN. AND IT'S OKAY, I

WON'T JUDGE YOU. BUT PUTTING THAT UP IN MY MIND, I CAN'T. ALL

RIGHT, I THINK WE BETTER WORSHIP GOD.

- I THINK SO. WELL, ARE YOU EXCITED TO BE IN THE HOUSE OF

THE LORD TODAY? HOW ABOUT INTERNET? ARE YOU EXCITED TO BE

IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD? ALL RIGHT, WELL, EVERYBODY HERE AND

ONLINE, THROW THOSE HANDS UP TO HEAVEN. SAY THIS, SAY "LORD

JESUS. IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE IN GOD'S HOUSE. YOU'RE GONNA MOVE.

YOU'RE GONNA SPEAK TO US. LORD, I'M RECEPTIVE TO GROW, TO LEARN,

AND I ASK YOU, TOUCH MY LIFE IN JESUS' MIGHTY NAME." IF YOU

BELIEVE THAT, COME ON, LET'S ALL SHOUT AND GIVE

GOD OUR BEST PRAISE TODAY. AMEN AND AMEN.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

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- COME ON, CHURCH.

- THERE'S NO ONE LIKE OUR GOD, AMEN?

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YEAH! OH OH OHHH. JESUS, YOU'RE SO AMAZING. JESUS...

LET ME HEAR YOU SAY "YOU ARE". YOU ARE...

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ON THE CROSS

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- IT IS DONE. OH THE BLOOD

THE WONDER WORKING BLOOD. OH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

THE BLOOD OF JESUS. IT'S STILL POWERFUL

TODAY AS IT WAS BACK THEN.

IT'S STILL POWERFUL TODAY AS IT WAS BACK THEN.

THERE'S POWER IN THE BLOOD. THERE'S SALVATION IN THE BLOOD.

THERE'S DELIVERANCE IN THE BLOOD.

THERE'S HEALING IN THE BLOOD.

THERE'S HEALING IN THE BLOOD.

'CAUSE I PLEAD THE BLOOD OF JESUS.

OVER MY FAMILY. I PLEAD THE BLOOD OF

JESUS OVER MY LIFE. I PLEAD THE BLOOD.

(MUSIC)

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ADONAI, OH. ADONAI. ADONAI.

(MUSIC)

(MUSIC)

THERE IS ONE ON THE THRONE, JESUS, HOLY.

HE IS WORTHY OF PRAISE, HONOR, GLORY.

THERE IS ONE ON THE THRONE, JESUS, HOLY.

COME ON, LIFT YOUR HANDS UP. WE CROWN THE KING. WE CROWN THE

KING OF GLORY. LIFT YOUR HANDS UP ACROSS

THIS PLACE. WE WELCOME YOU JESUS.

LORD WE WORSHIP YOU. COME ON, LET'S LIFT UP OUR

VOICES, THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING AROUND THE WORLD. LET

THIS MOMENT BE BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOD, YOU AND

YOUR SAVIOR, YOU AND THE LORD OF LORDS AND THE KING OF

KINGS. WE WORSHIP YOU AND WE MAGNIFY YOU.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

WE WORSHIP YOU. WE WORSHIP YOU. WITH THE 24 ELDERS OF THE LAMB.

WE WORSHIP YOU LAMB OF GOD. WITH THE CLOUD OF WITNESSES AND THE

SERAPHIMS AND THE CHERUBIMS, THE LIVING CREATURES. YOU'RE SEATED

ON THE THRONE. THERE'S NO ONE LIKE YOU, YESHUA. COME ON, LIFT

UP YOUR VOICE. WE WORSHIP YOU. GIVING PRAISE.

GIVING PRAISE TO YOU, MY GOD, MY KING, MY LORD. YOU'RE SO WORTHY.

YOU'RE SO HOLY, GOD. THERE'S NO ONE,

THERE'S NO ONE LIKE YOU, LORD.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

SO WORTHY. WE GIVE PRAISE. WE GIVE PRAISE TO

YOU. THERE'S NO ONE LIKE YOU, LORD. COME ON, JUST

MAKE A MELODY IN YOUR HEART BEFORE GOD.

(SINGING IN TONGUES)

OH, WORTHY. CONTINUE TO SING. CONTINUE TO SING. THERE'S NO ONE

LIKE THE LORD. LORD, YOUR PRESENCE. YOUR PRESENCE. GOD,

YOU GAVE THE PILLAR OF CLOUD BY DAY AND THE FIRE BY NIGHT

BECAUSE YOU WANTED YOUR PEOPLE TO

EXPERIENCE GOD, YOU. THERE'S NO ONE LIKE YOU, LORD.

(SINGING IN TONGUES)

THERE'S A SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, GOD. GOD, MY HEART, MY HEART

LONGS FOR YOU. I'VE GOT TO EXPRESS MY HEART TO YOU, LORD.

COME ON, LIFT UP YOUR HEART AND TOUCH HIS HEART. COME ON. RAISE

YOUR VOICES, COME ON. RAISE YOUR VOICES, COME ON. ALL OVER THIS

SANCTUARY, COME ON. IN YOUR LIVING ROOMS WHERE YOU'RE

WATCHING, LIFT UP YOUR VOICES. ONE SOUND,

AS THE FAMILY OF GOD, WE WORSHIP YOU WORTHY.

O MASTER, RECEIVE OUR HONOR, YESHUA. RECEIVE OUR

WORSHIP, OUR KING. AS ONE VOICE, LIFTED IN ADORATION, DEEP

RESPECT, DEEP APPRECIATION, GOD. OH, OH, LORD, WE WORSHIP YOU.

COME ON, JUST BEGIN TO PROPHESY ON THE INSTRUMENTS. BUT HERE'S

WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IF YOU'RE IN THIS ROOM AND YOU'RE

WATCHING. I WANT YOU TO USE THE GREATEST INSTRUMENT THAT YOU

HAVE, THE HEART CONNECTION WITH YOUR VOICE, WITH YOUR MOUTH,

LIFT IT UP TO GOD. COME ON, SOME OF YOU NEED TO TELL HIM THINGS.

THAT IS BETWEEN YOU AND HIM. WORSHIP HIM. YOU MAY SAY, "WELL,

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY." TELL HIM THAT HE'S LOVELY. TELL HIM

HE'S BEAUTIFUL. TELL HIM YOU NEED HIM. TELL HIM YOU LONG FOR

HIM MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT THIS EARTH HAS TO OFFER. COME ON WITH

EVERY OUNCE OF SINCERITY, EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUDE TO THE

KING. EXPRESS YOUR LOVE. OH GOD, HOW WE LOVE YOU, HOW WE WORSHIP

YOU, HOW WE HONOR YOU. I COULDN'T IMAGINE LIFE. I

COULDN'T IMAGINE THE EARTH WITHOUT OUR KING. OH, WE GIVE

YOU WORSHIP, WE GIVE YOU WORSHIP, WE GIVE YOU WORSHIP, WE

GIVE YOU WORSHIP. ADORATION AND HONOR BELONG TO OUR GOD. DEEP

THANKS AND APPRECIATION TO THE WONDER OF YOUR NAME.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

THOSE THAT WORSHIP THE FATHER, THE SON

MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

YOU MIGHT BE SAYING, "PASTOR, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

I'M LETTING MY SPIRIT WORSHIP HIM.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

I JUST WANT TO TOUCH THAT PLACE IN GOD'S HEART THAT WIDENS HIS

SMILE OVER MY LIFE. COME ON, DON'T YOU?

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

YOU ARE THE RISEN KING, THE CHAMPION OF ALL THE AGES.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

OH, I WORSHIP YOU.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

I WORSHIP YOU. YOU SAY, "PASTOR, THAT SCARED ME." WHY? HAVE YOU

EVER HEARD THE STRENGTH OF A MAN'S SPIRIT? I PRAY THAT WAY

BECAUSE I LIVE THAT WAY. I HUNGER FOR GOD THAT WAY. I

WORSHIP AND I PRAISE HIM IN PRIVATE THIS WAY. IT IS THE

STRENGTH AND THE SOUND OF MY SPIRIT.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

WORTHY IS THE LAMB. COME ON, KEEP SINGING. GIVING PRAISE.

GIVING PRAISE. GIVING PRAISE.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

THERE'S NO ONE LIKE YAHWEH. THERE'S NO ONE LIKE ADONAI.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

THERE'S NO ONE LIKE THE LORD. NOW WHISPER IT WITH HER. COME

ON, CHRISTY. COME ON. GIVING PRAISE. YESHUA. THERE'S NO ONE

LIKE YOU, LORD. DON'T STOP. ALL OVER THE WORLD,

DON'T STOP. COME ON, WIDEN YOUR SMILE.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

LET HIS HEART FEEL YOUR LOVE.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

KEEP SINGING. THERE'S NO ONE LIKE YOU, LORD. CREATURES.

THE ANGELS, THEY BOW. THE ELDERS OF

THE LAMB, THEY BOW. WE THE PEOPLE, WE BOW.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

OH LAMB OF GOD, WE BOW. HOLY POWER, WORSHIP HIM. WORSHIP

HIM. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MAN BORN IN THE EARTH AS GREAT AS

YESHUA. NO KING HAS EVER SAT ON A THRONE GREATER THAN OUR KING.

NO PRESIDENT, NO RULER, AND NO DEVIL IS AS

GREAT AS THE MAJESTY OF OUR KING.

- GREAT ARE YOU, LORD, GREAT ARE YOU, LORD, GREAT

ARE YOU, LORD. - WE WORSHIP YOU.

- YOU ARE GREATLY TO BE PRAISED.

- WE WORSHIP YOU. - GREATLY TO BE PRAISED.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

GREAT ARE YOU LORD, GREAT ARE YOU LORD, GREAT ARE

YOU LORD, FOR YOU ARE GREAT IN ALL YOUR WAYS,

AND YOU ARE GREATLY TO BE PRAISED.

- OH, YOU'RE GREAT, GOD, WORSHIP YOU.

- GREAT ARE YOU LORD, GREAT ARE YOU LORD, GREAT ARE YOU LORD,

FOR YOU ARE GREAT IN ALL YOUR WAYS.

- YOU ARE GREAT IN ALL YOUR WAYS.

- GREATLY TO BE PRAISED. - GREATLY TO BE PRAISED.

- GREAT ARE YOUR LORD, GREAT ARE YOU LORD, GREAT ARE

YOU LORD, FOR YOU ARE GREAT IN ALL YOUR WAYS,

GREATLY TO BE PRAISED. - WE WORSHIP YOU.

GREAT ARE YOU, LORD. GREAT ARE YOU, LORD.

GREAT ARE YOU, LORD. - GREAT ARE YOU...

- YOU ARE GREAT IN ALL YOUR WAYS.

- OH, WE WORSHIP YOU.

NOW IF YOU NEED A TOUCH FROM GOD, YOU'RE

WATCHING TODAY OR YOU'RE IN THIS ROOM,

YOU MIGHT NEED HEALING IN YOUR BODY. SOME OF YOU, I FEEL LIKE

YOU'VE GOT PAIN IN YOUR HEART. BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN JESUS CAME

INTO THE TEMPLE IN LUKE 4, IN VERSE 18, HE ANNOUNCED IT. HE

SAID, "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME. HE'S ANOINTED ME

TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED." JUST PUT YOUR HAND ON YOUR HEART IF

YOU'RE WATCHING. WE COMMAND YOUR SOUL TO BE RESTORED. ANY WOUNDS,

MEMORIES, ABUSE, WE COMMAND IT TO BE UPROOTED OUT OF YOUR SOUL.

MAY YOUR HEART BE FIXED. MAY YOUR HEART BE HEALED. TAKE A

DEEP BREATH. SAY, "LORD, I RECEIVE THAT IN MY HEART."

NOW SAY, "LORD, I FORGIVE ANYONE THAT HAS WOUNDED MY HEART.

I RECEIVE YOUR TOUCH." JUST BREATHE

THAT IN. SOME OF YOU ARE HERE TODAY

OR YOU'RE WATCHING AND YOU'VE GOT EXTREME PAIN IN YOUR BODY.

ISAIAH 53 GAVE YOU THE CONFIDENCE AND THE KNOWING

BECAUSE IT REVEALS WHAT THE MESSIAH TOOK. HE BORE OUR PAINS.

HE CARRIED OUR SORROWS, OUR GRIEFS, WHICH PAIN, SICKNESSES,

DISEASES. HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS AND BRUISED FOR

OUR INIQUITIES. AND HE TOOK IT ALL. NOTHING WAS LEFT OUT.

THAT'S WHY HE COULD SAY LEGALLY ON THE CROSS, IT IS FINISHED.

DON'T THINK THAT YOUR SITUATION AND SOMEHOW ISN'T INCLUDED IN

THE REDEMPTIVE RIGHT TO BE MADE WELL. IF YOU HAVE PAIN IN YOUR

BODY, SICKNESS, I TAKE AUTHORITY OVER THAT IN THE YESHUA'S NAME.

I COMMAND ALL PAIN. COME OUT. LOOSEN ARTHRITIS, JOINT PAIN,

MUSCLE PAIN, NERVE PAIN. STOP. WHATEVER THE SOURCE OF THAT, WE

SPEAK THE HEALING POWER OF GOD. BE HEALED IN YOUR BODY. WE

COMMAND INFIRMITY, EVERY DEVIL OF INFIRMITY, COME OUT OF THEIR

BODIES. COME OUT. COME OUT. EVERY SYMPTOM OF SICKNESS AND

DISEASE, COME OUT. I SPEAK THAT TO YOU THAT ARE ONLINE. EVERY

SPIRIT OF INFIRMITY, EVERY ILLNESS, EVERY SICKNESS, EVERY

DISEASE, NAME, COME IN THE AUTHORITY OF YESHUA'S NAME. NOW

SAY, "I RECEIVE, I RECEIVE MY HEALING. EVERY CELL, EVERY

FIBER, MY BONES, MY MUSCLES, MY LIGAMENTS, MY BLOOD, MY BLOOD

PRESSURE IS HEALTHY, IS WHOLE. EVERY PART OF MY BODY, EVERY

ORGAN, MY SKIN IS HEALTHY AND WHOLE. ALL THE RIGHTS,

PRIVILEGES, MANIFESTATION OF MY HEALING COVENANT IS OPERATING

AND MANIFESTING THROUGHOUT MY BODY. I WILL LIVE LONG. I WILL

LIVE STRONG IN HEALTH, HEALING, WHOLENESS, SOUNDNESS OF MIND, A

BLESSED MEMORY. I SHALL WALK UPRIGHT WITH STRENGTH IN MY

BODY." COME ON. SEE, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND A PRINCIPLE. WHEN YOU

TOUCH GOD, HE ALWAYS WANTS TO TOUCH YOU IN RETURN. COME ON,

WHY DO YOU THINK HIS ARMS WERE SO STRETCHED OUT ON THAT CROSS?

MAN, HE WAS OPENING IT AS WIDE AS HE COULD BECAUSE HE WAS

SAYING, "EVERYTHING, EVERY BRUISE, EVERY LACERATION, EVERY

DROP OF BLOOD IS FOR EVERYTHING." COME ON, THOSE OF

YOU THAT ARE WATCHING, EVERYTHING YOU NEED. THAT'S WHY

HE'S ALWAYS OBLIGED TO BLESS YOU. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU WIDEN

HIS SMILE, I'VE LEARNED THAT. I SAW THE LORD SMILE ONE DAY WHEN

I WAS WORSHIPING HIM. AND THE MORE I WORSHIPED, HIS SMILE GOT

WIDER AND WIDER AND WIDER. AND I SAID, "I KNOW I'M A TERRIBLE

SINGER, "BUT I KNOW YOU LIKE THIS." THAT'S WHAT YOU GOTTA DO.

DON'T MAKE YOUR GOAL THAT YOU JUST SING A SONG. OR YOU LIKE

THE FEEL OF THE, WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT, THE BEAT? THE MUSIC,

WHATEVER IT'S CALLED. YOU GUYS KNOW YOU'RE MUSICIANS, I'M NOT.

LET YOUR GOAL BE SPIRIT TO SPIRIT, HEART TO HEART, SMILE TO

SMILE, KISS, THEN HAVE HIS KISS COME BACK ON YOU, AMEN. WELL,

WHAT'S THAT KISS? IT'S CALLED FAVOR. IT'S CALLED BLESSING.

IT'S CALLED APPROVAL. AMEN. ALL RIGHT, WOW, I THINK WE'VE BEEN

WITH GOD. ALL RIGHT, WELL, HERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO,

AND I WANNA INCLUDE YOU THAT ARE WATCHING. I WANT YOU TO SHARE

YOUR NAME AND SAY, "I BET I KNOW WHAT FOOD YOU'RE GOING TO EAT

ON THE 4TH OF JULY." TELL US YOUR NAME ONLINE AND PUT WHAT

FOOD YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, AND I'M GONNA READ IN THE COMMENTS. AND

IF IT LINES UP WITH RIBS, YOU'RE HEARING FROM GOD.

ALL RIGHT, THERE YOU GO, GREET ONE ANOTHER.

(MUSIC)

- WELL, GOOD MORNING. IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME IN THE BUILDING

WITH US, WE WANNA MAKE SURE YOU FEEL WELCOME. I ALSO WANNA POINT

OUT THAT THE USHERS HAVE BLUE GIFT BAGS IN THEIR HANDS. IF YOU

DID NOT ALREADY GET ONE AT THE DOOR, IF YOU DID, MAKE SURE YOU

GET ONE FROM THEM. IF YOU DID GET ONE AT THE DOOR, PLEASE TAKE

IT OUT AT THIS TIME. INSIDE, THERE'S SOME INFORMATION THAT WE

WANNA POINT OUT TO YOU. THERE'S A GUEST PACKET IN THERE FOR YOU,

AS WELL AS SOME GOODIES WE'VE TUCKED IN THERE FOR YOU. SO

PLEASE TAKE THAT GUEST PACKET OUT IF YOU WOULD. IT HAS A

PICTURE OF THE STAGE ON THE FRONT OF IT. INSIDE THAT,

THERE'S SOME INFORMATION WE WANNA SEND HOME WITH YOU, AS

WELL AS A BRIGHT ORANGE STAY CONNECTED CARD ON THE LEFT

HAND SIDE. GO AHEAD AND TEAR IT OFF, FILL IT OUT, DROP IT IN THE

OFFERING BASKET WHEN IT COMES BY IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS. WE JUST

WANNA SEND YOU A THANK YOU FOR COMING TO SEE US THIS MORNING.

IF YOU'RE WATCHING BY LIVESTREAM, FACEBOOK LIVE, ROKU,

YOUTUBE, RUMBLE, OR ANY OF THE OTHER DIGITAL PLATFORMS WE HAVE

OUT THERE, WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU TO THE SERVICE AS WELL. ALSO

WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET TO ONEVOICETV.NET. CONNECT WITH US

ON ONE VOICE TV BECAUSE YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO LOTS OF OTHER

GREAT CONTENT, NOT ONLY SERVICES, BUT "GET REAL WITH

HANK", "DAILY DECREE", "GAME CHANGERS", "FLASHPOINT", MANY,

MANY MORE. THEY'LL PUT ALL THOSE UP

THERE FOR YOU AS WELL. SO PLEASE GET CONNECTED ON

ONE VOICE TV BECAUSE WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU GET

BLESSED BY ALL THE GREAT CONTENT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER

JUST FOR YOU. WELL, SEPTEMBER'S COMING.

(CONGREGATION CHEERING)

OPENING THE HEAVENS 2025. IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED IN THE ROOM

OR ONLINE, YOU NEED TO GET REGISTERED. AND I KNOW, YOU

KNOW, JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE TASTE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE IF YOU

HAVEN'T BEEN THERE. YOU NEED TO COME AND EXPERIENCE THE ROOM

WITH US. HERE'S A LITTLE SAMPLE FOR YOU. WATCH THIS.

- I BELIEVE SOMETHING IS LAUNCHING. AND OUR KING IS GOING

TO MOVE TO THE CENTER AND RISE IN HIS CHURCH.

- THIS IS THE FINAL MOVE OF THE LORD, SAITH GOD. IT'S GONNA GET

MORE INTENSE, MORE POWERFUL, AND MORE GREAT.

- AIN'T NOTHING GONNA KEEP YOU BACK.

AIN'T NOTHING GONNA HOLD YOU DOWN. AND THAT'S

WHEN YOU SAY, "NOT TODAY, SATAN, NOT TODAY."

- OPENING THE HEAVENS CONFERENCE, SEPTEMBER

11TH-14TH AT THE MID -AMERICA CENTER.

DON'T MISS THIS DIVINE APPOINTMENT OF GOD'S

REMNANT. TOGETHER WE'LL BOLDLY RELEASE

THE SOUND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE.

- IF GOD IS MOVING, PEOPLE WILL COME

FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH.

- GET YOUR VOICE AND RAISE IT BECAUSE

IT'S TIME TO PURSUE, OVERTAKE AND WITHOUT FAIL

AMERICA. YOU WILL RECOVER ALL. LET EVERY DEVIL FALL.

LET EVERY EVIL AGENDA BE EXPOSED.

REGISTER TODAY AT OPENINGTHEHEAVENS.ORG.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

- HOW MANY OF YOU ARE EXCITED ABOUT OPENING THE HEAVENS?

WHOA, THREE OF YOU. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE

EXCITED ABOUT OPENING THE HEAVENS?

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

WELL, REMEMBER, IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED YET, MAKE SURE TO DO

SO. NOW, I JUST WANNA TAKE A QUICK MINUTE OF YOUR TIME WITH

AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT CORE YOUTH. WE ARE EXCITED THAT OUR

CORE YOUTH RETREAT IS COMING UP AUGUST 3RD THROUGH 6TH. SO I

WANTED TO ANNOUNCE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. ONE, I KNOW THAT IF

YOU HAVE A YOUTH AGE STUDENT, THEY NEVER FORGET TO SAY

ANYTHING OR TO BRING ANY PAPERS HOME. SO JUST IN CASE THE SLIGHT

CHANCE THAT ONE OF YOUR YOUTH AGE STUDENTS DID, WE DID WANT TO

REMIND YOU THAT YOUTH RETREAT IS AUGUST 3RD THROUGH THE 6TH. WE

DO HAVE A QR CODE IF THEY COULD PUT IT UP ON THE SCREENS. IF YOU

HAVEN'T REGISTERED YOUR YOUTH AGE CHILD YET, PLEASE MAKE SURE

TO DO SO. SPOTS ARE FILLING UP AND WE'RE JUST SO EXCITED FOR

WHAT GOD'S GOING TO DO DURING THAT TIME. IF YOU ARE AN

E -MEMBER AND YOU HAVE A YOUTH AGE CHILD, YOU

CAN REGISTER AS WELL. WE'RE EXTENDING OUR INVITATIONS

TO YOUR YOUTH AGE STUDENTS FOR OUR E -MEMBERS.

SO GO AHEAD, REGISTER THEM AND WE CAN SCHEDULE A TIME

WHERE WE COULD MEET YOU OVER A VIDEO CALL AND JUST GET READY

FOR THAT. BUT WE'RE SUPER EXCITED. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE

EXCITED FOR WHAT GOD'S DOING IN THIS GENERATION? OUR THEME FOR

THIS CONFERENCE IS CHOSEN IDENTITY. THAT THAT GRAPHIC IS

ALSO UP AND GOD IS UP TO SOMETHING, RIGHT? WHEN THE DEVIL

TRIES TO STEAL SOMETHING, A, WE KNOW HE CAN'T, BUT B, THERE'S

GONNA BE A GREAT RESTORATION IN THIS GENERATION WHEN WE REALIZE

WHOSE WE ARE, AND WHO WE ARE IN HIM. AMEN. SO JUST WANT TO

REMIND YOU, IF YOU HAVEN'T REGISTERED, PLEASE VISIT THAT

LINK IN THAT QR CODE AND REGISTER. ALSO FOR ALL CAMP

GOERS, THERE IS GOING TO BE A PARENT MEETING, IF YOU WANT TO

WRITE THIS DOWN ON SUNDAY, JULY 13, IMMEDIATELY AFTER SERVICE.

SO PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF THAT SUNDAY, JULY 13, WE'RE GONNA

HAVE A PARENT MEETING FOR ALL CAMP GOERS WHERE WE GO OVER

EXPECTATIONS AND KIND OF WHAT YOUR CHILDREN CAN EXPECT. IS

THAT OKAY? WELL, WE'RE SUPER EXCITED. THANK YOU FOR WHAT

YOU'RE DOING IN YOUR CHILDREN'S LIFE AND TRUSTING THEM IN OUR

YOUTH GROUP. AND WE'RE SUPER EXCITED FOR WHAT GOD'S GONNA

DO IN THEIR LIVES THOSE DAYS. SO AGAIN, AUGUST

3RD THROUGH THE 7TH FOR A CORE YOUTH RETREAT. WANNA

THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT, PASTOR HANK.

- THANK YOU. AND HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY. HAPPY 29TH, MIKE.

- YES, YES, AMEN.

IS IT 29TH? OKAY, WE LOVE YOU. I WAS A

YOUTH PASTOR. IT'S NOT AN EASY, EASY. SO WE DO

APPRECIATE THAT. AND WE GOT GREAT YOUTH. GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO

THE YOUTH THERE. SO, HOPEFULLY IN THE COMMENTS YOU DID FIND

OUT, AND I'LL FIND OUT LATER WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FOR

FOURTH OF JULY, BUT I WAS JUST THINKING, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE

PRAYING IN TONGUES, YOU KNOW, SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT

THAT WAS SCARY. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S SCARIER IS IF CACKLIN'

KAMALA HAMAS WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT. OR THAT NUT JOB

DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE AND MAYOR IN NEW YORK. OR HOW ABOUT THIS, IF

THE CONGRESS SEAT, DON BACON GOES TO THE LIBERAL, THAT'S

SCARIER. JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE

THAT, BUT YOU GOTTA LEARN, WHEN IT COMES TO GOD, WE DON'T SAY

THAT SCARES ME, NO. NO, GOD, I WANNA KNOW, I WANNA EXPERIENCE.

I WANT THAT IN MY LIFE. THAT'S HOW YOU GET AN ENCOUNTER, AMEN?

ALL RIGHT, WELL LISTEN, THERE'S A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS. I WON'T GO

REAL LONG, BUT JUST MAKE SURE, OTH, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE

ALREADY REGISTERED? I WANNA SEE IF YOU'VE BEHAVED YOURSELF.

OKAY, HOW MANY HAVE NOT REGISTERED? NO, BE HONEST, I'M

NOT GONNA SCOLD YOU. OKAY, I WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO,

PLEASE. HOW ABOUT YOU? YOU THAT ARE ONLINE, IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

AND BY THE WAY, IT WILL BE A LIVE STREAM, BUT I WANNA SEE YOU

IN THE ROOM. AND YOU ONLY HAVE TO REGISTER IF YOU'RE GONNA BE

HERE IN PERSON. I WANNA FILL THAT PLACE UP BECAUSE WE'RE

GOING TO PRAY, AND MAYBE NEXT WEEK I MIGHT SHOW THE CLIP. HOW

MANY WERE HERE WHEN WE DID THE SMOKE ON THE WATER? AND WE

PRAYED. THERE WAS A MAJOR SHIFT THAT TOOK PLACE. SO I THINK

WE'RE GONNA PRAY. WE'RE GONNA PRAY OVER OMAHA A LITTLE BIT,

BUT WE'RE GONNA PRAY OVER, LET'S PRAY OVER THE MIDTERMS. AND

THERE'S SOMETHING THAT MY SPIRIT WAS ON ALERT ABOUT GOING INTO

THE FALL, WHERE GOD SAID SOMETHING TO ME TO START

PRAYING. SO WE WANT TO HAVE A GOOD FALL, AMEN, A PEACEFUL

FALL, AMEN. SO LET'S GET THERE IN SEPTEMBER AND LET'S DO OUR

PRAYER. SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THERE TO OTH. I DO ALSO WANT

TO REMIND YOU THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE FLASHPOINT. I'LL BE ON

MONDAY AND TUESDAY AND THEN I'LL BE IN, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAY

LOUISVILLE, LOUISVILLE, HOW DO YOU SAY IT? IF YOU'RE FROM

KENTUCKY, IS THAT WHERE YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR THROAT?

LOUISVILLE, LOUISVILLE OR WHATEVER. WHEN PASTOR BOB ROGERS

WAS HERE, HE SAID, "YOU'RE NOT SAYING IT RIGHT." I WAS LIKE,

"BOB, I'M A MIDWEST GUY. WE'RE THE ONES THAT PEOPLE HIRE TO DO

BROADCAST TV" RIGHT? PEOPLE WITHOUT AN ACCENT. SO,

LOU-IS-VILLE, MEET US THERE ON JULY 3RD. THAT'S WHERE I'M GONNA

BE, AND THEY'LL BE THERE JULY 4TH. I'M ONLY COMING FOR ONE

NIGHT, AND SO THAT'S ALL I COULD HAVE DONE WITH MY SCHEDULE, SO

I'LL BE THERE. I GET TO MEET ED RUSH AND I TOLD HIM, I SAID,

"ED, BRING YOUR PLANT, IT'LL BE A GREAT STAGE DECOR." SO, AND I,

HEY, TALKING ABOUT FLASHPOINT, JUST SO YOU KNOW, FOR THE FIRST

TIME IN ALMOST FIVE YEARS, I'VE BEEN ON FLASHPOINT PRETTY

FAITHFULLY AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK. AND THEN I'VE BEEN ON TWICE A

WEEK FOR A YEAR AND OVER A YEAR AND A HALF, 'CAUSE THE LORD SAID

TO DO IT. AND HERE'S THE THING, I TRIED LAST YEAR TO TAKE A TWO

WEEK BREAK, AND THEY HAD THAT ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST

TRUMP, AND SO THEN THEY CALLED ME, SAID, "CAN YOU COME ON?" I

WAS LIKE, "YEAH." BUT THIS YEAR, I AM TAKING A THREE WEEK

VACATION HERE IN JULY WITH MAMA. AND I'M NOT GONNA BE ON

FLASHPOINT, AND IF YOU ASK FLASHPOINT, NO, I'M NOT, I'M NOT

GONNA BE ON. AND THEY RESPECT THAT. I'M TAKING A BREAK. I NEED

A BREAK. YOU NEED ME TO TAKE A BREAK. YOU DON'T NEED TO SEE ME

FOR THREE WEEKS ON THERE. SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, BRENDA AND I

WILL BE ON VACATION STARTING, WE WILL BE ON VACATION JULY 13TH.

WE'RE ONLY GONNA BE ON VACATION THREE WEEKS, BUT WE'RE ONLY

GONNA MISS TWO SUNDAYS. AND SO JULY 13TH, DR. RICHARD ROBERTS

WILL BE HERE, AND HE'S HAVING NOTABLE MIRACLES. YOU WANT TO BE

HERE IF YOU NEED HEALING. AND I'M TELLING YOU, NOTABLE

MIRACLES, DOCUMENTED MIRACLES, CONFIRMED BY DOCTOR MIRACLES. I

MEAN, THEY ARE REALLY MANIFEST IN HIS MINISTRY, SO MAKE SURE

YOU GET HERE. AND THEN ALSO, JULY 20TH, DR. GENE BAILEY WILL

BE HERE. SO IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY, REALLY GREAT TIME OVER

THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. AND THEN LASTLY, ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT

SIDE, IS THIS WEDNESDAY COMING UP, BEFORE I LEAVE TO GO TO

FLASHPOINT THE NEXT DAY, WE'RE GOING TO DO A NIGHT OF PRAYER

FOR AMERICA. AND YOU CAN JOIN US ONLINE, PLEASE. LET'S PRAY FOR

OUR COUNTRY. IT'S GONNA BE POWERHOUSE. OUR PRAYER TEAM WILL

COME UP. WE'LL BE HERE, BRENDA AND I, AND WE'LL GET OUT.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

SEE, I SCARED YOU AGAIN. EVERY LIBERAL DEVIL WILL RUN.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

AND THEN I MIGHT EVEN KICK MY FOOT.

(SPEAKING IN TONGUES)

SO ANYWAY, THERE YOU GO. AND I'LL TEACH

YOU HOW TO KICK AND PRAY IN TONGUES AT THE

SAME TIME AND YOU'LL GET A KICK OUT OF IT. ALL RIGHT,

THERE YOU GO. ALL RIGHT, I WANT YOU TO OPEN YOUR BIBLES. IT'S

OFFERING TIME, ARE YOU READY? I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT ACTS 3

I WANNA SHOW YOU A PRINCIPLE VERY QUICKLY. I WANNA

GET MAMA UP HERE 'CAUSE SHE'S GOT A GREAT WORD 'CAUSE SHE TOLD

ME AND I BELIEVE HER. "NOW WHEN PETER AND JOHN WENT UP TOGETHER

IN THE TEMPLE OF THE HOUR OF PRAYER, BEING THE NINTH HOUR,"

VERSE 2, "A CERTAIN MAN FROM HIS MOTHER'S WOMB WAS CARRIED

THERE DAILY..." SO THERE WAS A DAILY ROUTINE, A DAILY HABIT,

DAILY, I BET, NEGATIVITY, "OH, HERE I GO AGAIN." "WHICH WAS

CALLED BEAUTIFUL," BUT THINGS WEREN'T VERY BEAUTIFUL IN THAT

GUY'S LIFE. AND EVERY DAY HE WENT AND HE WAS A BEGGAR. THEY

PUT HIM OUT THE OUTSIDE OF THE TEMPLE. VERSE 3, LET'S

CONTINUE. "WHO SEEING PETER AND JOHN ABOUT TO GO IN, HE ASKED

HIM FOR SOMETHING." VERSE 4, "AND PETER

FASTENED HIS EYES UPON HIM WITH JOHN..."

HOW MANY HAVE EVER SEEN WHERE AN ANOINTING

COMES OUT OF SOMEBODY'S EYES? YOU KNOW, AND IT CAN BE VERY

INTIMIDATING. I'VE HAD THAT HAPPEN TO ME A COUPLE TIMES WHEN

BRENDA LOOKS AT ME, I'M LIKE, (GROANS) YOU KNOW? YOU KNOW?

I REPENT. "YES, DEAR, I WILL DO ALL THE HONEY

-DO LIST." I MEAN, IT'S CRAZY. I WISH THAT ANOINTING WOULDN'T

COME OUT OF HER EYES WHEN I'M ASKED TO DO SOMETHING, BUT IT

BRINGS THE FEAR OF BRENDA ON ME. I DON'T, OH, I THOUGHT YOU

WEREN'T LISTENING. OKAY, ANYWAY. NOW, HOW MANY HUSBANDS KNOW,

WOMEN, THEY HEAR EVERYTHING. YES, THEY DO, ALL RIGHT. I LOVE

HER. I LIKE TO TEASE HER. SHE TEASED ME BACK. SHE HIT ME

PRETTY HARD THESE LAST FEW WEEKS IN PREACHING, SO I FIGURED I

NEEDED TO EVEN THE SCORE. ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE TOLD ME

ABOUT THE GRAND CANYON THAT I WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE BRIM. AND I

WANNA SAY THIS PUBLICLY, IT WASN'T BECAUSE OF THE HEIGHT

ISSUE, IT WAS 'CAUSE I WAS LOOKING FOR ICE CREAM. SO

ANYWAY, LOOK AT VERSE 5. YOU BELIEVE THAT, THANK YOU, I SO

LOVE YOU, YOU ARE SO GREAT, YOU ARE

SO GREAT. "AND HE GAVE HEED,"

QUIT LAUGHING OVER THERE, MY MOM'S SAYING SOMETHING. MOM,

YOU'RE RUINING MY OFFERING MESSAGE. ALL RIGHT. THERE'S

NOTHING LIKE HAVING A WIFE AND A MOTHER IN THE SAME CHURCH

SERVICE WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING 'CAUSE THEY WILL

SET THE FACTS STRAIGHT. OKAY. THOSE OF YOU ONLINE, I'M TALKING

TO YOU WHO REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT I'M SAYING. THESE GUYS,

THEY JUST CHECKED OUT. THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME TODAY. ALL RIGHT.

"AND HE GAVE HEED UNTO THEM." NOW WATCH

THIS. HE WAS "EXPECTING TO RECEIVE

SOMETHING OF THEM." STOP RIGHT THERE. WHAT WAS HE

EXPECTING? THE SAME OLD THING. A HANDOUT. NOT MUCH REALLY TO

CHANGE A SITUATION. NOT MUCH REALLY TO CHANGE HIS LIFE.

THAT'S HOW PEOPLE APPROACH GOD WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR GIVING.

"YEAH, I'M GONNA PUT A FEW DOLLARS IN THE OFFERING PLATE."

"OH, HERE'S MY TITHE. I GUESS I'M GONNA DO IT." "NO,

IT'S OFFERING TIME, THEY'RE TAKING TOO

LONG." WELL, YOU'RE JUST EXPECTING TO

RECEIVE THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD. AND YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL THAT

YOU DON'T GET INTO WHAT I CALL GIVING HABITS. NOW, GIVING

HABITS LIKE YOU SHOULD GIVE, YES, KEEP THAT HABIT, BUT GIVING

HABITS OF HAVING A BAD ATTITUDE. GOD SAID HE LOVES A CHEERFUL

GIVER. MALACHI 3 SAYS, "WATCH YOUR WORDS WHEN YOU

GIVE," BECAUSE GOD NOTICED. HE SAID, "HEY, MAN, YOUR WORDS ARE

STOUT AGAINST ME." WE NEED TO WATCH THOSE HABITS. "OH, I'M

GOING TO GIVE, BUT BOY, I STILL HAVE MORE BILLS THAN I DO

OFFERING." HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN THERE? I HAVE. YOU'VE

GOT TO WATCH YOUR WORDS. WATCH YOUR WORDS. YOU'VE

GOT TO WATCH YOUR ATTITUDE. DON'T GET IN THE MINDSET THAT

YOU'RE EXPECTING SOMETHING, BUT THE WRONG THING. YOU'RE NOT

EXPECTING BREAKTHROUGH, NOT EXPECTING ANYTHING TO CHANGE.

YOU'RE JUST EXPECTING IT'S JUST ANOTHER OFFERING. I NEVER

APPROACH AN OFFERING THAT WAY, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT

THERE'S SOMETHING CONNECTED TO MY OFFERING.

LOOK AT MALACHI 3:9-10. THERE'S SOMETHING

Malachi 3:9–10

CONNECTED RIGHT THERE AS YOU'RE WRITING OUT YOUR

CHECK. I LOVE YOU GRANDMAS, GRANDPAS, YOU GUYS THAT ARE

WRITING OUT YOUR CHECKS. WE CHERISH THAT. BUT FOR THOSE OF

YOU THAT MAYBE YOU GOT YOUR CELL PHONE OUT, OR YOU THAT ARE IN

THE ROOM, DON'T BE LIKE THE BEGGAR. YOU'RE EXPECTING TO

RECEIVE SOMETHING, BUT IN YOUR MIND, IT'S JUST THE SAME OLD,

SAME OLD. I'M EXPECTING TO SEE MY ACCOUNT GO DOWN. I'M

EXPECTING TO SEE NOT MUCH MONEY LEFT AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

BUT LOOK AT WHAT MALACHI 3 SAYS. WE SHOULD EXPECT THE GOD

FACTOR. COME ON, YOU'VE HEARD ME ON FLASHPOINT, THE VERY THING

THAT WOULD FRUSTRATE ME THROUGH ALL THESE YEARS THAT I WAS ON

FLASHPOINT IS PEOPLE WHO GOT ON AND PONTIFICATED, WHETHER IT BE

ON THE TV SET OR ON THE PLATFORM. AND IT'S FINE, YOU CAN

PONTIFICATE, YOU CAN BE A POLITICAL PUNDIT, YOU COULD BE

AS BRILLIANT, YOU COULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERT, YOU COULD

BE THIS, YOU COULD BE THAT, BUT IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND OR

INCLUDE THE GOD FACTOR IN YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOU'RE LIMITING

YOURSELF, YOUR PERSPECTIVE ISN'T 100% AND YOU'RE GONNA GRIEVE THE

HOLY ONE. GOD WANTS TO BE INCLUDED IN EVERYTHING. THAT'S

WHY HE SAYS HE'S THE LORD OF ALL. AND IF YOU LET GOD HAVE THE

GOD FACTOR, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN OUR NATION.

WHEN YOU GOT A PRESIDENT, AS HE'S GOING OVER TO IRAN, SAYS,

"GOD, WE LOVE YOU." THAT WAS AMAZING. THAT BRINGS THE SMILE

OF GOD DOWN. IF YOU HATE THE MAN, YOU OUGHT TO FEEL REAL GOOD

ABOUT WHAT HE SAID THOUGH, BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU MAINTAIN

A BLESSING. NOW, LOOK AT VERSE, LET'S JUST GO TO, "YOUR CURSE OF

THE CURSE, YOU'VE ROBBED ME THIS WHOLE NATION." LOOK AT VERSE 10.

NOW WATCH. "BRING ALL YOUR TITHES INTO THE STOREHOUSE THAT

THERE MAY BE MEAT IN MY HOUSE, AND PROVE ME HERE, SAYETH THE

LORD OF HOSTS." NOW WATCH THE SPIRITUAL COMPONENT. WATCH WHAT

HAPPENS. DON'T BE LIKE THE BEGGAR WHO JUST EXPECTS THE SAME

OLD, SAME OLD. DAILY ROUTINES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE. SAME OLD

BROKEN DOWN STUPID CAR, RIGHT? THAT'S WHAT YOU CALL IT. DON'T

CALL IT THAT. SAME OLD, SAME OLD. I'M JUST RENTING AN

APARTMENT. I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO OWN A HOUSE. I'LL NEVER BE ABLE

TO GET AWAY FROM THESE GOOFBALL NEIGHBORS. I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO

HAVE A NICE PIECE OF CLOTHING. I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO TAKE A

TRIP. I'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW. ARE YOU HERE? I MEAN, THIS

IS REAL LIFE. AND THAT'S WHAT THE BEGGAR DID. BUT GOD'S

SAYING, WAIT A MINUTE, IF YOU WILL TITHE, "BRING ME NOW THE

TITHES INTO MY STOREHOUSE, I'LL OPEN TO YOU THE WINDOWS OF

HEAVEN." COME ON, THERE'S A SUPERNATURAL COMPONENT. IF YOU

GIVE, I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING OF THE SUPERNATURAL KIND. THAT'S

WHY ACTS 3, MY OPENING TEXT, PETER LOOKS AT HIM AND SAYS,

HEY, LOOK, I HAVE SILVER AND GOLD I DON'T HAVE. IT WASN'T AN

ISSUE OF MONEY. HE WAS SAYING, I HAVE SOMETHING SUPERNATURAL THAT

YOU NEED TO START EXPECTING TO RECEIVE. COME ON, IF A MINISTER

PRAYS A PRAYER FOR YOU TO BE HEALED, DON'T JUST SIT THERE AND

CRITICIZE, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, I KNOW PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT

DIDN'T GET HEALED. WELL, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU'RE NOT EXPECTING TO

RECEIVE ANYTHING. DON'T SPEND YOUR WHOLE LIFE TRYING TO ALWAYS

FIND WHAT'S NOT WORKING OR WHAT'S NOT RIGHT AND START

DISCOVERING THE BIBLE ON WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT DOES WORK. AND

YOU GOT TO MAKE YOUR EXPECTANCY CONNECTED TO THE GOD FACTOR. THE

WINDOWS OF HEAVEN WILL BE OPEN AND YOU'LL BE POURED OUT

BLESSINGS. SO MUCH, THIS IS GOD SPEAKING. SO MUCH BLESSINGS THAT

YOU WON'T EVEN HAVE ROOM TO RECEIVE IT. NOW, LOOK AT THE

NEXT THING. GOD DEALS WITH THE DEVIL. HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD

LIKE THE DEVIL DEALT WITH ON YOUR BEHALF? LOOK AT YOUR GIVING

IS CONNECTED TO GOD DEALING WITH THE DEVIL, YOUR TITHING. HE

SAID, "I'M GOING TO REBUKE THE DEVIL, THE DEVOURER FOR YOUR

SAKE. PROVE ME WITH IT." NOW LAST SCRIPTURE, ACTS 10:1.

Acts 10:1

AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. LOOK AT THIS.

BRING ACTS 3:1, OR ACTS 10, EXCUSE ME, VERSE 1. SORRY

Acts 3:1

ABOUT THAT. AND IT WAS TALKING ABOUT CORNELIUS,

OKAY? "THERE WAS A CERTAIN MAN IN CAESAREA

CALLED CORNELIUS, A CENTURION OF THE

BAND CALLED THE ITALIAN BAND." SO THEY

WERE A ROCK AND ROLL BAND.

AND THEY'RE GONNA BE UP AT, THE LORD ALREADY LAID ON MY HEART

THAT THEY'RE GONNA BE THE OPENING ACT AT THE MARRIAGE

SUPPER OF THE LAND. ALL RIGHT, CORNELIUS AND YOUR ITALIAN BAND

COME UP. THEY'RE GONNA BE UP THERE, "ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY

ENJOY THE LASAGNA AND THE SPAGHETTI. ALL RIGHT, LET'S SING

A ONE AND A TWO AND A THREE." SO THERE WAS THE BAND, THERE WAS

ROCK AND ROLL. I'M HELPING YOU INTERPRET YOUR BIBLE. NOW LET'S

GO TO VERSE 2. I SHOULD WRITE THE BIBLE, THE CARTOON EDITION.

NO, MY WIFE SAID NO. ALL RIGHT, HE WAS A DEVOUT MAN. SEE, I TOLD

YOU IT'S DANGEROUS TO HAVE A WIFE AND A MOM BE IN THE SAME

ROOM WHEN YOU'RE A PREACHER. "AND A DEVOUT MAN, ONE THAT

FEARED GOD WITH ALL HIS HOUSE," THAT'S

IMPORTANT, "WHICH GAVE MUCH ALMS..." HE WAS

A GIVER. HOW MUCH DID HE GIVE? MUCH. OKAY, GOD NOTICED.

THE HOLY SPIRIT NOTICED. THAT'S WHY HE PUT IN THERE. HE GAVE A

LOT "TO THE PEOPLE AND HE PRAYED TO GOD." SO HE MIXED HIS PRAYER

WITH HIS GIVING. NOW WATCH WHAT HAPPENS. LOOK AT THE

SUPERNATURAL COMPONENT. "AND HE SAW IN A VISION, EVIDENTLY ABOUT

THE NINTH HOUR, AN ANGEL OF GOD CAME TO HIM." SO WHAT HAPPENED?

HIS PRAYING CONNECTED TO HIS GIVING CAUSED THE GOD FACTOR.

YOU KNOW WHY SOME PEOPLE, THEY DON'T GET AN ENCOUNTER? WELL,

HOW DO YOU PRAY? DO YOU PRAY? DO YOU GIVE? HOW COME SOME PEOPLE

DON'T GET A BREAKTHROUGH? LOOK AT PROVERBS 3, ALL

RIGHT? AND I FORGOT THAT ONE, BUT I WANT TO SHOW IT TO YOU

REAL QUICK. BRENDA, AM I TAKING TOO MUCH TIME? LOOK AT 9-10.

YOUR GIVING IS CONNECTED TO THE SUPERNATURAL.

WATCH, PROVERBS 3:9-10. "HONOR THE LORD WITH

Proverbs 3:9–10

YOUR SUBSTANCE AND WITH THE FIRST FRUITS OF ALL YOUR

INCREASE." THAT'S YOUR TITHE. NOW WATCH THE SUPERNATURAL

COMPONENT. "YOUR BARNS WILL BE FILLED WITH PLENTY." THAT MEANS

NO MATTER WHAT THE SEASON IS IN THE EARTH, NO MATTER WHAT THE

SEASON IS IN YOUR LIFE, THE SEASON WITH YOUR JOB, YOUR

BUSINESS, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE PLENTY. THAT'S WHAT THAT BIBLE,

THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS. BUT YOU CAN'T IF YOU DON'T PLANT SEED.

YOU CAN WANT A BARN TO HAVE PLENTY. YOU CAN DESIRE TO HAVE

GOD MEET YOUR NEEDS, BUT YOU GOTTA INCREASE YOUR GIVING TO

THE POINT OF EXPECTATION. GOD WILL BLESS YOU AS YOU BLESS

OTHERS. NOW WATCH, "AND YOUR VATS WILL BURST OUT WITH NEW

WINE." NOTICE THE WORD BURST OUT.

YOU WANT BREAKTHROUGH? YOU WANT BREAKTHROUGH?

THAT'S WHAT PETER AND JOHN WAS SAYING TO THE MAN

WHO WAS EXPECTING THE SAME OLD SAME OLD. YOU WANT BREAKTHROUGH?

CONNECT YOUR FAITH TO THE ANOINTING. DO THE SAME WITH YOUR

GIVING. ALL RIGHT, THE GIVING INFORMATION IS ON THE SCREEN,

AND THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU CAN GIVE. AND WE DO THANK

YOU FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING. WE HAD A MEDIA SEMINAR

THAT WE DID ON FRIDAY. MAN, IT WAS INCREDIBLE. IN FACT, IF

YOU'RE A PASTOR OR YOU'RE SOMEBODY THAT YOU DO MEDIA AT

YOUR CHURCH, WE'RE GONNA DO ANOTHER ONE. WE ONLY ADVERTISE

LIKE THREE WEEKS IN ADVANCE, WE'RE GONNA DO ANOTHER ONE. AND

WE WANT YOU TO COME AND WE'RE GONNA INCREASE IT. WE'RE GONNA

INVITE PASTORS TO COME IN. IT WAS FABULOUS. BUT ONE THING THAT

THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE, THE PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE CITY THAT

CAME, PASTORS CAME FROM AROUND THE CITY, DIFFERENT ONES. THEY

SAID, "IT IS SO AMAZING TO US THAT BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE," WELL,

FIRST OF ALL, LIKE YOU IN THIS ROOM, I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE YOU.

"YOU'RE GIVING HELPED TO FURTHER THIS VISION "AND TO MAKE THIS

BUILDING HAPPEN, AND I PERSONALLY WANNA THANK YOU, "THE

PEOPLE WHO DO COME HERE. I AM GRATEFUL. AND I BELIEVE GOD

FEELS THE SAME WAY. BUT I ALSO WANT TO SAY TO YOU THAT SOME OF

YOU, YOU'VE BEEN HERE AND YOU HELPED BUILD THIS, THANK YOU.

SOME OF YOU, YOU'VE NEVER BEEN HERE, YOU PROBABLY NEVER WILL,

BUT THIS IS WHAT THEY WERE BLOWN AWAY BY. AND IT'S SO HUMBLING TO

SAY THIS, THAT YOU ACTUALLY GAVE TO SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE NOT

SEEN, FELT, OR EXPERIENCED IN PERSON. AND THAT IS BIG. AND I

JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. I THANK YOU, AND I PRAY FOR YOU.

WHEN I TELL YOU I PRAY FOR YOU EVERY DAY, I DO. AND I ALWAYS

ASK GOD, WHETHER YOU'RE IN THIS ROOM OR WATCHING, TO ACCELERATE

YOU AND TO BLESS YOU. AMEN? ALL RIGHT, LET'S STAND TO OUR FEET.

I'M READY TO PRAY. ARE YOU READY TO GIVE? HOW MANY OF YOU ARE

READY TO GIVE? ALL RIGHT. PASTOR BRENDA, I ALWAYS LIKE IT WHEN

YOU DO THIS. SHE DOES IT BETTER THAN ME. I CAN'T WAIT TILL I'M

GONNA PREACH NEXT WEEK AND THEN SHE CAN DO THIS. SHE DOES A

GREAT JOB. DOESN'T SHE DO A TREMENDOUS JOB?

SO I'M GONNA LET HER DO ALL THIS.

- I LEANED OVER TO PASTOR MATT AND I SAID,

"STAND UP, HE'S GONNA CALL AN AUDIBLE."

- WE NEVER CAN PREDICT YOU.

- YOU KNOW WHAT? THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. I

JUST CHECKED THIS MORNING, 59 DAYS UNTIL KICKOFF.

- OKAY.

- HEY, SPEAKING OF THE GRAND CANYON, WE WERE HAVING A

DISCUSSION. SHE SAID, "YOU MIGHT'VE LEFT THE STATE

AND FLED THE STATE." I SAID, "OH, SO YOU LEFT

ARIZONA AND CROSSED THE BORDER TO MEXICO?"

- JUST ABOUT.

- JUST ABOUT, YEAH. IT'S NOT JUST YOUR MOM AND PASTOR BRENDA.

NOW YOU GOTTA DEAL WITH ME TOO, SO.

- YEAH, THAT'S TRUE.

- SO, LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT. IF YOU'RE A PREACHER AND YOU

HAVE A WIFE, A MOTHER, AND A MOUTHY SON, I'M TELLING YOU...

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

- TOUCHE, THAT WAS GOOD. I'M NOT GONNA LIE, THAT WAS GOOD.

- HOLD UP YOUR OFFERING REALLY HIGH, HOLD IT UP. HOLD UP THOSE

OF YOU ONLINE, HOLD UP YOUR DEVICE. EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM,

COME ON, DO IT IN FAITH. FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR EVERY GIVER IN

THIS ROOM UNDER THE SOUND OF MY VOICE, EVERY PERSON BY WAY OF

THE INTERNET. WE THANK YOU, FATHER, THAT YOU REBUKE THE

DEVOURER FOR OUR SAKE. AND WE STAND UPON IT, WE BELIEVE IT. WE

DON'T EXPECT THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD, NO, GOD, NO. WE EXPECT TO

BE BLESSED IN EVERY WAY THAT YOU PROMISED. AND WE KNOW THAT YOU

WALK US THROUGH DIFFERENT SEASONS IN THAT BLESSING, BUT

NONETHELESS, WE STAND AND WE BELIEVE YOU FOR IT. WE THANK YOU

IN JESUS' NAME. COME ON, SHOUT AMEN TO ADD

YOUR AGREEMENT. GO AHEAD PASTOR MATT, LET'S DO OUR

DECLARATION TOGETHER IN JESUS' NAME.

- WE DECLARE THE CAMPUS AND MINISTRY OF LORD OF

HOSTS CHURCH SHALL BE INCREASED, EXPANDED, AND DEBT

FREE. WE DECREE IT SHALL HAPPEN WITHOUT DELAY. WE SAY TO EVERY

HEAVENLY ASSIGNMENT, "BE BUILT UP AND FINISHED." WE SAY THAT WE

HAVE ALL THE FINANCES NEEDED FOR THE LORD IS BUILDING THIS HOUSE.

WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH, EXCESS AND OVERFLOW. LORD, YOU ARE

PROVIDING SEED TO THE SOWER, AND WE CALL UPON YOU, LORD OF HOSTS,

TO BRING FORTH HEAVENLY ASSISTANCE AND RAISE UP

MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE THAT SHALL GIVE ABUNDANTLY TO THIS WORK. WE

PROPHESY THAT WE SHALL QUADRUPLE, QUADRUPLE, AND THEN

WE WILL QUADRUPLE AGAIN. WE DECLARE NEW THINGS NOW. WE

DECREE MINISTRY AND CAMPUS BE EXPANDED NOW. NOW SHOUT

EXPANSION, COME ON, EVEN IN YOUR LIFE, AMEN. EXPANSION, AMEN.

- PRAISE THE LORD.

- TAKE IT AWAY, PASTOR BRENDA, I KNOW YOU GOT A POWERFUL WORD.

- THANK YOU, PASTOR MATT. ALL RIGHT, THE USHERS ARE SERVING

YOU, THOSE OF YOU ONLINE THAT ARE CLICKING YOUR LAST BUTTON TO

PARTICIPATE OR LICKING THAT ENVELOPE AND APPLYING THAT

STAMP, WHATEVER WAY THAT GOES, BUT GET YOUR BIBLES OUT AND

WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE HERE ON, YOU KNOW, I'LL GET YOU OUT JUST

IN TIME FOR THE RAIN TO STOP. HOW ABOUT WE GO TILL THE RAIN

ENDS? WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO BE, RIGHT? DO

YOU REALLY WANT TO RUN OUT THERE IN THE RAIN? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT

THAT, BUT ANYWAY, BUT PRAISE GOD. WELL, I WANT TO CONTINUE.

THIS IS PART THREE IN A SERIES THAT I'M CALLING IT "THE TRUTH

ABOUT CHRISTIAN SUFFERING." I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BECOME A

BOOK. IF IT DOES, THAT MIGHT BE THE WORKING TITLE, BUT SOMETIMES

THE WORKING TITLE IS NOT THE END OF THE ULTIMATE TITLE. SO WE'LL

JUST KIND OF SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH IT, BUT I WANT TO DEVELOP

IT MAY BE A LITTLE MORE. THE GOOD THING ABOUT A BOOK, IT'S

LIKE A MOVIE. THERE'S ALWAYS MORE DETAIL THAN WHAT CAN COME

OUT IN THE MOVIE. SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LIMITED TIME UP HERE

TYPICALLY. AND SO A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MUCH

TRUTH WHEN WE STUDY THESE THINGS THAT WE JUST CAN'T GET OUT IN

40, 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR. BUT I DO ENCOURAGE YOU WHEN THINGS ARE

PREACHED, GO BACK, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH, DO YOUR OWN STUDY,

TAKE SOME OF THE SCRIPTURES THAT I'M BRINGING OUT AND THEN GO

BACK AND ADD TO IT. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE ABILITY NOW WITH GOOGLE

TO TYPE IN JUST ABOUT ANY SCRIPTURE. YOU CAN PUT

SCRIPTURES ON ANY TOPIC AND YOU'LL SEE THINGS COME UP AND

IT'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE, KIND OF SOME DIRECTION AND HOW TO, THEN

JUST GO IN AND DISSECT SOME OF THOSE AND READ SOME OF THOSE

VERSES. BUT LET ME RECAP A LITTLE BIT. THE FIRST WEEK, I

DON'T KNOW, I'M GETTING A LITTLE WHISTLE UP HERE. IS THAT ALL

RIGHT, GUYS? DOES THAT SOUND ALL RIGHT? I'M HEARING MYSELF

WHISTLE. I FEEL LIKE I'M WHISTLING THROUGH MY TEETH WHILE

I'M PREACHING. I DON'T KNOW. DO YOU GUYS HEAR THAT OR AM I JUST

HEARING? IS IT ALL RIGHT OUT THERE? EVERYBODY GOOD? OKAY. AS

LONG AS IT'S GOOD ON YOUR END, I CAN DEAL WITH A LOT. ALL RIGHT.

IT'S GOOD. SO JUST TO GO BACK TO THE FIRST WEEK, WE DID A FULL

EXPOSE, IF YOU WILL, OR A DETAILED PREACHING AND TEACHING

ON THE BOOK OF JOB, AND WE LEARNED A NUMBER OF LESSONS FROM

THAT BOOK. AND HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE DONE ANY READING

ON JOB SINCE? ANYBODY DONE SOME READING, SOME

STUDY, REALLY JUST SPENT SOME TIME GOING

THROUGH THE BOOK. BUT JUST, I'M GONNA RECAP

THAT AGAIN, JUST VERY, VERY QUICKLY. I'M GONNA EVEN, LAST

WEEK I WENT OVER 10 LESSONS FROM THE BOOK OF JOB. I'M GONNA MAKE

IT EVEN SMALLER THIS WEEK. WE LEARN FROM JOB, HERE'S THE

RECAP. YOU HAVE TO GO WATCH IT. GOD DEFEATED SATAN'S CHALLENGE

THAT MAN WILL CURSE GOD IN TIMES OF TRAGEDY. OKAY, THAT WAS THE

WHOLE PREMISE OF THE BOOK. IT WAS SATAN CHALLENGING GOD AND

SAYING THAT MAN WILL CURSE YOU TO THE FACE IF, UNLESS YOU GIVE

HIM EVERYTHING HE WANTS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? GOD SAID, FINE,

CHALLENGE ON. AND THE DEVIL WAS PROVEN WRONG, PRAISE THE LORD.

THE OTHER THING WE LEARNED FROM THE BOOK OF JOB IS THE ROLLER

COASTER OF HUMAN RESPONSES DURING ADVERSE TIMES, RIGHT? JOB

HAD ALL THE THINGS. HE WENT THROUGH RAGING EMOTIONS. HE WENT

THROUGH FEARFUL EMOTIONS. AT ONE POINT HE WANTED TO DIE. I THINK

HE WAS, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL TIMES HE WANTED TO DIE. HE CURSED THE

DAY HE WAS BORN. IT WAS ALMOST AS IF HE WAS SUICIDAL, YOU COULD

SAY. THERE WAS MANY, MANY PLACES THAT JOB WAS. ON ONE MINUTE, HE

WAS DEFENDING GOD. THE NEXT MINUTE, HE WAS BLAMING GOD.

THINK ABOUT THAT. SO THIS WAS KIND OF THE ROLLER COASTER. AND

THE REASON THOSE THINGS ARE IN THERE IS SO WE CAN AVOID THE

THINGS JOB FELL INTO THAT GOD GOT UPSET ABOUT, RIGHT? SO THE

ROLLER COASTER OF HUMAN EMOTIONS. WE ALSO LEARN FROM THE

BOOK OF JOB THAT WHAT IS THE TYPICAL RESPONSE OF MOST PEOPLE

ARE FRIENDS, FRIENDS, FAMILY, ASSOCIATES WHEN ADVERSITY HITS.

I WOULD JUST SAY ONE THING ABOUT THAT, DON'T BE JOB'S FRIENDS.

DON'T HAVE ALL THE GOOD BIBLICAL ADVICE AND THE RIGHT ANSWERS AND

RIGHT THINGS TO SAY AND THEN MISAPPLY IT TO THE WRONG PERSON.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING. THE COMMENT SECTIONS

OF SOCIAL MEDIA GIVE US THE FALSE IDEA THAT WE KNOW

EVERYTHING. SO BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOMEBODY AND THEY'RE

FACING SOMETHING THAT YOU SAY, "WELL, IT WAS BECAUSE OF..." YOU

KNOW, BE VERY CAREFUL. THAT'S WHAT JOB'S FRIENDS DID AND THEY

GOT IN BIG TROUBLE AND THEY NEVER CHANGED THEIR POSITION

NOTABLY. AT LEAST THE BIBLE DOESN'T RECORD THAT THEY DID.

THERE ISN'T ANY PLACE IN THERE WHERE IT SAYS THAT THEY, YOU

KNOW, SAID, "OH GOD, WE'RE SORRY. I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID

THAT ABOUT JOB." NOW JOB REPENTED, BUT I DON'T SEE ANY

PLACE WHERE HIS FRIENDS CHANGED THEIR MINDS. SO I THINK THEY

WERE PRIDEFUL, RIGHT? SO DON'T BE THOSE PEOPLE. WE LEARN THAT

FROM JOB. ALSO, WE LEARN FROM JOB THAT FOR OUR OWN GOOD, GOD

WILL NOT ALWAYS PROVIDE US WITH THE ANSWERS FOR WHY THINGS

HAPPEN, OKAY? HE MAY TELL US, HE MAY TELL US DOWN THE ROAD, OR HE

MAY NOT TELL US AT ALL. AND WE'LL GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF

HEAVEN ONE DAY. I'M SURE JOB IS NOW IN HEAVEN PROBABLY SAYING,

"GOD, THANKS FOR NOT TELLING ME THAT WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE."

AT THE TIME HE WANTED ALL THE ANSWERS. NOW HE'S GOT THE

ANSWERS AND HE'S THINKING, "WELL, YOU KNOW, ALL OF HIS

QUESTIONS WERE IRRELEVANT NOW THAT HE'S IN HEAVEN." SO

REMEMBER, GOD MAY OR MAY NOT GIVE YOU THE ANSWERS. AND JUST

REMEMBER THOUGH, HE KNOWS BEST, RIGHT? SAY, FATHER KNOWS BEST.

THE OTHER THING WE LEARNED FROM JOB IS GOD'S EXPECTATIONS. WE

LEARNED ABOUT WHAT HE EXPECTS FROM US IN TIMES OF TRIAL,

TRAGEDY, DIFFICULTY, THAT HE EXPECTS US STILL TO BE

RESPONSIBLE TO FOLLOW HIS PRINCIPLES IN HARD TIMES. WE

DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO SHOOT OFF OUR MOUTH TO START CURSING

LIKE A SAILOR. WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO BACKSLIDE AND FALL

INTO SIN BECAUSE THINGS DIDN'T TURN OUT THE WAY WE WANTED. WE

DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO QUIT ON GOD. COME ON. WE STILL HAVE THE

RESPONSIBILITY TO FOLLOW GOD'S WAYS. RIGHT? YOU DON'T HAVE THE

RIGHT TO GO KILL YOURSELF BECAUSE LIFE IS TERRIBLE. NO, WE

HAVE TO STILL BE BIBLICAL. WE STILL HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE

WITH OUR LIFE, EVEN THOUGH THERE IS DISAPPOINTMENT. THE OTHER

THING WE LEARNED ABOUT IS THAT WE CANNOT, AND THIS IS A BIG

ONE, FROM THE BOOK OF JOB, WE LEARNED THAT WE CAN'T MAKE GOD

OUT TO BE WRONG AND OURSELVES RIGHT. WELL, GOD, I DID

EVERYTHING I KNEW TO DO. AND HOW COME YOU DIDN'T? DON'T DO THAT.

JOB LEARNED THAT THAT DOESN'T WORK. AND BY THE END OF IT, WHEN

GOD SHOWED UP IN A SUPERNATURAL WAY, JOB HAD HIS HAND OVER HIS

MOUTH. RIGHT, HE HAD TO, HE REALIZED THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT

WASN'T GOOD. DON'T BLAME GOD AS IF HE WAS THE ONE IN ERROR AND

THAT YOU WERE PERFECT THROUGH THE WHOLE STORY. COME ON, IS

THAT A GOOD WORD RIGHT THERE OR NOT? THAT'S POWERFUL, IT'S TRUE,

BUT WE LEARN THAT FROM THE BOOK OF JOB. OKAY, THEN LAST WEEK WE

TALKED ABOUT, WE STARTED TRACKING DOWN, I'M GIVING FIVE

REASONS IN THIS SERIES WHY, YOU COULD SAY BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO

GOOD PEOPLE SOMETIMES OR SEEMINGLY GOOD PEOPLE, BUT WHY

DOES SUFFERING AND ADVERSITY HAPPEN IN THIS LIFE? AT TIMES

THAT MAYBE YOU PRAYED FOR SOMETHING, YOU BELIEVED GOD FOR

SOMETHING, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE OPPOSITE IS WHAT HAPPENED. AND,

OR YOU DIDN'T GET THE ANSWER TO PRAYER THAT YOU WERE SEEKING.

AND SO THERE ARE DIFFERENT REASONS THE BIBLE GIVES. NOW WE

CAN'T LABEL THESE ON PEOPLE, RIGHT? YOU CAN'T JUST GO SIT

THERE AND GO, "WELL, SEE NOW THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED TO

YOU IF." WE LEARNED THAT. THAT'S WHY JOB'S FRIENDS IS SUCH AN

IMPORTANT LESSON. BUT THE THREE THAT WE WENT THROUGH LAST WEEK

BECAUSE ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THERE IS ADVERSITY IN THIS LIFE

OR WHY CHRISTIAN PEOPLE CAN, WHAT SEEMS TO BE SUFFERING,

WOULD BE GOD ALLOWS THE TESTING OF OUR FAITH. HE TOLD ISRAEL IN

DEUTERONOMY, THE EIGHTH CHAPTER, "I BROUGHT YOU OUT INTO THIS

WILDERNESS TO TEST YOU, "TO TRY YOU, AND SO I COULD KNOW WHAT

WAS IN YOUR HEART, "WHETHER YOU WOULD WALK IN MY LAWS, "OR YOU'D

WALK IN MY WAYS, OR NOT WALK IN MY WAYS." SO GOD BROUGHT THEM

OUT TO TEST AND SEE IF THEY WOULD STAY WITH WHAT GOD SAID.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH ISRAEL. THEY JUST DELAYED THAT

TESTING SEASON. BUT THE BIBLE SAYS, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT

HEBREWS 12, "WHOM THE LORD LOVES, HE CHASTENS." NOW WE

LEARNED LAST WEEK THAT THAT DOES NOT MEAN GOD CHASTENS YOU WITH

SICKNESS. OKAY, GOD DOESN'T PUT CANCER ON PEOPLE ANY MORE THAN

YOU WOULD PUT CANCER ON YOUR CHILDREN. BUT THERE ARE THINGS

THAT YOU WILL WITHHOLD FROM YOUR CHILDREN, RIGHT, LONG ENOUGH,

BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT TO MATURE INTO. YOU DON'T GIVE THEM THE

KEYS OF THE CAR WHEN THEY'RE FOUR YEARS OLD. THEY'RE NOT

READY, RIGHT? I MEAN, THEY MIGHT THINK THEY ARE, BUT THEY'RE NOT

READY. SO THERE ARE THINGS THAT GOD WILL AND I SAID TO YOU LAST

WEEK, IF, YOU KNOW, HANK AND BRENDA KUNNEMAN WERE GOING

TO BE HANDED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MINISTRY THAT WE'RE WALKING

IN TODAY, WE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN READY FOR IT. NOW, WE THOUGHT WE

WERE. WE THOUGHT AT THAT TIME WE COULD TAKE ON THE WORLD AND DO

ALL THESE THINGS. BUT NOW THAT I LOOK BACK, I'M LIKE, GOD, I

DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING. AND SO, YOU KNOW, GOD KNOWS WHERE WE ARE

BETTER THAN WE KNOW OURSELVES. HE KNOWS. SO GOD WILL ALLOW OUR

FATE TO BE TESTED. YOU'RE WAITING FOR THAT SIX FIGURE JOB.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO DOUBLE YOUR SALARY AND HAVE ALL

THESE THINGS. AND GOD GOES, YOU KNOW WHAT? THERE ARE SOME THINGS

I WANT YOU TO REPAIR FIRST. I WANT YOU TO TRUST ME THROUGH

FIRST. SO BE PATIENT WITH GOD. DON'T GO, WELL, TIMING DOESN'T

WORK. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT LOOKS AT THE MOMENT LIKE, YOU KNOW,

NOTHING IS HAPPENING. NO, TRUST GOD. TRUST THAT HE'S TRUE TO HIS

WORD. SAY, GOD, I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE FAITHFUL WITH

YOUR PROMISES. I'M GONNA EXPECT A BREAKTHROUGH, AND YOU'RE GONNA

BRING THAT HARVEST IN THE SEASON THAT YOU DEEM FIT FOR ME.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

AMEN. AND GOD WILL DO THAT. AND IF YOU TRUST HIM, MAN, YOU MIGHT

JUST SPEED UP THE HARVEST. I THINK ISRAEL COULD HAVE DONE

THAT. DON'T YOU THINK SO? ALL RIGHT, SO THAT'S THE FIRST. GOD

WILL ALLOW THE TESTING OF OUR FAITH. THE SECOND ONE WE TALKED

ABOUT LAST WEEK IS PEOPLE SUFFER ADVERSITY BECAUSE OF THE DEVIL'S

ATTACK. YOU KNOW, TACKS, I THINK WE DON'T BLAME ENOUGH THINGS ON

THE DEVIL. OKAY, ALWAYS ASSUME SLEWFOOT'S HANGING AROUND. OKAY,

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT IT. PASTOR'S BEEN

PREACHING THE SERIES, NO FLY ZONE. YOU LOOK AT FLIES IN THE

SUMMERTIME. I MEAN, THEY LIE IN WAIT FOR YOU TO OPEN THE SCREEN

DOOR. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OUT THERE JUST, (IMITATES BUZZING)

AND YOU OPEN IT, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW IT IS, THEY JUST,

THEY'RE RIGHT IN. AND THEY KNOW WHERE THE KITCHEN IS. SO ASSUME

THE ENEMY IS INVOLVED. THE THIEF COMES TO STEAL, TO KILL, AND

DESTROY, BUT JESUS SAID, "I'M COME TO GIVE LIFE." THE

BEAUTIFUL PRIVILEGE THAT WE HAVE AS BELIEVERS NOW IS THAT WE CAN

GO IN DIRECT COMBAT WITH THE DEVIL, WE CAN TAKE AUTHORITY

OVER HIM. THE BIBLE SAYS, "RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL

FLEE FROM YOU." OKAY, WE CAN TAKE AUTHORITY. SO WHEN THERE'S

A PAIN OR SOMETHING'S HAPPENING, RESIST THE DEVIL, TAKE AUTHORITY

OVER HIM. THE BIBLE SAYS, EPHESIANS 4:27, "GIVE NO PLACE."

Ephesians 4:27

COME ON, TO WHO? TO THE DEVIL, DON'T GIVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY.

SLAM THE DOOR, GET YOUR SPIRITUAL FLYSWATTER OUT AND

SMACK HIM DOWN. SO THAT'S THE SECOND REASON WE TALKED ABOUT

LAST WEEK. AND THEN THE THIRD ONE IS WE SUFFER BECAUSE OF OUR

OWN FOOLISH CHOICES. THAT'S A BIG ONE. THAT'S WHERE YOU GOTTA

GET THE MIRROR OUT. TAKE A LITTLE LOOK AND SEE, IS THERE

ANYTHING THAT I'M DOING? THAT'S NOT A SELF

CONDEMNATION, BUT THE BIBLE DOES TEACH US TO EXAMINE

OURSELVES. IT TEACHES US HOW TO LOOK AT OUR LIFE AND MAKE

ADJUSTMENTS, DO THINGS, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE SIN THAT WE

DON'T REPENT OF. THE BIBLE SAYS WE REAP WHAT WE SOW. HARVEST DAY

ALWAYS COMES, WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD. SO WE EVENTUALLY REAP

WHATEVER WE CHOOSE TO DO. SO THINK ABOUT THAT. OUR WORDS ARE

ANOTHER CHOICE THAT WE MAKE THAT CAN BRING DEATH OR LIFE. THE

BIBLE SAYS THAT "OUR TONGUE," JAMES 3, "SETS ON FIRE THE VERY

COURSE OF NATURE." I THINK IT'S THE NEW LIVING THAT SAYS "IT

SETS NATURE IN MOTION, AND IT HAS THE ABILITY TO DEFILE OUR

WHOLE BODY." NOTICE IT SAID THE WHOLE BODY. SO DO YOU THINK THAT

SICKNESS COULD BE ATTACHED TO OUR SPEAKING? RIGHT? OKAY, WORDS

OF FEAR CAN CAUSE STRESS AND ANXIETY. SO WATCH OUR MOUTH, OUR

OWN CHOICES, RIGHT? UNFORGIVENESS, STRIFE, YOU KNOW,

STRIFE WILL CAUSE A LOT OF SUFFERING IN YOUR HOUSE IF YOU

LET IT GO ON UNCHECKED. YOU KNOW, LISTEN, WE'RE PEOPLE. WE,

I MEAN, AND ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US IN AMERICA,

WE'RE A BUNCH OF BIG MOUTHS. YOU KNOW, WE'VE GO TRAVEL OVERSEAS

FOR YEARS AND WE'D GO TO OTHER COUNTRIES. AND I REMEMBER GOING

THROUGH AIRPORTS. YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL THE AMERICANS, YOU KNOW,

IT'S JUST THE WAY THEY ACT. THEY THINK THEY'RE ALL THAT. AND I'M

LIKE, OH, STOP. GOING THROUGH AN AIRPORT WITH SHADES. I KNOW,

THINKING THEY'RE ALL HOT STUFF. OKAY, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT,

YOU KNOW PEOPLE FROM THE UNITED STATES, IT'S JUST THE WAY THEY

GO ABOUT. AND MANY OF THEM, I'M NOT SAYING ALL OF THEM, BUT THE

POINT IS, IS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN CAUSE SUFFERING BY WHAT WE

CHOOSE TO DO. THE STRIFE ATTITUDE, AN ATTITUDE OF

UNFORGIVENESS, COCKINESS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, AND AS

AMERICANS, WE'RE ALWAYS BIG MOUTHS. WE GOT THINGS TO SAY.

WE'RE SOME OF THE BIGGEST MOUTHS ON THE PLANET. AND SO DON'T

THINK THAT DOESN'T GO ON IN PEOPLE'S HOUSES. OKAY, WHO'S

GONNA GET THE LAST WORD IN THE HOUSE, RIGHT? WHOSE POINT'S

GONNA GET ACROSS? YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO PLASTER. YOU KNOW, WE'RE

TALKERS IN THE KUNNEMAN HOUSE. BIBLE SAYS BE QUICK TO HEAR.

LIKE LET SOMEBODY FINISH THEIR SENTENCE ALL THE WAY TO THE END.

AND THEN IT SAYS BE SLOW TO SPEAK AND SLOW TO ANGER. WELL,

YOU KNOW, THE REASON WE ALL GET MAD IS WE DON'T LISTEN TO EACH

OTHER. SO STRIFE CAN CAUSE A LOT OF THOSE PROBLEMS, AMEN. COME

ON, THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO CLAP. GO AHEAD, JUST CLAP. NEVER LET

THE ONE GUY CLAP BY HIMSELF. FOOLISH CHOICES, WE TALKED

ABOUT. DON'T FALL INTO THE PIT OF THE GRAND CANYON, WE TALKED

ABOUT. YOU HAD TO BE THERE. THOSE OF YOU WATCHING ONLINE,

PASTOR MADE SURE HE DIDN'T. HE WAS OVER THE BORDER, BUT IT'S

OKAY. NO, I'M JUST TEASING. HE WAS THERE. HE REALLY DID SEE IT.

AND HE REALLY, I MEAN, PASTOR HAS A NOSE FOR ICE CREAM, SO I

DON'T CARE IF HE'S AT THE GRAND CANYON OR THE PLAINS OF

NEBRASKA, HE'S GONNA LOOK FOR THE GELATO SHOP. SO, YOU KNOW,

YOU KNOW HE WAS DOING THAT. BUT THOSE, SO SUFFERING BECAUSE OF

OUR OWN STUPID CHOICES. OKAY, SO ENOUGH SAID ABOUT THAT. SO LET'S

GET INTO THE LAST TWO TODAY THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT. AND THESE

ARE VERY IMPORTANT. AND I'M JUST PRAYING THAT I WILL COMMUNICATE

THIS WELL, BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND IT TO THE BEST OF MY

ABILITY. BUT NUMBER FOUR, NUMBER FOUR, BECAUSE WE'RE ON THE

FOURTH ONE OF FIVE OF THE REASONS THAT PEOPLE SUFFER

ADVERSITY IS BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A FALLEN WORLD. NOW I'M GOING TO

TALK ABOUT THREE ELEMENTS OF THAT AND JUST TO KIND OF BREAK

WHAT I MEAN DOWN BY THAT. WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT IS A FALLEN

WORLD UNDER WHAT I'M GOING TO LABEL OR CALL, WELL REALLY THE

BIBLE LABELS IT, CALLED THE CURSE OF THE GROUND. NOW I HEAR

CHRISTIANS ALL THE TIME QUOTE THE SCRIPTURE. THEY'LL SAY,

"PASTOR, I'M REDEEMED FROM THE CURSE." WELL, WE ARE REDEEMED

FROM THE CURSE EXCEPT THAT THEY LEAVE OFF PART OF THE SENTENCE.

GALATIANS 3, THEY CAN PUT THAT UP THERE. GALATIANS

3 SAYS, "I AM REDEEMED." CHRIST HAS

REDEEMED US FROM THE CURSE OF WHAT?

- THE LAW.

- OKAY, NOW WE GOT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS. OKAY, THE CURSE

OF THE LAW IS DEUTERONOMY 28:15. PUT THAT ONE UP THERE.

Deuteronomy 28:15

"BUT IT SHALL COME TO PASS," NOW THIS IS AFTER 14 VERSES OF THE

BLESSING, BUT THEN GOD GOES INTO OVER 50 VERSES OF THE CURSE, FOR

IF YOU BREAK GOD'S COMMANDMENTS, THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT'LL

HAPPEN TO YOU. "IT SHALL COME TO PASS IF YOU WILL NOT HEARKEN

UNTO THE VOICE OF THE LORD THY GOD TO OBSERVE TO DO ALL HIS

COMMANDMENTS," NOTICE IT SAYS ALL, "ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS AND

HIS STATUTES, WHICH I COMMAND YOU THIS DAY, THAT ALL THESE

CURSES SHALL COME ON YOU AND OVERTAKE YOU."

NOW THIS IS CALLED THE CURSE OF THE LAW.

GOD LAID OUT THE CURSE THAT WOULD COME IF

ISRAEL DID NOT PERFECTLY KEEP HIS LAW. IF YOU BROKE ONE, YOU

BROKE ALL. AND WHAT CHRIST HAS REDEEMED US FROM, THROUGH HIS

DEATH AND RESURRECTION ON THE CROSS, HE REDEEMED US FROM THE

CURSE BY GIVING US GRACE AND FORGIVENESS BY FAITH. THAT IF WE

CALL UPON HIM AND SAY, "LORD, I'M ASKING YOU TO CLEANSE ME,

WASH ME, FORGIVE ME." THAT BY FAITH, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE

FORGIVEN THROUGH HIS GRACE. NOW THAT IS BEING REDEEMED FROM THE

CURSE OF THE LAW. BUT WHAT THERE IS IN THE WORLD IS CALLED THE

CURSE OF THE GROUND. NOW PUT UP GENESIS 3. THIS WAS

AFTER ADAM AND EVE ATE THE TREE. VERSE 17 SAYS, "AND UNTO ADAM HE

SAID, BECAUSE YOU HEARKENED TO THE VOICE OF YOUR WIFE AND HAS

EATEN OF THE TREE WHICH I TOLD YOU DO NOT EAT, OR COMMANDED

THEE SAYING, YOU SHALL NOT EAT OF IT, CURSED IS THE GROUND

FOR THY SAKE." NOW WATCH THIS, "IN SORROW YOU SHALL EAT OF IT

ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE." NOW THIS IS, GOD IS SAYING THE

EARTH, IT'S CALLED THE EARTH CURSE, NOT THE CURSE OF THE LAW,

THIS IS THE EARTH CURSE THAT WAS PUT IN MOTION BY THE SIN OF MAN.

LOOK AT THE NEXT VERSE, GO TO 18. "THORNS AND THISTLES SHALL

IT BRING FORTH TO THEE, AND YOU SHALL EAT THE HERB OF THE

FIELD," LOOK AT THE NEXT ONE, "AND IN THE SWEAT OF YOUR FACE,

YOU WILL EAT BREAD TILL YOU RETURN TO THE GROUND, FOR OUT OF

IT YOU WERE TAKEN, FOR DUST YOU ARE, AND UNDER DUST YOU SHALL

RETURN." NOW THIS IS THE CURSE, THE EARTH CURSE, OR THE CURSE OF

THE GROUND, THAT IS STILL IN MOTION, OKAY? THE EARTH CURSE

LOOKS LIKE THIS, IT'S LIKE IF YOU GO AND PLANT CARROTS AND THE

RABBITS COME EAT 'EM. YOU PUT OUT NEW SOD AND DANDELIONS COME

UP. NOW YOU GO AND PAINT YOUR HOUSE AND IT FADES IN A FEW

YEARS. YOU CLEAN YOUR HOUSE AND DUST STILL COMES BACK. CLEAN IT

ON MONDAY AND THE DUST IS THERE BY FRIDAY. ARE YOU HEARING ME?

YOU WASH YOUR CAR AND IT GETS DIRTY IN A FEW DAYS. ALL OF THE

EFFORTS WE MAKE, WE PLANT AND WE PUSH AND WE WORK AND YET WE'RE

CONSTANTLY ALWAYS FIGHTING AN EARTH THAT IS IN DECLINE, THAT'S

IN DECAY. AND SO THIS IS CALLED THE CURSE OF THE GROUND THAT GOD

TOLD ADAM, HE SAID, "YOU WILL FIGHT THIS ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR

LIFE." YOU'LL ALWAYS BE IN BATTLE WITH DECAY, OKAY? YOU

WILL BE IN BATTLE WITH THE FACT THAT YOU'RE NOT FIVE YEARS OLD

ANYMORE, YOU'RE GETTING OLDER EVERY SINGLE DAY. EVERY SINGLE

DAY OF LIFE, YOU ARE FIGHTING AGE. YOU'RE PUSHING BACK AGAINST

THE SPIRIT OF DEATH. SO EVERY GOOD THING THAT WE SOW INTO THE

EARTH, WE'RE ALSO FIGHTING THE WEEDS. ARE YOU TRACKING WITH ME?

THIS IS CALLED THE CURSE OF THE GROUND. WE LIVE IN A FALLEN

WORLD. AND SO JESUS SAID IT LIKE THIS, HE UNDERSCORED IT. YOU

KNOW, I'VE QUOTED THIS BEFORE. THE BIBLE SAYS IN JOHN 16:33,

John 16:33

JESUS SAID, "IN THIS EARTH OR THIS LIFETIME, YOU WILL HAVE

TRIALS, YOU'LL HAVE TRIBULATION, YOU'LL HAVE

CHALLENGES, YOU'LL GO THROUGH STRUGGLES. BUT BE OF GOOD

CHEER, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU PROMISES TO OVERCOME THAT CURSE

OF THE GROUND." BUT IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE CONSTANTLY IN

BATTLE WITH. THAT'S WHY THE BIBLE SAYS FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT

OF FAITH. WE HAVE TO LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE. WE LAY HOLD ON IT.

WE HAVE TO COUNTER IT WITH THE FIGHT OF FAITH. EVERY DAY YOU

GET UP, YOU COUNTER THE SPIRIT OF FEAR. COME ON, YOU COUNTER

THE SPIRIT OF DEATH. WE COUNTER THE SPIRIT OF EVIL. COME ON, WE

COUNTER. THAT'S WHY WHEN PASTOR WAS SAYING A FEW MOMENTS AGO,

WHEN YOU GIVE YOUR TIME, DON'T JUST, WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT

HAPPENS. NO, YOU GOTTA COUNTER. YOU COUNTER, YOU REBUKE THE

ENEMY. YOU STAND, YOU BELIEVE GOD, YOU TALK RIGHT. WE'VE GOT

TO COUNTER, RIGHT, THE EARTH CURSE. SO WHILE WE'RE REDEEMED

FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW, THE BIBLE SAYS JESUS BEING MADE A

CURSE FOR US SO THAT THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM WOULD COME

ON THE GENTILES. THAT WE RECEIVE BY FAITH. BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN

THAT ALL SENSE OF THE CURSE IS JUST NOW POOF, AND NOW IT'S

GONE. NO, WE STILL HAVE TO FIGHT THE CURSE OF THE GROUND. SO WE

LIVE IN A FALLEN WORLD. THIS IS THE REASON THINGS HAPPEN TO

PEOPLE. AND SO, BECAUSE WE'RE CONSTANTLY IN BATTLE WITH THAT

CURSE OF THE GROUND, THAT EARTH CURSE. THAT'S THE FIRST PART.

THE OTHER PART OF LIVING IN A FALLEN WORLD THAT WE DON'T HAVE

CONTROL OVER MANY TIMES IS THE CHOICES OF OTHER PEOPLE. YOU

HAVE TO, MUCH SUFFERING IS CAUSED BECAUSE MAYBE THAT PERSON

CHOSE TO GO COMMIT ADULTERY. OKAY, AND YOU'RE SITTING THERE

GOING, "WELL, I HAD NO PART OF THAT." OKAY, THEY CHOSE THAT.

THAT CHILD OR THAT PERSON, THAT LOVED ONE, CHOSE TO GO OUT IN

REBELLION AND GET HIGH ON DRUGS AND JOIN A GANG. YOU DIDN'T ASK

FOR THAT, BUT THEY, YOU FOLLOW ME, IT CAUSES A GREAT AMOUNT OF

ADVERSITY AND SUFFERING. SO THESE ARE THE THINGS, WE CAN'T

CONTROL WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DO. OKAY, YOU COULDN'T CONTROL THAT

THAT PERSON TOOK THEIR LIFE. OKAY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO, BUT

THEN IT CAUSED SUFFERING FOR EVERY PERSON THAT LOVED THAT

PERSON, THAT THEY CHOSE TO END THEIR LIFE. OKAY, THIS IS CALLED

THE CHOICES OF OTHERS FROM LIVING IN A FALLEN WORLD. BUT

THIS IS WHY THE BIBLE SAYS WE SHOULD PRAY FOR PEOPLE. PRAY FOR

YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS. NOW, PAUL PUT TWO PRAYERS IN THE BOOK OF

EPHESIANS. I WANNA SHARE THEM WITH YOU, BUT THIS IS WHY WE

PRAY FOR OTHER PEOPLE. I CAN'T CONTROL THEIR DECISIONS, BUT I

CAN PRAY FOR THEM. I CAN TAKE AUTHORITY OVER THE ENEMY FROM

TOUCHING THEIR LIFE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY A PERSON, MANY A YOUNG

PERSON THAT CAME BACK TO GOD. YEAH, YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE

TO CONTROL THE FACT THEY COMMITTED A CRIME, WENT TO

PRISON, BUT YOU CAN PRAY FOR THEM.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

THAT THEY'LL BE ENLIGHTENED. LOOK WHAT PAUL SAID. PAUL SAID

IN EPHESIANS 1:16, THIS IS HOW YOU OUGHT TO PRAY FOR YOUR LOVED

Ephesians 1:16

ONES. PRAY FOR YOUR CHURCH FAMILY. PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE

AROUND YOU. YOU CAN'T CONTROL WHAT THEY DO, BUT WHAT YOU CAN

DO IS WHAT PAUL SAID. HE SAID, "I CEASE NOT TO GIVE THANKS FOR

YOU, MAKING MENTION OF YOU IN MY PRAYERS, THAT THE GOD OF OUR

LORD JESUS CHRIST, "THE FATHER OF GLORY, MAY GIVE UNTO YOU "THE

SPIRIT OF WISDOM." YOU CAN PRAY THAT. YOU CAN SAY, "FATHER, I

ASK YOU GIVE SO AND SO WISDOM." COME ON, THEY'LL HAVE THE WISDOM

NOT TO GO OUT ON THE STREETS AND COMMIT VIOLENCE. THEY'LL HAVE

THE WISDOM TO DO THAT, RIGHT? FATHER, GIVE THEM THE SPIRIT OF

WISDOM. I ASK YOU GIVE MY LOVED ONES. YOU CAN PRAY IT LIKE THIS.

GIVE MY SON, GIVE MY DAUGHTER, GIVE MY SPOUSE. THE REVELATION

AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF YOU. COME ON, IF PEOPLE JUST HAD HALF A

REVELATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, THEY WOULDN'T DO HALF THE

THINGS THEY DO. SO PAUL SAID, "I'M GONNA PRAY THAT OVER YOU."

AND THIS WAS THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS. AND I WAS THERE WITH MY

BROTHER. AND THEN I WOULD PRAY IN THE SPIRIT OVER

HIM AND PRAY IN TONGUES. AND YOU KNOW, HE GOT BORN AGAIN. HE GOT

SAVED. SO WE CAN PRAY FOR PEOPLE. I CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL

WHAT THEY DO, BUT I CAN PRAY. AND HE SAID THAT YOU'LL KNOW THE

RICHES OF HIS GLORIOUS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS. GO TO

EPHESIANS 3, AND LOOK AT THESE VERSES PAUL

SAID, "FOR THIS CAUSE, I BOW MY KNEES "UNTO THE FATHER OF OUR

LORD JESUS CHRIST, OF WHOM THE WHOLE FAMILY IN HEAVEN AND EARTH

IS NAMED." NEXT ONE, "GO QUICKLY THAT HE WOULD GRANT YOU,

ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY, TO BE STRENGTHENED WITH

MIGHT BY HIS SPIRIT IN YOUR INNER MAN." THINK ABOUT IF YOU

PRAYED FOR PEOPLE TO BE STRENGTHENED INSIDE THEMSELVES.

IF THEY'RE STRENGTHENED WITHIN, THEY'RE NOT GONNA WANNA GO BLOW

THEIR BRAINS OUT. OKAY, BECAUSE THEY'RE STRENGTHENED WITH MIGHT

BY THE POWER OF GOD. COME ON, SOMEBODY. SO I CAN'T ALWAYS

CONTROL WHAT PEOPLE DO, BUT BOY, I CAN SURE PRAY FOR 'EM. I CAN

SURE BELIEVE GOD FOR THEM. AND MY GOODNESS, THAT IS HOW MANY,

MANY, SEEMINGLY THE PEOPLE THAT JUST SEEM LIKE THEY'D NEVER GET

SAVED, SUDDENLY GET THEIR LIFE TURNED AROUND. BECAUSE SOME

PRAYING MAMA SOMEWHERE. COME ON, SOME PRAYING GRANDMA SOMEWHERE.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR THESE TESTIMONIES, PEOPLE SAY, "OH,

WELL, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN SAVED, BUT, BUT MY

GOODNESS, MY, MY GRANDMOTHER, YOU KNOW, SHE PRAYED. MY

GRANDMOTHER WAS ALWAYS PRAYING." IN FACT, PAUL CROUCH WAS HERE AT

THE MEDIA EVENT. THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE HERE, BUT I'LL SHARE

THE STORY. I FORGET THE NAME OF THE PASTOR. SOMEBODY HELP ME IF

YOU WERE THERE. BUT THIS IS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, AND HE HAD

BEEN A MILITARY VETERAN THAT WAS OVERSEAS IN VIETNAM AND THESE

WARS AND JUST SAW, AS HE DESCRIBED IT, THINGS THAT NO

PERSON SHOULD SEE IN THESE WARS. AND HE CAME BACK WITH, THIS WAS

IN THE '70S, HE CAME BACK WITH A TERRIBLE CASE OF PTSD. HE WAS

JUST NOT IN HIS RIGHT MIND. EVERYTHING HAD GONE DIFFERENT.

AND HE WAS TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT. AND HE WAS SITTING THERE

ONE EVENING, HIS WIFE WAS AT CHURCH. SHE WAS A CHRISTIAN. HE

WASN'T. SHE WAS A CHRISTIAN. SHE WAS AT BIBLE STUDY. AND I DON'T

KNOW, SOME VOICE KEPT TELLING HIM, "YOUR WIFE'S CHEATING ON

YOU." AND, YOU KNOW, HE WAS JUST PARANOID, JUST LIVED IN THIS

PARANOIA. AND SO HE WAS SITTING THERE ONE NIGHT AND HE THOUGHT

HIS WIFE WAS OUT CHEATING. SHE WAS LATE COMING BACK FROM BIBLE

STUDY. AND THIS VOICE TOLD HIM, HE SAID, "WHEN YOUR WIFE GETS

HOME, YOU KILL HER." AND HE GOT HIS SHOTGUN OUT, CHAMBERED IT,

SITTING ON THE COUCH, AND WHEN SHE WALKED IN THAT DOOR, HE WAS

GONNA SHOOT HER AND KILL HER. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE SAID, HE

SAT THERE AND I DON'T KNOW, HE TOOK THE GUN FOR WHATEVER REASON

AND BEAT THE TELEVISION SET. AND IT CAME ON. THESE ARE THESE OLD

TUBE TVS, THE 70S. I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS WHEN STUFF DIDN'T WORK

BACK THEN, YOU HIT IT AND IT WOULD WORK. AND HE WAS STILL

WAITING, SHE WAS LATE, AND ON COMES TBN. AND HE WATCHED THE

SHOW THAT WAS ON THERE. I FORGET WHAT SHOW, DID HE SAY

WHAT SHOW IT WAS? I DON'T REMEMBER. HUH?

- CHUCK SMITH.

- OH, IT WAS CHUCK SMITH, THAT'S RIGHT, IS PREACHING.

- RAUL REESE.

- RON REESE, IS THAT? RAUL REESE IS THE PASTOR. RAUL REESE

IS THE PASTOR WHO NOW, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, HERE COMES

CHUCK SMITH, HE'S PREACHING, AND HE SAID HE SUDDENLY FALLS TO HIS

KNEES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PREACHING, WEEPING, SOBBING

BEFORE GOD, AND HE GIVES HIS HEART TO THE

LORD, AND NOW PASTORS ONE OF THE LARGEST

CHURCHES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL WHAT OTHERS DO, BUT WE CAN PRAY FOR

THEM, AND THAT'S THE THING. SO PART OF THE SUFFERING THAT

HAPPENS IN THIS LIFE IS OTHER PEOPLE THAT CAN PUT PEOPLE

THROUGH ANGUISH. SO THE FIRST ONE, THE CURSE OF THE GROUND.

WE'RE ALWAYS IN BATTLE WITH THE EARTH CURSE, OKAY? DON'T BE

SURPRISED BY THAT, RIGHT? THE REASON YOU HAVE TO CLEAN YOUR

HOUSE AND WASH YOUR CAR, RIGHT, IS BECAUSE WE'RE IN BATTLE WITH

THAT DECAY THAT'S IN THE EARTH. AND THE SECOND IS THE CHOICES OF

OTHERS. AND THEN THE OTHER THING THAT WE DEAL WITH IN A FALLEN

WORLD, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT. NOW I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME.

I'M GONNA READ A PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE THAT I THINK WILL HELP

YOU GREATLY UNDERSTAND THIS, IS THAT WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT HAS

RISKS OF DISASTERS, MISHAPS, ACCIDENTS, AND INJURIES. NOW,

HEAR ME THIS, BEFORE YOU GET IN, "YEAH, PASTOR BRENDA, WE DON'T

HAVE TO RECEIVE THAT." NO, WE DON'T, BUT JESUS, 'CAUSE WE CAN

COUNTER THAT WITH THE PROMISE OF GOD, BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE

EVER TRIPPED ON YOUR BEDPOST, YOU KNOW, OKAY, WE LIVE IN A

RISKY, UNCERTAIN WORLD, RIGHT? OKAY, WE'VE ALL QUOTED IT, WE'VE

ALL SAID, THIS WORLD IS AN UNCERTAIN PLACE. NOW GO TO, I'M

GONNA TEACH YOU, JESUS TALKED ABOUT THIS. THIS IS LUKE 13.

NOW I'M GONNA READ IT FROM THE ERV. I DON'T KNOW

THAT THEY HAVE THAT UP THERE, BUT YOU CAN USE THE NLT, THE

EASY, THIS, THE ERV IS THE EASY TO READ VERSION. YOU CAN FIND IT

LATER ON BIBLE GATEWAY. BUT THIS IS WHAT JESUS TAUGHT. CAN I SHOW

YOU THIS? HE SAID, "SOME PEOPLE," LUKE 13:1, "WERE

Luke 13:1

THERE WITH JESUS AT THAT TIME, HAD TOLD HIM ABOUT WHAT HAD

HAPPENED TO SOME OF THE WORSHIPERS FROM GALILEE, FOR

PILATE HAD THEM KILLED." IN OTHER WORDS, THIS PILATE

MURDERED THESE PEOPLE IN A MASS KILLING. OKAY, LET ME BRING IT

DOWN TO MODERN LANGUAGE. THERE WAS A MASS MURDER THAT HAPPENED,

"AND THEIR BLOOD WAS MIXED WITH THE BLOOD OF ANIMALS THAT THEY

HAD BROUGHT FOR SACRIFICING. JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID, 'DO YOU

THINK THIS HAPPENED TO THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WERE MORE

SINFUL THAN ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE FROM GALILEE?'" IN OTHER

WORDS, THEY JUST WERE MURDERED IN A MASS MURDER BECAUSE THEY

WERE NOT RIGHT WITH GOD? NO, HE SAID, "THAT'S NOT IT." HE SAID,

"BUT IF YOU DON'T DECIDE NOW TO CHANGE YOUR LIVES, YOU WILL BE

DESTROYED LIKE ALL THESE PEOPLE." IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT HE

WAS SAYING IS, UNFORTUNATE EVENTS HAPPEN IN THIS WORLD.

THERE IS UNCERTAINTY IN THIS LIFE. THIS IS A LIFE WHERE

THINGS, WE SEE ANOTHER SHOOTING. OKAY, WE JUST SAW A CHURCH

SHOOTING, RIGHT? JUST HAPPENED IN A CHURCH. WE SEE THINGS THAT

GO ON IN A SHOPPING MALL, OR AN ACCIDENT, OR A BUNCH OF PEOPLE

ALL OF A SUDDEN KILLED BY SOME EARTHQUAKE SOMEWHERE. OR HOW DID

THEY DIE IN ALL THAT TORNADO THAT FLATTENED THAT WHOLE TOWN?

OKAY, THIS IS THE WORLD OF UNCERTAINTY WE LIVE IN. AND

JESUS SAID THIS WAS AN UNCERTAIN, THIS IN THIS CASE, IT

WAS A MASS KILLING. HE SAID THE KEY IS TO KEEP YOUR LIFE RIGHT.

OKAY, LIVE CLOSE TO GOD. WE LIVE IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD, AND THE

LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF ETERNITY.

OKAY, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT, THAT AIR INDIA AIRPLANE THAT WENT

DOWN. THOSE PEOPLE SUDDENLY FOUND THAT THEY STEPPED OVER TO

THE OTHER SIDE. AND YOU WANT TO KNOW THAT WHEN, WHENEVER, NOW

SEE, I'M SAYING, THE BIBLE SAYS WE CAN STAND AGAINST THOSE

THINGS AND WE CAN COMMISSION ANGELS TO PROTECT OUR LIFE. BUT

THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS BE MESSING WITH YOUR ETERNITY.

ETERNITY IS FOREVER. AND WE WANT TO KNOW THAT WE'RE LIVING RIGHT

WITH GOD. NUMBER ONE, WE WANT TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF JESUS,

SEATED WITH HIM IN HEAVENLY PLACES. BUT THE OTHER PART IS WE

NEED TO KNOW, IN LIVING RIGHT, AS CHRISTIANS, THAT WE EVERY DAY

APPROPRIATE GOD'S PROMISES. THAT'S WHY PASTOR AND I TEACH SO

MUCH. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY. BE CAREFUL WHAT POPS OUT OF YOUR

MOUTH. "OH, THAT'S JUST KILLING ME." "MY WHOLE FAMILY HAS

ARTHRITIS. I THINK IT'S COMING TO ME TOO." BE CAREFUL ABOUT

THAT STUFF. BE CAREFUL WHAT WE PROGNOSTICATE IN OUR LIFE. OKAY,

IT'S AN UNCERTAIN WORLD. DON'T GIVE THE DEVIL AN OPPORTUNITY TO

COME SAILING IN. WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW, LADIES. AND

THAT'S WHY WE GOTTA BE CAREFUL WITH SOCIAL MEDIA AND SOME OF

THESE THINGS. I'M NOT SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE SECURITY. THANK GOD

FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT DO SO MANY

GOOD THINGS. WE NEED TO BE SMART.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

BUT WE GOTTA BE CAREFUL. WE DON'T LIVE IN FEAR. I SAW ONE OF

THOSE VIDEOS THAT CAME UP ON THE REELS. ANYWAY, I HAVE A LOVE

HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE THINGS. I PROBABLY DON'T WATCH

THE ONES THAT SHOULD BE GOOD AND THE ONES THAT I ALWAYS PULL UP

IS SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, FALLING OFF THE DIVING BOARD INTO A POOL

AND ANYWAY, IT WAS JUST RIDICULOUS. BUT I SAW ONE OF

THESE REELS AND I DON'T KNOW, SOME LADY AND IT SHOWS A

REENACTMENT OF A MUGGER AND THIS LADY'S GOT THIS LITTLE PURSE

SPRAY OR WHATEVER SHE PULLS OUT AND IT SHOWS THE GUY, YOU KNOW,

AND THEN YOU THINK, SO THEN, YOU KNOW, THEY GET YOU WITH THIS

STUFF OR THE CHOKING ONE. HOW MANY OF

YOU SEEN THAT ONE? YOU KNOW, "DON'T BE

CAUGHT WITHOUT THE CHOKING DEVICE." "X AMOUNT OF PEOPLE

DIE EVERY DAY FROM CHOKING." AND THERE'S THE CHOKING

DEVICE, AND YOU PUT THE SUCTION CUP, AND THE PERSON

VOMITS OUT THE STEAK. AND YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THAT STUFF, AND

THEN YOU THINK, "OH, I GOTTA GET THAT." YOU KNOW, "I NEED THE

DEVICE." "I NEED THE BEAR SPRAY, THE PURSE-SIZED BEAR SPRAY."

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

NOW THEY HAVE A WAY OF GETTING YOU, BUT THEY, IT'S THROUGH. OH,

COME ON, BE HONEST WITH YOURSELVES.

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

OOO, OOO, DON'T I'LL WOO YOU, WOO, WOO, WOO.

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

DON'T ACT LIKE YOU NEVER ORDERED SOMETHING OFF OF SOMETHING LIKE

THAT. IT GOES BY, 'CAUSE FACEBOOK JUST PLASTERS IT. YOU

KNOW, INSTAGRAM, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED, YOU NEED THIS DEVICE FOR

SOMETHING. OKAY, YOU NEED THIS PILL, YOU NEED THIS, YOU KNOW,

ANTI -AGING, YOU NEED TO PUT THIS LIGHT ON YOUR FACE.

TAKE ALL THE WRINKLES OFF. OH, SHUT UP, IT ISN'T.

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

IT'S NOT GONNA TAKE THE WRINKLE, IT WON'T DO IT, OKAY? LET'S BE

REAL, YOU AIN'T GONNA LOOK LIKE YOU WERE WHEN YOU WERE FIVE

YEARS OLD. GET USED TO IT, IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS, OKAY?

AND THEN FACEBOOK IS SO FAIR, YOU KNOW? THIS IS HOW YOU

LOOK NOW, AND THEN IT'LL SHOW YOU FROM 10 YEARS IN,

YOU'RE LIKE, AH, GET THAT, GET THAT, BIND

THAT IN THE NAME OF JESUS. BUT THEY

ALSO KNOW HOW TO PRICK YOUR FEAR, BECAUSE THE WORLD IS AN

UNCERTAIN PLACE, OKAY? AND SO WE NEED TO NOT ONLY LIVE RIGHT WITH

GOD, THIS IS WHAT JESUS WAS SAYING, EVERY SINGLE DAY, WORK

OUT OUR SALVATION, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO KNOW HOW TO APPROPRIATE

HIS PROMISES EVERY DAY, OKAY? YOU KNOW, SPEAK HEALING OVER

YOURSELF, SPEAK LIFE. YOU KNOW, ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT PASTOR,

HE'S DONE THIS FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, HE'LL SAY IT.

HE'LL SAY, HE'LL PRAY OVER OUR HOUSE EVERY YEAR, ACTUALLY, HE

PRAYS OVER WAY MORE THAN THAT, BUT HE'LL PRAY AND SAY, THERE

WILL NEVER BE A BREAK IN, MISCHIEF, MAYHEM,

NO ATTACKER, NO DESTROYER, THEY'LL

NEVER BREAK A WINDOW, NO ONE WILL BREAK THROUGH THIS DOOR,

THERE'LL BE NEVER A MURDER OR RAPE, THERE'LL NEVER BE A CRIME

COMMITTED IN THIS HOME. I BIND IT IN THE NAME OF JESUS. WE

STAND UP AND WE COMMISSION ANGELS TO BE AROUND THE

PERIMETER OF OUR HOUSE. AND SO WE DON'T TALK DEATH AND FEAR. SO

JESUS SAID, IF YOU DON'T CHANGE YOUR LIFE, YOU ARE AT RISK OF

BEING DESTROYED JUST LIKE THEY DID 'CAUSE OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF

THIS LIFE. LOOK AT THE NEXT ONE HE SAID. HE SAID, HE ALSO SAID,

"WHAT ABOUT THOSE 18 PEOPLE WHO DIED WHEN THE TOWER FELL?" AND

THIS WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT. MAYBE IT WAS A STORM, I DON'T KNOW. HE

SAID, "WAS IT BECAUSE THEY WERE SINFUL MORE THAN EVERYONE ELSE

IN JERUSALEM? NO, THAT WASN'T IT. BUT I TELL YOU, IF YOU DON'T

DECIDE NOW," COME ON, CHANGE YOUR LIFE. DON'T

WAIT TILL THE STORM COMES. YOU, YOU COULD

SAY IT LIKE THIS, "ARE AT RISK OF ALSO

BEING DESTROYED." SO WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THAT? WE LIVE IN AN

UNCERTAIN WORLD, AND WE NEED TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF GOD AND

FOLLOW HIS WAYS AND APPROPRIATE THOSE PROMISES. DON'T JUST

APPROPRIATE THE PROMISES OF GOD WHEN YOU'RE IN A TRIAL. RIGHT?

APPROPRIATE IT WHEN THINGS ARE GOING GREAT. THAT'S WHEN WE

SOMETIMES DON'T WANNA DO IT AS MUCH. WE THINK, "OH,

EVERYTHING'S GOOD. "IT'S ALL RIGHT, GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF

IT." NO, YOU HOLD ON TO THE TRUTH OF THE WORD. THAT'S WHY WE

SAY, DON'T LET THE WORDS DEPART FROM YOUR EYES. KEEP THEM IN THE

MIDST OF YOUR HEART. SO THIS IS THE NUMBER FOUR IS WE LIVE IN A

FALLEN WORLD. AND WE ARE ALWAYS COUNTERING THAT. WE'RE ALWAYS

GOING TO DEAL WITH THAT. AND THAT IS A CONTRIBUTOR TO

SUFFERING. ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LAST ONE. ARE YOU

READY? ALL RIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT NUMBER FIVE, THE REASON

CHRISTIANS SUFFER. AND THIS IS THE GLARING ONE THAT I SEE ALL

ACROSS THE NEW TESTAMENT IS SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE

PERSECUTION OF THE GOSPEL. NOW, PERSECUTION OF THE GOSPEL IS NOT

SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT ALL THAT MUCH IN THE UNITED STATES

OF AMERICA. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS THE COMMON TOPIC. I

MEAN, I THINK IT'S COME UP A LITTLE BIT MORE EVER SINCE THE

PANDEMIC AND THE CENSORSHIP AND THE MASS MANDATES. AND ALL OF A

SUDDEN WE REALIZE, WAIT A MINUTE, PEOPLE CAN GO TO THE

CLUB AND HAVE A BEER, BUT THEY CAN'T COME TO CHURCH FOR TWO

HOURS ON A SUNDAY AND SIT NEXT TO THEIR FRIENDS. YOU CAN FLY ON

A FLIGHT, RIGHT, TWO INCHES FROM SOMEBODY IN A SEAT

THAT IS NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR ONE WHOLE HUMAN.

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE IT GETS SKINNIER. EITHER THEY'RE GETTING

SKINNIER ON THOSE THINGS OR WE'RE GETTING BIGGER. I DON'T

KNOW WHAT IT IS. BUT THE POINT IS, IS THEY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE YOU

COULD SIT RIGHT NEXT TO SOMEBODY ON AN AIRPLANE, BUT YOU COULDN'T

SIT NEXT TO SOME, AND YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT, FOR AN AIRPLANE,

MOST FLIGHTS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE TWO TO THREE HOURS. SO YOU

WERE NEXT TO THAT PERSON FOR TWO TO THREE HOURS, BUT YOU COULDN'T

COME FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF TO A CHURCH SERVICE ON A SUNDAY

MORNING. COME ON, THERE WAS AN AGENDA WITH THAT. OKAY, THERE

WAS AN AGENDA. THEY WANTED TO KEEP PEOPLE SEPARATED. AND SO,

FACT OF THE MATTER IS, WE KIND OF TALKED A LITTLE BIT MORE

ABOUT THE PERSECUTION OF THE GOSPEL. BUT LOOK WHAT PAUL SAID

IN TIMOTHY. SECOND TIMOTHY CHAPTER THREE, VERSE 12. "YES,

ALL," SOMEBODY SAY ALL. "ALL THAT WILL LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST

JESUS "SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION." OKAY, MAKE NO

MISTAKE ABOUT IT. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE LIVE IN THE UNITED

STATES. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT HATE THE GOSPEL THAT

YOU AND I STAND FOR AND THAT WE PREACH. COME ON, THEY'LL LET A

MUSLIM PRAY IN PUBLIC, BUT THE MINUTE YOU START WANTING TO PRAY

IN THE NAME OF JESUS, HERE COMES THE POLICE, HERE COMES ALL OF

THE LIBERAL, LOONY LEFT, AND THE CIVIL LIBERTIES, RIDICULOUS

OPINION, HERE THEY COME. THE MINUTE YOU BRING UP JESUS' NAME,

ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WAR IS ON. 'CAUSE ALL THOSE THAT LIVE GODLY

IN CHRIST JESUS SUFFER PERSECUTION. JOHN 15:18-19,

John 15:18–19

JESUS SAID, "IF THE WORLD HATES YOU, KNOW THEY HATED ME

BEFORE IT HATED YOU. IF YOU WERE OF THE WORLD, THE WORLD

WOULD LOVE ITS OWN." YOU KNOW, IT'S OKAY NOT TO FIT IN, FOLKS.

ALL RIGHT? IT'S OKAY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT. IT'S OKAY, YOU

DON'T HAVE TO FIT IN WITH EVERYBODY. "THE WORLD WOULD LOVE

ITS OWN, BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, I HAVE CHOSEN

YOU OUT OF THE WORLD. THEREFORE, THE WORLD,"

WATCH THIS, WILL HATE YOU." PAUL OFTEN DESCRIBED HIS

SUFFERINGS ASSOCIATED, MOSTLY, WATCH THIS, WITH THE PREACHING

OF THE GOSPEL. HE SAID, "BECAUSE I PREACH THIS GOSPEL, I SUFFER

AS AN EVILDOER." THERE ARE 30 EXAMPLES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT OF

PAUL'S SUFFERING AS A RESULT OF PERSECUTION. AND THEN HE GOES ON

TO SAY, WATCH THIS, HE SAID, "AND THIS IS THE DESTINY OF US

ALL." SO DON'T MAKE ANY MISTAKE ABOUT IT. THIS IS WHERE THE USER

FRIENDLY MOVEMENT GOT IT COMPLETELY WRONG, OKAY? WE'RE SO

BUSY TRYING TO BEFRIEND EVERYBODY AND MAKE IT, "AND

LISTEN, WE'RE JUST LIKE YOU. HE GETS US. HE GETS US. HERE, WE'RE

ALL ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD." NO, WE'RE NOT. I HAVE THE BLOOD

OF THE MESSIAH ROLLING THROUGH MY VEINS.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

BY THE WAY, THERE'S ONLY TWO RACES IN THE EARTH. ARE YOU

READY? THAT'S WHY WE GOTTA GET ALL OUR RACE GLASSES

OFF. TWO. THE SAVED AND THE UNSAVED.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

LET ME SAY IT AGAIN, THE SAVED AND THE UNSAVED. THE ONE THAT

HAS POLLUTED BLOOD AND THE ONE THAT IS BORN AGAIN AND HAS THE

BLOOD OF THE MESSIAH RUNNING THROUGH THEIR VEINS.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

JUDY AND I ARE THE SAME COLOR. WE BLEED RED. COME ON SOMEBODY.

OH, DON'T SHOUT ME DOWN 'CAUSE I'M PREACHING GOOD. YOU CUT

SOMEBODY'S FINGER AND THEY ALL BLEED RED BLOOD. WE ARE MADE BY

GOD HIMSELF, BUT WE BECAME OF A NEW RACE, A HEAVENLY KINGDOM

WHEN WE ASKED JESUS TO COME IN OUR HEART AND WE LEFT THIS

WORLDLY KINGDOM FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

(CONGREGATION CHEERING)

AND YOU KNOW, CAN I BE HONEST? ALL US RACES GOT SOME JUNK. I

DON'T WANNA CLAIM IT. YOU KNOW, EVERY CHURCH YOU GO TO IS

DIFFERENT. YOU KNOW, THE WHITE CHURCH, THEY'RE PERPENDICULAR.

"IT IS SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY." THEY

DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO SAY LOUISVILLE.

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

THIS IS MY LAST SERMON!

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

I WON'T BE HERE NEXT SUNDAY. NO,

I'M JUST KIDDING. BUT NO, IT'S TRUE! YOU

GET THE PERPENDICULAR CHURCH. THEN YOU GO TO THE BLACK CHURCH

AND EVERYTHING'S (HUMMING). THEY'LL HAVE CHURCH

TILL 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON, TILL THE HOLY GHOST

COME. I WATCH ONE CHURCH, I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING TO ME. AND I,

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I LOVE 'EM ALL. BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GO TO

THE BLACK CHURCH, YOU'RE GONNA GET ANOTHER EXPRESSION. AND IN

EVERY ONE, SOME GOOD AND SOME BAD. YOU GO TO THE WHITE CHURCH,

THEY DO SOME STUFF RIGHT. YOU GO TO THE BLACK CHURCH, AND THEY DO

SOME STUFF RIGHT, BUT THEY BOTH DO SOME STUFF THAT'S DUMB. AND

THEN THERE'S LATINO CHURCH. OKAY, HOLY SPIRIT.

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

OH, WE PREACHED ALL ACROSS LATIN AMERICA. I REMEMBER ONE CHURCH

WE WERE, I HAVE TO TELL THIS STORY, WE WERE PREACHING IN THIS

AUDITORIUM, AND I MEAN, THERE MUST HAVE BEEN 3 OR 4,000

PEOPLE IN THERE, AND PASTOR GIVES A CALL, AND HE SAYS, "IF

YOU'RE NOT FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST." NOW, KEEP IN MIND, THIS

WAS A PENTECOSTAL EXPRESSION EVENT. THESE PEOPLE WERE FALLING

ALL OVER THE FLOOR, THEY WERE RUNNING AROUND, THEY WERE LAYING

ON THE GROUND SHAKING, THEY WERE DOING THE THINGS, AND I MEAN,

THEY WERE HAVING AN EXPERIENCE. THE PLACE WAS CRAZY. AND PASTOR

SAYS, "NOW, IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN, "YOU'RE EXPERIENCING

THIS, "AND YOU'VE NEVER BEEN FILLED WITH THE

HOLY GHOST, "AND SPOKEN TONGUES, I WANT YOU TO COME TO

THE FRONT." I'M TELLING YOU, GOD IS MY WITNESS,

ABOUT HALF THE ROOM CAME TO THE FRONT. I'M NOT...

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

ALL THESE PEOPLE AREN'T FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST? I MEAN, YOU

KNOW, PENTECOSTALS DO THAT STUFF. BUT HERE THEY ALL CAME

DOWN TO THE FRONT AND YOU THOUGHT THEY FELL ON THE FLOOR

BEFORE. THEY WERE ALL ON THE FLOOR AND CAME UP TALKING IN

TONGUES. BUT YOU KNOW, SO WE HAVE THESE THINGS THAT ARE...

WHAT MY POINT IS, IS WE HAVE THINGS THAT ARE REHEARSED AND

PRACTICED. BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT

WHITE-ISM, I CAN'T STAND. THERE IS STUFF ABOUT BLACK-ISM,

I CAN'T STAND. THERE IS STUFF ABOUT LATINO-ISM,

I CAN'T STAND. AM I PREACHING TOO HARD RIGHT NOW?

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

CAN WE JUST LAY THIS TOPIC ON THE TABLE? COME ON, IF THEY'RE

NOT GONNA GET IT IN THE CHURCH, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET IT

ANYWHERE. YOU'RE CERTAINLY NOT GONNA GET IT ON THE MAINSTREAM

MEDIA 'CAUSE THEY'RE GONNA TWIST IT ALL UP. BUT ONE THING I LOVE

ABOUT LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH, LOOK AROUND YOU, IT'S NOT A BLACK

CHURCH, IT'S NOT A WHITE CHURCH, NOT A LATINO CHURCH. COME ON, WE

ARE KINGDOM CHURCH, ALL BLEEDING RED BLOOD WITH

THE POWER OF THE MESSIAH IN OUR VEINS.

(CONGREGATION CHEERING)

I MEAN, OF COURSE, I DID TELL LADY T, ON VACATION I'LL BE IN

THE SUN A LITTLE TO BRING OUT MY BLACK SIDE. I'VE TOLD HER, HOW

LONG Y'ALL BEEN IN THE CHURCH? 23 YEARS. I TOLD THEM A LONG

TIME AGO, SHE'S GOT IT ON RECORD, I SAID, I AM HALF BLACK.

I MAY NOT LOOK LIKE IT, BUT MY HAIR SHOWS IT. SO I JUST WANT

YOU TO KNOW THAT. BUT NOW WE GOT TO GET RID OF SOME OF THESE RACE

HANGUPS. OKAY, DON'T LET THE WORLD TELL US WHAT RACE OUGHT TO

LOOK LIKE. BECAUSE IN HEAVEN, THE BIBLE SAID EVERY ETHNOS IS

GOING TO FLOW INTO THE HOUSE OF GOD. WE BETTER GET ALONG

DOWN HERE AND LAY DOWN OUR HANGUPS, PUT THEM ASIDE

AND COME TOGETHER BECAUSE WE ARE KINGDOM.

(CONGREGATION CHEERING)

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE WENT DOWN THAT TRAIL. GOOD, WE GOT ONE

THANK YOU UP IN THE RAFTERS, THAT'S GOOD. OH NO, I DON'T LIKE

TO LET THE WORLD DEFINE IT. WE'RE BORN AGAIN.

- AMEN.

- OKAY, AND THE WORLD KNOWS IT. YOU KNOW, IT'S AMAZING, BLACK

LIVES MATTER. REMEMBER THEM? YOU KNOW, THE ONES THAT COMMITTED

FRAUD? YEAH, THAT. THINK ABOUT, THINK ABOUT HOW BLACK LIVES

DIDN'T MATTER WHEN YOU WERE A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN STANDING

FOR DECENCY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. IT ONLY MATTERED IF YOU RAN THE

STREETS AND RIOTED WITH THEM. SO DON'T EVER FORGET, AND I'M GONNA

SAY THIS LAST THING, I DON'T KNOW WHY GOD HAD ME GO DOWN THIS

TOPIC, AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORLD ISN'T SETTING OUR

VIEWS. THE DEVIL IS AFTER ONE BLOOD. DON'T EVER FORGET THIS

NOW, OKAY? HE WANTS DEATH TO CHRISTIANS, OKAY? HE'S NOT AFTER

YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR COLOR ON THE OUTSIDE. DON'T EVER FORGET THAT.

READ YOUR BIBLE. HE IS AFTER THE PRECIOUS LIFE. AND EVERY LIFE

THAT IS BORN AGAIN, FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND POWER, IS THE

ONE WITH A BIG OL' BULLSEYE ON THEIR CHEST THAT THE DEVIL IS

OUT TO GET. DON'T EVER FORGET THAT. AND WE NEED TO, AS THE

BODY OF CHRIST, DEFEND ONE ANOTHER, STAND TOGETHER. COME

ON. JESUS SAID, COME ON, STAND TOGETHER. WE'RE THE CHURCH. LOOK

AT YOUR NEIGHBOR AND SAY, "WE'RE THE CHURCH."

HAVE SOME CONFIDENCE ABOUT IT. AMEN.

ALL RIGHT. NOW THAT I'M IN TROUBLE, PEOPLE ARE

EITHER EXCITED OR WANT TO THROW SHOES. BUT IT'S THE PERSECUTION

OF THE GOSPEL WAS THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF SUFFERING IN THE NEW

TESTAMENT. IT WAS NOT BECAUSE GOD SUBMERGES US IN A PERSONAL

TRIAL ON PURPOSE BEYOND WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED ABOUT

THE TESTING OF OUR FAITH. JESUS DID NOT MINCE HIS WORDS IN

EXPLAINING THAT TO FOLLOW HIM MEANS YOU WILL BE PERSECUTED

EVEN WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR MARTYRDOM. NOW THIS SHOULD NOT

BE SHOCKING, BUT JESUS SAID, "IF YOU DO NOT TAKE UP YOUR CROSS TO

FOLLOW ME, YOU CAN'T BE MY DISCIPLES." YOU KNOW, I WAS

THINKING ABOUT THESE AMAZING SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WENT

IN AND DID THAT AMAZING THING IN IRAN. I MEAN, THEY JUST, COME

ON, THEY DESERVE A HAND. IT'S 4TH OF JULY. I THINK WE OUGHT TO

GIVE THEM A HAND WHILE THE MEDIA IS SO BUSY BASHING ALL OF THEM.

(CONGREGATION CHEERING)

FOR A JOB WELL DONE. WE SALUTE YOU. AND YOU KNOW, BUT THESE

SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN WILL GO IN AND CONDUCT A MISSION. AND WHEN

THEY SIGN UP FOR THE MILITARY, WHEN THEY SIGN UP TO BE IN THE

MILITARY, THEY DO IT SIMILAR TO HOW WE DO IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

IT'S A SIMILAR THING. THEY KNOW GOING INTO IT THAT THERE'S

BLESSINGS FOR BEING IN THE MILITARY, THEY'LL PAY FOR YOUR

COLLEGE. THEY'LL GIVE YOU MEDICAL BENEFITS. I DON'T KNOW

IF THEY'RE AS GOOD AS THEY USED TO BE, BUT THEY'LL GIVE 'EM TO

YOU. I HAD BRACES PUT ON, MY DAD WAS A 24 YEAR AIR FORCE, I HAD

BRACES PUT ON, PAID FOR BY THE US GOVERNMENT. WE WERE OVERSEAS

AND I NEEDED BRACES AND THE MILITARY AGREED TO PAY FOR 'EM.

THERE ARE BLESSINGS IN THE US MILITARY FOR BEING IN THAT. SAME

WAY WITH THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WE KNOW THERE ARE BLESSINGS FOR

BEING INTO THE KINGDOM. BUT EVERY ONE OF THOSE SERVICE

MEMBERS KNOW THAT THEY COULD CALL ON AT ANY GIVEN TIME, BE

CALLED UPON, AND THEY WILL WILLINGLY HAVE TO GO AND

POTENTIALLY RISK THEIR LIFE. THOSE PEOPLE THAT CONDUCTED THAT

HAMMER MISSION OVER IRAQ, TAKING OUT THOSE NUCLEAR SITES, THEY

KNEW SOMETHING COULD GO TERRIBLY WRONG. THE POTENTIAL AND THE

RISK WAS THERE. SO LET'S NOT ACT SURPRISED THAT THE POTENTIAL AND

RISK COMES FOR PERSECUTION OR MARTYRDOM TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

WE SIGNED UP IN THE BLESSING, WE KNOW THAT, AND LISTEN, WE'RE NOT

WANTING TO BE MARTYRED, ALTHOUGH THE EARLY APOSTLES ACTUALLY

CONSIDERED IT A GREAT HONOR FOR THEM TO BE MARTYRED FOR THE

KINGDOM OF GOD. OKAY, BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WITH IT BECOMES

GREAT RISK BECAUSE WE HAVE TO STAND. COME ON, THOSE MILITARY

SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN STOOD FOR THE AMERICAN FLAG. THEY STOOD

FOR THIS COUNTRY WITH ALL OF ITS GREATS AND ALL ITS FAULTS. AND

CAN WE NOT DO MORE THAN THEY DO AS MEN AND WOMEN IN THE KINGDOM?

AND SO THERE'S THE POTENTIAL THAT WE'D HAVE TO GIVE THE

ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, JUST LIKE THEY KNOW THAT IN THE NATURAL.

AND I WOULD THINK WE FIGHT FOR THAT ALL THE MORE, MORE WITH

GREATER DETERMINATION THAN THEY WOULD. AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW SO

MANY PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY ARE LIKE, I WANNA GO OVER THERE AND

FIGHT FOR MY COUNTRY. I WANNA BE IN THE FRAY. I WANNA

BE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. I'M NOT AFRAID. THEY WANNA

STRAP UP AND GO. WELL, COME ON, CHURCH. USER

FRIENDLY MOVEMENT, WE'RE HIDING BEHIND DONUTS AND MILK. PASTORS

DON'T WANNA PREACH ANYTHING CONTROVERSIAL ANYMORE FROM THE

PULPIT. WE DON'T WANNA TALK ABOUT HELL. WE DON'T WANNA SAY

REPENT. WE DON'T WANNA PREACH ANYTHING THAT'S BOLD AND ASK

PEOPLE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN THEIR LIFE. WE DON'T WANT TO HIT

ANYTHING BECAUSE PEOPLE MIGHT LEAVE AND THEN THE PASTOR'S LEFT

TO PAY FOR A BUILDING. COME ON, WE GOTTA GET BETTER THAN BIG

BUILDINGS AND BIG EQUIPMENT AND PAVING A PARKING LOT. WE ARE THE

PREACHERS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND WE NEED TO PREACH IT WITH

BOLDNESS AND WITHOUT APOLOGY. IT'S NOT JUST THE USER FRIENDLY

PREACHERS. OKAY. TIMOTHY ALSO SAYS THE PEOPLE HAVE ITCHING

EARS SITTING ON THE FRONT ROW. YOU KNOW, HERE'S HOW, HERE'S HOW

YOU DON'T HELP YOUR PASTOR. CAN I HELP YOU IN THIS?

SORRY, I'M ON A RABBIT TRAIL AGAIN. IS THE RAIN OVER? WE'LL

STAY TILL THE RAIN STOPS. I'M ALMOST DONE, ARE YOU READY?

HERE'S HOW YOU DON'T HELP YOUR PASTOR.

(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)

YOU'RE NOT GONNA HELP THE PASTOR PREACH A BOLD MESSAGE WHEN YOU

SIT THERE LOOKING LIKE, WHAT WERE THOSE MUPPETS THAT SAT UP

IN THE BALCONY IN THE... THERE'S ONE FOR THE MEDIA. YOU'RE NOT

GOING TO HELP YOUR PASTOR. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PULL THE

ANOINTING OUT OF HIM OR HER. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PULL OUT THE

POWER OF GOD. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO PULL OUT THEM PREACHING A

KINGDOM MESSAGE THAT COMMANDS CHANGE AND HELPS THE WORLD. COME

ON, GET BORN AGAIN. WE DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR A GOSPEL THAT IS AN

EASY MESSAGE. WE SIGNED UP FOR A GOSPEL THAT HAS A HARD MESSAGE.

THERE IS A HEAVEN TO GAIN AND A HELL TO SHUN. GET ON THE RIGHT

SIDE OF HEAVEN OR YOU'RE GONNA GO TO HELL.

(CONGREGATION CHEERING)

COME ON. SOMEWHERE THAT'S THE GOSPEL WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO.

USED TO BE BACK IN THE OLD DAYS OF PENTECOST, THE PREACHERS

WOULD PREACH SO HARD. FINNEY WOULD PREACH, THE BARS WOULD

CLOSE. PEOPLE WOULD RUN TO THE ALTAR BEFORE THE MESSAGE WAS

OVER, ASKING GOD TO FORGIVE THEM. THEY WERE REPENTING. THEY

CAME INTO THE KINGDOM. PAUL SAID, "WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, WE

ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD." IT'S NOT A ROSE WALK AND A CAKE WALK.

YOU KNOW, "OH, COME IN IF YOU'RE GAY." NOW THEY CAN COME IN,

THAT'S NOT THE ISSUE. BUT ONE SERMON OUGHT TO MAKE THEM

QUESTION IMMEDIATELY THE LIFESTYLE THEY'RE LIVING. WE

SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THREE YEARS AND TWO SUNDAYS FOR

SOMEBODY TO FINALLY FIGURE IT OUT, "IS IT A SIN TO BE A GAY

AND A CHRISTIAN?" NO, THE BIBLE SAYS THE EFFEMINATE WILL GO TO

HELL. OH, THAT'S IN YOUR BIBLE. THAT'S IN YOUR BIBLE. THE BIBLE

CALLS HOMOSEXUALITY AN ABOMINATION BEFORE GOD. I'VE GOT

A NEWSFLASH FOR YOU, MEDIA. GOD HAS NOT CHANGED

HIS MIND. THE MONTH OF JUNE IS NOT PRIDE

MONTH. THE MONTH OF JUNE IS LIFE MONTH.

(CONGREGATION CHEERING)

ALL RIGHT, CLOSING COMMENTS. IT'S GOTTA BE DONE RIGHT NOW,

'CAUSE I'M ALMOST DONE PREACHING. CAN WE BE SAVED FROM

MARTYRDOM? WELL, YEAH, ACTUALLY. IF YOU WANT TO BE, THE EARLY

APOSTLES, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE. PAUL SAID, "I'M GOING TO

JERUSALEM." AGABUS PUT THE BELT ON AND HE SAID, "MAN, THE MAN

THAT GOES UP THERE TO JERUSALEM, "YOU KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO

YOU." HE SAYS, "THAT'S ALL RIGHT, MY TIME HAS COME. "I'M

READY TO BE OFFERED." THINK ABOUT THAT. BUT THEY PRAYED FOR

PETER TO BE SAVED FROM BEING A MARTYR. AT LEAST THEY DELAYED

IT. I THINK PETER WANTED TO BE ONE. YOU KNOW, I THINK THE

APOSTLES LOOKED TO GET IN HARM'S WAY. 'CAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS IN

REVELATION, THERE'S A SPECIAL PLACE FOR THE MARTYRS. BUT PETER

WAS SAVED FROM MARTYRDOM AT THE UNCEASING PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH,

RIGHT? PAUL SAID THIS WORDS, HE SAID IN 2 THESSALONIANS 3, HE

SAID, "PRAY FOR US," RIGHT? PRAY, BRETHREN, PRAY THAT THE

WORD OF THE LORD WOULD HAVE THE LIBERTY TO GO WHEREVER IT NEEDS

TO GO AND BE GLORIFIED. AND PRAY THAT WE WOULD BE DELIVERED FROM

WICKED AND UNREASONABLE MEN, FOR ALL MEN HAVE NOT THE FAITH. SO

PRAY THAT WE WOULD BE DELIVERED. OKAY, PAUL WOULDN'T SAY PRAY TO

BE DELIVERED FROM THAT, BECAUSE HE HAD A MISSION TO ACCOMPLISH.

AMEN. I'VE HEARD MANY STORIES OF MISSIONARIES WHO ANGELS CAME AND

BLINDED THEM, BLINDED THEIR ATTACKERS. COME ON, SAVE PEOPLE?

SO YEAH, WE CAN PRAY THAT. PAUL WAS DELIVERED FROM MARTYRDOM

COUNTLESS TIMES. OKAY, HE SAID, "I WAS SHIPWRECKED. "I SHOULD

HAVE DIED IN THAT STORM. "I WAS FLOATING ON A BOARD IN THE

OCEAN. I WAS BEATEN 40 TIMES, SAVED 40 STRIPES, SAVED ONE." SO

PAUL WAS SAVED FROM MARTYRDOM MANY TIMES. WE SHOULD PRAY THAT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THERE IS A PRICE FOR THIS GREAT

GOSPEL THAT WE PREACH. AMEN. AND THAT'S WHERE WE CAN'T GET SOFT.

THE WORLD WANTS TO JUST BLEND IN AND MAKE IT LIKE, WELL, WE'RE

ALL LIKE YOU AND YOU'RE LIKE US. WE'RE ALL THE SAME. WE ALL LIKE

THE SAME STUFF. NO, WE DON'T. OKAY, THERE'S STUFF IN THE

WORLD. WE GOTTA SAY, NO, I DON'T LIKE THAT 'CAUSE GOD DOESN'T

LIKE THAT. NOW LISTEN, I'M NOT SAYING YOU CAN GET READY TO

STAND. I'M GONNA READ A CLOSING SCRIPTURE. YEAH, GO AHEAD AND

STAND. IT'S OKAY, Y'ALL ACT LIKE, WHAT'S SHE GONNA DO? NO,

I'M NOT SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, MEAN CHURCH, YOU KNOW,

PEOPLE WALK IN THE FRONT DOOR, "ARE YOU

A HOMOSEXUAL? GET DOWN", NOT SAYING

THAT. NO, WE'RE HERE TO BE FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING

AND REACH PEOPLE IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST, BUT WE'RE NOT

COMPROMISING. OKAY, AND PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW RIGHT FROM THE

BEGINNING WHERE YOU STAND. IT SHOULDN'T BE A GUESS. AMEN. AND

I'M NOT JUST SAYING ON THE GAY SUBJECT, ON ALL TOPICS. OKAY, I

LOVE WHAT JUDY SAID. I THINK I PREACHED HER OUT OF THE ROOM.

SHE'S ALWAYS, I LOVE HER. SHE'S LIKE MY SISTER. WE'VE WORKED

TOGETHER IN ACCOUNTING FOR YEARS. SHE'S

AMAZING, BY THE WAY. JUDY, YOU'RE NOT HERE, BUT

THEY'RE GIVING YOU A HAND CLAP RIGHT NOW.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

SHE SAID FOR YEARS, AND PASTOR ANTHONY KNOWS HOW IT GOES,

INVESTIGATE BEFORE YOU PARTICIPATE. JUST 'CAUSE THE

WORLD PRESENTS SOMETHING AND IT SOUNDS KINDA GOOD TO YOUR EARS,

AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S ENOUGH STUFF OUT THERE THAT HAS A BIAS

THAT SPEAKS TO EVERY PERSON. THE DEVIL MAKES SURE OF IT, RIGHT?

OKAY, HE'LL HAVE THE BIAS THAT SPEAKS TO OLD PEOPLE. AH, AND

THEN YOU'LL BE, YOU KNOW, YOU LISTEN TO ALL THAT, AND THEN

YOU'LL BE LIKE, "AH, THEM YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY'RE ALL REBELLIOUS."

OKAY, YOUNG PEOPLE LISTEN AND THEY THINK ALL THE OLD PEOPLE

ARE JUST STUPID AND WASHED UP. WE GOTTA BE CAREFUL WITH THE

MESSAGES THAT GET FED INTO OUR HEARING. SO THE PERSECUTION OF

THE GOSPEL. SO WHAT DO WE LEARN TODAY? WE LIVE IN A FALLEN

WORLD, OKAY? AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAPPEN AND WE NEED

TO BE WITH GOD, PUTTING THAT WORD IN US, STANDING. DON'T JUST

ASSUME, STAND IN THE WORD, BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, LIVE RIGHT FOR

GOD. EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND THE SECOND IS THAT THERE IS THE

PERSECUTION OF THE GOSPEL, OKAY? SO GET USED TO IT. THEY MIGHT

WRITE AN ARTICLE ABOUT YOUR CHURCH. RIGHT? I'M NOT SAYING WE

DON'T SPEAK UP. OH, BELIEVE ME, WE'LL SPEAK UP. BUT THE KEY IS,

IS THE WORLD HATED JESUS, IT'S GONNA HATE YOU. AND THAT MAY

MEAN THAT THERE'S SOME FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT YOU'RE JUST NOT

GONNA, HMM, RIGHT? HAVE YOU GOT A LOT OUT OF THIS TODAY?

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

LET ME GIVE YOU MY CLOSING SCRIPTURE AND THEN PASTOR KEITH

WILL MAKE HIS WAY HERE. THIS IS ROMANS 5 FROM THE NEW LIVING.

THIS WILL GIVE YOU ENCOURAGEMENT. "THEREFORE, SINCE

WE HAVE BEEN MADE RIGHT IN GOD'S SIGHT BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE."

SO HAVE PEACE TODAY IN THIS WORLD WHERE THERE'S THINGS THAT

HAPPEN AND THERE'S ADVERSITY. HAVE PEACE. WE HAVE PEACE WITH

GOD BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD, HAS DONE FOR

US. AND BECAUSE OF OUR FAITH, SOMEBODY SAY FAITH. CHRIST HAS

BROUGHT US INTO THIS PLACE OF UNDESERVED PRIVILEGE. NO MATTER

WHAT YOU GO THROUGH, YOU ARE IN A PLACE OF PRIVILEGE ABOVE

ANYBODY ELSE BECAUSE YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD. DON'T EVER FORGET

THAT. "UNDESERVED PRIVILEGE WHERE NOW WE STAND AND WE

CONFIDENTLY AND JOYFULLY LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING IN GOD'S

GLORY", AND I BELIEVE THAT'S IN THE EARTH. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I

WOULD JUST SAY? KEEP YOUR EYES ON ETERNITY. OKAY, ALL OF THE

PEOPLE THAT ASKED THE QUESTIONS AND THE WHY AND WENT THROUGH THE

SUFFERINGS OF THIS LIFE AND THINGS HAPPENED AND THEY DIDN'T

KNOW THE REASON. THOSE THAT ARE IN HEAVEN ARE NOW GOING, "OH NO,

LIFE IS BUT A VAPOR. LIFE IS BUT A VAPOR." KEEP YOUR EYES ON HIM.

LET ME READ YOU THE NEXT ONE AND WE'LL CLOSE WITH THIS. "FOR WE

CAN REJOICE TOO THAT WHEN WE RUN INTO PROBLEMS AND TRIALS, FOR WE

KNOW THAT THEY WILL HELP US DEVELOP ENDURANCE." THAT'S WHAT

JAMES 1 SAYS, RIGHT? "AND THAT ENDURANCE WILL DEVELOP STRENGTH

OF CHARACTER AND CHARACTER STRENGTHENS OUR CONFIDENT HOPE

IN SALVATION. AND THIS HOPE WILL NOT LEAD TO DISAPPOINTMENT. FOR

WE KNOW HOW DEARLY GOD LOVES US." DON'T EVER FORGET THAT GOD

LOVES YOU. WHEN YOU'RE FACING A SITUATION, YOU'RE BATTLING

THROUGH SOMETHING, GOD LOVES YOU. HE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT YOU.

HE DEARLY LOVES US BECAUSE HE'S GIVEN US HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO FILL

OUR HEARTS WITH HIS LOVE. I PRAY THIS WAS A BLESSING TO YOU. WE

LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT SUFFERING, BUT IN EVERY KIND OF

SUFFERING, GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS PROMISES SO THAT WE CAN

STAND IN FAITH TO BE DELIVERED IN JESUS' NAME. I

LOVE YOU VERY MUCH. PASTOR KEITH.

(CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)

AMEN AND AMEN. NOW BEFORE YOU ALL RUN OFF AND ENJOY

THIS WEEK OF CELEBRATION, LET'S GIVE JUST A MOMENT TO THE LORD

AND THE ATTENTION TO THE PLAN THAT HE HAS. BECAUSE THERE MIGHT

BE SOMEONE HERE AND THERE MIGHT BE SOMEONE OUT ONLINE THAT HAS

HEARD THESE WORDS AND GOES, "BUT I'M SCARED. I'M AFRAID." THEY

MIGHT BE LIVING WITH NOT KNOWING JESUS AS LORD, NOT KNOWING WHERE

THEIR LIFE IS. AND IN THE MIDST OF THAT UNCERTAINTY, IN THE

MIDST OF THAT DILEMMA IN THEM RIGHT NOW, THEY MIGHT BE SAYING,

WHAT DO I DO? WHAT DO I DO? I WANNA UNDERSTAND THIS. BECAUSE

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHEN YOU'RE BORN OF GOD, IT'S A WHOLE

'NOTHER LEVEL OF LIFE. WHEN YOU'RE BORN OF GOD, IT'S A WHOLE

'NOTHER PROSPECT OF LIFE. IT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT LIFE. AND THE

MORE YOU GET INVOLVED WITH THAT LIFE, THE BIGGER IT GETS. IT

GETS TO THE PLACE, LIKE PAUL, WHO HE GOT TO THE PLACE WHERE HE

SAID, "I NO LONGER LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME." SO FOR

SOMEBODY OUT THERE ONLINE OR EVEN HERE, IF YOU'RE SENSING

FEAR, APPREHENSION, UNCERTAINTY, TODAY'S YOUR DAY TO MAKE A

CHOICE. TODAY'S YOUR DAY TO SAY, I BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE ONE

WHO DIED FOR ME. AND MAKE A TURNAROUND. AND THE BIBLE SAYS

YOU'LL BE BORN OF GOD. AND WHEN YOU'RE BORN OF GOD, THEN THAT

LIFE BEGINS TO LIVE IN YOU AND THROUGH YOU AND WITH YOU. AND

YOU CAN GET EXCITED ABOUT LIFE. BECAUSE YOU SEE, AS SHE SAID, IT

INTERESTS ME WHEN YOU READ ABOUT THE APOSTLES, THEY WERE EXCITED

ABOUT LIFE. ON THIS SIDE AND ON THAT SIDE AT THE SAME TIME. SO

THAT'S WHY WHEN IT'S FINISHED HERE, I'M STILL LIVING. WHEN I'M

FINISHED HERE, I'M STILL GOING ON. AMEN. SO STOP BEING SO

CONCERNED ABOUT LIVING HERE AND LIVE HERE.

SO THERE MIGHT BE SOMEONE OUT THERE IS UNCERTAIN ABOUT. SO

LET'S MAKE IT REAL. IF YOU'RE HERE AND YOU STILL HAVE THAT

FEAR, JUST RAISE YOUR HAND TO HEAVEN AND SAY, "I WANT, I WANT

THE FULL EXPRESSION OF GOD'S PRESENCE AND HIS FORGIVENESS."

AND IF YOU'RE HERE AND YOU FEEL UNCERTAIN ABOUT YOUR SALVATION

BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU'RE DOING AND LIVING IN RIGHT NOW,

THEN IT'S TIME TO REPENT AND SAY, I NEED THE FULLNESS OF THAT

LIFE LIVING IN ME. MAKE THAT DECISION FOR HIM. AND THE ALTER

TEENS ARE GOING TO BE COMING RIGHT UP HERE RIGHT NOW AND

THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR YOU. AND ALSO IF YOU HAVE ANY

NEED, THEY'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR YOU. BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE

GOING TO PRAY THIS PRAYER TOGETHER AND ANYONE OUT THERE

ONLINE CAN PRAY IT AND YOU CAN BELIEVE TODAY'S YOUR DAY OF

LIFE. PRAY IT WITH ME. I BELIEVE JESUS CHRIST DIED ON THE CROSS,

ROSE FROM THE DEAD. I BELIEVE HE'S SEATED IN HEAVEN AND I

BELIEVE BECAUSE OF HIS LIFE, I NOW CAN LIVE. I SAY JESUS IS

LORD AND I BELIEVE I HAVE HIS LIFE RIGHT NOW. I'M ALIVE, I'M

ALIVE IN CHRIST JESUS RIGHT NOW AND I WILL TESTIFY TO THAT TRUTH

EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE. NOW IF YOU'RE OUT THERE ONLINE YOU CAN

CALL THAT NUMBER AND YOU CAN BE TELL SOMEONE ABOUT THAT NEW LIFE

EXPERIENCE. IF YOU HAVE A PRAYER NEED AND YOU HAVE OR NEED TO

SHARE ANYTHING, THEY'RE HERE. THEY WILL PRAY WITH YOU.

FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR THE LIFE WE LIVE IN CHRIST JESUS.

LET US LIVE IT BOLD AND STRONG, THIS DAY AND

EVERY DAY, TO YOUR GLORY, AMEN. YOU'RE DISMISSED.

(MUSIC)