Which Lion Will You Believe?

Come on, give the Lord some praise in this place.

Amen.

How many of you know that our God inhabits the praises of his people?

The God that we serve, he inhabits the praises of his people.

David said, I once was young, and now I'm old, and I've never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread.

Amen.

How many of you believe that today?

Come on, can you give God a shout if he's done anything in your life?

Can you give God a crazy shout in this place?

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

I don't know about you, but I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.

I love being in God's house.

I love being in the church.

Amen.

Well, I know you guys are standing.

My name's Brandon.

I have the amazing privilege of serving as the campus pastor at our Wilkett location.

Uh and they were tuning in for the 9 a.m.

I just want to welcome all of those that are joining us online.

Hopefully, you are experiencing God's presence right where you're watching.

But I'm so glad to be here.

Can we give it up for our lead pastors?

Pastors Frank and Lisa Santora.

And I also want to say thank you to our worship team who leads us into the presence of the Lord.

Amen.

They are awesome.

They are awesome.

Well, let's go on and dive right into the word.

I have a word that the Lord dropped in my spirit that I believe will hopefully encourage you, stir your faith, and cause you to walk out of this place changed.

Amen.

Do you believe that?

Well, go on and take your Bibles out.

If you're in need of a paper Bible, just raise your hand and our amazing ushers will assist you.

Amen.

How many of you know that the word of God is God breathed?

It was written by men, but it was inspired by the Holy Spirit.

And every word that God has spoken, we believe it and we receive it and we walk in it.

Amen.

Well, let's say it like we believe it.

Let's make our Bible confession.

Ready?

One, two, three.

This is my Bible.

It is my primary source of spiritual nourishment.

I will read it every day and become all that God wants me to be.

My mind will be renewed, my life will be transformed.

I will become fully surrendered to Christ.

Therefore, I will hide his word in my heart so I can be all that God has destined me to be.

Amen.

You guys sound wonderful.

I think y'all are ready for the choir.

Come on, somebody.

Amen.

Amen.

Let us travel to the book of 1 Peter, chapter 5.

1 Peter 5 · chapter mention

1 Peter, chapter 5.

1 Peter 5 · chapter mention

If you've been coming to Bible study on Wednesdays, I know we've been covering this at the Wilkins campus as well.

We've been in the book of 1 and 2 Peter.

And so this probably will not be a scripture that you've heard for the first time, but nonetheless, there's something that stood out to me as I read this particular passage of scripture.

1 Peter chapter 5, and I'm going to begin reading from verse 8.

1 Peter 5 · chapter mention

We are continuing in our sermon series: lions and giants and bears, but God.

How many of you know there is a but God in your situation?

They're talking about layoffs, but God.

They're wanting to end the marriage, but God.

My children are out there, but God.

I believe, but God.

You are able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we could ever ask or think.

There is a but God in this house.

Amen.

1 Peter chapter 5.

1 Peter 5 · chapter mention

I'm reading from the New King James Version.

If you would like to follow along exactly, but in 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 8, be sober.

1 Peter 5:8

Amen.

Hopefully we're all in that place right now.

Come on, somebody.

Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, walks about like.

Somebody say like a roaring lion.

Not an actual roaring lion, but like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Verse 9: resist him steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

You're not alone in this man of God.

You're not alone in this, my sister in Christ.

You're not the only one going through this.

And if you would just learn that you are better together than separated.

Come on, somebody.

We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

But may the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.

To him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever amen.

I want to speak to you today from the subject matter.

Which lion will you believe?

Which lion will you believe?

Because one is a counterfeit, but one is the real thing.

One is masquerading as having actual power, and the power that they possess, they possess it because sometimes we can allow them to walk in it.

But when you know who you are, you can do great exploits for the kingdom of God.

And that's what I came to encourage you with today.

And my prayer is that lies would be exposed in this place.

Whatever you walked in this room, caring, whatever you walked in this room, believing, I pray when you go through those doors, I'm not believing this lie no longer.

I'm drawing a line in the sand.

The devil is a liar.

I will believe the report of the Lord.

Let us pray.

Father, I thank you, Lord, for your word.

Thank you for everyone that is gathered here.

Thank you for the faith that is in this room.

The faith to move mountains, the faith to destroy the lies and the pitfalls that the enemy tries to throw in front of us.

God, we are more than victorious in you.

I pray, Lord, that you would use me as your servant.

I pray that the Holy Spirit would bring illumination and understanding in this house, and that we would truly be transformed by your word.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

You guys can be seated.

Thank you so much for standing.

Somebody once said, and you've probably heard this before, that fear can almost be like an acronym.

Fear.

False evidence appearing real.

False evidence appearing real.

How many of you know that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen?

Listen to this.

I was thinking about an illustration.

Most of you know that I come from Texas, and when I first moved here, I came to realize that there's not a whole lot of street lights in some of these small towns.

And so you can stumble upon some things if you're not aware of it as you're going for a stroll at night.

Maybe that's just me, but uh it would be expedient for you to take a flashlight with you or a phone light just in case.

But imagine you're walking down a dark path and you see what looks like a snake.

A snake.

Your heart races, you freeze, you even run away.

Then someone shines a flashlight on it only to discover it is just a rope.

And it is not a snake.

Praise the Lord.

Nothing changed about the object.

The only thing that changed was the light.

Come on now.

Fear convinced you that something false was true.

God's word is like the flashlight, it exposes reality.

Many of our fears lose their power when the light of God's truth shines upon it.

That's why the Bible says in Psalm 119, verse 105, that your word is a lamp unto my feet and it is a light unto my path.

Psalms 119:105

Something I discovered as I first understood this scripture.

If you ever have been in a hotel before, when you go inside your hotel room, there is typically on the wall by the door or by the entrance to the room a map.

And this map is given to help you identify where the emergency exits are in the event that something happens.

But that map does no bit of good unless you know where you currently are.

So thank God that there's a dot that's on that map so that I know where I am and I know where I'm going.

That's how God's word is.

It's gonna expose, it's gonna bring to light where you are because I have come to realize there have been times in my life where I thought I was doing good in a particular area, but the word of God told me something different.

I thought that I was progressing and I was, and I, and maybe I was teetering on the line of thinking that I had somehow arrived, but the word of God exposed something else.

See, sanctification is a process.

You don't become like Christ overnight, it is a process where God smooths out the rough the rough edges and he makes you more and more like his son every day.

So if you have come to the place where you think that you have arrived or there isn't more to conquer, the word of God tells you something different.

There is more to conquer, there is more to overcome, there is more to discovering your sonship in Christ.

And when I speak of sonship, I'm not talking about gender, I'm talking about position.

Because when you realize that you are positionally perfect in Him, even though you struggle transitionally, if I'm falling, it is an indication I've lost sight of my position.

Because when you know who you are, you won't date just anybody.

When you know who you are, you won't apply just for any job.

When you know who you are, you won't listen to every voice because I know who I am.

You know your position.

Peter understood this.

Peter had a similar experience when he walked on the water.

And by the way, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he is the author of our main text.

Peter walked on the water while his eyes were fixed on Jesus.

But when he focused on the wind and the waves, fear took over.

Lest you point the finger, sometimes our eyes can wander.

Sometimes our mind can be preoccupied with things that are trying to tear down our faith.

We must be careful.

See, you gotta understand the waves, they were real.

Because God is able to keep you.

Last I checked, you're in the palm of his hands, and no one can pluck you out.

Last I checked in Philippians 1 6, it says, He that has begun a good work in you shall complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Last I checked, he said that he was going to prepare a place for me.

He is the bridegroom, I am the bride, and he's given me the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that he's coming back to get me.

Because the Holy Spirit serves as a down payment or as an engagement ring that he's not leaving me to myself.

But he's coming back for me.

Fear caused Peter to trust the storm more than the Savior.

In our main text, Peter the Apostle of Jesus Christ, he's writing to a group of believers living in five different provinces.

These believers discovered a life lived for God is often a life of many difficulties and challenges.

Some of their troubles came from their neighbors, while some came from governing authorities.

But God.

Peter wrote to these Christians to encourage them, to explain to them why suffering occurs and to remind them of their eternal reward at the end of this earthy life.

Friends, you do realize that all of us have to stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

And this is not a judgment to determine whether or not we will get into heaven because that decision is made the moment you trust in Christ.

But it is a judgment to determine the rewards that you will receive for what you did for the Lord when you were here on this planet.

And I'm here to tell you, God is also checking your motives.

Lord, this is my prayer.

Search my heart, God.

Everything that I do, may it be pure, everything that I say, Lord, may it be seasoned with grace, and may I understand that I need you, that you are my strong tower.

As the letter draws to a close, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and I want to make that plain, Peter gives a warning and an admonition in 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 8, by saying, Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5:8

When I read this verse, and this is what happens when you begin to engage in Bible study, and maybe some of you can testify to this, when you're reading the word, there are certain words that will stand out to you.

There are things that will jump off the page, and I've discovered over a period of time it's my job to go dig, it's my job to ask questions, not with a lack of honor, but with the lack of respect.

Lord, show me.

Show me what it is that you're trying to reveal to me in this moment, and I want you to understand something.

You don't have to be up here preaching to receive that kind of revelation.

The same spirit that resides in me is the same spirit that resides in you.

And the same word that I'm exposed to is the same word that you're exposed to as well.

So don't buy in to the lie if you don't have a theology degree or if you are not up here preaching that God can't use you, because last I checked, the Samaritan woman didn't have a degree either, and yet she was used of the Lord to share her testimony.

But at the same time, it would be helpful to get that degree, though.

And we have a school to help you grow in your walk with God called Faith Bible Training Institute.

Amen.

Amen.

But I've read this verse many times, and the Lord pressed upon me to investigate the roaring of a lion, which I've never done before.

Listen to this lions roar primarily to communicate over long distances.

Over long distances.

It's not that they're in the midst of their prey, but they want their prey to be trembling in fear, knowing that they could come at any moment.

See, one of the things that you're gonna discover as I go through this, you may assume that I'm talking about the enemy, but what I want you to understand is there is another lion that's also roaring as well.

Let me get to that.

Let me get to that.

Their roar is one of the loudest vocalizations among big cats and can be heard up to eight kilometers, five miles away under favorable conditions.

Now, do you understand why the worry comes?

Now do you understand why sometimes we allow the stress to take us over, but we have to come into the knowledge of the truth.

Are you with me?

Lions are most likely to roar at dawn, at dusk, or during the night when cooler air helps sound travel farther.

This wasn't even in my notes, but God dropped this in my spirit in the 9 a.m.

Isn't it amazing when the enemy tacks the most at night?

Why is it that I can go throughout the whole day?

But sometimes when I put my head on that pillow, there are all sorts of thoughts that can run through my mind.

But you know what?

I've come to discover pain may endure for a nighttime, but joy comes in the morning.

So even though I'm experiencing some difficulty or some challenges, I know what God's word has to say.

Something that Pastor Rich Perez ministered once, and it's always stood out to me.

I know many of you, you spend time in the Word of God, and we're proud of you for making that effort to spend time in God's Word, but there's something to be said about when you get in the Word.

Something that He taught me was that the Word of God was the first thing that his eyes see when he gets up in the morning, and the last thing that his eyes see before he goes to bed.

Because the word of God does not return unto God void, but it will accomplish what he pleases and prosper in the thing for which he sent it.

If you are struggling to sleep, I would ask you, what are you doing before you sleep?

I would ask you what's occupying your mind because the scripture says that he gives his beloved rest.

And I'm not just talking about a rest when you lay your head down, even though that's something you can receive as well.

But I've also discovered that there's a Sabbath day rest in Jesus.

How many of you know that the Sabbath day was never meant to be a day, but it was meant to be a place in him?

Come on, somebody a place in him that we can enter into when the storms of life are raging.

Can I preach this thing?

What really amazed me is what I discovered next.

Lions roar for several important reasons.

Number one, to defend their territory.

A roaring lion warns rival lions that an area is already occupied, helping avoid unnecessary fights.

See, the enemy is lying about the territory that he owns, but when Jesus roars, we got to understand that I've been bought with the price.

I'm the temple of the Holy Spirit.

So it's a different war.

It's not a fake, it's not a copy, it's the real thing.

Also, to display strength, a deep, powerful roar signals the lion's size and fitness, which can discourage rivals from challenging it.

That's why you got to get his word in your mouth and not your own.

You got to get his word in your mouth, and you gotta open your mouth when you are being tempted and stand your ground.

I'm speaking from experience.

Interestingly, they don't roar while stalking prey because remaining silent gives them a better chance of making a successful hunt.

You know what's interesting?

The enemy can sometimes roar from afar.

And what's interesting as well is God is sometimes silent because the teacher is silent when the test is being given.

But even though the test is being given, the reservoir of faith that has been built up over time is what sustains you through that trial.

See, you gotta stay in the word whether things are up or whether things are down.

And to be honest with you, it's never down in God, even though it may seem that way.

Because God is always moving beneath the surface, and all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.

But this brings me to a point.

But it's the competing lion's silence that causes them to fall victim as prey.

This brings me to my first point.

Surrender to the lion of Judah to overcome the fear tactics of the enemy.

You do know that there is a real lion.

And his name is Jesus.

Let me break this down for you.

A prophetic declaration is spoken in Genesis 49 9, and in the New Living Translation, it says, Judah, which was one of Jacob's sons, my son.

Son is a young lion that has finished eating its prey.

Like a lion, he crouches and lies down like a lioness who dares to rouse him.

See, you got to understand something.

When God speaks, he speaks generationally.

Oh, can I break this down?

In God's eyes, there were only two men created, and everyone else was born in them.

You had the first one, Adam, the first man Adam, and when he died, or when he sinned against God, sin and death entered into the world, and all of us inherited a sin nature.

But I thank God for the last Adam.

I thank God for the Roman soldier that pierced his side, because the Bible says out of his side came blood and water.

Why blood and water?

Because blood signifies a new covenant on the horizon.

And water for and water signifies a new birth.

See, the thing with Jesus was he realized that we were already dead.

And so, in order to bring his bride back to life, he had to die.

There was one man who died from sin, one man who died in sin, and the middle man died for sin.

And it was through his death and resurrection that we have life.

But this was a prophetic declaration.

God spoke to Abraham in Genesis 12 that he would make his name great, that he would be a blessing.

Through him, all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

But Abraham understood something.

How is this going to transpire when I am childless?

He understood that the promise was not just for him, but it was for a future seed.

And he was namely thinking, and he didn't maybe didn't even know it at the time, about Jesus.

But nonetheless, he embraced it afar off.

Are you still with me?

But he had a son, most of you know, and his son's name was Isaac, and then Isaac had a son, and his name was Jacob, and then you had the 12 tribes of Israel that were formed.

But there was a son by the name of Judah, and when Jacob was about to die, he spoke over his children and prophetically spoke something into motion, and it was about this lion.

Then it begins to pick up with David.

Centuries later, David from the tribe of Judah became Israel's great king.

God prophesied or promised to David in 2 Samuel chapter 7 that one of his descendants would reign on an everlasting throne, and that promise ultimately points to Jesus.

2 Samuel 7 · chapter mention

Then in Revelation 5.5, after Jesus has died, after he has been buried, after he's risen from the grave, in Revelation 5.5, we see the ultimate fulfillment of that promise.

And listen to this.

But one of the elders said to me, Do not weep.

Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.

People of God, I want you to understand something.

The title, The Lion of Judah, is one of the most powerful names given to Jesus Christ in the Bible.

It conveys his kingship, his authority, his victory, and his rightful rule.

You want to know the essence of discipleship is discovering who you are and who he is and what has been bequeathed unto you through an inheritance.

See, Peter said everything that you need that pertains to life and godliness, God has given it to you.

So if you aren't experiencing it, it could be not that the promise is ready and available, waiting to be used, but you have to find out what that promise is.

Because once you go to God's word and you discover what you are rightfully supposed to walk in, you won't allow his lies and schemes to take you under any longer.

And I've come to discover this because he's lied to me many, many times.

And he is the father of lies, but the word of God exposes every lie.

You know, the word of God, it's like an instrument in a doctor's hand.

There is technology that is used to sometimes go inside of a person to detect anything that shouldn't be there.

Whether it is a disease, whether it is a lump, whether it is bacteria, do you know that's what the word of God does?

The word of God, the Bible says in Hebrews 4.12 that every creature is naked and exposed to Him to whom we must give an account.

See, sometimes you can watch something on TV and a lie can be deposited on the inside.

Sometimes you can go on to social media and a lie can be deposited on the inside.

Sometimes you can get around certain people and they speak over your life, and before you know it, and without you even realizing it, you have bought into a lie.

But guess what?

If you would just go to the source, if you would just make it a point, I'm gonna spend time in God's word every day.

I'm not gonna rely on yesterday's manna, but I know that there's new manna for me every day.

That lie will come to the surface.

What are some of these lies that the enemy has spoken to us?

I won't have to, I won't be able to have a child again.

I won't be able to love again.

I'm not able to go to college because no one in my family went to college, debt-free, by the way.

I won't be able to perform on this job because of my speech impediment or because of my learning disability.

Can I tell you something?

I had a learning disability and a speech impediment, and I stand up here today to let you know that God takes the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.

See, the devil may roar like a lion to create fear, but as believers, we know the lion of the tribe of Judah and his name is Jesus.

My second point is this the roar of the enemy is only effective against those who don't know who they are, who don't know who they are.

As believers, a believer's growth may be hindered or halted by three distinct enemies: the devil, the world, and the flesh.

The devil, the world, and the flesh.

When lions hunt, listen to this.

They look for weak, young, isolated, and unguarded animals.

They are the ones marked for attack.

Now I understand why Proverbs chapter 18, verse 1 says, a man shall not isolate himself.

Proverbs 18:1

A man who isolates himself rages against all wise judgment.

I know I'm speaking to the choir because you're here in this room, but I want to challenge you to come to church on a regular basis.

It is in our MO sometimes when we're going through something to isolate ourselves.

And I and let me tell you this: sometimes this is necessary to get alone with God.

Sometimes you have to quiet the noise, sometimes you have to fast and pray and just get alone with God.

But in many cases, as I've worked with believers, there is a tendency, and it is the trick of the enemy to get you all by yourself.

Watch this.

The Bible is emphatically clear that we need each other.

The Bible is emphatically clear about the necessity of a pastor.

And I say this all the time at Wilkett: even a pastor needs a pastor.

You can't operate in a realm of authority unless you are submitted to authority.

And I thank God for my pastor over there because he's not just your pastor, but he's my pastor.

And I know that there are several home churches that maybe have popped up and people teaching and thinking that they're doing everything unto themselves, an island unto themselves.

But my question would be: who is your covering?

Because how are you able to teach?

Even Jesus Himself said, Not my will, but your will be done.

So if the Son of God was submitted to his father, what makes you think that you aren't called to submit?

And I've learned something.

Men of God, I have learned something.

One of the most liberating things that you can experience is being submitted to another man.

One of the most liberating experiences that you can have happen to you is submitting yourself.

And what do I mean?

Sometimes you gotta have somebody that can get in your grill.

Sometimes you gotta have somebody that can look you straight in the face and say, bro, you wrong.

You are straight up wrong.

Shut your mouth and go back and do what you gotta do.

Sometimes you gotta have somebody talk to you and say, you know what?

You're not serious enough about this.

Jesus said, if your right hand offends you, cut it off.

He said it's better to enter into heaven lame or than to enter into hell with all your body parts.

In other words, what he meant is, do whatever it takes.

If I love God, I'm gonna do whatever it takes because I want to be pleasing to him.

I'm not just doing this to to to to make good uh or or or to put on a front in front of my pastor or in front of these people.

I'm doing this because I love you, God.

I'm staying pure because I love you.

I'm not having sex before marriage because I love you.

I'm doing it your way because I love you.

I'm not conniving, I'm not cheating on people, I'm operating with integrity because I love you.

And the Bible says, Don't grow weary in well-doing, for in due season you will reap a harvest if you faint not.

I know you see everybody else prospering.

I know you see everybody else.

They're getting married, they're getting advances on the job, and maybe you're saying to yourself, Lord, where is my breakthrough?

But you know what?

Somebody else was in that same predicament, and his name was Asap in Psalm 73.

But he said, When I went into the sanctuary, then I discovered their end.

When I went into the sanctuary and I discovered that what I am facing now pales in comparison to what to what is going to be revealed in the future.

See, our outward man is perishing, but our inward man is being renewed day by day.

I know you see me on the outside, but God's doing something beneath the surface.

I know you see these attacks.

See, this is why Pastor Frank was trying to encourage you to praise and worship the Lord because you don't realize what power you have at your disposal when you praise him, when you worship him.

Let me give you an example.

Come on, somebody.

Let me give you an example.

There was a woman in Matthew chapter 15 whose daughter was grievously vexed with the devil.

Matthew 15 · chapter mention

And the Bible says that she sought Jesus because she was determined.

And I thank God for moms that are determined.

Come on, somebody.

I thank God for some mothers that are determined to see a breakthrough in their child.

The Bible doesn't make it clear how she got entangled in this mess, but at this point it didn't matter.

I just need a breakthrough.

So she sought Jesus, and the Bible says Jesus answered her, not a word.

And the Bible says that she began to worship him.

Take note of this.

Jesus didn't answer her, but she still decided to worship him.

I didn't hear anything, I didn't get anything, but I'm still gonna worship you.

The breakthrough didn't come in the amount of time that I was looking for it to come, but I still will worship you.

I still will praise you.

Because to be quite frank, and maybe you're not at this place, and I wasn't either, but I've come to a place.

You don't have to do another thing in my life.

The fact that you are God and that you're a God alone and there's none like you, that is enough.

But the Bible says that she began to worship him.

And if, if, if, if, hear me clearly, if God had a weakness, it would be for worship.

Because when you come and worship God, man, he will move on your behalf, especially when it's a sacrificial praise, especially when you have nothing to go off but his faithfulness.

Lord, I know that you will do this.

So she began to worship him.

And Jesus said, It's not meek to give the children's bread to the dog, it's not meek to give what was given to the Jews, to the Gentiles.

But she said, I may be a dog, but even the dogs can eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table.

And Jesus said, I have never seen such great faith like this.

And in that very hour, her daughter was healed.

See, you got to understand there was power in your worship.

And you may be a man in this place, and I was in that same place.

Man, I'm not raising my hand, I'm not getting all emotional like the women in here.

Like no, I'm not doing that.

But see, you gotta understand some of it.

There were other men that got vulnerable before the Lord.

One of them was David.

He knew how to tear the head off of a giant, but he also knew how to cry before the Lord.

And sometimes you gotta be willing to tap into your emotions, even as a man, because God deserves it.

And I had to come to that understanding.

I also couldn't be turned off by the song because I'm gonna be real with y'all.

When I first got saved, all I listened to was rap and RB.

So when you came at me with some contemporary, nah, I can't get down with that.

But you know what?

I had to understand.

If it's speaking about Jesus, I'm all for it.

And as I begin to broaden my horizons, I don't care who's singing it, as long as it's lifting up the Lord and it's glorifying him, I can enter right in.

If it's a Chinese church, I can enter in.

If it's an Indian church, I can enter in.

If it's whatever church and they're worshiping Jesus, I can enter in.

Don't be photo, don't allow the song or whatever trips you up to keep you from what God has in store for you.

Peter, knowing the circumstances of the readers of his letter we're facing, he wanted them to know the devil wants to get us to bow to circumstances, to pressures or forces of his evil design, hoping thereby to make us yield to him.

Can I take a survey in the room?

How many of you are experiencing pressure right now?

You got a decision that has to be made very soon.

In fact, that decision may have to be made before tomorrow.

There is pressure that is mounting.

And there are a lot of pressures that we face that we face, but the truth is, God says, cast your cares upon me.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Even with what you're going through, you can steal away and experience a rest.

Because as I said earlier, it's not a day, but it's a place.

And in him I move, live, and have my being.

He is my rest.

I don't have to wait till Saturday.

If I'm facing something on Monday, if I'm facing something on Tuesday, you can enter into that rest.

But watch this.

This is why we're called to be sober and vigilant.

But what does this mean?

The Greek word for sober translates to be sober-minded or be watchful or self-controlled.

Guys, and I say this carefully.

I may step on some toes here.

All things are permissible, but not all things are profitable.

It may be legal in Connecticut, but is it authorized by God?

Because God is a jealous God.

He doesn't want anything taking his place.

I know the weed may serve a temporary purpose, but what about me?

Am I not the rock?

Am I not the well that never runs dry?

Am I not the living bread?

Why is it you have to run to that but can't run to me?

When it comes to alcohol, I know the very like the Bible's very clear on not getting drunk.

But even when it comes to having a casual glass of wine, why am I looking to that wine to ease stress when I can go into my prayer closet?

And it may not be those two things, it may be something else.

And I'm not here to judge you, I'm here to lift you up that there is a God who is seated high but he looks low.

There is a God who can sympathize with all of your weaknesses, there is a God that we serve.

And even Job in the Old Testament, experiencing so many trials, he utters in Job chapter 9.

Job 9 · chapter mention

If only I had a mediator.

If only I had a go-between, somebody that could plead my case.

Guess what, people of God, you have a mediator in his name is Jesus.

And not only is he a mediator, he is your high priest.

And the only way he could be qualified to be a high priest is if he walked in your shoes.

And baby, he walked in your shoes.

He knows what it's like to be betrayed by somebody you love, Judas.

He knows what it's like to lose a loved one, Lazarus.

He knows what it's like to be wrongfully convicted, he knows what it's like to be abused, he knows what it's like to be lied on, and more importantly, he knows what it's like to receive a father's love.

Because before he performed any miracle or did any sign, he received a word from his dad.

This is my son in whom I am well pleased.

Man of God, and I've had to learn this.

There's power in my words.

Life and death is in the power of your words.

Your family, your spouse, your children.

They thrive off of your word.

Can I get an amen?

So he says, be vigilant.

In Matthew 28, 18, Jesus said, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

With this understanding and being in Christ, we have great authority and power.

You do know when Adam and Eve sinned, not only did sin and death enter into the world, but they lost their dominion.

They lost their authority.

Watch this.

When Jesus was being tempted by the devil, some of you might remember the devil took Jesus on a mountain and told him, All of these kingdoms I will give you.

Which means he had some sort of authority over them.

I will give you if you bow down and worship me.

But see, Jesus understood that there was a plan that was on the horizon.

See, this is how you overcome the enemy.

I'm not buying into your lives because I know in whom I have trusted.

And I know that he that has begun this work in me will finish it.

And so I know there's a promise on the horizon, and that promise was that he would eventually restore what the enemy tried to take or stole.

And that was the authority that we can now walk in.

That's why when Jesus says, All authority has been given unto me in heaven and on earth, you need to know who your real enemy is.

The Bible says we wrestle not against flesh and blood.

We don't wrestle against uh like we wrestle against principalities and rulers of the of the darkness, wickedness and high places.

Stop thinking the human being in front of you is your enemy and fight the real enemy.

And how you fight him is on your knees.

How you fight him is in the word, how you fight him is through prayer, through worship, through spending time with him.

As I said earlier, the roar of a lion is to establish territory.

Now I have to get moving.

Never forget the roar of the enemy is like a lion, whereas the lion of Judah's roar is genuine, it's real and it demands submission to any opposing lion.

God's word is true and it will not come back to him void.

What territory, listen to this, what territory has God called you to conquer, but the roar of the enemy has left you paralyzed with fear?

What territory?

The territory of sonship in Christ, He's called you to it, the territory of sharing your faith and not walking in fear, the territory of walking in divine health and not buying into the lie of hereditary diseases, the territory of financial breakthrough, the territory of a thriving marriage, the territory of trusting the advice of those who love you versus walking in pride.

The territory of walking in forgiveness to experience God's bountiful blessings, the territory of breaking generational mindsets, the territory of stepping out in faith.

The enemy knows once you discover who you are, it's over.

One of the travesties that I see, and it's become a passion of my wife and I working with married couples, is resolving just to be roommates.

I'm gonna speak to that in this place.

That's not God's best.

You may be doing it for the kids, you may be doing it for financial reasons, but I'm here to tell you that's not God's best.

God has called you to have a thriving marriage.

And if you've just resolved to be roommates where one of you is over here, one of you is over there, there's no intimacy, there's no love, the devil is a liar.

It doesn't have to be that way.

And I'm not saying that I'm perfect, and I'm not saying that Judy and I don't have our struggles, but I'm here to tell you sometimes you need counseling.

Sometimes you need a third person to be able to speak to the both of you, and it just shouldn't be the woman coming to counseling.

I had to realize I don't know how to be a husband, I don't know how to be a father, to be Honest with you, I don't even know how to be a man of God because it was never modeled before me.

But just because it wasn't modeled doesn't mean you can't walk in it.

See, you can blaze a new path and you can show future men in your line in your generation what a man of God looks like.

You can show future women what a woman of God looks like.

Just because don't buy into that lie and don't allow yourself to buy into that excuse for the rest of your life and not be who God has called you to be.

I'm putting the devil on notice, the devil is a liar.

God can break that thing off of your life.

As I bring this in, Jesus, point number three, is the lion of Judah, but he's also the lamb of God.

Not only is he victorious, not only is he powerful, but he's also the Lamb of God that was slain before the foundation of the world.

This is one of the most profound images in the Bible.

The Lion represents Jesus' power, his authority, his kingship, his victory, but the lamb represents his sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Peter of all people, Peter of all people, he knew this all too well.

For in 1 Peter 5:1, he shares he was a witness to the sufferings of Christ.

1 Peter 5:1

Many commentators believe that even though Peter was able to observe the sufferings of Christ, he was not at his crucifixion because of his denial of the Lord Jesus and the shame that he walked in at that moment.

But how many of you know, even when you fall, you shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholds you with his righteous right hand.

See, he remembers when he tried to take matters into his own hands when Jesus was arrested in Matthew 26.

You guys know the story, right?

He's in the garden with Gethsemane, Jesus with Peter, James, and John, and the soldiers come to arrest him.

And how many of you know Peter?

God bless Peter.

He like he was very zealous, but sometimes he operated with ignorance.

Unless I point the finger, sometimes I can do the same thing.

Amen.

But the Bible says, in his desire to fight for his Lord, which you have to applaud him for, but it was a little misguided, he took out a sword and he cut off Malchus's ear.

Jesus restored that ear, by the way, which is interesting.

He just picked up the ear, put it on his head, and it was restored, just like that.

But what's pure what's powerful to me is Jesus said something to him in that moment.

He said, Peter, do you not realize if I wanted to, I could call a legion of angels to come and rescue me.

Do you know how powerful one angel is?

A legion of angels is 70,000 angels.

God said, I got it like that.

So, in other words, get behind me.

This is to fulfill scripture.

There is a plan that is set in motion, and you were trying to get in the way.

Trust me.

Trust me.

And you know what?

He understood the power of God in that moment.

Peter can also speak from the experience what it means to submit to God and resist the devil, even though he fell short in this area.

See, when you go through something, because we as believers, sometimes we're gonna fall.

Sometimes we're gonna make mistakes.

But there is a difference, and you got to hear me clearly on this.

There is a difference between falling and practicing.

See, when you decide to practice, I'm camping here.

I know what God's word has to say, but I am justified in the way I'm doing it.

But you know what?

When you fall, guess what comes?

Conviction.

How many of you have ever been convicted by the Lord?

The Bible says in Hebrews 12 that the Lord disciplines those in whom he loves.

If you are without discipline, of which some have become partakers, Hebrews 12 says, then you are a bastard child, you're not his.

So if you can continue down a path of destruction and you have no remorse, no conviction, with all due respect, with all due respect, man and woman, I would question whether you're saved.

Because if the Holy Spirit is present, he will not allow you to continue down that behavior.

I have experienced God's conviction to where I can't even move, I can't even go forward, I gotta deal with this, I gotta ask for his forgiveness, and you know what?

Hopefully you learn from it.

The Bible says God will not despise a broken and a contrite heart.

There is a difference between getting caught and there is a difference between repentance.

There is godly sorrow and there's worldly sorrow.

Worldly sorrow is I'm afraid I got caught, but godly sorrow is I've sinned against God and against you alone.

And that's where David came to that place.

Lord, I have sinned.

Even though he sinned against Uriah and Bathsheba through his sin, more importantly, he sinned against God.

But even though Peter fell, God came back to restore him.

See, Peter thought it was over.

After Jesus rose from the grade and after denying him, he got in his boat, he went fishing with some of the other disciples, and he was trying to go back to what's familiar.

Can I speak to somebody?

Have you ever been tempted to go back to what's familiar?

I know what worked or what I thought worked in the past, and the thing is, it's not that it worked, it was taking you further down.

You didn't realize it.

It may have seemed like it was providing a temporary satisfaction, but after it was all over, I was worse than before.

Oh, am I talking to somebody?

But when Jesus, when he went to go fishing, Jesus was on the shore, and he was uh making some fish, probably some salmon.

Praise God, I love salmon.

Um, no, but he was making some fish and he restored uh Peter.

He asked him three times, Peter, do you love me?

Peter said, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you, then feed my sheep.

But you don't know what's powerful, and you can read about this in John 21.

After Jesus restored Peter, he told him something.

When you were young, you girded yourself, you went where you wanted to go, you went here, you went there, but he said, When you get older, somebody is gonna take you to a place that you don't want to go, and they're gonna stretch you wide.

Did you know that Jesus was telling him by what death he would die to honor his Lord?

Historians and um historians and theologians tell us that Peter elected to be crucified upside down to honor his Lord, but something doesn't make sense to me.

How is it that you could go from this place of being depressed and being ashamed and possibly not even going to the crucifixion of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

But now all of a sudden you are ready to die for the Lord Jesus.

This is what I discovered.

When you realize what you've been forgiven of, you'll love much.

When you realize how much you've been forgiven, you will love more.

See, I can tell who knows how much they've been forgiven when I see them worshiping.

Because you don't have to coerce them to worship, you don't have to pry and pull to get them to lift their hands.

When you know how depraved you were, when you know how separated you were, when you know what mess you had in your life and you saw God redeem you from that, it will propel your worship.

And I can't help but worship him.

I can't help but praise him.

I can't help but lift my voice, even if I can't sing, even if I look like a fool, even if I sweat to where the whole spice is gone, I'm still gonna preach and I'm still gonna lift up his name.

Will you stand with me in the place and give him some praise?

Stand with me in this place and give him some praise.