When The Time Is Right

Hallelujah. I had a flashback of Highway 28 Church of God. I was about 12 years old

and the song leader kept doing this. You know what that means. Sing that chorus

again. I don't know eighth, ninth, tenth time through it finally got into somebody

that he abides. There's a shriek, a scream goes out and then the glory falls down

because we truly realize and take note that the comforter abides. Who is that

comforter? My Lord don't get me off track this morning.

Huh? He's that periclete. He's that one that comes alongside of. He's that power

that enables me to get up in the morning and face the devils of the day. The

comforter abides with me. There's no thirsting for the things of this world.

They've taken wings. Long ago I gave them up and it wasn't a process it was

instantly. Hallelujah. Well if you have your Bibles let's turn to the book of

Habakkuk. Habakkuk. Left of Zephaniah, right of Nahum. It's at the center of the

crossroad. Major message in the minor prophets. Habakkuk. Amen. The Lord is good.

Merciful and kind. Gracious is he. So thankful for you to be in the house of

the Lord with us this morning. I was somewhat disappointed at the end of last

week's service when I got reports that there was no Jericho march. I just think

Pastor Brian was scared. I'd encouraged him, march him. You know we get we get too

far beyond our past and raisin to do a little Jericho march every once in a

while. We need to find another altar somewhere and get it right. You remember

back today before we got all sophisticated. You know I'm talking about

before we got blue lights and lit up crosses. That stuff. When we were singing

he abides and we'd hit on that Jericho and the walls would come down and we'd

go to marching. Amen. Yeah I thought for sure he'd have you marching. He just got

the wall down. Heard it was good though. Amen. But I was disappointed. I thought

for sure he'd march. Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 1. I will stand up on my watch and

Habakkuk 2:1

set me upon the tower and will watch to see what he will say unto me and what I

shall answer when I am reprieved. And the Lord answered me and said write the

vision and make it plain upon tables that he may run that reads it. For the

vision is yet for an appointed time but at the end it shall speak and not lie.

Though it tarry wait for it because it will surely come it will not tarry.

Behold his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him but the just shall live

by faith. Simple thought this morning when the time is right. When the time is

right. Father I love you. I thank you so much for your goodness. For the sweet

atmosphere that's in your house today. Wonderful presence. Sweet fellowship as

your anointing has been ushered in. Lord I thank you for your goodness and I thank

you for the mercy. Now Lord I ask that you would help us. Help me to preach that

which is pleasing to you and edifying to the body. And Lord we'll be quick to give

you all the glory the honor and the praise. In Jesus name. The church said amen

amen. When the time is right. This little book of Habakkuk these three chapters are

unique in themselves. It's not necessarily a letter to the people of

God. It's not written to the people of Judah. It is a conversation between the

prophet and his God. And in that conversation we hear the heart of God to

his prophet. It begins with a complaint in chapter 1. It's a burden which Habakkuk

the prophet did see. He says oh Lord how long shall I cry and you not hear. Even

cry out unto thee of violence. You will not save. Judah in her rebellion. Judah in

her backslidden state and condition. The prophet is talking to God and telling

God how long are you gonna let this go on? How long are you gonna permit your

people to continue in their sin against you and your righteousness

and your whole and how long can you tolerate this mess?

And then the remainder is this back and forth between the prophet and God. It

would appear today in our culture and in our society that there seems to be a

crisis of identity. People trying to determine who they are or what they are.

People trying to figure out in the confusion and the state of our world

exactly what their place is and who they are and what they are to be in this

world and in the midst of this society. Identity in crisis. And if we're not very

careful we can see that danger as it begins to seep into the church and the

church is struggling for its identity in this world in which we've been placed.

I know and I had to help myself this morning as I'm studying and going over

this word again. It's not difficult to grow very negative when we

begin to think about our world and we think about society and we think about

the condition of humanity. It's not hard to form a negative thought and a

negative idea. You can even begin to focus on more with what's wrong with

the church at large than what is right with the church at large because this

struggle for identity especially post-pandemic. The church is struggling to

re-identify itself as well and how to minister to a world that is quite

frankly still living in fear and we are still not past it. Pray for some of our

church family who are dealing with the virus. COVID is still moving and still

going and I meant to request prayer for my mother she's not doing well with it

either she's sick with this stuff so this is this is the culture in which we

are trying to cultivate a ministry in and it has changed to a large degree but

one thing that remains the same there's one constant that will never change and

that is God. Amen? If there's one thought that you can get through reading the

three chapters of Habakkuk is that you and I live by faith and that God is

faithful in spite of everything. I know we can look and wonder God how long are

you gonna let this mess go on? I don't know about you but I've wondered just

exactly how bad was Sodom and Gomorrah if God rained fire down on them and he's

letting our current culture continue to cultivate grow and go. It makes me

wonder how bad the condition was of Sodom and Gomorrah but also you could

think of it that way or you can say how merciful and how graceful and how

faithful is our God who is willing that none should perish but that all should

come under repentance and everlasting life. It's not easy to have this form of

looking at how God's goodness is toward the world today because of how easy it

becomes to see the negative that is all around us. You have to focus and in order

to focus there must be a clarity of vision and that's what God is beginning

to speak to the prophet. He wants him to know that he is large and still in charge

and he is still got it all under control. I know that I sometimes wonder God are

you losing your grip? This thing's about to get out of hand but can I tell you

God is not losing his grip and it's not getting out of hand. Even though we see

perilous times approaching, even though we see men's hearts turning away from

God and vile things happening and going on, rest assured that God is still on the

throne and everything is playing out according to his purpose and according

to his plan because if you read his word, his word tells us exactly the condition

that this world is going to be in when his son steps out in glory and it's

almost bad enough. Oh my, my, my. Oh is it not bad enough yet? Evidently not. He

hasn't returned. It will get worse but in the worst that it becomes, his grace

becomes more sufficient and he edifies the body at a greater level when we

begin to understand our identity and we begin to know that the world and the

condition even of the church today that God is still in charge. You stop and

think about our nation itself. It's become the second largest, most

missionary receiving nation in the world. Oh yeah, we sinned a lot but do you

realize that God is laying on the hearts of people in other nations, laying on

their hearts, burning their hearts to come to our shores, the good old US of

they which should be the belt buckle of nations through the goodness and the

grace of God but now we have gotten to the point where God is moving on the

hearts of other nations to send them forth and to come here on these shores

and begin to preach in our towns and in our communities and witness to

people who we should be witnessing to and people who we should be ministering

to. God is burning the hearts of other nations to get to good old America and

preach his word. Oh I think it's time that the church arises. I think it's time

we renew our relationship with him and we find ourselves with the prophet that

we positioned ourselves upon the wall that we get up on the watch and we begin

to be alert, rise to the ramparts and begin to be alert, watch and pray. He said

I will stand upon my watch and set me upon the tower and we'll watch to see

what he will say unto me and what I shall answer when I am reproved. So why

would our nation, why would this church, why would we particularly, we can narrow

it on down to the Hopewell community and those from where you come, why is it so

important for us? I'll tell you why and why are we the second largest

missionary receiving nation in the world because 20% of Americans attend

church every week. Only 20% of Americans attend church every week. Listen to this,

41% of Americans attend church monthly and call it faithful.

Once a month they're faithful.

I remember when once a month it gets you a visit from half the church.

57% of Americans seldom or never attend church. So now we begin to see a little

more clear. You can dig into the statistics even deeper and realize why

God is moving on the hearts of other nations and people that he's called in

other nations to make their way here because somehow or another we are

falling asleep on the job and there are those of us who are still calling like

a Habakkuk and we're saying God how long you gonna let this mess continue? How

long can it go on when we should be not just asking God how long is it going to

go on but we should be rephrasing the question saying God how much more time

do we have to proclaim your good news? How much time? Oh Lord hold on, give us

another week, give us another month, give us another year. Oh and the only way that

that'll happen is if we are as excited as Habakkuk was to get in our position,

get up on the wall and get ready to watch. Oh that answer would come this

vision. He said I want you to write it and I want you to make it plain.

Understand today that we must redevelop our foresight in knowing what the will

of God and the plan of God is not only for our life but for his church and for

this lost and dying world. Some things we must answer. First is the identity

question. Who are we? Who are we? When we begin to think values are defined by

Webster's dictionary as principles standards or qualities considered

inherently worthwhile or desirable. The root for value is valor which means

strength. The values are sources of strength because they give people the

power to take action. Values are deep, emotional and often difficult to change.

I think it's time we renew our values and the purpose that we understand why

God has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. Can I tell you he

hadn't just saved you and called you and delivered you from the debauchery of the

sin of your life so that you can sit safely within the walls and the

parameters of his sanctuary and just wait till he comes? No, he has saved you

that you get to the watch. He has saved you so that you make your way up the

rampart. He has saved that you understand what the vision for his people are and

the world that he holds so dearly and so precious in his sight that you would

understand it and he's written it and made it plain. Understand who we are. You

are the church of the living God. You are those who were once in darkness who have

been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. You are those who are to

proclaim his goodness, his mercy and his grace. As I've stated I personally feel

it's high time that the church begin to walk in the light of the purpose that

God has called us to. It's time that we extend that purpose into the world by

proclaiming Christ as Lord. In our culture, in our society, if you really won't

trouble you start proclaiming it boldly, politely and you will see the condition

of the world which we are in. I'm not saying be irreverent in your

proclamation. That doesn't bring all that will bring is a reproach against the

name of Christ. Hello? But we are to be irreverent but yet not be bashful in our

proclamation of who Jesus Christ is. But you'll never proclaim who Christ is

until you know who you are in Christ. Hallelujah! There is an identity crisis

within the church and it's time that it be ratified and the only way it's going

to be ratified is get into his precious word and read what he has written and

read what he has proclaimed and begin to align our life to the declaration of his

word. It's time we know who we are and the test that has been given us. It's

important for the world around us to know that we understand who we are. In

order to understand who you are you have to understand what you were and not be

what you were in proclaiming who you are. Hello? Because if you're living as you

were then your proclamation is wrong. Hello? So we begin to understand. Matthew

5 13 says that you are the salt of the earth. Verse 14 says you are the light of

the world but he also talks about a dark light. Hello? What type of light are you

when you're out there? You're illuminating something so what is it

that you're illuminating in your life? It's time to realize that you are the

light of the world because why? The light of the world resides in you. Jesus

declared of himself I am the light. Hallelujah! And he resides in you and

because he resides in you then you ought to illuminate his character and not your

own. Come on somebody! Understanding who we are we are the salt that balances

this culture. How many know that a good dose of salt makes things go a long way?

Nothing any worse than a bowl of pinto beans without salt. Nast throw it out.

Hello? Nothing any worse than a so-called quote unquote Christian that has no

flavor to it. How many knows when salt set and it's got a little damp it loses

its savor? Jesus said salt that has lost its savor isn't fit for anything. Water's

parallel throw it out. It's no good but we cannot afford to lose our savor in a

world that needs a little flavor added. Come on somebody! You got to know who you

are as being the salt of the earth and the addition that you bring is Christ

who is in you is the eternal hope of glory. It's Christ in you that you offer

the world. That is the savor. It's not with ourselves and when I know who I am

when I begin to proclaim him it's he that goes forth and he that illuminates

and it's his flavor that I'm trying to add to the savor of the world. That's who

you are salt and light. Romans 8 17 says that you are heirs of God and join heirs

with Christ Jesus. Hallelujah for that one. The quicker you realize that Christ

is your brother but yet he is also your Redeemer. You understand that by Redeemer

he's therefore your Savior and therefore by being your Savior he is the Lord who

reigns upon the heart of your life and what you are doing is trying to manifest

the expressed image of Christ as God the Father enables you through the grace

that is so abundant and the enabling power of the abiding presence of the

Comforter who is the Holy Ghost and you realize that I am an heir, a joint heir

with Christ Jesus and by virtue of being an heir my Father's prepared a place for

me and my God as an heir I shall take possession.

That's who we are. You're struggling for identity, you're light, you're salt, you're

an heir. An heir to what? Don't have time to fulfill you in on all that. Well let's

just start with heaven.

Whoo! You're an heir to heaven. Paul said to the Thessalonians 1st chapter 5 and 5

first book says your children of light. 1st Peter 2 and 5 Peter writes in

church says your lively stones build up a spiritual house so therefore we need to

do some resuscitation because some of the lively stones have lost a breath. Hello?

And our spiritual house seems to be in some disarray so there must be some

repair to this old house. My Lord. Yankee Workshop. Come on.

Verse 9 of that second letter, 1st letter, 2nd chapter says you are chosen generation.

You're a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a very peculiar people. With that I

can't agree because we are very peculiar people. Huh? Back in the day when old

timers would be having conversations and individuals names had come up they'd say

boy they're a bit choir, they're a little bit peculiar. Some of you have no clue

what that means. Look it up. Do a little Google research what choir and peculiar

means in Appalachian vernacular. It means they oddball, they odd duck, they're a

little strange, they not normal, they peculiar. Can I tell you we've been

declared as a royal priesthood and a peculiar people. Why? Because as a world

sees you because of the transformation and the regeneration of the work of

Christ in your life you're not normal.

Neither should we be. When you leave some sinners presence talking about the

goodness of God and the work of Christ in your life when they turn to the next

sinner after you're gone they should say boy he's peculiar. Boy she's odd. Huh? Yeah.

Because we understand who we are. You can't smell like the world, you can't

talk like the world, you can't act like the world, you can't go to the world's

places, you can't sip with the world, smoke with the world, and ask somebody to

consider you different than the world. Oh no, your fruit. Are we okay? I am in a

holding a shirt right? Our fruit gives us away. Huh? When I leave from their

presence I want them scratching their head not thinking. I don't know what he

thinks he is but he ain't what he's saying. Hello? I want them scratching their

head saying man I'd like to know more about what he's talking about. I'd like

for there to be power in my witness. I'd like for there to be conviction in my

life. Hello? Wouldn't it be wonderful that when you come into people's presence

your life, your living, your conduct, everything brings conviction to them

because you are not normal as the world sees you normal but you're a royal

priesthood and a very peculiar person. That's who we are. Another question we

must ask ourselves and as I look is what time is it? We must have a good

understanding of the time parameters in which we're living. When we look around

us we I measure time and how I feel is concerning the return of the Lord. Amen? I

know we measure time in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades

on and on. That's how we measure time but I think we should measure time more by

the grace of God and as it's being poured out in this world as to the time of the

Lord's return because I think that's the major important factor. If we are seeing

in our age and in our time what considers to be the last day out pouring

then I think it's about five minutes to the return of Jesus Christ. Hello? When we

begin to understand that we see on the time clock of life if God is pouring out

his spirit in accordance to Acts chapter 2 and he's pouring it out upon all flesh

Acts 2 · chapter mention

and if he's pouring it out globally not just on America we tend to think God's

blessing is totally determined by what he does here in America. Can I tell you

there is a global outpouring of the Holy Ghost going on in this world beyond the

borders of this nation who seems to be deafening our ears and hardening our

hearts. Indonesia seeing people saved and filled with the Holy Ghost by the

thousands and Africa seeing them by the thousands and South America seeing them

by the hundreds and the thousands. There is an outpouring going on and if my

timesheet tells me correctly in the last day saith God I'll pour out of my

spirit upon all flesh. Old men dreaming young men seeing vision handmaidens

prophesying young men prophesying under the unction and the power of the Holy Ghost.

What time is it? It's time to get up and do something. What can I do? What can you

do? Just tell somebody about Jesus. It's all that's required of you. You don't have to

baptize them. You don't have to go into a theological debate of the Trinity with

them. Just tell them about Jesus and what he's done for you. I assure you those who

knew me before Christ can tell you that I'm peculiar now and I am not the

individual I was before Christ. Hallelujah and that is your gospel

message. You don't have to try to get in quoting book chapter and verse just

simply tell them about the redeeming power of Jesus Christ in your own life.

It's all you got to do and try to get them to the place where the glory in the

fountain and the grace of God is pouring out. Amen. Where the word of God is going

forth and they can hear you don't have to be what you were or any longer. You

could be different but you got to let Christ do the changing for you. How many

of us tried ever self-help that you could? Well some of you I don't know. I

guess you didn't realize you needed help. Well I'm telling you you needed help.

We need help. Part of our problem is we think we don't need help. That's our

biggest problem. We think we don't need God until we find

ourselves lower than the low. Huh? The bedrock of the bottom and there's no

other way to turn our gaze but upward and when we lift our eyes as the

psalmist said to the hills from whence cometh my help your help comes from the

Lord. Amen. Just tell people that. Tell them where your help come from. Let them

realize that we are living in a time and they're living a time when they need God.

It's time that each of us individuals and local churches begin to be what God

has called us to be. That light, that salt. Let our identity be lived out in their

life. It's time that we live that way. When we think about the church in

America we have to rediscover the sense of urgency. When we used to sing the old

songs of the old red-back days. When we used to sing them there was always this

pushing toward the urgency of the day in which we're living. You don't think about

Jesus coming if you're not singing about Jesus coming and when you start singing

about Jesus coming you start thinking about am I ready if he comes today?

Hello? That was always a reminder. It pushed us theologically to always

evaluate our condition and our position in light of the Lord's return and we are

living today the church is living today going through the formalities of life

and church business and church perfunctory stuff without the urgency

that this could be the day this could be the hour tonight before the cocks

crowing it could be the day that the Lord returns and the main thing is are

we ready to meet him or will we be the five foolish virgin with no oil in us

and no lamp to burn when we hear the bridegroom call go you out to meet him

and we can't go because there's nothing in us. Without a reminder of the urgency

of the hour the church grows increasingly complacent. Because when you

are constantly reminded that the Lord could come today I think it causes one

to live with a sense of urgency and when you I am sure the Lord puts people

across our paths that we intercept daily that he wants us to have the courage to

just tell them something about himself. How many times have we walked away from

opportunities and we get in a car we start down the road and the Holy Spirit

reminds us and then we begin to think well I should I wish I had it you know

and the opportunity is gone. I'll tell you what time it is it's time that we

seize every opportunity that the Lord makes available for us because that's

where we're living we are living in a time when we must realize the urgency of

the hour and that we are living in a day that is growing increasingly as Matthew

24 describes it. The coming of the Lord. Nations against nations. People against people.

Pestilence. All these things unleashed upon the earth. Unleashed so that the earth

would turn toward God. So that our attention be drawn to the urgency of the

promise that is made. Habakkuk. Right division. Make it plain. Put it on tablets

so who that comes and reads it can run with the declaration. That's what we have

to have is a clear understanding of what's written on the tablets so that

when we read it we can run with the declaration. He said oh it's not coming

just yet it's not ready just now but though it tarry wait for it. Hallelujah

because it's not going to continue to tarry. Oh that's the way we are with a

declaration of the Lord's return. Oh he's going to come. He may not come in my

lifetime. He may not come in your lifetime but that does not negate the

fact that he is going to return. And so the vision is plain. The Lord is coming.

The Lord is coming. He's coming and we must be ready and must be urgent in

delivering the help and the hope of the good news.

What time did you let him out last week? I got eight minutes. What time is it?

It's time we understand the revelation that we've received and leased it through

the anointing. Release it through the anointing that's been given to us. Those

who are hopeless and in despair and if you don't think people are hopeless next

time you have a conversation with a stranger look in their eyes. The eyes are

the gateway to the soul. Begin to talk to them just a little bit. Engage for two to

five minutes and try to question them as to their condition and how their life's

going and watch a gateway in their eyes open and the depth of their soul be

revealed. People are desperate for hope. Second Corinthians 6 and 2. Paul said I've

heard I heard the end of time accepted and in the day of salvation have I

secured thee. Behold now is the accepted time. Behold now is the day of salvation.

We don't have the luxury to continue to put it off. Hello? Because the only

assurance of time in life that you have is what you've already spent. The next

30 seconds are not yours until you live them out. The hope that you have to the

end of them. Did a funeral yesterday for a precious saint lady at my first church

young pastor I told him yesterday I'll never forget the day that sister Kathy

and I and our three toe heads we drove them into the front door. The little

four-year that little mountain church it was frosty. You can see the fog on the

window and they're looking out the church doors and here we come. Green I'm

telling you green is a whippoorwill. Oh Lord had no clue about nothing. That was

back before the days of MIP so nobody had told me anything they said there you

go. My Lord. I remember sister Gladys as she welcomed us. She had this gift of

agitation. Sister Gladys did. She had a gift of agitation. She loved to just poke.

Just poke. Irritate. But she'd do it with a smile and you couldn't get mad at her

so I just got to where I just poked back at her. So we'd come in fussing and leave

a fussing. Knowing we was fussing in love.

Because when it come time to pray she'd hit those knees and ring heaven's bells.

That's what time is. The other day woke up went to the couch took a breath fell

over dead with a massive heart attack. We don't have a promise. The only time

that you're assured of is a time that you've already spent and the breath that

you've just exhaled because the next one could be held from you an eternity you

would find yourself and can I tell you the people that you come in contact with

need to know the very same thing. Oh it's because of the grace of God that

you're here today and when you look into the depths of their souls and you see

how hopeless and lost they are. Yeah should be screaming from your eyes as

the light of the hope of the glorious gospel which is the good news that Jesus

redeems and that Jesus saves and that Jesus helps and that Jesus delivers and

that Jesus loves them.

Romans 13 and 12 says the night is far spent the day is at hand. Let us therefore

cast off the works of darkness. You don't have time to play patty cake with

God people. You don't have time to have one foot in the church door and the other in

the bar room. We don't have time for that. The day is far spent. The day is at hand.

Cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. The time. The

latter part, 1st Peter 2 and 5 says and offer up spiritual sacrifices

acceptable to God by Christ Jesus. The second part of verse 9 says after

peculiar people he said you should show forth the praises of him who have called

you out of darkness into his marvelous light. It's time for us to arise. That's

what time it is. It's time you stop holding your peace and let your lips show

forth the praises of him who has delivered you, who has saved you and it's

time that we begin to glorify him. We who are the peculiar should magnify and

glorify his name. We don't have time to waste around. We don't have time to

piddledilly around. It's time that we get to the mission at hand. Glorify and

praise him and offer sacrifices on him. The fruit of our lips and the praise and

our lives be witnesses for him. It's what time it is. It's time that we say of God

be God then we serve him. It's time that we declare as Joshua my house is gonna

serve him. That's what time it is. It's time for a sleeping giant to rise and an

army to march. It's a time that pulpits return to and preach the whole truth.

It's time that we preach that the church returned to the power to which he has

been endeared. That's what time it is.

But I wonder if we understand the urgency of the time in which we're

living. I wonder if we truly understand that every moment counts. I wonder if we

truly fully grasp that there will be those who cry Lord Lord and he still

says depart from me you workers of iniquity for I never knew you. I think

folks think just because they go to church they're going into heaven. Wrong.

Oh don't I wish it were true. But it isn't.

Church attendance is not the requirement. It's a benefit. Huh? It's a privilege. The

requirement is repent and believe.

That's good right there.

So that would lead one to the fact that this last statement

when the time is right it's going to come to pass. When the time is right the

vision will be fulfilled. And that first complaint offered by the prophet how

long is this going to last? God answers him and says well I'll tell you what I'm

doing I'm sending the Babylonians and that just made the prophet even more

aggravated. Well that's worse than the mess we're in. Hello? It's only three

chapters I encourage you to read it. It's loaded. Sometimes I wonder the mess that's

coming is worse than the mess we're in.

So that leads one to determine whose church is this anyway? Too many churches

are plagued today with the grandma syndrome. Are you ready? Hold on. Some

churches are controlled by just a few and they have no idea what God expects

from them. The church is the Lord's and we'll all stand before him and give an

account for what is done. I never have liked power plays in church. Hello? Never

have cared for that. Never have tolerated it. I figure they gave me the pastor card

so it was up to me to see this straightened out. People dying going to hell.

Hello? People fussing because they can't make the decision. They want to be the

one to do the telling. Anything with two heads is a freak. A freak is a freak. Two

heads. It's a freak and it belongs in the circus and the church is not circus. Now

I know sometimes I may act like it is up here when the Holy Ghost gets on me but

it's not. Christ is the head of the church and that's who this is. I had a

friend of mine help me understand that one time. I mean I was in bad shape.

Bad shape. Church was doing great. Man it was just rolling right along but I was in

bad shape. So much so that I had quit youth camp long before Sister

Kathy did and I signed up for work two weeks of camp just so I didn't have to

be at the church. So I served lunch one day was in the room about taking a nap

before getting ready for supper and my pastor friend asked me, said well how's it

going and I just spilled. I said yeah not worth two cents just be honest with you. I'm in bad shape.

He said well I'm gonna tell you something the Lord told me here a while

back when I was in the shape that you're in right now. He said it helped me and it

might help you. I said okay I'm open. I'm all ears right? He said get ready. He said

the Lord told me he said the church is his. He died for it and I didn't have to.

It was a mic drop revelation for me because you'd be amazed at how much we

put on our shoulders that we think we have to perform for you like we're the

circus clown. Oh yeah and when he told me that I had a good talk with the Lord and

when I got back I was free free free. That's when I begin to declare and my

ministry's changed and it's followed me here. I'm free free free. My

responsibilities declare to you the urgency of the hour and the hope that is

in Christ and your and my responsibility to live according to the

mandates of the scripture no more and no less and if we when the trumpet sounds

are not living in accordance to the mandates of the scripture your feet will

not even begin to rise. Now if you think you can go to heaven without living by

the book please enlighten me. I've read it and I hadn't found that part yet. The

part that I see is God is holy and without holiness no man shall see him.

Now you won't show me how you can get around that and make it? By all means try

but I don't think you can. Stand with me and I'm quitting. I've killed it anyway.

To know whose church it is we move beyond barriers. I have to struggle and it is a

challenge for me to tear down the barriers of negativities. I can get

negative. I'm a realist. I'm not an optimist. I'm not a pessimist. I'm a

realist. Anybody know the difference? No the optimist is the half half glass is

full. The pessimist if it's half full it's half empty. The realist says I'll drink it

anyway. I'm thirsty. Doesn't matter if it's half full or half empty. The realist just

is thirsty. We have to get beyond the barrier and the world in which we're

living. The media and what we put before us what we take in fosters the barrier

of negatives. It's easier to be negative than to be positive. It is because there

seems to be so much negative surrounding us. We're full circle. We're right back where we

started. But I'm here to tell you that the reality of it all is this. It rains on

the just and the unjust. Well what's that mean? Everybody's gonna get wet.

Everybody's gonna have their share of trouble. Everyone's gonna have their

share of good times and quality life.

But it's up to you and I who know the hope for eternity to be real about the

fact that without Christ there is no optimism. But because of Christ we can be

eternal optimists as we live out the reality of life here below. Father I love

you. This is your church and I'm not talking about the building.

I'm talking about these lively stones built up into a spiritual house. I'm

talking about the people that are in this room. And Lord sometimes the situations

and circumstances of life kind of leave us feeling a little hollow and a little

empty. But we have hope in you. We have hope in you. I wonder all across the

house if you just need a little added hope in your life would you slip your

hand up? I just need a little hope. Yeah. Yes. Wow. Your hope comes from knowing who

you are. This morning I encourage you to know Christ as your Lord and Savior and

know that you are that joint heir, light and assault. And if you don't right where

you are I'm gonna pray a sinner's prayer. Right where you are no one's looking

around ever heads bowed and saints be praying that the conviction of the Holy

Spirit deal with hearts and lives and hearts come to know Christ. Right now

it's important. This is the most important part of all that we do today.

If you're here today and do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior

pray with me. Jesus I'm a sinner. I come to you today and I repent. I repent.

Forgive me and cleanse me of my sin and take your rightful place on the throne

room of my heart and be Lord of my life. For I believe that you were born that

you died and you rose again for my salvation. Thank you for answering this

prayer. My my my. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. What I need you to do before you leave this

place today is come see me. I don't care how many people's around me I don't care

what I'm doing. Grab my coat tail grab me by the arms. Hey I give my heart to

Jesus today. I need to know that and you need to confess that. You need to confess

it. It's that mouth your hearts believing to it but now you got to confess it.

I accepted Christ today. Whoo. Tell me tell somebody but I'd love it if you

tell me it'd make me feel like this last 45 minutes been worth it all.

Worth it all. Now father over the household of faith I pray Lord that you

renew hope in every heart and in every life. It's not hard to be negative when

we look around us but I choose today I make a conscious choice Lord that in the

reality of it all you are still Lord. That is the reality. You are Lord. You are

in charge and like Habakkuk asked how long you'll let this mess go on. You said

to him to get on his perch and write it down. One of these days I'm gonna take

care of it all. It may look like I'm not doing it but I will do it. The just shall

live by faith. Enrich renew and encourage the faith of those in this

room this morning father. If they be sick heal their body. Lord if they be depressed

let the light of your glory illuminate their living to your glory and they're

uplifting. I thank you and I praise you in Jesus name. Give the Lord a good hand

clap for praise would you. Come on praise him like he's good to you.