Living In The Mean Time part 1

living

hallelujah

being

fighting the

end

Jesus

said I'm

much cumbered about

Mary's sitting in there

listening to you

and Jesus said she had

chosen the best thing

I want to sit here

to speak

one more time

the Lord has displayed

I think it's a monitor up here

his love

for me and my family this week

Sister Kathy had a

Sister Kathy had an accident on Thursday

told her car and

clipped two telephone poles

and was standing in the yard

when I got over there to where she was at

and the Lord's good

when I think about his love for us

and his mercy

and his love for me

and his mercy

how many of the rest of us this week just missed that

same accident

tire go off the road and then it's chaos

until it stops

Lord's been good

we've had a little frustration this morning

just trying to get started

and

over 30 years of ministry

and 57 years almost in church

I've discovered one thing

the enemy knows when God's about to do something good

so he tries to frustrate us

don't get me wrong I'm frustrated

but when I look at

what God has done

just this week

anytime you fool with stuff

you're going to get stuff going

so I finally learned over the years

just to let it flow

sing to the glory of the Lord

and encounter what we just encountered

because of our worship

because of your worship

the sweet nearness

to the presence of the Lord

he is here

amen

give him a hand clap of praise would you

and you can be seated

just a few moments

we'll be receiving the offering

the tithe and offering in just a few minutes

but Brother Mills if you would make your way

you remember just a few weeks ago

over the Easter weekend

we helped Brother Mills go to Africa

and I've asked him to just give us a quick update

on everything the Lord did there

I think you're going to be amazed

if we send folk and don't hear back from them

we need to see what the Lord's doing

amen

I guess without his introduction

you could look at me and tell where I've been

this was a gift that was given to me

in the country of Cote d'Ivoire

those of us that's a little older

we remember it as Ivory Coast

and the Lord had

opened the door for me to go back

to this country, my fourth time to be there

and to preach their

national convention

I have been working in Africa

since 1998

and the Lord gave me

the greatest gift

of being able to work in Africa

never had a burden for the country

if you'd ask me where I had a burden for

it was in the Far East

having suffered for Jesus

in Hawaii

and got used to that culture

and so forth

but he suddenly called me to go to Africa

several years ago

I served as overseer in four different countries

and then as the projects coordinator

and missions rep

and then also as the superintendent of West Africa

and over 17 countries in West Africa

God blessed in a wonderful way

the door opened for me to go preach their

national convention

Ivory Coast National Convention

just a couple of weeks ago

you helped me to go

I appreciate the gift that was given

the offering that was given

it was a tremendous blessing

I have many opportunities to go back to Africa

but it cost to go

if you've not flown lately

you won't understand how much it has

gone up in just the last little while

God opened that door

Pastor you talk about

fighting this morning

the Lord fought that convention all the way through

just getting across

the city of Abidjan

took us over two hours

coming back on Sunday it was just about

20 minute drive

but it took us over two hours

and then the first night

supposed to start

they couldn't get the lights to work

they were having problems with

electronics and so forth

the lights would not work

and so finally I just told

the overseer I said let them

rest tonight I'll preach the next three

services

and so on Saturday morning I began to preach

God came

down in a glorious way

you can go ahead and show

what few pictures

they were not able to download the ones

that I had up there

you can see

the worship

you talk about exuberant worship

you haven't seen any until you've been in Africa

they dance everywhere

anywhere however

they get involved in their worship

in a physical way

so you can see actually here

they were just giving an offering there

and they started running

to be able to give their offering

God moved in a beautiful way

on Saturday morning

50 saved on Saturday morning

can you give God the praise?

50 saved

we had about a 650

attendance in a very poor

country but God moved

in a wonderful way

in the evening service people came

the theme of the convention

was

loosely translated in confusion

ending confusion through

Jesus Christ

I didn't know what the theme was

for a long time but the Lord began to deal

with me about the messages

and every one of the messages he gave me

was to deal with that kind of thing

and on Saturday

night God moved in a way

that people came running

and were delivered of confusions

in their lives and some even

that were demon possessed were

delivered from that demon

possession on Sunday morning

of course it was Easter

on Easter Sunday morning

God gave us a wonderful time of

celebration of the resurrection

of Jesus Christ

and they came down

almost everyone came down to the front

and began to stand

and worship the living risen

Savior Jesus

Christ

this is a poor country

there I am, hold it there for just

a minute

everybody thought that was an African shirt

but I actually ordered that online here

but it went well

with the theme there

one of the things

that surprises everybody

over there, I'm not going to tell you

my age but I'm

older than I look I hope

but they

they said he's still too strong

he's still too strong

God gives the energy that we need

on Sunday morning

and this is the Sunday morning service

there's a

piece of land in the town

or the city of San Pedro

Cote d'Ivoire

God's blessed them

with a

company

I don't want to call it a company, a ministry

I guess you would call it here in the US

that is building some church buildings

in Africa

and in this particular

instance they have already

approved and started

building, I don't know if you can

go ahead and kind of roll what's left

they couldn't get them all down, oh there it is

right there, this is where they're building

the new building on their plot

they were able to talk the people into

letting them go ahead and build

on three plots

three lots you would

call them here, I'm so used to Africa I call them

plots, but three plots

without having paid for them yet

and so they're

making their own blocks by the way

and what you see you can go on to the next one if it's there

you can see the foundations

already going in

they were able to purchase these three

lots for $12,000

the picture you saw

just a few minutes ago was them

running to give an offering

towards these plots

they gave

in a poor country and when I'm talking

poor I'm talking

we in the United States don't know

the poverty that is there

but they were able to raise over

$4,000 that morning

I praise the Lord for that

I mean they

came running to give that money

because they already saw the

need and saw what God had blessed

them with and so

the pastor, I'm going to let him

finish this up but just to let me say

that the pastor

has said that this church

would help in purchasing the lots

because they only have a limited

number of days and a

couple of months more to be

able to pay for these plots

because the people

have been so generous to let them go ahead

and even start building because this

ministry was able to

get everybody together and start the

build. I want to thank you

pastor come on up

here or I'm liable to keep on going

I want to

thank you for helping me first of

all to go

I still have a burden for Africa

I worked there 21 years

and I still have a burden for

it and folks like

you are helping me

enabling me to carry on this burden

as well and even in the pastor

saying that he would

like for the church to help in those plots

that is helping my

burden. It's really

carrying me on so thank you so much

thank you pastor for the opportunity

to present. God bless you.

Hallelujah.

Praise the Lord.

We already have seed

in that community with 50 souls

just by what we invested in helping him

for the meals go and preach the gospel.

When he was sharing

their need

out of

we know what need is

we've been there

hallelujah we're not there

anymore

so we're going to help these folks

and getting that debt off of them

amen

and then we'll truly

truly be invested in every

soul every life that is touched and

changed in that church when

it's built amen

You say well pastor I'm not prepared to give today

for that good because I wouldn't ask you today I want you to pray about it

here in the next couple weeks

I'll explain to you just a little bit more but in a couple weeks we're going to be preaching on our mission

the mission of Hopewell

where we're at and where we're going and what I'd like to see for us to do

what I feel like the Lord's laying on our heart

to do

home and abroad

amen so just just be

preparing get your hearts ready

ask how many do you actually pray

when we have these

special offerings coming up in the future

do you actually ask the Lord

yeah good thank you and for those of you that don't please start

I know what it's like to pray

and be half afraid of what the Lord might ask you to do

huh

yeah you're afraid he's going to ask you to really give

and let me just tell you something when you pray

normally what I've discovered in my own life

the first number he pops in my mind

is the one that he wants me to give

and because it's after that I start trying to figure what I want to do

because that's not the number I would normally come up with

hello

am I the only one that does that?

I don't think so

because that first number is from his heart

and you think oh oh really

whoo

okay Lord

after you've wrestled with it and prayed through for a week

but be in prayer

ask the Lord what he would have you to do

and we're going to bless this church

we're going to help see it built

amen

and do something for the king of God

has the Lord been good to you?

has he blessed you this week?

he blessed us

amen

still getting reports, checks are still coming in the mail

blessings are still flowing

so we're going to keep on asking

amen

let's pray

the name, the name above every

the name of Jesus

we approach you today

your throne

so grateful, 50 souls added to the kingdom

others delivered

and lives changed

we're grateful for that report this morning

Father I pray over the household of faith today

jobs and better jobs

increases

checks in the mail

refunds, rebates

inheritance

in in everything that belongs under your people

get it to them

as we believe what your word declares

that you'll supply all of our need

according to your riches and glory

by Christ Jesus

bless the household of faith today

amen

let's stand together

just come and worship in your giving this morning

and bless the Lord

the name of Jesus

the name of Jesus

the name of Jesus

the name of Jesus

giving the best praise you brought with you this morning

hallelujah

if you have your bibles be turning with me to Mark's gospel

gospel of Mark chapter 13

Mark 13 · chapter mention

Mark 13

such a wonderful atmosphere

in the house of the Lord today

it's almost one that

probably just let us worship our way out

I'm a man of the word

I'd rather preach the word as to sing

but there are times that our song

puts us in a place within his grace

that we just need to be comforted

just need to be embraced by his grace

and open hearts of worship

and he's been a blessing in us for that

I really believe

there are those times

this one's close but not hardly

I'm going to preach to us today

if I get started

and feel like I've missed it

Pastor Donnie's going to get right back up real quick

and we're going to worship our way out

and I'll pick back up on this later

next week

some would think it's simple to moderate a church service

it is if it's all choreographed

there's not a problem

but you see we being Pentecostal

there's an end breaking of the spirit

and sometimes the best and most well laid plans

get just blown apart

if you want to follow him

now if you're not worried about him

then it doesn't matter

but you see

as soon as I get here I'm concerned about him

and what he desires from us

and what the spirit wills to do in us

amen

so that when we leave we can say wow

wow

not that we boy wasn't the singing great

man didn't the pastor preach a great word

no

that we leave here saying were we not in the presence of God

man did you feel what I felt today

did you encounter his grace and his glory like I did today

that's my chief aim and goal

that we encounter him

at the depth that he desires

so I'm going to give this a try

Mark 13

beginning at verse 31

the word of the Lord declares

heaven and earth shall pass away

but my word shall not pass away

but of that day and that hour knoweth no man

no not the angels which are in heaven

neither the son but the father

take ye heed watch and pray

for you know not when the time is

for the son of man is as a man taking a far journey

listen

who left his house

gave authority to his servants

and to every man his work

and commanded the porter to watch

watch ye therefore

for you know not when the master of the house cometh

at even or at midnight or at the cock crowing

or in the morning

lest coming suddenly

he finds you sleeping

and what I say unto you

I say unto all

watch

watch

for the next couple two three weeks

ever how long the Lord lays on the heart

I'm going to preach to you a series on living in the

meantime

living in the meantime

and we're going to look at

out of these texts things that Christ left

the church things he left them to do

from our text this morning

we're just going to cover one today

heavenly father I truly love you

wow

I can leave just now and declare it's been good

to have been in the house of the Lord

but I need your help Lord

you put this word in my heart

you stirred it in my spirit

so Lord help me preach today

with that anointing

that where the spirit of the Lord is

there's great liberty

and Lord let us not be mindful of the time

I know what time it is

but help us not be in a hurry

help me not rush today

but we that have ears to hear

would hear what the spirit has to say to the church

in the name above every name

the name of Jesus

the church said

amen and amen

I want you as you're being seated

would you would you give brother Jordan a hand this morning

for me

that is the least

that I'm telling you that is the least honorable job

in the church

anytime somebody sit behind that board before

yeah you have to help control sound

it's it's not easy

so thank you brother and all those who rotate in and out of there

thank you so much

for all that you do

help it not be too loud and help it not be too soft

and that we all hear what we need to hear to get the job done

amen

limitations 326 declares it is

good that one should hope and wait quietly

for the salvation of the Lord

just this past week

I think I've been with

brother Scotty preaching on

Thomas

after the resurrection

the struggle that he had after the resurrection

when I think about where we are living in the meantime now

I think about the disciples

and how hard it must have been for them

we we give them

a hard time

on occasion

but

unless we were living with them it would be hard for us to

understand how and why they did what they did

but living in the meantime is a

is a place where we're now

the promised coming of Christ that we've read in our text

today

it's been the great hope of believers down through the centuries

the ancient Nicing creed affirms

the scripture declare he shall come again with glory

Charles Wesley is said wrote some seven thousand hymns

five thousand of those hymns mentioned the coming of Christ

as the Archbishop of Canterbury crowned Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation

he stated and I quote

I give thee O sovereign lady

this crown to wear

until he who reserves the right to wear it

shall return

now isn't that good to remind the monarch

that your crown is simply borrowed

that your crown is simply on loan

just hold it because one day he who deserves to wear it

will return for it

so until then

the world in which you and I live in remains in the grip of violence

in the grip of despair

as one columnist noted and he summed it up this way in his article

for us all the world is disorderly

and dangerous ungoverned

and apparently ungovernable

someday however the king will return

amen

someday the heavens will shout

as John the revelator recorded in 1115

the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ

and he shall reign forever and ever

while we're living in the meantime we live in despair we live in danger we live in sickness we live around disease

we live where accidents are prone day in and day out we must be on our guard continually

and when we think about the coming of the Lord when we think about the kingdoms of this world

we have to understand that Christ alone is the answer to the burdens of our hearts and the hopelessness of our world

there is no other help there is no other remedy the only remedy for humanity is that of Jesus Christ

it's the balm of his precious blood applied to our sin

it's his broken body that was given that we may be healed

and it was that crown of thorns piercing his brow that brings about the peace of our mind

he received in his body all that we need in the redemption of ours

and I'm so grateful today that we are living in that time and there is no other answer

there is no other hope I know the disparity of our world and our world is being turned upside down and inside out

but in the world in which we are living that is turned upside down

when you try and hard I feel my help coming or I'm just getting mad one

and sometimes you just got to get mad before the anointing comes and then it'll fade in and nobody will know the difference

but when I look at our world and you and I are living in the meantime

we're living in between the crucifixion and resurrection and the return of the king of glory

and in the midst of living in the meantime there is a dilemma that we are faced with

and it's the upside down culture and it's only going to get worse child of God

so therefore we have to be determined in ourself how we are going to live and what we are going to do

in the meantime and I am so grateful that what we are going to do and have to do

and being commanded to do hasn't been left up to our interpretation

but we have been directed by the Lord and through His word on what it is we must be about doing

understand this Jesus Christ came into the world on a mission

He didn't just come happenstance the Father just didn't say well it's as good a time as any

though He was sent on a divine appointment at a divine moment in time

when the fullness of time had come He was sent into the world

what does that mean? I believe when God had about all He could stand

and knew that it was time it was marked man had gone as far as He would will that He would go on His own

in trying to adhere to the law but He knew that grace was going to have to enter into man's life

if man was going to make a turn and the only way His grace was going to be imparted into man

is if He dispatched His righteousness which come through His only begotten Son

and so when the fullness of time came Christ was born in a manger in Bethlehem

and when the fullness of time came He was crucified on Galgotha's old hill

and when the fullness of time come on the third day He arose

and when the fullness of time comes the Archangel is going to step out in the clouds of heaven

and He's going to lick His lips and He's going to sound upon the trumpet

and the angel beside Him is going to give a great shout

and here's what's going to happen when the time comes when the fullness of time is come about

then we which are alive and remain shall be changed and the dead in Christ shall rise first

and together we're going to meet the Lord in the air

but in the meantime what we going to do?

well eventually we're going to get in the next few weeks to the upper room

if I don't get ahead of myself and get us there today

I'm trying to wait till we get to Pentecost Sunday to bring that about

in the meantime He was sent on a mission

according to Luke 19 and 10 that mission is to seek and to save that which was lost

according to the scripture He went about doing good, healing the sick, cleansing lepers

casting out devils and even raising the dead

when you read through scripture multitudes followed Him

and were thrilled at His every word

according to John 746 never a man spake like this man, hallelujah

never a man spake like this man, why?

because when Jesus spoke things happened, that's why

when He would speak to the deaf their ears would be open, hallelujah

and they'd never seen anything or heard anything quite like that

many were sitting there the day in the synagogue when He opened up and rolled the scroll of Isaiah before Him

and began to declare the Spirit of the Lord is upon me

and many others had read that the leaders of the synagogue no doubt had read through Isaiah's scroll

but there was something that tingled in their ears this day

when the word of the living God, when God in the flesh unrolled the scroll

and began to declare of Himself the Spirit of the Lord is upon me

and I have been anointed, hallelujah

the Spirit of the Lord is upon me

and I'm bringing good news to the broken hearted

I'm coming to help the bruised out

I'm coming to open the eyes of the blind

that is why I'm here

that's why the Spirit of the Lord is on me

and I'm coming to declare the acceptable year of the Lord

they'd never heard it, never heard it on that wise

they'd never heard Him speak, no one had ever spoken with that type of authority

when they began to declare the word of God

so they stood in awe of the power of His authority

they stood in amazement at all that He'd done

the disciples were with Him, they'd seen every miracle that He performed

and they were still amazed the day He spoke to the fig tree

when He cursed the fig tree and the next morning they walked by

and it's already withered up

they were still amazed and stood in awe at the authority of His word

oh wouldn't it be great today if we were in awe of the authority of His word one more time

oh wouldn't it be great if we would read His word

and learn and fear and tremble, humble ourselves under the authority of that word

and live in accordance to that hope

and live in accordance to the commands and the dictates of His word

concerning our hearts to be in awe of His word

are you in awe of His word?

I am, I stand in awe, I stand in amazement

and when He declares things have come to pass

so they stand in awe of the power and authority with which He spoke

they wanted to make Him their King

but He declared His kingdom was not of this world

yet, that's the part I like, yet

but there's a day coming

His kingdom's not of this world

so when He was nearing the end of that earthly ministry

a few weeks ago we declared when He knew that He was going to proclaim

it is finished and we talked about it and what it was

and when He knew that He was going to declare and speak that

and all that He had spoken would be coming to pass

and His work below would be complete

He placed full responsibility of continuing the church

in the hands of His faithful followers

are you hearing me?

when He looked down from the cross and He saw His mother

and He saw His dear friend John

He said, Behold your mother, mother behold your son

in other words, John take care of mama for me

I'm going to be going here shortly

and so John take care of mama

I'm telling you, what son doesn't love his mama?

Hello? What son don't love his mama?

Take care of my mama!

before He declares it is over

the earthly work completed

the mission that He had been sent for

was about to be fulfilled

His blood was about to be presented in the holiest of holies

not in Jerusalem but in glory

it's about to be completed

but in that completion He left His work

in the hands of faithful followers

there are some things in our text today that He left

for them to do

and those things that are mentioned in this text

are still our assignment

and so while we are in waiting

while we are in the meantime

while we are waiting for the Lord's return

we have to understand that we have just not been given

a just set and wait pass

you've not just been given an idol until I get there

no, that is not what we have been mandated to do

we have the mandate of going into all the world

hallelujah

we all don't have a call

we don't have a call

all of us like Brother Mills is sharing

that African continent just woos and calls his soul

because God has put Africa in his heart and in his soul

and he's given 20 something years of his life

to see the gospel furthered there

and souls to be saved and the good news to be proclaimed

but I'm telling you we've all been mandated to go

and the heart of the text is as you are going

so that doesn't, so we don't, any of us have a free pass does it

because we're all going

what does that mean pastor?

it means as you are going through your life daily

what are you supposed to do?

you're going to make disciples into the all the world

as you're going about the world and everywhere you go

as you go through Walmart

as you make your way through Ace Hardware

if you go through the gas station as you go

as you're going to soccer practice, play practice

basketball, baseball, football, volleyball

all of the music practice wherever you're going

as you are going you are to be making disciples

well how do I do that?

with the dictates of your heart

and the passion that you have with the grace of God

that wells up inside you

we've all been mandated

it is a live and living mission

and until that mission is complete

we are all to be about his business

so while we're living in the meantime

we got to keep our self upright before him

and humble down before him

we got to keep our self awash with the purification

and the water of his word

that we remain regenerated

so that all who see us may know

there is a king of glory

and he's on his way

but in the meantime

so verse 34

the first thing that he leaves them

is a special trust

he left them a special trust

verse 34 he leaves him

with them the responsibility

of taking care of his house

you see he gives this parable

of a man taking a far journey

and this parable is in reference to himself

he's knowing where he's going

they've still not figured it out at this point

but he knows what his life's about to be

he knows that his earthly work is about to be over

so someone has to pick up where he's left off

and where he's leaving off

man my head's spinning

I could jump way ahead

but I'm going to try to remain focused this morning

so he's left them his house

it's a very special trust

everything that Christ came to earth for

everything that he owned

everything that he had passion about

was in that house

and all that meant anything to him in this world

and all this world was in that house

but note just for a moment

and when you begin to think about it

it was not just for them to look at

according to Luke 19 33

they received a mandate there

and the teaching of the Lord

occupy until I come

now occupy doesn't mean just find something to do

occupy has a military word

and a conundation behind it

it has impetus that

you got to go claim more territory

occupy, amen

occupy, in other words

you've been mandated to get on the enemy's territory

and stake some claim

to go occupy until I come

it's his house

when we think about the house of the Lord

it's a place of dwelling

it's a place of safety

it's a place of security

and he left them his house

my Lord

when we think about his house

how wonderful and beautiful the house of the Lord truly is

he said I come

occupy

carry home with business as normal

don't let up fellas

when you see those who are filled with demons

cast them out

when you see those who are sick

lay hands on them and raise them up

and preach the gospel

preach the gospel

preach the gospel

I am so afraid

that the modern day church has gotten away

from the simplicity of preaching the gospel

we do so many other things

we want to have so many other activities

but the activities and other things are not our mandate

our mandate is to preach the gospel

it's to tell the good news

that Christ came to earth for the wretchedness of their soul

and the misery of their life

not only for that

but that they may have joy unspeakable

and it be full of glory

living in the meantime doesn't mean living through misery

it means living in the joy and the glory of the Lord

while we are living here now

we are in his house

and in his house is his presence

heaven's work

placed and left in the hands of humanity

left in the hands of those disciples

John 20, 21 says

as my father has sent me even so send I you

Luke 10, 3 I send you forth as lambs among wolves

and harmless and be harmless as doves

amen

because we have to be wise as serpents

be therefore wise as serpents with the harmless as doves

it should not surprise you that the world is going to bite on you

it shouldn't surprise you that the world is going to stand up against you

but that's alright greater is he that's in you

than he that is in this world

it's time for the church to come out of the darkness again

it's time for us to come out declaring the precious light

of the lamb of God

look sinner up man if you want out of a cradle

then you need to turn your life over to Jesus Christ

and stand up and walk like a man and act like a man

and be the man that God's called you to be

but he'll never get out of that cradle without the gospel

you tell I'm disturbed by that

now I don't think it's disturbed I think it's more pre-terved

I'm pre-terved

it makes you want to grab somebody to slap the daylights at them

good thing we don't work in the ways of the Old Testament prophets

I'd call some leprosy down on some people

hello they need a good dose of wake up

oh my lord

it's hard for me to be tolerant with the ignorance

oh Jesus help me see these are those days y'all are harping

livestreaming

oh lord

such a sweet spirit we had this morning

I probably should have let you sing us out

it just went on

oh

I started saying you're wrecking the Lord do it it's going to get this bad I'm sure he did

as it were in the days of Noah so shall the coming of the Son of Man be

a man or a pervert look perversion's not new are you hearing me

stupidity's not news ignorance is not new man's been doing it since creation

that's the reason the preacher declared there's nothing new under the heavens

the depravity of man's life and the depths of the darkness of his soul

there is no limit

that's the reason the Lord came down and brought down the tower of Babel

the hearts of men that's really had no a builder arc

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord why because only evil was in men's heart

and it was there continually

so if it was that same condition in the day of Noah

what kind of condition is this world in

and the mandate for you and I to take care of the house

to take care of his house he left them his house

we've been left his house to be caretakers of

when we think about all of that in Luke 14 23 says

go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in

how many of you are compelling

we can't hardly compel because we're not truly committed to coming in ourselves

so when you do try to compel others they look and say

well did you go last week?

well no but I'm going this week

come go with me

no I'm going fishing

go fishing they go

when they see the evidence change in our life

and when we leave on a day like today my spirit is going to be full when I leave here today

simply already by the presence of the Lord that I've encountered

and the worship that I've already offered up to him

my soul is full and running over

and I can't wait to get someone before me to say hey

where do you attend?

because the Lord is here

meeting us and visiting with us

compel them to come in go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature

there's not seven ways to a better you

hello

not 12 steps to financial success in the church

that's not what you're preaching

the African people that Brother Mills was talking about were so poor but yet gave so liberally

they don't need 12 steps they need the gospel

that's why 50 people give their heart to the Lord

because the gospel confronts us with our condition

and when we are confronted with conviction of our condition

then the Holy Spirit draws us

but if the gospel isn't proclaimed to every creature

tell them about Jesus

Acts 1 and 8 be witnesses unto me and to the other most popular world

what was their reaction? how did they take this direction?

they accepted this trust and went out to share

to shake and to shock the world of their day

it has been said Jesus went up the Holy Ghost come down

and the disciples went out

according to Acts 17 and 6 they said that they that turned the world upside down

have come here also

and it was at Ephesus where they were first called Christians

and his house is our mandated gift

he gave them his house

I got to thinking about that simple word house

and my mind went all the way back to Genesis

and where I find old Jacob running from his brother Esau

and he has some stones that he makes a pillow from

and he lays down to sleep as his escape is underway

and as he's laying asleep he has a dream and he sees the vision of a ladder

and the angels of heaven going up and down up and down

and when he awakened the next morning he shook himself and he declared

surely the Lord was here and I never knew it

and there from that moment he took the pillow and began to stack it up as an altar

and from that moment that place which was called Luz

is now called Beth-El which means house of God

which means God dwelt here

it's a place of his residence

this is where I met God and it was there

oh a few chapters later Jacob is still running

but God's about to reconcile him with his brother Esau

and he begins to make his way back

he wrestles with an angel of the Lord

and then he hears God one more time

reaffirm a covenant promise that he made

look when you come to the house of the Lord be rest assured

that if God has ever spoke a promise over your life

from time to time and occasion to occasion

he will always remind you of his faithful promise that he has made

it's a place of promise

the house of the Lord is a place of covenant

that 15th verse in that 28th chapter

says, what else Jacob?

behold I am

I am with thee and will keep thee in all places

verse 16 he says surely the Lord is in this place

and I knew it not

in verse 19 he builds that altar from his pillow

and names that place the house of God

yet as he moved away from Beth-El

from time to time to return he's called back

the Lord said go back to Beth-El

go back to where I spoke to you my God

if you know people who are out of church

you need to look them in the eye and say go back

make your way back to the house of God

where he promised you and where he made covenant with you

go back because he that made the promise

is going to be faithful to keep it

make your way back to his house

to Mr. Welling, the place of his presence

make your way back

Jacob makes his way back but on the journey

he looks at his family and everybody says

put every God you got packed up behind us

leave it here, discard everything that isn't a

holy and isn't of the Lord

leave it here, in other words he said get sanctified

we're going back to the house of God

hallelujah

well

so he gets back

has another covenant affirmation

he says this is El

Beth-El

remember that's where he wrestles

with that epiphany

he's wrestling

through the night

here's that angel to them say let me go

I gotta get

he says no sir

you're not going anywhere

until you bless me

would to the heavens that we had enough grip on God to say that

huh

I'm not letting go

no sir I am not letting go

I'm not letting go and the thing about the house of God

when you get a hold of God and you say I'm not going to let you go until you touch me and you bless me

I'm telling you what the touch will do

the touch in Jacob's life

it's smitten him in that hip and he left out of there with a different walk

he left from El Beth-El with a different walk

my God, my God in heaven

if we would get a hold of an altar somewhere

until glory touched us

when we left here we'd be walking a little bit different too

that's what the house of God will do for you

when you get in there and meet the God of the house of God

you'll get up after he touches you

and you'll leave walking a different way

hallelujah

house of God is a place of promise

it's a place for his glory to reside

2 Chronicles 7

Jesus said I leave you my house

you remember what his declaration was

Matthew 16 I'll build my church

upon this rock I'll build my church

and the gates of hell shall not

prevail against it

you're going to read 1 Timothy 3.15

you'll see that the house of God which is the church

Timothy's telling them how to behave in the house of God which is the church

I will build my church

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it

no longer does his presence dwell within the tabernacles of earth and clay

and wood and mortar and brick

but now in earthen vessels we hold and contain the treasure of his presence

but in 2 Chronicles 7 when we read how Solomon is now ready to dedicate the house of God

that his father David's hands was too bloody to build

but Solomon builds it and when it's complete he's on a platform

and he's praying and the scripture says that when Solomon had made an end of prayer

that the fire fell from heaven and the glory of God

set in his house so that they were unable to stand before him

and in the power of his presence

I'm telling you let the glory and the fire fall in the church again

and look you and I according to 1 Peter 2

we are lively stones which are built up

and we make about a spiritual house

he left his house

no wonder the author of Hebrews chapter 10 verse 25 was so adamant

Hebrews 10:25

about not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together

in the manner that some is

they already were currently

forsaking the assembly

as the house of worship

but he said even so much more as you see the day approaching

encourage one another

exhort one another

why? because we're living in the meantime

we're living in the meantime

the house of the Lord according to Matthew 21

13 Jesus said it is written

my house shall be called the house of prayer

it is written where was it written?

Isaiah read it that's where

in 56 7 listen to this

even them he's talking about foreigners he's talking about strangers he's talking about proselytes

he said even them will I bring to my holy mount

and make them joyful in my house of prayer

in other words everybody is welcome

everyone is welcome

I'll bring them the foreigner the outcast

I'll bring them to my holy mountain

and I'm going to put joy in them I'm going to fill them with joy

in my house of prayer

hallelujah

prayers are being answered aren't they?

God is hearing and answering prayer

God is delivering God is saving

my Lord he's moving mountains

he's providing he's hearing and answering prayer

and there's joy that comes in the house of prayer

I wonder Jesus was so upset

he would turn the table of the money changers over and he said

my house shall be called a house of prayer

but you have turned it into a den of things

so he cleansed his people

he cleansed his house

he left them his house

how special is the house of the Lord?

well it's very special to me

I cherish the house of the Lord

it's obvious

should be obvious

the shepherd don't cherish the house

who will?

if the shepherd shows disregard for the house

who will show regard?

I think the house of the Lord should be the neatest prettiest place around

amen?

it kind of causes me to do this when I go by

and see church properties that are just

the changers

how special is the house of the Lord?

look what the psalmist said in 84 and 10

for a day in thy courts

is better than a thousand

I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than to dwell in the pits of wickedness

does coming here mean that much to you?

it does to me

I can't explain to you a burden shift that the Lord gives shepherds that are called

I can't tell you how that works in your heart

how it works in your soul

there are men in here that know and understand that

they've experienced it

I can't tell you how much it means to me

to be caretaker of this house

if I couldn't do anything but open the door

I'd be glad to do it

then to where the Lord found me, what he brought me from

and what he saved me out of

hallelujah! I don't have to

I told him years ago I don't have to do this

don't want to do this

I tried doing everything else

clerk, head usher, song leader, Sunday school teacher

cleaned the church on our turn to clean

done all of that stuff for over a year

trying not to have to do this stuff

some of these guys tell me, oh I just

I just want to be in the ministry

I said you're crazy

what do you mean you want to be in the ministry?

oh I want a full support church

as you know not what you ask of

I've tried everything I can do to get out of it

let alone be giddy about getting in

well why? look around you

just take a good scan around

look up if you can if you raise your head

look around

I feel the weight of every soul

in this room

every day

every day

now if you can do it without feeling that

I'm not going to say it on you

if you can't read the word of God

and be convicted by the spirit to preach a word

that's going to align my sin

to tell me if I don't line up I'm not going

I don't need your pat on the back

help me feel good about the misery that I'm living through

I need the preaching and the declaration of the gospel

which confronts my condition

because you and I are the house

see you and I now are the temple

what did Paul say?

no you're not but you are the temple of the Holy Ghost

defile not the temple

now what the word says?

what do we have hanging of the world's desires

on the hallways and the inner chambers of our soul and spirit

that doesn't belong there?

what are we dividing the house with?

he left them his house

responsibility

the day we build the church

while we live in the meantime

over-your responsibility

no, the commands to all of us

go ye, that means ye

you're ye, I'm ye, we're all ye

that's us, that's you, that's me

we

I'd rather be a doorknob

the king said it

King David

I'd rather be a doorkeeper

in the house of my God

can you imagine the songs of the cent

as the people are coming towards Jerusalem on Holy Day

many of them singing that Psalm 121

I will lift up mine eyes into the hill

for whence cometh my help?

my help comes from the Lord

the maker of the heavens and the earth

someone may be singing Psalm 91

oh, he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty

knowing they're making their way toward the temple of God

knowing that they're making their way for sacrifice and worship

knowing they're making their way to where God's presence dwells

are you that happy? I'm that happy every Sunday morning

it's better than a house in Jerusalem

one day here

one day here

one day in his house, one day in his courts

it's better than a house

yes

it's better

I want to be in his house

these next few weeks are going to be fairly pastoral

because we need reminded

of the times in which we're needed

we must stand reminded

of our responsibility and the things that Christ has left the church

you and I have been given a special trust

that's to take care of the house of the Lord

whose house you are

so how are you doing with his house?

we hold this treasure now

in earthen vessels

that's us

tabernacles of clay if you will

that's us

the spirit of the Lord dwells in you

thus the Lord declares where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I

in the midst of them

so we gather

and so is it any wonder when any number of us come

that he shows up

that he visits in our worship like he has this morning

but truly he's here

so how are you doing with his house?

you left him

lively stones

to fill up a spiritual house

that we may offer sacrifices

and praise and worship unto him

Father I love you today

I thank you for your visitation

I thank you for your help this morning for I have truly

truly felt your anointing

may we all consider

our caretaking responsibility

of the house

not just this physical structure

but the spiritual house

which is our lives

some may say pastor I'm not doing so well

with the maintenance

of my house

the spiritual maintenance

of my house

I've somewhat defiled

the house I brought in unclean things

unholy things

sinful things I allow to live in me

I want to put an end to that

I tell you what I feel in my spirit this morning

all those who want to have your house in order

just come and make your way to this front

wasn't that the word of the prophet brought

to the king

get your house in order

or you're surely going to die

as the kai turns his face to the wall

begin to remind the lord

of his deeds and the acts that he has done for him

before Isaiah can get from the court of the kings pass

he received another word from the lord go back and tell it

go tell the king

you get fifteen more years

don't blow it

I want to be the house of the lord

while we're living in the meantime

I want others

that see us

to recognize us as a house

of the lord

I'm not talking about a church building

I'm talking about you

I want others to see you

and know there's a difference

to know that you've been to the house of the lord and you've come back walking a little different

like old jake

he left with a limp the bible says

but he left right

and he remained right

I want us to remain right

see I care enough about you

I'm going to tell you if there's sin in your life

it's not going to work

I don't know how you think and process times but as I've grown

I've tried to process some of that

like to myself how much sin you think you can get in heaven with

well you think that'll keep you out

well if I have to ask myself that yes

but I'm just going to tell you I try to err

to the side of righteousness

some of you in here know the phrase

raised in the old school

and they know that

that's where I was raised

so for myself the scriptures says let every man work out his own salvation

takes a little more work to keep past

I want to keep you

I don't know how the judgements going to be one day but I pictured in my mind

because those of us who are called to preach and teach

prophets and pastors and advances

we're going to be held at a higher rate of accountability

we are

that's true I don't know how it's going to be but I pictured in my mind

after I have been judged for old clear

hear me

when I've stood before God

hopefully with the blood remain in the blood

hear that well done but stand there a minute

and he begins to call

church

at church

then I'm judged for that

I'm judged

for how I preached taught and led and ministered

to the new martin church of God

for a little over five years

then I will stand for the Lafayette church of God

for a little over six years

and accountability that I will have

for what I shared to with and for them

and then

for 13 and a half years

the Woodward Avenue church of God

and for the hundreds

and thousands that come through there

I'll have to give an account

to what went across this podium and I know my lord I'm going to get in trouble

for some goofy stuff like I say this morning

as long as I get reprimanded for goofy and not sin

or neglect

neglect

what neglect to tell you the truth

that you can't get into heaven full of sin

and then

I'll give an account for this day

ever previous Sunday before

and every Sunday following

I'll give an account

I'll give an account

and so

I want to be able to give a just account

April 23rd, 2023

with inspiration of the spirit and the anointing of the Holy Ghost

I told you the truth

I declared to you

you are his house

he loves his house

he cares about his house

he died for he left them his house

he died for his house

you and I are in

we're in

so

let's all start with a clean slate

right here

I'm going to repent

we do not make that a spiritual practice and discipline in our life

and you should

continually

repent

what for? sins of omission and commission

things you fail to do

how many of us have left convicted

and we've been urged by the spirit to talk to someone about the Lord

and we just didn't

and then you leave and you get your legs strapped when you're like six years old

the Holy Ghost

I had to work for them

that's omission

sin of disobedience

in those sins we commit

lies we tell

I'm not going to go through the litany of sins if you're

see what I'm saying?

because what we do in secret

is lit up like an LED sign

in the heavens

the Lord sees your heart

so

you just have to take it up to the Lord you've got such a goofy pastor

pray for him

our hearts heavy

and the spiritual condition

of his house

I want it to be the house that he left

the one he comes for

Father

in the name of your son Jesus Christ the supreme sacrifice for all our sins

I stand before you today Lord and I do repent

for both sins

from that which I disobey

to that which I may commit

as I endeavor within the depths of my soul not to sin against you

but as the psalm said I've hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you

your word is in me

but I'm grateful today

that we have an advocate with the Father

Christ Jesus the righteous

and if we confess our sin

you are faithful and just

to forgive us of our sin

and to cleanse us

of all unrighteousness

I repent

come on saints repent just tell the Lord

I repent

for doubt and disbelief

actions that are not pleasing words that are not pleasing

attitude that is not pleasing to you Lord

purify me cleanse me I repent today

that your joy

bring me into your house

into the holy mountain

and fill us full of joy

in your house of prayer

as we pray forgive us

forgive us

forgive us

forgive me Lord

forgive me Lord

forgive me Lord

cleanse me

purify me purge me

so grateful today

I want to be your house

the house of the Lord

the house of the Lord

thank you Lord

thank you Lord

from all points of this church stretch your way

your hands toward this way toward this altar

heavenly Father

mighty God

in the name of Jesus

ha se la mojo sonda la mojo sia

hallelujah Lord so grateful today

we're so thankful today

your hand of mercy and grace was over us

Lord we're going to need a touch

we're going to need a healing touch

strengthening touch in body Lord

Father God in the name of Jesus

touch these ladies as they stand before you in your presence

heal their bodies

heal their minds

strengthen them by your grace

Lord we're so thankful and grateful today

so thankful so grateful this morning

for your hand of mercy and grace

touch your house

this is your house standing before you

you died for your house

touch your house

Lord may we all leave this place

walking differently

than we came in

different

cleansed

different

cleansed

blessed

with favor

following us

thank you today Jesus

thank you today Jesus

thank you Lord

thank you Lord

just worship in a minute

hallelujah

hallelujah