IN HERE AND NOT GIVE HIM THE PRAISE THAT HE'S WORTHY OF
AND THEN EXPECT HEAVEN TO JUST COME DOWN TO THE EARTH.
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU OVER THE NEXT TWO TO THREE
MINUTES TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE THE
MIRACULOUS CAN DWELL. CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE THE HOLY
SPIRIT CAN INHABIT. I'M JUST ASKING FOR THE NEXT TWO
MINUTES, WOULD YOU GIVE GOD A PRAISE REPRESENTATIVE OF
THE MIRACLE THAT YOU'RE BELIEVING HIM FOR? GIVE HIM
A PRAISE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE WORD THAT YOU CAME
SEEKING. GIVE HIM A PRAISE ACCORDING TO HIS EXCELLENT
GREATNESS. COME ON, SOMEBODY LIFT UP THE KING OF KINGS
AND THE LORD OF LORDS IN THIS ARENA. HALLELUJAH! COME ON,
CROWN HIM KING OF KINGS WITH YOUR SONG AND WITH YOUR
PRAISE. OH, MAGNIFY AND EXALT HIS NAME TOGETHER. THE KING OF
GLORY HAS COME TO THIS ARENA. HALLELUJAH. OH.
(MUSIC)
WOULD YOU GIVE GOD A HAND CLAP OF PRAISE THIS
AFTERNOON? HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH.
BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD. HALLELUJAH. YOU CAN BE
SEATED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. THANK YOU FOR
WORSHIPPING OUR KING THE WAY HE'S WORTHY TO BE PRAISED.
HALLELUJAH. YOU KNOW, I WAS GETTING READY TO PREACH A
SERMON ABOUT A MAN NAMED GIDEON. BY THE WAY, I AM
ABOUT TO RECEIVE THE OFFERING. HALLELUJAH. THAT'S
WHY I WORE MY SHINY SUIT COAT. HALLELUJAH. I WAS
GETTING READY TO PREACH A SERMON ABOUT A MAN NAMED
GIDEON, AND I WAS GOING THROUGH THE STORY AND
PREPARING THE VERSES THAT I WAS PUTTING IN MY NOTES, AND
I GOT TO THIS PLACE IN THE STORY, BROTHER LEON, WHERE
WE'RE GETTING GOT INTO SOMETHING I CONSIDER A
LITTLE CONTROVERSIAL. HE WAS FLEECING THE LORD. NOW, HE
IS THE ORIGINATOR OF THIS DOCTRINE OF FLEECE IN THE
LORD AND LET ME TELL YOU WHERE I STAND ON THE ISSUE
I'M FOR IT WHEN IT WORKS. I'M AGAINST IT WHEN IT
DOESN'T AMEN HE HAD A WORD OVER HIS LIFE HE HAD
DIRECTION OVER HIS LIFE. HE IS VISITED BY THE ANGEL OF
THE LORD YET AFTER ANGELIC VISITATION AFTER PERSONAL
PROPHECY AND DIRECTION HE HAS A HARD TIME BELIEVING
WHAT THE SAYETH THE LORD AND HE DEMANDS A SIGN FROM GOD I
NEED YOU TO GIVE ME A SIGN AND I NEED YOU TO DO THIS
AND I NEED YOU TO DO THAT I MEAN HE GIVES CLEAR-CUT
INSTRUCTIONS I NEED THE FLEECE TO BE WET AND THE
GROUND TO BE DRY AND THEN WHEN THAT HAPPENS HE GOES
LET ME LET ME SWITCH IT UP JUST IN CASE THE DEVIL WERE
YOU BLESSED I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT JUST MADE ME THINK
ABOUT THIS MORNING SERMON WERE YOU BLESSED BY THE
MINISTRY OF EVANGELIST ISAAC PETRIE WAS THAT NOT A WORD?
WHO I SHOULD HAVE WORN MY SHINY SPORT COAT TO THAT
SERVICE. AMEN. I CAME IN A SWEATER. MAN, WHAT A WORD.
BUT GIDEON COMES BACK ONCE AND TWICE AND HE KEEPS, IT'S
ALMOST AS IF HE'S MAKING IT A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT JUST
TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE LORD. AND SO I'M PREPARING THESE
SERMON NOTES AND YOU KNOW TALKING ABOUT COMING BEFORE
THE LORD AND THE SIGNS THAT WE WANT. AND I READ
SOMETHING THAT I, I'M SURE I READ IT BEFORE BUT I NEVER
PAID ATTENTION TO THAT. HAVE YOU EVER DONE THAT BEFORE? I
KNOW YOU HAVE BECAUSE YOU'VE GONE AND BOUGHT SOMETHING
AND THEN TRIED TO RETURN IT AND THEY SAID "WELL YOU
SIGNED, YOU NEVER READ WHAT YOU SIGNED." I READ
SOMETHING IN JUDGES 6 AND 18 IN THE NEW LIVING
TRANSLATION I'D NEVER SEEN BEFORE. WELL ACTUALLY IT
STARTS IN 17. GIDEON SAID "IF YOU'RE TRULY GOING TO
HELP ME, SHOW ME A SIGN TO PROVE THAT IT'S REALLY THE
LORD SPEAKING." NOW I'VE READ THAT ONE BEFORE, BUT
I'D NEVER SEEN VERSE 18. IT SAYS "BUT DON'T GO AWAY
UNTIL I COME BACK AND BRING YOU AN OFFERING." I'D NEVER
READ THAT PART BEFORE. SO GIDEON HAS DEMANDS OF THE
LORD, BUT GIDEON KNOWS TOO MUCH TO MAKE DEMANDS OF THE
LORD AND COME TO THE LORD EMPTY-HANDED. I HAVE DEMANDS
BEFORE THE LORD TODAY. CAN I BE TRANSPARENT WITH YOU?
NOW, I DON'T MEAN THAT IN A DISRESPECTFUL WAY. THERE ARE
SOME THINGS I NEED ANSWERS FOR. THERE ARE SOME THERE
ARE SOME PRAYER REQUESTS THAT I HAVE BEFORE THE LORD,
BUT I KNOW BETTER THAN TO COME TO THE LORD
EMPTY-HANDED. AND HERE'S WHY. BECAUSE I'VE NEVER LEFT
HIS PRESENCE EMPTY-HANDED. SO I DON'T THIS SERVICE WILL
BE A LANDMARK SERVICE FOR SOME OF YOU IN THIS ROOM. I
STOOD OVER THERE TWO YEARS AGO, BUILDING LESS IN OUR
MINISTRY. I WAS BELIEVING THE LORD FOR PROPERTY, FOR
THE MINISTRY, BUT NO ONE KNEW THAT. AND STANDING
RIGHT OVER THERE, THE MAN THAT IS ABOUT TO PREACH
AFTER THIS LONG-WINDED OFFERING, HALLELUJAH. I'M
TAKING TIME 'CAUSE PASTOR BRENDA DIDN'T TAKE ANY TIME
THIS MORNING WITH THE OFFERING. (CONGREGATION
LAUGHING) WAIT, DON'T TELL, WELL, DON'T TELL HER I SAID
ANYTHING. HOLD UP, I'M GETTING A TEXT MESSAGE RIGHT
NOW. (CONGREGATION LAUGHING) I WAS STANDING RIGHT OVER
THERE AND I'M BELIEVING THE LORD FOR A BUILDING. I
HAVEN'T TOLD ANYBODY I'M BELIEVING THE LORD FOR A
BUILDING AND THE MAN THAT'S ABOUT TO PREACH CALLED ME
OUT RIGHT OVER THERE AND HE SAID TONY THE LORD HAS A
BUILDING FOR YOU AND HE STARTED GIVING ME THE
PROPHETIC WORD THAT WHAT THE LORD WAS GOING TO DO IN THE
NEXT YEAR DO YOU THINK I LEFT THAT SERVICE
EMPTY-HANDED? ABSOLUTELY NOT. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME,
WE HAD A CONTRACT ON A BUILDING. I'M TALKING ABOUT
24 HOURS AFTER THAT WORD, WE HAD A CONTRACT ON A
BUILDING. I DIDN'T LEAVE EMPTY-HANDED, BUT I'M GOING
TO TELL YOU I DIDN'T COME HERE EMPTY-HANDED.
HALLELUJAH. ARE THERE ANY GIVERS IN THE ROOM THAT CAN
BEAR WITNESS TO WHAT I'M SAYING? I DON'T COME INTO
THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD EMPTY-HANDED BECAUSE I NEVER
LEAVE EMPTY-HANDED. AND SO I WANT YOU TO GET YOUR VERY
BEST OFFERING READY RIGHT NOW. THE WAYS TO GIVE ARE
ABOUT TO APPEAR ON THE SCREEN AND I HAVE THEM ON
THIS CHEAT SHEET AS WELL. THEY GAVE ME A CHEAT SHEET
BECAUSE THEY SAW WHERE I WAS AT ANOTHER CHURCH RAISING
THE OFFERING AND I GAVE THE WRONG INFORMATION FOR THE
WRONG CHURCH. I WAS PREACHING AT WORD OF LIFE
AND I DIRECTED EVERYONE TO GO TO WORDOFFAITH.COM. WORD
OF FAITH GOT UP THAT NEXT WEEK AND TESTIFIED ABOUT ALL
THIS MIRACLE MONEY THEY'VE BEEN POURING INTO THEIR
MINISTRY. THEY SAID IT'S COMING FROM THE RIGHT, THE
LEFT, THE SOUTH, THE NORTH, PENTECOSTALS AND
PRESBYTERIANS. WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE IT'S COMING FROM.
AND WORD OF LIFE WAS PUTTING OUT PETITIONS, "PLEASE
SOMEBODY FIND THE MONEY." SO THEY MADE SURE, THEY COLOR
CODED IT FOR ME Y'ALL. THERE'S A NOTE HERE FROM
PASTOR HANK, "TONY, DON'T GIVE THEM YOUR CASH APP."
HALLELUJAH, ALRIGHT. HERE'S THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN GIVE,
AMEN. THERE'S ENVELOPES THAT I BELIEVE ARE AT YOUR SEATS,
AND IF NOT YOU CAN ASK ONE OF THOSE USHERS AND THEY'LL
GIVE YOU ONE. YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE. OH, EXCUSE ME.
I'M THANKFUL FOR THE THOUSANDS THAT ARE HERE, BUT
FOR THE MILLIONS THAT ARE WATCHING AT HOME. YOU ARE
INCLUDED IN TODAY'S OFFERING. HOW ABOUT THAT?
AH, YOU THOUGHT I DIDN'T SEE YOU. YOU'RE SITTING THERE
WITH YOUR POP-TART AND YOUR COFFEE AND YOU'RE JUST
CHILLING IN THAT RECLINER JUST, YOU SAID, I'M JUST
GOING TO TASTE AND SEE. THE LORD SAYS, I JUST FOUND YOU
RIGHT THERE IN THE RECLINER. YOU CAN GIVE AS WELL TO THIS
OFFERING TODAY. YOU CAN GIVE ON THE MOBILE APP. WHO HAS
THE LORD TO HOST MOBILE APP? AMEN. YOU CAN TEXT TO GIVE
TO 833-309-5698. YOU CAN CALL TO GIVE. YOU CAN, WELL,
YOU CAN'T GIVE THERE. YOU CAN, I THINK THERE'S A QR
CODE THAT YOU CAN SCAN. YOU CAN GIVE THAT WAY AS WELL.
THE POINT IS THERE'S SO MANY WAYS TO GIVE. THERE'S NO
EXCUSE NOT TO GIVE. AMEN. ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR OFFERING
READY, WOULD YOU STAND WITH ME SO I CAN PRAY OVER YOU?
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING, BUT YOU SEE
SOMEONE STANDING, QUICKLY START NEGOTIATING AND SAY,
CAN YOU HOOK A BROTHER UP? CAN I GET IN ON WHAT YOU
HAVE? BROTHER LEON, CAN I GET IN ON WHAT YOU HAVE?
HALLELUJAH, I SEE YOU STAND. I KNOW WHO TO GO TO. AMEN.
AMEN. I WANT TO PRAY OVER YOU. I WANT TO PRAY OVER
THIS OFFERING AND I BELIEVE THE LORD'S GOING TO BLESS
YOU. I DON'T, I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS POSSIBLE FOR
YOU TO WALK OUT OF THIS SERVICE EMPTY-HANDED TODAY.
THEREFORE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME BEFORE THE LORD
EMPTY-HANDED. AMEN. AMEN. I'M WAITING ON A FEW MORE
THAT ARE ABOUT TO STAND. I SEE YOU. I KNOW IT'S A
STRUGGLE, THOSE COMFORTABLE NON-PADDED CHAIRS. I KNOW
YOU'VE ALREADY KIND OF FOUND YOUR GROOVE AND YOU DON'T
WANT TO HAVE TO GIVE IT UP, BUT I SEE YOU, ALL RIGHT.
LET ME PRAY OVER YOU AND THEN WE'RE GONNA RECEIVE
THIS OFFERING. FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR EVERY GIVER
THAT'S IN THIS ROOM. LORD, I THANK YOU THAT I HAVE YET TO
EVER COME INTO YOUR PRESENCE AND LEAVE EMPTY-HANDED.
THEREFORE, I REFUSE TO COME INTO YOUR PRESENCE
EMPTY-HANDED. I ASK YOU TO RECEIVE THE GIFTS OF YOUR
PEOPLE NOW. RECEIVE THE OFFERINGS OF YOUR PEOPLE.
BLESS IT, MULTIPLY IT, AND MAY IT COME BACK TO THEM IN
SUCH A GREAT MEASURE THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ROOM ENOUGH
TO CONTAIN THE HARVEST THAT'S COMING TO THEM, BOTH
IN THIS ARENA AND THOSE WATCHING AROUND THE WORLD
TODAY. BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST, WE SPEAK THE BLESSING OF PROSPERITY OVER
YOU NOW, AND WE SAY IT'S DONE. IN JESUS' NAME, AND
ALL GOD'S PEOPLE SAID, "AMEN." ALL RIGHT, NOW
REMAIN STANDING WHILE THE USHERS ARE SERVING YOU.
THERE'S A MAN OF GOD THAT'S ABOUT TO COME TO THIS
PODIUM. HE'S THE PASTOR OF ONE OF AMERICA'S GREATEST
REVIVAL CHURCHES IN THE CITY OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.
THERE ARE SOME NASHVILLEITES IN THIS ROOM RIGHT NOW. YOU
CAN CATCH HIM AT REGENERATION CHURCH, HIS
PODCAST. HE'S AN AUTHOR, HE'S A PASTOR, HE'S A
PROPHET, AND FOR AT LEAST 20 YEARS, HE'S BEEN A BLESSING TO
MY LIFE. HIS MINISTRY IS ANOINTED, AND I'M SO THANKFUL TO
GOD THAT I GET TO CALL HIM MY FRIEND AND MY ELDER. AND I THANK
GOD FOR THE MINISTRY OF PASTOR KENT CHRISTMAS. WOULD YOU DIRECT
YOUR ATTENTION TO THE SCREEN, AND THE NEXT VOICE YOU'RE GOING
TO HEAR IS THE PROPHETIC VOICE OF THE LORD.
- THIS SEASON OF THE OPEN HEAVEN THAT THE ENEMY CAN
COME IN AND PROSPER AGAIN AND SHUT MY CHURCH DOWN. YOU
MAY HAVE HID ME IN THE UPPER ROOM FOR TEN DAYS, SAITH THE
LORD, BUT I CAME OUT OF THAT UPPER ROOM AND I SPILLED
INTO THE NATIONS. I WILL NOT BE SILENCED THIS TIME, SAITH
THE LORD. YOU WILL NOT PUT A MASK ON MY MOUTH, FOR I HAVE
ALREADY SAID, GOD, I WILL NOT RECALL THE PROPHETIC. I
WILL NOT RECALL THE SOUND OF PRAISE. I WILL NOT ALLOW THE
ENEMY TO SHUT ME UP. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
AMEN. AMEN, THAT SOUNDED LIKE A WILD GUY RIGHT THERE.
[LAUGHTER] JUST FOR A MOMENT, REMAIN STANDING.
THANK YOU FOR HONORING THE PRESENCE OF GOD TODAY TO
COME TO CHURCH 2 O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON ON A SATURDAY.
THANK YOU THAT- AMEN. I DON'T HAVE TO PREACH TO 200 PEOPLE.
AMEN. IT'S AN HONOR TODAY TO BE ABLE TO PREACH TO GOD'S
PRECIOUS PEOPLE. I KNOW WITH ALL THE BURDENS THAT YOU
CARRY AND ALL THE FIGHTS THAT YOU'RE INVOLVED IN THAT
YOU ARE VALUABLE TO THE LORD AND I PRAY TODAY THAT I
WOULD BE A BLESSING TO YOU AND SPEAK TO YOU LIFE. I'VE
ONLY WRITTEN ONE BOOK IN MY LIFE AND THIS IS TURNING
SORROW INTO JOY THEY SAID THAT THEY'RE UP THERE
BETWEEN 210 AND 211 SO AFTER I GET DONE PREACHING I AM
GONNA BE UP THERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE I CATCH
A PLANE IT TOOK ME ABOUT TWO YEARS TO POUR MY SOUL INTO
THIS BOOK IF YOU'RE STILL WONDERING WHY GOD IS NOT
USING YOU, IF YOU'VE BEEN FAITHFUL TO GOD OVER A
LIFETIME AND YOU'VE NOT YET SEEN WHY GOD IS NOT GIVING
YOU A HARVEST, THIS BOOK'S FOR YOU. IT TOOK ME, I'VE
BEEN PREACHING 54 YEARS AND IT WASN'T UNTIL MY 49TH YEAR
OF PREACHING THAT GOD OPENED THE HEAVENS. AND SO I'VE
LIVED WHERE MOST OF YOU HAVE LIVED MOST OF MY LIFE. SO I
UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU GO THROUGH, BUT I WANNA
ENCOURAGE YOU THAT GOD IS FAITHFUL. AND IF YOU WILL
STAY FAITHFUL TO THE LORD, GOD WILL NOT DESERT YOU.
AMEN. YOU CAN BE SEATED TODAY. I'M GOING TO MINISTER
A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TODAY. I HAVE TRANSCRIBED TO
SOME DEGREE WHAT I WANT TO PREACH TO YOU. I TRUST THAT
WHEN WE GET DONE TODAY, GOD WILL ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS
IN YOUR LIFE, THOSE OF YOU THAT FEEL LIKE, "GOD, I'M
PRESSED OUT OF MEASURE. I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT
LEFT." I THINK GOD WILL HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU TODAY.
WHEN JACOB, THE GREAT PATRIARCH OF ISRAEL, HAD THE
PEACE OF HIS LIFE DISRUPTED BY THE VISITATION OF HIS
SONS, WHO HANDED HIM A BLOODY COAT THAT HE KNEW
BELONGED TO HIS FAVORITE SON JOSEPH, WHOM THE ONLY WOMAN
THAT HE HAD EVER LOVED HAD GIVEN BIRTH TO, AND WAS TOLD
THAT JOSEPH HAS DIED A BLOODY, VIOLENT DEATH. THE
BOOK OF GENESIS RECORDS THAT JACOB IN GREAT GRIEF RENT
HIS CLOTHES, PUT ON SACKCLOTH, AND HE MOURNED.
AND IT SAYS THAT JACOB COULD NOT BE COMFORTED, BUT GOD
SAID, "THAT'S OKAY." WHEN MESSENGERS ONE BY ONE HAD
BROKEN THE STILLNESS OF JOB'S LIFE, WHOM GOD CALLED
A GREAT MAN TO DECLARE THE LOSS OF HIS SHEEP, OF HIS
OXEN, AND OF HIS CAMELS. AND WHILE THAT SERVANT IS THERE
BEARING THAT NEWS, ANOTHER SERVANT COMES IN TO TELL
HIM, "THIS GODLY MAN THAT ATE STRONG WIND HAS HIT THE
HOUSE OF HIS ELDEST SON AND COLLAPSED IT ON THE HEAD OF
HIS TEN CHILDREN. AND IN ONE DAY, ALL TEN OF HIS CHILDREN
DIED." THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JOB TORE HIS MANTLE, SHAVED
HIS HEAD, FELL DOWN ON THE GROUND, BUT GOD SAID THAT
WAS OKAY. WHEN JOSHUA AND CALEB RETURNED, EXCITED FROM
CANAAN LAND, TO TELL THE ISRAELITES, "WE'VE SEEN OUR
INHERITANCE. WE'VE HELD THE GRAPES OF ESHCOL. WE'VE SEEN
THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY." BUT ISRAEL, OUT OF UNBELIEF,
REFUSED TO GO IN. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS THAT JOSHUA
AND CALEB, IN DISAPPOINTMENT, IN
FRUSTRATION, FELL DOWN, TORE THEIR GARMENTS BECAUSE THEY
KNEW IT WOULD BE DECADES BEFORE ISRAEL WOULD EVER
POSSESS THE LAND, BUT THAT WAS OKAY WITH GOD. WHEN
JOAB, A BLOODY MURDERER, DECEIVED AND ENTICED ABNER
TO COME OUT OF THE CITY OF REFUGE, AND JOAB EXTENDED
THE RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP, YET IN THE OTHER
HAND THERE WAS A KNIFE THAT HE DROVE INTO THE STOMACH OF
ABNER AND ABNER LAY DEAD IN A POOL OF BLOOD. KING DAVID
IN GREAT GRIEF TORE HIS GARMENTS AND MOURNED THIS
GREAT SOLDIER OF ISRAEL, BUT THAT WAS OKAY. KINGS,
LAWYERS, PROPHETS, THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WRONG,
GOD'S VERY OWN PEOPLE, THEY WERE ALL ALLOWED TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS UNIQUE ACTION OF EXASPERATION BY
TEARING ONE'S GARMENTS. IT SIGNALED THIS. IT SIGNALED
GRIEF. IT DECLARED SORROW. IT DECLARED DESPERATION AND
DESPAIR. IT WAS AN OUTWARD SIGN THAT SOMETHING MORE
THAN THE MAN HAD OVERTAKEN THEM. IT WAS A PROBLEM FOR
WHICH THERE WAS NO SOLUTION. IT WAS A DILEMMA THAT
DEFINED THE TRAGEDY, A TRIAL THAT WENT BEYOND THE WORDS
THAT A MAN CAN EXPRESS. YET IT WAS AN ACCEPTED ISRAELI
EXPRESSION THAT WE ARE COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED. IT
WAS PRACTICED WITHOUT RESPECT TO CULTURE, WHETHER
ONE WAS GOOD OR ONE WAS EVIL, WHETHER ONE,
HALLELUJAH, HAD WEALTH OR THEY WERE POOR. YOU WILL
FIND IT FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS TO THE BOOK OF
REVELATION THAT THIS ACT OF TEARING ONE'S GARMENT, THE
BIBLE IS FULL OF MEN TEARING THEIR GARMENTS IN GRIEF AND
SORROW, DEVASTATION AND DESPAIR. SO, IT IS
SIGNIFICANT THAT IN LEVITICUS CHAPTER 1, WE READ
THAT THE HIGH PRIEST, UPON WHOSE HEAD THE ANOINTING OIL
WAS POURED, WAS FORBIDDEN TO UNCOVER HIS HEAD OR REND HIS
CLOTHES. FOR THE HIGH PRIEST AND HIS SONS, FOR WHOM THE
HOLY GARMENTS WERE MADE, THAT THEY MIGHT MINISTER IN
THE OFFICE OF THE PRIEST. GOD SAID THEY COULD NOT
RENDER THEIR GARMENTS, THEY COULD NOT TEAR THEIR
CLOTHING. IT IS IN THE SAME STORY OR THE SAME SETTING WE
FIND THAT GOD WAS SERIOUS ABOUT THIS. HE SAID, "YOU
CANNOT PROFANE MY SANCTUARY. YOU CANNOT GO INTO ANY DEAD
BODY." YET IN CHAPTER 10 OF LEVITICUS, IT TELLS US A
STORY OF AARON'S TWO ROGUE SONS WHO WERE PRIESTS. WHEN
THEY OFFERED STRANGE FIRE ON THE ALTAR, GOD INSTANTLY
KILLED THEM. AND WHEN AARON WALKED INTO THE TEMPLE, HIS
TWO SONS LAY DEAD ON THE GROUND. EVERYTHING IN HIM
SAID, "TEAR YOUR GARMENTS." BUT GOD, MOSES TOLD AARON,
HE SAID, "THEY MAY BE YOUR SONS, BUT YOU WILL NOT REND
YOUR GARMENTS LEST YOU DIE." HE SAID, "YOUR BRETHREN CAN
MOURN. THE WHOLE HOUSE OF ISRAEL CAN MOURN. EVERYBODY
ELSE CAN GO TO PIECES AND WAIL OVER THE DEATH OF YOUR
SONS." BUT HE SAID, "YOU CANNOT REND YOUR GARMENTS
BECAUSE THE ANOINTING OIL OF THE LORD IS UPON YOU." SO
AARON THAT DAY MARCHED IN SILENT PROCESSION BEHIND HIS
COUSINS WHOM MOSES DESIGNATED TO CARRY THE
ASHES OF HIS BOYS IN THE FOLDS OF THEIR GARMENTS.
AARON WALKED BEHIND SILENT BECAUSE HE HAD ANOINTING OIL
ON HIM AND HE WAS A PRIEST WHO WORE THE PRIESTLY ROBES.
UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS AN ACCEPTED EXPRESSION. IT WAS
A COMMON FORM OF DECLARING, IF NOT A VERBAL WAY OF
SAYING SOMETHING CLEARLY. PROPHETS HAVE DONE IT. KINGS
HAVE DONE IT. THEY WOULD DO IT AGAIN. ALL MANNER OF MEN,
GOOD AND GODLY, WOULD TEAR THEIR GARMENTS, BUT NOT THE
HIGH PRIEST OR HIS SONS. AND THERE WAS AND THERE IS A
REASON WHY RENDERING ONE'S GARMENTS AND TEARING YOUR
MANTLE AS A PRIEST WAS FORBIDDEN. IT WAS AN
ADMISSION. I AM COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED. I AM
DEVASTATED. I AM DESPAIRING OF LIFE. SOME GRIEF, SOME
SORROW, SOME CIRCUMSTANCE HAS OVERTAKEN ME FOR WHICH
THERE IS NO ANSWER, THERE IS NO REMEDY, THERE IS NO
SOLUTION. IT MAY BE OKAY FOR PROPHETS AND KINGS AND
CONQUERORS TO MAKE THIS DECLARATION, BUT IT WAS NOT
OKAY FOR THE PRIESTS BECAUSE LIKE ALL THESE OTHER MEN,
THESE MEN HAD TO ONCE A YEAR PUT ON THE GARMENT AND TO
WALK INTO THE HOLIEST OF HOLIES AND STAND IN A PURE
AND UNDEFILED PRESENCE OF AN ALMIGHTY JEHOVAH LIVING GOD.
AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN INSULT OR AN AFFRONT TO GOD
FOR ANYBODY WHO WALKED INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD TO
DECLARE TO GOD THAT HE HAD BEEN OVERWHELMED, THAT THERE
WAS ANY GRIEF, ANY SORROW, ANY SUFFERING, ANY TRIAL OR
TRAGEDY, TEMPTATION, DISEASE, DEATH, OR
DEVASTATION THAT WAS GREATER THAN THEIR GOD. EVERYBODY
ELSE COULD REND THEIR GARMENTS. EVERYBODY ELSE
COULD GO TO PIECES, BUT NOT YOU AARON, BECAUSE YOU STAND
BEFORE THE ALMIGHTY GOD AND TO COME BEFORE GOD WITH A
RIP IN YOUR GARMENT, INDICATED THAT SOMEWHERE,
SOME PARTICULAR DAY, SOME CIRCUMSTANCE, YOU DECIDED
THAT SOMETHING WAS BIGGER THAN YOUR GOD. IT IS NOT
ACCEPTABLE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD TO IMPLY THAT
THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON IN YOUR LIFE TODAY THAT SAYS
THERE IS A CIRCUMSTANCE, THERE IS A SICKNESS, THERE
IS A PROBLEM THAT GOD DOES NOT HAVE THE ANSWER FOR. TO
SUGGEST THAT THERE IS A NEED IN YOUR LIFE FOR WHICH GOD
IS NOT SUFFICIENT, IS UNSPEAKABLE. SO THE PRIEST
WHO WALKED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD COULD NOT,
HALLELUJAH, RUIN HIS GARMENT. HE HAD ACCESS, HE
HAD ANOINTING. AND TO DWELL IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
MEANS THAT FOR YOU AND I, THERE IS NEVER ANY MOMENT
THAT WE NEED TO DESPAIR. TODAY I WANT TO TELL YOU
THAT WE LIVE IN THE HOLY PRESENCE OF GOD. AND THE
SAME PRESENCE THAT DWELLS, HALLELUJAH, IN US IS THE
SAME PRESENCE THAT DWELT IN SOLOMON'S TEMPLE, THAT
DWELT, HALLELUJAH, IN THE TABERNACLE, THAT DWELT IN
THE RUINS OF ZERUBBABEL'S TEMPLE. AND I DECLARE TODAY,
HALLELUJAH, THAT THE GOD OF GLORY LIVES IN US. MAKE NO
MISTAKE, YOU ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE PAIN, GRIEF,
FRUSTRATION, FEAR, FAILURE, AND THERE WILL BE SEASONS OF
SICKNESS AND SORROW AND DISAPPOINTMENT. WE WILL
SUFFER. AND WE HAVE BEEN DECEIVED BY MEN WHO HAVE
TOLD US THAT WHEN YOU ARE SAVED AND YOU'RE A
CHRISTIAN, ALL THAT GOES AWAY. BUT CAN I TELL YOU
THAT THE GREATEST LOVE IS DEFINED BY WHAT KIND OF
PRAISE COMES OUT OF YOUR PAIN. THE GREATEST WORSHIP
IS WHAT COMES OUT WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE GOD VIOLATED HIS
WORD AND LET YOU DOWN. BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
DECLARE, "I AM PERSUADED THAT NOTHING IS GOING TO
SEPARATE ME FROM THE LOVE OF GOD." WE GOT TO GET OVER
BEING DRUNK ON PROSPERITY. WE GOT TO GET OVER BEING
DRUNK. IT'S ALL ABOUT ME. IT WAS NEVER ABOUT YOU, AND
IT'S NOT ABOUT ME. IT IS TO GOD BE THE GLORY. AND GOD
SAID, "DO I HAVE SOMEBODY IN THIS BUILDING THAT DOESN'T
LIVE ON THE MOUNTAINTOP, BUT THEY'RE STILL IN THE VALLEY,
BUT KNOW HOW TO REACH DOWN INTO THE DEPTH OF THE SOUL
AND SAY, 'YEAH, I KNOW I'M WALKING THROUGH THE VALLEY
AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH. I WILL FEAR NO EVIL.'
[APPLAUSE] WE'RE GONNA HAVE MAYBE REVERSAL OF FORTUNE.
YOU WILL BE BETRAYED BY PEOPLE THAT YOU LOVE AND
THAT YOU LAID YOUR LIFE DOWN FOR. BUT WE KNOW THIS, THE
RAIN FALLS ON THE JUST AND THE UNJUST. IF YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR A WORLD WITHOUT PAIN OR A LIFE WITHOUT
PRESSURE, I GOT NEWS FOR YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO BE
DISAPPOINTED. BECAUSE GOD NEVER PROMISED YOU AN EASY
ROAD. HE JUST PROMISED YOU THAT WHEN YOU WALK ON IT,
I'LL BE BY YOUR SIDE AND I'LL HOLD YOUR HAND. AND
WHEN YOU STAND AT THE COFFIN OF YOUR LOVED ONE, THE LORD
SAID, I WILL BE YOUR COMFORT IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR. AND
WHEN YOU'RE BETRAYED BY YOUR LOVED ONES, YOU GOT A FRIEND
THAT STICK IT CLOSER THAN A BROTHER. AND WHEN YOU STAND
IN DIVORCE COURT OF NO FAULT OF YOUR OWN, GOD SAID, I'M
STILL YOUR HUSBAND AND I'M STILL YOUR WIFE. AND I WILL
SUPPLY ALL OF YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO MY RICHES AND
GLORY. GOD IS LOOKING FOR SOME MEN AND WOMEN THAT WILL
GIVE HIM THEIR BEST BECAUSE GOD HAS YET SAID THE LORD TO
RELEASE SOME UNKNOWN RICHES THAT ARE IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF
GOD. AND THE LORD SAID, I'VE SAVED MY BEST FOR LAST, BUT
I CAN'T GIVE IT TO THE LUKEWARM. I CAN'T GIVE IT TO
MEN AND WOMEN. I PUT A PRICE ON MY RELATIONSHIP. AND THE
LORD SAID, IF I NEVER BLESS YOU AGAIN, IF IT LOOKS LIKE
I'VE FORSAKEN YOU, CAN YOU STILL WALK WITH ME IN THE
MIDNIGHT HOUR? CAN YOU STILL HOLD ON TO THE WORD OF GOD?
WILL YOU STILL BELIEVE ME THAT I NEVER, NO NEVER, NO
MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, I WILL NEVER FORSAKE YOU AND I'LL
NEVER LET YOU DOWN. I CAN TELL YOU ON THE AUTHORITY OF
GOD'S WORD, THOUGH WE HAVE TRIBULATION IN THIS LIFE,
THERE IS NO NEED TO REND YOUR GARMENTS OR OUR
GARMENTS IN DESPAIR. GOD, AND I SAY THIS FROM PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE, GOD IS MORE THAN A MATCH FOR WHATEVER IS
COMING AFTER YOU. CHAOS MAY ENDURE FOR A SEASON IN YOUR
LIFE. MAY COME AND THE RAIN MAY FALL. BUT DON'T DECIDE
THAT THE STORM THAT YOU'RE IN IS BIGGER THAN GOD OR THE
PROBLEM IS TOO MUCH FOR GOD TO HANDLE. IF YOU'RE GOING
TO BE A PRIEST IN MY PRESENCE, GOD SAID YOU CAN'T
COME IN WITH YOUR GARMENT TORN. THAT'S WHY THE BIBLE
SAYS ENTER INTO HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING AND INTO
HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE. WHAT IS THAT? THE LORD SAID I'M
GONNA TAKE OFF OF YOU THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS AND GOD
SAID I'M GONNA DRESS YOU BACK UP IN THE GARMENTS OF
PRAISE. PRAISE DON'T MEAN A LOT ON THE MOUNTAIN, BUT
PRAISE MEANS A WHOLE MUCH WHEN YOU'RE IN THE VALLEY
AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE WORD IS WORKING AND YOU
CAN'T MAKE IT MAKE SENSE THAT GOD, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU
DIDN'T TELL THE TRUTH. BUT THE LORD SAID, WHEN YOU
DON'T UNDERSTAND, THAT'S WHEN YOU STEP OVER INTO THE
DIMENSION CALLED FAITH AND YOU TELL HIM I DON'T KNOW, I
DON'T UNDERSTAND, BUT I BELIEVE THAT I GOT A GOD
THAT CANNOT LIE AND NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE LORD.
APOSTLE PAUL WAS HONEST ABOUT HIS PERILS. HE OWNED
UP TO BEING TROUBLED AND PERPLEXED AND PERSECUTED AND
CAST DOWN. HE DESCRIBED HIS LABORERS, HIS STRIPES, HIS
PRISON, HIS DEATH, HIS BEATINGS, HIS STONINGS, HIS
SHIPWRECKS, HE COULD RECOUNT IN BITTER DETAIL HIS
JOURNEYS, HIS WEARINESS, HIS PAINFULNESS, HIS WATCHINGS,
HIS HUNGER, HIS THIRST, HIS FASTINGS, THE COLD, THE
NAKEDNESS, AND EIGHT OTHER PERILS THAT I'VE NOT NAMED.
BUT UNLESS YOU ARE MISLED BY HIS WRITINGS, YOU MUST
REMEMBER, HE SAID, "YES, I WAS TROUBLE ON EVERY SIGN,
BUT I WAS NOT DISTRESSED. I WAS PERPLEXED, BUT I WAS NOT
IN DESPAIR. I WAS PERSECUTED, BUT MY GOD DID
NOT FORSAKE ME. AND I WAS CAST DOWN, BUT I WAS NOT
DESTROYED BY THE DEVIL. I'VE GOT MY GARMENT INTACT. IT
DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU ARE TODAY. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF
YOU'RE ABOUNDING OR YOU'VE BEEN ABASED. IT DOESN'T
MATTER IF YOU GOT A LUMP OR THE DOCTOR SAYS YOU'RE GOING
TO DIE OF CANCER. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU'VE LOST YOUR
LOVED ONE. IT DOESN'T LOOKS LIKE IT'S OVER. IF YOU ARE
STILL IN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, YOU WILL COME OUT
ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH VICTORY IN YOUR LIFE. GOD IN
THIS HOUR IS NOT LOOKING FOR THE WEALTHY OR THE
INTELLECT. HE'S NOT LOOKING JUST FOR THE EDUCATOR. BUT
HE SAID, CAN I GET ME SOME MEN AND WOMEN THAT LOVE ME
FOR ME AND NOT FOR WHAT I GIVE WILL LOVE ME IN THE
MIDST, HALLELUJAH, WHEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE AND STILL
STANDING ON THE ROCK OF AGES AND DECLARING, "I WILL NOT
THROW IN THE TOWEL." HALLELUJAH. HE SAID, "I GOT
MY GARMENT. IT'S WHOLE AND IT'S NOT TORN." NOW THANKS
BE UNTO GOD WHO ALWAYS, NOT MAYBE, NOT SOMETIMES, BUT
ALWAYS. HALLELUJAH. WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S OVER, WHEN
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN'T MAKE IT, WHEN YOU CAN'T SLEEP AT
NIGHT, AND YOU'RE ALL ALONE, WHO CAUSES ME TO TRIUMPH?
HALLELUJAH. IN JESUS CHRIST, OUR DEAR SAVIOR, GOD IS SO
SERIOUS ABOUT THAT GARMENT NOT BEING TORN THAT HE WROTE
IN EXODUS 32. HE SAID THIS, "DON'T," HE SAID, "REINFORCE
THE HOLE AROUND THE OPENING SO THAT GARMENT CANNOT BE
TORN." GOD IS SAYING TO SOME MEN AND WOMEN, "LISTEN, I
KNOW YOU'RE IN A DARK PLACE. I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE ANY
UNDERSTANDING. I KNOW THAT BUT THE LORD SAID, "WILL YOU
TRUST ME? WILL YOU HOLD ON TO ME? WILL YOU BELIEVE ME
THAT I WILL COME THROUGH?" HALLELUJAH. I CAN SHOW UP IN
THE FIERY FURNACE AND I CAN SHOW UP IN THE LION'S DEN. I
CAN SHOW UP WHEN THE BOAT'S GOING DOWN FOR THE LAST
TIME. MAYBE GOD WANTS TO SHOW YOU A SIDE OF HIM THAT
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN. YOU CAN'T FIND HIM ON THE MOUNTAINTOP
LIKE THAT. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS, WHEN YOU'VE MADE
YOUR BED IN HELL, YOU LOOK OVER AND GOD SAID, "I BEAT
YOU HERE. HALLELUJAH. THEN I'M GONNA BRING YOU BACK
OUT." I BELIEVE THAT GOD'S GOT SOME MEN AND WOMEN IN
THIS HOUSE WHO WANT TO TELL THE LORD, "I GOT MY GARMENT
INTACT AND I GOT SOME PRAISE IN MY SPIRIT." WE USED TO
SING A SONG IN OUR CHURCH, "WELL, WELL, WELL, WELL,
WELL, WELL, I WISH SOMEBODY'S SOUL WOULD CATCH
ON FIRE. HALLELUJAH. I BELIEVE GOD WANTS TO STRIKE
A MATCH ON SOME OF YOU AND TURN YOU ON LIKE A FIRE IN
YOUR BELLY AND WHEN PEOPLE BEGIN TO GET AROUND YOU,
THEY BEGIN TO FEEL THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY GHOST.
IT MAY HAVE BEEN CULTURALLY ACCEPTABLE, BUT CAN I TELL
YOU WHAT CULTURE ACCEPTS DOESN'T MEAN THAT GOD DOES.
WELL THIS IS WHAT EVERYBODY DOES NOW. NOT IN GOD'S
HOUSE. WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO BE POLITICALLY CORRECT IF IT
VIOLATES THE WORD OF THE LORD. AND LISTEN, WHENEVER
IN ORDER TO HAVE UNITY, YOU GOT TO COMPROMISE THE WORD
OF GOD. YOU DON'T HAVE UNITY. YOU JUST SOLD OUT.
SOMEWHERE YOU GOT TO DRAW A LINE. I WON'T STEP OVER
THIS. AND THE DEVIL'S SAYING, COME ON, I'LL TAKE
YOU WITH A RENT IN YOUR GARMENT. BUT I WANT TO STEP
BACK AND SAY I CAN'T COME OUT. I'M IN THE PRESENCE OF
THE LORD. THIS IS WHY GOD SAID, "I HAVE MADE YOU KINGS
AND PRIESTS UNTO THE LORD." YOU AIN'T LIKE EVERYBODY
ELSE. YOU DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF INDICTING GOD. YOU
CAN'T COME INTO GOD'S PRESENCE AND MOAN AND GROAN.
BUT YOU GOTTA COME IN AND BEGIN TO PROPHESY. MY GOD
WILL COME THROUGH FOR ME AND I WILL PRAISE HIM. JUST
BECAUSE THE GENERAL POPULATION CAN REND THEIR
GARMENTS IN DIFFICULT MOMENTS, DOESN'T MEAN GOD'S
MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE PRIESTS CAN. BECAUSE WE
MINISTER IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. THOUGH THE
TEMPTATION IS GREAT, YOU CAN'T TEAR YOUR GARMENT AND
COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND SAY, "GOD, WILL YOU
HELP ME?" AND HIM SAY, "WELL, BY THE LOOKS OF YOUR
GARMENT, YOU'VE ALREADY DECIDED I CAN'T." GOD, I
BELIEVE THAT YOU'RE GONNA COME THROUGH. AND THE LORD
SAID, "NO, YOU DON'T. LOOK AT YOUR GARMENT. IT'S GOT A
BIG RIP IN IT. BEFORE YOU EVER CAME IN MY PRESENCE,
YOU TORE YOUR GARMENT. AND YOU TORE IT AND YOU SAID, 'I
AM COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED. I AM DEVASTATED. SOME SORROW,
SOME DIAGNOSIS, SOME BETRAYAL OVERWHELM ME, AND
IT'S TOO BIG FOR GOD. THEN WE WANT TO COME IN THE
PRESENCE OF THE LORD AND SAY, "OKAY, GOD, DO YOUR
THING." HE SAID, "I CAN'T BECAUSE I NEED SOMEBODY TO
COME INTO AGREEMENT WITH ME." OUT OF THE MOUTH OF TWO
OR THREE WITNESSES, LET EVERY WORD BE ESTABLISHED.
AND WHEN YOU TELL YOUR GARMENT, YOU'VE ALREADY COME
INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE LIAR, WHO IS THE DEVIL, WHO
SAID, "I'VE GOT YOU." BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU, JESUS
SAID, "I AM THE WAY, I AM THE TRUTH, I AM THE LIFE,
AND NO MAN COMETH UNTO ME BUT BY THE WORD OF THE
LORD." YOU AND I ARE DEALING OR HAVE DEALT WITH
PRODIGALS, BETRAYAL BY FRIENDS, AGING PARENTS,
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. BUT THE BIBLE DECLARES, "HAST
THOU NOT KNOWN, HAST THOU NOT HEARD THAT THE
EVERLASTING GOD, THE LORD, THE CREATOR OF THE END OF
THE EARTH, IS NEITHER WEARY, AND THERE IS NO SEARCHING,
HIS UNDERSTANDING, HE GIVETH POWER TO THE FAINT, AND TO
THEM THAT HAVE NO MIGHT, HE INCREASES THEIR STRENGTH.
OH, THE YOUTH SHALL FAINT AND BE WEARY, THE YOUNG MEN
SHALL UTTERLY FALL. BUT OH, THEY, HALLELUJAH, NOW WE
SHIFT, BUT THEY, BUT THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD
SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH. THEY'RE GONNA MOUNT UP WITH
WINGS AS EAGLES, AND THEIR FRIENDS AND THEY'RE GONNA
SAY, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? NOTHING'S GOING ON." AND YOU
SAY, "I'M IN A WAITING MODE." HALLELUJAH. I DON'T
KNOW WHEN, I DON'T KNOW HOW, I DON'T KNOW WHERE, BUT I
WANT TO TELL YOU, I GOT A GOD THAT I'M WAITING ON. AND
FINALLY GOD GETS UP OFF OF HIS THRONE ROOM AND SAYS, "I
CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. I GOTTA GO DOWN." THEY THAT
WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH.
THEY'RE GONNA MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES. WE'RE GONNA
RUN AND NOT BE AFRAID. CAN I TELL YOU, YOU NEED TO GET
READY. PUT ON YOUR TRACK SHOES. NO WONDER GOD TOLD
ISRAEL, GET READY. PUT ON YOUR SHOES BECAUSE YOU'RE
GETTING READY TO COME OUT OF SLAVERY. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE
SOMEBODY NEED TO GET THEIR SHOES ON BECAUSE THE LORD
SAID, YOU'RE GETTING READY TO COME OUT OF WHERE YOU'VE
BEEN AND YOU'RE GETTING READY TO GO BACK WHERE GOD
WANTS YOU TO GO. IS THERE SOMEBODY THAT CAN GIVE A
SHOUT OUT TO THE LORD AND DECLARE, THERE IS NOBODY
LIKE OUR GOD. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT YOU
AND I WILL EVER ENCOUNTER ON THE EARTH AND TIME IN THE
WHOLE OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE THAT JESUS HAS
NOT ALREADY FACED. HALLELUJAH! HAS NOT ALREADY
FOUGHT AND ALREADY DEFEATED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY
GHOST. DAVID SAID IT WELL IN PSALM 61, "WHEN MY HEART IS
OVERWHELMED, SOMEBODY, WON'T YOU LEAD ME TO THE ROCK THAT
IS HIGHER THAN I?" PAUL PUT IT THIS WAY IN CORINTHIANS,
"NOW THERE HAS NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU, BUT SUCH IS
COMMON TO MEN. BUT GOD WHO IS FAITHFUL," HEAR ME, "BUT
GOD WHO IS FAITHFUL," NOT FINICKY, "BUT GOD WHO IS
FAITHFUL WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED OR TESTED
ABOVE," HALLELUJAH, "WHAT YOU ARE ABLE. BUT WITH EVERY
TEMPTATION HE WILL ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE THAT YOU MAY
BE ABLE TO BEAR IT." SAYING TO GOD, "I WANT TO TELL YOU,
DON'T TEAR YOUR ROBE TODAY. DON'T RAISE A WHITE FLAG,
BUT UNDERSTAND GOD IS IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR MESS. GOD IS
IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES. GOD KNOWS
WHERE YOU'RE AT. IF HE MADE YOU, HE CAN SUSTAIN YOU. IF
HE MADE YOU, HE CAN HEAL YOU. AND IF HE WANTS TO, HE
IS NOT ANY LESS. WHEN WE ARE IN BONDAGE, HE IS NOT ANY
GREATER. AND WHEN WE ARE WALKING THROUGH THE RED SEA
ON DRY GROUND, YOU MAY HAVE SURVEYED YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
THAT'S WHY I WROTE THIS BOOK, TO ENCOURAGE YOU THAT
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU ARE. YEARS AGO, I HAD JUST
COME OUT OF A DIFFICULT DIVORCE WITH AN UNFAITHFUL
WIFE. I GAVE UP MY CHURCH. I FOUND MYSELF 2,500 MILES
AWAY WITH AN OLD, BROKE-DOWN HOMELESS. I DIDN'T HAVE MY SON.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY. AND IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER, I WAS
TRYING TO MAKE MY WAY TO ANOTHER STATE BECAUSE MY
UNCLE SAID I COULD SLEEP ON THE COUCH IN HIS LIVING
ROOM. MY HEADLIGHTS DIDN'T WORK ON MY CAR, SO THAT COLD
NIGHT I PULLED INTO A REST STOP, A TRUCK STOP, WITH
TEMPERATURES AROUND ZERO, AND PULLED EVERYTHING THAT I
OWNED IN THAT CAR OVER ME TO TRY TO STAY WARM. THERE EVER
WAS A TEMPTATION. SOMETIME BEFORE THAT, I REMEMBER
HEARING THE NEWS OF WHAT MY MARRIAGE HAD DETERIORATED
TO. AND I WALKED IN A DAZE FOR SEVERAL MILES DOWN A
ROAD. AS THE EVENING CAME, I FOUND MYSELF LOOKING AT A
NIGHTCLUB CALLED STARLIGHT THEATER. I HAD ABOUT $200 IN
MY POCKET STILL. AND THE DEVIL TOLD ME, "WHY DON'T
YOU JUST GO IN AND THROW IN THE TOWEL AND GET DRUNK."
THAT NIGHT I LOOKED UP INTO THE SKY AND I TOLD GOD, "YOU
DIDN'T DO THIS TO ME AND I WILL NOT DO THIS TO YOU."
AND I DID NOT REND MY GARMENT. I STAND HERE TODAY.
YOU MAY THINK I'M BLESSED. YOU MAY THINK I DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT IS TO SUFFER, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT THE
ANOINTING THAT GOD GAVE ME TODAY DIDN'T COME OUT OF A
BOOK AND IT DIDN'T COME OUT OF A SCHOOL, BUT IT CAME OUT
OF A SECRET PLACE WHERE I WAS, MY ENTRANCE WAS WHEN I
GOT TO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. THE GATEKEEPER SAID,
"I GOTTA LOOK AT YOUR GARMENT." AND WHEN HE LOOKED
AT MY GARMENT, HE LOOKED INSIDE AND SAID, "NO TEARS."
HALLELUJAH! NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW, NO MATTER
WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, DON'T LET THE ENEMY MAKE YOU
TEAR YOUR GARMENT. BETTER TO DIE WITH CANCER AND TO WAKE
UP ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH A GLORIFIED BODY THAN TO SHAKE
YOUR FINGER AT GOD AND SAY YOU LIED. YOU SAID YOU WILL
HEAL ALL MY DISEASE. CAN I TELL YOU THERE ARE SOME
THINGS YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT GOD. HE
WON'T EXPLAIN IT. HE WON'T GIVE YOU A REASON. HE'S JUST
GOING TO SAY, WILL YOU TRUST ME? I'VE GOT BETTER THINGS
FOR MY THOUGHTS TOWARDS YOU ARE GOOD AND NOT EVIL.
BEFORE YOU WERE FORMED IN THE WOMB OF YOUR MAMA'S
BELLY, I ORDAINED YOU FOR VICTORY. I ORDAINED YOU FOR
GLORY. I ORDAINED YOU TO WALK IN A REALM OF ABSOLUTE
VICTORY. PEOPLE WITH TORN GARMENTS ARE NOT GONNA TOUCH
GENERATION Z. IT'S A CHURCH THAT'S GOT THE SMELL OF
SMOKE ON THEM. THAT WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE PRESENCE OF
THE LORD, THE ENEMY, THE ANGELS OF THE LORD WILL LOOK
AT YOU AND GO, I CAN SMELL THE SMOKE OF HELL ON YOU,
BUT I CAN'T FIND ANY TERROR IN YOUR GARMENT. IT'S ALL
RIGHT TO SMELL LIKE THE VALLEY, BUT JUST MAKE SURE
THAT YOUR GARMENT IS INTACT. PSALM 73 AND 17, DAVID
DECLARED THIS, "MY STEPS ALMOST SLIPPED." THE KEY
WORD IS "ALMOST." HOW MANY BEEN ON THE EDGE OF THAT
CLIFF? HOW MANY BEEN ON THE EDGE, OR YOU'RE WALKING WITH
GOD, YOU'RE WALKING WITH THE LORD AND YOUR KNEES START
BUCKLING. YOU'RE NOT IN THE MIDST OF LISTENING TO PASTOR
KENT PREACH ABOUT DON'T TEAR YOUR GARMENTS. YOU'RE ALL BY
YOURSELF, AND YOUR STEPS SLIP, AND YOU BEGIN TO
STUMBLE. DAVID SAID, "MY STEPS ALMOST SLIPPED. I
ALMOST LOST MY FOOTING. I ALMOST GAVE UP. I ALMOST
RAISED THE WHITE FLAG. I ALMOST TORE MY GARMENT
BECAUSE I DECIDED THAT MY CIRCUMSTANCES WERE TOO
GREAT, EVEN FOR GOD WHO CREATED HEAVEN AND EARTH. HE
SAID, "BUT WHEN I GOT IN THE SANCTUARY, I GOT A DIFFERENT
VIEW OF HOW GREAT GOD IS." I'M TALKING TO SOMEBODY
TODAY UNDER THE SOUND OF MY VOICE WHO MAY BE ABOUT TO
RING YOUR PRIESTLY GARMENT AND RAISE THE WHITE FLAG. I
WANT TO CHALLENGE YOU. DON'T DO IT. DON'T DO IT. DON'T DO
IT. IT DON'T MATTER WHERE YOU ARE. GOD IS GREATER THAN
YOUR PROBLEM. YOU SAY, "BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY ELSE
COME OUT OF THIS." MAYBE GOD WANTS TO MAKE YOU THE
TEMPLATE TO YOUR FAMILY. IF YOU CAN COME OUT OF THIS
WITH PRAISE IN YOUR MOUTH. IF YOU CAN COME OUT OF THIS
WITH A JOY IN YOUR SPIRIT. IF YOU CAN COME OUT WITH ALL
THE PAIN, BUT YOU'RE SKIPPING LIKE HIND FEET IN
HOT PLACES. AND THEY SAY, "DON'T YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO
BE DEPRESSED? YOU WANT TO BE DISCOURAGED? YOU WANT TO BE
BURIED?" BUT I WANT TO SAY, "I'VE GOT A PRAISE,
HALLELUJAH, IN MY SPIRIT, AND I WANT TO GET IT OUT.
I'VE GOT A PRAISE IN MY SPIRIT, AND I WANT TO GET IT
OUT." GOD IS LOOKING FOR SOME PEOPLE THAT KNOW HOW TO
PRAISE HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF PAIN, IN THE MIDDLE OF
SORROW. GIVE GOD A CHANCE. I THINK HE DESERVES IT. HE'LL
NEVER LEAVE YOU. HE PROMISED YOU THAT. I FOUND GOD IN A
MUCH GREATER DIMENSION WHEN I WAS HOMELESS THAN WHEN I
EVER PASTORED OR STOOD IN A PULPIT. I FOUND GOD WHEN I
WAS BETRAYED IN A MUCH GREATER SCOPE THAN I WAS
SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS. I LIVED BROKE MOST OF MY LIFE.
I EVANGELIZED IN VEHICLES. I DROVE COMING HOME ONE NIGHT
FROM OUTSIDE OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, IN THE MIDDLE OF
WINTER IN AN OLD DODGE CONVERSION VAN WITH MY THREE
YEAR OLD DAUGHTER INSIDE AND MY WIFE SO BROKE THAT THE
HEATER CORE WAS OUT AND WE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO
FIX IT, AND I HAD JUST STOOD IN THE PULPIT AND PREACHED
HOW GREAT GOD WAS, AND YET I HAD A SIXTEENTH OF AN INCH
OF ICE ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS IN MY VAN, AND THE
DEVIL'S SAYING WHAT KIND OF GOD WOULD ALLOW YOU TO DO
THAT, AND WHAT KIND OF FATHER ARE YOU THAT WOULD
PUT YOUR BABY IN THAT KIND OF SITUATION? BUT CAN I TELL
YOU, HALLELUJAH, THOSE ARE THE TIMES THAT YOUR PRAISE
IS THE GREATEST. IT'S NOT TODAY WHEN WE JUST STAND AND
SAY, "OH GOD, YOU'RE GREAT," BUT IT'S IN THE DARK PLACES.
HALLELUJAH. IT'S IN THE PLACES WHERE THE WORD
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO YOU, THAT PEOPLE CAN QUOTE YOU
VERSES AND YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM, "THAT DOESN'T WORK FOR
ME. I ALREADY TRIED THAT." BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY,
WHEN THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, YOU JUST HAVE TO
DECIDE, "I WOULD RATHER GO TO HEAVEN SICK AND BROKE
THAN TO GO TO HELL WITH AN INDICTMENT IN MY SPIRIT AND
A ROBE THAT'S BEEN TORN." ALL I WANT TO MAKE SURE IS
THAT WHEN YOU AND I GET TO THE GATES OF PEARL AND THEY
CHECK US OUT, THEY SAY, "ROBE'S INTACT." HALLELUJAH.
YOU KNOW WHAT THAT SAY? THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD
SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD. MY PRODIGAL, MY
BETRAYAL, MY FINANCIAL REVERSAL, MY SICKNESS, MY
DISAPPOINTMENT, MY FAILURE. NOTHING GOT ME TO TEAR MY
ROBE, BUT I'VE GOT A ROBE INTACT. IS THERE SOME PEOPLE
TODAY THAT CAN DECLARE, I'VE GOT MY ROBE INTACT. I STILL
GOT PRAISE COMING OUT OF MY BELLY. (CONGREGATION
APPLAUDING) YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS, HELL ONLY
GOES AFTER THE PEOPLE THAT HE'S AFRAID OF. NO WONDER SO
MANY WICKED PEOPLE PROSPER. THE GREATEST BILLBOARDS THAT
HELL CAN HAVE. SLEEP AROUND, DENY GOD, BE AN ATHEIST, BE
WOKE, B-D-E-I, DO ALL KINDS OF MESS. AND THE DEVIL SAY,
"I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, YOUR
BUSINESS WILL PROSPER. EVERYTHING WILL BE GREAT."
BUT YOU ANNOUNCE YOUR INTENTION. I JUST ENROLLED
IN THE ARMY OF GOD. I'M A VOLUNTEER FOR THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST. JESUS SAID, "WELL, GET READY. THEY HATED ME AND
THEY'RE GONNA HATE YOU." HALLELUJAH. BUT I WILL BE
WITH YOU IN THE MIDNIGHT HOURS. I CLOSE TODAY. JESUS,
WHO IS OUR GREAT EXAMPLE, THAT'S WHY THE SCRIPTURE
SAYS, "THERE IS NO TEMPTATION TO OVERCOME YOU
THAT GOD HAS NOT ALREADY ENDURED." HE IS OVERWHELMED
WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE THAT ISAIAH HAS ALREADY FORETOLD
HIS DEATH, AND ISAIAH SAID, "HE'S GOING TO BE SO
TORMENTED AND SO TORTURED THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT HIM,
HE'S UNRECOGNIZABLE." HE SAID, "HE'LL BE MORE THAN
ANY MAN." JESUS FINDS HIMSELF IN THE GARDEN OF
GETHSEMANE, AND HE IS WARRING WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE
OF WHAT'S GETTING READY TO HAPPEN TO ME. AND IT IS OF
SUCH MAGNITUDE, HE IS UNDER SUCH EMOTIONAL STRAIN THAT
THE CAPILLARIES IN HIS FOREHEAD BEGIN TO BREAK AND
SWEAT MIXED WITH THEM AND IT BEGAN TO DROP OFF LIKE BLOOD
DROPLETS. AND HE IS PRAYING, "GOD, FATHER, DON'T DO THIS
TO ME. PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS." IF GOD IN FLESH AS
A MAN HAD TO GO TO THAT DEPTH TO WIN THE BATTLE, WHY
WOULD YOU THINK IT'S STRANGE THAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH
WHAT YOU'VE GONE THROUGH? BUT DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT THE
FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH IS BUILT ON THE BLOOD OF
MARTYRS? THE FREEDOM THAT YOU AND I HAVE TODAY IS
BECAUSE SOMEBODY DIDN'T REND THEIR GARMENTS AND THEY TIED
HIM TO A STAKE OR THEY ASSASSINATED THEM OR THEY
SHOT THEM OR THEY CUT THEIR HEADS OFF. AND AFTER THE
THIRD TIME, JESUS, HALLELUJAH, SAID, "FATHER,
NOT MY WILL, BUT THY WILL BE DONE." AND HE STOOD UP. THE
BIBLE SAYS HE WAS A HIGH PRIEST. HE SAID, "I GOT MY
GARMENT INTACT." NOW, HOURS LATER, THEY COME AND ARREST
JESUS, AND PROPHECY BEGINS TO UNFOLD. HE HAS NOW BEEN
STRIPPED OF HIS PRIESTLY ROBE. THAT ONE PRIEST LIKE
UNTO GOD WHO HAS AN ENDLESS LIFE. AND HE'S HANGING ON
THE CROSS. BUT HELL KNOWS THAT HE CAN'T COME TO THE
PRESENCE OF GOD IF HIS ROBE IS TORN. AND AS HE'S HANGING
ON THE CROSS, THE SOLDIERS TOOK HIS CLOTHES AND THE
OUTER GARMENTS THEY BEGAN TO TEAR INTO PIECES, AND THEY
GAVE EACH ONE A PIECE, FOUR PIECES. BUT WHEN THEY GOT TO
HIS PRIESTLY ROBE AND THEY PUT THEIR HANDS ON IT TO
TEAR IT, THE FATHER SAID, "YOU AIN'T TEARING THE
PRIEST'S GARMENT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T TEAR IT." AND WHEN
THE DEVIL IS SCREAMING, "TEAR THE GARMENT, TEAR THE
GARMENT," BECAUSE HE KNEW IF THEY WOULD TEAR IT, JESUS,
HALLELUJAH, COULDN'T COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE
LORD WITH A ROBE THAT HAD BEEN TORN. GOD SAID NO, AND
WHEN THEY LOOKED AT IT, THE BIBLE SAID THEY DECIDED NOT
TO TEAR THE GARMENT. WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD,
WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS, HE PUT BACK ON HIS PRIESTLY
ROBE THAT WAS NOT TORN. HE TOLD MARY IN THE MORNING,
"DON'T TOUCH ME. I'M NOT YET A SINNER TO MY FATHER." BUT
THAT NIGHT HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES, "TOUCH ME." SO IN
BETWEEN THE MORNING AND THE EVENING, THE GREAT HIGH
PRIEST, WITH A ROBE THAT WAS NOT RENT, BEGAN TO MARCH UP
THE STAIRWAYS OF HEAVEN INTO THE HOLIEST OF HOLIES, STUCK
HIS FINGER IN THE DROP OF HIS OWN BLOOD, DRIPPED IT ON
THE MERCY SEAT, AND HEAVEN SAID, "IT IS ENOUGH."
HALLELUJAH! I THINK THAT THERE ARE SOME OF YOU THAT
ARE GETTING READY TO COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE
LORD, AND YOU'RE GOING TO BRING YOUR LOVED ONE WITH
YOU, AND IN TYPE, YOU'RE GOING TO BRING, HALLELUJAH,
THEM INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD, AND WITH YOUR ROBE NOT
TORN, GOD'S GOING TO SAY, "IT IS ENOUGH." THAT'S WHEN
THE PRODIGALS ARE COMING HOME. THAT'S WHEN OUR
NATION'S GOING TO CHANGE. THAT'S WHEN THE APATHY'S
GOING TO BE GONE. THAT'S WHEN THE SEEKER-FRIENDLY'S
GOING TO SHUT UP. AND THAT'S WHEN THE CHURCH OF THE MOST
HIGH, THIS IS WHAT GOD'S BEEN WAITING FOR. IT'S GOD
THAT'S SAYING, "I NEED ME A PRIESTHOOD THAT DIDN'T
DECIDE SOMEWHERE, SOMETIME, THERE WAS SOME CIRCUMSTANCE,
SOME EVIL, SOME DISEASE THAT WAS TOO GREAT FOR MY GOD.
BUT CAN I TELL YOU, THE GOD IS GREATER IN YOU THAN HE
THAT IS IN THE WORLD. AND WITH GOD NOTHING IS
IMPOSSIBLE. IF YOU'RE BREATHING, YOU ARE STANDING
ON THE EDGE OF A MIRACLE. IF YOU'RE STILL ALIVE, YOU YOU
STILL GOT POSSIBILITIES THAT THE KING OF KINGS AND THE
LORD OF LORDS IS GETTING READY TO BREAK THROUGH INTO
YOUR WORLD OF DISAPPOINTMENT AND DILEMMA AND SAY, PEACE.
BE STILL. I CHALLENGE YOU TODAY, ALL OF THIS BUILDING
TO RUN AS AS FAST AS YOU CAN TO THIS FRONT AND BEGIN TO
DECLARE GOD. I'M COMING WITH MY ROBE INTACT. GIVE ME
SOMETHING. GIVE ME A SONG TO PLAY. HALLELUJAH. I WANT TO
CHALLENGE YOU TODAY THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A
DECLARATION TO THE LORD. HALLELUJAH. COME ON JUST FOR
A LITTLE BIT. DON'T TELL GOD HOW BAD IT IS TODAY. I WANT
YOU TO TELL GOD, LORD YOU ALREADY KNOW WHERE I'M AT.
BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU, I BELIEVE THAT YOU GOT A
SOLUTION. YOU GOT AN ANSWER FOR EVERY PROBLEM, EVERY
SITUATION, EVERY VALLEY, EVERY DISEASE, EVERY
FINANCIAL SETBACK. MY GOD IS GONNA COME THROUGH. MY GOD,
I FEEL THE ANOINTING. SOMEWHERE, THE WORD OF THE
LORD IS BREAKING SOME YOKES. (CONGREGATION APPLAUDING)
OH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH, HALLELUJAH. COME ON, THERE'S
A SHOUT. THERE'S A SHOUT BUILDING UP IN THIS BUILDING
TODAY. THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT'S TELLING GOD, I'M COMING OUT
DIFFERENT THAN WHEN I CAME IN. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
- HALLELUJAH TO THE LAMB. (SPEAKING IN TONGUES)
HALLELUJAH, (SPEAKING IN TONGUES) HALLELUJAH,
HALLELUJAH (X6). THERE'S MORE THAT IS STILL COMING TO THIS
ALTAR. HALLELUJAH, WE'RE MAKING ROOM FOR YOU. THERE'S MORE
THAT ARE COMING. THERE'S ROOM IN THIS ALTAR. THERE'S
ROOM AT THE CROSS FOR YOU RIGHT NOW. YOU HAVE HEARD
THE WORD OF THE LORD AND WE MUST RESPOND. THERE'S
MINISTERS, PRAYER PARTNERS THAT ARE DOWN AND THEY'RE
GOING TO BE MOVING AMONGST YOU AND PRAYING FOR YOU.
HALLELUJAH. IT'S TIME TO TAKE THAT WORD AND PUT IT
INTO ACTION RIGHT NOW THROUGH THE POWER OF PRAISE.
HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. THOSE WATCHING AT HOME RIGHT
NOW, THOSE IN THIS ARENA, IT MIGHT BE A PAINFUL PRAISE,
BUT THAT'S THE MOST POWERFUL PRAISE. WE'VE HEARD WHAT TO
DO. NOW FOR THE NEXT FEW MOMENTS, WITHOUT ANY MORE
PROMPTING, WITHOUT ANYONE ELSE ENCOURAGING, JUST LET
THE SOUND OF PRAISE FLOW FROM THIS ROOM. NOT THE
SOUND OF PETITION, BUT THE SOUND OF PRAISE. HALLELUJAH.
HALLELUJAH. COME ON, LET THE SOUND OF PRAISE FLOW FROM
THE ROOM. AND AS YOU PRAISE THE LORD, MAY THE GIFT OF
HEALING AND THE WORKING OF MIRACLES BE RELEASED IN THIS
PLACE. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. MAY
GOD'S SUPERNATURAL PROVISION AND PROTECTION BE RELEASED
UPON YOU AS YOU GIVE GOD THIS PRAISE. HALLELUJAH TO
THE LAMB OF GOD. (SPEAKING IN TONGUES) HALLELUJAH (X7). COME
ON, GIVE HIM THAT PRAISE. HALLELUJAH (X4). COME ON, WE'RE
GOING TO GIVE HIM PRAISE THIS AFTERNOON. HEY, THE ENEMY'S BEEN
- (SINGING) DEFEATED. DEATH COULDN'T HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE
(SINGING) GOING TO LIFT OUR VOICE IN VICTORY. WE'RE GOING TO
(SINGING) MAKE YOUR PRAISES LOUD. THE ENEMY'S BEEN DEFEATED.
(SINGING) DEATH COULDN'T HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE GONNA LIFT OUR
(SINGING) VOICE IN VICTORY. WE'RE GONNA MAKE YOUR PRAISE END
(SINGING) NOW. THE ENEMY HAS BEEN DEFEATED. DEATH COULDN'T
(SINGING) HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE GONNA RAISE OUR VOICE IN
(SINGING) VICTORY. WE'RE GONNA MAKE YOUR PRAISE END NOW. THE
ENEMY HAS BEEN DEFEATED. DEATH COULDN'T HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE
(SINGING) GONNA RAISE OUR VOICE IN VICTORY. WE'RE GONNA MAKE
(SINGING) YOUR PRAISES NOW. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF
(SINGING) TRIUMPH. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF PRAISE.
(SINGING) SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH. WE LIFT YOUR
(SINGING) NAME UP. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A
(SINGING) VOICE OF TRIUMPH. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF
(SINGING) PRAISE. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH. WE LIFT
(SINGING) YOUR NAME UP. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. SHOUT UNTO GOD
(SINGING) WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A
(SINGING) VOICE OF PRAISE. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF
(SINGING) TRIUMPH. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP.
(SINGING) SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH. SHOUT UNTO GOD
(SINGING) WITH A VOICE OF PRAISE. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A
(SINGING) VOICE OF TRIUMPH. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. WE LIFT YOUR
(SINGING) NAME UP. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH.
(SINGING) SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF PRAISE. SHOUT UNTO GOD
(SINGING) WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP,
(SINGING) WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. THE ENEMY HAS BEEN DEFEATED.
(SINGING) DEATH COULDN'T HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE GONNA RAISE OUR
(SINGING) VOICE IN VICTORY. WE'RE GONNA MAKE YOUR PRAISES
(SINGING) LOUD. THE ENEMY HAS BEEN DEFEATED. DEATH COULDN'T
(SINGING) HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE GONNA LIFT OUR VOICE IN VICTORY.
(SINGING) WE'RE GONNA MAKE HIS PRAISES LOUD.
- COME ON, HALLELUJAH. - (SINGING) THE ENEMY HAS BEEN
(SINGING) DEFEATED. DEATH COULDN'T HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE
(SINGING) GONNA LIFT OUR VOICE IN VICTORY. WE'RE GONNA MAKE OUR
(SINGING) PRAISES LOUD. THE ENEMY HAS BEEN DEFEATED. DEATH
(SINGING) COULDN'T HOLD YOU DOWN. WE'RE GONNA LIFT OUR VOICE
(SINGING) IN VICTORY. WE'RE GONNA MAKE YOUR PRAISES LOUD.
(SINGING) HEAR THEM SAY YOU'RE DEFEATED. DEATH COULDN'T HOLD
(SINGING) YOU DOWN. WE'RE GONNA LIFT OUR VOICE IN VICTORY. WE'RE
(SINGING) GONNA MAKE YOUR PRAISES LOUD. SHOUT UNTO GOD
(SINGING) WITH THE VOICE OF TRIUMPH. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH
(SINGING) THE VOICE OF PRAISE. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH THE VOICE OF
(SINGING) TRIUMPH. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP.
(SINGING) SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH THE VOICE OF TRIUMPH. SHOUT UNTO
(SINGING) GOD WITH THE VOICE OF PRAISE. SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH THE
(SINGING) VOICE OF TRIUMPH. WE LIFT YOUR NAME UP. WE LIFT YOUR
(SINGING) NAME UP. - COME ON, LIFT HIS NAME UP ON
HIGH. LIFT HIS NAME ON HIGH. I THANK GOD FOR A PROPHET NAMED
KENT CHRISTMAS WHO HAS DELIVERED WHAT THUS SAITH THE LORD. I
THINK SOMETIMES THERE'S AN ASSUMPTION IN THE SPIRIT-FILLED
FAITH, CHARISMATIC PENTECOSTAL, APOSTOLIC, WHATEVER YOU WANT
TO CALL IT MOVEMENT, THAT IT JUST ALWAYS GOES GOOD FOR US.
AND AN ASSUMPTION THAT EVERYONE KNOWS OUR TESTIMONY AND OUR
AND OUR STORIES AND OUR PAIN. EVERYONE THAT HAS COME TO
MINISTER HAS LIVED THROUGH HELL ON EARTH AT TIMES, AND THE
VALLEY THE SHADOW OF DEATH. IT WAS NINE YEARS AGO, RIGHT NOW
THAT I THOUGHT MY FIRST WIFE WAS HEALED OF CANCER. AND WE
WERE IN A DOCTOR'S OFFICE GETTING HER RELEASE DATE.
AND WHILE I WAS PARKING THE CAR, SHE FAINTED AND FELL.
AND THREE WEEKS LATER PASSED AWAY FROM INTERNAL BLEEDING.
I HAD THREE KIDS THAT WERE 10, 8 AND 5. HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT
TO A KID? WE PRAYED ONE SIMPLE PRAYER EVERY DAY IN THAT SEASON
OF HELL. EVERY DAY, I TOOK MY LITTLE BABIES BECAUSE I
DIDN'T... HOW DO YOU GIVE A THEOLOGICAL DISSERTATION TO
LITTLE KIDS ABOUT THAT? WE'D SEEN THE SICK HEALED, THAT WE
WERE AFFLICTED IN OUR HOME. AND EVERY DAY I GOT MY BABIES
TOGETHER, AND I HAD COMMUNION WITH THEM, AND WE PRAYED. WE
SAID, "GOD, I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU, BUT I TRUST YOU." EVERY
DAY, WE PRAYED THAT PRAYER WITH OUR CHILDREN. THOSE THREE
CHILDREN MADE THEIR OWN DECISION TO HONOR THEIR
MOTHER BY BEING WATER BAPTIZED AT HER FUNERAL. MY
YOUNGEST WAS SIX YEARS OLD. HE DID NOT COME OUT OF THE
WATER SPEAKING IN ENGLISH OR SPANISH. HE CAME OUT OF THE
WATER SPEAKING IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE AS THE HOLY SPIRIT
BAPTIZED HIM AT HIS MOTHER'S FUNERAL. DO YOU KNOW, DO YOU
KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? THAT MEANS THAT THE COMFORTER
SHOWED UP WHEN WE NEEDED HIM THE MOST. AND I'M HERE A
LIVING WITNESS, A LIVING TESTIMONY TO TELL YOU THAT
WHEN YOU'RE LIVING THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF
DEATH AND IT FEELS LIKE ALL HOPE IS GONE. THE COMFORTER
WILL STAY WITH YOU. THE COMFORTER WILL BE WITH YOU.
(SILENCE)
THAT MAN THAT JUST PREACHED TO YOU BURIED A LOVED ONE
JUST A FEW YEARS AGO. THESE ARE NOT REHEARSED SERMONS
CREATED IN A BOARDROOM BY PEOPLE THAT SAY, "OH, THIS
POINT WILL MOVE THE CROWD. THIS WILL SOUND GOOD." THESE
ARE WORDS BIRTHED IN THE PAINS OF THIS LIFE. BUT GOD
HAS BEEN FAITHFUL. IT'S BEEN NINE YEARS IN MY TESTIMONY,
AND NINE YEARS LATER, MY CHILDREN SERVE THE LORD. MY
CHILDREN KNOW THE GOD THAT THEIR MOTHER ABOUT. OH,
WE'VE LIVED THROUGH THROUGH SOME STUFF. NO ONE TOLD
ABOUT THOSE TEENAGE YEARS, THE WAY THEY WERE GOING TO
COME. I NEVER PRAYED FOR THE RAPTURE MORE THAN I'VE EVER
PRAYED THE LAST NINE YEARS. BUT HE'S BEEN FAITHFUL. AND
FAITH. OUR GREAT MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE LIVED THAT
SERMON THAT YOU JUST HEARD AND MADE IT THEIR OWN. AND
I'M SO THANKFUL TODAY THAT I WAS A WITNESS TO THE WORD OF
THE LORD PREACHED THROUGH PASTOR KENT CHRISTMAS. CAN
YOU THANK GOD FOR HIS GIFT TODAY? WE'VE ALREADY HAD AN
INCREDIBLE TIME IN GOD'S HOUSE. TO OUR VIEWING
AUDIENCE, PASTOR HANK WILL BE IN THIS PULPIT PREACHING
TONIGHT. WE BEGIN AT 7 P.M. TUNE IN. MAKE SURE TO SHARE
IT. MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS TO TUNE IN AROUND THE WORLD.
THERE WILL BE A WORD FROM THE LORD THAT YOU DON'T WANT
TO MISS. FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE ROOM, I'D COME EARLY.
I'D FIGHT FOR THE FRONT SEATS. MAYBE DON'T FIGHT,
BUT JUST, WELL, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT. IT'S OKAY. BUT
I'D COME READY. AND THIS IS HOW YOU COME TONIGHT. DON'T
COME WITH YOUR FINGERS CROSSED. COME WITH YOUR
HANDS WIDE OPEN, EXPECTING THAT WHEN YOU COME IN THE
PRESENCE OF GOD, GOD IS GOING TO POUR OUT MIRACLES.
I WANT TO PRAY OVER YOU. AND THEN I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME
MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS. FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS WORD. I
DON'T LEAVE THIS WORD IN THIS ARENA. I TAKE IT HOME
WITH ME IN MY HEART. IT'S COME THROUGH THE GATEWAY OF
MY EARS, BUT IT'S NOW A SEED THAT'S BEEN PLANTED IN MY
HEART. AND I THANK YOU, LORD. AND I MAKE COVENANT WITH YOU
TODAY, LORD. I'LL PRAISE YOU NOT ONLY ON MY BEST DAYS, BUT YEAH,
EVEN ON MY WORST DAYS, AND YOU WON'T FIND MY GARMENTS TORN.
HALLELUJAH. BECAUSE YOU'RE FAITHFUL IN THE MIGHTY NAME THAT
IS ABOVE EVERY NAME, THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND ALL
GOD'S PEOPLE SAID, "WOULD YOU PRAISE HIM ONE MORE TIME?"