(MUSIC)
HAPPY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WHO WANTS TO HEAR A MESSAGE
FROM PASTOR BRENDA TONIGHT? SHE HAS A POWERFUL
WORD IN HER MOUTH. YOU'RE NOT GONNA WANNA MISS IT.
SO IF YOU'RE WATCHING ONLINE, STAY TUNED FOR THAT.
IN THE MEANTIME, LIFT UP YOUR HANDS TO THE
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS TONIGHT. LET'S GIVE
HIM SOME WORSHIP. LET'S GIVE HIM SOME PRAISE. HALLELUJAH.
♪ WORSHIP MUSIC ♪
I JUST FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN.
♪ WORSHIP MUSIC ♪
COME ON, LIFT YOUR HANDS, WORSHIP HIM, WORSHIP
HIM HE ALONE IS WORTHY OF THE GLORY.
♪ WORSHIP MUSIC ♪
COME ON, WE WORSHIP YOU, WE WORSHIP YOU.
HANDS ARE LIFTED TO GOD. WE WORSHIP YOU. ALL OVER
THE WORLD. LIFT YOUR HONOR TO GOD. YOUR WORSHIP
TO THE KING. WORSHIP HIM. WE WORSHIP YOU, LORD.
YOU ARE EVERYTHING. IT'S OUR HONOR TO WORSHIP YOU.
IT'S OUR PRIVILEGE TO SING FROM OUR HEART TO YOU, GOD.
WE WORSHIP YOU. WE WORSHIP YOU. WE WORSHIP YOU. WE WORSHIP YOU.
OH, HOW WE LOVE YOU. HOW WE LOVE YOU, GOD.
A HEART OF GRATITUDE AND THANKSGIVING WE GIVE TO
YOU, GOD. OH, HOW WE WORSHIP YOU. SO GREAT YOU ARE.
(MUSIC)
AND YOU ARE ONE POWERFUL, POWERFUL, POWERFUL GOD.
AND YOU HAPPEN TO BE OURS. AND WE HONOR YOU TODAY.
OH, HOW WE WORSHIP YOU. AND WE GIVE THANKSGIVING AND HONOR TO
YOU. GOD, THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DONE.
AND I DON'T JUST SPEAK OF SALVATION,
BUT I THINK OF THE DAY TO DAY, HOUR TO HOUR,
WEEK TO WEEK, MONTH TO MONTH, YEAR TO YEAR.
YOUR BLESSINGS ARE SO AMAZING. WE JUST WANT TO TELL
YOU THAT, THAT YOU REALLY ARE THE GOD THAT DOES
EXCEEDINGLY, ABUNDANTLY BEYOND ALL THAT WE COULD ASK OR THINK,
BECAUSE YOU LOVE US. BUT WE WANT YOU TO KNOW SOMETHING.
WE LOVE YOU. WE REALLY, REALLY DO, GOD. WE REALLY LOVE YOU. AND
WE JUST ASK TODAY SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD REVEAL SOME MORE OF
YOUR HEART TO US. BECAUSE WE REALLY WANT TO BE MORE
PASSIONATE, MORE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR WAYS. AND WE LOVE YOU SO
MUCH. WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH. WE REALLY, REALLY LOVE YOU SO VERY
MUCH. AND IT'S OUR HONOR TO WORSHIP YOU. NOW I WANT YOU
JUST, AND IF YOU'RE WATCHING, JUST SAY YOU KNOW WE SANG ABOUT
IT, ABBA FATHER. I LOVE THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW A LOT OF TIMES
PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU KNOW IT'S ONLY MENTIONED TWICE IN THE
BIBLE RIGHT? SO JESUS MUST HAVE ONLY REFERRED TO THE FATHER AS
PAPA OR DADDY TWICE RIGHT? BUT REALLY THAT'S WHAT GOT THE JEWS,
THE PHARISEES, THE DOCTORS OF THE LAW UPSET IS THAT THIS GROWN
MAN BECAUSE THEY ONLY KNEW GOD IN A CORPORATE SENSE. THEY
DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHEN JESUS SAID, "MY PAPA, MY PAPA." IN
FACT MANY OF THE REFERENCES IN THE ORIGINAL ARAMAIC THAT THE
WORD FATHER IS USED IT REALLY WAS ABBA. SO LIKE WHEN JESUS
SAID, "HERE'S HOW YOU PRAY, MY ABBA, WHICH ART AND THEY GOT
REALLY MAD BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, "YOU'RE SAYING THAT GOD IS YOUR
PERSONAL DAD?" AND THEY GOT REALLY, REALLY MAD ABOUT IT. SO
I WANT YOU TO DO THIS. SAY, "ABBA, MY DADDY, MY PAPA, I ASK
YOU TODAY TO REVEAL MORE OF YOUR HEART TO ME, SO THAT I MAY LOVE
YOU AND WORSHIP YOU AND SERVE YOU AND BE OBEDIENT, THAT YOUR
KINGDOM MAY COME AND YOUR WILL WOULD BE DONE IN MY LIFE. NOW I
DO ASK YOU, ABBA, BLESS MY LIFE. I DECLARE HEALTH, HEALING,
WHOLENESS, SOUNDNESS OF MIND, A BLESSED MEMORY, PRESERVATION,
PROTECTION, DELIVERANCE, KEPT FROM HARM. I DECLARE BLESSING,
PROSPERITY BY THE POWER OF YOUR SAVING HAND, PAPA, ABBA. I
RECEIVE IT UPON MY LIFE AND EVEN THOSE OF MY FAMILY. AND LORD, I
EXTEND THAT TO THESE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN JESUS' NAME. AND
EVERYBODY SAID, AMEN. WELL, I WANT TO GET MAMA UP HERE, MAN. I
AM REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR HER MESSAGE. HOW ABOUT YOU? SHE'S
GOING TO TEACH ON THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION AND WHAT
SHE'S BEEN SHARING TO ME. YOU KNOW, I HAVE LIKE MY OWN
INTERPRETATION OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, THE HTL HANK
TRANSLATION VERSION. WHETHER YOU HEAR HER, WHAT IS IT, THE BTL,
BACON, LETTUCE OR BLT, BRENDA? I WAS TALKING TO YOU, BACON,
LETTUCE, TOMATO, THE BLT VERSION, THE BRENDA, LOVELY
TRANSLATION OR THE WHATEVER. SO IT'S GONNA BE GOOD. ALL RIGHT,
HERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO. I WANT YOU TO FIND SOMEBODY, SHARE
YOUR NAME, AND THEN SAY, I BET I KNOW, I BET I KNOW, WHAT YOUR
FAVORITE, FAVORITE COLOR IS. I BET I KNOW. NOW, YOU CAN'T SAY
CLEAR AND STUMP THE AUDIENCE, OKAY? SO YOU
HAVE TO COME UP WITH A COLOR. ALL RIGHT, GREET
ONE ANOTHER IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.
(MUSIC)
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE STUMPING THE AUDIENCE? AND BY THE WAY, THOSE
OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING, LISTEN, PUT DOWN YOUR FAVORITE
COLOR. I'D LIKE TO GO BACK AND SEE WHAT THEY ARE. AND AGAIN,
DON'T PUT CLEAR, AND THEN DON'T PUT, YOU KNOW, YOUR FAVORITE
SCENT IS UNSCENTED, YOU KNOW. ANYWAY, HOW MANY'S FAVORITE
COLOR WAS BLUE? OKAY. DID ANYBODY COME UP WITH THOSE WEIRD
COLORS THAT LIKE THEY DIDN'T EXIST IN THE CRAYON BOX? BRENDA
LIKED FUCHSIA. LIKE NOBODY EVER COLORS WITH FUCHSIA, RIGHT? YOU
KNOW, WE JUST GOT, WE GOT FUCHSIA ON, ALL RIGHT...
I SEE THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE TYPICAL
ONES LIKE YELLOW AND RED AND BLACK AND BROWN AND GREEN AND I
THINK ORANGE AND, DON'T QUIZ ME, BUT I DO KNOW THEM, OKAY. WELL,
IT'S SO GOOD TO BE HERE. ARE YOU GLAD YOU'RE IN THE HOUSE OF THE
LORD? HOW MANY HAD A GOOD DAY TODAY? DID YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY?
RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU HAD A GOOD DAY. THAT'S GOOD, I'M
REALLY GLAD, 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I PRAY OVER YOU EVERY DAY. ALL
RIGHT, NOW THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING, I WANT YOU TO PUT YOUR
HAND UP TOO, BECAUSE DID YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY? 'CAUSE WE PRAY
FOR YOU EVERY DAY TOO, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DECLARE
OVER YOU, NOT ONLY THE BLOOD COVENANT OF PRESERVATION AND
PROTECTION, BUT WE ALSO PRAY THAT PSALM 23, THE GOODNESS AND
MERCY FOLLOWS YOU. AND YOU THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM THIS DAY,
RIGHT? AND ALL THE LONG DAYS OF YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. SO HOPEFULLY
YOU'RE LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND YOU'RE GOING, WHOA,
HI, GOODNESS, HI, MERCY. AND LOOK FOR IT, EXPECT IT, 'CAUSE
THAT'S THE KIND OF GOD THAT YOU SERVE. SO THAT'S REALLY
WONDERFUL, ISN'T IT? ALL RIGHT, WELL, LISTEN, I WANT TO TALK TO
YOU ABOUT TONIGHT'S OFFERING REAL QUICK. SO YOU CAN GET YOUR
GIVING INFORMATION OR YOUR GIVING READY. BUT I WANNA SHARE
A SCRIPTURE WHEN IT COMES IN THE CONTEXT OF GIVING, JOHN 3:16.
NOW YOU SAY, NOW WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH AN OFFERING?
WELL, THERE IS A LOT IN THIS VERSE. SOMETIMES WE JUST THINK
THAT IT APPEARS ON OUR TV AT A FOOTBALL GAME, RIGHT? YOU ALWAYS
SEE THE GUY WITH THE SIGN, JOHN 3:16. I DON'T THINK LIKE THE
CHICAGO BEARS WOULD HAVE THAT UP BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO GET
SPIRITUAL, RIGHT? HOW MANY BEARS FANS ARE IN HERE? CHRISTY, I'M
MESSING WITH YOU. ANY DALLAS FANS? OKAY, THAT'S GOOD. YOU
KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S FOOTBALL, RIGHT? BUT
ANYWAY, THE POINT IS JOHN 3:16 HAS A LOT MORE IN IT THAN WHAT
SOMETIMES WE REALIZE. BUT I WANT US TO LOOK AT A PRINCIPLE THAT
I'VE APPLIED IN MY LIFE IN SERVING GOD SINCE 1984. AND I
REALLY HAVE PUT IT TO PRACTICE. IT'S WHAT MOTIVATES ME TO BE A
GIVER. IT'S WHAT MOTIVATES ME TO BE A CONSISTENT TITHER SINCE
BEFORE I MARRIED BRENDA, WE GOT MARRIED IN 1989. SO I WAS
TITHING BACK IN 1984 AND I WAS ONLY MAKING 50 BUCKS A WEEK, BUT
I TITHE. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW GOD TOOK CARE OF ME, BUT HE DID.
AND THEN WHEN BRENDA AND I FIRST GOT MARRIED, WE CAME TOGETHER,
WE MADE AN AGREEMENT THAT WE WERE GONNA NOT ONLY TITHE, BUT
WE WERE ALSO GOING TO BE GIVERS AND PARTNER WITH MINISTRIES. AND
WE STILL HAVE SOME OF THE ORIGINAL PICTURES FROM THE CHECK
STUBS. Y'ALL REMEMBER THAT? AND THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE WATCHING,
YOU USED TO GET CHECK STUBS BACK. I DON'T THINK THEY DO THAT
ANYMORE, DO THEY? BUT ANYWAY, THE CHECK STUBS, WE TOOK
PICTURES OF IT, AND IT'S GREAT TO KNOW THAT WE WERE SOWING SEED
WAY BACK IN THOSE DAYS. BUT I WANNA SHOW YOU THE PRINCIPLE.
ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION, THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE
WATCHING? ALL RIGHT, WATCH THIS. FOR GOD SO LOVED, UNDERLINE
LOVED, BECAUSE THIS IS THE KEY TO BLESSING. PEOPLE SAY TO ME
ALL THE TIME, "WHY ARE YOU SO BLESSED?" AND I ALWAYS SAY,
"BECAUSE THERE'S A COMPONENT "THAT I HONESTLY THINK I HAVE IN
MY HEART." AND THIS ISN'T PRIDE TO SAY IT, IT'S CALLED LOVE. I
LOVE GOD. I REALLY DO, AND I KNOW YOU DO TOO. WELL, WHAT DOES
THAT HAVE TO DO WITH GIVING? LET'S CONTINUE TO READ. FOR GOD
SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT'S US. AND I BELIEVE THAT HE LOVES WHAT
HE CREATED, BUT IT'S REALLY US THAT HE GAVE. NOW NOTICE THE
FIRST THING BEFORE YOU GIVE, YOU REALLY, REALLY, REALLY WANT TO
COME TO ANOTHER LEVEL OF BLESSING IN YOUR LIFE. AND THAT
WHICH PLEASES GOD IS CONNECT WITH YOUR GIVING LOVE. IF YOU
LOVE GOD, TO ME WHEN PEOPLE ARGUE OVER THE TITHE, I'M LIKE,
I REALLY COULD CARE LESS IF IT'S PREOLD TESTAMENT, OLD TESTAMENT,
BETWEEN THE OLD TESTAMENT, THE NEW TESTAMENT, AND THE 400 YEARS
OF SILENCE, WHATEVER, RIGHT? IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, DID IT PASS
AWAY, DID IT NOT? I DON'T CARE. I LOVE GOD. AND IF HE IS MY
LORD, WHICH HE IS, AND I LOVE HIM, I DON'T JUST GIVE HIM 10%,
I GIVE HIM 100% OF MY LIFE. BUT IF 10%, ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE,
CAUSES THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN TO OPEN, FOR HIM TO POUR OUT
BLESSINGS I DON'T HAVE ROOM TO RECEIVE, TO REBUKE THE DEVIL,
RIGHT? GOD, OUT OF MY LOVE, I'LL GIVE YOU 10%, BUT IF YOU WANT
11, I'LL GIVE THAT TO YOU. I'LL GIVE YOU 12. I'LL GIVE YOU
WHATEVER I HAVE, BECAUSE I LOVE YOU. HERE'S ANOTHER THING. YOU
KNOW WHAT I ALSO DO? IS I LOVE HIS WORKS. I FIND MINISTRIES
THAT I LOVE. I LOVE THIS MINISTRY. AND SO I LOVE TO GIVE
TO IT. IF YOU LOVE THIS MINISTRY, YOU SHOULD LOVE TO
GIVE TO IT. RIGHT? YOU SHOULDN'T JUST LOVE TO RECEIVE WITHOUT
GETTING ANYTHING BACK. I LOVE MY WIFE, SHE CAN TELL YOU, I SPOIL
HER SO GOOD. SHE'S GOT A CHRISTMAS TREE IN EVERY CORNER.
I MEAN, I'M HAVING TO JUST TRY TO WALK, YOU KNOW, AND TRYING TO
FIND MY WAY. BUT I'VE SEEN THE LIGHT, ALL THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.
SEEN THEM ALL, BUT SHE KNOWS SHE'S SPOILED. WELL, I LOVE HER.
WHEN SHE DECIDED A FEW YEARS AGO, A COUPLE YEARS AGO, TO GET
A FOURTH DOG, I WAS WORKING HER DOWN TO TRY TO GET A FOURTH
GERMAN SHEPHERD. I WANTED A GERMAN SHEPHERD, RIGHT? AND I
WAS WORKING HER DOWN. I WAS SO CLOSE. WELL, THEN ALL OF A
SUDDEN, ONE DAY I'M ON A ZOOM CALL, AND HERE COMES THIS TEXT
MESSAGE. AND I SAID TO THE PEOPLE ON THE ZOOM, EXCUSE ME,
BUT BRENDA, I HAVE A RULE, AND THIS SHOULD BE YOUR RULE. IF ANY
OF MY WIFE CALLS OR TEXTS, I ANSWER, OR MY CHILDREN. SO MATT
AND JOHN, YOU KNOW THAT. YOU'RE WATCHING TONIGHT. MY RULE, AND
MAKE THAT YOUR RULE, BY THE WAY, BOYS. I'M JUST MESSING WITH YOU.
BUT I ALWAYS ANSWER, OR THAT'S JUST MY RULE, OKAY? AND SO I
SAID, "JUST A MINUTE." AND SHE'S HOLDING HERBIE, OUR SHIH-TZU. I
SAID, "WHERE ARE YOU?" SHE SAID, "ISN'T HE CUTE?" I SAID, "GET
OUT OF THERE, BRENDA." I KNEW SHE WAS IN A PET STORE. AND SO,
I'M GOING SOMEWHERE, ALL RIGHT? I KNOW THIS IS KIND OF ROUGH
HERE, BUT ANYWAY. SO I'M ON THE ZOOM CALL, AND SHE SENDS ME A
PICTURE OF HER AND HERBIE. AND SHE SAID, "I'M ON MY WAY." AND I
DIDN'T SEE, 'CAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE MY GLASSES ON, AND I PUT A
HEART. SHE THOUGHT THAT MEANT GET THE DOG. SO I GET OFF THE
ZOOM CALL. SHE PULLS UP, SHE GOES,
"WELL, DO YOU LIKE HIM?" LIKE, WHO?
(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)
"HONEY, YOU BROUGHT A RAT HOME." 'CAUSE I WAS USED TO BIG DOGS,
AND FOR ABOUT, WHAT, TWO MONTHS, HIM AND I DIDN'T LIKE EACH
OTHER, BRENDA? YEAH, NOW HE'S YOUR LITTLE BABY. NOW, BECAUSE I
LOVE HIM, I DO WHAT YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO. I GIVE STUFF
WITHOUT MAMA LOOKING UNDERNEATH THE TABLE TO THE LITTLE GUY. AND
HIM AND I ARE BUDDIES. WHY? 'CAUSE ISN'T THAT A POWERFUL
OFFERING HERE, THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE LOVE AND GIVING GO TOGETHER.
I HATED HERBIE, BUT WHEN I SLID INTO LOVE, HIM AND I BEGAN TO BE
GIVING OF ONE ANOTHER. RIGHT, HE GIVES ME KISSES AND LITTLE HUGS.
HE LETS ME HOLD HIM LIKE A LITTLE BABY. IN RETURN, I GIVE
HIM. I FULFILL THE SCRIPTURE, BRENDA. REMEMBER, REMEMBER THE
SCRIPTURE? EVEN THE DOGS GET THEIR SCRAPS UNDERNEATH THE
TABLE. SO THAT'S WHAT I DID. BUT ANYWAY, LET'S BRING THIS TO A
CLOSE. WHAT AM I TRYING TO SAY TO YOU? IF YOU REALLY WANNA COME
TO ANOTHER LEVEL OF BLESSING, CONNECT YOUR GIVING WITH LOVE.
IF YOU REALLY LOVE GOD, DON'T BE STINGY. IF YOU REALLY LOVE GOD,
DON'T ARGUE OVER THE TITHE, JUST DO IT. IF YOU REALLY LOVE GOD,
BE A GIVER ABOVE YOUR TITHE. AND IF YOU REALLY, REALLY LOVE GOD
AND YOU LOVE THE MINISTRY THAT YOU SEE GOD IN, LOOK AT WHAT
GOD'S DONE IN THIS MINISTRY THE LAST TWO WEEKS. TWO WEEKS AGO,
HE PROPHESIED AHEAD OF TIME ABOUT THE FUTURE OF NEW YORK
CITY AND MENTIONED THAT THAT MAMI-KAMI WOULD GET ELECTED. HE
SPOKE TO US. I LOVE GOD FOR TALKING TO US. LAST SUNDAY, I
WAS SO TIRED 'CAUSE I ONLY GOT THREE HOURS OF SLEEP, HAD BEEN
AT THE VICTORY CAMPAIGN. I'M JUST BEING VULNERABLE. I WALK UP
HERE, I'M FEELING THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD COMING ON ME. I'M LIKE,
'CAUSE I'VE LEARNED TO RECOGNIZE. I WALK UP HERE, I'M
LIKE, "LORD, I DON'T WANNA SPEAK." BISHOP BUTLER'S HERE,
AND THE LORD SAID, "NO, I REALLY WANT YOU TO PROPHESY. "I REALLY
HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY." AND I STARTED GIVING MY EXCUSES. BUT
THEN MY LOVE KICKED IN. AND THEN WHEN HE SAID, "I WANT YOU TO
SPEAK NOW, "AND I WANT YOU TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE. "I WANNA
GIVE YOU A WORD ABOUT THIS SHUTDOWN." SO MY POINT IS, WHEN
YOU LOVE, IT'LL ALWAYS BE FOLLOWED WITH GIVING. WELL, YOU
SAY, WELL, HOW CAN I SHOW MY LOVE TODAY AND MY GIVING? THE
GIVING INFORMATION IS ON THE SCREEN. THERE'S THE DIFFERENT
WAYS THAT YOU CAN GIVE TONIGHT BY WAY OF ENVELOPE, MAIL,
WEBSITE, MOBILE APP, TEXT TO GIVE. HOW MANY OF YOU USE THE
SCAN QR CODE? HOW MANY OF YOU USE THAT? SO BY THE WAY, BRENDA,
I STILL NEED TO UPDATE MY APP. SO I OWE A COUPLE OFFERINGS IN
THERE THAT I'VE TRIED. SO I'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, MY WIFE WILL
HELP ME WITH THAT. BUT I DO THANK YOU FOR YOUR GIVING. ALL
RIGHT, HOW MANY OF YOU, ARE YOU STILL FILLING OUT YOUR PHONE OR
WHATEVER? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FILL OUT YOUR PHONE. HOW ABOUT
YOU THAT ARE WATCHING, ARE YOU READY? ARE YOU READY TO GIVE?
INCREASE YOUR LOVE AND WATCH WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE MEASURE
OF YOUR GIVING. NOW WATCH THIS, WATCH WHAT HAPPENS TO THE
MEASURE OF THE BLESSING THAT'S RETURNED TO YOU. ALL RIGHT, YOU
READY TO STAND TO YOUR FEET? I'M GONNA ASK MAMA TO COME PRAY. ALL
RIGHT, WOULD YOU COME? 'CAUSE SHE'S THE DECREE QUEEN. WE'RE
NOT GONNA DECREE TONIGHT, BUT BRENDA, I WANT YOU TO PRAY A
PRAYER. I AM REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR YOU PREACH TODAY. THANK
YOU. I'M EXCITED TO DO IT. ALL RIGHT, YOU READY? ALL RIGHT,
HOLD YOUR PHONE UP. OFFERING ENVELOPE, SAY THESE WORDS, SAY
LORD JESUS. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE TO GIVE TO YOU. IT'S AN HONOR.
IT'S A PRIVILEGE. AND I THANK YOU THAT OUR GIVING IS
RECIPROCATED BY YOUR GIVING BACK. AND I JUST THANK YOU FOR
THAT, LORD. YOU'RE A GOOD GOD. IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN. ALL RIGHT,
USHERS, YOU CAN SERVE THE PEOPLE. AND WHEN YOU HAVE GIVEN,
YOU CAN BE SEATED. WE'LL GET RIGHT INTO THIS TONIGHT. EITHER
WAY, MY LITTLE NIECE KATIE CAME IN FROM YOUTH. I SAID, ARE YOU
NOT GOING TO YOUTH TONIGHT? THEY'RE AT THE OTHER END OF THE
BUILDING. SHE SAID, I WANTED TO HEAR YOU PREACH. I SAID, IT'S
THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION. YOU SURE YOU WON'T
BE BORED? IT'S LIKE ALL DOCTRINAL, BUT YOU KNOW, KATIE
GOES IN FOR THE DEEP STUFF, I'M TELLING YOU. SO GIVE HER A HAND.
SHE CAME IN. SHE WASN'T SKIPPING OUT ON YOU. I THOUGHT, "ARE THEY
DOING A TEST DOWN THERE OR ANYTHING THAT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO
GO?" ALL RIGHT. THAT'S OKAY. WELL, GOOD. WELL, THIS IS A GOOD
TOPIC. AND I FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT,
AS I WAS READING THROUGH SOME OF THESE VERSES, I'VE PREACHED THIS
BEFORE IN THIS CHURCH, BUT IT'S BEEN A LOT OF YEARS. AND I JUST
FEEL LIKE IT'S ONE OF THESE TOPICS THAT, SIMPLY BECAUSE
THERE IS SO MUCH TALK ABOUT THE TYPES OF CHURCHES NOW. HAVE YOU
NOTICED THAT? DIFFERENT KINDS OF CHURCHES, YOU HEAR ALL THE TIME,
YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD THIS STATEMENT BEFORE, IF YOUR PASTOR
ISN'T STANDING UP AGAINST WOKE AND EVIL, GET OUT, GO TO ANOTHER
CHURCH. YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THAT. THE CHURCHES THAT
ARE TRULY PREACHING A TRUE WORD, WE HEAR A LOT OF TALK ABOUT, IF
CHURCHES ARE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT MANIFESTING
IN THOSE CHURCHES, ARE THEY DEAD, ARE THEY DRY? AND SO, BUT
JESUS REALLY LAID OUT, AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT
FROM THESE, NOW I'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH MAYBE THREE, MAYBE FOUR
TONIGHT, I DON'T KNOW. WE'LL SEE KIND OF HOW WE DO, AND THEN WHAT
I DON'T GET THROUGH TONIGHT, WE'LL FINISH NEXT WEEK. BUT
JESUS TALKED ABOUT THESE, AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND OUT
IS THESE SEVEN CHURCHES, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE READ THE
PASSAGES MANY TIMES? THESE SEVEN CHURCHES REALLY DEPICT THE
EXPRESSION OF THE CHURCHES THAT YOU SEE TODAY. NOW WE'RE GONNA
FIND IN IT THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH, WE'RE GONNA FIND
DENOMINATIONAL CHURCHES, AND WE'RE GONNA FIND EVANGELICAL
CHURCH, WE'LL FIND THE LIVING CHURCH, WE'LL FIND COMPROMISED
CHURCH, WE'RE GONNA FIND ALL OF THE THINGS IN THERE. AND THE
REASON IT'S IMPORTANT IS FOR YOU AS THE BELIEVERS TO RECOGNIZE,
RIGHT, WHEN YOU'RE IN A CHURCH, THAT, FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T
PICK A CHURCH JUST BECAUSE WE LIKE THE CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT.
WE CHOOSE A CHURCH BASED ON ITS DOCTRINE, 'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA
FIND DOCTRINE IS A BIG PART OF WHAT JESUS BROUGHT OUT FOR THESE
CHURCHES. WE CHOOSE A CHURCH BASED ON FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS AND
HOW THAT CHURCH EXPRESSES THOSE THAT IT FOLLOWS THE NEW
TESTAMENT PATTERN. BUT YOU DON'T JUST PICK A CHURCH BECAUSE
SOMEBODY WAS FRIENDLY AT THE DOOR. NOW THAT'S IMPORTANT. AND
WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE FRIENDLY AT THE DOOR. WE NEED THOSE THINGS,
IT'S ALL GOOD. YOU DEFINITELY DON'T PICK A CHURCH, IF YOU'VE
HEARD PASTOR HANK PREACH AT ALL, YOU DEFINITELY DON'T PICK A
CHURCH JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE GOOD COFFEE. AND PASTOR SHANE
WOULD LOVE TO SAY, "WE HAVE GREAT COFFEE AT LORD OF HOSTS
CHURCH." HE MADE SURE OF THAT, AND THAT'S ALL OKAY. BUT THE
POINT IS, IS WE LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT JESUS, COME ON
SOMEBODY, IT'S JESUS, THE LORD OF THE CHURCH, AND WHAT HE
DEEMED IMPORTANT FOR US TO VALUE MINISTRY. SO, NOW YOU'RE GONNA
FIND HERE THAT ALL THROUGHOUT, AND IF YOU'VE READ THE PHRASE,
"TO THE ANGEL AT THE CHURCH OF SO AND SO WRITE," OR "THE ANGEL
OF THIS CHURCH WRITE." NOW THAT WORD ANGEL IS NOT REALLY THE
WORD, IT COMES FROM THE SAME WORD, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY THE
WORD THAT MEANS ANGELIC BEING, LIKE A DIVINE BEING OR AN
ANGELIC, IT'S REALLY THE WORD MESSENGER, AND IN THIS
PARTICULAR APPLICATION IT MEANS PASTOR. SO TO THE PASTOR AT THE
CHURCH OF LAODICEA WRITE. SO IT'S REALLY MEAN, IN FACT I
HEARD A PASTOR FRIEND OF OURS MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, PASTOR
HANK AND I WERE TRYING TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT SOMETHING IN THE
MINISTRY, WHETHER TO MOVE FORWARD ON SOMETHING OR NOT. AND
WE WERE LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA THINK ABOUT THE
CONGREGATION, BECAUSE WE TRY TO MAKE A VERY BROAD DECISION. ONE
THING ABOUT US AS LEADERS IS WE TRY TO, WITH REALLY GOOD
COUNSEL, MAKE WAR. YOU'LL NEVER JUST SEE THAT TYPICALLY WE'RE
NOT THE KIND OF LEADERS THAT ARE LIKE, WELL, I'M THE PASTOR AND
THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING. YOU KNOW, WE WANNA GET INPUT, GET INSIGHT
FROM OTHERS, GET INSIGHT FROM THOSE SPIRITUAL ADVISORS THAT WE
HAVE, OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SO ON, AND PRAYERFULLY THE
SCRIPTURE. AND SO WE WERE ASKING THIS PASTOR FRIEND OF OURS, A
VETERAN IN THE MINISTRY, AND WE SAID, YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE MOVE
FORWARD? AND HE SAID, WELL, YOU'RE THE ANGEL OF THE HOUSE.
NOW, I'D NEVER HEARD ANYBODY USE THAT PHRASE BEFORE. I NEVER
HEARD IT. BUT THEN I REMEMBERED THE BOOK OF REVELATION, TO THE
ANGEL OF THE CHURCH, AND I THOUGHT, WELL, THAT SOUNDS A
LITTLE, I DON'T KNOW, IT SOUNDED A LITTLE SPOOKY TO ME. BUT
ANYWAY, JUST THE WAY HE WORDED IT LIKE THAT. BUT THEN I
THOUGHT, NO, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT GOD IS STILL HOLDING ACCOUNTABLE
FOR THE DECISIONS THAT YOU MAKE, GOOD OR BAD, BY THE WAY. AND SO
TO THE ANGEL, RIGHT. SO THE MESSAGES OF THESE CHURCHES IS
WRITTEN TO THE SENIOR LEADERS OR THE ONES THAT GIVE THE
LIFE-GIVING WORD TO THE PEOPLE, THE ONE THAT CHOOSE THE MESSAGES
THAT ARE GONNA GET PREACHED, RIGHT? THE ONES THAT CHOOSE THE
DIRECTION, THE VISION, THE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF STAFF
HERE AT LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH, JUST NEARLY ALMOST 100
EMPLOYEES, NOT QUITE, I DON'T THINK, BUT GETTING UP TO THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY ALL HAVE THEIR AREA, THEIR DEPARTMENT,
BUT THE DIRECTION OF WHAT THE CHURCH IS EXPRESSED AS COMES
FROM THE SENIOR LEADERS. AND SO HE'S SAYING TO THE PASTORS THAT
CHOOSE A CERTAIN MESSAGE, YOU'RE THE ONES THAT ARE LAYING OUT,
RIGHT, THE VISION, YOU'RE LAYING OUT THE DIRECTIVES, YOU'RE
LAYING OUT THE EXPRESSION, RIGHT? HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD SAY
IF YOU COME TO LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH, YOU'LL FIND GREATLY
THAT, AND YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO THE PASTOR OF
THE MINISTRY BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY PREACH, IT RESONATES WITH
THEM, AND SO THEY CHOOSE IT BASED ON THAT, THAT THEY FEEL
LIKE, YOU KNOW, THAT PASTOR'S GOT THEIR HEAD SCREWED ON
STRAIGHT, AND THEY'RE GONNA PREACH THE RIGHT WORD, AND THEY
RESONATE WITH THAT ANOINTING AND THAT MINISTRY, AND THERE IS SOME
MERIT TO THAT. BUT THEN THAT PASTOR, ACCORDING TO WHAT JESUS
TEACHES HERE, HAS THEN THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CARRY THE
VISION AND MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER GOD HAS PUT IN THEM,
COME ON, THEY'RE CARRYING OUT RIGHTLY. AMEN. SO WHEN YOU HEAR,
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE, WHEN IT SAYS TO THE ANGEL OF THE
MINISTRY, RIGHT, THIS AND THUS AND SO, THAT IT IS REFERENCING
THE PASTOR. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE CHOOSE A CHURCH,
THAT PASTOR, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PASTOR CHOOSES CAREFULLY HOW
THEY LEAD YOU. YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT SUBMISSION AND
ALL OF THESE THINGS, AND I'M REALLY NOT INTO THE WHOLE BLIND
SUBMISSION THING. AND I CAN SAY THAT AS A LEADER. I THINK A LOT
OF STUPIDITY HAS HAPPENED WITH THAT TEACHING. WELL, YOU GOTTA
BE LOYAL FOREVER. WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU DO NEED TO THINK LONG
AND HARD ABOUT A CHURCH THAT YOU CHOOSE. AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S A
LOT TO IT. AND YOU CERTAINLY SHOULDN'T PLUCK UP AND GO AWAY
SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU HAD A BAD DAY OR AN IMPASSE WITH SOMEBODY.
THAT'S NOT A GOOD REASON, OKAY? CONFLICT IS EVERYWHERE. ALL
RIGHT? YOU KNOW, I MEAN, LISTEN, HALF OF THE HUSBANDS AND WIVES
IN THE WORLD CAN'T AGREE ON THE SAME TOOTHPASTE. SO, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THOSE MOMENTS. THAT'S JUST PART OF IT. BUT WE
SHOULD ALSO HAVE THE STICK-TO-ITIVENESS TO HAVE A
LONGTERM CONNECT TO WHATEVER THE VISION IS THAT WE'RE A PART OF.
BUT WE STILL, AS PASTORS, HAVE A TREMENDOUS RESPONSIBILITY TO
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LEADING YOU INTO TRUE DOCTRINE. COME ON,
RIGHT? TEACHING DOESN'T MEAN EVERYTHING THAT WE EVER SAY IN
THE PULPIT IS PERFECT. I MEAN, WE'RE GROWING JUST LIKE YOU.
ISN'T THAT GOOD? AREN'T YOU GLAD YOUR PASTORS ARE GROWING? SO
THAT'S PART OF IT. SO LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE AND GET INTO
THIS 'CAUSE JESUS WAS VERY SERIOUS. THESE CAME FROM THE
LORD OF THE CHURCH SO THEY MUST BE IMPORTANT. ALL THESE
DIFFERENT SEVEN EXPRESSIONS, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT, LET'S LOOK AT
CHAPTER TWO, VERSE ONE. I'M GETTING JUST A LITTLE RING UP
HERE IN MY MICROPHONE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S FROM BUT LET'S
SEE IF WE CAN ADJUST THAT. I'M TRYING NOT TO TALK DOWN ON IT.
DOES IT SOUND FUNNY TO Y'ALL OR Y'ALL GOOD? OKAY. THE CHURCH OF
EPHESUS, LET'S LOOK AT THAT. REVELATION CHAPTER TWO, VERSE
ONE, UNTO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS, WRITE, OR TO
THE PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS, WRITE THESE THINGS.
THESE THINGS SAITH HE THAT HOLDS THE SEVEN STARS IN HIS RIGHT
HAND. YOU KNOW, JESUS CAME WITH SUCH AUTHORITY IN THESE. I MEAN,
IT MAKES YOU SHUDDER TO YOUR BONES A LITTLE BIT. THE SEVEN
STARS IN HIS RIGHT HAND WHO WALKS IN THE MIDST OF THE SEVEN
GOLDEN CANDLESTICKS. I MEAN, JUST THAT VERSE ALONE SHOULD
MAKE YOU TAKE CHURCH SERIOUS, RIGHT? CANDLESTICKS, WHEN JESUS
IS TALKING, STARS IN HIS HAND, THAT'S HIS AUTHORITY, MAN. VERSE
TWO, FOR HE SAID TO THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS, I KNOW YOUR WORKS.
NOW, LET ME SAY THIS, CHURCH, I SHOULD HAVE SAID THIS AT THE
BEGINNING, THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS, AND YOU CAN WRITE THIS
IN YOUR NOTES, THIS IS THE CHURCH OF WHAT I WOULD CALL THE
PHARISAICAL CHURCH. THIS EXPRESSION WAS THE
SELF-RIGHTEOUS, JUDGMENTAL CHURCH, AND BY THE WAY, JESUS
COMES TO THEM AS THE JUDGE. ISN'T THAT WHAT THE WORD SAYS?
THE WORD SAYS, DON'T JUDGE HARSHLY, 'CAUSE WITH THE
JUDGMENT THAT YOU GIVE SOMEBODY ELSE, THAT'S HOW IT'S GONNA COME
BACK TO YOU, RIGHT? SO WRITE IT DOWN, THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS IS
THE SELFRIGHTEOUS RELIGIOUS CHURCH. AND SO JESUS COMES TO
THEM AS THE GREAT EXAMINER AND THE JUDGE, AND WE'LL SEE THAT.
HE SAYS, "I KNOW YOUR WORKS AND ALL YOUR LABOR." AND THEY WERE
HARDWORKING. THESE PEOPLE, THEIR ACCOLADES, THEY WERE WORKED. I
MEAN, THEY SHOWED UP FOR CHILDREN'S MINISTRY. THEY
SERVED, RIGHT? I MEAN, YOU ARE COMMITTED. THESE PEOPLE WERE
CHURCHGOERS. THEY CAME ON A WEDNESDAY. OH, TOUCH YOURSELF,
SAY AMEN OR OMI. I KNOW YOUR LABOR, YOUR PATIENCE. I WORD
PATIENCE IS THE WORD ENDURANCE. AND HOW YOU, NOW HERE IT IS.
THIS IS THE PHARISAICAL, RIGHTEOUS. I MEAN, THESE PEOPLE
WERE, THEY WERE DETERMINED TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. I KNOW HOW YOU
CANNOT TOLERATE THOSE THAT ARE EVIL. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE,
YOU CAN'T PUT UP WITH IT. YOU HAVE TRIED THOSE THAT SAY THAT
THEY'RE APOSTLES AND THEY'RE NOT. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU HAVE
FOUND THOSE PEOPLE TO BE LIARS. YOU FOUND THEM TO BE FAKES AND
PHONIES, RIGHT? AND YOU HAVE FOUND THEM LIARS, BUT YOU HAVE
BORN AND HAVE PATIENCE FOR MY NAME'S SAKE. YOU'VE LABORED AND
YOU'VE NEVER GIVEN UP. VERSE FOUR, NEVERTHELESS, I HAVE A
LITTLE THING AGAINST YOU BECAUSE YOU LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE.
REMEMBER THEREFORE FROM WHERE YOU ARE FALLEN, REPENT AND DO
THE FIRST WORKS OR ELSE I WILL COME UNTO THEE QUICKLY AND
REMOVE YOUR CANDLESTICKS. THAT'S SERIOUS TALK RIGHT THERE. AND
I'LL TAKE IT OUT OF ITS PLACE UNLESS YOU REPENT. BUT THIS THOU
HAST THAT YOU HATE THE DEEDS OF THE NICOLAITANS, WHICH I ALSO
HATE. NOW THAT, IF YOU EVER WONDERED WHAT THE DEEDS OF THE
NICOLAITANS WERE, THEY WERE, IT WAS A DOCTRINE. IT WAS SORT OF
WHAT WE WOULD CALL TODAY GREASY GRACE. AND PRETTY MUCH THAT, YOU
KNOW, YOU COULD JUSTIFY SEXUAL SIN, ADULTERY, DIVORCE, AND HAVE
A JUSTIFIED REASON. YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, IF YOU GOT MAD AT YOUR
WIFE, YOU COULD JUST RUN OFF AND GO MARRY SOMEBODY ELSE. THERE
WAS ALWAYS JUSTIFIED REASONS FOR EVIL, ABOMINABLE THINGS. SO IT
WAS A GREASY GRACE TEACHING, BUT IT WAS VERY MUCH LACED IN
IMMORALITY. HEATHEN HATH AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT
SAYS TO THE CHURCHES, TO HIM THAT OVERCOMES, SOMEBODY SAY
OVERCOME. TO HIM I'LL GIVE TO EAT OF THE TREE OF LIFE, WHICH
IS IN THE MIDST OF THE PARADISE OF GOD. NOW, LET'S BREAK DOWN
FOR A MOMENT SOME OF THE PHARISAICAL CHURCH'S ACCOLADES.
THEY DID A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT. NOW, THE REASON THIS CHURCH TO
ME IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE THEY WERE THE CHURCH
THAT CALLED OUT DARKNESS AND EVIL. OKAY? THEY WERE THE
PATRIOTS. THEY WERE THE ONES THAT SAID, "NO, HOMOSEXUALITY IS
A SIN. DON'T YOU DARE." THEY WERE NOT AFRAID TO CALL OUT
CULTURE. THEY WERE NOT AFRAID TO CALL OUT WRONG. THEY WERE NOT
AFRAID TO CALL OUT EVIL DOERS AND LIARS, RIGHT? NOW, THERE'S
NOTHING WRONG WITH THOSE THINGS. THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT. WE ARE
SUPPOSED TO CALL OUT EVIL, BUT WHAT JESUS SAID IS THEY GOT OFF
IN HOW THEY DID THAT. SO LET'S SEE WHAT HE SAID. LET'S SEE HOW
WE COMPLIMENT HIM. THESE WERE HARDWORKING PEOPLE. HERE WAS
THEIR POSITIVES. THEY WERE CAREFUL NOT TO COMPROMISE OR
ALLOW ANY SIN IN THE CHURCH. PRAISE GOD, THAT'S GOOD. THAT'S
A GOOD THING. THEY EXPOSED FALSE DOCTRINE. ONE OF THE CHURCHES
WE'LL STUDY THROUGHOUT THIS TEACHING IS THE CHURCH OF FALSE
DOCTRINE. THEY EXPOSED IT, AMEN, THAT'S GOOD. THEY HATED THE
DOCTRINE OF THE NICOLAITANS, THE TEACHING THAT'S BASED ON SEXUAL
FORNICATIONS AS BEING PERMISSIBLE. I MEAN, THE CHURCH
HAS GOTTEN SOFT ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS. THE DOCTRINE OF THE
NICOLAITANS, OH, IT'S OKAY TO STILL LIVE WITH YOUR GIRLFRIEND
BEFORE YOU MARRY HER. IT'S AMAZING WHAT THE CHURCH EXCUSES
NOW AND ALLOWS AND DOESN'T STAND UP TO, THINGS THAT WERE JUST
NEVER ACCEPTED 30, 40, 50 YEARS AGO ARE NOW KIND OF TAUGHT AS
OKAY, OR WE JUST WINK AT IT. PEOPLE DON'T WANNA COMPROMISE OR
THEY DON'T WANNA ADDRESS IT. THIS WAS THE CONGREGATION. ONE
OF THEIR ACCOLADES WAS THEY NEVER GAVE UP. THANK GOD, AREN'T
YOU GLAD FOR THE PATRIOTS OF AMERICA THAT NEVER GAVE UP
THROUGHOUT THE ELECTION CYCLE? THIS IS A GOOD THING. OKAY, BUT
JESUS SAID, "NO, BUT THERE'S A FEW THINGS YOU GOTTA ADJUST. FOR
THEY HAD ABANDONED THEIR FIRST LOVE." NOW, I ALWAYS READ THIS
LIKE THIS, AND SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE DONE THE SAME. I ALWAYS
READ IT AS THEY LEFT THEIR FIRST LOVE, MEANING THAT THEY DIDN'T
LOVE GOD AS MUCH AS THEY DID WHEN THEY FIRST GOT SAVED. HOW
MANY, THAT'S HOW YOU'VE READ THAT? WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY USED
TO LOVE GOD MORE. THEY WENT TO CHURCH MORE. BUT IF YOU LOOK IN
THE NEW LIVING, SOME OF THE OTHER TRANSLATIONS, IT SAYS
THESE WORDS. IT SAYS, "YOU DIDN'T LOVE ME AS MUCH, "BUT YOU
STOPPED LOVING OTHER PEOPLE." NOW WE CAN BECOME, NOW LET ME
JUST SAY THIS, I WANNA SAY IT VERY CAREFULLY. WE CAN BECOME SO
AGGRESSIVE. NOW, I'M GONNA CLARIFY A COUPLE THINGS HERE,
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, BUT WE CAN BECOME SO AGGRESSIVE ON
RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT WE MISHANDLE RIGHTEOUSNESS. ARE YOU LISTENING
TO ME? NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN SIN, 'CAUSE THERE'S PLENTY
OF CHURCHES IN HERE THAT DID THAT, AND WE'RE GONNA GET TO
THOSE. BUT THE POINT BEING IS, WE CAN CALL OUT AND CALL OUT AND
CALL OUT TILL WE MISTREAT PEOPLE. NOW HERE'S WHAT
HAPPENED. THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS, JESUS WAS NOT CALLING THEM OUT
SO MUCH ON THEIR ADDRESSING OF EVIL IN THE CULTURE. HE WAS
CALLING THEM OUT BECAUSE THEY TOOK THEIR LOADED GUNS AND
STARTED SHOOTING THEM AT THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS. THE BIBLE
SAYS DO GOOD, COME ON, TO ALL MEN, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE
OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH. OKAY, SPEAK THE TRUTH, WE HEAR IT
AGAIN AND AGAIN IN LOVE. OKAY, AND I'LL JUST SAY THIS, AND I
KNOW, OH LORDY, HELP ME SAY IT GOOD. WE HARP ON SOCIAL MEDIA SO
MUCH, BUT JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A COMMENT SECTION
DOES NOT MEAN THERE SHOULD BE A COMMENT.
(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)
I'M AMAZED SOMETIMES AT HOW, AND I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE ARE CALLING
OUT TRUTH AT HOW VICIOUS CHRISTIANS ARE IN THE COMMENTS
ON SOCIAL. AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. AND IT'S NOT
THAT I JUST LOOK AT THE ONES THAT COME TO THIS CHURCH, BUT I
SEE 'EM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, PEOPLE JUST VICIOUS, VICIOUS
THINGS. AND YEAH, ARE THEY CALLING OUT WRONG? YEAH, OKAY,
BUT JUST BECAUSE A PREACHER'S PREACHING SOMETHING THAT YOU
DIDN'T LIKE OR AGREE WITH, AND BY THE WAY, WHAT WE BELIEVE AND
AGREE WITH CAN MORPH OVER TIME. OKAY, I'M REMEMBERING YOU'VE
HEARD ME, SOME OF YOU'VE HEARD ME TELL THIS STORY. I REMEMBER
THIS WAS YEARS AGO. THIS WAS AT EBAY FIRST CAME OUT. AND PASTOR
HANK LEARNED THAT YOU COULD BUY MODEL TRAINS ON EBAY. EVERYTHING
THAT HE COULD GET THAT HE COULDN'T GET AT THE TRAIN STORE
HE COULD FIND ON EBAY. I MEAN, PEOPLE THIS BIG AND LITTLE H.O.,
IT'S HO SCALE IS THE MODEL SCALE THAT HE RUNS, THESE LITTLE TO
SCALE PEOPLE AND BUILDINGS AND HE'D START BUYING STUFF ON EBAY.
AND THAT WAS BEFORE, I THINK EBAY WAS KIND OF BEFORE AMAZON,
BUT ANYWAY, SO HE WAS SEARCHING ON EBAY, LOOKING FOR TRAIN
THINGS AND HE FINDS, GET THIS NOW, AN OLD, HOW MANY OF YOU GO
BACK FAR ENOUGH IN THE CHURCH, YOU REMEMBER THE OLD CASSETTE
TAPES, BROTHER COPELAND HAD THEM IN THE CASES AND THEY OPENED AND
THERE WERE LIKE A SIX SERIES IN THERE AND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS
JUST MAN, THE CAT'S MEOW IF WE COULD HAVE SOME OF THOSE. WE
USED TO STAY UP HERE AT NIGHT ALL NIGHT AND PRINT THE COVERS
TO OUR TAPE SERIES AND TAKE THEM ON THE ROAD WITH US AND I MEAN,
I SAT HERE, AMY ROKHOLZ, SHE KNOWS, TILL TWO AND
THREE IN THE MORNING PRINTING ON, YOU KNOW,
THE LITTLE, THIS WAS AT THE FIRST COLOR PRINTER. I MEAN, IT
TOOK 45 MINUTES. THANK GOD WE PREACHED IN LITTLE CHURCHES. IT
TOOK 45 MINUTES TO PRINT ONE COVER, AND WE'D HAVE FOUR OR
FIVE OF THESE, AND WE'D TAKE 'EM ON THE ROAD AND PREACH. AND SO I
REMEMBER, I MADE MY OWN TAPE COVERS. ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?
AND I REMEMBER PASTOR SITTING, HE GOES, "OH, LOOK AT THIS.
"THIS IS ONE OF YOUR TAPE SERIES. "IT'S FOR SALE ON EBAY."
(CONGREGATION LAUGHING)
NOW THIS WAS YEARS LATER, YEARS LATER. AND I THOUGHT, "WHAT ONE
IS IT? "I'M NOT SURE I BELIEVE IT ANYMORE." ANYWAY, SOMEBODY
SOLD IT FOR AN EGREGIOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY AND I'M LIKE, "I
WOULDN'T EVEN PAY $5 FOR THAT." BUT ANYWAY, IT'S ALL FINE. BUT
THE POINT OF THAT WHOLE TOPIC IS THE FACT THAT WE CHANGE, WE
GROW, ALLOW PEOPLE TO GROW. JUST 'CAUSE SOMEBODY SAYS SOMETHING
DOESN'T, THERE'S THINGS THAT, MAN, I STOOD FOR AND BELIEVED,
AND NOW I LOOK BACK AND I'M LIKE, WELL, GOD, YOU HAD TO
TWEAK THAT. GOD, YOU STILL HAD TO GROW ME IN THAT. YOU HAD TO
DEVELOP THAT. AND SO THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS WAS SO QUICK TO CALL
OUT EVERYTHING THAT THEY LEFT THEIR FIRST LOVE. THEY FORGOT TO
TREAT PEOPLE WITH DECENCY. AND JESUS SAID, I'M NOT GONNA PUT UP
WITH THAT. DON'T BECOME A PHARISEE. YOU CAN CALL OUT
WRONG. NOW, NOTICE IT WAS REALLY, IT REALLY WAS THE
CHRISTIANS THEY WERE CALLING OUT. IT WASN'T SO MUCH THE
WORLD. NOW I'M NOT SAYING YOU GO AHEAD AND IT'S OKAY TO MISTREAT
PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. BUT I'M SAYING IT'S FINE. WE HAVE TO
CALL OUT WHAT IS EVIL IS EVIL AND NOT GIVE EVIL A VOICE. WE
HAVE TO AS THE CHURCH BE THE BARRIER, ARE YOU LISTENING TO
ME, TO STAND UP AGAINST DARKNESS AND WICKEDNESS. BUT THERE IS A
RIGHT WAY TO GO ABOUT IT. AND YES, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH
BOLDNESS. LOOK AT THE EARLY APOSTLES, THEY WERE SO BOLD. THE
APOSTLE PAUL POINTED AT THAT SORCERER AND SAID, "YOU'RE GOING
BLIND FOR A SEASON." OKAY, HE SAID TO SIMON THE SORCERER, HE
SAID, "YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I CALLED HIM OUT AND SAID, 'YOUR
MONEY'S GONNA DIE WITH YOU.'" BUT THE POINT IS, IS WE ALSO
HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST EXTENDED. SO THIS
WAS, GOD CALLED OUT THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS FOR THEIR PHARISEE.
THEY GOT OVER INTO A PHARISEE. IN FACT, LET ME SHOW YOU A
SCRIPTURE. I WANNA SHOW YOU A SCRIPTURE ABOUT THIS. 'CAUSE I
FEEL LIKE THIS NEEDS SOME TEACHING RIGHT NOW IN THE BODY
OF CHRIST. I LOVE PASTOR HANK'S SERIES THAT HE'S DONE ON WALKING
IN LOVE, THAT WE DO NEED TO TREAT THE BODY OF CHRIST. THE
BIBLE IS VERY ADAMANT THAT WE TREAT EACH OTHER. IN FACT, WE
WERE TALKING WITH SOMEBODY THE OTHER DAY ON THE PHONE ABOUT THE
FACT THAT IT BOTHERS ME THAT WE CAN GET THE LIBERAL LEFTISTS CAN
ALL UNITE TOGETHER ON THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ISSUE. YOU
KNOW, THEY WERE ALL LIKE, YOU KNOW, AND THE RIGHT OF PEOPLE
THAT ARE TRYING TO DO RIGHT THINGS AND STAND FOR
CONSERVATIVE VALUES CAN'T AGREE ON ANYTHING. I FEEL LIKE IT'S A
TERRIBLE TRAVESTY TO THE CHURCH AND THE BODY OF CHRIST IF WE
CAN'T GET AN AGREEMENT. AND WE HAVE TO BE HUNG UP AND ALWAYS
CALLING OUT THIS OR THAT OR SOMETHING. WE NEED TO DO THE
RIGHT THINGS. NOW LOOK AT, LET ME READ THIS SCRIPTURE TO YOU.
LOOK AT GALATIANS. IS THIS MICROPHONE OKAY? I DON'T KNOW, I
FEEL LIKE IT'S TOUCHY TONIGHT. GALATIANS 6:1. BRETHREN, IF A
MAN, NOW WATCH THIS. BRETHREN, IF A MAN BE OVERTAKEN IN A
FAULT, YOU THAT ARE SPIRITUAL, HOW MANY SPIRITUAL PEOPLE DO I
HAVE HERE AND WATCHING ONLINE TONIGHT? YOU WHICH ARE
SPIRITUAL, WE LIKE TO ALL THINK WE'RE SPIRITUAL, RESTORE SUCH A
ONE IN THE SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS. WATCH THIS, CONSIDERING YOURSELF
LEST YOU ALSO BE TEMPTED. IN OTHER WORDS, YOU COULD FALL INTO
A FAULT AND NEED SOMEBODY TO HELP YOU ONE DAY. COME ON, THIS
IS POWERFUL. BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS. DON'T CALL THEM OUT IN
THE COMMENTS, OKAY? AND SO FULFILL, YOU KNOW, I KNOW SO
MANY PREACHERS NOW, AND THIS IS, I'M NOT TEACHING THIS JUST TO
DEFEND THE MINISTERS, BUT ESPECIALLY IN THE DAY AND AGE OF
STREAMING, I KNOW SO MANY PREACHERS, THEY'RE AFRAID, YOU
KNOW PART OF THE REASON THAT WE GET MINISTERS THAT ARE AFRAID TO
SAY THINGS FROM THE PULPIT, AND SOME OF THEM ARE JUST AFRAID
BECAUSE THEY'LL BE DECIMATED ON THE INTERNET. IF YOU DARE SAY IT
THE SLIGHTEST WAY THAT'S WRONG, COME ON, YOU DARE HAVE A MISSTEP
WITH YOUR MOUTH, OKAY, YOU DARE MAKE THE SLIGHTEST DOCTRINAL
MISTAKE, MAN, THE PHARISAICAL POLICE ARE OUT TO DESTROY. AND I
FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO SO MUCH BETTER AS THE CHURCH. BEAR ONE
ANOTHER'S BURDENS, OKAY? I'VE LEARNED NOW, SOMEBODY SAYS
SOMETHING THAT, I'M LIKE, YEAH, I'M NOT TOO SURE ABOUT THAT.
DON'T THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER. I HAD SOMEBODY, I
HEARD A TEACHING THE OTHER DAY, AND I'M LIKE, "DO I KNOW, DO I
BELIEVE THAT?" GOD, I NEED TO GO BACK TO THE WORD AND STUDY THAT
OUT. AND IF THEY MADE A MISSTEP, SO BE IT. YOU KNOW, BUT PEOPLE
ARE READY TO THROW PEOPLE OFF A CLIFF OVER ONE STATEMENT. I
DON'T KNOW ALL OF WHAT GOD REVEALED TO 'EM, BUT GOD,
LISTEN, LET'S JUST SETTLE DOWN. CAN WE JUST ALL CALM DOWN? WE
DON'T HAVE TO GET UPSET. SO THEY MAY MAKE A MISTAKE IN THE
PULPIT. YOU DIDN'T LOSE YOUR SALVATION OVER IT. RIGHT? LET'S
GROW UP, BE MATURE. IT'S ALL RIGHT. YOU KNOW, THEY MAY HAVE
FALLEN OFF THE CORNER ON SOMETHING, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO
GET RIGHT BACK UP OVER THERE. AMEN. THERE'S THINGS I'VE SAID
IN THIS PULPIT OVER 28 YEARS THAT WERE NOT THE BEST. SO WE'RE
GROWING. BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS AND SO FULFILL THE LAW
OF CHRIST. FOR IF ANY MAN THINKS HIMSELF TO BE SOMETHING, OKAY,
THIS IS WHERE EPHESUS WAS. WHEN HE'S NOTHING, HE DECEIVES AND
LIES TO HIMSELF. OKAY, THAT'S WHERE IT SAID, DON'T BE A
KNOW-IT-ALL. LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBOR, SAY, DON'T BE A
KNOW-IT-ALL. LET EVERY MAN PROVE HIS OWN WORK. FOR THEN HE SHALL
HAVE REJOICING IN HIMSELF ALONE AND NOT IN ANOTHER. FOR EVERY
MAN SHALL BEAR HIS OWN BURDENS. THEN HE GOES ON TO SAY AND TALKS
ABOUT WHAT YOU SOW, YOU'LL REAP, WE USE THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF
GIVING. BUT REALLY WHAT IT MEANS IS IF YOU SOW EVIL TO OTHER
PEOPLE, YOU DO WRONG BY SOMEBODY, YOU'RE ALWAYS CALLING
THEM OUT, YOU WILL OF YOUR OWN SELF REAP CORRUPTION. VERSE 10
IS WE HAVE THEREFORE THE OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO GOOD TO
ALL MEN, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE THAT ARE THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH.
NOW THIS WAS EPHESUS. SO LET'S CONTINUE, LET'S JUST GO VERY
QUICKLY. THE WARNING JESUS GAVE THEM AS THE GREAT EXAMINER AND
JUDGE, GO BACK TO REVELATION CHAPTER TWO, THAT HE SAID THEIR
LAMP-STAND WOULD BE REMOVED, MEANING THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE
CONSIDERED IN HEAVEN AS THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL. GIVEN OVER
TO DARKNESS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT I DON'T WANNA BE
PART OF IT. I WROTE IN MY NOTES HERE, IT SAYS, "IF YOU CALL OUT,
ALWAYS CALL OUT THE DARKNESS "OR THE WRONG IN SOMEBODY ELSE,
YOU'LL BE FOUND IN THE DARK YOURSELF." SO, PASTOR BRENDA,
HOW DO WE FIX THAT? WELL, I THINK THE KEY LESSON IS, FIRST
OF ALL, WE ALL HAVE TO REMEMBER, WE CAME IN AS SINNERS. THANK
GOD. RIGHT? JESUS SAVED US ALL. HE SAVED US FROM OURSELVES. SOME
OF US, I MEAN, IT WAS A SCARY SITUATION. SO REMEMBER WHERE WE
CAME FROM, RIGHT? IT'S AMAZING. WE ALWAYS WANT PEOPLE TO GIVE US
GRACE. IT'S HARD TO GIVE GRACE TO OTHER PEOPLE. THIS WAS THE
LESSON FOR THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS. REMEMBER, THIS IS WHAT
JESUS SAID, "REMEMBER FROM WHERE YOU HAVE FALLEN." THAT'S WHAT HE
SAID. "REMEMBER WHERE YOU CAME FROM BEFORE POINTING THE
FINGERS." DO THE FIRST WORKS. OVERCOMING ALL OF THESE AREAS
ALLOWS US PERMISSION THEN. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS MEANT, BUT
I'M GONNA SAY IT ANYWAY. THIS IS WHAT JESUS, HE SAID IN VERSE
SEVEN, "HE THAT HATH AN EAR TO HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING
"TO THE CHURCHES, TO HIM THAT OVERCOMES," OR DOES WHAT HE'S
ADMONISHING THEM TO DO, "TO HIM THAT OVERCOMES, I'LL GIVE TO EAT
OF THE TREE OF LIFE "WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF THE PARADISE OF
GOD." I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS OUR SALVATION COULD
BE AT RISK BECAUSE WE MISTREAT THE BODY OF CHRIST. I'VE BEEN
READING A LOT LATELY THE SCRIPTURE IN 1 CORINTHIANS 11
TALKING ABOUT COMMUNION. THE BIBLE SAYS, "IF YOU EAT OR DRINK
IT UNWORTHILY," HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE READ THIS SCRIPTURE? "YOU
EAT OR DRINK IT UNWORTHILY, YOU EAT OR DRINK DAMNATION TO
YOURSELF, NOT DISCERNING," WATCH THIS, "THE LORD'S BODY." HOW WE
TREAT THE BODY OF CHRIST IS VERY IMPORTANT. THIS IS THE LESSON OF
EPHESUS. OKAY, WE CAN BE BOLD. WE NEED TO CALL OUT WICKEDNESS,
BUT WE NEED TO TREAT OUR FELLOW BELIEVERS CORRECTLY. JESUS
DEMANDS IT. ONE OF HIS MAIN PRAYERS BEFORE HE WENT TO
HEAVEN, HE SAID, "FATHER, LET THEM BE," WHAT? "ONE, EVEN AS
YOU AND I ARE ONE." SO THIS IS THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS, THE
PHARISAICAL CHURCH. WELL, YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL WE DON'T BECOME
THAT IN THIS GENERATION. IF YOU JUDGE WRONG, YOU BE JUDGED,
THANK GOD. I'M LIKE, WELL, LET ME PUT ALL THOSE POINTER FINGERS
AWAY, SAVE THEM FOR ANOTHER TIME, RIGHT? AMEN, ALL RIGHT, SO
WE GOTTA TREAT THE CHURCH RIGHT. SECOND CHURCH I WANNA TALK
ABOUT. ARE YOU GETTING ANYTHING OUT OF THIS TODAY? I'M HELPING
YOU. AND BY THE WAY, I AM NOT IN ANY WAY SAYING WE DON'T CALL OUT
WRONG AND EVIL. I'M NOT SAYING THAT. I'M SAYING WE'VE JUST GOT
TO REMEMBER AS THE BODY OF CHRIST, THERE'S OTHER EDGES THAT
WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IN THOSE THINGS. BY THE WAY, MAKE SURE
YOU'RE ESPECIALLY NOT CALLING SOMEBODY OUT FOR SOMETHING YOU
YOURSELF ARE GUILTY OF. OKAY, RIGHT? OKAY, DON'T BE CALLING
OUT SOMEBODY FOR CUSSING IF YOU'RE CUSSING. RIGHT, DON'T
CALL OUT PEOPLE. YOU'VE GOT STUFF TO GROW YOURSELF. I HAVE
THINGS TO GROW MYSELF. SO WE HAVE TO BE SO CAREFUL WE DON'T
NITPICK AT EACH OTHER. THAT'S A GOOD THING. THAT'S GOOD
PREACHING, PASTOR BRENDA. ALL RIGHT, THE SECOND CHURCH, THE
CHURCH OF SMYRNA. "UNTO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA
WRITE," THIS WAS THE PERSECUTED CHURCH, "JESUS COMES TO THE
PERSECUTED CHURCH AS THE GIVER OF LIFE." THE BIBLE SAYS IN 2
TIMOTHY 3:12, "ALL," SOMEBODY SAY ALL, "ALL THAT WILL LIVE
GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION." NOW, YOU
KNOW, THIS HAS BECOME NEW IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. YOU
KNOW, WHEN 2020 HAPPENED, WE ALL ACT LIKE SHOCKED THAT, YOU KNOW,
WHAT, YOU MEAN THEY WANT TO SHUT DOWN THE CHURCH? AND YOU KNOW,
WE HAVEN'T BEEN AS USED TO THAT. I MEAN, WE'VE HAD SOME
DISCRIMINATION, SOME ISSUES THAT WAY, BUT I THINK PERSECUTION OF
THE CHURCH ITSELF HAS GONE HIGHER IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TALKING ABOUT CHRISTIANS, THE PERSECUTED
CHURCH ABROAD, IN COUNTRIES THAT HAVE DIED FOR THEIR FAITH, THAT
HAVE HAD TO, IT'S EITHER JESUS OR DEATH. AND I'LL BE HONEST
WITH YOU, IN THE DAY THAT WE'RE LIVING IN, WE HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT THOSE THINGS. JESUS SAID, "IN THE LAST DAYS, "THEY WILL
CAST YOUR NAME OUT AS EVIL. "THEY WILL CALL YOU AN EVILDOER.
"THEY'LL MAKE UP LIES ABOUT YOU "AND MAKE IT OUT AS IF YOU
TWISTED EVERYTHING "AND TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN. "EVERYTHING YOU SAY
WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU." RIGHT? THIS IS THE AGE OF
PERSECUTION THAT WE LIVE IN. AND BELIEVE ME, IT'S NOT GONNA JUST
GET BETTER IN THE WORLD, IT WILL CONTINUE. PERSECUTION'S BEEN
WITH US SINCE THE DAY JESUS WENT BACK TO HEAVEN, RIGHT? SO THIS
WAS THE CHURCH AT SMYRNA, THEY WERE PERSECUTED. HE SAID, "THESE
THINGS SAY AT THE FIRST AND THE LAST, "HE THAT WAS DEAD AND IS
ALIVE, I KNOW YOUR WORKS." SO THEY WERE ANOTHER HARDWORKING
CHURCH. AND BY THE WAY, EVEN WITH EPHESUS, ALL THOSE THAT
WORKED HARD, JESUS COMMENDED THEM FOR THAT. THAT'S WHY BE
INVOLVED IN CHURCH. BE CONNECTED, SERVE SOMEWHERE.
OKAY, HELP WITH THE CHILDREN. DON'T JUST LET THE SAME OLD
SWEET LADY THAT'S BEEN DOWN THERE CHANGING DIAPERS FOR 25
YEARS BE DOWN THERE FOREVER WHILE YOU CAN'T EVER JUST GIVE
ONE SUNDAY, RIGHT? HELP SOMEBODY OUT, HELP THE YOUTH, HELP THE
DEPARTMENTS. I KNOW, AND BY THE WAY, VOLUNTEERS, WE THANK YOU.
SOME PEOPLE SERVE TWO AND THREE AND FOUR TIMES A WEEK. IF YOU'RE
ABLE, THROW IN AND HELP. PRAISE GOD, THAT WAS A GREAT PLACE FOR
A FANTASTIC AMEN, PASTOR BRENDA. THROW IN AND HELP, RIGHT? SO,
JESUS COMES TO THE PERSECUTED CHURCH AS THE GIVER OF ETERNAL
LIFE. NOW LET'S TALK, LET ME READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS
CHURCH. VERSE NINE, "I KNOW YOUR WORKS, YOUR TRIBULATION, "YOUR
POVERTY, YEAH, YOU'RE POOR, BUT YOU ARE YET RICH." IN OTHER
WORDS, THESE WERE THE PEOPLE THAT GAVE UP EVERYTHING FOR THE
SAKE OF THE GOSPEL. AND BY THE WAY, WE CAN LEARN A LOT FROM
THEM. OKAY, I KNOW THE BLASPHEMY OF THOSE THAT SAY THEY ARE JEWS,
BUT THEY AREN'T. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY LIE. THEY PRETEND THEY'RE
YOUR FRIEND. THEY TWIST EVERYTHING, BUT THEY'RE OF THE
SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN. YOU KNOW, BY THE WAY, THAT PHRASE REMINDS ME,
DON'T EVER THINK GOD DOESN'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP AGAINST. THE
BIBLE SAYS IN PSALM 20 THAT THE GOD OF JACOB WILL DEFEND YOU.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WE HAVE TO LEARN THAT. I HAVE TO LEARN
THAT. I HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF, YOU KNOW WHAT GOD, I DON'T HAVE
TO DEFEND MYSELF AGAINST NAYSAYERS, PEOPLE THAT SAY
THINGS AND LIE AND MAKE UP STUFF. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DO
WHAT I'M CALLED TO DO. I CAN'T CONTROL EVERYTHING. PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF
YOUR FAMILY PERSECUTES YOU BECAUSE YOU TITHE AND YOU GO TO
A CHURCH THAT SPEAKS IN TONGUES, JUST TELL THEM, "WELL, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. "I SO APPRECIATE YOUR CONCERN." AND KEEP ON TITHING
AND KEEP ON TALKING IN TONGUES. JUST KEEP ON DOING WHAT YOU'RE
CALLED TO DO. THAT'S WHAT JESUS TOLD THE PERSECUTED CHURCH TO
DO. YOU MAY LOSE, BY THE WAY, I'LL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR
YOU. YOU MIGHT LOSE FRIENDS BECAUSE YOU LOVE GOD. OH, SHOCK,
RIGHT? THERE MAY BE PEOPLE THAT WON'T INVITE YOU TO
THANKSGIVING. DIDN'T WANT TO EAT THEIR DRY TURKEY ANYWAY. IT'S
OKAY, RIGHT? IT'S OKAY. IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. JESUS SAID IT.
HE SAID, "I DIDN'T COME TO BRING PEACE. I CAME TO BRING A SWORD."
IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE A PERSON THAT DIVIDES PEOPLE, BUT THE
GOSPEL WILL DIVIDE. SOME PEOPLE WON'T WANT A THING TO DO WITH
YOU, RIGHT? THAT'S WHY I'M LIKE SOMEBODY ASKED, ARE YOU GONNA GO
BACK EVER TO YOUR CLASS REUNIONS? I THOUGHT, WELL, FIRST
OF ALL, FIRST OF ALL, I REALLY, I JUST WANT THEM TO REMEMBER ME
THEN, OKAY? SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO GO BACK 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THEY
THINK, WELL, I'VE IMPROVED AND ALL OF THIS. I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW,
THEY ONLY REMEMBER YOU WHEN YOU WORE A STUPID HAIRDO AND A DUMB
DRESS, YOU HAD BRACES ON YOUR TEETH. YOU KNOW, WHAT DIFFERENCE
DOES IT MAKE? BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, CAN I BE HONEST WITH
YOU? SOME THINGS WE JUST NEED TO RECOGNIZE, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GO
BACK AND NOW THAT YOU LOVE GOD AND TALK IN TONGUES, THEY'RE
PROBABLY NOT GONNA WANNA BE YOUR BEST FRIEND ANYHOW. YOU KNOW, I
JUST, I SAY HAVE NO PART OF IT. SO, AMEN, WE'RE ALL PROBABLY
SKINNIER THEN TOO, IT'S OKAY. YOU KNOW. AND YOU KNOW, NOW IF
YOU'VE GOT A LITTLE GRAY HAIR, HAVE THEM REMEMBER WHEN YOUR
HAIR WAS DARK BLACK OR YOU HAD SOME, IT'S ALL GOOD. IT'S ALL
GOOD. IF YOU'RE NOT ON FACEBOOK, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU LOOK
LIKE NOW. DON'T TELL 'EM. OH, YOU GOTTA LAUGH. DON'T,
IT'S NOT TIME TO GO TO BED YET. IT'S ALL GOOD.
(LAUGHS)
SO, THIS IS THE CHURCH. THEY'RE AT THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN. IN
OTHER WORDS, THESE PEOPLE WERE LIARS AND CHEATERS AND
PRETENDING TO BE SOMETHING THEY WEREN'T. FEAR NONE OF THESE
THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT SUFFER. IN OTHER WORDS, FEAR NONE OF IT.
AND NOW I SAID TO THE LORD ONE TIME, I SAID, "WELL, GOD, YOU
KNOW, I READ HORROR STORIES. HOW MANY OF YOU EVER READ FOXE'S
BOOK OF MARTYRS?" AND, YOU KNOW, GOD TOLD THE TWELVE WHEN HE WENT
BACK TO HEAVEN, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, "YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER,"
ACTS 1:8, "YOU'LL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY GHOST COMES UPON
YOU, AND YOU'LL BE MY WITNESSES." THE WORD
"WITNESSES," HE WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THEY, IN THE GREEK, MEANT
"YOU'LL BE MY MARTYRS." THEY ALREADY KNEW THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO HAVE TO DIE FOR WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO OR THE
MISSION THAT THEY HAD BEEN CALLED TO. AND SO JESUS, AND I
THOUGHT, WELL, IF THEY ALL KNEW IT, WAS THERE EVER ANY FEAR
THERE? SO I TOLD THE LORD, I READ FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS A FEW
TIMES, AND I THOUGHT, LORD, MAN, SOME OF THE STUFF THAT THESE
PEOPLE BEEN THROUGH IS HIDEOUS. I MEAN, HORRIBLE. WATCHING,
BEING MADE TO WATCH WHY THEY LIKE TORTURE YOUR CHILDREN. AND
I THOUGHT, LORD, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU SAY FEAR NONE OF THESE
THINGS. THAT'S A LITTLE HARD TO DO, FEAR NONE OF THOSE THINGS
THAT YOU'LL SUFFER. AND I WILL JUST TELL YOU, I THINK A KEY
LESSON HERE WITH THIS CHURCH IS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THE
DECISION IN OUR LIFE. NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU, IF YOU MAKE
THE DECISION NOT TO FEAR, THAT YOU WON'T BE TEMPTED TO FEAR.
OKAY, THE BIBLE'S FILLED WITH SCRIPTURES THAT SAYS, DON'T BE
AFRAID, FEAR NOT. DON'T BE AFRAID OF ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
WELL, IT'S ADMONISHING US TO MAKE THE DECISION. YOU'LL HAVE
THE TEMPTATION TO FEAR, BUT YOU'RE GONNA CHOOSE NOT TO DO
IT. MAKE THAT DECISION AHEAD. YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER WHEN, YOU
KNOW, ALL THE STUFF WE ALL WENT THROUGH IN 2020 WITH THE COVID
SHUTDOWN AND, YOU KNOW, AND I REMEMBER PASTOR AND I SITTING
TOGETHER GOING, WELL, I MEAN, IT WASN'T LIKE IT WAS EVEN A
QUESTION. WE JUST KNOW US. I'M LIKE, I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE
WHILE Y'ALL MASKING UP PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THE MASKS WERE
THE STUPIDEST THING. I CANNOT STOP SAYING IT. EVERYBODY I GO
TO, I SAY, DO YOU EVER KNOW HOW DUMB THE MASKS WERE? I STILL
PEOPLE SEE, I SAW A LADY THE OTHER DAY OUTSIDE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ON A SUNNY DAY JOGGING WITH A MASK ACROSS HER
FACE. I'M THINKING, "WHAT IS IT, COVID GONNA JUMP OUT THE TREES
AND BITE YOU?" AND I'M THINKING, "HOW DO YOU BREATHE? I DON'T
LIKE TO JOG WHEN I CAN BREATHE. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT." BUT
I REMEMBER, SO I REMEMBER, AND I THOUGHT, "WELL, YOU KNOW, I
CAN'T JUST SIT IDLY BY. I MEAN, I STILL GET MAD ABOUT THE MASK."
AND I THOUGHT, AND YOU KNOW, AT FIRST, I THINK EVERYBODY
THOUGHT, 'CAUSE WE WERE TOLD, THAT THAT MASK WAS SUPPOSED TO
BE HELPFUL. AND THEN THE FIRST TIME I WENT INTO THE GROCERY, I
WENT INTO HY-VEE AND THEY'RE IN THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD THE
MASS POLICE AT THE DOORS. YOU KNOW, I MEAN, YOU COULD NOT GO
TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE. YOU COULDN'T GO. I MEAN, YOU COULD
HAVE YOUR LEG CUT OFF AND GO IN THERE IN AN AMBULANCE AND THEY
WERE GONNA PUT A MASK ON YOUR FACE. I THOUGHT IT'S AMAZING. I
REMEMBER PASTOR ANTHONY AND MATT WENT UP TO, I THINK YOU GUYS
WENT TO VISIT MARQUIS WHEN HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL, AND THEY
MADE EVERYBODY GO IN IN GROUPS. AND THEN THEY CAME UP WITH THIS,
I'M SORRY I'M GETTING OFF TOPIC, BUT I'M JUST GONNA SAY IT 'CAUSE
I FEEL LIKE I WANT TO. AND I REMEMBER, FEELS GOOD TO SAY IT
NOW. JUST FEELS GOOD TO SAY IT 'CAUSE YOU KNOW. AND THEY SAID,
"WELL, YOU CAN'T ALL GO BACK TOGETHER." I'M LIKE, "WHAT
DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE IF IT'S ONE OR THREE?" AND THEN IF YOU
DO GO BACK THERE, YOU CAN ONLY STAY FOR 10 MINUTES AND THEN
SOMEONE ELSE GETS TO COME, I THOUGHT. SO YOU MEAN IT TAKES
LONGER THAN 10 MINUTES FOR COVID TO JUMP ON SOMEBODY? SO IF, AND
ANYWAY, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL.
AND SO THE FIRST TIME I WENT INTO IVY, I THOUGHT, EVERYBODY'S
COVERED IN A MASK. I HAVE, I'M ASHAMED TO SAY I EVEN PUT THAT
STUPID, BLUE, UGLY, AWFUL, RIDICULOUS, POINTLESS. AND I
SAID, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, PASTOR BRENDA IS RECOVERING FROM BEING
DIRECTIONALLY DISABLED. DON'T TELL ME I GOTTA WALK DOWN ONE
SIDE OF THE AISLE. I'M WALKING IN THERE. THE NOODLES ARE ON
THIS SIDE. I REALIZE I WALKED PAST THE NOODLES, AND I'M LIKE,
"HOW DO I GET BACK?" SO I JUST DID WHAT I KNOW TO DO. I TURN
AROUND, I WALK THE OTHER WAY. SOME LADY LOOKED AT ME LIKE,
"MAN, IT LOOKS GOOD KILL." BUT FINALLY IT HIT ME. I WALKED IN
THE STORE, AND I THOUGHT, I CAN SMELL FRIED CHICKEN. I THINK I
BOUGHT FRIED CHICKEN THAT DAY. I THOUGHT, IF I CAN SMELL FRIED
CHICKEN THROUGH THIS MASK, THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF
THAT GONNA GO THROUGH THIS MASK. AND SO I GOT MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS TELLING ME THAT THAT MASK WILL KEEP YOU FROM
GETTING COVID. YOU KNOW, ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD THAT GOT
COVID WORE THE STUPID MASK. THEY KNEW IT AND WE ALL KNEW IT. BUT
THE POINT IS, PASTOR KNIGHT, ANYWAY, THAT WAS A SIDE POINT.
PASTOR HANK AND MYSELF, WE'RE LIKE, NO, WE CANNOT BE SILENT.
THEY MIGHT PERSECUTE. AND I REMEMBER US HAVING THIS
CONVERSATION. I SAID, IF LORD OF HOSTS CHURCH HAS TO COME BACK
DOWN TO YOU AND ME, AND IF IT'S TWO OF US, WELL, SHANE AND
CHRISTY WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT AND THE GIRLS AND MATT, DOUG AND
EILEEN WOULD HAVE STAYED AND I KNOW Y'ALL WOULD HAVE, I'M JUST
IT'S A POINT. EVERYBODY'S RAISING THEIR HAND, I'M STILL
HERE. ANYWAY, IF I DIDN'T MENTION YOUR NAME. BUT I
REMEMBER US HAVING THIS TALK. WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO SPEAK TRUTH.
AND IF THEY WALK IN HERE AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT COMES THROUGH
AND THEY TRY TO CLOSE THIS MINISTRY, WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO
STAND UP AND SPEAK WHAT IS RIGHT. WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO
IT. AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. I THINK THEY WERE AFRAID OF US
SOMEHOW, SOME OF THEM. I MEAN, LIKE, OH, THAT GUY PROPHESIES
STRANGE STUFF. WE'RE SCARED. HE MIGHT SEE US. WE'RE NOT GOING IN
THERE. THEY MIGHT SEE OUR SINS. I DON'T KNOW. BUT ANYWAY, I'M
LIKE, DON'T PUT HIM UP TO IT. I'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN. ANYWAY, SO
LET'S READ THE REST OF THIS SO WE GET YOU OUT OF HERE AT A GOOD
TIME. I'M GONNA GET THROUGH SOME OF THIS. HE SAYS, "DON'T BE
AFRAID OF THOSE THINGS." IN OTHER WORDS, THAT'S THE WHOLE
POINT. "DON'T BE SCARED OF IT." OKAY, DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE
THINGS YOU'LL SUFFER. AND IF YOU FEEL SOME FEAR ABOUT END TIMES
OR PERSECUTION OR WHATEVER, WELL, THAT'S WHERE YOU CONTINUE
TO SAY TO GOD, "GOD, I'M NOT GONNA FEAR IT." THAT'S WHY WE
HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TOGETHER. BEHOLD, THE DEVIL
SHALL CAST SOME OF YOU INTO PRISON THAT YOU'LL BE TRIED.
OKAY, WE SAW THAT HAPPENING. OKAY, AND BY THE WAY, THE
MARTYRS, OR THE PEOPLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES, YOU KNOW, THE EARLY
APOSTLES HAD A DIFFERENT MIND. THEY SAW IT BIBLICALLY AS IF
MARTYRDOM WAS A GREAT PRIZE TO HAVE RECEIVED. THEY SAW IT
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WE DO. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BECOME
FEARFUL OF THOSE THINGS, BUT HE SAID, "YOU'LL BE CAST INTO
PRISON "THAT YOU MAY BE TRIED." AND BY THE WAY, AND THEY'LL MAKE
A CASE AGAINST YOU. I MEAN, LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS THEY SAID
ABOUT TRUMP THAT WEREN'T TRUE. I MEAN, TWISTED. AND NOW, OF
COURSE, IT'S ALL COMING OUT AND THEY'VE REVERSED IT ALL SAYING,
WHO WAS THE PEOPLE FROM THE NEWSPAPER, HONEY, THAT WERE JUST
RECENTLY RESIGNED BECAUSE THEY CAME OUT AND SAID, "OH NO, WE
EDITED TRUMP'S COMMENTS BECAUSE," YOU KNOW, HIS
COMMENTS, WHERE THEY TWIST, OH, INSURRECTION. BBC. YEAH, IT WAS
BBC. YEAH, I'LL JUST SAY IT. THEIR INITIALS ARE BBC. AND,
THEY, ANYWAY, THEY RESIGNED SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY EDITED
TRUMP'S STATEMENTS TO MAKE HIM LOOK LIKE AN INSURRECTIONIST
OVER JANUARY 6TH. AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? THAT'S WHAT
HAPPENED. SO, YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE THING. THEY'RE GONNA LIE
ANYWAY. SO, YOU KNOW, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT. HE SAID,
YOU'LL BE CAST INTO PRISON, YOU'LL BE TRIED, AND HAVE
TRIBULATION 10 DAYS. SOME SCHOLARS BELIEVE THAT 10 DAYS
MEANS TILL A TIME OF, AN AGE OF COMPLETION, AND THERE'S SOME
SCRIPTURE THAT SUPPORTS THAT. BUT LOOK WHAT HE SAYS, "BUT BE
FAITHFUL TO DEATH, "AND I'LL GIVE YOU A CROWN OF LIFE. "HE
THAT HATH AN EAR, HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT." BY THE WAY, THE FIFTH
SEAL THAT THE LAMB OPENS, JUST A FEW PAGES LATER, THE FIFTH SEAL,
IS THE SEAL OF THE MARTYRED SAINTS. SO THINK ABOUT THAT. SO
WE HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE IN THIS HOUR THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA BE
AFRAID. SO LET ME GIVE YOU JUST A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THIS. THE
CHURCH, THEY WERE THE CHURCH THAT ENDURED TREMENDOUS
PERSECUTION, NUMBER ONE, AND WE MAY SEE MORE OF THAT IN THE US.
BY THE WAY, PRAY FOR OUR PERSECUTED BROTHERS AND SISTERS
AROUND THE WORLD. THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF MATERIAL
RESOURCES, NOT THAT IT'S WRONG TO HAVE IT, BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER
TO THEM. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO THEM WAS THAT THEY
STOOD UP FOR CHRIST. THEY WERE ATTACKED AND IMPRISONED BY FALSE
RELIGIOUS TEACHERS. BY THE WAY, THIS IS THE CHURCH, THE
PERSECUTED CHURCH. JESUS NOTED NO FAULTS ON THEM. AMAZING.
JESUS COMES TO THEM AS THE GIVER OF ETERNAL LIFE. SO HERE'S WHAT
SOMETHING I PUT IN MY NOTES. KEEP YOUR EYES ON ETERNAL
THINGS. FOLKS, CAN I JUST SAY IT LIKE THIS? THIS LIFE IS VERY
SHORT. PASTOR AND I ARE ABOUT TO TURN 60.
WE'RE A YEAR APART. HE'LL BE 60 AHEAD OF ME. HE'LL
BE 60 NEXT MAY. AND THEN I'LL BE 60 AFTER THAT. SO, BUT THE
POINT BEING IS, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY OF YOU ARE, OKAY, YOU'RE 60
OR OVER, AND YOUR LIFE JUST, NOW YOU LOOK BACK ON YOUR LIFE, AND
YOU'RE LIKE SITTING THERE LIKE, "HOW DID WE GET HERE?" I MEAN,
YOU'RE JUST, IT'S SURPRISING HOW QUICKLY LIFE GOES. I THOUGHT
BACK THE OTHER DAY ON HOW, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS CHURCH,
PASTOR HANK WAS 30 YEARS OLD, I WAS 29. I KNOW WE WERE THAT
YOUNG, CAMILA, THINK ABOUT THAT. I KNOW, WE WERE CHILDREN. WE
HAVE CHILDREN OLDER THAN WE WERE, THINK ABOUT THAT. AND, BUT
THE POINT BEING IS, IS I'M SITTING BACK AND I'M THINKING,
"THIS HAS FLOWN." NOW, IT SEEMED REALLY LONG WHEN WE HAD THE
UGLIEST CHURCH IN TOWN. I MEAN, WE HAD THE UGLIEST BUILDING ON,
I MEAN, EVERY CHURCH WE DROVE PAST, WE'RE LIKE, "GOD, WE HAD
THE UGLIEST CHURCH IN TOWN. "OH, IT'S SO HORRIBLE." AND YOU KNOW,
GOD WAS LIKE, "JUST STOP." BUT IT GOES QUICK. FOLKS, THIS LIFE
IS SHORT. WE HAVE TO LIVE FOR GOD NOW. DON'T WAIT AND GET ALL
YOUR, AMEN. THAT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR A HAND CLAP. YOUNG PEOPLE,
HEAR ME CAREFULLY. I MEAN, I CAN'T SPEAK TO THE YOUTH.
THEY'RE DOWN AT THE OTHER END, BUT YOU ALL CAN TELL THEM I GAVE
THEM A GOOD ADMONITION TONIGHT. HONOR YOUR PARENTS, DO THE RIGHT
THINGS, LIVE RIGHT FOR GOD. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SORRY ONE DAY
WHEN YOU'RE 60, 65, 70. LIFE GOES LIKE THIS QUICK. JESUS SAID
IT'S A VAPOR. IT'LL BE OVER IN A HURRY. SO THE FOCUS IS AS
CHRISTIANS, THE CHURCH, WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON ETERNITY. OKAY,
ETERNITY IS IMPORTANT AND WE ONLY GET ONE SHOT AT THIS,
RIGHT? AND THE PERSECUTED CHURCH, JESUS CAME TO THEM AS
THE GIVER OF ETERNAL LIFE AND HE SAID, "IT'S A SHORT SEASON." AND
I'M GONNA SHARE THIS ONE STORY. I WASN'T GONNA SHARE IT, BUT I'M
GONNA SHARE IT. THIS ONE WAS FROM FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS. AND
I'VE SAID IT A FEW TIMES, BUT IT MARKED ME PROBABLY MORE THAN ANY
OF THE STORIES. I REMEMBER THERE WAS A STORY, I THINK IT WAS IN
COMMUNIST CHINA, AND MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, THE UNDERGROUND
CHURCH, THERE WAS A FAMILY. THEY SAID, "NOW, WE'RE GONNA BURY YOU
ALIVE "IF YOU DON'T DENY JESUS." AND THEY SAID, "WELL, WE'RE NOT
DENYING JESUS." THEY SAID, "WELL, WE'RE GONNA BURY YOU
ALIVE." AND THEY TOOK HIM OUT AND DUG A BIG OLD HOLE, THEM AND
THEIR TWO LITTLE CHILDREN. AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE SMALL. AND SO
OBVIOUSLY THEY STARTED TO FILL IN THE DIRT, FILL IN THE DIRT,
AND THE PARENTS ARE JUST STANDING THERE. AND THE MOTHER,
WHO, YOU KNOW, MAMA'S HEART, THAT DIRT IS GETTING UP OVER HER
KIDS NOW. AND IT WAS ALL SHE COULD DO. SHE'S WATCHING HER
CHILDREN SUFFOCATE. I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE THIS SUPER
SERIOUS, BUT THESE ARE REALITIES. AND HER LITTLE
CHILDREN ARE BEGINNING TO SUFFOCATE. AND BY THE WAY OK,
I'M SORRY, NOW I'M DOING THE PASTOR HANK WITH RABBIT TRAIL IS
OUT. I AM WRITING IN THE BOOK COMMANDING PEACE THAT YOU CAN
PRAY. THERE IS A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN PRAY FOR DELIVERANCE FROM
MARTYRDOM. THE EARLY APOSTLES DID THAT. ANYWAY, THERE IS BIBLE
ON IT. PETER, THE ANGEL, THEY PRAYED ALL NIGHT FOR HIS
DELIVERANCE. THERE'S A FEW SCRIPTURES IN THERE, BUT THERE
IS, BUT WE KNOW MARTYRDOM IS REAL. SO HER LITTLE CHILDREN ARE
SUFFERING. AND THE DAD TURNS AND HE SAID, "MAMA, DON'T GIVE IN.
"WE'LL ALL BE EATING SUPPER AT THE MASTER'S TABLE TONIGHT." SO
MAKE A DECISION IN YOUR LIFE. ETERNITY IS MUCH BIGGER THAN
THIS LIFE. COME ON, SOMEBODY. IT IS MUCH BIGGER THAN THIS LIFE.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO THE LAST ONE AND WE'LL CALL IT A DAY. I
WAS GOING TO TRY TO GET THROUGH FOUR, BUT Y'ALL KNEW I COULDN'T
DO IT. SO, OKAY, THE CHURCH OF PERGAMOS. LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT
AND WE'LL CLOSE WITH IT. ALL RIGHT, WHAT WAS THE COMMENT FROM
THE GUY IN PLAID? I DID A GOOD JOB TOO, MAN, I'M TELLING YOU.
ALL RIGHT, THE THIRD ONE, THE CHURCH OF PERGAMOS. LET'S AT
LEAST HIT THAT ONE. I'M GONNA TRY TO DO IT VERY BRIEFLY. THIS
WAS THE CHURCH OF, NOW HERE, THIS IS A BIG TOPIC, OH LORD, I
MIGHT HAVE TO GO THROUGH PART OF IT NEXT WEEK. THIS WAS THE
CHURCH OF FLESHLY CARNAL LIVING. THEY COULD NEVER GET THE WORLD
OUT OF 'EM. AMAZINGLY IN THIS ONE, JESUS COMES TO THEM AS THE
ARMED WARRIOR WHO WAS ARMED WITH A SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD IN HIS
MOUTH. HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT THE SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD IS?
IT'S WHAT, THE WORD OF GOD. AND I'M NOT SAYING HE COMES TO THEM
WITH THE WORD. THEY HAD NO WORD IN HIM. THEY WERE, JUST COULD
NOT GIVE UP. IN OTHER WORDS, THIS IS THE CHURCH THAT WAS
ALWAYS OKAYING IT. WELL, IT'S OKAY FOR A CHRISTIAN TO DO THIS.
IT'S OKAY FOR A CHRISTIAN TO DO THAT. THEY NEVER COULD GET RID
OF THE WORLDLINESS IN THEM. THE WORLD SHOWS, THE WORLD'S
ENTERTAINMENT. I'M NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T GO TO A MOVIE, BUT
JUST THINK FOR A MINUTE, FOLKS. I MEAN, MOST OF TELEVISION IN
HOLLYWOOD, FIRST OF ALL, ALL THOSE REALITIES SHOWS THAT ARE
ON THERE, THEY'RE STUPID. THEY'RE NOT REAL. OKAY, NOW WE
DO TV AND WE DO IT AS REAL, REAL, REAL. I DON'T LIKE TAKE
TWO, SO IT'S ONE AND DONE, BROTHER. SERIOUSLY, EVERYBODY
THAT KNOWS ME KNOWS. I'M LIKE, WE ARE DOING THIS IN ONE TAKE.
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING? BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER, SO
MUCH TELEVISION ISN'T REAL. I MEAN, I WATCH HGTV, AND THEY DID
AN UNCOVER ONE TIME. I DON'T WATCH IT AS MUCH NOW. NOW I
WATCH THESE LITTLE GALS DECORATE CHRISTMAS ON YOUTUBE AND STUFF
LIKE THAT. TAKES 10 MINUTES, YOU KNOW, I GET DISTRACTED EASILY.
SO I USED TO, BUT BACK, YOU KNOW, HGTV WOULD COME ON AND
THEY WOULD DO, YOU REMEMBER HOUSE HUNTERS? HOW MANY OF YOU
REMEMBER HOUSE HUNTERS? EVERYBODY REMEMBERS THAT. AND
I'D WATCH IT, I'D BE LIKE, OH. I'M SO INTO IT, I'M LIKE, WHICH
ONE ARE THEY GONNA CHOOSE? DUN, UH, NUH. I'M LIKE, OH, THEY'RE
GONNA CHOOSE. AND THEN I FOUND OUT LATER THAT THEY'VE ALREADY
CHOSEN IT BEFORE THE SHOW, AND THEY LOOKED AT MORE HOUSES, BUT
THE SHOW MADE THEM NARROW IT DOWN TO THE THREE, AND THEN THEY
EDITED ALL THE PARTS OUT OF THAT. AND I'M SITTING THERE
GOING, WELL, THAT JUST RUINS IT. I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T
REALLY PICK THE HOUSE. ANYWAY, IT WAS JUST STUPID. AND I
THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE THING. SOMETIMES WE ARE SO STUCK
ON THE WORLD'S ENTERTAINMENT. I MEAN, AND IT'S NO WONDER
CHRISTIANS GET SUCKED IN BY THE MEDIA, 'CAUSE WE'RE GLUED TO
THESE THINGS. BUT THIS, PERGAMOS WAS THE CHURCH THAT JUST
COULDN'T GET THE WORLD OUT OF 'EM. IT WAS, THEY LOVED THEIR
STUFF TOO MUCH, THEY LOVED THEIR WORLDLY THINGS TOO MUCH, THEY
LOVED, NOW I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT OKAY THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE
NICE MATERIAL THINGS. LISTEN, GOD BLESSES, RIGHT? GOD IS NOT A
GOD THAT WANTS YOU RIDING AROUND TOWN IN A RUST BUCKET, OKAY? HE
WANTS YOU BLESSED. AND BY THE WAY, THE DOCTRINE OF BIBLICAL
PROSPERITY WILL WORK IN EVERY COUNTRY. OKAY, LISTEN, I KNOW
PEOPLE, PEOPLE SAY, SOMEBODY SAID, "OH, PROSPERITY IS ONLY IN
AMERICAN GOSPEL. "THEY LIVE IN THE MOST WEALTHY NATION ON
EARTH." I GO, "NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE." THERE'S PEOPLE IN THE
MOST DESTITUTE COUNTRIES IN AFRICA THAT WHILE THERE WAS NO
CLEAN WATER, BELIEVE GOD, THEY TITHED, THEY SOWED THEIR SEED,
THEY PUT THE WORD TO PRACTICE AND THEY HAD THE BEST CROPS OF
EVERYBODY, THEY HAD CLEAN WATER, THEIR CHILDREN WERE FED, THEIR
BUSINESSES WERE PROSPERING. THE WORD OF GOD WILL WORK NO MATTER
WHERE IT IS. IF YOU TIME, GOD WILL BLESS YOU. SO, YOU KNOW, WE
HAVE TO BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON'T SAY THOSE THINGS, BUT HERE'S THE
REALITY. THIS IS THE CHURCH THAT COULD NOT GET THE WORLD OUT OF
THEM. OKAY, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING NICE THINGS,
BUT DO THEY HAVE YOU? OKAY, GOD KNOWS MY HEART. DO I LIKE A LOT
OF CHRISTMAS TREES? YES. EVERY YEAR I SAY, I'M PUTTING UP,
WHAT, DON'T SAY IT. I'M PUTTING UP ONE, AND THEN HERE WE GO, OH
WAIT, I FORGOT WE HAD THAT ONE. I HAVE TO PUT THAT ONE. GOD
DOESN'T MIND BLESSING YOU. OH, THAT'S TRUE TOO, HALLELUJAH.
HALLELUJAH, AND THEY'RE GETTING CHEAPER THAN THEY EVER USED TO
BE TOO, SWEETHEART. I'M LIKE, MAN, THAT ONE'S ONLY $49. THAT
NEEDS TO COME HOME. HOBBY LOBBY, 50% OFF. OOH, JESUS, WE CAN DO
SOME LOADS IN THERE. IN FACT, WE USED TO, AND SOME OF YOU
REMEMBER, HOBBY LOBBY USED TO BE OVER IN THE PARKING LOT WHERE
PIZZA MACHINE IS. ANYBODY GO BACK THAT FAR? PIZZA MACHINE
WASN'T THERE. THIS IS HOW LONG WE'VE BEEN HERE, PEOPLE. AND IT
WAS OVER THERE, AND PASTOR CHRISTY AND I USED TO GO IN
THERE, AND WE'D BUY CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS FOR LORD OF HOSTS,
OOH. I KIND OF MISS THOSE DAYS, BUT IT'S GOTTEN A LITTLE BIG.
ANYWAY, THE CHURCH WASN'T AS BIG BACK THEN, AND I CAN'T FIT
EVERYTHING IN A CART. THEY NEED TRUCKS NOW, BUT HER AND I USED
TO GO IN, AND WE'D FILL UP THREE CARTS, MAN, FILLED WITH STUFF,
JUST FOR THE LITTLE SANCTUARY WE HAD. IT LOOKED GOOD TOO. AND WE
WOULD GO THROUGH THERE. AND SO ONE DAY WE HAD BEEN, CAME BACK,
AND A LITTLE LADY THAT WORKED IN THERE KNEW US. SHE GOES, "HERE
COME THOSE GIRLS, "DECORATING FOR THE CHURCH." AND SO WE CAME
BACK IN, AND THE CHURCH HAD GROWN BY THIS TIME. I HADN'T
BEEN IN THERE FOREVER. HOBBY LOBBY MOVED OVER THERE. AND SHE
GOES, "I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU GUYS IN A LONG TIME. "ARE YOU STILL
OVER THERE AT THAT CHURCH? "'CAUSE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN COMING
IN TO DECORATE." I SAID, "WELL, NO, WE GOT SOME PEOPLE FOR THAT
NOW, "BUT I'M GONNA BUY SOME STUFF FOR MYSELF "IF I COULD DO
THAT." SO IT WAS REALLY CUTE. BUT ANYWAY, I DON'T KNOW WHY I
SHARED THAT. BUT OH, CHRISTMAS. GOD DOESN'T MIND YOU HAVING
CHRISTMAS TREES, AND HE DOESN'T MIND YOU HAVING NICE STUFF,
RIGHT? BUT DOES THIS STUFF HAVE US? GOD KNOWS MY HEART. I WOULD
GIVE UP ALL OF IT IF IT MEANT I HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN GOD AND
THE THINGS. AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. THIS CHURCH COULD NOT GET THE
WORLD OUT OF 'EM. LET ME READ THIS AND WE'LL CALL IT A NIGHT.
HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANYTHING OUT OF THIS? YOU ENJOYED THIS AT ALL
TONIGHT? AND TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH AT PERGAMOS, RIGHT, THESE
THINGS SAY, "HE THAT HAS A SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD, "I KNOW THY
WORKS AND WHERE YOU DWELL, "EVEN WHERE SATAN'S SEAT IS, AND YOU
HOLD FAST MY NAME." IN OTHER WORDS, THESE PEOPLE, IN THE
MIDDLE OF A VERY WORLDLY EVIL CULTURE, THEY STILL, THEY DIDN'T
DENY JESUS, IT WASN'T THAT. YOU KNOW, I HEAR PEOPLE SAY, WELL,
YOU CAN BE GAY AND BE A CHRISTIAN. OKAY, I MEAN, THEY
HAVE CHURCHES WHERE GAY PEOPLE COME AND THEY CAN BE GAY THERE.
AND YET, AND SO THERE'S EVIL, LIKE EVIL THINGS. AND THOSE
PEOPLE HAVEN'T DENIED THE NAME OF JESUS, THEY STILL CALL HIM
SAVIOR, BUT THEY FORGOT HIS WORD. THEY FORGOT WHAT THE
SCRIPTURES TEACH. THIS WAS THE PROBLEM WITH THE CHURCH OF
PERGAMOS. THEY NEVER LET THE WORLD COME OUT OF THEM. YOU'VE
NEVER DENIED MY NAME. AND EVEN THOSE WHEREIN ANTIPAS WAS MY
FAITHFUL MARTYR WHO WAS SLAIN AMONG YOU WHERE SATAN DWELLS.
BUT I HAVE SOME THINGS AGAINST YOU. YOU HOLD THE DOCTRINE OF
BALAAM. BY THE WAY, THE DOCTRINE OF BALAAM WAS A DOCTRINE THAT
ALLOWED PEOPLE TO ACCEPT LUSTFUL LIFESTYLES, IMMORAL THINGS. THAT
WAS THE DOCTRINE OF BALAAM, SIMILAR TO THE DOCTRINE OF THE
NICOLAITANS. IT WAS A DOCTRINE THAT IT'S OKAY TO BE A CHRISTIAN
AND BE A HOMOSEXUAL. AMEN. IT WAS A DOCTRINE THAT WINKED AT
DIVORCE. I'M NOT SAYING THERE ISN'T A PLACE FOR DIVORCE. GOD,
JESUS TAUGHT ON THAT. HE SAID THAT THERE ARE WRITINGS OF
DIVORCEMENT, BUT IT'S WRONG IF YOU'RE MARRIED TO YOUR WIFE AND
YOU'VE FALLEN OUT OF LOVE WITH HER TO SEE SOMEONE PRETTIER YOU
WANNA BE MARRIED TO AND NOW YOU GO AND FILE FOR DIVORCE JUST SO
YOU CAN BE WITH MISS HOOCHIE OVER THERE. WELL, IT TAKES A
HOOCHIE TO GO WITH THAT. I'M SORRY. IS THAT A BAD WORD? I
DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW. I JUST KNOW IT'S A BAD PERSON THAT
WOULD DIVORCE THEIR SPOUSE JUST 'CAUSE THEY SAW SOMEBODY HOTTER,
OKAY? JUST 'CAUSE THEY'RE UNHAPPY. NO, GET IN THERE AND
WORK OUT YOUR MARRIAGE. TAKE YOUR WIFE TO DINNER FOR ONCE.
VALUE HER. BUT THIS WAS THE DOCTRINES OF BALAAM, THAT THERE
WAS AN EXCUSE AND THEY TWISTED THE SCRIPTURE. AND THAT'S WHY
JESUS HAD TO COME TO THEM WITH THE WORD. ALL RIGHT, I'M ENDING
WITH THIS, I PROMISE. BUT I HAVE A FEW THINGS AGAINST YOU BECAUSE
THOSE THAT HOLD THE DOCTRINE OF BALAAM, WHO TAUGHT BALAK TO CAST
ASSEMBLING BLOCK BEFORE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, TO EAT
THINGS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS AND TO COMMIT FORNICATION. THAT IN
OTHER WORDS, THE WORLD WAS IN THEM. AND YOU ALSO HAVE HOLD
THEM THAT HAVE THE DOCTRINE OF THE NICOLAITANS, SEXUAL
IMMORALITY. AND THAT WAS A DOCTRINE, FOLKS. THINK ABOUT
THAT, A DOCTRINE THAT WAS BEING TAUGHT IN THE PULPITS. REPENT,
AND BY THE WAY, AND IT'S BEING TAUGHT IN PULPITS TODAY. SO
REPENT, NOW HERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH THIS CHURCH. HERE'S A
COUPLE THINGS I WROTE AND WE'RE CLOSED. THIS CHURCH WAS DEVOID
OF GOD'S WORD. CAN I TELL YOU IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT WE COULD
DO RIGHT IN THIS HOUR, AND I WOULDN'T GO TO A CHURCH IF THEY
DIDN'T PREACH FROM THE BIBLE. IF THEY CAN'T READ SOME PASSAGES OF
SCRIPTURE, I WENT BY ONE CHURCH, AND I'M NOT HERE TO BE CRITICAL.
SOME OF THOSE CHURCHES STILL DO THE LITTLE CHURCH SIGNS, AND
THEY PUT THE TOPIC FOR THE WEEK, AND I DROVE BY ONE, AND THIS
WAS, I DON'T KNOW, THIS WAS A LOT OF YEARS AGO, AND THE, OH,
WHAT WAS THE FAMOUS MOVIE THAT WAS OUT? THE HOBBIT, LORD OF THE
RINGS. THAT WAS A BIG ONE. AND THE WHOLE SERMON SERIES WAS
BUILT AROUND THE LORD OF THE RINGS. AND I THOUGHT, REALLY? I
MEAN, THE BOOK IS FILLED WITH WITCHCRAFT, AND I'M NOT BEING
MEAN, BUT THIS WAS THE WORLDLY PERGAMOS CHURCH. I MEAN, SO MUCH
OF WHAT'S OUT THERE IN THE WORLD IS FULL OF THE OCCULT. I DON'T
WANT IT IN MY HOUSE. I DON'T WANNA WATCH SOMETHING, READ A
BOOK, GO TO A MOVIE THAT IS FILLED WITH CASTING OF SPELLS.
THE MAIN CHARACTER IS A SORCERER. YEAH, I HAVE ONE MORE
FOR THAT, DUH. I MEAN, COME ON. SO HERE, THE POINT BEING IS, IF
WE CAN DO ANYTHING RIGHT IN THIS CULTURE, IS WE MUST KNOW GOD'S
WORD. YOU KNOW WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT WITCHCRAFT? HE HATES
WITCHCRAFT. SAUL, THE KING SAUL, LOST HIS KINGDOM SIMPLY BASED ON
THE FACT THAT HE SOUGHT THE WITCH AT ENDOR. WITCHCRAFT IS
EVIL. WE'LL NEVER CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN HERE. WE'RE NOT EVEN,
WE DON'T DO A HARVEST PARTY. I'M SORRY, I'M NOT DOING AN
ALTERNATIVE. WE'RE GONNA TEACH OUR KIDS IT IS EVIL TO DRESS UP
LIKE SOMETHING AND FOLLOW THE PRACTICES OF THE OCCULT. HOW
HARD IS THAT? YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT HARD. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE
TAUGHT OUR BOYS WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG, YOU KNOW, IF THAT COMES
ON TV, BIND IT AND HIT THE REMOTE. OKAY, TELL YOUR KIDS,
HALLOWEEN IS EVIL. YEAH, BUT THEY MIGHT FEEL LEFT OUT AND
THEY WON'T GET ANY CANDY. GO GET HIM SOME CANDY ANOTHER TIME.
OKAY, THEY PROBABLY HAD ENOUGH CANDY ALL YEAR, IT'LL BE FINE,
OKAY? IT'S AMAZING THE THINGS THAT, BUT THIS WAS THE CHURCH OF
THE WORLDLY, WORLDLY CULTURE. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING, GO BACK TO
THE WORD OF GOD. THEY WOULDN'T HAVE FALLEN INTO IT IF THEY JUST
WOULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT'S IN THE BOOK. JESUS SAID THIS, "THE
REWARDS FOR OVERCOMING THE CARNAL SINFUL LIFESTYLE." THAT
IS, IF YOU'RE LIVING IN A SURROUNDED BY A LUSTFUL CULTURE,
AND FOLKS, WE ARE LIVING IN A CULTURE OF LUST AND EVIL NOW. IT
IS, I MEAN, NORMALIZING THE MOST EGREGIOUS THINGS. HE THAT
OVERCOMES, I WILL GIVE MY LIFEGIVING SECRETS. YOU KNOW
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS MAN ON THE FRONT ROW? I'M GONNA SAY IT
AND I'M CLOSING, AND THIS IS, WE'LL CLOSE UP SHOP, AND IF I
FORGOT ANYTHING, I'LL BRING IT UP NEXT WEEK. THIS IS A MAN WHO
SAYS, "GOD, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH." YOU KNOW WHY I BELIEVE HE HEARS
THE SECRETS OF GOD? I MEAN, GENE BAILEY TEXTS US. YOU CAN STAND
TO YOUR FEET WHILE I SAY THIS LAST THING. GENE BAILEY HAD
TEXTED US SUNDAY, I THINK IT WAS. AND AFTER THIS PROPHETIC,
HOW MANY OF YOU WERE HERE SUNDAY WHEN THE PASTOR GAVE THE
PROPHETIC WORD? NOW HE HAD NO CLUE, NOTHING, NOTHING WAS IN
THE NEWS AT THAT POINT. BUT I WATCH HIM ON A REGULAR BASIS
SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, LORD, I WANT YOUR SECRETS. I WANT YOUR, I
WANT TO HEAR WHAT MATTERS TO YOU. I WANT TO KNOW IT. TALK TO
ME ABOUT IT. AND, BUT I ALSO KNOW THIS TO BE A MAN THAT, THAT
WHICH IS WICKED AND EVIL, HE'LL HAVE NO PART OF IT. HE DOESN'T
WANT EVIL, HE DOESN'T WANT WITCHCRAFT, HE DOESN'T WANT TO
WATCH THE WORLD'S PROGRAMS. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE
EVER HARDLY WATCHED A MOVIE, AND I'M NOT TOUTING US. I JUST WANT
TO BE CAREFUL WHAT I PUT IN MY SOUL. 'CAUSE I KNOW IT
EVENTUALLY COMES OUT, AND IT WILL MAKE THE WORD IN YOU, IT'LL
MAKE IT DULL. AND SIX HOURS LATER, GENE BAILEY SENT US A
TEXT AND SAID THE LINK OF WHERE IT HAD COME OUT, THAT THE SENATE
WAS GONNA GET THIS THING AND GET THE GOVERNMENT BACK OPEN. WELL,
HE HAD NO IDEA. BUT JESUS SAID, "IF YOU KEEP THE WORD BEFORE YOU
"AND YOU GET THE WORLD OUT," HE SAID, "I WILL GIVE YOU THE
HIDDEN MANNA." I'LL GIVE YOU THE THING. SOME OF US, THE REASON WE
DON'T HEAR FROM GOD IS MAYBE BECAUSE THERE'S TOO MUCH JUNK
THERE. YOU GET ENOUGH JUNK IN YOU FROM THE WORLD SIDE, THEIR
SHOWS, THEIR PERSPECTIVE, THEIR NEWS, THEIR OPINIONS, OKAY? WE
FOUND OUT HOW MANY OF THEIR OPINIONS, I MEAN, WORLDLY
OPINIONS ARE LIKE NOSES. EVERYBODY'S GOT ONE FULL OF
HOLES. BUT WE GOTTA BE SHARP IN THE WORD. THAT WAS THE CHURCH AT
PERGAMOS. THEY LOST THEIR SHARPNESS BECAUSE THEY NEVER GOT
THE WORLD OUT. SO EPHESUS, PHARISAICAL CHURCH, YOU GET
SOMETHING OUT OF THAT? RIGHT? OKAY, SMYRNA, THE PERSECUTED
CHURCH. WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME PERSECUTION, JANET. THAT'S JUST
GONNA BE PART OF IT. AND THE LAST ONE, PERGAMOS, THEY WERE
THE CHURCH THAT COULDN'T GET THE WORLD OUT OF THEM. SO WE'LL TALK
ABOUT THE NEXT FOUR NEXT WEEK. DID YOU LEARN SOMETHING TONIGHT?
ALL RIGHT, FATHER, BLESS THE PEOPLE. I THANK YOU FOR EVERY
PERSON THAT JOINED ONLINE. PLACE A FRESH ANOINTING ON THEIR LIFE.
I ASK YOU, LORD, AND I THANK YOU, FATHER. I PRAY THAT,
FATHER, THEY WILL TAKE THIS REVELATION OF WHAT I'VE SHARED
IN THESE FEW MOMENTS AND EXPOUND UPON IT AND GROW WITH IT, THAT
WE MIGHT BE BETTER AS THE BODY OF CHRIST AND BE THE BRIDE THAT
YOU'RE COMING BACK FOR WITHOUT SPOT, BLEMISH, OR WRINKLE, AND
WE THANK YOU FOR IT IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN, GIVE PASTOR DOUG
YOUR ATTENTION QUICKLY. THANK YOU. AMEN. WASN'T THAT GREAT?
DON'T FORGET TO BE HERE NEXT WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND BRING
SOMEONE WITH YOU. LET'S PACK THIS PLACE OUT BECAUSE THAT'S A
GREAT, IT'LL BE A GREAT END TO FINISH THAT. AND I DON'T KNOW IF
SHE CAN FINISH IT. IT MIGHT TAKE THREE WEEKS. SO THAT'S GOOD. ONE
QUICK THING. I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU WE STILL HAVE 12
TICKETS, I BELIEVE IS THE NUMBER LEFT. APPROXIMATELY 12 TICKETS
FOR ALL IS MERRY AND BRIGHT, THE MOVIE THAT'S PREMIERING THIS
WEEK. IT'S TOMORROW NIGHT, 6.30 P.M. AT THE ACX THEATER IN
ELKHORN. AND IF YOU WANNA GET YOUR TICKETS, WHEN YOU GET HOME
TONIGHT BEFORE YOU GO TO BED, GO TO THAT QR CODE OR GO TO THE
WEBSITE AND YOU CAN GO UNDER THE EVENTS TAB AND YOU CAN ORDER
YOUR TICKETS AND GET THOSE $12. AND I UNDERSTAND RACHEL'S EVEN
GONNA BE THERE, ONE OF OUR PRODUCT, OH, YOU'RE HERE. YOU'RE
GONNA BE THERE TOMORROW NIGHT GIVING AWAY SOME PRODUCT. SO YOU
MIGHT GO HOME WITH SOME EXTRA PRODUCT IN YOUR HAND AND GET TO
SEE ALL IS MERRY AND BRIGHT, A GOOD CHRISTMAS CLEAN MOVIE
THAT'S ACTUALLY GOT A HEALING IN IT AND GIVES HONOR AND GLORY TO
JESUS CHRIST. SO IT'S GOOD TO SUPPORT THOSE. AND SO DO THAT
AND WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SUNDAY. THANK YOU FOR COMING. HAVE A
WONDERFUL EVENING. GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU ONLINE AUDIENCE.