When Faith Becomes a Transaction: Examining the Danger of Prosperity Theology

[00:00:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
If I never see another day If I never see another smiling face If I never breathe another breath Or take another step I want to say thank you
[00:00:39] If I never speak another word If I never sing another song to be heard If I never see another sight or take another bite I wanna say thank you, thank you for all you've done
[00:01:24] If I never see another day If I never see another smiling face If I never breathe another breath Or take another step I want to say thank you If I never speak another word
[00:01:52] If I never sing another song to be heard If I never take another side or take another bite I want to say thank you Thank you for all you've done Thank you for being the God

[00:02:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
You put food on my table I know you're able I want to say Oh thank you Thank you for being the guy
[00:02:39] You put food on my table I know you're able I want to say thank you
[00:02:55] Thank you for being the God, the God you are.
[00:03:02] You put food on the table, I know you're able.
[00:03:07] I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you.
[00:03:17] Thank you for being the God, the God you are.
[00:03:23] You put food on my table.
[00:03:27] I know you're able.
[00:03:29] I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you.
[00:03:39] I don't know about you but I thank Him, I thank Him, I thank Him for being the God you are.
[00:03:48] I know you're able.
[00:03:51] I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you.
[00:04:01] Thank you for being the God.
[00:04:06] You put food on my table, I know you're able, I want to say Thank you for being the God, Thank you for being the God,
[00:04:28] Thank you for all that you've come to for Thank you for being my God You put food on my table I know you're able I wanna say

[00:05:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
The choir started something else this morning by giving God thanks.
[00:05:20] I'll read a portion of Psalm 100.
[00:05:24] It says, Enter into his gates with thanksgiving.
[00:05:27] So I want to know when you woke up this morning, especially by the time you drove in the parking lot, were you in a thanksgiving mode?
[00:05:36] Amen.
[00:05:37] Thanking God for all he brought us through all week long.
[00:05:42] So many things could have happened.
[00:05:45] I'll say it again.
[00:05:46] So many things could have happened.
[00:05:50] But God spared us.
[00:05:53] And aren't you glad about it?
[00:05:55] Come on, don't fool me now.
[00:05:56] Don't fool me now, alright?
[00:05:57] I believe y'all trying to fool me.
[00:05:59] Are you really thankful this morning?
[00:06:05] And what I learned is thanks and complaining and grumbling can't go together.
[00:06:12] Oh, help me somebody, huh?
[00:06:14] I can only do one.
[00:06:16] So if I'm really thankful, amen somebody, huh?
[00:06:19] I can't complain and grumble.
[00:06:21] Amen.
[00:06:22] So let us do the call to worship.
[00:06:23] O come, let us worship the Lord, and let us bow down before God our Creator.
[00:06:31] He's our Creator, for we are His people, and we ought to act like we are His people.
[00:06:38] Am I right, somebody?
[00:06:40] And we are the sheep of His pasture.
[00:06:42] Amen.
[00:06:43] Let's do the invocation.
[00:06:45] Gracious God our Father we thank you for allowing us to be here this morning as we come we come to worship you in spirit and in truth again we acknowledge your omnipresence but we ask that you would manifest yourself in terms of your Shekinah glory so we invoke oh God your manifest presence to come and fill our hearts and our mind so that everything that we do and say today will be pleasing in your sight you will get the glory and the honor and your people will be blessed
[00:07:14] This we ask in the marvelous matchless name of Jesus who is the Christ we pray.
[00:07:19] Amen.
[00:07:20] Amen.
[00:07:21] And our hymn of praise will be hymn number 266, Oh How I Love Jesus.
[00:07:29] Amen.

[00:07:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Amen.

[00:07:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
There is a name I love to hear I love to hear His word And now I choose it in my ear To sing His name on earth Oh, how I love Jesus
[00:08:13] I know how I love Jesus because He loves me He tells me of the strength He has to set me free He tells me of His word He tells me of His word
[00:08:48] Oh how I love Jesus, love, love, love Jesus because He first loved me
[00:09:24] How I love Jesus!
[00:09:28] Oh, how I love Jesus!
[00:09:34] How I love Jesus!
[00:09:37] He calls me first!
[00:09:51] Amen.

[00:10:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
You may be seated.
[00:10:09] Amen.
[00:10:10] Our scripture lesson this morning, I'm not going to be able to put it up so you have to follow along.
[00:10:16] It's in Philippians, the third chapter.
[00:10:19] That's Philippians, the third chapter.
[00:10:22] verses 1 through 14 and it's the same one that we read last week and I want to make sure because sometimes I read from the NIV I want to make sure I read from the one that you all will be reading from so that we get the same word and the same message so Philippians the third chapter
[00:10:48] verses 1 through 14 reading from the New Living Translation and the scholars has put I think in the NIV version it would say put no confidence in the flesh now you know you know me I believe that's one of the traps of the church we put confidence in what we see what we believe what we think and the Bible said there is no good thing that dwells in the flesh
[00:11:15] And when I say it, don't beat up on me now, I'll just tell you what the word is saying.
[00:11:19] In the book of Jeremiah 17th chapter, I think it's verse 9, it says, The heart is deceitfully wicked, who can know it?
[00:11:27] So what it really is saying, I don't know all that was in this thing.
[00:11:32] So, oh Lord have mercy, I'm getting in trouble.
[00:11:34] So when people say, God knows my heart, I usually say, you got that right.
[00:11:40] Amen.
[00:11:41] He knows, but we don't always know what's in there.
[00:11:44] Amen, somebody?
[00:11:45] I'm going to tell you the truth.
[00:11:46] So, you know, that's not a negative to what they're saying, how much we need him.
[00:11:51] All right, anyway, so let's read from Philippians, the third chapter, verses 1 through 14 from the New Living Translation, the one I have entitled that the scholars put the priceless value of knowing Christ.
[00:12:07] Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord.
[00:12:11] I never get tired of telling you these things.
[00:12:16] I do it to safeguard your faith.
[00:12:20] Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved.
[00:12:31] For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised.
[00:12:38] We rely, here's the point, we rely on what Christ has done for us.
[00:12:43] That's all the Bible is trying to say.
[00:12:44] We rely on what Christ, not us.
[00:12:48] Everybody clear on that?
[00:12:49] Alright, let's move on.
[00:12:53] We put no confidence in human effort.
[00:12:57] Though I could have confidence in my own effort, if anyone could.
[00:13:03] Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more.
[00:13:10] I was circumcised when I was eight days old.
[00:13:14] I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin, a real Hebrew.
[00:13:23] If there ever was one, I was a member of the Pharisees who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.
[00:13:33] I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church, and as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.
[00:13:44] I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of that which Christ has done.
[00:13:53] Yes, everything else is worthless when compared to the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
[00:14:03] For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage.
[00:14:10] So that I could gain Christ and become one with Him, I no longer count my own efforts righteousness through obeying the law.
[00:14:24] Rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.
[00:14:28] For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith.
[00:14:34] I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.
[00:14:42] I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death so that
[00:14:48] And so that one way or another, I will experience the resurrection from the dead.
[00:14:55] The word of God for the people of God.
[00:14:58] Oh, I didn't finish reading.
[00:14:59] Y'all tried to trick me, didn't you?
[00:15:01] Amen.
[00:15:01] I got to watch you.
[00:15:01] Pay close attention to verse 12.
[00:15:04] That's because the scholars entered the paragraph right there.
[00:15:06] So now I got to pick on the other part.
[00:15:09] So this is really where our theme comes from.
[00:15:13] I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection.
[00:15:20] I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.
[00:15:28] No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing, forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.
[00:15:40] I press on to reach the end of the race and to receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
[00:15:51] Now the word of God, for the people of God.
[00:15:54] Thanks be unto God.
[00:15:56] Amen.
[00:15:57] And don't y'all forget the Apostle's Creed like y'all been forgetting these past Sundays.
[00:16:02] Amen.
[00:16:02] Gonna pray for y'all.
[00:16:03] Amen.
[00:16:04] Amen.
[00:16:04] I got to pray for the whole church.
[00:16:07] Amen.
[00:16:07] Okay, but mama, you gonna pray for us?
[00:16:09] Okay, alrighty.
[00:16:11] I think I'll just make me a seat here in the choir.
[00:16:15] Want to sit down?
[00:16:15] Oh, yeah.
[00:16:16] Okay, yeah.
[00:16:17] You're a member of the choir.
[00:16:18] Y'all take a picture.
[00:16:21] Oh, yes, sir.
[00:16:27] Mama, did you hear?

[00:16:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]:
Okay.
[00:16:34] Precious Father, in the name of Jesus, Lord, we come this morning, we thank you for all you have done for us.
[00:16:41] You woke us up this morning, closed in our right mind.
[00:16:45] Activities of our limbs, God.
[00:16:47] And we come to the house of the Lord to worship and give you glory and to give you praise.
[00:16:53] We come committing ourselves unto you today.
[00:16:56] Oh God, we lay everything at the altar.
[00:16:59] O God, we are calling on your holy and righteous name.
[00:17:03] We ask you, O God, to forgive us of our wrongdoing and our accusations, O God, and our thought patterns.
[00:17:10] Cleanse us and wash us and we repent, God.
[00:17:13] Ask your mercy in Jesus' name.
[00:17:16] Stretch out your significant hand, God.
[00:17:18] We bring these requests before you, those that are sick,
[00:17:22] In the bodies, O God, those that need healing, God, because you're the Lord God that heals all matters of the season.
[00:17:31] And we ask you right now to bring your, throw your power in the midst, God.
[00:17:36] We believe you, O God, because nothing you won't do, O God.
[00:17:41] But we got to trust and believe your word.
[00:17:43] Help us to lay aside everything, O God, at your feet, God.
[00:17:50] We thank you.
[00:17:52] For all your benefits, Lord, we thank you for your blood.
[00:17:56] We know there's power in the blood of Jesus.
[00:17:59] One that's working power, that moves all stains, that takes away all guilt, Lord.
[00:18:06] We thank you this morning.
[00:18:09] We thank you.
[00:18:11] Without you we can't make it, but we can make it through you, O God.
[00:18:16] Build up our beholden faith in you more and more.
[00:18:19] Help us to believe your word and stand on the promises of your word, God.
[00:18:24] Heaven and earth will pass away, but your word will stand forever.
[00:18:29] O God, and we're standing on the promises.
[00:18:32] O God, we thank you.
[00:18:34] We give glory, we give honor unto you.
[00:18:37] Oh God, we thank you.
[00:18:39] We thank you for the pastor.
[00:18:41] We thank you what you're doing in his life continually.
[00:18:45] Strengthen him, oh God, undergird him.
[00:18:47] God, we thank you.
[00:18:49] Hallelujah, glory to your name.
[00:18:52] Thank you for First Lady.
[00:18:54] Continue touching her body.
[00:18:56] Bring healing, God.
[00:18:58] In Jesus' name, we thank you.
[00:19:03] Because you've been so good, so good, so good to us all, God.
[00:19:08] We ask you to look down on us, oh God.
[00:19:11] Look on the choir and continue to anoint them afresh.
[00:19:14] Strengthen them, oh God.
[00:19:15] Hallelujah.
[00:19:17] Continue to anoint them afresh.
[00:19:18] Oh God, the instruments, God, we thank you.
[00:19:22] We thank you for the body of Christ.
[00:19:24] We thank you for Seals Creek.
[00:19:26] Continue work the work that need to be done in us, oh God, because we're calling on you.
[00:19:33] We're knocking at your door, God, and you want to open up to us, oh God.
[00:19:37] Help us, oh God, to call on you while you is near, God.
[00:19:42] Forsake our ways.
[00:19:44] Thank you for wisdom, more of your wisdom, more of your knowledge, oh God, in Jesus' name.
[00:19:51] We thank you.
[00:19:53] We thank you!
[00:19:54] Hallelujah!
[00:19:55] Oh God, send out your anointing that makes the difference.
[00:20:00] It destroys the yokes.
[00:20:04] Hallelujah, glory to your name.
[00:20:07] Oh God, have your way this day.
[00:20:09] Continue this day, oh God, because we can't make it without you.
[00:20:14] Because we need you as never, never before.
[00:20:17] Oh God, we give you the glory.
[00:20:19] All the honor belongs to you.
[00:20:21] Because we take no credit for nothing.
[00:20:24] Oh God, we thank you.
[00:20:26] Oh God, look on those that are in the hospital.
[00:20:29] Touch right now, God.
[00:20:31] Oh God, those in the nursing home.
[00:20:34] Touch right now, God.
[00:20:36] Bring healing, God.
[00:20:38] Oh God, in the name of Jesus.
[00:20:40] Because you is the answer for the world today.
[00:20:43] You are in control of everything.
[00:20:46] Oh God, you let and you hinder.
[00:20:49] Oh God, we thank you.
[00:20:51] Hallelujah.
[00:20:53] We won't fail to give all the glory.
[00:20:55] We take no credit, no honor for nothing.
[00:20:58] We acknowledge you in all our ways that you continue to direct our path because we need your direction.
[00:21:06] We need your wisdom.
[00:21:07] We need your knowledge and your understanding.
[00:21:11] We won't fail to give glory to you.
[00:21:14] We ask in your son Jesus' name and the church say amen.

[00:21:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Amen.
[00:21:21] Amen.
[00:21:22] Let us stand for the affirmation of faith by use of the Apostles' Creed.
[00:21:29] Amen.
[00:21:29] I trust we would all remember what it is.
[00:21:32] I believe in God the Father Almighty, the maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, the only Son of our Lord.
[00:21:43] who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.
[00:21:50] The third day he rose from the dead.
[00:21:52] He ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
[00:21:57] From then shall come the church to quicken the dead.
[00:22:00] I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
[00:22:10] Amen.
[00:22:11] Amen.
[00:22:11] You may be seated and we will give you another selection.
[00:22:15] Amen.
[00:22:15] We gonna give you another selection.
[00:22:17] Oh, y'all got that.

[00:22:42] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.

[00:23:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Standing here Not knowing how we'll get through this test But holding on to faith you know best Nothing can catch you by surprise You've got this figured out And you're watching us now
[00:23:51] When it looks as if we can win You wrap us in Your arms and step in And everything we need You supply You've got this in control And now we know You, You made a way
[00:24:21] When our backs were against the wall And it looked as if it was over you You made a way And we're standing here Only because you made a way And now we're here
[00:24:52] Looking back home where we've come from Because of you and nothing we've done To deserve the love and mercy you've shown But your grace was strong enough to pick us up And you, you made a way when our backs were
[00:25:23] And it looked as if the Lord you had led away And we're standing here
[00:25:50] You cause walls to fall with your power before a miracle and there is nothing that's impossible and we're standing here only because you made you move You cause walls
[00:26:20] Perform miracles There is nothing That's impossible And we're standing here Only because You move You cause what's to come With your power Perform miracles
[00:26:47] There is nothing that's impossible, and we're standing here, only because of you.
[00:27:13] You made a way Help me sing You made a You made a way You made a You made a way You made a You made a Don't know how but you did it Don't know how but you did it You made a way You made a
[00:27:45] I don't know how but you did it I don't know how but you did it I don't know how but you keep on doing it for me I don't know how but you keep on doing it for me And I don't know why
[00:28:16] I don't know why you keep on doing it for me I don't know why I'm so undeserving And I don't know why over and over and over
[00:28:44] Over and over and over Over and over and over Over and over and over Over and over and over Over and over and over Over and over and over You sing, you sing He keeps on doing it He keeps on doing it He keeps on blessing me
[00:29:14] He keeps on blessing me Over and over and over Over and over and over Over and over and over It's so sweet To trust in Jesus Just to take Him at His word Over and over and over Over and over and over
[00:29:46] The Lord I thank you The Lord I praise you Over and over and over And I know that you You made a way When our backs were
[00:30:16] Alleluia!
[00:30:24] Alleluia!
[00:30:25] Alleluia!

[00:30:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
It's alright to praise God.
[00:30:52] Amen.

[00:30:54] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Hallelujah!

[00:30:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
No matter what, Lord!
[00:30:56] Hallelujah!
[00:30:57] Amen.

[00:30:58] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Hallelujah, God!
[00:31:02] Hallelujah!
[00:31:03] Hallelujah!

[00:31:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Hallelujah!
[00:31:05] Amen.
[00:31:05] God is worthy to be praised.
[00:31:09] He's worthy of our worship.
[00:31:12] He's worthy of our obedience.
[00:31:14] And everything that He's called and asked us to do.
[00:31:18] With His people.
[00:31:20] And sometimes I teach a lot on, I'm not convinced, and I put myself in this, we understand what I call the deprivation of sin.
[00:31:33] Sin made us totally depraved.
[00:31:37] In other words, I cannot on my own think a good thought.
[00:31:41] Not to me is good.
[00:31:43] And to you it may be good, but not in the mind of God.
[00:31:47] I'm not convinced the church is bought into that.
[00:31:50] I really believe we think we're good without God.
[00:31:56] And the Bible says 100% opposite.
[00:31:58] And our church captured those thoughts in our doctrine to make us understand how much we need Jesus.
[00:32:05] You're saved by grace.
[00:32:07] Okay, does not the Bible say there are none righteous, no not one?
[00:32:10] Come on somebody, does it not say that?
[00:32:12] There are none righteous, no not one.
[00:32:17] All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
[00:32:22] There's no one that measures up.
[00:32:25] To the standard of God.
[00:32:27] So I always say grace is this.
[00:32:29] This is where I am.
[00:32:30] Let's say God made me to be up here.
[00:32:32] But I'm right here.
[00:32:34] Grace fills in the gap.
[00:32:35] See, God never changed his standard.
[00:32:39] Grace just fill in the gap from where I am to where he called me to be.
[00:32:45] So grace put me up here.
[00:32:46] So when God look at me, he look at me up here, but in actuality I'm down here.
[00:32:52] So that's why I can give him praise because he places me where I don't deserve.
[00:32:58] So God count us as righteous and holy even though we're a long ways from it on our own.
[00:33:12] That's why we thank him so much.
[00:33:16] Huh?
[00:33:16] What if I start thinking I'm all of that in a bag of chip and a pickle and a boiled egg and all that stuff?
[00:33:24] Okay, let's get away from that.
[00:33:26] Will y'all do something about this choir for starting this stuff every Sunday?
[00:33:30] They're going to bring them up on charges, amen?
[00:33:32] They're like Michael Jackson.
[00:33:33] They want to be starting something every Sunday.
[00:33:36] I don't know what we're going to do with them.
[00:33:40] Amen.
[00:33:40] Let them sing every Sunday.
[00:33:42] That's what we're going to do with them.
[00:33:43] Can we give God some praise?
[00:33:48] Some people say it just to be saying it, but I'm saying it because I mean it.
[00:33:54] Amen.
[00:33:55] What an awesome job Sunday in and Sunday out.
[00:33:59] If they mess up, don't y'all tell me, all right?
[00:34:03] Y'all keep that in your rehearsal.
[00:34:07] I'm giving them credit, go up here.
[00:34:09] The musician, the president, he said, well, they're down here, pastor.
[00:34:14] But I don't know that, amen?
[00:34:15] So I'm giving them grace, but awesome jobs Sunday in and Sunday out.
[00:34:19] I don't take what you do for granted.
[00:34:21] I really don't.
[00:34:22] Amen.
[00:34:22] Our wonderful musicians.
[00:34:24] Amen.
[00:34:25] So dedicated.
[00:34:26] You know.
[00:34:27] And we need to usher today.
[00:34:30] Amen.
[00:34:31] Usher is what you do.
[00:34:32] Standing at the door of the Lord to make sure there's order and decorum.
[00:34:37] Everything is important in the church.
[00:34:39] I don't ever want anyone to think you have a menial job.
[00:34:43] Now society may look at it that way.
[00:34:46] We may even do it in the church.
[00:34:48] But that doesn't mean it's not important.
[00:34:50] Huh?
[00:34:51] Let somebody not clean the restroom.
[00:34:53] Help me somebody, huh?
[00:34:56] Amen.
[00:34:56] You'll see how important it is.
[00:34:57] Amen.
[00:34:58] So there's nothing, everything is honorable in God's sight.
[00:35:03] There's nothing mean to y'all.
[00:35:05] You're not just a, that's why you don't hear me say it like that.
[00:35:08] I can't.
[00:35:09] You are somebody in God's eyes.
[00:35:12] Now society will always try to have big eyes and little ears.
[00:35:16] and make some people more important than others.
[00:35:18] That's why there are no celebrities in my eyes.
[00:35:20] I really mean that.
[00:35:22] I don't care who they are.
[00:35:24] You are much of a celebrity than anybody else for that matter.
[00:35:28] So I don't care who they are.
[00:35:29] They're so-and-so.
[00:35:33] Huh?
[00:35:34] Y'all want to talk to me?
[00:35:35] I know when people don't want to talk to me, so you just move on.
[00:35:38] Am I right about it?
[00:35:39] So anyway, so audio tech team, amen.
[00:35:43] Sunday school teachers and everybody, Lottie, Dottie, Roddy, Marty, and everybody.
[00:35:52] Amen.
[00:35:53] Okay, now let us see.
[00:35:55] Y'all got me all keyed in prayer.
[00:35:58] Holy God, our Father, your manservant, come in this most sacred moment to impart the word of life into
[00:36:03] Lord please dismiss and dislodge any and everything unlike you and I beg you to bring me the complete auction and utterance of your spirit so the word will be of you and not of me so speak Lord then consecrate our ears and hearts so we will receive the word and apply it to our daily lives so you glorify Christ magnify the church edify the world evangelize and again we know Satan is already horrified this we ask in Jesus name Amen
[00:36:30] And you do find examples of Satan being horrified in Scripture.
[00:36:34] You're not going to find me giving Satan credit for what Satan cannot do.
[00:36:38] Every time someone says, Satan, I rebuke you.
[00:36:40] I promise you, all that mess ain't Satan.
[00:36:42] Satan don't have that much authority, that much power.
[00:36:45] We give him that, but he doesn't have it.
[00:36:47] And Satan wants it, and that's a form of idolatry, because he wants us to think he's more than he is.
[00:36:54] But he's not.
[00:36:56] That's why I keep saying, Satan can't touch our bodies.
[00:37:00] or let God give him permission.
[00:37:02] Help me somebody, huh?
[00:37:03] Satan don't have authority to walk in our lives.
[00:37:07] You know, my car won't crank and I ain't put no gas in it.
[00:37:09] I rebuke Satan.
[00:37:11] I need to rebuke myself for not putting gas in my car.
[00:37:16] Okay, let me leave that alone, y'all.
[00:37:17] Okay, hold on.
[00:37:19] What I did was something this morning and it's kind of like a slight detour but not a detour.
[00:37:27] The theme is living the high-impact life.
[00:37:32] But I think it's important to kind of redirect, if you will, or refocus on some things that I think are fundamental to our walk with God and how God set up his kingdom.
[00:37:46] Now, I know I'm not, I promise you I'm not the only one.
[00:37:49] What I'm saying, I am going to teach it, but there's so much mess out there.
[00:37:54] And that's because most people
[00:37:57] that I'm aware of just go by cliches and phrases we've heard others say and have not researched it out to study for ourselves to know what God is saying and that has always been the case so it's nothing new and you just study for yourself so you know and understand
[00:38:24] You should know the word, at least the letter of the word, as well as I know it.
[00:38:29] Come on somebody, huh?
[00:38:31] So that if I say something wrong, you should know.
[00:38:45] So this morning I want to deal with the ballers in our court.
[00:38:52] So often in church,
[00:38:55] And it's everywhere.
[00:38:56] I'm not dealing with Seals Creek.
[00:38:57] I'm talking about them generalizing.
[00:39:00] I wonder if people think sometimes I'm anti-stuff.
[00:39:04] Well, I am anti-mess.
[00:39:07] And I should be.
[00:39:10] But I want to start off by saying, first of all, God has what I call two types of children.
[00:39:16] Created and redeemed.
[00:39:22] And he wants there to be a difference
[00:39:26] between His created children and His redeemed children.
[00:39:31] Or maybe I should have said His redeemed children and His created children.
[00:39:36] We are children of the light.
[00:39:39] We may be going through the same thing, but we are able to handle it differently.
[00:39:46] Got me somebody, huh?
[00:39:49] God want to uptight and mad like the world would get, although we may go through the same thing.
[00:39:56] He want us to have assurance that He has our back and I'm not worried about how it's going to turn out because I already know how it's going to turn out.
[00:40:13] See, we wonder when we have the assurance, but then we sing the song, Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine.
[00:40:25] Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine.
[00:40:30] Did we sing it?
[00:40:36] So much of what we hear is what God is going to do.
[00:40:41] And my point is, he's done it.
[00:40:45] The ball is in our court.
[00:40:50] And what people are saying to us is, well, do this and do that and God's going to bless you.
[00:40:57] And I say, wrong!
[00:40:58] That's not the way he set it up.

[00:41:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
He gave us his word and my obedience to his word will determine the outcome of my life.

[00:41:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
For example,
[00:41:12] We know it's true in the natural.
[00:41:15] Your brother Stacy gives me directions to get to Statesville.
[00:41:22] And he said, let's just take the easy route.
[00:41:25] I know I can go another way, but let's go this route.
[00:41:28] He said, when you leave the church, turn right on Bradshaw.
[00:41:33] And you get down to Mooresville Road or 150, turn left.
[00:41:37] And take that all the way into UC 77 North.
[00:41:41] And I do this.
[00:41:42] All the opposite of what you said.
[00:41:45] Then I say, this is a bad direction.
[00:41:51] You told me how to get there.
[00:41:54] My job is to follow the direction that you gave me and I will arrive at the destination that I'm trying to get to.
[00:42:00] Am I right?
[00:42:01] All I'm saying, church, is that God has promised you.
[00:42:04] He has given us His Word.
[00:42:06] He said, do this and do this and you will arrive.
[00:42:10] What we are hearing now is what God wants you to just give us some praise.
[00:42:15] And you're going to get it.

[00:42:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
That's a lie from hell.
[00:42:18] He said, follow my direction and you will get there.
[00:42:23] Give and it shall be given to you.
[00:42:26] Press down, shut it together, run it over and pour it into your life.
[00:42:30] Isn't that not the word?
[00:42:31] But if I just tell folks, just give them some praise and God's going to send you some money, that's a lie.
[00:42:37] I better learn how to give for the month of power that I have.

[00:42:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
When the word is so simple, you tell me how to make a cake and put the flour in and then the eggs and milk, whatever, you know, all that stuff like that.
[00:43:02] And I would put all the other stuff in, put it in the oven, then put flour on it afterwards.
[00:43:08] After I put it in the oven.
[00:43:11] Then I said, this is a mess.
[00:43:13] Why is it a mess?
[00:43:14] Because I didn't follow the instruction.
[00:43:17] Help me somebody, huh?

[00:43:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
I can pray, I can pray all day long, I can come to church, I can work in the church all day, but until I follow the direction and the instruction, I would, the cake would not turn out right.
[00:43:35] God has given us His Word.
[00:43:38] And I need to learn the Word of God so I can get the results that God intends for us to get.

[00:43:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
I know that's very simple.
[00:43:50] See, Satan don't want us to know that.
[00:43:53] Now, you can go there if you got the time.
[00:43:57] I keep teaching.
[00:43:59] And not me, it's in the Word.
[00:44:02] Satan come to set himself up in the church.
[00:44:06] See, the church so busy pointing out there, not knowing he seeks to come in here and set himself up as God.

[00:44:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
That's why people do what they do.
[00:44:24] Because they'll think they're worshiping God all the time Satan has set himself up in the church of God.

[00:44:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
I didn't write it.
[00:44:35] 2 Corinthians 11 chapter verses 14 and 15.
[00:44:40] Well, I started verse 13.
[00:44:42] For such people are false prophets, false apostles, deceitful workers masquerading as apostles of Christ, and no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.
[00:45:00] See, Lucifer, morning star,
[00:45:06] That's why you're able to trick people with light.
[00:45:09] We get into the different names we call him for a reason.
[00:45:13] Satan, the devil, you know, a real name is Lucifer, which he was an angel of light.
[00:45:21] And that's why you're able to trick people with deceptive light.
[00:45:26] So you got to know what the name means.
[00:45:30] When the Bible says Satan or the devil, what is he talking about?
[00:45:34] What characteristics or what is his deception?
[00:45:38] How is he deceiving us?
[00:45:40] So he come to the church and masquerade as an angel of light.

[00:45:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Yeah, he'll put on a robe like I have on.
[00:45:47] He'll wear a collar.

[00:45:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
He'll wear anything that triggers.
[00:46:00] That's why the Bible tells us to be careful.
[00:46:03] And he gives us the characteristics of true leadership versus false leadership.
[00:46:09] Come on somebody, huh?
[00:46:10] So if I don't know the word, I'll treat them.
[00:46:13] Oh Lord, I'm going to get into trouble.
[00:46:14] So here's what churches do.
[00:46:15] Let's say they get messed up by one pastor, the next pastor is going to catch hell.
[00:46:21] Huh?
[00:46:21] I know I'm right about it, huh?
[00:46:23] Because they can't tell the difference, so we're going to make sure this one don't take advantage of it like the last one did, and I'll mistreat this one because I can't tell the true one from the false one.
[00:46:32] Come on, sir, I know I'm right about it, huh?
[00:46:34] And if I'm not careful, I'll treat the false one right, and I'll treat the true one wrong.

[00:46:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Same thing with pastors.
[00:46:44] They'll do it to churches.
[00:46:46] If I don't know a true church, I'll treat the true church like a bad church and the right church like a good church.

[00:46:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
I mean the bad church like a good church and the good church like a bad church.
[00:46:57] It can go for anybody.
[00:47:00] So I got to understand the ball is in our court.
[00:47:06] When Jesus made it clear it is finished where he was saying my work is done,
[00:47:11] What does he mean?
[00:47:12] Father, I have given them revelation of your word and I have proved to them that your word is true.
[00:47:21] I have shined the light in their lives so that they can see the true and living God versus the false God.
[00:47:34] And on a side note, the church
[00:47:41] It's called to address these crazy issues that's going on in our nation now.
[00:47:51] Church, I keep saying, don't be surprised here if we end back up in slavery.
[00:48:03] Satan, the Bible says you got to understand Satan, he's going to foothold.
[00:48:08] Get a foot in the door.
[00:48:10] Come on somebody, huh?
[00:48:11] He'll make it worm his way all the way through.
[00:48:15] Think about what's going on.
[00:48:17] From the Department of Defense to defend ourselves, to the Department of War, we're going to be the aggressors.
[00:48:28] And proving that.
[00:48:31] Okay, y'all don't want to talk to me.
[00:48:31] This don't belong in the church.
[00:48:33] Where else does it belong but in the church of the living God?

[00:48:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
And the truth has never been about Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
[00:48:42] It's always been dealing with the true issues.

[00:48:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Read Jeremiah and Isaiah, and especially Jeremiah, what got him in so much trouble with the kings of Israel.
[00:48:56] That's why he was called the weeping prophet.

[00:49:00] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Huh?

[00:49:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Because he dealt with the issues of what was going on in the world.
[00:49:04] The prophet had always had to deal with the issues in the world.
[00:49:07] Can I tell y'all the truth?
[00:49:09] What really was going on, even the priests, that's quoting the pastors now, embraced a lot of the mess that was going on.
[00:49:18] Do you not know the church has sanctioned the evils of this nation?
[00:49:22] The church sanctioned slavery?
[00:49:25] Where we been?
[00:49:32] Let me just get on with it.
[00:49:33] Those are little side points.
[00:49:34] Now let me get to the point and close out.
[00:49:39] Jesus said to Peter, when he said, you know, when he asked him, who do people say that I am?
[00:49:45] It was on the Baptist, Elijah, one of the other prophets, whatever.
[00:49:49] Who do you say I am?
[00:49:50] Now, remember what we're teaching, what Paul is saying in this text.
[00:49:55] Paul said, I want to know Christ.
[00:49:59] Now, I'm sorry, I got to teach it.
[00:50:01] He didn't say, I want to know Jesus.
[00:50:03] I want to know Christ.
[00:50:08] And I got to understand what's in the context of knowing Christ.
[00:50:14] This is not heresy.
[00:50:16] This is serious stuff.
[00:50:18] I want to know Christ.
[00:50:22] And the other version would say, and the power of the resurrection.
[00:50:29] Can I give you another thing that Paul said?
[00:50:30] Paul said, I'm preaching today, Paul said, I want to take hold of Christ for that which you took hold of me.
[00:50:38] In other words, Christ grabbed me and said, Meriwether, I want to take you over here.
[00:50:45] What Paul is saying, Meriwether, wrap your arm around Christ like he's wrapped his arm around you.
[00:50:53] Come on somebody, huh?
[00:50:55] See, if I don't wrap around him, that means there's wiggle room for me not to follow him.
[00:51:01] But lock on to Christ like Christ has locked on to me.

[00:51:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Now Christ gonna take me where God is trying to take me to.

[00:51:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
See, it's not hard.
[00:51:16] And Paul said, not that I will tame all of this.
[00:51:21] Listen, all of us got flaws.
[00:51:25] You don't believe that?
[00:51:25] Ask your spouse.
[00:51:28] Ask your children.
[00:51:29] Ask your parents.
[00:51:32] Amen, somebody.
[00:51:34] Ask your siblings.
[00:51:36] Amen.
[00:51:37] Because if anybody see man, I don't know what's wrong with them, pray for them.
[00:51:42] But we all got flaws.
[00:51:44] So Paul said, I'm not there, and I'm getting into my future sermon, but he said, but one thing I do, that's what we talked about last week, I forget what is past, because nobody can change that.
[00:51:56] If I was a rascal in the past, I was just a rascal in the past.
[00:52:02] I can't change my rascalless.
[00:52:05] Is that a word?
[00:52:08] We'll add one in, we'll add it to the web.
[00:52:11] Make it one.
[00:52:12] I can't change my rascowness.

[00:52:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
If I was a rascal, I would say I was a rascal.
[00:52:17] I can't change that.
[00:52:19] But that has nothing to do with today and tomorrow.
[00:52:23] I can't change my ways.

[00:52:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
That's all God is saying.
[00:52:28] Forget it, because you can't change it anyway.
[00:52:31] And don't let anybody hold you to your past.
[00:52:40] This is scripture.
[00:52:40] This is true preaching.
[00:52:44] I know what they say to make people shout and all of that.
[00:52:48] All you got to do is start talking about what he done for you.
[00:52:50] He woke you up this morning, started you on your way.
[00:52:53] But then I say he woke up the dog hogs and the frogs.
[00:52:58] You know.
[00:52:59] And he gave them food too.
[00:53:01] Huh?
[00:53:02] Amen somebody.
[00:53:03] He feed the mosquitoes and the gnats and the skunks and all of them.
[00:53:08] Really.
[00:53:09] Now we all should be thankful, but that doesn't mean I'm saved.
[00:53:14] Because I drive a car and my neighbor might have a better car than I have.
[00:53:18] That doesn't mean I'm getting the blessings of God or the just created blessing.
[00:53:22] It rains on the unjust as well as the just.

[00:53:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Everybody gets blessings from God.
[00:53:29] But what do I get that is a deeper line, a deeper occasion?
[00:53:33] Because I'm a child of God.

[00:53:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Do I have peace in my life in spite of what's going on in my life?
[00:53:45] Amen somebody.
[00:53:47] Do I have assurance about tomorrow?
[00:53:50] Am I worried about it?
[00:53:51] Like I would tell you that somebody said something to me about pastoring and why I had to stress.
[00:53:56] I wonder what stress?
[00:53:58] I'm serious about it.
[00:53:59] What?

[00:54:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
How can I allow myself to be stressful for that which God has called me to?

[00:54:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
See, stress comes when I'm trying to change other circumstances or people that I cannot change.
[00:54:17] Help me somebody, huh?

[00:54:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
That's not my calling.
[00:54:21] My job is to preach the unadulterated Word of God and live as best as I can before you.

[00:54:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
That's my job.
[00:54:32] So I don't have to get stressed out because of what you do or you don't do.
[00:54:36] God gets to focus on doing what I'm called to do.
[00:54:40] Teach you, encourage you, yes, all of that's my job.
[00:54:44] But if you don't do it, you just don't do it.
[00:54:47] No point in me being mad about it.
[00:54:49] Me being mad not going to make you do it.
[00:54:51] In fact, if you know folks, they really won't do it just because they know you're mad about it.
[00:54:57] I know I'm right about that.
[00:54:59] They'll show you I'm not going to do it.
[00:55:02] Amen.
[00:55:02] I know I'm right all by myself.
[00:55:05] But I'm just saying, let me just get to the bottom.
[00:55:07] So what I'm saying is, God has already given us his promises.
[00:55:10] Let me give you one for a quick, Deuteronomy 28th chapter.
[00:55:12] You hear me quote that one a lot.
[00:55:15] So the Lord said, if you will fully obey me, then I'm going to tell you how you're going to bless your cattle, your dogs, and everything you got going to be blessed.
[00:55:24] He said, but if you if, it's a conditional.
[00:55:26] So he gave us his word, if you fully obey me, the blessings are already yours.

[00:55:32] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.

[00:55:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
If you fully obey me and keep my commandment.
[00:55:36] So we go on down to the end and say, well, God said you're the head and not the tail.
[00:55:41] You're the top and not the bottom.
[00:55:43] You should lend to many and borrow from none.
[00:55:46] But I don't teach you that God shall obey his word.
[00:55:50] So if I want my household to be blessed, just keep God's word and the household is blessed.
[00:55:59] Come on somebody, huh?
[00:56:00] But if I don't keep his word, the household is not blessed.
[00:56:06] That's why I say the ball is in our court.
[00:56:11] That's why a lot of folk don't get stuff done.
[00:56:12] This is what amazes me, y'all.
[00:56:14] The church continues to decline as a general rule, especially in the United States.
[00:56:19] Continues to decline.
[00:56:22] Huh?
[00:56:22] Less influence in the world, but we got it going on in the church.

[00:56:29] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Huh?

[00:56:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
We have no real political voice.
[00:56:33] Come on somebody, huh?
[00:56:34] They don't give of what we say.
[00:56:36] They don't care.
[00:56:38] And there used to be a time if we could do what God wanted us to do, God would flip the script and the voice of the church would count in the world.
[00:56:45] I know I'm right about it, huh?
[00:56:47] But when the voice of the church means nothing to people at all, that should let them know that something is wrong.
[00:56:53] Well, we're having a good time in church.
[00:56:55] Well, yeah, we should have a good time in church, but we got to deal with the issues of everyday life.
[00:57:01] That's what I'm trying to say.
[00:57:03] and the church is the light of the world.
[00:57:06] Amen, somebody.
[00:57:08] Who you think helped got us out of slavery?
[00:57:12] It was the church.
[00:57:20] We fought the fight.
[00:57:23] Do you know the Amazigh church got the nickname the Freedom Church?
[00:57:27] Do you know why?
[00:57:32] Huh?
[00:57:35] See, this is serious stuff.
[00:57:38] They understood the gospel to mean to fight the cause of justice for everybody.
[00:57:46] The church.
[00:57:48] Bishop Wall says in his book, On the Reality of the Black Church, when no other place could be had or found to hold an anti-slavery meeting, everybody knew that Zion was available.

[00:58:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
When everybody was afraid
[00:58:05] To have the anti-slavery meeting in their churches, Zion said, our doors are always open!
[00:58:14] Because we understood the gospel of Jesus Christ is to liberate every soul!

[00:58:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
That's why you got Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and so many others.
[00:58:33] Huh?
[00:58:33] Because they led the fight.
[00:58:35] And you know Harriet?
[00:58:36] Y'all seen the movie Harriet?
[00:58:38] Bad sister, am I right?
[00:58:41] I believe that was a miracle she experienced.
[00:58:42] I really do.
[00:58:44] I believe she heard from God.
[00:58:46] That's what she would tell me.
[00:58:47] According to the movie, that she heard from God.
[00:58:50] God would direct her by herself.
[00:58:53] She went, what, a hundred miles or whatever to freedom, whatever the distance was, but all by herself.
[00:59:00] And so when she got to freedom, the man asked her, where are the others?
[00:59:03] And she said, there are no others.
[00:59:04] I came by myself.
[00:59:07] She said, God showed me the way.

[00:59:10] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
When they were out there in the water, it looked like they were going to drown.

[00:59:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
All of a sudden, she started walking up here, and the water never reached her head.
[00:59:20] It got to her neck, but never over her head.
[00:59:24] Let me close out.
[00:59:27] He's given us his promises.
[00:59:30] They're sure and they're eternal.
[00:59:32] If I want God's blessing, know what he's promised and do it.
[00:59:37] Can I go old school on you?
[00:59:38] Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
[00:59:41] Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.
[00:59:44] Separate, take God's day out and say, this is the Lord's day.
[00:59:47] Amen, somebody.
[00:59:49] It's not my day where I got to get home and get my, no, that's just not your day.
[00:59:53] Amen, somebody.
[00:59:53] Give us six days, shall you do all your other stuff.
[00:59:56] Now, I'm not talking about those that have to work on Sunday.
[00:59:58] Some people, you do good, that's different.
[01:00:00] I'm not talking about that.
[01:00:01] I'm saying when I know what I can do and I don't do it.
[01:00:04] Amen, somebody.
[01:00:06] and or I decide I'm going to stay home and do this other stuff around the house when I know I should be in church.
[01:00:14] Amen somebody.
[01:00:15] I didn't write it, God wrote it.
[01:00:17] And not only that, I'm going to get in trouble now.
[01:00:19] Bring your tithes and offerings into the storehouse of the Lord.
[01:00:23] Amen somebody.
[01:00:24] And so there'll be meat in my house.
[01:00:26] That does not mean that for the pastor to line this pocket or you to line yours or we just frivolously spend God's money, but that there's ministries, whatever the people need, they can come to God's house and get it.
[01:00:41] That's what it means.
[01:00:44] Meat in my house.
[01:00:46] What people need in life.
[01:00:47] They can get it through the church.
[01:00:50] Oh, somebody don't want to talk to me, huh?
[01:00:52] That's why the church is not just some place we come to shout on Sunday.
[01:00:56] But there are ministries that will affect the lives of people in a positive way.
[01:01:02] That's what the church is all about.
[01:01:06] Teach us how to manage our finances.
[01:01:09] Because you know most of us don't know.
[01:01:11] Oh, I'm getting in trouble now.
[01:01:13] Shop until we drop.
[01:01:15] All you got to do is put that little red sign up and say, 50% off.
[01:01:22] Amen, somebody.
[01:01:25] I know I'm right about it.
[01:01:26] What they say, if you can't say amen, just say ouch.
[01:01:31] But God has a way for us to handle his money.
[01:01:34] It's not mine, it is his anyway.
[01:01:36] Amen, somebody.
[01:01:37] I'm not going to get no, the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.
[01:01:41] The world and they that dwell therein.
[01:01:43] This is not my church.
[01:01:45] I cannot do what I want to do without being called into account.
[01:01:50] Help me somebody, huh?
[01:01:52] I said, this is God's church.
[01:01:53] Jesus died for it.
[01:01:55] I didn't.
[01:01:56] My only job is to follow His direction, but I cannot have a vision on my own that's of what Eliezer and Mary would want to do with the church.
[01:02:05] No, that's outside of the will of God.
[01:02:07] I have to seek the will of God and ask God what does he want to do with Seals Creek?
[01:02:14] Where is he trying to lead us?
[01:02:16] Amen somebody.
[01:02:17] And you're not off the hook because whatever he places in my heart, he confirms it in your heart.
[01:02:23] Help me somebody, huh?
[01:02:25] That's what voting is all about.
[01:02:28] It's not how I feel, but I believe I discern from God this is the direction we should take in the church.
[01:02:37] All I'm saying is this, I'm really closing out now.
[01:02:40] The ball is in our court, just do what he said.
[01:02:43] And the blessings are already ours.
[01:02:46] Amen, somebody.
[01:02:47] Yes, worship is critical in our lives.
[01:02:50] But worship is not the only thing that we do.
[01:02:53] Worship got to be balanced with everyday ministries that help people in their daily walk.
[01:02:59] because all of us I mean it's all of us got challenges in one way or the other can I just call the roll some folks are just uh uh they got anger issues amen somebody and they need to learn how to how to deal with anger I know I'm right about it and sometimes especially us as a people because we've been treated so bad and we don't know sometimes all of that stuff can get in our psychic and we're acting up and don't know why we're acting up
[01:03:25] Some folks just got a shopping issue.
[01:03:27] Can I write somebody?
[01:03:28] They're just shopaholics.
[01:03:30] Talking about alcoholics, they're shopaholics also.
[01:03:34] Some folks just got a shop to be shopping.
[01:03:36] They don't want nothing.
[01:03:37] They don't need anything.
[01:03:38] They just got to go shopping.
[01:03:41] Where you going?
[01:03:42] Shopping.
[01:03:43] Don't you have a house full of stuff?
[01:03:44] Yeah.
[01:03:45] And don't have room for the stuff you already have.
[01:03:49] I know we don't like that, but it's right that someone got more stuff.
[01:03:54] I don't need no more suits.
[01:03:56] Why?
[01:03:57] I got enough.
[01:03:58] Help me somebody, huh?
[01:04:00] When do we become satisfied with what God has already given us?
[01:04:05] When?
[01:04:07] And young people, while you're young, let me tell you something.
[01:04:10] You better learn how to manage money now.
[01:04:14] Most of us made mistakes because we didn't know any better.
[01:04:19] I've heard young folks that say, well, I don't need it now because I'm young.
[01:04:22] That's the time that you really need it now.
[01:04:25] For you mess up like a lot of us messed up.
[01:04:28] I messed up out of ignorance.
[01:04:30] Didn't know any better.
[01:04:32] I still think it's a shame for schools and churches not to teach how to manage money.
[01:04:37] You go through all of these years of school and don't teach you to make money but not how to manage the money that you make.
[01:04:45] See, that's the way you multiply your wealth.
[01:04:47] See, God's going to bless it.
[01:04:49] What that mean?
[01:04:49] Okay.
[01:04:51] God blessed the ground.
[01:04:53] But if I got my farmer, I don't sow any seed.
[01:04:57] Because God's going to multiply the seeds I have.
[01:05:02] You think I'm going to have a carp of corn?
[01:05:06] Huh?
[01:05:06] Why?
[01:05:07] I didn't follow the earth's principles.
[01:05:10] Now, that's the one right there in the church.
[01:05:11] So, I'm going to go ahead and say your tip.
[01:05:12] I'm going to be in trouble.
[01:05:13] I got it.
[01:05:15] This is why most churches are broke.
[01:05:17] Most churches are broke.
[01:05:19] Especially black churches.
[01:05:20] We go from offering plate to offering plate.
[01:05:22] You know why?
[01:05:24] Because we eat, we live out of the offering plate.
[01:05:34] We try to operate the church off the offering plate.
[01:05:37] Here's the problem with that.
[01:05:39] There are going to be some good seasons and then there are going to be some low seasons.
[01:05:43] and in the low season we can't make it.
[01:05:45] Why?
[01:05:45] Because we didn't save when we had money or didn't know how to multiply what we had.
[01:05:50] Everybody is responsible to multiply what God put in your hand.
[01:05:59] Now I know what I'm talking about now.
[01:06:01] Read the word for yourself.
[01:06:06] Remember the people that Jesus gave talents to?
[01:06:09] 5, 1, 5, 1, 2, and 1, 1.
[01:06:13] Remember that?
[01:06:14] And the man they gave 5 to, when he called him for an account, he said, I have multiplied, you gave me 5, here's 5 more.
[01:06:22] Help me somebody, huh?
[01:06:24] Then the other gave 2, you gave me 2, I have 2 more.
[01:06:30] I know what I'm teaching now.
[01:06:32] And this is why we wrestle in the church.
[01:06:34] But the man that had won, watch this now.
[01:06:37] Watch this.
[01:06:38] I didn't say, please don't bother me here.
[01:06:41] I didn't say this.
[01:06:41] Jesus said it.
[01:06:44] The man that had won said, I was afraid that if we invest your money, we'll lose.
[01:06:58] That's what he said.
[01:06:59] How many times you church folks say it?
[01:07:01] We can't invest the church's money because we can't lose it.
[01:07:07] Now can I paraphrase what Jesus said?
[01:07:09] He told that man, you lazy rascal.
[01:07:16] Because you didn't investigate.
[01:07:18] How to multiply what I gave you.
[01:07:21] How is it every farmer knows if you're going to increase what you have, the seed that you have, you've got to invest it in the ground.
[01:07:29] How every farmer knows that.
[01:07:31] Come on, somebody, huh?
[01:07:32] I'm just telling you right now.
[01:07:33] And even on your job, God gives you seed money.
[01:07:35] But anyway, he said, well, at least you could have done it, put it on the bank to draw interest.

[01:07:40] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Huh?

[01:07:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
But it's multiply.
[01:07:43] I know I'm in deep trouble.
[01:07:44] I know I'm in deep trouble.
[01:07:46] But it's not the Seals Creek.
[01:07:48] This is generalizing.
[01:07:49] Amen, somebody.
[01:07:50] God, I'm true.
[01:07:51] God meant what he said, that I will multiply what you have.
[01:07:56] He meant that.
[01:07:57] But I want you to do your work.
[01:07:59] Amen somebody.
[01:08:00] It's not just saying some stuff and flipping some stuff over to you and like what God is going to do.
[01:08:06] No.
[01:08:06] We got to study.
[01:08:07] We got to implement God's system and let God's system multiply what we have.
[01:08:14] That is faith in God.

[01:08:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
He put the ball in our court.
[01:08:20] Peter, what you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and what you loose in earth shall be loose in heaven.

[01:08:29] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
I didn't write it.
[01:08:30] God said it.
[01:08:32] You want a friend?
[01:08:33] Show yourself friendly.
[01:08:35] All of that's the word of God.
[01:08:36] Help me somebody, huh?
[01:08:37] Love your enemy and bless those that curse you.
[01:08:41] Did we not, the Bible now say, He'll make your enemies your footstool.
[01:08:45] But if I destroy my enemy, I got no footstool to climb up.
[01:08:49] I know I'm right about it huh let God you see what God want to do use your enemy to bless you they tried to stop you but God said no don't take them out I'm going to use them to bless you and take it to higher ground
[01:09:08] Is that not what happened to Joseph?
[01:09:10] Is that not what happened to Joseph?
[01:09:12] Come on somebody, huh?
[01:09:13] His brothers was enemies to Joseph.
[01:09:16] But God used Joseph's brothers to get him down to Egypt and God raised Joseph to power.
[01:09:24] I'm sure God used the enemies of Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees and teachers of the law and Sadducees.
[01:09:30] He used them to trouble false charges against Jesus
[01:09:37] and let Jesus be crucified huh but then he raised him from the dead all I'm saying to your church is you got to know God's system so he put the ball in our court now if we want to come out we want to be blessed just do God's with God's way learn what God said about whatever it is and do it and see here's the but here's the thing I want you to remember it may not happen when we want it to happen it's in God's own timing
[01:10:06] But he said, I'll take care of your enemies for you.
[01:10:09] Don't you focus on your enemies at all.
[01:10:11] Because I can't look ahead and look at my enemies at the same time.
[01:10:16] I need to focus ahead.
[01:10:17] Your enemies, he said, I got them.
[01:10:20] Vengeance is mine.
[01:10:21] I put myself in God's place.
[01:10:23] Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.
[01:10:26] I will repay.
[01:10:27] God said, I got your enemies.
[01:10:29] You just keep going.
[01:10:31] And when I get ready, I'm going to use them to promote you.
[01:10:41] You find that with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
[01:10:44] You find that with Mordecai and Esther.
[01:10:47] The same thing.
[01:10:48] How many times did God have to show us the same picture over and over again for us to get, this is how he operates.
[01:10:56] So he put the ball in our court by giving us his words.
[01:10:59] If you do this, this, and this, then you get these results.
[01:11:02] Again, like making a cake or giving me directions how to get to Statesville, and I do everything but what you tell me, then I say, I can't get there.
[01:11:12] I'm not there.
[01:11:12] Why am I not there?
[01:11:13] Because I didn't follow the instruction that you gave me.
[01:11:16] Amen, somebody?
[01:11:17] I just have to keep driving and keep driving and keep driving because I have to trust the direction that you gave me.
[01:11:23] Amen?
[01:11:24] I had never been to Seals Creek before, but when I put in the GPS, the GPS led me here.
[01:11:30] Are y'all with me, church?
[01:11:31] I had to follow the direction.
[01:11:34] And it's likewise with us.
[01:11:35] Okay, we got to close it out.
[01:11:36] So God got a word.
[01:11:38] Here's the point.
[01:11:38] God got a word.
[01:11:39] Please let me slide just one in here.
[01:11:42] What got us in all this trouble in the world today?
[01:11:48] Quickly.
[01:11:51] Adam's disobedience.
[01:11:53] Is that not right?
[01:11:55] Is that not right?
[01:11:56] Huh?
[01:11:57] If Adam had never been disobedient, we would never have a problem in this world today.
[01:12:01] Huh?
[01:12:02] Anybody listening to me?
[01:12:04] What do you think will get us out of this trouble?
[01:12:07] Obedience.
[01:12:10] See, it's just that simple.
[01:12:13] But what people do is have studied the Word and do what they think God said and God didn't say it.
[01:12:23] Okay, I'm going to be in so much trouble.
[01:12:24] I'm going to have to give y'all a 10-minute message next week to make up for today.
[01:12:30] And I'm going to stick with that because we create our own issues many times in life and in the church and don't know why because half the time we don't listen to what God really said.
[01:12:41] And you find that same problem in Scripture over and over and over again.
[01:12:47] And you find some of the most noted people in Scripture who made the same error.
[01:12:52] Why can't I learn from Joshua?
[01:12:56] Why can't I learn from David?
[01:12:59] Huh?
[01:13:00] Amen, somebody.
[01:13:00] And Abraham.
[01:13:02] Because all of them goofed, made a big mistake.
[01:13:05] Amen, somebody.
[01:13:07] They caused problems because of their mistake.
[01:13:10] because they didn't listen to what God told them to do.
[01:13:13] And I'm saying, likewise, God got a problem.
[01:13:15] Listen, you're the church fool.
[01:13:16] Let's do what God said to do.
[01:13:18] We want to pay the mortgage off?
[01:13:19] Let's do what God, I'm serious, serious about it.
[01:13:21] Amen, somebody.
[01:13:23] You know, and this is what I believe God is telling me.
[01:13:27] Build community as we try to minister to other communities.
[01:13:30] Build a community.
[01:13:31] And somebody probably told you that already.
[01:13:35] All right, invitations extended to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.
[01:13:39] Christ wants to come into our hearts.
[01:13:41] Amen.
[01:13:42] He wants to deliver us.
[01:13:44] He wants to take us to higher ground.
[01:13:46] He wants to bless everybody.
[01:13:48] Jesus is in the blessing business.
[01:13:50] I want to make that clear.
[01:13:51] Jesus is in the blessing business.
[01:13:55] Let me say it again.
[01:13:56] Jesus is in the blessing business.
[01:14:01] I didn't say you would not have challenges.
[01:14:05] See, what big deal is it
[01:14:08] If we get blessing without challenges, God want to show up that in spite of how it looks, in spite of the opposition against you, I gave you my word and my promise is Trump, Trump, that's what I mean, Trump, all the mess in the world.
[01:14:28] My word is superior.
[01:14:30] So what I said, don't stop worrying about what you see.
[01:14:35] Because that's not faith.
[01:14:40] Invitations extended.
[01:14:43] He's in the blessing business.
[01:14:44] How many of you know that you need a blessing from God?
[01:14:48] Come on, somebody, huh?
[01:14:50] You want a blessing from God.
[01:14:51] You know somebody that need a blessing from God.
[01:14:55] Amen.
[01:14:56] Well, he's in the blessing business, church.
[01:14:58] Honestly, he wants to bless.
[01:15:03] He got his arms out for everybody.
[01:15:05] He said, come.
[01:15:07] This is the way.
[01:15:08] Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
[01:15:14] Take my yoke upon you and learn of me.
[01:15:17] Oh, there it is right there.
[01:15:18] See, we think that's a funeral song, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
[01:15:24] Come unto me.
[01:15:24] That's not a funeral song.
[01:15:26] Come unto me, all you that labor.
[01:15:27] You may stand.
[01:15:28] You know, when I give an invitation, you better stir it, amen.
[01:15:33] But come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden.
[01:15:36] That's where I will give you rest.
[01:15:40] That's what He wants to do for everybody in here.
[01:15:43] Whatever's going on in your life, Christ wants to deliver.
[01:15:46] He's in the delivering business.
[01:15:48] He wants to understand we can rely on Him.
[01:15:51] And He got a way to get us out of everything that we get ourselves into.
[01:15:55] Amen.
[01:16:14] So anyone who wants to unite with this church fellowship, you want prayer, whatever the case may be, we ask that you come.
[01:16:27] Anyone else, while the Spirit of God is moving, does anyone else want to unite with this church fellowship?
[01:16:34] You want to rededicate your life, or you want prayer, or unite with this church fellowship, this is your moment.
[01:17:30] Before we pray, I'm going to ask today anyone else for the desiring prayer this morning.

[01:17:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
He is a prayer answering God.

[01:17:47] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.

[01:17:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Let me ask a question.
[01:18:27] Keep it soft.
[01:18:29] How many of y'all really believe in your soul?

[01:18:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
God wants to bless us or fix the situations that we have.
[01:18:50] Now, so maybe I should say it like the conundrum is the way I say it.
[01:18:56] He will deliver us.
[01:18:57] Deliverance
[01:18:59] Doesn't always mean it's going to improve the situation.
[01:19:01] Sometimes it gives us the capacity to deal with it.
[01:19:05] Like with Paul, for example, when he said to Paul,
[01:19:07] Paul's prayed three times that God would remove the thorn from his flesh.
[01:19:10] We don't know what it is exactly, but whatever it was, Paul prayed that God would remove it.
[01:19:15] God said, no, I would not remove it, but I would give you grace to deal with it.
[01:19:18] He said, my grace is sufficient.
[01:19:20] That's what I'm trying to say to everybody, because see, that shows the world that I got this problem, but I'm still happy.
[01:19:26] I'm still pressing on.
[01:19:28] That's even a greater testimony, but God doesn't remove it, amen?
[01:19:31] What enabled you to go on through life with joy and peace in your life
[01:19:36] Amen.
[01:19:37] Amen.
[01:19:38] Amen.
[01:19:43] Amen.
[01:20:03] Are we clear on that?
[01:20:05] Okay, alright.
[01:20:07] I can ask, but I don't want to say something that I don't want to say publicly.
[01:20:13] You know, sometimes people are dealing with personal stuff.
[01:20:16] And it's not always that we should bring everything before you, necessarily.
[01:20:21] Amen.
[01:20:22] God knows what people are going through.
[01:20:25] But I will tell y'all this much, and this is why we've got to be a praying church.
[01:20:28] Every church that I know that makes a big difference is a praying church.
[01:20:32] Please understand that.
[01:20:33] They are a praying church.
[01:20:34] It's called a prayer culture.
[01:20:37] They look to God.
[01:20:39] Prayer doesn't necessarily lead us to a perverted purpose of what God is going to have us to do.
[01:20:43] If we don't pray, we're going to do what we want to do and call it God, but it's not God.
[01:20:47] I'm serious.
[01:20:48] Prayer is the only way that we get directions from God.
[01:20:55] You know, how many times have I been to churches where I hear people say, yeah, but Pastor Bill's got to be paid.
[01:21:02] Like, I'm dumb enough not to know that.
[01:21:06] What that got to do with what God said?
[01:21:09] I'm serious about it, huh?
[01:21:11] Like, that had nothing to do with this.
[01:21:13] That had everything to do with this.
[01:21:16] Everything God said matters.
[01:21:17] Amen, somebody?
[01:21:19] And I'm not talking about you, just in general, I hear stuff like that.
[01:21:24] But, Pastor, only a few of us.
[01:21:26] Like, I can't count two.
[01:21:31] We got all these examples in the Bible.
[01:21:34] Two fish, five loaves of bread, but what are they among so many?
[01:21:37] Did they not ask the question?
[01:21:39] Did the Lord not ask them when Moses said, where am I going to get food to feed 600,000 men, not counting the women and children?
[01:21:48] And the Lord said, is the arm of the Lord too short?
[01:21:50] You want to tell me, Moses, that I can't feed this many people?
[01:21:56] See what I mean?
[01:21:58] Alright, so let us pray.
[01:22:01] We come this morning with Thanksgiving again in our hearts.
[01:22:09] And we come, God, to lift up our brothers and sisters who are here before the altar right now.
[01:22:14] And Father, we lift up every one of them right now to lift the burdens off their heart, their concern,
[01:22:20] And we know that your prayer answering God, we know that you may not answer in the way that we want you to answer, but we know you will answer us.
[01:22:28] And so we lift them up before the throne of grace right now, asking, O God, that you will move in every life.
[01:22:34] O God, you remember our brother that had a medical situation.
[01:22:38] You remember the young men, O God.
[01:22:41] Remember my wife's foot situation, that you would bring healing and all the other situations that are before this altar right now.
[01:22:50] We bring them to the altar, oh God.
[01:22:54] And we lay them on the throne of grace, expecting you to fix it, O God.
[01:23:00] We're not going to take them back to our seats, but we leave them at the altar.
[01:23:05] We're going to lay our whole lives, our whole selves on the altar of God, so that you will move and fix it for us.
[01:23:12] and we thank you God in advance and we give you shout we praise you and shout right now and say thank you Lord for your healing thank you for your deliverance in the mighty marvelous and majestic name of Jesus the Christ we pray amen amen amen thank you all God bless you your offering lady uh my brother may lift up your offering

[01:23:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
The Lord is with you.
[01:24:19] In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

[01:24:43] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.
[01:24:54] Amen.

[01:25:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
God bless you.
[01:26:25] Amen.
[01:26:29] Thank you so much.
[01:26:30] Now we have our announcements.
[01:26:32] I was kidding with the brothers about them trying to push those envelopes in there, and I said, that's a good problem to have.
[01:26:37] Like I want it so bad they're going to take the top off.
[01:26:41] They're going to put a bigger hole in there.
[01:26:43] Well, go ahead, Doctor.

[01:26:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Good morning, Church.

[01:26:47] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Good morning.

[01:26:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
As you all already know, we have a lot going on this month.
[01:26:54] This Saturday, if you can, let's lift up the mighty pilgrim heirs, help celebrate them for their New Year celebration.
[01:27:04] It is on Saturday the 17th at 4 p.m. at Bethel Enrichment Center that is in Kannapolis.
[01:27:12] Tickets in advance are $20 and at the door is $25.
[01:27:17] I'm pretty sure that you can get with Brother Stacy if you would like to purchase a ticket.
[01:27:23] um this quarter will end on January the 24th that is not this coming Saturday but the next so it will this quarter will end then if y'all will please as always come see me let's get our reports done y'all have done amazing the last few quarters so let's please continue that same momentum and y'all getting your reports done in a timely manner um on Sunday
[01:27:53] The 25th, we have been invited to Friends and Family Day at Union Chapel, Amy Zion Church.
[01:28:02] There's a 3 p.m. service, and as we all know, that our very own Rev.
[01:28:07] Donna Culbertson and the First Man, Brother Ronnie, are from here, so if we can or will, please let's go to Union Chapel and support them for that 3 p.m. service.
[01:28:19] um and then i also have from um outside the church from liberty amy diane church you're in joyfully invited to celebrate our 148th church anniversary this is also on sunday january the 25th at 3 pm um with lunch served at 1 30.
[01:28:43] And this is, of course, another church on our Salisbury district.
[01:28:51] And then I believe that Bible study resumes this week, correct?
[01:28:58] Okay.
[01:28:59] Bible study will resume this week.
[01:29:01] So on Wednesday the 14th, Bible study resumes at 7 p.m. via Zoom.
[01:29:06] I will send out the Zoom information so that you can get on Zoom.
[01:29:13] As this year has already started and is going very fastly, our very own church anniversary is the third Sunday in March, so of course our members are asked to pay $100 for church anniversary.
[01:29:27] This way you have plenty of time to get all of your monies in.
[01:29:34] So March will be here before y'all know it.
[01:29:37] This is all the announcements that I have.

[01:29:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
Thank you so much for the announcements.
[01:29:46] Oh, let me thank you, my wife and I both thank you so much for the Christmas gifts.
[01:29:51] We don't take anything for granted.
[01:29:53] We truly appreciate your kindness and your generosity.
[01:29:56] The old saying is you don't have to do it, but we're glad that you did.
[01:30:00] It does mean a lot to us.
[01:30:02] We do try to use everything we get in a kind, I mean a general, in a godly way that may benefit the kingdom.
[01:30:10] And we'd be blessed by it.
[01:30:11] Amen.
[01:30:13] So thank you so much for that.
[01:30:14] Yesterday, let's give Dr. Shante a round of applause.
[01:30:23] I'm here for coordinating the outing with the young people on yesterday.
[01:30:28] We had a great time.
[01:30:29] I did.
[01:30:30] Amen.
[01:30:31] Now, I'm not going to tell, but some people ate salads and I ended up eating pizzas.
[01:30:35] I don't know how that happened.
[01:30:36] Y'all pray for my people, all right?
[01:30:38] But it was a good outing.
[01:30:39] It really was a good.
[01:30:40] I do believe in spending quality time with our young people.
[01:30:44] All of this we're going to talk about.
[01:30:46] And so let me just be real with you.
[01:30:49] Our young people need relationships.
[01:30:51] Everywhere I've been, when they did a survey with young people, what they're going to tell you is they need meaningful relationships.
[01:30:58] Not somebody beat them across the head with someone who's there and understand.
[01:31:03] You got to understand what it's like to be a teenager.
[01:31:05] You can't treat a teenager like you do a small child.
[01:31:10] Okay, I'll do another day.
[01:31:13] They're going to rebel.
[01:31:14] I'm going to let you know that up front.
[01:31:15] So you have to learn the art of how you deal with people when they start growing up into their own.
[01:31:21] Are y'all with me now?
[01:31:22] Honestly, so that's an art.
[01:31:23] I think we're as a people headed down to a science.
[01:31:26] I've never seen people so respectful as I do the motherland.
[01:31:30] I don't care what people tell y'all.
[01:31:31] They got that stuff from the motherland.
[01:31:33] There's just so respectful and but we I think we brought that I know we brought that with us to this country but over the years I think we've lost the art of raising children.
[01:31:45] I really do and we got to learn how to go back and recap to some of that thing but bottom line is had a wonderful fellowship my intent is that we were at least at least quarterly we will have some kind of gathering with a younger generation
[01:31:57] so that they may get to know the pastor the pastor may get to know them amen and I try to say a word of wisdom or two hopefully that would benefit their lives but I do want them to know that you can't mess up so bad in life if your pastor would not love you nor do the best that he can for you
[01:32:14] I want you to know that.
[01:32:15] Amen.
[01:32:16] First of all, don't mess up.
[01:32:18] But if you mess up, I was telling Dr. Chanta yesterday, I used to threaten the kids in one of the churches I pastor.
[01:32:24] Not a real threat, but a threat in a way.
[01:32:26] If I could get this out quickly.
[01:32:28] But I used to really tell them, if you act up at school and the parents call me and let me know, first I'm coming to the school, I'm going to wear my suit and tie.
[01:32:38] If I have to come back the second time, I'm going to put on my collar.
[01:32:42] And I'm coming right in your classroom.
[01:32:43] It's here right next to you.
[01:32:46] And if I come a third time, y'all pick up on where I'm going to do that.
[01:32:50] I'm wearing my robe.
[01:32:53] Now, I never had to do that, but I was trying to say something to them.
[01:32:57] You conducting yourself means something to me.
[01:33:02] And we're here with you and for you.
[01:33:04] Amen, somebody.
[01:33:05] And our young people need to know we're here for them.
[01:33:09] And I had to say to somebody one time,
[01:33:12] And because they just tell it.
[01:33:14] Can we cut the feed?
[01:33:15] We'll do the benediction and cut the feed.
[01:33:18] Yeah, yeah.
[01:33:19] Or do we have a visitor?

[01:33:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
I mean, I don't think we have the one, only one visitor.
[01:33:29] However, the deaconess will meet immediately following service today.
[01:33:34] Okay.

[01:33:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]:
All right.
[01:33:36] Thank you.
[01:33:36] Let me do the benediction.
[01:33:37] This I don't want to tell publicly.
[01:33:39] But it's a real story.
[01:33:40] You need to hear it briefly.
[01:33:41] You need to hear it briefly.
[01:33:42] Now unto Him who is able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.
[01:33:49] To the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power now and forever.
[01:33:55] Amen.
[01:33:57] Amen.
[01:33:57] So let me know when the feed is cut.
[01:33:59] I'm going to tell you this.
[01:34:00] I need two minutes.