Standing Firm: Spiritual Warfare and the Power of the Word

• Spiritual Warfare and Enemy Tactics 00:26:31 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains that the enemy fights harder when God is about to receive public praise, using specific examples of sabotage like deflated hot tubs or last-minute cancellations.
• Personal Vulnerability and Preparation 00:27:57 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares his personal struggle with planning versus spiritual reliance, admitting that while he plans to look unbothered, his personal relationship with the Lord is what truly grounds him.
• Biblical Context of Nehemiah 00:29:00 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor introduces Nehemiah chapter 4, where Sanballat ridicules the Jews for rebuilding the wall, drawing a parallel to the enemy's rage when believers try to do better through Christ.
• Modern Distractions and Algorithms 00:30:24 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor identifies social media algorithms as a tool the enemy uses to target individuals with content that reinforces feelings of inadequacy or brings up past struggles.
• The Value of Scripture Study 00:33:07 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor argues that getting in the Bible is never too preachy or cliché, countering the enemy's excuse that he doesn't like reading, and emphasizes the necessity of studying the Word.
• Identity and Divine Purpose 00:34:54 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor concludes that if the devil is attacking his expectations, it confirms he is worth attacking and has something of value from the Lord, referencing his own miraculous birth.
• Spiritual Warfare and Opposition 00:34:38 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor discusses how the devil attacks those who are preparing to serve God, framing this opposition as evidence of one's value and God's plan.
• Church Community and Support 00:41:15 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor emphasizes the role of the church in providing accountability, encouragement, and practical support during times of spiritual or personal struggle.
• Public Witness and Baptism 00:37:32 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor highlights the significance of baptism and child dedication as public declarations of faith and community commitment, noting that these events attract spiritual opposition.
• Resilience in the Face of Criticism 00:44:38 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor addresses the scrutiny churches face from social media trolls and critics, urging the congregation to persist in doing good despite negative feedback.
• Spiritual Warfare and Daily Vigilance 00:50:18 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor urges the congregation to engage in daily spiritual combat against Satan's attempts to ruin God's work, using the phrase 'Not today' as a mantra.
• The Role of Scripture in Spiritual Battle 00:51:54 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor identifies the Bible as the necessary 'ammunition' for the fight, emphasizing the need for dedication and willingness to read it despite its worn condition.
• Pastoral Dedication and Accessibility 00:53:43 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor addresses his unique style and office hours, asserting that his primary focus is fighting spiritual battles for the congregation and inviting them to reach out to him.
• The Calling to Ministry 00:54:45 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor reflects on his calling to be a pastor, framing it as a continuous fight for the lost and for the church's future, rather than just administrative duties.

• Sermon Illustration 00:26:45 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts a story from his previous church in Cambridge, Ohio, where they used an inflatable hot tub for baptisms. He describes his fear that the devil would deflate it before the service, and how, despite his fears, the enemy instead sabotaged the event by having a scheduled baptizee text him with a fender bender or other excuses on the morning of the service.
• Sermon Illustration 00:33:34 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about his wife reading 43 books since the start of the year while he has only read six pages, using this to illustrate his own struggle with reading and how the enemy uses his weakness against him.
• Sermon Illustration 00:34:16 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor mentions his use of a Bible app to listen to scripture as a podcast because he struggles with reading, noting that even this method has buttons that Satan tries to push.
• Sermon Illustration 00:36:05 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about his health, mentioning he has only one carotid artery and no pulse on one side, using this to illustrate that he has survived significant opposition since birth.
• Sermon Illustration 00:43:23 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts a story about a woman on TikTok who calls churches demanding formula for her baby, then posts negative reviews if they refuse, illustrating how the enemy attacks the church's reputation.
• Sermon Illustration 00:45:13 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor mentions a Nazarene church in a neighboring town that received a 1.9-star Google rating after a staff member couldn't meet the TikTok woman's demand, further illustrating the cost of doing good in the eyes of the world.
• Sermon Illustration 00:52:54 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about being unable to play football due to a birth defect, explaining how this physical limitation fueled his passion for spiritual battles, where he can 'knock Satan out' metaphorically.
• Sermon Illustration 00:49:46 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references the biblical story of Nehemiah, noting that while some thought the city walls were done, they were actually exposed and needed rebuilding against opposition, drawing a parallel to the church's current state.

• Pastoral Charge 00:38:51 ▶️ 📄
  > Send a message to the pastor or another church member to share a recent event and pray together.
• Pastoral Charge 00:40:57 ▶️ 📄
  > Continue spiritual progress through incremental steps of prayer and affirmation.
• Pastoral Charge 00:47:22 ▶️ 📄
  > Love and pray for the children being dedicated next Sunday.
• Pastoral Charge 00:50:33 ▶️ 📄
  > Verbally resist Satan daily by saying 'Not today'.
• Pastoral Charge 00:50:55 ▶️ 📄
  > Engage in personal prayer.
• Pastoral Charge 00:50:59 ▶️ 📄
  > Rediscover and use one's voice to encourage others.
• Pastoral Charge 00:51:09 ▶️ 📄
  > Serve as a greeter with a positive attitude.
• Pastoral Charge 00:51:46 ▶️ 📄
  > Engage in spiritual warfare during the week.
• Pastoral Charge 00:52:07 ▶️ 📄
  > Demonstrate commitment to reading the Bible.
• Pastoral Charge 00:54:29 ▶️ 📄
  > Take initiative to contact the pastor.
• Pastoral Charge 00:55:39 ▶️ 📄
  > Join the pastor in daily prayer and spiritual fighting.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
How many of you guys have been trying that?
[00:01:50] Do you want to stand and worship with us this morning?

[00:01:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
We worship the God who was We worship the God who is We worship the God who evermore was
[00:02:21] He parted the raging sea My God beholds the victory There's joy in the house of the Lord There's joy in the house of the Lord today And we won't be quiet We shout out your praise There's joy in the house of the Lord Our God is surely in this place And we won't be quiet
[00:03:03] We sing to the God who heals We sing to the God who saves We sing to the God who always makes a way Cause He hung upon that cross Then He rose up from that grave My God still rolling stones away There's joy in the house of the Lord There's joy in the house of the Lord today
[00:03:32] And we won't be quiet We shout out your praise There's joy in the house of the Lord Our God is surely in this place And we won't be quiet We shout out your praise We were the beggars Now we're royalty We were the prisoners
[00:04:01] Now we're running free We are forgiven Accepted Redeemed by His grace Let the house of the Lord sing praise We were the beggars Now we're royalty We were the prisoners Now we're running free We are forgiven
[00:04:33] By His grace.
[00:04:44] There's joy in the house of the Lord There's joy in the house of the Lord today And we won't be quiet We shout out your praise There's joy in the house of the Lord Our God is surely in this place And we won't be quiet We shout out your praise There's joy in the house of the Lord There's joy in the house of the Lord today
[00:05:13] Good morning!

[00:05:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
You may be seated.
[00:05:57] A card that I wanted to read.
[00:05:59] Dear church family, we're so grateful for all the compassion and love given to our family at this time.
[00:06:06] Your uplifting support enriched by the meal during a difficult day of grief was appreciated by all of us.
[00:06:14] If you know our mom, you know that she loved her church family.
[00:06:20] Our brothers and sisters in Christ are blessed by God.
[00:06:24] Thank you.
[00:06:25] Dan, Kathy, Lily, and the whole family of Lois Williams.
[00:06:29] And so I just wanted to read that today just to say thank you so much for stepping up and loving on the family and praying for them during this time.
[00:06:37] And again, thank you for that.
[00:06:42] All right.
[00:06:43] Prayer and praise cards are in the seat backs in front of you if you have any prayer requests or praise reports.
[00:06:50] You can please fill those out and drop them in the offering plate or give them to Brenda on your way out the door and then they will get to where they need to go.
[00:06:59] And just know that anything you write down
[00:07:04] is prayed about and prayed for if you write down a praise then we're going to rejoice with you so nothing is too crazy or not important enough to write down if it's important to you we want to lift that up and and pray alongside you
[00:07:20] All right, our food pantry, the next food pantry food drive at the neighborhood Walmart will be on Saturday, December 6th.
[00:07:28] You can sign up in the foyer for time slots.
[00:07:31] Again, we can only have four at a time during shifts, so that sign-up sheet is in the foyer if you'd like to sign up to help on December 6th.
[00:07:42] Next.
[00:07:44] Next Sunday.
[00:07:45] Next Sunday is our celebration Sunday.
[00:07:48] We will be doing five or six.
[00:07:53] Baby dedications or children dedications.
[00:07:57] We'll be doing five or six baptisms.
[00:07:59] Just letting you know, this side over here may look a little different Sunday.
[00:08:02] I'm calling it the splash zone.
[00:08:05] So if you didn't shower, sit over here next Sunday.
[00:08:10] We'll splash you with some water as others get baptized.
[00:08:13] But if you are still wanting to get baptized or want to talk about that, please see me today and we can set up a time to get together this week and talk about that.
[00:08:23] And it's just going to be a really, really great day.
[00:08:29] So again, if that's you, if you're looking to get baptized, or if you have some kids that you've never dedicated in the church and you want to make that happen, let me know and we can get that done.
[00:08:42] All right, next.
[00:08:44] And then on, I believe that's actually November 30th.
[00:08:49] That's the Sunday.
[00:08:51] I think it says December 1st, but I think...
[00:08:53] We will be doing a Hanging of the Greens like service this year.
[00:09:15] We are going to decorate the sanctuary.
[00:09:18] We will still be doing in December the Christmas Eve Eve service.
[00:09:24] And so, but anyway, on November 30th at 2pm on Sunday afternoon, if you'd like to come back and help us decorate the church for the Christmas season, that would be so welcome and appreciated.
[00:09:39] Next.
[00:09:40] Alright, and then that Sunday, so not the 23rd, but the following Sunday, the 30th, we are also going to be baptizing one of the siblings from a kid at our preschool.
[00:09:51] They don't attend our church, I believe don't attend any church, but they reached out and said, hey, we'd like to baptize our kid, and I said, absolutely.
[00:09:59] And so I think we're going to have some attendance from our preschool that day as well.
[00:10:03] So the 23rd and the 30th are going to be fun, exciting Sundays.
[00:10:07] So be praying in advance for that.
[00:10:09] We're going to be talking about that a little bit in our message today.
[00:10:12] But be expecting God to do some amazing things.
[00:10:15] All right.
[00:10:16] With that being said, I'm going to invite our ushers to come forward this morning as we receive our tithes and offerings.
[00:10:23] Let's go ahead and pray together.
[00:10:26] Hey God, we thank you so much for this day.
[00:10:29] I just ask that you just flood this place with your presence.
[00:10:35] As we worship together, as we fellowship, as we hear your word, God, as we give, let us just in everything we do today, may we seek your face.
[00:10:46] I pray that you bless this offering, multiply it to fit the many needs of your kingdom.
[00:10:52] In your name I pray.
[00:10:53] Amen.

[00:11:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
The same old roads for miles and miles If you can hear the same old voice tell the same old lies If you're trying to fill the same old holes inside There's a better life There's a better life If you've got pain He's the pain taker
[00:11:44] If you feel lost, He's the way maker If you need freedom or saving, He's the praise and shaking Savior If you've got chains, He's the train breaker You've all searched for the light of day in the dead of night
[00:12:13] We've all found ourselves worn out from the same old fight We've all run to things we know just ain't right There's a better life, there's a better life If you've got a pain, he's a pain taker
[00:12:38] If you feel lost, He's a way maker If you need freedom or saving He's a praise and shaking Savior If you've got chains, He's a chain breaker If you believe it, if you receive it
[00:13:09] If you can feel it, somebody testify If you believe it, if you receive it If you can feel it, somebody testify, testify If you believe it, if you receive it
[00:13:34] If you can feel it, somebody testify.
[00:13:40] If you got chains, He's a pain taker.
[00:13:45] If you feel lost, He's a way maker.
[00:13:52] If you need freedom or saving, He's a praise and shaking Savior.
[00:14:01] If you got chains, He's a chains breaker.
[00:14:05] You need freedom or saving?
[00:14:09] He's a prison-shaking Savior If you've got chains, He's a chain-breaker
[00:14:40] Christ is my firm foundation The rock on which I stand When everything around me is shaken
[00:14:55] I've never been more glad That I put my faith in Jesus Cause He's never let me down He's faithful through generations So why would He fail now?
[00:15:19] He won't
[00:15:33] I've got peace that makes no sense So I won't be going under I'm not held by my own strength Cause I've built my life on Jesus And He's never let me down He's faithful in every scene

[00:16:17] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let us pray.

[00:16:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
He won't fail Christ is my firm foundation The rock on which I stand When everything around me is shaken I've never been more glad That I put my faith in Jesus
[00:17:12] He's faithful through generations So why would He fail now?
[00:17:33] He won't He won't He won't fail He won't fail
[00:17:46] Rains came with blue My house was built on you I'm safe with you I'm gonna make it through
[00:18:19] I'm safe with you My house was built on you I'm safe with you I'm gonna make it through Rain came with blue My house was built on you I'm safe with you
[00:18:58] Christ is my firm foundation The rock on which I stand When everything around me
[00:19:30] I've never been more glad that I put my faith in Jesus.
[00:19:40] He's never let me down.
[00:19:44] He's faithful through generations.
[00:20:06] You are there You won't You won't You are there You are there No, you won't

[00:20:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
You may be seated.
[00:20:45] As we go to the Lord in prayer today, just want to bring something to your attention.
[00:20:57] Stephanie Key's mother Mary went to be with the Lord on Thursday the 13th and her funeral will be this coming Thursday and that will will be receiving friends at Cavan Cook at 3 30 to 5 and then a memorial service from 5 to 6 so again the obituary we've shared it and it's online
[00:21:24] If you'd like to just lift up Stephanie Scott and their family during this time, I wanted to make you aware of that today.
[00:21:35] And then, just with the weather doing what it's doing, we got all kinds of people with just the head funk.
[00:21:45] And so, pray for strength.
[00:21:48] I know nobody wants to share that gunk and pass it around this time of year.
[00:21:54] and then there are other things that people have reached out even this week and just said you know pastor this has happened pray for me and so I just told him that in a roundabout way I would just let the church know that we're praying for them and so we've all come in today with with something that something might be good that something might be bad or heavy but whatever that is at this time if you just want to lift that to the Lord with me let's pray together
[00:22:23] Hey God, we come to you now.
[00:22:25] We still think of the Williams family, Lois and all her family, extended family, God, and the impact that she made.
[00:22:34] And we lift up that family to you this week.
[00:22:37] And then we think of Mary and her family, God, Stephanie and her siblings and relatives, and God, all those that are going through this hard time.
[00:22:49] We just lift them up to you today as well, as loss is never easy.
[00:22:55] God, for those that are sick and battling things and dealing with illness or just life itself, God, for those that come in maybe feeling on cloud nine, we praise you for that also.
[00:23:10] So God, I just ask that your presence be with us today.
[00:23:15] May we feel it in such a strong and mighty way that those that are here and get a sense of that can take it with them.
[00:23:24] God, maybe somebody watching today, whether now or later, can feel that as well, and you speak to their heart also.
[00:23:34] God, I just have a sense on my mind today to pray for those that have no desire.
[00:23:44] Bring a voice into their life that they can hear and listen to, trust,
[00:23:52] May that voice, whoever it is that you intend it to be, share your will and your way.
[00:24:01] And I thank you in advance for all the victories that will be won.
[00:24:04] In your name I pray.
[00:24:05] Amen.
[00:24:07] Alright, I'm going to ask our kids to come on up.
[00:24:13] Hey Ryan, bring your water bottle.
[00:24:20] Alright.
[00:24:22] I'm not thirsty, but here, check this out.
[00:24:24] I saw you trying to do the bottle flip back there earlier.
[00:24:27] If I flip this right, I'll bring all the kids a special treat next week.
[00:24:32] If I get it.
[00:24:33] If not, then too bad.
[00:24:34] But, alright, so.
[00:24:36] Ready?
[00:24:37] You think I'll get it?
[00:24:37] Wow.
[00:24:42] Oh!
[00:24:45] Alright, well, maybe next time I'll say if I don't get it, I'll bring you a treat.
[00:24:48] That'll be better.
[00:24:49] Alright, let's get our hands in.
[00:24:51] Today we're going to say, I'll see if you can say it, expectation.
[00:24:56] Try it.
[00:24:59] Your guys' pronunciations are so much better.
[00:25:03] Oh, hold on.
[00:25:04] I'm going to mute that.
[00:25:18] Ryan, for the record, I have done that at least once.
[00:25:27] Jessica, I'm not going to lie, when you were trying to be like, Ryan, stop, I was like, oh, I've got to play off this somehow.
[00:25:33] The youth pastor in me came out there.
[00:25:44] So expectation is something that really I've been feeling for the last month and a half or more knowing that the Celebration Sunday is coming.
[00:25:55] There are two events I do.
[00:25:57] I just love to celebrate the goodness that the Lord is doing in people's life and them wanting to publicly share that with others.
[00:26:18] I love that.
[00:26:21] But can I tell you, every year before a Celebration Sunday,
[00:26:27] Chaos.
[00:26:29] No matter what.
[00:26:30] It doesn't matter.
[00:26:31] Anytime that the Lord is going to get praise for something, especially publicly, the enemy fights all that much harder.
[00:26:42] Always.
[00:26:45] My previous church up in Cambridge, Ohio, we would do baptism with an inflatable hot tub.
[00:26:53] I always joke that I just wanted to go sit in it like the night before, so we could warm it all the way up, it was nice.
[00:26:58] My biggest fear, knowing that the devil battles, was that I'd come in on Sunday morning and it would be deflated, just water everywhere and ruin the sound equipment.
[00:27:08] Praise the Lord, that never happened.
[00:27:11] But it wouldn't fail that the morning of, we did it three times, the morning of, somebody that was scheduled to get baptized would text and say,
[00:27:21] Hey, I was in a fender bender this morning, I'm not going to make it.
[00:27:24] Or, I'm not coming to church anymore.
[00:27:27] Or, like, the most random crazy things.
[00:27:30] And I'm like, okay.
[00:27:35] We've been praying for what God was going to do and we were going to celebrate it.
[00:27:40] And the enemy knows exactly what buttons to push, where to target, when, who, how, what, why.
[00:27:49] And how do we guard against that?
[00:27:53] How do we guard against it?
[00:27:57] For me personally, if you work closely with me, I'm a planner up here.
[00:28:04] You won't always know about it, I'm sorry.
[00:28:08] My brain does, and the other side of my brain does, but somewhere it gets lost in the middle.
[00:28:16] That being said, I do like to be five steps ahead.
[00:28:19] In case something goes wrong.
[00:28:21] So that when it goes wrong I can look like I wasn't bothered by it and we had a plan.
[00:28:27] Deep down I'm ready to throw things.
[00:28:32] But my personal planning does nothing to stop the enemy's preparation as well.
[00:28:42] But my personal relationship with the Lord and steady walk is what keeps me grounded even through enemy attack.
[00:28:53] This morning we're going to be in Nehemiah chapter 4.
[00:29:00] The walls have been destroyed and they're looking to be rebuilt.
[00:29:08] Nehemiah chapter 4 verse 1.
[00:29:12] When Sanballat heard that they were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed.
[00:29:23] He ridiculed the Jews and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, what are those feeble Jews doing?
[00:29:35] Will they restore the wall?
[00:29:37] Will they offer sacrifices?
[00:29:40] Will they finish in a day?
[00:29:42] Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble?
[00:29:48] He kept going on and on and on.
[00:29:52] He was enraged that they were trying to rebuild, trying to do better, trying to build back.
[00:30:01] Can I tell you that our enemy, the devil, is the exact same way.
[00:30:06] When we try to do something to better ourself through Christ, the enemy gets incensed, angry, enraged, and will do whatever, will try to do whatever to knock us down.
[00:30:24] He'll use words, relationships, people, commercials, algorithms.
[00:30:35] Can I tell you?
[00:30:36] That is a big tool of the enemy right now.
[00:30:38] I'm not trying to get all like, no, don't watch TikTok.
[00:30:41] I watch it all the time.
[00:30:43] But can I tell you, when I'm in a bad headspace, it feels like the devil knows exactly what my algorithm needs to look like.
[00:30:53] Videos about how I'm probably not good enough.
[00:30:59] I'm weak.
[00:31:02] Or a random video of something from my past.
[00:31:05] A past struggle will show up that I've been completely free from.
[00:31:10] Haven't thought about in years.
[00:31:12] And there it is, out of nowhere.
[00:31:13] There's no sense, no reason for that to be there.
[00:31:16] I fully believe the enemy will do anything
[00:31:20] To try and knock us off of our path and our mission.
[00:31:27] See, Nehemiah just wanted to rebuild these walls to protect Jerusalem.
[00:31:35] But he had people against him.
[00:31:40] So what?
[00:31:42] What do we do when the enemy rises up?
[00:31:46] Can I be completely honest with you?
[00:31:50] That's personal.
[00:31:51] I can tell you how to do it, but how are you going to do it when the enemy rises up against you?
[00:31:58] I can stand up here and give you all the stories of my life, different times I've overcome or not, and those are my own personal things because the devil knew my buttons.
[00:32:10] Just like the devil knows yours.
[00:32:13] But I can tell you where you can try to start.
[00:32:16] And this sounds so cliche and pastor-y and church-y, but get in this.
[00:32:23] Sometimes I do fight myself during the week if I'm going through a sermon and writing down my notes.
[00:32:30] Well, I don't ever use notes here.
[00:32:31] I have legal pads.
[00:32:32] Sherman, you brought me a box of legal pads a couple months ago.
[00:32:35] I've already went through two of them with just sermon notes that I write down throughout the week.
[00:32:40] Thoughts, I circle things, I draw lines, arrows, and they never make it up here.
[00:32:45] But it's just trying, like, I've told you in the past, I like journaling.
[00:32:49] That's kind of sermon journaling for me.
[00:32:52] Preparation, getting in the Word and trying to figure it out.
[00:32:54] And there are times that I'll get to the end of what I thought was a written sermon and I'll be like, that sounds too preachy.
[00:33:02] Like, how can we, there are some things you can't change.
[00:33:07] Getting in the Bible is one of them.
[00:33:09] We just have to do it.
[00:33:11] And I tell you what, that is, if I can be completely vulnerable
[00:33:16] I don't like to read.
[00:33:17] I love the idea of reading.
[00:33:21] I love the snippets of things that I take from books.
[00:33:24] I've got so many books in my office and almost all of them have a highlight in them.
[00:33:28] But maybe 5% are completed.
[00:33:34] My wife is a reader.
[00:33:35] I think since the start of the year she's read like 43 books.
[00:33:39] I don't know.
[00:33:39] That seems crazy to me.
[00:33:41] Maybe it's not a lot.
[00:33:41] I can't.
[00:33:45] I really try.
[00:33:46] And so when I get to the end of some of these sermons that I'm writing, I'm like, that sounds too preachy.
[00:33:51] That sounds too cliche.
[00:33:54] Getting in the Word is never too preachy or too cliche.
[00:33:58] And that is the enemy using my weaknesses and my buttons against me.
[00:34:03] Because it'll be an excuse when I know I really need to get in there and study that just a little more.
[00:34:07] You don't even like reading.
[00:34:09] You've read like six pages this week.
[00:34:11] You're good.
[00:34:13] Be honest.
[00:34:16] This is a blessing sometimes to me because I would just go to whatever scripture I'm preaching out of and push play on the Bible app.
[00:34:22] And it'll read it to me.
[00:34:23] And now I can pick the voice that reads it to me and it feels like a podcast.
[00:34:28] I'm okay with that.
[00:34:32] But I have buttons that Satan still tries to push.
[00:34:38] But can I tell you the thing that won me over this week in...
[00:34:43] Preparing this message on expectation and really preparing the message that is all of next week's service.
[00:34:52] This thought hit me.
[00:34:54] If the devil is still attacking me in my expectation, that means I'm something worth attacking.
[00:35:03] So anytime the devil tries to tell me I'm not, why are you telling me I'm not?
[00:35:08] You're using energy to try and knock me down, then clearly I've got something, and that something is the Lord.
[00:35:14] And that is God's plan for my life.
[00:35:19] Having only a 10% chance to be with you today from birth, there have been many obstacles in my life that the enemy has tried to push me down, snuff me out, knock me out, use against me.
[00:35:37] And I just won't let him win.
[00:35:42] From the beginning, not quoting scripture, from the beginning of my life, there was a reason for me to be here.
[00:35:53] Or I wouldn't be.
[00:35:56] From my first breath, the fight was on.
[00:36:02] To being half dead now.
[00:36:04] I've joked with you guys before.
[00:36:05] I've got one carotid artery.
[00:36:06] I'm feeling nothing right now.
[00:36:08] There is no pulse.
[00:36:09] Not a lick of one.
[00:36:11] It's crazy.
[00:36:13] If you're new here, it's true.
[00:36:15] I don't have, there's no pulse on this side.
[00:36:18] This side?
[00:36:20] Beaten a little fast.
[00:36:20] But, you know, from the beginning, there's a scar right here to prove it.
[00:36:27] There's a feeding tube scar over here.
[00:36:30] Shouldn't be here.
[00:36:32] If I was, should not be normal.
[00:36:35] Some of you question whether that's true still or not.
[00:36:41] From the first breath, opposition.
[00:36:47] That tells me that the Lord is not done with me yet.
[00:36:51] And I've been able to hold on to that my whole life.
[00:36:55] That's some good ammo anytime the enemy comes up against me.
[00:37:01] You fought pretty hard to not let me have a breath.
[00:37:05] I better do good with the ones I've got.
[00:37:13] And so next Sunday, there are going to be kids being dedicated, and that's just the church coming around and saying, Hey, we're going to pray for these kids together.
[00:37:22] We're going to help spiritually raise these kids.
[00:37:26] Set an example for them.
[00:37:28] Help light the path for them.
[00:37:30] That's awesome.
[00:37:32] And it's not just my kid.
[00:37:33] There's five others.
[00:37:36] And then when people get baptized and they come out of the water and it's a fresh public acknowledgement that, man, I am choosing to walk this path with the Lord.
[00:37:45] That is awesome.
[00:37:45] And we're all going to clap and scream and confetti cannons and splash zones and cannonballs and whatever.
[00:37:51] I want baptism Sunday to be nuts.
[00:37:55] But that's good.
[00:37:56] And we're all going to cheer for that.
[00:37:57] And it's awesome.
[00:37:59] Don't just cheer for it.
[00:38:00] Live it.
[00:38:01] Live the celebration with them.
[00:38:03] We're going to have videos of testimonies of what the Lord has done in people's life and those people need to get the same amount of applause that the people that are getting baptized does because the fight that they're testifying about, the enemy gave them every reason to quit and give up and they didn't.
[00:38:17] And they're publicly saying the Lord led me through.
[00:38:23] All this coming up, all this happening, the enemy's angry.
[00:38:31] Because our army is getting stronger.
[00:38:38] So this week, if you're involved in that service at all, the enemy is going to fight you tooth and nail every step of the way this week.
[00:38:48] Just know that means you're worth fighting for.
[00:38:51] If you need an extra word of encouragement, extra pick-me-up, send me a message.
[00:38:56] Send somebody in this church a message.
[00:38:57] Say, hey, this happened in this week.
[00:38:59] Okay, good.
[00:39:00] Let's pray together.
[00:39:00] Let's do it.
[00:39:02] Where two or three are gathered, there he is also.
[00:39:05] Let's kick them back down.
[00:39:11] When the fight comes your way, gotta be honest, sometimes it feels really good to not cower in that moment.
[00:39:21] I have to be real with you.
[00:39:24] Every little boy at some point dreams of being a superhero or a warrior or something like that.
[00:39:31] The Dollar Tree plastic swords, I never swung anything harder.
[00:39:36] Those enemies never stood a chance.
[00:39:38] But there's sometimes I have to realize that that battle that I was fighting as a four and five year old that I couldn't see is very similar to the battle now that I still can't see but I can feel.
[00:39:50] And sometimes it feels really good to not cower in the moment of opposition and to stand tall and know that you've already won because you have the Lord.
[00:40:03] And so sometimes it's good to just stand there when the battle comes and say not today.
[00:40:09] Not today.
[00:40:11] There's a lot of power in that.
[00:40:14] Not today.
[00:40:16] I tell you I have to say that a lot more as I get older because I'm a lot more aware of the battles.
[00:40:25] Sometimes multiple times a day I have to say not today.
[00:40:31] Opposition, you're building up the strongest army you've got to knock something down that's going to be so good.
[00:40:36] But take your best shot, you can't, because we've already won.
[00:40:41] Not today.
[00:40:46] And so we're going to keep fighting, keep going, brick by brick, prayer by prayer, yes by yes, step by step.
[00:40:57] Not today.
[00:41:03] Getting in your word, praying, finding an encouraging group of people to lift you up.
[00:41:09] That's huge.
[00:41:10] I tell you, that's a very important part of the church.
[00:41:15] The church is awesome to be a place that we can come worship on Sundays and provide some programs and some classes.
[00:41:23] One of the most meaningful things a church can do is offer relationships that help keep you accountable, that help build you up.
[00:41:33] and to help you walk through those days that are just tough because there's going to be times where you're not going to be able to look at your enemy because you're beat up because life has a way of doing that and you're going to want to say not today and you can't and the beautiful thing is the church is sometimes you don't have to say a word because the people behind you say it for you I've seen that lived out last week during the
[00:42:02] The funeral dinner and the way the church just came together and lifted up and encouraged and blessed.
[00:42:13] And that needs to be the same way next week.
[00:42:15] When those people come out of the water, you're cheering their mood to get baptized, you're cheering them on for taking that step, but you're also cheering saying, hey, I'm still in your corner.
[00:42:30] Those days that still might be hard to come,
[00:42:33] I'm there with you to help you say not today.
[00:42:37] I'm going to help carry you along.
[00:42:39] When you're not strong enough, I'm going to bring this and we're going to get in it and we're going to find the Lord and we're going to read some scripture and we're going to kick Satan back to where he came from.
[00:42:47] Not today.
[00:42:54] The whole story in Nehemiah chapter 4 is this opposition that comes up when they're just trying to rebuild.
[00:43:00] And I just found it to be such a beautiful correlation with our life.
[00:43:04] When we're trying to build up anything in the Lord, the opposition comes and knocks us down.
[00:43:09] Some of you guys might be aware, and I don't always like to give this stuff a platform, but it's kind of been discouraging.
[00:43:17] There's been a lady going around on TikTok, Instagram,
[00:43:23] Calling churches, asking them if they could help her starving baby.
[00:43:27] Anybody seen that?
[00:43:30] She'll say, my two-month-old or three-month-old is starving.
[00:43:35] We don't have the money for formula.
[00:43:37] It's pretty expensive.
[00:43:38] All we need is a can of it.
[00:43:40] Can you meet me at Walmart and get it for me?
[00:43:42] I don't need money.
[00:43:43] I just need you to meet me there.
[00:43:45] and get it and regard based on what the church and really it's typically just a secretary that answers it probably doesn't have the yes or no or authority to do whatever she'll give they'll read off the options will we send you know a certain percentage of our weekly giving to for instance the christian mission or salvation army or have you checked with them and the girl will because all you're seeing is the girl's face and she'll roll her eyes and be like yeah i already checked there she hadn't
[00:44:14] And then she'll post the church's picture and Google review page and people will just bombard and go and leave all these negative reviews for the churches that said no.
[00:44:23] And it's not really the churches saying no, the woman just giving her the options of like, hey, we don't always keep all the cash here.
[00:44:28] Most churches don't, like here's our options.
[00:44:32] The enemy is finding all kinds of ways every day to attack the church, every day.
[00:44:38] And we're doing an amazing work in our food pantry, almost 200 people a week.
[00:44:43] are coming and that is getting a lot of traction on all the Mooresville Facebook groups.
[00:44:49] A lot.
[00:44:50] With that at some point is going to come scrutiny.
[00:44:54] Because we're doing good.
[00:44:58] Keep doing good.
[00:45:00] Not today.
[00:45:06] To my knowledge, we haven't been called by that lady yet on TikTok.
[00:45:09] But there was a church where our new district superintendent was from.
[00:45:13] The town next to his, they called the Nazarene Church there.
[00:45:16] That church has Google reviews now.
[00:45:18] It's rated a 1.9 out of 5 stars.
[00:45:22] Because the guy wasn't even in the office.
[00:45:24] He answered at home and he had another obligation.
[00:45:27] He couldn't meet her at Walmart.
[00:45:28] But all these people, thousands of people flooded that church Facebook page.
[00:45:35] Satan's trying to build up defense to do anything to knock us down.
[00:45:40] Every word that I say is going to be scrutinized, criticized by someone.
[00:45:45] That's fine.
[00:45:46] I took that responsibility a long time ago.
[00:45:49] But as Christians now, it's you too.
[00:45:51] It's not just pastors.
[00:45:57] And so that's why next week I want to be
[00:46:02] I hate to say it, like our Super Bowl kind of thing, like it is a celebration.
[00:46:09] And know that whatever comes with it, whatever distraction, whatever knockdown the enemy throws at us means that we're doing something right.
[00:46:21] And so I wanted to
[00:46:22] I felt the need to preach that today because, one, I don't know that there's going to be much of a sermon next week.
[00:46:28] The actions are the message next week.
[00:46:32] And I wanted us all to kind of get on the same page of realizing that the attack is coming, the enemies, we talked about a month or two ago, already roaming around like a roaring lion, waiting for something to devour.
[00:46:47] We're just sitting here trying to build people up, tell people about Jesus, and keep doing it.
[00:46:55] And anytime the enemy comes and tries to knock you down, just say, not today.
[00:47:03] And if you're one of those next Sunday that's getting baptized, the moment you come out of the water, just fist bump and be excited and we're gonna cheer for you.
[00:47:12] But it doesn't end there, that's the beginning.
[00:47:18] And those kids, next week they get dedicated.
[00:47:22] Church, love on them.
[00:47:24] Pray for them.
[00:47:28] The look, and I'm just going to look down because I'm not going to try to look at anybody, but the look on your guys' faces when you see people that were teens and kids that came back to church tells me everything I need to know about a praying church.
[00:47:41] You want to see that back, and there's still more that you're praying for.
[00:47:46] And now some of those people have kids that are going to be dedicated next Sunday.
[00:47:49] And for some that have been sad that maybe it didn't go how you thought, this is a redo.
[00:47:54] This is an opportunity to redo it and to build these kids up and to pray for them and to come along their families.
[00:48:08] I'm feeling something like a pressure, not a heart attack.
[00:48:15] But I think it's something that we should all feel.
[00:48:24] It's a burden of heaviness how serious, even though exciting, next Sunday is.
[00:48:32] What kind of catalyst step it could be.
[00:48:37] And I think that's why it's one of my favorite Sundays that I get to do a year.
[00:48:45] And it's not... Sherman, you were a district secretary before, forgive me.
[00:48:51] It's not for the numbers end of it.
[00:48:52] To be honest, I don't care about that.
[00:48:55] I just want to make sure I get that turned in so someone like Sherman doesn't yell at me.
[00:48:59] But that's the mission.
[00:49:05] And that's important.
[00:49:10] Can you imagine if we get to have like three or four celebration Sundays a year?
[00:49:14] Awesome.
[00:49:15] If you notice, I said, one of my favorite things I get to do a year is a Celebration Sunday.
[00:49:21] Let's make it two.
[00:49:28] And that pressure that I think I'm talking about, it's a passion.
[00:49:35] It shows that it's worth it.
[00:49:37] It's worked.
[00:49:40] It's working.
[00:49:42] God's working.
[00:49:46] He's not done.
[00:49:46] The walls that Nehemiah wanted to help rebuild, several in the city thought they were done.
[00:49:55] They were exposed.
[00:49:57] Their wall was down.
[00:49:58] They wanted to rebuild it and strengthen it, and the opposition was trying to come against it.
[00:50:06] Same thing.
[00:50:10] You're not done because God's not done.
[00:50:14] And next week we will celebrate.
[00:50:18] This week, we're going to fight.

[00:50:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Not today.

[00:50:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Start saying that now.
[00:50:29] On the count of three.
[00:50:30] One, two, three.
[00:50:32] Yeah.
[00:50:33] Wake up every day and just say it because every breath we're given this week, Satan's going to try to fight tooth and nail to ruin what God's trying to do.
[00:50:51] Some of you in here that need to rebuild the wall.
[00:50:55] Some of you in here need to get on your knees and pray.
[00:50:59] Some of you in here need to find that encouraging voice that you once had.
[00:51:09] Somebody in here needs to be the biggest smiling face out in that parking lot next Sunday.
[00:51:15] I'm talking the greeter before Gail.
[00:51:22] And you know what?
[00:51:23] Hear me out.
[00:51:25] We might not have any more people in here than this next Sunday, and that's fine.
[00:51:28] That does not negate the celebration.
[00:51:32] There will be more people here because it's the day after Maggie's birthday and a lot of our friends and family are still going to be here.
[00:51:36] But did I plan that on purpose?
[00:51:39] Five steps ahead.
[00:51:46] But fight this week.
[00:51:49] The first question I ask today is how?
[00:51:51] How do we do it?
[00:51:52] Getting this.
[00:51:54] This is a great starting line to fight.
[00:51:58] What ammunition do you need?
[00:52:00] This.
[00:52:04] Where?
[00:52:04] Don't care.
[00:52:07] Read it.
[00:52:08] Show dedication and willingness to read it.
[00:52:11] I'm talking to me too.
[00:52:14] I love hearing it, but can I tell you, there's a reason this is worn out.
[00:52:17] If I have picked up a book more in my life, show me.
[00:52:22] This is it.
[00:52:24] Now, I've told you, this is the thumbprint, right?
[00:52:27] Because I hold it when I preach.
[00:52:29] My thumb's really big.
[00:52:30] But this on the back, the pages in the middle falling out, there's no book in my life I've flipped through more than this one.
[00:52:41] And I don't like to read.
[00:52:43] But I like to be prepared.
[00:52:47] And I might be a kind soul, but when it comes to spiritual battles, I like to fight.
[00:52:54] I wasn't allowed to play football growing up because of that stupid birth defect.
[00:52:59] So man, Lord make me a linebacker and let me knock Satan out.
[00:53:05] Like, the spiritual fight in me comes from the yearning of things that I never got to do.
[00:53:11] And when people bring up spiritual battles, I am all for it because that's the biggest battle I've ever been able to fight.
[00:53:19] Physically, I'd get knocked out real quick, but I gotta make up for it somewhere.
[00:53:25] And so I think that's where the passion lies in me because this is something that I fight for you on daily.
[00:53:38] And I might look different and be different than a lot of pastors you've ever had.
[00:53:43] And my office hours might not be what you desire.
[00:53:46] Whatever, I don't care.
[00:53:48] They have phones now.
[00:53:50] But you better believe in those moments that I get that I'm not holding my little ones.
[00:53:55] I'm fighting for you.
[00:54:02] And I did have one person say something once like, I don't like when you make those kind of statements.
[00:54:09] Again, I don't care.
[00:54:11] Because that's my fight for you.
[00:54:12] Because Satan uses the little stuff, that little stuff that you guys say, that's a fight to me.
[00:54:18] That Satan will start a fight in my head with.
[00:54:21] So I have drawn that battle line, I don't care.
[00:54:24] Because there is something way more important than that.
[00:54:28] Am I reachable?
[00:54:29] Reach me.
[00:54:30] If you haven't tried, that's your fault.
[00:54:33] I'm not taking blame for that.
[00:54:37] I'm making enemies right now.
[00:54:39] I guess I don't care.
[00:54:39] It must need to happen.
[00:54:45] Because when I said yes to the calling to be a pastor, it was a calling for something about next Sunday.
[00:54:53] It was a calling for the week before.
[00:54:55] It was a calling for the day today.
[00:54:58] And that's the fight that I want to do.
[00:55:02] And that's the fight that I'm going to do.
[00:55:08] because people and their lives and we talked about a couple weeks ago those that don't know Jesus that we call the lost that's what's important and it's worth fighting for and there's a passion in me for that so this week join me in saying not today pray every day
[00:55:39] Fight every day, and together we're going to rebuild that wall.
[00:55:47] I'm going to invite our worship team to come up and close us out.
[00:55:50] And here's what my challenge is to the church today.
[00:55:55] Throw aside...
[00:55:57] Because we all have it, church-related or individually.
[00:56:01] We all have these little things that just pull us down.
[00:56:06] And I say little things because each of you have something.
[00:56:08] Like I mentioned, like, if somebody would mention, I don't like when you say something like that.
[00:56:15] And they'll even follow that up by, well, it's a little thing, but we all have those little things.
[00:56:20] All of us in some way, whether it's at work, in our family, whatever.
[00:56:25] In this moment, throw aside those little things.
[00:56:30] Focus on the Lord and what's important.
[00:56:35] And draw your battle line.
[00:56:37] Why don't you stand?

[00:56:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me
[00:57:20] I once was lost but now I'm found Was blind but now I see T'was grace that taught me
[00:57:42] And grace my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed My chains are gone
[00:58:12] My Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy rains Unending love, amazing grace
[00:58:40] It's good to read His Word my whole life.
[00:58:50] He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures My chains are gone I've been set free My God, my Savior
[00:59:15] As Christ saw me, and like a flower His mercy rains, unending love, amazing grace.
[00:59:34] Our God, I've been set free My God, my Savior, has ransomed me And like a blood, His mercy rains Unending love, amazing grace
[01:00:17] The earth shall soon dissolve like snow The sun forbear to shine But God who called me here below Will be forever mine

[01:00:46] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
will be forever mine.
[01:00:53] You are forever mine.

[01:01:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Go today knowing the fight's coming.
[01:01:21] But you got this.
[01:01:23] I remind you of God saying, you never let me down.
[01:01:29] I was holding you up with my victorious, righteous right hand.
[01:01:34] So go knowing today the battle's already won.
[01:01:37] But that doesn't mean we don't need to fight.
[01:01:41] We love you today.
[01:01:43] Let's pray.
[01:01:45] Hey God, we come to you now.
[01:01:48] I'm just thanking you and praising you for the victories this week.
[01:01:55] God, I want to start the celebration.
[01:02:00] Let us not lose focus this week.
[01:02:04] Let's stay in your word.
[01:02:10] Let's be quick to pray.
[01:02:14] Quick to encourage.
[01:02:17] and everything we do turn to you.
[01:02:20] We love you today.
[01:02:22] It's your name I pray.
[01:02:23] Everyone said, Amen.
[01:02:25] You're dismissed.