The Cost of the Cross: Identity, Discipline, and Divine Grace

• The Two Natures (Spiritual vs. Sin Nature) [00:32:24 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains the internal conflict between the spiritual nature that wants to please God and the sin nature that wants to do its own will.
• Discernment of Negative Experiences [00:35:55 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that not all negative experiences are from the devil; some are ordained by God for discipline and growth, such as taking up one's cross.
• Self-Denial and Crucifixion of the Flesh [00:36:19 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor interprets 'taking up your cross' as the necessity of crucifying the sin nature/flesh to allow the soul to draw closer to God.
• The Nature of Trials and Discipline [00:35:55 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that negative experiences are often God-ordained discipline to crucify the flesh and help believers triumph over sin, rather than just attacks from the devil.
• Learning from Mistakes vs. Repeating Them [00:39:03 ▶️ 📄]
  > He argues that making mistakes is inevitable, but the spiritual failure lies in not learning from them, which leads to repeating the same errors.
• The Importance of Remembering [00:43:38 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor emphasizes that 'remembering' is not just memory but a priority that dictates action, using the story of Moses hitting the rock instead of speaking to it as an example of forgetting God's specific instructions.
• Critique of Modern Relationships and Materialism [00:46:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > He critiques transactional relationships and excessive spending on weddings, arguing that these distract from the true purpose of relationships and the church's role in teaching them.
• Church Ownership and Identity [00:50:46 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor asserts that the church belongs to Jesus Christ, not to individuals, bishops, or denominations, and believers must discern rather than decide God's will.
• Obedience vs. Religious Performance [00:51:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the illustration of bathing, the pastor argues that singing, shouting, or preaching about spiritual truths does not replace the necessity of actually living by and obeying God's word.
• Divine Instructions for Life [00:52:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor claims God has provided specific instructions for relationships, forgiveness, finance, and stewardship, and that human opinions should not override these divine precepts.
• Covenant and Chosen Identity [00:54:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > The sermon connects the Old Testament covenant with Israel to the New Testament reality for the church, emphasizing that believers are a 'chosen generation' and 'royal priesthood' in a greater sense than Israel.
• The Role of the Holy Spirit [00:59:08 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor distinguishes between the Holy Spirit being 'upon' Old Testament figures versus 'in' New Testament believers, explaining that this indwelling makes the church a kingdom of priests.
• Identity and Worth [01:06:25 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that believers must know who they are (children of God, wonderfully made) to act accordingly, warning that the enemy steals identity.
• Service vs. Titles [01:10:38 ▶️ 📄]
  > He contrasts worldly titles with biblical greatness, citing Jesus' teaching that the greatest is the servant, and uses the analogy of doing any job with excellence regardless of status.
• Racism and Justice [01:12:32 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares personal anecdotes of experiencing subtle racism in daily life (airline service, retail surveillance) to illustrate the need for justice and fairness.
• Divine Value [01:07:53 ▶️ 📄]
  > He uses the illustration of a diamond ring dropped in mud to explain that sin does not diminish a person's inherent value created by God.
• Communion and the New Covenant [01:31:04 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recites the institution narrative, emphasizing that Christ's body and blood establish a new covenant for the remission of sin, distinct from the old covenant.
• Substitutionary Atonement [01:34:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that God poured out His wrath on Christ, taking the spiritual death and separation from the Godhead that believers would otherwise experience.
• Church Governance and Fellowship [01:42:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor clarifies that the upcoming gathering is a 'Members meeting' for collective decision-making, not a pastor's conference, and encourages post-service fellowship meals.

• Sermon Illustration [00:33:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of two people walking in opposite directions to explain the disconnect between a believer and a non-believer, noting that as one moves closer to Christ, the other moves farther into the world.
• Sermon Illustration [00:36:19 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses a rhetorical question about 'taking up your cross' to a picnic to debunk the idea that following Christ is easy or pleasant, clarifying it means self-crucifixion.
• Sermon Illustration [00:39:30 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor tells a story about a woman on a TV show who repeatedly chose bad men despite being presented with a good character option, illustrating how people repeat mistakes because they haven't learned from the past.
• Sermon Illustration [00:42:28 ▶️ 📄]
  > He shares a childhood anecdote about hiding in the same place from his cousin, who knew exactly where to find them, to illustrate how Satan knows our weak spots when we fail to learn from past experiences.
• Sermon Illustration [00:49:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > He uses the biblical account of Moses striking the rock twice instead of speaking to it as instructed, highlighting Moses' failure to remember God's specific command and the consequence of losing his entry into the Promised Land.
• Sermon Illustration [00:51:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > He uses a humorous analogy about bathing, noting that singing, shouting, or fasting about a bath does not clean the body; one must apply soap and water, illustrating that religious activities must be accompanied by practical obedience.
• Sermon Illustration [00:51:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses an analogy of bathing to illustrate spiritual obedience: one cannot simply sing, shout, or preach about taking a bath to become clean; one must actually apply soap and water. He applies this to the Word of God, stating that religious activities do not replace living by the Word.
• Sermon Illustration [00:50:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the biblical account of Moses hitting the rock instead of speaking to it, using it to highlight God's frustration with Moses' failure to recognize that God alone provides the water (blessing), not Moses.
• Sermon Illustration [01:00:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor paraphrases Exodus 19, comparing God carrying Israel on 'eagle's wings' to modern luxury transport like Air Force One or Royal Caribbean, to emphasize that God treats His people as special.
• Sermon Illustration [01:12:49 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor tells a story about sitting on the left side of an airplane and observing flight attendants consistently serving white passengers before black passengers, noting this happens 'at least half the time' and is a subtle form of racism he experiences frequently.
• Sermon Illustration [01:14:43 ▶️ 📄]
  > He recounts an incident in a store where he felt he was being followed by security due to his race, so he walked in circles to make his point, and mentions confronting a manager about being profiled as a thief based solely on skin color.
• Sermon Illustration [01:07:53 ▶️ 📄]
  > He uses the analogy of a diamond ring dropped in mud: the mud (sin) does not change the value of the diamond (the person), and Jesus came to clean the mud off.
• Sermon Illustration [01:11:04 ▶️ 📄]
  > He references a poem/quote about being a 'pine on the top of the hill' or a 'scrub in the valley,' emphasizing that one should be the best of whatever they are, whether a king or a toilet cleaner, because God judges by the quality of service, not the role.
• Sermon Illustration [01:34:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor describes the moment on the cross as 'the ripple in the Godhead,' where the Holy Spirit left Jesus, causing a separation that represents the spiritual death Christ took on behalf of humanity.

• Pastoral Charge [00:51:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > To obey God's commands.
• Pastoral Charge [00:51:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > Obey God's commands.
• Pastoral Charge [00:53:00 ▶️ 📄]
  > Study the Word of God.
• Pastoral Charge [01:16:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > Accept Christ as Lord and Savior
• Pastoral Charge [01:41:26 ▶️ 📄]
  > Coordinate and organize a communal meal (lunch or breakfast) for the next Saturday meeting.
• Pastoral Charge [01:42:06 ▶️ 📄]
  > Church members are commanded/invited to attend the upcoming members meeting to participate in collective decision-making.

[00:00:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:00:01] I made the statement, and when the choir sung the song, and I made the statement, the Lord will make a way somehow, and this person, I won't get into the details, had the audacity to come behind the pastor and say, I don't serve or somehow God. And I had to explain when our ancestors said somehow, they were saying, we don't know how, we just know you want to do it.

[00:06:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:06:00] that's like somebody, another parent coming in your house trying to chastise the parents in their place amen somebody if you feel you need to say something but you say it in privacy but you don't try to correct the leader publicly
[00:06:14] I'll leave that where it is alright but the Lord, it is somehow how many of us know how God is going to do it in fact that's why God even changes up the ways how he's
[00:06:26] going to do it because the human nature we're still worshiping the method and that's exactly what Israel did in many cases. So he does it a different way. Moses hit the rock. Next time, Moses
[00:06:38] speak to the rock. See what I'm saying? I didn't know he was going to give us water, but how he's going to give it, hey, that's his business.
[00:06:46] Amen, somebody? So a lot of us have been through some stuff, but God made a way.
[00:06:51] And let me leave that alone. We're getting called to worship.
[00:06:54] So he's trying to tell us why we're here. Can I get this in here?
[00:07:02] I speak a lot from experience. We tend to worry when we step over into tomorrow. So I know I don't have what I may need right now. All right.
[00:07:19] But I'm going to need it tomorrow so my mind skip today and I step over into tomorrow.
[00:07:27] I promise you that creates worry.
[00:07:34] Come on.
[00:07:40] I'm going to work.
[00:07:42] tomorrow bread day to day y'all hear me church because we step over into tomorrow wonder how it's going to work out and that's going to create worry I'm telling you right now take each day at a time
[00:08:07] I'm here this moment I got food I got a roof over my head come on somebody I'm doing alright right now and I'll let God deal with tomorrow but guess what I found out When I get into tomorrow, God is already there, and it's already provided.
[00:08:28] Are y'all with the church?
[00:08:29] Are you with me now?
[00:08:31] See, the worry creates a whole lot of other problems.
[00:08:38] And I'm telling you, that's when we worry.
[00:08:40] That's what creates it.
[00:08:42] Launch it out into the future when you've got to deal with today.
[00:08:46] Amen, somebody.
[00:08:48] So, again, give us this day our work.
[00:08:50] God, whatever I need to get through this day, give it to me.
[00:08:54] And then when tomorrow comes, I pray the same prayer. Give me this day what I need this day to get through this day. Amen?
[00:09:02] Amen? And then last of that, I think they said over women, I think they said three quarters, it's a percentage of the things we worry about really never come to pass anyway. So we worry for nothing.
[00:09:17] Alright, they'll stand for the call to worship. Now, see, I told y'all, stop blaming me. Who you gonna blame? Choir!
[00:09:24] Amen. They get me started every time. I'm just going to ignore the choir and just going to get up and do what I do. Amen. Because they get me started. That's good. I appreciate that.
[00:09:34] Oh come let us worship the Lord and let us bow down before God our creator for we are his people and the sheep of his pasture that our coming day now is when the true worshipers of the Father
[00:09:46] shall worship him in spirit and in truth for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth let us pray gracious god our father your man service
[00:10:00] oh i'm sorry because you got our father we come now oh god to worship you in spirit and in truth we know we can't do anything without your presence so we ask that you reveal yourself
[00:10:09] manifest yourself in terms of your shakana glory so there's no doubt that you are in our presence again we realize and recognize your omnipresence but we want a manifestation of your presence oh god so come now come holy spirit come heavenly dove and fall afresh on all of us even right now
[00:10:27] in the gracious name of our lord and great masters jesus the christ we pray amen amen our hymn of praise will become a pass me not oh gentle savior amen in the presence of the lord it is said that
[00:15:37] fanny cross who wrote that hymn that she wrote about 8 000 hymns and one of the So, of course, this is one of them, but that she was blind all of her life.
[00:15:53] Did y'all hear what I said?
[00:15:55] But her blindness, she used it in a positive way.
[00:15:58] And I'll leave that where it is, but I would challenge you, encourage you to study the life of Fannie Crosby.
[00:16:07] Amen.
[00:16:07] Sometimes we sing songs, we hear people, and we don't know what inspired this story.
[00:16:13] Amen.
[00:16:13] Like they say, normally you see my glory, but you don't know the story behind the glory.
[00:16:20] Amen.
[00:16:21] A scripture lesson this morning.
[00:16:23] Be patient with us because I want us to get the whole picture as we seek to summarize and we're seeking we wrap it up this morning.
[00:16:33] But Deuteronomy, the eighth chapter, I want you to listen again.
[00:16:36] This is Moses giving advice and teaching, I should say, to the children of Israel that they're on the brink of the promised land, on the plains of Moab, and he knows he's not going in.
[00:16:49] Be careful to obey all the commands I'm giving you today.
[00:16:53] Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the Lord swore to your ancestors.
[00:17:01] Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these 40 years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character and to find out whether or not you will obey his command.
[00:17:16] Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors.
[00:17:26] He did this to teach you that people do not live by bread alone.
[00:17:32] Rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
[00:17:36] for these for all these 40 years your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not blister or swell think about it just as a parent disciplines a child the lord your god disciplined
[00:17:50] you for your own good so obey the commands of the lord your god by walking in his ways and fearing him for the lord your god is bringing you into a good land of flowing screens and pools of water
[00:18:05] with fountains and springs that gush out in the valleys and hills.
[00:18:10] It is a land of wheat and barley, of grapevines, fig trees, and pomegranates, of olive oil and honey.
[00:18:18] It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking.
[00:18:23] It is a land where iron is as common as stone and copper is as abundant in the hills.
[00:18:29] Now, this is 100% opposite of what they have experienced the last 40 years.
[00:18:34] be clear make sure we're clear on that now this is what god is going to do for them all right when you are eating when you have eaten your field be sure to praise the lord your god
[00:18:46] for the good land he's given you but that is the time to be careful beware in your plenty you do not forget the lord your god and disobey his commands regulations decrees that i'm giving
[00:19:05] you today when you be when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied
[00:19:20] along with everything else be careful do not become proud at that time and forget the lord your God who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. Do not forget that he led you
[00:19:36] through the great and terrifying wilderness with his portion of snakes and scorpions where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock. He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble and test you for your own good.
[00:19:56] He did this so that you would never say to yourself, I have achieved this well with my own strength and energy.
[00:20:06] Remember the Lord, your God.
[00:20:09] He is the one who gives you power to be successful in order to fulfill the covenant.
[00:20:16] He confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.
[00:20:20] but i assure you this if you ever forget the lord your god and follow other gods worshiping and bowing down to them then you will certainly be destroyed just as the lord has destroyed the
[00:20:35] nation the other nations in your path you also would be destroyed if you refuse to obey the lord your god the word of god for the people of god thanks be unto god let us pray
[00:20:49] holy gracious God our father we thank you so much for allowing us to see this day we pray we will not take it for granted assuming we're going to wake up and not stopping long enough to pause and
[00:21:08] say thank you for allowing us to see another day and as our ancestors and parents of old we say thank you for clothing us in our right mind there's so many things could have happened just
[00:21:23] last night we could have died in our sleep we could have had heart attacks or something else thieves and robbers could have broken in but god is the scripture would teach us you provide an
[00:21:37] angel that watched over us all night long and we pause this morning to say thank you god thank you for keeping us all last week long as we travel the highways and byways oh god among
[00:21:52] danger that we may not even realize we thank you that it was your hand of mercy and grace oh god that protected us and we pause to say thank you god thank you for providing food for us
[00:22:04] help us never to take for granted oh god that it is you who give us food to eat for you could cause the ground not to reproduce oh god and so we say thank you for the food that you provided thank you for giving us appetites to
[00:22:23] eat the food that you have provided for there are some that have food and no appetite and some have appetites and no food and you have blessed us with both and father we say thank you thank you
[00:22:37] for giving us a mind to come to the house of worship to thank you oh god and praise and worship you for we live move and have our being in you it's not that we've done anything on our own merit
[00:22:54] to deserve to be in the house of God.
[00:22:58] But it's by your grace and your mercy that you've allowed us to come this morning.
[00:23:04] And we say thank you.
[00:23:08] Father, there may be some among us that sit in the body.
[00:23:14] Minds may be disturbed.
[00:23:17] Families may be having issues. But you're the one that can fix all of our situations. And as the psalmist would say, we look unto the hills for we've covered our health knowing all of our help
[00:23:35] come from you who made heaven and earth and so we say thank you God and above all as we gather to commune this morning help us to be reminded of the one that we honor
[00:23:59] this morning who shed innocent blood on Calvary's cross help us oh God not to take salvation for granted or we'll save because we're good but to realize we're saved because of the sacrifice of christ he gave his life as a ransom
[00:24:31] for us he was crucified for us he was buried in a borrowed tomb for us oh god we thank you for all the agonizing pain that he experienced pierced him in the side crown of thorns on his
[00:24:57] head lied on talked about criticized denied betrayed and the beat goes on and sometimes we feel like giving up over trivia matters and have not considered what our savior has already gone through and so we this morning oh god help us to commemorate and celebrate all that he's done
[00:25:38] for us. And so we close this prayer by saying thank you, Lord, for all you've done. You help us to live lives worthy of the same.
[00:25:54] In the gracious name of our Lord and great Master Jesus, who is the Christ, we pray that the saints of God say Amen.
[00:26:03] Apostles, read our affirmation of faith. Understand there's only one true church, apostolic and universal, whose holy faith let us now reverently and sincerely declare I believe in God the Father almighty the maker of the heaven and earth
[00:26:18] and in Jesus Christ the only son of our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried the third day he rose from the dead
[00:26:30] he is seated in the heaven seated on the right hand of God the Father almighty from thence shall come the church the quick and the dead I believe in the Holy Ghost the communion of saints
[00:26:42] the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
[00:26:47] You may be seated.

[00:26:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:26:57] What we should all want, a closer walk with the

[00:32:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:32:06] in fact the only way to grow and enjoy more of his presence is to have a closer walk. Now the soul wants a closer walk. The flesh does not.
[00:32:24] I don't know that everybody and I don't mean him in general understand there are two in us the sin nature that we were born with and we say the spiritual nature and the spiritual nature wants to
[00:32:39] please God the sin nature wants to do what it wants to do and they're opposite of each other and everybody has that that's the way it is and I'll leave this for another day and sometimes when people are not saved
[00:32:56] they only got one nature that's a sin nature and you're wondering why you can't get along you can't what fellowship has light with darkness how good they are in the natural realm they're in darkness
[00:33:12] so what fellowship does light have with darkness they can't you're walking in the opposite direction and wondering why we're growing close or farther away from each other when you're going in the opposite direction as you move closer to Christ
[00:33:28] they're moving farther into the world we say well that's a bigger difference between us of course it is because you're going in opposite direction amen somebody let me get away from that see these are the things church I don't know why
[00:33:45] the church shy away from the thing that impacts people the most this is what the church is for honestly it's all in the word a lot of stuff people think god is pleased with god ain't pleased with that stuff
[00:34:01] he wants to help uh help people amen somebody that's the ministry of the church where are people i'm gonna get out of this but jesus had to become jesus became one of us i don't know why people
[00:34:16] don't want to accept that he became one of us why was he born of a woman what sense would that make Leave it alone.
[00:34:28] Amen.
[00:34:29] All right.
[00:34:30] I know we don't want to hear.
[00:34:32] I don't mean us.
[00:34:33] A little bit.
[00:34:34] Let's pray.
[00:34:35] Gracious God, our Father, your man, servant, come into this most sacred moment to impart your word of life and truth.
[00:34:39] I acknowledge again I have nothing to say on my own merit to share with each of your great people.
[00:34:43] So I ask you to fill me with the Holy Spirit.
[00:34:46] Bring me the complete unction and utterance of your spirit so the word come from my mouth with those ordained by you.
[00:34:51] Consecrate our hearts and minds so we receive the word and apply it to our daily lives.
[00:34:56] In the marvelous name of Jesus the Christ, we pray.
[00:34:59] Amen.
[00:35:00] Thank you, God.
[00:35:01] Some praise for the choir.
[00:35:02] Amen.
[00:35:04] And the musicians.
[00:35:05] Amen.
[00:35:06] Wednesday, we hear Michelle all the time.
[00:35:08] Wednesday, we know we're going to get some good singing every Sunday.
[00:35:11] Amen.
[00:35:12] The preaching may be different, but we know we're going to get some good singing.
[00:35:16] Amen.
[00:35:16] And I'm for real on that.
[00:35:17] We know we're going to get that.
[00:35:19] Amen.
[00:35:20] And I appreciate your consistency in doing such a marvelous job every Sunday.
[00:35:26] Thank God for Usher. Amen. All your tech team, our deaconesses. Amen.
[00:35:32] And thank God for you. And thank God for our church schools, our superintendent and teachers.
[00:35:38] They do a great job every Sunday morning. Amen.
[00:35:42] But you've heard me say from time to time that this lesson is so critical, I believe, to the life of the church.
[00:35:51] And that we understand how God works and how God deal with us.
[00:35:55] and you hear me say sometimes we got to start being careful about rebuking the devil everything that what we consider negative is not of the devil notice what I said what we consider to be
[00:36:07] negative is not the devil there's a thing God has ordained and like if I'm going to follow Christ with what the Bible says about following Christ is take up your cross what you think we're going

[00:36:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:36:19] to a picnic take up your

[00:36:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:36:24] cross and follow me and here's the deal self got to be crucified in other words that sin nature in me has to be crucified I don't want my flesh don't want that to happen now my soul want that to happen
[00:36:42] because my soul trying to get closer to God but my flesh trying to stay into the world so they fight with each other amen somebody and for all of us some days guess what the flesh gets the upper hand and everybody in the world all of us wake up on the wrong side of
[00:37:04] the bed sometimes amen somebody all of us have been let's say if you've been to work and you came home and you snapped at your spouse and they didn't do anything to you you just got mad at work
[00:37:19] okay well that's not to happen here but most people like you what's wrong with you you know you know amen somebody or some of us have what we call a bad hair day you know i don't have much
[00:37:35] to have a bad hair day you know but i'm saying that that these are realities of life and god knows how we see it is done to us and he knows what it takes to discipline us discipline so we
[00:37:50] can triumph over sin by being disciplined and so today's subject as I conclude this series whether I finish today or next week I'm trying to finish today lessons from the wilderness experience so what is the lesson what is the wilderness trying to teach us
[00:38:08] and so I gotta I'm gonna tell you how many points here but I think I can get through them quickly because I've already preached them now I'm just summarizing them so you can tell me to write
[00:38:19] these downs very seriously huh lesson what is it when god takes me through trials and tribulations stuff that i did not do to be going through it and even if you did huh he's always trying to
[00:38:37] teach us something and i was trying to when you see me on my phone i'm not texting and stuff like that i'm trying to uh look for something a quote that i had about the lesson that we learned from
[00:38:49] things that somebody else gave you know but it's a bottom line is it's not simply what we go through at the lesson that we learn from it huh amen somebody all of them make boo-boos in life
[00:39:03] are y'all with my church but it's so it's not the fact that i made a boo-boo in my life the fact is that i learned anything from it because if i don't learn from it guess what's
[00:39:14] going to happen. I'm going to repeat it.
[00:39:19] Oh Lord, sisters, please don't beat me. Just a good example.
[00:39:25] And you know, so I was whatever show it was, I don't recall.
[00:39:30] But this lady was wondering why she keep ending up with the wrong kind of men. Every time she choose the wrong one.
[00:39:38] And so they put her to the test. They had two guys, three guys, and one two was known to be a good character and one bad character guess she asked him question guess which one she chose the bad character that all she's been doing all her life and he was
[00:40:03] trying to tell us is in you that you've not learned from the past that you keep repeating the same mistake.
[00:40:14] So until you change your perspective, help me somebody huh? Because you know men and women say the same, but there are no good men, there are no good women.
[00:40:24] That's a bold faced lie from hell.
[00:40:30] There are good women and always there are good men.
[00:40:34] We don't look at ourselves and say why I keep making the mistake because I'm judging the character wrong.
[00:40:42] I'm looking at the six pack.
[00:40:47] Y'all don't know I'm telling the truth in here.
[00:40:50] Huh?
[00:40:50] We don't look at no real, really don't look at character.
[00:40:54] Got to look good.
[00:40:55] And that's all that matters.
[00:40:58] Okay, I'm going to leave that alone.
[00:40:59] That's not in my notes.
[00:41:01] No, because it's true.
[00:41:02] I mean, we do it in life in general.
[00:41:04] Even churches.
[00:41:11] Because you keep making the same, make the same.
[00:41:19] I just bring it on circumstances.
[00:41:27] I blame it on somebody else.
[00:41:29] Help me somebody, huh?
[00:41:31] I'm telling you the only God true, church.
[00:41:34] We'll do it, and that's broken human nature.
[00:41:36] We'll do the same thing over and over again.
[00:41:39] isn't that what it's how they define insanity doing the same thing expecting a different result it's people i'm going for society's doing businesses do it individuals do it churches do it until we learn the lesson so israel have so god did teach them a lesson that i taught you
[00:42:15] and he said don't forget it you just you'll hear what i'm saying church we'll do the same thing over and over again.
[00:42:28] When we were little kids, we have a cousin.
[00:42:30] He didn't really do nothing bad.
[00:42:32] He messed with us a lot.
[00:42:34] And guess what my brother and I would do?
[00:42:38] We would run to the same place to hide every time.
[00:42:42] You missed what I'm saying.
[00:42:44] We would run to the same place every time because that's the mind of a child.
[00:42:52] Not knowing he knows exactly where to go.
[00:42:55] And for some of us, Satan knows exactly what to do to trip us up.
[00:43:00] Teach some lessons What can I learn from the past So I don't repeat it This is what Moses is doing Or is it God You got to remember Israel What happened Don't just jump up and shout every time
[00:43:38] What's the lesson behind this story And so one is He's saying remember Lesson number one Write it down like I got it Say it like I got it Drop it like it's hot.
[00:43:50] Remember the important to remember.
[00:43:54] Now, remembers me, keep conscious.
[00:43:58] It's not a memory.
[00:44:01] Go to church and still forget to go to church.
[00:44:05] I could be in church and forget to come.
[00:44:08] Why?
[00:44:08] Because the church is not on my mind.
[00:44:13] Because I do something, doesn't mean I remember to do it.
[00:44:16] It means it's a priority for my life.
[00:44:21] That's what God is talking about.
[00:44:24] It's the dominant thing.
[00:44:26] it's slippery to forget it's slippery it's slipped in other words okay if i do it's okay if i don't but no big deal are y'all in church honestly that's what god is saying make this the top
[00:44:40] priority make this the center of why what you're doing and why you're doing it that's why jesus said this dude and remembers to me huh don't forget he don't mean just have communion but i
[00:44:53] got to understand what communion is all about don't forget my suffering and my sacrifice to save you don't forget all of us were held by stepped in the picture and saved our lives the life of christ how much is too much for christ well i ain't got time for this i don't
[00:45:16] have to like i do i wouldn't have an hour if it wasn't for christ my money you came into the world and naked you're going to check out.
[00:45:29] And as soon as you check out, throw your stuff.
[00:45:39] I know you're, I'm a pastor, I know.
[00:45:43] I'm telling you to God, ooh, you want to get some folks mad?
[00:45:47] Leave one more than the other.
[00:45:51] Amen, somebody.
[00:45:53] They didn't treat me right.
[00:45:56] Or you would die.
[00:45:57] If they raise you, that's enough.
[00:45:59] What you have, you should leave it to.
[00:46:06] But I'm just saying, you know, people fight over stuff.
[00:46:14] and it's not about that you know I hear more and more men and women in relationships I feel so bad God knows I do for the young generation because most of them I hear it's transactional
[00:46:27] it's how much you can do I heard I'm going to say one person y'all don't think I'm picking on them women said that what you bring to the table I'm the whole house you got to be out of your
[00:46:40] cotton picking mind that implies that you by yourself everything centers around you relationship people coming together the two shall become one i want to do it's dangerous you see this is we don't talk about relationships you know just get married nice talking you know
[00:47:32] we don't talk about relationship i just tell some people sometimes i said sitting in general i can't say it during the wedding time we're spending all that big money for a few uh hour or whatever
[00:47:43] But wedding itself is only going to last 30 minutes once it gets started.
[00:47:47] And then you got the reception, and then you'll be broke the rest of the time.
[00:47:51] You know, you make it make sense.
[00:47:54] No, I'm serious about it, church.
[00:47:55] We got to think.
[00:47:58] I said, you're going to need that money for your relationship to get started in life.
[00:48:03] Have a nice suit.
[00:48:05] Have a nice dress.
[00:48:06] I'm not arguing about that.
[00:48:08] But I'm saying you better go and scrap it.
[00:48:12] And then to marry the last two years.
[00:48:15] Because I spent all of my time and energy.
[00:48:18] trying to look good before the people.
[00:48:21] And this is what the church is for.
[00:48:24] To teach them knee-high to a duck what relationships are all about.
[00:48:30] Let me get out of this.
[00:48:31] It's just in the text.
[00:48:33] But this is what Moses is trying to say about remembering.
[00:48:36] But let me go back a little faster.
[00:48:37] So he's stressing the importance of remembering.
[00:48:43] And I don't understand the importance of remembering because the whole lesson goes out the window.
[00:48:51] There are things that God is saying that you better keep dirty in your life.
[00:49:00] If you don't do nothing else, do this.
[00:49:05] This is what he's trying to tell us.
[00:49:08] Moses said that it may go well with you and that you may increase.
[00:49:12] Moses could have said, you know, I let you all get under my skin and I did something I shouldn't have done.
[00:49:18] And now I'm not going and you're going.
[00:49:21] But he's not going over there.
[00:49:24] Because that's the time when the Lord told him to speak to the rock.
[00:49:26] so we don't we i just asked yeah you can get for god to forgive you but that don't mean i'll get the blessing so we've missed that we just hear well god a second chance god and something but
[00:49:39] this one there was no second chance for moses now you think if anybody would have had a second chance moses would have had a second chance god made it clear i talked to moses face to face
[00:49:50] everybody else i back then i talked to everybody else in a dream but me and moses we like this and God said Moses speak to the rock and the first time he said hit the rock
[00:50:01] but the next time God said speak to the rock and then Moses hit the rock and God said oh here's the thing that really got God with Moses Moses said shall we give you water
[00:50:14] and God wanted to know what we y'all missed that you missed that God thought that what Moses said shall we give you water what we you're still missing it church see can I be real with y'all
[00:50:31] we gotta be careful that we don't treat church stuff like my church that I don't treat like it's my church huh where I get a church from huh Jesus said upon this rock I will build my church
[00:50:46] and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it the church belong to Christ it's not my church it's not your church it's not the bishop church nor the presiding elder church It's not even the Amazon church
[00:51:00] It is the church of Jesus Christ It's his church Don't get to decide Except to discern his will But not decide There's a difference in the two My job is to discern Not decide Let's just move away from this here
[00:51:24] I don't know what I'm going to do But remember his precepts That's what he said Obey all his commands What are you telling them right now?
[00:51:36] Obey, I didn't preach that Now let me say this quick I love to do this, use this as an illustration Singing about a bath Shouting about a bath Dancing about a bath Preaching about a bath
[00:51:52] Shouting, I mean not shouting But fasting about a bath Does not help the body One eye odor Come on somebody I got to what Apply the soap and water Come on church, y'all talk back
[00:52:07] does that help the body do you want somebody to just shout about a bath sing about a bath preach about a bath but never take a bath

[00:52:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[00:52:16] well that's all I do

[00:52:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:52:21] and I don't obey it and that's all you do is do it too and that's the same thing I got to apply the word of God you got to live by the word of God
[00:52:32] God has told us everything how to do everything in life about relationship about forgiveness Amen, somebody.
[00:52:41] How to finance the church, how to get along with one another, how to deal with your enemies.
[00:52:46] He's given us instructions about everything.
[00:52:50] I cannot inject my opinion in anything that's of God unless it's disobedience unto God.
[00:52:58] That's why we've got to study the word.
[00:53:00] But the Levites precepts.
[00:53:02] Amen, somebody.
[00:53:04] So yeah, he tells us how to do everything.
[00:53:07] Who to marry, who not to marry.
[00:53:09] Come on, y'all talk back to her, huh?
[00:53:11] who to help and how to help them huh we went over that in stewardship in bible study who to help and how to help huh amen it's not just giving handouts i don't mean people don't make me something for a
[00:53:23] while i'm not talking about that i mean consistently that's why some things in our society just doesn't work because it's against the will of god that we're for it to work it cannot work you can help
[00:53:34] anybody temporarily but it cannot be a system a way of life though now we're doing more harm to the person that's on it, they're just getting it.
[00:53:44] I know we don't talk about it.
[00:53:45] Okay, but I'm just saying, huh?
[00:53:47] And then I'm getting in a lot of trouble.
[00:53:50] But listen, if a man father a child, it's his responsibility to take care of that child.
[00:53:56] You can't put that off on the government or anybody else.
[00:53:59] They may need temporary help, but that's not God's system.
[00:54:02] Amen, somebody, huh?
[00:54:03] In fact, the Bible says you're worth an emerald if you don't take care of your own children.
[00:54:07] Amen.
[00:54:08] I can't expect God to take care of me, but I don't take care of mine.
[00:54:16] But then we move on to lesson number three.
[00:54:18] So lesson number two, number one was remember the importance of to remember to remember his precept.
[00:54:26] I'm about done.
[00:54:28] Three is remember his promises or to trust his promises.
[00:54:33] Moses is making it clear that why God is taking you over to the promised land because he made a covenant with Abraham.
[00:54:42] You really hear me church?
[00:54:43] and the covenant goes from generation to generation that's why every first Sunday we renew our covenant you don't want to talk to me huh I promise you if we talk about covenants listen that's the old covenant
[00:54:57] but I keep teaching it the new covenant is much greater than the old covenant and if you're a child of God you are part of a covenant much greater than what Israel ever had the covenant that Israel had
[00:55:13] is a shadow of the covenant that we have now.
[00:55:17] What you mean is a God-chosen people?
[00:55:21] Well, who do you think we are?
[00:55:24] See how the church has gotten on track to get the church to understand now that we are God-chosen people in a greater sense than Israel ever was.
[00:55:38] What do you think we're doing on First Sunday?
[00:55:47] A testament, saying there's a covenant.
[00:55:55] You see, church folks have been told that stuff for so long.
[00:55:59] It's hard to get our church folks mad now.
[00:56:02] Everywhere I go, here's where God chosen people. You know what I'm saying? We are.
[00:56:08] Even though we're reading the Bible, we're not going to say we are.
[00:56:11] Look at what? That's what we've heard.
[00:56:13] Huh? And so to put those scriptures up, but I was going to remember to put those scriptures up. They're going to be Exodus 19. In fact, I'll just close it out right now and put that up
[00:56:25] and show us.
[00:56:27] Put up Exodus 19.
[00:56:29] And I think verses 4 and 5, it may start at verse 3, I don't know.
[00:56:36] And then 1 Peter 2 and 9.
[00:56:38] I thought, didn't I do that one Sunday?
[00:56:39] I think I did.
[00:56:41] You know, we're going to close out with that.
[00:56:43] Amen, somebody?
[00:56:44] Amen.
[00:56:45] Yeah.
[00:56:50] First one, Exodus 19 chapter.
[00:56:53] Try verses, just put 3 through 5.
[00:56:55] There, I know I got it.
[00:56:59] And we can make it, it takes time.
[00:57:01] I can preach something else, you get it.
[00:57:02] other one would be first peter two and nine first peter two and nine it may be verse eight my apology because i shouldn't have i don't mind apologizing i shouldn't have to guess i should
[00:57:18] know i'm very serious about it i should point you directly there and don't blink an eye and be right on target amen somebody why are they looking at that let me just go on somebody's promises
[00:57:32] and then he gave you the ability to produce wealth. God is saying, whatever you have, yeah, but if you say, well, I got a good education, yeah, but who gave you the mind to get the education?
[00:57:43] Now, if you're a child of God, when you've been through some tough major, you had to pray sometime to get those homework assignments.
[00:57:52] Sometimes we have to pray to pass the test.
[00:57:54] Huh? Amen, somebody.
[00:57:56] Sometimes we have to pray for the job.
[00:58:01] Which one now?
[00:58:03] 1 Peter 2, try verse 9.
[00:58:07] we're going to say for you a chosen generation or something like that you see peter is picking up off what exodus said now let me go back to something now because this is what methodist
[00:58:20] teaches we are kingdom uh no the priesthood of all believers understand what wesley taught he got it out of scripture from exodus 19 god said you shall be for me a kingdom of priests huh well we get confused on leadership and maybe the office but god is saying everybody in you
[00:58:39] saved, you're a kingdom of priests. That's who you are. You're a kingdom of priests. You got to know who we are now. We're not going there. Where do we know who we are? Huh?
[00:58:51] You shall be for me a kingdom of priests.
[00:58:54] But yet he had a Levitical tribe that served as the priest. Why? Until Christ came.
[00:59:02] And when Christ came, he atoned for our sin and guess what? Sent the Holy Spirit.
[00:59:08] And that's what makes us a kingdom of priests.
[00:59:10] so you are somebody so you don't talk to me church I'm only trying to say the status that God gave to us see if I don't know who I am I'll settle for anything in my life
[00:59:24] but I know who I am so God made us a special assignment walk in it for I can't walk confidently in anything I don't know about myself Moses went up okay to go on let's do the next one
[00:59:42] now to tell the people Okay, you're the children of Israel.
[00:59:47] Okay, go on down.
[00:59:49] Okay, which one are we in now?
[00:59:52] This, this, this.
[00:59:54] Which one it is?
[00:59:57] That first Peter.
[00:59:58] Okay, go on down then.
[00:59:59] I got it.
[01:00:09] That's Exodus, right?
[01:00:11] It's Exodus 19?
[01:00:14] Okay.
[01:00:17] Okay, you're on the right track.
[01:00:19] Okay, yeah, go on down.
[01:00:22] Okay, now watch what he said.
[01:00:24] you yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt and how I carried you on eagle's wing and brought you to myself can I paraphrase that I brought you on Air Force One brought you on the Royal Caribbean
[01:00:45] the greatest cruise ship in the world I brought you on that because you're special to me I'm telling you what he said I'm paraphrasing but on the God that's what he's saying you are special to me
[01:01:06] I didn't just go set a donkey to pick you up I brought you an eagle's wing and I brought you to myself cause that's where you belong alright read on now read on right there
[01:01:18] now if you now see that's it if you obey me fully and keep my covenant then out of all the nations in the world you will be my treasured possession although the whole earth is mine
[01:01:31] read on here we go church here we go here we go here we go here we go alright I'm going I'm going.
[01:01:38] Come on.
[01:01:39] Okay.
[01:01:44] I'll get there.
[01:01:45] I'm exercising.
[01:01:47] Okay.
[01:01:49] Keep going.
[01:01:50] Yeah.
[01:01:51] Yeah, keep going.
[01:01:52] Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[01:01:53] Okay.
[01:01:53] Okay, now.
[01:01:58] You will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
[01:02:05] This was spoken to Israel.
[01:02:16] Yet, never asked a priest.
[01:02:23] The place of all the people.
[01:02:31] See why you have the Holy Spirit.
[01:02:32] Old Testament on the priest the kings and prophets had the Holy Spirit and even that he was upon them not within them huh read it for yourself don't take my word for anything that he was upon them
[01:02:49] and Jesus even said to his disciples he's in you he's with you and he shall be in you after the Holy Spirit comes see this is what we don't deal with in the church gotta know who you are
[01:03:02] because you don't know who you are other people will define you I'm telling you what I'm telling you what the truth is other people will define who you are and we'll buy into it so you know we can start acting like what people think we are if we're not careful
[01:03:19] that's why you never call people dumb and stupid you don't tell a student you're dumb they'll act dumb because the child doesn't know any better Let's read on, let's read on, let's read on.
[01:03:33] Okay, now go to, okay.
[01:03:35] So, these are the words you will speak to the Israelites. Alright, let me see if there's any more I want to get out of there.
[01:03:41] I think that's it. Now, next one I think I want to go.
[01:03:44] Okay, so now let's go to 1 Peter 2 chapter. Let's start, let's start with verse 8. I know 8 through 10 or 8 through 11 will be the one. Okay.
[01:03:54] Yeah, we're getting there. Alright.
[01:03:56] Okay. Now, he's getting this from Exodus 19.
[01:04:01] Everybody clear? Now he's speaking to the church.
[01:04:05] The Exodus passage was spoken to Israel.
[01:04:09] Huh? Are y'all with me, church? See, God, people keep misunderstanding. When God says, you are my chosen people, it's like I'm chosen to be a pastor. Are y'all with me, church?
[01:04:21] It doesn't mean you're not important. It doesn't mean you're not equally important. And that's why we think we got to be careful as leaders.
[01:04:32] we can act like we more than the people and we're not is but person god can chew the dunk if he want to that's stepping the road so it's not it's the offense or somebody ought to hear me now church
[01:04:52] please i'm trying to get through with this so why don't you put it back just keep the screen up there don't worry about me all right let's go on up there yeah it's for first peter's second
[01:05:07] chapter because see peter on the sand of god only intent with israel was to choose them to represent him in the world to draw the attention of the world to him but not like they were unique and
[01:05:29] special and god belonged to them he loved all of his people all of his creation okay now going down he's saying a lot of stuff up in there but i don't have time to get into it tonight right there that's
[01:05:46] what i want right there but you not a church he's using that basically the same language that was in exodus 18 or 19 but you are chosen people who y'all talk back who is who's the
[01:06:03] royal priesthood who's the holy nation you are it speaks more highly here than it does in exodus I might get godly sick or church people not knowing who we are.
[01:06:25] I can't act like who I'm supposed to act like if I don't know who I am.
[01:06:32] Don't you know what the enemy always trying to do is steal your identity?
[01:06:36] Don't be defiant if you want to.
[01:06:46] I don't answer to that mess.
[01:06:47] Don't even look.
[01:06:50] I don't know who they're talking to.
[01:06:51] You may look around and see who they're talking to, but I'm serious.
[01:06:55] See, don't feed into it.
[01:06:57] Well, I'm talking to you.
[01:06:59] Me?
[01:06:59] Oh I thought you were talking to yourself Y'all missed it Look I'm not that I'm a child of God Like me I'm a child of God God made you somebody You're wonderfully and fearfully made
[01:07:23] By the hand of God God shaped us in his image and our delight Everything else God said let it be When it came to us God shaped it us And molded us And I dare you to buy the car
[01:07:37] That's why danger is to call people other stuff because I'm denying the godness in them. They may act crazy, but they have to sin in us to make us do crazy stuff. Amen somebody. I'm 200 times
[01:07:53] that's it. If I drop a diamond ring in the mud has it lost its value?
[01:07:57] The value is still the same. Am I right somebody?
[01:08:00] Am I right somebody?
[01:08:01] All sin was we got dropped in the mud and Jesus came to clean the mud off.
[01:08:07] He came to clean the mud off.
[01:08:09] amen now for us it's a lifelong process all of us got to have the mud clean off us but you got to know who you are i know who i am and i i when i say that i'm not saying that
[01:08:22] arrogantly you are as good as great as anybody else i don't know what role or title they have that does not make them any greater than who you are well god does not define greatness by the
[01:08:34] titles you hold anyway don't think we're taking titles to heaven i'm serious about it church don't get caught up into that not for this except jesus christ himself no we know who you are because see it's hard to get people to what can i do to y'all to go to i use the fact that i knew
[01:09:17] let's say do problems well, math and science well as a platform to help me know I can do it in confidence.
[01:09:33] Really. So I usually say I'm not going to let it I'm not going to let a math problem win.
[01:09:43] There is a way to do it. There have been many times I worked all night trying to get the problem done. Couldn't get it worked out, prayed, went to bed, prayed about it, and the next morning went right to it.
[01:09:56] Anybody listen to what I'm saying, church?
[01:09:58] You're greater than any problem in the world.
[01:10:01] You have to know that. I have to know that.
[01:10:06] That's why you hear me say, yeah, somebody else may be going, I'll preach me, what we call preaching, but when you preach the truth, you've done your job. It's not marriage, it's about the soundness of our voice anyway.
[01:10:18] It's really about the sincerity of the heart and speaking truth. And so let's put it like this through right now. Jesus says this, the greatest among you shall be your servant. You can't forget that. It's not in titles.
[01:10:38] It's in how well you serve. And he's talking about now, you serve with that which you're given to do.
[01:10:46] Oh, come on, somebody help me.
[01:10:48] Please help me, somebody. Huh?
[01:10:50] And you can be a sweet, sweet brother. It doesn't matter.
[01:10:52] Dr. King said do it like Beethoven composed music do the job like Shakespeare wrote Portrait because it's not by side that the winner you fail be the best of whatever you are in fact he concluded
[01:11:04] the song by saying if you can't be a pine on the top of the hill be a little scrub in the valley you can't be a scrub in the valley be a little bush on the side of the
[01:11:13] of the rio I'm getting this mixed up but if you can't be a pine on the top of the hill be a bush in the valley but it's just my side that the winner you fail
[01:11:24] be the best of whatever you are and that's what God judges you can be the toilet cleaner and be greater than a king because you served well you did the job well you did what
[01:11:40] God assigned to you well because God makes the assignment but doesn't make us greater than another person I'd be a fool like I think I'm special over you because I'm the pastor. I'm not worthy of the pastor
[01:12:00] a gnat or a mosquito.
[01:12:02] It's by grace all of us are served. Amen to me. Amen.
[01:12:10] Amen. Okay, I'm through with that. I didn't know what we were going to get through.
[01:12:14] We did what we did.
[01:12:16] Amen. But we got to go. Because this is where, heard it in the church in my opinion, especially us as a people. I know the time before I spent.
[01:12:24] Especially us as a people because of what we've been through in this country.
[01:12:30] Huh? Amen.
[01:12:32] Most of us probably see racism every day.
[01:12:35] And I'm not trying to polarize anybody.
[01:12:38] I know I'm right about it, huh?
[01:12:40] We see it all the time.
[01:12:41] Sometimes I just give you one.
[01:12:43] If I'm sitting on, this is the AB side on the left side of the plane, the face of the cockpit.
[01:12:49] I'm sitting over here.
[01:12:51] And normally they serve on this side.
[01:12:54] First, the window here and then the aisle.
[01:12:57] then they'll go over here and get the window and then the aisle, alright so guess what happens, if I'm sitting over here, especially the two of us, black people sitting over here, and two whites
[01:13:08] over here, they go over here first I'm telling you, I experience this all the time in fact, I told one brother, they were flying with me, I said, now watch what they likely do, not everybody do it now
[01:13:20] but it happens at least half the time, I wasn't going to say more than half the time, if I'm sitting over here, then they go back, oh wait a minute wait a minute, so they
[01:13:28] They won't come here first.
[01:13:30] They go over there first.
[01:13:31] And then when they get behind me, before they got to me, guess what?
[01:13:35] They went over here, and then they went over there.
[01:13:37] When they get to me, they'll go over there.
[01:13:42] If they pass me, they'll go over here.
[01:13:44] They'll go back to the order, over here, and then go over there.
[01:13:48] I see it all the time.
[01:13:49] Subtle.
[01:13:51] I would regret it now.
[01:13:54] I didn't put the stuff back.
[01:13:56] I'm decent in a dress.
[01:13:58] I saw some little guy kind of looking like he's playing on the phone like on the eye.
[01:14:02] looking at me. I called them out.
[01:14:05] Y'all keep some money to get me out of jail but I don't want to go to jail.
[01:14:10] I said, I see what you're doing.
[01:14:13] I said, first of all, I'm not a thief.
[01:14:16] And I should have said, honest to God, I should have put all this stuff back and I speak to a manager and say, you have no reason, no reason except to color my skin, to check me to see if I'm stealing something.
[01:14:31] Then I would have told them my position.
[01:14:35] I'm going to stop this stuff.
[01:14:37] Y'all don't get me.
[01:14:38] Huh? I'm just saying that stuff happens all the time.
[01:14:43] You know, I use people, you go in the store, they're following you around. Guess what I do? I walk around in circles where they get the point. I do.
[01:14:49] I'm serious, y'all.
[01:14:52] Don't let me think you following me, though. I'm going to shoot.
[01:14:56] I don't know. Don't play with me like that.
[01:15:02] You ain't got no reason to do that.
[01:15:05] That's enough.
[01:15:07] Y'all did this to me. Remember when I said we got to have somebody to blame?
[01:15:12] I'm playing. I'm just joking.
[01:15:13] I can't, but I really accept full responsibility for what I do.
[01:15:17] Amen.
[01:15:18] But our invitation is extended.
[01:15:22] And I hope you know by now, I love people.
[01:15:24] I love justice and fairness.
[01:15:26] And that's another thing the Bible really talks about a lot.
[01:15:28] I'm not going to get into that, about justice and fairness to everybody.
[01:15:32] That's really what it's saying.
[01:15:33] Make the playing field even.
[01:15:34] We're not trying to get anything.
[01:15:36] You know we're not the larger person.
[01:15:39] One man was, I don't think I'm trying to get into it, but he would fire mad at all African-American people because he said, we get free housing and we get free food.
[01:15:50] And guess who get it more?
[01:15:51] By numbers, who get it more?
[01:15:53] Not us.
[01:15:56] But see, the way they tell the story is us.
[01:16:00] Are y'all with me, church?
[01:16:01] And by numbers, it's them.
[01:16:04] Who benefited more from affirmative action in DEI?
[01:16:08] It wasn't us.
[01:16:11] Look at the statistics.
[01:16:12] I should do part of that.
[01:16:14] They just changed the name from Firmness of Activity to Workforce of Diversity.
[01:16:17] And then at some point they changed it to DEI.
[01:16:20] Diversity with equity and inclusion.
[01:16:25] But anyway, invitation is extended to receive Christ as your Lord and your Savior.
[01:16:30] Christ wants to come in every heart and every mind.
[01:16:34] He wants to remind us of who we are.
[01:16:37] Amen.
[01:16:37] Anyone want to accept Christ, whether you're virtual or in person?
[01:16:45] this is your moment your opportunity put your name in the chat so when we get back with us to get back to you I want to come right now we dedicate your life

[01:16:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[01:16:56] to Christ or unite the church fellowship anyone let's say for the record are we

[01:18:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:18:46] do give do it electronically well between a rock and a hard plate does another things at least some of especially one of our Bishop teaches the people should see us giving so I'm thinking about maybe adding something in
[01:18:59] envelope and putting it in there just so you also you can see with your own eyes but we do give electronically you can verify with the stewards if you like but we believe in giving and we are
[01:19:11] tithers and offering we give more than the tithe we give an offering i'm not my job and i just beat you across the head about what you do you don't do that's not my job and if i ever because that's
[01:19:22] anything in life if i look like i'm beating you across the head then that's on me that's my bad but because God don't want me to do it that way but teach yes amen somebody
[01:19:32] and do it with love and understanding and compassion because I've been there if anybody don't believe in that don't worry I've been there I was there too in my life so you don't get to a point
[01:19:46] of deliverance and then I don't see why people just can't see it I was blind as a bat too I didn't see it God had to open my eyes are y'all with me church so you don't get to somewhere they act like you don't
[01:19:58] understand how they don't do it.
[01:20:00] You are who you are.
[01:20:01] My job is to love you. Amen?
[01:20:04] And teach. Amen?
[01:20:06] We together on that church?
[01:20:08] Alright. Amen. But I promise you it will bless your life. And see, these are things you got to talk to God about.
[01:20:14] God got to bring it to your heart, your understanding, and your conviction. So just ask God, Lord, is this your way or not? And, you know, help me to get there. And let God do God's
[01:20:26] work. Amen? He'll God, he'll bring you there. I promise he will.
[01:20:29] But I promise you, you'll never regret it.
[01:20:32] I promise you that. You'll never regret it.
[01:20:34] It is to bless your life, add more to your life, to make you increase, not decrease.
[01:20:39] So I cannot know what will help you to increase in your life, and I don't teach it. Amen?
[01:20:45] Because I, too, was there. Amen?
[01:20:47] All right. And so you know, as we're coming for the announcement, we give at the beginning of the month for the whole month, actually before we even get the rest of the money.
[01:21:30] we're paying for all of july but we've not gotten all of our money in july for july yet no really that's what we do it so i don't have to keep doing it every week so we just do it the
[01:21:42] first of the first sunday in every month let's not forget something as ray i do we give it for the beginning of the month for the whole month amen all right just so you know now amen i'm not
[01:21:52] saying anybody questioning that i want you need to know the pastor believe in giving amen amen somebody. Amen. But never beat you across the head because when you do, you don't do.
[01:22:05] Everything you hear me say is going to be said, talk to God.
[01:22:08] Amen, somebody? Amen. Talk to God. All right, now.
[01:22:14] Go ahead, Dr. Pope.

[01:22:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[01:22:16] Good morning, church. Good morning.
[01:22:19] As we all know, the first quarter ended two weeks ago. So, with that being said, if you would like to do your report today to get it over with, I have numbers updated.
[01:22:32] I am available.
[01:22:34] If not, I will be sending out numbers this week so the reports can be done in a timely manner.
[01:22:44] This coming Saturday, the 11th, Pastor would like to organize.
[01:22:49] It will be right here at the church at 10 a.m.
[01:22:52] Again, that's this Saturday on the 11th at 10 a.m.
[01:22:56] And we will meet just to organize.
[01:22:58] If you were here last Sunday or if you watched, he did say that do not organize your organizations.
[01:23:07] Do not do anything like that until after the organization meeting next Saturday.
[01:23:14] And then lastly, you know that we are planning to travel with Dr. Merriweather in August to Lomax Temple in Knoxville, Tennessee.
[01:23:25] Either see myself or Brother Osborne today.
[01:23:29] we're just trying to make sure we have numbers so that we can provide adequate transportation so we do need those numbers by today if you plan to travel we need to know if you plan to travel with us
[01:23:42] and if you are planning to either carpool so that we can rent a van or a bus if we need to or if you're planning to drive so please get with either myself or Brother Osborne today
[01:23:55] this is all I have

[01:23:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:23:58] All right, okay, thank you, Dr.

[01:23:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:23:59] For the budget committee?
[01:24:01] Or just send an email?
[01:24:02] Okay, all right, that's cool.
[01:24:03] Okay, thank you so much.
[01:24:05] You only have two mics?
[01:24:07] No, just kidding.
[01:24:11] For one, I really want the church to go if you can.
[01:24:13] If you can't, the world understood.
[01:24:18] If there's a person that you really want to go, I trust the honor system, and you don't have the means to go, don't even have to tell me.
[01:24:29] I don't even know who it is.
[01:24:31] Just let Brother Jeff know.
[01:24:34] I'm very serious about it, and I'll take care of you.
[01:24:39] So I don't know what it's going to cost me, Brother Jeff, but I'll say I'm going to do it to three.
[01:24:46] If I need to get a loan, I'll come back to you all next Sunday.
[01:24:52] But I'm very serious about it.
[01:24:53] I mean, out of my pocket.
[01:24:56] If there's someone that really, really wants to go, they say, well, I don't have the means.
[01:25:02] They don't have to be embarrassed about it.
[01:25:03] You don't have to let me know.
[01:25:04] I don't want to tell the pastor.
[01:25:05] You don't have to tell me.
[01:25:06] Let Jeff know.
[01:25:08] I'm instructing him.
[01:25:08] Don't tell me who it is.
[01:25:12] You all know why I do that so I can close?
[01:25:14] You know why I do that?
[01:25:16] Because we're well trained.
[01:25:19] Never take away people's dignity.
[01:25:26] And some people feel embarrassed to say it to the pastor.
[01:25:31] So there's something I don't get into.
[01:25:38] Amen.
[01:25:39] So I'm going to leave that where it is.
[01:25:41] but I that yes because we do love you know we love that we love to we love people you know amen somebody it's a I teach them to you give me so much trouble I mean they need to come back next Sunday I'm gonna really get ready
[01:26:03] for communion but I what I'm saying to you is I teach the reason why leadership need money not the selfish reason but to take care of the people and I'm very serious about that. I'm very serious
[01:26:19] about that. You take care of the people. We have a lot of teaching to do on that. I mean, if it's not that you don't know, I'm just saying in general about what God intended for the church and
[01:26:36] for the leaders. All leaders should have money. I don't mean you got to have it right now, but I'm saying there's a reason why. But it's not selfish.
[01:26:49] It's to take care of.

[01:26:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[01:26:52] Amen.
[01:26:57] You understand? If anyone

[01:27:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:27:06] said we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, I'm sorry, Deaconess they may take me out to the woodshed.
[01:27:14] Y'all see me going to the woodshed.
[01:27:17] Brother Donald, you come out there and protect me, all right?
[01:27:23] Every time y'all will forget us.
[01:27:25] Yeah, you come on, doctor.
[01:27:26] Oh, yeah, Lord have mercy.
[01:27:29] Yeah, that's why you have good people, really, you know.
[01:27:32] Amen.
[01:27:33] I believe that, and I appreciate that.
[01:27:36] Amen.
[01:27:37] That's what good people do, really.
[01:27:40] You always have the pastor.
[01:27:41] Like I'm supposed to always have you.
[01:27:43] Amen.
[01:27:45] And then we have each other.
[01:27:46] Some of that came out in Sunday school this morning.
[01:27:48] Somebody was halfway preaching it.
[01:27:52] You know, I didn't call no name.
[01:27:54] But they're standing behind me.
[01:27:57] To my left.
[01:28:01] If anyone's saying we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous, and his perpetuation for our sins, or the atoning sacrifice for our sins, but not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world,
[01:28:12] wherefore ye that do truly and honestly repent of your sin and are in love and charity with your neighbors and intend to lead a new life following the commandments of God and walking from his forth in his holy way
[01:28:24] draw near with faith and take the holy sacrament to your comfort amen the leaders may come first but then you can still feel the altar rail amen and again you hear me teach we don't do it out of privilege
[01:28:38] we do it out of responsibility amen somebody we lead by example as best as we can devoutly kneeling make your humble confession to almighty God this is where we pray the prayer of general confession
[01:29:01] almighty God father of our Lord Jesus Christ make of all things judge of all men we bewail our manifold sins and wickedness which we from time to time have committed by thought word and deed against our
[01:29:19] divine majesty provoking will just look at wrath and indignation against us.
[01:29:24] We do earnestly repent and sorrow of misdoing.
[01:29:28] The remembrance of them is grievous unto us.
[01:29:30] Have mercy upon us.
[01:29:31] Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father, for thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ is safe.
[01:29:37] Forgive us all that is past and grant that we may ever hereafter serve and please thee in the newness of life to the honor and glory of thy name through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
[01:29:48] Amen.
[01:29:51] And we do not presume to come to this, our holy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies.
[01:30:00] We are not worthy so much as to gather crumbs under thy table, but thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy.
[01:30:07] Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear son, Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that we may live and grow thereby.
[01:30:14] And that being washed in his most precious blood, we may evermore dwell in him and he in us.
[01:30:21] the prayer i can amen is that me i'm trying to move away from which way is it which way well can i stand here amen almighty god our heavenly father who would attend the mercy
[01:30:51] this gives i know the son jesus christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption who made thereby his oblation of himself once offered a full perfect and sufficient sacrifice oblation and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world and did institute
[01:31:04] and in this holy gospel command us to continue a perpetual memory of his precious death until his coming again hear us oh merciful father we humbly beseech thee and grant that we receiving these thy creatures
[01:31:17] of bread and wine according to thy son our savior Jesus Christ his holy institution and members of his death and passion may be partakers of his most blessed body and blood who in the same night
[01:31:29] that he was betrayed he took bread when they give it thanks he said take and eat this is my body which was given for you do this as fast as you do it in remembrance of me then after supper he took the cup and when they're giving thanks he
[01:31:52] gave it unto them and said take you drink of all or drink all of this and watch this for this is my blood in the new testament please understand the covenant was established by the shedding of
[01:32:03] blood so when he said this is my blood given for you he said i'm in the new testament i'm establishing a new covenant with you and the covenant with you is greater than the one i had
[01:32:17] with israel you follow what he's saying now that's what he said my covenant in the new testament of my blood in the new testament so take and drink with thanksgiving in your heart and again the
[01:32:34] priest did it because the priest said that Christ had atoned for our sins first this is my body that was given for you take and eat with thanksgiving then he took the cup this is my blood that was shed for you and for
[01:32:54] men and for the remission of sin do this as often as you do it and be members of me it is very meek right and abounding duty that we should at all times and in all places
[01:33:10] give thanks unto thee oh lord holy father almighty and everlasting god evermore praise in thee and saying holy holy holy Lord God of hosts heaven and earth are full of thy glory glory be to thee oh Lord most
[01:33:32] high amen Jesus took bread and broke it gave it to his disciples and said this is my body that was given for you so again I'm establishing a new covenant now giving my body you
[01:33:56] to be the object of God's raft for our sin. God took our sin, put it on Jesus. That's what they mean. Everybody's sin.
[01:34:11] They accept him. If I don't accept him, I got to pay for my own sin.
[01:34:16] Other than that, my body that was given for you gave his body and God poured out his wrath on Christ while he was on the cross that he cried out, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? I call it
[01:34:37] the ripple in the Godhead. In other words, at that point he takes the spiritual death for us that you and I would never experience.
[01:34:50] So that's why he said my God. So death is separation. The Holy Spirit left him and he was saying Father there's never been separation between you and I. That's the death he died take and drink. I'm sorry eat. And then after
[01:35:08] he paid for our sin he said now I'm going to establish a new covenant with you take and drink this is my blood and the new testament which was shared for you and for many
[01:35:22] for what the remission of sin so we write our own selves into the new covenant amen amen you may rise and go in peace the body of our Lord Jesus Christ given for you the body of our Lord Jesus Christ given
[01:35:46] for you while these retire let others come take and eat. Then he took the cup and said, this is my blood in the New Testament which was shed for you and for many for the remission of sin.
[01:36:02] Take and drink to your soul's health.
[01:36:05] Amen.
[01:36:08] Devoutly kneeling, make a humble confession to Almighty God. And he took bread and said, this is my blood that was shed for you and for many.
[01:36:18] I'm sorry, my bread.
[01:36:20] This is my body that was given for you and for many for the remission of sin.
[01:36:25] So we're to be reminded it. Really, there's no timeline when we should do it.
[01:36:33] It's just as often as you do it, it remembers a name. But it wants to remember.
[01:36:38] Amen?
[01:36:42] They took bread and said, eat, take and eat.
[01:36:44] May you preserve your soul till Christ comes again.
[01:36:49] I'll take it out there. Yeah, thank you.
[01:36:52] Then he took the cup and said, this is my blood that was shed for you and for many for the remission of sin.
[01:36:59] Take and drink. His body

[01:37:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:37:03] that was given for you?
[01:37:04] He did, okay.

[01:37:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:37:28] He took it and said, this is my blood that was given for you, take and drink for Thanksgiving to my brother out there.

[01:37:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:37:38] You may rise and go in peace.

[01:37:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:37:48] The others that don't come,

[01:37:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:37:57] I see why you want to help them.
[01:38:00] You asked to do it so you could help him. Yeah, I got you.
[01:38:03] You can do it. You take care of it now.

[01:38:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:38:09] Can there be any others?
[01:38:12] Thank God for the ushers. Amen.
[01:38:15] There's a lot in there. I'd rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord and then dwell in it or tent in the house or keep in the house of the Lord and dwell in the tents
[01:38:23] of the riches he took bread and broke it and said this is my body that was given for you and then take and eat and then he took the cup and said this is my blood
[01:38:36] that was shed on Calvary's cross for you this is my blood in the new testament a new covenant take and drink

[01:38:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:38:43] you may rise and go in peace

[01:38:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[01:38:49] there'll be others let them come

[01:38:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:38:57] thank God for the deaconesses amen and all that you do for a great honor god has restored upon you everybody is served by grace without kneeling make a humble confession almighty god he took bread broke it i said now this is my
[01:39:29] body that was given for you take and eat with thanksgiving in your heart remember he gave his body as a object of god's wrath god poured out on him the sins of the whole world then he took
[01:39:45] the cup and said now this is my blood of the New Testament which was shed for you and for many for the remission of sin take and drink so remember we have a covenant relationship with God
[01:39:58] amen God honors his covenant with us so I'm not that's why I'm not worried about eternal life amen this is for everybody God would never change his mind God can't change his mind God is holy he's a man that

[01:40:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[01:40:21] can't lie okay we're going to pray the lord's prayers the model prayer that jesus taught us

[01:40:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[01:40:39] in matthew the sixth chapter our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come in earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
[01:40:52] as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever amen amen i'm going to close it
[01:41:06] out here but at some point in time sometime we're going to do the rest of the ritual because i don't want us to forget uh what it's all about it too conveys a message to us uh what we should do after
[01:41:18] the fact after we have communed amen uh i forgot to ask and i'm still going to ask i'm going to ask until I can find a hoop up in jail.
[01:41:26] Somebody please coordinate providing something for the people to eat when we meet.
[01:41:32] It just goes better.
[01:41:34] Amen.
[01:41:35] And I have a biblical reason for them eating.
[01:41:41] I just can't teach it right now, but go to Deuteronomy the 12th chapter, and you may see why I say what I say sometimes.
[01:41:48] Sometimes we fellowship, we eat from that which God has blessed us with as a church body.
[01:41:53] So whatever you all work out for lunch or something or breakfast, whatever you work out is all right with me.
[01:41:58] Amen.
[01:41:59] We'll do that for next Saturday.
[01:42:00] Now, all members are encouraged and definitely invited to come.
[01:42:06] Amen.
[01:42:06] You're a member of Seals Creek.
[01:42:08] Amen.
[01:42:08] We're asking that you too come because of the decisions that we make together.
[01:42:13] Now, let me say it.
[01:42:14] It's the members meeting.
[01:42:16] It's not a pastor's conference.
[01:42:18] Members meeting.
[01:42:20] Members.
[01:42:20] Somebody say members.
[01:42:22] Members.
[01:42:22] Members meeting.
[01:42:23] is not what I want to do, what we believe God is saying for us to do.
[01:42:28] Are we together on that?
[01:42:29] Amen.
[01:42:30] All right.
[01:42:31] You all have been very kind and patient.
[01:42:33] Thank you so much.
[01:42:36] Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.
[01:42:45] To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory, majesty, dominion, power, now, henceforth, and forevermore.
[01:42:52] Let the saints of God say, Amen.
[01:43:15] God bless you all. Enjoy your week. I'll see you Saturday.