The Danger of Self-Powered Faith: Why Grace Alone Saves

• The Wilderness Experience and Paradise [00:06:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts the current 'wilderness' experience with God's original intent for humanity to live in paradise, asserting that negative experiences are not God's design.
• Original Sin and Human Responsibility [00:07:01 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor explains that the current state of the world is a result of Adam's original sin and individual actual sins, emphasizing that humans have the power to choose and are responsible for their actions, unlike Adam who blamed others.
• Misinterpretation of Suffering (Cross vs. Crop) [00:07:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor distinguishes between suffering that is a consequence of one's own bad choices ('crop') and suffering that is a test or part of God's plan ('cross'), correcting the idea that all suffering is from God.
• Critique of Church Theology on Suffering [00:07:59 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor aggressively debunks the common church teaching that 'God won't give you more than you can bear,' labeling it a lie and a misinterpretation of scripture, arguing instead that God provides a way of escape from temptation.
• Quality of Life (Zoe) vs. Natural Life [00:15:36 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor analyzes John 10:10, arguing that Jesus came to give 'zoe' (vitality/quality of life) rather than just natural existence, contrasting this with the church's focus on suffering.
• Leadership and Service [00:19:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using Ezekiel 34 and police analogies, the pastor defines true leadership as protecting and serving the people, criticizing leaders who focus on themselves rather than the flock.
• Divine Provision vs. Worldly Systems [00:32:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor critiques 'gain a chance' systems (lotteries, casinos) as ungodly schemes that prey on the poor, contrasting them with God's biblical system of prosperity through obedience.
• Trust in God's Word over Human Authority [00:20:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor distinguishes between natural existence and the quality of life found in God, urging reliance on God's word rather than just medical professionals or human logic.
• Divine Protection and Reputation [00:27:58 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the story of Joseph, the pastor illustrates that God protects the believer's reputation and uses enemies to advance His purposes, even when lies are spread.
• Obedience and Blessing [00:22:25 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that God's blessing follows those who obey His word, citing Deuteronomy and Psalms, and contrasts this with the difficulty people have in obeying.
• Gambling and Get-Rich-Quick Schemes [00:33:42 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that lottery winners and those involved in quick wealth schemes often end up sad or broke because they lack the discipline to manage wealth, and these systems prey on the weaknesses of people.
• Divine Stewardship vs. Worldly Systems [00:34:42 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor contrasts 'God's system' for prospering with worldly methods like the stock market or football betting, asserting that only obedience to God's Word leads to true increase.
• The Church's Teaching Responsibility [00:37:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor defines his role not as generating emotional shouts, but as teaching unpopular but necessary truths about financial stewardship, retirement, and life insurance so the congregation can prosper according to God's will.

• Sermon Illustration [00:08:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about driving from Oak Ridge to Atlanta to see the O'Jays concert. His car was damaged by debris from a truck, causing a gas leak. He had to tow the car and switch to a second vehicle to make it to the concert, using this to illustrate that despite obstacles (or 'bad seeds'), one can still pursue what God allows or intends, contrasting it with the idea that obstacles are always divine tests.
• Sermon Illustration [00:12:44 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references the biblical account of Adam blaming Eve (and God) for his sin in the Garden of Eden to illustrate the human tendency to avoid responsibility and pass the blame, contrasting this with the need for personal accountability.
• Sermon Illustration [00:19:01 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses an analogy of the police department's mission to 'protect and serve' to explain the role of church leadership, citing Ezekiel 34 where God condemns shepherds who feed themselves rather than the sheep.
• Sermon Illustration [00:25:07 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the biblical story of Abraham and Lot, where Lot chose the best land for himself near Sodom, while Abraham trusted God, resulting in God promising all the land to Abraham.
• Sermon Illustration [00:27:58 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor details the story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery, falsely accused by Potiphar's wife, and imprisoned, yet God elevated him to power, demonstrating that God protects the believer's reputation and uses adversity for good.
• Sermon Illustration [00:30:46 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references a workshop comment about Americans being consumers who buy things for appearance rather than need, linking this to the church's accumulation of excess clothing and material goods.
• Sermon Illustration [00:33:42 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references research on lottery winners, noting that most are sad and have lost their money because they never developed the ability to manage what they had. He also shares a personal anecdote about telling his previous pastor and the church that he would 'win' (implying he would leave or confront them) if they continued in their ways, and mentions a hypothetical future where people thank him for teachings they initially disliked.

• Pastoral Charge [00:32:08 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor challenges the congregation to critically evaluate and reject 'get rich quick' schemes like the lottery and casinos, labeling them as ungodly systems that prey on the poor.
• Pastoral Charge [00:34:19 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor urges the congregation to independently verify the negative outcomes of gambling and lottery systems, confirming they are bad systems compared to God's plan.
• Pastoral Charge [00:34:19 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor urges the congregation to independently verify the negative outcomes of gambling rather than relying on his word.
• Pastoral Charge [00:38:26 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor commands the congregation to physically stand up in response to the invitation for God's blessing.

[00:00:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:00:01] God, just what he sent you the message for this morning.
[00:05:53] Let me say a word of prayer first.
[00:05:55] Gracious Father, your man's servant cometh at this most sacred moment to impart the word of life and truth, that I will speak to and through me, use me as a vessel and instrument.
[00:06:03] Bring me the complete auction and utterance of your spirit, O God, so that the words that come from my mouth with those ordained by you consecrate our hearts and minds to receive it. In Jesus' name we pray.
[00:06:13] Amen. Give God some praise for the choir. Amen.

[00:06:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:06:17] Our musicians, our ushers.
[00:06:19] Amen. The paramedics. Amen.
[00:06:21] Fire department, I think I said usher, audio tech, and all of our children who are similar this morning.

[00:06:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:06:28] If I left anyone out, please apologize for that.
[00:06:31] Church schools are teachers, amen.
[00:06:34] Give God some praise for them.

[00:06:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:06:36] So this morning, the theme is going to be the same for while the wilderness experience, but it simply changes.

[00:06:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:06:41] Last week, it was that you may live in paradise because God created us for paradise, amen.
[00:06:48] That's where he placed us, amen.
[00:06:50] and paradise shall return in the consummation of the age.

[00:06:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:06:55] And we said that God did not, a lot of this negative stuff, or all of this negative stuff, God not a part of that.
[00:07:01] Man brought that on himself.
[00:07:03] And God gave us the power to choose.
[00:07:06] Say amen, somebody.
[00:07:08] And Adam chose the wrong thing.
[00:07:10] And so the mess we see in this world is a result of what we call the original sin of Adam and people's actual sin, the stuff we do.
[00:07:20] And one preacher, I like the way he put it, that sometimes we got to ask the question, is what I'm going through part of my cross or is it part of the crop?
[00:07:30] In other words, I've sowed bad seeds, now I got weeds in my life, you know, and that's why I'm going through this.
[00:07:37] Or is it a part of the cross?
[00:07:39] And we have to know the difference because sometimes Satan wants us to assume everything is a part of the cross.
[00:07:45] Amen.
[00:07:46] But anyway, we'll leave that alone.
[00:07:48] but just trying to correct not that you we need it particularly i'm dealing with what's in the christian church and unfortunately a lot of bad mess has gone out there about the kingdom of god
[00:07:59] how many times many of us have heard he will not put any more on you than you can bear and that's a lie god didn't put anything on us that's a mis uh uh interpretation of that text
[00:08:10] he said he would not let us be tempted with sin beyond our capacity to bear no i can say no and then he said he provided a way of escape for us that's why i sometimes own your way to do bad
[00:08:22] your car broke down you're not going to talk to me he put a way of escape but we were so bent on doing it they did it anyway not that this was sin like but i'm going to give an example
[00:08:37] so i was in tennessee and i wanted to go to see the oj's and it was in atlanta all right and i had two cars. So I started off in my new car.
[00:08:49] It looked good in Atlanta. Come on, somebody.
[00:08:51] I was single then. I was single.
[00:08:52] Look at this. He was single.
[00:08:54] All right. Make sure I get it right now. Okay, man.
[00:08:57] I don't want to hear no stuff when I get home or on the way home. All right. But anyway, so, but I wanted to go see the OJs all of my life. Seen other groups,
[00:09:04] you know, Teddy Pendergrass and other groups.
[00:09:06] But I had never seen the OJs, but they were coming to Atlanta, OJs in May. Two of my favorite groups at the same time. So I On my way to Atlanta, and guess what?
[00:09:18] A truck dropped some stuff, fell off the truck, and it splattered.
[00:09:23] And the stuff knocked my, I didn't know it now, knocked part of my park light out and went on under there and knocked a hole in my gas tank.
[00:09:35] I didn't know it until this guy was trying to flag me down to let me know that gas was coming out of my tank.
[00:09:42] No problem.
[00:09:44] I had another car to a service station I called the tow truck towed my car back to Oak Ridge and guess what got in my other car I went right on to Atlanta and heard the old James because there
[00:10:04] was something I wanted to do hear me do it now we do the same thing it may be different examples because I wanted to do something all right now make sure y'all don't tell him for a lady I was
[00:10:19] single because she want to know she think I want to go see somebody okay I'm messing with y'all

[00:10:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:10:24] just messing with you okay all right so let's all right did I miss something I don't heard the

[00:10:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:10:32] whole service okay I can I can watch the video I can watch the video I don't know okay I'm gonna go back and replay it just like make sure I didn't miss anything just a joke y'all just joke anyway
[00:10:41] But but I'm saying that that unfortunately, the church has given God a bad name and it serves as a bad witness to the world.
[00:10:54] A lot of folks are angry with God, angry with the church because of misinformation that the church has put out.
[00:11:04] We didn't come here to stay. Yes, you were. You were born for eternity.
[00:11:11] God never thought to be sick a day in our lives part of God's plan man did that to himself through his act of disobedience and all through the Bible you find God saying something like
[00:11:33] what our text says be careful to follow every command I'm giving you today so that you may live watch what it says and increase and enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors
[00:11:49] that you may live.
[00:11:53] What did he say in Genesis the first chapter?
[00:11:57] Be fruitful. Come on, y'all talk back, huh? And multiply.
[00:12:05] So this is not a part of God's plan.
[00:12:08] There's a choice that Adam made, the original sin, and we do stuff ourselves, the actual sin.
[00:12:19] And so you got a world full of chaos and God still get the blame.
[00:12:24] I know I'm right.
[00:12:26] I'm not saying you.
[00:12:27] Really, I'm not.
[00:12:28] I'm saying in general, God still get the blame for stuff God didn't do.
[00:12:31] And Satan had him on the field day.
[00:12:35] And we said the blame game go back to Adam.
[00:12:39] Because when God asked Adam, why have you done this?
[00:12:43] Or what did you have done?
[00:12:44] Adam's response was, he took no responsibility for his own action.
[00:12:49] He said, the woman you gave me.
[00:12:54] Come on, y'all.
[00:12:55] I know you don't want to talk to me.
[00:12:56] and so we wonder why we don't take responsibility we got it from my daddy huh and we'll pass on responsibility it's never my fault as the church of your wonderful powerful church if everybody were like me that's the way we tend to think without saying that come on y'all
[00:13:18] talk back to me huh we think about the challenges in the church we think outside of self oh lord have mercy don't make this hard y'all like that i'm just trying to get through it quickly
[00:13:32] but I got to consider what have I done that I should not have done and what have I left undone that God told me to do that's why they say we commit sins of omission and commission
[00:13:47] amen somebody but all I'm reading the text says you see that God wanted to go well with us and even after man messed up Jesus came saying that I came into well to scrape this
[00:14:02] mess out. Part of my father's plan. My father's plan is that you will live life and live an abundant life.
[00:14:14] Your father's plan was put you in the garden of ease and you will never have to escape it. You will never get sick. Never grow old. Did y'all know that? We will never grow old. Never have gray hair.
[00:14:28] I say never to become dim. This is a far fetch from the church today.
[00:14:38] We call it, I keep saying, we call it the better theology.
[00:14:42] we've been told wrong for so long it's hard to get that stuff out of our system because that's what we've always have heard and somebody got to teach it and we see it right here
[00:14:55] Jesus said the thief come y'all talk back huh and John the 10th what did he say well the devil or even false prophet for that matter the devil come to do what steal kill and destroy
[00:15:12] that's what Satan is about and false prophets are about but I have come talk back huh that you may what that you may have life and have it to the full in this case he did not mean
[00:15:36] we're not making reference even though that's inclusive but the emphasis in this text is not natural life he's dealing with the quality of life he's dealing with the same quality of life that God himself lives even though I knew it I looked it up
[00:15:57] afresh same thing I always remembered the Greek word in John the 10th chapter is zoe z-o-e and the text says for the life vitality Jesus said that I came I messed it up for y'all
[00:16:21] but I came to fix Adam's mess because they're not a part of God's plan I can take the Deuteronomy 30 if I want to more than say I'll save life and death before you choose
[00:16:35] what I've been teaching we choose it I didn't choose where I came in where I was born have nothing to do with that I'm going to get into some stuff now I don't care whether my mom and dad
[00:16:55] had a one night stand or whatever they had I have no control over that come on somebody but i do have control over how i live my life and that pleases god i don't care uh my sister
[00:17:13] my brother like me or not that's their problem i have a choice to make when god has said i'm with you he was talking about what they go through everybody go through stuff so now we want a badge
[00:17:31] of honor for having caught the most hell in life okay you can have one if you want to but you're not you're not by yourself amen somebody we're all gonna go through stuff yet there are some
[00:17:43] things that god ordained for us what we we taught before in roman the fifth chapter is that he might build character huh in me and then what notice was it the bill or develop character in me so i can
[00:17:58] handle what he has for me something that what moses trying to say in the text that if god let you the promised land and he didn't humble you in the wilderness you get over there you're gonna
[00:18:11] mess up the worst thing you can do almost i believe one of the worst things give a person that's ungrounded power huh but they can't handle that i'm telling you read the bible yourself that was going on in our crazy nation you can't give people power they don't they're not grounded
[00:18:35] in Christ. So it all become about them.
[00:18:40] Every position of leadership always 100% is about the people.
[00:18:48] You don't want to talk to me, huh?
[00:18:51] It's about the people that we are called to serve. That's why the police department are called to do what? Serve and what?
[00:19:01] Protect.
[00:19:03] Protect and serve. Protect the people. That's why you're in power. That's why we give you a gun and a badge and a uniform that say, go out there and protect the people from those who would do them wrong.
[00:19:18] Not do wrong, but protect them from those who would do wrong.
[00:19:22] Leadership the same way.
[00:19:24] That's why I read Ezekiel 34. Jesus got on the shepherd, God got on the shepherds of Israel.
[00:19:31] You only care about yourself.
[00:19:34] You don't care about the sheep. You do what you want, get what you want, and you forget about the people and as a result my sheep have become wild come pray for the wild animals and that the church and leadership is called to protect God's people as best as we can
[00:19:52] look out for you when I say best as we can that we got to come under the authority of the word of God amen somebody let me just say these little points quickly uh here but just before I get to
[00:20:04] So anyway, the Hebrew word for life, it means the exact same thing.
[00:20:11] In Deuteronomy 30, it says that God is your life.
[00:20:16] But he's not talking about natural existence.
[00:20:19] He's dealing with the quality of life.
[00:20:22] Somebody ought to hear me this morning, huh?
[00:20:24] See, I won't ask God.
[00:20:25] That's what I was trying to say while our sister was having the challenge.
[00:20:29] Really, pray, ask God.
[00:20:30] Talk to God about it.
[00:20:32] Let those do what they do.
[00:20:34] that's in the medical profession but I'm praying that God intervenes I don't know what's going on in the body but I know somebody that knows what's going on and I know a doctor above every doctor and that
[00:20:48] all you got to do is speak the word or touch the body God is able to do it that's who I'm relying on church I'm not relying on anything else but the word of God
[00:21:00] that's what Moses is trying to tell Israel why is it so hard to get folks to obey God's word.
[00:21:09] Somebody tell them to answer that because I don't want to answer it directly, but I'm saying, why?
[00:21:15] Huh?
[00:21:17] Like, well, God knows my heart.
[00:21:19] I said, you got that right.
[00:21:21] He knows everybody's heart.
[00:21:23] He knows stuff that's in there that I don't know what's in my heart.
[00:21:27] Amen, somebody.
[00:21:28] Because we all tell the truth.
[00:21:30] Sometimes we surprise ourselves by stuff we may say or do.
[00:21:34] I know we're not going to talk to me.
[00:21:35] Amen, somebody.
[00:21:36] But let me just say this quickly.
[00:21:37] Okay, so here's some things that I'm going to quickly point to.
[00:21:41] It says, for one, I just want to remind you of Psalm 84, verse 11c, the second and third part of that.
[00:21:55] Okay, here we go.
[00:21:56] So, no good thing will he withhold from those who walk upright or blameless.
[00:22:04] Let me say it again.
[00:22:06] No good thing.
[00:22:07] Let me go ahead and automatically give it to me.
[00:22:11] In Deuteronomy, the 28th chapter, it said, Watch this, all these blessings shall accompany you.
[00:22:18] Let me tell you what God is saying.
[00:22:19] Wherever you go, the blessing is right on your trail.
[00:22:22] That's the context of that.
[00:22:25] God said, I don't care where you go.
[00:22:27] I don't care what job you have.
[00:22:30] I don't care what city you live in.
[00:22:32] Wherever you go, my blessing will follow you.
[00:22:38] That's what he's trying to tell us.
[00:22:40] my job is to focus on obeying his word David said show me all the days of my life come on somebody you know it's right didn't David say that surely goodness and mercy shall work
[00:23:10] follow me you asked for it so let me say this quickly other one says Luke 12 chapter verse 32 if you're not a little flock watch this it is the father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom
[00:23:33] God said I want to give you the whole kingdom amen okay I'm going to preach to you man we'll say amen I'm going to preach to you anyway watch this Romans 8 and 32 he who did not
[00:23:51] spare his own son but gave him up for us all how will he not also along with him graciously give us all things all that's the word to God. God has said, I want to, but if I say it, would y'all
[00:24:08] bother me? God has said, but you in general, not, not, not see, when I say that, I be real. Now, I'm not talking to see a Christian, and jump to a Christian body.
[00:24:16] God said, but you're hard to bless because you won't follow my word.
[00:24:21] You do what you like and then expect the blessing and I can't bless your way for my ways are not your way and your ways are not my way. My thoughts are not your thoughts for the heavens are higher
[00:24:34] than the earth. So are my thoughts than yours and my ways than yours.
[00:24:39] My goodness doesn't cut the mustard. It's God's goodness that matters.
[00:24:45] Amen, somebody.
[00:24:47] And so, let me give you an example and then I'll give you three little points.
[00:24:52] So in Lot and Abraham, God had gave Abraham the promise and Lot and Abraham herds had grown so large that their servants was fighting one with another.
[00:25:07] And Abraham said to Lot, Now, it doesn't make no sense for us, our servants, to be fighting against one another.
[00:25:13] So I tell you what, Abraham, I'm saying, if you go north, I'll go south.
[00:25:16] If you go east, I'll go west.
[00:25:18] You choose which one you want.
[00:25:20] Now, listen carefully to the church.
[00:25:22] Lot looked over what he considered to be the best part of all the land.
[00:25:27] He was the nephew.
[00:25:29] He didn't even have the promise.
[00:25:31] And he's going to choose the best for himself over his uncle.
[00:25:33] now how are you going to choose the best for yourself and Abraham kind enough to share with him y'all don't want to talk to me huh and so but the Bible said this as Abraham chose what was best
[00:25:51] in fact Lot pitched his tent towards Sodom and Gomorrah and the next thing you know he was living in Sodom and Gomorrah that's what Satan wanted us to look at Satan said we have to pitch our tents
[00:26:03] no evil and then we find ourselves doing the mess or living near it. But after Lot left, chose the best for himself, God turned to Abraham like this and said now Abe look around you as far
[00:26:21] as your eyes can see that's yours even with Lot's head everything is yours so stop what people try to do to you. It's not about that. I got your back. Come on, we sing, what's for you is for you.
[00:26:44] Oh, somebody ought to hear me.
[00:26:46] What's for you is for you.
[00:26:48] But hear what Moses is saying in this text that I'm through, I promise. He said, first of all, rely on God's word for our protection.
[00:26:59] That's how God is.
[00:27:00] His word is already spoken.
[00:27:03] My job is not to worry about protecting myself.
[00:27:08] My job, because there are always going to be people trying to plot against you.

[00:27:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:27:11] come on

[00:27:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:27:12] don't expect to get promotion and everybody pulling for you come on somebody y'all talk back huh see that's our fault if I keep telling my name is not Oscar Mayer not everybody gonna be in love with me
[00:27:32] gonna have some haters when you got true haters for you doing right that let you know your confirmation that I'm doing what God want me to do that's why they're hating on you but your haters cannot stop you as joseph god will use your haters to get you where he wants
[00:27:58] you to be did they not put joseph or sold him in the slavery for a friend to kill him come on church remember am i right threatened to kill joseph and then sold him in the slavery and joseph still
[00:28:14] rose to power and then pharaoh's uh i'm sorry part of his wife started liking joseph and wanted joseph to sleep with her and joseph said i can't do this y'all not hearing what i'm saying church
[00:28:28] huh and she lied on joseph but joseph tried to rape her and joseph would sit back down to the dungeon in prison huh and then god had it fixed some years later a butler and a baker had a dream
[00:28:41] and I don't mean I've been to the mountaintop but they had a dream that they could not interpret and see Joseph rose to power even in prison come on see y'all know what I'm talking about
[00:28:52] that the war put him ahead part of it put Joseph ahead of everything that he had cause he saw that God was blessing Joseph what I'm trying to say to your church is everywhere you
[00:29:02] go God gonna bless you God gives you favor let God be the one to do it God will protect your reputation Yes, folks, I'm going to lie on you.
[00:29:14] Oh, say, is there a lie put on these books early in the morning?
[00:29:17] Go out and spread a lie.
[00:29:18] And truth comes slowly behind me and fix that mess.
[00:29:25] Like a pig, for the truth shall stand forever.
[00:29:30] But let me just move on.
[00:29:32] I rely on God's word.
[00:29:34] So I need to know what?
[00:29:35] The word of God.
[00:29:37] The Lord has made my salvation.
[00:29:40] Whom shall I fear?
[00:29:42] The Lord is the light of my life.
[00:29:44] Oh, whom shall I be afraid?
[00:29:45] When my enemies came against me to devour my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
[00:29:51] Because God's got you.
[00:29:54] And God's trying to say to his people, stop worrying about who's against you, who don't like you.
[00:30:01] If the Lord be for us, who shall stand against us?
[00:30:06] Am I right, somebody?
[00:30:07] If the Lord be for us, who shall stand against us?
[00:30:11] And I'm glad this morning that God is on our side.
[00:30:15] I'm not worried about it.
[00:30:16] Listen, the day will come in these United States of America that God will fix all the years of slavery and all that mess that has happened.
[00:30:27] We may not see it.
[00:30:28] See, God don't work on our clock.
[00:30:30] Huh?
[00:30:31] Yeah, reparation.
[00:30:33] God is a fair God.
[00:30:35] Our ancestors will do a paycheck.
[00:30:38] And I honestly believe God will give it to us now, and I'm through in a minute, because he knows that it will mean no harm in our church.
[00:30:46] Our people are still consumers.
[00:30:47] I was in a workshop last week the man was still going over there we buy everything folks say a long time we stop making folks rich we make them rich and most of it had to do
[00:31:00] with appearance y'all want to talk to me huh you got to be confident in yourself as to who you are and what God gave you I'm just going to tell you the honest and godly truth
[00:31:10] in our church huh you don't need to be fixing all that stuff up like we do most of us we should have learned by now we got too much stuff in our closet I said we got too much stuff
[00:31:23] I'm bad we got too much stuff in our closets but we believe that a lot of that stuff came from the fact when we couldn't buy other stuff we bought clothes amen and I got so many clothes we don't know what to do with them
[00:31:40] I probably have to finish this up later but God wants us to do church I'm going to give them to you but I have to come back and backfill them okay rely on his word for our provision
[00:31:55] to rely on his word for our prosperity. He will prosper, not the world's way.
[00:32:03] Amen. Oh, Lord, I'm going to get in trouble.
[00:32:05] Christian, but a rethink.
[00:32:08] And I'm going to put it out there.
[00:32:09] Rethink. Gain us a chance to get rich.
[00:32:16] Oh, Lord, it's so quiet.
[00:32:19] Huh?
[00:32:20] I may well say it. Church is an ungodly system. It preys on the weaknesses of the poor for the most part.
[00:32:29] Now, you're going to say it ain't in the bible you're not going to find a verse in the bible that says that but the church have already came to that conclusion years ago gains a chance are not in line with god's word who you really
[00:32:41] think keep the casinos going church folks but see some of that goes for education what god is saying is all y'all give me don't do it literally but and you might give me a hundred dollars a piece
[00:32:59] and one to come closer to the number i have in my mind you get all the money god's kingdom is about goods and services huh right there rich people you do your own research they
[00:33:19] invest poor people gamble because they have a desire to do better let me say right huh and they've already shown that we get rich quick schemes don't work even you give it to a lot of them y'all do the research on folk that
[00:33:42] have won these things most of them said they're sad and both of them have lost the money. Why?
[00:33:48] They never developed how to manage what they had in the first place.
[00:33:56] I know I'm in deep trouble.
[00:33:59] I knew it was going to come out one of the days. I used to tell the church, I used to tell the pastor, you're not going to win.
[00:34:04] You may as well start playing.
[00:34:07] I know most pastors won't teach you, won't say this.
[00:34:09] I got it. And church folks, they're going way out of line. They see nothing wrong with it. God does.
[00:34:19] Because I'm taking advantage of my weaker brother and sister. And you do your own research don't take my word for who really plays it huh you do it for yourself any system that preys on the weaknesses of people it's a bad system god has a system in place to prosper
[00:34:42] everybody or i'm not going to get into it right now i cover some of this stuff in the uh in bible study but what about the stock market rip you can use anything to gamble we gamble on football games
[00:34:57] are they designed well there's another thing too how many people don't do it they still play these bull words what they call them I know you can't answer that but I'm just teaching you God's word tells us how to prosper
[00:35:16] that's all I'm trying to teach what Moses was saying that you may increase come on somebody fully obey the Lord your God any other system outside of God's will God tells us how to do it
[00:35:30] the church come along with another plan and say well I don't see nothing wrong with it what did God tell you to do come on somebody huh what does the word say that I don't have a license to do it on my own
[00:35:43] listen God has spoken it in God's word and somebody I promise you if you take them through and you take that same money and start investing that money watch how God blesses your investment and you
[00:35:57] will get rich that way but not the world's way You'll never do it, God.
[00:36:03] If you do it, God lets you build it up to lose it.
[00:36:06] Huh?
[00:36:07] Amen, somebody.
[00:36:08] All right, that's not no me.
[00:36:09] Detroit don't bother me.
[00:36:10] I'm getting in my car.
[00:36:11] I'm going right on home.
[00:36:12] I'm not going to even come back here.
[00:36:17] So I know a lot of things, but listen.
[00:36:19] I'm really, what I'm saying, we've got, God tell us everything in here for life.
[00:36:25] We just read it.
[00:36:27] Our discipline even tells us that.
[00:36:30] Huh?
[00:36:32] Amen.
[00:36:32] about you know games of chance we don't do it why because it pray one is outside of God's word but then it prays on the weaknesses of people trying to get rich

[00:36:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:36:51] huh amen look at the neighborhood don't look at the neighborhood and say a word

[00:36:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:36:58] okay we're going to close it out with that I have a responsibility Seals Creek everybody that's watching and those who will watch is to give you the honor to read the word of God whether it's popular or unpopular.
[00:37:15] Like I tell people, thank me when you do better.
[00:37:18] Amen.
[00:37:20] And have I not been trying to teach and Bible study?
[00:37:22] You all heard me.
[00:37:22] How much money do you need to retire on?
[00:37:25] Come on, somebody.
[00:37:28] How much money do you, how much life insurance do you need?
[00:37:32] See, there's work to be done in the church.
[00:37:34] Amen, somebody.
[00:37:34] Amen.
[00:37:35] Because a lot of Christian people retire. It's something they don't know. I'm not blaming you for not knowing, but I'm saying that the church has a responsibility to make sure that you know it's our job to teach it. That's what I'm
[00:37:46] trying to say. You don't know what you don't know.
[00:37:49] It's my job to go to workshops and everything else I can find to learn all I can about what God's will is for us that you may prosper and teach it. That's my job. My job is not
[00:38:01] to make you shout on Sunday. You will shout when you get the blessings of God. I won't even be around.
[00:38:06] all the design god bless you i tell you i passed us through that 5 10 15 20 years from now you'll pick up the phone if i'm still living said pastor merrill thank you so much i didn't like it then
[00:38:26] but i appreciate it now invitations extended i told y'all before you better jump up when i say that god want to bless everybody you saw it in the text he give us direction he tells us what to do
[00:38:53] Amen, somebody.
[00:38:55] He tells us what to do with our money.
[00:38:57] Everything God gave us, he tells us what to do with it.
[00:39:00] He tells us how to be stewards of our family.
[00:39:04] He gives husbands their roles, wives their roles, the parents their roles.
[00:39:07] Amen, somebody.
[00:39:08] Pastors their roles.
[00:39:09] Everybody else in the church.
[00:39:11] God gives us our role that he wants us to play.
[00:39:13] Amen.
[00:39:13] I know I'm right about it, huh?
[00:39:14] And he means do it this way.
[00:39:16] Don't do it another way.
[00:39:18] And that's what he tells us.
[00:39:19] Amen, somebody.
[00:39:20] and he tells us how he's going to prosper us only based on his word, not some other way.
[00:39:26] Amen.
[00:39:38] Anyone who wants to accept Christ as Lord and Savior, you may come or unite with this church fellowship you already saved, but you will unite with Seals Creek or rededicate your life.
[00:39:56] If you're watching on a virtual platform, please put your information in the comment section.
[00:40:02] Amen.
[00:40:03] Don't put your cell phone.
[00:40:04] You got an email.
[00:40:04] Put that in there or find a way to contact the church.
[00:40:09] I'm going to take it from there.
[00:40:19] Anyone, anyone?

[00:42:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:42:35] Announcements, doctor?

[00:42:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:42:36] Good morning, church.
[00:42:51] As we all know, we are at the end of the conference year.
[00:42:54] So, like I keep saying, just keep watching your e-mail for anything new that comes up as we approach annual conference.
[00:43:07] This Saturday, May the 23rd, is the church school convention It is at 10 a.m. at Morris Chapel.
[00:43:18] It says it's not really for the church.
[00:43:22] It's more so for Stacy to bring two copies.
[00:43:24] As the church school superintendent, he has to take two copies of the report.
[00:43:32] And as far as I know of, I know the church school is very well thriving and growing.
[00:43:38] um fifth sunday will be the pastor and ministerial staff appreciation um all members are asked to donate a hundred dollars and is asked that if you're going to donate whatever you can we're asking for a hundred dollars but do what you can and have it by next sunday simply label your
[00:44:00] envelope or your cash app for pastors appreciation so we know how to allocate those monies um annual conference again is june 3rd through the 6th at the corey convention center it starts on that wednesday evening um and then of course we will go all of that week um i will be in
[00:44:21] attendance so if anybody have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to me um we have two correspondents from outside the church one it says come and join us at erwin temple cme church um for their rainbow tea it is happening today at 3 p.m um we have not been asked
[00:44:46] to participate with any specific color but their colors are red green orange and blue um so they're just asking that we come and fellowship with them as they support their rainbow tea um y'all will continue to see this until this date comes on june 19th um of course
[00:45:08] that's juneteenth there will be a celebration at the veterans park in canapolis from 3 p.m to 9 p.m as we all know our very own sister shantae um is one of the leaders for that so we can support her
[00:45:24] in our efforts. This is all I have, Pastor. Hello, church.

[00:45:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:45:31] Once again, I want to thank everybody for being here. If you would, stay briefly after church.
[00:45:41] The pastor said earlier, if y'all remember doing the, a couple weeks ago, he wanted to do something for an administrative assistant, be an assistant money eater.
[00:45:52] And he said the third Sunday, which is today.
[00:45:56] So, everybody that actually, y'all don't know what all I need to do, but if you please stay after church.
[00:46:05] We did, my wife and I did bring some ice cream and some cupcakes downstairs so we can fellowship downstairs after we do what we do up here.
[00:46:16] So we do that directly after church for those that have time.
[00:46:20] Please find the time.
[00:46:21] You know, one thing we say in this church, give people their flowers while they can smell them.
[00:46:27] Give them appreciation of why they can hear it.
[00:46:31] This is going to be administrative assistant celebration directly at the church.
[00:46:36] So those that can and those that will, please stay.
[00:46:39] Okay.

[00:46:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:46:42] We're going to do the update.

[00:46:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:46:46] Let me do it.
[00:46:47] Okay, let me do the update.
[00:46:49] Okay.
[00:46:50] The reason we're doing something, well, it's an official reason, is that April has been set aside to honor or do something for it used to be secretaries week or month and then they made it administrative assistants and I think they changed the name again they
[00:47:11] call it professionals but the world thought that we should at least the nation thought we should take time out to say thank you to them because I trust trust me you if you ever been a secretary before you know it's more than
[00:47:23] a notion it's a lot of work that goes into that more than these people's I most passive would tell you that a ministry for system is like they're right arm. It's hard to get your work done without

[00:47:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:47:37] an administrative assistant who keeps you aware, makes sure you do what you're supposed to do. Amen, somebody.
[00:47:43] And I'm very grateful when she reminds me of things that I may have forgotten to do and sometimes, let's be honest, you've got to tell you more than one time because your mind may be
[00:47:53] on so many other things.
[00:47:54] And rightly so. We're supposed to keep our minds on what we need to keep our minds on but then God gives us people that will help us get the job done. Amen?
[00:48:03] And so these are things I know, and like I said, having served as the conference secretary for the Michigan conference for 18 years, I know exactly what I'm talking about.

[00:48:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:48:12] And that was not a day-to-day job.
[00:48:14] That was just when we had check-up meetings, and well, there was some other stuff that would come up during the year, but most part during the annual conference and then check-up meetings and things like that, most of my work was done.
[00:48:24] But I still get phone calls and everything else during the year, and then there are always those that wait for the last minute to send their reports in.
[00:48:32] and all of that stuff you know okay but anyway so we're going to do the benediction and then there's some other information i want to share with you regarding the uh regarding the mortgage now unto him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence
[00:48:47] of his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise god our savior of the glory and majesty dominion and power now and forever let the saints of god say briefly can someone give us but yeah

[00:49:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:49:21] oh yeah go ahead you need to go to the restroom five minutes but please let's keep it going choir can I ask y'all to come down church is dismissed everybody come down