The Danger of Self-Powered Salvation: A Call to Grace

• Call to Worship and Personal Responsibility [00:05:23 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses Psalm 100 to urge the congregation to bring their own praise ('Bring Your Own Praise') rather than relying on the pastor to motivate them.
• Godly Fatherhood and Wisdom [00:13:19 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor reads Proverbs 4, emphasizing the importance of listening to a father's correction and wisdom, while acknowledging the complexities of earthly fathers.
• The Nature of Satan and Deception [00:28:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor debunks the idea that Satan has independent power, stating he is a 'chump' who can only deceive people into using their own power against God.
• Male Influence and Spiritual Warfare [00:31:19 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that boys require the influence of godly men (fathers, grandfathers, uncles) and that Satan specifically targets men to disrupt God's kingdom structure.
• Parental Disagreement and Children [00:30:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor advises that adults should keep disagreements private to avoid poisoning children's minds, emphasizing that children need both parents and godly male influence.
• Spiritual Warfare and Family Structure [00:31:53 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that Satan attacks the male head of the household first to disrupt God's intended structure, which prevents the family from producing its intended outcome.
• Church Discipline and Relationships [00:32:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor discusses the church's duty to teach members how to avoid bad relationships and warns against blaming others for bad decisions made by violating biblical instructions.
• Marriage Counsel and 'Unawakened' Partners [00:34:38 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor reads church bylaws discouraging marriage to those who do not seek godliness, illustrating the danger of marrying 'unawakened' persons through a personal anecdote about a friend's abusive marriage.
• Pastoral Shepherding vs. Hiring [00:39:23 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor distinguishes between a hireling and a shepherd, asserting that a true shepherd knows the terrain, protects the sheep from harm, and is willing to lay down his life, contrasting this with the fleeting nature of worldly wealth.
• Biblical Discipline [00:43:49 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor redefines biblical discipline not as physical punishment ('putting a belt on') but as teaching and correcting children to stay in their 'lane,' using the analogy of self-driving cars correcting their course.
• Divine Discipline [00:44:54 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor redefines discipline not as physical punishment ('the belt') but as teaching and correcting children to walk the right path, using the analogy of a car's lane-keeping assist.
• Reconciliation and Worship [00:47:50 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor cites scripture to argue that one must reconcile with family members before offering worship to God, emphasizing that God desires family unity over ritual.
• Gender Roles in Parenting [00:48:50 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor suggests that fathers should take the lead in disciplining children, particularly boys, to ensure they become strong men, while acknowledging the emotional nature of mothers.
• The Power of Prayer [00:52:44 ▶️ 📄]
  > Through personal anecdotes about near-accidents, the pastor illustrates how parental prayer protected him and his siblings from danger and trouble.
• Military Discipline as Spiritual Metaphor [00:56:47 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses his military experience to explain that discipline is about instilling order and doing things the 'right way' (like shining shoes or making beds) to prepare for spiritual warfare.
• Discipline and Scripture [00:57:41 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor connects military discipline to church structure, arguing that believers must learn the 'book of discipline' (Scripture) to grow and avoid trouble.
• Satan's Limited Power [00:59:32 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the examples of Job and Peter, the pastor explains that Satan requires God's permission to act and has no power over believers unless God allows it for a greater good.
• Deception and Personal Responsibility [01:02:10 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues against blaming the devil for all troubles, using analogies of road signs and GPS to illustrate how ignoring God's warnings (disobedience) leads to inevitable destruction.

• Sermon Illustration [00:06:50 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of 'B-Y-O-B' (Bring Your Own Bottle) from his upbringing to illustrate the concept of 'B-Y-O-P' (Bring Your Own Praise), arguing that congregants must come to church with their own praise rather than expecting the pastor to generate it for them.
• Sermon Illustration [00:14:50 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about playing a game with his brothers and grandchildren, noting that the three older men combined for 206 years of age while the grandchildren were under 50, and they played well despite not winning.
• Sermon Illustration [00:36:55 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal story about a female friend he grew up with from first grade through high school. He warned her that a boy she was dating was 'no good,' but she married him anyway. The husband was violent, and she had to escape and hide her location. She later told him she wished she had listened to his counsel.
• Sermon Illustration [00:35:51 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references a song by Percy Sledge (likely 'Warm and Cozy' or similar theme) about 'loving eyes can never see,' where a mother warns her son to take time to know his partner before marriage, illustrating that others can see red flags that lovers miss.
• Sermon Illustration [00:45:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of driving on a highway with lane markings. He compares godly discipline to modern self-driving cars that automatically pull the steering wheel back if the car veers out of its lane, illustrating that a father's role is to gently but firmly bring children back to the right path.
• Sermon Illustration [00:43:33 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor mentions his wife's family reunion, noting that she is preaching there that morning, and jokes about the commercialization and traffic of Mother's Day compared to Father's Day to lighten the mood before discussing discipline.
• Sermon Illustration [00:45:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses an analogy of self-driving cars that pull the steering wheel back if the driver veers off the highway lane to explain how God disciplines children to keep them on the right path.
• Sermon Illustration [00:46:12 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor jokes about the disparity in celebration between Mother's Day (crowded, police directing traffic) and Father's Day (empty restaurants, no cops) to highlight cultural perceptions of parental roles.
• Sermon Illustration [00:52:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal story about his brother nearly causing a fatal accident on Highway 80 while trying to pass a car, illustrating the dangers young people face and the need for parental guidance.
• Sermon Illustration [00:54:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts a night where a burning bag got stuck under their car near the gas tank, and a stranger flagged them down, attributing their survival to his parents' prayers.
• Sermon Illustration [00:57:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor references his military training, where strict rules about hair length, shoe shining, and bed-making were used to instill discipline and the habit of doing things the 'right way.'
• Sermon Illustration [01:00:00 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts the biblical account of Job, where Satan asks for permission to afflict Job but is limited by God, and the story of Peter, where Satan asks to 'sift' him like wheat but is restrained by Jesus.
• Sermon Illustration [01:03:08 ▶️ 📄]
  > An analogy of driving down a road with warning signs for a bridge out ahead; the driver ignores the signs (God's word) and eventually runs off the cliff, wondering what happened.
• Sermon Illustration [01:04:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > A personal anecdote about using GPS while driving from Tennessee, where the GPS tried to route them into heavy traffic, but the pastor heeded the warnings and found a better route, illustrating the need to pay attention to divine instruction.

• Pastoral Charge [00:31:34 ▶️ 📄]
  > Church members are called to step up and provide godly male influence to the youth in the community.
• Pastoral Charge [00:43:49 ▶️ 📄]
  > Children are commanded to listen to and heed their father's instruction and correction.
• Pastoral Charge [00:47:55 ▶️ 📄]
  > Reconcile with a brother or sister before attempting to worship God.
• Pastoral Charge [00:50:32 ▶️ 📄]
  > Parents must take active, practical responsibility for teaching their children basic life skills and discipline.
• Pastoral Charge [01:04:32 ▶️ 📄]
  > Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior

[00:00:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_14]
[00:00:06] I say so often that he's worthy. That's right. Who said that he's worthy to be praised?

[00:04:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[00:04:47] Let me say that again. I say he's worthy.
[00:04:49] So we're not doing God a favor.
[00:04:53] It's a debt that we owe.
[00:04:56] If he woke you up this morning, we owe God praise. Amen, somebody?
[00:05:03] And so as a result, I always say blame this choir.
[00:05:08] They get me in so much trouble every week.
[00:05:10] I mean, for those that may see it later, I mean this in a kind way.
[00:05:14] So make sure y'all get the message right, all right?
[00:05:16] I love this choir.
[00:05:17] Amen.
[00:05:19] We just got one problem.
[00:05:20] I haven't sung my song yet.
[00:05:22] That's a joke.
[00:05:23] But let us stand for the call to worship.
[00:05:27] So I'm going to use Psalm 100.
[00:05:32] Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
[00:05:38] Serve the Lord with gladness.
[00:05:40] listen come before his presence with singing know ye that the lord he is god it is he that has made us and not we ourselves we are his people and the sheep of his pasture now listen enter into his
[00:06:04] gates with thanksgiving that mean when you pull up on the parking lot amen somebody so we should have started thanking god at home well y'all want to talk to me i'll just go on you know i got the people i have to teach them while i talk sometime
[00:06:25] that was it's not my job to raise to get you up from hell to heaven every sunday you better come with the praise on your own lips now we may have moments in our lives i excuse that
[00:06:37] I go along with that.
[00:06:39] But every Sunday, you want me to raise you up?
[00:06:42] No.
[00:06:42] You better come with your own praise and your own heart.
[00:06:47] Now, when we were in the world, I move on in the world.
[00:06:50] Remember they used to say this, bring your own bottle, B-Y-O-B?
[00:06:53] I know no church has never heard of that before.
[00:06:55] But where I grew up, they said, B-Y-O-B, bring your own bottle.
[00:07:02] If you don't bring your own liquor, there will be none for you.
[00:07:06] All right, y'all.
[00:07:06] So I got one B-Y-O-P Bring your own praise So be thankful In his gate with thanksgiving And into his court With what? Pray Be thankful unto him And bless his name For the Lord is good
[00:07:28] His mercy is everlasting And his truth Endureth to all generations Amen Let us be ready to stand for the invocation.
[00:07:38] Gracious God, our Father, we come this morning to worship you in spirit and in truth.
[00:07:43] We know we can do nothing without you, but through you, with you, and in you, all things are indeed possible.
[00:07:48] So we ask now, oh God, you will make your abode with us.
[00:07:51] We ask not for just a visitation, we ask for a habitation of your Holy Spirit.
[00:07:57] Come, Holy Spirit, come, heavenly dove, and fall afresh on all of us, even right now, in the marvelous and majestic name of none other than jesus the christ we pray let the saints of god say amen which one you're gonna say okay we're gonna sing all right you can maybe see it
[00:08:17] we're gonna do a special selection for you this morning we right yeah okay we okay okay

[00:08:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]
[00:08:25] oh come along the boy everything i believe i said one more time come along the boy something all one more time this train is coming it's coming so soon you better get your house in order we don't know no no no within the night please get your house your house all right
[00:09:49] nothing on the track so then what's the problem get on the train amen somebody got everything

[00:13:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:13:19] in the game hallelujah amen i was really torn between scriptures to get back to some basic

[00:13:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[00:13:41] thing let me give you something right now a godly father that's it lord know that we need to deal with that but we'll deal with i don't mean a negative way brothers i really don't especially
[00:13:53] the black father we catch it in so many different ways and sometimes sisters unless you a man you don't understand why certain men may do what they do not excusing anything i cannot do that and
[00:14:06] that's never to your expense thank god for you but also we got to deal with fathers amen somebody and uh there are times a man can't cry okay i'll believe it lord y'all know i'll teach now
[00:14:33] i've never had fear of teaching god's word and as i get older i really don't have any fear because most of my life behind me i'm 68 years old you wouldn't have known it yesterday with
[00:14:50] My brothers and I were playing, three of us, I combined our age, 206 years old, playing our grandchildren less than 50 years old together.
[00:15:02] We did a good job.
[00:15:03] We didn't win, but we played well.
[00:15:06] 200 years versus less than 50 years?
[00:15:08] Come on now.
[00:15:10] Amen.
[00:15:11] All right.
[00:15:12] Proverbs, the fourth chapter, start reading at verse number one.
[00:15:19] And I'll read through verse seven.
[00:15:21] now you need to read the whole chapter but I'm not going to do that today this is from the New Living Translation my children listen when your father corrects you pay attention and learn good judgment for I am giving you
[00:15:40] good advice or good guidance I'm sorry don't turn away from my instructions I for I too was once my father's son tenderly loved as my mother's only child my father taught me take my words to heart
[00:16:03] follow my commands and listen and you will live get wisdom develop good judgment do not forget my words or turn away from them don't turn your back on wisdom for she will protect you love her and she will guard you getting wisdom listen church is the wisest thing
[00:16:37] you can do and whatever else you do the power pack text and i can't even unravel all of what i read i'm gonna give you a brief synopsis of what solomon is saying one who's
[00:17:08] been through a lot of stuff himself, trained well, but he also went through a lot of wayward.
[00:17:13] He came back to God.
[00:17:15] I'll leave that where it is too because sometimes we worry unnecessarily.
[00:17:20] You got to trust a good teaching and you missed it, okay?
[00:17:27] Worrying is not going to add anything to your life.
[00:17:30] It's a negative thing.
[00:17:32] Let us pray.
[00:17:34] Holy and gracious God, our Father, we first honor you as our Holy Father, the greatest father that we could possibly have one so full of wisdom and love and compassion and understanding protection and provision
[00:17:57] first we bow down in humble submission we recognize you as our father we know you are the creator we know you made everything but the word teaches us that more than anything you want us to relate to you as
[00:18:16] our father and so this morning we call you father we call you daddy thank you for all that you do and have done for us thank you for your correction thank you oh God for providing for us
[00:18:32] thank you for protecting for us thank you oh God our father for everything you do sometimes we're totally unaware of all that you're doing for us so we sum it up by saying thank you Lord
[00:18:44] we know we're not worthy but it's your grace and mercy that you bless us continuously and we say thank you and then Father we thank you for our earthly fathers sometimes good fathers get mixed and wrapped with all the bad fathers
[00:19:04] help us to draw that line of distinction between the two that we don't just lock all of them together and say black men but thank you for the ones that do responsibilities and do what
[00:19:23] they're supposed to do and we thank you for them oh God anybody can become a daddy or father in a natural sense biologically animals can reproduce but it takes one to walk with you to be the godly
[00:19:44] father for after all we learn from you how you treat your children is how we should treat ours how you correct us oh God is how we should correct ours not punishment but with love to correct a bad behavior so we honor all the fathers
[00:20:06] today and we thank you for every last one of them sometimes unappreciated but that's what man's got to do what a man's got to do so we bless them right now and thank you for them and above all
[00:20:24] we thank you for a big brother jesus christ who gave us an example what it's like to be a sibling what it's like to be a brother who gave his life who sacrificed his life
[00:20:41] that all of us may have a right to the tree of life oh God and help us understand that there are times that we have to make sacrifices for the good of others as Christ did for the whole world
[00:20:53] it's not about self it's about blessing other people move on our hearts oh God to look beyond us for no more but to realize that You call us to a greater cause We thank you now for all things that you do again
[00:21:11] It's in the mighty marvelous and majestic name Of Jesus who is the Christ We pray Let the saints of God say Amen Let us stand for our affirmation of faith Amen I believe in God the Father almighty
[00:21:31] The maker of the heaven and earth And in Jesus Christ the only son of our Lord Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary suffered on the Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried
[00:21:44] the third day he rose from the dead he ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty from then he shall come to judge the quick and the dead I believe in the Holy Ghost
[00:21:56] the Holy Catholic Church the communion of saints the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body and life everlasting Amen and for those who may be visiting with us we do not mean the roman catholic church we mean the church at all time that's what catholic mean
[00:22:14] it's more than just universal but it means is but it makes no reference to the catholic the roman catholic church but the church at all times uh all places whatever past present and future we

[00:22:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:22:30] join in with them you may be seen it thank you you do this season don't do it without me don't do it with love this season don't do it without me yeah yeah don't do it with i help me sing lord
[00:23:42] do it without me in this season do it without me saying cause i want to be included do it without me if you're blessing without me come lord if you're blessing if you're blessing in don't forget
[00:25:44] about me jesus don't do it without me yeah don't do it do it without me be healing lord be included See, cause I've been faithful.
[00:26:17] I know you got a lot of people out there.
[00:26:22] Please don't pass me by.
[00:26:32] No.
[00:26:33] Do it without me.
[00:26:47] Father, but it's me.
[00:26:52] Lord, I need you.
[00:26:54] Do it without me.
[00:27:02] No.
[00:27:06] Without me.
[00:27:07] No.
[00:27:09] Do it without me.
[00:27:13] No.
[00:27:30] Do it without.
[00:27:30] Holy God, our Father, your manservant, come into this most sacred moment.

[00:27:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[00:27:58] Do it in work, in party, with a life in truth.
[00:28:00] I acknowledge again, I have absolutely nothing on my own merit.
[00:28:04] To share with these your great people So I ask that thou would please Dislarge and dismiss any and everything Unlike you Bring me the complete unction and utterance of your spirit So that every word that comes from my mouth
[00:28:16] Will be those ordained by you Speak Lord as your servant is listening And then consecrate our hearts and minds So we will receive it and apply it To our daily lives So you will glorify Christ
[00:28:27] Magnify church edify The world will be evangelized And we know again Satan is already horrified This we ask in the marvelous and majestic name of Jesus the Christ, we pray.
[00:28:38] Amen.
[00:28:39] You all know my story on that.
[00:28:41] I feel we give Satan too much credit sometimes, but that's another sermon for another day.
[00:28:45] Amen.
[00:28:47] He's a chump.
[00:28:48] You just got to read the Bible carefully to know who he is.
[00:28:52] And I'll just say it like this.
[00:28:54] Jesus has all of the authority.
[00:28:55] Where did Satan get his from?
[00:28:59] Would you think for a moment?
[00:29:03] Where did Satan get his and people blame him?
[00:29:04] No, the only thing Satan can do is trick me to use my power to do what he wants.
[00:29:10] See, that's all he can do.
[00:29:12] Deception.
[00:29:14] Everybody clear on that?
[00:29:15] I'm going to leave that where it is now.
[00:29:16] We've got to move on.
[00:29:17] Amen.
[00:29:17] Give God some praise for the choir.
[00:29:19] Amen.
[00:29:21] Musicians, they're on point every Sunday also.
[00:29:23] We praise God for them.
[00:29:25] Our ushers, amen.
[00:29:26] Usher, I see you're hiding, sister.
[00:29:28] Amen.
[00:29:29] Back there.
[00:29:30] Okay, yeah, amen.
[00:29:31] Dr. Alexander.
[00:29:33] Our audio tech team, amen.
[00:29:35] and Lottie, Dottie, Roddy, Marty, and everybody.
[00:29:40] Amen. I hope I got everybody.
[00:29:42] But truly, let me take my hat off again to all of the brothers.
[00:29:46] Now, sister, we give you, try to give you all a great Mother's Day. And I do, I appreciate you. I really do. I told y'all about my mother, how she worked hard.
[00:29:54] My father worked too, but, you know, you know, he worked.
[00:29:59] Mom, you went the extra step, probably. Amen.
[00:30:02] So we thank God for each and every one of you and I mean that but let me dear let's lift up the brothers today amen and those who went with me last Sunday on this day
[00:30:15] when I preached that new hope we dealt with the brothers I would just say that in contact so you had your day now let the brothers have their day amen so whatever we say we thank
[00:30:25] God for you it's not a negative towards you in fact it's so sad because we live in a world now where we beat each other up and expect to have positive children How are we going to do that?
[00:30:37] At least if you're going to do it, you remember grown folks, you need to keep grown folks talking among grown folks.
[00:30:42] Y'all remember that?
[00:30:43] You didn't say certain things around young children that you're poisoning their mind.
[00:30:48] So you can have the disagreement, that's fine, but you don't do it around the children.
[00:30:54] But hear what I'm saying this morning.
[00:30:57] Now people just argue anywhere, and that's dangerous.
[00:31:02] Children need both parents.
[00:31:04] I'm going to say it again Some of y'all may have done a great job by yourself Well I don't want to say by yourself Because you Let me just speak to Boys need the influence of a godly man
[00:31:19] Now I don't care Whether they're baby daddy or not It may be your grandparents Huh It may be Uncle Joe And I always say God knows That they can't find it anywhere else They ought to find it in the church
[00:31:34] They ought to be able to find a godly man here huh and among the other brothers of the church you hear me now because this is what's going on in our world so you know what he's doing sisters he come to attack the male first and foremost
[00:31:53] why because that's the way god set it up and satan is aware of how god set up the kingdom amen so i'm not saying what you can't do you know you've done a lot of great things no argument
[00:32:07] there. But I'm saying how God has set it up and Satan come to attack God's structure because now it cannot produce what God intended for it to produce.
[00:32:19] So you got to watch the enemy and what he has come to do.
[00:32:25] And what I wouldn't plan on my phone, I was looking for, and our church would be called special advice because I knew I had it in some document. And see, I'm going to deal with relationships too. I'm going to touch
[00:32:37] relationship because you see that's what create a lot of our problems we get in bad relationship and god warns us not to do it he tell give men instruction on how to stay away from the woman
[00:32:50] that's mean him no good and he give women instruction on how to stay away from men that mean them no good and we violate the rules and make a bad choice and blame every all other men
[00:33:04] and all women for our bad decision.
[00:33:07] I know you ain't nobody going to talk to me. Don't throw no stones up here.
[00:33:10] But we got to deal with it in the church.
[00:33:13] Because you can't have a healthy church if the people are torn up.
[00:33:21] The church is just a group of people that come together. So you see, I say, in fact, I do a whole teaching on the family unit. Because the same thing that the first church is the family.
[00:33:32] That's the backbone of any nation.
[00:33:34] of everything is the family.
[00:33:38] And so say you want to attack the family because he can destroy the family, he's got the church.
[00:33:44] For the same folk that come from home or from the family come to church.
[00:33:49] And they bring the hurts and pain.
[00:33:55] And somebody got to teach it.
[00:33:59] You hear me say, I preach and teach. You may not like me today, but down the road.
[00:34:05] Huh?
[00:34:07] Lord knows that's why I do it.
[00:34:08] down the road you can pick up the phone or send me a text and say thank you pastor i didn't like it when you said it i didn't appreciate it i don't care doesn't bother me it tells us can i read it
[00:34:25] to y'all from this and so our church put in what we call our special advice and really i want you to i'm gonna read it now we're gonna stay on this long huh but it's a it's a special advice
[00:34:38] oh lord and it gives us solid uh instructions on okay here we go marriage is the first one we do not prohibit our members from marrying persons who are not of our church they don't
[00:35:00] have to be methodist or amnesian because some people teach that we say i suppose that we don't teach that now all right well watch what it does say uh provided such person have the form
[00:35:13] and are seeking the power of godliness yet we feel it is our duty to discourage their marrying person who do not come up to this description you've missed it right that's right thank you my brother they gotta you gotta line up and they don't line up to discourage
[00:35:33] them from marrying a person that don't line up they for trouble major trouble that you know not and that's what you do before you fall in love

[00:35:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:35:47] but what we say

[00:35:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[00:35:51] loving eyes can never see remember the song by Percy Sledge I think that may be the name of it loving eyes can never see I don't remember now but he took her home to meet his mama
[00:36:09] and her mama pulled him to the side and said son take time to know her maybe that's the name of that song maybe I got too mixed up but take time to know her I know that's a song
[00:36:21] you know amen and so and women see right there a man can tell when another man is up to no good and not good for you a woman can tell about another woman they can see right
[00:36:38] through it am I right sisters am I right have you ever seen me hook up with the wrong women y'all talk back don't be scared and Lord knows she don't mind me telling it she's deceased
[00:36:55] now, but we grew up together from first grade all the way through high school. And she was dating a boy. I really was just friends. And I just say, this boy is no good for you. I
[00:37:08] saw that. Married him anyway. And violent. She had escaped from him and could not let him know where she was. And then she used to tell me, you used to tell me don't date that old big head boy i wish i had listened to you because i saw it from teaching children it
[00:37:35] was in the ritual that don't take don't do things don't take don't marry without taking counsel from your most serious brother or sister in other words don't make a decision by yourself i thought it's the second most decision you can make in your life and i don't do it without
[00:37:58] counsel help me somebody huh because you can't see when you're young like that you don't know what to look for huh i can tell you about because i know what a man is what a man is not
[00:38:12] huh well he won't provide that he just showed you that okay let me move on but here's the part i'm gonna get to now probably gonna move on it says that that uh many of our here's the point
[00:38:25] i want you to remember that we're gonna move away from this many of our members have married unawakened person we did not save y'all hear what I'm saying church now watch what it says that happened
[00:38:37] see this is what we're supposed to be teaching church we so busy trying to get a shout from you on Sundays that we don't tell you what matters to keep you out of trouble so you can live a godly life and be happy in your life
[00:38:52] and be thankful for your marriage that's what we're supposed to do I'm serious this is our job my job It's not going to say, remember I said earlier, be well with people, bring your own praise.
[00:39:08] Angels of everyday life.
[00:39:18] It falls off.
[00:39:18] Don't you want to have a shepherd?
[00:39:23] Take the sheep and go places the shepherd has never been.
[00:39:26] The shepherd leads the sheep and then go check out where he's going to lead them first.
[00:39:34] Know where water is, where the nest is.
[00:39:39] And then the shepherd will get the sheep and lead them forward.
[00:39:43] Because he knows what's ahead and how to protect the sheep.
[00:39:46] where my job as a pastor is to know what's ahead.
[00:39:51] That's my assignment from God because it breaks my heart to see so many folks hurt unnecessarily.
[00:40:04] This is just the way we're here.
[00:40:06] Many of our persons have married persons who are unawakened.
[00:40:09] This has produced a bad effect.
[00:40:12] And listen to what it's saying.
[00:40:14] Listen now, church.
[00:40:16] They have either been hindered for life or gone back into prediction.
[00:40:21] In other words, Some people have been hurt for life And they may never get over it Huh The pain that they experience You mean I know this as a shepherd I'm supposed to know it
[00:40:31] As a shepherd I'm not a shepherd That's a hireling A shepherd cares for the sheep A shepherd will lay down their lives for the sheep Folks don't church hurt You know what you're telling folks
[00:40:49] This is hurt city All the hurt for the sheep All of the calling All to it which means God has shaped you and taken you through stuff, experiences in life, so that you can endure it and be glad to do it for the sheep.
[00:41:15] The shepherd gladly lays down his life for the sheep.
[00:41:21] That's our assignment.
[00:41:26] That's why you honor your leaders.
[00:41:28] I don't want your money.
[00:41:29] Thank you, Brother Jeff, for lifting it up.
[00:41:31] Lord knows, I swear, I believe I could have grown to a great status in the company.
[00:41:36] I've been making a million dollars a year.
[00:41:37] So help me God, the door was wide open for that to happen.
[00:41:41] but God called you're going to hear what I said I said God called forget the money who made me and he made me for this perfect work in the corporate world that was just to get me some experience
[00:42:00] until he could get me where he wanted me to be this life whatever you get in this life is fleeting I don't care how much money you have when you close your eyes it's not yours anymore
[00:42:14] huh the Bible says you shall heap up riches and know it not who shall get them you have a wheel you still don't know who's going to get it because these kids will take each other to court
[00:42:27] and let the lawyer spend every dime, come on somebody and then they're ready to settle when you got 35 cents left I'm going to tell you the truth church this is what our assignment is from God
[00:42:44] to protect the flock make sure, listen my job, if hell got to be called it's my job to catch the hell so you can live in a good life you missed that you do the
[00:43:04] same thing with your children have you not made this for your children and you went without the love now let me just go ahead and close i told you i wrestled with this thing about two or three
[00:43:33] sermons three sermons on my mind yesterday evening on my way back you know my wife's family reunion that's where she is today in fact she's preaching this morning at her family reunion amen but anyway
[00:43:49] listen to what the man said my children listen to your father's instruction listen when your father corrects you the first thing a godly father disciplines now hold on your horses discipline does not carry the connotation
[00:44:07] of putting a belt on you it's inclusive but that's not the greater context.
[00:44:14] The greater context is if I step out of line you know first of all tell me to put my foot back in where it's supposed to be.
[00:44:23] Y'all hear what I'm saying church?
[00:44:24] If I don't do it watch this then the father the one noted in the Bible says for the father. Mothers, I'm not saying you got mothers who are disciplinary. I know you do. I got that.
[00:44:34] But they say primarily it's a man's job to discipline his children.
[00:44:39] Y'all don't want to talk to me.
[00:44:41] Huh?
[00:44:42] Amen, somebody.
[00:44:43] That's why the Bible always says father.
[00:44:47] Even when it comes to God, it says father.
[00:44:50] The father, and the father discipline his children.
[00:44:54] Come on, somebody, huh?
[00:44:55] And so we got to learn that.
[00:44:57] And discipline does not mean the belt.
[00:44:59] It means to teach them and help them come back in line to walk the path that they're supposed to walk.
[00:45:05] It's like driving up and down the highway.
[00:45:07] You got a lane to operate in.
[00:45:09] And they said, don't cross the line.
[00:45:12] If you cross the line, come back.
[00:45:15] Now you've got these cars that are almost self-driving.
[00:45:18] You know, some of y'all got these fastest cars that if you veer over on the other side, you know, the steering wheel will pull you back by itself.
[00:45:25] Anybody know what I'm talking about now?
[00:45:27] I promise you that's what God is saying a father should do.
[00:45:31] He said, it's your assignment from me to bring them back.
[00:45:36] because you everybody know it there's some time boys need a father to bring their tails back in line I'm not saying mother I know we have some disciplinary mothers I got it like I said I know that I'll sing song I'm talking about how God
[00:45:53] set it up huh because if the kid not gonna like anybody growing up we should be able to take it y'all missed it huh you should we should be able to take it That's why Mother's Day is celebrated more than Father's Day
[00:46:12] I kid about it But you can't get hung up on that Of course they don't You all know I kid about that Mother's Day, got to make reservations ahead of time Police out directing traffic
[00:46:26] And all that stuff Restaurants crowded Father's Day, they take all the speed Let me sign down to drive safely Because there ain't nobody out there I didn't see a cop the first this morning all the fathers probably got the day off
[00:46:44] amen to my restaurant there's nobody there's no host in there they got a son they seat themselves you know and I was teaching when I have a class for men that's our joy cause when the family
[00:47:02] is doing well that's our joy that's fine I was kidding at the event the family reunion even my wife and my wife and daughter both had no little tie I told my brother that they're going
[00:47:21] to be my gift for Father's Day they're going to wrap that up when they get back to the hotel and give it to me I love to have fun y'all I love to have fun
[00:47:28] they're wearing my Father's Day gift before I can get it you know but what I'm saying brothers and honestly God that's our joy when the family is doing well when the children are getting along
[00:47:41] don't you know God feels the same way when we are fighting among ourselves and didn't throw up holy hands, God said, get those dirty hands down.
[00:47:50] Even the word says, if there's an oath between you and your brother, leave your offering.
[00:47:55] Go make it right, and then come back and offer up your gift.
[00:47:59] So God said, I don't want it.
[00:48:01] So you get right with your brother and your sister.
[00:48:04] Now, they may not accept it, but he said, you go offer it.
[00:48:09] And if you do that, you've done your job.
[00:48:11] Amen, somebody?
[00:48:12] I promise you, God, the word, God, you can't even work, don't try to worship me.
[00:48:16] You go work it out with them because that's what a father does.
[00:48:20] They want to see the family doing well.
[00:48:22] So we got to know where our joy lies.
[00:48:24] Amen, somebody?
[00:48:25] They're going to brag about what mom did.
[00:48:27] You heard me say mom did this, dad did this, but mom won the trophy.
[00:48:33] Y'all ain't going to talk to me.
[00:48:38] I know when I'm in it by myself.
[00:48:42] Amen.
[00:48:42] But do I look like I'm scared?
[00:48:48] But that's what a father is.
[00:48:49] It's not a belt.
[00:48:50] now the belt may be necessary and the children get mad at one of the parents let it be the father

[00:48:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:48:57] I'm going to say it again

[00:49:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[00:49:03] let it be the father and then oh lord women put on those rocks I'm about to say something now sometimes women you need to go walking and let the father discipline especially the boys and the girls maybe that's another story
[00:49:22] but I know about boys now I ain't saying all now because some mothers, you can hang out as long as you want to.
[00:49:30] You won't be here long.
[00:49:34] Y'all know what I'm talking about.
[00:49:36] But what I'm saying is because sometimes because of your I mean, it's by the way God made you, you carry emotion more than men.
[00:49:49] You start feeling sorry and don't want the father to discipline the boy. So in other words, sometimes you're not careful. You want to raise a weak boy, but you want a strong man. And my point is that
[00:50:04] if you've got a good man out the system, you have the responsibility to put a good man back.
[00:50:11] And I hear sometimes single mothers crying about, well, I can't find no good men. They've got a boy. I say, well, how are you raising yours?
[00:50:19] Are you raising up a good man?
[00:50:22] Amen.
[00:50:24] And I had to tell one lady, she was saying, what else you could do? I said, I'm never going to argue what you can or cannot do, but I will make this little simple statement to you.
[00:50:32] you can't even teach them how to pee.
[00:50:40] Y'all catch that tomorrow.
[00:50:43] You can't even teach them how to pee.
[00:50:46] And it never dawned on me, because we have girls, until my daughter sent me regarding my grandson, I need you to take him to the bathroom, to the restroom.
[00:50:56] Y'all miss what I'm saying.
[00:50:58] He said, I can't teach them how to pee.
[00:51:02] And we were somewhere, I guess on YouTube or wherever, but they were showing the little girl at the urinal trying to urinate like a boy.
[00:51:09] you know, following her big brother you know, but let's just move on to that and so the other thing, so he said that that correction and the other point is that a father gives direction
[00:51:23] a child does not know the way unless somebody directs them the way and what the word says, train up a child in the way that they should go and what, when they get They were not hazing how many children in the older age start coming back to the Lord and coming back to the church.
[00:51:57] So I'm going to do to put your stake and I trust God to take care of them until they come back in life.
[00:52:10] It's just life.
[00:52:15] All right.
[00:52:15] Somebody been there.
[00:52:17] Huh?
[00:52:19] You see, we were up on.
[00:52:20] We don't know bad stuff, but we did enough stuff to know that we could have been dead.
[00:52:25] Come on, somebody.
[00:52:27] Huh?
[00:52:28] I remember on, you know where Highway 80 is, Dr. Debra, that my brother was trying to pass a car, and here come this big truck.
[00:52:37] Our promenade barely got back in.
[00:52:39] We all could have been smashed to pieces right there and there.
[00:52:43] But guess what daddy used to tell us?
[00:52:44] That while we were out hanging out at night, he used to say to the boys, y'all don't know what you put me through.
[00:52:51] I didn't know that until our children started going out.
[00:52:55] Are y'all listening to me, church?
[00:52:56] And he used to say But I lay in bed And I pray till every last one Walk in the house Then I go to sleep And prayer kept a whole lot of us out of trouble
[00:53:10] Amen somebody While we were out doing Us doing what we were doing Hanging out not realizing The dangers that were out there Somebody pray for us Somebody pray for what we were doing Crazy jacked up stuff
[00:53:26] Somebody pray for us And I'm glad that somebody prayed for me.
[00:53:31] Mama had me on her mind.
[00:53:34] However the song goes, you know what I'm talking about.
[00:53:36] But they prayed for me.
[00:53:37] Prayer kept a lot of us out of trouble.
[00:53:41] Aren't you glad somebody prayed for you?
[00:53:44] Aren't you glad that somebody had you on their mind?
[00:53:48] I know I'm glad about it.
[00:53:50] I'm glad somebody prayed for me.
[00:53:52] I'm glad when we was out there in the world, somebody prayed for me.
[00:53:56] In fact, one night we was coming back from somewhere, and my brother ran over a big bag in the car.
[00:54:05] And I'm sitting on the back seat, and the bag got stuck on the car, and I didn't know it.
[00:54:10] We didn't know it.
[00:54:11] My brother was driving, and somebody flagged it down.
[00:54:14] They said, man, there's a bag burning under your car.
[00:54:19] And it was right under the gas tank.
[00:54:21] And I'm sitting right on the back seat.
[00:54:22] Y'all don't hear what I'm saying.
[00:54:23] We could have blown up But thank God Somebody prayed for us And that's all I'm saying church When you got godly parents They understand the power of prayer Cause prayer has kept a lot of us
[00:54:39] Out of trouble Prayer has protected a lot of us And that's why some of our old folks Used to say this All I know to do is turn them over in the hands of the Lord
[00:54:49] Woo I put them in the hands of the Lord I've said everything I know to say.
[00:54:54] I've done everything I know to do.
[00:54:56] Now, God, it's yours.
[00:54:58] You take care of him.
[00:55:00] And God kept us because of our parents.
[00:55:04] I know I'm right about this stuff.
[00:55:06] I don't come to you like I'm holier than thou.
[00:55:10] Made a lot of mistakes in my life.
[00:55:13] That's what young folks do.
[00:55:14] I remind folks of that sometimes.
[00:55:16] That's what young people do.
[00:55:17] They do young people stuff.
[00:55:19] They make young people mistakes.
[00:55:21] let's not be hard on them for making young people mistake because that's what young people do that's what we did how many don't know we don't wise up now come on somebody huh how many don't
[00:55:33] look back over our lives and thank god that we made it safe when everybody that did crazy stuff did not make it out all right he said follow my direction of my instructions and it means the word of god because the word of god is immutable it doesn't change let me go
[00:55:58] and wrap this up and y'all can go home and eat your potato salad and twig and dressing whatever they got for dad.
[00:56:06] May I plug in a joke? No, I better not do that.
[00:56:11] We probably got chicken and dressing.
[00:56:13] Y'all will catch it tomorrow.
[00:56:15] Okay.
[00:56:17] I'm not knocking on them.
[00:56:18] How do you know what I got at home? I don't know what you got at home.
[00:56:21] Okay, the other one he says that don't forget his commandments.
[00:56:26] Stay devoted.
[00:56:28] A father teaches children one, make sure they're disciplined.
[00:56:34] discipline is something to do doesn't mean that they're bad see that's when we talked about that we talked about the military when we do the Deuteronomy the eighth chapter the Lord disciplined us and we said when they go to the military they didn't say you did anything wrong it seems really
[00:56:47] carries a positive connotation to it we we think it's negative and we use it sometimes in a negative way but I promise that's not the context of discipline it is to start to learn to do the
[00:56:59] things you should do when you should do it how you should do it and where you should do it and When did you do it for?
[00:57:04] Amen.
[00:57:05] So they had to teach us some stuff, you know, that we don't, I mean, they make a discipline.
[00:57:09] So everything you do got to be a certain way.
[00:57:11] Am I right, somebody?
[00:57:12] Your hair got to be cut a certain length.
[00:57:15] Y'all talk back.
[00:57:17] Your shoes got to be shined.
[00:57:19] Now, what's that got to do with fighting a war?
[00:57:21] See, what they're trying to teach us is you do everything a certain way no matter what.
[00:57:27] Even your shoes.
[00:57:29] Amen, somebody.
[00:57:30] Even the way you wear your clothes.
[00:57:33] Either way you make up your bed.
[00:57:34] Y'all talk back.
[00:57:35] Am I right, somebody?
[00:57:36] Everything you do must be done a certain way because they're trying to instill discipline in us.
[00:57:41] So it doesn't mean when I joined the military, I didn't think bad, but they're trying to teach discipline.
[00:57:48] So I learned to do what I ought to do and how I should be done.
[00:57:53] That's why in our church structure, I will book a policy called the book of discipline.
[00:57:59] What the church is saying, got it from scripture, is that now that we're saved, we need to learn discipline.
[00:58:06] Learn the state of the word of God.
[00:58:08] If you get in trouble, learn the word of God.
[00:58:13] Come to the means of grace that you may grow and develop and become the person God wants you to become.
[00:58:20] That's why they call it there.
[00:58:22] So, gotta be devoted.
[00:58:27] So again, and I'll close it out here.
[00:58:30] Discipline, do what you should do.
[00:58:32] Direction, follow God's direction.
[00:58:34] God has a way.
[00:58:36] for everything he called us to do.
[00:58:38] He has a way.
[00:58:40] Now, the Bible says this.
[00:58:41] There is a way that seems right to a man, but the ways thereof lead to destruction.
[00:58:47] So people don't know.
[00:58:49] They blame God for it and blame the devil.
[00:58:52] But most of, not enough, even Chuck Swindoll said about regarding attitude, the overwhelming majority of our stuff, the trouble we get into has to do with poor choices.
[00:59:04] We didn't consult the word of God.
[00:59:06] amen somebody and God is saying before you do anything you consult my word and know what I said about it because that's the only way you're going to win see that's another thing Satan knows disobedience to God's word
[00:59:19] automatically leads to chaos now every time something I tell you you've been digging all day you better learn to do it right learn to do what God said amen I'm going to tell you what the word said
[00:59:32] Satan has no power over us God has the power Jesus said this in John 20, that you're in the Father's hand.
[00:59:40] No man can snatch you out.
[00:59:45] Nobody can take you out of God's hand.
[00:59:49] Whatever happens, remember Satan, like I'm trying to be through.
[00:59:53] Remember when Satan came to, yeah, and the other angels came to present themselves unto God.
[01:00:00] And God asked Satan, where has he been?
[01:00:02] What's the right thing?
[01:00:03] Now, see, Satan has to have permission.
[01:00:08] See, we got to get it right.
[01:00:09] where you been Satan I've been going up and down have you seen my servant Job yeah but you got a head watch this church you got a head built around Job I can't get to him
[01:00:27] God said okay watch this I'll let you have him but don't touch his body see permission understand so everything Job had was lost then God came back again God said now what you got to say sir
[01:00:46] well you took his stuff but uh uh you know i don't have access to his body let me touch his body and he'll curse you through your face huh and god's okay watch this you can have access to his body but don't touch
[01:01:00] his life anybody listen to what i'm saying church huh and so saying god gave him that that permission and sure enough saying uh um joe got sick and all of those things like that but he could not
[01:01:15] destroy Job. Why? Because God had, would only give Satan limited access to Job.
[01:01:22] Now, Clover, one more. Do you not remember when Jesus told Peter that Satan has asked for you?
[01:01:28] Huh? That's right. Satan said, Peter, Jesus said, Simon, why, this is what I'm saying in church, Satan has asked for you.
[01:01:37] And he desires to sift you like wheat.
[01:01:40] Or the word here was Satan was saying, God, let me have Peter. See, The saint cannot walk up to us and touch us unless God permits it.
[01:01:54] But if God permits it, God is doing it for a greater good, that he might bless us with more so the people and us.
[01:02:02] But we don't get that sometimes.
[01:02:06] That's my point.
[01:02:07] Be afraid.
[01:02:10] Don't be so quick to blame the devil for everything.
[01:02:16] I'm going to leave that alone.
[01:02:17] I got a whole series on Help Me God on.
[01:02:19] I call it Satan's mad weapons of deception how he tricks the church and guess what y'all he's been doing it using the same trick since the beginning of time he has never changed his trick
[01:02:34] and the church keep falling for the same old trick it's a bog of my mind how could we fall for the same trick for thousands of years and hadn't caught on yet but that's all he can do
[01:02:48] he got tricks deception that all he got use my power or get me to disobey God knowing the word that disobedience to the word of God will cause the trouble in my life can I get okay it's like
[01:03:08] driving down the road remember they used to have these signs out road out ahead or whatever 1500 feet there's a bridge out ahead 1500 feet I keep driving You go a little further, they're going to say 1,000 feet.
[01:03:24] I keep driving.
[01:03:25] It's going to say 500 feet.
[01:03:28] See?
[01:03:29] See what I'm saying?
[01:03:30] And the next thing I know, I run off the cliff.
[01:03:33] Then I wonder, what happened?
[01:03:36] See?
[01:03:37] No, I'm serious.
[01:03:38] See, Satan tells me, quit driving.
[01:03:40] Keep driving.
[01:03:41] It's okay.
[01:03:43] You missed what I'm saying.
[01:03:45] Satan says, keep driving.
[01:03:46] It's okay.
[01:03:46] Oh, don't worry about that.
[01:03:48] I just keep doing the road like it's a head, right?
[01:03:50] I mean, out, up, down.
[01:03:51] No, it doesn't.
[01:03:51] okay, we keep driving. How many times have you ever been on your usual GPS and it tried to get you to exit off on the expressway?
[01:04:02] Huh? And it looked like to you the traffic, okay.
[01:04:05] I've done that. Then I said, oh, I see why it was trying to get me to exit off after I'm stuck in traffic.
[01:04:12] It hasn't happened to me. But I try to be more attentive now. Amen somebody. And my wife and I just experienced that. Coming from Tennessee back here.
[01:04:23] You know. And honest to God, you know it kept warning a couple times finally I was at a place where I couldn't get off thank God for that and I got off and then I went to go around
[01:04:32] some crazy ways or whatever where we avoided a lot of the traffic why because I took heed to the instruction that's all I'm saying anyway so invitation is extended to receive Jesus as your Lord and your Savior remember
[01:04:46] my brothers God honors you God respect you and God has invested a lot into us I don't care how the world looks at us You have to know as a man And as a father
[01:04:58] Amen Especially when you train your children right God values that and God appreciates that Amen somebody You may not get the credit We don't need to get the credit Because we know what a father is
[01:05:12] Amen Alright Invitation is extended to receive Jesus As your Lord and your Savior I want to accept Jesus Lord and Savior unite with this church fellowship or dedicate your life to christ anyone on zoom or facebook

[01:06:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[01:06:00] or whatever it may be and your information in the chat and it said cheers out uh any

[01:09:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_12]
[01:09:20] doing the announcements for us sunday june the 21st which is today all activities that your organization have completed between march the 29th and june 27th will need to to include be included in this quarterly report if you would like to purchase a
[01:10:06] port-a-pit dinner to help support the men's boosters please see brother Jeff tickets are $13 and can be picked up at New Hope and the Zion Church and you can also get them from brother Jeff the Salisbury district will organize on
[01:10:28] Saturday June the 27th at 10 a.m. at Morris Chapel Church there will be further details to follow we will also organize on July the 11th the pastor is asking that you please organize before July 5th and get all names to the
[01:10:50] secretary to update the organizational booklet Pastor Meriwether will also be preaching August the 23rd at Lomax Temple and Meezyne Church, Knoxville, Tennessee.
[01:11:05] The church is planning to travel with him, so we need your response by June the 28th so that we can properly plan for traveling accommodations. And there was a survey that were sent out uh so that we can get a head count for um that for that day for that sunday
[01:11:29] uh bible study will resume after labor day i think that's yeah that's correct okay um while i'm standing would like to uh give tribute to our fathers um happy father's day to all fathers grandfathers, stepfathers, mentors, and father figures who make a difference every day.
[01:12:09] So a father is more than a provider. He is a protector, a teacher, an encourager, and he's an example.
[01:12:24] Through life challenges and victories, your guidance has been a source of strength and inspiration.
[01:12:33] Your sacrifices, your hard work, and unwavering love help shape the lives and create precious memories that will never be forgotten.
[01:12:48] So thank you, Fathers.

[01:12:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[01:12:50] Amen.
[01:12:52] Good job, Brother Chip.

[01:12:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_16]
[01:12:53] How do I follow that? Happy Father's Day to all the fathers. So I just want to take the time out to say thank you to those who were able to come out on Friday to our third annual Juneteenth Festival in Kannapolis.
[01:13:11] I do appreciate you all. God covered us from the weather to being safe.
[01:13:18] We had a wonderful time. One thing, we are going to be able to play a video that was made in 2024.
[01:13:27] This video, you may recognize some familiar faces, but we also made the news.
[01:13:33] So, Martinita is actually going to put a link in the email and also post it on the church's website.
[01:13:40] there's a short news clip for WCNC 36 yeah you may see a familiar face in that as well but we had a wonderful time I thank you all that as I said that's our third annual we will do it all over again next year so you want to cue the

[01:14:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:14:00] video it's very short greetings everyone i would like to wish you all a wonderful june happy june happy june happy june happy june june is a holiday marking the end of

[01:14:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_21]
[01:14:31] chattel slavery in the united states in the confusion of turmoil as the civil war drew to a close many enslaved africans did not immediately learn of general robert e lee's april 1865 surrender to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in Virginia.
[01:14:49] In fact, Texans fought on through May when they finally learned that the war had truly

[01:14:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:14:56] ended.
[01:14:57] When Union Army General Gordon Granger landed at the Texas port city of Galveston to take command of the Military District of Texas, one of his first actions after landing in

[01:15:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]
[01:15:08] June 1865 was to read general order number three to the people of Galveston.
[01:15:15] General Granger read, the people of Texas are informed all slaves are free. This

[01:15:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[01:15:23] involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property

[01:15:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_20]
[01:15:28] between former masters and slaves. Thus June 19th, Juneteenth became the emancipation date for those sons and daughters of Africa long suffering for freedom in the United States. This celebration tradition has remained

[01:15:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[01:15:44] strong well into the 21st century and is celebrated in many states nationwide.
[01:15:48] Juneteenth is honored with the veneration of our ancestors, prayer,

[01:15:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]
[01:15:52] African drumming, and dance. There are inspirational speeches, art, poetry readings, picnics, games, singing, and fellowship. The celebration of Juneteenth

[01:16:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_15]
[01:16:03] is a recognition of the endurance of the African spirit over the cruelty of

[01:16:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[01:16:08] chattel slavery. For African Americans it's a tribute to our ancestors strength their perseverance and their faith. For all America Juneteenth is a reminder of the disgraceful past and our promise of a hopeful future. Welcome everyone to

[01:16:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[01:16:25] our first Kannapolis Juneteenth. Happy Juneteenth. Happy Juneteenth. Happy

[01:16:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_22]
[01:16:32] Juneteenth. Happy Juneteenth. Happy Juneteenth. We are so excited about our first official Freedom Day celebration, where you get to delight yourself in a fun-filled day of holiday celebration, cultural festivities, great food, and community fellowship. Enjoy. Greetings, everyone.

[01:16:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[01:16:56] at this time we'd like to take time to acknowledge our visitors for any visitor here that want to have words stand and give words to our pastor of the church this is your time

[01:17:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_17]
[01:17:18] I give honor to God this afternoon to your pastor to all the ministers and everybody that's in the house I just thank the Lord for just being here It's a joy.
[01:17:36] Probably some of you don't know who I am.
[01:17:39] I'm Joanne.
[01:17:39] I'm Floyd Sloan's daughter.
[01:17:43] He was an adamant member here at Sears Creek.
[01:17:47] Dedicated father here at Sears Creek.
[01:17:52] And I just thank the Lord we decided, I decided I need to come.
[01:17:57] I celebrated a birthday on yesterday.
[01:18:00] I was 80 years old yesterday.
[01:18:02] and I give God the glory.
[01:18:06] Oh, I've come this far by faith.
[01:18:09] Pastor, I enjoyed the word.
[01:18:11] Oh, it was just wonderful.
[01:18:13] I just thank the Lord.
[01:18:14] I'm a member of Mount Calvary.
[01:18:15] Hope you reminded me of my pastor this morning.
[01:18:18] And I just thank the Lord for all that he's done and what he's even going to do.
[01:18:24] I've even, through the years, through the 80 years, have seen Sears Creek come through a whole lot.
[01:18:30] But through God's grace, oh, we've come this far by faith.
[01:18:36] And I just thank the Lord.
[01:18:38] I'm here with my son and my brother.
[01:18:41] They decided that we wanted to be here today.
[01:18:45] I got permission from my pastor, and I said, oh, I'm going on the seal screen.
[01:18:49] He said, go ahead on and enjoy the service.
[01:18:51] And I've enjoyed the service this morning.
[01:18:55] I thought about it.
[01:18:56] I said, Lord, there's a whole new generation that's out of my generation that I was in.
[01:19:03] There's a few left that I remember that's still here, Kathleen and Dolores.
[01:19:10] She was just a little girl when I was around in my time.
[01:19:14] But I thank the Lord, and I say I just thank the Lord for what he's doing.
[01:19:19] And don't let the legacy die.
[01:19:21] Keep the legacy going.
[01:19:23] you got other children that are coming alone you know I stepped into my mom and my dad's place you know after they went on the glory but I have children he's grown but I got grandchildren
[01:19:39] let them children know who the great grands were you know and what part in the church that they played and I just thank the Lord for how you just broke that word down for these fathers, you know.
[01:19:56] But I just thank the Lord for all that he's doing, and I just appreciate this is another home for me.
[01:20:03] And I think I got my own church home.
[01:20:06] This is a church home.
[01:20:07] I grew up in this church, Sears Creek.
[01:20:09] You know, and I just think you've had some pastors that didn't think that I knew about Sears Creek.
[01:20:14] I said I was brought up in Sears Creek.
[01:20:17] I know these folks.
[01:20:19] but i thank the lord for his goodness and his kindness and his tender mercy i don't know whether my brother want to say something or not good morning to god be the glory to the saints here

[01:20:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[01:20:32] i give god the glory first in my life amen god bless you save my savior giving honor to the angels of the house here i am a member of whoso will let them come ministry in spencer
[01:20:42] and just to let you know the welcome that i felt when i stepped on the grounds here this morning I remember Seals Creek as homecoming.
[01:20:54] And see, homecoming began a week of revival, being revived.
[01:21:02] And the revival in my life today is the fresh revelation and the fresh amount that I received from the word this morning.
[01:21:09] I fell from heaven this morning.
[01:21:12] The discipline and the correction that's needed with men.
[01:21:20] iron sharpens iron is what it does yes it does and the reason and the purpose of coming here today was to receive a word and I give God the glory that I received something down in my belly this morning
[01:21:33] that makes my soul cry out hallelujah oh that's my praise hallelujah may God be the glory to all his saints this morning and thank you for this time and this opportunity amen Amen. Thank you, Lord.

[01:21:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[01:21:50] Anyone else?

[01:21:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[01:21:52] How many of y'all remember Jeremiah, my son?
[01:22:05] This is Jeremiah.
[01:22:06] Remember my son Jeremiah?
[01:22:08] Amen.
[01:22:09] This is God right here.
[01:22:11] Just so everybody, all family remembers all family.
[01:22:16] And I want Eric to see her family.
[01:22:19] Amen.
[01:22:19] This is her first time seeing her family.
[01:22:22] Amen.
[01:22:23] Thank you.
[01:22:24] Amen.

[01:22:28] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_18]
[01:22:28] anyone else you're taking the time anyone else on you pastor

[01:22:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[01:22:38] let's give God some praise for our visitors thank y'all for being here thank God for your parents and raising you the right way I appreciate that that means so much and Lord knows our parents
[01:22:55] raised us right that's not to say we didn't do anything I mean, you know, young people, young people, but we didn't get in.
[01:23:02] We didn't get in any trouble.
[01:23:04] That's true.
[01:23:05] But at the same time, they raised us right.
[01:23:08] And what I've noticed, even when I go to my home church, the younger people that we grew up with are now the leaders in the church.
[01:23:16] And it does my heart so much good.
[01:23:19] In fact, one of the young men I grew up, even it's even the pastor of my home church.
[01:23:23] Amen.
[01:23:24] we all grew up together and you never know who's going to be a preacher among you, we had no idea each one of us would be pastoring somewhere and I think it was last year I went back
[01:23:34] there, I was invited to do the revival at my home church so that meant so much to me and so all I'm saying is, let me thank God because I understand he was a trustee
[01:23:44] for the Floyd yeah, and very dedicated and committed to the life of the church, we appreciate that and to all of you I don't want to get in I'm getting in trouble if I start calling names but I see so
[01:23:56] many of you and your parents are here this is a good thing to do the right thing to do take time to honor those who God has used to raise you and I'll be honest about it I
[01:24:07] even say to get you into the world because you steal their seed it's hard to be and appreciate yourself if you despise your background or that what you came from I'm being honest about it I just teach it to you all
[01:24:24] it's hard and what i didn't say is hold your horses sister man is the only one the male man i should say that because i believe let me get out of there uh i believe that god made man
[01:24:38] and then from the man he made male and female y'all gonna figure it out tomorrow he made man and from the man he made male and female so he took something out of the man put it in the male
[01:24:51] some things out of the man and put it in the female, now you have to bring the two back together to have a man. That's why you can't do it by yourself.
[01:25:03] You can't even reproduce without the other.

[01:25:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:25:06] I want to talk to you.

[01:25:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[01:25:09] Alright, I'm serious.
[01:25:11] I teach that when I do wedding, on marriage, I teach that.
[01:25:16] And we're becoming a man's identity versus a woman.
[01:25:20] Amen, somebody. And so God made woman from man.
[01:25:26] We don't want to talk now.
[01:25:28] Okay, that's it.
[01:25:29] That's it.
[01:25:33] 85 years?
[01:25:36] Did you say, Brother Larry?
[01:25:40] Did you say 65 years?
[01:25:45] Wow.
[01:25:47] Brother Hope, thank God for you.
[01:25:51] Yes, sir.
[01:25:53] Are you trying to say something?
[01:25:56] Yeah.
[01:25:57] I'm never going to tell you no.
[01:26:01] Y'all don't understand.
[01:26:02] I'm serious.
[01:26:04] God honors when you honor the age.
[01:26:08] I'm going to turn you to word.
[01:26:10] Go ahead, sir.

[01:26:27] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:26:27] And I'm glad about it today.
[01:26:29] I've been here for a birthday.
[01:26:31] Might not have seen it, but I've been sick off and on.
[01:26:36] But I kept praying to God to let me see it.
[01:26:38] And I've seen it.
[01:26:40] So I'm not good about it now.
[01:26:43] But things will go on.
[01:26:45] And I hope to keep on going on.
[01:26:47] And when I'm gone, I'll keep telling whoever takes my place, keep it going.
[01:26:52] and the church will keep going and they keep it going.

[01:26:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[01:26:56] Amen.

[01:26:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:26:57] So I thank you, Reverend.
[01:26:58] Sure.
[01:26:59] Thank you a lot.

[01:27:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_19]
[01:27:00] Thank you, sir.
[01:27:02] Amen.
[01:27:07] I have more respect to you than you may ever realize.
[01:27:13] Did you hear what I said?
[01:27:16] I have more respect and appreciation for you than you may ever know.
[01:27:21] So let's put, I have the utmost respect.
[01:27:24] And there are others in here.
[01:27:25] I'm going to leave that.
[01:27:26] I know we got to go.
[01:27:28] but y'all hear me say a lot that sometimes we don't appreciate people enough we'll work them like a mule and only criticize when something ain't done right but never say thank you for what people do and God gave that to me that's why
[01:27:46] I say every Sunday thank you you know it's not a show I'm not trying to flatter you but I thank you we gotta go I know we gotta go again because someone here for all of the gifts,
[01:28:04] banana pudding, pound cake, Fig Newton, sneaker bars, whatever you prepared for us, we said thank you.
[01:28:13] It was really delicious and good.
[01:28:16] In fact, I had a Fig Newton last night.
[01:28:19] Well, actually I had two.
[01:28:23] But anyway, I do thank you for that.
[01:28:26] I don't take anything for granted.
[01:28:28] I ate as much banana pudding as I could eat.
[01:28:30] Amen.
[01:28:31] I think she thought it was a horse.
[01:28:32] She peed in a big pan.
[01:28:35] Okay, I got to go.
[01:28:36] Thank you, doctor, for the gym teeth.
[01:28:39] That's a lot.
[01:28:39] We sure we got some.
[01:28:40] Please let me just give me one minute to say this.
[01:28:43] There's so many workshops we got to have.
[01:28:45] Listen carefully.
[01:28:48] The church has a responsibility.
[01:28:49] God cares to hear nothing we got to say.
[01:28:52] We don't teach people, especially when it comes to relationships.
[01:28:58] You know what they call them now?
[01:29:00] Situationships.
[01:29:02] You all heard that, right?
[01:29:03] it's the church's job we're the custodian of truth and i apologize the church let us down but god is calling more people back hey you got to teach the people and show them the way
[01:29:26] beauty gonna flee one day and i'll say this on closing god will always have good men and good women he will always have them sometimes because they don't look the way we want them to look
[01:29:46] you bypass them and then when they have some negative experience they want to find a good man or a good woman okay they're either alone but please understand what I'm saying it's the church's job
[01:30:01] so here's what the bible says let the older men teach the younger men and let the older women teach the younger women and then fathers whether they have a good relationship with the ladies or daughters
[01:30:14] and you teach them knee high to adult what a good man is And mothers, likewise, be with us with a son.
[01:30:22] This kind of woman, this kind of woman.
[01:30:24] Amen?
[01:30:26] Because every woman ain't good for a certain man, and every man ain't good for certain women.
[01:30:31] Okay, how good they look.
[01:30:32] I know we're going by how they got to be buffed and all of that.
[01:30:36] Okay, that's the benediction.
[01:30:39] Amen.
[01:30:39] Y'all get me in so much trouble.
[01:30:42] But thank you and love you very much.
[01:30:47] Now unto him who is able to keep me from falling.
[01:30:52] and to present you faultless before his presence with exceeding joy to the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty dominion and power now and forever that the saints of God say oh I'm sorry we forgot it was on my mind we got to sing happy birthday
[01:31:35] uh wait wait are there any other birthdays did I use I thought this was your birthday yesterday?
[01:31:44] Okay.
[01:31:45] Any other birthdays?
[01:31:47] Dr. Alexander?
[01:31:49] Who else?