The Illusion of Stability: Why Moral Effort Cannot Save

• Biblical Stability in Unstable Times [00:41:32 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor introduces the sermon title and theme, contrasting the chaotic, changing culture with the need for spiritual firmness.
• Christian Anxiety vs. Divine Peace [00:47:26 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor addresses the prevalence of anxiety and mental health struggles among Christians, arguing that while medication is not dismissed, the core challenge is to trust in God's unchanging nature rather than living in panic.
• Purpose of Prophetic Warning [00:49:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor clarifies that Jesus and Paul warned of future tribulation not to instill fear, but to prepare the church for faithfulness and to demonstrate Christ's peace amidst chaos.
• Spiritual Discernment vs. Fear [00:49:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor distinguishes between biblical discernment (knowing the Word to filter truth) and fear (panicking or assuming the worst), arguing that warnings are meant to produce faith, not anxiety.
• Sovereignty of God in Perilous Times [00:50:04 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor asserts that God is never caught off guard by 'perilous times' or moral decline, using the analogy of a pilot expecting turbulence to illustrate God's control.
• The Root Problem of Sin vs. Politics [00:57:20 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor debunks the idea that political leadership is the primary issue, identifying sin as humanity's deepest problem and criticizing Christians who place faith in political parties rather than God.
• Authority of Scripture over Prophetic Utterances [01:06:40 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that believers should prioritize studying the Bible over chasing new prophetic words or decoding signs, stating that all necessary guidance is found in Scripture.
• Prophetic Utterance vs. Scripture [01:07:11 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that believers are chasing prophetic words and decoding signs (like blood moons) rather than studying the Bible, asserting that all necessary guidance is found in Scripture.
• Social Media Responsibility [01:14:58 ▶️ 📄]
  > He critiques Christians for posting harmful content without discernment, urging them to ask if content is true, helpful, and glorifies Christ before sharing.
• Persecution and Joy [01:18:38 ▶️ 📄]
  > Using the example of Paul and Silas in prison, he illustrates that true confidence is rooted in Christ, allowing believers to maintain joy and faithfulness despite severe circumstances.
• Daily Faithfulness [01:23:52 ▶️ 📄]
  > He defines biblical perseverance not as dramatic heroics, but as the mundane, consistent acts of praying, serving, loving, and trusting God daily.
• Faithfulness vs. Crisis Orientation [01:26:49 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor argues that recognizing end-times signs should produce faithfulness (prayer, Bible reading, community presence) rather than panic, criticizing the tendency to only engage with God during crises.
• Anxiety and Worry [01:28:31 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor addresses fear of the future, stating that most worries are unfounded ('90 of the stuff that you're worried about right now is not going to happen') and calls for trust in God's sovereignty.
• Discernment [01:29:40 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor prays for the church to have wisdom and discernment to distinguish between truth and falsehood, and between holy thoughts and confused imaginations.
• Spiritual Warfare and Protection [01:31:45 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor declares null and void any negative words or weapons spoken against the church ('River of Life') and prays for the protection of the congregation, especially the youth.

• Sermon Illustration [00:14:54 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about taking a family trip to Albuquerque to visit his daughter and grandson, noting how odd it felt to watch his grandson at a kickball camp while missing the church community, illustrating the deep attachment believers have to their local church.
• Sermon Illustration [00:46:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses the analogy of scrolling through news and social media to illustrate how the world feels like it is spinning faster and bringing constant crises, leading to a sense of urgency and worry that he contrasts with biblical calm.
• Sermon Illustration [00:52:27 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor uses an analogy of a pilot briefing passengers about potential turbulence; the pilot is not surprised by the shaking because he knows the weather patterns, just as the church should not be surprised by spiritual turmoil because God has warned them.
• Sermon Illustration [00:57:37 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal anecdote about attending prayer meetings before and after a presidential election, noting that attendance dropped significantly when his preferred candidate won, illustrating how Christians sometimes place faith in political outcomes rather than God.
• Sermon Illustration [01:02:15 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor describes using a seine net with his brother-in-law to catch fish in a river, explaining that if the net has holes, the fish escape; this illustrates the need for a 'proper filter' (Scripture) to discern truth from error.
• Sermon Illustration [01:05:30 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares personal details about his family being geographically distant (daughter/grandson 6 hours away, son/foster children 12-13 hours away) to illustrate trusting God's protection over his own anxiety when his children are away.
• Sermon Illustration [01:08:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts a personal testimony from his high school senior year where an evangelist approached him and prophesied that he had a call of God on his life, which he accepts as a valid use of prophecy.
• Sermon Illustration [01:08:14 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor recounts his senior year in high school when an evangelist approached him from the front platform to tell him he had a call of God on his life, despite him trying to sit as far away as possible.
• Sermon Illustration [01:19:40 ▶️ 📄]
  > He shares an anecdote about Paul and Silas singing in prison; when the doors opened, Paul stayed behind to stop the jailer from committing suicide, showing they valued their identity in Christ over their freedom.
• Sermon Illustration [01:22:06 ▶️ 📄]
  > He humorously describes Paul and Silas eating beans and tortillas in the jailer's house after the miracle, illustrating their peace and joy.
• Sermon Illustration [01:27:25 ▶️ 📄]
  > The pastor shares a personal joke about his wife and the congregation's tendency to only seek prayer when things are 'bad enough,' illustrating the 'crisis-oriented' nature of some believers.

• Pastoral Charge [00:50:38 ▶️ 📄]
  > Begin to be spiritually prepared for the return of Jesus.
• Pastoral Charge [01:00:40 ▶️ 📄]
  > Know and study the Word of God.
• Pastoral Charge [01:06:30 ▶️ 📄]
  > Walk in faith and discernment, and speak Scripture over loved ones instead of walking in anxiety.
• Pastoral Charge [01:07:50 ▶️ 📄]
  > Rely on the Word of God for all needs rather than seeking new prophetic words.
• Pastoral Charge [01:14:58 ▶️ 📄]
  > Evaluate all social media interactions against four specific criteria before engaging with content.
• Pastoral Charge [01:13:22 ▶️ 📄]
  > Stop listening to sources that rely on conjecture and opinion rather than the Word of God.
• Pastoral Charge [01:27:46 ▶️ 📄]
  > Stop waiting for crises to pray; engage in consistent prayer and supplication regardless of circumstances.
• Pastoral Charge [01:27:25 ▶️ 📄]
  > Stop treating church attendance as a reactive measure to personal crises and engage consistently.
• Pastoral Charge [01:28:02 ▶️ 📄]
  > Stand together in faithfulness to the present moment rather than fearing the future.
• Pastoral Charge [01:31:05 ▶️ 📄]
  > Cease internal division and actively build up fellow believers.

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]
[00:00:00] Guys, help our youth reach summer camp.

[00:09:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]
[00:09:42] We are officially kicking off our calendar fundraiser to support our Fortress youth.
[00:09:46] We want every student to have the chance to experience camp this summer, and you can help make that happen.

[00:09:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:09:51] Here's how it works.

[00:09:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_13]
[00:09:52] It's simple. Pick a day on the May calendar and donate that dollar amount.

[00:09:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_12]
[00:09:58] For example, pick May 5th and donate $5.
[00:10:01] Pick the 31st and pay $31.
[00:10:04] Or if you're feeling generous, pick a few days.
[00:10:06] We have three ways to give.

[00:10:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:10:09] First, text to give. You will text give and your amount to 844-984-3969.

[00:10:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:10:20] Second, if you prefer or only have cash, speak to one of our youth leaders.

[00:10:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_12]
[00:10:26] Third, if you simply want to write out a check, make it out to Youth Summer Camp.

[00:10:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:10:30] Every dollar goes directly toward camp registration and transportation.
[00:10:35] Please help our Fortress youth have a life-changing summer.
[00:10:38] So come support our youth and blessings to you and your family.

[00:10:41] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_08]
[00:10:41] Good evening. Love the color orange. That's exciting. They're like, no. Exciting. You girls got to get excited. It's okay. You'll look great in orange. You have great complexions. They're all up here freaking out now.
[00:11:31] All right. That's awesome. It is so good to have you in the house tonight. Let's give it up for Jesus. Amen.
[00:11:40] I know you're excited to be here and I want to welcome you to River of Life to our midweek service.
[00:11:46] It is Wednesday night and we're here to learn and to grow. Amen.
[00:11:50] So let's just kick it off right away. Don't forget every Tuesday night we have prayer at 6 p.m. and Wednesday night.
[00:11:58] of course you're here tonight at 7 p.m coming up this sunday you don't want to miss it miss it because the pastor has a great message and thank you thank you sergio for a great service on sunday
[00:12:10] for filling in and it was an awesome time we listened to their service on the way back and so if you didn't get to watch it please go back and watch it it was a great sermon so thank you
[00:12:21] Sergio for doing that coming up next week come on ladies it's our ladies conference uh June 12th and 13th and we have um Patricia McNutt coming in from Pueblo Colorado and she is going to be
[00:12:37] teaching on identity and you don't want to miss that ladies so be sure if you have not signed up please go out to the foyer sign up because we do need to get that all situated and settled so we
[00:12:50] can set up enough tables and chairs so please be sure and sign up and let's be a part of that all ladies all young ladies so all you young ladies if you're not at camp you should sign up it's
[00:13:04] going to be a great time she's she's pretty funny and she's a it's a great opportunity for you guys to be a part of that so young and old and older all ages so please come out for that what else
[00:13:18] do we have jesse going on um i haven't seen anything is that all that i need to cover youth camp of course they are set and ready to go and so please be sure and turn in all your monies
[00:13:33] all of you youth attendees and adults let's get all that money turned in so as neth can get that accounted for and we are so excited there we go thank you jesse youth camp meeting this sunday
[00:13:47] june 7th a mandatory meeting does you know what mandatory means you have to be here so please make sure right after service usually right here in this section we will have our meeting for the youth and parents so parents you need to be there also so that you know what time
[00:14:09] to get them here how much money they need to take with them and all that good stuff and uh jesse the last thing, if you can put up there, I saw earlier that we do have a van available for people that
[00:14:23] are needing rides to the church. And so if you're, if you are in need of a ride to our Sunday service called Nathan Watson at 719-580-2681. So give him a call and he'll make arrangements with you.
[00:14:38] Let's all stand. Man, God is so good. Pastor and I, we did have a quick trip to Albuquerque to meet up with our daughter and our grandson on on Sunday so it's just a little retreat to to go
[00:14:54] and and just take a break but man I want you to know I hope you guys miss us as much as we miss you because we miss it we are just church people and so it is odd to be at a football field watching
[00:15:10] our grandkid our grandson at a UNM kicking camp and stuff and and be sitting there and so we're there watching watching service and watching and kick but we miss you guys we miss being here
[00:15:22] and so we just want to thank you once again let's just go before the Lord I'm excited I know the the praise and worship team is excited they um are have been practicing and working working on
[00:15:34] some songs and we just thank you lord father i thank you for this evening i thank you for the beautiful weather that you've been giving us i thank you father for all those that are traveling
[00:15:46] there's several traveling today and tomorrow headed back home just let them know father god that we miss them also and father that we just ask traveling mercies over all of those that are traveling this this year uh this summer father god we know that during the summer there is a lot
[00:16:04] of traveling going on. So I just pray for your traveling mercies to cover each and every one of them. Father God, as they, as they go on vacation to get a break, as they come back, as they go to
[00:16:15] visit family, Lord, that you would just be with them. Father, I thank you, Father God, that you are a good God. And Jeremiah 33, three says to call upon you, Father God, and you will hear us
[00:16:26] and you will, uh, father, you will answer and you will show us father God, great and mighty things, lord that you have a plan for every person's life here tonight and those that are watching you have
[00:16:38] a journey you have a plan you have a purpose for each and every one of us and so father we just pray that lord that we would just be connected with you and we would fulfill that purpose that
[00:16:50] you have called us to and so father i give you glory and i give you honor tonight in jesus mighty name I pray. Amen. Church, let's get excited.

[00:22:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_11]
[00:22:44] up you've been eating me up now it's like i don't know if i didn't really want to say because a little personal to me it's like where i kind of slipped i guess but you know some of y'all some
[00:22:55] of y'all know i've been showing this picture a lot some of y'all know i've lost like 80 pounds last year right it's been such accomplishment for me something for like my me personally but man just imagine it's you know graduation weekend and then in the month that next monday is memorial
[00:23:11] day week you know that monday and how how much of us did that diet just leave that weekend i don't know those graduation parties all those graduation parties brian that food but man you know i just when i was in the gym i was like that what was it i think it was like
[00:23:33] tuesday i was just beating myself up beating myself up even working harder than i usually do you know but like like when i was working out i just like vision you know like that's how i walk
[00:23:50] sometimes you know sometimes we go with months weeks you know doing really good doing really good reading our bible praying to the lord and then boom just one night one weekend we just slip one weekend and it just goes down the drain but man do we serve a good god a god that forgives
[00:24:12] a God that always has his arms wide open.
[00:24:16] It doesn't matter what you did this weekend. It doesn't matter what you did even today.
[00:24:22] He's a God that forgives.
[00:24:28] He's a God that's always on time.
[00:24:32] That he's always there for us.
[00:24:34] Even in our darkest moments. Even in our moments that we're on our knees crying to the Lord. God, why God?
[00:24:41] He's right there. As we sing this song, Jesus.
[00:24:48] this is one of those songs that just humbles you because sometimes we feel like we can do it our own we think, we put God to the side and say, I'm alright I'm alright come back
[00:25:10] just come back, run back run back he will accept you where you're at even right now in your heart if you feel like you're not worthy if you feel like you're not worthy to be here
[00:25:29] he'll meet you where you are just surrender your heart right now it's all about that surrender there's people in this there's people in churches that have been coming for years for more more for 30 40 years
[00:25:46] and still have help while we're practicing we can feel the holy spirit he's ready to move he's ready to meet you where you are right now just surrender your hearts let this be more than worship let this
[00:26:08] be a prayer oh jesus we're here for you let this be worship for you god and all you god that what this is right here this night this is only for you our hearts we surrender our hearts
[00:26:22] to you god you have a church full of people that are here on a wednesday night that they could be anywhere else but they're here in this building right now ready to worship you god just fill us
[00:26:35] help with your presence god help us see you god help us remind us how full is sub because the

[00:26:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:26:43] world can't fill us up we could try but the world can't there's nothing like him come on church

[00:36:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:36:02] just praise him just worship him just worship him just in your own words just worship him come on thank him for this day thank him for life thank him for the breath in your lungs
[00:36:19] thank him today hallelujah come on right there in the middle of your living room those of you watching live stream just thank him thank him thank him for the roof over your head thank him
[00:36:34] for his goodness and his mercy just thank him we thank you father God for all your goodness all your mercy father we praise you

[00:36:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[00:36:46] we thank you hallelujah What a good, good God we serve.
[00:37:07] Good, good gods we serve.
[00:37:09] Hallelujah.

[00:37:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[00:37:17] Come on, let's give them a hand clap of praise.
[00:37:19] Can we do that?
[00:37:20] Hallelujah.
[00:37:21] Thank you, Jesus.
[00:37:28] Amen, amen, amen.
[00:37:29] It's good to see your bright and shiny faces.
[00:37:31] Amen.
[00:37:31] We're going to move real quickly.
[00:37:35] Fortress upstairs.
[00:37:36] Middle schoolers this way.
[00:37:38] We fish nursery that way.
[00:37:40] Amen.
[00:37:41] Upper elementary, middle school, that way.
[00:37:43] I'm sorry.
[00:37:44] Amen.
[00:37:44] Be nice to your teachers.
[00:37:47] Amen.
[00:37:47] Get excited.
[00:37:51] If you didn't understand, for you adults, if you didn't understand what the video was about the orange, is they assign teams for all those kids going to camp.
[00:38:07] And our kids are on the orange tribe, as it showed.
[00:38:16] So, and Azneth and Annalisa today have put together a really cool shirt for our kids.
[00:38:31] They're also putting together some hygiene kits for our stinky ones.
[00:38:36] They're all stinky, amen.
[00:38:38] I remember last year at one point I got up one morning and the room stunk and I looked at everyone and boys I said every single one of you is going to shower today because you stink
[00:38:50] I understand that's a part of camp guys, boys kind of get a kick out of that who can smell the worst but I had had enough so they're putting some stuff together for them and going to make sure that they have the opportunity
[00:39:11] to have a great camp, amen?
[00:39:13] And moms and dads, pray for them.
[00:39:17] Church, pray for them.
[00:39:19] It is June, June 16th through the 19th.
[00:39:24] So we need to pray for them while they're gone.
[00:39:28] And man, I'm telling you, there's just something happens to a young person when they get away from their influences and their friends and they get into a place where there's a presence of God, amen.
[00:39:47] And I guarantee you, that was one of the reasons that I went, I wanted to see, hey, what's going on?
[00:39:51] You know, what is, you know, and our youth camps, they are powerful, amen.
[00:40:00] Your son, daughter, if they are going, they are going to have an encounter amen i promise you that uh because of the quality of people that are leading and the ministering going on they don't they don't just come in and and pat them
[00:40:15] on the head and send them on their way they get into some some sincere seeking the lord and chasing after god amen so so just uh i'm excited for them amen i'm excited for them to watch them come back
[00:40:30] and they'll all be on the front row Sunday morning when they get back, amen?
[00:40:33] So I'm just excited.
[00:40:38] Anyway, I got a lot of things going on in my head.
[00:40:41] I'm gonna start something tonight.
[00:40:44] As I had announced, I'm starting a five-week series on Sunday morning talking about our spiritual life, amen?
[00:40:58] And along with that, on Wednesday nights, I'm going to take and just break down the word of God and just share some things with you and do some teaching like I normally do, but they're going to go hand in hand.
[00:41:13] So you're going to hear some stuff tonight, and you may hear it again Sunday morning.
[00:41:17] Don't think that I'm preaching the same message because it's not, but there's some similarities there, amen?
[00:41:23] And so I want to, if you would, turn in your Bibles to 2 Timothy chapter 3.
[00:41:30] I'm going to read two different scriptures.
[00:41:32] I've entitled this, and that's what Sunday's message is along the same lines, is biblical stability in unstable times, amen?
[00:41:42] Biblical stability in unstable times.
[00:41:46] Or if you prefer this one, standing firm when the world feels shaky, amen?
[00:41:52] Standing firm when the world feels shaky.
[00:41:54] And if you haven't, if you have been living under a rock, you probably wouldn't know this, but we're living in a society that's extremely unstable, amen?
[00:42:03] We are living, as Pastor Shane shared with us, we are living in a society that culture is changing every 24 hours, amen?
[00:42:12] And I was talking to somebody, I think I said this, a Gen Zer, and I said, what does this mean?
[00:42:17] And they told me, honestly, I really don't know because it changes so much.
[00:42:23] And so it's interesting, amen.
[00:42:28] So what are we to do, amen?
[00:42:29] 2 Timothy, beginning with chapter 3, verse 1, says, But understand this, understand this, that the last days, not that might, not could be, but that.
[00:42:45] It's a statement of fact that in the last days, there will come times of difficulty, okay?
[00:42:53] A different translation says perilous times, amen?
[00:42:57] Perilous times.
[00:42:59] Verse 2, for people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen, with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
[00:43:22] having the appearance, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.
[00:43:30] And he says, Paul says, avoid such people.
[00:43:33] Amen.
[00:43:33] And then flip over to Matthew chapter 24.
[00:43:38] Matthew, the first book of the gospel, beginning with verse 3.
[00:43:44] As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, Tell us, when will these things be?
[00:43:59] And what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?
[00:44:02] And Jesus answered them, See that no one leads you astray.
[00:44:07] For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ.
[00:44:12] And they will lead many astray.
[00:44:14] And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.
[00:44:18] See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place.
[00:44:25] Listen to what Jesus says here.
[00:44:27] For this must take place.
[00:44:31] Not maybe, not it might, it must.
[00:44:35] But the end is not yet.
[00:44:37] For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
[00:44:43] And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
[00:44:47] All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
[00:44:52] Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death.
[00:44:58] And you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.
[00:45:03] And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.
[00:45:08] And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
[00:45:12] And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
[00:45:18] But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
[00:45:22] And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
[00:45:33] Father, we just praise you.
[00:45:34] We thank you tonight, Father God, that Lord, as we study your word, Father God, and we draw from it, Father, that you would give us the wisdom, that you would give us, Lord, discernment and courage, Father God,
[00:45:46] that as we live in a world that is unstable, Father God, that we would stand firm, Father God, upon the rock, Father God.
[00:45:53] Lord, upon the rock that you told Peter about, Father God, that upon this rock that you will build your church, Father, and that rock, Father God, is the rock of Jesus Christ, Father.
[00:46:03] So, Father, show us and lead us and guide us tonight, Father God, as we study your word, how to become, oh, Father God, how to become unmovable, Father God, in a world full of chaos and confusion, Father.
[00:46:15] We pray all of these things, Father, in Jesus' mighty name.
[00:46:19] Amen and amen.
[00:46:21] Hallelujah.
[00:46:22] So if we're honest, it doesn't take much scrolling through the news or social media to feel like the world is spinning faster than it used to.
[00:46:36] Time's flying by, right?
[00:46:38] Days are just quick.
[00:46:40] I look up and I'm pushing retirement age, right?
[00:46:44] I don't feel it.
[00:46:45] I don't feel old.
[00:46:46] But yet every year I get a year older and it seems to come quicker and quicker and quicker.
[00:46:52] Every week seems to bring another crisis, another prediction, another headline telling us why we should be worried, right?
[00:47:00] I've quit listening to news.
[00:47:02] I watch news for the weather and that's about it because it's all bad news, right?
[00:47:06] It's all worry about this and it's all this is happening here.
[00:47:09] and the government did this and that country did that, right?
[00:47:14] I believe, listen, I believe that we need to be aware of what is going on, okay?
[00:47:21] I believe that.
[00:47:23] But I don't believe that we should be worried about it.
[00:47:26] Yet God has never called his people to live in panic.
[00:47:31] But yet today, more than ever, we have more Christians that are dealing with anxiety issues, that are dealing with identity issues.
[00:47:43] I'm not talking about the world.
[00:47:45] I'm talking about the church.
[00:47:47] We've got more and more Christians that are taking medications for different disorders when God has said, I will keep him in perfect peace whose mind has stayed on me.
[00:48:01] Am I saying dump all your meds and quit taking them?
[00:48:05] No, that's not what I'm saying.
[00:48:07] But I believe that the challenge to us tonight, I believe that the difficulty is that we need to begin to trust in God once again.
[00:48:16] We need to begin to put our faith in Him, in Him who is immovable, in Him who never changes.
[00:48:22] But He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
[00:48:31] One of the greatest testimonies a Christian can have today is not merely knowing what is happening in the world, but demonstrating the peace of Christ while it is happening.
[00:48:43] Right?
[00:48:45] We get this every time Israel goes into a conflict.
[00:48:47] Oh, Israel's being bombed, right?
[00:48:50] I agree.
[00:48:51] I know that's one of the signs of the times.
[00:49:00] Paul warned Timothy that difficult days would come.
[00:49:03] He didn't say if.
[00:49:04] He didn't say they might.
[00:49:05] He said they are going to come.
[00:49:08] Jesus said these things must take place.
[00:49:12] So you've been warned in the word of God of this upheaval.
[00:49:18] You've been warned in the word of God that there will be chaos and confusion in this world.
[00:49:22] You've been warned of the signs of the times that we are living in today, and it's not so that you will worry about the signs of the time, but it is so that you will live
[00:49:31] a life of peace, preparing for the return of Jesus.
[00:49:40] Jesus warned his disciples that troubling events would occur.
[00:49:45] Neither Paul nor Jesus intended those warnings to produce fear.
[00:49:50] Their purpose was to produce faithfulness.
[00:49:54] Their purpose was to produce a church that was prepared.
[00:50:04] Perilous times are not a surprise to God.
[00:50:09] In Timothy, he says, 2 Timothy, he says this, but know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come.
[00:50:19] They will come.
[00:50:20] Things are going to get worse before Jesus comes back.
[00:50:26] Hello.
[00:50:27] I said, things are going to get worse before Jesus comes back, right?
[00:50:31] We're sitting around as the church, and I'm gonna get on Christians, because we need to begin to be the church.
[00:50:38] We need to begin to be prepared.
[00:50:40] When people come to us and say, oh my goodness, what am I gonna do about this and this and this, that we share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them, that we know the word of God,
[00:50:49] that we don't know the gospel that so-and-so preaches on social media, but we know the gospel because we've read the word of God for ourselves.
[00:50:57] Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against it.
[00:51:03] I know that I know what the word of God says.
[00:51:06] And just because this person on social media is spouting out all of this stuff, I can listen to that and I can hear that and I can know that is not the word of God.
[00:51:19] It's one of my pet peeves of lately is that we regurgitate it.
[00:51:23] We regurgitate something that somebody is probably regurgitating themselves.
[00:51:28] just to get clicks just to get likes just to make that you see this means that when christ in in christians encounter when christians encounter cultural confusion moral decline and spiritual opposition that we should not respond as though god has lost control because he's already told
[00:51:55] you these times are coming you should already be aware we shouldn't look at our society and say oh and wringing our hands saying, oh God, what are you gonna do now?
[00:52:06] No, God's in perfect control.
[00:52:08] He's still on his throne.
[00:52:11] And Jesus is seated at the right hand.
[00:52:16] God's never been caught off guard and God never will be caught off guard.
[00:52:20] The same God who inspired the warning also holds the future in his hands, amen.
[00:52:27] Can you imagine boarding an airplane and hearing the pilot say, we may experience some turbulence today.
[00:52:36] And when the turbulence arise, the passengers may grip their armrests, but the pilot is not surprised.
[00:52:44] Why?
[00:52:46] Because they get a briefing before they get in the plane of the weather and where they're traveling and what the weather's going to be like, and they know that if they're going to fly through some cumulus clouds,
[00:52:57] that the airdraft is going up, that if that plane has to fly at that altitude and has to fly through that cloud, that there is going to be turbulence in the midst of that cloud.
[00:53:06] and the pilot doesn't get on the radio and say oh my goodness people we're experiencing turbulence no he was expecting it this is what we are as the church as many many christians are are are
[00:53:25] suffering from anxiety and fear but we shouldn't be we shouldn't be taken by surprise in a similar way scripture prepares believers for spiritual turbulence god's warnings are not signs of his absence. They're evidence of his care because he's told you what was to come. Jesus said these
[00:53:52] things must come. The real crisis is not around us, but within humanity, but within humanity.
[00:54:10] Paul gives a sobering description of society in 2 Timothy 3, verses 2 through 5. He says that they'll be lovers of themselves. He says that they'll be lovers of money, that they'll be proud disobedient unthankful unholy without self-control are we not living in that society in that world
[00:54:30] right now as we look around you see that the the difficulty is not in this passage identifying the sinner the difficulty is having the discernment to discern the things that are wrong in the church
[00:54:49] and bring correction hello the difficult thing is not discerning the wicked and the evil The difficult part is that we need to be so in tune with God that when pastor steps into the pulpit
[00:55:09] and begins to preach something that is not of the word of God, we know it.
[00:55:16] When your favorite evangelist on your favorite social media platform begins to preach something that is not of the word, you see, it's not discernment that comes because the gift of discernment.
[00:55:33] It's discernment that comes because of the knowledge of the word of God.
[00:55:39] Hmm. Notice that Paul focuses primarily on character, on character, not world events.
[00:55:50] Paul's not focused on the world events. You see, many believers, we become consumed with asking what nation is doing what, what leader is rising, what global event is occurring.
[00:56:04] Meanwhile, Paul points us towards a deeper issue, the condition of the human heart, the condition of the human heart.
[00:56:17] The greatest threat to society has never been merely political or economic.
[00:56:24] It's spiritual.
[00:56:27] When the church quits being the church, the nation declines.
[00:56:33] When we start to build, right, our favorite prophets and evangelists and preachers, and that's who we listen to every single day, and we never get into the word of God.
[00:56:50] We never get into our prayer closet and pray and hear the voice of God for ourselves.
[00:56:55] We lose.
[00:57:07] Sin is humanity's deepest problem.
[00:57:11] It's always been since Adam and Eve.
[00:57:15] Sin has been the problem.
[00:57:19] Hear me.
[00:57:20] The problem is not who's president of the United States.
[00:57:24] The problem is sin.
[00:57:27] Hello.
[00:57:28] The problem is not that we've got a Republican president in the White House.
[00:57:33] The problem is sin.
[00:57:37] Come on now.
[00:57:39] I love this because I went to a couple of prayers before Trump got elected.
[00:57:47] House was filled with conservatives.
[00:57:50] Praying.
[00:57:54] Went to one prayer and there was over 100 people in that church praying that night.
[00:58:00] Praying for our nation was the premise.
[00:58:05] But you know, they still have those prayer nights.
[00:58:09] And I went to one and there was 10 people in the room.
[00:58:14] Why?
[00:58:20] Because the Christian church puts their faith not in God, but in a man.
[00:58:30] And who they like got elected, and they relaxed.
[00:58:35] Come on.
[00:58:37] Where's the church at today?
[00:58:41] You see, because a political party is not the problem.
[00:58:45] Sin is the problem.
[00:58:50] Stay there all night long.
[00:58:53] So when we look at the world, our response should not be outrage alone.
[00:58:59] It should be compassion.
[00:59:01] People behaving like sinners should remind us how desperately people need a savior.
[00:59:08] Amen?
[00:59:12] I've been dabbling on this, but let's just jump into it.
[00:59:16] Discernment is different from fear.
[00:59:20] I'm gonna throw this in here because I'm gonna talk about discernment.
[00:59:23] I'm gonna talk about fear.
[00:59:26] But you need to know the difference between your imagination and true spiritual discernment.
[00:59:31] I'm gonna say that one more time.
[00:59:33] You need to know the difference between your imagination and true spiritual discernment.
[00:59:45] Matthew chapter 24 says, take heed that no one deceives you.
[00:59:53] You see, Jesus repeatedly warned about deception.
[00:59:59] Notice what he did not say.
[01:00:03] He did not say be terrified.
[01:00:05] He did not say spend all your energy predicting dates.
[01:00:08] He did not say live in constant anxiety.
[01:00:12] He didn't say those things.
[01:00:16] He didn't say that the church should be living in fear and anxiety, right?
[01:00:21] He said what?
[01:00:22] He said, be of good courage, for I have overcome the world.
[01:00:32] Instead, he said, take heed.
[01:00:35] Take heed.
[01:00:36] Pay attention.
[01:00:38] Put attention.
[01:00:40] Know your word.
[01:00:43] Church, come on.
[01:00:44] We're living in a day and an age of technology where we all carry a computer, a computer, and we all have access to AI that our fingertips, we can look up a scripture.
[01:01:01] We can download a Bible app that puts a devotion, that puts a Bible passage, that puts a Bible reading plan on our notifications and every morning it pops up and it tells you exactly what you can read
[01:01:16] in order to read the Bible through in a year.
[01:01:19] And for that case, you don't even have to sit there and read it.
[01:01:22] It'll read it for you.

[01:01:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[01:01:23] hello, but yet we struggle as Christians, as the church, to read his word.

[01:01:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:01:36] But yet we have it.
[01:01:40] Technology's not just for the enemy.
[01:01:43] I believe to use it as a tool for the gospel, amen?
[01:01:47] He said, take heed.
[01:01:48] He said, that's discernment.
[01:01:51] Discernment says, pay attention.
[01:01:54] Discernment says, know God's word.
[01:01:58] Discernment says, I evaluate everything through scripture the word of god is my filter the word of god is my filter and i filter everything that comes into my life through the word of god but if i don't know the word of god how am i
[01:02:15] filtering it right everybody know what a saying is a saying it's a it's a net it's a straight net and you tie a pole to each end when i was younger me and my brother-in-law we would take his saying
[01:02:43] his net and we go down to the river when the river got low and we hit these these pools that were left in the middle of summer and we would take that seine okay and and he was stronger than
[01:02:56] i was okay and we would put that seine in the water and you had to keep the pole on the bottom of the of the of the puddle in order so that the fish that you're trying to catch wouldn't swim
[01:03:12] under the net hear what i'm saying but sometimes sometimes sticks and things would would would get caught in the net as well and we'd be pulling those sticks and pokey things out of the net
[01:03:32] and sometimes you rip the net and it never failed that you you're saying and and and as you go you get to the shore and you pull it up and you throw everything on the shore but right as you're getting
[01:03:46] to the shore, the fish that you're catching are getting through the hole in the net. You see, if you don't have a proper filter, how are you going to filter out the things that are not of
[01:04:05] God? The word of God is your filter. Make sure that your net doesn't have holes in it. Fear says, fear says I panic. Fear says I assume the worst. Fear says I lose my peace. You see,
[01:04:25] 90% of the things that we worry about happening never actually happen. 90% of the things that we worry about happening never actually happen. I'm worried that if my kids go out, my teenagers go out on a weekend on their own, that something is going to happen to them. You see, that's fear
[01:04:52] talking. But discernment and faith says, no weapon formed against my children shall prosper.
[01:05:03] They are the head and not the tail. They are covered going in. They are covered coming out.
[01:05:09] You see, that's faith. That's discernment. Discernment says, devil, you have no right to my children. I've learned this over the years because as a father, I've never, I've not often had the luxury of having my kids close to me
[01:05:30] while we're doing ministry.
[01:05:34] I've got a daughter and a grandson that are six hours away.
[01:05:37] I've got a son and his fiance and the two children that they're fostering that are 12, 13 hours away.
[01:05:47] If something happened, I can't get there.
[01:05:52] But I pray every morning, God, you love them more than I love them because your love is perfect.
[01:05:58] God, you cover them everywhere that they go and I call their names out before God.
[01:06:04] Why?
[01:06:04] Because I know that my love is not perfect and I don't have the ability to protect them, but I know a God that is a good, good God and that will cover and will protect them.
[01:06:21] I know it's tough to let them leave the house, but don't be afraid.
[01:06:28] Don't walk in anxiety.
[01:06:30] Walk in faith.
[01:06:32] Walk in discernment.
[01:06:33] Speak the word of God over them.
[01:06:40] You see, the goal of biblical prophecy is not panic.
[01:06:44] But preparation, right?
[01:06:46] I mean, and listen, I believe that we have enough scripture in the word of God that we really don't need another prophetic utterance.
[01:07:11] I know there's those, and it's okay if you disagree with that.
[01:07:14] But you know what?
[01:07:16] We got more Christian people that are chasing a prophetic word than they are digging into the word of God.
[01:07:23] We got more people trying to decode the blood moon than reading about the Beatitudes and the Word of God.
[01:07:33] It's a little funny.
[01:07:34] There's a little bit of truth to that.

[01:07:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[01:07:38] But we got people in churches,

[01:07:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:07:45] I need a word, I need a word, I need a word.
[01:07:48] No.
[01:07:50] Everything that you need is in the Word of God.
[01:07:54] Everything.
[01:07:56] I'm all for prophecy.
[01:07:59] It's why I am where I am.
[01:08:05] Because an uncle, an aunt, prophesied over me that there's a call of God on your life.
[01:08:14] In high school, my senior year, an evangelist stepped off of the front platform and came to me.
[01:08:22] I was sitting as far back as I could get and as far away from him as I could get.
[01:08:29] And he came to me and he said, you got a call of God on your life and you need to answer that call.
[01:08:39] Stella was my girlfriend at the time and she's like, what in the world was that?
[01:08:52] I believe that it's still active.
[01:08:54] I believe that it is still a gift.
[01:08:55] But I also believe that we've got church people that are chasing after the prophetic when they don't know anything about their word.
[01:09:06] We've got prophets out there that are spreading panic, trying to get one more click, trying to get one more like.
[01:09:15] You see, the purpose of prophecy is to increase confidence that God knows the future.
[01:09:22] That's the purpose of prophecy.
[01:09:23] the purpose of prophecy is to build confidence that God knows exactly what is going to happen the antichrist is not going to pop on the scene and Jesus said well I was wondering who it was
[01:09:42] going to be and here we are the church well I think it's Barack Obama I think he's the antichrist no no no it can't be him it's got to be Donald Trump instead of just getting in our word being
[01:10:01] in our word reading the words of jesus to say these things must take place and we see the signs of the times and we say jesus is coming back soon so you better get ready because he said these
[01:10:17] things must take place and we're having rumors of wars and wars and kingdoms rising against kingdoms some christians know every internet internet theory but struggle to quote the beatitudes Jesus never told us to obsess over speculation
[01:10:45] He told us to obey his teachings Love your neighbors and remain faithful until he returns Remain faithful Avoid a conspiracy centered Christianity Jesus warned that false voices would arise Claiming special knowledge Throughout history Christians have been tempted to chase sensational predictions
[01:11:15] every generation has had its expert who were absolutely certain that they had figured everything out it's not just this generation every generation has had that person has had that prophet so called every generation has battled with the very same things
[01:11:39] that this generation is battling with every Christian church every church of Jesus Christ has battled with the very same things that we battle with as river of life.
[01:11:50] It hasn't changed over the generations.
[01:11:52] It hasn't gotten better.
[01:11:53] It hasn't gotten worse.
[01:12:09] The danger.
[01:12:11] When believers become consumed with conspiracies, fear increases.
[01:12:16] Peace decreases.
[01:12:18] Witness suffers.
[01:12:20] Trust erodes.
[01:12:23] Eventually, the focus shifts from Christ to speculation.
[01:12:27] from Christ to speculation.
[01:12:33] We gotta be careful.
[01:12:36] The church should be known for proclaiming Jesus, not promoting every alarming theory that appears online.
[01:12:44] Come on, we got pastors out there, we got evangelists out there that are looking for those alarming theories to draw clicks, to draw, why?
[01:12:53] Because truly, they're monetizing social media for their own gain.
[01:12:58] You need to know the difference.
[01:13:00] If you're listening to somebody that isn't using the word of god as their foundation as their basis for what they're saying And they're using conjecture and opinion. You need to turn it off Everything that we need
[01:13:22] Everything that we need to be concerned with is in the word of god There's nothing new That is going to happen that is going to surprise god Doesn't the word of god say that?
[01:13:38] That there is nothing new under the sun So there is nothing new that is going to happen prophetically that God is not already aware of

[01:13:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[01:13:50] and that he hasn't told us already in his word.

[01:13:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:13:56] Come on now.
[01:13:58] Wait a minute, Pastor.
[01:13:59] How do you know that?
[01:14:01] I know that because Jesus hung on a cross.
[01:14:07] And at the end, when he was done, he said what?
[01:14:10] It is finished.
[01:14:12] So everything that he came to do and fulfill was fulfilled.
[01:14:16] that's a good word pastor thank you so watch this one of my pet peeves of late before sharing posting or even liking information ask these questions is it true is it helpful does it glorify christ does it produce faith or fear come on now we got church
[01:14:58] people posting stuff and not even thinking twice about it. Come on. Be responsible for your social media, what you click on, what you like, what you share, what you repost. Not everything that gets clicks deserves our attention. Jesse, can you put that statement, this statement up on the
[01:15:39] screen? I know I didn't highlight it, but the statement right underneath, not everything that gets clicks deserves our attention. I'm going to say it. She can put it up there. Not everything that can be posted or shared should be. I want you to think about that, church. Not everything
[01:16:04] that can be posted or shared should be. And here's my deal, is we got Christians tearing down Christians. That shouldn't be. What do we just let them? I'm sorry, but you're not God last time i checked let god take care of it and in due season he will not everything that can be
[01:16:42] posted or shared should be before you hit post before you hit send ask the question would i say this if jesus were standing besides me because we get in our own little world we're in our right
[01:17:06] we're in our car we're in our bedroom late at night we're on a keyboard sitting in front of a computer, and we're just typing away, ooh, Jesus, that's the Holy Ghost. And we're tearing down churches, and we're tearing down pastors, and we're tearing down brothers and sisters in
[01:17:23] the Lord. Not everything that can be shared or posted should be. Ask yourself, I know it's old as the hills. What would Jesus do? Is it profitable? Is it good? Colossians chapter 3, you want a verse?
[01:17:54] verse 16 let the word of christ dwell in you richly teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to god and whatever you do in word or deed do everything in the name of the lord jesus
[01:18:15] giving thanks to god the father through him and everything that you do who pastor that's fire i know. How did they do it, pastor? How did the early Christians live confidently under pressure?
[01:18:38] Because they faced pressure. They thought they were living. They thought Jesus was coming back in their generation. They did. Because listen what they're facing. They're facing persecution, Roman oppression. They're facing imprisonment. They're facing social rejection. Saul, the apostle
[01:18:59] Paul, Saul is dragging Christians out of their houses into the streets and stoning them or putting them in jail. Every single Christian alive that day was ready for the return of Jesus.
[01:19:16] And yet in the midst of all of that chaos and confusion, they stayed faithful. They stayed faithful. They remained joyful. Why? Because their confidence was not rooted in their circumstances.
[01:19:37] Their confidence was rooted in Christ.
[01:19:40] Come on now, you got Paul and Silas in the jail.
[01:19:42] They've just been beat.
[01:19:44] They're hurting.
[01:19:44] They're in this nasty, just disgusting prison cell.
[01:19:51] And what do they start doing?
[01:19:55] They didn't lose their joy.
[01:19:59] They began to sing.
[01:20:03] Heard a pastor one time kind of illustrate that.
[01:20:08] Silas comes over to Paul and says, Paul, let's sing that song that we were singing tonight in church.
[01:20:15] Paul says, get away from me, Silas.
[01:20:17] My back hurts.
[01:20:18] I'm bleeding.
[01:20:19] I'm hurting.
[01:20:19] I don't want to.

[01:20:24] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[01:20:24] But what happens?
[01:20:27] They begin to sing.
[01:20:31] And the Holy Spirit, God himself, shakes that very prison.
[01:20:36] And the doors come open.

[01:20:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:20:40] Paul wasn't in his right mind.
[01:20:45] Because I would have said, when God opens a door, you better run through it.
[01:20:49] And they didn't move.
[01:20:51] They didn't move.

[01:20:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[01:20:53] Say what?

[01:20:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:20:56] Right?
[01:20:56] and the guard wakes up and the word of God says him assuming that everybody's gone draws his sword why because he knew that if he didn't kill himself that all of his family would be killed
[01:21:10] for him allowing them to escape and Paul says oh hey hold on we're all still here

[01:21:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[01:21:23] they never lost their joy they understood their identity

[01:21:36] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:21:36] Paul didn't need therapy for all of the Christians that he had tortured and killed.
[01:21:47] Why?
[01:21:50] Because he'd had a conversion.
[01:21:53] He'd had an encounter with God himself.
[01:22:03] Go read the story.
[01:22:06] And the way I tell it, in the next scene, they're in the guard's house eating beans and tortillas.
[01:22:24] If we just become the church.
[01:22:30] Acts chapter four, verse 13.
[01:22:32] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
[01:22:45] Where's your source?
[01:22:50] My source is Jesus.
[01:22:53] Amen.
[01:22:54] When utter chaos and confusion hits, are you frantic or do people take note and say he's been with Jesus?
[01:23:07] You see, because if you spend time with Jesus, he will make known to you the things that are to come.
[01:23:17] And when they do come, it will not be a surprise to you.

[01:23:22] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]
[01:23:22] Come on.

[01:23:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:23:31] The answer to cultural instability is not greater anxiety.
[01:23:37] It is deeper intimacy with Christ.
[01:23:52] Biblical perseverance is not dramatic heroics.
[01:23:55] It's daily faithfulness.
[01:23:57] It's it's continuing to pray when you don't feel like it. It's continuing to serve when you're tired It's continuing to trust when the answers are delayed. It's continuing to love people when culture becomes hostile
[01:24:12] God is developing believers God desires to develop believers who can stand in the midst of the storm. That's the church today That's the church That is going to minister to this generation the church that knows what it is
[01:24:42] to go through difficult times and through the difficult times we're not shaken we're not moved, we stand why?
[01:24:52] because we know the word of God and the word of God says wherefore having done all to stand, stand focus on what Jesus told us to do, love God love people, make disciples serve faithfully, live holy lives
[01:25:11] you notice he says love God, love people, make disciples, serve faithfully, live holy lives. Those assignments have never changed. It's the church and the people in the church. We have changed and we need to get

[01:25:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[01:25:43] back to being the church, the church that God has called us to be, to love God with all of our

[01:25:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:25:55] hearts to love people, make disciples, serve faithfully, live holy lives. Guard your heart.
[01:26:16] Not every voice deserves access to your mind. Stay rooted in scripture. Stay connected to healthy Christian community. Stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Sensitive. You see, as we recognize the signs of the times. It should not produce panic in the church. It should produce
[01:26:49] faithfulness. As I see these things approaching, I get more faithful. I get more faithful, more faithful to reading my Bible, more faithful to praying, more faithful to being present in my community of faith that God has called me to. Come on, church. Let's quit being the church that's
[01:27:25] crisis oriented that we only come back to church when we go through a crisis i joke about it i know it's a joke and i say it to my wife all the time people will say i'm going through this i'm
[01:27:46] battling this i'm doing this well you want to pray no i'm okay i'm good well let me know when it gets bad enough that we need to pray and i'll pray with you come on church in everything in
[01:28:02] everything's what brother sergio said sunday in everything through prayer and supplication stand with me if you would you see Jesus is still building his church he's not called us to fear the future he's called on us to be faithful
[01:28:31] in the present don't be afraid of the future don't be afraid of tomorrow don't worry about tomorrow because today's got enough cares doesn't mean that we don't plan doesn't mean that we don't prepare it means that I don't sit in my seat
[01:28:53] worrying about what's going to happen tomorrow Because 90 of the stuff that you're worried about right now is not going to happen Oh, come on If you're a child of god and jesus is at the right hand of the father ever interceding for you and god
[01:29:09] The father is still on his throne Father, I praise you. I thank you father for each and every person here tonight Lord, I ask that you cover them lord that we would put this word in our heart father god tonight
[01:29:25] Lord that we wouldn't be people that wring our hands in fear and anxiety but we would be people father god that are faithful that stand father god in the midst of the storm lord we know that you would call your church father god to be the church in these last
[01:29:40] days father help us father god as individuals to be that church to be that church father god where the holy spirit dwells within us giving us wisdom and knowledge and discernment father god to know the difference father god between what is what is true and what is not between knowing
[01:29:57] what we should listen to and what we thoughts that we should think on Father God Lord help us in our in our imaginations Father God that we would not get confused imaginations for discernment thank you Father
[01:30:09] God that we would walk in discernment because we know your word Father God and we would not walk in fear and anxiety Father God I praise you I thank you tonight Father for everything that we need
[01:30:21] for this life you've already provided you've already made a way Father God help us father god help us father god as your word says be strong and courageous be strong and courageous help us father to believe your word when it says be of good cheer for i have overcome
[01:30:48] the world that we would walk and that we would battle father god from a place of victory holy spirit wake us up wake up the church that we would quit tearing each other down and begin
[01:31:05] to build each other up. Help us, Father, to become the church, a church that lives by the great commandment, a church whose mission is the great commission, and a church who is training and raising up people and sending them out. Father, make us that church, Father. Lord, I come against
[01:31:45] every word spoken, every weapon that has been formed against river of life, every word, Father.

[01:31:53] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_10]
[01:31:53] decades father god

[01:31:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]
[01:31:56] Father I come against the words that were spoken the day that river of life was started Those words that said it will never last those words that said I don't see it succeeding and father here
[01:32:20] We stand father god years later father god and you have sustained and you have maintained river of life father god So every word spoken against this ministry father I declare and I decree that it is null and void, Father God.
[01:32:34] And tonight, Father God, every word spoken against the people of this church, I declare and decree that it is null and void, that no weapon formed against the community of faith, no weapon formed against the ministry of River of Life
[01:32:50] shall prosper in Jesus' name.
[01:32:54] In Jesus' name.
[01:33:01] Father, guide, guard, and protect your people.
[01:33:05] Our little ones, Father, that no one would touch them with evil intent.
[01:33:12] Our middle schoolers, Father God, our high schoolers, our college age, that they would draw their identity from you, Father.
[01:33:22] Father, I praise you.
[01:33:23] I thank you.
[01:33:27] Guide, guard, and keep us this week, the remainder of this week, Father.
[01:33:32] Lord, I just give you all the honor and all the glory, Father, in Jesus' mighty name.
[01:33:37] Amen.