WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.320 Bibles turn to Ephesians chapter 6, Ephesians chapter 6, we've spent several weeks studying 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:13.400 the enemy and struggle with that some because it's not an attempt to glamorize the evil 00:00:13.400 --> 00:00:24.900 one, to focus us on the evil one, but instead to educate us on the evil one because he's 00:00:24.899 --> 00:00:32.979 dark and he's diabolical and he's deadly and he's dirty. Jesus told us in John 10, 10 that 00:00:32.979 --> 00:00:38.640 he comes for the only reason, to steal and to kill and to destroy. I'm going to tell you 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:44.320 something, he don't want to give you a headache, he wants to ruin your life. He wants to set 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:52.259 your kids off course, he wants to ruin your marriage, he wants to upset your family, he 00:00:52.259 --> 00:00:58.619 wants to weaken your church, he wants to blow your mind. He's not playing, he's dangerous 00:00:58.619 --> 00:01:09.099 and dirty and he's not straightforward in how he does it. He's diabolical, he is not hurtful, 00:01:09.180 --> 00:01:16.479 he's deadly. It's guerrilla warfare and it's filled with sabotage, filled with subversion. 00:01:16.480 --> 00:01:31.340 He'll lie to you. He'll lie to you about you, even in ways that he'll quote scripture to you and 00:01:31.340 --> 00:01:39.760 he'll twist and turn that scripture into mistruth or he'll misquote it to you. He'll fill you with 00:01:39.760 --> 00:01:49.420 filth and then let you feel justified by it. He prowls around for an opportunity and then roars 00:01:49.420 --> 00:01:56.400 as if he's unable to be defeated. And I want to be clear, he hates the gospel. 00:01:58.180 --> 00:02:02.860 He hates the gospel and encourages false parodies of the real message of the gospel. 00:02:02.859 --> 00:02:12.120 He blinds minds by the loud voices of public opinion, hot trends, current fads. His effort 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:17.659 is the same as it's always been and he fights to make your life worthless. He fights to make 00:02:17.659 --> 00:02:27.319 your life baseless. He is at war and his time is limited and he knows it and he's like a wounded 00:02:27.319 --> 00:02:36.419 animal. He only comes, it often comes when the devil continues to, it's a hellish battle and we get 00:02:36.419 --> 00:02:43.000 weary in it, quite honestly. And that weariness comes sometimes when the devil does those body blows 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:51.560 throughout the normal day. And then there are those days, our scripture today calls it the evil day. 00:02:51.560 --> 00:03:00.479 In those days, that's kind of the focus of our passage today. You don't have those days every day, but 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:11.460 somebody is having one today. There's a pain on every pew in this place. I don't know what that is, 00:03:12.460 --> 00:03:20.259 but the reality is there's people hurting all around us. And it would help if we knew when those days 00:03:20.259 --> 00:03:29.439 were coming because if we did, we'd get ready. Therefore, we have to prepare ourselves for whenever it is. 00:03:30.840 --> 00:03:40.419 And when you do that, when you prepare for the bad day, the evil day, the life-changing day, when you 00:03:40.419 --> 00:03:47.280 prepare for those rough days, you'll also prepare for the every day. I want you to see this this morning. 00:03:47.280 --> 00:03:54.840 Ephesians chapter 6, beginning in verse 13, just verse 13, says, therefore, take up the whole armor of God 00:03:54.840 --> 00:04:04.840 that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand firm. The Lord wants us 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:10.759 to stand. Trials are going to come. Battles are going to come. Some of them are going to be nasty. 00:04:10.759 --> 00:04:17.879 And we're responsible for this. We didn't talk about exposing the enemy for the last few weeks 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:27.899 to not prepare for the battle. And so we are to resist. Or as the scripture puts it here, we are to 00:04:27.899 --> 00:04:33.959 stand. I want to tell you how to stand. We are to stand firmly, firmly. I want to be clear. The battle's 00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:40.000 bigger than us. Let us not think that we have the stamina or the spiritual strength to stand in the 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:44.980 valley by ourself against the enemy on our own power. It's not going to happen. It's not in our 00:04:44.980 --> 00:04:52.000 strength. Our feet are not going to stay planted. We will slip. We'll fall. We need help. And thank 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:58.459 God the Lord will provide you with all that you need. He'll provide me with all that I need. He'll 00:04:58.459 --> 00:05:07.860 provide us with all that we need. We can rely on him because he knows the battle plan. He understands 00:05:07.860 --> 00:05:15.240 the enemy. He's stronger and better than the enemy. And it's our responsibility to follow 00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:21.900 the Lord's instructions and to come out with victory. However, it is not a light manner. 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:28.120 I'm not speaking of stepping deeper into your Christian faith so you can be with the Christian 00:05:28.120 --> 00:05:33.480 elite. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about warfare, folks. I'm simply talking about winning. 00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:39.700 And sometimes winning is pretty and sometimes it's not. But folks, we got to win this. 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:51.840 We got to stand firm. When I, Gideon was challenged by God to take on the Midianites. And I try to say 00:05:51.840 --> 00:05:57.080 that carefully because I preached on that one morning and we had a group of builders from the 00:05:57.080 --> 00:06:02.300 Mennonite church that attended our congregation that morning. And I kept talking about how we need to 00:06:02.300 --> 00:06:06.860 defeat the Midianites. And they got offended by me because I thought I was talking about the Mennonites. 00:06:06.939 --> 00:06:16.800 But anyway, he had an army of 32,000. And he told them, if you're scared, on the Lord's instruction, 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:23.480 he said, if you're scared, go home. And 10,000 were left. 00:06:23.480 --> 00:06:31.360 I spoke to football teams on Friday afternoon for about 30 years. And when I gave to this story, 00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:40.020 I'd always say, men, if you're scared, go home. Tell the coach because you won't amount to anything 00:06:40.020 --> 00:06:46.780 on a ball field if you're scared. You won't hold on to the ball. You won't catch the ball. 00:06:46.779 --> 00:06:54.279 You won't make the impact. Go home. You're not going to help us. And church, let me tell you 00:06:54.279 --> 00:07:05.019 something. If we flinch in the battle, we are not standing firmly and we are susceptible to fall. 00:07:07.019 --> 00:07:14.219 Period. There's no excuses. We have to stand firmly. We also have to stand completely, 00:07:14.220 --> 00:07:22.340 completely. Take up the whole armor of God. And we'll talk about the pieces of this armor 00:07:22.340 --> 00:07:28.960 in the next few weeks, about how the truth holds everything together and how righteousness protects 00:07:28.960 --> 00:07:34.660 us, how we need to be ready with the gospel and letting our faith lead and trusting in our salvation. 00:07:34.760 --> 00:07:38.240 And we'll talk about the fact that the only offensive weapon that we have is the Word of God. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:44.100 That's it. The sword of the Word of God. However, I want you to know from the get-go that we don't 00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:51.740 need to, we don't cherry pick through the spiritual attributes that we'd like to have. We don't 00:07:51.740 --> 00:07:57.140 cherry pick through our strengths. We don't cherry pick through our resources that we're hoping to 00:07:57.140 --> 00:08:04.740 lean on. The reality is the army that we represent establishes the battle gear. We strap on what the 00:08:04.740 --> 00:08:10.879 commander tells us to strap on and we need to be able to stand in the evil day. Now, when it speaks of 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:15.319 the evil day, it's not talking about the last spiritual battle on earth, it's not talking about 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:22.779 the last day of some apocalyptic battle. It talks about any day regardless. And we don't know when 00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:28.800 that day's coming. Remember the strategy of the evil one. If you understand his strategy, 00:08:29.159 --> 00:08:32.320 you'll know that he hits when you least expect it. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:42.360 You got to gird up every day, not just for certain days. And when you do that, you'll be prepared for 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:49.120 when those certain days come along. And he can hit at any time. When I was in seminary, I lived in South 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:53.060 Mississippi and met my wife and we married. And shortly after that, we moved to South Carolina. 00:08:53.820 --> 00:09:01.320 And I don't remember, I'm sure they had them, but I don't remember a tornado siren in South Mississippi. 00:09:01.320 --> 00:09:07.600 Maybe I was just too busy doing Greek and Hebrew and commuting to New Orleans. I don't know, but I 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:13.680 don't remember that. But when I moved to North Mississippi, they had tornado sirens. And I'd never 00:09:13.680 --> 00:09:20.180 heard that before. And so what I was familiar with was a nuclear siren, for instance, you know. 00:09:20.840 --> 00:09:31.140 And so when we were in our first storm like that, that siren went off and we had a yard full of trees 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:38.580 and so we got in the car, got the dog in the car, got some sorry weather radio that we bought on sale 00:09:38.580 --> 00:09:45.199 and put it in the car, found out how sorry it was during that storm. And we went to the church because 00:09:45.199 --> 00:09:52.580 outside of my study was a closet that was made of cinder block and there was no trees around. So we 00:09:52.580 --> 00:09:57.980 we hunkered down right in the middle of that facility to watch and see what was going on. 00:09:58.180 --> 00:10:05.420 But when we were on our way there, the siren was getting louder and louder and louder. And that was 00:10:05.420 --> 00:10:10.220 new to me. I didn't quite understand that. And I thought this tornado is chasing us. 00:10:11.560 --> 00:10:16.860 And what I didn't realize is the siren's not hooked to the tornado. It's hooked to the pole that we were 00:10:16.860 --> 00:10:22.680 driving near. And as we got closer to the pole, the louder it got. That's how freaked out we were. 00:10:22.779 --> 00:10:28.620 My family will freak me out like that. I'm supposed to be the calm one. They panic and get me fired up. 00:10:29.200 --> 00:10:39.840 And in the midst of that, in 2011, we had catastrophic storms in our county. Two tornadoes, 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:45.039 12 hours apart, crossed paths with each other, killing people, destroying homes. It was horrible. 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:52.459 And FEMA came in, or as the old boy in the church called her, FEMA, came in. But when he broke his 00:10:52.459 --> 00:10:59.240 leg, he said he broke his FEMA. So I think he got mixed up. But anyway, but FEMA came in and said, 00:10:59.339 --> 00:11:04.699 if you can buy a storm shelter and we'll pay you back, it was either 75 or 80 percent of the money. 00:11:05.219 --> 00:11:09.399 So we went into prayerful discussion of whether the government ever pays you back 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:16.240 and bought a storm shelter, big concrete block made by a septic tank company. Basically, 00:11:16.819 --> 00:11:20.600 two septic tanks put on top of each other with a big door inside of it. Basically what it was. 00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:26.500 And we put it behind a building in the backyard. And I told my family, I said, I bought that building 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:34.319 so y'all can go out there when the storm comes. Leave me in the house to die. I'd rather die in the house 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:39.320 and be in that box with y'all. So that's... 00:11:39.320 --> 00:11:48.420 But in 1936, Tupelo, Mississippi was wiped away. They didn't have sirens. 00:11:48.420 --> 00:11:58.200 An F-5 tornado came through and leveled 48 city blocks. Up to a thousand homes were destroyed 00:11:58.200 --> 00:12:09.040 and at least 216 people died. Among the survivors was a one-year-old boy named Elvis. Elvis Presley. 00:12:10.400 --> 00:12:21.100 Now, what was the difference? An F-5 and no warning. Even when we bought that big old concrete block 00:12:21.100 --> 00:12:26.780 and put it in the backyard, they told us, we don't guarantee this against an F-5. They're different. 00:12:28.200 --> 00:12:33.259 Two-by-four will go through solid concrete and an F-5. I don't understand that. I'm just 00:12:33.259 --> 00:12:35.860 telling you what the salesman told me. I'm sure he was telling the truth. 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:43.200 You can't even completely prepare for that tornado. But if you don't know it's coming, 00:12:44.140 --> 00:12:48.520 there's little you can do to prepare yourself and be saved. 00:12:49.560 --> 00:12:54.200 And I want you to understand something. I prepared this message two weeks ago in preparation 00:12:54.200 --> 00:13:00.560 for last Sunday. Seven o'clock Sunday morning. God changed my tune last Sunday morning and I preached 00:13:00.560 --> 00:13:07.020 a different message. I had no idea when I put this image in this slideshow of what we would experience 00:13:07.020 --> 00:13:13.580 over the last few days. What North Carolina, looks a lot like that in some cases, would experience. 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:22.220 We had some warning. Not quite three feet of water coming into a valley. That didn't prepare us for 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:30.840 that. I remember seeing 12 to 15 inches. But we had some warning. But Tupelo had no warning. 00:13:32.120 --> 00:13:38.900 Didn't know it was coming. And it so devastated that area and they became so familiar with it that it got 00:13:38.899 --> 00:13:46.399 their attention. Because tornadoes often go in the same places often. And it's went through tornado. 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:53.120 We lived 15 years in North Mississippi and Tupelo got hit hard at least twice in that amount of time. 00:13:53.740 --> 00:14:01.939 Interesting to see how that happens. Let me tell you something. The devil comes rolling through like a tornado 00:14:01.940 --> 00:14:07.780 and we don't know when. There's not a siren that goes off. 00:14:10.020 --> 00:14:19.020 But we can prepare for it. And the key is to always be ready. He's a prowler and he's a lurker and so he 00:14:19.020 --> 00:14:26.060 knows when to hit. He knows when you're on your game. He knows when you're not. He can come at you as a 00:14:26.059 --> 00:14:32.779 roaring lion, clawing as he knocks you off your feet. Or he can come as an angel of light, 00:14:32.939 --> 00:14:40.339 camouflaged as something good and seductively and luringly lead you away but with a venomous bite. 00:14:42.179 --> 00:14:44.079 He'll come after you when you're tired. 00:14:46.239 --> 00:14:48.399 He'll come after you when you're depressed. 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:54.159 He'll come after you when you're discouraged. He'll come after you when you're disgruntled. 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:57.000 He'll come after you when you're not feeling good. 00:14:59.220 --> 00:15:00.559 We don't have power yet. 00:15:00.699 --> 00:15:02.279 We live right here in the city. We don't have power. 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:04.699 We've been picked out about five people that don't have power. 00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:06.059 Right there in our little area. 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.699 And I am thankful. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:12.799 I am thankful that I'm not experiencing what so many other people 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:15.439 are experiencing. I am very thankful for that. 00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:18.319 But I'm just going to tell you, I heard that generator one too many times. 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:20.180 Yesterday morning. And it just got me. 00:15:20.780 --> 00:15:23.620 It just got me. And I began to feel myself 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:25.160 just kind of sinking. 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.700 This is getting old. 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:30.480 And I realized 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:32.840 the evil one just 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:37.800 just wants to mess me up 00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:41.240 so I can mess other people up 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:43.940 and not be on my game. 00:15:45.380 --> 00:15:46.420 It's what he does. 00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:48.419 He'll hit you. 00:15:49.379 --> 00:15:50.519 When things aren't right. 00:15:50.879 --> 00:15:51.899 When it ain't fair. 00:15:52.719 --> 00:15:53.500 He'll hit you. 00:15:53.839 --> 00:15:55.519 He carefully strategizes. 00:15:56.339 --> 00:15:59.059 He customizes his plan of action against us. 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:00.439 He aims at us 00:16:00.439 --> 00:16:01.699 at the right time 00:16:01.699 --> 00:16:02.539 and the right place 00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:03.219 and the right method. 00:16:03.379 --> 00:16:04.779 If you don't think you're being watched 00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:05.939 you don't need to worry about big brother. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:07.419 You need to worry about the evil one. 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:09.719 He keeps up with 00:16:09.719 --> 00:16:12.599 our weaknesses 00:16:12.599 --> 00:16:13.599 and our strengths. 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:16.679 Sees us when we feel like we're too confident. 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:19.759 Knows when we're on guard. 00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:21.779 How do you combat that? 00:16:22.779 --> 00:16:23.719 How do you combat that? 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:24.839 Well, you stay ready. 00:16:26.319 --> 00:16:28.299 You stay ready with a sense of urgency. 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:31.480 You don't just put pieces of the armor on. 00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:32.639 You put the whole armor on. 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:33.720 Not just the helmet. 00:16:33.879 --> 00:16:34.939 Not just the mouthpiece. 00:16:35.199 --> 00:16:36.840 Not just the padded pants. 00:16:38.419 --> 00:16:39.480 You play a ball game 00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:40.519 you got to put it all on. 00:16:41.199 --> 00:16:42.100 When I was in high school 00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:43.019 we had a running back. 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:44.799 Man, that guy could outrun anybody. 00:16:45.019 --> 00:16:46.419 If we could just get him to the corner 00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:48.519 nobody could beat him down the sidelines. 00:16:49.220 --> 00:16:49.639 We were braggadocious. 00:16:50.600 --> 00:16:51.519 We were 5-0. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.080 We were ruling the roost 00:16:53.080 --> 00:16:54.480 because that boy could run. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.759 Nobody could catch him. 00:16:55.779 --> 00:16:56.580 He's a track star. 00:16:56.819 --> 00:16:57.879 He was little as he could be. 00:16:57.939 --> 00:16:58.700 You couldn't even see him. 00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:00.019 But man, he could move the ball. 00:17:00.019 --> 00:17:01.620 You could see the ball. 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:03.759 As the season went on 00:17:03.759 --> 00:17:04.960 he got popped a few times 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:05.960 and stopped running 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:06.799 and we started losing. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:08.180 So it kind of changed everything. 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:10.579 But I remember one time he ran 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:11.660 and he got tackled 00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:12.779 and his helmet broke. 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.819 And the coach said, 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.139 Renga! 00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:16.660 That's what they called me. 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.259 Renga! 00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:18.799 So I said, 00:17:18.859 --> 00:17:19.720 Well, I'm not a running back 00:17:19.720 --> 00:17:21.180 but I'm ready to serve. 00:17:21.319 --> 00:17:21.859 I said, 00:17:21.900 --> 00:17:22.160 Yes sir. 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:22.359 He said, 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:23.400 Give me your helmet. 00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:29.980 The boy can't go out there 00:17:29.980 --> 00:17:30.799 with half an outfit. 00:17:31.319 --> 00:17:32.599 He's got to have the whole thing. 00:17:32.640 --> 00:17:34.100 I won that ball game that night. 00:17:36.500 --> 00:17:38.000 Put the whole armor on. 00:17:38.120 --> 00:17:40.500 We've got to stand completely, folks. 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:44.080 We've got to stand victoriously. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.720 The scripture says, 00:17:46.820 --> 00:17:49.420 Having done all to stand. 00:17:50.560 --> 00:17:51.980 That means fully equipped. 00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:54.340 That means ready and carrying through. 00:17:55.320 --> 00:17:56.320 When the fourth quarter comes 00:17:56.320 --> 00:17:57.620 people raise up the four. 00:17:58.420 --> 00:17:58.940 You know why? 00:17:59.060 --> 00:18:00.800 Because games are won or lost 00:18:00.800 --> 00:18:01.540 in the fourth quarter. 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:03.119 You can blow it 00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:03.819 or you can win it 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:04.379 in the fourth quarter. 00:18:04.639 --> 00:18:06.019 You've got to keep playing. 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:07.200 And if you're in battle, 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.119 you've got to keep fighting. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:13.299 John F. Kennedy, 00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:14.399 our 35th president, 00:18:14.700 --> 00:18:17.500 was a commissioned naval officer 00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.259 in World War II. 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:20.920 And in August 1943, 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:23.420 the patrol torpedo boat 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:25.159 that he was in charge of, 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:27.220 PT boat 109, 00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:28.460 that he commanded, 00:18:28.460 --> 00:18:30.299 was rammed and sunk 00:18:30.299 --> 00:18:31.660 by an enemy destroyer 00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:33.160 near the Japanese-held 00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:34.660 Solomon Islands. 00:18:35.600 --> 00:18:37.299 And he and another officer 00:18:37.299 --> 00:18:40.740 swam from one enemy-occupied island 00:18:40.740 --> 00:18:41.900 to another 00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:44.440 looking for friendly islanders. 00:18:44.940 --> 00:18:46.480 They finally found some. 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:47.900 They got a message back 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:48.940 to the U.S. forces. 00:18:50.100 --> 00:18:51.960 And those in that ship were saved. 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.799 It was a heroic act. 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:55.139 And Kennedy was known 00:18:55.139 --> 00:18:57.680 as a war hero because of it. 00:18:58.259 --> 00:18:59.819 And when they asked him afterwards, 00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:00.899 how did you do it? 00:19:01.059 --> 00:19:02.879 He said it was involuntary. 00:19:03.099 --> 00:19:04.339 They sank my boat. 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:06.359 He had to. 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.619 And I'm telling you folks, 00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:10.539 listen, child of God, 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:11.740 this ain't an option. 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:14.079 To fail at this 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:16.039 is spiritual treason. 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:17.319 And there are no 00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.539 participation trophies. 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:19.579 I'm sorry. 00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:21.779 1 Corinthians 16, 13, 14 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:22.480 says this. 00:19:23.159 --> 00:19:23.899 Be watchful. 00:19:24.500 --> 00:19:25.759 Stand firm in your faith. 00:19:25.919 --> 00:19:26.779 Act like men. 00:19:26.899 --> 00:19:27.579 Be strong. 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.139 Let all that you do 00:19:29.139 --> 00:19:31.899 be done in love. 00:19:32.059 --> 00:19:33.279 Listen, the thief comes 00:19:33.279 --> 00:19:35.019 when you least expect it. 00:19:35.359 --> 00:19:36.699 So you need to stand firm 00:19:36.699 --> 00:19:37.279 in your faith. 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:38.759 You have to trust God. 00:19:39.619 --> 00:19:41.279 You have to follow his lead. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:43.619 The Apostle Paul warned us, 00:19:43.639 --> 00:19:44.980 and I've read this passage before, 00:19:45.179 --> 00:19:46.359 and I'll read it again. 00:19:46.559 --> 00:19:47.240 I think you ought to 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:48.220 hang your hat on it. 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:50.240 1 Corinthians 10, 13, 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:52.319 no temptation has overtaken you 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:54.420 except what's common to man. 00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:55.920 You are not an exception 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:56.620 to the rule. 00:19:57.339 --> 00:19:58.860 The devil plays the same games 00:19:58.860 --> 00:19:59.500 with all of us, 00:19:59.539 --> 00:20:00.100 quite honestly. 00:20:00.759 --> 00:20:01.600 God is faithful. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.140 He will not let you be tempted 00:20:03.140 --> 00:20:04.200 beyond your ability, 00:20:04.360 --> 00:20:05.160 but thank God. 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:06.140 But with the temptation, 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:08.579 he'll provide the way of escape 00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:10.000 that you may be able 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:10.839 to endure it. 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:12.819 God will step in 00:20:12.819 --> 00:20:15.400 if we'll turn to the Lord. 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:18.700 This passage in 1 Corinthians 00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:21.360 16, 13, 14 says, 00:20:21.780 --> 00:20:23.259 stand firm in your faith. 00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:24.480 And then it says, 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:25.680 act like men. 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:27.380 And sadly, 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.120 we live in a day 00:20:28.120 --> 00:20:28.980 when I need to explain 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.740 what that means. 00:20:31.340 --> 00:20:33.160 The feminization of America 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:34.740 requires me to be clear, 00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:36.900 and I'll probably upset someone. 00:20:38.040 --> 00:20:38.900 I'm sorry, 00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:40.040 but I'm going to tell the truth. 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:42.700 When Scripture says, 00:20:43.139 --> 00:20:43.839 act like men, 00:20:44.539 --> 00:20:46.700 it means act like someone 00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.500 who will protect 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.539 what's precious to him. 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:51.359 When it says act like men, 00:20:51.420 --> 00:20:52.339 it means act like somebody 00:20:52.339 --> 00:20:53.259 who will be courageous 00:20:53.259 --> 00:20:54.339 when the enemy comes, 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:56.960 somebody who will be valiant, 00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:58.720 somebody who will stand their ground. 00:20:59.139 --> 00:20:59.899 And then it goes on 00:20:59.899 --> 00:21:00.619 in the next phrase 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:00.940 to say, 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:01.839 be strong. 00:21:03.399 --> 00:21:04.119 Don't quit. 00:21:05.379 --> 00:21:07.000 We have a lot of males today 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:07.619 that quit. 00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:10.219 They quit on their family. 00:21:11.059 --> 00:21:11.759 They quit standing 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:12.519 for what is right. 00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:13.819 They quit living morally. 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:15.839 They quit having a zeal 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:16.399 for the Lord. 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:18.019 And it's a sad sight to see, 00:21:18.159 --> 00:21:18.939 to see somebody 00:21:18.939 --> 00:21:20.379 who walked with the Lord faithfully 00:21:20.379 --> 00:21:22.519 and just tapered off over time 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:24.179 and now is distant from the Lord 00:21:24.179 --> 00:21:26.059 and don't even recognize it. 00:21:26.199 --> 00:21:27.019 I meet with men 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:28.199 on Tuesday mornings, 00:21:28.559 --> 00:21:29.399 every Tuesday morning 00:21:29.399 --> 00:21:30.339 at 6 a.m. 00:21:30.339 --> 00:21:31.319 and at 9 a.m. 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:33.019 to basically say, 00:21:33.299 --> 00:21:34.019 don't quit. 00:21:35.339 --> 00:21:36.239 Men, don't quit. 00:21:36.239 --> 00:21:36.299 Don't quit. 00:21:37.619 --> 00:21:38.259 You get tired, 00:21:38.339 --> 00:21:39.039 I'm tired too, 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:39.839 but don't quit. 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:43.799 Ralph Waldo Emerson 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:44.599 says this, 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:47.399 the hero is no braver 00:21:47.399 --> 00:21:48.439 than an ordinary man. 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.239 He's just brave 00:21:49.239 --> 00:21:50.339 five minutes longer. 00:21:53.139 --> 00:21:55.039 You stand until the fight's done. 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.159 You don't back up. 00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:58.339 Faithful to the end 00:21:58.339 --> 00:22:00.179 from this day forward. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:01.659 Because I want you to remember, 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.279 ladies and gentlemen, 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:04.939 you're not fighting for victory. 00:22:04.939 --> 00:22:06.979 You're fighting from victory. 00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:08.440 Christ has already won. 00:22:09.140 --> 00:22:10.019 And because he's won, 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:11.200 we can claim that. 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:12.220 He has, 00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:15.200 1 John 4, 00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:16.299 verse 4 says, 00:22:16.700 --> 00:22:18.059 he who is in you 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:18.700 is greater 00:22:18.700 --> 00:22:20.160 than he who's in the world. 00:22:20.400 --> 00:22:21.380 And because he's won, 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:21.920 thank God, 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:22.720 your faith in him 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.500 will lead us 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.299 to victory. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:27.400 We're to stand victoriously. 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.000 Lastly, 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:29.099 we're to stand gloriously. 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:31.400 How do you stand? 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:32.660 You put the whole armor on. 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:34.299 What a powerful statement 00:22:34.299 --> 00:22:35.099 that armor is. 00:22:36.159 --> 00:22:37.480 It's like a military man 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.519 dressed in dress blues, 00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:40.000 but yet still ready for battle. 00:22:41.159 --> 00:22:43.680 The armor reeks of power. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:45.740 The Apostle Paul 00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.799 is who penned these words, 00:22:46.879 --> 00:22:48.339 and he's intimately aware 00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:49.559 of the Roman army. 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.799 He was chained 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:52.500 to a Roman guard in prison. 00:22:52.619 --> 00:22:53.500 He knows what they wear. 00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:56.119 He knows that they represent, 00:22:56.619 --> 00:22:57.279 at the time, 00:22:57.339 --> 00:22:58.500 the greatest army of the world. 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:00.059 He knows that they dominated 00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:01.279 the known world for a time. 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:02.319 Their reputation 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:03.399 went before them. 00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:04.559 Roman soldiers 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:05.240 had the respect 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:06.500 not only of their own citizens, 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.419 they had the respect 00:23:07.419 --> 00:23:08.559 of the rest of the world. 00:23:09.619 --> 00:23:10.759 Their military army 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:11.879 was not wasteful. 00:23:12.179 --> 00:23:13.359 It was not inconsistent. 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:14.639 It didn't waver. 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:15.480 The authority 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.539 of all the empire 00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.359 was represented 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.200 by the armor 00:23:18.200 --> 00:23:20.019 of the Roman soldier. 00:23:20.839 --> 00:23:21.279 But folks, 00:23:21.759 --> 00:23:22.339 we're not talking 00:23:22.339 --> 00:23:23.179 about the power 00:23:23.179 --> 00:23:24.339 of the Roman army 00:23:24.339 --> 00:23:25.599 in our situation. 00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:26.879 We're not talking 00:23:26.879 --> 00:23:27.700 about the prestige 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.759 of the Roman army 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.680 in our situation. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:30.299 We're not talking 00:23:30.299 --> 00:23:31.079 about the reputation 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:32.420 of the Roman army 00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:33.079 in our situation. 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:33.799 We are, 00:23:34.019 --> 00:23:35.059 I am telling us 00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:36.180 to stand 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:37.160 in the strength 00:23:37.160 --> 00:23:39.160 of the strongest army 00:23:39.160 --> 00:23:40.379 in the known world 00:23:40.379 --> 00:23:41.279 for a season. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.240 We're talking about 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:42.900 putting on 00:23:42.900 --> 00:23:45.140 the full armor of God. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:46.019 You want to stand 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:46.799 in the might of God? 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.220 You want to stand 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:49.440 victorious for the Lord? 00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:52.299 You want the power 00:23:52.299 --> 00:23:53.160 of God working 00:23:53.160 --> 00:23:53.980 through your lives 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:55.160 to win the daily battles, 00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:55.900 to deal with 00:23:55.900 --> 00:23:57.180 the daily struggle, 00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:58.980 to fight all hell 00:23:58.980 --> 00:24:00.220 when temptation hits, 00:24:00.460 --> 00:24:01.720 when difficulty comes, 00:24:01.980 --> 00:24:03.500 when worldliness seeps in? 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:05.480 If we do that, 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.140 then we're to put on 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:08.360 not the mighty armor 00:24:08.360 --> 00:24:09.100 of Rome, 00:24:09.660 --> 00:24:11.060 but the glorious, 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.880 almighty, 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:15.500 ever victorious armor 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:16.740 of a living Lord 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:18.420 who came and lived 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:20.120 and died on a cruel cross 00:24:20.120 --> 00:24:21.180 and rose again 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:22.340 so that we could stand 00:24:22.340 --> 00:24:24.039 gloriously in the midst 00:24:24.039 --> 00:24:25.240 of spiritual battles 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:25.860 we face. 00:24:25.859 --> 00:24:27.319 I'm telling you 00:24:27.319 --> 00:24:28.159 we ought to gloriously 00:24:28.159 --> 00:24:29.059 stand for the Lord. 00:24:31.139 --> 00:24:32.039 1 Peter 5, 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:32.639 9 through 11, 00:24:32.699 --> 00:24:33.439 I've leaned on a lot 00:24:33.439 --> 00:24:34.159 the last few weeks. 00:24:35.219 --> 00:24:36.079 I've shared it a lot 00:24:36.079 --> 00:24:36.740 and I don't apologize 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.319 for that. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:40.119 Resist Him. 00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.679 Firm in your faith 00:24:42.679 --> 00:24:44.899 and after you've suffered 00:24:44.899 --> 00:24:45.379 a little while 00:24:45.379 --> 00:24:46.319 the God of all grace 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:46.979 who's called you 00:24:46.979 --> 00:24:47.839 to His eternal glory 00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:48.379 in Christ, 00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.799 listen to what He'll do 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:50.240 for you. 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:53.579 with Himself restore, 00:24:53.579 --> 00:24:57.039 will Himself restore, 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:57.740 confirm, 00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:58.640 strengthen, 00:24:58.859 --> 00:25:00.099 and establish you. 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.460 To Him 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.440 be dominion 00:25:02.440 --> 00:25:03.839 forever and ever. 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:04.279 Amen. 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:06.039 How do we stand 00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:07.380 victorious? 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:10.660 Only in Christ. 00:25:10.660 --> 00:25:13.160 And when we turn 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:14.279 that over to the Lord, 00:25:14.820 --> 00:25:16.000 whatever it is, folks, 00:25:16.320 --> 00:25:17.279 I'm not making light 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:17.600 of it. 00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.940 I know in your life 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:20.980 it may be very serious, 00:25:21.060 --> 00:25:22.100 it may be very weighty, 00:25:22.360 --> 00:25:23.500 it may be very difficult 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:24.240 to deal with. 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:28.460 There are beat down, 00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:29.180 shackled people 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.740 in this room. 00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:30.680 I don't know who you are, 00:25:31.559 --> 00:25:32.900 but I know how 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:33.640 the evil one is. 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:35.819 And I'm telling you, 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:39.039 whatever that is, 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:40.900 turn that over 00:25:40.900 --> 00:25:41.299 to the Lord 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:41.799 and we win. 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:44.160 Revelation 12, 11 00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:45.140 says that we'll conquer 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:46.220 Satan by the blood 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:46.759 of the Lamb 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:47.880 and by the word 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:48.620 of the testimony. 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:50.079 Stand firm 00:25:50.079 --> 00:25:50.940 in the Lord. 00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:53.440 Not just in the major battles, 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:54.160 not just when 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:55.120 all is on the line, 00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:56.380 not just when you feel 00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:57.300 an added weight. 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.140 Stand firm 00:25:58.140 --> 00:25:59.759 in the Lord daily. 00:26:00.300 --> 00:26:00.980 Stand firm 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:01.700 in the Lord 00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:03.240 right now. 00:26:03.500 --> 00:26:04.200 Stand firm 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:05.019 when you leave 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.640 this place. 00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:06.820 Stand firm 00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:07.480 when you feel 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:08.380 like you're alone. 00:26:09.380 --> 00:26:09.940 Stand firm 00:26:09.940 --> 00:26:10.560 when Monday 00:26:10.560 --> 00:26:11.400 hits you right 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.279 in the face. 00:26:13.580 --> 00:26:14.240 Stand firm 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.400 when your pet sin 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:16.180 that you've been 00:26:16.180 --> 00:26:17.700 nursing creeps back in. 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:18.420 Stand 00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.580 for the Lord. 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.900 2 Corinthians 00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:24.940 2 verse 15 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.480 through 17 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.120 says this. 00:26:27.860 --> 00:26:28.940 So then brothers, 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.360 stand firm 00:26:30.360 --> 00:26:32.380 and hold 00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:33.240 to the traditions 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:34.240 that you were 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:35.240 taught by us 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.019 either by our 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:36.840 spoken word 00:26:36.840 --> 00:26:39.060 or by our letter. 00:26:39.280 --> 00:26:39.700 In other words, 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.360 the word of God. 00:26:41.800 --> 00:26:42.840 Now may our Lord 00:26:42.840 --> 00:26:43.660 Jesus himself 00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.519 and God our Father 00:26:44.519 --> 00:26:46.580 who loved us 00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:47.240 and gave us 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.019 eternal comfort 00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:48.759 and good hope 00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:49.700 through grace 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:51.720 comfort your hearts 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:53.319 and establish 00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:54.759 in every good 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.440 work 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.759 and word. 00:26:57.840 --> 00:26:58.700 May God 00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.380 lead us 00:26:59.380 --> 00:27:01.140 and may we 00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:02.140 stand with Christ 00:27:02.140 --> 00:27:04.299 and be victorious 00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:05.279 gloriously 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:07.519 not for our honor 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:09.120 but for 00:27:09.120 --> 00:27:10.120 his honor. 00:27:11.160 --> 00:27:12.319 With every head bowed 00:27:12.319 --> 00:27:14.140 and every eye closed, 00:27:14.860 --> 00:27:16.519 I want to ask you today, 00:27:16.660 --> 00:27:17.140 has there ever been 00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:17.980 a time in your life 00:27:17.980 --> 00:27:18.500 when you've surrendered 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:18.920 your life 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:20.039 to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:27:21.099 --> 00:27:21.579 He's asking 00:27:21.579 --> 00:27:22.140 to forgive you 00:27:22.140 --> 00:27:22.700 of your sins 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:23.140 and to come into 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:23.559 your life 00:27:23.559 --> 00:27:24.099 and to change you 00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:24.620 and you've committed 00:27:24.620 --> 00:27:25.640 your life to Christ. 00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:27.400 Seven people 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:28.420 we baptized this morning 00:27:28.420 --> 00:27:29.279 have all committed 00:27:29.279 --> 00:27:30.259 their life to Christ. 00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.299 Surrender to the Lord. 00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:34.579 That's the only way 00:27:34.579 --> 00:27:35.000 you're going to have 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.680 strength to fight 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:36.099 the battles 00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:36.779 in which you do. 00:27:37.839 --> 00:27:38.799 The devil will try 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:40.039 his best to deceive you 00:27:40.039 --> 00:27:40.680 to keep you 00:27:40.680 --> 00:27:41.920 from making a commitment 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:42.400 to Christ. 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:43.480 You can't live up to it. 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:44.059 Well, 00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:45.299 he's right. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.400 You can't live up to it 00:27:46.400 --> 00:27:47.360 but thank God 00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:48.220 by the blood of the Lamb 00:27:48.220 --> 00:27:49.480 he gives us the strength to. 00:27:51.259 --> 00:27:52.360 You surrender your life 00:27:52.360 --> 00:27:53.060 to the Lord today 00:27:53.060 --> 00:27:54.300 and he'll give you 00:27:54.300 --> 00:27:55.259 victory in your life. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:57.300 Maybe you're here 00:27:57.300 --> 00:27:58.259 and you have done that 00:27:58.259 --> 00:28:00.519 and you never acknowledge 00:28:00.519 --> 00:28:01.400 the Lord through baptism. 00:28:01.560 --> 00:28:02.780 Every time we baptize people 00:28:02.780 --> 00:28:03.780 it leads somebody else 00:28:03.780 --> 00:28:04.480 to do the same. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:06.740 Jesus by his commission 00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.720 and by his example 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.400 told us 00:28:08.400 --> 00:28:10.040 that we're to proclaim 00:28:10.040 --> 00:28:10.720 our faith 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.700 through baptism. 00:28:12.400 --> 00:28:13.100 It's a first step 00:28:13.100 --> 00:28:13.560 of obedience 00:28:13.560 --> 00:28:14.259 for a believer. 00:28:14.400 --> 00:28:15.340 If you've never been baptized 00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:15.899 you come. 00:28:16.419 --> 00:28:17.359 I'll talk to you about that 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:18.199 we'll line that up. 00:28:19.199 --> 00:28:20.419 Maybe God's leading you 00:28:20.419 --> 00:28:21.339 to First Baptist Church. 00:28:21.439 --> 00:28:22.500 God's doing a wonderful work 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:22.939 in our church 00:28:22.939 --> 00:28:23.919 and I thank God for that. 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.480 God's drawing you 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:26.199 I encourage you 00:28:26.199 --> 00:28:27.199 to just respond. 00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:27.899 I'll guide you 00:28:27.899 --> 00:28:28.539 in that process. 00:28:29.879 --> 00:28:30.599 Maybe you're here 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.399 and you're just shackled 00:28:31.399 --> 00:28:32.159 you're just burdened. 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:33.659 You just got stuff going on. 00:28:35.480 --> 00:28:36.859 You're having trouble standing. 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.339 I want you to know 00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.619 we're here today 00:28:41.619 --> 00:28:44.399 to encourage you 00:28:44.399 --> 00:28:45.639 to call upon the Lord 00:28:45.639 --> 00:28:46.599 and let him hold you up. 00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:48.819 We can be victorious. 00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:51.079 We can get through this 00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:52.899 and I encourage you 00:28:52.899 --> 00:28:54.039 to follow the Lord Jesus. 00:28:55.139 --> 00:28:55.799 Do exactly what 00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:56.599 he's told you to do. 00:28:57.319 --> 00:28:58.319 I don't know 00:28:58.319 --> 00:29:01.099 what God's speaking to you about 00:29:01.099 --> 00:29:03.539 but I encourage you 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:05.179 to simply be obedient 00:29:05.179 --> 00:29:06.379 and do exactly 00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:07.459 what he tells you to do. 00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:08.899 Nothing more 00:29:08.899 --> 00:29:09.779 or nothing less 00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.480 and he'll be honored 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:11.200 and he'll be pleased 00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:12.240 and he'll give you 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.299 the strength to do 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:15.240 exactly what he's told you to do. 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.799 Lord Jesus I love you 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:17.440 and I thank you 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.740 for these dear people. 00:29:19.279 --> 00:29:20.259 I ask that you'll move 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:21.220 and you'll work right now 00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:22.440 and help us to follow 00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:22.859 your lead 00:29:22.859 --> 00:29:23.940 in everything that you tell us to. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.700 Give us a courage 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:26.200 that's beyond ourselves dear God. 00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:27.680 Be clear to us 00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.779 in what you'd have us to do 00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:29.559 and give us the strength 00:29:29.559 --> 00:29:30.700 to do it Father I pray 00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:32.759 in Jesus precious name. 00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:33.039 Amen. 00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:33.519 Stand together.