The Peacemaker | Senior Pastor Kenneth Carpenter
by Kenneth Carpenter
First Apostolic Church of Maryville (Maryville, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Genesis 8:6-12, Matthew 5:9, Ephesians 6:15, Revelation 12:7-8, Luke 10:18, Ezekiel 28:14-17, Genesis 5:29, Genesis 6:1-9, Matthew 24:1-3, Matthew 24:36-39

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/kenneth-carpenter--the-peacemaker
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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Oh, what a beautiful song this morning, Lord. I'll be what you've called me to be. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. What a beautiful song this morning. What a beautiful song, Brother Ericson. What a beautiful song. praise team. I don't know about you, but that really ought to be something that lays on our heart. Don't you want to be in 2025 everything God has called you to be? We don't have to worry about God being what he is today. I want to be everything that God has called me to be. And I want to totally agree with God today. Genesis chapter number 8 and we'll go to verse number six for this first message on the Sunday. We've already heard a beautiful message Wednesday night, brother White. This first Sunday message of the year, Exodus 8 and verse 6. It came to pass at the end of 40 days that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. He sent forth a raven which went forth to and fro and till the waters were dried up from off the earth. Also he sent forth a dove from him to see if the waters were abaded from off the face of the earth. But the dove found no rest for the soul of her foot. She returned unto him into the ark. For the waters were for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. Then he put forth his hand and took her and pulled her in unto him into the ark. He stayed yet another seven days. And again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. And the dove came to him in the evening. And lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off. So Noah knew that the waters were abaded from off the earth, and he stayed yet another seven days, and sent forth the dove, which returned not again unto him anymore. Return not unto him anymore. If you would turn all the way over to the New Testament, Matthew chapter 5 and verse number nine, which is called the biatitudes, Jesus places a blessing upon certain characteristics that he will give us. And one of these characteristics he said in verse 9, blessed are the peace makers. Would you say peacemakers? Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the children of God. This first Sunday in 2025, I want to minister under the uncction of the Holy Ghost on this simple subject, the peace maker. The peace, the peace maker. Heavenly Father, we come before you today and we thank you, Lord. We thank you for your word that you have given us, God. We thank you today that through your word, we can discover your thoughts. Through your word, oh God, we can discover your ways. God, through your words, we can discover, Lord, what we should be and who we shouldn't be. God, through your word, we can open up our lives to the blessings that can flow from heaven. And God today, would you anoint me? As I feed your people, God, as I feed them your word today, would you anoint me in Jesus' name we do pray? Amen. And amen. Would you give God a hand of praise today? Give him a hand of praise if you're excited about his word this morning. The peacemaker. The peacemaker. You may be seated. We have just come through a season a few weeks ago to where one of the most popular verses would be that he came to give us peace on earth. Peace on earth and good will to men. It was an introduction of God becoming flesh and dwelling on the earth. The first words the angel wanted to inform the shepherds that there is peace on earth, good will toward men. It's interesting as we weave through the Bible this morning that I am here to preach the gospel. I am here to proclaim good news. You didn't come to church today and God help any church pullpit that turns into a news commentary. There's enough bad news you hear all week long through several news outlets. But when you come to church, it's a day to hear some good news. That's what the gospel needs. Are you Are you ready to hear some good news today? Some good news today. That's why we're here. It's why I'm here. Isn't it interesting that in Romans 10:15, the gospel is called the gospel of peace. It is called in Romans 10:15, it is called not just the gospel. NOW, THERE'S PLACES IT'S CALLED THE GOSPEL, but Paul wanted it to be known that it's not just good news, but it's the good news of peace. It's the good news of peace. As a matter of fact, in Ro in Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 15, AS PAUL WAS DRESSING UP, YOU AND I as a believer, he was dressing us up in a soldier in in a in a brother Martin, he was dressing them up as a soldier, a helmet, a sword, a shield. He was dressing him up as a soldier BECAUSE WE ARE SOLDIERS in God's army. We are as the church, we're soldiers in the army of the Lord. It's amazing that it when he comes to the feet to the feet that he says in Ephesians chapter 6 verse1 15, "And let your feet BE SHAW WITH THE PREPARATIONS OF THE GOSPEL of peace." The gospel of peace. Well, doesn't really stop there because Paul not only wanted us to know that it is a gospel that promotes peace, it is a gospel that promotes peace. I um heard a news commentary uh say one time the difference between the Bible and other holy books. So, so they say. So, the difference between the Bible and other books, religious books and Christianity is that a lot of other books promote war. But said the gospel, the Bible, the word of God is a book that promotes peace. It promotes love and it promotes peace. Paul would let us know that it is a gospel of peace. The angels would let us know that peace is on earth. Paul would let us know that it's the gospel of peace. And then in Philippians 4:9, he would ADDRESS AND NOT JUST SAY GOD, but he would SAY IN PHILIPPIANS 4:9 THAT HE is the God of peace. He would say it again in 1 Thessalonians 5 and 23. HE WOULD REFER TO GOD. NOT JUST SAY GOD. EVERYBODY WOULD HAVE known who Paul was referring to. He just said God, but he says he's the God of peace. Again, in the book of Hebrews chapter 13 and verse number 20, Paul again, not only he could he could, Sister Carpenter JUST SIMPLY SAID, "NOW God has brought again the shepherd, but he had to add to that that he is the God of peace." peace. I believe the Bible's trying to tell us something today. The angel said it's peace on earth. Paul said that when we preach the gospel, it's a gospel of peace. Paul would later let us know that he is the God of peace. Well, you can't think of peace without thinking of the opposite of peace. And the opposite of peace IS WAR. THAT'S THE OPPOSITE OF PEACE. NOW, WHY DID GOD COME to this earth? Because a war broke out in heaven. Oh, yes, it did. A war. A war broke out in heaven. You see, the first sin was not committed in the garden. The first sin was committed in heaven. The first sin was committed by an angelic being that went by the name of Lucifer, son of the morning praiser. He was to bring praise and honor and glory to God. But we know through the scripture that that cherub Lucifer got out of his place and he began to mention five I wills, five selfish things. And anytime anytime we get our mind off of God and we get our mind on self, we're going to go in the wrong direction. He got his mind off God. I will ascend. I will be like, I will exalt. And there was war in heaven. The Bible tells us in Revelation 12 and 7 plainly spells it out. Revelation Revelation 12 and verse number 7. And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. And the dragon fought and the and and his angels and prevailed not. Neither was there any place found anymore in heaven. And prevailed not. Neither w was their place found anymore in heaven. Because Lucifer lifted up himself in pride, which is sin. He no longer has a place in the presence of God. So what happened to him? Jesus tells us in Luke 10 verse number 18. Jesus says about Satan and he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Now it's interesting in heaven his name is Lucifer son of the morning. But because of pride, he is addressed as Satan, which is simply your adversary. He is your enemy. What caused an angel that was created to bring praise and HONOR AND GLORY IN THE VERY PRESENCE OF God to now become man's greatest enemy and man's greatest adversary. It's one word. It's pride. It's sin. And there was war in heaven. Ezekiel in Ezekiel chapter 28 verse number 14, he tells a little bit about before the fall and after the fall. He says, "Thou art." Ezekiel 28:14, "Thou art the anointed cherub that coverth. I have set thee so. Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God. Thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day thou was created till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence and thou hast sinned. Therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God. I will destroy thee, oh covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty. Thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness. I will cast thee to the ground and lay thee before kings that they may that they may behold thee. There was war that broke out. IT BROKE OUT IN HEAVEN. There was war that broke out. We see as Lucifer weaves his way through the garden. Man made in perfection. Woman made in perfection. only had one commandment of God. Don't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Just don't eat. Don't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. YOU CAN EAT OF ALL THE OTHER trees freely. Freely. And I like what brother Mike Fuller was reading those verses and he made either called me or sent me a text. He said, "You ever noticed that it says we can eat of the trees of the garden freely. Doesn't cost you anything to eat from those trees. There's not a payment for you eating. You can eat from those trees freely." But he said, "When you eat from the forbidden tree, it's going to cost you everything. It's going to cost you. It's going to cost you." See some people today and this is the reason I'm bringing the gospel of peace because there are people here today that are paying the high price for low living. There's a high price paid for low living. But when we understand the gospel of peace and Satan came and deceived the mind of Eve and she literally thought that there was more than what God had provided. She she literally in her mind began to think there's more than what God what God has given. Let me stop right here and tell you there is no more out there but misery, pain, and destruction. So settle for what God has given us. Life and life more abundantly. And I believe he deserves a hand clap offering right now. Aren't you glad he gave you life and life more? My life more abundantly. Sin took the place. Sin took the place of peace. Adam and Eve, unimaginable peace. Unimaginable peace that they had in the presence of God. Created in the image and the likeness of God in the Garden of Eden. Unimaginable peace that they had. But when Adam and Eve succumb to the temptation of Satan, the adversary, now pain enters. Now they live under a curse. Just mention a few things today. I just want to mention a few things today. They are expelled from their paradise. They don't know how good they've got it. You know something? I want to appreciate the church and I want to appreciate the presence of God. I want to appreciate what we have and you know I just want to believe the preacher and the pastor when he preaches and says this is the greatest thing. I JUST WANT TO GO AHEAD AND REACH UP and receive it and say YES LIVING FOR GOD IS THE GREATEST LIFE ANYBODY could ever live. I tell you what I don't want to do. I don't want to not believe what the man of God and the word of God says and one DAY FIND MYSELF WAY OUT THERE AND BE saying to myself, I I DIDN'T KNOW HOW GOOD I HAD IT WHEN I WAS IN THE HOUSE. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW GOOD YOU'VE GOT IT TODAY. WHEN WE'RE LIVING IN THE HOUSE of God, Adam and Eve, as they probably made a little leanto hut, slid up under a a little leanto hut. I can see them, although it's not recorded, I can see them saying, "We didn't realize how good we had it." We have the record of Cain and Abel being born. And then shortly thereafter, we have the record of jealousy entering in. Worship was disrupted. Cain was jealous of Abel. And that jealousy led to one day Abel not coming home. And I'm going to tell you something. No doubt Adam and Eve asked Abel, asked Cain, "You seen your brother? Do you know WHERE YOUR BROTHER'S AT? It's getting dark. Night time's COMING. YOUR BROTHER'S USUALLY HOME BY NOW. IF CAIN WOULD TELL GOD, "Am I my brother's keeper?" No doubt he hid from his mother and father that he had taken the life of his brother Abel. Time goes on. Time goes on. In the fifth chapter, the fifth chapter of the book of Genesis, if you would go there with me, Genesis chapter 5. Genesis chapter five and verse number I believe it's verse number 29 that I'm wanting to get. Genesis chapter 5 and verse number 29. It's a genealogy. It's a genealogy. And it says in Genesis chapter 5 and verse number 29, "And he called his name Noah." He called his name Noah, saying, "This same, this same shall comfort us concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed." Prophetic was his name. Prophetic was the name of Noah. his father FELL UNDER THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY AND SAID, "WE'RE GOING TO CALL HIS NAME NOAH." The name Noah simply means, the name Noah simply means to rest. And under the prophetic hand of God, Noah's father said, "There's a curse on the land. There's a curse because OF SIN. THERE'S A CURSE THAT'S BEEN PLACED on the land, but this one will give us comfort. There will be comfort because of this man named Noah. Turn over to chapter 6 and verse number one. Chapter 6 and verse one. It came to pass when men be to multiply on the face of the earth and the daughters were born unto them that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and they took them wives of all which they chose. And I feel incumbent as your pastor here to address just for a a a second an era of scripture, an error in scripture that has been taught. And that is that angels angels came down to the earth and had a sexual relationship with women. And from this sexual relationship, there were angels. There were giants that were born. It is simply not so. When it says the sons of God saw the daughters of men, if you would study, and don't do it now, but if you would study the fourth chapter of Genesis and the fifth chapter of Genesis, and if you would look in your mind, you'll see Adam. And Adam had Cain. And Adam also had a son named Abel. And if you would run the genealogies down, you would find that the genealogy of Cain who would not worship kept reproducing men that would not worship. And you go all the way down there there's a man named Lamech and and he was the first polygamist. He took more than one wife. And you you you'll find that you'll find that sin ran rampant because sin will will really will will will really take over at a lack of worship. If you want to keep sin at bay in your life, be a worshipper. And I'm not only talking about when you come to church and the music starts, you ought to worship God. The first thoughts of your day ought to be, God, I love you. I thank you. I praise you. I magnify you. I'm for real THIS MORNING. THAT OUGHT TO BE THE FIRST THOUGHT OUT OF YOUR MIND. AND THEN SEVERAL TIMES, ARE YOU HERE? SEVERAL TIMES THROUGH THE DAY, YOU OUGHT TO HAVE A WORSHIP AND A PRAISE ON YOUR HEART. AND WHEN YOU LAY YOUR HEAD DOWN AT NIGHT AND SLEEP BEGINS TO FALL UPON YOU. YOU OUGHT TO BE SAYING, "GOD, I THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. I GLORIFY you for this day." But if you would see through Cain, there's no worship that happens. There's no worship that happens through Cain. But if you look over to Abel, you say, "Yeah, that but Cain killed Abel." That's right. But God gave another in the place of Abel, and his name was Seth, which means substitute. And God gave another. And the Bible said, "And men begin to call upon the name of the Lord." And we get to the seventh. We get to the seventh. Look at this with me now. The seventh through Cain is Lamech. He's the first. He is the first polygamist. He He's the first polygamist in in the Bible. But we get to the seventh through worship. We get to the seventh through uh uh Adam, uh Abel, Seth. We get to the seventh and it's a man, it's a man by the name of Enoch. And the Bible SAYS, "AND ENOCH WALKED WITH GOD AND WAS NOT FOR GOD TOOK HIM." Lamech becomes the first polygamist and Enoch becomes a prelude TO THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST. GOD JUST TOOK THIS MAN because he walked with God. So when it says the sons of God, when it says the sons of God saw the daughters of men, it simply see it simply is saying that godly men began to get influenced by the lwdness of the daughters of men. It they they were just enticed. They were enticed by the lewdness of the daughters of men and they began they begin to marry. Enough said. Verse number uh let's go back to chapter 6 verse one and start again. Came to pass when men be to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born of them unto them that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and they took them wives of all which they chose. Now, it had it couldn't be right. It couldn't be right. How do you know it's not right? Well, the next verse. And the Lord said, "My spirit shall not always strive with man. For that he also is flesh, yet his day shall be 120 years." You see, you know, IT'S NOT RIGHT WHAT HAPPENED IN verse one and two. Because God introduces that he's fighting with man. He says, "I'm not always going to fight with man. I'm always going to fight. I'll give him a set number of days. There were giants in the earth in those days. And also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, that they bare them children of them, the same became mighty men which were which were of old, men of renown. God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every look at this please that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually and it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him at his heart and the Lord said I will destroy now you got to look at this now look at this with me IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN THE Bible that the word destroy is used and it's used by God, THE CREATIVE GOD, THE GOD THAT CREATED. And at the end of what he created, at the end of every day, help me out now. AT THE END OF EVERY DAY, WHAT DID GOD SAY? AND GOD SAW THAT IT was good. HE COMES TO THE COMPLETE creation and he adds something to that. And God saw everything that he had made and behold it was very good. But after sin entered the human race, GOD LOOKS DOWN ON HIS CREATION. THIS IS hard to understand. God looks down on his creation. And God repents that he made man. And he repents that he made the earth. AND HE REPENTS OF EVERYTHING THAT he had once said that he had once SAID IT'S VERY GOOD. NOW God repents over it. What caused God to repent? when he saw the condition of man upon the earth. When he saw, now notice this. Did you catch it? That every imagination of man's heart was only evil continually. Do you know how God begins to change our actions? Thoughts. Thoughts get in our mind. And if thoughts are allowed long enough in our mind, brother Hammond, sooner or later, thoughts begin to affect what we say. And what we say, if we keep saying it enough, what we say will begin to direct our actions. AND SO WHEN GOD WAS WANTING TO GIVE HOPE AND HELP, HE SAID, "I'M JUST WAITING for them to have one thought of me. I'm just WAITING FOR THEM TO THINK ABOUT HOW GOOD they used to have it. I'M JUST WAITING for them TO HAVE ONE THOUGHT, JUST ONE THOUGHT that the wicked way they're living is no good. AND IF I CAN JUST GET ONE THOUGHT, YOU SEE TODAY, GOD WILL WORK WITH THE SMALLEST MINUTE THOUGHT THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT TURNING YOUR LIFE AROUND. IF YOU HAVE THE SMALLEST thought God but every imagination and God said God said I will destroy man. Now follow this follow this let's go back up to verse five. God saw that the wickedness God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually and it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth. It grieved him at his heart and the Lord said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast and creeping thing and creeping thing, fowls of the air, forehead." Look at these last words now. For it, why don't we say these these last few words of verse number seven together? For it repenteth me that I have made them. Look at God. God's angry. GOD CHANGED HIS MIND. IT'S NO LONGER A GOD LOOKING AT AN EARTH SAYING, "VERY GOOD, GOOD." It's a God looking at an earth and the condition of sinful man saying, "I changed my mind. Why did I ever create them? Why did I ever breathe my breath IN THEM? WHY WHY DID I EVER WORK WITH THEM? WHY DID I EVER DO THESE THINGS FOR THEM? And God said, "I'll tell you, I will destroy. I'm not a creative God right now. I am a destructive God right now. I will destroy them from off the face of the earth." But the next verse, verse number eight, but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. But Noah found strength in the eyes of the Lord. When God looked at everything, he saw Noah. What's so special about Noah? Let's read on. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect and perfect in his generations. And Noah walked with God. Let me stop there for a moment. Let's look at this verse of scripture. Noah was a just man and the Bible doesn't say and Noah was perfect. Noah was perfect in his generation. Now let me tell you two let me tell you two what I believe is horrible errors of scripture. There is a doctrine that's entitled the doctrine of unconditional eternal security. Says once you have confessed your faith in Christ, there is nothing that you could ever do to be unsaved. You're adopted. Doesn't matter. You are saved. It doesn't matter what you do or what who you become. It's the doctrine of unconditional eternal salvation. But let me tell you the other side that's just as dangerous as I believe is for you and I to believe in sinless perfection. Now I'm not advocating today that we don't strive against sin. And I believe if we want to, he wants to. And I believe it'll happen. If you want delivered, he wants you delivered and you'll be delivered. But you got to have a want to. But I know of people that live their lives so miserable. They base their salvation on the roller coaster of their emotions. Can I be your pastor today and be very transparent? You're not always going to feel saved. YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO WAKE UP EVERY MORNING JUST FEELING LIKE YOU'RE READY TO TIPTOE into heaven. THERE WILL BE TIMES IN YOUR life that you will disappoint yourself. Come on, somebody. THERE WILL BE TIMES IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU'LL LOOK BACK ON ATTITUDES THAT YOU ALLOWED to grow in your life and words that came out OF YOUR MOUTH AND THOUGHTS THAT RAN THROUGH YOUR MIND AND YOU'LL LOOK BACK ON THAT DAY AND YOU'LL BE DISAPPOINTED that you had those thoughts. But I'm here to tell you, I don't believe salvation works like this. Oh, he was saved till 12:00 noon and he had a bad thought. So therefore, he was destined to go to hell until 3:15. And then he began to pray again. AND LISTEN, SALVATION IS NOT IN AND OUT. The Bible says, "I write unto you little children that you sin not." There it is. But if I'M NOT ABDICATING, I'M NOT ADVOCATING. But if any man sin, WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS. IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP ONE WITH ANOTHER. AND I LIKE THIS PART. AND THE BLOOD OF HIS DEAR SON CLEANSETH US. SO WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL US ON THIS SUNDAY MORNING? I AM TRYING TO TELL YOU THAT BOTH SIDES of the ditch are dangerous TO GET INTO. WE'RE TRYING TO BE SAVED. WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT TO HEAVEN. I'M DOING MY VERY BEST TO HEAR THE TRUMPET SOUND. I KNOW THE WORLD HAS GOT DARK AND WE MAY NOT BE WHAT WE SHOULD BE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE CHURCH AT ITS WORST IS BETTER THAN THE WORLD AT ITS BEST. AND I'M GLAD TO BE IN THE CHURCH. OH, SOMEBODY OUGHT TO HELP ME PRAISE HIM. OH, SOMEBODY OUGHT TO HELP ME PRAISE HIM TODAY. SOMEBODY OUGHT TO SHAKE OFF THAT SINLESS PERFECTION OF YOURS AND BEGIN TO SAY, "IT'S NOT BY MIGHT AND IT'S NOT BY POWER, BUT IT'S BY GOD'S SPIRIT. IF I'M GOING TO GET SAVED, IT'S BECAUSE OF HIM. IF I'M GOING TO MAKE IT, IT'S BECAUSE OF HIM. How am I doing all right this morning?" Let's go back and look at that again in case somebody wants to question But Noah, verse eight, found grace, the eyes of the Lord. Verse nine, look at this closely. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations. In other words, God looked down. The world was a black velvet cloth. Was Noah a perfect man? Absolutely not. Read his story. Read his story. Was Noah a perfect man? No. How you know he wasn't a perfect man, brother Carpenter? Well, after the flood and after they got off the ark, he went into planting vineyards. And when he got his harvest of grapes, they made wine. AND NOAH GOT DRUNK. YEAH, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ARK BUILDER. And Noah got drunk, stripped his clothes off, and lay in his tent. And one of his sons saw him. And it there's a long story there. But we have to understand that no, we're not perfect. But when it comes to the world, I BELIEVE THE CHURCH IS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. When it COMES TO WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE IN THE WORLD, YOU CAN TALK TO ME ABOUT TROUBLE IN THE CHURCH ALL YOU WANT TO. THERE AIN'T NOBODY BLOWING UP A CAR IN THE FRONT door of this church. YOU CAN TALK TO ME ABOUT TROUBLE IN THE CHURCH ALL YOU WANT TO AND TROUBLING FAMILIES ALL YOU WANT TO, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE TURMOIL IN THE CHURCH THAT IS IN THE WORLD. AND I BELIEVE GOD IS LOOKING DOWN BROTHER MAYO AND HE SAID, "I KNOW BROTHER MAYO'S NOT PERFECT, BUT I LAY HIM UP AGAINST NOT PERFECT PERFECTION, BUT I LAY HIM UP AGAINST THE WORLD. No one was perfect in his generation. He said, "Brother Carmen, why are you wasting time? Why are you wasting time talking to us about Noah?" Thought you were never going to ask me that question. Why am I wasting time? Turn to Matthew chapter 24. Chapter 24 verse number one. Jesus went out and departed from the temple. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. Jesus said in verse two, Jesus said unto them, "See you not all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. Whoa. What? This is our beautiful temple. And he said, I'm telling you the day is coming when it's going to be destroyed. So then in verse number three, as he sat up on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, "Tell us when shall these things be, and what shall be thy sign be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world?" Would you tell us when these things are going to be? And when you tell us when the the sign of thy coming and the end of the world. Now he goes down and it would take more than my Bible lesson today to to to to explain this to you. But he comes down to verse 36. There want to know the time. He comes to verse 36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man. No, not the angels of heaven, but my father only. I will not tell you the day nor the hour. But as the days of Noi or Noah were, so alo so also shall be the coming of the son of man. For in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking and marrying and giving in marriage until the day that that Noah entered into the ark and knew not until the flood came and took them all away. So shall also the coming of the son of man be. Look with me today. Look with me and think with me today. What was happening in the days of Noah? Now, we normally, brother Thorp, only talk ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE DAYS of Noah. WE NORMALLY JUST think about what was going on in the world. But it wasn't all evil going on in the world because of that simple verse. But Noah found grace IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. AND THE LORD GAVE NOAH A PLAN TO BE SAVED. ON ONE SIDE OF GOD, I'M DESTROYING MAN. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF GOD, I'M SAVING MAN. THIS EARTH IS UP FOR DESTRUCTION. NOT BY FLOODING THIS TIME, BUT BY FIRE. BUT WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO TALK ABOUT A WORLD THAT'S GOING TO BURN UP. I'VE GOT MY MIND ON A HEAVENLY NEW JERUSALEM THAT'S COMING DOWN. YOU SEE, AT THE SAME TIME THAT THEY WERE SINNING IN NOAH'S DAY, NOAH WAS BUILDING. HE HAD A PLAN. GOD HAD A PLAN. I'M GOING TO DESTROY THE EARTH, BUT I GOT A PLAN. WHICH SIDE OF GOD DO YOU WANT TO BE ON? I THINK I CAN ANSWER THAT TODAY. I DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE DESTRUCTIVE SIDE OF GOD. I KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD. I KNOW WHAT IS OUT THERE. I KNOW ALL THE CONFUSION THAT'S IN THE WORLD TODAY. BUT THANK GOD, I'M IN THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD. HE IS A GOD OF PEACE. IT IS A GOSPEL OF PEACE. GOD IS NO LONGER ANGRY AT THE CHURCH. GOD IS ANGRY WITH THE WICKED EVERY DAY, BUT NOW I'M IN THE CHURCH. AREN'T YOU GLAD TO BE IN THE CHURCH? AREN'T YOU THANKFUL TO BE IN THE CHURCH? AREN'T YOU THANKFUL? DON'T YOU JUST WANT TO GIVE HIM PRAISE TODAY? I'M JUST THANKFUL. I KNOW THE WORLD'S doing that. Dad, do you see what the world's doing? I did shim. Just keep cutting wood. Dad, do you hear what the world's saying about us? I did him, but just keep nailing the boards. Dad, do you SEE WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHAT THEY'RE ACCUSING ALL THIS? I DO. JUST KEEP ON BUILDING. PLEASE TODAY DON'T GET DISCOURAGED ABOUT WHAT THE WORLD THIS THIS WORLD this world social media is being used today as a tool of hell to try to intimidate and silence the anointed authorative voice of a pullpit. There are people of reprobate minds that take snippets out of a church service and they SAY, "OH, LET'S GO IN AND listen to this." They're little captions down in the bottom and and and a man of God or a woman, they're up there proclaiming the word of God. AND THEY WILL TAKE A LITTLE SNIPPET out and say, "Did you hear what they said? Did you hear?" And all of that IS IS TO TRY to intimidate and try to get in your mind that you know the world can tell you exactly how to live. But we can't even hint to how you ought to live. The world can put all kind of restrictions say you ain't coming in here without this and that. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE A PART OF US IF YOU DON'T DO THIS AND THAT. AND THE WORLD CAN DO THAT AND THEY'RE TOTALLY FINE WITH THAT. BUT LET THE CHURCH have an authorative ANOINTED SHEPHERD THAT IS SAYING KEEP ON BUILDING CHURCH. KEEP ON RINGING THE WOOD, CHURCH, BECAUSE AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH. AS IT WAS IN THE DAY, HEY, GOD IS GOING TO DESTROY THIS EARTH. OH YES, HE IS. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, GOD'S GOT HIS EYE ON NOAH. AND GOD HAS SAID, I'LL GIVE YOU A PLAN. I'LL GIVE YOU A PLAN. OH, I WISH YOU WOULD JUST WAR WITH A PRAISE TODAY. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. I'M NOT PERFECT, BUT I'M TRYING. I'M NOT OH, GOD. Come on. GIVE HIM PRAISE RIGHT NOW. I hope I'm doing all right today. I know where I want to be at. If it seems evil to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you'll serve. But as for me in my house, we going to serve the Lord. Floods came. Floods came, lifted up the ark, but it destroyed mankind. Men, women, children, animals, mockers, mockers became believers. Too late. Mockers became believers. too late. The rain came. It's amazing. We can have war break out and it'll shake our nation religiously for a little bit, but when the war subsides, when Desert Storm broke out, we were on Mcinley Street. desert storm broke out on a Wednesday night, a Sunday morning with standing room only in that little church. Just a couple services went by and we baptized over 17 people in Jesus name. But the problem was when the war subsided, their fear left with them. But I got news for you. You may have heard that the Lord's coming and you may have heard this all your life, but there's going to come a day mama's going to be missing. There's going to come a day daddy's going to, oh God, raise a gener, God, help us to raise a generation of kids that believe in the coming of the Lord to where when they come home from school and mom's supposed to be home and mom's not at home, they start thinking, "Oh man, has the Lord come? Has the And I'm not trying to be cute or funny today because there's going to come a day the church is going to be gone. Grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles and people are going to be missing and phone calls are going to be made. I don't know how they're going to explain it away. I I believe Satan's probably already got it on the DRAWING BOARD HOW HE'S going to explain it away. BUT NEVERTHELESS, WE'RE GOING TO BE GONE. AND THREE AND A HALF YEARS, DO YOU HEAR ME? PUT IT ON THE CALENDAR. THREE AND A HALF YEARS AFTER WE'RE GONE, THERE'S GOING TO BE A TRIBULATION COME SUCH AS HAS NEVER BEEN A TRIBULATION. THE SUN IS GOING TO BE TURNED INTO BLOOD AND ALL KINDS OF CATASTROPHIC EVENTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. THE WATERS ARE GOING TO BE MADE INTO BLOOD. POISON, HELL, AND ALL KINDS OF GRIEVOUS SORES ARE GOING TO FALL ON MAN FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS. CAN I TELL YOU, YOU DON'T WANT TO BECOME A BELIEVER TOO LATE. YOU WANT TO BECOME A BELIEVER NOW. YOU WANT TO BECOME A BELIEVER THIS SUNDAY MORNING? YOU WANT TO BECOME A BELIEVER RIGHT NOW? Come on. DON'T YOU WANT TO BECOME A BELIEVER? Don't you want TO BECOME A BELIEVER? COME ON. DON'T YOU want to become A BELIEVER RIGHT NOW? RIGHT NOW. RIGHT NOW. Brother Hammond, would you would you help me today? Brother Ericson, would you help me today? Would y'all go ahead and I've got a little token of the first message of 2025 2025. You just come up if you two brothers will come and stand up the front. Just stand up here in front of the pull pit for a moment. I'm not trying to scare you. As it was in the days of Noah, there was more than just wickedness going on in the earth. There was a man and his family building a boat. And today in our world, there's two things going on. The world is becoming more wicked. What did he say about Satan? Violence. Satan. Violence. Just turn your news on any given day. There's a there's a shooting. There's a school shooting. There's somebody takes their car. The first day of our year, the first day of our year, somebody took their car and I don't know how many people went out into eternity. And how many people are maimed because somebody took their car and rammed it through a crowd. Shortly thereafter, a car explodes in front of a hotel. And this is just what's going on in the world. It's a normal news day cycle. Yes, it is. But at the same time, on a Sunday morning at 10:00, there's a group of people. They're not perfect. Oh, they're not perfect by far. But they come into a house of worship. Yes. And they begin to say, "You are holy. Oh, so holy. You are holy, Lord of all. And begin to sing songs about praise and about worship. PERFECT. FAC MARVILLE, WE'RE FAR FROM PERFECT. BUT WHEN YOU LAY ME OUT AGAINST THE WORLD, GOD IS SAYING THEY'RE PERFECT IN THEIR GENERATION. Keep on building. Keep on coming to church. Keep on reading your Bible. Keep on trying to establish a prayer life. I don't care how many times you tried, try again. I don't CARE HOW MANY CHAPTERS YOU'VE READ, READ AGAIN. I DON'T CARE HOW MANY TIMES YOU'VE COME TO THE ALTAR, COME ON BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN and again and again. AND WHEN THE TRUMPET SOUNDS AND THE CHURCH IS CAUGHT UP, MAY IT FIND ME TRYING, stand with me right now. Oh sweet spirit of God. Oh heavenly spirit of God. Oh sweet Holy Ghost. Oh sweet spirit of the living God. Oh sweet spirit of God. I love you. I love you. Come on. LET'S JUST LET HIM SHINE ON US. OH, go ahead. Go ahead. You're not perfect, lady. Sister, you're not perfect. Sister, you're not perfect. BUT GO AHEAD AND RAISE YOUR HANDS RIGHT NOW. OH, GO AHEAD. RAISE YOUR HANDS RIGHT NOW. SIR, SIR, you're not perfect. God knows what you're struggling with, but God KNOWS WHERE YOU'RE AT THIS MORNING. OH, GOD. Y'all feel what I feel? Y'all feel WHAT I FEEL RIGHT NOW? The ark jolted. The ark hit. Noah felt that they're no longer in the water. Noah opens a window. Noah opens a window. I don't know what's going on out there. Ham, sham, jabbath. I don't know what's going on out there. Let me take a raven bird. Let me take a raven. Throw it out the window. See if the bird can give us any guidance. SEE IF THE FOWL CAN GIVE US any guidance. But Noah, a raven is an unclean bird. A raven is a bird that eats dead things. And the Bible said the raven went to and fro. HE STAYED OUT THERE. HE NEVER CAME BACK TO THE ARK. HE STAYED OUT THERE. HE STAYED OUT THERE GOING to and fro lighting up on dead bodies. And you know, there were plenty of them lighting up on dead things and eating dead things. And Noah said, "Hand me a dove. Hand me a dove." He let the dove go. And the dove went out, Sister Wells. But the dove found no place to put his foot down. Cuz a dove is a clean animal. A dove will only come down on what's alive. It never comes down upon a dead putriying carcass. So the dove came back. Noah reached out and got his dove and pulled it in. Said, "We got to wait a little longer." SEVEN DAYS WENT by and Noah left the dove out again. And this time when the dove came back, in the mouth of the dove was an olive leaf. The dove AND THE OLIVE LEAF HAVE COME TO be a symbol, a universal symbol of peace. When that DOVE CAME BACK WITH that olive leaf in its beak, Noah knew THERE'S LIFE ON THE EARTH. There's something living on the earth. The olive. The olive tree is alive. The olive tree. OF ALL THE TREES that he COULD BRING A LEAF BACK, why the olive? Could it be that the olive tree WOULD BE USED BY SOLOMON TO CARVE OUT THE CHERUBAMS? THEY'RE UP ON THE TOP OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD. IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, COULD IT BE THAT THE OLIVE TREE WAS GOING TO BE USED BY SOLOMON TO CREATE THE DOORS OF THE TABERNACLE? IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, COULD IT BE THE BERRIES OF THE OLIVE TREE IS GOING TO BE USED TO MAKE OLIVE OIL? WHAT'S THAT GOT TO DO? IT'S GOING TO GIVE FUEL FOR THE LAMPS THAT ARE IN THE TABERNACLE. GOD, PEACE. PEACE. CHERUBAMS, that's protection. Cherubams, that's protection. Doors, that's a new life. Olive oil, that's light in the tabernacle. He said, "I'm gonna use this as a symbol of peace." And then Jesus said this, and I'm sorry. I'm I'm I have you stand, please. New Year's resolution, please don't have them stand too long, but I've already broke it. This ain't even the first Sunday's over yet. But I feel the Holy Ghost. Blessed are the peacemakers, FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED THE children of God. Yes. If you are making peace, you are kin to your heavenly father. Bear with me just another moment or two. Adam Clark comments on peacemakers. Adam Clark says, "Peacemakers is compounded. It's connecting into one as far as war distracts, divides nations, families, and individuals. from each other, inducing them to pursue different objects and different interest. So peace RESTORES THEM TO A STATE OF UNITY, giving them one object and one interest. A peacemaker is a man WHO BEING ENDOWED WITH A GENEROUS PUBLIC SPIRIT, labors for the PUBLIC GOOD AND FEELS HIS own interest promoted in promoting that of others. Therefore, instead of fanning the fire of strife, he is he uses his influence and wisdom to reconcile the contending parties adjust their differences and restore them to a state of unity. As all men are represented to be in a state OF HOSTILITY TO GOD AND EACH OTHER, THE GOSPEL IS CALLED THE GOSPEL OF PEACE because it TENDS TO RECONCILE MEN TO GOD AND TO EACH OTHER. HENCE OUR LORD has termed peacemakers THE CHILDREN OF GOD. FOR AS HE IS THE FATHER OF PEACE, those who promote it ARE REPUTED HIS CHILDREN. BUT THOSE CHILDREN who stir up divisions in the church, the state, and among families, surely they ARE NOT OF THAT GOD WHO IS THE FATHER OF PEACE and lover of concord AND THAT OF CHRIST WHO IS THE SACRIFICE and the mediator of it. And that spirit who is the nourisher of the bond of peace, nor of that church of the most high, which is the kingdom and the family of peace. You got to first find peace with yourself. Well, Bill Carpenter, my marriage, my marriage, my family, uh-uh you. Cuz peace doesn't start when your spouse agrees with you. Peace starts in your own heart. Some people it some people peace cannot be reached because it takes two parties. But when it comes to my peace of God, it only takes me and my God. And great peace have they which love thy law. Somebody help me finish a verse. And what? Can I tell you? I got to get I've got an olive I' I've got what looks like an olive leaf for every person here today. I've got what what looks like an olive leaf. And I'm going to tell you, please don't please don't come and take this if you're going to leave it on the pew. Please don't come and take this if this is going to be this needs to go on your nightstand. It may need to be your bookmarker for your Bible because I want it to be a continual reminder. I am a person of peace. When I find people at strife with each other, I ain't going to fan that fire. I'm going to try to see peace. I'm going to try to see peace with them. I'm going to try to send peace with them. Uh, Brother Hammond, run and get my cell phone. It's on the edge of the pew. I got another Give me that, Brother Eric. Give me that. I got two gifts for you today. I got two gifts. But please, please, if you're not serious, please don't come and take them. Please, please don't cuz I think I've got It's not just that I think I got just enough. It's just I just don't want this to wind up. I I don't want the I don't want the people the girl the people cleaning the church after after church to be have a pile of these. And and listen, I'm going to tell the cleaners, if you do find these, come bring them to my pew cuz somebody's going to want peace here this year. It's time that we put an end to family drama. It's time that we put an end to anything that's causing us not to love one another because there's a lost and dying world out there. Let me show you. Brother Eric, would you come and hold the olive tree, olive branch up? This stamp right here, this stamp right here has an olive leaf on it. It's a sticker. It's a sticker. And I'll tell you what I'm going to do with my sticker that I got. Tell you what I'm going to do with my sticker I got. This is my cell phone. How many How many's got a cell phone in the house? Would you go ahead? It's all right. I ain't going to take it up. Would you raise it right now? Would you raise your cell phone with me right now? Would you take a minute? Would you raise it up? Let me show you what I'm going to do. Let me show you what I'm going to do with my sticker today. I'm going to put my sticker right on my cell phone. Right. So therefore, anytime I get on this, may I have a reminder whatever I'm talking about on this. Yeah. May I end and say, "God, did I promote peace? Yeah. God, when I get ready to get on social media, WHEN I WHEN I GET READY TO MAKE THAT POST, Brother Perry, when I get ready to make that post on my phone, may I look down and ask myself, Brother Nathan, is it promoting Is it promoting peace? Is it promoting peace? You You brothers come today. Would y'all spread across the front? And if you want, Brother Aris, go down and help them. If you want an olive leaf, if you'd make your way down to the front right now. Singers, would you sing as they come? May take a few minutes to get everybody served here today in the house of the Lord. I surrender all to you. Peace. I am a peacemaker with nothing. I am not stirring strife withholding nothing. I am a peacemaker with God. I will come between my brother with I will be I will come between and I will sew seeds of peace. Oh yes God. Come on dove bring us the peace. Come on Holy Spirit bring us the peace. Come on Holy Spirit bring us the peace today. Oh, bring us the peace today. Holy Spirit, bring us the peace today. Oh, bring us the peace today, God. Bring us the peace today, God. Oh God, bring us the peace today, God. Oh, the promotion of the gospel. Oh God, the promotion of the gospel right now is nothing. Oh God, God. Oh God, I pray Lord I pray in the name of Jesus. Lord I pray God in the name of Jesus. Oh God, I pray in the name of Jesus. Once you get it, once you get your lead, once you get your snail, let's worship. Once you get your leaf and stand. Let's worship. I am a peacemaker. I am a peacemaker. Oh God, I am a peacemaker. Oh God, I am a peacemaker. Oh, I am a peacemaker. I give you all. I peace with myself. Peace with myself. I give you all. I'm peace with myself. I want peace with myself. I give you all. God peace with myself. I give you all. Jesus Jesus my forever I give you I give you my world peace. I give you all peace. I give you peace. I give you peace. I give you all peace. I give you all peace. I give you all. Oh God, I give you. Once you get your lead, once you get your stamp, I want you to go to God in worship. I want you to go to God in worship. Oh God, Lord, not my will, not my gratification, God, not my revenge. Oh God, I pray for every prodal with all my I pray for every prodal I give myself away. That's it. That's it. Peace. Peace. Peace. I don't have to be right. I give myself away. Come on, Holy Spirit. Come on, Holy Spirit, lead us. I give myself. Come on, Holy Spirit, lead us. Oh, I give myself away so can you Jesus. I give myself this life is not my Yeah. I give myself to you. Peace. Peace. Peace. Peace. Peace. Heat. Heat. Oh yes God. Oh yes God. Give myself away. Peace. Peace. So, one more time, can we just lift our voices up? This message has touched your heart today. Can we just lift our voices? I am a peacemaker. I am not a stir of strife. I am a child of God. I am not a child of war. I'm a child of peace. I'm a child of God. Today I want to tell you to end this sermon today to end this sermon today. I want to tell you when the dove came back in to the ark and the dove had the olive leaf in its mouth. Noah waited another seven days and sent the dove back out. The Bible said the dove did not return again. And then the Bible says Noah waited until he heard the voice of God say, "Go forth from the ark." Noah, can I tell you that when you become a man or a woman of peace that you position yourself for the Holy Ghost to speak to you and give you direction in your life? Yes, sir. If you're standing here today and say, "I just really don't know what to do." Promote peace. promote peace. And when you promote peace, when you promote peace, just wait. The Holy Ghost is going to be very clear and tell you exactly what you need to do. Well, the dove left the ark. Now, this is just this is just Kenny Carpenter commentary here. The dove The dove left the ark. Where'd it go? Well, I don't know. But if I was going to symbolize it, I could tell you that our lovely Lord and Savior before entering the ministry, was obedient because he was in flesh. He asked a man by the name of John the Baptist to baptize him. The Bible said, "And John baptized him, and coming up out of the water, the spirit descending upon him like a dove." Can I tell you today that our sweet peace is found in Jesus Christ? I'm starting this year out. You look up here at me. I am a peacemaker. I'm not a strivester. I am a peace maker. And God is going to bless us beyond what we can ever imagine. 2025, people are going to be sitting beside you. People are going to be walking back into the door. I prophesy today, people are going to be walking back into the side this church doors you never believed would ever darken the doors again. And it's all because of the power of peace right now. It's all all because we're being led by the spirit of the almighty God. Say before you dismiss yourself today, would you raise your leaf up? Would you raise your stamp up? Could we just dismiss oursel? Prayer meeting tonight at 5:30, 6:00, a great service begins. Let's have good church in Jesus name. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Lord I praise you this morning God. I thank you this morning, Lord. Lord, I magnify your name today.