The Power of Being Prepared | Senior Pastor Kenneth Carpenter
by Kenneth Carpenter

Kind: sermon
Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 24:36, Acts 1:6-7, 2 Peter 3:1-5, 2 Peter 3:8, 2 Peter 3:10-18, Exodus 11:4, Exodus 12:28-31, Acts 16:25, Psalm 119:62, 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, Revelation 4:8-11, Matthew 7:6

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/kenneth-carpenter--the-power-of-being-prepared-senior
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
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Would you stand with me right now? Let's just make a joyful noise to the Lord today. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. Lord, I give you praise today. Lord, you said in your word to let everything that had breath praise the Lord. And I praise you today for your goodness. I praise you today for your mercy. I praise you today. Come on, church. Let's praise him right now. Oh, let's praise him right now. Let's praise him right now. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I'm not going to let a rock praise the Lord for me. I said, I'm not going to let a rock praise the Lord for me. But let me bring it down to THE 21ST CENTURY. I'M NOT GOING TO LET A PIANO PRAISE THE LORD for me. I'M NOT GOING TO LET A DRUM praise the Lord for me. I'm not going to let A GUITAR PRAISE THE LORD FOR ME. I'M NOT GOING TO LET A SOUND SYSTEM PRAISE THE LORD. COME ON. THAT OTHER THING THAT HAVE BREATH HALLELUJAH. OH, surely the Lord surely the Lord is in this place today. >> Surely the Lord is in this house today. Aren't you thankful that you go to a church where people really worship? I've been to a lot of places they talk about it. But I'm glad to be in a place they really worship. >> Been in a lot of places where they talk about they used to do it, but I'm glad, brother White, we're still worshiping the Lord. Aren't you thankful for that? People >> People still running. People still leaping. Are you thankful for that? People are still shouting. I am very thankful. You make your way back. Thank you, choir. Thank you good people for coming to the house of the Lord today. I do not possess the uh vocabulary to adequately adequately express to you the feeling of my heart when I see people come into the house of the Lord. I I don't I mean that I wish that uh I wish that I had the words to say that could really convey my heart to see you come here week after week after week. Thank you. Thank you so very very much. We're glad to have all of our guests with us this morning and I hope to meet you before the service is over uh today. If you have your Bibles and would join me in the book of Matthew, the book of Matthew, chapter number 25, and we're going to read uh verse 1 through 13. And if you go there, Matthew chap 25 verse number uh 1 uh through 13, it's been mentioned school is starting and we're excited about school getting back in in session and as pastor I'm excited everybody's getting home from vacation and I'm glad to see everyone everyone here today. Amen. Uh we we'll be giving you the details, but Wednesday night after church, Sister Kelly Cheshire, which is my niece, uh she went home. She has been tending. She has been giving uh great personal professional health care to her mother Janette for for several years now. And uh Wednesday night when Kelly and brother Shannon Cheshire got home uh my her mother had passed away. And so would you please remember Kelly and the the family in prayer. Tonight I'll give the particulars of when we're going to have Janette's u going away celebration. I'm glad that several years ago, about five years ago to be exact, she fell under conviction and they lived across the street at the time and uh she she fell under conviction and brother Cheshire brought her they brought her over here and we baptized her in the name of Jesus Christ and so I'm so thankful so thankful for that. Please remember to pray. We had prayer this morning for for Morgan Ivans. She will be uh she will be going to the United States Air Force this upcoming week for training and we anointed a cloth for her today. Would there be anybody else after the reading of the scripture? We're going to pray. Does anybody else have prayer requests? You just signify it to by the lifting of your hand this morning. Those of you that are watching online, if you would do likewise, let's read. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto 10 virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom terried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh. Go you out to meet him." Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us in you. But go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves. For while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, now these are the words of Jesus. It sums up the parable. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the son of man cometh. You know neither the day nor the hour when the son of man cometh. On this Sunday before school starts on Tuesday, I would like to preach on the subject the power of being prepared. The power of being prepared. Father, today we come before you and Lord, we're so thankful that you are an everpresent help in the time of need. We're so thankful, Lord, that at any time, at any place, we can come before you in a prayer. And Lord, you're you're never God, we we never interrupt you, but you're always open, God, to our prayers. Lord, I ask you today again that you would anoint my heart today that I could feed your people. Lord, I pray for Kelly. I pray for the Cheshire family today. I ask you, Lord, to continue to touch Sister Maria. Lord, I ask you today, God, to keep your hand upon Morgan. Keep your hand upon those that have been put in the hospital this week, God. Keep your hand upon the people, God, here and those that are watching online, Lord, that your hands would be upon them. And Lord, we'll give you the praise and the honor and the glory. In Jesus' name we pray. And everybody said, "Amen." >> Why don't you give the Lord a hand of praise before you're seated? Give him a good hand of praise. I do apologize for keeping you standing so long, but I promise you it's nothing like standing in line at Disney. But anyway, let's go. The power of being. The power of being prepared. Let's educate ourselves a little bit to this parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins. That's 13 verses. Let's let's acquaint ourselves because there's actually three there's actually three main characters uh in the parable. Now, we do understand that this parable that Jesus teaches is to reveal to us a great spiritual lifechanging principle that he's wanting to give us. It's it's it you'll understand that it's not just about a bride and a bridegroom. It's not just about midnight. It's not just about these things, but there is a spiritual principle that that is that is behind. So, let's look at the three main characters and then we'll we'll weave our way through this Bible lesson this morning. Well, the three main characters, the first character is the bridegroom. The bridegroom. Now, in in the parable, the bridegroom is likened unto Jesus Christ. is let it's it's uh uh likened unto Jesus Christ and in the parable it is discussing his return or when he comes to take his bride. Now uh they would have understood the custom of that day. We we we're we read this parable and it just doesn't make sense. But if you knew the wedding customs of of that day, things begin to make sense. In that day when when a when a woman was waiting for her bridegroom to come, how it worked is that the bridegroom uh had prepared a place for his soontobe bride and his soontobe wife. They had prepared prepared a place for her and uh he was there at that prepared place and that at an unexpected unannounced or uh not a time predetermined like we say well the wedding's going to start at 7:00 or the wedding's going to start at 7:30 or the wedding's going to start at 2. In the Bible days, they did not have a specific time that the wedding started. The wedding started at the choosing of the bridegroom when the bridegroom decided when it would start. And it was it was at night in those days. They held the daylight hours. They held those daylight hours so that people could work. They didn't have things they didn't have things in the middle of the day like we do today. But weddings were held at night and mostly in the late evening of the night, giving people enough time to get from the fields and clean up and then make their way if they were invited. So at night, the the the bridegroom would make his way to the bride's house. That's where the wedding actually that's where the wedding actually took place. The wedding actually took place at the bride's house. that's where he would come. And and because it was night, there were some there was some attendance that were needed. There was some young ladies that in the story they are called virgins. There are some young ladies that have been asked to carry lanterns, lights, lamps. Now, the reason that they're asked to carry lamps and uh the these lanterns or these lights is obviously it's dark and uh the processional, the bridegroom is going to come and they're going to direct the bridegroom to the bride's house. And there at the bride's house, they're going to be married. And then after the marriage, after they have been brought together, they have been married together, then they leave the bride's house in the night and they make their way, they make their way to the prepared place. And so we see now, we see now that a light would be very important, if not essential, in guiding the bridegroom to the bride's house. and then in guiding the bride and groom from that house to their to her new home. Another thing that I I want to bring to to your to your attention I want to bring to your attention today is the fact that the time that the bridegroom come had not been announced. No one knew the time that the bridegroom would come. Except the bridegroom. Except the bridegroom. Now, let me tell you something. Attempting to pinpoint a day, a month, a year of the return of Jesus Christ for his bride, I'm just going to go ahead and tell you is pointless. All right? It is is pointless. you might as well, you know, there's been too many people that have said set a date, set a month, even set a season that had to go back and say, "Well, I I didn't I didn't calculate things right." Can I tell you something? His return is not a cryptic cryptic code that you've got to crack. >> You don't know. >> It it's not there. And if I I I've seen people do things like they take the first letter from the first book and the second letter from the second book and the third letter and if if you've been the Hebrew word letter just this way you you you you get this is spelled hogwash. It's pointless. and and and there's been too many men using unholy horoscopes trying to >> it's pointless. It is Matthew 24:36. Jesus said, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man." Now, how much planer can we get? Of that day and hour knoweth what? I wish somebody say it. >> No man. No. Not the angels of heaven, but my father only. So that ought to settle it. Nobody knows the day nor the hour that our bridegroom Jesus Christ is coming. So what are we going to do then? I got one word, two words actually. Be ready. >> All right, that's the key word. Be ready is the key word. Or can I say it this way? be prepared. >> All right? Make preparations because it is not if Jesus comes. It is when Jesus comes. >> And the thing you have to concern yourself about is not is it April this or May this or September this or is it this new new moon, blue moon, red moon, psychedelic moon. It don't care. I'm just going to tell you something. No man knows what the day nor the hour that he's coming. But the bride should just simply be ready for that day. Just simply be ready. Jesus said, "I'm going to send the promise of the father upon you. You're going to get the Holy Ghost." Watch how their minds wander. Jesus said, "I'm going to send the the promise of the father upon you." This is Acts 1, chapter 6. I'm going to send the promise of my father. I'm about to ascend into heaven. I'm about to send the promise of my father. Acts 1 and6. When they therefore were come together, they asked him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And Jesus said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put into his own power. >> Again, how much planer can we get? But I'd like to give you a little thought here today. Jesus will return later than expected. Uh, well, I don't know about that. Okay, maybe this one fits you. Jesus will return sooner than you expected. >> I don't know about that one either, preacher. Okay, then this is my last one. Jesus will come at an unexpected time. That ought to cover everybody. It's going to be longer than you expected. It's going to be sooner than you expected. And it's going to come at an unexpected time. >> He decides. It's up to him. The bridegroom is going to decide. Now, let's move on. Let's let's move on to the virgins. The 10 virgins. who are identified in two categories. There are wise virgins and there are foolish virgins. Now, we're going to in a few minutes, in a few moments, we're going to we're going to to tell you what makes the wise wise and what makes the foolish foolish. But look back with me at Matthew 25 and verse number five because it says this here. They are there's 10 virgins. Five are wise, five are foolish. All right? And uh they're out here and they're waiting in the evening. They're waiting for the cry to be made. Behold, the bridegroom cometh and it's the evening time and an hour goes by and another hour goes by and another hour goes by and and all of a sudden they get to what is the midnight. And before they get to midnight, they go ahead and decide. They go ahead and decide he's not coming tonight. He's not coming tonight. It's too late. He's not He's not coming. And so they all decide, all of them did that he's not coming. That's why we have Matthew 25 and verse number verse number five because it says while the bridegroom Terry delayed they all slumbered and slept. Why? Because in their thoughts their thoughts were it's too late for the wedding to take place. And so they all they all slumbered and slept. Please be aware of this. I hear people say, you know, brother Carpenter, I hear Yeah, I've been hearing the Lord's coming. My grandmother told me the Lord was coming. My mother told me the Lord's coming. And and and you know, could it be? Could it be? I'm Yeah. I'm tell you what, it could be. It could be the Lord is coming. >> The Lord is coming. And if you just look at it like I try to like I look at it like I look at it is here's the truth. Jesus Christ. We are closer than the coming of Jesus Christ than any generation has ever been. >> Because he has delayed does not mean he is not coming. >> He's coming. >> I said he's coming. >> You you you get to choose whether you want to prepare for that or not. But I'm just the one to tell you he is coming. And when he is coming, he's coming after a prepared people. People that have made preparations in a time in a time when others were saying, I just don't really You see, there were five wise and five foolish. What What was the difference? The wise took extra oil with them. The wise spent a little extra time getting extra oil. They spent extra money to get extra oil. Why? Because the wise said, "I don't care if he delays his coming. I'm going to stay at this until he comes." Can I tell you, by the help and the grace of God, every one of us in here today ought to have a bulldog determination. I'm going to stay in this thing until he comes. There's no exits in this thing. You're not going to you're not going you're you're you're not going to push me out of this thing. seasons of life is NOT GOING TO DRIVE ME out of this thing. I'm going to stay at this until he comes from me. >> I'm going to stay at this. >> But evidently, there were five foolish that just simply said, "Well, he's going to come at this time frame right here. He's going to come at this time frame." And so, this is all the oil we need. We're going to come in this time frame. I'm going to read you a chapter out of second Peter chapter 3 and verse number one. And I'm kind of mixing these verses up today, but I want you to look for me. Look at with me at second Peter chapter 3 and verse number one. It says these words, the second epistle, the second time, beloved, I now write unto you. In both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. I want to stir you up about something that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior knowing this first that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lust. Now there's going to come in the last days now a a a mocker and a scoffer are cousins. All right? A mocker will mock God. A scoffer will scoff at the people that are living for God. There will come people that are telling us, "You're wasting your time on that that religion that you're in. You're wasting your time on that pie in the sky belief that you have that a trumpet's going to sound." And there there's just people today and even religions today that are that are doing away with believing in the second return, the rapture of the church of of of Jesus Christ. And they will they will scoff at this. And he says in the last times last the la last day scoffers walking after their own lust. What are they saying? And saying where is the promise of his coming? FOR SINCE THE FATHERS fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. In other words, you know, those people that believed that fell asleep and and everything is just going to continue from the creation from the creation uh from of the creation. Verse five, for this they willingly are ignorant of that by the word of God the heavens were of old and the earth standing out of the water and in the water whereby the world that then was being overflowed with water perished. But the heavens and the earth which are now by the same word are kept in store, reserved into fire against the day of judgment and predition of ungodly men. Here's what he says. He says, "Let me tell you something. When God found this world, when God created this world in in the water and out of the water, his word made the creative creation. His word brought light. His word brought visitation. His word brought order out of chaos." And he says, "The same God that ordered creation is the same God that will order the destruction of the creation this time which will be which will be by fire." Verse number eight. But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. Listen to me church. Time is irrelevant with God. So when we say he's been he's been gone, you you know he suffered bled and died 2,000 years ago in God's way of thinking it was just two days ago. So we got to get out of our mind that well it had didn't happen last year and it happened last century and didn't the 15th century and on and on. You just have to accept this. The bridegroom is coming. >> THE BRIDEGROOM IS COMING. THE QUESTION IS, ARE YOU A WISE ONE OR ARE YOU A FOOLISH ONE? ARE YOU SPENDING SOME EXTRA TIME SAYING, "I'M TELLING YOU, HE'S COMING. IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN MY LIFE. I CAN MISS A LOT OF APPOINTMENTS, BUT I CAN'T MISS THE APPOINTMENT OF HIS COMING. I'VE GOT TO be ready." Well, let me read on. Let me let me read on verse number verse number 10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements melt with fervent heat. The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved. What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? You know what he's saying right there? Every material thing you have is going to burn up one day. Your house is burning up. Your cars is burning up. Your retirement's burning up. Everything that you have labored for is going up in flames one day. And the only thing that can be salvaged to eternity is your own soul. Peter said, "If you really believe that everything's going up in SMOKE RIGHT NOW, WHY ARE YOU LABORING? Why are you spending all of your energy? I'm not talking about WE SHOULDN'T HOLD JOBS AND WE SHOULDN'T live in houses and we shouldn't drive cars and we shouldn't wear good clothes. I'm not talking about that. But when houses become our God and cars BECOME OUR GOD AND JOBS BECOME OUR GOD AND STATUS SYMBOLS BECOME OUR GOD. WE MISSED IT, FRIEND. IT'S ALL GOING UP. WHEN FRIENDSHIPS BECOME OUR GOD, CAN YOU IMAGINE PEOPLE GET OUT OF CHURCH OVER SOMEBODY DIDN'T SHAKE THEIR HAND? People stop living for God over the most frivolous things in life, >> seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved. What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? looking for and hastening. That word means rushing toward. Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the of the day of God where in the heavens being of on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless, we this earth is burning up. This earth is going to burn completely up. Nevertheless, we according to his promise look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent, that you may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless, and account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation, even as our beloved Even as our beloved brother Paul also to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you, as also in all of his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which some things are hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable rest as they do also the other scripture unto their own destruction. Now he he gets into this now. Please don't bend the scripture for your belief. >> The the word rest there means wrest r w r w r w r w r w r w r w r w r w r wrestle wrestle with some people can't accept the WORD OF GOD AT FACE VALUE. SO THEY GOT TO GET IN here and rrestle it and turn it and twist it. you you the the Paul said lest you pervert the gospel of God. The word pervert there is the same way you we use for pervert. All right? And what a pervert does is take something that's holy and sacred and good and healthy and twist it until it is destructive in nature. We call it a sex pervert. God created sex, beautiful, holy, and healthy, between a man and a woman. I know this is plain today, but would you just let pastor sound the trumpet to you today? It's holy. IT'S HEALTHY. IT'S GODLY. IT'S THE BEST THING IN LIFE TO DO IT GOD'S WAY. BUT WHEN WE BEGIN TO PERVERT IT, IT BECOMES HARMFUL. AND IT BECOMES DESTRUCTIVE BOTH MENTALLY and physically. So it is with THE GOSPEL. I NEVER WANT to be a scriptural pervert. I never want to go to THE SCRIPTURE AND SAY, "WELL, I DON'T LIKE HOW THAT SOUNDS, SO LET ME BEND IT THIS WAY OR BEND IT THAT WAY." CHURCH, HE'S COMING. HE'S COMING. HE'S COMING. BE READY. Get ready. Stay ready. SPEND YOUR TIME AT IT. Spend your time at it. I KNOW THERE'S OTHER FOOLISH PEOPLE. THEY'RE NOT COMING TO CHURCH. THEY'RE NOT PRAYING. THEY'RE NOT RAISING THEIR HANDS. THEY'RE NOT DOING ALL THIS. THEY'RE LIVING FOOT LOOSE AND FANCY FREE. GET YOUR MIND OFF THE FOOLS AND GET IT ON THE WISE BECAUSE IT'S ONLY THE WISE THAT are Oh, SHAKE YOURSELF THIS MORNING. COME ON NOW. I WISH SOMEBODY CLAP THEIR HANDS. SAY, I WANT TO BE READY. I WANT TO BE READY. I WANT TO BE READY. Let me just read. I'm going to read the whole chapter here. Just two more verses. Go. Verse 17. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing that you know these things before, beware least you also being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in grace and in knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. Why don't we just take a moment just lift our voices and even our hands just say, "God, I want to be ready. Oh God, I want to be ready." I know there may be a foolish person here today that not a word's coming out of your mouth today. Please don't don't don't let them don't let them influence you today because the day is going to come when they're going to know they need that oil. The days the day is going to come I'm not going to run out of oil. I I' I've got to have that oil. I've got to have that oil. I've got to have that oil. And at midnight, And at midnight, Matthew 25:6, "And at midnight was a cry made, behold, the bridegroom cometh, go you out to meet him." My question here that I have in my notes is, why midnight? Why midnight? Midnight marks the ending of one day and the beginning of a new day. at midnight. He came at midnight. Why at midnight? Because it was it's going to tip it's going to typify. It's the ending of an old day and it's the beginning of a new day. And there's just 60 seconds between them. The old day and the new day. Now if you don't think this has any uh significance at midnight the bridegroom came then I wonder why in Exodus 11:4 Moses stands in Pharaoh's court the last plague is about to come and the Bible says the last plague Moses said thus sayeth the Lord about what >> midnight >> midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt Exodus 12:28. And the children of Israel went away and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. So did they. And it came to pass that at midnight the Lord smokeote all the firstborn of the land from Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on the throne and to the firstborn of the captives that were in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the cattle. Pharaoh rose in the night, he and all his servants, and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt. There were for there was not a house where there was not one dead. He called from Moses and Aaron by night and said, "Rise up and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel. Go and serve the Lord." I'm going to show you this. At the coming of the Lord, there were two types. Five wives and five virgins. When God brought Moses and the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage on that night, there was two things going on in Egypt. Pharaoh and the e Egyptians were wailing and weeping over the death of a firstborn. But the children of Israel, THE BIBLE SAID, WENT OUT OF EGYPT WITH A HIGH HAND. They had praise on their lips on that night. I'VE BEEN A SLAVE FOR 400 AND SOME ODD YEARS. I don't even know 10 folk that hadn't been slaved. I've been eating onions and garlic and leaks. My back's BEEN BEATEN. MY DAUGHTERS GET RAPED. I have NO SENSE OF SELF-RESPECT. BUT THERE'S A PILLAR OF FIRE by night that's leading US OUT OF HERE. HALLELUJAH. GLORY BE TO GOD. PRAISE JEHOVAH. GLORY BE TO GOD. PRAISE HIS NAME. I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, WHEN THE LORD COMES BACK, THERE'S GOING TO BE WEEPERS AND THERE'S GOING TO BE WORSHIPPERS. AND YOU HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH YOU'RE GOING TO BE. ARE YOU GOING TO BE A WEEPER OR ARE YOU GOING TO BE A WORSHIPPER? I WANT TO BE A WORSHIPPER. I WANT TO BE A WORSHIPPER. I WANT TO BE A WORSHSHIPER. COME ON. I WANT TO BE A WORSHIPPER. I WANT TO GET READY. I WANT TO BE READY. I WANT TO STAY READY. I WANT to be Do you think Do you think with me, church? Do you think it was a coincidence? Do you think it was just a coincidence that in Acts chapter 16 as Paul and Silas's back has been beaten with whips, they're handcuffed and their feet are tied to the floor, that the Bible says in at in in Acts 16:25, "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God, and the prisons heard them, and the earthquake happened, yada yada yada." It goes on. But is there a reason that Paul and Silas did it at midnight? I believe I found the reason. I believe all the Bible Paul and Silas had was the Old Testament. All the song books that Paul and Silas had was the book of Psalms. That's all that they had. They didn't have Hill Song. They didn't have Apostolic Collective. They didn't have all this. All they had, their song book was the book of Psalms. And the book of Psalms chapter 119 verse number 62 says this. At midnight >> I WILL ARISE TO GIVE thanks unto thee because OF THY RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT. Don't matter what DAY IT'S BEEN. DOESN'T MATTER IF I'VE been in a day of woe and vexation. Doesn't mean if I've been in it doesn't matter if I've been in a day of loss. It doesn't mean if I've been in a day of uncertainty. AT MIDNIGHT, I GOT TO CHANGE WHAT I'M DOING. AND I'VE GOT TO BEGIN TO PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS UNTO ME. AND WHEN PAUL AND SILAS BEGIN TO PRAISE GOD, THEY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE PRAISING GOD. THEY HAD BEEN BEATEN. At midnight, THE THE HOLY GHOST HIT that jailhouse and they were delivered. Midnight. Midnight. Matthew 25:6. Midnight. There was a cry made, "Behold, the bridegroom comes. Go you out. Go you out to meet him." Verse seven. Then all those virgins arose. Yeah. Even wise people have to be stirred up every now and then. Even the best of us. Oh, not the best. I'm just saying. Even the best of us have to be stirred up. >> Listen to me, brother Mayo. There ain't nobody home yet. >> And if there's one thing I can say about the devil, he is a persistent devil. I've watched him jump into the minds of teenagers and tell them that the church is old fogy and there's so much life out there for you and you need to get out there and you need to you you you need to get out there and do your own thing. If it feels good, do it so to your flesh. But I've also seen that old devil jump on the backs of 80 and 90 year old saints and tell them you ain't useful. You're just in everybody's way. God doesn't even know you. Can I tell you something? He is a persistent devil. But I got news for him. I'm going to keep my oil until I HEAR THE TRUMPET SOUND. I'M GOING TO STAY IN HERE. DEVIL, IF YOU GET ME, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET ME AT A PRAYER MEETING. DEVIL, IF YOU GET ME, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE to get ME IN BETWEEN PRAISING AND TALKING IN TONGUES. DEVIL, IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET ME, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET me over my Bible. Oh, I hope I'm helping somebody today. You don't know. You don't know how rough I got it. You don't know how rough I got it. I visited a few songs that the African-American slaves wrote and sung during slavery. During slavery. Oh mighty God of heaven. the ignorance of humanity to enslave other humans and the way that they were treated, the way that THEY WERE TREATED. SOLD AND put on option blocks and sold. See, they got good teeth, strong back, sold. It's unimaginable for us to to to think about it today. But do you know those people that were sold as slaves and worked in the fields from sun up to sun down? They wrote songs like this. Swing low, sweet chariot, COMING FORTH TO CARRY ME HOME. SWING LOW, sweet chariot, coming forth to carry ME HOME. I LOOKED OVER JORDAN AND WHAT DID I SEE? A band of angels coming after me. Coming to CARRY ME HOME. SOMETIMES I'M UP AND SOMETIMES I'm down. But still my soul feels heaven would bound. Coming forth to carry me home. THE BRIGHTEST DAY THAT I CAN SAY. THE BRIGHTEST DAY THAT I can say. When Jesus washed my sins away, coming forth to carry me home. IF I GET THERE BEFORE YOU DO, I'LL CUT A HOLE AND pull you through. Coming forth to carry me home. If I get there before YOU DO, TELL ALL MY FRIENDS I'M A COMING TOO. COME AND FOUGHT TO CARRY ME HOME. SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT. COME AND FART TO CARRY ME HOME. CAN I TELL YOU TONIGHT, IF A BUNCH OF AFRICANAMERICAN SLAVES WITH THEIR BACKS BEATEN AND THEIR DIGNITY TAKEN AWAY CAN GET IN THE COTTON FIELDS AND BEGIN TO SING, "SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT, COMETHOUGHT TO CARRY ME HOME." IT'S OUR HOPE. COME ON, CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD. IT IS OUR HOPE. YOU HEAR ME? IT'S THE ONLY THING YOUR MIND NEEDS TO BE ON. JESUS IS COMING. JESUS IS COMING. COME ON, PRAISE HIM RIGHT NOW. IT'S GOT TO BE YOUR HEARTBEAT. IT'S GOT TO BE YOUR HOPE. IT'S GOT TO BE THAT JESUS IS COMING. There's another song. I've never heard this one before. I stumbled on it while reading. This is another song that the African-American slaves would sing in the cotton fields. Here it goes. They would sing, "There's a king and a captain high, and he's coming by and by, and he'll find me hoing cotton when he comes." You can hear his legions charging in the regions in the sky. and he'll find me hoing cotton when HE COMES. THERE'S A MAN THEY THRUST ASIDE WHO WAS TORTURED TILL HE DIED. And he'll find me hoing cotton when he comes. He was hated and rejected. He was scorned and crucified. And he'll find me hoing cotton when he comes. WHEN HE COMES, WHEN HE COMES, HE'LL BE CROWNED BY SAINTS and angels. WHEN HE COMES, THEY'LL BE SHOUTING OUT HOSANA TO the man that that men denied. And I'll kneel AMONG MY COTTON WHEN HE COMES. When he comes, he'll find me holing cotton. Can I send A MESSAGE TO JESUS CHRIST TODAY? THERE'S A KING THAT'S COMING FROM ON HIGH, AND HE'LL FIND ME FULL OF FAITH WHEN HE COMES. WHEN HE COMES, THERE'S A KING ON HIGH THAT'S COMING. AND HE'LL FIND ME IN A PRAYER MEETING. WHEN HE COMES, WHEN HE COMES, THERE'S A KING THAT'S ON HIGH AND HE'LL FIND ME IN WORSHIP WHEN HE COMES. WHEN HE COMES, THERE'S A KING COMING FROM ON HIGH. THERE WON'T BE VERY MANY THOUGHTS IN MY MIND THROUGHOUT THE DAY THAT I WON'T BE SAYING, "THANK YOU, JESUS. GLORY TO GOD. I LOVE YOU, MIGHTY GOD." When he comes. Could we praise him one more time? When he comes. When he comes. WHEN HE COMES. WHEN HE COMES. When he comes. Swing low, sweet chariot. I don't know about you, but there ain't none of us got it near the torture that the African-American slaves have. And yet we can't utter out a song. >> Ain't none of us a thimble full. Your little car won't start. You're not making the money you want to make. You got this. We We don't have a thimbleful. We can't utter a song, could we? >> We can't utter a song in the midst of our turmoil because we are so minded. We want to be so comfortable on this world. I want to get me just enough oil. Just enough oil. the bridegroom, come, go out to meet him. They all stood. Verse number seven, then all those virgins arose. He trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, verse eight, give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you. But go you rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves. Listen to me, church. This sounds coldhearted by the wise virgins. Yet it is not. They are not willing to jeopardize, put in risk their own soul being ready to meet the bridegroom over the neglect of someone else. Can I tell you? They looked at them and they said, "How give us of your oil?" And they said, "Honey, ain't no way. Ain't no way I'm giving you my oil because if I give you my oil, they may not be enough for me and you. And I I'm not going to jeopardize Can you please look up here at me today? There's nobody worth going to hell over. >> You hear me? THERE'S NOBODY THERE'S NOBODY WORTH JEOPARDIZING YOUR WALK WITH GOD. THERE'LL BE PEOPLE THAT'LL TRY TO HINDER YOUR CHURCH ATTENDANCE. DON'T LET THEM DO IT. THERE'LL BE PEOPLE THAT'LL TRY TO HINDER YOUR WALK WITH GOD. DON'T LET THEM DO IT. I'M SORRY. YOU GOT TO GO BUY FOR YOURSELF. BUT I GOT TO KNOW THE LORD JESUS. I GOT TO BE READY TO MEET THE LORD JESUS. I don't need friends. I don't need friends THAT ARE GOING TO PULL me down. I've got a FRIEND THAT'S ALREADY IT'S CALLED MY FLESH. I GOT ENOUGH TROUBLE IN MY OWN FLESH WITHOUT IMPARTING OTHER TROUBLE. I CAN'T HAVE FRIENDS. IF YOU AIN'T GOING TO TALK THE RIGHT WAY, YOU'RE NOT MY FRIEND. IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE JESUS ON YOUR MIND, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE AND I'M NOT SAYING I'M NOT SAYING I DON'T LOVE YOU. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE INFLUENCE ON MY LIFE. I NEED SOMEBODY TO HELP ME WHEN I GET DOWN. NOT SOMEBODY TO PUSH ME ON DOWN. I NEED SOMEBODY TO OH MY GOD. I NEED SOMEBODY TO LIFT ME UP. Could we just worship for a moment? Could we just worship for a moment? >> Prepared. Prepared. Come on. Could we worship for a moment? Prepared. Prepared. Prepared. Prepared. Prepared. Prepared. Prepared. Prepared. Prepared. Prepared. Prepared. Prepared. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You're not getting in my ear. The Bible says this. The Bible says this. It seems to contradict it. It seems to contradict itself. The Bible says, "Answer not a fool according to their folly." And then the Bible turns right around and says, "Answer a fool according to his folly." Now, how I demand from that is this. There is a time to help a fool, but there's never a time to be joined to a fool. >> There's a time when people when people know what's right. They've been trained. They've been trained in the right way. But when they continue, you really believe, let me tell you something. Let me let me preach to you. This is the Sunday before school starts. You don't need friends that are constantly questioning. >> THEY ARE DEPLETING YOUR MENTALITY. YOU NEED TO HAVE FRIENDS THAT BELIEVE IT JUST AS STRONG OR STRONGER THAN YOU DO. YOU NEED TO HAVE THAT KIND of friend. Not so lest there be not enough for us in you. Lest there be not enough for us in you. The Bible said that the foolish virgins went to them that sold oil and they bought. But the door was already shut. The feast had already started. They pounded on the door and they said, 'Lord, Lord, open to us. But the Lord says, "Depart from me. I never knew you. I never knew you." You never had any any extra in your life. Yes, you bowed your head. Yes, you shook a hand. Yes, you were even baptized. Yes, yes, and yes. But I never knew you. because you never had that preparation in your life. You never had that preparation. Can I tell you today the easiest thing you can do in life, the easiest thing? How many is interested? Would you like to hear what the easiest thing to do? Would you would you raise your hand if you want to know what the easiest thing in the world to do? The easiest thing you can do in life is to do whatever your flesh says to do. That's the easiest thing in life. It comes natural. Now notice I DID NOT SAY THE BEST THING you can do in life is to let your flesh rule because absolutely that's the worst thing that you can do. Worst thing that you can do is to let your flesh, if it feels good, do it. I know what the Bible says, but it it don't bother me. It don't bother me. And hey, isn't that really what the scripture said? And it will amaze you if you're a home Bible study teacher. It will amaze you what comes out of people's mouths. And they'll say, "Well, I know the Bible says if it don't bother you, it don't bother him." and you politely have to say, "My my my sister, my brother, that's that's not in the Bible." But you would be amazed. You you you you you would be you would be amazed at what people will say. It's easiest thing in the world to do. Let your flesh let it run rampant with material things. Can I tell you something? You will never get enough material things to make you happy. You have a hole in your soul that can only be filled with your creator. >> It can't be filled with material things. And and of course today, of course, today there's people that live in indebtedness all their life and they leave indebtedness because they finance and they refinance and they do this because they got to keep up with the material world. Got to have that status. sexually promiscuous age that we're living in. You can say amen to that. It's a sexually promiscuous age that we're facing right now and all kinds of if if if if I would even begin to describe some of the gross perversions, but yet it's the easiest thing in the world. Just let your flesh do what it wants to do. Let your flesh look at what it wants to look at. Let your flesh feed on what it wants to look at. But can I tell you, sin always has a hefty price tag. The most difficult things you'll do in life is to deny your flesh. But I'm here to tell you, church, it'll be the most rewarding thing you've ever done in your life. to tell your flesh no and tell this yes. >> To tell your flesh no. And to tell God yes. Flesh says you don't have to raise your hands, but the Bible says raise your hands. That settles it right there. You don't have to shout. Lift your voice AND PRAISE TO GOD. BUT THE Bible says shout unto God with the voice of triumph. I'm telling you, praise and worship and getting your mind on God is one of the greatest seditives you will ever take in all of your life. You hear me today? To get YOUR MIND ON GOD IS ONE OF THE GREATEST SEDITIVES YOU'LL EVER take >> in all of your life. But I got news for you. I'm not going I'm not going I'm not going to fool you today. It's going to cost you. It's going to cost you. David came to worship God. David came to worship God. Orona looked and he saw David and he was so enamored that the king of Israel had come to his piece of property. Brother Darien. Arona stood back and he was on a little piece of property and here come King David. And Arona said, "David, to what DO I HAVE THE HONOR OF YOU BEING HERE?" David said, Arona, "God has told me to build an altar on this land, and God has told me to offer sacrifices." And Arona, he began to say, "It's yours, David. IT'S YOURS. HERE'S THE LAND. IT'S YOURS, DAVID. OXEN. YOU NEED OXEN. HERE'S MY OXEN. You need wood. LOOK AT THE WOOD HERE, DAVID. And David said to Arona, he said, "Neither will I OFFER BURNT OFFERINGS UNTO THE LORD MY GOD OF THAT WHICH DOTH COST ME NOTHING. FOR DAVID BROUGHT BOUGHT THE THRESHING FLOOR AND THE AUCTION FOR 50 shekels of silver." He said, "No, Arona, you don't understand. I'LL NEVER OFFER GOD SOMETHING THAT IT DOESN'T COST ME SOMETHING. AND FRIEND, THERE ARE PLACES OF WORSHIP OR SO-CALLED WORSHIP THAT ARE FULL TODAY AND THEY'RE ADVERTISING, "COME AS YOU ARE, STAY AS YOU ARE. IT DOESN'T COST YOU ANYTHING." But if YOU REALLY WANT GOD TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE, YOU GOT TO BE WILLING TO SAY, "GOD, I'LL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING THAT I'VE GOT. GOD, I'LL GIVE YOU MY LIFE. I'LL GIVE YOU MY DREAMS. I'LL GIVE YOU MY AMBITION. I'LL GIVE YOU everything that I have. Rich young ruler interested in salvation. Rich young ruler interested in salvation. Yes. Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Go sell what you have. Give to the poor. take up the cross and follow me. There's too many people that want the Lord to say, "PICK UP YOUR BEACH CHAIR and follow me." He said, "PICK UP YOUR cross and follow me." And he was sad at that saying because he had great possessions. My cross. My cross. He was sad. But I'm going to tell you, people that carry a cross begin to have the motion emotion of joy. Joy. Because if there's a cross, hear me church. If there is a cross, hear me please. If there is a cross, there is a crown. There's no cross without a crown. But you don't get the crown first and the cross later. YOU CARRY THE CROSS BECAUSE the feast is in heaven. And I'm carrying the cross because the crown's coming later. Paul said 2 Timothy 4:8, "Henceforth there's a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all THEM THAT LOVE HIS APPEARING." Am I preaching TO ANYBODY TODAY THAT LOVES HIS APPEARING? There's a CR THERE'S A CROWN WAITING ON YOU, Sister Sister Sutton. THERE'S A CROWN WAITING ON US, BROTHER HAMMONDS. THERE'S A CROWN WAITING ON THERE'S A CROWN. You got it tough. You got it tough. I'm a single mama. I'm a single parent. I'm a widowerower. You got it tough. First James or James 1:12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation, but when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life. 1 Peter 5 and4 when the chief shepherd shall appear you shall receive A CROWN OF GLORY THAT fadeth not away. We find in the word of God that there's three crowns in the New Testament. There's three crowns mentioned. A crown of righteousness, a crown of life, and a crown of glory. It's interesting. In the tabernacle in the wilderness, there were only three pieces of furniture that had a crown that God said, "Put a crown on it." There's three things in the New Testament. There's the crown of righteousness. There's the crown of life. There's the crown of glory. In the Old Testament tabernacle, man's way into the presence of God. God ordered three things to have a crown. The ark of the covenant had a crown. The table of shoebread had a crown. The altar of incense had a crown. These three things represent what we must do in order to get OUR CROWN. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE THE PRESENCE OF GOD. THAT'S THE ARK of the covenant. I've got to have God. IF I GOT TO CLAP MY HANDS, whatever I got to do to break free from this flesh, whatever I GOT TO DO TO BREAK FREE FROM MY carnal man, my carnal man says it makes no sense. But if I got TO BREAK FREE BY CLAPPING MY HANDS, I'M GOING TO CLAP MY HANDS BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING LIKE BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD. IF I'VE GOT TO SAY, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, JESUS, I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU. SOMEBODY SAID, "DON'T YOU THINK HE HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT. BUT I GOT TO BREAK OUT OF THIS FLESH. I GOT TO BREAK OUT OF THIS FLESH." OH MY GOD. I SAID, "I GOT TO BREAK OUT OF THIS FLESH." THERE'S SOME OF YOU WAITING TO FEEL GOD'S PRESENCE, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FEEL IT UNTIL YOU'RE WILLING TO BREAK OUT OF THE FLESH. JESUS. JESUS. I GOT TO HAVE YOU. I GOT TO HAVE YOU. I GOT TO HAVE YOU. I GOT TO HAVE YOU. WHATEVER IT TAKES. I GOT TO HAVE YOU. I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU. I'M gonna Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Say, "Why you got this church open five days a week? Why you got this church open five days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.? You know why I've got it? I've got it for wise virgins to come in here and buy more oil. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus." You hear the prayers? The prayers are going to sound something like this. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus because there's nothing like being in his presence. The Bible talks about the table of shoebre. That's our provision. That's the word of God. You better believe it, friend. I'm going to come back tonight to hear the WORD OF GOD. AND I'M GOING TO COME BACK WEDNESDAY NIGHT TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD. WHY? BECAUSE I'M looking for a crown. A crown. The incense altar prayer. I don't have time to get into that, but I think I'm going to end. Musicians come. I think I'm going to end right here. I think I'm going to end right here. Boy, I feel the sweet presence of God here this morning. Revelation chapter 4 verse number eight. Would you would you worship with me for a moment? I I feel the underlying of the Holy Ghost right now. Oh, I feel Don't you feel him right now? Jesus. Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I praise you. Jesus, I praise you. Jesus, I praise you. Thank you for my crown. Jesus, thank you for my crown, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. We've been raptured. We realize we have a glorified body. We stand before the judgment seat of Christ. He brings us out a crown. Here's your crown of gold. Here's your crown of gold. Here's your crown of gold. We turn our attention. The judgment seat of Christ closes down. The last one is judged. We turn our attention toward the throne. And in Revelation 4, verse number eight. The four beasts, each of them had six wings about him. And they were full of eyes within. They rest not day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was and which is and which is to come." And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth forever and ever, watch this, please watch it carefully. The four and 20 elders fall down before him that sat upon the throne and worship him that liveth forever and ever. Look, look at it closely. and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Thou art worthy, oh Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are." And and were created, I believe it's going to go like this. How in the world can we wear a crown in the presence of the one that gave us the crown? I believe we'll join in with the 24 elders. AND AS WE SEE THEM TAKE THE CROWN OFF THEIR HEAD AND SKIP IT ACROSS THE THRONE ROOM AND SAY, "YOU'RE THE one worthy. You're the one worthy of it." I believe that you and I, oh, I see it in the spirit. I BELIEVE THAT YOU AND I WILL GATHER THERE AND SAY, "I KNOW I WAS GIVEN A CROWN AND I WALKED FROM THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST OVER HERE TO THE THRONE room of God and I can't wear the crown anymore. I give that crown to you. Can I ask you today? Some of you are giving your crown prematurely to the devil. Give him your life. Give him your crown. Give him your life. Give him your mind. Give him your mind. I've got a long list. I did a lot of research this week on why we have structure. Why we have structure? Can I tell you something? It's a proven. This is not even a re this is not even a religious research. This is just people in the world research research and they say homes that have structure produce healthy children. Homes that have a structure to it, homes that have bedtime, homes that have curfew, homes that have guidelines, boundaries, and right behavior, wrong behavior seem to produce. When children go to school, they don't have nearly as hard a time adapting to structure at school because they've had structure at home. and all the statistics statistics. I I I I don't apologize. I believe the Holy Ghost get did get me off my notes today. But all the statistics say that where there's homes of love, structure, boundaries, behavior that is right, and behavior that's not tolerated, that it produces good school children, good college students versus those that are not. Do you know the reason? And and I just mentioned these two among many. I mentioned these these two today among many. But do you know why [name redacted] and [name redacted] are going to go places in life? You You know how I can go ahead and tell you right now? You mark it down. Mark today's date down and then ju just just put it on your calendar. We got phones now that go 10 years up. Market put an alert 10 years from now. Ask me about [name redacted] and [name redacted]. Ask me about You know why I believe their future is going to be very bright? Because they've got great structure at home. They've got great structure. That's why when they came to ACA, they adapted well here. We need structure in our home. >> And you know what? One of the structures need to be is predictability. And that is Sunday morning, your children shouldn't get up and ask you, "Are we going to church today?" >> Your your children shouldn't ask you, "Are we going to do No. No. That that just should be I've done God off. should be structure. Would you stand? Oh God, the blessedness of being prepared. I told you that you're going to give your crown to somebody. Jesus said in Matthew 7 and verse 6, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearl before swine, lest thou trample trample them under their feet and turn again and rent you." Young lady, there's some of the most beautiful young ladies here today. Please don't give your beauty to the dogs. Please don't give your beauty to the swine. Please don't give your beauty to some man that knows no structure in his life. He knows no boundaries in his life. Young men, hear me today. Oh my goodness. As I look into the faces of some of the brightest YOUNG MEN, YOU GOT IT. You got it. We This is our day. The world's youth have burnt their heads out with drugs and all kinds of silly philosophies. They don't even know. They don't know a lot. But here you stand today. YOU HEAR ME? YOU'RE BRIGHT. YOU'RE INTELLIGENT. YOU GOT A GREAT FUTURE. DON'T THROW IT TO THE DOGS. Come on. I got SOME PARENTS IN HERE WITH ME TODAY. DON'T THROW IT TO THE DOGS. YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY. YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG MAN. He got a pearl. He got something. Holy. Stay away from the swine. Swine will eat anything. Stay away from the swine. Stay away. Don't cast your pearl. I close with this. John the revelator said, "I saw a harlot in heaven." And and John John in the book of Revelation, young people, he said, "This is what I see." He said, "I see a a harlot clothed in scarlet riding a beast. She represents she is the false religious system. Alcohol, drugs, and anti-God philosophy will take millions to hell. False religion will take billions of souls to hell. John said, "I saw false religion sitting upon the beast." And said she was decked in all kinds of jewels, but there's one jewel that's mentioned. Pearls. Pearls. Here's what I want you to ask, John. This is what I wanted to ask. harlot on a scarlet colored beast. Where did you get those pearls? WHERE DID YOU GET THOSE PEARLS? AND SHE SAYS, "I GOT THEM FROM YOUR YOUTH GROUP. I GOT THEM FROM CHURCHES IN AMERICA WHERE I RODE BY AND THERE WAS YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WERE NOT PREPARED. THEY HAD POTENTIAL. THEY HAD A FUTURE, BUT THEY WERE NOT PREPARED. AND I GOT THEM FROM THEM. Would you help me today, young people? Would you help me send a signal back to the harlot today? You're not getting my pearl today. And I'm going to tell you how we're going to signify that. I'm going to signify BY GETTING OUT OF MY SEAT RIGHT NOW AND WALKING TO THIS ALTAR. You're not getting my pearl. Oh, I CAN STAY BACK HERE IN MY SEAT. THAT'S WHAT YOUR FLESH WANTS TO DO. BUT YOU GOT TO SAY, "NO, I'M GOING TO GO TO THE ALTAR AND I'M GOING TO STAND. YOU'RE NOT GETTING my pearl." I'm going to be ready. I'm going to be ready. I'm going to be ready. Come on, singers. I'm going to be ready. Come on, church family. This ain't just for the young people today. Is there any adults here today? You're not getting my pearl. You're not getting my pearl. You're not getting my pearl. You're not getting my pearl. I'm going to be ready. I'm going to spend some time. I repent of my lies. I repent of my lust. I repent of my acts of promiscuous sex. I repent of my lying. I permit of my crime. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. >> You are there. Your promise is strong. I will trust with all that I am. >> The bridegroom cometh. >> The bridegroom cometh. >> Jesus. >> Yo, you have to meet him. >> Oh, how I feel you. You say the same. You are good in your way. Jesus, Jesus. >> Your volume today. Come on, move on to the altar. Somebody get in. Your volume is sending not only a signal to heaven, but it's sending a signal to the woman on the beast. You will not get my peril. before my heart. Search my soul and go every so. >> Oh God. Come on church. >> Come on church. Come on church. Come on church. Come on the stor. You're the everyone. already secure in the loyus. Jesus, you are good in your Jesus. Jesus. Oh, how you are. All my trust is in you. All of my trust is in you. All my faith is in the name of Jesus. your you are powerful, God above it all. I believe in you. I believe in you. You do miracles, the impossible. I believe in you. I believe in you. You are powerful above it all. I believe in you. I believe in you. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. >> >> You are good in your Jesus. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. >> >> Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. >> >> They call it will break the name of Jes. >> >> Oh right now you change everything. Heat. Heat. You are powerful. >> >> I believe in you. Oh, you do mirales my you are powerful. I believe in you. I believe in you. Come on. He's a miracle worker in your life. I believe in you. I believe in you. powerful above all things. We believe in you today, Jesus. You're coming again to the impossible. [bell] I believe in you, Lord. >> Come on, lift up hands high to heaven in this place right now. >> Oh, you're here in this place, oh God. >> We bless your name, oh God. >> Yes, you are, Jesus. >> Jesus. Jesus. you. You are in it together now. My trust is you. Jesus, you are good in your way. Jesus. Jesus. Oh, how I need you. You are enough. All my trust is in you, Lord. >> If you receive the word of God this morning, would you signify it by praise? Hallelujah. Hallelujah. How many feel stirred up? How many feel stirred up? Come on. HOW MANY FEEL STIRRED UP? Pastor Ericson is going to come with some announcements. He said, "Give not that which is holy to the dogs. and cast not your pearl before the swine. Can I tell you, there's some things that are holy in all of our lives. Time is holy. Time is holy. I'm going to tell you, church time is holy. Church time is holy. I'm going to tell you talents are holy. I'm going to tell you, money is holy. There's a part of your paycheck. >> Look at it in the Bible. There's a part of your paycheck that's not yours. >> It's holy. >> It belongs to him. You give 24 hours just like I've been given. But as part of that 24 hours, it belongs to God. You can cast that hour. Listen, we can give Sunday morning, 10:00 to sports. We can give it to the mountains. We can give it to getting in the flower garden. And in my estimation, compared to God's house, it's a dog. >> Don't you talk about my flower garden like that. Yeah, I am going to talk about your flower garden like that. >> When you compare it to God's house, It's a dog. But how many how many how many have ever a dog never brings you nothing back? And if a dog ever regurgitates what you've given it, it's an ugly sight to behold. >> But when you give that which is holy to dogs, that's what you get. And the second thing he said, cast not your pearl before swine. Pearl is the product of coming through a battle. An oyster produces a pearl by fighting against a speck of sand that invaded it. It didn't belong in the oyster. It belonged in the sea. But the speck of sand got into the oyster. And the oyster began to secrete a substance that wrapped around it and wrapped around it and wrapped around it. It fought the foreign invasion until a pearl was brought forth. I don't know about you, but I've been living for God now for almost 46 years. I have got a string of pearls that God has given me. I've got a string of victories that were intended, said the carpenter, to pull me down, TO KNOCK ME OUT, TO TAKE ME OUT OF THE RACE. BUT I REFUSE TO LET THE ENEMY. AND SO I BEGIN TO SECRETE WORSHIP. I BEGIN TO secrete praise. I begin to secrete prayer. I begin to secrete fasting UNTIL GOD HOW MANY IS AN OVERCOMER HERE TODAY? HOW MANY'S overcoming today? Look at me. Why in God's name would I quit now? >> Why would I take my pearl and throw him to the swine just to have that harlot put them on and parade it through heaven? Not me. Friend, can I tell you something? I need everybody. Tonight's a holy night. We're going to pray over our teachers tonight. Brother Zack Hammond has got a message prepared. His research into some things and God, I don't want to spoil it right now. That man has researched some things this week that's going to blow your living, loving mind tonight. I mean, it's if you're wearing socks, it's going to roll your socks up and down like window shades. I mean, it it he was sharing with me. Yes. It blew it blew my mind what the man has researched. He going to be preaching it tonight. You need to be here. You need to be here. This is going to start the 26 27th school year. Going to be the greatest school year we've ever had in the history of ACA. I declare that in Jesus name. Somebody shout yes. >> Come on. Do you believe it? Shout yes. >> Are you thankful for the word of God this morning? Put your hands together.