Sunday Evening Worship Service
by Mark McCool
First Apostolic Church of Knoxville (Knoxville, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Ezra 8:21-23, 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, Proverbs 2:3-7, Proverbs 18:22, Psalm 127:3-5, Proverbs 22:1, Proverbs 8:17-21, Ezra 8:31-36

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/mark-mccool--sunday-evening-worship-service-62
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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We're serving the never failing God. Everybody in this room is called to be a witness. When you're a witness, we don't need hearsay. I don't need what you've heard. I don't need what somebody told you. love. But when I saw it with my own eyes, when I heard it with my own ear, when I experienced it for myself, I'm a witness that I'm serving a never failing God. Can you attest to that tonight? He will never fail. Oh, glory, glory, glory. Thank you, praise team. Thank you, First Apostolic Church, for your worship and your praise. I'll let you move to your seats, but please keep this spirit of worship and praise in the house. Again, I say welcome to each and every one of you. It is an honor and a privilege to see you here. To any firsttime guests, we want you to know that we welcome you and we want you to feel the welcome of First Apostolic Church and the freedom to worship with us. Uh we have mentioned it a few times. I know we have several from our church family that are journeying this last part of uh uh the season that many of us call vacation season and summertime. There are many on the road and traveling in many different places and we're praying for their uh safe return home. But I am so glad to see every one of you here in the house of the Lord tonight and thank you for your faithfulness to be here. I want to take us right to the word of the Lord. If you would please go with me to the book of Ezra the eth chapter. The book of Ezra the eth chapter. I want to read just a couple of three verses here for a scripture text tonight. Ezra the eth chapter. Let's begin reading at verse number 21. This is the writings of Ezra or maybe a scribe representing him. And it states, "Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava that we might afflict ourselves before the Lord or humble ourselves before God to seek of him a right way for us and for our little ones and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way. Because we had spoken unto the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him, but his power and his wrath is against all of them that forsake him. Verse 23. So we fasted and besought our God for this and he was intreated of us. That term intreated means we asked earnestly. We begged if you will. Oh please, we implored him. So for a few moments tonight, I would speak to you on this subject. And I do not plan on being lengthy with my message. when your testimony is tested. When your testimony is tested, let's pray. Savior, we love you. We're grateful to be in your house. And once again, we stand before you in awe of the opportunity that you have afforded us to carry your gospel. Lord, I thank you for every precious saint in this house, for their faithfulness and their willingness to be in this place. Lord, I thank you for those who've led us in worship and praise, those who have facilitated this this service to this point. Now, God, I pray that we would speak your word as you would have it spoken, not of our abilities, but Lord, let us be available to be used of you this night. Lord, we thank you, we praise you, and we love you. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen and amen. When your testimony is tested, it is generally conceded by scholars that have studied the details and the history of the Bible that Ezra, while the author may not have pinned all the words, but there were others who may have compiled portions of these writings. But it was Ezra's intentions and Ezra's thoughts that brought this this book of the Bible into being. He was indeed a Jewish exile in Babylon and he was of priestly descent. That was Ezra's bloodline. The main subject of the book of Ezra is the return of the Jews from captivity in Babylon, the rebuilding of the temple, and the inauguration or reintroduction of the social and religious reforms that would reinstitute this people. This particular passage of scripture that I read in your hearing is thought to be the chronicles of a second Jewish colony that had been authorized by King Artexes to return to Jerusalem to rebuild and restore the temple of God. And now they have a very challenging task for their treasures. the things that are most sacred and most valuable to them, the things that would decorate the house of God and the rebuilt temple are now to be transported out of Babylon back to the building site and to be displayed as part of the adoration unto God and all of the things that had been amassed that represented the house of the Lord. But if you know the history of that time as well, it is thought that the journey that they would have to take was a perilous one. And there were many tribes of Bedwin Arabs that would prowl the desert. And they delighted in finding travelers who were unprotected and would attack them and rob them and take away their treasures. But the problem that Ezra now has is Ezra has been testifying to the king of Babylon saying, "Our God is the great God and he's going to take care of everything for us. He's going to protect us." Now, everyone else when they had an official journey that was um okayed by or was approved by the king could go before the king and say, "King, we're making this journey. Would you assign soldiers to protect us as we journey?" And while the king had indeed authorized this group to go with these treasures, they suddenly found themselves with their testimony being tested. For it would appear that they really didn't believe what they had been telling all this time if they asked for protection. I thought you said your God would look after you. I thought you said your God would take care of you. Why are you coming to us now? Meeting soldiers to protect you. So Ezra begins calling the people. The Bible uses the term to entreat the Lord. They fasted and then they intreated the Lord and they besought the Lord. And that term to entreat means literally to beg uh to uh beseech or implore to ask earnestly. They they said, "Oh God, we're fasting and we're praying now and we really really really really >> need you to protect us." Their testimony was being tested. For you see, we all know it's easy to talk a good game when everything's going well. It's easy to tell others how we trust in the Lord and how great our God is. But let me promise you, in your life serving God, there will be instances that your testimony will be tried. The enemy will make you put up or shut up, if you will. And I've got news for you. I'm just honorary enough to say, "Devil, I'm going to put up because you ain't going to shut me up. I'm going to put everything in the Lord's hands. I'm going to trust him." And I know I'm in a church full of believers that feel the same way. If I've seen it with my own eyes, I heard it with my own ears. I've experienced it. I'm a witness to his healing power. I'm a witness to his saving power. I'm a witness to his delivering power. >> There's no way we going to back up now. So, I will not go through and read all of the details, but suffice to say from verse 24 all the way to verse 30, Ezra got the Levites and the priests and all the people and they took an inventory of everything that they were taking out of Egypt or out of Babylon rather out of Babylon. on to Jerusalem. >> You can read it for yourself. It it tells of the the weights of silver and the weights of gold and and all of the things that they how many uh uh shekels and talents of silver and how many silver vessels and how many gold talents and uh basins of gold that were being carried. Uh it it it mentioned uh a thousand drrams, which is a measurement, uh and two vessels of fine copper. They begin to take inventory of what they had. You know, if you're going to have a testimony, it might be a good idea as we testify that we all back up and take inventory of the treasures that God has given us. God has blessed us all beyond measure. God has done marvelous things in our lives. And it's important that we remember to know what is a treasure and what's not a treasure. the fir the past couple of nights, Sister Jamie and I have stayed in a a motel and in fact uh going to conferences and camp meetings, revival, we quite frequently will stay in a hotel or a motel and invariably in that room, you get in that room and you get checked in either in the closet or somewhere in an inconspicuous place. Many of the hotels now, they have a safe and that safe has a temporary way that you can put your own code in and it'll have a sign on it that says secure all valuables. But that box is only about yay big. And you know, I'm a little bit selfish. I kind of feel like everything I've got in the room is fairly valuable. So then I have to make choices as what what's the most valuable, you know, and you basically feel like you're saying anything I can't fit in that box must not be all that valuable. I've got news for you. They started taking inventory of all of their valuables that they were going to have to travel these dangerous byways and highways on their journey. They already were being put to the test to say you can't get the king involved or it will violate what you've testified to the protection of God. So he said we'll take inventory. But the inventory that he took while it dealt with substance, he also made an important distinction. He said, 'We seeking the Lord of him the a right way for us. And here's the order that he put it in. He said it was for us, for our little ones and all of our substance. Let me tell you, as we take inventory and identify what our treasures are, us and having God in us is the greatest treasure you can ever have. I'm amazed at those who put value on things of this world but have never really valued the importance of having Christ living in you. Where is your treasure? What's really valuable to you? Listen, above all else, I must be saved. Your salvation should be the greatest treasure when you take inventory of just how rich you are. Don't start with stocks and bonds. Don't start with physical wealth on this earth. Do you have the Holy Ghost? Has Christ come into your life? That's the most valuable thing you can have is the saving grace of God and Christ living in you. >> I got to get out us together. I've got to get self together. >> Before I can get my little ones and my family together, I first got to make sure self >> is in good shape. You see, too many of us, we can testify to the greatness of God when we're dealing with hypotheticals, but when it comes down to the real thing and him providing for us, we're a little less certain. There's an old story that well warned, but I would repeat. The story goes that there were two close friends who were having a conversation and one said to the other, he said, "If you had a million dollars, would you split it with me?" He said, "You're my friend. You know I'd split it with you." He said, "If you had $10,000, would you half it with me?" He said, "You know I would. you're my best friend. He said, "If you had $20, would you split it with me?" He said, "You know, I've got $20." >> Sometimes when we get out of the hypothetical and we start facing the real deal. Is our faith and our testimony still strong? When we've got to go through a desert place, when we know we're at risk and our testimony is to be tested, can we stand as Ezra and the people of God and say, "God, we know you're going to do the work. We're going to take inventory to know everything we've got because we're fixing to head on a journey." >> They got self in line first and then he said, "Our little ones." You see, Christ living in us is the greatest treasure that there is. 2 Corinthians 4:6 says, "For God who hath commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthn vessels that the excellency of the power of God may be of God." and not of us. It's not anything I've accomplished, anything that I can proclaim. It's because the excellency of God living in us. The knowledge of the glory of God in our hearts shining in a dark world is a treasure. Oh, I see some folks sell their treasure so cheaply. >> I see too many that give up on their treasure. Listen, Christ living in you is more valuable than gold. But some will sell out so cheap. >> You heard the story of the fellow one time that competed in the Olympics and he won a gold medal and he was so proud of it he had it bronzed. It seems that some would take the most valuable treasure and put it at risk rather than valuing Christ living in us. You see, Proverbs said it this way in Proverbs 2:3. Yay, if thou criest after knowledge and lifted up, lift up thy voice for understanding, if thou seekest her as silver, and searches for her as for hid treasure, the knowledge, the understanding of who Christ really is. Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom, out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous. He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. Paul told the Leodysian church that their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, the acknowledgment of the mystery of God and of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hid all treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should begal you with enticing words, the knowledge of Christ. Listen, you are rich beyond measure in this house tonight if you know Jesus Christ. And I'm here to tell you, if you don't know him as your savior, you can get to know him tonight, you can be instantly wealthy in this house >> if you'll get Christ living in your heart. But you see, our families are treasure as well. >> That's right. >> Our society no longer values family. No longer values children. Proverbs says, "Who who so findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtainth favor of the Lord?" Let me tell you, when your marriage and your vows are put to the test and temptation comes your way, sir, are you treasuring what God has so marvelously given you and a mate that loves you dearly? Lady, when temptation comes to be untrue to your vows, have you placed the utmost of precedence on the treasure of your marriage? Will you do the right thing? Scripture tells us that our children are such a value. Psalmist said in one Psalms 127 3-5, "Lo, children are a heritage from the Lord. And the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are children of thy youth. Happy is the man that has a quiver full of them. >> They shall not be ashamed. They shall speak with the enemies in the gate. when the world extends the temptation for you. Now listen carefully. I don't expect anybody to take off running now. But when the world extends the temptation to you to give permission for your children to go into a worldly world that keeps them away from the house of God. Is their success and popularity in the world more important to you than them being in the house of God? I've seen some that give away so cheaply their children for their own gratification. They somehow try to relive their youth through the successes of their children, whether it's musically or athletically or academically. None of those things in and of themselves are bad when put in proper perspective. But when we put those things above serving God, we can find ourselves making excuses for our children not to be in the house of God and not to be involved in the kingdom of God because they're going to have some short-term successes in the places of the world. Don't sell out. That's a treasure that God has put in you. You got a quiver full of children. You're blessed. That's a heritage from the Lord. Take inventory to what God has given you. >> Secure your valuables. Let me tell you, your good name is valuable. I don't care what people think of me. Well, I do. For I'm representing Christ. Proverbs said it this way. A good name is rather to be chosen than what? Great riches. and a loving favor rather than silver and gold. Honesty and integrity are great to talk about, but when you're put to the test, can you be honest when no one's looking? Do you have integrity when no one's going to pat you on the back? It's easy to be honest when you know the security cameras are on. >> But do you have honesty and integrity when the opportunity to quote by the world's standards get away with it arises? Make sure that we don't just talk a good game. That we put all of our treasures in the hand of the Lord. Take inventory tonight. And then let me say the blessings of the Lord, the substance that God has given you is also a treasure. Proverbs 8:17 said, "I love them that love me, and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honor are with me, yay, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yay, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the path of judgment, that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance. God did not ask everybody to take a vow of poverty to serve him. >> But he does have a financial plan for you. If you'll pay your tithe and you'll give your offering, you'll give your first fruits to God and you'll serve him. It is a financial plans plan that brings inheritance and substance to your natural life. He said, "And I will fill their treasures." There's too many in this house that came here broke and broken down who took the seemingly menial wages they were getting and they started giving their first fruits and they started giving of what God had provided for them. And suddenly God be to miraculously multiply. There's testimony after testimony in this house. Uh when folks need blessings, they give more and God blesses more. Now you You you see the world puts us back on our heels to even preach like this. >> Oh, that's one of those prosperity money grabbing messages. No, this is a blessings message. I want you to be blessed. It's God owns it all. >> It's all his. You just get the opportunity of giving it back to him for a blessing. He owns it all. He's not in need, but I'm here I to tell you I'm in need of a blessing. That's why I give of my substance. That's why we give of our substance. First Apostolic Church, I'm not bragging, but I'm thankful beyond measure of the things that God has provided for us to be able to minister. When you look around at the beautiful things that God has provided for us, it's not opulence, but it's success in him. It's substance that God has provided. >> So I take us back. Praise team musicians, get ready. I won't go much longer. If we go back to our original text, before they made their journey, they fasted and prayed and they sought the Lord. But if you zoom down to verse number 31, it said, "Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the 12th day of the first month to go unto Jerusalem, and the hand of our God was on us." That speaks volumes. Their testimonies being tested. They've been telling the king, "Our God's a provider. He's a protector. But now they're having to face the test. And they're being provided for not by an army of soldiers with swords and spears and chariots and horses, but instead he said, "And the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in weight." By the way, I don't know what those bedin robbers had in mind, but I know there was a God that walked with his people. They had already >> they had already had an inventory. They knew every bowl. They knew every plate. They knew every piece of gold. They know knew every measurement of silver. They knew everything that was in their caravan. And he testifies said, "We went that direction and we came to Jerusalem and abode there three days. Now on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the house of our God. by the hands of Marramoth, the son of Uriah the priest, and with him was Eleazar, the son of Phineas, and with him was Jose, the son of Jehua, and Nodea, and the son of Benuia, Levites. Verse 34 says, by number and by weight of everyone, and all the weight was written at that time. What's he saying? We've got everything we started with. We didn't lose one thing. I didn't lose one silver bowl. I didn't Somebody hear me. The choir and the praise team, they sometimes sing a song that says, "This means war." Oh, brother Mcool don't talk about stuff. Well, Lord have mercy. Bish fly bombers over the church. I >> devil, this means war. We're on a journey and I'm not going to give you one gold bowl. You don't get one platter. I'm taking my little ones with me. I got my marriage with me. I refuse. Devil, you're not going to get one thing from First Apostolic Church. I refuse. This means war. Brother Whitley will sing. You can't have my family. You can't have my increase. You can't have my breakthrough. Look, you can have it all. Don't let the te de devil tell you you got to sacrifice being in the house of God to have substance and have treasure. Stand with me. >> Don't let the devil sell you a bill of goods. If you'll stay faithful, he'll provide the right opportunities for you. He'll provide the right job for you. Uh it hadn't happened yet. He's not finished working then. Stay faithful to what you're doing. Stay faithful to him. He's got to at the right time have what you need, everything that you need. >> He said by number and by weight, everyone. And all the weight was written at that time. also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, 12 bullets for all Israel, 90 and six rams, 70 and seven lambs, 12 hegoats for a sin offering. All this was a burnt offering unto the Lord. They made their journey and they went to the altar to give thanks and they delivered the king's commission under the king's lieutenants. You see, they were still dealing with the Babylonian king who had freed them. And there was a commission that the king would get. They were in big trouble if they showed up and they didn't have their substance to pay what was owed. But they showed up and they hadn't lost a thing. All was there. They delivered the king's commission under the king's lieutenants and the governor on this side of the river and they furthered the people and the house of God. Hallelujah. If you're in this house tonight, I want to remind every person that we need to take inventory of the treasures that we have and realize we're on a journey. That we have some things that we need to commit to the Lord. The enemy has an attack. The enemy wants to attack your morals. He wants to attack your integrity. He wants to destroy your family. He wants to destroy your marriage. He has an allout attack. And there's no secular way you can protect yourself enough. But if you'll put it all in the hands of God, if you'll trust him, he keeps every promise. He keeps every promise. He won't fail. He won't fail. He won't fail. In this altar time tonight, I want to challenge everybody in the house to come for a season of prayer to say, "God, I'm a witness to what you've done. And Lord, I know what you've provided. I know you're keeping every promise. And Lord, I'm serving you. I'm trusting you that you will never fail." Say it.