Sunday Morning Worship Service
by Mark McCool
First Apostolic Church of Knoxville (Knoxville, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Revelation 2:12-17, Ephesians 6:12, 2 Peter 2:9-15, 2 Peter 2:19-22, 2 Corinthians 6:17, Hebrews 4:12

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/mark-mccool--sunday-morning-worship-service-121
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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Lord bless you you may be seated here in the sanctuary we greet you in the wonderful all powerful mighty name of Jesus so good to see every one of you back in the house of the Lord on this Sunday morning here at First Apostolic church we welcome all those who are joining us on the multiple platforms of Outreach by way of social media we invite you to be with us here in person as soon as possible but thank you for being with us today wherever you are we give a special shout out of prayer and support to pastor and sister Whitley and sister Easton they are in uh Indianapolis Indiana today ministering uh the Indiana District had a great uh midwinter youth uh event that Pastor Whitley ministered at and then is preaching there in the surrounding area and I'm really praying for them I told the folks in prayer time today with the staff I'm really praying for them uh because they have a a snow similar to the one that we got just a few weeks ago and I'm praying for them to make it home safe and I'm praying that that sow snow stays up there so uh I I have selfish motives for my prayers with them we do greet all of our guests and we're so honored to have you worshiping with us and we want you uh to feel honored and we want you to feel comfortable here in the house of the Lord today I want to take us straight to the word of the Lord and I want to speak to the church today as the word spoke to the church from our text calling your attention this morning to the book of the Revelation the second chapter book of the Revelation the 2 chapter and I would put your mind to ease uh I certainly do not plan to uh go into all of the types and Shadow of the book of the Revelation some folks get nervous about uh uncovering some new uh Revelation from the book of the Revelation well I've got news for you if it's new is it isn't true and if it's true it isn't new it's already been revealed but I would also say this as Mark Twain I believe once said uh I'm not worried about anything that maybe I don't totally understand in scripture thing that worries me is the things that I do understand if I'm not obeying what he has for me so I hope that his word will minister to us today from the book of the Revelation Revelation 2 beginning with verse number 12 and to the angel of the church in pergamus right these things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges I Know Thy works and where thou dwellest even where Satan's seat is and thou holdest fast my name and Hast not denied my faith even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr who was slain among you where Satan dwelleth for a few moments this morning I would speak to you on this subject seated next to Satan seated next to Satan let's pray savior we love you God we are grateful for your presence that we feel in this house that you have indeed filled this room with the mighty power and move of the Holy Ghost Lord I pray that every ear would hear and every heart would receive what you have for us to today as the church God I pray that we would receive and act upon what your word so marvelously reveals to us today Lord if there's one person who's not yet repented of their sins Lord we call them to repentance Lord if there's one who's not yet taken on your name in baptism Lord we have available the means by which they can do so this day Lord if there's one who's not yet received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost I pray that you would pour it out on fing and Open Hearts this day for all this we're grateful and thankful in Jesus name we pray amen seated next to Satan one of the great anxieties that I have faced and I know some of you have faced as well if you have ever traveled by way of Airline is the anxiety of choosing a seat or more correctly stated having a seat chosen for you now if you have recently flown commercially one of the choices you are given now on the apps that they have is picking your seat and your multiplicity of choices is usually determined by how much you're willing to pay for a seat if you make your reservations early enough and you're will willing to pay about triple what a seat normally cost you can sit in first class right up front but if you're like me and you're waiting to the last moment hoping to get a good deal and you didn't know you were leaving till the last minute you have a limited choice of seats and you can find yourself either seated in first class preferred seating coach or even standby that standby means if nobody else shows up you've got a seat but what really is a amazing about this then you have other choices or if you don't choose the airline will choose for you if it's in a three Place seating on some of the wider body planes you have the choice of sitting by the window in the aisle or the dreaded middle seat in fact I would briefly tell you I flew 18 hours from Detroit to the Philippines one time and we got assigned and when I say we the party that I was with the ministers that I was with there was five Place seatings in the middle now all you claustrophobic folks don't get up and leave yet but knowing that there was 18 hours of sitting in that five place two folks on each side of you then an aisle and then two more seats will play with your mind for 18 hours in fact even when you're getting off the plane the one thing that went back through through my mind was I've got to go back the same way so with all of that said there was some anxiety when you had your seat chosen for you and then finally when you fly by yourself there's one additional anxiety is who's going to sit by me and if you get to your seat early you're watching every person that comes down the aisle just wondering if that's the guy or the gal that's going to be sit sitting by you you're wondering will they be a talker a snorer or a space invader and God forbid you're in the one in the middle seat because you're worried about both sides you're worried about who's going to be seated next to you in fact that's why I really like flying with sister Jamie she's not a snorer a talker or an in space invader she's a snuggler and it's good to sit by a snuggler so with all of that in mind there's some anxiety that goes along when you travel with who seated next to you but our text today speaking to the church at pergamus or pergamum is addressing something much more important than travel arrangements and who's sitting beside you on an airline instead the words of Jesus revealed to John in instruction to the angel or the overseer of the church at pergamum is acknowledging that the church itself is literally seated next to the seat of Satan now let me explain what that means it's describing the city of pergamum or pergamus according to how you read the statement what does that mean the seat where Satan sits well I know what a county seat is if you look up the definition of a county seat the county seat is the most important city in a county the administrative Center the seat of government or the capital city of a county that's where all the business takes care of that's where all the legal wranglings take place that's where all the instruction for the guidance of that County takes place that's the county seat can you imagine having Church where Satan's seat is understand Jesus was not condemning the church at pergamus because it was next to the seed of Satan instead he was reminding them that's where I called you to be that's where you are you've been assigned a city where Satan sits and that's where you're ministering I know that's where you dwell and I'm acknowledging that and I submit if pergamus could have a church next to the seat of Satan First Apostolic Church can be a strong Church in the city of Knoxville that God has called us to be we have no excuses for not being a Jesus name called Church in our city our County and our community our city will have seats influenced by Satan himself but greater is he that is in every one of us than he that is in the world we've been called to this city and I expect everybody that's part of First Apostolic Church to man up and say yes this is where we're called to minister we're not headed any place else we're not ashamed of our community let me pause here few years ago you got to understand about where we're located physically as a church at First Apostolic Church where I stand right now before this property was reshaped with bulldozers and all of that stuff down about probably 30 ft or better from where I'm standing right now we were right in the middle of a cow pasture back in this direction somewhere there was a great big Dairy Barn this was once a rural area but over the years the demographics have changed First Apostolic Church came here to this area and we bought property God miraculously provide there so many testimonies time would not permit how we were able to get this property and how God has miraculously provided the substenance and blessed his people for there to be a church right here right where we are but a while back I had a minister meaning well spoke to me and sister Jamie Jamie he said uh it appears that this area has really grown up and even the demographics that's a fancy word for for saying there's there's different ethnicities have moved into your community he said do y'all ever plan to move man I had to grab sister Jamie she just about jumped Square in the middle of him we said plan to move absolutely not we may get bigger on this property but we're going to stay in this community because this is where God called us to be what if the demographics change that means that's more souls to win whoever's around us we're going to preach Jesus to them it matters not their color it matters not their ethnicity it matters not their background we're here God put us here wherever he set you down you need to say I'm going to minister for you right where you put me notice what Jesus was saying here Jesus said I Know Thy Works he was not condemning them never mistake don't misread this he was not commit he was not being condemning when he said I know you're where the seat of Satan is instead he is reminding them and complimenting the church at pergamum for what they are accomplishing one of the seven churches of Asia he's complimenting them what they've been accomplishing he said I know your works I know what you've been doing and where thou dwellest he said I know what you've been doing I know what's around you I know what you're living with even where Satan's seat is but notice how he compliments them because here's what he said about the church at pergamus and thou holdest fast my name I'm here to tell you the church must remain a Jesus name Apostolic Church in a world of changing it's we are here to know that in this world we are still a Jesus name church this is the words of Jesus speaking he said you've been holding on to my name you haven't compromised who you are and what you are it does not matter what is around us it does not matter what's legislated this is a Jesus name Apostolic Hol church that's what we are that's what we've been and that's what we will be oh Hallelujah he said you hold fast to my name there's nothing here that I'm going to give up and then notice the distinction he said you hold fast to my name and has not denied my faith you see if we're Jesus name only by name and we deny the faith of the AP Apostolic Doctrine what the apostles taught what the apostles practiced we can have a name only but if we change who we are in the core of the faith of who we believe we're still not doing what he's called us to do he makes a complete distinction between holding fast my name and not denying the faith that's the doctrine and he said you have also endured martyrdom antias had been martyred this passage does not give the detail but suffice to say a faithful part of the church at pergamin had paid the ultimate sacrifice and given his life we must understand that for the church to do what God's called us to do where he called us to do it we must be willing to sacrifice all if need be to hold fast the name and not deny the faith let me tell you a little bit about pergamus I did a little research just so we would understand no matter the satanic influence that would be around wherever the church is pergamus is the example that you can remain strong pergamus was an idolatrous city pergamon was an affluent and celebrated City in Asia the population at the time of the pinning of this letter was between 100 and 200,000 among the seven churches of Asia that were addressed in the Revelation pergamin was located the farthest west and was also the closest of the churches to Rome pergamum had Allied itself with Rome's Imperial Ambitions in Asia early on the city seat the government resulting in pergamum obtaining a privileged position in Asia pergamum likely publicly endorsed and celebrated the worship of Roman pagan gods that's where they were having Church don't tell me we can't have church in Knoxville don't tell me there's too many evil influences in Knoxville listen if pergamin can be at the seat of Satan we can have church here and we can be strong and do God's will in our city you folks listening out there wherever you are don't ever let Satan tell you that you can't have a church in the places where Satan seems to have a stronghold God will have a church if we'll hold on to his name if we will not deny the faith he will have a church you see you got to understand how Rome operated Rome being the strongest Nation to the Known World during this time frame Rome when it would invade another civilization did not come in and try to wipe that Civilization out and all of its religious beliefs when it would go among the heathens it would incorporate its religions and its culture with the cultures and religions of the heathens that they would go among rather than eliminating their Idols they would just rename their idols and put it together with their Roman Catholicism and they would put it together and would mix the civilization so everyone felt aart this is why Christianity and Judaism in this time were so resistant to Rome for they did not want to compromise what was going on in the communities around Scholars suggest that Satan's seat referred to the Temple dedicated to Augustus Caesar located at pergamin C Citadel here worshippers engaged in reverence of the first true emperor of Rome government had become what they worshiped let that sink in government had all their answers don't worry I'm not looking for black helicopters and some kind of uh Rebellion here but you better hear me government can't fix our spiritual conditions that's right amen the government serves its purpose and we are subservient as Christ told us to be to principalities and Powers but never mistake the government there should always be a separation of the church and the state there are some things that cannot be dictated by the government to tell us how to believe and what we do Hall man some of you folks wonder where I'm standing I'm standing right where we've always stood as a church we will not bow our religious beliefs to any man for you see God is still the ultimate and in control we are not rebellious to civil leaders however we stand alone with God and what his word teaches us above anything else for you see it had become popular to incorporate the worship and the reverence of the emperor of Rome it had become the invogue way to do things the Imperial worship cult would likely be connected to governmental Powers particularly the administration of capital punishment which was used to oppose Christians in pergam you want to know how Antipas would be put to death because he was put to death because of his beliefs the governmental leadership of that day had the power to take life in the name of rebellion against the government just because he was a Christian it seems that Pagan Roman religion was strong in pergamin we must know that the church will always have to fight against evil influences from the outside this may come through secular society government or spiritual forces but Ephesians reminds us for we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and against Powers against the rulers of Darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness and high places I applaud those even in our congregation Sanctuary who put their name on the line and have run for office and are holding public offices in our city and still standing for Christian values I applaud you and I thank you for representing what the Jesus name Apostolic people believe thank you for sacrificing yourself I appreciate it thank you it's important that we as the church support the points of view that are most closely related to we in the kingdom of God and while we admire the pergam Christians it's crucial that we do not ignore that we have a responsibility have courage in these last days you see courage is not a lack of fear but courage is acting in spite of fear after commending the church however I want you to notice what Jesus anybody out here that's managers that have to deal with people I want you to notice how Jesus dealt with the church at per we can learn something here uh he he uh the first thing he did he's instructing the angel many scholars say that that statement the angel means the overseers and and the leaders of those particular churches uh that these were not supernatural beings but they he was instructing the the leadership that was over these seven churches when the when scripture speaks to the angels of and the angels of pergamus but this instruction the first thing Jesus did he complimented him he let him know hey I'm on your side I I I I understand your works I know what you're doing it's good if you got a conference with somebody and you got to deal with something you better learn how to compliment folks even before you bring up the stuff you need to correct that's just good management right Jesus was managing the church he's he complimented them I know where you are I know what you're deal with I already know what your situation is but he didn't stop there for even though they were doing a marvelous job they weren't perfect and Jesus also had to give the church some correction so we continue on verse verse 14 he said but I have a few things against thee now as long we can talk about the church being strong we're existing whop hallelujah amen but now Jesus is going to give some instruction to the church he's not talking to the world he's not talking to unbelievers he's still talking to the church but I have a few things against thee now please notice the wording everybody uh uh listen and read carefully because thou Hast there them now what does that mean thou Hast there them it means there's folks in the church he's not talking about outside now he's not talking about in the city of pergam he's not talking about the seat of Satan he said because thou the church Hast there them that hold the doctrine of balam he said you got false Doctrine in the church who taught Bao to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed unto idols and to commit fornication and so thou Hast also them thou Hast them there's another group in the confines of the church at pergamus so thou also H has them that hold the doctrine of the nicians which thing I hate now nicians we'll talk about who they are in a few minutes that's not fans of Tennessee's latest football quarterback these are the nickolath he said first he addresses the doctrine of balum Jesus explained that this doctrine of balum led the pergamus Christians to eat food sacrificed to idols and commit fornication which is also the stumbling block balam put before Israel in the desert now please get a little history here in Acts 15 the Jerusalem Council decreed that eating food sacrificed to Idols eating animals killed by strangling and engaging in sexual immorality was not permitted for the Gentiles the the Gentile Christians if you will and by instructing Believers that eating food sacrifice to Idols was permitted the balum sect was going directly against the council's decision in Acts 15 now let me let me back up here and pause because any of you who are Bible scholars know what Paul's stance was on eating meat that was offered to Idols he basically said it don't matter he said it's of none effect cuz those Idols aren't anything anyway now was Jesus reversing what Paul had said I say absolutely absolutely not I I I want you to understand in context of the whole scripture what was taking place here the council in Jerusalem had decreed this to be so they had set a standard now let that words sink in just a minute they had set a standard for this particular group of people it was Paul would go on to let us know know that that was not a Salvation issue but it was a standard for the church now please understand the difference it was something that had been set forth as a discipline if you will there will be things here at First Apostolic church we have certain standards of appearance for folks that are going to be on the platform for folks that are going to be in leadership positions that are not necessarily in and of themselves a heaven or hell issue but it is a standard of appearance and a standard of behavior things that we do and things that we don't do now I just told you some of those things are not necessarily a heaven or hell issue in and of of themselves but it's a standard and one's Spirit to be in a part and whether man y'all are looking at me straight here today please understand take the meat of the word what I'm telling you the very thing that was taking place here the doctrine of balum in the church at pergamus said we don't have to obey any kind of standard that the council has sit down and you see the same counil had set down some standards of dietary law or restriction but it also set down a standard against adultery and the the problem you've got is when a spirit of I don't have to follow any kind of rule set by man comes in many times one that is not a heaven or hell issue and one that is becomes a gray area and before long nothing's wrong to anybody that's right that's right please understand the spirit in which I speak and there are some things that that act may not be a heaven or hell issue in and of itself but a spirit of rebellion against it can cause you to have the spirit of Satan in you the spirit of rebellion the Bible says is as of the as of Witchcraft that's right last time I looked witchcraft is not holy and not spiritual that's using the power of Satan to try to accomplish something that's right so please understand Paul also said this concerning the same subject he said meat that's offered to Idols is of basically no effect but then he went on to say he said if it's offensive to my brother if it's going to cause somebody else to fall it's going to cause somebody else to stumble they don't understand because the council said this it really and truly it doesn't matter but because the council said this the leadership of that day said this if I find myself sitting down knowingly eating the food offered to Idol I may be offensive to my brother and he said he would eat no flesh while the world standeth lest I make my brother to offend now let me really get us around to the Crux of the matter of what was going on the reason eating meat offered to Idols versus not offered to Idols was so controversial in this day there was so much idol worship going on in the seat of Satan I mean they they sacrificed to everything they they sacrificed to Caesar they sacrifice to all of the pagan gods that had been Incorporated in their culture consequently if you went to the market what was the most convenient meat that was available think about it I mean you could get bargain to feed yourself because there was every kind of meat that had been offered to Idols available meat not offered to Idols was much less available to the average person so it had become the doctrine of balum had become a doctrine of convenience to have an easier way of existing now you see there were other things that went along with the the doctrines of balum let me read you in second Peter 2:9 I'm going I I'll try not to comment too much but just just listen to what the doctrine of balum was like in 2 Peter 2:9 the Lord knoweth how to deliver The Godly out of Temptation and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished but chiefly them that walk after the Flesh in the lust of uncleanliness and despise government presumptuous are they self willed they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities No Authority is over them whereas Angels which are greater in power and might bring not railing accusations against them before the Lord but these As Natural brute beasts made to be taken and destroyed speak evil of things they understand not they got an opinion on everything and shall utterly perish in their own corruption and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness as they that count it pleasure to Riot in the daytime spots they are and blemishes sporting themselves with their own deceiving while they Feast with you having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin beguiling or deceiving unstable Souls a heart they have exercised with Covetous practice cursed children which have forsaken the right way and are gone astray following the way of balam the son of bosar who L the wages of unrighteousness that's what was existing in the church let me tell you I've heard Bishops say it time and time again it's bad enough when the church gets rather when the world gets churchy but when the church gets worldly we got another problem Oh verse 19 said while they promis them Liberty we're talking Liberty churches now churches of convenience there's no standard of behavior no standard of appearance no no standard of decorum or anything goes they themselves are the servant of corruption for whom a man is overcome of the same he is brought in bondage for if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world they were once delivered through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ they are again entangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them than the beginning what does that mean that means when God delivers us and separation Ates us from sin we don't need to try to bring sin back into the church and incorporate it in the guise of balam's Doctrine are being convenient oh it's just so much easier to get along with people if there's no difference in us than them oh if I can be more like the world and look more like the world I won't make them uncomfortable and I might get a chance to witness to them oh when I go to the bar I I sit up to the bar and belly up to the bar I don't drink alcohol I'm just looking on man some of you looking at me like I've gone already start raving mad this is what he's telling the church he said it's crept into the church a doctrine of convenience find an easier way he said it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness folks who are backing up and going left that have been better off to never known what it was like like to live a righteous life than to have known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them but it happened unto them according to the truth proverb the dog turned his own vomit again and the s that was washed to wallow in the M why do you want to go back and look like the world and act like the world and be the things of the world when you've been delivered from it I'm in this world but I am not of this world the doctrine of balum represents the doctrine of convenience of Faith but then the second thing that he condemned was the nicians rener states church history recorded many of the events that occur in the earliest days of the church he said the nicians were the spiritual descendants of Nicolas of Antioch who had been ordained as a deacon in Acts 6 and5 it's it's the same passage where they' sought out seven men of full of Holy Ghost and good report and of wisdom and the church ordained them these were these were men who were first appointed but then had a chance to be anointed Steven was one of those men the Bible said Steven was a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost Phillip picus Nicor Timon per and Nicholas the Bible chose to describe him as Nicholas a proelite of Antioch now again reading from renner's statement about Nicholas it says this according to the writings of the early church leaders Nicholas taught a doctrine of compromise implying that total separation between Christianity and the practice ice of occult paganism was not essential just incorporated into the church from early church records it seems apparent that this Nicholas of Antioch was so immersed in occultism Judaism and Christianity that he had a stomach for all of it he had no problem intering intermingling these belief systems in various concoctions and saw no reasons why Believers couldn't continue to fellowship with those still immersed in Black Magic of the Roman Empire and countless mystery Cults if it's not a doctrine of convenience it's a doctrine of compromise that can destroy the church from within that's right 2 Corinthians 6:17 said wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate sayeth the Lord touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you we must not compromise the clear teachings of scripture for an easier time in the the world compromising misses the opportunity to testify to God's power and his goodness God's worth separating ourselves from the UNH wholesomeness of this world convenience and compromise are the two greatest enemies of a successful Church pleasing Jesus as it should and if the scripture there ended it would seem like a terrible rebuke with no way out for the church but I've got news for you Jesus complimented he rebuked and then he gave a path for repentance aren't you thankful no matter where you are where you've been there's a path to Restoration and repentance if you just do what Jesus says to do his word in verse 16 of Revelation 2 said repent or else you know what when Mom and Dad said or else anybody else in here know what or else means I know what or else means and all that goes along with or else Jesus said repent or else I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth what does that mean Jesus gave the path to repentance for those that were within the church the nians the bites Jesus offered this repentance and he said if you refuse here's what's going to condemn you is the words of my mouth Hebrews 4:12 says for the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even and dividing the center of the soul and the spirit of the joints and Marrow and his Discerning of the thoughts and intent of the heart I'm amazed but I shouldn't be surprised there are times that just reading scripture no comment no me putting in or anybody else giving their opin opion just reading scripture becomes offensive to the unrepentant oh why do you think in a secular world now that is ruled by the ungodly on much of the part does not want prayer does not bi want Bible reading among our children why do you think if someone would bend their knee and pray before an athletic event that someone would be offended why do you think it's a problem if before Congress would step forward some are offended if the word of God is read because the word of God will divide us under wrongdoing the word of God speaking on its own will condemn the unrepentant and the sinful man I know this kind of preaching sometimes appears a bit controversial but the word of God sadly has become controversial in a supposedly Christian Nation that's right the Church of pergamus remind us that there can be evil influence in the world opposing us but it also reminds us there can be evil influences within the church that opposes the success of the church another quick observation musicians come quickly because we're going to go someplace to end this cuz Jesus didn't just give a rebuke and a threat he also leaves a promise and we're going to close with that promise in just a minute but I do want to remind you of something because some will still re misread the passage of scripture that we read when Jesus stated and used the word hate oh see Jesus hated the nickol leans you didn't read it Jesus did not hate the nicians twice in the book of the Revelation the nicians are referred to and that word hate is used both times but it was not hating the people he hated their deeds and he hated their Doctrine he didn't hate them and this is what we as Christians who would exemplify Christ must be careful to distinguish between I hate the D of sin I hate the doctrines of sin but oh I must love The Sinner that's what Christ has called us to do to love and care for the sinner I hate for those whose Deeds would attempt to divide the church and bring doctrines that are contrary to God's word but I don't hate them that's I love them and I know that God has given a measure of time for repentance and restoration so I take us to verse 17 of our original text it says he that hath an ear let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches he said I've complimented you I've identified where you were I have identified the division that's in the church where attacks are coming from the outside and there's martyrdom where there's Vision in the church and I've identified the opportunity to repent and he said ultimately my words going to be what determines whether you obey my word or you disobey my word but then he finally said this in verse 17 he that a near listen up do you hear what I'm saying let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches he's speaking to the church today just as this this is an example he's speaking to us today to him that overcometh Hallelujah in other words you overcome all of these obstacles you repent you get on the right track he said to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Hidden mana and will give him a white stone in the stones a new name written which no man knoweth saving he that receive it now I would confess to you again I had to do a little more research what did this mean I I got a pretty good idea what hidden Mana means Mana in the Old Testament was miraculous Provisions provided for God's people there was no question about it when the people had to be fed God provided their daily need it was nothing that could be hoarded and I don't have to give you all of the the history of Mana but suffice to say every day because they trusted in him he fed them every day if you'll just serve God and be obedient to him there's hidden blessings that the rest of this world don't understand that's right that's right let me say that again there's hidden blessings you're going to receive that the rest of this world can cannot even relate to they don't understand it he said I've got some hidden Mana for you preacher could you give me some more specifics let me tell you what hidden Mana is like just from my perspective hidden mana's three grandbabies I get to see every week almost every day because my family's been serving God hidden Mana is to be able to see some of you folks look down the road and see your family that once wasn't attend in the house of God and suddenly they're all together hidden Mana is seen multiple Generations it's not always money but it's healings I know where I was it's hidden Mana God's been providing some things all along sister Muna you gave me a testimony this morning it confirmed what I was going to preach you've got hidden Mana you and endured some stuff my sister you went through some stuff but you stayed faithful to God and you can look down the aisle and look at EV one of your babies now when I say babies I hope Carlos Jr don't hit me he's a grown man so's Matthew and Jacob's bigger than me too two beautiful daughters a son-in-law because you stayed faithful sister Muna God's providing hidden Mana this world don't understand those things the the family that you've got around you the job that you have the opportunity to wake up with a clear mind every morning blessed whole freed stand with me there's hidden Mana when you serve God when you stay a part of the church when you repent of any false ways he said you got to Hidden mana and then the interesting other thing that he stated he said I'm going to give you hidden mana and I'll give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written well man that don't that don't sound like much of a prize you got to realize when this was being written the white stone with the new name in graved upon it is the Absolution from the guilt of sin in to the ancient custom of giving a white stone to the acquitted on trial and a black stone to those who were condemned aren't you thankful that your sins have been acquitted Jesus took your sins you deserved a black stone that you were going to have to carry around but instead he said I'm going to go to the cross for your sins I've got a plan for you I'm not going to let you have a black stone if you'll be obedient to my word church at pergamus church at First Apostolic Church of Knoxville Church of the Living God the apostolics the Jesus name people he said I got a white stone for you I'm going to give you but this one is special not only are your charges acquitted he said but this one's going to be engraved you got a new name on it when I take on the name of Jesus Jesus when I go down in the water in Jesus name it's signifying the death the burial and the resurrection I'm burying my sins I'm rising to walk in newness of life I've taken on the name of Jesus if the church will hold fast to the name of Jesus if we will not deny the faith if we will endure the hardships that might even lead to martyrdom we'll taste hidden Mana yes will have our Stone of forgiveness with a new name an everlasting Monument to the Forgiveness of Jesus and his blood that's provided it all would you bow your head just a moment Hallelujah I want us to pray together as a church family today Mighty God First Apostolic Church of Knoxville come comes before you so grateful for the place you have put us Lord we're so thankful for our wonderful Community God I'm thankful to live in the United States of America I'm thankful to live in the state of Tennessee I'm thankful to live in Knox County and be in the city of Knoxville I'm thankful to be on 5020 Pleasant Ridge Road a place that you ordained us to be now Mighty God I don't know what may be seated next to me tomorrow I don't know what the enemy try to may try to put in our place but savior I know you've promised me if I'll hold fast to your name if I will not neglect the doctrine of faith God if I have a determination in my heart no matter what comes I'm going to stay true to you Lord I've got hidden Mana my sins are acquitted they're forgiven they're washed away Hallelujah if you're in this house today and you want to be a part of the church that God has called you to be in I would encourage you to step out in the aisle for a season of prayer and come around the Altar and let's say God I want to be what you've called me to be I want to be where you've call me to be I want to stand unashamed as part of your great family I want the hidden Mana I want the stone of forgiveness I want your name on my heart Hallelujah would you just Praise Him and love him a few moments if you have unrepentant sin in your life throw your hands up say God I'm sorry he wants to forgive you he wants you to be a part of his great family today Hallelujah come and over us you're the one living Holy [Music] Spirit want we want more s we want more more of you I want more more and more and more we want more of you God we [Music] want [Music] yes sing it unto the [Music] Lord you [Applause] increase it's all about you it's not about not about I [Music] [Applause] [Music] you icrease Lord I [Music] decrease you it's all about you [Music] you all about would you lift your hands and love Jesus would you thank him for the hidden manner would you thank him for the forgiveness of sin Jesus I pray Praise You Jesus I love you thank you Lord thank you Lord First Apostolic Church let's go from this place today confident that God has placed us where we are that we have a calling that we will keep the Church of God doing its main mission as Soul winners would you greet your brothers and sisters around you please come back tonight prayer time at 6:00 Evangelistic service 6:30 praise team musicians choir you will have your notifications when your group meets Lord bless you you're dismissed in Jesus name