Sunday Morning Worship Service | Dr. Anthony “Monday’s Coming!”

If you have your Bibles, turn with me to the book of Psalm chapter 1 uh 33. 133. And as pastor Whitley and Mcool mentioned, today is summit fair. These are the interest groups of FAC. And you could see out in the lobby all of the great uh now don't go out there during the preaching, right? Somebody help me with uh No, I'm just kidding. But we're looking forward uh to fellowshipping together after service. Psalm 133, we'll begin reading at verse one. The psalmist David speaking. He says, "Behold, get your attention. Listen to this. How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard. Even Aaron's beard, it just runs from the top and there's so much excess that it just pours down his beard, down his garments that went down to the skirts of his garments. Just that's that's how much of a blessing it is. Verse three, as the dew of Hermon, Mount Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion. this Mount Hermmon at a higher elevation than Mount Zion where the presence of God and the sacrifices were offered up. The Mount Hermmon was higher and it descended upon Mount Zion for there the Lord commanded the blessing even life forever more. And we'll come back to this passage here in a second, but wanted to go ahead and just kind of put that on the forefront of your mind because it doesn't have much to do with the title, but hopefully we can uh tie it in together. But my title for this morning is Monday's coming. Oh, yeah. Everybody slow down. We'll get to summit fair in a second. Monday's coming. I We better pray over this word. Let's all pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you today. Lord, we thank you for what you have done in this house already and what you're going to continue to do. Lord, let your word sink deep down into our hearts and in grafted in our minds that we put it into practice that we be the example that you would have us to be. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. And amen. Monday's coming. You can almost hear the collective groan just ripple across the crowd. Alarm clocks, they get a little louder. Coffee tastes a little weaker. And suddenly the bed, it feels as if it is the most anointed place on the face of the earth. I am not a medical doctor but there is even a phrase a specific diagnosis for this if you will and it is referred to as a case of the Mondays. Nobody says I I have a case of the Saturdays but Monday has a particular reputation. Think about it for a moment. songs have been written about every other day or feeling around the week. But Monday, I could say TGIF and you could say a moderate restaurant chain in the early 2000s where the servers wore flare. No, TGIF. That was supposed to be funny. Nobody remembers TGI Fridays. Or maybe some of you like it and I just offended you. Uh TGIF, thank God it's Friday. Even the name of the restaurant in and of itself is trying to exude that when you come in here. It's Friday. We've got Saturday night live because Saturday, that's when the party happens. Nobody has a case of the Saturdays. Or if I said, "And it's easy." easy like oh yeah not Monday morning but Sunday morning where everything's calm where everything's peaceful where everything's blessed and even if the meteorologist is calling for precipitation in the atmosphere we can still say Sunday morning rain is falling all right and it's still poetic it's still reflective even if The weather on that Sunday is not ideal. It's still Sunday morning. There's even a global superstar named The Weekend. He didn't call himself the Monday. Nobody's would be lining up for for that album, right? But Monday, Monday is when reality hits. Monday is when the bills that you neglected are are still there. Monday is when the responsibilities that you had this uh aggressive to-do list to knock it all out on Friday where you got to 3:00 or 5:00 when it was time to clock out. I'll take care of that next week. And when you come in on Monday, it's still there. Monday is when reality hits. The responsibility is still waiting. The problems not disappearing over the weekend, overnight. The miracle you shouted about on Sunday has to be lived out on Monday because Monday's coming. And the truth is while we love to celebrate Sunday and we should because Sunday even most particularly last week as pastor preached about Sunday represents resurrection. It represents victory. It represents breakthrough. Oh, and we CAN PREACH ABOUT THAT. AND uh the the intro video that we that we watched last week going into the sermon the preacher talked about on Friday how EVERYTHING WAS HOPELESS. SUNDAY'S COMING AND IF WE CAN JUST MAKE IT TO SUNDAY, THAT'S WHERE THE POWER IS AND WE REJOICE AND WE PRAISE AND ABSOLUTELY WE SHOULD. But Monday, oh Monday is where the faith gets tested. Monday is where faith is lived. Monday is where resurrection power has to walk into real life. Yes, we shout Sunday's coming. And there's nothing wrong with that. And thank God it did. But let me tell you something. After Sunday, Monday is coming too. And Monday is coming for your faith. Monday is coming for your consistency. And Monday is coming for your unity. And the question is not whether Monday will show up because it always does. The question is, what will your faith look like when it does? We often focus on the power of Resurrection Sunday and rightfully so. And we heard such a beautiful sermon last week about how we serve the God who still has the power to roll the stones away. Death was defeated. Hope was restored. The impossible became possible. But what happened after that? What happened after the shouting died down? What happened after the crowds went home? What happened after the emotional high of the resurrection began to temper and moments passed away? Here comes Monday. The disciples certainly didn't step immediately into a life of ease and clarity. They stepped into a great deal of uncertainty. They stepped into fear. They stepped into questions. And scripture tells us they gathered together behind closed doors because they were afraid. Sunday had happened, but now Monday was here. But what's powerful is they didn't scatter. They gathered. They didn't isolate. They unified. They didn't disconnect. They leaned into one another. And somewhere deep down, they understood something that we can forget. You don't survive Monday alone. The same group that had seen Jesus crucified. The same group that experienced loss, confusion, and fear. The same group still stayed together. And it was in the place of togetherness that Jesus showed up. Not when they were perfect. Not when they had everything figured out, not but when they were gathered together. Unity invites the presence of God. It's easy to gather when everything's going well. It's easy to show up when the miracle is visible. It's easy to worship when prayers are seemingly being answered instantaneously. And Monday rarely feels like Sunday. Monday brings pressure. Monday brings doubt. Monday brings questions. And in those moments, the enemy whispers, "Pull away. Handle it yourself. Don't let anyone see your struggle." But the disciples modeled something differently. They stayed together in the tension. And because they stayed together, they positioned themselves for what was coming next. Because not not only was not only does Monday mean it's the day after Sunday, but Monday was one day closer to Pentecost. Before the Holy Spirit fell in power, before the church exploded into existence, before miracles, before signs, before wonders shook the world, there was unity. We read, "They were all together in one place and in one accord." If you look up the interpretation of this in Greek, what phrase, what language, what emotion is this attempting to exude being in one accord? And the words that you will find as descriptors for the context of this scripture mean same. togetherness, one mind, one passion, one heart, emotional unity, mental unity, spiritual unity, relational harmony, not scattered, not divided, not competing, but together. And it's important for us to realize today that unity takes effort. Unity does not happen on accident. Unity is intentional. Oh, the disciples had differences. The disciples had conflicting personality traits. The disciples had their own opinions, their own perspectives, but they chose unity anyway. Unity is a choice. Unity doesn't happen on accident because unity is not the absent of differences. It's the decision to prioritize purpose over preference. And when unity is present, that is when power begins to flow. Sunday can certainly inspire you. And that's why we gather together, but Monday will reveal you. Sunday is certainly where you receive. Oh, there's there's nothing like being with worshippers and the people of God and the choirs singing. And then there's a a great word from heaven. How uplifting, how spiritbuilding, nourishment for the bones, as the Bible says. Sunday is where you receive, but Monday is where you apply. Sunday is where you hear the word, but Monday is where you live it out. And you cannot live out Monday faith if you are disconnected from the body because you need encouragement. You need accountability. I need strengthening. We need each other. >> Hebrews tells us to consider one another, encouraging one another, AND SO MUCH THE MORE as you see the day approaching. that is in your Bible just as strong as Acts 2:38. Just as important as it is for you to repent, BE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME of Jesus and receive the infilling of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking IN OTHER TONGUES. RIGHT THERE WITH THAT is living in unity with your brother and your SISTER AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU live with. Monday has a way of draining what Sunday filled unless you you stay connected staying connected to one another. They went from fear to faith from hiding to declaring and it all happened in the context and the overarching theme. If you were looking through and saying uh in scripture, what's the commonality of God pouring out his presence? It's the togetherness and the gathering and the unity, the context of being together. Sunday celebrates the victory and Monday carries the mission. Jesus didn't rise from the dead so we could have a moment. He rose so we could have a movement. And movements require people walking together, encouraging one another, serving one another, living and lifting up one another. Because the world doesn't just need to hear about the resurrection. They need to see it lived out. And I say this morning a thousand times that I am so honored and privileged to be a part of First Apostolic Church of Knoxville with a group of saints who truly live out this mission every single day, even on Monday. Oh, I just killed the spirit again. Every time we get going, you say that Monday word. David, the man after God's own heart, understood this long before the disciples lived it out. And as I come to a closing, our key verse, behold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It's like the dew of Mount Hermon. For they are the Lord commanding the blessing and even life forever more. Mount Herman is a mountain cluster and its summit straddles the border between Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. At 9,232 feet above sea level, it is the highest point of the mountain range. It forms one of the greatest geographic resources in the area and because of its height, it captures a great deal of precipitation. In a very dry area of the world, Mount Hermon has seasonal winter and spring snowfalls which covers the peaks most of the year. And the melt water from the snowcovered mountains seeps down and fills the river valleys even into the Jordan River. And because of Mount Hermon, a desert landscape is able to receive life. And King David, as he looked out the window of his kingdom, ironically and prophetically, this mountain was used by him to give us some imagery, to give us a metaphor. And due to its divine beauty, as he would look out, he would see the splendor of its goodness. Oh, the pleasantry. And this is what he would compare and say, "Oh, when brothers and sisters are in unity. OH, WHEN THERE'S camaraderie and PEACE TOGETHER. OH, IT'S LIKE MOUNT HMON WHERE THE DEW JUST COMES OFF THE TOP TIPS OF THE SUMMIT AND IT BRINGS LIFE ALL THE WAY down into a desertscape. This was the place of inspiration for King David as to say, "Oh, its beauty. Oh, its splendor, its glory in its appearance and lifegiving in its function. This is what it looks like. This is what unity looks like. Oh, oh, when I deal with the troubles of the day, I can just look up and say, "Oh, that's where the life COMES FROM. OH, IT WASN'T the threat of neighboring kingdoms waging war on King David's United Federation OF ISRAEL THAT KEPT HIM UP AT NIGHT, BUT WHEN THERE WAS CONFLICT IN THE KINGDOM, WHEN THERE WAS THIS TRIBE FIGHTING WITH THIS TRIBE, WHEN IT WAS THIS PERSON CAUSING DIVISION WITH THIS PERSON, THIS IS WHAT VEXED DAVID'S SOUL. HE EVEN GOES ON TO SAY, "IN MY HASTE, I called every man a liar." Or some of us say that and say, "In my haste, I call all men liars." Well, let me say it a little slower. In my No, just kidding. He's saying, "When I got frustrated uh when I when I was troubled over the divisiveness and the infighting of the day, IT VEXED MY SOUL." AND I I SAID, "EVERY single person is a liar. There's no unity." And but then he would go look out his kingdom window even higher than Mount Zion. Oh, cuz it descended from Mount Zion. It descended from Mount Hermon down to Mount Zion. And he was giving a foreshadow and a prophetic imagery to the FUTURE THAT GOD WAS GOING TO POUR OUT HIS SPIRIT UPON all flesh and it was going to BRING UNITY. AND IT'S NOT GOING to be in any way limited to a GROUP OF PEOPLE. THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE IN ANY WAY A LIMITED UH SUPPLY OF IT. UH IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SCARCE IN ANY CAPACITY. HE SAID IT'S GOING TO COME FROM THE SUMMIT OF MOUNT HERMON AND IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN INTO THE DESERT VALLEY AND IT'S GOING TO FEED THE RUNOFF WITH WATER. IT'S GOING TO BRING LIFE. IT'S GOING TO BRING NOURISHMENT. IT'S GOING TO BRING UNITY. AND WHEN I LOOK UP OUT OF THAT, THAT'S WHAT GOD'S SPIRIT IS GOING TO BE LIKE. IT'S GOING TO BE IN SUCH ABUNDANCE THAT I CAN JUST PICTURE THE OIL ROLLING OFF THE TOP OF THE HEAD. AND THERE'S SO MUCH EXCESS OF IT, STAND WITH ME, THAT IT'S GOING TO JUST DRIP DOWN AARON'S BEARD, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. HE'S FORESHADOWING THE HOLY GHOST THAT'S GOING TO GIVE AND SUSTAIN life forever more. He said, "That's what unity looks like. Oh, that's what harmony looks like. No, no threat from a neighboring kingdom. That's not what keeps me up at night. Oh, no. No big talk from a a neighboring king that's going to come in invade. I I ain't scared of that. But when there's when there's not unity in the kingdom, that's what vexs my soul. But when I look up to Mount Hammon and I see that fresh dew, that nourishment that's going to come down from the highest point of the mountain. Oh, because when there's unity, there's no enemy. There's no weapon in hell. There's no devil that is able to stop it. It's like the dew of Mount Hermon. Unity refreshes what is dry. Unity nourishes what is weak. Unity sustains what would otherwise wither. So listen to this right here as I close. There are some blessings that are not going to be released individually. Can God meet you and bless you anytime, anywhere? 100%. You know, you've heard me preach. That's not ob obviously but there are some blessings that are not released individually they are released collectively when David spoke of the due of Hermon he wasn't just describing a natural phenomenon he was pointing forward to a time it falls gently it covers everything it refreshes it brings life and what happened in the upper room. They continued to gather together and the Holy Spirit came not in division, not in isolation, but in unity. Just like what we do here today with Summit Fair, as pastor spoke about earlier, God's people continue to gather together to pray and break bread that to fellowship. That's our aspiration today just to get closer to one another because there's blessings that collectively fall like a do like a covering. The unity of the believers created an atmosphere for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost. We've joked about Monday. We've complained about Monday and we blame Monday. And Monday deserves every criticism that we could give it. But I ask us this morning as a group of spiritfilled believers where Monday might represent the doctor's report, Monday might represent the circumstance that you found yourself in, the hardship or the struggle. I believe this morning when we gather together that there can be a collective blessing. The Holy Ghost just rain on every single one of us and a collective blessing take place because we stepped forward with purpose and in unity. And I believe God can throw some dew, some lifegiving nourishment on this situation and on this situation and on this situation. A little bit of healing here. A little bit of restoration here, a little bit of provision here because we gather together in one accord. I want to invite the entire church body to step forward at this time with one unified mind with your hands lifted high. And I would implore every single individual this morning. Don't let anyone around you pray alone. Don't let anyone around you pray by themselves. Why don't we link up and join together as a sign of unity? As a sign of a unified group of believers, knowing there's going to be a collective blessing rain down from on high. >> Yes, Jesus. When I think of all you've done. When I think of all you brought me through. When I think about your love, I can never say enough. When I think of all you. When I think of all you brought me through. When I think about your love, I can never say it. When I think of all you, when I think of all you brought me through, when I think about your love, I could never say enough. Thank you. Sing for the days that you have made for the price that you have paid. For your mercies every day and that's why I know you praise for the ways that you have made for the price that you paid for your mercies every day. That's why I want you. >> Could you gather together right now, link arms as appropriate with the individual around you, and we're going to pray a prayer with a unified voice up to heaven, knowing that collectively there's going to be some blessings received. Let's pray right now. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day. God, we are committed to continuing to gathering together. Lord, we know that Monday has come for some. And we know that Monday's coming. But even in the midst of the struggles, even in the midst of the circumstances, Lord, I'm going to live out your resurrection power on this Monday. I'm going to live out your providential power on this Monday. Lord, of somebody facing a Monday right now, Lord, fill them with the dew of Mount Hermon. Oh, let the Holy Ghost flow from the top of their head to the tips of their feet. Oh, there's an excess of it. Oh, send your restoration power down right now. Send your resurrection power down right now. Send your healing power, your provision power. Lord, we thank you for this day and we thank you for your blessings. Now, would you give the Lord a high shout of praise? The one he deserves. Yes, Jesus. Is anybody glad to be a part of the body of Christ today? Is anybody glad to be a part of the church where unity is? Come on. I'm glad to be a part of a church that is on the move. Amen. Give somebody a high five. Shake their hand. Blessings. Blessings. Tell somebody you're blessed. Tell somebody you're blessed.