Sunday Morning Worship & Word | Pastor Anthony “Staying Fueled Up”

thank you praise team and musicians and you can be seated here in the auditorium I want to say welcome this morning to sister Kathy Taki from Gulfport Mississippi this is a friend of sister Felicia Hurst we honor you this morning it's a privilege to have you joining with us in worship let's give her a great big hand this morning and I want to say welcome home their work has moved them away but they're back home this morning brother Drew and sister Sydney and of course the oh so lovely [name redacted] let's give them a great big hand we love you all so much and to all those joining With Us online we have a great online congregation we're on Facebook live and YouTube and you can get on our Instagram and see service highlights I I believe if uh the news or uh the the sports machines can show highlights of all the events of this world what's wrong with getting online and seeing what took place at church amen and uh we're on Instagram at fac Knoxville if you're watching online and want to log into that and on Twitter and on Sunday mornings Fox 43 local affiliate that goes out to the city of Knoxville and across this East Tennessee region Fox 43 at 7 30 a.m our live television broadcast and then we're on the radio today at one o'clock on wkxv We're just trying every mean and measure to just get this gospel out just as far as we can and all of those in person today a word we we've kind of come up with over the past few years in person this morning I welcome you and I know the presence of the Lord is in this place and I say welcome to First Apostolic Church of Knoxville that gets me excited we used to say we're going to flip some switches and turn some dials and go to the many homes of the many people who will be listening and watching and there is no place like First Apostolic church and I I love this city of not one of the essential doctrines of our church if you're tuning in and listen closely that we believe here at First Apostolic church is that God just spent a little bit more time when he created East Tennessee so he called us here to minister to this beautiful area and as this we we pray every week as this gospel goes out not to only the beautiful city of Knoxville but the surrounding counties and cities through across this region and it's an honor and privilege to be with congregation this morning if you have your Bibles turned to the Book of Matthew chapter 25 and while you're looking I give honor to our Bishop and pastoral team Pastor McCool and Pastor Whitley and to this great congregation as I mentioned the greatest in the world and there's nothing like it Matthew 25 verse 1. then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom and 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 bridegroomed terried they all slumbered and slept and at midnight there was a crime made behold the bridegroom cometh go ye out to meet him then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps and the foolish said unto the wise give us some 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 ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourself so they did and while they were busy out to buy that's when the bridegroom came and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage and at 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 for you know neither the day nor the hour when the son of man cometh I want to preach to you for a few moments this morning on staying fueled up staying fueled up just right where you're seated would you lift your hands and just make a vessel your hands lifted unto Heaven asking God just to pour into you and pour into the service disordering Mighty God as we study and and and even listen for your voice through your word father we we know that we've got to be ready no no one knows the day no one knows the hour Lord in in all of the resources that we have and all the blessings that we have let us not become desensitized let our hearts not become callous nor nor our ears so so used to hearing your voice that it no longer calls us to attention but father as we study your word let it sink deep into our hearts that it call us into action that we would live according to the purposeful life that you called us to and live according to the leading and direction of your spirit inside of us we thank you and we praise you in Jesus name we pray amen and amen staying fueled up it all started in 1890 the members of the prestigious Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena California desired to Spotlight the area they called and termed the Mediterranean of the West the inhabitants there decided to hold a festival invite folks from the snow-covered East for a mid-winter holiday where they could watch games such as chariot races jousting foot races Polo and tug of war under the warm California Sun five years later they held a parade before the games in which the entrants decorated their carriages with flowers and other natural materials the parade soon included marching bands and equestrian units and motorized floats today approximately 50 floats participate in the five and a half mile parade now known as many of you know as the tournament of rose's parade followed by a much more um distinguished sport more than chariot races or the uh equestrian and and jousting but football and followed by the Rose Bowl which is termed the granddaddy of them all on average each float costs well over 250 000 companies make this investment because nearly 700 000 people watched the parade in person and approximately 70 million watch via broadcasting what a marketing opportunity for the advertisers the extensive viewership makes the expense worthwhile while all the advertised with all the advertising and brand recognition however in 1938 one company may have regretted their decision their float was making its way down Colorado Avenue with all the others and it was lavishly furnished with tens of thousands of roses the various colors sparkled in the Southern California sunlight doesn't that sound nice children watched wide eyes parents clapped everything was going just fine until suddenly the grand vehicle's smooth progression along the parade route was interrupted the engine began to cough and sputter then much to everyone's amazement it stopped it had run out of fuel 250 thousand dollars seven hundred thousand people in person seven million viewers stopped parade all together all the planning preparation expense execution to be a part of this growing event the the uh the the Mediterranean of the West the foundation and the the brainchild of this event all stopped and ironically float that stopped ironically the the float that ran out of gasoline the the float that stopped the parade what an embarrassment the the parade could not go on until someone ran off and got a can of gasoline to feel that float the float that stopped that stopped the tournament of rose's parade in its tracks due to a lack of fuel was sponsored by the Standard Oil Company the largest company in the world at its zenith and while the float itself ran out of fuel the company behind it seemingly had an unlimited Supply power or unrecognized and power unutilized is worthless and as children of God we are not self-sufficient and as children of God we are not immune to this same tragedy we we do not operate from a reservoir of human strength or Ingenuity rather we are connected to a resource or we're supposed to be that has Limitless power on which we draw to succeed in the Christian Life we are empowered by the spirit and we read in this parable of the ten virgins and you can go look at all the commentary and the context of this Parable uh and all the background information on the the Jewish wedding customs and traditions but it is a reminder on its surface and pretty straightforward to be prepared for the unexpected coming of Christ when we will face Eternal judgment that that final finish line and as we read the whys are prepared and ready for Christ's return the the whys are prepared for the expectancy that at any moment they could commune with Christ and the foolish don't prepare themselves for the final judgment and we find them shut out of the of the marriage uh ceremony the marriage feast and Kingdom and also they miss out on this empowerment in their life and it's also a reminder that in this life that there must be an oil that keeps the fire burning and the oil in this Parable represents the presence of God in our life the oil represents the Holy Ghost and you online today you that are that are watching on television you that are in person here today I want you to know that this right here First Apostolic Church of Knoxville is a house where you can find oil and this is a house where you can find an adequate and continual flow of oil if you believe that give the Lord a hand clap of praise [Applause] and this is a house that is going to keep the Revival fire burning a Revival by means of the Holy Ghost Pastor Anthony I feel like every time you get up you you preach about people getting the Holy Ghost and the evidence of speaking with another tongue 100 guilty that's why remember we had Pentecost Sunday that was that was great right that's that's every Sunday that's what we're preaching because every time that we come into his house we have to get filled up again I'm getting ahead of myself I'm getting ahead the oil in this parable oil even today there's not a lot of commentary or background context or or they say a backdrop to to tell you how valuable oil is in in so many different forms and the the many different ways it is utilized but oil all the way back to Biblical times is Jesus was giving this Parable was sacred to life it was used in religious ceremonies it was used for cooking to sustain Humanity it was used for medicinal purposes as a a bomb for healing it was used for sanitation and the oil that flows through this house has the same purposes and the same function in the spirit spiritual and it is able to do exceedingly and abundantly all that we could think or ask but we have to be the ones that light the match a Revival that exists through this continual flow of oil that will indeed prepare you for his second coming and we indeed watch day and night because we do not know the time or the hour I told you this about two years ago when we were doing the the online prayer meetings and stuff and you you know when the the epidemic first started and people uh you know it heightens your awareness and and you start thinking about as they would say all these eschatological happenings and all these apocalyptic uh things and and in Revelation and and the the horses and The Four Horsemen and and all those you know all those end time things that people fight about and and I was talking to my grandpa on the phone and I you know I was I I was really getting into detail you know just really laying it out and while I was on the phone driving almost got hit by a 2004 Toyota Corolla no man knows the day nor Jesus almost came back from me at that time no man knows the day nor the hour you've got to be ready every single day for his return don't get caught up too much yes we we look for signs of his return but but why not live every day why not live every moment that he could come for his church why not live every day in expectancy that the bridegroom might just show up [Applause] and watch out for the Toyotas no offense to Toyota a Revival that exists for one who finds themself in a difficult circumstance perhaps it's pain from the pastor pain that exists in the present maybe it's suffering of the mind maybe it's a lack of clarity in a complex situation maybe you struggle with the questions of why this took place in your life and you're now living a life heeding to God's call that has a conditional response attached to it instead of one with no conditions where your faith as you would describe it is relegated to God if you'll do this then I'll do this God because this happened then I'm only going to do this and I'm not going to do this unless you do that and you you live a life of a conditional response to God when really your life should be unconditional but what I say to you today is not condemnation but it's just the experiences of humanity that every single one of us deal with and sometimes though if we're not careful these questions can build up and we can become callous and we can make incremental digressions where we indeed come into his house still and we indeed still show up but the spirit of God begins to move and and maybe it's even in your daily devotion when you when you need to stay fueled up but just that that that fuel tank of life just just becomes emptied over a period of time and maybe it's due to a question or maybe it's due to the struggles of life or it's a question uh of why this happened or or you're drained over a situation in our fuel tanks in life can just begin to be exhausted it's mentioned in the parable that the oil is to be purchased which means that a price has to be paid to obtain the oil price has to be paid to have a continual presence of God in our life and indeed we have to pay the price we we have to we have to pay the price of making that decision in that sense making a purposeful commitment of spending time at the feet of Jesus and only a substantial presence of God in our life indeed can keep that fire burning through the dark nights and our only faithfulness when there's doubt we'll keep that that fire burning and only praise and uncertainty will will keep that fire burning and and we believe that but the the price has been paid for and because the price has been paid for we can lift up our hands at any times we can open our mouths up at any times and get a hold of that continuous flow of oil but we have to make the acknowledgment and we have to make a purposeful commitment to be that vessel that's waiting to be filled being faithful in the midst of uncertainty praising in the midst of Doubt making a purposeful commitment such a person who has that fire burning in him at the time of the bridegroom's return and I can assure you the bridegroom is in this house this morning and the bridegroom is ready to commune with those who are ready to commune with him and if you're in this house this morning regardless of whatever situation or circumstance that life has thrown out you I want to ask you this question do you have enough fuel today do you have enough fuel to make it today maybe you came in here and your your gas tank is all the way filled up maybe you came in here and you're about halfway there things are pretty good but some there's some things in life that that I'm really needing help with or maybe you just coasted in this morning on E I invite every single person under the sound of my voice to to evaluate themselves and to acknowledge that every time the doors of the church are open every single day in my devotion I've got to make a commitment to stay filled up with the oil of the Holy Ghost because Christ is ready to commune Christ is ready to show up and I can't do it without him give the Lord a great big hand Glory he paid the price so you may obtain and whatever Finish Line you are needing to cross whatever task you are needing to fulfill whatever circumstance that there's just a great deal of questions that surround it that you you really want answers for you you want this particular chapter in your life to be over and you're ready for something else I want you to know that there is more than enough fuel for every single person here today there's more than enough fuel for every person watching online and watching on television maybe you're riding in your car today and you just were scanning the radio on the am there's enough fuel for you today and whatever situation you're facing the the first thing you need to do is to say God fill me with your spirit right now I need a touch from you right now I can only go so far I've done everything I can and I need the holy ghost in my life right now I need to fill up right now oh if you're in this place ah this I'm not preaching condemnation right now I'm not trying to shame you into praise but I want to give you an invitation right now to just lift up your hands and say Lord fill me up right now fill up my tank right now I I need filled up with your spirit right now oh Lord Lord I need you to show up in this situation right now and I can't go another moment I can't go another moment till I feel a touch from you he's going to give you strength and we have an unlimited unlimited Supply on the very on the very surface really of just about every dispute in this world is over obtaining resources over something being scarce wanting this and other people have have this I need it to either sustain life or but what I'm preaching to you today is not a scarce commodity there's no diminishing return on it and there is enough for every single person and we have an unlimited Supply in the Old Testament we read a prophecy and we're familiar with the last portion of this verse not by might not by power but by your spirit but this is the conclusion of the prophecy that is going forth and Zachariah is giving zerubbabel a prophetic word that is indeed applicable to the rebuilding of the Temple of that time but it also foreshadows the outpouring of the Holy Ghost upon All Flesh through every generation we read that Zacharias prophecy given to zerubbabel was fueled by the endless supply of oil from olive trees and this oil was symbolic and it represented the spirit of God and it was to portrayed to zerubbabel who had become disheartened in the task of rebuilding the temple that the Reliance on his might and power would only get him to a certain extent and that the resources available to him in the physical available to him in his Humanity in the flesh would only allow him to be capable of a certain measure and potential and zerubbable ceiling if you will by his talents and his intelligence would allow him to lay the foundation of the temple but it would not allow him to finish it by his own merits and you have to remember whose Aruba is there was this davidic bloodline that would lead all the way up from King David to Jesus Christ to the Messiah as rubable's grandfather the Bible says was as a Signet removed because Jacob and because God had been disgusted by him for allowing the people to be going to captivity by the Babylonians and and by the the nation of of Babylon but we read now that zerubbabel was now a Signet God had reinstated that davidic bloodline and the prophecy from King David to Jesus now was back intact this was zerubbabel part of the Royal bloodline zerubbabel who was going with all of his militaristic might and all of his diplomatic Acumen and and all of the skills and resources to rebuild the Temple and he started out with a great deal of passion and he started out with a great deal of tenacity and he started out with a great architectural plan all of the proper things that you should do and all of the proper means and measures that you should have before undergoing such a task but he like every one of us about Midway through the project he became disheartened he had plateaued just a bit he he he didn't know what the next step was going to be this this great King's robible he had hit the ceiling if you will with his talents and his intelligence and Zechariah the prophet of God said you can lay the foundation with all of the skills and the talents that you have but it's only going to get you to a certain point it's only going to get you so far and the Lord says unto him you can't do it by your might nor by your power only through my spirit and he said my spirit will forever continue to pour this oil flowing shall never cease and it shall never run dry it will continue to be a source of fuel to keep the lamp illuminated and it is not a scarce commodity whenever you need it there is more than enough of it you just have to ask for it and you have to depend upon it and you're only going to be able to lay the foundation on your own Merit but in order to complete that architectural rendering that you created and that strategic 10 phase plan of the temple not only am I going to complete it but I'm going to make it exceedingly zerubbable from what you even imagined I declare to you this morning if you will depend and rely on the Holy Ghost in every single aspect of your life you can make a list of goals you can put your plans together and he's going to exceed them and give you more than what you could even ask for if you will rely on it and if you will depend on it and if you will stay filled up every time you come into His presence if you won't say hey everything's going good right now I don't guess I need you today God oh it's just another Sunday why should I give you praise no we are a people of the name we are people described by his Spirit every time we come in this is the house where you get filled up out give him a hand clap of Praise right now it's not as scarce commodity it's for every single person John tells us the world will pass away and the lust everything that that is desired is what this is talking about all all of those things that that we desire to have to to give us a better life The Living Translation says everything that people crave but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever and that commodity that I'm talking about this morning that is an unlimited Supply will give you eternal life and it will never run dry it will never cease and that fire will continue to burn and abide forever and though the resources of this world may be diminishing in quantity there's one thing in this world but not of this world and it will never run out it cannot be Quantified there's no diminishing return and it is in Unlimited Supply and it's the spirit of God and it's going to be poured out on All Flesh and it's for every single person the prophecy states that the two olive trees were providing oil for the lampstand an oil that would never cease so we could always continue to sustain the golden Candlestick the illumination the vision because the battle is not going to be won by might it's not going to be won by a great impressive strength it's not going to be by the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others over the course of events of militaristic might but it's victory is only going to come by his Spirit Freedom true freedom is only going to come by his spirit and away as the praise team sing about is only going to be made through his spirit and no matter how long you've served God and no matter how long you've been serving him whether it's 50 years or this is your first time in his house every single person has to make a concerted effort to be filled up every single time we come into his house because Jesus is ready to commune with you as the lamps burned continually supplied with oil from a source that man did not make supplied from a source that man cannot control supplied from a source which man has no influence over kings and queens can't take it away the government can't regulate it the politicians can't legislate it nothing in this world can keep you from having that continual flow of oil that Holy Ghost from on high who was going to rebuild the Temple Prophet said be not disheartened because of your weakness because of your Humanity for your work is going to be I like this word resurged it's going to be researched by the spirit of God man's weakness is no obstacle in fact it's the first ingredient to get emptied out for God will make perfect strength out of your weakness the lower you are the more empty you are you're in the perfect situation because the more he is going to fill you up and God is ready to work this morning in your weakness God is ready this morning to move in your weariness and give you that Resurgence that we read about he's ready to make a way in the stress of your life he's he's ready for you this morning right there in the midst of your doubt or your anxiety or you're in fear whatever situation you're in the right place this morning and you you tuned into the right church house today his spirit is ready to move when you've gone just as far as you can go and it's in Unlimited Supply you may have laid the foundation you may have started a project and you're plateaued some of you stepped out and by faith in different areas of your life and you now find yourself maybe perhaps a bit weary of the of the next step and likewise just like zerubbabel you you started out ready to go you had all the plans in place you had a ton of passion you did all the proper planning but then l-i-f-e that that disease that none of us can avoid has has come in as an obstacle and it's just drank you all the way down to E God is telling you through his word this morning power not by might but only through my spirit and I'm going to do something even greater I'm going to build something even more magnificent than what you even planned to do and you're only going and you're going to know when it's over you're going to know without a shadow of a doubt that it only took place because my spirit made away how sad the float of an oil company the world's largest at that time even though the company they represented had a had an endless supply how sad that this was the float that ran out of gas likewise how sad would it be and much more detrimental to us than stalling in a parade how sad would it be for us who describe ourselves as keepers of the flame who who describe ourselves as Pentecostal and experience who if we were to write down all the characteristics that make us up we we would without a shadow of a doubt say we have an endless supply of oil we're Apostolic Pentecostal we we clap loud we Rejoice loud and how sad would it be for somebody to tune in or or come join us in person and it might not meet and fit the description that we ride out how sad would it be to have this endless supply of oil and not even utilize it how sad would it be the standardized Oil Company the the greatest Oil Company in the world their float ran out of fuel how sad would it be for the Apostolic Church in the last day on that last lap just oh we got everything under control it's uh just another Sunday didn't that praise team they did a good job oh I'm kind of tired this morning oh it's the fall aren't the leaves pretty how sad would it be but I just believe that I'm in a church house today [Applause] that even when you don't don't feel like it coasted in even in the uncertainty of a situation like I said you're in a you're in a church house where that oil just continues to flow this is a church that would testify yeah not by might not by power we'd have been done a long time ago oh but only through his Spirit only through his spirit with the musicians and the praise team come only through his Spirit are we going to make it another day it's not just another Sunday this is the day the Lord hath made we will rejoice and be glad in it if I'm on full I need a little bit more if I'm on half I need to get filled up all the way or if I just Coast it in Lord I'm ready for you to move right now I'm ready for you to fill me up right now and to give him just a little bit of Praise I know nobody's singing yet I know the music's not going but just could you give him a concerted praise just a just a purposeful praise this is an invitation I'm not trying to shame you we're we're Pentecostal word we're keepers of the flame we got to go out sometimes and purposefully get the oil just remain standing yes Jesus Matthew gave us that warning when he said Jesus when he went under the scribes and Pharisees he said hypocrites you're like why did sepulchers which indeed appear beautiful outward butter within full of dead man's bone and all uncleanness he said oh that's a beautiful coffin I see that's a lovely coffin but inside is muck and mire and Decay and stench we've got to be careful not to only have an external appearance like everything is just perfect and I'm some holy Joe no offense to Joe I believe in external Holiness without a doubt but it's a manifestation of what's on the inside we have nothing if internally we're full of Dead Man's Bones but I know I'm not in a church house today that just preaches legalism but we live it in every single capacity of our life in our speech in our appearance in our conduct in our faithfulness to his house in our worship and dedication to him every single thing is centered around this world because we know we've got to stay filled up with that oil every single time we come in the ten virgins in the parable represent Christians who are waiting for the return of Christ and we know the five prepared bridesmen brought extra oil what is that extra oil that means that even if everything's going good right now you need to store some up because you don't know what will take place tomorrow you don't know what phone call you might get this afternoon you don't know what's going to exhaust and drain you and that's when you've got to have that Holy Ghost oil that's going to continue to flow and when the groom's arrival was later than expected the prepared ladies were drained and sleep this is a church that's not slumbering this is a church that is wide awake this morning and at this low point that extra oil carried them and they were rewarded splendidly at the wedding feast meanwhile we know the demise of the the final five who had to go out and look for it once he came I want to tell you this morning that whatever circumstance of life you find yourself in whatever level that you find your fuel tank on this morning if it's on full you need to get extra if you're halfway you need to fill up and if you Coast it in you're in the right place at the right time because he's going to pour even more into you as we pray this morning just symbolically obviously if you need to repent of your sins this altar is open for you and you need to clear out all of the sin in your life and be baptized in that name of Jesus and then you're going to be filled up with his spirit but I also want to invite you today maybe somebody's dealing with something that no one else knows and only you know about her maybe you're standing in the gap for somebody I want to invite somebody to come up right now and take one of these fuel lamps and just say hey I'm going to take I'm going to make sure the oil is full I'm going to make sure the oil is fueled this morning would you come if there's a situation that you've been praying about if there's a situation that you've been facing would you come up and grab one of these fuel lamps as a symbol as a symbol there there there's there's no magic in these okay there there there's there's no you know blessing over these this is just a simple something you can look at something you can you can you can pick up and say I'm going to keep this filled I'm going to make sure I'm going to make sure that whatever comes my way that I am going to keep the lamp lit I'm going to keep the fire burning maybe you're standing in the gap for for somebody else maybe uncertainty has just entered every area of your life Jesus Promised power power through his Spirit a resurgence acts 1 and 8. tells us that ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you and you shall be witnessed as unto me in Jerusalem on Judea and Samaria unto the uttermost parts of the earth he said he's going to pour His Spirit upon All Flesh and you're going to receive power would you lift your hands this morning and in the Holy Ghost that Unlimited Supply of oil is about to just flow continuously through this house oh like in the Old Testament when it was poured on air and it just dripped down his head and down his beard and down the tips of His Garment it was in in so much excess that's how it's going to be here this morning and whatever situation you face you need to start by depending on the spiritless prayer and almighty God we thank you God you see every detail and you see all the situations in this house Lord we're asking you to fill us up this morning fill this up with your spirit fill us up with your presence God in your name right now in Jesus name Jesus Jesus