APC, What Do You See (Part 3) - Pastor Brad DeLong

This is the focus of our message today. And I invite you to turn with me to the word of the Lord to the book of Mark chapter 8 together. As you do, I will reiterate to all of us and also inform our guests that the Lord has had this church family on a 90year-old journey. But in recent times, uh, a specific journey, a journey that we invite every guest, every new family member to join. Cannot promise you that it'll be an easy journey, but I can tell you that it will be a worthwhile one as we all try to be more like Jesus and we all follow him.

I preached this text earlier in the year from a similar theme at the end of last year and the Lord circled me back to it again somewhat unexpectedly recently even though God has been dealing with me along these lines for several months. Mark 8 tells us a quick story about a blind man. A story that's very much like our story. Verse 22 says, "Then Jesus came to Bethada and they brought a blind man to him and they begged Jesus to touch him. So he took the blind man by the hand and he led him out of the town.

And when he had spit on his eyes, that's odd. And put his hands on him. He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and he said, "I see men like trees walking." In other words, I've I can see, but it's blurred. I can't see everything. He put his hands on his eyes again. Everyone say again. And he made him look up and he was restored and he saw everyone and everything clearly. And Jesus sent him away to his house saying, "Don't tell anybody." And reading this text, I believe that the Lord has started something at APC.

We have been in the middle of a miracle for quite some time in families and circumstances in our church as a whole. You don't have to zoom out very far or pray very long to see that God is moving and working. And we're just trying to figure out what are you doing, Lord? I believe God is circling back again today to adjust our vision once more and give us a clearer picture in the completion of a miracle. Doing so, I also believe he's wanting to elevate your faith.

Would you just unlock it today? Just open your heart for what the Lord wants to do as I preach from this title APC. What do you see part three? It just happens to rhyme. Would you express your faith right now by lifting your hands and saying, "Lord, whatever you need me to see today, I want to open my eyes and open my heart to see it more than what is seen in the natural today. Lord, I invite you to show me something that's beyond what I'm currently seeing right now.

I can see enough. I can see men like trees. I can see through a glass darkly. I can see something, but I don't see the full picture. I don't know your whole plan. I'm trying to figure it out. I'm strained to see what it is that you want to do. Help me today. Help my belief and my unbelief. If I've got doubts, remove them today. Help me, Lord, to fully believe that you are working and you're going to finish your work in the name of Jesus.

Amen. You may be seated. If you recall from six months ago, context of our passage, it's strategic and intentional. If you do recall that, you deserve a medal. Uh it's hard to remember what happened six days ago, much less six months ago. But I need you to know that this passage we just read from is very intentional. According to our in-house expert on the book of Mark, who prefers to remain nameless, brother Peter, uh the surrounding text, sorry, love you, pastor Pete. The surrounding text of this miracle and this moment, they are critical for us to know and to recognize.

This isn't just some oneoff. It's not an aside in the story of the disciples as they uh attempted to follow Jesus and understand him and his plan for them and for their future. Instead, this story of this blind man is set right in the middle of two very important interactions between Jesus and his disciples. It's also strategically in the middle portion of the book as they are on the way to Jerusalem. A theme that you'll see throughout. If you look back in your Bibles just before the blind man is healed in this peculiar two-part healing process, Jesus could have touched him like he did the others and he could have had his sight right then like Barnameus.

But instead, he breaks it into two moments into two miracles. Just before that, Jesus gets in a boat with his disciples. He begins to teach them about the the leaven of the Pharisees, their their teachings, their their ways. If you look in the New King James, the heading of this passage before the blind man is literally the disciples do not understand. They miss the mark as Jesus is trying to teach them that the text says he charges them. He says, "Take heed beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and and the leavenven of Herod." And and they reason among themselves saying, "He's saying that because we forgot bread.

We've got no bread." But Jesus being aware of it says, "Why are you talking about bread? Why are you reasoning this? Do you not perceive or understand?" This is Mark 8:15. That uh is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? Having ears, do you not hear? Do you not remember when I took up the five loaves for 5,000? How many baskets did you take up? And 12. They shrug their shoulders, I imagine. And when I broke the seven for 4,000 people and fed them, how many baskets full of leftovers did you take up?

And and they said, "Seven?" And he says, "How is it that you don't understand and see that I can do more than you think I can do?" And one writer noted that they're half blind. Sound familiar? Jesus had just fed over 9,000 people with 19 baskets left over and they're still worried about bread and they just don't see things clearly. sort of like the man in the next five verses who experiences a miracle and that he can see but he still can't see the whole picture or see Jesus in his completion.

This was the plight of the disciples as well. And this is bookended. The next verse after the blind man's healing, Jesus asked his disciples. He says, "Who do who do men say that I am?" They answered and they said, "John the Baptist." But but some say Elijah. Others say one of the prophets. What about you? And Peter speaks up. He says, "You're the Messiah. You're the Christ." And we're like, "Yes, he gets it. He can see it. He sees Jesus for who he is." But literally four verses later, we find that Peter tries to reprimand and rebuke Jesus.

He's saying, "You're not going to die on the cross. That that's not going to happen to you, master." And Jesus uses the familiar phrase we've heard about. He says, "Get behind me, Satan, for you are not mindful. You are not seeing the things of God. You are seeing the things of men." Peter has the same moment the blind man had before him. I see who you are. You're the Messiah. I can see some of what you're doing, but I'm half blind. I just can't see it.

I see that you're God. I see that you're the almighty one. You can do anything. But I'm often still blind. And and I'm mindful of the things of men and not the things of of God. I can see, but I can only see men like trees. Not the full picture. Anybody else this relate to this morning? Anybody? I have my moments when I come in the presence of God or even seasons when I feel like, "Oh, I can see the Lord and what he's doing clearly." But but one stumbling block later and one phone call later and one unexplainable phenomenon or storm or circumstance later and I'm walking with half my vision on him and the other 80% on the waves and the considerations of men and and I'm confounded and confused and and I'm overwhelmed and I know that 50% and 80% don't add up but somehow it's still accurate anyway.

I see you Jesus but I really can't see you. I see what you've done, but I'm still straining to see what you can do and and what you will do. I'm living and walking in the miraculous right now, but but my faith or the lack thereof is still squinting to see clearly, how are you working? What more are you doing? How are you working through all of this mess right now? This makes all the more sense when we read things like this that faith is the evidence of things hoped for.

It's the substance of things not yet seen, things that were squinting to see. Even the faith of Jesus, his own disciples after he fed 9,000 plus, was accompanied by half blindness, blurry vision, fuzzy but hopeful dreams and statements of belief. Faith is clear one moment and it's seemingly indistinct the next. As soon as I walk out of services, sometimes my faith starts to get a little blurry. And I get into Monday and Tuesday and and I've been hit hard by life and faith is even more blurry.

And then I get here on Wednesday and I hear the word of truth and hopefully I'm hearing the word of truth in the days in between. And and the Lord has to adjust my vision all over again. One day clear, indistinct, the next. And we find ourselves with this age-old plight of the disciples and the blind man. Even today, we're in the middle of our own miracles, but still squinting to see what God is doing in our lives and family and church. Is there anyone honest enough to say with me today that you're living right in the middle of miracles?

You got breath in your lungs, which is a miracle. Uh, but you're still finding yourself fuzzy in your faith and in the evidence of things not seen. Anyone there? Anybody? We got a couple honest people. I think all of us. Is it any wonder that Jesus would come back around and through the preached word and the power of the presence of God just like he did? He said in that message of tongues, "It may not look like what you thought it would look like." I didn't talk to Caleb before service and say, "Cale, we're going to arrange this message in tongues and me and you and others are going to No, no, no.

The Lord is trying to get someone's attention and help you see what he's been trying to get you to see. He's trying to amend and correct our vision. He's trying to take us by the chin like he did with that blind man say, "Hey, I've got more to show you. I've got more for you to see." He's done this repeatedly in our church family and for individuals within it. In fact, the first part of this message, first time I preached it, I'll admit to you that I and many others, we were flying blind.

We were in the thick of it. We were with vision that was unclear, vision that was muddy. There were some dark days. There were seemingly endless nights. The first time I conveyed this thought, a time when Jesus and his word led us one step at a time, one day at a time, one storm at a time. There's sometimes I feel like I can see a month off or maybe two or three or four. Those days I could see one hour off or or one day off and the Lord had to lead me.

And I I told the church during that season, I quoted an author who said, "A faith that hasn't been tested is a faith that cannot be trusted." If your faith hasn't been tested, soon as it is, it may not be able to be trusted. We experience and are still experiencing the true testing of our faith. A testing which produces patience. Jesus was with us and he carried us all along. In the second portion of this faith interaction, part two of this message came in March. We had families and individuals who were still in the midst of the muck and and the turmoil.

We we felt the hand of the master come alongside and he grabbed us. some of us gently, other us a little little more forcefully by the chin. And he lifted our eyes and he told us and helped us to see the way forward. And we learned that his his word has been and will continue to be a lamp into our feet and a light into our path. We've learned what it means to have the Lord himself order our steps and our path. We've learned also what the valley of the shadow of death looks like.

Some of us have learned the caverns in the valley of the shadow of death. Some of us have that valley mapped right now. Some of you might be in that valley right now or just coming out of it and you've walked through it alongside the psalmist and the shepherd and you know what it means for him to lead you besides still waters and for him to restore your that's not just a psalm in the midst of all the other psalms. That psalm may be your life verse right now.

That psalm may be your only guide right now. And although things aren't presently perfect and they're not peachy right now, I pause to remind somebody who's still in the valley, you may still be in the valley, but you are still here. You are still breathing and living and walking. You are in the very process of overcoming. You're still under the careful watch of the good shepherd. And here you are on a Sunday morning standing in the middle of the valley of the shadow of death with hands lifted and faith elevated and your eyes looking to the hills from which comes your you're still here.

You're still in the race and in the good fight. Make no mistake this morning. You're still here. And I can tell you you're better for it. Said it earlier and I recognize who's walked through a trial in the last year. So some walking through it right now. I know things aren't perfect, nor will they ever be this side of eternity. But I also recognize just like the blind man who is in the middle of his miracle, you may not be where you want to be, but you're not where you used to be.

You can't see it all yet, but you can see something. You can see that God is doing a good work. We can see that a miracle has already begun to take shape. We can see that Jesus is with us. We can see that he's working. Even if I can't see the whole picture just yet, I can see something which tells me that a miracle is happening. When I went from seeing nothing to something, I recognize something powerful is happening. And I believe Jesus has come today to help clear away some of the remaining doubt and the uncertainty and the disbelief, the skepticism, the cynicism, the cobwebs.

I know what it's like to hear the word of the Lord and say, "Yeah, but God, you said that last time or Lord, you've been telling me that for months and and what about this and what I know what it's like. I can't see it right now." And that may frustrate you. But if you see anything, you're in the middle of a miracle. We're all still living life facing sicknesses and storms and overcoming the same. But the Lord has come to remind us that we're in the middle of his plan.

And that if we still have breath in our lungs, if we see have a single ounce of faith and vision in our hearts, just like that blind man, God is already doing something. If we are still here, and we are, he has already done a miracle. If I can see anything at all right now, even men who look like trees, the truth is that we've seen too much to shrink back now. We've seen too much of the faithfulness of God to think that he's finished with you or your family or this church or this miracle, right?

We've seen God make a way far too many times for me to believe that there's no way forward or that this this uh these ruins and this plan is our forever lot in life. We've seen too much of his miracle working power to believe anything other than the fact that he has begun a good work and that he will complete that good work in his own day and in his own time. I know you may not see it all yet, but you can see enough to tell you that God is faithful, that his word is true, that he's for you, and that you will see his full victory and reward and promise come to pass.

I think just one of those statements ought to stir some faith in you. God is for me. God is for me. God's not against me. God is here. God is faithful. I can't see it yet. But I encourage myself in the Lord and I remind myself and I hear the words of my pastor. He has not forsaken me. He has not left me. I'm not here to die. I'm going to make it. Oh, I wish I could impart it the way I feel it. Second Corinthians, for we walk by faith.

not by sight. And we know that Hebrews 11 says, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for. It's the evidence of things not seen. For by that faith, the elders obtain a good testimony. By faith, we understand the worlds were framed by the word of God. If the worlds were framed by his word, your world can be framed by his word." So that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. We may not see it all yet, but we see enough to know that God is still good and he's not finished yet.

This is a sense I've had personally and in recent times as my faith and the God who inspires it have been stirring continually and constantly. For months now, I have felt the Lord dealing with me over and over again, preparing us for whatever wonderful, beautiful, God-sized things he has next. I've told our staff. I've told other friends and leaders and and prayer warriors. I've been vulnerable as I can. The Lord told me to tell some people that I cannot see it all yet. I'm I'm squinting to see it, but I can see a picture of God's goodness and greatness and his plan starting to form and starting to come to fruition.

I I see a vision that he's given start to become clearer. I see a vision of a thriving apostolic church faithfully connecting, growing, and serving others. I can see a miracle starting to take shape, a new season and chapter starting to come into view and God's plans coming to pass. For weeks and months, he's been speaking to me and preparing me and preparing all of us. He's been nudging and leading and proddding us to health. He's been bringing new family members and precious people of God to join us in our journey.

He's been preparing his bride like he said he would in Ephesians 5 that he might present her to himself a glorious church. Not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and without blemish. He's been helping and healing us to match and to see his vision for APC and every life within it come to pass. In the process, we found ourselves in the same position as the blind man in Mark 8, the disciples of the same chapter, even Paul in second Corinthians 4.

We find ourselves in what some theologians have called the already, but not yet. The already, but not yet. We've seen God moving already. Dozens of miracles. I got two more that I added to the list this morning. dozens of miracles and answers to prayer, health, and growth in families, provisions, and protection and strength and peace. We're living and walking amongst the miraculous already. And we can see with every service, God is doing something. God is up to something, but we're also in the not yet. Still waiting, straining, praying, reaching, hoping for what is to come.

We we've gained so much ground and territory and health and and faith, but we haven't yet attained or arrived. We're pressing towards the mark even still and as I mentioned we're fixed in the same place Paul was in 2 Corinthians 4. This passage has been an anchor point for me especially in recent years. Paul says we have this treasure and earth and vessels that the excellence of the power of God or maybe of God and not of us. We're hardpressed on every side yet not crushed.

We're perplexed but we're not in despair. Persecuted but not forsaken. We are struck down. We admit it but we're not destroyed. We're always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus so that the life of Jesus would be manifested in us. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus's sake. That is kind of our lot in life, but it's so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our flesh. Death is working. Yes, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith according to what's written, I believe and therefore I spoke.

And that's what I'm trying to do today. I can see so I'm speaking. We also believe and therefore we speak knowing that the Lord who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and he'll present us with you. For all things are for your sake that grace having spread through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore, someone read that. Read it out loud. Anybody? Therefore, therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

If your inward man is not being renewed day by day, here's your sign. For our light affliction, some translations add present or momentary light affliction, which is but for a moment, it's working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. We don't look on the things which are seen. We look at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen, they're temporary. It's not permanent. Things which are not seen are eternal. So Paul calls what he's facing in the Corinthians battles and even ours by extension.

He says they're present and light afflictions. They're momentary. Another translation calls them they're small. They're trivial. They're temporal according to Paul. But how many of us feel like they are? They don't seem like that to us, do they? Some of the things that we face or we're currently facing, they seem anything but temporal, anything but trivial, anything but momentary and light and small and temporary. If we're honest, most days they seem permanent. They seem heavy. They're overwhelming. They're they're as close to eternal as it can get.

They they seem like they're our lot in life. They're they're I'm never going to get out of this. Instead of feeling trivial and small, they seem unbearable and unending. And and in all honesty, there have been a couple times when I quoted this anchor verse of mine, one that encapsulates this already, but not yet. This blurry vision and I have secretly and now publicly taken issue with Paul's word choice there, at least English translation. Really, Paul momentary and light. I scan this congregation today and I see people I would there's no way I'd call their affliction momentarian light until I realize what Paul's talking about.

Until I compare my afflictions with the ones that he and Jesus endured, especially when I realize that the momentary light affliction Paul was apparently focused on was literally the death of his body, the perishing of the outward man that he and others endured. And I realize just how deep and powerful this passage is. Paul's afflictions were not momentary. They were not light. They were the constant friend in his ministry. Beaten, bruised, stoned, shipwrecked, falsely accused, likely executed. And yet he himself says, "No temptations overtaken you, no trials overtaken you or tests, but that which is common to man.

But God is faithful. He won't allow you to be tempted beyond what you're able. But with that temptation will make a way of escape that you'll be able to bear it. And he reminds us with a thorn in his side and a dying and diminishing flesh. Church, we do not lose heart. Our outward man is perishing. The inward man's being renewed for our light affliction which is but for a moment is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. I wonder if you're starting to get a glimpse of that glory.

We don't look on the things which are seen. We look under things how on a Sunday morning when we invite the word of the Lord to change us, challenge us and stir us and we open our eyes of faith. I know it does not feel momentary. I know it doesn't feel light and tolerable. But let me just preach to someone who's facing a present and light affliction. I want to tell you despite what you feel and despite what you might currently see, your affliction is not permanent.

It is not eternal. Your affliction will not be the death of you. It will not be the eternal demise of you. Your affliction will not run you out of this race. Your affliction will not overtake you or cause you to drown. You will survive. I want someone who survived an affliction to help me when I say you will survive. You will make it. You are going to make it. I've told you this multiple times. I need to tell someone. You're going to make it. You're going to make it through this thing.

You will see a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. I know you don't see it yet. You see men like trees. You don't see Jesus fully just yet, but you're going to see Jesus. You see the Lord high and lifted up in the train of his road filling the temple in victory. You're going to make it. You're going to pull through. And God's strength is going to be made perfect in your weakness. For the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, Peter says, after you have suffered a while, he will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

I believe that this is the God you're going to get a glimpse of even now as you face present and light afflictions. This is the glory you're going to see even now through the lens of your faith. And it might be through the lens of tears running down your face, but you can get a glimpse of the glory. This is the savior and the miracle worker and the healer who you can see now. You may not see it fully yet. It may be blurry, but you're going to see clearly.

These afflictions are producing a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. I know some are living in the already, but not yet. Technically, we all are. You're in the middle of a miracle looking for its completion. You're caught between two realities. One that's blurry, one that's stormy, another that's full of the glory of God. And in light of it, I've come to encourage you today and remind you God is working. He's moving. He's leading you to victory, to triumph, to an expected end and future.

We may not see it yet, but I can see the Lord grabbing us again gently, some of us forcefully by the chin, adjusting our vision. And he asks you again today, APC, what do you see? Can you see what I'm doing yet? Do you see the vision, the plan God has for you yet? Can you see the growth and the health and the stature of Christ in your life yet? I know you've been looking around at that valley, but if you just look up, can you see the son of God in that valley?

Are you healthy and growing and full of love yet? Are you loving your neighbor as you love yourself yet? Do you know Christ in his power and in the fellowship of his sufferings yet? Can you see that he's moving and working and healing yet? Or are you needing another Sunday, another service, another move of the power and the glory of God to see it fully yet? And if you are, that's okay because I often need the same. What do you see today? Do you see the present and light afflictions only?

Are you getting a glimpse of the glory of God that you've been missing recently? And can you see that you are right in the middle of a miracle? While you contemplate and think on it, let me remind you just a couple of things I've been seeing. Some of the faith things that my faith is allowing me to see. Truth is, I've been in the trenches with all of you. I don't wake up with an immediate dose of faith every day and levitate out of bed. I wake up confronted with reality.

Which is why before I get out of bed, I say, "Lord, I need you. I can't do this alone." I encourage you to pray that because you start seeing your day a lot different when you do. I'm in the trenches, but I see some things off in the distance. I'm squinting. And the Lord's showing me some things. I can see a thriving apostolic church. I can see families and individuals and believers and new family members getting healthy and growing and full of love. I'm reading the text messages.

I'm talking to them and they're doing devotions and the power of God's moving in their homes and and their neighborhoods. I can see those text messages from parents and single adults and saints telling me the good things that God's doing in their lives even as their faith is being tested and their comfort zones are non-existent. I I see the reports of families doing devotions and hyphens studying the word of God and youth giving sacrificial unprecedented offerings to the kingdom of God here at APC. I see healthy homes, healthy marriages and healthy families and healthy communities.

The people of God growing and becoming full of love in the process. I see the people of God and their faith being tested in ways it never has before, but them passing the same test. I got a text from the Jeremy Elkins last month or about six weeks ago. He testified to one of those tests. He said, "Earlier in 2023, Mr. Miller started having very high fevers accompanied by vomiting and severe uh stomach issues. And he said we'd take him to the doctor. It was nothing viral.

And after the fever ran its course for three to four days, he'd be back to normal. And that happened about every four weeks, the same thing for six to eight months. You talk about a trial and a test for a mom and a dad. And he they said they checked everything they knew to check and had doctor's appointments. And after doctor's appointments, they said we finally got connected to a pediatric rheatologist. After some genetic testing, they found that he had a rare fever syndrome, FMF. Thankfully, he was able to prescribe a medication that eliminated the fevers in a couple months.

But, but Miller still struggled and he had brain foggess and joint pain and mouth sores at times. And he said it was a miracle that we were able to get connected to the right do doctor to prescribe the medication. But, but he also had just admitted, "I just never felt like it was going to be the end of the story. You're not the only one. There's others in this room that are in there already. I can see God moving, but his is my lot in life and not yet.

And they'd pray and they'd pray and Miller would pray in class and they'd pray in children's service. He said over the past year while still on the medication, his symptoms had been very limited. They fast forward to May of this year, they took him off the medicine over the summer just to see how his system reacted. He said, 'I'm grateful to say it has been three plus months with no fever, no other symptoms. He says, "Praise God and we join you in that praise, Brother Jeremy." He said, "We met with the rheatologist uh a couple of weeks ago, and he said, "There's no need to continue the meds at this time.

I'll see you again in in six months." And he ends the text by saying, "God is good all the time." Oh, you're in the middle of a miracle. You just got to see it. Open your eyes and see what God is doing in your life. What do you see, APC? God showing me the miraculous. I can see God pouring out his spirit on all flesh. I can see God healing hearts and relationships and bodies. If you see any of this with me, I want to hear it.

I can see God restoring the broken and the prodigals and unsaved loved ones. I wonder if you can see them. APC, the prodigals and family members on their way back to God and on their way to God. Can you see them coming down the road yearning for peace and yearning for the presence of of God? Can you see your co-workers and your neighbors and friends with their hands lifted, receiving the spirit of God? Can you see your loved ones being baptized and having their lives changed?

Can you see your marriage healthy? Can you see your home healthy? Can you see that relationship restored with that brother or that sister? Can you see your neighborhood being turned on in because of the message of the love of God? What do you see? I look out those windows on a fall day and I see ter. The Lord gave me a plan. I'm going to see what happens. See Coington Manor. See the Bosian community. I was standing with Billy Christian a couple weeks ago. We're standing right over here.

Said, "Would you agree with me and pray over the Bosian community?" I got a couple a family at least that's coming to a connect group. We were standing over there and we began to pray and I told Christian said, "Christian, I just have a word of faith and we're not just going to see an open door into that community here in St. Louis and see families changed and saved, but I believe that we're going to send a missionary from here to Bosnia." Yeah, I know it's hard to believe.

Presently, we have no United Pentecostal Church missionary in Bosnia. I don't know. I didn't even know that when I said that to him, but I see an open door. I wonder if you lift your hands and pray with me right now. If you could help me see it in faith right now, would you express it? Uh Jesus, we we we see dimly, Lord, we don't even know. I don't even know how it's going to happen. And we're being vulnerable in our faith right now, but we see an open door.

We see an open door into that community. Oh, Lord, nothing's even happened yet. Ah, but I'm believing for four and five steps down the road that we're going to be able to send someone to that nation, that wonderful, beautiful nation and people, and that they're going to be changed. Oh, God. Told the story. I was in my office a couple months ago. I was getting a cup of coffee. It's when the Lord speaks to me. Apparently, I wasn't praying about anything. I was just thinking, wasn't thinking about this church or building at the time.

I'd think about you often, but not them. The Lord broke in. He said, "I'm going to pay for your building." I said, "What? What building?" I had no intention of sharing this until I saw it fully. being real. That Sunday, Bishop preached, standing over there, the Lord said, "Get up there and tell him. Tell him what." I wanted to have it all figured out first. That's what we like to do. Well, I'll express the faith, but I got to see something first, God. No, that's not how it works.

I wanted to have it figured out. And I got up here and Lord, if it doesn't happen, I'm in trouble. The good people of God, you believe with me? I had people asking me, "Hey, what's it going to look like? What? I don't know, pastor. That's a little far-fetched, don't you think?" Sure. Yeah. Faith is the substance of things. I wasn't even thinking about it. But it tells me that what God is going to do is larger than the size of this wonderful footprint. He's got a plan.

I'm just a part of it. What do you see, APC? We're calling it like I see it today. Not in a natural sense, but I can see men like trees. I can see God moving. As our bishop says, I may not be able to track God, but I trust him. I trust the God whom Paul praised when he said, "Now to him who's able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory forever and ever." Before we come to a close this morning, I want to tell you two more things that I see.

I'm not sure what you're seeing right now in your life and in your world, but I see victory. Victory. How many of you would agree with me that we're going to see victory? I'm going to tell you the kind of victory that I'm talking about here. I know for some, even when you squint and strain and you muster all the faith you got, you don't see victory coming for you or a way out of this fight on the horizon. You think that this is going to be the end.

But I feel in faith, victory is coming and assure today. And I'm going to call it like I see it. Victory is coming. Victory for families, victory for marriages, victory for the people of Apostolic Pentecostal Church. We're going to see victory for South County. We're going to see victory for St. Louis. We're going to see victory for prodigals and neighbors and co-workers and unsaved loved ones. Victory over addiction, victory over oppression and anxiety, victory over every stronghold and darkness and weapon and voice and tactic of our adversary.

Victory over every antagonist and enemy of the bride of God. I know you might be straining to see it, but you can look no further in first John 5 and4. It qualifies us for whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that's overcome the world. Our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world. But he who believes that Jesus is the If you believe that Jesus is real and the son of God, you qualify for victory. The same son of God who says in the world you'll have tribulation.

Be of good cheer. I've overcome the world. So thanks be to God, Paul says, who always leads us to triumph in Christ and through us diffuses the fragrance of his knowledge in every place. So who can separate us from the love of God? For your sake, he says, we're killed all the day long. We're led asleep sheep to the slaughter. Yet in all these things, we're more than conquerors. I see victory today. My faith cannot help but see victory. Triumph over things present, over things to come, over sickness and storms, troubles.

Triumph even over death. Musicians can come. Paul says this, "Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep. We'll be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound." My back window looks east, and I just imagine, I prayed every day, Lord, I want to be ready for when you come back. Can I just imagine? I can't. I haven't seen it yet. Pastor, you've been looking for that for years. And our elders have been looking for that for years.

Yeah, I know. But he's coming and I'm looking for him. It will sound the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed. This corruptible must put on incorruption. This mortal put on immortality. So when this corrupt is put on incorruption, this mortal is put on immortality, then the saying will be brought to pass, it's written, death is swallowed up in victory. Oh death, where's your sting? Hell, Hades, where is your victory? Sting of sin, or death is sin, and the strength of sin is in the law.

But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren and sisters, be steadfast and movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing your labor is not in vain in the Lord. I see victory today, APC. Victory over death, hell, and the grave. Our final victory. I see it coming because the last thing we'll talk about is I see Jesus coming. What do you see? I see what that blind man saw. I see Jesus. Some of the events of this past month in our world and nation have reminded us of anything.

It's a stark reminder that Jesus is coming and we got work to do proclaiming the message for Peter. I know what the Facebook pers are saying and the news and all the other stuff is saying what you see. But I see victory in the wake of it all. Especially as I read Luke 21 where he says, "And there will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars and and on earth there'll be the distress of nations with perplexity." We see it. The sea and the waves roaring, men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth.

I don't know if that's ever been more accurate. For the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they'll see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now, when these things begin to happen, you look up and you lift your heads and your eyes. Your redemption draws near. I see it all, but I see Jesus coming in the middle of our miracle. Kenan, Maddie, would you all come stand right here if you wouldn't mind? Face the congregation. prayed, processed the end of this service, felt to do something specific.

Many know that Miss Maddie has had ongoing and chronic pain in her body, her back, her head for years. It's been distressing, but the Lord's been working through it all. In a service a lot like this one, a sensitive elder and brother came to them and gave them a word of faith and direction. And since that time, they've been on a journey, to say the least. They're still on that journey and they're in the middle of a miracle and I believe with them they're going to see the end of this part of that journey and they're going to see victory and healing of the Lord.

I believe their journey is already inspiring others. It's inspiring me. It'll probably elevate your faith today. Maddie text me about over a month ago. She had spent extensive time in the hospital in the treatment center in Chicago. They were the best, but they couldn't alleviate the pain. She said, "We've got a great report to share." We went to youth congress. When she did, she went with a lot of pain in her body. She had a migraine and an injured back. But Ken and I were thinking, "Well, God can heal.

We know what we feel and what we see, but God can heal. So, we're going to go. We're going to believe that God's going to do a work." They'd pray and they'd been prayed for every service. And Friday came and they was praying for miracles and healings. And she said, "After a while, I sat down. I was in excruciating pain. I was discouraged. I hadn't been healed yet." That feels familiar. The Lord spoke to her in that moment. He said, "I want you to dance before me, and I will heal and continue to heal you." Yeah.

Now, Maddie, if you know her, you know she's blunt with the Lord. Maybe some of us. We love you, Maddie. She said, "Lord, no. I'm in a lot of pain. Can't do it. Kenan came over to her in that moment and said, "Maddie, you need to get up right now and you need to worship the Lord." He didn't even know what the Lord had spoken to her. I did. I got up and I began to dance before the Lord. And Kenan and I both dance before they'll never forget that moment.

Said, "I went to I quote this from the text." She said, "Begin to dance before the Lord. No more pain. Instant relief." She said, "Even my migraine lowered." It's not gone yet, but that's okay. And what you're seeing on the screen, I went to the spine surgeon yesterday. They they looked at X-rays, the original X-ray, and yesterday's were different. Of course, the doctor said this. I can see a hazy gray area. Oh, I love it. on your L3 to L5 where maybe an injury was, but I don't see anything today.

She was supposed to have surgery on nose and you can't you can see that circled area right there. Just a clean clear as day. No haze, nothing. X-rays confirm that God did what only God can do. She ended the text by saying, "Thank you, G." I wonder if you'd stand right now and join them in their praise and in their prayer. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, what you've done. Thank you, Jesus, for your healing power. Thank you, Jesus, what only you can do, oh God.

I mentioned this today. I mention it today to say they're still in the middle of a miracle. They can see God's doing something, but the picture isn't clear yet. And I ask them to come to lead the way today to claim the finished work of God and the whole m they can see God is working. And I believe their faith will lead them to see the entire healing, the whole picture, the work completed. Here's the altar call today. If you can see that God is working, you've got a measure of faith.

Lord, I see that you're working and I want to see the full work and you want to come and ask God to help you with your faith and claim that miracle and that answer that he told us he'd give in faith. I want you to come right now and join this couple as they lift their hands and we're going to pray for them and we're going to pray for you. If you're in the middle of a miracle and you need to see God complete it and you need to see the Lord do a work that only he can do, would you come right now in faith, oh God, you can do anything.

You told us before I ever preached and you had answers for us today. You said it, Lord. We're just squint to see what you're going to do. But we see in faith that there's a miracle that can happen and a life can be changed. Lord, we can have victory today. Not just over sickness, not just over pain. We can have victory in failings. We can have victory in life. We can have victory in our community. And he answered the Lord and heard and he answered. I saw the Lord and heard and he answered.

I saw the Lord and he heard and he answered. That's why I trust him. That's why I trust him. I saw the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. That's why I trust him. That's why I trusted. I saw the Lord and he heard and he answered. I saw the Lord and he heard and he answered. I saw the Lord and heard and he answered. That's why I trusted.

That's why I trust in God, myior one. Who will he never trust in God? My savior, the one who will never. He will never. I trust in God. I say the one who will Heat. Heat. He will never fail. I saw the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. That's why I trust him. That's why I trust him. I saw the Lord. And he and he answer.

I saw the Lord. And he answer. That's why I trusted. That's why I trust him. I saw the Lord. And he heard and he answer. I saw the Lord. And he heard and he answer. I sought the Lord. And he heard and he answer. That's why I trust him. That's why I trust him. I sought the Lord. And he heard and he answer. I sought the Lord. And he heard and he answer. I saw the Lord any word, any answer. That's why I trust him. That's why I trust in God.

I say you're the one who will never fail. He will never trust in God. My savior, the one who will never f He will never fail. I trust in God. My savior, the one who will never fail. He will never. I trust in God, my savior. will never miss. All is at rest. I know the author of tomorrow for my steps. This is my story. This is my song. Praising my ris and savior all the day. Oh, I trust in God, my savior. The one who will never fail.

He will never fail. I trust in God, my savior. The one who will never fail. He will never fail. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. That's why I trust him. That's why I trust him. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered.

That's why I trust him. That's why I trust him. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. I sought the Lord and he heard and he answered. That's why I trust him. That's why I trust in God, my savior. The one who will never fail. He will never fail. I trust in God, my savior. The one who will never fail. He will never fail. I want to pray a prayer together that a desperate father prayed in the presence of the Lord.

This is the already but not yet. This is the blurry vision. I believe but help my unbelief. Maybe you hear me today and the circumstances are stacked so high that you believe, but you still have unbelief. Both can be true, I think, at the same time. If that's you, today, we're going to pray collectively that the Lord would help us to believe. It's a valid prayer. And I believe that there's someone in this room that he'll give you, help you have a greater measure of faith.

Would you stretch your hands to heaven and pray with me? Lord, we are doing everything we can to believe. We're mustering the faith, but there's still parts of us that may be unclear and there's cobwebs and there's doubt and maybe even some cynicism. I pray that you would help our unbelief by removing all of those things, Lord. That you would come in and just clean house. You would come in, oh God, and make the vision clearer. You would come in, Lord. You don't have to prove yourself to us.

You already have by the cross. You demonstrated your love toward us while we were still sinners. but that you would still help us, Lord, and you're willing, oh God, to prove it. You're willing to show us in your mercy and grace. I pray that you would help our unbelief, Lord. You would help us to see clearly. Jesus name. Jesus name.