Let’s Have Church | Bishop Joel Holmes

Hallelujah. I've not been as acquainted with the Carpenter family as my son. They've been in Lebanon together. And uh but I'm going to tell you, I see now what I have missed over these years by not knowing brother and sister carpenter. Amazing people. You can be seated. I text my son today. I said that brother Carpenter's got to be one of the sweetest men I know. >> And I always hesitate using that word sweet on a man, but you fit the description, brother. No getting around it. Yeah. Yeah. Do I hear a hand clap? Yes. How many agree with me today? Could you wave your hand if you believe that? Yes. Yes. Brother and sister Carpenter. Not just them. Uh they have put it in their family. Sin-laws. Last night we were at dinner together. Great time to be with them. And then I see the son here today. He's been off preaching and good to see him. And got to meet his wife. Got to meet the girls, the grandchildren. You would think the only grandchildren in the world is their two their grandchildren. Amen. And then uh last night he drove me over here to the church and I'm going to tell you what an amazing place you people get to go to church. What an amazing campus God has given you people. I just want to remind you of it. You know, it's easy to take things for granted >> when you come year after year, service after service, but you're blessed. >> Amen. I sitting there thinking, Brother Carpenter, how little people can be when uh somebody wants to do something excellent for the Lord, >> they want to find something to credit criticize it about. >> Amen. But just let the critics criticize We'll just keep shouting and worshiping and having church. Thank God for people that love the kingdom of God and the work of God. Amen. And Amen. Amen. What a what a blessing to walk through here last night and and uh it just an amazing place. Uh just everything is just beautiful and wonderful just as it should be everywhere because we got a great God. >> He deserves our best. Not second best, but our best. Amen. Amen. And I'm honored to be here. Brother Carpenter text me and I text him back and tried to text my way out. I said, 'You really don't know me, Brother Carpenter. You You may not want me. He said, 'Oh yeah, Bishop, you come on. Amen. You just preach whatever God lays on your heart. Amen. Amen. Thank you, brother and sister Carpenter. Amazing. Uh this Sister Carpenter is some kind of decorator. Yeah. Amazing job y'all done everywhere. We went upstairs. I'm telling you what, went all over this great house of worship. Uh, and I thank God. And then to see you here today and hear this great choir singing, worshiping God, singers worshiping the Lord. Uh, we're blessed. Brother Ericson, what a blessing. >> Brother Hammond, Brother Carpenter, young brother Carpenter. Amen. What a blessing. What a blessing. Thank God. >> Amen. There's an old song says, "Count your blessings. Name them. >> Amen." Well, there's about a dozen that knows that old song. >> Amen. Name them one by one. Just look around. Have y'all looked around lately? >> Have you looked around to see what he was telling me? How God blessed this building with no indebtness? How God sent a man to pay for the front doors and windows. >> Miracle after miracle, victory after victory. >> Amen. >> I'm glad to be teamed up with God today. Let the world do what the world wants to do. But for me and my house, we are going to serve the Lord. Oh yes. Yes. Amen. Just remain standing. Now, Brother Carter told me to do whatever I felt like doing. And you know, when you're 75 years old, that's dangerous to tell a man that. Amen. I tell you what, I got another great friend here, Brother Coleman, somewhere. And I got three ladies that prayed for me today. Come around the front. And y'all got Ivory Terrell's two daughters here in this church. Think of them often that he just came by and we prayed together. You know, uh, thank you, brother Carpenter, for giving me Liberty. Amen. You know what I want to do while you're standing? Would you would the Carpenter family walk up here on this platform? Amen. I want y'all to see what God the ministry that God has given this great church today. >> Come on. Praise God. And I want you to reach your hand in their direction and pray over them that God will continue giving them wisdom, knowledge, understanding, largess of heart. The hand of God would continue. What a great team God has put together. Amen. >> Thank you, Jesus. >> Oh yes, God. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Yes, God. I believe you today. I believe you today. Would you just lift up your voices? >> Oh, yes. Come on. Just open them up toward the Lord. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you brother Sister Carpenter. You got something to say? >> He said if I have something to say. I said I always have something to say. Aren't you just thankful for the mercy of God that's been applied to every one of our lives? And don't you think that everybody deserves it? Everybody ought to know who Jesus is. And may this be a place and a house that will help to tell the world who Jesus is. Anoint us to teach your word because we know when we teach your word, the disciples multiply. It's not addition. It's not five time 5 + 5 + 5 is 15. But it is multiplication. When we will increase the word of God, it's 5 * 5 is 25 * 5 is 125. And God, help us from this place. Increase your word in this world, the unadulterated word of God that we would share what you've given to us your love, your mercy, and the truth of the word of God in Jesus name. >> Hallelujah. >> Yes, Lord. >> Yes, Lord. >> Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord. Bless that wonderful name of Jesus. Hey, we come to tell the devil what he is. He's a liar. Everything he told you yesterday, everything he's already told you this morning, and everything he's going to tell you next week is nothing but a lie out of the pits of hell. You're not going to fail. You're going to make it in Jesus holy name. Oh yes. We praise you, God. Amen. Just remain standing. I think I'm going to go over there and sit down and give this mic to Sister Carpenter. Hallelujah. Well, it's nothing like what John said. I was in the spirit >> on the Lord's day. This is the Lord's day. >> Hallelujah. Hebrews the 10th chapter 23rd verse. I'll begin today. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith. Listen to this. Without wavering. >> Everybody say without wavering. >> Without wavering. For he is faithful that promised. Let us consider one another to provoke unto love two things. Everybody say love. >> Love. >> Everybody say good works. >> Good works. >> That's the only way you're supposed to provoke one another. >> Provoked them to do good. >> Love and good works. >> Good works. >> Verse 25. Not the forsaking, the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another. And so much the more as we see >> the day approaching. >> Would you reach your hands in this direction? And would you for the next few minutes >> ask God to e use a very feeble vessel for his glory. Come on, let's get on the same team. Amen. God, I believe you today. You would take clay lips and use us for your glory to bless this church. Thank you for it, God. We praise you. We magnify you. We exalt your name. in Jesus name. >> Amen. >> God bless. You can be seated. Bring you greetings for my wife that was not able to come and my son his family as well. They love the carpenter family. >> I just want to preach to you if the Holy Ghost to help me for a little bit. >> And it's this. Let's have church. Let's have church. >> The devil hates our church. >> But let's just go ahead. >> Let's overcome. Let's press against every spirit. >> Every physical spirit, mental spirit. >> There's nothing like being in the presence of God. >> There's nothing like being in church. >> I love church. Amen. I go on vacation. I'm trying to find some place to go to church. >> Amen. In fact, I I've been here to church before. I was just through the internet. >> Listen to your good pastor preach the rich, unadulterated word of God. Are you blessed today to have a man of God to preach the word of God? Oh, yes. But the first thing we've got to do to have church, we got to get people together. We've got to get saints together. >> And the writer must have knew the day that we would be dealing with when he said, "Not the forsaking of the assembling of ourselves together." >> Because when you come to the house of God, it's for worship. It's for instructions and righteousness. Yes. >> And I thank God for the internet and people that are not physically able to be here. But I'm going to tell you, if you're physically able to be here, >> you can never get out of church when you are able to be here. I believe people that are not able to be here, >> they can get it. >> But when it's pure old laziness >> and the and the lazy boy gets in the lazy chair, and and says, "Honey, bring me a glass of iced tea. I'm going to watch a little church." You're off track. >> Amen. >> There's not a doubt in my mind that God knew this day was going to happen when people would be forsaking the assembling of themselves together. >> As and and notice what it says, as the manner of some is. Meaning there's some that in that day that had already created the habit of not going to church. >> All right. >> Yeah. They're worried about the hypocrites. Well, one more won't hurt nothing. So, come on. Then he said, "But exhorting one another." Boy, there's nothing in the world like being with the family of God and meeting the saints of God with a smile on their face. >> Giving you a good godly handshake. >> Amen. And encouraging you. >> Hey, if they made it, I can make it. >> That's what church is all about. Thank God for people that come to the house of the Lord and have the right spirit when they get here. You've not come to find fault, but you've come to lift up your brother and encourage them in the Lord to live for God and to be victorious. I wonder if I got any young people in the house right now. I wonder if you young people couldn't stand your feet and clap your hands unto the Lord. Get it in your spirit. I am going to go to church if it's all possible. Oh yes, there's just nothing like being in his house. >> Amen. You can hear it all of the radio or internet, but I'm going to tell you to be here fellowshipping with the people of God and praising God, it's a a new level and a higher level. >> Amen. And you've come for that purpose to exhort one another and to encourage one another. Yes. >> So much the more. Everybody say so much the more. >> So much the more. >> Now, if you're decide to stay home, is it Wednesday night you have church and Sunday night? >> I'm preaching to you today. >> So much the more. >> As you see the day, what day? The coming of the Lord. >> The winding up of this whole thing. The more you see the end, the more we need his house >> to strengthen us >> and give us courage to fight on >> and to keep marching forward. >> Oh yes. You got to get people to church >> before you can have a church service. >> There's nothing like being assembled together with the people of God. And you know, if you think, well, you know, two or three, well, uh, try having church with two or three. >> Amen. It's wonderful to come to the house of the Lord and see a crowd of people like here today worshiping the King of Kings because together you're lifting up one another's spirit >> and the anointing of the Holy Ghost is flowing. >> Thank God for the his presence and his anointing. There's just nothing like having church. >> We got to have church. >> You're not going to make it without church. >> Amen. You're not going to make it without being in this house. >> You're going to pick up something. You're going to get something. It's here a little and there a little precept upon precept. Then you you you understand. I wonder how many be honest with me today. And when you started, now you see things deeper and you understand more about the kingdom of God than it was the day when you started. >> Do I see any hands in the house? >> Yes. All over the house. Well, what it's all about, you got a little here on Sunday, you got a little Sunday night, and you got some on Wednesday night. And >> and your vision keeps getting greater and greater. Your understanding of the things of God keeps increasing. Amen. You You know what God's trying to do? We were shapen in iniquity. We were born in sin. Amen. But little by little, Amen. He reshapes us and remolds us into what he wants us to be. And the only tool that that can come about through is the word of God and the spirit of God. Thank God for the truth and the spirit that agree. Amen. And that's what happens when we come to the house of God and hear the word of the Lord preached under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Amen. It's a lifechanging. It is a reshaping of our life. It It's important for us to grow. It's important for us to be what God wants us to be. >> That's right. >> You got to go to church. >> Look at your neighbor and say, "We we get to go to church." Oh, we get to go to church. >> It's the most wonderful thing on this earth. Brother Carpenter was I was pulling we were pulling up. He said, "Now listen, the music it's loud." I said, "I wouldn't have it no other way." >> Yeah. Nobody goes to the ball games complaining about how loud everything is. >> Amen. >> Oh yeah. Nobody goes to the ball games complaining and finding fault with what's going on. No. No, no. They go there to have a time, stand up and clap and cheer and holler and carry on. You know why? Because that's their God. That's their God in their life. And that's the God they're worshiping. But we're worshiping King of Kings. We're worshiping the Lord of Lords. We're worshiping the God that saved us. The God that healed us. The God that transformed us. The God that turned us around. The God that picked us up out of the miry clay and set our feet on the rock to stay. That's the kind of God we serve today. Come on, give him a head clap of praise. We've got to have church. And we got to have good church. You can be seated. You know why we got to have good church? Cuz we've got young people. We've got another generation coming on. >> Amen. It may be us older people. You got the same color hair I've got today. Maybe we, you know, make it on through. But I'm going to tell you, these young people are going up against something that hell is attacking them to to destroy them and to knock them out of the church. Amen. But I'm going to tell you, when you get in his presence, when you feel his anointing, when his power starts flowing through your life, when the hand of God starts touching you, you know what you want to be? You want to be like him. >> You want to walk in his holiness. You ought to walk in his righteousness. You ought to live victorious over the internet. >> My heart goes out to the young people. The filth that is right in their their hands, >> man. We always preached against television and one time v video and and uh my god We didn't have it. >> Guess what? I got I left my phone down there on that front pew. >> But in that phone, >> that's right. >> I love you young people. >> I hope something rises up in your you says, "Devil, I'm not going there. >> I'm not going to do that. >> I'm not going to do it in the secret of my home. I'm not going to do it nowhere. I shall keep my eyes clean, my ears. Amen. I am determined to be a Christian. I'm determined to live it right. You can do it, young people, in the face of the devil. God's going to have a church that's victorious >> and holy unto him. >> Thank God. Well, >> let's talk about going to church. Let's talk about having great church. Where does it start? I tell you where it starts. It starts in prayer. >> The first thing you need to learn is what gave you the baptism of the Holy Ghost. That you will be doing that every day for the rest of your life. >> How did you receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost? What were you doing when you got the Holy Ghost? Come on, talk back to me. >> Come on, talk back to me. >> You were praying. >> How is it that we come through prayer to God and then we stop praying >> and then we grow weak >> and discouraged and confused. >> So, uh, you know, before you can even receive preaching, >> Amen. you got to be praying. It it'll make you mad. >> Instead of coming to church saying, "Preach to me, pastor." You'll be coming to the church and feel like you got sore toes. >> You need to thank God for sore toes. >> You need to thank God that a preacher, pastor is trying to push you on not toward this world, but toward God and his kingdom, fulfilling the word of the Lord. Man, you need to thank Well, why don't you lift up your hands and thank God right now for your pastor. Thank God for a shepherd that wants this church to grow stronger, more holy, more separated from this world. >> Jesus sent a couple of disciples and said, "Go find me this donkey that I can ride on." and he was fulfilling the prophecy of the Old Testament that that king would come riding in on a donkey. They brought that donkey to Jesus and the Bible said they set him on it. It's amazing. You know, I I have a horse. I've had horses about all my life. It's a form of insanity. >> Yeah. Hay burners is what they are. But a donkey is a whole lot smarter than a horse. They're more surefooted. Back se couple years ago I was in Africa safari I went on and you you've got these zebras and they're they call them over there dust donkeys >> because all they do is take off running in a herd and dust going everywhere. But they're beautiful. Stripes all over them. I said, "Why don't they ever harness them?" They said, "Because they've got a very weak back. They cannot carry a load. A donkey can carry a load. In fact, they're known as the beast of burden. You can put a load on them. They're sure-footed." And he said, "Go get me this donkey and bring him." And the Bible said they brought him to him and they the disciples sent Jesus on this animal. And he was making his way to Jerusalem. Thank God for people that are willing to carry Jesus Christ. >> You got to have a strong back. >> This is a messed up world. Thank God for saints that are willing to carry a burden for the kingdom of God. >> They're not just trying to look good. They're willing to say, "Lord, let me give to missions. Let me build a church. Let me see the kingdom of God forward." Thank God for you great saints. Thank God for your leadership. But I want to tell you, I know what this leadership is saying is, "Thank God for all you wonderful saints that's got a burden for the kingdom of God." And says, "Hey, we're not going to let the lights go out." >> You do know if you quit paying these bills, they will turn your lights off. >> They'll even unplug the meter for you. But thank God for you great men and women says, "No, no, no, no. You're not going to ever turn the lights out. This lights is going to be burning not just for us but for another generation. We want our children. What about it? We want our grandchildren to have a place to worship and praise and glorify God. Oh yes. In fact, back year or so ago, I've always taken the National Geographic and out fell a slip out of the National Geographic that month and it said, "Leave a legacy to the uh sea turtles >> and they showed me how much money had been left. It was it recorded there. Some had give as high as 10 to$20 million that year and then the numbers and and it was thousands of names in this brochure that people were supporting the National Geographic and and and I was convicted when I looked at that >> and said uh uh le leave a legacy >> to uh the cats and the sea t now folks I love the sea turtles But I don't intend to leave no legacy >> to the sea turtles and the lions and the cats. >> Oh, I'm preaching to you already. >> Thank God for when men and women get the vision >> that said we're going to leave a legacy, but our legacy is going to be in the kingdom of God. And I was so moved from that. They said, "Leave something in your will for the sea turtles and the cats. Leave something in your will." And I said, "Oh my, no, no, no. >> I'm going to preach it if God gives me opportunity wherever I go. You know what you should do? You should make sure in your will that you've left something to the house of God. And if 10% has blessed you, Amen. It'll be good for your children to know that that's in your heart and it's in your will. As long as you wi live, residual income coming through your estate will go to help support First Apostolic Church right here that God Well, >> do you care anything about the next generation? Are we just going to live for now and die? God. Well, out of all the things, the greatest thing that we can work for, love, and give to is the kingdom of God. That ensuring the next generation, there'll still be a church right here waving the banner, preaching the truth, standing for righteousness and holiness. Ah, yes. Yes. Come on, lift up your voices and pray with me right now. I'd like to get you the 60 and older to stand with me. Can Would you stand with me? Come on. Come on. I want you to pray about what I'm preaching about, talking about. Come on. Amen. Let's lift up our voices. Help us God. Help us God. Help us God. Help us God in Jesus name. Let us have vision beyond our years. Let us plant some trees that we may never set under the shade of God. Let us give to the kingdom of God long after we are gone. We believe you in Jesus name. >> Amen. I just man in our church many years ago you can be seated died in 1997. But you know he had this vision. and his name was Dean Martin and he said, "Brother Holmes, I want you to serve on as uh part of my will on the board." I said, "No, I don't want to do that." There's a couple daughters in our church. He, you know what he said? He said, "I want to make sure after I'm gone," because he had residual income that would be coming in, "I want to make sure my tithes are paid." >> And I, you know, that he died in 97. And uh this morning in our church, his daughter will still be putting in his tithe check. Georgia Best is our administrator, and she told me the other day, she said, "Dean Martin has given more to our church since he's passed than while he was living." Hey, if it blesses you now to pay your tithe, do you believe it would bless your estate if you put it? >> I'm sorry y'all blame this on brother Carpenter. He told me to do whatever God laid on my heart. I didn't get up here. This is not in my notes. But you need to write it down in your notes and write it down in your will. Amen. I want to see whatever I've got at the end. still keep the lights burning in the church. Put your hands together for God. I'm talking about somebody that's willing to let God ride on their back. Come on, Lord. You can ride on my back. I'll be a beast of burden. I'll carry a burden for the church. I'm not a fly by night saint. that I'm not just here for the fish and lows. I'm here when it's down and out. I'm here when the funds are low. I'm here uh whatever is going on, whatever they're saying, whatever they're talk, however they're talking about my church, God, I'm here to withstand the devil, withstand evil spirits, withstand all of hell and what the devil's trying to do to split to try to destroy our families and our church. God, I will carry you, Jesus Christ. You're no burden to me. And he, that little donkey, carried Jesus. >> And when Jesus went to church, everybody say, "When Jesus went to church." >> Yeah. When he got there, he saw them playing church. >> And he drove out the money changers. And what did he say? My house. My house >> shall be called >> the house of >> prayer. >> House of prayer. >> If there's anything I would like to do today >> is stir somebody up about turning this house. >> I know what's brought you to where you're at. I know what kind of man I've been around him enough now to realize and telling me last night about praying and crying. Oh God, we got to we got to put these windows in. Crying and praying. And I believe you told me 10 minutes. >> 10 minutes later, here come was it a center man or >> No, here today. >> Family here today. Thank you, Jesus. Hey, these churches don't grow up like pe like a wild mushroom. >> People think, "Oh, no. No. It's not a new crowd every Sunday." >> It's you rock solid saints >> that says, "Put Jesus on my back. I'll take him with me. There's nothing more important than my church." God. Yes, God. Yes, God. Come on, church. The Holy Ghost is talking in this house. Come on, church. The Holy Ghost is talking in this house. The Holy Ghost is talking in this house. If the world will leave theirs to a sea turtle, how much more are we going to leave it for our the young people and our grandchildren and great grandchildren and the entire community? >> But when he got there, >> he said, "My house >> shall be called a house of prayer." >> My house. You know, I've said this so many times back home. I'm sure they're tired of me saying it. And maybe that's the reason I'm not even there today. My son is pastoring the church and God's doing amazing things and I'm humbled and grateful. >> But this is what I've told him over. Now folks, if God said his house shall be the house of prayer, the carpet cannot pray. >> You agree? Pews can't pray. Yes. >> What has to happen? Somebody has to walk into this building. >> I challenge you. I challenge you. Turn like never before. I know y'all got prayer. I know you believe in prayer. I know you're pastor. But just let me encourage you a little bit. >> Amen. >> You know, I I let the devil mess me up for a number of years about prayer. I preach prayer, but I said you can pray at home. >> And then uh one day I I was having problems in the church, if you can imagine that. And uh and and the piano player I found out was uh he was he was drinking and getting getting drunk on Saturday night and he was wanting to play the piano on Sunday night. Oh my. >> So my dear sweet mother, who was so wise, and I I hate to create a bad reflection on my dad, but this is just who he was. She said, "Son, if you will pray when there's trouble in the church, if you will pray and cry," said, "Don't do like your daddy done. just go in on people and and rebuke them and destroy them and they take off two or three families with them. Don't do like that. You just pray and watch God work out things. >> Well, I knew that, you know, I had his mother and dad in our church, his two aunts in our church, his wife and three children in our church. This is a story 40 years ago. And so I I I knew, you know, anybody would understand that you're not going to do that and play the piano. But uh you know what? I took my mother's advice. It was a big old grand concert piano. And uh that's what got me to come to the church praying. It's amazing how you start praying what happens. Uh trouble that'll get you praying. And you know it the piano was over on this side. And so I that it was a big black one and I crawled up under that piano. I said, "God, you got to do something about this. I know I could take care of it, but my mama told me just to pray. Let me just see what you can do. >> Let me just see if this will work." >> And I cried out to God. And uh it breaks my heart to tell the rest of the story. About about a week later, he come to me, the best spirit. He said, "Brother Holmes, I'm just not going to come back no more." I said, "Oh, no. You can't do that. You got to live for God." He left. He never came back. Uh guess what? His wife is still in our church today. >> His aunts have deceased. His mom and dad have deceased, but his wife is still there today >> worshiping God. But I found out it worked. So many times we fix problems. If we'd let wait and let God fix them, he can fix them so much better than we can fix them. You know what? When I'd walk by that grand piano, I'd put my hand on it and I say, "Now look, oh grand piano, don't you get in trouble no more. That's enough." Oh yeah. >> Hallelujah. And then that got me started coming to the church praying and and always I noticed about my dad when the church was kind of in a bad place and maybe a family had left and or trouble had broke out, sin, immoral sin or something that had just you know how to go through a church and and uh he he would he would have a chain of prayer. Have y'all ever heard of that? One to two, two to three, three to four, four to five. >> Y'all know it. >> Oh yeah. And then they'd have fast day, a chain of fasting Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, right? >> Amen. Well, I don't know, brother Carpenter. The only thing got a hold of me is said, "What would happen if you never stopped praying?" >> Because always the church would do this. It'd start going woo and it'd last about 30 days. Then it go back to the next trouble and then it'd start it just a revolving cycle. And I said, "What would happen?" And you know, I want to just humbly say that's the really only thing that I did different. But you know what it happened? It just created continuous revival. >> Boom. Boom. Boom. >> Oh yeah. Yes, >> God. >> It it it it was because people got that vision. But so I started in I said, "You know what? I'm going to come to this church and pray." And I had a time said like one time it was 5:30. I'm sure glad I discovered God was awake at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30. Amen. It was a revelation. I thought you had to be up there at 5:30 if you're going to find God. But Amen. And guess what about it started off I had about 30 people coming with me you know church is very small had about 150 people and uh and there's they started off real good but same thing happened again he goes I said oh and then it got to where there was about three or four men coming and I I think they were coming because they felt sorry for me and and and guess What? Uh, I was trying to make it sound like a prayer meeting. I was getting horse and they were sleeping. But, you know, something got in my spirit and I said, "I'm not going to stop. I'm not going to stop. I don't care if nobody comes up here and prays. I'm going to come up. >> I'm going to get Joel homes." Hey, let me do it for you before I forget to do it. You know what you got to do? I've done it all over the world, many different countries. You know what you got to do? You got to reach back like this and get yourself by the nap of the neck and jerk it only a time or two and say, "Get up there, flesh. Do what you're supposed to do. Go where you're supposed to go. Say what you're supposed to say." Well, anybody can you get your arm back that far? Come on. You got to talk to your flesh. Your flesh will send you to hell >> if you let it. You You know what you got to do? You got to put the flesh in the back seat >> and put the Holy Ghost in the driving seat and say, "You stay back there, flesh. The Holy Ghost going to drive this train." I tell you what, >> I sit yesterday and and everybody say, "To God be the glory." >> The name scroll on the screens of people that's come to prayer and then it flips over requests and it flips over prayers answered. And I sat there and wept this week several days. And I looked at those names and I said, "Joel Holmes, if you hadn't have got up there, none of those names would be up there." See, my children's names up there. >> Grandchildren. >> Amen. On and on, and I know y'all got prayer. I know you've got the same, but they give the report. I get a report uh because people sign in on the computer the kiosk and uh it's over over 2,000 people a week. >> Hey, the devil hates a praying church. >> Hell can't stop a praying man. I'm going to tell you. You know what? I can tell you something about everybody in this building. You know what it is? Everybody's got trouble. >> But there's a God that will lift you up above the trouble. >> He may not take it away, but I It's like these big jets flying through the clouds. It may be dark on this side, but you get through those clouds and you know what? The sun is shining just as bright as it's ever shown. And I want to tell you, God will do it for us. He may not remove the trial right off, but he'll give you a spirit that can walk through the clouds and the troubles and the problems and live victorious. Come on, give God a hand clap of praise. Oh God, teach us to pray, Lord. Teach us to pray, Lord. Teach us to pray. You know the amazing thing the Bible said, "And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple and he healed them." house of prayer. And when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did and the children crying in the temple, there's nothing like children crying in the temple. >> Nothing like you young people right in the aisle shout the victory, talking in tongues. Nothing in this world like it. How you have a church when the children get free? >> In fact, I want to ask you, how can a sinner get free when the church can't even get free? >> Help us. Help us. Help us. Help us, God. The Bible said the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did and the children crying in the temple saying, "Hosana to son of David." Uh, you know what they were? They were sore displeased. And they said unto him, "Hearest thou what these say?" And Jesus said unto them, "Yay, have you never read?" >> They said, "Can you hear Jesus?" >> He said, "Can you read?" >> If you'd read, you would know this is what should be going on in the house. Isaiah had prophesied of it many years before. And then I love this part. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, thou has perfected praise. Oh, help us, God. Would you lift up your voices with me right now? Oh Jesus. Jesus, Jesus. Help us today, God. Help us today, God. >> Amen. Teach us to pray. Everybody say, "Lord, teach us to pray." >> Luke 11:1, the Bible said, "It came to pass that as he was praying, he Jesus as Jesus." If Jesus needed to pray, do you think maybe we need to pray? >> We're talking about this flesh. praying. And the Bible said it was in a certain place. You know, Judas knew where Jesus prayed. >> When the mob didn't know where to find him, Judas knew right where he was going to kneel. >> All right. >> Do you have a certain place? >> Do you have a pew in this church? Do you have a place where that's where >> of all things grandchildren and children find out about us? Find out where we pray. Oh, help us God. He was praying at a certain place and the Bible said when he ceased, he was deep in the spirit. He didn't interrupt him while he was praying. One of the disciples, everybody say one of the disciples. >> I've always wondered where were the other 11. There was just one disciple that was asking this question. And he said unto the Lord, "Teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples." You know what scales came off my eyes when I read that? And it was this. That's why in Acts the 19th chapter, >> when Paul said, "You, how were you baptized?" John's baptism. They could have stood there and argued all day with >> Paul and say, "We were baptized like Jesus was baptized." No, you don't understand. These disciples were praying. >> They were praying. >> When you get people praying, they'll quit arguing. >> The scales will fall from their eyes. They'll want to be baptized in Jesus' name and get the Holy Ghost and talk in tongues. I challenge you. If you don't have the Holy Ghost, start praying. If you hadn't been baptized in Jesus name and you're confused about the Trinity, start praying. You will see this truth. Amen. >> Matthew 6 and6 Jesus speaking. But thou when thou prayest when you pray, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, get in the closet, slam the door to, pray to the father which is in secret, and the father which seeth in secret. Here he goes. >> Shall. Everybody say shall. reward thee how >> openly. Oh no, brother Holmes. I I don't want nobody to know how blessed I am. >> Oh, cut that out. >> There's not a person here that don't want a reward and everybody know they got it. >> You know, you know what really happens to a lot of people? You know why they get a bad spirit? You know why they they get messed up in their head? You know why? It is because they've never they don't feel like I have lived a fulfilling life and they get jealous of their brother. >> But I want to tell you, if you'll pray in secret, >> God will reward you openly >> and you'll have a good feeling about yourself >> and you'll have a good feeling about your brothers. Amen. >> Uh this past Monday night, uh last Monday night, we have Spanish service. I'm the Spanish pastor and I speak Spanish. It's like taco enchilad. Yeah, I can order off of a Mexican restaurant menu, but I've got great interpreters. We had about over 200 there, and they uh I preached to them, you got to love one another. Then I turned to the middle of the message and said, preached to him, you got to love yourself. >> You got to quit saying, "I don't like my skin. >> I don't like the color of my hair. I don't like who I am." >> God made you, my friend. >> Come on, young people. Quit that letting the devil beat you up about who you are. You are to stand up proud and bold and say, "I'm a child of the king. I don't care what the world thinks about me. I'm not trying to make up. I'm not trying to be some hellish star out of Hollywood, but I'm trying to be the king of of kings kid." >> Oh yes, Lord. Love yourself. >> Love yourself. When you get out, tell the school, talking to them, when you get out in the real world, they're not worried about whether you're short, whether you're good and healthy. >> They're they're looking for somebody that can do something for them to solve their problems with an excellent spirit. >> Oh, yeah. I feel that excellent spirit in this church. >> Oh yeah. >> Chick-fil-A spirit. >> What do they say? I didn't hear you. >> Oh, yeah. It's when you get enough victory, you can go on the job tomorrow and say, "This is my pleasure >> to serve my the people that God has given me." >> When you go to school and you say, "This is my pleasure." >> When you're serving in the home and it's my pleasure. >> Oh, yes. >> Have you ever been to one of them X Brown hamburger joints? They might even get your your order right. >> Amen. It looks like they slept in their uniform. I cannot imagine. Multi-billion dollar corporations letting things get by like that. But you know what? It's the old saying, they've got fat and sassy with money >> and they're just greedy. >> Amen. Thank God for a church. >> Hey, you got a pastor and his wife, they're not greedy. >> You know what they're doing? They're taking what you give, tithes and offerings, and they're pouring back to you. >> Oh, I know too much about the work of God. >> Amen. Thank God for a great spirit in a church. >> My pleasure to go to church. My pleasure to pay my tithes. My pleasure to shout the victory. My pleasure. My pleasure. My pleasure. My pleasure. Hear me, devil. It's my pleasure to be in church today. It's not too much trouble. It's my pleasure to live for God. Oh, clap your hands to the Lord today. All right. So, we pray. Everybody say prayer. >> Prayer. >> Amen. We got that out of the way. Prayer. When when you when you get prayer going, you know what comes next in a service? It's worship. >> Everybody say worship. >> Worship. >> It's these great singers. Are y'all blessed to have >> Brother Eric? Amazing singer. My wife's already told me about you. Amen. Great musicians. Oh yeah, the hell hoes didn't get all the good musicians. I can tell you that. >> Are you thankful for music? Try worship without it. >> Oh yes. So the scripture inund Psalms 150, you've read it, you know it. How to praise God. Praise him on all these instruments. Amen. And then what does it say the last verse, the sixth verse? >> Let everything that hath >> the Lord. >> So that includes everybody. >> Every Hey, I want to help you with something. >> You can go to a gospel concert and you see people not living right, not doing right, yet you feel something. >> Well, wherever people will praise the Lord, >> they're going to feel something. Yeah. >> Hey, it doesn't matter what they've been doing. It doesn't matter what you've done today or yesterday or last week. Everybody, if you're breathing, am I in the Bible or out of the Bible? >> You got a right to do what? >> Praise the Lord. >> You got a right to praise the Lord. >> But the difference between praise and worship is this. Come on. >> When you are a true worshipper, the very word worship means to bow down. >> It the first place you'll find it in the scripture is when Abraham is taking Isaac up to the mountain and he's going to sacrifice him. >> And he tells those men with him, "You stay here. Yonder while we go while we go yonder and worship. You stay here. We're going to go. >> Hey, you haven't worshiped until you've sacrificed. >> Now, you can be a praiser >> and just kind of skip through this thing. But if you want to touch the heart of God and get the blessings of God on your life, >> be a worshipper. >> Worshippers, when they hear the word of God, they do like this. They say, "Oh, yeah. >> The flesh don't like it, but it doesn't matter what the flesh says. I'm going to do it. >> I'm going to dress holy. I'm going to live holy. I'm going to walk talk holy. I'm going to walk holy. I'm going to live separated from this world. I don't care what my neighbors are doing. I don't care what the church across town's doing. It don't make to me any difference what anybody's doing. I'm going to praise and worship the King of Kings or the Lord of Lords. Oh yes. So Abraham takes Isaac up there and lays him up on that altar. And the Bible said he bound him to that altar. >> Everybody say bound. >> Oh, come on. The Holy Ghost is talking to us today. >> Don't let your flesh get off that altar. >> Don't let your flesh of pride and whiness and the thing seeking for the things of the world, don't let it get off that altar. When it starts getting off, you put another rope around and tie it back down. No, no, no, no, no. You're not. >> Hey, hey, you know what? It's amazing to me how some people can never connect the dots. But if you ever connect the dot between prayer and and holiness and worship, >> you can't do enough of it. >> That's right. >> Cuz I promise you, his word is right. He said, "I'll open the windows of heaven and I will pour you out blessings where there is not room enough to receive." >> Do you believe his word? >> It'll work. >> But we got to be worshippers. Everybody say worshippers. >> We got to be willing to be bound to the altar. >> Amen. And you know what? When you when you folks were walking up here giving your offering today, you know what you were really doing? You were really worshiping. Anybody can stand in the pews and clap their hands and sing along with the great singers. >> But if you want to worship, >> Amen. dress holy, >> live holy, >> talk holy, >> look at the right things. >> Amen. Get the gods of this world out of your life. >> Let him sit on the throne of your life. Let him be number one in your life. Yeah. Now, now, now you're worshiping. You're not just hey pe a lot of people's got it in their mouth. Anybody can say it but it's another thing to do it and the doing is where the blessings are at. Put your hands together and give God praise and thanksgiving. Oh yes Lord. I praise you God. I praise you God. I praise you God. What comes during worship? Y'all help me preach. It's offering time. >> Hey, we're talking about let's have church. Everybody say, "Let's have church." >> Yeah. I'm just carrying you through the simple steps of having church. Is that all right? >> Amen. Okay. We started off with prayer. We've got to worship. Amen. And part of that worship is is when you give to the house of God. >> Amen. >> Yeah. Shout and dance all the way down to the offering pans. Amen. Thank you God for the opportunity that God has blessed me that I can seow seed and you don't have to worry about you can't sew seed and it not come up. It will come up and it will multiply. Thank God for it today. Amen. And we know the first example given to us of paying our tithes with Mazdc and it was with Abraham came back and won that war and guess what? The man of God brought him bread. Everybody say bread. >> Bread. Everybody say wine. >> He blessed him. >> And the Bible said he was his priest. >> And then the Bible said Abraham gave tithes of all >> to Mazdc. >> Is this all right? >> I ain't got nobody offended so far. You shouting. >> Amen. Amen. Amen. Oh yeah. You know what you are getting here? You got a man of God. He's bring Is he not bringing the bread? >> Yeah. I tuned in on Wednesday night. I think it was last Wednesday night. I heard him preaching the word of God. >> You know what? You people are getting fed. >> He's not on the golf course somewhere. >> Playing around. Hey, you don't build stuff like this. You know, I've been all preaching all over different places. I tell them, you know how to spell success w. >> That's what y'all got. You got a working man of God and his whole entire family along with his wife. Yeah, it's right. Clap your hands and thank God again for him. Oh yeah. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. So, if you're getting bread and that's the word, and you're getting the spirit, that's the wine. Everybody say, "Spirit." >> Are you getting the spirit around here? I've seen a bunch of you shouting around this front this morning. >> Amen. The spirit. And he's blessing you. Is he not? Are you not getting blessed? >> Oh, yeah. >> Oh, yes. And he's your pastor. >> Amen. It's nothing other than to do that. Say to God, I want to give you back the part that Hey, that's holy unto the Lord. Clap your hands and thank God for it. Amen. Oh yes. Bless the name of the Lord. Then we come to the most important part of a service and that's the preach word of God. >> The devil hates this pull pit. He hates this place right here. >> He'll do everything in his power to keep you from coming and hearing. >> That's right. >> But the scripture has said, "He that hath an ear," meaning you can have a physical ear and still not hear. >> But he that hath an ear to hear with, let him hear. >> Thank God for the preach word of God. There's nothing like the preach word of God to deal with our spirit. >> Amen. And I just wonder, can you amen the pastor? >> Can you amen the pastor? >> Amen. Can you amen when they're preaching to you and preaching to your children? >> Can you still say amen? >> Can you amen when they're preaching? There's only one God >> here. O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. >> Can you Can you hear? Can you Amen. the pastor when he's preaching the wonderful book of Acts. Amen. Thank God for Dr. Luke >> that wrote the book of Acts. >> Amen. And he he wrote giving us, you know, we think we're so smart with all these computers and I think about and I read the word of God and think how verbatim they wrote the Bible as they were talking. And we've got a record of it today. We are so blessed. >> Amen. And he told us this glorious truth. >> The Bible tells us that when the the multitude came and they came saying they're drunk and and Peter said, "We're not drunk like you think. It's 9:00 in the morning." That's the kind of church >> that I want to go to. >> Amen. The drunk church. I've watched people try to sophisticate this thing and lose a beautiful church. >> Try to impress somebody. >> Hey, if the Holy Ghost, the word of God don't impress you. >> Go look at Hollywood. >> Cuz there ain't no church nowhere compete can compete with the entertainment of Hollywood in this world. Come on. >> Multi-million dollar shows and movies. >> Amen. We're not them. >> That's right. >> We're the church of the living God. >> Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Come on and feel after the Holy Ghost with me. Stand with me. I wonder how many walk down to this front and you'd bring your flesh and say, "Flesh, I'm making a fresh commitment today to prayer, fasting. I'm going to bind this flesh again to the altar. I'm going to make this flesh do what it should do. I'm going to make this flesh do what's contrary to it. Come on. I'm going to be what God wants me to be." Come on. You can't do it without prayer. You can't do it with the help of God. Thank you for coming. Just keep coming. If you will, walk closer to the front. There's people behind you trying to get in. Oh, I want to be what you want me to be. I want to be what you want me to be, God. Mold me and shape me into your image, God. I believe you, God. I believe you, God. I believe you, God. I believe you, God. I believe you, God. I believe you, God. Come on. Come on. Just keep walking to the front. Thank you for coming. Visitors, thank you for coming. You may not be a part of this church, but you're welcome to join. Come on. In Jesus' name. In Jesus' name. Lord, I want to be what you want me to be. Oh yes, Lord. Oh yes, God. I believe you. I believe. Oh my. That's good prayer, church. Come on. Could you just lift up your voices? You're going to go home feeling better cuz you come to the front to pray this morning. Lord, mold me and shape me into what I ought to be. mold me and shape me into what you want me to be in Jesus name. In Jesus name. Come on. I wonder how many in this house today you would make a fresh commitment to prayer daily. Come on. Would you lift up your hand saying Lord by your help I'm going to make that commitment to daily prayer Lord. Oh, that prayer changes everything. Oh, mold me and shape me, Lord. And yes, God. Yes, God. Yes, God. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Oh. Oh. Yes, God. Yes, God. I'm committed, God. I'm committed to you, God. I wonder if you'd join up with someone right now. Come on. Join with your friend or companion. Yes, that's the way. Oh, me God. Oh, I lay it all on the altar today. I lay it all on the altar today. I lay it all on the altar today. Oh. Oh, Jesus. Jesus. Oh Jesus. Jesus. What a good prayer. What a good season of prayer. Oh, I wonder if somebody wouldn't throw back their head. Oh, come on. Let it out. Oh, help us tonight, God. Oh, help us tonight. Oh, I wonder if you couldn't put your head back and just let the groan come out. Oh, God. God's hearing you right now. God's hearing your cry right now. Healing is in this house right now. Deliverance is in this house right now. Financial blessings are in this house right now. Victory in your life is in this house right now. Oh God. Come on. I wonder if we couldn't throw up our hands and do it one more time. Just open up your mouth wide. Come on. Open it up. Come on singers, help me. Open it up. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. Oh yes God. Yes God. Else will do. >> Oh yes God. Yes. Eyes are open. Mirales are in this. Hearts are still Yes, God. Yes, God. Yes, God. Yes, God. Come on. The Holy Ghost is for you tonight. Victory is for you today. Deliverance is for you today. Y can happen. A miracle can happen. A miracle miracle can happen right now. >> The miracle working power is in the house. >> Miracle can happen. >> Deliverance is in a miracle can happen in this place. A miracle. Yes, Lord. A miracle can happen today. I wonder how many is in this house. You need healing. Amen. You need a miracle of healing. Would you? Amen. I want to get this pastoral team to come back up here, brother. While they're coming, God has laid one more verse of scripture on my heart. Psalms 106. They soon forgot his works. They waited not for his counsel. This breaks my heart. They lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted God in the desert. You know what God did for them? He gave them their request. But he sent leanness unto their soul. >> You want a lean soul? Don't back the man of God up. You'll have a lean soul. >> Don't pay any attentions to the word of God and the standards of the Bible. Not the standards of the church. >> Standards of the Bible. >> Don't pay any attention to it. And you know what? You'll end up with a lean soul. >> Lean soul. The greatest thing on earth is to be able to feel the presence of God. >> There's no thrill in this world like feeling Jesus Christ in your heart. But everybody's not going to bind themselves to the altar. >> Hey, Abraham's not going to do it for you. >> These are the ropes you have to bind yourself with. Cuz you know, you have another day tomorrow. You think, "Oh, well, I don't think that's so important. Long hair, the ladies, >> godly dress. Yes, >> I don't. Tomorrow you come on. Come on. Let's be human. >> That don't seem so important. >> Get the gods of this world and sport gods out of your life. That that don't What is that hurting? Yeah. You know what it is? Your flesh is coming back alive. But when you've already bound yourself to it, >> when you've already tied yourself to the altar >> and the old flesh comes up like this a little bit, you say, "Get back down, boy. I know where my blessings have come from. >> Hey, can I know where my blessings have come from?" Oh yeah. Hey, you don't just struggle with this. We all struggle with this questions. Is this important? Is that important? >> But when you when you've come to the altar of consecration >> where you make up in your mind, I am going to do this. >> That's right. >> I don't care what my flesh says. I don't care what anybody says. >> I am going to bind myself. I'm going to do it. >> And you crucify this flesh. And you lay it on the altar. >> And that's why Paul said, "I die once a month." >> Hey, I can tell you how to keep from getting your feelings hurt. If you don't have no feelings, nobody can hurt them. You'll be like my daddy. He had a saying, "I love everybody and everybody loves me and I don't care what they say." And of course, I've preached to the church for years. Uh, somebody done something, bake them a cake. That's the best way to get even with them. Be sure and put all good stuff in it, too. By yourself. bind. You want victory, bind yourself. >> You want revival, bind yourself. >> You want your children saved? >> Yeah. Be the example. >> You want them doing what you're doing? >> You know why this church shouting around this front? Did you see where the pastor came? >> That's the reason you got the liberty. If you had one of these stiff starch preser something collar turned backwards >> that's why their churches are shutting down. >> We recently I say recently a couple years ago we bought the first Baptist church in our city. >> It's in the heart of our city. >> Yeah. >> Doctors live within a block of that church. It was Southern Baptist Church. >> They got plenty of money, but you can have plenty of money and still not have any people. >> That's right. >> And it shut completely down. >> Oh, yeah. >> That's why this church is filled today with worshippers >> is because you got a man of God. Hey, hey, how many of you believe that your pastor and his wife are to be an example? >> How many of you believe that you should be being example to your family? >> You want them to do it, do it yourself. You don't need to tell them. Show them how. >> Show them how to dance on Sunday night. Show them how to run the aisles on Sunday night. Show them how to praise God. You know what? You'll look behind you and they'll be doing it with you. Give the Lord a hand clap. >> Amen. I want you to reach your hand again in this direction and pray for your leaders today. >> Hey, let me ask Wait, whoa, hold just a minute. Do you love them? Did you know more than anything else, your love and your support and knowing you're here is the most important thing you can give. >> And of course, if you've got love for this place, all the rest comes automatic. >> Amen. There's nothing more that you can do for the leadership in this great man of God than to say, "I'm going to make this a house of prayer >> and I'm going to pray." >> Amen. Now, reach your hand in this direction and pray for them. Come on. Come on. God, bless their health. Bless their finances. Bless them coming in. Bless them going out. Let your hand be upon them, God. Bless the Christian school, Lord. Oh, we believe you today, God. Meet the need in their life in every way. Oh, we bless your name. We bless your name. We bless your name. Oh, God.