Jesus, Be The Center Of My Life | Sr Pastor Kenneth Carpenter

grab your bibles for just a few moments turn with me to the book of galatians chapter number 3 and verse 26 galatians chapter 3 and verse 26. i said on a panel discussion a few months ago and was asked a question was asked the question about church growth i was asked a question about growing a church and my opinion of church growth and the only thing i could tell them is simply every service matters every service matters we're not a church that just believes that sunday night's our big hoopla we believe every time we gather together god should move and that people are here and so every service every service matters to me and tonight's no exception and i believe the lord is here and i believe there's someone here that if you will allow the lord will touch you tonight and give you the greatest christmas gift you could ever receive tonight galatians 3 26 for ye are all the children of god by faith in christ jesus for as many of you as have been baptized into christ have put on christ there is neither jew nor greek there is neither bond or free there is neither male or female for ye are all one in christ jesus you're all one in christ jesus just for a few moments tonight i want to minister on this subject jesus be the center of my life could you repeat my title jesus be the center of my life father i love you father anoint me god this last time in 2021 that i'll stand in this pulpit jesus be the center of my life be the center of our life tonight lord anoint me god touch hearts tonight in jesus mighty name we pray for you are worthy to be praised amen give him a hand to praise please be the center of my life you may be seated jesus be the center of my life the apostle paul was writing to demonstrate the power of the gospel is writing to the church in galatia to demonstrate them the power of the gospel by showing that all are equal standing with christ or in christ he says that there is neither jew nor greek he says that there is neither bond nor free he says there is neither male nor female for ye are all one ye are all one in christ he says in verse 27 for as many of you as have been baptized into christ have put on christ that word they're put on is in reference to a garment that when you have been baptized into christ that you have put on christ that you have put on christ identity the apostle paul was saying that when it comes to the power of the cross and the power of the gospel that the power of the gospel places us all on equal ground places this all on equal ground again he said there was neither in christ jew nor gentile it was neither bond nor free there was neither male or female he says the power of the gospel that we are all on an equal standing of course we know that we serve and we have different roles that we serve in or operate in but we are all on equal ground through the power of the gospel it was during this same time that the apostle paul wrote to the church in galatia that he was addressing the religious culture of the day the religious culture of the day that small verse in the book of acts that simply says save yourselves from this untoward generation is more purposeful in our life tonight than it has ever been we are the church in the midst of a culture that is everything that we are not and we are everything they are not paul was writing to this religious culture and here is a prayer that rabbis prayed every morning in the times of paul listen to this prayer that rabbis prayed every morning it's one of the most popular prayers a rabbi in that day according to william barclay would say this as he started his prayer he would say god i thank you that i was not born a gentile god i thank you i was not born a slave god i thank you that i was not born a woman paul takes each of these categories and shows that the power of the gospel places us all on an equal standing different operational roles but we are on the same standing in jesus christ paul didn't allow the culture of his day to diminish anything from the powerful life-changing message of the gospel paul intended to keep hammering away at the church he he intended to keep telling the church not to allow a culture to get into their minds and to affect the way that they would worship paul would be the man his verses that he would write would tell us that paul believed in keeping jesus christ the center of our lives it would be in first corinthians two and two that paul said these words for i am determined not to know anything among you except jesus christ and him crucified he would later write to the galatians in galatians 6 14 and he would say god forbid that i should glory except in the cross of our lord jesus christ listen to this now by whom the world is crucified unto me and i unto the world can i break it down and give you my interpretation of this verse he says when you embrace jesus christ the world wants nothing to do with you they can't see any beauty in you they can't see any reason to join you because you have embraced the gospel of jesus christ but i love how he says it he says the world looks at me now that i am a jesus be the center of my life preacher and the world says i don't want anything to do with you but paul says i don't want anything to do with the world either now that i have embraced this beautiful life-giving message there is nothing in this world i desire jesus be the center of my life paul said in first timothy 1 15 he said this is a faithful saying and worthy of all exception that christ jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom i am chief the apostle peter at the healing of the lame man would echo these words in acts 4 and 10. be it known unto you all and to all the people of israel that by the name of jesus christ of nazareth whom ye crucified whom god raised from the dead even by him doth this man stand here before you whole this is the stone which was said it naught of you builders which is become the head of the corner neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved church family tonight let's keep jesus at the centerpiece of our lives let's keep him in the center let's not allow a culture to erase the real reason for the season oh i know tonight there have been christmas parties there have been bonuses there have been days off and may i add paid days off there have been gift giving there have been family coming in and family going but in the midst of this season god help us not to diminish one thing away from jesus is the centerpiece of our lives if it wasn't for god becoming a man two 000 years ago there's no christmas parties there's no giving up gifts there's no christmas season that blankets the world let's don't allow culture to erase this well please pardon me tonight but as we were getting ready for christmas breakfast or and i know my family's like yours we celebrate birthday week we don't just have birthdays day we have birth days and we start celebrating and and so it was one of the christmas breakfasts i don't know it might have been it might have been december the 8th when we had this breakfast we had over everybody over but it's my job to get the syrup out sister carpenter was making the pancakes and it was my job to get the syrup out and when i reached in and got several bottles i noticed something and i want to share it with you tonight i notice if you put the picture up these are the three bottles of syrup that i got out i set them on the counter and i felt like i had a message about the culture what you are looking at tonight is a change and culture is responsible for this change and i'll tell you now to the far left the anchor myma the picture of this beautiful lady here that was changed several years ago many of you may remember several years ago aunt jemima was a little bit more heavy and had like a bandana tied around her head but marketing said let's bring aunt jemima up to date and so they changed the picture on of aunt jemima and they just changed it to a rather slender woman minus the uh bandana around the head and maybe an earring uh placed in and a smile there and they said this is a little bit of a marketing but sometime later a culture that wants to divide us by race and color see i can't identify no one in the church can identify with this because we understand that in christ jesus those of you that have been baptized into christ have put on christ and christ is no respecter of persons christ loves all he reaches all every tongue every language every color every race christ reaches all but not our culture no our culture said that that's racist and so our culture removed her picture and simply put aunt jemima but that didn't satisfy them because they didn't even like to use the term ancient and so they changed and now the name of it is pearl milling company you can't see it you can't really read it but on the far right down little yellow and red tab there it simply says these words new name same great taste we see when it comes to the gospel we don't need a new name when it comes to the gospel we don't we don't need this culture changing us because i'm glad to preach the power of the gospel tonight the power of the gospel is to the poor the power to the gospel is to those that are in deep despair the power of the gospel i'm telling you if some man or woman took the gospel to blunt county jail tonight jesus christ would go right with them and go down through the the cells and begin to minister because that's the power that is the power of the gospel let's leave that up there for a few moments because i have a little a little article that goes with this it says the branding of the syrup was a tribute to this woman's gifts and talents her picture being placed on this syrup was actually a tribute to this woman's gifts and talents now future generations will not even know this beautiful woman existed what a shame the world knew her as aunt jemima but her given name was nancy greene she was born a true american success story she was she was born a slave in 1834 in montgomery county kentucky and became a wealthy superstar in the advertising world as its first living trademark look at that her picture was the first living trademark that was placed upon a product green was 56 years old when she was selected as spokesperson for a new ready-mixed self-rising pancake flower and made her debut in 1893 at a fair and exposition in chicago she demonstrated the pancake mix and served thousands of pancakes and became an immediate star she was a good storyteller her personality was warm and appealing and her showmanship was exceptional her exhibition booth drew so many people that the special security personnel were assigned to keep the crowds moving nancy greene was signed to a lifetime contract traveled on promotional tours all over the country and was extremely well paid her financial freedom and stature as a national spokesperson enabled her to become a leading advocate against poverty and in favor of equal rights for all americans she maintained her job and to her death in 1923 at the age of 89. this was a remarkable woman and sadly she has been erased by politics i want you to know and to remind you in this council culture this time period that we're living this time period that we're living has going to totally race a great woman that rose up against all kinds of odds and made her way through this world but you know tonight that i haven't come to necessarily talk about this woman i'm come to tell you about jesus christ i fear tonight that somewhere in our christmas season and a tab at the left-hand corner of our celebration is going to be oh yes jesus was born but can i tell you a group of apostolic people need to keep every child every boy and every girl reminded that jesus christ is the greatest gift of all when your toys are broken and discarded jesus is still alive when things have fallen apart he is our reason could you give him some glory let me be careful let me be careful that we don't unintentionally remove christ from this time of year let's keep celebrating him all year long what do you say the christmas spirit has been among us the spirit of giving the spirit of extra tipping the spirit of opening doors the spirit of being kind to one another can we not only do this in december but can we run against the culture and can we do this 12 months out of the year that's the true church of the living god that's the true church the world is into xmas and when they don't want to say xmas they say happy holidays they're trained from corporate offices around the world don't say merry christmas that's very offensive xmas holidays the moving the removing jesus can have the same effect on us tonight as he did 2 000 years ago if you'll let him if you'll let him shepherds will come back praising god if you'll let him if you'll let him the elderly in the temple will begin to praise god if you'll let him if you'll let him at the age of 12 he can astound the doctors in the temple if you'll let him if you'll let jesus tonight he'll tell you a wonderful story a life-changing story a story that will feel all your a story that the only thing that will be in your life from tonight out is i simply want more and i want more and i want more of him i close tonight the story in the new testament was a pharisee that desired to have dinner with jesus now i liken this pharisee tonight to our culture that we're in our culture is not necessarily denying jesus christ as much as simply putting jesus christ on a certain day putting jesus christ a certain place such as jesus christ doesn't belong in the workplace jesus christ doesn't belong doesn't belong your views of jesus christ they don't belong in the public's eye there's been many movie stars that have lost their jobs because they attended a church that preached jesus christ because we are now living in a culture that has absolutely no tolerance for jesus christ no tolerance the pharisee in my eyes church represents the culture they want jesus to dinner but they want to control the situation they don't respect brother erickson they don't respect jesus as they should jesus enters the house of this pharisee and it would only common courtesy that a servant would wash your dusty feet before you recline for dinner it was just common courtesy when the humid weather there of the day that when you entered someone's home they gave you a warm cloth and you could wipe your sweaty brow they gave you some oil that you could anoint yourself but not this culture this culture just wanted jesus in but they wanted to distance themselves no feet were washed no head was anointed as he reclined there for dinner the bible says that a sinner woman in the city heard that jesus was at dinner in this house this sinner woman hopeless the sinner woman who would cry herself to sleep this center woman that searched and searched she made her way uninvited into the culture and when she got into the presence of jesus brother ben she was overwhelmed and she that unworthy woman got in the presence of that worthy lamb the tears begin to chug tears begin to run from her eyes she glances down to his feet there she kneels and cried so many tears that was she was able to wash his feet that's a lot of tears because she has a lot of unworthiness in her life she begins to wash his feet and then she takes her hair and she begins to wipe his feet with her hair and then she got closer and closer until her lips was touching his feet and she kissed his feet and she wept the pharisees or the culture went ahead and judged jesus why if this was a true prophet he would surely know who and what manner of woman this is jesus being able to discern their thoughts turn to simon he said simon i'd like to tell you a story say on master he said there was a man and this man had two debtors the one owed a large amount of money and the other a very small amount of money and this man decided that he would forgive both of the debtors said i want to ask you simon which one do you think loved the most do you think it was the man that had the large debt that loved the most or the one that had the smallest debt loved the most and the culture not even willing to give a definite answer said well i suppose it would be he that owed the most and then the bible says that jesus turned and looked at the woman but spoke to simon and he said i entered your house you didn't wash my feet i entered your house and you annoyed my head i entered your house culture and you had very little to do with me but said this woman since the time she has entered this house has not seen to weep and to wash my feet and to anoint them and to kiss my feet she has truly been given and loved and has done can i tell you tonight there is somebody in this room tonight you are here and you have fought back tears from your eyes tonight you have come into this place and you have felt possibly a tightening in your stomach and a clump in your throat it's possible that your hands grip the backs of the pews you know why jesus is here tonight we're not ashamed of him we're not taking his picture away we're going to keep the story of christmas very much alive he came to save you sir you're the reason he came you're the reason that he hung on a cross and shed his blood so that two thousand years later a preacher could preach the name of jesus and the power of god could get a hold of your life you're the reason come on could we exalt him can you stand to your feet and exalt him tonight name above every name god above every god king of kings and lord of lords and jesus come on can we just pray for a moment i'm going to open this altar up right now i'm going to open up this altar right now if anyone wants to come and give their life to god tonight here we are name above every name sin cleansing savior healing savior way-making savior here we are tonight could we love him church could we love him church he's more than a tree he's more than tinsel he's more than a wreath on the front door he's more than a christmas party he's more than a banquet he's more than a few days off could we lift him up in this house tonight can we lift him up jesus jesus oh pray church pray in the rebel say hey hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah oh be the center of my life god lord i don't want to forget you god lord i don't want to let this culture poison me desensitize me i want a living relationship with you lord i want a living relationship with you lord oh jesus be the center of my life oh jesus be the center of my life oh jesus be the center of my life jesus jesus at the center of it all from beginning to the end it's always been you jesus jesus you're standing close by somebody just raise your hand put your hand over and pray for one another there's neither bond or free there's neither male no people we're all one come on be the hand of jesus tonight jesus be the center jesus be the center jesus god jesus be the center of jesus be the center jesus be the center oh my god don't allow the culture don't allow the culture to tell you how you worship god don't let the culture to tell you how you praise allow the jesus yes it's all about yes jesus jesus be the center of your church jesus be the censor of your church every time i shall confess you as jesus jesus this is the generation that i want to see christmas no doubt she got many gifts but here's the best gift she could do right now this is the best gift she could do right now will you come up and help me praise him right now would you come up and help me praise him right now would you come up this is what christmas is all about this is what it's all about right here come up and help me praise it come on come on come on why don't you help me the culture we want them yes church we are not going to bow to this culture we're not going to bow to the changing times we're not going to start out years ago with our picture and let some culture tell us what is accepted he's jesus christ he's lord of all he's the almighty god yes the shepherds worshiped the wise men worshiped and we will worship come on tonight i want us to have a candlelight service like no candlelight service as a matter of fact i may want to start a new tradition tonight i want to start a new tradition then on christmas eve that on christmas day if we're having church that we don't end in a cultural cold dead somber mood he is jesus he is alive we ought to worship him we ought to praise him tonight praise him tonight this is not a cathedral this is the house of god this is the place of the redeemed praise it with me right now go ahead light up your candle tonight light up your praise tonight oh hallelujah to god hallelujah to god hallelujah to the lamb of god hallelujah to the sin coming king hallelujah to the lord of lords hallelujah to your name tonight yes i love you cheese sadly they've turned him away send him on out to the statement let him be born with the sheep and for jesus his will for a stage content to just go through the motions get through the list and we'll call it a day jesus here in my heart come on church the first thing i'll do in the morning the last thing i'll do every no matter the price there's room for jesus always oh jesus is is forever is oh this is the real reason of christmas this is really the reason of christmas oh yes oh yes oh yes oh yes oh yes if you would find it appropriate would you just put your hand over on the shoulder of the person beside you no you're not there's so many of us who've been baptized and put on christ just pray for the person beside you tonight oh god if there's anyone here and i lord i know that you spoke to me tonight oh lord there's someone here that feels they're so unworthy god it is their unworthiness that has attracted you to them god it is their unworthiness that they know they're unworthy you have been attracted to this is christmas this is christmas he's giving a gift tonight he's given the gift of salvation he's given the gift of healing come on let's let healing move right now let healing move right now come on church lay your hand on somebody and say in the name of jesus in the name of the christ child oh in the name of jesus let there be healing tonight jesus jesus you are here jesus you are here lord you are here tonight church family we're going to worship god one more time but i want you to worship god with this thought in your mind jesus will never allow you to praise him to what he does not circle back around to bless you in whatever area of your life when we begin to worship god on this final evening christmas 2021 i want you to know that god will not leave here tonight till he has accomplished what he wants to do in you open the door right now with praise open the door right now in worship he wants to bless you he wants to save you he wants to heal you he wants to fill you with the holy ghost tonight oh your tongue will begin to move you'll begin to speak a new language come on right now tonight he has never allowed you to praise him to what he doesn't come back around to touch you tonight yes yes yes yes come on weary soul the sun is about to shine come on weary soul you're about to break through come on where is soul the day star is about to shine get your praise on get your worship on yes yes is is is is cuz is is is parties come on help us and i know it's not much is nothing else before again glue come on i want you to say that hallelujah come on out lyrics to a song but come on from your heart say hallelujah what better can we exalt our king of kings with and hallelujah come on let your voice get a little bit louder say say hallelujah to you jesus we say hallelujah to you jesus oh hallelujah jesus hallelujah what a beautiful beautiful spirit of god that is in this place today amen carry it on into your families carry it on home this week amen enjoy one another god bless you dismiss tonight in jesus name we love our church family make sure tell everybody you see make sure they know how much you love them amen and i know they love you god bless you in jesus name