Something Worth Fighting For | Senior Pastor Kenneth Carpenter

If you're not already on your feet, would you get on your feet w with me right now? Could we make right before I read my text and right before we begin our Bible class this evening, could we make it all about him tonight? Say, could we make it all about him right now? Could we just make it all about him? I I know many of you are tired and you had a long day, but could we just turn from a sore back and a weary mind and could we just lift up our hands right now? Could we make it all about him right now? Jesus, it's all about you, Lord. In you we live and move and have our being, Lord. It's in you that we find our freedom, God. Lord, we give you praise tonight. We give you praise. Put your hands together. Give him the best hand clap offering you've given tonight. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Say, church, what about this youth choir tonight? What about these young people singing tonight? Come on. Thank you all so very, very, very, very, very much. Amen. If you have your Bibles, would turn with me to the book of Judges. The book of Judges, chapter number three. Judges, chapter number three, verse number one. My, hasn't God been doing some magnificent things around here? God been doing some mighty things around here. people getting baptized, people getting filled with the Holy Ghost, people getting refilled with the Holy Ghost and things happening behind the scenes and and uh just a lot of great great things that are happening. And I thank God I thank God to be in a church where the spirit of God is moving, where the power and the presence of God power and presence of God is moving. Judges chapter 3 and verse number one, follow it real closely. Hang on every word if you would. Now these are the nations which the Lord left to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan. only that the generations of the children of Israel might know. Everybody say might know. >> To teach them war at the least, such as before knew nothing thereof. I want to I want to preach and teach tonight on this simple subject on this Wednesday night. Something worth fighting for. Something worth fighting for. For 25 minutes or so, we heard some young people sing. And I'm going to serve hell a notice right now. They're worth fighting for. They're worth fighting for. Father, I love you tonight. I thank you, Lord, for your word. Thank you, Lord, that a few mornings ago, you caused these two scriptures to come to my mind. And Lord, I thank you, God, that these two scriptures have been in my mind, my heart. I can't get away from them. Lord, you keep bringing them back to me. And Lord, for the next few moments, God, help me to minister to these people that came out on a midweek service. Help me to minister to them on the subject of something worth fighting for. Father, I pray this evening, Lord, that there's any sick among us that they would be healed. I pray that if there is any, God, that have situations in their lives that Lord, you would begin to make clear the way. You are a prayer answering God. You do hear us and you do answer, God. I pray over every need. In Jesus' name we all pray. Amen. And amen. And you may be seated this evening. Something worth fighting for. Something worth fighting for. We discover as we study scripture, we discover very quickly as we study scripture that as a follower of Jesus Christ, and could I just ask tonight for an amen on this and maybe the waving of your right hand. As a follower of Jesus Christ, as a follower of Jesus Christ, it is likened to being in a war. How many understand that? >> You read scripture. You read scripture. I didn't say Reader's Digest. I didn't say listening to Dr. Bottle Stopper. I didn't say listening to Bishop, don't say nothing. I didn't say listen to pastor, don't preach nothing. I said, "The scripture, the scripture says that we're on a battleship, not a cruise ship. >> The scripture says we're carrying a cross, not a feather bed. >> The scripture likens our lifestyle." Our scripture likens our lifestyle to that of being a soldier. To that of being a soldier. Now, I'm going promise you it's going to help you because if you thought living for God was anything other than being a soldier, you're going to get you're going to get, as the fella said, you're going to get educated tonight. You're going to you're going to get you a good education tonight. And it's going to help you to live for God because you're going to understand, hey, I'm a soldier. >> Well, the Bible says, the Bible talks about warfare. 2 Corinthians 10:4 for the weapons of our not lifestyle but the weapons of our what? >> Warfare are not carnal. 1 Timothy 1 verse number 18. This charge I commit unto thee son Timothy according to the prophecies which went before on thee that thou mightest what? war a good what? >> Warfare. Listen to Paul again in 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse number three and four. Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who had chosen him to be a soldier. Soldier. Soldier 1 Timothy 6 and verse number 12. Listen to Paul again. Fight. Why don't we read it together? >> Fight what? >> I'm talking about something worth fighting for. >> Talking about I'm I'm going to preach tonight and teach tonight on it's something worth fighting for. >> Why? As a matter of fact, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is referred to in scripture as the captain of our salvation. He's referred to as the captain. Hebrews 2 and 10. As the captain of our salvation. As a matter of fact, in in Ephesians chapter 6 and verse number 17, we've been talking. What did we preach about Sunday morning? Put on the helmet of salvation. Put on the helmet of salvation. Boy, I've been I've been applying that scripture all week long. I' them old thoughts want to come up the pipeline that are negative. Them old thoughts that want to come up the pipeline that are that that want to build blocks of oppression in my life and make me want to feel down in the dumps. I stop and say, "Hey, the road is closed right now. I bring you into the obedience of Jesus Christ and you don't fit the qualifications to get up here in my mind because I'm only allowing whatever is good, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, what come on now. Whatever is of a good report, that's the only thing I'm allowing up here. No reruns of my failure. Oh no, no, no. No reruns of my failure. no reruns of your failure because the blood of Jesus Christ has covered us of our failure. So I'm talking about Ephesians 6:10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God. Didn't say put on the whole leisure suit of God. Didn't say put on the whole vacation suit of God. He said put on the whole armor of God. The whole armor of God. And you heard me. Ephesians 6:17, Sunday morning, take the helmet of salvation. And you you heard all these things. And then let me just turn the corner here with 1 Peter 2:1. Look at this very closely. 1 Peter chapter 2 verse number 11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you, that word beseech means beg. I beg you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lust which do what? >> War against your soul. War against your soul. You see, we need the Holy Ghost within because we've got an enemy both within and without. And we are we are in we are in a war. We are in we are in a war. It's interesting when you study the scripture all through all through the scripture, you're going to find God fighting. You're going to find God fighting. Aren't you thankful tonight that and I'm going to I'm going to kind of say a couple things. I want you to really consider the battle is the Lord's. Y'all ever heard that in scripture? The battle is the Lord's. All right, but let me mess with you a little bit. The battle is the Lord's, but you got to fight. The outcome is the Lord's. The battle is the Lord, but you got to be a soldier on the battlefield. >> You got to be a David that's willing to take a slingshot and a stone, go kill. You see, the battle was the Lord's. The battle wasn't David's. The battle wasn't even Saul's. The battle belonged to the Lord. It wasn't Saul that Goliath was cursing. It was God that Goliath was cursing. But in order for Goliath come down, God just needed somebody that said, "Hey, I I'll I'll enlist. I'll be a soldier. I'll take a slingshot." So, the battle is the Lord. But that doesn't relieve me of getting in the fight because there's something worth fighting for. Something worth fighting for. We find God fighting for us. We find him in Exodus chapter 14:25. Please again, I unless you're looking in your Bible or on the screens, just look look at the verses real closely. This is the children of Israel when they came out of Egyptian bondage and God fought for them there at the Red Sea. Look what God did in Exodus 14 verse 25. He took off their chariot wheels that they dra them heavily so that the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the face of Israel for the Lord what the Lord fightth for them against the Egyptians." I'm going to show you something that ought maybe ring a bell in us. It's a sad thing when we children of God don't realize that God is fighting for us. And the Egyptians realize that God is fighting for us. The Egyptians said, not Israel. Israel didn't start hollering, "Hey, God's fighting for us." The Egyptians said, "Hey, let's get out of here because the Lord is doing what? He's fighting against us. He's fighting." Again we go to Joshua chapter 23 verse number 10. I want to lay a good foundation with scripture. Joshua 23 verse number 10. This is said about the people of God. One man of you shall chase a thousand. Well, how can one chase a thousand? Well, somebody needs to be on the battlefield. How can one chase a thousand? For the Lord your God, it is he that Somebody say it now. I'm gonna keep you I'm gonna keep you involved in this because I I don't want you to go home on vacation. I I want you to leave here as a soldier tonight. I I I I I want I want when you get in your car and you come home, all of all all of all all of all of hell says we got to have some recruits because they done went to church tonight and figured out that they're in a war. And you know, we've had it. If they ever figure out we're in a war, if they ever figure out that they're a soldier and all that they need is just to be a soldier, we've had it. I'm going to tell you something. The devil understands tonight. If you understand you're a soldier, he understands his doom is just right around the corner. Can I tell you our homes are worth fighting for? Can I tell you our our happiness is worth fighting for. Can I tell you our joy is worth fighting for. Can I tell you our marriage is worth fighting for. And I've already pointed out is our children and grandchildren and great grandchild. Come on, somebody. Are they not worth fighting for? And let me go ahead and add this. Isn't the truth worth fighting for? Hey, it's not tomato tomato. It's not this or that. It's the truth. And the truth of God's holy word. That's what it's worth fighting. It's worth fighting for. Joshua 23:10. Again, I'm going to read it. One man of you shall chase a thousand. For the Lord your God, he it is that fightth for you as he hath promised you. Deuteronomy 1 verse number 30. The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes. Deuteronomy 2:32. Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz. And the Lord our God delivered him before us. And we smoteed him and his sons and all his people. Deuteronomy 3:22 and scripture after scripture. I hope you're writing them down because I I want you to take them home tonight. And I want you to realize we have something worth fighting for. The next time you want to succumb to anything that's not of God, anything that's not God's perfect plan, I want these scriptures to resurrect inside of you and you say, "Wait a minute. I was told on a Wednesday night, this is worth fighting for. You're not going to have my peace. You're not going to have my joy. You're not going to have my future. My future is worth fighting for." He came that we might have life and that we might have it more more abundantly. came that we might have it more abundantly. Well, the scripture text I read tonight, God said, "I'm going to leave some wicked nations for you to fight with." Now, God, come on now. Why do you want to go and do a thing like that? Because if you don't have an enemy, you'll never learn to appreciate what you have. If you don't have an enemy, you'll grow complacent in the land of promise. If you don't have an enemy, you'll take for house. You'll take for granted houses you didn't build, wells you didn't dig, vineyards you didn't plant. If you don't have some kind of an enemy, you'll just take it for granted. And you know what you'll do? You know what you'll do? You'll begin to flirt with the Canaanites. The very thing God said when you get among the Canaanites, don't take their sons to be your son-in-law. Don't take their daughters to be your daughter-in-law. Don't let your children marry. That That's God saying this. That's God. Satan said, "Don't don't don't mix and mingle among the Canaanites because if you mix and mingle among them, you'll start worshiping with them and you'll get off from the truth." So he said he said, "Don't don't don't mix and mingle." And so he left them there so Israel would I want you to hear this now. So Israel would fight with them. So the fight I'm fearful that too many in the church are learning to flirt with Canaan rather than to fight with Canaan. The Bible says the friendship of this world is enmity with God. You see, we're not going to be a flirt of this world. We're not going to kind of play footsies with this world. We're not going to kind of flirt around with us. Well, I'm not in the world, but I'll flirt with the world. No, no, no. This is something worth fighting for. This something worth fighting for. Every year at staff meeting, we remind the church. We remind the staff that of of holiness in lifestyle. Holiness inwardly. Somebody said, "How do you believe holiness?" I believe it internally, externally, and eternally. Amen. I believe you got to have holiness on the inside, and you got to have holiness on the outside because you're going to a holy city where there's a holy God and holy, holy, holy, holy, holy. And I want you to know that you're looking at one five foot, seveninch greeneyed pastor tonight that's willing to fight for holiness. I know what the culture is saying. I know what society is saying. We're not living on Walton's Mountain anymore. We're not in the 1950s anymore. We're not in Mayberry anymore. Holiness is under attack. But I got news for you. I just saw a group of young people that are worth fighting for. If you believe that tonight, would you put your hands together? Would do do you believe that holiness is worth fighting for? I I believe I believe in holiness. I I believe holiness is worth fighting for. I I believe it's worth taking a stand. I believe it I believe it's worth taking a stand for. I I I don't believe it's time to roll over and say, "Well, it it it it it it don't matter anymore. I I believe that it it it does matter and it's willing we're willing to fight for it." But God said God said, "Hey, did I read the text to you tonight, didn't I? Did God not say, "I'm going to leave you some enemies." Because there's a generation coming on that won't know the wars of Canaan. There's a generation, is that not what the text said tonight? There's a generation coming on that doesn't know the war. You You see, there is some gay-headed people here tonight that remember coming up in high school when you were persecuted for attending a Pentecostal church. You were called a holy roller. You wouldn't dress out for Jim because of holiness of standards. You wouldn't do all that. And you face persecution. But you see, we're living in a day, everybody's talking in tongues today. We're living in a day. See, there's people in this congregation tonight. I'm old enough to remember this. I'm old enough to remember this. There was a time when only the Pentecostals clapped their hands and shouted and run and leaped and all that. But now it's almost become a popular thing to do. There was a time when things such as holy roller and scorn was given. And we fought those battles, didn't we? We didn't let what they had to say stop us from worshiping our God. >> We didn't let what they had to say about the way we believed and the way we baptized and the way we believe that the Bible teaches that there's only one God. I'm going tell you, that's a subject worth fighting for. >> I said that's a subject worth fighting for. If we don't fight for the doctrine, our children will grow up in a world and they will flirt with Canaan rather than fight with Canaan. I want my children to fight the Canaanites. I want them to fight. They got they got to learn. They got to learn. So, I'm going to leave them there. Why you going to leave them there, God? Because they're living in houses they didn't build. They're drinking water from wells they didn't dig. They don't have a sore back. They don't have calluses on their hands. They're living in luxury and God says, "I'm going to lead them there so that you might teach them how to war." How to war. There's two battles that I want to take our Bible class to tonight. The first will come up in Exodus chapter 17 and verse number eight. If you'd turn there in your Bibles with me, Exodus chapter 17, verse number eight. It is, sister Carpenter, the battle of the Amalocites. The battle of the Amalachites. Now, the 17th chapter of Exodus is interesting. It's interesting. Let's let's read le let's just do this. Exodus 17 verse number eight. That's where we're going to start. And let me read this to you just for a moment. Then Amalecch then Then came Amalecch. And what'd he do? fought with Israel in refum. Now what's interesting about the assist pattern? What's interesting the seven verses before that the children of Israel needed water and they had no water. And God said, "Moses, take the rod, the rod of God, the rod that you split the Red Sea with. take the rod and smite the rock and watch water came out. And the people went from murmuring and complaining to drinking and praising God. From Moses took that same rod, that same rod that he used to divide the Red Sea. Now, let me let me show you something tonight. We all know the power is not in the rod, right? The power is in God. God used the rod as a method. God used the rod as a as a method. You see, there are some methods that are proven that God will use the method of prayer. That's why we promoting prayer right now. You know why? It is a proven method. God uses prayer. >> It's a proven method. God God uses prayer. So So Moses takes the rod, smites the rock and and and hits the rock and water comes gushing out and everybody starts drinking. That is a symbol of the plan of salvation. That is a symbol of drinking from the wells of salvation. But would you notice? Would you notice, brother Thompson? Would you notice with me that no sooner is the water flowing, what what did verse eight start with again? What did verse eight Exodus 17 and 8? What did it start with again? What what word did it start with? What word did it start with? Then what? When the water started flowing. See, the devil's not after a dry well. >> He's after where the water flows. >> That's why that's why there's a fight going on is the water's flowing. If you you you you got a fight going on. We say, "Well, brother K, it just seems like things are so hard." Yeah. There's a fight going on because you got some water flowing. But is the water and earth not worth fighting for? Is it not worth? So then then they come and this is interesting. This is interesting. Exodus 17 verse number eight. Then came Amalecch and fought with Israel in Raphaum. Do you know who Amalecch is? Amalecch is the grandson of Esau. He's the grandson of Esau. Do do you know that this is the first battle that they face? And it is a battle between brethren. Can I tell you tonight that fellowship, friendship with God's people is worth fighting for. We'll have misunderstandings. Oh, yes, we will. Come on, put your feet out tonight. Come on. We're going to have misunderstandings. There going to be things that are going to happen in all of our lives and among all of us that the devil hopes it causes us to hold grudges. And the devil hopes it causes us to make sure I always come in and sit on this side. Make sure I always park way back here. Make sure that I'm going to eye somebody up. You know, how in the world do you claim to talk in tongues when you can't talk to your brother in English? Come on now. How in the world you you do you think that's even possible? It happens. It does. We all had things happen. We're a close-knit family. We've had misunderstandings. We've had purpose hurt. and we've had hurt that we didn't mean to have hurt. But you know something, my fellowship with my brother and getting along with you is worth the fight of swallowing pride and being humble before the Lord and keeping a brother. I'm going to tell you something. If you can keep a brother, that's a whole lot better than keeping a grudge. You'll have a whole lot better life if you learn to keep a brother. Here they come. Esau they came against verse number nine and Moses Exodus 17 and9 and Moses said unto Joshua choose us out men and go out fight with Amalecch tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand. Now let's get the battle plan. Let's get the battle plan, brother Wales. Let's get the battle plan. Moses steps out and says, "Come on, Joshua." He says, "Come on, Joshua." And uh Denver, won't you be Joshua for a minute? Won't you come on? Be Joshua. I'm I'm on Moses. I'm older than you. I know that'd be hard for folks to believe that you standing up here, but that's all right. Joshua, I need you. I'm going to go the hill. I'm going up on the hill with the rod of God in my hand. You know the rod, the what I what I held out over the Red Sea. You know the rod. That's uh what I just hit that rock with over there. You know, uh because Joshua, God's got some wellproven methods that work. God's got some things that work. I'm going to tell go back to prayer. I'm going to tell y'all something. The reason prayer is so hard for some of you is because the flesh and the devil both knows it works. >> It'll change you. You get a daily prayer life going and let that daily prayer life get into a month, two months. I'm going to tell you in a season from now you won't even talk like you've been talking. You won't even you you'll become a whole different person. So here's here here's what I mean. It's a proven method. It's a proven method. Praise and worship. If praise does anything, praise gets my mind. You you cannot you cannot worry and praise God at the same time. All right. So here's what I need you to do. I need you to take them in. I need you to go fight with Amalecch. Okay? I need you to get down there. get down there into that that valley and you start fighting. All right, you start fighting with you go back go get on that pew and get ready to fight. All right, get on pew. Get ready to fight. So, you're going to go down there and fight. You're you're down there. You're you're you're down there. He's going to fight. Somebody help me. See, I'm going to make sure you're on your toes now. Where'd Moses go? >> He's up on the hill. You're going to find out in a minute. He didn't go alone. All right. Joshua didn't go alone and Moses didn't go alone. Moses takes Aaron, his brother, and her, another. And her was a him, not a her. All right? He was a hur. He took a her to the top of the hill. He took an Aaron and he took her. Aaron was the same tribe as Moses was a Levite, which means the word of God, and her, which was a hymn, was from the tribe of Judah, which is praise. Can I tell you, if you ever want to get in the battle, it's a proven method. It's worth fighting for. >> The word of God is worth fighting for. >> We say, "I just can't keep my attention." It's worth fighting for. The word I I I just I can't stay focused on what I'm reading. It's worth fighting for. It's worth stopping in the middle of a verse and saying, "God, would you help me to stay focused?" I'm telling you, the word of God is worth fighting for. Because if you can ever learn to read the word of God, the word of God is a proven method. You'll win the victory if you take the word of God with your life. You'll win the victory. You'll win the victory. And praise. Oh, praise. Oh, praise. Praise is more than just noise. And please don't be deceived by the devil to say, "Well, I'm just not I'm just not made up that way. I'm not emotional that way. I'm just not Oh, no. Let me tell you what. You take 10 people, take 10 people out of this congregation tonight, slam all 10 people's hand in a corridor, and they will all react the same way." All right? And when it comes to the house of God, it has nothing to do with your personality. Whether you want to or not, the Bible says, "Lift up your voice and shout unto the Lord, all you people." It didn't say, "All you extroverts." It said, "Shout unto the Lord, all you people." You know why some of you have lost your praise? It ain't worth fighting for. But I got news for you. I have just staggered into the house of God. I've had the hounds of hell on my back. But give me a Wednesday night Bible study. Give me a Wednesday night praise and worship. And I'm ready to go at it again. Praise is worth fighting for. >> I'm going to go top the hill. I'm going to go top the hill. I'm going to take the rod of God my hand because I'm going to tell you, I'd like to get some good amens right now. I'd like to get some good amens. Prayer works. to prayer works. >> Building our lives and the lives of our family in the house of God works. >> I said building our lives >> and the lives of our family >> works. >> You know why you had this up here tonight? Because somebody has over and over and over and over brought their kids to the house of God. Brought them when they you didn't want to come. brought them when they was acting like straight out devils. Brought them when everything was falling apart. But you keep on coming and coming and coming and coming and coming. You know why it works. The house of God work. Do you know why? Who I am tonight. I'm who I am. Because the house of God works. Now, I guess if whoever whoever the whoever is is watching tonight, I I'll just I'll just I'll just tell them whoever. But somebody said about you all said, "Well, it's just Marbles's culture to go to church on Sunday night." said, "You know, it's just your all's culture to show up on Wednesday night." As if as if that us hillbillies here just live in a fog of something we can't control. It's just it's just your culture, you know. It's just your culture. It's a you know, we don't we don't have that. It's just your culture. Yeah. And I'm a little bit offended. You know why it's our culture? >> Cuz we made it our culture. >> You know why this is an extraordinary church that comes out in big numbers on Sunday night and Wednesday night? You know why? We made it our culture. We didn't just drink some Kool-Aid. It's just not the winds of Cage Cove that makes us want to come to church. Bless God. We made it our culture. Why? Because it's a good thing. It works. It works. It works. It works. >> Come on. Is your midweek not worth fighting for? >> Please don't allow the devil to talk you into only once a week. >> It Listen, it's different. I'm going to tell you something. It's different. New people coming in that are not accustomed to three times, but old people that's been in and you're used to three times. I'm not talking about I'm not talking about age. I'm talking about you've been in and you've been used to going to the house of God on Wednesday night and you've been used to going to the house of God on Sunday night and you've been used and now you're saying well you know culture saying I just have to show up once a week. Can I this is going to be really hard. You're going to have to get a book out. You're going to have to study Hebrew and Greek for what I'm about to tell you. You are backsliding. You are backsliding. That's what you're doing. We don't need to have less. We need to have more. We need to be We need to be praising. I'm not going to let this fire go out. It's worth fighting for. I said it's worth fighting for. I'm not going to let this good Holy Ghost go out. It's worth fighting for. Oh, I just can't wait for brother Ericson. I just can't wait for brother Ericson to be p I just can't wait for him to be up here all the time because he's more he's going to be more subdued and more said no he's not the is we'll set him on fire >> cuz I'm telling you tonight this is worth fighting for >> the good fire of the Holy Ghost I said the good fire of the Holy Ghost stir it up it's worth fighting for. It's better than a raise on your job. It's better than a diploma that you'll get. It is worth fight. I wish somebody helped me tonight. I wish somebody just helped me tonight. >> I hope 50 years from now, dead and gone, Jesus haven't come. I hope churches I hope, Sister Franklin, they're having church just like we're having it tonight. Don't >> let the fire go out. >> It's worth fighting for. >> Bro, it's worth rolling up your sleeves. >> I am not going to live in the memory of what I used to be. I'm not going to live in the museum of what I used to be. I'm not going to sit and say, "Well, we used to do that. We used to have a choir. We used to run the aisles. We used to have this. We I refuse." Because I'm here to tell you, it is worth fighting for. I understand some of you got me tuned out tonight. I understand some of you saying that there, I wish he would hush, but you better hope to God I never hush because I'm the only hope for your family. I'm the only hope when your boy gets ready. When your boy gets ready to go into the world, I'm the only hope I'm preaching that you got. You better shake yourself. My God, this worth fighting for. This word, this word. This is worth fighting for tonight. Come on, shake yourself. I'm not going to let you sit down. Shake yourself tonight. This is worth fighting for. Praise him. I got better sense now. I got better sense now. But there was a day that I'd leave I'd leave good churches with good hotel rooms rented so homesick to get back to Marville. I'd leave knowing if I leave right now, I'll get home about 6:30 in the morning. But the older you get, the last few times I've tried that, oh Lord have mercy. Turn that radio up full blast. He roll down the window. What are you trying to do? I'm trying to stay awake. said, "I'm trying to stay awake because if I go to sleep, I may never make it home. If I go to sleep, can I tell you something? Heaven's just around the corner. If there's ever been a time for you to stir yourself up, this thing's worth fighting for." I said, "This thing's worth fighting for. You You You don't realize it. You don't realize it, but hell knows there's a spiritual shift coming to your family. And hell knows there's a blessing around the corner. And hell's going to do everything it can to stop you. But I've come on a Wednesday night to tell you this. He is worth fighting for. God left it there for that. God left them there so I'd fight. God left them there so I would fight. I may not be a holy roller, but I don't want to live in a world of complacency either. Am I doing all right tonight? >> Verse nine. Lord have mercy. Jesus help me. Exodus 17:9. Moses said unto Joshua, "Choose us out men and go out fight with Amalecch. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand." So Joshua did as Moses had said unto him. fought with Amalecch. And Moses, Aaron, and her went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass when Moses held up his hand that Israel prevailed. And when he let down his hand, Amalecch prevailed. Anybody got the answer for that? As long as Moses held up the rod, what happened? I'm going see if you follow me there. What happened? Who was winning? >> Moses getting tired. He lets down his hands. What happens then? So, was the battle not going what? Back and forth. This is back before the day of two-way radios. Joshua was down in the battle fighting. And for one moment, Joshua was saying, "Push them, boys. We're winning, boys. Push them, boys." And all of a sudden, Joshua, who wait, they're pushing us. And all of a sudden, can I tell you something? When the proven methods of God are held up, we're going to win. >> When the proven weapons of God are held up, look for miracles, signs, and wonders to break out in your family. When we hold up the proven methods of God, look for the impossible to become possible. When we hold up the me true methods of God, the proven methods of God, look for things to come out of nowhere. Look for situations on your job to change overnight. Look for situations in your family to change overnight. You know why? The true methods of God are being held up. but let them down. Things go from bad to worse. Joshua doesn't know this. But Aaron and her understand this. They understand this. Verse 11. It came to pass when Moses held up his hand that Israel prevailed. And when he let down his hand, Amalecch prevailed. Can Can I tell you this? Some battles are not won in an instant. Some battles are not won in an instant. Stop thinking you're going to go through a prayer line. Some battles are not won in an instant. Stop thinking that we're going to invite the right evangelist to come and you're going to get what you need. Some battles are not won in an instant. >> Verse 12. But Moses hands were heavy, and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon. And Aaron and her stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. Let me show you something. Not only was old Moses's hands quaking, probably his legs, he was probably shifting from one side to the other. And they said, "Let's put something under him." You see, the ways of God need to be steadied in your life. You need to get settled in the ways of God. >> You need to get the mentality as from me and my house, we will serve the Lord. >> You you you need to settle that. That needs to get under you. You need to settle that. So they got him settled. And then Aaron got on one side, that's the word. Her got on the other side, that's praise. They that worship God must worship in >> spirit and in truth. So they're holding up his hands. And the Bible says, it says in at the end of verse 12, "And his hands were steady until the going down of the same." You know what that word steady there means? Faithful. His hands were faithful. So now verse number 13. And Joshua disisconfitted. That means he won. And Joshua disisconfitted Amalecch and his people with the edge of the sword. And the Lord said unto Moses, "Write this for a memorial in a book. Rehearse it in the ears of Joshua. For I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalecch from under heaven. Moses built an altar and called the name Jehovani or Jehovah my banner for he said because the Lord has sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalecch from generation to generation. Can I tell you something? Joshua didn't fight alone and Moses didn't go alone. We need each other. A friend is worth fighting for. >> Your church family is worth fighting for. Would you just raise your hands right now? Come on, just raise your hands with me right now. Would you just praise him and worship him and maybe say over and over again, God, this is worth fighting for. Lord, this is worth fighting for right now. God, this is this is worth fighting for. This is worth fighting for. It's worth fighting for. We're fighting for the battle of Jericho. The battle of Jericho. Joshua 6 and 12. Joshua rose early in the morning. The priests took up the ark of the Lord. Seven priests bearing seven trumpets of ram ram's horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually and blew with the trumpets and the armed and the armed men went before them. But the re-reward came after the ark of the Lord. The priests going on blowing the trumpets. The second day they compassed the city once returned into the camp. So they did six days. Came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early about the dawning of the day and can pass the city after the same manner seven times. Only on that day they can pass the city seven times. It came to pass on the seventh time when the priest blew the with trumpets Joshua said unto the people shout for the Lord hath given you hath given you the city. You know, an interesting way to win a battle is an interesting way to win a battle. See, back to my original text tonight. God said, "I'm going to leave nations among you that you might know war. I'm going to purposely let them be a thorn in your sight. I'm going to purposely leave them there because you wasn't alive when Moses and Joshua defeated the Amalachites." and and you were not alive, young girl, when the walls of Jericho came down. So, I'm going to leave them there so that somebody can tell you about the art of warfare. Think about it. Seven priests. Let's just break this down. Seven priests blowing seven rams horns. Seven priests. Can I tell you the preaching of the word of God is worth fighting for. Every person that stands in this pull pit covetss one thing from you. Would you pray for me? It's a winwin prayer. Because if you'll pray for this pull pit to be anointed, this pull pit will break out the treasures of God, the anointing of God upon you. Seven complete preaching. Seven is the number of completion. Seven is the number of completion. Seven is the number of the whole truth. Seven is the number of the whole Bible. Seven complete priests bearing seven rams horns blowing. Then notice this. What came next? I hope you'll get this. What came next was the priest bringing the ark of the covenant. The priest bringing the ark of the covenant. The ark of the covenant represented the presence of God. Do you see it? When the priests are preaching, look for the presence of God to come behind it. No preaching. Singing won't do it. Chicken dinners won't do it. Fellowship nights won't do it. It can be a good addendum, but it can never take the place of the preaching of God's word. Because listen to me tonight. When we preach God's word, look out. Here comes the presence of God behind the word of the Lord. You didn't come to hear me tonight. You didn't come to get a chill bump tonight. You came because you know the presence of almighty God is in this place. That's what you rejoice over. The presence. Seven priests blowing seven rams horns. Priest bearing. Here it is. Priest blowing the trumpets. The priest carrying the ark. What's behind them? Armed men. Why do you send armed men to follow the preaching and the presence? because it's worth fighting for. It's worth fighting for. Then the people followed once a day for six days. It was a routine. Everybody say routine. >> It was a routine. It's a routine. Six days around Jericho. Once a day. Second day, once around. third day once around, but on the seventh day. On the seventh day. Not just once around on the seventh day. No, no, no. Seven times on the seventh day. What's that telling you? The closer you get to deliverance, the more is required of you. Not just once on the seventh day, but seven times on the seventh day. But look at the great obedience. Joshua stepped out and he said, "Brother Thompson," he said to the people, "Don't speak a word. March in silence. Don't speak a word. Don't speak anything until I tell you to speak." That's what he said. He said, "Don't say a word. Don't speak. Don't say a word. Don't say, "Are we marching again?" Don't say it. Don't say I've heard that song. Don't say it. Don't say it's all the same. I could tell you what we're going to do tonight. 20 minutes of singing, take up the offering. He's going to get up and preach and we might go to the altar. Don't say it because you can talk yourself out of what God is getting ready to bless you with. He said, "Don't don't don't say it. Don't say anything." They marched seven times. Are you ready? Are you ready? They marched seven times. The word going forth, the ark of the covenant, the armed men ready to fight, and then Joshua said, "Would you stand with me right now, church?" Seven days of marching. And I can't say one thing. on the seventh day. Seven times around on the seventh day. And I can't say one thing, but on the seventh day, and here it goes. Here it goes. Here is the great revealer of your victory or your defeat. He said he said and I'm going to tell you in just a moment but what it must have been like when Joshua said shout shout now it don't you you say I just I just can't I just can't figure it out. I I just can't I just can't figure it out. I you know you can go to a doctor you don't know he can write you a prescription you can't even you can't even pronounce the what's wrong with you some of the funniest things I have is for us hillbillies to try to say medical terms they'll write you a little prescription you can't read it you'll take it down to somebody called a pharmacist guess what you don't know him or her either they'll give you a The bottom is says take three times a day. Make sure that you eat. Take this on a full stomach. You'll just grab it, go home, get you get you a hogy and eat and take your pills and it might work. But can I tell you something? If I could ever teach you war to a generation that knows you, you didn't you didn't know Jericho. You didn't know the amites. You didn't know all that. But if I could ever teach you the method of war, I'm telling you, there's not anything that can stand in our way. We'll march in victory. We'll march in joy. We'll march in peace. We'll march in contentment. If we can ever learn how to have victory, if we'll ever learn. So, I'm going to ask you right now, I have preached the word tonight. We've been in the prayer room. I believe the presence of God is here. I believe there's people here tonight that will fight for the truth. And there's some people here. But right now, I'm going to ask you to shout unto the Lord. >> Oh God. Oh God, I love you, Lord. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you, Lord. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. It's not truth. It's not funny. It's worship. That's what this is right now. It's worship. That's what this is. It's worship. It's deliverance power. It's resurrection power. It's setting free power. It's healing power. It's salvation power. That's what it is. Sh. Shout. Hallelujah. Glory to God. Thank you, Jesus. I magnify your name. I glorify your name. I magnify your name. It'll put your life back together. It'll put your family back together. It'll put the church back together. Shout. Shout. >> Didn't that feel good? >> I said, "Didn't that feel good?" To those of you that did it, didn't that feel good? >> Remain standing. Remain standing. Didn't that feel good? >> It's our way of doing war. And God help us, brother Namy. >> That we never lose the art of war. >> God help us. You were never called a holy roller, young man. Young man, you don't know what it's like because you wouldn't dress out for gym to have to mop the floor and dust the gym while the other kids in your class stood over and mock mocked and made fun of you. You never know. But can I tell you, hey, some wide-headed men and women of God in this place right now say, "I remember that. I remember taking a letter down to the gym teacher. I remember walking a letter into the principal's office. It said, "Due to religious convictions, we don't do this. God, help us never to lose >> the art of war." Now, let me tell you something again. Let me tell you the difference. I mean, we're out. We're gone. Too many people are falling prey to the deceptive matter of a life life coach and not a preacher. >> A life coach might get you through a season, >> but a preacher will get you to heaven. Maybe, maybe, maybe maybe not. I just say this is a this maybe something cute to say, but I've been pretty hard on Peter. We've all been pretty hard on the Apostle Peter, haven't we? Oh, that night in the garden when they came to arrest Jesus. It was Peter that got up and took a sword. What'd he do with it? cut off the servant of the high priest ear and oh Jesus said Peter put the sword up put the sort man we that's Peter boy he's he's hot and cold man he he denying the Lord one minute and going to prison he going to fight for him one minute I read that today and this came to my mind I don't know if it was the Holy Ghost or not but this this came to my mind at least He was willing to fight. >> Matthew didn't grab no sword. >> The other guys, the other the other 11 that were there, Sister Seat, they didn't grab no sword. But Peter, he's a bad Listen, that that servant better be thankful a fisherman willed the sword and not a swordsman because he wasn't just trying to give him a close shave. He was trying to split him right down the middle. He just missed. All right, but I read that how how many times I made a you know old Peter, you know, he's he's up and down hot and cold. Romeo, this voice just said in my head, "Yeah, but at least he was willing to fight." Could we praise him right now? Something worth fighting for. Something worth fighting for. Come on. Something worth fighting for right now. Come on. Is there somebody tonight that'd like to walk to the front of this room and say, "This is something worth fighting for right now." Anybody in this room would like to just come up around the altar right now, lift your hands and say, "This thing's worth fighting for right now."