The Helmet Of Salvation | Senior Pastor Kenneth Carpenter

They get to worshiping. They get to singing. And I don't want them to stop. It's just it I just I just don't want them I just I just don't want them. The music and the the singing is so beautiful. And I I just don't want it to stop. I just want it to keep on going and going and and um I know we come to the word today. So, Ephesians chapter 6 and verse number 10. Ephesians chapter 6 and verse number 10. And while you're looking for that, uh let me announce brother Wally Hannah's mother passed away uh early Thursday morning. And let's remember, let's remember brother Hannah in prayer. And they'll be having that funeral uh service down in Florida, I believe it is. And let's be praying for brother Wall-E. He's taking this really hard. And uh let's pray for the Hannah, for the Hannah family at this time. Ephesians chapter 6 and verse number 10. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the ws of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins gird about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shaw with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. I want to minister today on the simple subject, the helmet of salvation. The helmet of salvation. Mighty God of heaven, as I have prayed earlier in private, I now pray publicly that you would anoint your servant that I would deliver your word to your people, God. To those that are lost, let it become light, Lord. To those today that are discouraged, let it let it become a source of encouragement today. Oh God, your word can answer any situation in our lives, Lord. Father, if you'll use me as a tool today, I'll be ever so mindful to give you the praise, glory, and honor for it all is due to you. In Jesus wonderful name we all pray. Amen. And amen. You may be seated today. The helmet of salvation. Let's look at the perfect balance that exists in the armor of God. these seven pieces of armor that Paul will write about in Ephesians chapter 6. There is a perfect balance when you begin to study these pieces of armor. And of course, we have to understand today that we are at war and we will be at war until that great trumpet sounds and we're caught up to be with him. >> There will be war. And think it not strange. There's nothing wrong with you. You can't pray enough, fast enough, worship enough, go to church enough for there not to be the war against you. >> So, let's look at these pieces of armor today. God has given us these seven pieces. There are three pieces of armor today that are offensive. They are to be for us to be on the offense. There are three defensive weapons and there's one that is a neutral weapon. The breastplate, the shield, and the helmet are defensive weapons. These are weapons that protect you and I and give us confidence as we go forward in our walk with God. How many are glad to have confidence today? >> By the help of God, I'm not might going to make it. By the help of God, I'm not maybe going to make it, but by the help and the grace of God, I am going to make it. Amen. I I wish somebody shout yes right now because I've got confidence. Not in myself. Oh, no, no, no, no. But I've got confidence. I've got confidence in the the weapons that God has given the weapons, the breastplate, the shield, and the helmet. I've got confidence in these. There are three offensive weapons which are shoes and swords and a spear or a lance. And then there is one neutral piece of armor. And you say you see it's neutral. It's it's it can be offensive and it can be for the offense. It can be on the offense and it can be on the defense. It is the it is the belt of truth. It is the belt of truth. All the armor hung upon the belt of truth. So we understand today that whatever we're doing, we better make sure we've got the truth of God's word. >> We've got to make sure that it's in the Bible. We got to make sure that we're built that we're built on the truth. We're built on the truth of God's word. Let me explain to you today since we're going to be discussing primarily one piece of armor today and that is the helmet. Now notice this. He called it the helmet of salvation. Calls it the helmet of salvation. You see the Roman soldier's helmet was a fascinating and beautiful part of his armor. It was a flamboyant piece of weaponry. It was ornate, intricate. In fact, it looked more like a piece of artwork than a helmet. Rather than being a simple piece of metal formed to fit around the head, the Roman soldier's helmet was highly decorated with all kinds of engravings. It was not uncommon for there to be a scene of a field with animals. It was nothing uncommon for there to be all kinds of of of animals put on there, an elephant, a horse, or any other kind of animal. It was an ornate piece. It was a beautiful It was a beautiful, fabulous engravings and etchings. And then the on top of that helmet was a huge plume. A huge plume that was brightly colored feathers or sometimes even a horse's hair that stood straight up on top of the helmet. As a matter of fact, depending times upon the soldier that wore it, a plume could be so long that it went down the solders's back. You see, if you were in that battle and saw a Roman soldier coming by, you didn't have to mistake him for anybody else because the helmet that he wore told that he was a soldier. The helmet that he had, nobody had to guess who's that fell there. Nobody had to guess who he was. When you saw that beautiful, ornate, fabulous, gorgeous helmet on his head, you would look at him and say, "He is a soldier." For the first thing I want to tell you about the helmet today, I'm glad that salvation may start in your heart, but it doesn't stop in your heart. God's great salvation that you and I have is to be an open symbol, an open sign for God, the angels, and even the devil to know I'm on the battlefield for my Lord. I'm I am on this B. How many are glad to have the helmet of salvation today? The helmet, as a matter of fact, it's called the helmet of salvation. It's connected with a beautiful piece of armor, a gorgeous piece, a fabulous piece. Paul would refer to salvation in Hebrews chapter 2 and verse three. Listen to what Paul says about salvation. How shall we escape if we neglect what? >> What kind of salvation is it? >> It's a great It's a great salvation. I'm glad today. That's why we worship. It's a great salvation. That's why we're faithful. It's a great salvation. We don't have an ordinary salvation. I'm glad to have a great salvation. Matter of fact, I don't believe there is any such thing as an ordinary salvation. >> It's a great salvation. Let's let's read on today. Let's read on. We're going to study our Bibles this morning. Isaiah 12 and verse number two. Isaiah said it this way. Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid. For the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song. He also is become my salvation. Paul spoke in Romans chapter 10 verse number 15. How shall we how shall they preach except they be sent? As it is written, look at this. How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things. Can I tell you today, he's not talking about the preacher's feet because my feet is anything far from being pretty. Amen. Gnarly corns and everything else. And I just I wish to keep my socks and shoes on right now. My feet are not important. But when you bring the salvation of a great God, the Bible said it is a beautiful thing, the feet of them that carry that carry the gospel. Now, you know as well as I know today, there's an old adage that goes something like this. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. All right? Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. You see all these beautiful babies dedicated up here today. But I promise you there's three babies dedicated up here today and there's three opinions on this platform today. Every one of them believe they've got the prettiest, most handsome grandchild of all. All right. Now, they can think it, but I know it. Amen. We can think because beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Just like when a child cries in church. To some it's oh so sweet and to others it's like did they not know we have a nursery? You see beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. 1 Coronicles 16 and 29 says this. Give unto the Lord the glory due. That sounds like I owe something. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name. Bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the what? >> Beauty of holiness. Some see holiness as the most unnecessary outdated weight that a person could live in. Some view holiness in a separate lifestyle is you're kidding me. They do that, you do this, you go here, you don't go there, you you wear this, you don't wear that. And they view be view holiness as some outdated unnecessary thing. While others see, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. While others look at a separate lifestyle and say, "Thank God for holiness. Thank God for the holiness of God's word." We look at a messed up world. Come on, church. We look at a messed up world around us. I'm not meaning to get political or anything else today, but if your faith is in our government, I feel sorry for you today when we sometimes as Americans have to apologize for what goes on. >> Oh, I done got some of you treated today. Oh, you're you're speaking about our great country here. No, I'm not speaking about I'm speaking about a lot of mess we've got in. And we've got in a mess because years ago, we saw the Bible as something that needed to be thrown out of the public schools. Years ago, we saw prayer before before school as something that needed to be thrown out. We saw the pledge of allegiance, something that need to thrown out. And we are in the mess we're in today because people cannot see the beauty of a separate lifestyle. Oh, I thank Psalms 27 verse number four. Psalms 27 verse number four. One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, and to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. Can I tell you something? While some folks can't understand, they scratch your head. They scratch their heads on s Monday morning when you go into work and they want to know what a great weekend you had because they went and got drunk and got high and spent all their paycheck and went and and and even a little bit more and put it on the credit card and they said, "Man, we had a good time." But you come in and they say, "Hey, where'd you go, Joe? Last night I was at church." Oh, Sunday morning. I I I was in church. You see, some see this as a prison today. Some see this as a place to only have a wedding and a funeral today. But there's those that see the beauty of the house of God. And when they see the beauty of the house of God, you say, "Oh no, that's not a place I don't want to go. That's a place where I want to go." I was glad when they said unto me, "Let us go into the house of there's beauty in this house." >> >> Oh God, help me to get through my Bible study today. Isaiah 53 verse number two. Would you look at this today? It's Old Testament prophecy about Jesus Christ. Isaiah 53 and two. He shall grow up before him as a tender plant, as a root out of dry ground. Prophecy about Jesus. Now he hath no form nor clumliness and when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him. You you see purposely he wasn't made when God when he was formed in the womb of the Virgin Mary. He wasn't made to be what the world would call handsome. He wasn't made with the right cut across his chin. And he wasn't made with the right eye color. And he wasn't made with all those. As a matter of fact, he was made in such a way that there was no beauty on the outside that would pull you to him. There was nothing beautiful on the outside that would that would pull you to Jesus Christ. Not even not even a a charismatic personality that would that would pull you in. But wait a minute, don't stop reading. He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. We hid, as it were, our faces from him. He was despised, and we esteemed him not. But wait a minute. Hold on a minute. I'm going to show you some beauty. Surely he hath carried borne our griefs. You ever been weighed down with grief that you didn't know if you could put one foot in front of the other, but you look back on things you've come through and you made it through. Don't pat yourself on the back. You know how you made it through that time of grief. He just reached down and carried your grief. He just reached down and picked you up when you went through that trial of your life. When you went through that situation of your life, when you the phone rang in the middle of the night that changed your whole world. When that phone call came. When that knock on the door came and you fell to your knees and now a year later, 10 years later, you're standing walking. I'm going to tell you why. He reached down and he bore your griefs. >> Oh yes, he did. Surely he hath borne our griefs. And look at this next thing. He did what? >> Carried our sorrows. Yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for what? >> Our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace with was upon him. And with his stripes, we are healed. Brothers and sisters, today when I'm looking at Jesus Christ, I'm not looking at some kind of perfect specimen of a human being. I look beyond the skin, and I look into the purpose of the Lord Jesus Christ, wounded for my transgressions, bruised for not my iniquities, and by his stripes, we are healed. How many believe in healing today? >> How many believe that God is a healer today? >> I'm not just talking about cancers and things of that nature. He can heal both the physical problems and he can heal the mental anguish that we have in our life. He is our God. He is our healer. H Why did the Romans need a helmet to begin with? Because the enemy carried a shortandled axe called a battle axe or a shortmatic hammer is what I would call it. with this hammer. All the opponent knew that he needed to do is to take that hammer and to crush that head. If I can get to the head, I don't have to I don't have to break his arm. If I break his arm, he may can recoup. If I can break a rib, he may can hobble off and come back and fight one day. But, Brother Slack, if I can give him a head injury, if I can render him, if I can hit him in the head with a blow, it will be a deadly blow. And therefore, the Romans would wear this helmet upon the head. He would wear that helmet for that purpose. So that if the enemy did try to strike at the head, that heavy metal, that heavy metal would deflect and keep that wound from happening. Are we not facing an enemy today? Do you know on the job sites, on a job site, you'll see a sign that'll say hard hats required. Or I could use the word helmet, a hard hat or a helmet is required. Are we not on a job site this morning? >> Are we not on a job site today? Oh, yes, we are. >> Because Jesus said, "Upon this rock, I will build my church." We're on a job site today. We're on a we're on a we're on a job site. you know, certain uh states I looked up today, there's three states today that have a no helmet law. In other words, you can ride a motorcycle w with without w without a helmet. You can you can you can ride a motorcycle without a without a helmet. And um you know when I'm traveling in them states and I'm going down the interstate and one of those motorcycles pass me at 60 or 70 m an hour and that hair is just a flapping in the wings. I'm just thinking that's so foolish. That's so foolish cuz all it takes is one accident. All it takes is just one collision, one head collision, and it's over. Do do you know today that it is just about certain suicide to try to live for God without understanding the helmet of salvation? >> I said it's almost certain suicide to try to get out here and fight in this battle without having the helmet of salvation. It's almost it's almost certain suicide because the enemy is looking to give you a head wound. If he can wound your head, if he can somehow chip away at your head to where all you've got in your brain is when I got saved and glory hallelujah, I'm going to heaven. If he can chip away with you that he's a God, a blessing God, he is a keeping God. He is a God that will give deliverance. He's still a delivering God. He is in the gospel in the helmet of salvation. He is a God that has that is and will continue to deliver people from their sins. He's not a weak God. He's not an anemic God. He is a mighty God. He is a powerful God. But if you don't wear that helmet of salvation, if you don't keep that word going on in your life helmet protects your brain. It applies to our minds. Our minds. Our minds. Look at 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse number three. 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse number three. See if this doesn't help us today. 2 Corinthians 4 and3. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the God, the little little G, Satan of this world hath done what? What's he done? >> What's he blinded? >> The minds of them that believe not, lest the glorious light of the gospel, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness has shined in our heart to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Do you realize, church, it's time for you and I to wear the helmet of salvation? It's time for you and I to be seen in our jobs, in our neighborhoods, in our families, wearing the beautiful, ornate, gorgeous helmet of salvation so that a lost and a dying world can look at us and say, "What's different about you?" Because Satan, the Bible said, "If this gospel be hid, it's hid to them that are lost, whom the god of this world have blinded their minds." They're in a dark room. They can't see their hand in front of their face. They're in a dark room. But when you and I, brother Mayo, take the message of God's word, we begin to strike a match. When we take the message of God's word and we begin to say, "Jesus," we begin to strike a match. We begin to light a match and we begin to say, "He's our savior." We strike another match and we begin to say, "And it's for whosoever will." We begin to strike another match. And we begin to say, "He's waiting for you to come. He's waiting for you to give him your life. He's wanting you. Our father has open arms. We strike another match until we light a room up and we say repent and we strike another match. And we say be baptized in water and we strike another match. and we say, "Receive the Holy Ghost." And we strike another match until we light the room up and the sinner sees that the room is full of light because Satan Satan has got them in the darkness. Satan has got them in the darkness. I need to I have more notes than I have time here today, but listen to Colossians 2:18. Let no man beguile you. Let no man beguile you, deceive you of reward of of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshiping of angels, intruding into those things which he have not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly pride. I'm interested in that word. I'm interested in that word beguiled because Satan entered the human race through deception. How did Satan enter the human race? We were made by God to have eternal life. We were made by God. Adam and Eve were made by God to live eternally. But how did that eternal turn to temporal? A few short years. Satan beguiled Eve. He deceived Eve. Now, I know this is this is as simple as as simple can be, but when somebody's talking to you, would you please study their life out? Because whatever they're telling you, they are what they're living. >> All right? And I know this is simple. You might even laugh at this thought. But Eve, come on, Eve. What are you doing? listening to a snake. Snakes don't talk. You may be seated. You know, you shouldn't listen to just everything because it can talk. When you're going to change things about your life and you're going to take somebody's word over the word of God, you need to look at their life long enough and ask yourself the question, "Do I want to be like them?" >> Because whatever they're saying, they're living. >> Philippians 3:19, Lord help me, Jesus. Philippians 3:19, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, whose glory is their shame, who do what? What do they do? Somebody help me. What do they do? >> What do they mind? >> They mind earthly. They mind earthly things. Going back to Ephesians 6 and 11, put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the ws of the devil. Would it interest you to know? Would it interest you to know that the word ws, the root word of ws is road. that we may be able to stand against the roads of the devil. Do you know where the devil's road leads? Right here. The devil knows if he can get this right here, he's got these right here. >> He's got these right here. He's got every part of me. He's got my eyes. He's got my mouth. He's got my voice. He's got my desires. If he can get right here. >> That's where his road is leading. That's where his road is leading. Now, now that the road Now that we have the road, 2 Corinthians 2 and10, this is interesting. 2 Corinthians 2:10. To whom you forgave anything, I forgive also. For if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes, forgave I it in the person of Jesus Christ or the person of Christ. Notice it's not an end to the sentence here. It's not an end to the sentence. The subject matter is forgiveness. Would you all say that word with me today? Forgiveness. >> Say it again. The subject matter here is forgiveness. It's not an ended sentence. Verse 11. Lest Satan should get an advantage of us for we are not ignorant of his. >> Can I tell you that unforgiveness is the great paralyzer of all. >> It will paralyze you 30 years ago. It will paralyze you 50 years ago. It will paralyze you to your past that you live day after day being able to change it into a glorious future. But you can't do that because you're paralyzed by unforgiveness. I'll say this and move quickly on. I got a real life story of this that I saw someone paralyzed several years ago. I was preaching in a church and it's a fairly goodsized church, Brother Hammond. pastor told me he said uh he said if you just be seated on the front row said I got some counseling to do and and uh after that we'll go out and get something to eat and I sat on the front row and a man kept walking by me two or three times and finally he stopped and began to talk with me and this is how he began the conversation have you heard? And I said no I haven't. You haven't heard? I haven't heard. I'll try to make this quick. He said, "The split that this church had." I said, "No, I hadn't." And there's no, "No, I haven't heard. I don't care to hear." But he started telling it in living color. Oh, this group over here got up and stomped out. This lady was wearing a yellow dress, and she hollered across the lady that was wearing a purple dress, and this brother got up and threw a song book. And it was it was living color. And and the church I was preaching at didn't have TV, and it was better than watching TV. I mean, he was he he he had me intrigued in this. I mean, I was intrigued in this. and and and and finally I said, "Uh, well, brother, when did that happen?" And he stepped back and he said, "Well, brother Carpenter, I believe it was right before or right after the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. I wouldn't I wouldn't I wasn't even born when the Japanese bomber harbor. But that man, of course, the pastor came out, saw the man talking to me. We got in the car and the pastor said, "I guess he wanted to tell you about the split." I said, "He did." He said, "He feels," he said, "Everybody, every preacher we ever come through, he gets with him and tells them about the split." He said, "The church healed up. The people came back together. We're twice the size we are now than we were when the split happened. We built a new building." And he went on and on and on. But all that man could do was live in the past of something. I'm telling you, you need to forgive everybody and keep forgiving them every day until it doesn't enter your mind. Because if the devil can get a road into your life, if he can get an access into your life, it'll be through unforgiveness, he'll go right up. Unforgiveness. And isn't it interesting, church? The Bible said we are not ignorant of his devices. Do you know the word device has the root meaning of the word mind? The devil's playing mind games with you. He's playing these mind games. How's he do it? Thoughts. Thoughts. Thoughts. Thoughts. Thoughts. Everybody say thoughts. >> Don't you dare think they don't mean something. Don't you dare dumb it down by saying, "Well, I didn't do the act, but you know, I might have thought about it." I'm going to tell you something. >> When lust hath conceived, >> what does love lust conceived with? Thought >> when lust hath conceived, just because a a woman is pregnant, you can't see that baby. That doesn't mean that baby's not there. It's growing in the womb waiting for the time to be birthed. And don't think that you can toy with ungodly thoughts. >> There's a formation going on. But lust hath conceived bringeth forth sin. And when sin is finished, bringeth forth death. It's the devil's LSD. Lust, sin, and death. Look at this for a moment. 2 Corinthians chapter 2 Corinthians chapter number 10 verse number three. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons, here we are again. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, >> casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ, having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. Can I tell you thoughts thoughts turn into images? Turn into images. Thoughts turn into images. Now, let me tell you, there's a lot of people that rob themselves because they don't have the mind of Christ. And they get into things like logic. Oh, I'm a thinker. I've got to I've got to think this thing through. Oh, I'm a thinker, preacher. I got to I got to think this thing through. Do you know if you could be saved through your logic, there would be no need for salvation. People will, you know, they they're upside down financially. They're upside down financially. They they have more they have more month than they have money. All right? They're upside down. And then they come to church and and the word of God says 10%. Tithing. And the logic mind says, "Man, that just I'm in debt, man. I'm in debt." You're gonna stay in debt, too. And then there's that part of you that is always worried, fear. What if the job shuts down? What if I got cancer? What if my family? What if they do this? What if they do that? I'm fearful of going here. I'm fearful of the economy. Man, don't you wouldn't you hate to live with that kind of mindset? But when you allow yourself to live with only allowing the thoughts of God to come in to your mind, you know why we have to take down every thought? Because thoughts form strongholds. Thoughts form prisons in your mind. You see the Bible says, "Taking every thought into captivity." Please hear this now. taking every thought into captivity. Do you know why you shouldn't just let any thought rest in your mind? Is because if you don't take your thoughts captive, your thoughts will take you captive. >> If you don't control what you think about, sooner or later what you think about is controlling you. You see, and I could go into temptation. Temptation is like a bird flying over my head. There are certain things I can't stop from coming to my mind, but I can stop a bird from building a nest in my hair. I can stop a bird from writing his address across my forehead. You see, we live in a world I'm not dare saying today that thoughts are not going to come. But the moment they do, you need to address that thought in your mind with a godly thought. And you need to say, if you know it's the word of God, you know it's the word of God, you need to say, "I rebuke that thought. I remove that thought for the word of God says ABC. I take that thought captive because the word of God, if you do nothing about that thought, that thought's going to bring another one in and another one in and another one in and another one in until the devil's got a strong hold in your life. Don't think, don't think. Don't think, "Oh, you don't know how strong I am with my thoughts." They'd be pretty strong, right? Let's take John the Baptist for example. John the Baptist introduced the Lord Jesus Christ. John the Baptist possibly heard the voice and saw the spirit like a dove come upon Jesus Christ. John the Baptist saw a lot of things, but put him in prison. Put John in prison. Put John in a place he can't get out of. Put John in a stronghold. And John says to one of his disciples, "Hey disciple, would you go ask Jesus, are you the Christ or do we look for another?" Can I tell you? When you allow the stronghold of sin to be in your life, when you allow Satan to build a stronghold in your mind, you'll look back and say, "Well, I I know what I felt when I repented, and I I know what I felt when I got baptized, and I know I've seen the blessings and the healings and the deliverance and the power of God, but now I'm in a stronghold, and I'm wondering, are you real or not?" Oh church, today it's time for us to wear the helmet of salvation so that we know that we know that we know that we know that we know. You see, thoughts form oppression. Thoughts form oppression. Let me read this scripture to you from First Peter chapter 1 verse 13. 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 13. I want you to look at it real close too. First Peter 1:13. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind. Please underline as I have underlined those two words your mind. Be sober. Hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Let's settle a basic fact. Look at me, church. Let's Let's settle a basic fact. It's your mind. It's not my mind. All I can control and I need the Holy Ghost is my mind. I can't control your mind. Only you can control your mind. Stop waiting for a prayer line. Stop waiting for a real anointed preacher to come to town so he can lay his hands on your head and you think right, it's never going to happen >> until you gird up. It really means what it what it was when a man wanted to move and he didn't want to be he didn't want to be hindered by by his robe by his robe. He wanted to run. He would gather up his robe and take the loin belt and tighten it around. He would tighten the loose ends of his robe around so he wasn't hindered. We've got too many people hindered because they've got too many loose ends in their life. They've got too many, you know, they got too many loose ends of their mind going, "You never can get settled on serving God because you got too many loose ends here and there. But maybe on this Sunday morning, you will settle it once and for all. This world has nothing to offer me but misery, shame, and torment. So, I'm going to gather that in and I'm going to stop looking for the world. I'm going to gather this thought. You'll never get rich enough to sleep good at night. You'll never make enough to be content. So, I'm going to reach and grab that and I'm going to get my mind stayed on Jesus. I'm going to get my mind focused on Jesus Christ. Come on, would you stand with me right now? I'm going to get my mind focused upon him. Oh my God have mercy. Oh my gird up the loins of your mind. You're not going to make enough money. You hear me? You're not going to make enough money to be happy. I'm going to get out of this church and get in the world. Get me a bunch of friends. You're not going to have enough friends to make you happy. >> Man, I feel the Holy Ghost. >> Why don't you settle it this morning? Won't you grab that that that part of your brain that's always looking for something other than Jesus? Pull it in. >> You're not hindering me anymore. >> Great peace have they mind is stayed on him. >> How many How many's ready to wear the helmet of salvation today? How many want to pick it up, put it on, >> not going to come to me with false doctrine? We got We got people falling prey to false doctrine cuz they're not wearing the helmet. Old prophet Hosea, the old prophet Hosea cried out. He cried out this, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." They get defeated because they have a lack of knowledge. I got some good news to share with you today. It's going to be the last scriptures I read. I got some good news to tell you. Romans 12 verse number one and two. It's written to the church. It's written to people just like you today. It's written to those that have tasted the good gift of God and somehow allowed their minds to stumble and go back. They're torn between two worlds. part of their mind knows that they'll never find it in the bar. They'll never find it in Hollywood. They'll never find it in those places. The other part of their mind keeps them going to the garbage can of sin. But Romans 12:1 says this, "I beseech you." That word that word means I'm I beg you. I beg you. If I could and if I could stand with Paul today and look this sweet, beautiful, faithful congregation in the eye, I beg you, your pastor begs you. I beg you today. I beg you. I plead with you. I beg with you. I plead with you. I beg with you today. I beg with you today. >> >> I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed, how? by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Would you bow your heads with me right now all over this building? Would you begin to pray right now? If you're here today and you're in the darkness of sin, you're here this morning and you're in the darkness. You're in the darkness of sin today. You wish you could see your hand. You wish. I'm here to tell you Jesus Christ loves you this morning. It's no accident you're here. It wasn't by chance that you started coming. It's for this moment for God to light a light in your life and to tell you to come to me right now. This altar's open. We're praying right now. If you want to come and give your life to God, make your way down to this altar right now. You've been feeling you've been living in the darkness way too long. You've been living in misery late way too long. Life has had no meaning way too long. This altar is open this morning. Why don't you come and find Jesus? Why don't you come and embrace him right now? Come on, church. Pray with me. Pray. We're creating a climate right now. We're creating an atmosphere right now. Come on. Don't fight it. Don't fight the light. Don't fight the light. Don't fight the light. You know what you're feeling. Come right now. Step out of your pew right now. Right now. Right now. Right now. Oh God, I love you today. God, I worship you today, God. Oh God, I love you and I worship you right now, Lord. Oh God, speak to that man's heart, God. God, speak to that woman's heart. God, God, you know the misery that she's been in. God, you know the torment that he's been in. God, you know, you know, God, the sleepless nights. God, you know the tears that have rolled down their face. Come on, center friend. Come on, prodigal son. Come on, prodal daughter. Come on. This is your morning. This is your fresh start. Pulling down. Pulling down. Pulling down. I can live for God. I can live for God. I can find repentance. I can find repentance. I can live for God. I can make it. I can I can I can. To those of you that are in the altar, move up as close as you can. Please move up as close as you can. Please. Those of you that are the altar, live up as close as you can. Oh, sweet Jesus. Oh, God. There's a prodal here this morning. Oh, there's a prodal here this morning. There's bread for you. >> >> You've got a father looking down a long road for you. Oh, you've got a father looking down a long road. Come on, let's move up close to the altar. Church family, let's all gather in. We got to renew our minds. We got to renew our minds today. Heat. Heat. Praise the Lord. >> >> All our praise. Oh, all the praise. You deserve it. Oh, God. I know I'm far from finished, but your grace is still sufficient. That's what makes all the difference. God hold you my praise. Now I'm standing here forgiving knowing life is worth living. You're the God of new beginnings. Oh my god. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. >> >> Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. >> >> Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. >> >> There are so many people here today that need to be prayed for. There are so many people here today that need someone to lay their hands on them and pray a prayer of faith. Someone to lay their hands and to help you rebuke and help you get back on track. And I'm going to ask for about the next five minutes, about the next five minutes, our elders, our ministers, and our believers today to find somebody and just lay your hand on them and begin to pray with them right now. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray for my dear pastoring friend, Brother Magna. I pray over Brother Magna right now. Oh God, I pray over my dear friend right now. I lay my hands up on them right now. Father, you know that woman and you know that man that is battling with a past sin of their life. God, they got in a shape spiritually. They got in a condition spiritually and they did things that now they look back on it. How did I do that? Why did I do that? If I had it to do all over again, I would never do it. But Lord, you were wounded for our transgressions. You are bruised for our iniquities. Come on right now. Come on right now. It's time to sever that part of your brain that wants to go back to your moral failure. It's time to sever that part of your brain that wants to live in yesterday's mistakes. By the blood of Jesus Christ, we walk in liberty. We walk in freedom. We walk in redemption. Come on, pray, church. Pray. When I think about your love, come on, that's it. Come on, that's it. There's power in this house. There's power in this house. >> Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit. Yeah. Heat. Oh yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Yeah. Heat. >> >> Heat. Heat. Do it again. Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit. There is no one. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. >> >> heart and heart of my one who gave it all. I stand so Lord to you surrender all I am is yours. One more time would you please the one who gave me all I stand so Lord you surrender all I am his >> now I want us to form a great choir I want us to form a great choir Adam wants to sing that song with them right now. One time through. Would you start with brother Ericson? >> I'll stand with arms high. One reason we went to great expense to print brochures that you can read your Bible through in 2026. One reason we went to great expense to have a spiritual growth tracker is because this word is our helmet. This word is our helmet. And every time and every morning we get up and we read the word of God, we're putting our helmet on. Whatever your weakness is, whatever your weakness is, whatever your temptations are, because we don't all have the same temptation, find out what the word says about it. That's the only way you'll combat the thoughts that come to your mind is when they come. They come to your mind. God has forgotten me. I've went too far. I've done too much. Find all the mercy scriptures you can. And I promise you, it's a guarantee that the adversary will have to go to a different method, a different road, because he's going to bring that old thought up that road. The old devil's going to hit big old sign that's going to say, "Road closed. >> No more entrance. Road closed." How many wants to close the road to some of the things in your life today? It's the helmet. It's the helmet of salvation.