The Law of God | Senior Pastor Kenneth Carpenter

You know, I am never amazed. I am never amazed. I'm never surprised. Maybe is a word I should say. If we do what we're supposed to do, if we do what we're supposed to do, God will always do what he promised he would do. What do you mean by that? I'm so thankful that I attend a church that the presence of God comes to this place every time that we gather together. The presence of God is in this house. You know why that is? We do what we're supposed to do. We come to his house and we not only come to his house, we pray for his spirit to fall. Amen. And when we come to his house and we pray for his spirit to fall and we worship him. There's two times you need to worship God when you feel like it and when you don't. We give him a sacrifice of praise. And when we do that, it's no wonder that all of a sudden people start getting touched by the mighty hand of God. I'm just so thankful for that this morning. Would you just give God a hand that his presence is in this place? Amen. And amen. His presence, his presence is here. Thank you so much, choir. Thank you so much, praise team. And thank you so much, good people of God. Heard that report from Pastor Hammond today on uh the uh best church, best uh daycare, best school, and best pastor. I voted as many times as I could for me. I did. Amen. But uh I don't think we really realize the not only the impact that we have here in Blunt County and uh Buland, Blunt County. I don't I don't know what we uh archaeologists may discover one day that Blunt County was the Garden of Eden. I don't know. They they may very well discover that. It's it's the greatest place on earth in my in my opinion. Amen. And um I'm just thankful that for the impact that we have here locally in our county, but I don't believe that we have grasped the uh farreaching effects of the ministries of First Apostolic Church. And uh what it does and and as I travel our country and as I travel even uh outside of our country, uh people just come up and they'll say uh we watch the webcast and we we're always some people that they're an hour behind us. uh central time zone, they'll they'll say, "Man, you you you all are our pep rally before we go to church." And we turn the webcast on. We get ready. We get ready. We get ready for church. But not only the webcast, but our daycare and our school throughout America, our former students of uh ACA and former students, former children that attended our daycare and now they're grown and and we've had a daycare now for, you know, well over three decades. And I was reminded Friday night I was preaching the Georgia camp meeting and brother uh Keith Wall, Brother Keith Wall is the music minister there at the church and doing a tremendous job leading a choir and shouting and praising the Lord and and uh I I just sit there and I watched him and I I just thought, you know, that's the fruits of the daycare that Keith Keith was four years old. Keith was four years old. He's he's a married man now, but he was four years old when his mama enrolled him in Apostolic Christian Academy daycare. He was four years old. Of course, through the daycare, they all came to the knowledge of the truth and baptized in Jesus' name and filled with the Holy Ghost and discipled into the ways of God. And uh I I was so thankful I told me Friday night uh that Keith and Amber, I believe that's her that's her name, Keith and his Kendall. So, I was in the right field. It was two syllables there. I was in the right uh not prophesying for you, brother Keith, today. But uh Keith and Kendall, they have five children. They have five beautiful all girls. All girls. And uh they are all under the age of five. And I told Friday night, I said, you know, Keith came out of a daycare. Now he has started his own daycare. He And it's just so good. Isn't it good to be in the house of God this morning? So good to be in the house of God. Are you ready for the word? Are you ready to hear the word of God this morning? You're ready to hear God's word. Would you stand with me right now and get out your Bibles and if you don't have your Bibles with you, turn to the screen and you'll see the scripture. You'll see the scripture on the screen. And again, Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse number four. Before I begin to read, I'm going to say this. It's wonderful if we do what we do. We come to the house of God. We pray, you praise, and then I'm going to preach. But the exciting time of the service is I can't wait to see what God is going to do in the altar. I can't because that's the time that that's the time that that that God begins to work. That's that's his method. That's his pattern. Deuteronomy chapter 6 and verse number four. Very familiar verse to us. Here, O Israel. The Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy might. If you want God to speak to you today and it's not just a formality. If you want God to speak to you today, it's not just a formality. You're standing because of the honor of the reading of the word of God and you want God to speak to you. If you if you would just pray with me right now. Father, in the name of Jesus, God, this is not a a a religious ritual that we're going through. Lord, we believe that your word is going to speak to us today. God, we believe with all of our hearts that what we need is your word to speak to us. Lord, your word has the way of immediately improving our lives. Lord, your word has the way of immediately bringing comfort to us. And Lord, your word has long range effects upon us when we hear your word. Father, I stand here today with the burden being a servant, Lord, to minister your word to these people today. Oh God of heaven, anoint my mind, an anoint my mouth, anoint my heart that I would deliver the word the way that you want me to deliver it, God. Lord, I pray today, God, that no one gets offended at the word. Lord, I pray today that when the word begins to prick our heart, that Lord, we would allow your spirit to override our flesh, we would allow your word to take a place in our heart in Jesus' name we all pray. Amen and amen. You may be seated in the name of Jesus this morning. Very familiar passage of scripture here. O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. And then verse five of which I will take my text from today. And it's one thing to know that the Lord is your God, but the response to that is, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." Look at look at this. Today I want to minister for just a few minutes on the subject of the law. The law of God. Now when I mention the love and the law, they are together because God's law is a good law. God's law is a benefit to man. God never made a law, gave a law that would be of a harm to man. All of God's laws are good laws. Even his creative laws, the law of gravity is a good law. We better thank God for the law of gravity today. We were able to move and walk and and exist on this earth because of the law of gravity. There is the law of reaping and sowing, right? There's the law of sewing and reaping and reaping and sowing. There's this law here today of which we get our we get our food, the law of reaping and the law of sewing. And so I I want to minister today on the law of God, but I want to minister on really the law of his love. The law of his love. You may ask me today just exactly what is love? What what what is love? It's a word that we use. But in reference to God, what is love? Simply put, the best that I could give you a definition. Love is to long after. After all, we should concern ourselves with love. He because he said our response to knowing that he's one is to love him with all our heart and all our soul and all. So we need to be interested in the word love because we are told in the Bible to love God. To love means to long after. To love means to have a desire toward. Love means to have a passion, to have a drive, to have a feeling, to have a longing. So when when I see that the Bible tells me that I am to love the Lord my God with all of my heart, with all of my soul, and please notice that small little word there, all. Didn't say some of your heart. It didn't it didn't even say love the Lord. He didn't even leave it up to our interpretation or our standard. He could have said just love the Lord thy God with your heart, your soul, and your might. He could have just left that up and then it would be left up to us how much we love the Lord. But he went ahead and said, "This is my law. I want you to love me with all your heart. I want you to love me with all your soul. I want you to love me with all of your strength." Now, this is where a lot of people a lot of people stumble right here because they believe that God is asking you to love him and not anything else. And that's not that's not what God is saying. He is saying in the law of priorities, I want to be your number one priority. I want to be your number one longing, your number one desire, your number one longing, your number one your number one passion. Well, when we think about that, we need an example. I I need an example, God. If I'm to love you with all of my heart, all of my mind, and all of my soul, would you give me an example? Somebody in the Bible. Well, the greatest example of love is God. God is the greatest example. There's no greater example than God's love. So now I want to examine in the Bible class today. It may resemble a Bible class as far as a teaching. I want to I want to um look at the love of God and see if we can't learn something from his love. Would you turn to Psalms chapter 40 and verse number five? And can somebody give God a great amen? >> Psalms chapter 40 and verse number five. Listen to this about God. Many, oh Lord, my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to usward, they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee. If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." Now he's talking about his love or he's talking about his love. Yes. And he's talking about his thoughts that he has toward us. His thoughts that he thinks toward you and I. His thoughts that he has. And he says that he has so many thoughts that if he would be able to number, he said they are more. Look at the end of that verse five. They are more than can be numbered. Now, I'm going to tell you something. There's some numbers I can explain. There's some numbers I can comprehend, Brother Hiner. I can comprehend a hundred. I can comprehend a thousand. I can comprehend 10,000. I can comprehend a million. I can put all that together in my mind. But I would confess to you today that when it gets more than a million, my mind starts overheating and smoke starts coming out my ears. When you get into billions, you get into billions. My that's I feel I feel the heat coming on right now. I feel the heat coming on. But then uh the brother Shinca may be able to help me today. And then you get into not you get into billions, right? And then the next step is a trillion, right? A trillion. I'm I'm totally out of here. I'm I'm I'm I'm checked out on it. I I can't even comprehend the trillion. Is Is that the highest it goes, Brother Sinata? You were You were What? Somebody run a microphone back. Can you run a microphone back there to him real quick? Just Zach, you got long legs. Run that thing back there to him. Yeah. Give it to that little short guy there. There you go. We gonna have some >> I believe it's zillion. >> Zillion. Can you say that again? >> Zillion. >> Can you spell it? >> No. Get the microphone. Come on up. >> Numbers. I can't even comprehend it. Am I Am I Am I Am I not alone today? Would somebody help pastor out? Wave your hand. Say, "Hey, I'm right with you, brother Karp." Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'm I'm right with you. WELL, HERE, LET'S FLIP IT BACK NOW. WHEN IT COMES TO GOD'S THOUGHTS, David said, "Many, oh Lord, my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to usward which are to usward, they cannot be reckoned," that means numbered, up in order unto thee. If I would declare and speak of them, which is thoughts, they are more than can be numbered. Think about that today. God has you and I on his mind. >> And if God has you and I on his mind, I want to love like God, or I at least want to attempt to love like God. IF GOD HAS US ON his mind, guess what we need to do? We need to have God on our mind. >> I want to have God on my mind. Well, I can't comprehend numbers, but I can I can wrap my mind around this. John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whomsoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Would you please? God seems to work with little small words. Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart. Oh, somebody say all. >> Love the Lord thy God with all thy mind, all thy strength. He just could have said, "For God loved the world that he gave his only begotten son." But he said, "For God so loved the world." In other words, he puts this word in their soul and I it it's unimaginable. You you you cannot fathom the great love of God. So, I'm seeing that that God that God so loved that he that he gave. So, I'm catching on to this now. I'm catching on to this because I want to love the Lord God with all my heart, all my soul, and all my might. So now I'm catching on to it. I need to have Jesus on my mind. I I don't I don't need to be very far away from a thought about Jesus. I I need to have Jesus on my mind, but not only do should I have Jesus on my mind, but I need to be willing to give him something that's valuable to me. You see, that's why it's so important when you and I come to the house of God because coming to the house of God represents something very valuable to all of us. What is it? Time. Time is very valuable to us. And so when we come to the house of God, we're literally saying to God, God, I'm giving you something that is valuable. I'm giving you I'm giving you time. So I'm trying to trying to weave I'm trying to weave my way through this. Um, again, I'm going to repeatedly go back to the word all heart, soul, and mind. Turn with me to Mark chapter uh 10 and verse number 28. And uh it's it's right in the middle of a of a story of a a story that's happening. And I believe I'm going to go back to this in just a little bit uh this scripture setting. Mark chapter 10 verse number 28. Then Peter began to say unto him, "Lo, look, Lord, we have left," what's that next word? >> "We have left all and have followed thee." Jesus answered and said, "Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house or brethren, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or lands for my sake and the gospels." So he said, "Now, let me tell you, there's people that that have had to give up." And I believe he's referring to things that are very valuable here. But he said in verse 30, "But he shall receive a hundfold now in this time houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands." Now notice what he's going to add to it. with persecutions and in the world to come eternal life, but many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first. Now, I I Jesus is not literally saying that you're going to get this going to help you sisters understand this verse right here. Jesus isn't saying if you give up one husband, I'm gonna give you a hundred. I don't know that'd be a blessing or not. All right? He He's just using it to tell you that if you if you if you give up and serve me with all your heart that I'm going to I'm going to repay you. You're never going to give up something and lose at it. Anytime you give up something for God, there is a greater, more abundant blessing that is coming your way. Amen. Then he said something that we need to look at today and you got to understand. Did you you notice this? He said, "When I add the blessing the hundfold," did you catch that in verse number 30? When he spoke about the blessing of the hundfold, he said, "Oh yes, and with persecutions." Doesn't God have a wonderful way of keeping us balanced in the midst of our blessings? >> He said, "Now, when I I bless you the way that I'm going to bless you, there will be there will come persecutions." But then he he made this statement here at verse 31. But many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first. In other words, IF SERVING GOD IS not your all and all and you desire to put you first, your desires first, God, I'll give you what's left over, but it's me first. I'm going to tell you what he said. will happen to you. >> He said, "The first shall be last." Said, "You try to put yourself first and you're going to end up in the back of the line. You're going to end up you're going to end up being last." But he said, "If you will live a life of putting me first, putting me first. If you will live a life of putting me first in your thoughts, in your love, in your devotion to me, he said, then those that are last in their own opinion will be the first. That's how that's the law of God. I read this and I thought I'd share it with you. It says, "Finally, Jesus concludes with many who are first will be last and the last first." This upside down principle reflects the kingdom's values. Those whom the world deems first, powerful, wealthy, prestigious may find themselves unprepared to receive God's generous offer because they trust in their own status. Meanwhile, the humble and sacrificial who may appear least in earthly rankings are exalted by God. Throughout the gospels, Jesus makes clear that true greatness resides in humility and servantthood. This promise reassures any disciple who has given up earthly measures of success, reminding them that in God's eyes, devotion and self-denial are ultimately rewarded. Thus, the paradox remains. Those who cling to being first must end up last. And those who surrender to the to Jesus find blessings that are beyond all human comparison. Do you hear that? Today you you you can live in an earthly kingdom. And an earthly kingdom lives by the golden rule. He that has the gold rules. You can live in an earthly kingdom of put me you first. You know it's a dog eat dog world out there. I got to look out for number one here. You can do that and you'll end up in the last of the lie. I want a title at my name. I want this at my name. But you can decide to serve God and be an humble servant of Jesus Christ and put him first. And the promise of God is there. You can't have a greater title than being a son or a daughter of the most high God, a servant of Jesus Christ. Oh, people are people. Doesn't matter if they live 2,000 years ago or they living today. People are people. Jesus is making his way in Mark chapter 9 verse number 33 through35. Jesus is making his way to Capernaum and um the disciples kind of lag behind and they get into a discussion on who's the greatest in the group, who's really the one that's anointed, who's really the one that he that Jesus who's really the the greatest in the midst. And so Jesus got to Capernaum and he they sat down and he went in the house and he said, "Hey fellas, you all were talking about something on the way up here." Matter of fact, I believe the I believe the discussion was full of uh of some some wrangling and some arguing. I'm the greatest. John, James, I'm the greatest. It was all of this stuff. He said, um, what was that you all were talking about on the way here? Verse 34. But they held their peace. For by the way they had disputed among themselves who should be the greatest. Man, can you imagine that? I believe I'm going to be the greatest. I believe I'm Oh, no. Verse 35. And he sat down and called the 12 and no, excuse me. Um but they have and he sat down u who should be the great and he sat down and called the 12 and saith unto them if any man desires to be first. There it is. Nothing wrong with want to be first the same shall be last of all and servant of all. Do do YOU WANT TO BE FIRST? Find somebody to serve. Do you want to have do you want to have KINGDOM FIRSTNESS IN YOUR LIFE? Look to others. They they said the acronym for joy is Jesus first, others second, and you last. It's it's amazing. Please get this inside of you. There is nothing like encouraging a fellow brother or sister. There's nothing like seeing a need and meeting a need and encouraging somebody that may be down and AND JUST GOING BY AND SAYING, "I PRAISE THE LORD." OR, "I saw you." You you could encourage a young person from Strong Tower camp by just simply going by and saying, "Man, I I saw you worshiping at Strong Tower." Man, that's a great thing. And and that's a that's A SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT. DON'T YOU WANT TO BE AN encourager in the kingdom? I'm going to wait for somebody. Nobody nobody help me up. I'm not going to help anybody. Well, just stay in your hole. But you're going to FIND SOMETIME YOU'RE UP AND SOMETIME YOU'RE DOWN. Sometimes you're helping lift somebody up. Can I get a WITNESS THIS MORNING? SOMETIMES YOU'RE HELPING LIFT SOMEBODY UP AND SOMETIMES SOMEBODY'S helping you up. And that's how the kingdom of God, that's the law, that's the law of God. Let me share this with you. Our decision must be our discipline. Our decision must be our discipline. People make a decision to come to God. They come to the altar. They make a decision to get baptized. They go to the water. They make a decision to believe the promise of God. They're filled with the Holy Ghost. But they soon fall away and wither away. Why? Their decision never become their discipline. You will never be blessed of God until what you decide to do becomes your dis discipline. In other words, it becomes something in your mind that you continually set your mind on this. It's right to serve God. It's right to go to church. It's right to get up and pray. It's right to read my Bible. It's right to forgive when somebody wrongs me. And sometimes that takes a discipline to do. You've got to make yourself do it. You don't have the joy of sins being lifted at repentance. You don't have the joy of sins being washed away at baptism. You don't have the joy of of of the of the HOLY GHOST COMING INSIDE OF YOU. THAT IS JOY UNSPEAKABLE. The rubber and the road meets when you take your decision to live for God and discipline yourself to live for God. No, I got a touch at Strong Tower. I made decision TO LIVE FOR GOD TO strong tower. I made decision not to listen to certain music at Strong Tower. I made decision not to do certain things that are harmful TO MY HEALTH. AT STRONG TOWER, I MADE DECISION TO HAVE THE RIGHT FRIENDS AT STRONG TOWER. HERE WE ARE a couple weeks away and that's all just an experience unless you MAKE YOUR DECISION A DISCIPLINE AND SAY I'M STILL GOING TO STICK TO IT. I'M NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO THAT. I'M NOT GOING TO GO TO THAT. I'M NOT GOING TO TELL THAT. I'M NOT GOING TO DO THIS. COULD YOU COME ON GIVE HIM A GOOD HAND OF praise today? Our decision our decision must be our discipline. And you've heard this at a wedding. You hear this at every about every wedding I do. So John and Jane Doe, nothing is easier today than saying words. And nothing is harder than fulfilling those words. All right? It's easy to get to have a wedding. Hear me? It's easy to have a wedding. The real work is when you want to have a marriage >> because you've got to make that decision, >> the discipline of your life. Well, let's let's go on see how let's just let's just go and see how this goes. Colossians the the apostolic church at at Colos. Colossians chapter 3 verse number two. I want you to look at this. Colossians chapter 3 and verse number two. It says, "Set your affection on things above and not on things of the earth." Look at that. said, "Well, I I just, you know, I'm waiting for God to touch me and help me to love him and help me to I'm waiting on God to help me to love him." No, no, no. He's saying, "I created you with affections. >> I created you with longing. I created you with passion and emotion." Now, he looks down at the church and he said, "You set it on me. you set your affections on on me. In in in the genealogies of Genesis, there's two men that are called Enoch. And these two men are called Enoch. And that word means dedicated. That word that name means dedicated. One was a righteous man and one who had the same name was an unrighteous man. And but the name is both dedicated. And the truth of the matter is today you are going to set your affection on something. And by the help of God, I want to be the INSTRUMENT IN YOUR LIFE TO SAY, DON'T SET IT ON things of this world. It'll let you down. DON'T SET IT ON things of this life. It'll let you down. But it's left up to me today in THE WORD OF GOD. I WANT TO PREACH TO YOU TODAY. SET YOUR LONGING. SET YOUR COMPASSION. SET YOUR PASSION ON THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE AND NOT ON THINGS WHICH ARE BENEATH. SET YOUR love on things which are above. It's what Colossians 3 and two says. Well, let let's look at Colossians 3 and5 just a few few verses down talking to the church now. Talking to the church. Mortify. That word means deaden. Deaden. Put to death. Mortify. Therefore, your members flesh which are upon the earth. He said, "Put your flesh to death." Can I can I tell you something today? If after we got the Holy Ghost, we were perfect, you would not have the book, you would not have the epistles. If after the book of Acts, if all we needed was the Holy Ghost, you wouldn't have Romans ALL THE WAY THROUGH JUDE. You wouldn't have all them books telling us how to live. You just went right from Acts to Revelation, right from Acts to the Lord coming back. But God knows that even though WE HAVE THE HOLY GHOST, WE ARE STILL FLESH, BUT WE GOT TO DEAL WITH FLESH. HOW IS THAT? Mortify it. Put it to death. Don't let it Don't let it rule over you. Don't let the lust of the flesh, the lust of THE EYE, THE PRIDE OF LIFE. DON'T LET YOUR FLESH GET out of control. Look at this. Mortify therefore your members which which are upon the earth fornication, uncleanness, inordinant affection, evil concupence, and covetousness, which is idolatry. He says, HE SAYS, DON'T LET YOUR FLESH LEAD you in TO FORNICATION. DON'T LET YOUR FLESH lead you in to ANY SEXUAL THING OUTSIDE THE BONDS OF MARRIAGE. may be seated. >> Do do we believe this today? >> Hey, do you know you know something today? I I I I was at a a meeting this past week in Washington called Kufa and it's Christians United for Israel. And do you know there was a statement that everybody in that room believed? Everybody in that room believed because every time it was said and it was said several times. Every time it was said that room erupted like a camp meeting service. And this was a statement. The nation of ISRAEL HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF. It would just blow up cuz everybody in that room believed that along with me. >> I believe that you you got the you you got a right to defend your I don't I don't have to go to the United Nations and ask, "Hey, they're bombing our schools. HEY, THEY'RE BOMBING our and can we have permission?" NO, NO, NO. ISRAEL HAS THE right to defend themselves. But here's my point before I get off my point. HERE'S MY POINT. THEY WERE ALL IN UNITY. That I wonder if we're a little quiet this morning. >> IF WHEN I SAID FORNICATION IS NOT THE will of God >> is sin and it was A LITTLE BIT QUIET in here. I do Do we believe this? Do Do we believe that WE OUGHT TO DEADEN OUR BODIES TO FORNICATION? Do do we believe that we that that anything OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE DO WE BELIEVE THAT TODAY? DO WE BELIEVE ONE MAN, ONE WOMAN? DO DO WE BELIEVE THAT TODAY? DO WE BELIEVE PORNOGRAPHY IS FORNICATION? DO WE BELIEVE HOMOSEXUALITY IS FORNICATION? DO WE BELIEVE SEX BETWEEN A BOY AND A GIRL, MAN AND A WOMAN, BEFORE MARRIAGE IS FORNICATE? COME ON NOW. DO DO WE BELIEVE THAT TODAY? Let me get back to my message. inordinate affections. See, you're going to set your affections somewhere. Inordinate means not natural. Not natural affection. It's it's just not natural. You You see, can I tell you, you need to crucify your flesh when you have inord inordinate affection. You have affections for the wrong thing. You have you have affections that you shouldn't have. You're daydreaming about uh something that's not God's will. It's not God's will. Well, go with me now to second Timothy. Lord have mercy. Go with me now to second Timothy chapter number three and verse number one. Listen to this. This know also that in the last days, anybody believe we're in the last days. This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of them own selves. There's the first putting themselves first. Covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, and unholy. Look at verse three. Without natural affections. Oh friend, God gave you passion. God gave you longing and emotion. But if you don't put it on him, you'll have those same passions and emotions and longings. That'll be that'll be unnatural. It's not going to be it's not going to be natural. Let's try to go on today. I want to find some finding people in the Bible that had the right affection. King David. Don't we need Don't we need whether you're a man, the head of your house, a mother, um a youth leader, a pastor, don't we need people to be good examples? We need people to be to be good examples. Um 1 Coronicles 29 and verse number one. 1 Coronicles 29 and1. Furthermore, David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon, my son, whom God alone hath chosen, is yet young and tender. You know, let me let me stop here just make a comment about that. There was probably people back in David's day that criticized David. Well, yeah, he's put his son in there. That's that's that's that's what David done. He put his boy Solomon in, you know, father and son deal here. But isn't it interesting? Look, look at this close with me again. David says it whom God David says, Solomon, Solomon, my son alone, whom God had chosen. In other words, I think he just put that to to silence there. He said, I didn't choose him to be THE NEXT KING. GOD chose him to be the next king. Is yet young and tender, and the work is great. For the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God. Now, now follow this. Now, David's talking. Now, I have prepared with how much? all my might for the house of my God. The gold the things that be made of gold, silver the things be made of silver, brass the things be made of brass, iron the things of iron, wood of the things of wood, onyx stones, stones to be set, glistering stones, diver colors, and all manner of precious stones, marble stones in abundance. Moreover, look at verse three. Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of my own proper good of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house." David said, David said, "We got to build God a house." And I was told I couldn't build God a house, but I I like a good leader like David. David didn't suck his thumb, get mad at God, and say, "Well, if I can't build it, I ain't going to give to If I can't have my way, I'm not going to give to I can't have my way, I just won't go." No. David said, "Although God has told me that I can't build it, I can sure give to it." And he said, "I made sure," he said, "I made sure that as the gold come in the kingdom, the gold went to the kingdom of God or that went to the builder palace. I make sure when when when things come in and then he said that's that's what I directed from the people given. But then he said my own personal goods. He said I I I invested in myself. Why? Because I have set my affection to the house of my God. I I'm I'm not saying we shouldn't work to leave something for our children. I'm not saying we we shouldn't work to leave an inheritance. Please don't misunderstand me today. But you hear me? The greatest thing you could leave your children IS THAT YOU LOVE THE HOUSE OF GOD AND THAT YOU SUPPORTED THE HOUSE OF GOD. THAT'S GREATER THAN THAN THEM GOING to the lawyer's OFFICE AND THE LAWYER CUTTING THEM A CHECK. IF THEY DON'T KNOW GOD, THEY WON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE IT. BUT THE GREATEST THE GREATEST THE GREATEST THING COME ON FATHERS THE GREATEST THING WE CAN LEAD THE GREATEST EXAMPLE THAT A PASTOR CAN HAVE IS TO BE THE EXAMPLE OF GIVING AND PRAISING AND WORSHIPING. >> Y'all hear me this morning? >> Thank you David. Thank you David. Thank you David. I won't I won't I'll tell you about a conversation that had to do with me and it'll sound like I'm tooting my horn, but I'm not because I wasn't going to toot it. But a preacher came many hundreds of miles away said, "We I'm going to meet with you, bro Carpenter, and said, "You're going to tell me how you all did the marble miracle. You're gonna tell me I'm driving all the way there a and I'm not coming to preach. I'm coming I want to know how did you have the Marville miracle? We went to restaurant. We sat down and I started telling him about how you folks sacrificed. And I started telling him about camper trailers that were given to the building fund. I started telling about families that didn't take vacations. And I started telling about for a year people there were people that said we'll we'll take remember the 365 sacrifice and not buying any new clothes unless we just had to do it. And and I was telling them I said brother these people are sacrificing people. there they're there they're there and and then uh we we stayed there and I had to I had to step to the restroom and when I stepped to the restroom my wife spoke up to him and my wife said brother he ain't going to tell you this but let me tell you what he's give because it's you you can't have a marville miracle if you're not willing to lead the people in giving >> because the leader sets the example >> that's how that works if it's a pastor sister Paula I can't preach to you praise if I'm not a praiser. I can't preach to you. I I'm not going to set used to when we had preachers sit on the platform. I it it really grieved my heart to see some SOME SIT ON THE PLATFORM WITH NO WORSHIP, picking fuzz off their sock, sitting there dociled until they got up and boy, they wanted the whoopy show to come on. My I come on you dead heads, we need to worship. And I was thinking, you need to WORSHIP AND IF YOU'LL WORSHIP, THEY'LL WORSHIP. COME ON, DAD. LET'S GET IT OFF THE PASTOR. IF YOU WILL WORSHIP, IF YOU WILL HAVE A LOVE FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD, YOUR CHILDREN WILL HAVE A LOVE FOR THE HOUSE OF GOD. >> David led by example. David led by example. 1 Coronicles 29:9, David list, David list everything he gave to the house of God. And then in verse number nine of the same chapter, look at this. It's carpenter. Then the people rejoiced for that they offered willingly because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord. And David the king also rejoiced WITH GREAT JOY. IT STARTS OUT WITH THE leader sacrificing. It starts OUT WITH THE LEADER father head of the home. IT STARTS OUT WITH THE LEADER PRAYING and the leader worshiping and the leader giving and all of A SUDDEN THE FOLLOWERS. DID YOU SEE THAT? DAVID SAID, "THIS IS ALL I GIVE." And then the people heard it and the people said, "IF THE KING'S BUYING IN, we're going to buy in." And they gave. Go all the way to verse 29 or 28 of that same chapter because David's going to die. Look, look, man. What a way to go. What a way to go. What a way to go. Give me verse NUMBER 28. WHAT A WAY TO GO. WHAT A WAY TO GO. They said the funeral I I I I had the newspaper clipping. I had the article of a man, a wealthy man that died and they buried him in his Cadillac setting up with a can of beer, a cigar in his mouth, and they buried him. I don't know how they did it. There's an article. I wish I had it still. And the article just simply said, "What a way to go." And I'm thinking, "That's the saddest way to go you could ever go when you die." That'd be the saddest that'd be the saddest way. Um, this coming Friday, I've been asked to preach the funeral of of Bishop Vernon Kelly in Southport. Uh, he's 90 years old. 90 90 years old. Preached. really preached up to the time that he died. They tried to put a pacemaker in him last week and the pacemaker had an adverse effect on his heart. And uh he he died a few days a few days later. But I talked to his sweet little little wife, Sister Kelly. And uh when I say sweet little wife, she's about yay high. And she told me this week, Brother Pool, she said, "I weigh 79 pounds." And I thought, Lord, my left leg is bigger than that. And uh and uh she said, "I weigh seven." She the sweetest little thing. And and uh she said, "Bel Carpenter said brother Kelly's request was said when you you get here you'll find at the funeral home he got his Bible laid out on his chest and it's turned to Acts and they've highlighted Acts 238." And the undertaker has taken his hand and his finger and laid it across the Bible on Acts 238. And I'm going to tell you, that's the way to go. THAT'S THE WAY TO GO. YOU HEAR ME? THAT'S THE WAY TO GO RIGHT THERE. THAT'S THE THAT'S THE WAY. YEAH. THAT'S THE WAY TO GO RIGHT THERE, FRIEND. THIS OLD WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME. DON'T SET YOUR AFFECTIONS ON THINGS DOWN HERE OF THIS WORLD. SET THEM ON HEAVEN. SET THEM ON THE NEW JERUSALEM. OH, COME ON. GIVE GOD PRAISE. GIVE GOD HONOR RIGHT NOW. Here's how I want to go. Here's how I want to go. Verse number 28. David died in good old age full of days and riches and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in hisstead. That's how I want to go. I want God to let me live some full days and full years. And I want to die with riches. Well, yeah. I thought you was preaching. Get that. No, no, no. Riches that I leave behind. A life that I left behind. Can you just Can you just love him for a moment right now? I love >> Now, could we just take it up a notch? I mean, could we could we could everybody could we get I mean, unless you're sitting there and you don't believe the Lord ought to have praise, I I guess you can remain silent. It'd be like that. If you don't believe Israel's got the right to defend himself, just don't wave your flag and sit down. But if you believe that God is good, why don't you just tell him right now? I I know you've told him several times. Why don't you just tell him right now? >> Well, I want to I'm going to have to really rush the the rest of this message that I want to get delivered. Um 1 Timothy 6 and5. Well, you better trust in the right thing. 1 Timothy 6 and5 Paul is writing and he's talking about a group of people. He's talking about this group of people. He said they're perverse disputings of men of corrupt mind. They are destitute of the truth supposing that gain is godliness. That just nails the prosperity gospel right there. Give 10, get a hundred. Will of God, it's the will of God. It's the will of God. Health, wealth, and prosperity. It's if you're sick, it's not the will of God. If you're poor, it's not the will of God. It's a It's amazing to me that these health, wealth, and prosperity gospel preachers never try to evangelize continents like Africa, >> poor places in South America, you know why? >> Because it can't enrich them. because they believe that that that gain is godliness. They they believe that gain is godliness. From such withdraw thyself, but godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. >> Having food and raignment, let us there that let us be there with content. But they that will be rich, they that will make being rich top priority, they that will put their money first, >> fall into temptation and a snare, >> and into many foolish and hurtful lust, which drown men in destruction and predition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, >> WHICH WHILE SOME COVETED AFTER, THEY HAVE aired from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Can I TELL YOU TODAY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PUT YOUR AFFECTION SOMEWHERE, YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT YOU need is to take money, take money and don't make money your top priority. Put money in its proper place. And if you'll put GOD IN HIS PROPER PLACE FIRST, God will rain down the blessings upon the money and you'll be content. Let me hurry. Let me hurry. Let me hurry. Young man, come running to Jesus. Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said, "Honor your father and mother. Don't commit adultery, lies, steal, defraud not. The young man said back to him, all these things I've done from my youth up. Jesus loved him and looked at him and said, "There's one thing in your life. Go your way, sell whatsoever thou hast, give to the poor, thou shalt have treasure in heaven. Come, take up the cross, and follow me." Verse 22, Mark 10. He was sad at that saying and went away grieved, for he had great possessions. Many Bible commentators believe that when he said, "Take your cross and follow me," that he was Judas's replacement. That this young rich man was Judas's replacement. But the Bible says he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions. Jesus looked around about and saith unto his disciples, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God." The disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again and saith unto them, "Children, how hard is it FOR THEM THAT TRUST IN RICHES to enter into the kingdom of God?" There's a difference, hear me, church, IN HAVING RICHES AND TRUSTING IN RICHES. YOUR TRUST IS TO BE IN GOD, NOT RICHES. RICHES WILL NEVER GIVE YOU WHAT GOD CAN GIVE YOU. MONEY WILL NEVER GIVE YOU WHAT GOD CAN GIVE YOU. BUT IF WE WILL TRUST IN GOD, GOD WILL GIVE US THE ABILITY TO SEE CLEARLY TO manage riches. Boy, I hope you're I hope you're getting this today. the law, the law of love. I could tell you I'm not going to go through because time won't allow me to. It was a man by the name of Achen in the Old Testament. They were plainly told when you go in when you go into Jericho, Jericho represents tithing and offerings, it's the first it's the first gold and silver you're going to get when you go into the promised land. And God said, "All the gold and all the silver, everything belongs to me." After that, it it it burned it all. It it it gold and silver, but after that burn everything. But there's a man named Achen that he got in the midst of victory. That's a lot of folks can live for God in pro in poverty, but they can't live for God in victory, prosperity. He got in the midst of prosperity and he looked and he saw some gold and he looked and he saw some silver and he looked and he saw a Babylonian garment. And while nobody was looking, he picked up the wedges of gold and the wedges of silver and the garment and put it under his garment and took it back to his tent and dug a hole and put the gold and silver and the garment in it. The next time Israel went out to battle, they were smitten and defeated. God told it, God told Joshua said, Joshua, Israel has sinned. There's somebody in the camp that has sinned. And so Joshua had them come and finally it fell upon Achen. And Joshua said, "What have you done?" He said,"Joshua, when I saw the gold and I saw the silver and I saw the garment, I hid it inside of my tent." He said, "Rug, go get that silver and gold and the garment right quick." They brought it back down. And when they put it there, Joshua ordered by God, he ordered that Achen, his wife, and his children be taken out and they were stoned and put to death. Can I tell you, it doesn't pay when you trust in riches. It will be the damnation of you. It'll be the damnation of your family. It will bring what? Oh, I'm going to try to make my family happy. If you don't let God be first in your finances, it will MAKE YOUR FAMILY MISERABLE AND NOT HAPPY. YOU YOU YOU'VE GOT TO YOU GOT TO GRASP THAT TODAY. SO, the family stoned, big old pile of stones. How about Judas? How about Judas? lover of money. It didn't end well for him, did it? He hung himself. He sold Jesus out and he hung himself. How about Ananas and Safh who sold a piece of property and brought the money to the discip to the apostles and said, "This is all we got out of it." When they had got more, they were holding they were holding it back. Both of them both of them died. God God smoked them and both of them both of them died. Listen to this today. God doesn't want this is where this is what a lot of people just they they listen to their flesh. Hear me today. God doesn't want all your wealth. >> He wants your heart. >> God doesn't want your wealth. God God EVERYTHING. GOD AIN'T GOT God doesn't require you to give everything you've got. No, God wants your heart. And guess what? The way that God chooses to do that, look, look at this. Luke 16:11. If therefore you have been have not been faithful in unrighteous mammon, that's that's money. He says, "If you've not been righteous in how you handle money, who will commit to you the your trust the true riches?" Well, don't that make sense? If God cannot trust us with money, how would he trust us with true riches? You do realize money is not true riches. >> What you know in your mind, Sister Franklin, WHAT YOU KNOW IN YOUR HEART is the true riches. What you know in your heart is true riches. Oh, the rich man fared sumptiously every day. Wore wore great clothing, had a title of rich man. It was a poor man at his gate and he begged for crumbs and the dogs came and licked his sores. But I'm going to tell you the universal thing that happens to all men. Death came. And when death came, the wealthy man lost his title and lost his wealth and lifted up HIS EYES IN HELL being in torment. But the beggar, you ought seen his heavenly pawbears. When the beggar died, the Bible said the angels came and carried him into Abraham's bosom, a place of blessedness. Can I tell you today, true riches is not your house. Oh, thank God for your house. True riches is not your car. True riches is not your closet, your clothes. True riches IS NOT YOUR TITLE. TRUE RICHES IS NOT THINK, OH, IF I can't get this, I could live for God if I had that. No, you you couldn't LIVE YOU BECAUSE THAT'S NOT HOW GOD WORKS. YOU'VE GOT TO LIVE FOR GOD BECAUSE GOD IS NUMBER ONE IN YOUR LIFE. AND I'M GOING TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL MY HEART, WITH ALL MY MIND, AND WITH ALL MY SOUL. CAN I GET A WITNESS THIS MORNING? I'M GONNA LOVE HIM WITH ALL THAT I HAVE. COME ON. WOULD YOU STAND WITH ME TODAY? DO YOU BELIEVE THE STATEMENT? WE OUGHT TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL OF OUR HEART, ALL OF OUR MIND, AND ALL OF OUR SOUL. TITHING, brother Hammond, tithing is nothing but a test from God of how we how we handle finances. Tithing is tithing is nothing. I've had I've had people say, "When I can afford to tithe, I'm going to start tithing." Brother Carpenter, truth of the matter is, you'll never tithe. Because tithing is not about have you having abundance first. It's about you believing God first. Boy, I believe this will help somebody. I really do. We live in a day of inflation. >> We live in a day when gas prices sore. And I I honestly I wonder how middle minimum wage people fill their car up with gas. >> We we going to be this way today, right? We going >> You're just going to think it's right. You're not going to step out on a limb and say amen, are you? Inflation, the uncertainty of the economy. Let me tell you something. Can God control the economy? Yes. But God most of the time allows God most of the time allows man to control the economy. Why? Because God doesn't have to have God doesn't have to have a perfect economy to bless you. >> Matter of fact, I'm going to quote Bishop Joel Holmes today. He said, "People waiting on to get a good deal on a piece of property." He said, "Now, I'm not advocating being foolish, but he said, don't let don't don't let something pass you by." He said, you know, God is able to pay full price. >> He said, God is able to pay full price. I know we all want a good deal, but you know, God can pay full price because the economy can be one thing, but God can bless you in another. and and our sons and daughters need to hear about tithe and offerings because they're going to live in economies that are they're more uncertain than we are right now. But if we can get it in their heart when they get that first little job, mow that first yard, babysit for the first time, if we can get it in their heart at a young age, hey, that tithe goes to God. That offering goes to God. I'm gonna tell you, your family will just become blessed and blessed and blessed and blessed. I close with this. There's two women mentioned in the book of Revelation. They both represent a religious system. One, the Bible says, and please excuse the the the the language of the King James version, but the one is described, the one woman is described as a She sits on the back of a beast. She has a title. She is arrayed. She is arrayed with pearls. She is arrayed with every precious stone. She has a golden cup in her hand. She is arrayed in the wealth of this world. But then there's another woman that is mentioned. The angel said TO JOHN SAID, "COME OVER HERE. I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE LAMB'S WIFE. I want to show you the lamb's wife." And John said, "I saw that new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven adorned like a bride. STREETS OF GOLD AND WALLS OF JASPER AND GATES of pearl. All kind of manner of costly stones was around that city. And the righteous enter into that city AND THEY LIVE FOREVER AND EVER and ever and ever in a new body. A body that cannot die. A body where THERE A BODY WHERE THERE'S NO CANCER. THERE'S NO THERE'S NO BLOOD DISEASE. THERE'S NO GROWING OLD. IT'S AN UNIMAGINABLE PLACE THAT WE'RE GOING to live. I can preach today that I DON'T WANT TO GO TO THAT WOMAN RIDING ON THAT SCARLET BEAST. I WANT TO GO TO THE LAMB'S WIFE. I WANT TO GO TO THAT CITY WHERE THE LAMB COME ON, RAISE your hands right now. I give you all. Come on. Would you come out? Singers, would you begin to sing as the church family gathers up around the altar? I'm going to I'm going to challenge you today. I'm going to challenge you to GIVE GOD ALL YOUR HEART right now. I'm going to challenge you to give God all your might right now. I'm going to challenge you to give God your attention right now. God, for the next few moments, God, for the next few moments, God, my mind is upon you, >> Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Oh, mighty God. Mighty God, mighty God. >> Come on, church. Move up as close as you can, please. We want to get everybody in the altar. Come on. >> Come on. If you believe this, >> if you believe this today, God, I give you all. >> Oh God, come on. This can be a place of repentance. This can be a place of repentance right now. If you've not been given God everything, if you've not been given God your all, make this Sunday morning everything. >> I love you, Lord. >> >> Yes, God. Yes, God. Yes, God. >> God, I give it to you right now. >> Oh, God. I give it to you right now. Oh, God. I give you my life right now, God. >> I give you all that I am. I give you all that I ever want to be, God. God, I worship you with all my heart, all my soul, all my might, God. and give you Oh God in Jesus name. Oh God in Jesus name. In Jesus name. In Jesus name. Oh God. Oh God in Jesus name. In Jesus name. In Jesus name. In Jesus name. In Jesus name. Come on. Let's recommend. >> Come on. Let's recommend. That's right. Let's recommend. >> >> God, I give you all God. God, I give you all. God, I give you all. I give you all. God, I give you all of me right now, God. I give you all of me, God. Oh, come on. Let me speak to you. Oh, God. I'm sorry. I got knocked off track. I got knock giving you all God. I'm going to be giving you all God. I got knocked out on this Sunday morning. I love you. Oh yes God. I love you God. Oh yes God. King Jesus. Oh King Jesus forever. I give you all. I give you all. I give you all. I give you all. I give you all. I give you all. I give you all. I give you all. I give you all. I give you all. >> I give myself away. Oh Lord, I give myself away so you can use me. I give myself away. [bell] Give myself away so you can give myself away. My life is not my own. To you I belong. I give myself I give myself to you. Oh my life is not my own. to you. I belong. Yes, I do. I give myself. I give myself to you. Oh, yes, I do. My life is on my own to Jesus. I give myself I give myself to you. Yes. My life. My life is not my I give myself to you. I give myself away. I give myself away. I give myself away. So, I surrender. Oh, I surrender. >> Sing it, sister Lauren. Sing it now. Come on, congregation. >> To thee, my blessed surren. >> One more time. One more time, sister Lauren. One more time. >> Come on, congregation. I surrender more. Lord, I surrender all. All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender. Would you give God all your praise right now? Come on. Would you praise him? Are you using all your strength right now? Are you pushing OUT PRAISE TO THE BEST of your ability? Come on. Are you pushing out praise to the best of your ability? To the best of your ability. Oh yes. To the best, to the best. To the best. Everybody say all. >> All. >> Everybody shout all. >> All. >> All. All. All. You know how we can show God all. And I know that there's seasons people go through. Um I see brother Sister Cox here this morning. They've got a loved one that's requires for them to have to miss church and they don't want to, but it's it's it's a season of their life that they're in right now. And I I understand there's seasons of sickness and seasons that may keep us out of church. But if you're not in one of those seasons and and you you just being influenced by others that are saying, you know, uh that's a little bit much. That's a little bit much to have church. That's a little bit much. You know, never hurt any of us to go to church Sunday morning and Sunday night. >> Never hurt any of us. Never hurt. It's not going to hurt you. And especially and I understand new people come that the culture said, "Hey, we go on Sunday morning and and what we hope and I hope by what I'm preaching right now that you'll understand, you're in a different culture. You're in a different culture." And and and the same God that touched you on that Sunday morning will touch you on a Sunday night. And and and people get the Holy Ghost on Sunday night. And visitors are invited to church on Sunday night. And they they get touched of God on Sunday night. And and so if if you've been used to coming on Sunday night, but just you know few years you just decided, hey, you know, if I feel good, you know how you show God that God has all of you just be here tonight. And then that midweek Bible study, that midweek mid that midweek Bible study, well, you know, this No, no, it shouldn't be. If you at one time would not miss a midweek Bible study and you're now it's kind of an optional thing, you're going the wrong direction. Cuz I'm going to tell you, the devil just won't take one service. He is not going to be satisfied until he's got every service. And you know, I'm not not and especially especially your children. All right. Now, I'm just doing some good old pastoring this morning, right? You know why? Because I want us to be better people. I want us to be better. I want us to be better people. I want to pray over you before we're dismissed. Would you bow your heads with me right now? Father God, I want to speak what's in my heart. Lord, I want the people to know today I have no ulterior motive in what I'm preaching. God, I truly believe that putting you first is the best thing we we could do, God. It's really the only thing that we can do, God. Lord Jesus, I I just pray today that the word finds a place in the heart that God, we would not allow our flesh to begin to counsel with us. And we would have not we would not allow our flesh to come in, God. Lord, I want these people to be blessed, God. I I want their children, God, to be blessed. I want I want the the unborn, God, the mothers that are carrying children in their womb right now, God. I want them to be blessed, God, by giving you all that we have, God. Giving you all of our life, making you our main thought, God. Making you our main emotion, God. Lord, just bless these people. And I thank you, God, for their attention today. And I thank you, God, for their willingness to come around the altar. Lord, keep your hand upon us for the rest of the day. Bring us back tonight at 5:30 for prayer meeting and 6:00 for an evangelistic service. God, where we can once again tell you that Jesus, you are our all and all. In Jesus name, you're dismissed today. God bless you.