The Map to Nowhere | Senior Pastor Kenneth Carpenter

you have your Bibles in return with me to the Book of Proverbs this morning Proverbs Chapter number 14. and we will read one verse of scripture Proverbs Chapter 14 and verse number 12. so good let me say so good to see everyone this morning our community our region has got sickness going through right now you know covet changed a whole lot of things because people don't want to that we're a little bit afraid to say we've got a cold or the sniffles or whatever afraid that somebody will uh report us or whatever you know and but it's just it's just some sickness going through our community and what a beautiful crowd that is here this morning and I thank you so much for being in the house for being in the house of the Lord I thank all those that stayed over from the uh from the wedding and they have come to worship have come to worship today Proverbs 14 12. there is a way everybody say away there is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death there is a way there is a way singular that seems right but the end thereof are the ways plural of death didn't say to death it says of death just a few moments this Sunday morning I want to minister on the subject of the map the map to nowhere the map to Nowhere precious God I love you I thank you for the privilege of being called to preach Lord I Thank you for the honor of showing you that I love you and you said if you love me feed my sheep and Lord I want to feed these precious people today Lord that have come into this house Lord to take your word and to plant it in the inside of their minds and hearts that it would bring about a great change in them Lord anoint me and I'll be ever so mindful to give you the praise and the honor and the glory in Jesus name I do pray amen and amen give him a hand of Praise before you see it a map a map to nowhere I will tell you that I'm borrowing this title this morning from a little devotional book that I I've got and I read this devotional this week and I'd like to share it with you losing your way can be fatal George found that George found that out the hard way this poor dirt farmer with dreams of striking it rich was in Springfield Illinois the day fast talking James Reid held a crowd Spellbound with Tales of fabulous riches in California Reed ended with a rousing challenge come on boys come on boys you can have as much land as you want without it costing you anything Reid's promise of free land would cost everything to those who followed him including George and his family a lineup of wagons rolled out of Independence Missouri and by the time they arrived at the Fort Laramie they were already behind schedule it was now July and the wagons still had to cross a brutal stretch of mountains and Badlands before winter set in that's when Reed pulled out a book with a map that promise to cut some 400 miles off the right route to California even though it's author of the book he held had never seen the trail neither had anyone else rage map was based on rumor and Legend frontiersmen warned that it was a fraud but Reed convinced 86 people to join him George was among those most enthused maybe that's why the group elected George as the captain of the group their gamble proved disastrous heavy wagons had to be dragged over the rugged mountains and then across the Great Salt Lake Desert by the time George's party found their way back to the California Trail it was the end of September their shortcut had taken 25 days longer than the normal route weeks behind schedule and short on food they reached California in late October the weary party have might have made the last stretch had it not been for a freak blizzard it is recorded to be the worst in the history the worst winter in California history the maroon party ate the last of their oxen only to face five more months trapped A desperate group calling themselves The fourlorn Hope set out for Fort Sutter on crudely fashioned snowshoes less than half of them made it four search parties were turned back by blizzards before a handful of survivors were finally rescued in the spring of 1847. The Rescuers were appalled to discover the grisly remains of half-eaten Corpses the survivors confessed that they had stayed Alive by eating the frozen bodies of the Dead those reports of cannibalism became the father from Sensational newspaper stories across a horrified Nation George was not one that was eating eaten but it would have been a matter of time this dreamer George and schemer was found dead and half Frozen on his bed some 165 years later history still recoils in horror at George's last name Donner his notorious name is etched in the history of the Old West the blizzard story of Donner party is a sobering reminder of what can happen when people opt for a shortcut the promise of a faster and easier way often leads to Long delays and I want you to hear this I might have read all of that for this statement best-selling author Woodward makes this statement there are many shortcuts to failure but no shortcuts to True success there's many shortcuts to failure but not to True success let's be a little transparent today shall we we as westerners we love many options don't we we love many options as consumers we like options come on now that require less sacrifice we like to have many options and we like the options to be as light on the sacrifice as possible we have to ask yourself does this choice or way that I am drawn to does it alter my life for the good does this choice that I'm making today will it make me a better person or am I simply seeking away of the least sacrifice in life is better are we actually seeking a way that will improve our morals are we seeking a way that will make us better Witnesses for Jesus Christ or are we simply becoming consumers that are just looking for a way that seems to be that shortcut that will get us there and cut out 400 miles 25 days 25 days the shortcut cost them and possibly that shortcut cost them their lives the wise man Solomon wrote and he said there is a way there's a way there's a way that seemeth that word seemeth there you know that word seemeth has to do with your mind there is a there's a way that it it seems you you think about it you you look at it there is a way that seemeth to be right it it look look at this way here look at this way seems to be so right but then the Bible says but the those paths are the ways of death well how could how could it seem to be right how could I how could I in my mind seem to to to to rationalize this and and mull it over and it just seems to be right Paul wrote In the book of Corinthians First Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 14. but the natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned but he that that is spiritual judgeth all things now I know that word judges has been it's probably one of the most misunderstood words in our Bible we're not supposed to judge well that word there means to discern it means to discern it says but he that is spiritual judge it or discerneth discerns all things yet he himself is judged of no man in other words there's two frames of mind that you can be in you can either be in your natural mind and there is a way that seems right to the Natural man or you can be in your spiritual mind and you can look beyond what is natural and you can look at what is spiritual and you can begin to discern you can begin to take it apart you not only see the opening to the pathway that says Lee sacrifice at least you have to pay into this come on this way when you have a spiritual mind you're able to look on past the mouth of the way and you're able to look on down and say no no no that's the pathway that leads to death Paul said it right at the close of verse 15. he said a spiritual mind discerns all things but is judged of no man natural man cannot figure out the behavior of the spiritually minded children of God that's why you and I should never base any decision based on the majority we ought to base every decision upon our life based upon a spiritual frame of mind you see God can actually take us quicker to where he wants us to be if we're willing to have a spiritual mind let me give you an example of this let me give you an example of this Exodus chapter 13 and verse number 14. here's an example of this Exodus 13 and verse excuse me Exodus chapter 13 verse 17. and it came to pass when Pharaoh had let the people go that God everybody say God that God LED them not through the way of the land of the Philistines although that was near for God said lest per Adventure the people repent when they see War and they returned to Egypt now I've done a lot of study on this and from where the children of Israel came out of the gates of Egypt to God's Promised Land some say it was 10 days some even said if they would walk fast and hard they could have reached the promised land in three days well God why don't you take me that route because after all you don't have to do research on this you know how long it took them to get to the promised land 40 years well God go ahead and Lead Me lead me on that 11 days and leave me on that 10-day Journey leave me I'll walk briskly leave me on that three-day Journey God says I can't why because you're going to see War you're going to see War and your minds are not ready for war your minds are not ready for war you know many times if it's a struggle we don't think it's God's will some people get in a time a season of struggle in their lives and they begin to question am I in the will of God church I submit to you today we need to get a mind to fight if we're going to get to where God wants us to be sooner we have got to get a mind to fight no weapon formed against you if you're in the hand of God hear me Saints if you're in the hand of God this morning there's no weapon that is formed against you that will prosper if you're in the hand of God this morning he said I will never leave you nor ever forsake you I'll be with you alway even to the end of the world he said well I don't know if I'm able to fight with that you're not the one fighting for he said the battle is not yours but it's mine said Lord we have got to get a fighting mentality if we're going to get where God wants us to be we're going to have to get an attitude a fight he said I can't take them the three-day journey I can't take them the 10-day Journey because they're going to see somebody want to fight with them and they're going to pop their thumb back in their mouth they want to go back to Egypt so I got to take them I got to take them a different route look with me in Hebrews chapter 11. verse number 32. let's look at some of the people in Hebrews chapter 11. some of the people who were Heroes of the faith some of the people that made it to heaven Hebrews 11 32. and what shall I say more for time would fail me to tell of Gideon and a Barrack and of Samson and of jephthah of David also and Samuel and of the prophets who through faith subdued kingdoms wrought righteousness obtain promises stop the mouths of the Lions quench the violence of the fire escape the edge of the sword now wait a minute if if you got a sword you must be in a fight out of weakness were made strong waxed Valiant in what somebody say that word value in what fight wax means to grow that's what it means to become larger to grow Valiant in fight turn to flight the armies of the aliens women received their dead raised to life again and others were tortured not accepting Deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection do you know what all these Heroes had in common they had a fight mentality they have the ability that when the going got tough the tough got going they have the they have the mentality that if God before me who can be against me they had the mentality I am not in the minority I am in the majority because God is with me they have the mentality I can do all things through Christ that strengthened me they have that mentality can I ask you today are you on the map to nowhere if your pathway is one of comfort and ease and keep everything just perfect in My Little Life and I submit to you you're following the map to nowhere I read this and got so blessed there is some historians that wrote brother Nolan about eyewitnessing eyewitnessing Christians being slaughtered fed the Lions or head cut off or what have you and these historians wrote down and it was some fascinating things that they would say they said that when they would line those first century Christians up to have their heads severed from their bodies or to be fed to Wild lions that these early Christians would say we feel sorry for you Mr executioner we pity you Mr executioner oh you fool you pity me I'm about to push the lever in your head is to be severed from your body why would you Pity Me and they would answer because you have no resurrection of eternal life but we do you have no Resurrection when you die you enter into the Flames of eternal torment but us when we die Mr executioner we are going to enter into life and life more abundantly wow what a mindset what a mindset today to have to have that mentality was it not Paul the Apostle that wrote in second Timothy chapter 4 and verse number six I can believe the story I can believe that because Paul sitting outside waiting hit for his execution in second Timothy 4 and verse 6 for I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand I have fought a good fight somebody ought to say Amen I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness wish the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day and not to me only but unto all them that love his appearance do thy didn't I just told you he just we can believe that the story he has just told you they're about to take my head but I have fought a good fight don't you want to say that I have fought a good fight some folks want to say I have taken a good nap but I want to say I have fought a good fight I have finished my course your woes and trials of Life are not mine and mine are not yours but thank God I don't have to finish for you I just have to finish for me and Paul said I have fought a good fight and I have finished my course and henceforth has laid up for me a crown of righteousness now just just end it there but he's got a little time left and he really don't know how much time he's got left got a little time left so in verse 9 he says this Timothy do thy diligence to come shortly unto me but Demas has forsaken me having loved this present world and is departed unto thessalonica Christians unto galatia Titusville Dalmatia only Luke is with me take Mark bring him with thee for he is profitable to me for the ministry intake us have I sent to Ephesus what does a man want when he's about to die the cloak or coat the code that I left at troas with Corpus he said I left my jacket I I may go through the winter here I left my jacket my coat intro ass with Corpus when thou comest bring with thee and he asked for he asked for the he asked for his coat he said it might get cold here in this old prison he said bring me my coat but he also said bring with thee the books the books what books these are we really don't know study books for Paul but then he said these words look at the last but a specially the parchments writing paper bring me writing paper he didn't say especially bring me my coat he's going to get cold in his prison he didn't say bring me my books especially my books I'll get bored down here looking at these gray walls he said I want my clothes my coat and he said I'd like some books but he said especially especially bring me some writing paper why because I want to write some more to the Christians that will be left behind and I want to encourage them I want to tell them that although life may be tough and rough and life may be filled with all kinds of woes and vexations I want you to know that you can make it I want to write that wow what a man he wasn't on a map to nowhere he was giving us a map to get into heaven that's where I want to go today hey being a positive thinker today I'm not thinking about a six-figure job I'm not thinking about being some kind of uh Bill Gates or some kind of big uh famous name you know what I want today tell me something that can get me to Heaven kill me something that I can hear the trumpet sound above all else I want to be saved I want my family to save I want want my children say I want you saved I want us all to be saved tell me something but especially the parchments well that was Paul was he a rare breed among the apostles well let's read second Peter chapter 1 verse 12. Peter finds himself in the same situation Paul tradition tells us that when they came to arrest Peter for his death that of course Jesus had prophesied his death while here on Earth but when they came to arrest Peter to take him to his death and he died not by having his head cut off he died by crucifixion he was put through the same he was put through the same thing see the reason I'm spend a little time on this today some of them got Paul and Peter as statues they their lives ended in death Peter was crucified but he made a strange request when they led him to his cross he said I have one request to make and that is would you crucify me upside down crucify you upside down yes crucify me upside down why would you make such a request fisherman why would you make such a request to be crucified upside down and tradition tells us that he made the comment he said for my Lord was crucified with his head up and I am not worthy to die like my Lord died crucify me upside down this is a man that would deny even knowing Jesus Christ but aren't you thankful the end of your story can read not that you denied him but you had such a a request to say just crucify me upside down I'm glad that God's not only going to record my mistakes in life but he's also going to record how I finish this race you know if you've got knocked down just get back up this morning come on now if you've done something you shouldn't have done just get back up put it under the blood get back in the race because it's not just going to be how you started it's going to be how you end and would you please not be on the map to no way listen to Peter Peter's in the same boat that Paul was in verse 12. of First Peter or excuse me First Peter chapter one wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things though you know them and be established in the present truth yay I think it meet as long as I am in this Tabernacle that's his body to stir you up by putting you in remembrance knowing that shortly I must put off this Tabernacle even as the Lord Jesus Christ has showed me he said the Lord has showed me my time is short moreover I will endeavor that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance what do you want to remember I want them to remember I'm going to be crucified upside down but I want them to remember they're on the right path I want them to remember their believing the right truth I want them to remember this is the conqueror's way this is the overcomer's way don't get your mind set on well I don't want to go down that path that's a pathway of Death Peter says no Paul says no the pathway that you call death is the pathway that I call life and life Everlasting but as Western consumers we're looking for the cheapest way in want the best deal well look for the best deal on your car and look for the best deal on your house and look for the best deal on your dress sister Carpenter I don't know why you found that funny that's the problem with me when I try to be funny I'm not and when I say things sometimes it comes out funny but look for the best deals and everything you can except one thing your salvation look for the best deal on a car on a dress on a home look for the best deal that you can get but when it comes to your sole salvation put the best deal out of your mind just put it over tell me what it's going to cost me tell me what I got to do to walk streets of gold tell me what I got to do to be a good husband tell me what I got to do to have a good family tell me what I got to do to raise good just tell me what I gotta do I'm not looking for a good deal I'm looking to a map I want to raise my children David listen we'll always you are faced today you're faced with choices there are religious goodness there are religious seemingly good deals in this world they're religiously seeming good deals well I tell you what I like that good deal of just bowing your head I like that good deal of just thinking about Jesus dying on the cross and just telling Jesus I accept him and man I like that's a good deal you better ask yourself the question is that the Bible because if it's not the Bible it's not a good deal you better find out what the Bible says and I'll tell you a little bit about what it says the Bible says that not only are you to believe Upon Jesus Christ but you're to repent of your sins now if you're a consumer looking for a good deal in the religious Isles this morning there's a lot of places that don't even preach repentance anymore but you if you're going to make it Jesus said unless you talk about essential tell me what's essential well I'm going to tell you right now Jesus said unless you repent you will perish I don't think you need Greek or Hebrew to know that you've got to repent to be saved now if you're looking for a good deal today you'll find them on every street corner but please when it comes to God don't look for a good deal get in the word of God and find to where he said he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved he that believeth not shall be damned I'm going to tell you something friend it's a good deal to repent of your sins it's a good deal I know it takes you a little bit to walk up here now just think of this people call it a work people call it a word oh baptism is a word they're very mistaken on that subject baptism is not a work anymore than me calling you up and saying I got a ten thousand dollar check come over at the house and get it I won't give you a ten thousand dollar check you get out of your house you get in your car you drive across town you get out of your car you ring my doorbell and you get the ten thousand dollar check you are a lousy individual to go off and say whoa I work for this right here oh I work for this right you ain't gonna do that you're going to tell everybody Lord Brother Carpenter called me and I'm not going to do it now brother Carpenter called me and he told me I just had to come across town and get this ten thousand dollar check can you believe the gift that he gave you any more people calling baptismal work you mean that the Bible says that baptism is for the remission of my sins that every sin I've ever committed is removed by The Act of Faith of baptism I'm going to get out of my Pew walk up there whether I'm that woman on this side of men on that side I'm going to put a robe on I'm going to get baptized in Jesus name and all of my past is going to be washed away I am a lousy person to walk around said I sure did work for that you didn't work for that you just became obedient to what God had to say oh but there's good deal centers all over town today their field to capacity how could they be so wrong did you see the crowd that was there hey my friend we do not stand before God on Judgment Day in crowds we stand as individuals David had this happen to him and for time's sake David needed to offer a sacrifice to God people were dying it was David's own fault thousands of people were dying by the angel of the Lord the Lord told David to go to uh certain Mountain and offer up sacrifices so as David goes to this mountain the owner of the mountain is there orona and he wants to know what does the king have today to come to my Mountain David said God told me to come here and to offer up a sacrifice and Arona said oh I honor you King David here's the mountain it's yours why David here's the wood over here just take my wood and build yourself oh David here's my animals David just take my animals David and offer them up and in second Samuel 24 and second Samuel 24 24 David answers and the King said unto orona nay no but I will surely buy it of thee at a price neither will I offer burn offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me are you looking at this cost me nothing in other words David said I'm not falling for that there's no way I can have a sacrifice that that costs somebody else something that becomes your sacrifice David said there's no way if I'm going to worship God it's going to cost me something God is worthy of it costing us something our time our time is very valuable but you could not give God any better time than to give him time in the house of God to sow arrange because listen there's good deal there's good deals all around I don't even have to get up and go to church anymore I can stay in my hoodie in my pajamas and I can drink my mocha from the couch and I can have church on my couch listen there is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the ends are the ways of death can I tell you today blessed it are ye you got up this morning you thought enough about your God it wasn't enough that your grandmother used to attend church here it wasn't enough that your grandparents built this church you said I'm getting up I'm getting my kids ready I'm putting clothes on I'm going down to the house of God why because I'm going to give God something that cost me something I'm not on a map it's all through the Bible it's all through the Bible a young man come running to Jesus good master what must I do he came running good Master what must I do to inherit eternal life what must I do to inherit eternal life I think he's smiling from ear to ear I think I think he I think he's just so anxious he's wanting to hear and Jesus said Son he went through a list of Commandments he said don't commit adultery don't steal don't kill young boy said Master already doing those things I was taught from a little boy to do not to do those things then Jesus looked at him and loved him and he said there's one thing in your life that you lack go your way sell what you got give to the poor come on back with me pick up the cross of poverty pick up the cross of poverty you've trusted in your riches long enough you need to start trusting in me you've been trusting in your money long enough it's time to start trusting in me and the young man looked at him and his smile drooped in his head and shoulders went limp and he decided that's just too much to pay that's just too much I believe I could find a rabbi that would give me different advice I may find me a rabbi that would only say give away half what you got I may find me a a different rabbi and he went away that day sorrowful you know why he was looking for a good deal he was on the map to nowhere we never hear of him again we never hear of him again you know people that are looking for a good deal people that are looking for a good deal they don't really keep Heritage in the house of God Wednesday night I got finished preaching and I preached on uh blessed by association and I talked about churches that preached the low cost you don't take nothing and all this you just come our way you can stay morally you can stay morally rotten if you want to just come on in we're going to make you feel fuzzy and good come on in the The Gospel that I preached the cross that I preach doesn't alter your life it doesn't it doesn't alter folks when I heard this week and I I'm not getting into politics but I guess I am when I heard a preacher slash politician running for office and I won't tell you the state but it's a runoff State and and I heard the man with my own ears my own ears preaching recently he preached on the subject All Flesh shall see the glory of the Lord All Flesh shall see the glory of the Lord and he said you know I used to believe that it meant that all Humanity will eventually one day see the glory of our God see but God has showed me that that's not right he has showed me that you see the glory of God in all of humanity you see the glory of God when whites and blacks worship together and and I submit to you that if you're prejudiced your heart is not right with Jesus Christ if you judge not only that if you judge somebody by their skin or by their clothes or lack of clothes your heart is not right with Jesus Christ a true Apostolic bible-believing church does not judge people by the color of their skin what they have on how much what it costs that they have on what they drive around that's not God's Church but I heard him say and he went through he went through the white and black and we we see the glory of God and then he got to the lgbtq whatever else they're going to add to that and he thanked them the lgbtq and he thanked them he said I thank you today because through your manner of Lifestyle we see the glory of God come on Church I'm not judging the Bible already judges it but their good deal centers all around don't look for a map to nowhere don't look for a place that's the cheapest look for a church that will alter your life look to a church that when you come in people are worshiping God praising God and all of a sudden hot salty tears are streaming down your face and you've got a clump in your throat and you feel something that you've never felt come on church I don't want to have a map to nowhere I want to make it to heaven these churches that Minister that way and I had what I'm saying when I got on the Young Folks I went over and I began to ask the Young Folks how long you my mom and dad go to church here my grandparents go to church here my great-grandparents go to church here can I tell you when you have a church that people are not looking for a good deal it begins to run in the family our kids are not going to buy into fake phony religion they're going to buy into something that's heartfelt they're going to buy into something that has altered their Mama and Daddy's lives they're going to buy into something that is life let musicians would you come singers would you come just write down if you would Acts chapter 4 verse 32-36. Acts chapter 4 32-36 is where a man by the name of Barnabas was wealthy and the Man by the name of Barnabas gave what he had and this man in the 36th verse Barnabas this man is remembered again throughout scripture he is a co-worker with the Apostle Paul we hear of Barnabas we first hear about his giving and then we hear about him being with the Apostle Paul we hear about Barnabas throughout the Bible but in Acts chapter 5 verse 1 through 10. write it down there was a man and woman by the name of ananias and Sapphira and ananias and Sapphira they wanted to be a part of the church but they were looking for a good deal they were looking for a good deal and so they wanted to be a part of it but but then again they were looking for a good deal and so they sold a piece of property and they pretended fraudulently brought the amount of money in a fraudulent way and they laid only part of the sale of the property but fraudulently they wanted people to think that that was a total price ananias was the first one to come in and lay it down it didn't turn out good for him do you know it doesn't turn out good for people that try to be Pretenders it only turns out good for contenders not Pretenders story Peter says you've lied to the Holy Ghost the feet are at the door that are going to carry you to the graveyard ananias gave up the ghost he died God struck him there and he died a few hours later Safara his wife came in and she again fraudulently came in Peter asked her said did you all get a certain amount of money out of that property and she she agreed Peter once again pronounced judgments upon her to the feet of them that carried your husband to the cemetery or stand in the back door to carry you she gave up the ghost she died you never hear of ananias and Sapphira ever again in Scripture they're not mentioned anywhere in an epistle they're not mentioned anywhere in scripture you never hear of them again I ask you today do you want to be a Barnabas or do you want to be an ananias in Sapphira do you want it to be remembered when they remembered you they remember somebody that said I'm not looking for a good deal I'm not looking for a map to nowhere please don't feel like you're left out this morning shortcuts are always offered to you in the midst of your trials in the midst of your hottest trial Satan will bring you a shortcut you can bypass this sad to say in life many get offered the shortcut of suicide they get under such pressure somehow in their minds they see taking their life is a way of escaping your pain equivalent of what job's wife did to him in the Book of Job she came to him and she really is suggesting it she simply says Joe just Curse God and die let's get it over with Joe you realize it when somebody brings a book out to your life and says hey got a map it'll cut some time off little did he know you want to freeze to death I'm going to witness my children die job don't give up if you're here today and you're a job don't you give up don't you give up today if you're here and you're a job this morning don't you give up there is a better day coming receive that in the name of the Lord there is a better day coming I don't care how dark you're not is how cold your night is how confused your night is I don't care how lonely your night is job stay alive there's a better day coming you're going to have more kids you're going to have another Harvest things are going to turn around job don't you give up Joe don't you curse God and die can I tell you this last one this last one Satan got him two times in the wilderness Jesus you're 30 years old Jesus you're wanting to win the world Jesus I've got a shortcut I've got a shortcut for you Jesus just fall down and worship me I'll give you all the kingdoms of the earth no ugly cross no ugly beating no ugly blood no ugly pain just fall down everything will turn out great you know as well as I do that was a lie a lie a lie but oh how many people today have listened to the devil say I know what you're wanting you're wanting life happily ever after I know what you're wanting just fall down and do what I tell you I'll bring it to you he's lying to you today he's lying to you today not only did they try to stop Jesus at the beginning of his ministry but in the waning hours of his ministry Satan used a man did he not Satan used a man as Jesus hung on the cross Satan used a man with the Last Temptation come down from the cross and we will believe you just come on down from the cross just come on down could he you better believe it but had Jesus taken that shortcut that would have only been one man to believe but because Jesus Christ stayed on that cross and he suffered death for you and for Me 2 000 years later there's still power in the Gospel of Jesus Christ it's life-changing it's life-changing today would you stand with me right now would you give Jesus a roar of Praise today it is life-changing come out praise him right now praise him right now praise him right now praise him right now it's still life-changing it's still life-changing today he's still a changing God today now as our musicians and singers get in their places look up here at me for just a moment I preached a little longer than I wanted to this morning but listen to me today I have no easy deal for you I bring to you today not a map to nowhere I bring to you today somebody said the word bible is an acronym b-i-b-l-e best instructions before leaving Earth I bring to you today a book that is tried and true I bring to you a book today that has brought many a pilgrim home late at night I bring a book to you today that's brought Comfort to the dying I bring a book to you today it's good that book is not tried but this one is if you're here today and your life has fallen apart while every head is bowed and every eye is closed I want you to step out of your Pew right now yeah that's the deal yeah that's the deal heads are bowed eyes are closed saints of God are praying right now if you're here today and your life is falling apart if you're here today in misery is a constant reminder in your life if you're here today and you you've even been maybe even contemplating suicide you've even been you've you you've been you've been taken I I need to go to a doctor I need to get on medication I I need to go get something to help me I open this altar up it's the best deal of a lifetime just step out of your Pew this morning and come down to this altar right now and lay your life at the feet of Jesus Christ he said if you will come unto me I will in no wise cast you away he stands with open arms this morning would you come this morning he's calling for you right now he's calling for you this may be your first time at First Apostolic he's calling for you this morning he's wooing you this morning he's wanting you to come right now father in the name of Jesus Christ begin to talk to people Lord in the name of Jesus Christ May that man that woman God may be release the back of their Pew right now and may they walk down to the front of this building and may they lay their lives upon an altar today God may they get back on track they're going to receive strength Lord in the name of Jesus right now in the name of Jesus right now the opportunity is yours the opportunity is yours right now in the name of Jesus right now in the name of Jesus I pray I'm going to wait just for another moment or two today come on you're contemplating right now come on you're standing back there you know right now you've done had to wipe tears out of your eyes two or three times you're standing right there today knowing this is what I need to do please don't procrastinate please don't put it off sir please don't put it off ma'am the altar is open right now in the name of Jesus we pray in the name of Jesus church family let's gather in this altar right now let's gather in this altar right now with those that are coming let's all Gather in this altar right now with those who are coming with those that are coming today let's all go home by way of the altar let's go home by way of the altar father in the name of Jesus Christ we pray this morning oh God move and Minister God oh God move and Minister this morning Lord