The Reason I Believe | Senior Pastor Kenneth Carpenter

stand with me today the first book of Peter first book of Peter chapter number three and verse number nine or excuse me verse number a probably that first word is probably one of the most sought-after words in a Pentecostal service finally finally Peter says finally be all of one mind having compassion one of another love as brethren be pitiful that that means be very compassionate be courteous not rendering evil for evil or railing for railing but contrariwise blessing knowing that ye are there aren't you called that you should inherit a blessing but he that will love life and see good days well I fit in there cuz I love life and I do want to see good days let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no God let him into evil and do good let him seek peace and ensue it for the eyes of the Lord are all over the righteous and his ears are open unto their prayers but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil and who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good but and if he suffer for righteousness sake happy are you and be not afraid of their terror neither be trouble but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and this is what I read all that to get to this point say these three words with me and sit again and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear for a few moments before we go home I want to see if I can alter my life in your life by simply teaching today on the reason I believe the reason I believe please remember brother Noland today he's in North Carolina ministry please remember him and brother Dakota bought that God's hand would be upon him father we ask you today that you would touch them God touch brother Noland brother Dakota God is they minister Oh God and keep your hands upon them Lord father I ask you today as you've already moved and worked upon spirits in this house God you have already worked on spirits God now I want you to put something in our minds God something that we can know something in our minds God that we can chart the course of our lives y'all help us today we'll give you the praise and the honor the glory in Jesus name anoint me sweet Jesus Jesus name you may be seated the reason the reason I believe the reason that I believe it helps to know when one is reading from the Bible who is speaking and who is being spoken to and what is the condition of the times Peter is ministering writing 1st and 2nd Peter he is writing and if you would go ahead and give me Peter chapter 1 and verse number 1 the church has experienced at this time a tremendous persecution a tremendous persecution I've often had heard people talk about that we need to be like the book of Acts and that I do agree with but I wonder if we know what we're asked what we're asking for when we ask to be a book of Acts church because it was not only a church of miracle signs and wonders it was also a church that lived in a culture that was absolutely an enemy to the church government and a culture was an enemy to the church Peter opens up the his epistle he opens up his epistle by simply saying Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and by Faina so he says going back to verse 1 please he says you are strangers that are scattered you are scattered and the reason that they were scattered is that they were persecuted they almost they were being tremendously persecuted we know that in the book of Acts chapter number 8 that the early church almost committed in Acts chapter 8 and verse number 1 that the early church almost committed the same mistake that Noah's generation did when they were told to go into all the earth and replenish the earth and they found a spot the land of Shinar and they dwelt there and it was not God's will that they would dwell there it was God's will that they would repopulate the earth but it took the judgment of God to scatter them they're at the Tower of Babel well the early church almost made that same mistake because the Holy Ghost failed in Jerusalem but they were also to carry you remember you shall be witnesses unto me and Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth well the only way that you can be a witness in all those places is to go to those places and of course they were very comfortable there in Jerusalem some have said that the Jerusalem church in the first few years of its of its the infancy some believe that the Jerusalem church numbered up into the millions there and at Jerusalem but yet God had to use persecution God had to use persecution in order to get the word that was with them and in them to the parts of the earth we know in Acts chapter 1 and verse stirs excuse me Acts chapter 8 and verse number 1 and Saul was consenting unto his death and at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad so we understand that Peter is talking this morning to a group of persecuted people that are scattered things are not familiar things are not a routine they find themselves being hated and falsely accused by the Roman government they find themselves being hunted being ridiculed we understand that this great persecution was for the purpose of scattering them but in verse number four of Acts chapter 8 we find why God scattered them why there was the scattering of the church because the Bible says in acts 8 for therefore they that were scattered when everywhere and preach the word so we find out that the reason there was this scattering was that God wanted to get what was in them the word to the world he wanted to get the word to the world but you must understand that when persecution comes that the purpose of persecution is to get the word that is in you into the world although the day today I am a promoter I am a tremendous promoter of the let the Lord have his way we must have worship in our church there must be the raising of the hands the clapping of the hands the joy of the Lord when we gather here to praise God there must be the spirit of expectation that we're here to magnify the Lord we're here to make a joyful noise unto the Lord great is our God and he is greatly to be praised oh thank you Jesus but I do understand that what we need as equally as worship is we need the word we must have the word and the word has got to be in us because tomorrow when you go on your job they will fire you if you go in your job said I'm a witness and you start waving your hands I'm going witness I'm going to start spinning around and dancing and magnifying God but God knows that what you need to take to work with you tomorrow is not the demonstrative worship that we have in our building but it is the word that we receive while we're in this building God wants to change our city God wants to change our state and ultimately God wants to change our world but it is not putting Pentecost on display on the town hall with dancing and shouting it's equipping each believer with the only thing that can change us and that is the Word of God the Word of God the only thing you can't shout enough to be changed you can't shout enough for God to change you you can't run enough Isles for God to change you you can't plant part enough for God to change you the only way God changes you is somebody shouting is Stu I told my wife about the power of the word I heard a quote this week about the power of the word and I really like it it said sin will keep you from the Word of God sin will keep you from the Word of God but the Word of God will keep you from sin you see sin will keep you so you stay in sin there's one thing you're always gonna fight he's reading that book the hardest thing man you can conquer coming to church and getting a perfect attendance ward remember the years of years ago when they used to give you a little pin if you change three months every Sunday they gave you a little pin you change six months every Sunday I mean we had people walk around Church looking like a five-star general and that's well and good but you know our fight is not necessarily coming to church and our fight is not necessarily demonstrative worship but I'm telling you we sure do fight getting in this book here you know why there's a fight hidden in this book because all hail has put ever Bunker that he can around this book because this book is the only thing when the bottom falls out of my life I can hold on to this book and I can make it all the way through when a mate walks off when a doctor gives you a cancer report I can get a hold of this book Oh for poor scattered poor scattered people he writes to there for those that are scattered abroad it's the matter of fact let's do it this is not on my notes and but but let's just do this for a moment Peter wrote two epistles first Peter and second Peter first Peter chapter one and one put that back on the screen just for a moment how much I'm gonna try to dive right back in my sermon here but first Peter 1 in 1 this is the first epistle that he wrote Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ to the scattered to the strangers women strangers that word there means pilgrims pilgrims you know pilgrims are not of the country that they're in pilgrims are not from the country they're here so we understand something day this world is not our home so let's stop trying to fit in as elder Johnny James says if the world fits you you're the wrong size we were having a brother Thorton sister Thorton we were having a ministers retreat this pastors and their wives ministry and their wives having a little retreat Myrtle Beach and a time of ministry and you see it was it was pastors wives evangelist missionaries ministries only was there at that meeting and it was designed it was designed for that well sister Reinhardt she got this bright idea that we would have a walk she have everybody little lanterns and and we were right there the hotel was right there on the beach and she said we're gonna have a prayer walk at night we'll have a prayer walk and I never forget one not just about 40 of us and here we are down there with her all right lanterns if we're having our prayer walk well he and I guess I'm a little carnal yeah but we we have to pass these two guys and they were well on their way to getting lit I mean they were they were well on their way to get lit and I heard what a woman has said he's 40 apostolic women and me and what I heard one who said is in Mariana he said I think the pilgrims just landed please excuse me so we understand he says here in verse number one we are strangers if I say that with me what are we change that's pilgrims and we are not only just strangers but we're scattered nothing's familiar to us anymore ever since we embrace this Holy Ghost experience and this man called Peter who told us how to become born-again we've been persecuted it's amazing though in first Peter wanted one he tells us who we are but in second Peter wanted one he opens up his second epistle and in second Peter wanted one how are you going to address us now in 1st Peter 1 in 1 we are strangers that are scattered that's who we are the first Peter wanted one if you give me 2nd Peter please 2nd Peter chapter 1 and verse number 1 Simon Peter a servant an apostle of Jesus Christ to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ look at the difference he addresses them in the first book is saying strangers scattered but in the second book he talks about them obtaining like precious faith now there's got to be something between 1st Peter 1 and 1 and second Peter 1 in 1 there's got to be something between the stranger the pilgrim and somebody that has got like precious faith what is that it is my text that I read today he was talking to us as he said I want you to be compassionate I want you to have love one for another I want you to be sincere I want you to be courteous I don't want you to give back evil when you've been given evil I don't want you to rail on somebody that rails on you but contrary to the opposite when they rail on you you bless them back when they're evil too you you be good to them back I'm talking I'm talking today I'm talking today about why I believe what I believe he said when you're cursed you bless when you're relavant you bless when they do you evil you do them good he said if you want to love life and if you want to see good days refrain your tongue from speaking evil and your lips to have no guile stay away from evil verse number 11 and do good seek the route of peace why because the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous I may be scattered and I may be a pilgrim but God knows where I'm at I may have the bottom out of my life I may have all things upside down but I take great confidence today in the fact that when I don't even know where I'm at thank God he knows where I'm at the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous his ears are open to our prayers he's got his face against them that do evil and said who's going to harm you if you're followers of them that were good that are good which is good he said but any he didn't say well what we were not verse number 14 says but and if did you say you're not going to says that there there is yes and there's the possibility that you suffer for righteousness happy are you and then he begins to say don't let it get in your heart if there's one thing we have to keep out of our heart is fear we must dismiss fear out of our hearts and not be troubled but sanctify that word 15 their virtual 15 means to make a place preparing have a place in your hearts for the Lord God we don't need to have a place of fear we don't need to have a place of Terror we need to have in the midst of our persecution we need to have a place that God dwells in our heart so then he said yes because life is not all about you but life is about what God wants to do through you too many people think life is all about them and they think that the main utopia of their life is all about them it's not all about you you have a pocket book full of money today and be the most miserable person in this building you can have Fame let me tell you something read the headlines read the newspapers people with billions and millions of dollars waste their lives and even as recently we hear of them ending their lives you know why because life is not about you you'll never get enough right people around you to be happy you'll never get enough right things around you your chair how many four-wheelers and bass boats and motorhomes and bank accounts and model wives and all of that that you get around you it's not going to make you happy because God's plan for you is not only about you but it's about what God wants to do for others through you God wants to do something he didn't just give the church the Holy Ghost so we could shout around and have a chill bump and say we go to a great church but he gave us the Holy Ghost so that he could work through us he gave us the Holy Ghost so that those whose lives are in bondage can be set free that's why he's given us that he can work through us oh I wish somebody help me that each of work through works but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts make him a place in the midst of your trouble in the midst of your persecution make him a trouble make him a place in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear look at this your persecuted the bottom has fallen out of your life this wonderful Holy Ghost experience that you've been to numerous family family reunions and boasts and bragged to your kins kin kinfolk about what a grade of the mighty God you served but all of a sudden the bottom falls out of your life can I tell you we do not get the attention of the world when the sun is shining but we give the attention of the world when we can't see our hand in front of our face we don't get the attention of our kinfolk when we come to church in our lives change on the outside for a little bit it's not then that your cousins are looking at you it's a few years later when you become scattered abroad and you're a pilgrim and a stranger and the bottom is fault follow how you've been to church every Sunday you paid hide you've worked on the bus route you come out and volunteered you've done everything possible but all of a sudden the bottom falls out of your life it's a cancer report it's a factory that shut down it's a child that you dedicated as a baby to live for God he now walks out of your house and turns his back on everything that you've ever taught him I want you to know it's at that moment that you are at center stage there's a world that says how come you keep going to church how come you keep giving how come you're still in the choir how come you're still appraiser how come you're still doing well why don't we just raise our hands everybody in this room I'm down in another side that's not the Holy Ghost come in among us right now come on let's let the Holy Ghost come in a minute right now come on some of you praise God you can praise God when you get a good report you can praise God when you've got a little money in your pocket but how about this morning when you don't have two nickels to rub together can somebody give him some praise can somebody begin to say the Lord gives and the Lord takes be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh I'm gonna tell you you're gonna be scattered one of these days and if you keep doing what you've always done you ain't gonna have to go witnessing they're gonna come to you and they're gonna ask you how you keep this up how you keep doing what you're doing to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you he said you've got to get ready to give an answer you got to be ready to give an action even when you're persecuting you got to get ready to give an answer because it's then that the spotlight is on you sinners day somebody's gonna be asking about you hey I hear I hear your husband left you yeah he did I hear he left you with a houseful kids and I hear several in the offices offices talking about taking up some money to help you yeah but I see you still read your Bible I see you still do what you always did to meet too many people when the bottom falls out of their life they give up on God and turn their lives back into the world only to have the world say see I knew there was nothing to that the word according to failures dictionary answer is a verbal defense it is a speech in defense it is a reason a statement argument in other words you have to be ready not to clap your hands not to shout but you have to be ready to give like a defense attorney you have got to be ready to plead your case built on you see wouldn't we all everybody in this room today and those watching by the internet we all fall into one of two categories we're either building our lives on this word or we're building our lives on the sin of the world Jesus spoke in Matthew 424 he said therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine that's the word and doing them I will like him unto him I would liken him a wise man which built his house on the rock the rain descended the floods came the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not because it was founded upon a rock a rock and every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not he shall be likened to a foolish man which built his house upon the sand the rain descended the floods came the wind blew beat upon that house and it fell and great was the fall their people's lives fold for one reason a lack of the world people's lives stand rain winds and floods because of the world can you say men you do understand today that disobedience is really a sign of a lack of understanding that's why today we have to be so mindful to hear the word to hear the word Paul was writing and once again Paul is writing in Hebrews I don't necessarily there's been great debate and I really shouldn't even waste three seconds of this because it don't matter you're not going to get to heaven and say you know your entrance into heaven is not gonna be based on who you believe wrote Hebrews okay some say it was Paul some say it was Paulus it you know Matt I mean but there's there there are there are people they'll cross swords with you you know I killed people I believe Paul road and you don't believe Paul wrote it you've got the right in my book to be wrong but that's anyway bleep all we may debate over who wrote Hebrews but one thing we don't debate over is who it was written to it was written to the 12 tribes that was spread abroad so he says in Hebrews 5 in verse number nine and being made perfect speaking of Jesus now he's talking about Jesus now and being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that Oh BAE him call of God a high priest after the order of melchizedek isn't it amazing he's trying to get them to understand because they are being pulled toward a system now hear this now they're being pulled toward the old Levitical Old Testament system of priests and they're fighting this new thing of salvation by water in spirit and we're not offering up lambs and goats and they're being torn between the two and Paul comes and he says about Jesus he said he's called him got a high priest after the order of the mill kiss of death but he stops there why does he stop he said Jesus was after the order of melchizedek verse the next verse of whom we have many things to say and hard to be utter seeing ye are know of hearing it's as if he stops there and says oh I want to talk to you about Melchizedek buddy he looks and it's he looks at the condition they're in not my lack of worship because we can get a straight a on our worship today and absolutely flunked the word we can check it off we can get a straight A's in worship this morning but flunk out on what will you remember about the message today what did you write down in your Bible if you brought one I'm sorry what did you write them in your Bible what are you going to take home from this will you be able after lunch if someone came up and said did the preacher preach about today will you be able because I'm gonna tell you play Peter said when the bottom falls out of your life it's sitting there that people are going to ask you for an answer and you've got to have some word inside of your heart that you can speak back Chad the worship here is great buddy I like to see you worship but do you know what gives me hope for you Chad is that long less than notes that you keep every service that men will come to church at man will come to church government I mean it's like books that he's written down he just he just writes down writes down all his books and can I tell you what makes me believe that a lot that the future for Chad is bright it's not necessary that he worships from the time he's on the second key this morning he'd bet their worship and I said Chad get out of that Pierre get up here you know what he did most y'all didn't see what he did he climbed over the front pew got out but what makes me know that Chad's future's bright this morning it's not that he worships from the time it starts is that he's getting into the word because we were created by the word we are born again by the word Jesus is referred to as the word in the beginning was the word and the word was with god and the word God come on I gotta tell you what's missing in your experience it's not that you haven't shouted it's have you read the world Oh Paul comes he says I want to try to help you understand because some of you are battling going back to the system of lambs and goats and blood and bread and I'm trying to get you to focus in on Jesus who was made after the order of Melchisedec and he stops he said I'd like to go on he said but you are dull of hearing let me put it in my than that vernacular today Paul looked at them and said it meant for me to tell you about melchester death would be like me going over to the nursery class of three-year-olds and start talking to them about CPR this morning we go for the nursery class you can go get you know get some four and five-year-old kids today and start talking to them about CPR they don't understand you Paul looked at them and said and I'd like to tell you about no kids of that but you're dull you're dull of hearing for when the time look what happens it's not that they haven't been in church for a long time for when the time you ought to be teachers for when for win for the time you ought to be teaching that's exactly right because God didn't save any of us to put us in a three bedroom two bath brick rancher with enough money at 65 to check out he's given us the Holy Ghost so that one day we can be teachers because we're gonna go through something that the world can say would you give me the answer to why you're still doing what you're doing for win for the time you ought to be teachers you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the Oracles of God and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat for everyone that uses of milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness for he is a babe but strong milk but strong meat belongeth to them that are a full age who by reason of use have have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil he said you you've not exercised the word you've exercised at Planet Fitness but you haven't exercised the word and because you haven't exercised the word you don't have the right senses you can't discern what's good or bad now you're in this cycle this infancy cycle of knowing what's good but you don't know how to make choices you don't know how to make choices in your life and you don't know how to make choices March I'm gonna go ahead and give you a little preview about March those of you that are in the 29 Club of February we'll go ahead and give you a little preview about March March has 31 days in it The Book of Proverbs has 31 chapters in it 31 chapters the chapter a day proverbs has got some pretty smart things if we could start working out in Proverbs proverbs would help every man to stay away from the harlot proverbs would help every man and every woman not to go the path of temptation because the path of temptation never leads to life it always leads to death but if you've got to have a chill bump whether or not to take the second look at her you're never gonna make it you gotta have some word get inside of you I'm not being self-righteous I'm not I'm not being self-righteous that promise I'm not being self-righteous I'm not being self-righteous so turn to your neighbor and say he's not being self-righteous had a fella I had a fella do some business around here at the church not over the church obviously and he stopped so I won't tell you Joe can I tell you Joe I don't I don't I don't stick in the mud so he starts his joke anybody idiot he didn't take I saw this this joke went down a road and then it was gonna test the corner and I didn't want to go around the corner and I said why don't jump in on our I think I know where this is going but I didn't let him tell him it tell me the end of that joke for a number of reasons number one I don't want to hear it and number two I don't want him to leave here and say I told that preacher this joke so what's that got to do through some it's got everything to do with the sermon because proverbs is not some googoogaga thing it's not some it's not some strength food that we give shake up your hands clap your hands raise your hands so walk on say what come on cut your meal good little baby pipe your hands now say one God what name do we get baptized indeed us oh that's good that's good that's good but I'm gonna tell you something after a while that child as much as these mamas just hold them and hold them they begin to grow and they want to touch things they shouldn't touch and what does mamas and daddies do what are you doing I don't want them to touch that why are you smacking them on the hand little pain toward the temptation and you're getting in there mind and I know we're in a politically correct society I know a lot of folks think that the buttocks is just something God made to sit on but but that's not true I got students today there was a pastor she said buttocks I did that's it I'm getting more refined we're trying to do exercise the census since hot burn bad stay away if we should start working out in the word will start staying away from things we don't have to have the choir with us we don't have to have a call a call every other day from the youth pastor asking how good are you doing if we could just simply learn I hear about you know I'm not against this totally but these are countability partners I got the greatest accountability partner in all the world it's called the world you see we have to understand who we are today Matthew chapter 5 and verse number 13 Matthew 5:13 ye are the salt of the earth but if the salt have lost his savour wherewith shall it be salted it is henceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and be trodden under the foot of men ye are the light of the world a city that is set on a hill cannot be hid neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick and it giveth light unto all that are in the house letting your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven you say man it's so dark but the carpenter it's so dark in my life right now that's why you're the light is because it's dark don't scratch a ball space on the side of your head because it's dark you're the light that's why don't look at the dark they all how dark it is no we're not going to curse our culture we're going to walk in the midst of our culture why because we are the light of the world salt salt was so precious in the days of Jesus that salt was actually used as currency this is where the saying has come about you're not worth your salt salt was used as currency salt was used to flavor things and salt was used for preserving meat that was would quickly decay and rot they would rub it with salt you see today that's why we want to touch our world because the salt has no effect until it touches the object that needs to change God didn't create our churches to be salt shakers God created us to be salt in a community in a culture that cannot tell it's left hand from its right hand that's right and if there's ever been a day that young men ought to be able to biblically talk about the role of a man it's today if there has ever been a day we don't just need to get us a picket sign and go picketing people we need to get something down inside of our heart so when they ask you why you're not bisexual why you're not this or you're not that it has nothing to do with your grandma it has nothing to do with your church tradition it's not everything to do with the world in the beginning God made man and God made a woman and God made a man give birth in a woman that's wobbly come on worship worship that's why we believe you weren't born a man you were born a woman what did you say brother Mayo what do you say you what sitting in why do we do what we do what why do we not believe certain things what you you you you you you the church hates the gay community we don't hate the gay community huh we love the word and can I tell you what the gay community needs but it needs the word the Bible said but speaking the truth which is the word how hello you may be seen we were eating in a restaurant and there was some church people none of our denomination thank God but they literally laughed in the face of an effeminate male server but the Perry they laughed in his face they laughed in that boy's face I watched him as this and both had been my folks out of torment hey actor I thought I taw that I'm gonna find another word for you know I got a buttocks out of total man all right laughing from that boy got so tickled when he came and yes he was effeminate yes yes he had men or isms as a woman yes all of that yes and I know but when he walked up to it to take the order of some denominator of worship they laughed until the boy walked away and later had to come back and when that boy came to my table I said sir I want you to know sister Shelly I said to this man I said I want you to know those people do not go to the church I pastor I do not I do not pass and I said but I said I want to apology in a m-- of Christianity I want to apologize for their behavior he said he said that's that's fine that's fine he said they come in out here all the time he said I mean I'm used to it that's time we treated that boy so well I tipped him we tipped him more than what our meal with a Schneider more than what our meal was we teeth we tipped him when we go back into that restaurant I specifically asked for that for that waiter I asked for him and I had built a relationship with him don't you know who he is I know who you may affect I know who some of you are to you I've seen see I get to talking sometimes I don't know if I matter and knowing it it's kind of a little you know teeter-totter here for a minute and he told me a story I invited him inviting him to the Clayton Center to church invited him to Clayton Center to church he's 20-something Sam never I said I've never been to church what's it why I said you thought making it been to Apostolic Church he said I have never been in a church see some times before we get all hoppy poppy and her judgmentalism such could have been some of you but you had a grandmother or grandfather and a mother and a father to bring you to a platform before you ever spoke one word had one tooth in your head you had somebody pouring oil on you and telling you that there's one God but everybody's not had come on everybody's not had it you may be seen I'm gonna be done here in just a minute my memory doesn't serve me right sister Kim if that young man came to service or not but I went in the restaurant some time ago and he met me and he said boy you get with it when you preach and he said that quiet he said they were really sitting Wow I said would you church he said no I was channel surfing the other night and I came across and when you won't go to church will bring Church to you ah in the play let me close this Eric so did you come with me close let me close but I wonder Church how different that would have been if when that young man came to take my order in his effeminate way if I put my head down on the table I wonder if when he came across it but because somebody said for God so loved quote it right don't you say for God so loved the church because before God ever bought a church he loved the world before God ever bought a church he loved the world before God ever bought a church he came he kicked the tires on the sin of humanity he sat down in the automobile and smelt the stench aroma of the paleness of sin and God so loved the world you see that's why some of you gonna be scattered so while the bottom is gonna fall out of your life and you're gonna have to have not an experience but you've got to have a reason somebody said reason this is why I believe what I believe the reason in Chuck's windows book searching the scripture Chuck Swindoll is six reasons that you ought to believe he said a reasoned faith has substance those who do not have the word rely on three things emotions tradition or what other people think you think of that today too many people build their lives on how they feel or their church tradition or the opinions of the masses and you see we leave church traditions we hold on them long enough until we see a flaw in the one holding the tradition and then we say well they may do this and not do that but look at what they did your life cannot be built on your emotions cannot be built on the traditions of this church number two he says a reason faith stabilizes us it holds us a reason faith and Abel's us us to handle the Bible carefully and accurately a reason faith equips us to detect and confront error and a reason faith puts confidence in us and a reason faith cast out fear out of our hearts I'm talking today about why I believe it's the word did you stand with me this morning five minutes to 12 I wonder how many people would meet me around this altar not to get a blessing not to receive an emotional touch but to recommit our lives back to the reading of God's Word I do this because the Word of God I'm coming back tonight to hear brother Thornton preach because the word says forsake not the assembling of ourselves together win my head and eyes tell me that there's no rain in sight the word tells me that God will never leave me and never forsake me come on for the next few moments but your voice lifted we gotta catch a ride back to the world that were no God the Word of God is alive Oh God the direction from us the come on where let's put the word to work this morning let's put the word to work just for a moment we see because the word says see let's put the word to work today Matthew 16 15 yo you know the world and preach the gospel to every creature he then believeth and is baptized shall be saved tena believeth not shall be damned and these signs shall follow them Emily do we have any believers in this place today these signs shall follow them that believe in my name they shall cast out Devils they shall speak with new tongues they shall take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them here's what I want to put the word today they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover I want to be this lair and overall someone today the sickness doesn't have to be physical it can be emotional the guy to non-believers let's put the wire to work this morning in the name of Jesus