Witnesses Unto Me | Senior Pastor Kenneth Carpenter

song this evening gave me a confirmation in my spirit is I feel like that God has given me for this evening that God has given me a word of direction for the church the word a word of direction for the church now I'm just going to go ahead and tell you right now I'm going to minister on this and Minister on this and Minister on this and minister because it's the heartbeat of God and that is tonight just to just to tell you in a nutshell get in the field and win souls get in the field get in the field and win souls Acts chapter 1 and verse number eight Acts chapter 1 and verse number eight but ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and you shall be Witnesses unto me Jesus is speaking you shall be Witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the Earth I want to minister tonight on this subject Witnesses unto me Witnesses unto me we're going to go to God in prayer tonight and I'd like to ask them if they can let the prayer request go across the bottom of the screen we have several needs in this local church Linda Thompson brother Callaway is in need of a touch from God brother Newberry I went to the hospital today and visited and had prayer with his father as issues with his heart and so there is just a multitude of needs in this room right now and if you would if you have a need that God you need God to move upon would you raise that hand right now please remember to keep sister Connie stand it in our prayers that God will give sister Connie stennett full recovery I want brother Chad Erickson I want him to come Pastor Eric said I wanted to come and stand down here in the middle of the altar area he along with brother and sister Naomi a little sister Nami are missionaries to the Philippines although they have their residence here in Maryville they are very much over in control the work there in the Philippines they're leaving Friday they're leaving Friday to go to the Philippines for a general conference for a or a a time in the Lord there and I saw brother sister name if you would would you come down front also we'll we'll have prayer for you tonight and uh this this Apostolic Church isn't it an Apostolic Church thank God you attend the church that right after the first course or two we baptized somebody in Jesus name that wonderful right now this is an Apostolic Church yeah you know an Apostolic Church does it derive its value but how many sit on a pew but it derives its value by how many it sends out in into the world and so I want you to stretch your hands out toward the names and brother Ericson we're going to pray for safety travel right now father the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I Lay My Hands God upon brother Naomi God I lay my hands upon sister name me tonight God I pray for the cares of their soul right now Lord I pray for Sarah I ask God that you would keep your hand upon Sarah God Lord that there would be total healing God for her body Lord I pray God that as brother and sister name me are there in the Philippines doing your word that God you would give them a spirit of peace about everything that's here God that you would give them Revival Lord God that you would give them a harvest of souls Lord right now in the name of Jesus God we bind every adversary that would try to hinder the work there in the Philippines Lord we pray that there would be a mighty outpouring of the Holy Ghost Lord that you would move upon them God lord I pray for pastor Erickson tonight Lord I pray for safety I pray God for travel blessings upon him God lord I pray God that you would move Lord upon him and God anoint him as he ministers in the service God give them one of the greatest Crusades they've ever had Lord give them one of the greatest moves of your spirit Lord that they've ever had Lord I pray for people that are hungry for the truth Lord will make their way God they will make their way God Lord in the name of Jesus Christ Lord give them Souls right now Lord every need in this church God every need going across the stream tonight Lord Jesus name we pray amen you may be seated tonight I want to say before I begin to minister I want to give thanks sister Renee Martin and of course I want to say this publicly wasn't that a beautiful beautiful flag display that we had here honoring honoring our great country and uh we've had we've had people just come to the daycare this week and come in and just say thank you for just that that display that was out there and of course I've made brother Matt Martin uh I guess ought to introduce a new ministry brother Matt would you stand right now brother martin is the ministry minister of the flags all right are you going to take care of them going to put them up take them down and uh I appreciate that but I do appreciate sister Renee Martin uh brother Erickson had a had a tooth that cracked and he was in a lot of pain and of course um him going uh to the Philippines on Friday I believe when they're going to leave and he couldn't really get anybody to see him this week I think that the United States of America offices take are taking the whole week of the fourth off and it was hard for him to find a dentist that would see him but sister Renee Martin put him in touch with a dentist I want you to listen to this a dentist here in the town that saw brother Erickson came into his office on July 4th and took care of that too now it came in on July 4th took care of that tooth and when it came time for brother Ericson to pay him how much I owe him he said I've just done my good deed for the day all right now wonderful gift from the Lord let's read acts 1 and 8 again if you'd put that on the screen acts 1 and 8. but you shall receive power Jesus said after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you and you shall be Witnesses and this is where I'm driving home Witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the Earth now it is not you're going to receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you and then you're going to work on being a witness it is saying that when you receive the power of the Holy Ghost you are witnesses unto me it is emphasizing there that wonderful power of the Holy Ghost there is nothing like the power of the Holy Ghost as a matter of fact there is nothing like experiencing the baptism of the Holy Ghost there is absolutely nothing on this Earth that is that is similar to receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost I am glad that over 40 years ago somebody told me about the baptism of the Holy Ghost and I went to an altar and God filled me with the spirit the baptism of the Holy Ghost and my life and your life I only speak for myself tonight but I speak for you tonight our lives have never been the same there is nothing like being baptized with the spirit of God it is it is well I think back on a song that we used to sing out of the song books it is joy unspeakable and full of Glory I have found the joy no tongue can tell how it waves of Glory way as well it is like a great overflowing well springing up within my soul it is joy unspeakable and full of Glory Full Of Glory Full Of Glory it is joy unspeakable and full of Glory all thy have has never yet been told this word here you shall be Witnesses unto me it's an interesting word in the Greek the word witness does refer to a Judicial System one who stands to give knowledge or to give testimony of what one knows or one has experienced but it also sister carpenter has the meaning it is even the same word when when the word says my faithful martyr it's the same word in the Greek that we get the word witness for and so when you understand that the word witness refers to one in a Judicial System uh giving giving testimony of fact but it also means someone that would be willing to give their life for that witness they would be willing to give their life for that Witness when you receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost not only are you giving that as part of your Redemption but you're also given the baptism of the Holy Ghost to be to be a witness to be a witness it is in Ephesians chapter number five and verse number 17 and we're going to we're going to just really dive into being a witness for Jesus Christ a witness to the place that you're willing to give your life now not necessarily like facing a a firing squad or having your head cut off for the name of Jesus but what about giving your life to the testimony of Jesus Christ that you would be willing to ignore and lay aside a lot of so-called Earthly pleasures because you want to live your life to be a witness for Jesus Christ Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 17. it's in it's important that you realize that this was a church that had the baptism of the Holy Ghost and Paul finds it in evil in Ephesians chapter 5 and verse number 17. to say these words wherefore be not unwise now the opposite of being unwise is having wisdom right so he says be not unwise and he's saying with the same statement you need to have wisdom but understanding what the will of the Lord is I I have pastored many people that get tormented at times there's people that will want to set up meetings and appointments and and and and I'm not complaining about it but one of the fears that they have it'll start off by saying pastor I want to know that I'm in the will of God I want to know that I'm in in the will of God and a lot of people there tormenting the will of God about where they live or tormented of the will of God about what they're working and and where they're working and all of that but I believe that there is an ultimate will of God that if you will focus your mind on being in this will of God there'll be a lot of other things that will automatically come down in your life he says be not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is it's interesting look at the next verse we're talking about the will of the Lord and he says in verse 18. and be not drunk with wine now wait a minute you're talking about the will of God and you're having to tell a church a church a church sometimes we need to be reminded about what the will of God is and he says be not drunk with wine wherein is excess and we could talk about how how alcohol wine ruins a person but then he says here's the will of God but be filled with the spirit now remember Carpenter they are the Ephesian Church they are those Disciples of John that Paul passing through the upper Coast came to Ephesus and finding certain disciples said unto them can you help me tonight said unto them have you received the Holy Ghost since what since you believe these are these same people right here but you see when Paul says to them but be filled with the spirit we understand as we take the Bible and dissect it and put things where it belongs there is the initial in filling of the Holy Ghost that you are initially filled for the first time everybody say first time you are initially filled the first time with the baptism of the Holy Ghost but that is not the end that is not the end Paul is referring to Paul is telling them to be filled with the spirit it is an experience and it is a constant process for the church Lord You're all we want Come Holy Spirit watch a bunch of people why did this praise team waste all their time learning a course to say Come Holy Spirit fall on us you're all we want you're all we need if 99 of us in this room have the Holy Ghost I cannot tell you all you all wasted a lot of time but they didn't because we have initially received it but we are in the process of every day being refilled it is a process I not only needed the Holy Ghost 40 something years ago I need the Holy Ghost right now come on somebody I need the Holy Ghost right now as a matter of fact I'm going to say it this way I need him more tonight than I've ever needed him in all if I come on worship him right now if you know you need the Holy Ghost worship him right now Paul said be filled with the spirit he's talking about a continual a continual the verb the verb is there the language is there the grammar in the Greek is there that Paul is talking about not the initial in feeling but he is talking about a continual process being filled with the spirit Romans chapter 8 and verse number one again Romans written to the Apostolic Church there in Rome Romans 8 and verse number one follow this closely there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit now Paul is saying if you got condemnation in your life you're walking after the flesh let me break it down that means you're leaning toward the flesh you're feeding the flesh I'm talking about food either I'm talking about activity the flesh is craving but the spirit is saying kill it kill it crucify it get it out of your mind but the flesh would say just feed me a little bit just feed me just a little bit just just we won't go all the way just give me a few crumbs and satisfy me and so we begin to gravitate we begin to gravitate toward the Flesh and if we walk in the flesh no wonder we battle condemnation again Romans 8 and 1. there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but not they're not walking after the flesh what are they doing but after the spirit you see in this continual being filled with the spirit I am walking in the spirit that's talking about process that's talking about progress excuse me let's talk about progress I am I am walking in the spirit that means if we measure our spiritual growth we should be growing out of things not being comfortable with fleshly things I should be growing out of anger not not being not not having some kind of a a a sympathy that well I I you know I got I got Irish blood in me and you know how they ain't got nothing to do with Irish blood Indian blood Cherokee blood it don't have anything to do with the color of your hair it don't have anything that it's got to do with flesh but if we feed flesh if we feed flesh we never grow out of that but if we walk in the spirit if we're making progress in the spirit action excuse me Romans chapter 8. in verse number four that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us and once again pay close attention to this who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit they were they were well attuned these apostolics of the first century they were well tuned to be taught by Paul that it wasn't just getting the Holy Ghost years ago and it was just something you look back on that it was a continuous process that was going on in your life turn with me to Galatians chapter 5 and verse number 16. there's a couple of verses in Galatians I want to write again just like Rome wrote biblical Romans was written to the Apostolic Church of Rome the book of Galatians is written to the Apostolic Church of galatia chapter number 5 verse number 16. this I say then walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh he said if you'll walk in the spirit you won't feel you will not fulfill the lust that your flesh is after so if you've got something in your life that's robbing your Victory if you have got a weakness that is sin in your life that you keep falling into you need to walk in the spirit feed your spirit man worship praise Bible reading write entertainment Right company feed that man that Galatians chapter Galatians chapter 5 and verse 25. if we live in the spirit let us also walk in the spirit now here's several terminologies walking in the spirit now Paul introduces if we live in the spirit you know living for God is not like putting on your you know your church clothes and your work clothes it's not like hey I'm going to church tonight I'm going to put my I'm going to put my religion on I'm gonna put my I'm gonna put my walk with god oh no it's not that we folks we don't visit in the spirit but we live in the spirit just more than a Wednesday night and a Sunday morning and Sunday night in the morning you need to be as god-conscious in the morning as you are right now as a matter of fact there would be nothing wrong with you praising God when you get up in the morning and begin to verbally say I thank you God I praise you God I magnify you God do you know that I at first when I got in church I guess it was Pride it probably was Pride I couldn't lift my hands and I think it was Pride but I it was another thing I I just felt like that that that you know I was So Unworthy and all these other people around me were so perfect and one day they're all going to find out that I'm not that way and they're going to throw me out of this church and you know I stayed in church long enough to find out that that was a whole lot more people in that building with imperfections than just me but for the longest time I wouldn't raise my hands you know where I raised my hands first I raised my hands in at my house 208 Black Oak Drive that's where I begin to get comfortable raising my hands church we don't visit in the spirit we live in the spirit I know that you're good people tonight I know that you're here on a Wednesday night God's very best comes on Wednesday nights you hear me God's very best comes on Wednesday nights and so you are God's very best tonight but and I know you're conscious of God tonight in your life but in the morning when you get up in the morning you when you get up you need to keep the same kind of music that you heard here tonight and you need to keep the same atmosphere in your life that you that you have here tonight and and if you'll do that I promise you you're going to begin to walk in the spirit and you're not going to fulfill the lust of your flesh I want to live my life in agreement to the Holy Ghost now I want to get to the part about being a witness being a witness because it takes all of the above to be that I know what I've heard I know what I felt I know what I received but it's that walking in the spirit that gives you the determination there's not another life to live it gives you the determination when somebody mentions are you going to stop going to church you look at them like did you hit your head are you crazy leave this there is nothing out there that can even compare to what's in here and watch in here isn't God good to us tonight oh I want to be a witness of him here's the reason we need to be a witness look at Matthew 28 18. these are the last words of Jesus Christ Matthew 28 18 the last words before his Ascension Matthew 28 18 and Jesus came and spake unto them saying all power is given unto me in heaven and in Earth go ye that was the disciples that's who we are brother Wimberley that's who we are an extension of tonight we are an extension in Doctrine and experience of that first century Apostolic church we are an extension of them in Doctrine we teach what the early Apostles taught we experience what they experienced on the day of Pentecost he said go ye therefore it's the same as if Jesus was here tonight and he was saying Maryville go ye therefore and teach All Nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you all way even unto the end of the world Amen it's a simple question and it may be a simple answer but we've got to say it tonight why are we to take the gospel to the world because the world is lost and the only thing that will save the world is the gospel you cannot reform them into heaven the only thing that can help this world is the gospel this world doesn't have a drug problem it doesn't have a drug a gun problem it doesn't have a political problem it doesn't have a moral problem you can take everything that's going crazy in this world and you can end it if we can get people to repent of their sins and turn their life over to God and believe the gospel they will stop drugging they will stop shooting violence will go down this world needs our witness our community needs our witness Maryville Alcoa Louisville uh Seymour Greenback all of these areas need our witness because of sin Mark 16 15. Jesus said unto them go into all the world and preach the gospel to Every Creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved he that believeth not shall be damned these signs shall follow them that believe in my name they shall cast out Devils if we will walk through our community with the testimony of Jesus Christ we don't have to be intimidated we don't have to be afraid of any devil as a matter of fact if the church will be the church the devil will be afraid of us because the devil knows he has to close up shop when we begin to witness and we begin to open up people's eyes he has to close up shop in my name 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 they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover we have in these verses here Divine protection not Divine stupidity all right we have Divine protection we're not picking up snakes to show that we love God and God is no no no no that would that that that that is such an erroneous twisting of that verse it's saying when you're on my mission you have Divine protection on me on you they shall take up serpents if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover so then after the Lord has spoken unto them he was received up into heaven set on the right hand of God and they went forth and preached everywhere the Lord working with them confirming the word with signs following amen he's confirming the word you don't God is not going to confirm silence he's going to confirm the word that's why several in this church teach home Bible studies why God confirms the word if we want people to change you got to get the word in them I thank you for getting them to church but that's just part of it once we get them to church we got to get them in a Bible study and if we can get them in a Bible study we can get the word in them and if we can get the word in them God interrupts the Bible study and God begins to confirm his word Luke chapter 24 and verse 45 I'm reading all these last words of Jesus Christ Luke 24 45 then opened he their understanding that they might understand the scriptures and said unto them thus it is written and thus it behoove Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead third day and that repentance and that repentance everybody say repentance and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem watch verse 48 with me and ye are Witnesses of these things behold Us in the promise of my father upon you that carry in the city of Jerusalem until you be endued with power from on high now thank God for the cross praise God for the cross praise God that God became man God became human to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins thank God for the blood thank God for the perfect sacrifice at Calvary amen thank God for that we wouldn't be here today right there's no without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin thank God for Calvary thank God for what he did for us thank God 2 000 years ago on a hill outside Jerusalem God gotha the Lamb of God shed his blood for the church thank God for that praise God for that but can I tell you it's just a moment in history if we the church Don't Preach repentance repentance and remission of sins it's as if it never would happen if you and I don't realize it's going to take more than a 2 000 year old event with God to save our world we're built on the cross we're built on that day but that day will never have its Effectiveness today 2023 if you and I don't realize that our ultimate calling is to be Witnesses unto him we know I know what I got the Holy Ghost I know that I know that I know that I know nobody bought me up under the chin nobody made me speak in another life I know that I know that I know that I know that I got it but it's more more than that I gotta go and go and go and go and go and be willing to live my life be willing to die for this thing to die for the fact oh would you give him praise right now witness is unto me Witnesses witnesses witnesses unto me our main purpose our purpose our main mission as the church is to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ let me say it again let me say it again now I understand tonight there may be some because I'm not talking about your dilemma that you're in right now and I'm not preaching you a message to tell you that your turnaround is soon and God has you on his mind and make you feel fuzzy and good because you're overburdened with the cares of this life I understand this kind of preaching puts you to sleep and you wonder if you you know if he's going to do part two to this next Wednesday night I don't know if I'm coming back I get that I get that but if there's a small group of people in this church it'll say preach to me preacher come on I've never felt fully content I've never really felt like I've reached my potential I got a good job all my kids are in church but I still feel a little bit empty baby I'm talking to you tonight you're the one that I'm talking to right now because God wants to use our purpose our purpose our main mission as the church is to reach people with the gospel good news of Jesus Christ look with me in second Corinthians chapter four verse number three again this is written to the apostolic church at Corinth and it says in second Corinthians chapter 4 verse 3. but if our gospel be hid somebody help me out tonight if our gospel be hid who's it hid from if our gospel be what is it hit from again the very people that need it it's hid from the very people that need it but if our gospel be hid it is hid I want you to keep that that word hid in mind if our gospel be hid it is here to them that are lost in whom the god that's a little G Satan the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the Glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them he realized that when we share the word of God with people and you'll never be able to share what you don't know and you won't know if you don't study but do you realize that we live in a dark world that the sinner's world is pitch dark and the only thing the God of this world has blinded their minds and the only thing that can penetrate the darkness is when somebody brings the word of God to their life the Bible says in the Book of John about Jesus Christ it says in him was life and it was the light of man and the Darkness comprehended it not you see this is not philosophy this is not another religion this is the Glorious light of Jesus Christ and when we enter a sinner's world and we begin to share the word of God it's as if a light comes on and they begin to see the light and they begin to see how wasteful their life is and how how how how futile it is to keep trying to go down the path they're going and then they begin to see the real problem of sin but then they're introduced to a savior that wants to Save The Sinner but he not only wants to save The Sinner you see that man that got baptized tonight he wasn't joining this church we don't baptize people to join the church that's a man-made Doctrine the Bible in the book of Acts baptism is about not about joining the church it's not even about that Jesus was baptized and we ought to be baptized because he was baptized it's not about that what happened to that man tonight addressed the issue the main issue of that man's life tonight the main issue of his life is the main issue of all of our lives and that is sin and what happened tonight when that man believed somebody taught that man the word of God for he wouldn't have known to be baptized had somebody not taught him the word of God and when he was told that you can be baptized in the name that's above every name you're going to be baptized in the name of the one who died for you and he's going to take away all of your sin that's what happened in that pool tonight all of his sins now I need some transparent people here tonight I don't need any goody two shoes I don't need any people with angel wings tonight I don't need any I don't anymore I need some people that are be real with me tonight all right how many remembers sins that you did before your baptism in Jesus name hmm I do too I do too I I remember some sins and I did I I remember I remember the sins that I did and you can I see I I think about four hands tonight now there's more I then went back to lying didn't I see more hands let me remember that now how many remember your sin before you got baptized but you don't only remember the sin how many remembers the guilt and the shame that you had every time you thought about that sin now how many of you tonight follow closely can remember that sin that you did before your baptism but now that you've baptized you can remember the sin but you don't have the guilt associated with it and you don't have the condemnation associated with it what's the difference I tell you what the difference is when you went down in that name that God Of Heaven keeps his word he went way down in your soul and he removed all of that come to they that walk in the spirit there is now no more condemnation I remember the lies I told you remember the Deeds you did but where's the guilt it's taken care of because I am walking come on let me let's keep going to school here tonight if our gospel is hid who is it hid from say it again this section right here only this section right here only if our gospel is hid who's it hid from this section this section way over here way over here so if our gospel is hid who's ahead from I have the have the gospel I have what that individual needs that individual that's talking to me about suicide that individual on my job that's talking to me about life's not worth living anymore what do they need well we need to get them we need to get them this we need to get on that and there are proper channels for people that way but the greatest need they need is for somebody to set them down and get out of their pocket their faith and begin to say let me tell you about Jesus let me tell you look right here in the word look look right here he came he died he shed his blood for Sinners and now that's history now we can currently repent we can change our mind and we can be baptized and we can receive the if our gospel is hid who's it hit from laws I want to connect some things together I'm going to try to pull a Zack Hammond I'm gonna try to pull a Zach Hammond on you tonight Luke 11 33 listen to Jesus Luke 11 33. Jesus said no man when he hath alighted a candle puteth it in a secret place neither under a bushel but on a candlestick that they which come in may see the light now let's assume that this is a gold mine right here no man when he had lighted a candle puts it in a secret place neither under a bushel but on a Candlestick why it doesn't say that he can see to get around who's the candle lit for that they which come in May what see the light and I stay there with me for a moment brother Hammond I got you nervous right now don't I now man when he had lighted a candle put it in a secret place neither under a bushel but on a candlestick that they which come in may see the light do you know that on the day of Pentecost God lit a hundred and twenty candles don't just sound like Zach Hammond God lit 120 candles oh well I've never read that you haven't Acts 2 verse number three and there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as a and it's set up on he lit 120 candles in that room it's an Old Testament to back this up Psalms 18 28 Psalms 18 28. the psalmist says for thou will light my candle the Lord my God will Enlighten my when we got the Holy Ghost you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you I'm going to light your candle and guess what you're going to be you're going to be Witnesses unto me he's going to light the candle will say well could you kind of put the candle with the spirit of man okay Psalm excuse me Proverbs 20 and 27 I I get the part about lighting the candle and the fire or Pentecost I get that Proverbs 20 and verse 27 the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord searching all the inward parts of the belly no man Jesus Christ did not light our candle he did not give us this fire of his spirit so that we can be secret disciples so that we can keep it hid whether intentionally or ignorantly whether we we will keep it hid he said no man lights a candle and puts it well let's go to Mark chapter four let's go to Mark chapter 4 verse number 21. Witnesses unto me Mark chapter 4 verse number 21 the same story and he said unto them Mark 4 21 and he said unto them and he said unto them as a candle he's a candle brought to be put under a bushel or under a bed and not to be set on a Candlestick now look what he said he said do you light a candle to put it under a bushel and we see what a bushel is a bushel is a basket that you carried your Harvest fruits in a bushel is not meant to be a shade for the light it is to be the container of which the light will show you where the Harvest is every time you're teaching a home Bible study sister Carpenter you're walking into that office with the light and an empty bushel and you have come out of that office with fruit in your bushel baptisms people that are serving God tonight and not only Sister cover but many of you have fruits of your labor because you didn't take the bushel and put it over the light because if your bushel is put over a light can I tell you what your bushel is upside down you'll never hold anything with your bushel upside down you've got to take the bushel you've got to take it off the light because the light and The Bushel go hand in hand with the light you're sharing the gospel with the bushel you're putting the fruits of the gospel and can I tell you something there is nothing like winning a soul personally now I know that there's many people that win sows indirectly and as a matter of fact it is as a matter of fact all the souls I I've won to God the the times that I didn't have to get up and go to a job somewhere in this city because you are supporting the house of God with tithe and offerings God is not going to come out on that day motherly on judgment and with this huge big crown and he's going to say oh Bill Carpenter here's this big old Crown here's this big old crown for you no he knows that had there not been a church that was supportive of a man of God that that man of God didn't have to go to a factory it's not that the man of God feels that he's too good to do that it's the fact that the time is too short and his time is more valuable than going and punching a clock he needs to be winning shows for God so you can either win shows directly or you can win shows indirectly but you ought to be involved in winning shows as a matter of fact tonight matter of fact tonight that precious man that was baptized tonight that precious person that was baptized he alone with others has come on a church vehicle a church vehicle has went out and brought these precious men that are hungry for God and hungry for truth and we welcome them to First Apostolic church we love them their their lives are they're in a turning with their lives and we love these men and we love these women that come but can I tell you something somebody had to support the house of God somebody gave and we bought a van somebody gave and we keep on buying Fuel and so we're all going to be oh come on give him praise tonight a bushel and a candle and he said is a candle brought to be put under a bushel the word is no or under a bed guess what the bed is used for is rest can I add this our lives are not all about us our contentment what we want our comfort zone I'm sorry tonight but we need to grow up living for God is not about you always getting the breaks and you're always blessed and highly favored and all of that you know the angel told Mary the Virgin Mary the angel told the Virgin Mary you are blessed and highly favored of God but what mother in here wants to go through what Mary did with her son Jesus Christ you see we think of blessing highly favored is we get a sale on a dress or we get a sale on a house and an unexpected amount of money comes in and everything we've just got a Little House on the Prairie family and everything we don't have one care in all this world and that's what being blessed and highly favored and when troubles come I'm so glad I got the Holy Ghost when Trouble Comes I am too but that's not the only reason that I've got the Holy Ghost I'm not going to put my candle under the bed that spirit that Holy Ghost it is not just to give me rest it is not just to suit my fancy it is not so that I'm happy all the time the Bible says man that is born of a woman is a few days and full of trouble the Bible says many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivereth out of them all Jesus said in this world you shall have tribulation but be of goods here I have overcome the world that I don't stay over there but the reason I got the Holy Ghost I got to get to somebody I've got to be a witness unto him Lord I hope we celebrate Bible study chart we got in the lobby tonight I hope we sell every one hour Bible study that we have Witnesses Witnesses unto him no secret place no under a bushel bushel is used for hauling fruit not under the bed used to breast some nights I get rest and other nights I just get sleep but Hallelujah anyway but let me be a witness for Jesus Christ Let Me Be A Witness for him Daniel chapter 12 verse number three follow this closely Daniel chapter 12 and verse number 3. and they that be wise remember what Paul what Paul said be not unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is remember that be not unwise but understand what the will of the Lord is Daniel says and they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they here here we are here we are and they that turn many to righteousness as the Stars forever and ever and that's where you'll hear people say when they've witnessed and won a soul for God somebody will say you just got another star in your crown this is where that's kind of came from that star in the crown but it doesn't end with Daniel look in James chapter 5 verse number 19. do you realize that our prodigals are prodigals are just as lost as the people that have never heard of the Gospel they're just as lost they're not in the father's house they're not in Fellowship with the father but listen to what James says in James chapter 5 verse 19 God help us to pray for the prodigals James 5 and 19. brethren if any of you do air from the truth and one convert him isn't it amazing that if you air from this truth you have aired from the truth because you're not converted and he says if one Heir from the truth and one convert him what's happened let him know that he which converted The Sinner and wait a minute he he he knew the truth he just heard from it in the Bible he's a sinner he which converted The Sinner from the air of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins oh I want to share I want to be a witness unto him oh I want to be a witness unto him oh I want to be I want to be able to share the faith of Jesus Christ with some product with somebody that's deep and dark in their sin I want to be able to share that light and one one verse of scripture one last verse of scripture the book of Jude chapter 1 and verse number 17. he says this but beloved remember he The Words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ how did they told you there should come mockers in the last time who walk after their own ungodly lust these be they who separate themselves sensual having not spirit do you know why people batch light not because they didn't receive the Holy Ghost it's because they didn't stay in the continual process of being filled with the Holy Ghost they become a mocker they become sensual and eventually they separate themselves the writer Jew simply said these be they who separate themselves sensual here it is these four words having not the spirit but ye everybody say but but me I'm not going to fall in that I'm I'm not falling in that part of not having the spirit say it again but me you want to be in that part don't you I don't want to be on the part of those people that don't have the spirit right but me he says but but ye beloved building up yourselves on your Most Holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost keep yourselves in the love of God looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life I'm not going to stop there he said we'll bring the government's talking about yes I do get that people that are not walking the truth people that are not in the process of being filled are absent of the spirit and they become sensual and they eventually they eventually break away and separate themselves but now you're talking to me you're talking to me now I'm building up myself on my Most Holy Faith I'm praying in the Holy Ghost did you hear me speaking in tongues I'm praying in the Holy Ghost verse 21 keeping yourselves in the love of God looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal yes brother Carpenter when I feel the Holy Ghost and I I know the love of God I know all this but don't stop don't stop because here's the reason you're in the process of being filled continually with the Holy Ghost look at verse 22 and of some have compassion making a difference and others saved with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the garments spotted by the flesh it wasn't just one group of people wasn't walking and they split off and become sensual and here we've got the church basking in the love of God that's only part of it tonight but the other part those of us that are praying in the Holy Ghost that are that are in the process of continually being filled with the Holy Ghost we feel the love of God we feel the comfort of God we feel all that but we don't stop there we're looking for somebody to have compassion on we're looking for somebody just show them the love of God I'm looking for any way to get a Bible study to get a conversation with somebody I'm looking for any God God baptizes With Us God baptize us tonight God that we're looking for any way to get a conversation I'm looking for any way to get an open door I'm looking for anyway oh oh God some just having compassion some just having compassion and they make a difference will you stand with me right now some just have compassion some just have compassion and guess what compassion has led people to come to your invitation to church compassion has led some people they wasn't a bit more interested in a Bible study they wasn't a bit more interested in one hour a week out of their lives for 10 weeks but they came to that office they came to that office because somebody had compassion on them and said I I love you enough to meet you here I'll love you enough to buy you Starbucks I love you enough to spend some time and their life got turned around so I don't really know what I taught them it was that you showed them compassion we'd have to build a new church immediately if we all got baptized with what I'm trying to tell you tonight we've got a lost city out there maryville's lost alcoa's loss Friendsville Townsend Seymour Louisville these are neighborhoods of sun son some have compassion of some have compassion and others as others you just gotta get down and get dirty with them to get them out of there if you think you're too good because that person that you're going to teach Bible study to has some habits has some habits in their life if you think you're too good for that friend then you'll never you'll never win them but you got to get right down there and sit right beside me and that's why that that's why what we have to do and I'm I'm closing I'm closing but I just got a burden God gave me a message of direction for the salads for this church he's given me a direction he has given me something I'm going to hammer and Hammer and Hammer and Hammer but that's why that's why all of us here tonight all of us here tonight if you're a young person and you're serious so you're 16 years old and you're serious about winning Souls there should not be a 16 year old guest to this church set by themselves if you're here tonight and you're 70 years old and you're serious about winning Souls there shouldn't be a 70 year old guest to this church that comes here Without You introducing yourself and telling them about activities and getting to know their name and we got to break out of our comfort zone because a sinner a backslider sometimes they don't know the lingo that we we know and we get comfortable and it's so easy just to sit among our own people and have fellowship and you know and if we invited if we invited not to say this tonight it is possible that your pastor's wife is here tonight because when she got the holy ghost in the Knoxville Church motherly Carol and Sharon Lee now it probably had a little bit to do that they had a brother that's trying to fix her up with but I took care of that all right all right might as well tell all the truth tonight it's just a carton will tell you right now had it not been for Sharon Carol coming coming and saying would you go out to get a burger with us tonight would you go out to eat with us tonight those those crucial days of a new convert when the devil's going to try everything they can to tell them you're in a cult they're going to have an aunt never never cared about you an uncle never called you until he heard you're going to the apostolic church and then they're going to start getting all concerned but what if God's got a Carolee or a Sharon Lee that steps in and says hey we'd like you to go out with us tonight we'd like you to go to the youth group tonight it's possible she's here come on can we win some shows tonight can we just lift up our hands right now Lord lay some soul upon my life God help me to get my light for out from under that bushel tonight God help me to get that light out from under that bushel tonight Lord help me God oh God help me Lord God help me to weep over a soul God Lord help me to invite somebody between now and Sunday God oh God touch our youth group tonight Lord touch this church tonight God that we'll get in the field Lord God will get in the field Lord we'll get in the field we'll get in the field oh thank God thank God thank God thank God thank god oh thank God thank God do you want to win some Souls Church the message of the hour for First Apostolic of Maryville Tennessee the message of the hour get in the field get in the field this is the last thing we'll say and and I'm going to say I'm going to say this and I'm gonna say the last thing I'm going to say that I'm gonna say the last thing that I'm gonna say first in in the first thing I'm going to say last and that is God has blessed us the last several months with many families that are moving into this church and we're gonna we're gonna we're gonna I'm Gonna Give You special honor at a time but I thank God for all the families that are moving into First Apostolic church I I think hey could you rejoice with me on this they brought me the report this last Sunday we had over 50 guests here at First Apostolic Church 50. and one of the families which I'm not going to name but one of the family's mother and mother-in-law is here tonight and that is none other than sister Dorcas Hammond sister Dorcas are you still are you still would you stand right now I'd be sinning I saw you about Midway through my Bible class tonight I'd be sending sis not to give you honor tonight this is Brother Zach Hammond's mother anybody been blessed by a message from Brother Hammond y'all go by and shake this lady's hand tonight God bless everybody let's go win some souls for Jesus