Be a Doorkeeper

Psalms 84. Going to read a lengthy portions of scripture today, but I believe it's important to set it up as I preach. I'm going to read starting at verse number one of Psalms 84. To the chief musician, an instrument of Gath, a psalm of the sons of Kora. How lovely is your tabernacle, O Lord of Hosts. My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young. Even your altars, oh Lord of my of host, my king and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house.

They will still be praising you. Blessed is the man whose strength is in you, whose heart is set on pilgrims. As they pass through the valley of Baka, they make it a spring. The rain also covers it with pools. They go forth from strength to strength. Each one appears before God in Zion. Oh Lord God of host, hear my prayer. Give an ear, oh God of Jacob. Oh God, behold our shield and look upon the face of your anointed. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a son and a shield.

The Lord will give his grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Oh Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts >> in you. >> Amen. Blessed is the man who trusts in you. For just a little while today, I want to preach on the subject. Be a doorkeeper. There are some places you go because you have to. Amen. >> You go to the grocery store because the refrigerator's empty. I like when my refrigerator's full. In fact, my wife will tell you that I get a little angst when I open up the pantry door and it's a little bit bare in there. Now, I know that I can run down to Kroger.

I can jump on the app and things delivered. But it just makes me feel better when I open that pantry up and it's full. Anybody else feel like that? I like to open up the refrigerator door and there'll be stuff in there. Brother say, "I like that. It makes my heart happy. Makes my tummy happy, too." You go to the doctor because something hurts. Something's not feeling right in your body. You go to work because the mortgage company is deeply committed to receiving its payment. Can I get an amen? >> But then there are places that you go because something inside you longs to be there. You don't have to be talked into it. No one has to convince you.

You don't have to be pressured into it. You don't have to be reminded five times. Your heart is already headed there before your feet ever begin the journey. Do you know what I'm talking about? Longing for something. This is the spirit behind Psalms 84. The psalm was written in the heart of someone who did not merely attend the house of God. He loved being in the house of God. He said these words, "How lovely is your tabernacle, oh Lord of hosts. My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." That's not somebody who's an occasional attender. That's somebody who's been thinking about how good it's going to be when I get to church.

>> Somebody that has an expectation something great's going to happen when I walk into the back doors of the sanctuary. I wonder did anybody have an anticipation when you came to church today that God's going to do something? >> Because that has a way of changing the atmosphere around this place. Not that I'm just going to show up, BUT GOD, WHEN I get there, you're going to be there. God, when I when I arrive, you will have already been before me. >> Does anybody feel that way today? That God's going to do something for you. >> If you feel that way, turn to the person beside you and wake them up. When I read this, this isn't casual language.

He does not say, "It' be nice to go to church this weekend." That's not what he says. He says, "My soul longs for it." He didn't say, "I suppose I ought to worship." He says, "MY HEART AND MY FLESH cry out." >> Did you catch that? my heart and my flesh. Something in him was convinced that there's something special about being in the house of God. It doesn't say that I'm just going to get to do it, but I I have a right. I have a passage. There's hunger in his words. There's passion in his words. There's an expectation in his language. Psalms 84 is a psalm of pilgrimage making it away from not only where he was, but he was going to Jerusalem with an expectation that when I get there, God's going to be there.

He was convinced of it. Are you convinced that God's here today? >> >> Are you >> This is a story. This was a psalm of of of ascent. This is a psalm on they're making their way back to Passover. This is a psalm where they were they were encouraging each other and talking about what God has done with every mile their expectation grow. We're getting closer. We're getting closer. We're getting closer. We're almost there. We're almost to the house of God. Do you did you feel that way when you pulled out of your driveway? I'm moving towards the house of God. >> Did I get to go to church today? Now, I know I I I I got a family.

I know there's been some mornings when you get up and you're like, "Hey, we got to go to church." Did you hear that? We got to go. Like, you got to get up. You got to You got to get dressed. You know, wash your face, brush your teeth, comb your hair, do that, right? Why? I don't want to. The kids, I don't want to go. I don't I'm tired. I'm tired. But we're getting to go to the house of God. >> This isn't like we're going to Walmart. >> Now, what I find interesting is they didn't have to do so much rah when I said we're going to Disney World. Now, >> y'all going to leave me by myself preaching.

It's okay. I'm confident today. >> Some of you get more excited about a mouse than about the savior of the world, >> you get more excited about going to the football game, >> about going to play pickle ball, >> about going to catch the next sail, >> about a new pair of shoes, about a new car, you get about going fishing on the lake, about about hitting a golf ball. >> It's okay. Be quiet. I know. I'm trying to hit everybody out there about the way I play golf. I try to hit everything. Some of you get more excited about that meal, that special date. >> Amen. >> We're talking about the King of Kings >> and the Lord of Lords.

>> We're not talking about any place. We're talking about the house of God. >> We're not talking about some place that's casual. We're talking about a place where lives are changed. >> Where families are put back together. Where healings take place. Where miracles, signs, and wonders here. where people's spirit has been filled with his where people are filled with his spirit. I'm talking about the house of God. Are you excited to be in the house of God today? Somewhere along the way in this psalmist reaches this conclusion that sounds extreme to everyone who does not understand the value of God's presence. He says in verse number 10, "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." In other words, I would rather have the lowest place in God's house than the highest place the world can afford me. >> >> I would rather BE A DOORKEEPER. I'D rather be on the fringe of the church than to be anywhere the world could possibly place me because there at least I KNOW WHAT'S INSIDE the building. I would rather stand at the threshold of his presence than sit comfortably in the tents of sin. I would rather open the door for someone else to enter into the house of God than to possess everything the world promised me.

Why? Listen to me. Notetakers, take note of this. The value of the position is determined by the presence in the house. The value of the position is determined by the presence in the house. The world may look like the like a doorkeeper is just something insignificant. Nothing that's not a big deal. But the smallest place in his presence is better than the greatest place without him. >> Amen. >> To be close to God. One moment with God is worth more than 10 years of pleasure that the world has to offer. One day, in fact, he says he says thousand days. That's about three years. Three plus years that's there. Did you catch what the psalmist is saying to just have one day >> in the house of God?

One moment in the house of God. Uh oh, I wonder if we could get back to that kind of hunger that was there. >> Instead, we live in a culture that comes up with so many excuses and so many reasons not to be in the house of God. Not not not this writer, not this psalmist. This psalmist said, "One day, just one day is better than three years anywhere else. One day in the presence of God, one day with an opportunity to feel him around me, feel him close." >> Hallelujah. >> >> My soul longs to be in the courts of the Lord. He was not satisfied just to be near God occasionally. He wanted to dwell in his presence.

He was looking for prominence. He was not asking for recognition. He was not demanding an important position. He simply said, "Just let me be near Jesus. Just let me be near the Lord." That's all. That's all I ask in my life. There's a lot of things that I could have, but none of those things compared to being in his presence. What have you put on equal pedestal with being in the presence of God? What thing could you possibly gain in this world that can compare itself to being in the presence of God? There's nothing out there. I promise you, it may be fun for a moment, but it will leave you disappointed. I PROMISE YOU.

I I'VE lived enough life at this point to tell you that the best thing the world HAS TO OFFER PALES IN COMPARISON TO BEING IN ONE MINUTE IN THE PRESENCE of the almighty God. There is nothing out there that compares to being IN THE HOUSE OF GOD. WHEN I COME EXPECTING GOD TO MEET ME, HE ALWAYS MEETS ME. HE NEVER LEAVES ME WANTING. HE NEVER LEAVES ME DISAPPOINTED. HE ALWAYS COMES DOWN RIGHT WHERE I'M AT. OH, TO BE IN THE HOUSE OF GOD IS BETTER than anywhere else you could possibly be. But it takes an expectation. That's why we worship. Not to entertain you, not to be a cheerleader. >> Why should we have to encourage you to worship God?

>> Why should I have to convince you that God is good? Has he not been good to you? >> Has he been good to anybody? >> >> Has he been good to you? >> I wish I had a witness that said he's been good. I wish I JUST HAD ONE PERSON THAT WOULD JUMP UP AND DOWN AND SAY, "LET ME TELL YOU HOW GOOD MY GOD HAS BEEN TO ME." SEE, when I SAY GOD IS GOOD, SOMETHING IN YOU OUGHT TO JUMP UP AND SAY, "I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE HOW GOOD MY GOD HAS BEEN. IF YOU COULD HAVE SEEN ME AND WHERE HE'S BROUGHT ME FROM AND WHAT HE HAS DONE AND HOW HE HAS CHANGED MY LIFE.

MY GOD IS GOOD. HE'S WORTHY OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP FOREVER AND ALWAYS. It changes when you COME TO CHURCH EXPECTING TO MEET HIM. >> When I was dating my wife, Friday nights were big nights. Worked all week. Got $100 in my pocket. My car was clean. You couldn't tell me nothing. I was going to pick my girl up. had my smell good on and the closer I got to Ridgefield Drive, the more excited I got inside cuz I'm going to get to see my girl. I knew that when she came down and answered the door, she came out to the car that I was going to be happy being in her presence.

Do you ever expect what it's going to be like and anticipate being in the presence of God? >> Do you get a little butterflies when you pull into this driveway of the church? >> Do you I'm here asking you this question like you're going to get to be with the King of Kings and the Lord Lord. I love my wife and she's been so amazing and she's beautiful. She makes me happy, but she didn't die for me. There's a lot of things that she's done, but she didn't save my soul. >> And as much as I get excited about being around you, it can't compare to what Jesus Christ has done for me. >> Every time you pull into this place, there ought to be an expectation deep down inside of you that says, "I get to go be in the PRESENCE OF ALMIGHTY."

YEAH, I KNOW YOU can worship him at home. Yeah, you got a prayer closer. Those things are necessary, but there's something about when we GET TOGETHER, YOU AND I, me and you, in this place, and we begin to worship and say, "Let me tell you how good God has been to me." I know [cheering and applause] I shouldn't have to rah to get you to be excited about Jesus. >> You know, the graphics team shouldn't have to put together all this stuff just to convince you that God is good. >> He is good. >> Period. >> He is good. Period. Yes, >> he's good. I in fact I don't even know what good is unless I know him.

>> HE HE HAS SHOWN me what good is defined by him and what he has done for me. When I go back to Psalms 84, look at verse verse number one. How lovely is your tabernacle, oh Lord of hosts. My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. This is not the language of an obligation. Oh, I got to go to the house of God. Well, church is going on. I guess we better get dressed. When's the last time that you woke up on a Sunday morning and like, "You know what? We get to go to church today. Today is the day I get to be with with people that like precious faith."

Today's the day. See, I'm afraid because we've been so entertained in our culture that we can take on the attitude and the mindset. All right. All right. Praise leader. All right, choir. All right, praise team. Let me see if you can move me. All right, preacher man, let me see if you can put together a couple of funny stories and weave a little nugget out of the scriptures that maybe I never thought about before. And if if you do, then maybe then maybe I'll engage. Really? Is that where we are? That the entertainment mindset of the world has made its way into the church. There ought to be something that's already in you, anticipating and expecting that when I get there, God Almighty, the creator of all, is going to meet me there.

I'm going to engage with him. I get an opportunity to feel him near and close to me. >> That should be enough. >> But what would happen if if if before we ever ever sang the first song, what would happen if the prayer room is so hot because of anticipation and expectation? because not of a sense of obligation. I got to go by there and give me five minutes. But that was that was the warm-up. That was that was an opportunity to go ahead and be plugged in so that I have to get my mind right through three songs before I realize God was here. >> All right, we're going to plow a little deep then.

We are prepared for almost everything else in life. We're prepared for vacations and business meetings and prepared for ball games. Some people plan for weeks just to go to a concert where they're going to go eat at and what they're going to do and they do all they all excited about that. But nobody prepares to go to the house of God. The expectations matter. You usually find what you come looking for. >> Here's what I know. Every time I came looking for him, I've always found him. >> Every time I came expecting him to engage with me, he always has. He's never left me wanting. Oh, Pastor Kevin and maybe you haven't lived my life.

I'm going to tell you what I when I say never left me wanting that doesn't mean necessarily always take care of my problem. >> There's a difference. >> Yeah. If you if you say if your relationship with God is dependent on him always answering every little whim that you have, if that's your then then you have a relationship like Santa Claus. >> And I I really got to wonder is is is is that where you're at? is that your whole determination and lifestyle expectancy with God is as long as he answers every whim that you have. Because here's what I know. I I have lived enough life and I'm mature enough at this point to say that everything I've prayed for, I thank God he didn't answer.

>> I thank God he didn't answer. There were some things that I got a few years down the road and I look back and I'm like, "Oh God, you were merciful to me because had you answered that prayer, where would I have been? I didn't know. I couldn't see what was around the corner. I couldn't see further than the end of my nose. God, you are protected in your [applause and cheering] >> Hallelujah. >> Don't confuse the brokenness of this world with a lack of God's goodness. >> We got ourselves in this mess. >> Thank God he had a plan to get us out of the mess. >> I serve a God who's got a plan, not a God that was surprised by what took place in the Garden of Eden.

He had a plan in place. THANK GOD HE HAD A PLAN. THANK GOD HE HAD A PLAN. HE DIDN'T LEAVE US to ourselves, but he said, "All right, if that's where it is, THEN I WILL COME. I WILL come and do what you can do. I will come down into the mess of your world, the mess OF YOUR SITUATION. I'LL meet you at your lowest point, and I won't leave you there, BUT IF YOU'LL WALK WITH ME, I'LL WALK YOU BACK OUT THE OTHER SIDE. I'll put your feet on some solid ground that you can build something on. You may not like every moment of it, but I promise you, when it's ALL SAID AND DONE, YOU'LL LIKE WHERE YOU END UP.

I don't like going to the dentist. Confession time. I'm not a fan of the dental profession at all. Workers of iniquity. Now, what happened here? I say that tongue and cheek. What happened is I had a bicycle accident when I was 12. I knocked my teeth out. I don't remember it. I was knocked out for three hours. All I know is I was going to my best friend Brent's house. I dropped off my overnight bag. We went for a bike ride because that's what boys did when you were 12. Then we didn't stay inside. We rode bicycles. We didn't stay inside cuz mama said, "You can't stay inside. It's the way we lived.

Somewhere along the way, the front wheel of my bike came off and I played Superman over the handlebars and I ate the asphalt. All I know is I woke up and there was this guy that I never seen before holding a big old tooth and he he claimed it was mine. It didn't look like it came out of me, but when he real when he said that I realized I was missing something and he put it back in. And for the next several years, I had to spend a lot of time in the dentist chair. I don't like the process, but I like the end results. Yeah. Don't look like a hockey player. I actually enjoy eating and being able to chew.

So what I bring that up there there's in the in the moment I didn't like the process. I didn't like the drill. I didn't like it. I still get a little anxious. There are some crazy people like my wife who like going to the dentist a lot. Don't understand that. But for me, not so much. But I'm willing to endure what I don't necessarily like in the moment because I know where we're going. Sometimes you got to trust God. If you've prayed and you've turned it over to him, you got to trust that there's a process in place. And you may not understand every step of the way, but you know he's going to eventually get you to where you need to go.

That's what the book tells us. >> So don't buck the process. Just because it isn't the way you want it to go doesn't mean you understand it all. >> You know, I think it's a good time to understand this. Let's have a little mass confession. Y'all ready? Mass confession. Let's repeat after me. I'm not that smart. >> I'm not that smart. I know you guys are sharp. Yeah, you're not. You can't see it all. >> It's impossible for you to know it all. In fact, the the the kids are next door. Thank God there's kids here today. Amen. Appreciate the remodel. Right now, the bathrooms are not finished. It's it's Amish style. There's no stalls.

That'll catch up with you in a minute. Stalls are coming, though. Here's what I know. Here's what I know. If you come looking for Jesus, you can find him every time. >> He doesn't hide himself. >> If you come hungry, he'll fill you. If you come thirsty, he can refresh you. If you come with a burden, he can strengthen you. If you come wounded, he will heal you. >> See, the church is more than just a building. The psalmist didn't simply admire the building. He was longing for the living God. He says, "My heart and my flesh cry out to the living God." The beauty of the tabernacle was not primarily of its architecture. In fact, the original tack of tabernacle when you looked at from the outside was ugly.

It's covered in badger skin. Ain't nobody walked by that and said, "Wow, that's impressive." You walked up and said, "That's a lot of hair." >> Yeah. But the beauty was what was on the inside. >> What was going on inside because inside is where the glory of God was. It was made glorious by what was inside. The presence of God, the altar was there. The mercy seat was there. The glory of God rested there. And it's still what makes the house of God beautiful today. It's not the lights. It's not the carpet. inside the stage. Praise God. It's not even the air conditioner. I like it. That's not what's impressive here. What's impressive is when we come together here, when we begin to worship him, his presence fills this place.

>> He always meets us here. It's a beautiful place because sinners can be forgiven. It's a beautiful place because broken hearts can be restored and families can find hope here. And because people can be be baptized in the name of Jesus, can be filled with the spirit. That's why this place is beautiful. >> That's why this place is beautiful. Not because of the sheetrock or the carpet or the sound panels or the drums or the or THE NO, BECAUSE GOD IS HERE. That's why it's beautiful. Lives are changed. This building is only a building until God meets us here. And when his presence for this place, it becomes a sanctuary. We get to come into it.

We're not standing outside like it was many years ago. Instead, we're invited in. When he died on Calvar's heel and said, "It is finished." The Bible tells us that the that the veil that separated the holy place from the most holy place was rent in two. And no longer do I have to go to a high priest, BUT I HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO DIED FOR ME. AND I CAN CRY OUT his name at any time. And when I do, I'm immediately ushered into the presence. I DON'T HAVE TO STAND ON THE OUTSIDE ANYMORE. I'M INVITED IN. I'm in. I'M IN. YOU AND I WERE IN THE CLUB. OH, THANKS be to God. I don't have to wait.

[applause and cheering] >> But are you hungry for it? Yes. >> When I think about his words in Psalms 84:3, "Even the sparrows have found a home." The writer is like confessing his jealousy of the birds. They get to build their nest and be here. Think about how he views being in the house of God. He's envious of those little birds getting to remain near the altar. They get to dwell in a place that he only gets to visits. That's spiritual hunger. It was more than just a moment with God. He wants a dwelling place. Verse four, blessed are those who dwell in your house. They still be praising you. Notice what happens to people who dwell in his presence.

They keep praising God. >> They keep worshiping him. After the battle, they're still praising. After the tears, they're still praising. After the disappointment, they're still praising. >> And the answer comes, they praise him. And when they're waiting the answer, they still praise him. Their worship is not based on their circumstances. Their praise flows from who he is. Amen. >> Here's what I know on any given Sunday as we begin to worship God. This is this is what this is what I know from the privilege of where I sit is that there are people who are up here worshiping that many of you don't have a clue. You don't have a clue what that God has brought them through.

And some of you even look at them like why they they're up there no matter what. From the moment they hit the first note over there on the keyboard, they're up there twirling and spinning. But Sister Dy, they don't know what God has done. They don't know. >> They don't know. Why? Why? Why would you ever worry about what man thinks >> when God has been so good? >> Why would you stop just because somebody may be like, "Hey, you need to settle down a little bit." My worship, he's been good to me. He's been too good to me. >> He's been too He has been too faithful to me after the years for me to never come into this place and not raise my hands up, >> not to say, "Let me tell you what God has done for me.

He's been good to me. He's healed me. Guys, it cannot be based on how we feel. It cannot be based on where I am emotionally. I'm going to tell you, there are sometimes for every one of us. We're just a big brunch of broken mess. Every one of us. >> I mean, look at your neighbor and say, "You're a hot mess. >> I know I am, too. I'm a mess. I can't believe that he even still talks to me some days." But he does because he's good and he's faithful. It's not based on my goodness. It's based on his goodness. It's not based on what I've done because it's just FILTHY RAGS. IS BASED ON HIS righteousness and his good and I'm thankful for that in my life.

THANKS BE TO GOD. IT'S NOT BASED on you and I. This would be a terrible mess. But he is HOLY AND GOOD AND RIGHTEOUS AND FAITHFUL. And because of that, I can move forward trusting that he has me my best interest at heart. >> When it's simply based on how we feel, we would never worship God. >> No, we wouldn't. >> No, you'd be caught up in yourself. Because sometimes sometimes we come in here weary. >> Sometimes we come in here broken. Sometimes we come in here confused. Sometimes we come in here frustrated. Sometimes, let's be honest, we come in here angry. >> We come in here mad. >> But he's still worthy of praise.

>> He's still good. >> It's the expectation I have. It's my mindset when I come into here. So if I come in, it's like, why God? I've been dealing with this long. Lord, have you have you even forgotten me? Lord, do you even know where I'm at? Do you even know what I'm thinking? Do you even know what I'm facing? Look, I'm just going to be honest with you. There's been many times I've said that in my prayer. God, do you hear me right now? There's been times when I've prayed and I haven't felt him, you know, just shaking the walls, you know, parting waters and walking on seas. I just just just me being honest.

There's been times I've been down on my face desperately crying out, "God, do you even know where I'm at right now? Amen. >> But then just when I'm about ready to just walk away, I feel >> him say, "Yes, >> I know." >> If my relationship with him is only going to work as long as he does everything I want him to do, that relationship doesn't work. No relationship works that way. >> There's not a relationship out there that's a one-way street. >> It never works that way. Think about it with me. Do you have somebody in your life that only takes and never gives? >> Yes. >> Yeah. We We all have those. Do you like those relationships?

>> No, we don't. We don't. We don't typically stick around very long in those relationships, do we? Because we're like, "Well, I'm there's so and so." And your phone lights up like a internet. Don't act like you're the only one does that. Nope. Block. But sometimes we approach the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in the same manner where I'm just God, it's me again. You know, I need this. And then he'll answer the prayer and he don't hear from us again until there's another ache or there's another pain or the bank account's low. >> Here's what I know. Praise begins to shape our life. It doesn't mean that when we praise we never have trouble, but it means the trouble doesn't get the final word.

>> I refuse. I refuse to be defined by my circumstances. >> I refuse to allow what I can't control to try to control me. >> Instead, I go to the one who holds my tomorrow and I say, "I trust in you, >> God. You know where I'm at. You know where I'm facing." That doesn't mean we never weep, but it means our tears can't cancel out my worship. There may be sometimes it takes everything I can to get my hands in the air, but I'm still going to praise him. Why? Because he's good. He's good. He's proven himself to me far too many times. He's >> in my 50 years, God has been too good to me.

I I worship God not only for what he does, but I worship him for who he is because he's still holy and he's still faithful and he's still merciful and he's still mighty and he is still more than able to take care of anything that comes my way. And even though I may be rocking in the boat right now, I know he's able to walk on the very storm that I'm being consumed by. So, I'm going to trust him. I'm going to trust him. I'm going to trust him because he's never given me A REASON TO NOT TRUST HIM. HE IS GOOD. HE IS MERCIFUL. HE IS FAITHFUL. AND HE'S MY GOD. YES, he is good.

And it all makes a difference how my mind is set on when I enter into his tabernacle. I'm going to come into his gates with thanksgiving and INTO HIS COURSE OF PRAISE. WHY? BECAUSE HE'S WORTHY. HE'S WORTHY. HE'S WORTHY. He's worthy. He's worthy. He's faithful. He's faithful. HE'S FAITHFUL. TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN. You are good. You are good. You are so so good. God, I worship and praise your name today. Your expectation changes the way you worship. When you expect God to move, you don't stand at a distance. You engage. You sing with faith. You pray with faith. You listen with faith. You respond with faith. You don't need to be entertained because you've encountered God.

>> Oh, may we never lose the wonder of our God. >> That's what I I feel as I was typing this out yesterday. I was in my office and I just felt so emotional in this moment of God, have we lost the wonder of who you are? God, help us that we can come into a sanctuary where your presence is moving. It's evident that you're doing something mighty. and we just sat down like we're just just ordering a taco from a taco stand. >> Oh, help us never lose the wonder of God. >> His name shall be called wonderful. >> Before I ever was a counselor or the mighty God, the first thing was he's wonderful.

He's wonderful. He's the most wonderful thing I've ever known in my life. He's a God OF WONDER. HE'S A GOD OF WONDER. AND MAY I never lose the wonder when I COME INTO HIS HOUSE. MAY I ALWAYS BE overwhelmed with how wonderful our God is. When I come into the house of God, this is a place where prodals can come home and where addicts can be delivered and marriages can be restored and weary can find strength and dead places can come BACK TO LIFE. WHY? BECAUSE HE'S A WONDERFUL, MERCIFUL GOD. THAT'S WHY. MAY WE NEVER EVER ever ever lose the wonder of who GOD IS. OH, HE IS WONDERFUL. HE IS WONDERFUL. [applause and cheering] Don't walk into the worship casually because a heart that longs for God will never be disappointed >> in the presence of God, >> the journey to the place.

Verse number five, blessed is the man whose strength is in you, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. The blessing is not the person who never gets tired. The blessing is the person who knows where to go get strength. Isaiah 40:31, "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. Those that wait >> on the Lord shall renew their strength." Our strength is not found in pretending. We're never weak. >> But I've always got it worked out. >> I'm just You guys been here long enough to know I'm just transparent. Makes my wife super uncomfortable. But I don't always have it together. There's some days I make a mess out of it. There's some days when I'm like, "You know what?

I got to I got to stop right now and pray and ask God to forgive me because I just got a bad attitude. >> And maybe that's just me. Maybe this message is just for me. But I doubt it. I doubt you got it all together either. >> I think if we were more honest with each other, I think if we were more transparent, I think if we were really did take the word of God to bear you one of those burdens, we'd be a lot better off. >> If we learn how to reach out and say, you know what, I need some prayer today because right now, if I'm be honest with you, I'm just mad.

>> Yes. Yes. >> Or I'm just frustrated. or >> I'm just hurt or I'm just broken. Whatever the case may be, do what we can because we need to get to God. The >> Psalmist says, "A person's heart is set on pilgrimage. The road may be difficult, but his direction hasn't changed. He may be tired, but he's not turned around. His feet are still moving towards the presence of God." It says in verse number six, "As a pass through the valley of Baka, they make it a spring." Words are there. They're important. They're going through a valley, a dry place. They make it a spring. The rain also covers it with pools. Notice the scripture does not say they avoided the valley.

It says they passed through it. Some valleys can't be avoided, but they do not have to become your permanent address. Some of you need to get up out of the valley. >> Some of you just sat down because you're so mad and frustrated you stopped walking. I want you to tell you that's the very thing the enemy wants you to do is is to convince you that this is as good as it's ever going to be. That's a lie from the pit of hell. In fact, anytime he's speaking to you, whatever he's saying, the opposite is true. If he says you can't, you can. >> If he says you're stuck, you're moving. If he says God is forgotten, he still remembers whatever the enemy is speaking out of you.

He can't speak the truth. He's the father of lies. Everything that comes out of his mouth, the opposite is true. So whatever he's saying over you, grab a hold of the opposite because that's how God feels. The pilgrims did something powerful in that valley. They said they make it a spring. They didn't just survive the valley. They left something behind. You know why? They realized this. You know, when I got here, here's what I know, Taylor, is we all go through stuff. We all do. We all face trials. We all go through circumstances. Now, the the the the the subtle differences, they're there. But what's unique to all of what's not unique to all of us is we all go through a trial.

But here's what happens when people are always looking for the presence of God is they realize this. Hey, I I found a dry spot and I got stuck here for a minute and then God found me because I was expecting his presence. He found me and when he did, they says they made a spring. So they dug out and brought life to a situation and then they left it because you know what they said is there going to be somebody else coming behind me. Brother Graham preached a phenomenal message at camp meeting. The gist of it was this. We're not in this by ourselves. We're not Sometimes we need to be aware of where I'm at.

Somebody else may also come one day. So, I'm going to do my best to leave it in a better place than where I found it. They they they they made a spring. And then it says the things that they couldn't do is that God provided the rain. There became pools. Why? Because he's faithful. He sees what you're doing. He says, "I like that idea. I like that you are expecting me to show up because you expected me to show up. I I will show I will bring the rain." Some of you just sat down in your dry place and think this is good to get. And God's saying, "Why don't you do something? The least you could do is get up and praise and cause there to be a spring that's there because if you'll >> I'll provide some rain.

>> I love it, Sister Freeman. When God begins to rain down his presence, but it's not going to come if I'm just going to sit down and suck my thumb. >> They did what they could and God done what only God can do. We cannot manufacture the presence of God, but we can pray, we can worship, we can prepare our hearts, we can dig the well and God will send the rain. and they go from strength to strength. According to verse number seven, each one appears before God in Zion. You would expect the journey to make them weaker, but instead they became stronger because that's how God works. If you'll anticipate that, hey, I don't like where I'm at right now, but God, I'm still going to praise you.

It may be dark right now, but God, I'm still going to I may be going through a valley time. I may be in a dry desert place, but God, I'm still going to praise you. >> [applause and cheering] >> What happens is my faith gets stronger and stronger and stronger and I get better and better and better and God comes alongside me. The tears are not going to get the final word. The weariness doesn't get THE FINAL WORD. GOD HAS THE final word. So keep walking because the same God who gave you the strength to begin the journey will give you the strength to finish the journey. He's never going to call you to a place that he can't take you.

>> Come on. He can't. The disciples had told him to go get in the boat. I'll meet you on the other side. He said, "You get in the boat and I'll meet you on the side." So God wasn't surprised that the storm came. They were surprised. >> They were so afraid. And then all of a sudden, Jesus comes walking on the very thing that's trying to sink them. >> Because that's what God does. He rides on top of our problems. >> But are you willing to reach out and praise and worship? I preached that a few weeks ago. Are you willing to reach out and cry out and say, "God, don't pass me by. DON'T PASS ME BY, GOD.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T PASS ME BY. >> What is the object of your worship? Verse number nine. Oh God, be our shield and look upon the face of your anointed. For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be the doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. Everything in the psalm has been moving towards this moment. He has spoken about lodging and longing for the house of God. He's spoken about the journey to the house of God. Now he reminds us why the house matters. Because God is there. >> That's why it matters. We do not worship worship. >> I'm going to speak to the apostolic right now.

We do not worship worship. >> We worship Jesus. >> We got to be careful because man, we've gotten really good at worship. >> I'm thank God for everyone that gives their talents and their abilities up here. But we're not worshiping talent and ability >> because that's broken. That's a recipe for disaster. That's a recipe to fall in the same trap Lucifer fell into. That we deserve some praise. We don't deserve nothing. >> Nothing. >> Thanks be to God. He had mercy on us. Thanks be to God. He's patient, longsuffering. We don't deserve it. He deserves it. The only reason we're here is to point you to him. >> Don't look at me. Look at him.

>> He's the one that's worthy. He I can't do a thing for you. I'm not Jesus. I'll never be Jesus. >> But I can point you to him. >> He can handle whatever you got. He can take care of that. So what is the object of our worship? The psalmist says, "Look upon the face of your anointed." That word translated anointed there in this instance comes from the same Hebrew word that we would get Messiah. It's an immediate setting. It refers to God's anointed king in that setting, but it also points our hearts toward Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:2, looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, who for the joy was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down the right hand of the throne of God.

That's what worship does. It turns our eyes back to Jesus. >> Amen. >> Our problems may still be there, but they're no longer the largest thing in my vision. He is. >> Our fears may still speak, but they're no longer the loudest voice. The psalmist makes this declaration. For a day in your court is better than a thousand. One day with God is better than nearly three years anywhere else. One moment of his presence is worth more than years spent chasing what the world can promise. The world can promise pleasure and peace. Excuse me, pleasure, but it can't give you peace. It can offer entertainment, but it cannot give you joy. It can offer distraction, but it is never able to give you deliverance ever.

Ever. Mark 8:36, for what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man exchange for his soul? What will you give it? I promise you, the world's full of heartache and pain or door a doorkeeper simply stood at the entrance entrance. It was not a position of spotlight. He was not seated in a place of prominence. He was simply near the house of God. As I bring this to a close today, to be a doorkeeper, to stand on the threshold. Why would he say this? What was it? What was in his statement? What was so powerful there? It was about priority. This was a declaration of a man who has decided that the lowest place in God's presence is better than the highest place the world can offer.

The Psalms is is connected, and I read it to you on purpose as the beginning of Psalms 84. And in your Bible, your copy of scriptures on your phone, wherever you got it, you'll notice that it says that it was it was written by the sons of Kora. Their ancestor Kora had rebelled against Moses because he was dissatisfied with the place that God had given him. He was upset because something wasn't going the way he wanted it to go. And all of a sudden, he began to lead a rebellion. He tried to go against God's anointed. And what happened is the earth ended up opening up and swallowing him up. Now, what I find interesting here, I take you to Numbers 26, verse number 10.

And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Kora when the company died when the fire devoured 250 men and they became a son. Nevertheless, verse 11, the children of Kora did not die. Their family history was marked by rebellion, but their future was marked by worship. They did not have to repeat the spirit of the generation before them. Instead, they chose the right path. They chose to be the doorkeepers in the house of God. You know, Papa Core, he got it out. He got it wrong. He got it out of place. Grandad Grandad Core mis misunderstood. You know what? I don't We're not expecting a position. If we can just be a doorkeeper, what an attitude of worship that says, I've seen what happens when when it gets misplaced in the priorities of our life.

I I don't I don't want the the little earth opened up and swallowed my family. God, I don't want that. So, Lord, if you could just be humble and kind enough to me to let me be a doorkeeper, Amen. >> That's who wrote the Psalms. Sons of Kora >> who had decided a long time ago, if I can just be on the threshold, it's it's better better one day. Look, I'm I'm going to be honest with you. Doorkeeper, if you study out in scriptures, it wasn't wasn't wasn't an ideal position. There was a lot of requirements that were there. They had to protect what was coming in, what was going out. They had to I'll say it this way, and you can study it on your own time.

They had to make sure that who was coming in was in a covenant relationship. I'll just say it that way. But if you studied out, you'll realize that's a tough job. I wouldn't want that job. But they said, you know what? I would rather have that job. I would rather be there than to be anywhere else. One one day, one day just standing on the threshold is better than three years anywhere else the world has. There was a hunger and an expectation inside of them. And what I see from that, what I what I glean from as I begin to study the scriptures is there was something about that mindset that kept the sons of Kora going that they didn't start off so good.

When you when you read their beginnings in numbers, it didn't it didn't seem like it was really good, brother. It seemed like, hey, this is a bad way to go. I mean, but somebody in the family said, you know what? Never again, never again will we have the mindset that we're owed anything, but that every time we come to the house of God, we're going to be reverence and respect and worship. Why? Because what's inside, he is there, our God, our presence. And I want to tell you right now in 2026, that same mindset still will keep you. It'll still keep you. Living for God is the best life. Living for God is not an easy life.

It is the best life to live. I would tell you that I wished that I never got a heartache or a headache or a toe ache or a toothache. I'd love to tell you that everything I I put my hand to just flourishes and blossoms. But that would be me standing in the sanctuary telling you a boldfaced lie. In fact, last night just before bed, I got a terrible headache. Now, you think a man of God on the night before he's going to preach and if God's going to have mercy, he'd be like, "You know what? You're getting ready to preach. I'm going to take care of the headache." But he did it.

It's okay. I still got up this morning and worshiped him anyway. Why? Cuz he's done too much for me. He has brought me too far. It hasn't always gone according to Kevin's plan, but it has always went according to his plan. When I realize that, you know what comes my way, God? I trust you. When you when you really when you get to the point in your life that you can just settle that, and maybe that's why I'm going to end this message this way. I'm going to say this. There there there comes a point of maturity. There comes a point when you just need to be mature enough to say, "God, you have been so faithful to me.

Why would I doubt now?" Oh my. So, here's what I feel. I feel there's going to be a breaking today in this service. a shift in our mindset that God, I may not be where I want to be. I may not have everything the way I want it to be, but God, you are still worthy of my worship, my devotion, my life, my commitment to here's what I want. This is this is going to take a faith moment, but here's what I want. Here's what I feel like it's going to take. I feel like there's going to be a change not only in our mindset, but a change in our circumstances if we can learn to worship in spite of where I am.

That's what the sons of core did. Sons of core said, you know what? That's bad. But in spite of that, I would rather be a doorkeeper. They didn't get mad. God, you killed off my family. Who is God? God doesn't love me. So, I'm looking for some man, some woman, some some couple, some family that's willing to stand up and say, you know what? Things aren't ideal right now, but pastor, I'm willing to worship anyway. I'm willing to worship anyway. Make your way down. Come on.