Bless This Family

So glad to have everybody here happy for everybody who's tuned in online watching us all around. It's our family month and today I I was back and forth a little bit on. This message but I feel in my spirit that the word the Lord has a word. For the church today so fallen under bless this home which is our title for the month I want to I want to preach on on. This subject faith or fear will determine your future faith or fear will determine. Your future you you have a future that's a given what determines how. That future plays out for you is going to be whether or not. You allow faith to operate or fear to operate in your life the family. Is God's design it's God's idea it was his institution he began in the garden to set? It up that way now since it's God's and God had designed it the way. He wanted it to be can you take a guess at who is against families yeah the enemy. Our adversary Satan if there's any area he is going to concert his effort into.

It's going to be destroying family units nothing makes him happier than to try to tear down the very thing. That God had put in place from the beginning. Now even if you were here and your family is. So dysfunctional and in a complete shamble it's just wrecked and no semblance to. There I want you to know that you're also here as a part of the family of. God my grandfather used to say that often he even brought it up in wednesday night session. When we were over with the men that my grandfather was one of 13. He was the oldest son he had one one sister older than him of 13.. So he came from a big family and he came from a family. That was very close but whenever he would talk about being at church. It was very commonplace for him to say how much he loved being a part of the family of. God because there's there's something about being connected together that brings strength something about. When we come in here on a weekly basis and as we worship and. We sing songs of praise to God that I gain strength from you being.

Here and I feel like you do too that's why it's important that. We even if the family we came from we don't even have any relationship right. Now due to circumstances and situations that were beyond your control you're still. Here and you're a part of the family of God. So as I said about families God also fights the church and it's. His priority to cause as much dysfunction and disunity as possible for he understands the power of unity. He understands the difference it makes in the eternal when you and I agree on something. So I wonder if the beginning of this message that we could just purpose in. Our hearts and our minds that we are all going to gain strength from the word. Today that this isn't just for the new people this isn't just for the ones. Who have drifted away from God this isn't just for the individuals who have made mistakes? This past week but what if we all together unified on this this labor day weekend. Here for the next few minutes that that whatever is preached is for me.

That whatever comes across that God intended to deliver today is for me and. That you and I agree that there's power when we unify together and. That we allow God to have his way in this service. So I wonder as I pray before I begin to preach today will. You help me pray that prayer Jesus God we are here unified together. That our minds and our hearts are desiring to be fed from your word. Today let your will be done in this place Lord Jesus let us receive. What you have for us and apply it in Jesus name we pray in? Amen we're going to go to the Bible we're going to go to the book of first John. We're going to go to chapter number four to read just a few verses and. Then I'm going to read one verse in chapter 5. John the beloved writing. Here to us he's talking about a very important subject especially when it comes to concerning. Our understanding and our relationship with God because he's talking about love. So we read in verse 17 he says love has been perfected among us in.

This that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. Because he is because as he is so are we in the world. There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear. Because fear involves torment but he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love him because he first love us if someone says I love. God and hates his brother he is a liar for he who does. Not love his brother whom he has seen how can he love God whom. He has not seen and this commandment we have for him that he. Who loves God must love his brother also? So we see here love being portrayed in the fact that you have to have unity. You have to have love for your brother love for your sister. But in the fifth chapter that same book verse number four John writes these words for whatever. Is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that has overcome the world what's the victory? Our faith our faith in this world you're going to face trouble anybody.

Not realize that yet anybody in here shocked or surprised that you face oftentimes things. That you don't want to face yeah yeah we we face stuff we. We go through circumstances we we have things that come our way that. We didn't sign up for and we never would have asked for. But they just show up anyway they come to us sicknesses disease pandemics job loss financial difficulties family troubles. And hardships they come stress pressure all of those things come piling in and. It doesn't make uh any matter whether you're in the church or out of the church those things. Are just a part of living life they happen to us? But I want you to know that those things may come into your life. But you choose how they affect you whether you're facing something small or big whether good or bad stuff happens to. You in this life did you know that you're not an accident you're. Not a mistake I've said this before your mom and dad may not have intended for. You to be here but God had a plan for you God has a purpose for.

You in this life and even if you have not done the things. You should have done even if you have drifted away even if you've never had a relationship with. God you're still not a mistake and everything that you're facing right. Now in your life and all that you were going through and the very fact. That you were here in this room today is proof positive that God has called. You to this time you may not have desired this you may not have planned. This you may not have put the things together that have landed you where. You are in this moment but I promise you God has called you where. You are John chapter 6 verse 44 says no one can come to me unless the father. Who sent me draws him there's a drawing that only God does and? If you're going to come into a relationship with him you're going to. Come from the fact that God has drawn you not. Because you decided but because God has desired you. Because God has drawn you because God has orchestrated things in your life to bring.

You to where you are and I am here and you are here and. It was a sovereign act of God that has brought us together and. This may sound a bit forward but I'm special. Because God called me but you're special also. Because God has called you I was born again on february the 12th 1989. That sunday service was a powerful moment in my life and it had changed me and. It set me on a course to alter my eternity. But in this life our walk with God requires a special place for faith to operate faith. Is not just a fancy byword we use in christian circles it's not just something? That we want to have applied to t-shirts and bumper stickers to have on. Our car but living a life of faith is something that you have to willingly participate in. It just doesn't happen to you you don't stumble into faith faith is a choice. That you make in this life it is one of many things that the Bible talks about in scriptures faith. Is depicted as several things it's part of the fruit of the spirit?

It is part of the gift of the spirit it is part of the armor. That we as soldiers in God's army must put on the Bible says. That faith is our justifier but most importantly it's how I appropriate the grace of. God in my life by faith Paul said in ephesians chapter 2 verse 8 for by grace. You have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is a gift of. God and if we fail if we you and I fail in the grace of. God that failure had to begin in our faith in God in this day in which. We are living we need something to help us with what seems to be an ever increasing set of challenges. And circumstances that comes into our life on a daily basis things that. Are coming against and trying us to to cause us to stumble in? Our walk and our commitment with God in our families we're facing false doctrine and false prophets. And pagan lifestyles and humanism and immorality and amorality and yes we even face pandemics things. That happen that you and I don't have any control over it's just a part of the world in which.

We live in but make no mistake about it it has an impact on. Your life it has an impact on your walk with God it makes a difference in. How you are standing in your faith and if you want to put? Your head in the sand that's your option to do. So but I promise you no matter what you do what goes on in. Our world makes a difference in your walk with God. So how are you handling everything how are you dealing with the pressures and the stresses. And the anxiety in the in and all the forces that are going on in. Our world because it's there and it is not unreasonable to think that fear shouldn't be a part of. What we are dealing with because there is? So much uncertainty and unknown we are dealing with circumstances in this present moment. That generations before us have never had to deal with we're having to make decisions in. Our life based on things that are out of our control and even those. Who are supposed to be in charge don't even fully understand how to handle the situation?

They're doing the best they can but I promise you everything that we're facing. Is making an impact on our walk and faith in God unless we forget? We have an adversary that is fighting every day to which Peter warned us. This way in 1st Peter 5 and 8 be sober be vigilant. Because your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom. He may devour don't you ever forget this truth ladies and gentlemen the devil fights dirty. He doesn't fight in a fair way he doesn't come and ask your opinion. Before he decides to do something against you he's not going to keep in mind whether or. Not you might be able to handle the circumstances of the situation and. If you and I are going to survive we have to understand that the enemy. Is going to attack you the enemy is going to attack your family? It's going to attack your health and your finances and yes he even attacks the church. And if we're going to survive it's not going to become. Because of our talent or our abilities it's not going to be.

Because of our money our education our human ability if we're going to make. It it's going to be because our faith in a living God saw us through the situation. Sometimes you get knocked down to the very basics of life and sometimes. That basics of life brings you into a a reckoning in your own personal understanding of. Do I really believe that God has his has my best interest at hand? Do I really feel like God knows what I'm going through do I really feel like? God even cares about where I am right. Now and those may seem like simple questions to ask inside a church. But I promise you things have a way of rocking you to your core and bringing. You back on your heels and making you ask the question is God. God or not have you settled these things in your spirit if we make. It it's because we have faith and our faith brings us into the future. He has I may lose my health I'm trying to do my best to take care of myself. I'm a middle-aged man trying to do all that I can to continue to have a little bit of fun.

But at the same time be conscious that things don't work quite the way. They used to work when I was 15 20 years younger I may lose. What God has blessed me with financially and materially I don't have a Lot? What I do have I like it I don't necessarily want to lose? It it could go away I may lose those things. But I cannot lose my faith for if I lose my faith I've lost. My future see I feel it's important to slow down and and to try. My best to to to get this across with clarity today to the church. That faith has less to do with what God does or doesn't do. It has more to do with what I do regardless of whether God. Does something or not it's making my mind up it you know it's easy to have a strong belief in? God when everything in my life is working out according to my plan. When when the sun is shining and the wind's blowing lightly and the temperature's just right. And there's there's enough money in the account to cover the bills and and I feel pretty good.

I'm not facing any health issues and my family is getting along it. It's easy to have faith when everything at the church is doing all right. But it's another story when when a pandemic sets in or or I get a notice. That I'm being laid off at work or or the doctor says I. Don't have good news for you we need to discuss this lab work? That comes in it's another thing when I have dysfunction inside the home and. I'm not getting along with my wife or my kids or I can't talk to. My mom anymore or my brother and I are at odds it's another thing. When I have these things facing me in my situation and I begin to cry out to. God and it seems like that I'm not getting any answer or any response back as. If the heavens have shut up and as if God maybe has forgotten. That I'm even here in this in this world dealing with all I'm dealing with I know. I'm not speaking to myself today I know there are those in the room right.

Now that you yourself have reached some circumstances where your faith has been tried you've reached a new low you've gone through a circumstance. You never dreamed in your life you would have to face and you've wondered quite often. Does God even care anymore your faith has been shaken and what used to be something? That was almost palpable tangible in your life seems to have disappeared and. What has come to take its place is fear maybe you misunderstood that? Maybe it's not the way that you thought it was going to be. Because of what you're dealing with and how things have not played out the way. That you had in your mind they were going to play out maybe. God isn't really the God you thought him to be I don't know. What the next few months hold for us? But so far 2020 has been a year like none other that I've ever lived in. My 44 trips around the sun I don't know what's going to happen I've had a few of. You ask me how do you think it's going to play out the rest of the year.

How do you think it's going to go in november how do you think I? Don't know I don't know how it's going to play out I don't know what's going to happen I? Don't know I'm like you I'm kind of holding my breath every day? That comes that something new is going to fall into my life I. Don't know I wish I had the ability to tell you how these things going to play out the only thing? That I can tell you with a surety in my life whatever my future holds. I'm going to have my faith in God I know sometimes it doesn't work out the way I wanted to. And I wish I could pin and script out a different ending to a Lot of things. But I wasn't given that option the only option I've been given is to live each. And every day with an assurance that God knows where I am even. If I don't feel him even if things aren't the way I want him to be even. If I have not heard a word from Heaven I determined a long time ago I've made.

My mind up I'm putting my faith and my trust in him and just. Because I said that doesn't mean everything worked out for me from that moment forward. But I've refused to change as long as I have my faith in. God I have my future there are some fears that we face and. Some of them are real but I wonder if we really think through. What all we're really allowing to dictate our life let me ask you a question? Why does the enemy try to make a child of God feel fear? When faced with death ask yourself that child of God why why in. That moment does the enemy have such a strong ability to make you seemingly cower down. And crawl backwards when faced with death logically if you think about this death. Is the only other option to get to Heaven outside of the rapture the prophet said to be absent in the body? Is to be present with the Lord now I'm not trying to take the next train out of the station? But fear of death should not exist in a child of God.

Because death is not defeat death where is thus thing grave where is thy victory those words. Are only important to a child of God the world doesn't understand those things? But somebody who has settled the sin issue in their life death is nothing to be afraid of I. Don't want to necessarily go right now but if that's what God determines from me oh death where? Is thy sting because the sting that it was there is what sin could? Do to my life but I have been buried with him in baptism I have been filled with? His spirit I'm doing my best to live an overcoming life and because of. That I'm not afraid to die one of the devil's favorite tactics is to make us more problem-conscious than. We are power conscience in our lives to always see the problem that. Is there and that's the reason why things can't move forward instead of understanding? That the power you and I have by being filled with his spirit and. If we're not careful we tend to add to our problems by thinking much less of ourselves than.

God thinks of us you've got to be careful when you do this. When you step back because in these moments we become like the children of Israel. When we we are dealing with a grasshopper complex they were told that. They had a land that God was giving them he brings them up to the edge of the land many of. You know how the story goes and he simply says I want you to go check. It out I want you to go look at the land that flows with milk and honey the promise. That I'm giving to you I want you to go see all that. Is there examine it explore all the options you have? Because it belongs to you I'm giving it to you yet when they came back the words. That came out of their mouth as it's impossible for us to possess. This land that that bothers me because God never said anything about them having to struggle with the possession part. He simply said it's a promise I'm giving you. But they had a grasshopper mentality not that they were grasshoppers in the giant site.

But the word of God says that they declared we see ourselves as grasshoppers compared to them. That's why you have to be very careful how you view yourself ladies and gentlemen. Because God has a value on you that is far greater and of more value than many of us ever realized. That's why the enemy is constantly going to bombard you with negative images and negative thoughts about yourself. He's going to remind you of your mistakes and your failures and everything. That has gone wrong inside of your life all the labels that the world has tried to put on. You and every person who's abused you and taking advantage of you what. They called you he'll always remind you of those things. Because he's constantly trying to devalue you as a child of God. But I'm here to tell you you are a child of the king. You are precious you are worthy you are worth great value in him. He loved you so much he died for you we should never think more about ourselves than. God thinks about us we should never think less of ourselves than God thinks about us.

And the way we know how we should think of ourselves has everything to. Do with the faith we have in our God Romans 12 and 3 says for I say through the grace given unto me? That every man that is among you do not think of himself more highly than. You ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to. Every man the measure of faith if you're comfortable look at your neighbors say the measure of faith interesting. There now for you english students here today in the room the thee. Here is a definite article in other words it's dealing with a very specific amount. It wasn't just a random word he put in there or a filler. But as I've said to you many times every word that is there in the scriptures has a purpose behind. It Paul as he is talking here in this instance he is reminding the church at rome. That God has given each of us the measure of faith I believe. That when God filled me with his spirit on that sunday in february 89.

He knew exactly uh what I was going to face in my life. He he's the one who knows the beginning from the end he knew. Every trial he knew every circumstance he knew every mountain I was going to climb. He knew every every every battle that I was going to get into and. He in that moment gave me all I needed the measure to get me from where I. Was to the future that he had for me in my life? So that no matter what I face all I have need of is in the faith. That he has given me and that applies to you as a child of. God if you've been filled with his spirit in that moment he gave. You the measure of faith to get you through every trial circumstance and trouble. That you would face in your life to let you know that your faith. Is what's going to determine the future that you have? Now the devil is the master of messing up how you and I think. He wants to mess up how you view yourself he wants to mess up the operation.

That God's trying to do he likes to convince you that faith and miracles. Are synonymous terms and the reason he likes to do that is? Because when we buy into this way of thinking and the miracle doesn't happen. We lose faith boy it's quiet it's quiet right. Now that's what the enemy wants to do why would the enemy want to. Do this because he knows he's going to do whatever he can to try to rob? You of you living a life of faith. Because he knows what the word of God says in hebrews chapter 11 about faith verse 6 says. But without faith it is impossible it's an impossibility for you to please. God without faith so if there's going to be a place where the enemy. Is going to hit you and hit you hard it's going to be to try to shake? You in your faith and because he knows you're trying to do your best to live as a child of. God he also understands that miracles are commonplace in our lives. But he also understands it that we oftentimes will place faith and miracles in the same sentence.

And try to interweave those things together so there are opportunities where we. Are praying for God to do a miraculous in our life then the moment? We don't have an instantaneous answer to that prayer the enemy jumps in and says. See God doesn't care about you anymore I'm seeking somebody in the Holy Ghost the enemy jumps at those opportunities. Because you were praying and you were committed you were fast and you were doing everything. That you knew to do you you were being obedient to the scriptures and. After all I even prayed for it in Jesus name right that's the. That's the magical formula is to do it in Jesus name and because I. Do it in Jesus name then I have the opportunity to hold God's arm up behind? His back and force him to do anything I ask. But then nothing happens no miracle shows up I've been crying out for. God to do this and what I'm asking for makes complete human logical sense. That God would answer this prayer but he hasn't he hasn't and the next thing I know. My faith begins to shake and the enemy's standing over there whispering saying I told.

You I told you you wasn't good enough I told you he doesn't care I told. You he would disappoint you again I told you and even though everything inside of us. Is trying to maintain the faith that we know is required for us to have the future? That he has for us if we're honest fear begins to creep in and. We start playing the what if game what if God doesn't what if I've made a mistake could. It be I've gone too far a miracle would have blown the fire out of the furnace. But it was faith that took shadrach meshach and Abednego into the fire to meet the fourth man. That was in there waiting on them faith brought them out with no burns or even smelling like smoke a miracle would have killed the lion in the den. Before daniel ever went in but it was faith that took him in to realize. That the angel had already shut their mouths. So you got to be careful miracles are. So good and man I love them when they happen in my life and.

God has done the miraculous many times I've seen it in my own personal life in. My family's life and I have seen it in many of your lives as. We pray through circumstances and situations but miracles do not always happen when. We expect them to and that is when it is important that faith steps in reminds. You that you're not fighting alone I'm not by myself in this situation. Maybe there's something bigger at play that I don't understand right. Now because I have lived this long to know that there have been things. That I have prayed for God to do in my life miracles that I thought were justified. And worthy causes and for whatever reason God didn't show up in the moment. When I when I asked him to show up. But I can tell you that years later down the road I seen. That God was actually doing a much greater miracle in my life. But what I was asking for was so much smaller a perspective of. What God was trying to do in the bigger realm of my life and? If that's you right now in this room I want you to tell.

You don't allow faith to be robbed from you in this moment just. Because your miracle hasn't come through in the time in which you thought. It should have doesn't mean that God has forgotten you or has given up on. You could it be quite possibly that there's something much greater just around the corner in. Your life and it'll be that faith that sustains you to see it happen I feel like. That's why Paul told young timothy in first timothy 6 and 12 fight the good fight of faith fight timothy whole fight these these. Are warring terms because you're going to go through some stuff this is? This is a seasoned veteran looking back at a young buck saying I'm going to tell. You right now whatever you do fight for faith there are some things. That you don't have to do there are some parts you can lay aside. But this one thing you have to do fight the good fight of faith there's a good. That's going to come and sometimes in your life you have to let faith fight for. You sometimes you got to let that faith fight that fear our faith will fight a Lot of things.

But one of the toughest battles we face in our individual lives and in the lives of. Our families is the fight with fear listen to me here close fear and faith cannot coexist in the same spirit. They can't even the Bible says that God has not given us the spirit of fear. It doesn't come from him that's not what God gives us that's why. When you feel the presence of fear come upon you you have to release the measure of faith. That God put in you when fear starts to grip you as this song. Was saying at some midnight hour you might find you're in a prison in? Your mind yeah oh the strongest fight you're ever going to fight is in the battlefield of. Your mind and some of you know exactly what I'm talking about as. You lay there it's such a private and a personal thing what goes on inside. Our mind because we can put a smile on her face and we. Can walk around like everything's okay but oh on the inside we're just a wreck on the inside? We're toro to pieces on the inside faith is struggling to keep going.

What needs to be going I'm telling you when you begin to feel? That fear come upon you in that midnight hour there's something powerful about engaging. His name that's why it's important that you allow faith to begin to fight for. You because I'm going to tell you there's been some times in my life. When I didn't have a physical stamina to fight anything and I mentally I. Was a wreck inside but there was something in there some little small glimmer of hope? That began to well up it was that faith it was that measure of faith. He put in me long ago and it had just enough faith to say. His name but saying his name one time made it easier for me to say. His name a second time and a third time and before I know. It I begin to feel that darkness pushed back and I begin to feel those chains fall off of me oh. Sometimes you gotta let faith fight for you you cannot be successful in living for. God an atmosphere fear life brings us pressure and stress and this is just part of life.

But tension is a different matter the right amount of pressure the right amount of tension on a guitar string or a piano string makes a beautiful note. But too much tension can cause it to break. But not managed correctly but if done all right and in order and the way. It should be beautiful music can come out you cannot live your life on the very edge all the time. Because eventually you will fall off I don't know what tomorrow holds and in today's climate. That can cause me to stress and if not managed correctly fear will take over. But faith reminds me who holds tomorrow faith reminds me who it is. That holds all my tomorrows in his hands I don't know I wish I could tell. You I wish I could be able to predict a Lot of things and. But I can't it it's such an ever-changing rapidly changing world that we're living in. But I know who holds tomorrow and sometimes that in itself is all I need I comfort myself with. This knowing God whatever comes my way I thank you for it in.

My daily prayers I say God I don't know what I face today. But I thank you for today this is the day that you have made I will rejoice. And be glad in it I repeat his words back to him Lord I know. Some days when I say that only a few hours later I'm reminding myself. You said this was going to be a good day and you were happy and. What you're facing are you really happy now and yes is the answer? Because I'm happy in my faith in him that even though what come. Was not what I wanted I still trust that he will see me through? It on the other side Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple of. Jesus he lived for him and seek it secret. Because he lived in fear of what the pharisees would do if they found out. If the sanhedrin court realized that he was a disciple of Jesus and. Because he operated out of fear by the time he got close enough to touch. Jesus Jesus was already dead because fear keeps company with death.

But we see the opposite of this and the ladies who were on. Their way to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus and think about. This where were they going what were they doing I think most of us. If we were there in that moment we would have reminded them where. You headed to there's roman guards standing there they've rolled a huge stone in front of the entrance. You can't get there ladies what's going on. But yet they persevered their faith took them forward and when they got to the tomb. They met a living God because faith keeps company with life. Because of this we must feed our faith and not our fear I know. There are so many unknowns in our world right. Now but I refuse to allow my life to be encapsulated by fear I refuse to have. My future manipulated by fear I instead choose to let my faith in. Jesus show me the future that he has for me the future that. He has for my family when we are fighting with faith sometimes we have to fight the facts in life.

Sometimes we have to allow faith to fight the facts that you are facing faith will take goliath sword. That he intended to use to cut off our head and faith will allow David to use. It to remove the giant's head Abraham lived 25 years and his name. Was the father of many nations how would you would like to have introduced yourself at a party? And when someone said hey what's your name my name is father of many nations oh. That's awesome how many kids do you have well I don't have any kids. You don't have any kids and your name is father of many nations. That seems a bit odd probably been better if you'd stuck with bill or something like. That my name is father of many nations God had promised him a son five years passed. He's still walking around as father of many nations no kid 10 years past 15 years past still father of many nations. No kid 20 years past father 25 years and he gets his boy. Because faith refused to give up even when he was a laughingstock to everybody else faith will take.

You to the future that God has for you. So what facts are you struggling with today in your life what area. Are you and your family needing faith to step in and fight those facts for? You what's going on in your life because I'm here to tell you. Don't dare stop what God has already put in motion many of you know? Here that uh Ashley Kruger her father passed away last week funerals this week. But what I dare say is is this that many of you don't know the story around her father. Now they have attended our service the past few years her mom's been down. Here several times what you probably don't know is that Ashley's mom prayed for 40 years. For her husband to be filled with his spirit 40 years she prayed 40 years. She fasted 40 years she went to the altar 40 years she had to ask him repeatedly will. You go 40 years she stayed commanded and on december of the 40th year. He walked up to the altar in church and God filled him with the Holy Ghost on christmas eve of.

That same month he was baptized in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. I'm telling you sometimes faith has to fight the facts there would have been. Every opportunity for her to say I've tried for decades to try to get him to have a relationship with. God I tried my best to live the life before him as scripture said hoping. That I might be able to win him to the Lord she would have had. Every opportunity in under human logic to say after all this time why. Do you keep saying God please save my husband? But it was almost 41 years later after prayer when God decided now's the moment. I'm going to show up now is the opportunity that I'm going to perform. That miracle I told you long ago sometimes faith has to fight the facts I. Don't know what you're dealing with in your life I don't know what's been put in? Your family I don't know what label you're facing right. Now and there may be a fact that you're dealing with this seems insurmountable. But don't allow faith to be silenced instead tune in to what God's trying to.

Do in your life sometimes faith has to fight your feelings man has? There ever been a day the day in which we live in when where individual feelings have more of an impact than. They do right now everybody's offended everybody's offended the whole world's offended I'm offended. That you're offended you can't say anything you can't look at anything no matter. What you do it makes somebody unhappy I know what the truth is? But I feel and I know what the Bible says. But I feel I know what the law says. But I feel I know what God's desire is. But I feel you got to be careful when you're allowing your feelings to dictate everything. That comes into your life we all have feelings some days mine are up and. Some days mine are down but you cannot embrace the future based on. Your feelings I'm not saved today because I feel saved I'm saved. Because of what the word of God says I'm not saved. Because of what I feel because some days I don't feel anything. But that doesn't negate the finished work at Calvary in my life I'm.

Not saved because of my feelings I'm saved. Because Jesus Christ died on the cross and I received what he did. There and I asked him to come into my life and he filled me with. His spirit evidence and speaking in other tongues I've been buried with him in baptism in the name of. Jesus Christ that's why I am walking and doing the things I'm doing according to. His plan but some days I don't feel like I'm saved. But just because I don't feel it doesn't make it any less true. There are times when you worship by God. Because he's good you got to be careful about always having to feel. God before you worship you got to be careful about the atmosphere has to be just right. And there has to be the right song that's played there and I. Don't like that kind of music and it's too loud and it's too cold and? It's too this because when you begin to base everything off of your feelings and where. You are when you have a consumer mindset and all things that come to.

God there are some days I don't feel like worshiping does that surprise. You is anybody in here surprised by that that the pastor is saying to. You that there are some days I don't feel like it. But I still do it because here's the deal here's the deal ladies and gentlemen a couple of points. Here point number one God's worthy regardless he's worthy regardless that's point number one point number two the devil. Is not omnipotent he doesn't know your thoughts some of you think that? He knows your thoughts but he doesn't know your thoughts. So even when I don't feel like it I still worship. Because I want him to know that God's worthy and that I still think God's worthy even. When I don't feel like worshiping I worship. Because I want him to go bother you instead of me I want him to know. That I decided long ago that this is what I'm going to do regardless of. What external circumstances come my way I'm staying committed faith gives you the ability to? See what the flesh says is not there it's faith that reminds you.

But God but God as I bring this to a close more often than. Not when I think of the family and difficulties and circumstances involved in the family and someone having. Their faith tested I think of job and all that came against his family job. Is successful you you read that chapter one he comes in he was doing things the right way? He was blessed he was abundantly blessed he was highly favored people liked him. But there came a day there came a day job had given he had worshipped. He had sacrificed for himself he'd even sacrifice for his kids just in case. They didn't sacrifice that day job said I'm going to I just want to cover. My he was doing everything he could to do what he did the right way. But a day came and a servant ran up job the sabians have stole. Your donkeys and oxen and he had no more stopped talking than another messenger ran up. And the messenger said this these this is what the word of God says says the fire of. God has fallen from Heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and as soon as.

He stopped talking there came another one said the chaldeans have taken the camels and. While he was speaking another one came in and said job all your kids were together together in one place. They were they were having a party and there came a great wind and. It knocked the house down and none survived and over the course of about 60 seconds job went from being a great man of wealth. And a family and everything working out in his life I mean to me. He he's come right out of a worship service he just been sacrificing everything's good. He literally walked out of his with his one pew church the glow and aftermath of a great service. Is still on him and this happens now I want you to pay attention? You go back later and read it chapter one it's there. Because the enemy is going to use every opportunity he can to always remind. You that God did it fire came down from God and consumed the sheep. God did it a great wind came and knocked down the building on top of.

Your kids God did it just a few days later he's covered with bowls from the top of. His head to the soul of his feet and his wife comes in and pretty much. She says God did it his friends thank God he had friends right. His friends show up and he he is in such a miserable state. He he looks so bad that the the Bible says for seven days. They don't even know what to say seven days they can't even talk to him. Because of how how pitiful he is and when they when they finally. Do talk praise God you know what they say God did it? Now you think about everything he was facing and all that he was going through in. This moment man if anybody had a reason to let their faith fade I feel like job. Was a candidate sometimes you have to let your faith fight? Because times of loss just happen in life and the devil's gonna whisper in. Your ear God did it job had almost lost everything that was of any matter to him in just a few minutes.

And the devil's telling him God did it. Now there's a few things that job didn't have job didn't have a church family joe didn't have a pastor. He didn't even have a good friend but job did have feelings listen to me. He had feelings because he was a human being. But at some point his faith rose up job did not understand his wealth. He didn't understand the loss of his friends his money his family he didn't understand the. Why behind what was going on but at rock bottom his faith stepped up and job said? This in chapter 19 verse 25 I know my redeemer lives my redeemer and I know. That I shall see him in chapter 13 he says this I don't understand all. That's going on but even if he kills me I will trust him. How does a man do that because he refused to let fear determine? His future instead he said I have nothing. But faith left and I feel like there are some in this place. Today that all you have left is faith I feel like there's even.

Some here who've been letting fear do all the talking I'm telling you fear will determine. Your future but it's not the future you want the future you want. Is a future with faith so as we've kicked off this family month I know the family? Is under attack and we're facing things like we've never faced before? But this is not a time to step back and let fear do the talking. This is a moment to let faith rise up inside of you and silence the voice of fear. Because God fights for you will you pray with me Jesus I thank. You Lord for your word that is true for the measure of faith. That you've given to us to fight against all that comes against Lord I know. That so many are facing anxieties and pressure and fear in their life. It's a real thing it's crippling some God we're dealing with things that we've never dealt with. Before but God you put in us what we needed to get through and I pray. Today that the voice of faith would rise up in us that we will hear.

It saying that you do care that you understand that you see Lord. Today I pray for a restoration to take place in someone's life bring them back. God put their feet on solid ground help them silence the voice that has told them everything. Is not going to be okay for God you hold all tomorrows and? We trust in you this altar is open for anyone who would come I bid. You to come for anybody who wants to silence the voice of fear in. Your heart in your mind for anyone who's needing to shore up your faith I invite. You to come his desires show you the future he has for you.