Sunday Evening Worship Service

hallelujah thank you Bishop 49 rounds that's lengthy there was an old song that had these words it used to say me and the devil had a tussle but I won me and the devil had a tussle and I won me and the devil we agree I hate him and he hates me cause me and the devil we had a tussle and I won I don't care if it takes 49 rounds I'm going to win tonight I said I'm going to win tonight you're going to win tonight we are winners in Christ hallelujah thank you Bishop stay on your feet for just a few more moments I do want to take just an opportunity again to thank brother and sister Curtis all of the praise team musicians technicians all who made these past three days possible there's a special excitement of worship and praise here at First Apostolic church that comes with dedicated folks giving of their time the sacrifices of their time giving of the sacrifice of worship as we heard today thank you so much for all you are doing in the Kingdom of the Lord and let me tell you if you're in this house tonight and you've not yet repented of your sins there's an altar here to repent that's not a negative thing that's as positive as it can be you've got an opportunity to go before almighty God he wants to receive you if you haven't been baptized in jesus' name we've already baptized three today in the name of Jesus one just after the service two more from Pia service no need to stop now we've baptized three already today in the precious name of Jesus and you are prom promise the gift of the Holy Ghost that's why we're here that's what this is all about let me also say thank you quickly to the ladies of First Apostolic Church faac serves for the preparation that you are doing in fact just after service at dismissal tonight they have a quick there's such an army of them they're going to fill backpacks and I I've seen this Army of ladies work uh it won't take them uh more than about 10 minutes and you better stay out of the way or you'll get put in a backpack cuz they they go after it's all I can tell you but they're uh redistributing these backpacks as we partner with uh Knoxville area rescue Ministries uh to minister to the less fortunate in our community and uh we want to take them Jesus and we have uh invitation uh cards in those backpacks as well about first Epis Apostolic church and we've been in uh contact with uh Knoxville area rescue Ministries and they're so grateful to First Apostolic church I'll say this aside if you ever make donations to Knoxville area rescue Ministries uh at Their donation center if it's clothes if it's Furniture whatever please donate it in the name of First Apostolic Church uh for we get credit for that not that we need any kind of pad on the back but they turn return to us uh a a special commodity in a way for us to then minister to those who come to our church less fortunate us than us and uh it is a reciprocal agreement that we have with them so thank you for representing First Apostolic church I want to get into the word of the Lord tonight what a marvelous word we heard this morning I'm so encouraged I I want want to go to that land called Yonder that's where I want to be thank you Pastor Whitley I would give this quick aide as well pray for Pastor Anthony he's been in Detroit Michigan uh preaching uh um a uh District youth function for the Michigan district then preaching for uh brother traxel and the great church there in Michigan and he'll be uh flying home sometime this evening pray for him to have safe journey in as he comes back home calling your attention to the book of St John the 20th chapter I'm going to begin reading at verse number 11 St John 20 reading at verse number 11 but Mary stood without at the seler Weeping and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the seler and seeth two angels in white sitting the one at the head the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lay that's past tense in the King James version and they say unto her woman why weepest thou she Sith un them because they have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid him and when she had thus said notice she turned herself back she turned around and saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus Jesus said unto her woman why weepest thou whom seekest thou she supposing him to be the gardener saith unto him sir if thou H have borne him hence tell me where thou Hast laid him and I will take him away for a few moments tonight I would speak to you on this subject a case of mistaken identity a case of mistaken identity let's pray savior I love you I am so grateful for the marvelous things you have already done for us in this service Lord I pray that now as we studied your word that once again you would reach deep into our hearts give us Enlightenment give us encouragement Lord anoint our ears to hear and our lives to receive and to act on your word Lord we thank you for this opportunity and we bless your name the name of Jesus we pray amen and amen Lord bless you you can be seated in the early 1930s America's Most Wanted fugitive was John Dillinger Dillinger had robbed over two dozen banks in the United States this situation caused a major headache not just for the banks but for a 25y old man by the name of Ralph Alman Ralph Alman was a law-abiding citizen from Brookville Indiana who was practically John Dillinger's identical twin as if physical resemblance wasn't enough both all man and Dillinger had a mole next to one of their eyes and a scar on their left wrist since Brookville was only 54 miles from Dillinger's hometown of moresville Alman was easily mistaken for the infamous Outlaw in fact allsman was mistaken for Dillinger so often that he was arrested 17 times even when Olman left his home state he was still arrested in such cities as Detroit and Minneapolis although he was always released Alman often had to undergo stressful interrogation sessions to convince authorities he wasn't Dillinger worst of all Alman was also shot 11 times and became justifiably paranoid that a law enforcement officer would kill him before he had a chance to prove his real identity alman's ordeal finally came to an end when Dillinger was gunned down by federal agents in July of 1934 because of his resemblance to Dillinger Alman was offered movie contracts but he chose to end his 15 minutes of fame and turn them down now that's a bad case of mistaken identity if you ask me but I guess the story does end somewhat well because Alman did live to be 94 years old but can you imagine as difficult of life as Alman might have had during that period And as dire as his dilemma was how much more of a difficult situation it would be to have walked with Jesus to have talked with Jesus to have communed with him to have communicated and had close relationships and fellowship with Jesus and suddenly when the greatest event that would ever affect mankind takes place you have the opportunity to go to the grave and see the empty grave and instead you mistake a Risen Savior for a gardener a groundskeeper in her grief Mary mistook Jesus for the gardener but before we condemn her too much I submit there are some of us who are constantly looking for Jesus yet we do not recognize his voice we do not understand when he's trying to communicate with us he said why are you crying sometimes when we're in our most dire State Jesus tries to communicate with us and if we aren't careful we'll mistake him all right from some for some emotional distress many will say they want a relationship with Jesus yet in their times of deepest need they mistake his contact for that of a simple laborer God's simple answers to many seem too complex to understand a message to Simply repent and forsake sin is mistaken for too difficult a road to travel even in times of need and sorrow Jesus tries to touch the heart only to be mistaken for decisions made under emotional stress or because of peer pressure or one environment some never find contentment for they do not recognize where it is found in the simple words of Jesus I submit that Jesus does many Works in our lives that are mistakenly called luck and good fortune the Jesus I serve looks after me the Jesus I look takes care of me the Jesus I serve is trying to guide me if if I will just be attentive and turn around and recognize who Jesus really is don't mistake when his voice calls on you don't let you yourself finding yourself second guessing what Jesus has called you to do sister Natalie let me tell you it wasn't a mistake when God called you to go to the other side of the world and Minister never mistake that was the call of God that you did God calls people and God gives us words that if we will be attentive if we will listen he said Mary why you crying she turned around and said well there's the ground keeper there's the guy that plants the flowers for you see time and time again even in the scripture we find examples when those who should have been close to Jesus mistook his word and mistook his Direction over in the book of St John the 12th chapter verse 23 Jesus was interacting with his followers and he said it says and Jesus answered them saying the hour has come that the son of man should be glorified verely verely I say unto you now notice except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit this was a type and shadow of death burial and Resurrection Jesus was say you know I I just want to give you another example of what's about to happen to the son of man he that loveth his life shall lose it he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto eternal life if any man serve me let him follow me where I am there ye also there shall all also my servants be if any man serve me him will my father honor Jesus is just talking to his followers and giving them some simple Insight now is my soul troubled he said all right and what shall I say father save me from this hour but for this cause came I unto this hour Jesus is revealing his innermost struggle between flesh between between humanity and spirit his flesh does not want to suffer what he's about to suffer in agony of crucifixion all of the things and indignities that Jesus would suffer there's a conflict and Jesus can you imagine being there and Jesus revealing his innermost concerns In the Flesh now is my soul trouble what shall I say father save me from this hour but for this cause came I under the hour father glorify thy name then there came a voice from Heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorify it again can you imagine being there and experiencing such an awesome display of God confirming what was going on but you know what some of the people did there was a case of mistaken identity the people therefore that stood by and heard it said it thundered God speaking and they mistook it for an oncoming storm let me tell you sometimes God's going to speak and confirm some things in your life if you'll realize God's talking to you he's giving you Direction don't mistake it for Thunder God's trying to get your attention another said oh an angel spake unto him they couldn't wrap their human flesh their minds around God is confirming what's being said you better be careful listening to too many voices of angels if that is contrary to what God's word tells you now I know some some folks go that's get into that weird stuff you better hear me you better be careful the voices that you listen to especially if they're contrary to what God tells you and what you know is right God has not changed his word it is forever settled in fact Colossians said it this way let no man begal you of your reward in voluntary humility and worshiping of angels intruding into those things which he had not seen vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind be cautious remember Lucifer was an angel too with a rebellious nature in fact the first utterance of an angel that you'll find in the word of the Lord that angel said return and submit I run into very few folks that dwell on hearing Angels Above the word of God that anything is ever telling him to return and submit it's always run and rebel let me also say this now I realize we may not be in high gear and sweating and spitting right now but I hope you'll hear the word don't mistake the bless your successes for always being the blessings of God if you're not living right and you're not doing right be just because you have some temporary success don't think that that's necessarily God's blessings well let me give you an example there was a fell in my lifetime is that narrow it down any I hope not but told me he gave me a testimony brother O'Brien he said I'm so thankful he said I paid my tithe and I won a football board at working the next week I said bro you're mistaking the blessings of God for ill gotten gains from gambling that wasn't the blessings of God on you Jesus said it this way Matthew 5:45 that ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven for he maketh the son to rise on the evil and on the good he sent to thin on the just and on the unjust there's some things you don't need to credit it necessarily being the blessings of God if it violates God's word hear me in this house it doesn't matter how successful you may think you are in the short term God's word has the final say if we'll trust in him if we'll believe in him you won't mistake any word or any happening Ecclesiastes said and I'll paraphrase and shorten time and chance happeneth to them all good people sometimes have bad times bad people sometimes has successes but that's not the final stay but all if we'll stay familiar with the voice of God when Jesus speaks to us and we hear his voice there will be no chance for a word of mistaken identity we will not be fooled by anything so you see Mary thought he was a gardener followers saw him in a different light and M took him for not being what they needed they thought he was Thunder and the voice of God was Thunder but still there are other examples let me give you this Matthew 14:24 but the ship was now in the midst of the sea tossed with the waves for the wind was contrary and in the Fourth Watch of the night Jesus went into them walking on the sea now I know all of us would like to think we know what we would do but I really think if I was in the midst of a storm and I had walked with Jesus and I experienced Jesus and I I had seen the Miracles that he could do and he had called me and I was following him and I got in the midst of a storm and Jesus came walking on the water I kind of think I'd be excited about that I I just think that I if ID had that kind of relationship I'd kind of feel a about Jesus showing up but that's not what happened to his own followers and disciples it says and when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were troubled saying it is a spirit and they cried out for fear they said there's a ghost all right Mary said he's a gardener his followers said his voice is thunder maybe angels are speaking now his disciples are saying it's a ghost straight way Jesus spake to them saying be of good cheer it is I be not afraid I'm amazed at those followers that were more afraid of Jesus than they were of a storm in fact frankly there's some folks walking around all the time looking for ghosts and Spooks they're worried about Things That Go Bump in the night Hear Me Greater is he greater is he that's in me than he that's in the world I'm not worried about evil spirits I've Got The Power of the Holy Ghost dwelling inside me I'm not worried about any Ghouls and ghosts any demons and goblins listen Casper might have been friendly but he ain't holy the only ghost you need is the holy ghost in your life let me tell you we need to clear our minds from some of that garbage and junk if you dwell on it that's what you're going to experience you need to talk to the Lord have mercy I've quit preaching started meddling tonight heard the story somebody told said the devil was sitting on the front porch of the church crying somebody said devil what you crying for he said these people blame me for everything there's some things that we ought to not even give the devil CR credit for I'm not going to let him have credit for any issue because I know that it rains on the just and the unjust time and chance happening to them all I'm going to have good days and I'm going to have bad days but as long as I've got the Holy Ghost reigning in my life I will be victorious it may take 49 rounds Bishop but I'm going to [Applause] win oh hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah you see there was another instance that a resurrected savior was now revealing himself to his disciples after the crucifixion over in Luke the 24th chapter and as they thus spake they were having conversation and notice Jesus himself stood in the midst of them and said to saith unto them peace be unto you it didn't just say Jes it said Jesus himself is't that beautiful the way that's written Jesus himself came and stood in the midst of their conversation and said Peace be unto you let me tell you if Jesus shows up in your life if you'll recognize him for who he is he'll bring peace into your life I don't care how much turmoil how much stress and distress you've been going through if you'll let Jesus show up and speak in your life he'll bring peace to your life once again we're talking about his followers those closely related to him but they were terrified and are frightened and supposed that they had seen a spirit there's another ghost showed up and he said unto them why are you troubled listen when Jesus shows up don't be troubled get excited find peace in your life all all the Earthly problems may not be gone yet but just let peace come in there's too many folks walking around with troubled Minds with anxieties and fears and distresses and temptations and panic you need to speak Jesus over some of this mess that's been troubling your life you need to quit letting your mind dwell on those things that's been troubling you and say Jesus I hear you I see you speak peace in my life tonight Hallelujah they were terrified and AF fright suppose they had seen the spirit he said to them why are you troubled why do you why do thoughts arise in your heart quit that stinking thinking behold my hands and my feet that it is I my myself in that beautiful Jesus look here it's me it's Jesus showed up handle me and see for a spirit hath not Flesh and Bones as ye have as ye see me have and when he had thus spoken he showed them his hands and his feet and notice the wording again so beautiful in the word it says and while they yet believed not for Joy they believed it they still couldn't get excited about it they weren't joyous they they were just now please understand Jesus had already prophesied what was going to happen time and time again he had been telling I I have to go away I'm going to be crucified this is going to happen he he gave it to him in in Prophecy in scripture he identified it time and time and time again yet now when they are experiencing what should have made them joyous they're scared to death right listen don't be afraid of a move of God in your life don't be afraid of the supernatural blessings that God has for you don't let it frighten you don't man we preach walking by faith but when we got to walk by faith scares us to death find some Joy knowing that God's walking with you he's established your goings he will not leave you nor forsake you he he said to them have you any meat and they gave him a piece of broiled fish and honeycomb and he took it and did eat it for he had to prove that he was a fully resurrected flesh as well as God and he said unto them these are the words which I spake unto you while I was yet with you he had to give them a reminder he had to give them another Bible lesson that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms concerning me you're experiencing it don't be afraid peace be unto you verse 45 then opened he their understanding that they might understand scriptures get a revelation of who he is from the word for yourself listen to Bible study listen to anointed men and women who speak the word of God but find a revelation of who he is that personal relationship and knowing Jesus for yourself and he said unto them thus it's written and thus it behoove Christ to suffer to rise from the dead on the third day he said this was all supposed to happen and then notice he starts to reminding them of their responsibility and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached In The Name Of in in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem and ye are witnesses of these things you're here right now and behold I send the promise of my father upon you but tear you in the city of Jerusalem until you be endued with power from on high this was direction for the day of Pentecost to take place don't be afraid if when Pentecost starts taking place in your life and in your family's life you prayed for your family get excited when they start calling you and asking you questions hey I believe I'd like to go to church with you you've been praying for somebody hry at work when they finally say I want to come to church don't get afraid that somebody's going to Huck a buck hope we have the wildest service they've ever experienced when they get here I want them to get a full dose of the Holy Ghost I'm not ashamed don't be afraid of a move of God let the Holy Ghost move us Shake us quake us the world's not looking for more of them they're looking for something new Hallelujah let me move quickly mistaken for a gardener mistaken for Thunder mistaken for a spirit or a ghost but over in Acts we find those who were superstitious in Acts 17:22 it said then Paul stood in the midst Mars Hill and said ye men of Athens he's speaking to the grecians now I perceive that in all of you ye are too superstitious for as I passed by and beheld your devotions the were these weren't honory folks these were people who they were having devotions they had respect for God but they didn't have a personal relationship I found an altar with this inscription to the unknown God whom therefore ye ignorantly worship Him declare I unto you you see Paul was at the very seat of learning and judgment education and was among the elite of religion of that day the grecians so wanted to serve God God they didn't know that they made an altar to the unknown God and sadly in the day and time which we live there are many who are living a similar life in an abstract way if you ask them do you believe in God they'll say yes I do in fact if you read the obituary section of the Knoxville new Sentinel you'll find very few folks that do not claim to be a Christian or religious in some way yet so many do not have the revelation of who he really is came to Proclaim tonight that God is not an abstract idea he's not a vague entity he's not the great spirit he's not the sky above the roof God's not a figure on a crucifix or a statue or a p on a Pagan altar he's not a plastic baby in a manger scene on the lawn of the church he's not a convenient reference for a conservative political speech and God is not the god of jihad to kill murder and Destroy that's right you see that's a God we don't serve a God we serve the God we know who the God is he is the god he is God manifest in flesh when when Jesus came to this earth he was God robed in flesh we have the revelation of who he is and we need to unashamedly know and not mistake him for anything else ex said it this way God that made the world and all things therein seeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth dwelleth not in temples made by hand mankind can't create a sculpture or an image image temples the Bible said know you not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost then this reference this is not just referring to a building for him to dwell in but also there was no embodiment that man could create that could possess the true God neither is worship with men's hands as though he needed anything God doesn't need me he doesn't need my adoration I need to adore him when when I sacrifice and worship as as was so aply preached today he pours himself into us and out on us neither is worship His Hands and though he needed anything see he giveth to all life and breath all things and have made please notice verse 26 if you hadn't heard one other thing tonight please notice verse 26 and have made of one blood all ations of men to dwell on the face of the Earth and at determine the time before appointed and the bounds of their habitation what does verse 26 mean that means there should be no Prejudice and bigotry in any of us we are all of One blood the skin of our Co the the color of our skin the ethnicity of our life shame on us if we ever get to thinking that we're better than someone else we're made of one blood made of God we are all equal and the same heav help a church that has a prejudice against anyone any bloodline any ethnicity we are not going to be that because that's not what God made that doesn't come from God that they should seek the Lord if happily they might feel after him and find him though he be not far from every one of us for in him we live and move and have our being as certain also of your poets have said for we are also his offsprings for as much then as we are the offsprings of God we ought not to think that the godhead is liken to to gold or silver or stone or Graven by Art and man's devices he said in the time of this ignorance God winked at God said well that was cute when you were making little images man kind when you were ignorant that was kind of cute you were saying you thought you could carve something that looked like me you thought that you could uh make a statue that that that represented me he winked at that but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent the first step in the Plan of Salvation you got to repent of your sins if you want to know what the godhead is Colossians said Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the the traditions of men after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ for in him in him not them in him dwelleth the fullness of the godhead bodily somebody hear me tonight if you know Jesus you know the godhead don't mistake any [Applause] Hallelujah and ye are complete in him I don't need anything else I'm complete in Jesus stand with me praise team and musicians get ready hallu you're completing him which is the head of all principality and Power you see Mary came looking for a corpse when she should have been looking for a miracle in the most difficult of circumstances her grief had confused her real understanding clouded her memory of what had been prophesied and now she was experiencing a miracle and didn't even realize it I would paraphrase again to every person in here even in all of this scripture that we've read tonight it was Jesus closest followers who kept mistaking him for something else even Thomas because he would not be there when Jesus first appeared would forever carry the moniker of doubting Thomas but you see when Thomas finally got the Revelation and got to see Jesus there was one thing that Thomas said that I will always dwell on he wasn't like the grecians to say this is a God or an unknown God Thomas said this he said my Lord and my godall hear me tonight if you're in this house and you haven't made Jesus your personal savior those are not just catchphrases and kind words but let let me tell you you need to get to know Jesus tonight in the fullness of who he is you need to have the revelation of knowing that he can dwell in you through the power of the Holy Ghost he becomes Christ Living in you 1 John 3 I will give you one more passage of scripture if you got nothing else tonight you got a bunch of word first John John 3:1 says behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us that which should be called the sons of God therefore the world knoweth us not now world's not going to recognize us because it knows not him man to be committed and sold out to Jesus you may be mistaken for a lot of things and somebody may say that's a bunch of nuts it's all right oh that's a bunch of legalists it's okay that's that's a bunch of radicals ah did tell one guy I know we're not a cult if we were a cult everybody do what I [Music] say he said the world knoweth us not because it knew him not not beloved now are we the sons of God and it does not yet appear what we shall be listen I'm not what I'm going to be yet I'm striving every day to be more like Jesus but I promise you I'm so imperfect I have so many faults and failures I don't know yet exactly what I'm going to be but I know there's a day that's coming but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is there'll be no case of mistaken identity when Jesus splits The Cloud of Glory and he comes back to take his church away I know what I'm going to be I'm going to be with him is what I'm going to be listen if you're in this house tonight I'm going to open this altar in just a moment if you want to be like Jesus is all I'm asking you to do if you have a desire to be like Jesus and not mistake him for anything else I invite you to step out gather around this Altar for a season of prayer if you haven't repented repent if you don't have the Holy Ghost let the Holy Ghost fill you if you haven't been baptized we'll baptize you tonight in Jesus name you get what you need from the Lord would you together in for a season of praise and a season of worship Hallelujah name is power your name is healing your name is break every stronghold shine through the [Music] [Applause] sh sing it un the Lord is power your name is power your name is healing your name is healing your name [Music] is break every shine through the sh [Music] like the [Music] Lord Jesus in the shout it un the lordus in Jesus call on that name right now I want to know you Jesus I want to know you Jesus I want to know you [Music] Jesus Jesus from the mountain Jesus in the street Jesus the dark over every eny Jesus for my Jesus for my I speak the holy [Music] nameus oh speak that name speak that name speak that name shout Jesus the Jesus in the street Jesus in the heart over every [Applause] en Jesus for my Jesus I speak the Holy Name [Applause] Jesus your name is power your name is healing your name is break every stold shine through the [Music] shadow Hallelujah now would you lift your hands and love Jesus would you love him just a moment Jesus I Praise You Jesus I hear your voice Jesus I hear your Direction Jesus I hear your call Lord speak peace into our lives Lord speak Deliverance into our lives Lord speak healing into our lives savior speak salvation into our lives we do claim it we do trust in you in Jesus name in Jesus name First Apostolic church thank you for knowing the voice of the Lord thank you for responding to his call thank you for ministering to the lost in our community that is our goal that's our desire our goal is our goal is let's go from this place speaking Jesus to all that we meet proclaiming and knowing we know him all the women of fac serves and those that would like to help please please remember immediately upon dismissal you're going to the cafeteria and they're going to stuff those backpacks it will take probably about 10 minutes to do so to provide thanks everyone again for your liberal outpouring to this Outreach and Ministry Lord bless you you're dismissed in jesus' name Shake Hands and be friendly