Sunday Morning Worship Service

I want to take you to the book of Matthew, the 24th chapter. If you'd look in your Bibles or in your tablet, uh, and I would say welcome back home, Pastor Anthony, Sister Kelly, and, uh, grandb babies. They've been down in Louisiana preaching. Glad to have you all home. Matthew 24, we'll begin reading at verse 42 and we'll read three verses. Matthew 24, beginning with verse 42. Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched and would have would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore, be ye also ready. Now notice, first it said, "Watch." Then it says, "Be ready for in such an hour as you think not the son of man cometh." For a few moments this morning, I'd speak to you on this s subject. Watching and ready. Watching and ready. Let's pray. Savior, I love you. I thank you for the honor and the privilege of carrying your gospel. Lord, I thank you for this wonderful congregation of believers who've joined here today. God, I pray that your word would minister to our hearts, our minds, and every part of our life. Lord, let it give us direction, encouragement, but most of all, Lord, salvation is the most important thing. Let us be sensitive to your word that it would lead any who's unsaved to salvation. We thank you and praise you in the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen and amen. Watching and ready. In this passage of scripture, Jesus is speaking to his disciples upon the Mount of Olives. And he's giving them insight and prophetic word about his return. Even though he has not been crucified yet, he's already giving them pro prophetic word about the second coming. He's also telling them about the temple that seemed so massive and impossible to be destroyed that it would indeed be destroyed. This is actually Jesus last extended word to his disciples before he was crucified. and the tone of many of the things that he states in this passage in Matthew 24 and you can find it in the other synoptic gospels as well. You'll find that it has an ominous tone but to his followers to the disciples as they were so are we his disciples. We find promises that are designed to give hope. He addresses wars and rumors of wars, nations against nations, famines, pestilence, earthquakes, and then says that's just the beginning. And he's giving an address now concerning his disciples personal vigilance when he says to watch and to be ready. Back in Matthew the 13th chapter, he also addressed the idea of watching and he gave a parable. You can find this in Matthew 13:24. For we read another parable put forth unto them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which seth good seed in his field." But while men slept, his enemy came and swed tears among the wheat and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tears also. Please notice in this passage that Jesus said, "A man singular sowed." But in verse 25 it said men plural slept. You see this was an intentional act of destruction that the enemy came in and swed tears while men plural slept. And this parable likely is giving insight to a generational or employee slashhiring apathy and unconcern. He was saying there was one with a call who planted the field who did the initial work and laid out the field that would produce the harvest. But there were others who were hired or employees whose job it was simply to watch the field but they went to sleep on the job. If I might for our purposes today give you First Apostolic Church as an example. We talked a bit about this in Bible study on Wednesday night, but God indeed did call Bishop Mcool and Sister Mcool to the city of Knoxville. The call went out in 1956 and God called them to come here and start a church and a Christian school. It was a singular call and they began fulfilling that call and came to Knoxville and began planting seed, begin plowing ground, began establishing this assembly that you're in today some 68 plus years ago. But you see, after the call went out and the church began to grow, multiple generations now of saints, volunteers, and workers at FAC, at ACS, and AKA are tasked with plural ministries that make us all watchmen that should be watching and ready, be vigilant and active observers. ers and caretakers of the field of ministry that God's given us right here in our city. There are multiple ministries, multiple outreaches that God has so mightily blessed us with resources and the opportunities to minister that one individual couldn't do. one man would sow, but many men and that is not gender specific is assigned to and required to be watchers and ready. Are you ready today to watch the field of Knoxville, Tennessee? Are you ready? And are you watching to fulfill the call that God started in this city a long time ago? You see the time of sewing is difficult yet it's exciting. Plans expectations of a fruitful harvest are usually just in the mind of the swer. But there is a time after the sewing takes place of watching during the growing season. The time of watching requires vigilance, maintenance, patience, and yes, endurance. There's a reason that some people say about some activities that are not particularly exciting that that's about as exciting as watching grass grow. You see, preparing a yard is hard work, but you see the immediate work go forward. The the tilling of the ground, the planting of the seed, the throwing of the straw, the the watering, and and but then sets in that time of waiting and watching for the fruits of the labor of the sewing to go forth. Being a watcher means fighting boredom and fatigue that comes with the everyday rigors of maintaining a field. It may at times appear that there's very little action going on, but I'm here to tell you watching the field as an active watcher is extremely important. Watching is crucial. Even though it may sometimes appear to be a thankless and unappreciated job, there are some ministries that have immediate gratification, but there are some outreaches that last for many years before results are seen. Let me again give example. I am so blessed to sometimes now have the vantage point of once teaching in apostolic Christian school. Sister Jamie and I were full-time teachers at one time, but I'm so blessed beyond measure now to see some of those little ones that Sister Jamie had in child care or we had in after school care. some of those middle school and high school students who have now become leaders, praise team, worshippers and musicians and technicians and and greeters and teachers themselves. But that doesn't happen overnight. It's years and years of seeing seeds that were planted that start to come up. You see, it's real easy during the growing season to get bored and get drowsy and go to sleep. Ronald Reagan was once quoted as saying, "I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if in I'm in a cabinet meeting." There are that'll come through in a minute. There are there are times that in the outreach that God has called us to, if we aren't careful, we'll find ourselves nodding off and not being vigilant to take care of what God has tasked us and called us to do. You see, in the military, watchmen take charge of their responsibilities. They keep alert. They observe all things. They they won't leave their post of duty unless they're relieved. Uh they salute and respect authority. Uh they uh receive and pass on and obey commands and orders given them. They sound alarms when appropriate and when peril is near. They tell the right people what's going on. They're not gossip, but they know how to pass on information that's necessary. I heard the now deceased but well noted news and commentator from radio days Paul Harvey tell a story one time. He said there was a young private who had been assigned guard duty task on a late night shift. It was cold where he was serving and he went to the guard house. And as the night drug on, he sat down in the warm guard house. And eventually, because nothing was going on, he began to nod and he bowed his head and he went to sleep on guard duty. He was awakened like some of you were right then by his sergeant banging on the door of the guard house saying, "Wake up. You're in big trouble." The young man thinking quickly, raised his head and said, "In Jesus name I pray." Amen. There's a difference in nodding off and really praying. If we're going to watch the field, we better know how to watch and pray and be ready. For when you think it's the least of times, the enemy will attack and will sew tears in the field. Whatever your ministry is, whatever your call is, whatever God's called you to do, don't take it for granted, don't go to sleep at the whip, stay vigilant. God's got a work for you to do. He's got a crop that's going to come up in your ministry. You see, there's a difference in being a watcher and being a spectator. You see, watchers are active. If they see trouble, they'll step out and stop the trouble and they'll call for reinforcements. Spectators, if they see trouble, will get out their phone and video it so they can post it on social media. There's a difference in being a watcher and a spectator. Spectators watch for entertainment. They express their likes and their dislikes. They're given to drowsiness and distraction. Even anytime there's a low in the action, they're likely to fall asleep if they're not always entertained and engaged. What am I today? Am I a spectator or am I a watcher? Am I looking to be pleased or am I guarding the field? Sometimes it's going to be hot. Sometimes it's going to be cold. But the watcher will be vigilant to watch. Sometimes it's going to be loud. Sometimes it's not going to be loud enough. But the watcher doesn't get offended and give their opinions all the time. The watcher says, "I'm going to do whatever it takes so I can keep my film producing." Right? >> For you see, the production we're talking about is the production of souls. And yes, we must watch and pray. In a spiritual sense, one can see the clearest when you got your eyes closed, when you're praying and talking to the Lord. Now, I do give the caveat. We should always pray without ceasing. So when you pray in the car, keep your eyes open. But you know what I mean? Live your life in a season of prayer that you always know how to get in touch with God. Jesus had an issue with his disciples, for they too wanted to sleep during prayer service. Matthew 26:40 it says, "And he cometh unto disciples and findeth them asleep and said unto Peter, what could you not watch with me one hour?" Now understand, he was asking to pray, but he called that watching. You see, when you're talking to God, you are vigilant. You are watching over some things. When you're praying for your family, when you're praying for your marriage, when you're praying for your children, when you're praying about your job, when you're praying about outreach, when you're praying about winning the lost, you may have your eyes closed and be on your knees. You may be standing with your arms raised. Whatever your posture, let everybody know that you are a vigilant watcher when you're praying. Jesus said, "Could you not watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Now, yes, we understand that Jesus was dealing with the greatest trial he would face and that was knowing that he would be crucified. He would even pray, "Lord, if it be thy will, let this cup pass from me." But as he was doing this prayer, he was looking for others that would pray with him. You see, there's something strong that goes along with corporate prayer. And when the saints of God begin praying together and asking God to do a work, he said, "Could you not pray with me for whatever?" He said, "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation." Now, you know who he was talking to at that time? He was talking to Peter. It said, he saith unto Peter, you need to be praying so you don't enter into temptation. Any of you who are Bible scholars or knowledgeable at all know that Peter was impetuous and Peter always thought he was super spiritual and Jesus time and time again had to remind him of you know Peter was so spiritual that when they saw Jesus walking on the water he said bid me to come. Jesus said come on get out of the boat. I guess I'll always remember what my cousin said when he was preaching. My cousin Bob, he said, "If it'd be me, I just said,"Lord, if that really be you, tell John to get out of the boat." Peter said, "No." He said, "Bid me come. You don't call God's bluff." Jesus said, "Get out of the boat." And Peter, as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, you know the story, he could walk on the water. But when his faith got weak, he began to sink. And he said, "Lord, help me." You see, Peter went through episode after episode of having to be reminded he wasn't as spiritual as he thought he was. Sometimes we can get a little bit spiritually egocentric and struck on ourselves thinking that we are so spiritual. Jesus said, "You better be watching and praying lest temptation come." It would be this same Peter who at Jesus defense would take off the ear of the high priest servant and then when Jesus would rebuke him, he would get offended and would deny Jesus and even curse to prove he wasn't a follower. This is the same Jesus who had to be reminded don't go to sleep on watch for your own self. God, help us to be good watchmen and ready over our own lives, over our personal lives, that we do not become complacent with what God has called us to do. Said he went away the second time and prayed, saying, "Oh my father, if this cup may not pass away from me except I drink it, thy will be done." Could we pause there and remind everybody If Jesus could pray, "Thy will be done." That should be an example of way we ought to pray. There are a lot of things that bitter people try to get angry at God and blame God and say, "God didn't answer my prayer. Is there really a God?" I remind us again, he answers prayer in three ways. He says yes, he says no, and sometimes he says wait. We like it when he says yes. We disdain it when he says no. But we find ourselves many times so impatient when the Lord says wait. Just wait. You see, it was important that even Jesus had a prayer that didn't get answered as his flesh wanted it. He said, "If it be thy will, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will, not my flesh, but thy will be done." He came and found them asleep again, for the eyes were heavy. And he left them and went away, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples and said unto them, "Sleep on now and take your rest. Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go up. Behold, he is at hand, and death betray me." In his most difficult hour, his followers slept. I want to be a disciple of Christ, but I don't want to go to sleep on his call. I want to be a follower of Christ, but oh God, let me stay vigilant. Let me stay awake. Let me stay ready. It matters not what ministry field you're in. You may be planning in a Christian school. You may be planning at work that you're witnessing to some lost workers around you. You may be a student somewhere. You may be ministering to lost family. Don't go to sleep. Don't become complacent. Don't go to sleep on your marriage. Don't go to sleep on taking care of your children. God's given every one of us a field of labor. Don't go to sleep. Be a watchman and be ready. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. And back to our statement that Jesus made in his parable in Matthew 13. It said men plural, a multiplicity of folks went to sleep. And when they went to sleep that the enemy swed tears in the field. At first sight, you couldn't tell the difference. There's still just a a field that a crop was coming up. There was no definite these are the tears and this is the wheat. It was just a field that had not yet matured. If you look up the term tears, you'll find it described as a weed of fields where grain is grown. A plant that is not valued where it is growing and is used and is usually of rank growth. In other words, it'll it'll outgrow anything. Anybody that's ever weeded a a flower bed knows that you have to work on getting the flowers to grow. But the weeds they'll grow just on their own and they'll go right past it. Ask my wife, especially when growing in cultivated ground to damage the crop. You see, First Apostolic Church, our community around us is the field we've been sent to. Now, let me clue everybody around here. From the early 70s when we built our first sanctuary to now, the demographics of our community has changed. Now, to all of the elitist spiritually, to all the phariseical spirits, oh, uh, there's some different kind of people have moved into our neighborhood. I wonder should we look at moving? God didn't call me to a field in a different part of town. God didn't call First Apostolic Church to move every time the demographics change. You know what we're going to do? We're going to feed folks on Friday. You know what we're going to do? We're going to minister to the folks that come through those doors. Whatever they have, whatever the lost is dealing with in our community, First Apostolic Church, we're called to this field. And we're going to stand up and be watchers. We're going to be ready to meet the needs. It It's greatly changed from the way things used to be. Are you afraid to be a watcher? Are you afraid to be ready? I want to reach our community. I want to reach our loss. 2:00 this afternoon, there'll be a Hispanic service over in the event center. >> There was no need for that in the 70s. We didn't have a Hispanic community. But you see, God has sent people with a call. He, you see, he won't make a call without equipping. And he's equipped us with folks with a burden that minister. First Apostolic Church, we have been called to multiple fields to minister. Are we going to be watchmen or are we going to be observers? If you go to sleep, I try to watch my words and not be too insulting. But let me tell you how Proverbs described folks that sleep too much. Proverbs 6:9 says, "How long thou sleep, oh sluggard? slugard. When will thou arise out of sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. So shall thy poverty come as one that travaleth and thy want as an armed man. The term slugard defined is habitually lazy person. My daddy used to say a worthless piece of plunder. I really don't know what a slugger is completely. I I do know what a slug is. If you grew up in the south, you know what a slug is. That that's that's a a a snail that crawls on the sidewalk. That's a slug. You in fact, y'all remember what the snail said that was on the turtle's back? He said, "Wee, that sure is fast." You see, slugards are lazy. They They don't move much. They don't do much. You see, God had to deal with his people when they got away from leadership. Isaiah prophesied to the leaders of Israel. When the leaders of Israel had become slugards and were not doing what they should, he prophesied through Isaiah. Here's what he said in Isaiah 56:10. His watchmen are blind. They are all ignorant. Boy, that's tough to have a watchman who's blind and ignorant. They're not going to do you much good, is it? They are all dumb dogs. They cannot bark, sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yay, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough. They are shepherds that cannot understand. They all look to their own way, everyone for his gain from his quarter. Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we'll fill ourselves with strong drink, and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant. He's speaking to leaders now. Leadership, blind and ignorant watchmen. A blind watchman is not going to do you much good. Dumb dogs, sleeping dogs. We sadly had to say goodbye to our Yorkie Titi of 14 years this year. He was just barely eight pounds. He couldn't do much physically as far as fending off someone that would come around. But oh, I want you to know he knew how to sound an alarm. If the doorbell rang or a vehicle pulled up in the driveway, it didn't get by. Titi, he let you know. He let you know what was going on. And as long as he was behind the glass door, he act like he could whip the world, too. I said, "These dogs, these blind watchmen said they can't even bark. That's not much of a leader. Let me tell you, we've got to keep crying out against sin. We've got to keep loving sinners and hating sin. We've got to keep developing every opportunity we have to minister, to reach out, not develop an attitude. Understand? He said, "Tomorrow shall be as this day and much more abundant." That's those who assume a birthright. Listen, we are a multi-generational apostolic church. It hasn't always been as it is today. But if we aren't careful, we can find ourselves with a generation that does not know what sacrifice is about. They think everything's about abundance. And frankly, we can feel the same way that God's blessed us. We're satisfied with who we've got and who's we've got. We don't need all of these uh individuals coming in from the community. They're going to change the way we are. No, we're going to pray that God change them. We will not change our doctrine, the Jesus name apostolic message. We will not change the message of holiness, but we will minister to our community in fresh new ways from time to time. We have a responsibility to watch the field and to be ready. Oh God, keep me awake. Oh God, don't let me slumber. Well, and I hasten. What can make you go to sleep as a watchman anyway? But when it gets dark, you start darkening the place down, you'll get drowsy. John 1 John 2:8 said again, a new commandment. I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passed, and the true light now shineth. He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother. Man, don't gloss over that. Don't run past that too quick. If you got hatred in your heart, you're going to live in the dark. I mean, there may be 120 watt bulbs burning all around you, but you're going to be in darkness. If you hate your brother, if you've got hatred in your heart, you better get it out. He that saith he's in the light and hateth his brother is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there's none occasion of stumbling in him. You see, the reason folks go into gross sin many times, things that you would never think that someone would stoop to is because they got hatred in the heart and they started walking in darkness. When you start walking in darkness, you can trip over the smallest thing, things that you would normally step over in the light. He that hateth his brothers in darkness, walketh in darkness, knoweth not whether he goth, because the darkness hath blinded his eyes. Hatred will turn your lights out and put you to sleep spiritually. 1 Thessalonians 5:4 said, "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness that the day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all children of light and the children of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. We are children of the light. Therefore, let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep in the night, they that be drunken are drunken in the night. Not only will the darkness put you to sleep, inactivity, sitting still too long will put you to sleep, too. Lamentations 1:1 said, "How does the city sit solitary that was full of people? How has she become a wid as a widow? She that was great among nations and princes among the provinces. How has she become a tributary? She weepeth sore in the night. Her tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers, she hath none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her. They are become her enemies. If we decide to stand pat where we are, we're satisfied. We've gone as far as we can go. We're satisfied with where God has brought us at this time. We'll become a city that is solitary. A city that's nothing going on. That was full of people, but now it's an empty castle as a testimony to the solitude of standing still. Verse three said, "Judah has gone into captivity because of affliction, because of great servitude. She dwelleth among the heathen. She findeth no rest. All her persecutors overtook her between the straits. Judah's name at now will praise. When you pray, sits down." I said, "When you'll praise sits down, I may not can jump as high as I used to, but I still can lift my hands. I may not can shout and dance with as much vigor as I used to, but there's another generation that can. And I'm going to say, "Go get it." And I'm going to do my best, and I'm going to give what I've got. Yes. Praise and worship, demonstrative praise in the house of God is biblical and scriptural. This is not a place. This is not a place to be dead, dried, and formal. Even our funerals, Brother Jones, folks don't understand how we get excited at a homegoing of a saint. The world don't get it. We celebrate the homegoing of a saint. Why? Because we're praise and worshippers. As Judas said, "Now will I praise." We're going to still clap our hands. We're going to shout. We're going to dance. We're going to worship the Lord. That's what we are. That's who we are. That's what we do. Oh, Brother Mcool. The world won't understand. Well, let's explain it to them. >> The way you explain it to them is live the life outside. So when they say, "I want what they've got." They can come in here and enjoy worship and praise and understand what's going on. Have mercy. I am about to preach. If y'all aren't careful, I'm still talking to us. You see, watchers stay active. They don't find themselves sitting pat and satisfied. What did he say in Matthew to his disciples? He said, "Rise. Let us be going. Behold, he is at hand that death betray us. The enemy is at the door. We need to get up and praise and worship and fight the good fight of faith." Watchers have the burden of the sewer. Praise team musicians, get ready. They'll think I'm quitting. We are God called. We're not hirelings. >> Let me say that again. We are God called. We're not hirelings. Yes, there will be jobs and workers in the kingdom of God in our Christian school, folks that that uh a labor is worthy of his hire. But there's also many volunteer ministries that folks work so diligent in this assembly. I applaud all those who work so tirelessly in the multiple ministries as they volunteer their time, their efforts, their resources, their service. You see, true watchers have the burden of the swer. They're not just hirelings. Here's what Jesus said about a hireling. in a comparison to a shepherd. He said in John 10:12, "But he that is a hireling and not the shepherd who's owned the sheep or not, seeth the wolf coming and leaveth the sheep." Says, "Feed don't fail me now. Get me out of here and fleth." The wolf catches them and scatters the sheep. He causes great disruption in the flock. The hireling fleth because he's a hireling and carth not for the sheep. Let me give an example that most of us probably can relate to. Have you ever gone into a place of business, maybe a restaurant or a place of business that the owner wasn't around and the employees were sitting around? I I've been there. You could tell the owner nor the manager was nowhere by for anyone that had the attitude of a hireling. They were not worried about customer service. They were not worried about the success of the business. They were worried about working their eight hours a day and getting their paycheck and getting out of there. You see, this can happen to us in a spiritual sense. We can find ourselves without the burden of the swer and the burden of the call. I'm just coming to church so I can fulfill my duty and responsibility as a good little Christian. I I want to be a pillar of the community and be able to tell everybody that I'm I attend church and I'm glad to have attenders, but I'd much rather have worshippers and saints of God that have the call of the swer that we understand our goal is still >> what our goal is. >> Our goal is >> brother Chris, I got your text message. Brother Chris was in a staff meeting, a work meeting, and they were going over some kind of something. They said, "What's our goal?" He said, "I had to bite my lip." He said, "I almost said souls in my staff meeting." We're watchers at the field. Our goal is to win souls. We want a crop that's going to come up with >> Oh, please stay with me just a moment longer. I I know I've been up here way too long, but please stay with me just a moment longer. You see, if we become egocentric about the call of God, it's all about me. If we become pseudospiritual and that we imitate spirituality just because we've learned to do this and to do that. If I'm spiritual only to the point of being used and without conviction, I have a hireling spirit. I if I just act what I do and do what I do just to be recognized, I have a hireling spirit. If I follow holiness standards only to participate and I have not developed a true conviction, I don't have the spirit of the swer. If I feel like I've got some new revelation, some new doctrine, some fresh dogma, I do not share the burden of the swer. For you see, ultimately the hireling or the servant who is given to going to sleep when they finally wake up and realize that tears have been sown immediately look for somebody to blame for the tears. Oh, it couldn't have been that I went to sleep and it happened while I was asleep. I got to blame somebody. Matthew 13:26 it says, "But when the blade was sprung up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tears also. Now the field is maturing. The good crop is growing up, but the tears are coming up, too." So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, these are the dudes that should have been watching and stopped the the tears from being sewed in the first place. It said, "Sir, did not thou sew good seed in the field?" What did you sew out here, Bishop Mcool? What What do you mean to have a church in a Christian school when there's an issue? When there's some kind of tears that come up, what what did you do from whence hath it tears? You must not have sowed good seed. Couldn't be that I went to sleep. must be inferior seed. But notice the swer does not counter with accusation. He kept his focus to who the real enemy was. He address he addressed those who were those self-appointed spiritual evaluators. It'll happen. I just don't think she's spiritual enough to be seen. I did. You see who was praying for the sick? I I don't know if pastor knows. I need to go tell pastor about I got news for you. If you're here today and looking for a perfect church, you're at the wrong house. This is a place full of imperfect people that are doing their best trying to have the vision and the heart of the swer. But folks are going to make mistakes sometimes. We do not cover sin and we do not condone sin. But we also do not have the spirit of the hierling. Because here's what the hireling said to do. the hireling who was going to judge the value, the validity, the strength of the crop. The notice it verse 28, the ser enemy hath done this. The servant said unil thou then that we go and gather them up. He said the enemy did this. The hireling said, "Well, let's just go pull everything up. Let's just The hierling didn't care about the crop." The hierling said, "Let let's let's just we're going to stop and start over. We going we going to clean this place out. We we we're gonna clean the field. There'll be no crop this year." But the ser verse 29 but he said nay that means uhuh and no nay lest while ye gather up the tears you root up also the wheat with them in your vision of being so spiritual that you're going to eliminate everything from the church that's not productive. We're going to get rid of all these tears. When you start pulling up tears, then you're going to pull up some wheat, too. You're when you start trying, he said, here's what he said to let both grow together until the harvest. And in a time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, gather ye together first the tears, and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn. It's not time for us to be pulling up and running off. It's time to wake up and be ready to minister to whoever comes through the doors. Stand with me. Jesus said in Matthew 24, "Watch ye therefore." That was our text. And then he said, "Be ready." 1 Corinthians, he said, "Watch ye stand fast in faith and be you strong. Let all your things be done with charity or with love." We got to love this world. First Thessalonians, we read it said, "Let us watch and be sober." Second Timothy, Paul covered it all. He said, "But watch thou in all things." Watch in all things. So I pose this question for all of us today. Am I watching and am I ready? Am I watching first of all my salvation? Are you taking care of your spiritual life? Ask yourself that question. I say not to condemn, but I ask you to reflect. Am I taking care of what I should do in my personal life spiritually? Am I watching? Am I ready? Am I watching? Am I ready in my calling whatever God has called me to do? Am I watching in my marriage, in my family, in my vocation? He said, watching all things. Am I a watcher and am I ready today? Would you bow your heads just a moment? Hallelujah. I realize we've been a bit lengthier than normal, but I feel that God would call us as we are just on the precipice of a new school year. We're in our mindly calendars starting fresh to plant and to sew and to watch. I'd ask everybody in this house to take a full accounting of your own call. God, what would you have me to do? God, am I being vigilant, God? Am I staying awake? Am I ready for the attack of the enemy? Or Lord, have I grown a bit apathetic and complacent? God, am I doing all to be a witness? Have I committed your gospel to my life? Do I have the burden of the swer today? Whatever state you find yourself in. In just a moment, I'm going to open this altar. If there's someone in this house who's never repented of your sins, this altar will be open for you to come and repent of your sins. That's the first step, the plan of salvation. We have a baptistry. If you have never been baptized in the precious name of Jesus, we'll baptize you today. We have clothes for men, women, boys, and girls. We have a man of God that will baptize you in Jesus name today. If you've never been baptized, if you've never received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the altar is a place to seek and to find the Holy Ghost. There are prayer warriors that will come with you and pray with you. You will not pray alone. Or if simply you want to say, "Lord, wake me up. Wake me up fresh. Let me not slumber any longer." Whatever your situation may be at this time, I want to open this altar for everybody in the house. If you would step out for a season of prayer and start making your way around the altar, God, let me be used of you. Let me be awake. Let me do all to please you in my life spiritually. Would you come believing? >> Hallelujah. >> Hallelujah. >> Else is worthy. >> Sing it unto the Lord. >> There is no one. >> There's no one. >> Only you Jesus. >> I want to have the burden of the swer. >> He's the worthy savior. >> Hallelujah. >> There is no one. Who else is worthy? Who else is worthy? There is no one. Only you, Jesus. Who else is worthy? >> Can that be your prayer today? >> Jesus, you're so worthy. You're worthy of my best praise. You're worthy of my best efforts. You're worthy of my resources. You're worthy of my sacrifice. >> Hallelujah. >> Holy, holy. Jesus Christ, you lifted up. >> >> Hallelujah. >> Sing it to the Lord. >> Hallelujah. >> Hallelujah. Who else is worthy? Who else is worthy? There is no one only you Jesus. Who else is worthy? Who else is worthy? There is no one only in Jesus. There is no There is no only in Jesus. >> Would you lift your hands and love him one more time? Jesus, I praise you. Lord, let me be a watcher. Let me be prepared and ready to serve you in your kingdom. God, I thank you. I praise you. I love you for your word and for the people of God in this room who faithfully give of all that they have in service in your kingdom. Anoint, bless, Lord, reward their efforts in Jesus name we pray. Amen and amen. Please be here tonight. Prayer time 6:00 we pray first 6:30 evangelistic service. Come expecting a great time in the Lord. Would you greet your brothers and sisters? There's a guest you don't know, make them welcome. You're dismissed in Jesus name.