Sunday Morning Worship Service

I'm going to let you move to your seats thank you praise team brother Trump for lead meting Us in worship what an honor and a privilege it is to be back in the house of the Lord with each and every one of you on this Sunday morning we say welcome to all of our many guests that are here I've seen several faces and I'm going to do a dangerous thing I'm going to name a few without being able to name all but I just want to say welcome back home to some of our church family who uh life has moved them to different parts of the world but I'm so glad GL to see the newans the silberg's I'm glad to have Freddy farmer back home out from Seattle Washington uh we're glad to have all of you folks back in the house of the Lord all the Home Folks good to see you we have uh uh folks from Mississippi uh see I I keep spotting more and more and I just say welcome uh everyone back to First Apostolic church and so glad to see all you home folks here as well uh I have a philosophy that I started when I was real young I'm thankful for the visitors but if it wasn't for the Home Folks there wouldn't be anybody here at all so glad to have all of you here on this beautiful Lord's day thank you for worshiping with you with us I want to also join my voice with that of Bishop and all of our pastors of saying uh welcome to brother and sister Trump and [name redacted] so honored to have you folks worshiping with us from Eureka California and all you do not want to miss the the uh Christmas service tonight this will be a very special time First Apostolic church is a multi-generational church uh and uh we will have music from multiple Generations so come tonight expecting to hear uh something that you like or something may be from a generation you don't like as much but we're going to have a good time as we celebrate our savior and bring the gifts of worship and praise so don't you miss the service tonight and oh let me also remind First Apostolic church next Sunday is Christmas Eve next Sunday is Christmas Eve you know how we're going to celebrate jesus' birthday we're going to go to church I can't imagine it being the day before Jesus birthday and us laying out of church we're going to have church Sunday morning Sunday night there will be a special gift for every person that's here next Sunday you do not want to miss that there will be a special gift for every individual that's here next Sunday morning but there will be service Sunday morning and Sunday night here Christmas Eve expecting a great time in the Lord and then Pastor Whitley's already reminded us but I'll tell you one more time on uh uh New Year's Eve as well we will be having service Sunday morning Sunday night evangelist Michael mopin will be with us and you do not want to miss those Services as well I want to to take us to the word of the Lord this morning and uh in this season that we're in uh some get a little bit nervous that maybe uh we're giving too much time as a culture to Christmas well I feel it's just the opposite man they they'll start putting pumpkins out uh the 1 of October headed towards some of the holidays that they so called celebrate and they'll start putting uh uh candy and red hearts out before February gets here why not celebrate our savior why not celebrate Christmas in fact we do that all year long actually because we know why the Savior really came so I want us to get into the word of the Lord to some of those as we would call them classic scriptures that we would study and read this time of year calling your attention to the Book of Matthew the first first chapter The Book of Matthew the first chapter and I want us to begin reading at verse number 18 Matthew the first chapter begin reading at verse number 18 now the birth of Jesus was on this wise when as his mother Mary was a spouse to Joseph before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Ghost then Joseph her husband being a just man and not willing to make a public example was minded to put her away privately but while he thought on these things behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream saying Joseph thou son of David for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost and she shall bring forth a son and and thou shalt call his name everybody say Jesus Jesus say Jesus Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins for a few moments I would speak to you on this subject Faith over circumstances let's pray savior I Love You Lord I'm so grateful for the wonderful presence that we've already experienced as you came into this room today Lord Lord I Thank you for manifesting yourself in the time of praise and worship now God I pray that we would open our hearts to receive your word today Lord nothing of these lips of clay that I can say but Lord of your anointed word let us Feast at your table receive and Lord act on what your word would direct us to do this day Lord for all this we're grateful and thankful in the name of Jesus we pray amen Faith over circumstances I would not agree to being called a control freak however I do believe strongly in trying to be in control of your own circumstances as far as is possible when I was much younger I started out in the Cub Scouts and then into the Boy Scouts and one of the things I was taught in the Boy Scouts was to be prepared and being prepared has always been important to me now I hope that some of you would not think too ill of me to let you know that I I I do sometimes obsess with making sure that I'm prepared for most situations there's a uh uh kind of a hobby that all you folks who are internet Savvy might have heard of before it's having your EDC your everyday carry what do you carry to help you be prepared well I must confess as I stand up before you here today I'm one of those gadgeteers that feel like I have to have certain things to make sure I'm prepared but after all I got that from my dad I want to blame on Bishop there's been day you heard him say guilty didn't you any of you folks that know my dad knows that he's always got a flashlight very likely and I'm you see him going for his inside coat pocket you see that flash right there I didn't plan this but I knew there were days past that I'd ask my dad or ask my uncle if you got your pocket knife on you and the answer is always I got my pants on don't I I would confess before everybody today that affected me I always wanted to be prepared so even when I come up here to preach I'm just going to confess I have my EDC with me now if you want to know that's my everyday carries what that means I see you shaking your head bro there's my Swiss army pocket knife it's got a flat head and a Phillips head on it you know I this is not a weapon this is a tool that you use I can't imagine a knife being a weapon it's a tool that you use it's got a knife blade and it it's got all kind of gadgets you can't call out on it but that's why I've got a phone but I've also got yep Bishop see I can come back at you I've got a flash flashlight I've got a a space pin it's called you're supposed to be able to write upside down with that now why you'd ever need to write upside down I really don't know but if I ever have to write upside down I'm prepared I mean it's even got a little pry bar on it if I've got to pry something open I don't know what circumstances I might have to face someday but I'm prepared I don't know what circumstances might come but then I reach into the other pocket just in case I've got my mini Leatherman Tool with me so I've even got pliers now some of y'all are getting real worried about me but that's all right I like to be in control of my circumstance if at all possible frankly I have a difficult ult time relinquishing control of my fate to anyone that includes taxi drivers financial planners or airline pilots all of those folks make me nervous and I encourage everyone to do your best as far as possible to control your own fate and circumstances morally educationally or dealing with your name and your reputation be in control of your circumstances you should most usually be able to take care of things but with all of that said I tell you today from the scriptures that we read There are some occasions that no matter how good you've lived no matter how many precautions you've taken how careful you've been or how well you've plans circumstances beyond your control can take charge of your life that's right such was the case with Mary and Joseph she was a spouse to Joseph she had apparently conducted herself in a manner to Merit this espousal or engagement Adam Clark the noted Bible commentator said this about Matthew 1:18 espouse to Joseph to contract to betroth refers to the previous marriage agreement in which the parties mutually bound themselves to each other without which no woman was ever married among the Jews among the Jews the as Cal though the marriage had not been consummated was considered as perfectly legal and binding on both sides and hence a breach of this contract was considered as a case of adultery and punished exactly in the same way those guilty of adultery women in that day were put to death they were stoned she was found with child he goes on to States her situation was the most distressing and humiliating that can be conceived nothing but the fullest consciousness of her own integrity and the strongest confidence in God could have supported her in such trying circumstances where her reputation her honor and her life was at stake Joseph and Mary you've done all the right things you followed the customs of your people you've obeyed Jewish law Mary you're a betr virgin Joseph you have a wife espoused to you yet the shocking news comes about Mary is with child here's circumstances that they weren't expecting right imagine over 2,000 years ago the cultural social and legal ramifications of their current circumstance Joseph and Mary you've lost control of your situation but I would like for us for a few moments today I realize this is a bit unorthodox and different direction that you might expect the Christmas story to be preached from but bear with me a few moments I want you to understand the character of Mary and Joseph that the Holy Ghost would choose to make these circumstances take place in their life first first understand scripture says that Joseph was a just man this means he deals with circumstance from a just point of view he did not act or react out of anger cultural pressure nor emotion the term just means to be morally or legally right your circumstances must not determine your propen it or natural inclination to do right let me tell you the world calls it situation ethics that you only have to be ethical if it's an advantageous to you I'm here to tell us today if we follow this story and understand the circumstances Joseph would have been well within his right through his cultural through the S social norms to put Mary away publicly embarrass her and even take her life and none would have thought he had done anything that they wouldn't do you see sometimes acting in a just manner does not always fit social norms let me tell we Apostolic Jesus name Pentecostals we have the responsibility to carry our lives in every way as just people to do things morally right to do things ethically right even when it may not seem it's the most advantageous to us the world calls it situation ethics lie when it's to your advantage still just don't get greedy cheat if it helps you get ahead take revenge or act IR rationally because the majority would condone or applaud such reaction let me tell every person in this house it is essential if we're going to be just people before God that we have already established a just attitude in our life before we Face difficult and unforeseen circumstances when given the opportunity to get by with wrong let me pause talk to yourself don't look at anybody else down the Pew from you if you know you can get by with wrong let's face it all you folks in the house I'm talking to except those of you that's got Halo dust on your shoulders I'm not talking to you now but I'm talking to everybody else you've at least entertained the thought well just what would happen if an armored truck opened the back doors and Spilled in front of me what would I do if nobody else could see listen do we have a just heart before God are we just only because everybody else is watching let me tell you Joseph was a just man he had already made it up in his mind no matter his circumstance he was going to deal with this problem justly and rightly does it matter whether getting caught is an issue there's a bad philosophy that I've heard named a few times it's better to ask forgiveness than permission that means that you are already facing a moral dilemma in your mind there's already a question as to the right and wrong of the situation Joseph had already made it up in his mind concerning adultery before Piper's wife ever tried to seduce him not the same Joseph you thought I was talking about there's some things that should already be made up in your mind there's some commitments that you've made before God that no matter the circumstance and the situation you're saying I'm going to be just before God oh God help me to have the spirit of Joseph of the Bible story of Jesus birth because I want to have that same moral justness in my life young person your moral parameters should already be established before you find yourself in circumstances that seem to be in control how else did Joseph deal with his circumstances it said that he had already to decided if the evidence was as it appeared to put Mary away privately now don't let that go over your head because we all know the end of the story that it was revealed the miraculous conception by the Holy Ghost but take a pie piece out of the picture understanding a justtin moral man had already made a decision if the unthinkable was true that he was not going to take it to a public forum now I realize everybody's not running and dancing Huck a bucking and shouting but I hope you're listening because there's more to the Christmas story than just mangers wise men and Gifts there's some things that we can learn about the circumstances that was taking place Ephesians 51 says be ye therefore followers of God as dear children and walk in love as Christ also ha loved us and ha given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Savor but fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness let it not be named more than three times on social media is that the new revised Edition no it says let it not be once named among you but brother mol it's true so what have you got to tell it are you just burning up that you you got to tell somebody bad news listen to me there's enough wrong and evil and terrible things but there's some stuff the only place we need to talk about it is in an altar saying God I'm praying for somebody's failure I'm praying for their fault I'm not trying to SP spread and rumormonger for fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness let it not be once named among you as becometh the Saints now let me cuse some would say well brother M you're saying that kind of stuff ought to go on and we don't mention no it's also saying that kind of stuff ought not to be going on the church the church family the family of God shouldn't be full of fornication and uncleanness and covetousness it shouldn't be named among us because it shouldn't be in our moral thoughts it shouldn't be the paths that we walk neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting which which are not convenient but rather giving thanks if you got to go on social media and say something thank God for what he's done thank him for another day thank him for your family thank him for your job thank him for his goodness why he's worthy he's a worthy savior I don't have time for all the gossip and the Rumor mongering for this you know that no hormonger no un somebody said how did you get on this at Christmas because this is what Christ came to exemplify this is what Christ wanted us to understand for this you know that no hormonger nor unclean person nor Covetous man who is an idolater hath any inherence in the Kingdom of Christ and of God let no man deceive you with vain words for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of Disobedience God's going to take care of it it be not ye therefore partakers with them boy I could dwell there a while but I'm supposed to get you out here there's some stuff we don't need to partake of we don't need to be listening to and watching that's right I wouldn't do it but I'd sure like to read all the details of what somebody else did if you want to do or say something public give thanks you see nowadays I have to go there just a moment social media is the most prevalent form of Gossip rumor mongering Discord sewing it's sometimes sad to see the views and even the likes of the Saints it used to be said the best way to pass gossip was by telephone television Telegraph or teles Saint oh but now we're sophisticated we can become keyboard cowards with two thumbs join the TWiT at the the Twitter oh it's X now never mind listen we don't need to have time for all that junk that's right we don't need to be letting our minds Feast on those things just people people who want to handle things just like Joseph did he was just he said if there's the worst going on I'm going to handle it privately I'm not going to be gossiping it to everybody and then in Matthew 1:20 it said while he thought on these things there's some stuff we ought to think about before we do and there's certainly some stuff we ought to think about before before we say what's the old saying I my mouth got in motion for before my mind got in gear let's be careful let's be cautious what we say how we say it too many react immediately to their circumstance rather than thinking out the situation my grandpa cook his name was Roosevelt cook and they called him Rose cook for short he was a man's man he was a sawmiller owned a Sawmill he was one of the the uh finest uh sawers if you will up in those Western North Carolina Mountains he was a tough dude and they called him Rose but that was said affectionately but Rose cook I always remember about my grandpa cook Now understand without giving you too much of a history lesson lesson I'll tell you this this was the guy that when he got the revelation of the Jesus name message was so determined there'd be an Apostolic Church in in Rock Creek North Carolina he donated property they built a church they didn't have a preacher he'd get up and preach about receiving the Holy Ghost give an altar called and be he'd be the first one to go to the Altar and seek for the Holy Ghost that's how determined he was one night he got up to preach and he couldn't speak in English the Holy Ghost hit him he started speaking with tongues that's how determined he was he was a man's man but as wise as he was Rose cook if you ever asked him any perp perplexing question at all he'd say well I need to study on that a while that was his word I I need to study on that a while did you know there's a lot of us if we'd be a little quicker to study on some things our answers would be a lot sweeter more than would cause less issues in our own lives there's some stuff we need to say you know what I need to think about that I need to study some of my opinions that come out first aren't the right opinions right Romans 12:17 said recompense to no man evil for evil providing things honest in the sight of all men and if it be possible woo and if it be possible oh Hallelujah as much as lith in you live peaceably with all men man you start talking about PE peace we can put all kind of pretty stuff up here on the wall and put our manger scene out and we can Proclaim peace do you live peaceably apostolics do we live peaceably preacher you don't know my neighbor his dog barks every night at 3:30 just when I'm getting into that second level of good sleep as much as possible as much as lith in you live peaceably with all men dearly beloved avenge not yourselves but rather give place under wrath for it is written vengeance is mine I will repay sayith the Lord the Lord will take care of those things if you'll try to live peaceably if you'll be just if you'll Ponder and think on some things all of this were in the characteristics of Joseph as he dealt with circumstance ances that were not under his control Brawn is important but brains and patience can diffuse some of the most volatile situations Bishop tells us a story that I'll repeat of the small town that had a low train trestle overpass and that one day an 18-wheeler who' got on the Run wrong route thought he could make it through the Trestle pass drove quickly Into The Trestle and was hopelessly lodged in The Trestle they called the county sheriff the sheriff called the state dep Department of Transportation they brought wreckers in the Wreckers hooked up to the truck and the more they pulled the tighter the truck got under the Trestle there was a little boy standing nearby that kept saying mister mister and they said Son we're getting this truck out leave us alone mister mister get finally one of the FR frustrated workers said young man what do you want he said why don't you let some air out of the tires sometimes in our Brilliance we forget to listen to voices of reason that seems so simple once we hear it let me tell you don't discount the voices of thinking things through don't discount the voices of letting that still small voice of the Holy Ghost minister to you when everything in your being is wan to be angry and frustrated and lash out and avenge Joseph thought out his situations verse 20 said in Matthew 1:20 Joseph thou son of David fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife when he thought on it a while the spirit of the Lord began to speak to him just think how different the story could have been had Joseph J been reactionary had Joseph been emotional had Joseph followed the Norms of society but he thought on these things and the voice of God spoke to him and said fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost you know Angels were involved and Angels were speaking and you know a lot of folks want to hear from Angels nowadays I believe in angels I get a little bit worried when folks start seeing 10-ft angels in rooms with 8ot ceilings but uh angels are real but you better be careful listening to the voice of angels if they don't tell you the same thing the word of God says amen boy I know I've got way off base with some of you now don't forget Lucifer is one of the angels named in the word of God that's right and you know the first approach or the first voice that you hear an angel say you find over in the Old Testament that Angel's message was sub return and submit sadly there's too many that hear from angels that tell them to do everything but return and submit the voice of angels now was speaking into Joseph in Mary's life Don't Be Afraid in this Christmas season God may be telling some of we Saints of First Apostolic church it's time to lose our fear and find our faith yes for my title was this Faith over circumstances some of us are trying to deal with the circumstances that we're in right now but we're trying to deal with it in fear we're worried about tomorrow we're worried about a financial situation we're worried about a relationship and I'm here to tell everybody in this house we might need a renewing of our faith during this Christmas season we might need a renewing to say I'm going to pray like I've never prayed before I'm going to be faithful to God you see Joseph was a real man I don't know if he ate kich or not but he was a real man cuz real men know how to pray real men don't leave the prayer life of the family up to their wives they all pray together real men are leaders he was a he was sensitive to the voice of God in a most difficult of circumstances real men are faithful to God to their wives to their family real men are spiritual leaders real men are faithful to the house of God real men take their family to the church they don't send them to church and real men aren't afraid to worship God so how do I Rise Above my circumstances I'm glad you ask praise team musicians start heading that way they'll think I'm quitting it's simple as this here's what defeats fear it's called faith faith is what defeats fear that's the fears and the circumstances that both Joseph and Mary had were defeated because they had Faith to trust in God and believe in God they had Faith to believe the message when they said fear not Joseph was told not to fear Mary was told not to fear in these uncontrollable circumstances Hebrews said it this way the faith chapter Hebrews 11:1 said now Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of Things Not Seen for by it the elders obtained a good report I I won't read it all I'll read a few skipping around verses verse 24 said by faith Moses when he was come to years refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter he didn't let his circumstances cause him to compromise who he was choosing rather to suffer Affliction with the people of God than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures and Egypt for he had respect under the recompense of the reward verse 32 and what shall I what shall I more say for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of barck and of sson and of jeepa and of David also and Samuel and of the prophets who through faith subdued kingdoms wrought righteousness obtained promises sto the mouths of lions quench the violence of fire escaped the edge of the sword out of weakness were made strong wax valant in fight turned to the fight of the armies of the alien ions women received their dead to life again others were tortured not accepting Deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection it's still talking about faith over fear you need victory over your circumstance today you got to have faith in [Music] godall it goes on to make so many statements verse 38 said of whom the world was not worthy they wandered in deserts and mountains and dens and caves of the earth and these all having obtained a good report through faith received not the promise God having provided some better things for us that they without us should not be made perfect if they could make it if Joseph and Mary could endure their circumstances how much more today we who have been baptized in jesus' name we who have been filled with the Holy Ghost he's blessed us that we spoke with tongues as evidence we've got it we've got what they didn't have why can't we have faith over our circumstance I'm here to tell you you've got what you need today stand with me Hallelujah Luke said the angel said unto her fear not fear and faith just don't work together you got to put your fear aside to have faith when you steep forth and repented of your sins when you went down in the water in the precious name of Jesus you were taking on that name that came as a saving name when he filled you with the baptism of the Holy Ghost that was faith in action angel said unto her Luke 1:30 fear not Mary for thou Hast found favor with God you think about it had Mary not have faith when the angel said that she hadd said man don't do me any favors you mean you're going to tell me I'm with child I've known no man I'm espoused to Joseph and now I'm expecting a baby don't do me any favors you see as long as you work in the flesh and not in the spirit you won't even understand the favor of God sometimes God's doing you a favor in your circumstance and you don't even realize sometimes he's blessing you and you think you're going through a trial sometimes he's taking something out of your life that you didn't need in the first place somebody hear me I am preaching right now and behold thou shal conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and sht call his name Jesus he shall be great and she shall be called the son of the highest the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his father David he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and of the kingdoms there shall be no end listen Mary if you don't have faith now with all this you're hearing you're really going to be afraid you think you had fear before then said Mary and the angel she did said I got to ask some questions how shall this be seen I know not a man and the angel answer answered and said unto her the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called The Son of God and behold thy cousin Elizabeth she hath also conceived a son in her old age and this is the sixth month with her who was called Baron and here it is everybody here's where we've been trying to to get here's how you know you've got victory over your circumstances for with God nothing nothing everybody say nothing say nothing shall be impossible I'm here to tell you if you've got faith in God on this Sunday morning there's nothing impossible [Applause] hallelu brother the flaty you send me a hashtag sometimes that says him possible when everybody says it's impossible with him all things are possible aren't you glad to know today the Jesus that we serve just as the circumstances seem so difficult with Mary and Joseph nothing was impossible and Mary said behold the handman made of the Lord be it unto me according to Thy word what's the word been telling you somebody may be needing to step out by faith today and have your faith renewed and restored God may have been directing your paths and you've been walking in fear I challenge somebody to step out from your seat today gather around this altar to make a proclamation I will not walk in fear I will walk in faith trusting and believing that God has my situation under control God's looking for people of Faith who will overcome their circumstances he's looking for men of Faith he's looking for Women of Faith he's looking for students of Faith to overcome their circumstances would you come today with faith believing lift your hands and L him hallelujah hallelujah [Music] hallelujah have this confidence because [Music] fath God the still St the [Music] of I TR of your [Music] word SE hear it hear it hear it Hallelujah [Music] singing to the [Music] Lord won't be over when I through the I will not be my God Will Make A Way so I am not afid oh would you have that confidence today yeah Hallelujah he's going to keep his word he's going to keep his word [Music] hallelujah sing it now and start to sing into the night my praise will call Sunrise declare it in declare that it is when I walk through the wat I won't be overcome when I go through the [Music] r is he making a way that's it have faith have faith yeah renew your faith restore your faith right now [Music] Hallelujah my God Will Make Way say it now behind me always beside me no Shadow no valley where you won't find me no eyes I am not I'm Not Afraid Hallelujah behind me always beside me no Shadow no valley where you won't find me I am am not I'm Not Afraid hey I am not Afra when I won the I won't be over when I go through the river I will not be drown my God Will Make A [Music] Way would you lift your hands and love Jesus would you give him High Praise would you determine in your heart right now I will go from this place full of Faith renewed restored no matter my circumstances God's going to make a way God is going to make a way hallelujah hallelujah First Apostolic church thank you for being a faith filled church I would remind us tonight is a very special night we'll begin at 6:30 there will be rehearsals taking place right up until 6:00 so we'll open the sanctuary at 6 if you get here before that the prayer rooms are open you're invited and welcome to come and pray with us come tonight for a special time of songs of the season during the Christmas time and I would ask everyone if you would help us please if you would take your fellowship to the lobby upon dismissal we will also have some rehearsals beginning quite soon afterwards Lord bless you you're dismissed in Jesus name