Sunday Morning Worship Service

I'll let you move to your seats we greet you in the precious name of Jesus we welcome you to the Sunday morning worship service of First Apostolic church so honored to have everyone one of you in this house today I join with Pastor Anthony's voice and welcoming those that are joining us on all the multimedia platforms thank you for being in service with us and we encourage you to be here here in person at your first opportunity received another guest card I want to say welcome to Elaine Harmon Elaine uh wherever you are in this house there you are welcome we're so honored to have you worshiping with us today Lord bless you we want you to feel the welcome of First Apostolic Church as we do to all who are here uh and we thank you for being with us today I'm excited about all that God is doing for us I say welcome back home home I realize our uh uh schedules with uh many of our school systems scheduled this past week and even the week before as spring break and uh several uh took a break for it and that's okay I'm glad to have you headed back home and a few are still journeying back uh but I say welcome home all of you thankful you had safe Journeys glad to have you back at the in the house of the Lord I give honor to our uh pastoral staff our Bishop and our pastors all the Ministers of our church thank you for your faithfulness to the kingdom of God all the workers all of the teams that are here working today to make this service possible thank you for all the work you do and most of all thank you to the Saints uh First Apostolic church for your faithful attendance and support of the work of God here at First Apostolic church I want to take us to the the word of the Lord this morning to a passage of scripture and a story that uh most who have been in uh uh Church very long or have uh grown up in church in Bible class and Sunday school will be familiar with this story but I hope that we have something fresh that God can uh speak to our hearts to the current needs of our lives today the Book of Daniel the thir chapter The Book of Daniel 3 we're going to begin reading at verse number eight Daniel 3 let's begin reading at verse number eight wherefore at that time certain Chans came near and accused the Jews they spake and said to the King Nebuchadnezzar oh King live forever thou oh King has made a decree that every man that shall hear the sound of the Cornet flute harp the sackit the sultry the duler and all kinds of music shall fall down and worship the golden image and who so falleth not down and worship it that he should be cast in the midst of a burning fiery furnace there are certain Jews whom thou Hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon Shadrach mhach and Abednego these men oh King have not regarded thee they serve not thy Gods nor worship the golden image which thou Hast set up then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach Meshach and Abednego then they brought these men before the king now Nebuchadnezzar spake and said Toto them is it true oh Shadrach Meshach and Abednego do not ye serve my gods nor worship the golden image which I have set up now notice if you be ready that at what time you hear the sound of the Cornet the flute the harp the sacet Sultry and the duler and all kinds of music You Fall Down and Worship the image which I have made well notice the hypothetical if you be ready but if you worship not ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of the burning fiery furnace and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands Shadrach mesach and Abednego answered and said to the king oh Nebuchadnezzar we are not careful to answer thee in this manner if it be so our God whom serve whom we serve is able to Deliver Us From The Burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand oh King please notice Verse 18 but if not be it known unto thee Oh King that we will not serve thy Gods nor worship the golden image which thou Hast set up for a few moments I would speak to you on this subject this morning but if not the answer to a hypothetical scenario let's pray savior I love you God I'm grateful that you have sent your word to instruct us to guide us to encourage us to lead us and to save us now Lord let us receive your word let let us take it deep into our hearts and act upon what your word tells us to do we thank you for this opportunity in Jesus name amen and amen but if not many hypothetical situations and SC scenarios are presented to us in our minds in our in our flesh sadly too many of us find ourselves dealing with that word that we all have used at one time or another that word called worry worry simply means to give way to anxiety or unease to allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles as a state of anxiety and certainty over actual or potential problems hypothetical scenarios presented to us there are two types of worry real problem worries or problems that related to real situations these worries usually need to be solved right now you can take action to solve problem worries such as using problem solving skills to find a solution but there are also hypothetical worries about problems s that really do not yet exist and have not actually happened but might happen in the future these are all those what if questions and hypothetical worst case scenarios that run through our minds when we feel stressed about situations that we cannot control first let me tell everybody worry without action fixes nothing that's right in fact it compounds problems but most importantly if your mind is already made up there is no need to worry about the end of a man when God is in control you see worry is one of the greatest challenges that every one in human existence faces that's right let me give you a little facts and figures from the Web MD the Web Doctor the web doctor says what happens with excessive worrying worrying is a feeling uneasy or being over concerned about a situation or problem with excessive worrying your mind and your body go into overdrive as you consistently focus on quote what might happen end quote in the midst of excessive worry you may suffer with high anxiety even Panic especially during waking hours many chronic worriors tell a feelings of a sense of impending doom or unrealistic fears that only increase their worries Ultra sensitive to their environment and to the criticisms of others excessive worriers may see anything somebody hear me today we're talking about getting worries excessively and anyone one can become a Potential Threat to you have you been worrying qu chronic worrying can affect your daily life so much that it may interfere with your appetite lifestyle habits relationships sleep and job performance many people who worry excessively are so anxiety ridden that they seek relief and harmful lifestyle habits such as overeating cigarette smoking or using alcohol and drug drugs can excessive worrying make me physically ill chronic worrying and emotional stress can trigger a host of health problems the problem occurs when fight or flight is triggered daily by excessive worrying and anxiety the fight ORF flight response causes the body's sympathetic nervous system to release stress hor hormones such as cortisol these hormones can boost blood sugar levels triglycerides that can be used by the body for fuel the hormones also cause physical reactions such as a difficulty in swallowing dizziness dry mouth fast heartbeat fatigue headaches inability to concentrate irritability muscle aches muscle tension nausea nervous in energy rapid breathing shortness of breath sweating trembling and twitching when the excessive fuel in the blood isn't used for physical activity the chronic anxiety and outpouring of stress hormones can have serious health consequences including suppression of the immune system digestive disorders muscle tension short-term memory loss premature coronary artery disease and heart attacks let me tell you excessive worrying will kill you physically and the passage of scripture that I read to you in your hearing tells about folks that had absolutely every opportunity to worry they had something to worry about after all the king said if you don't do what I said I'm going to put you in a fiery furnace and burn you up but I want you to notice the answer of shadra mesach and abedo they said if it be so here with your hypo prophetical scenario if we if we don't bow down here's what you said going to happen boom but he said if it be so our God whom we serve is able now I want you to notice what they didn't say they didn't say our God who will deliver us that's right have you noticed that they didn't make some claim they didn't know what God was going to do but they knew their God was able to do something let me tell somebody in this house today the God I serve is able to do anything he's able to heal sickness he's able to miraculously do things in your life he's able to do anything what does the praise team sometimes sing if you never do anything else he's already done enough he's done enough to prove who he is in my life and see it's not that part of the scripture that I would dwell on today instead I would would remind you of Verse 18 because they' already counted the cost and they said but if not let me tell you some of us need to get our mind straight to say God's able to do anything but if not but if not have you made that determination in your life you see that's a deal breaker for some folks they try to make deals with God God if you'll do this then I'll serve you that's right it doesn't work that way our prayer needs to be God I know you're able but whatever you choose to do it's your will and I'm going to serve you no matter what but if not if you don't answer answer the way I want it answered I'm still going to serve you I will not serve the gods of this world I will not bow down to the golden image worry fixes nothing now be reminded of the details of the story The tattlers likely jealous of these Hebrews that had been put in positions of authority even though Nebuchadnezzar was in charge and had them in bondage they had proven themselves to be so trustworthy and valuable in their intellect that they had been put over certain factions of leadership and government and those jealous of them likely because of prejudice against who they were and who they believed in started looking for reasons to tattle to the king so they begin telling hey King oh their approach was great oh great King live forever they were buttering Nebuchadnezzar up and they stirred him up the Bible tells us that when they begin telling this that he became angry and he called them it said in Rage and fury and commanded them in today's vernacular King Nebuchadnezzar was ticked off how dare they disobey me how dare they come against what I have decreed and he began putting together his hypothetical scenarios now when you hear the music play and he named all the instruments and he said if you bow down well he said all's going to be well but if you do not and their response is so telling of their commitment to their God for they said we're not careful to answer you see when you got everything made up in your mind that you're going to serve God there's some fear and anxiety that's going to be released from your life there's some stuff that some of you folks have been worried about the reason you're still worrying about it is because you haven't given it all to God and made up your mind what's going to happen no matter what but if not Hallelujah I'm still going to serve you God it's that troubling inordinate fears that affect us for you see second Timothy 1:7 said for God and not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind 1 John 4:18 said there is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear because fear hath torment worry and anxiety will torment you he that fearth is not made perfect in love first Peter 57 and9 in the King James version says cast all casting all your cares upon Him for he carth for you godallah now if you look at other translations of that same verse casting all your cares upon Him for he carth for you the Living Translation says give all your worries and cares to God for he cares for you the stuff you've been worried about you know what you need to start doing saying Jesus I just want to speak the name of Jesus some of those things that have been troubling your mind I'm talking to somebody in this house today there's some stuff you're needing to turn over to Jesus and quit worrying about it I'm not saying be Cavalier and don't take care of all your responsibilities but sometimes we're letting our minds be troubled by some stuff we need to give to Jesus another translation of that same passage first Peter 5 and 7 in the ESV says casting all your anxiety on him because he cares for you I don't care if you want to call it worry anxiety or cares he cares about you give it to Jesus right amen Philippians 4:6 said be careful for nothing again that's not saying be careless but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and Minds through Christ Jesus praise God again another translation of that says don't worry about anything instead pray about everything tell God what you need and thank him for all he's done then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can understand his peace will guard your hearts and Minds as you live in Jesus Christ still another says do not be anxious about about anything all right but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your request be made known to God you see throughout the history of the word you will find the enemy's demands on the heroes of the Bible only to find those same Heroes had their mind already made up what they were going to do right yes Shadrach Meshach and abedo already had decided they weren't going to bow down no matter the consequences in their hypothetical scenario Moses made up his mind when he came of age that he would not change his Heritage and be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter you can read about that in Hebrews Hebrews 11:24 he was in bondage he had been found found and discovered by Pharaoh's daughter but the Bible says by faith when he was come to age he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter he knew what his real Heritage was he already had his mind made up David after all the mistakes David made in his life when he had repented and been began reestablishing his eyes now now remember David's first sin of lust was caused by what he saw when he saw Beth Sheba bathing it incited lust and he acted on the lust to commit adultery to lie even to murder and have a deceitful life David had gone just as low as you could go there's an old saying that says fool me once shame on you fool me twice shame on me David knew all the mistakes that he had made and that God had been merciful so you know what he what he said or at least what the psalmist said in Psalms 10113 he said I will set no Wicked thing before my eyes let me tell you if you've been tempted before don't let the enemy set up some scenario that you're weak and you can never be restored that's right let me tell you you need to say from here on life has changed I'm a new man he said I'll set no Wicked thing before my eyes I hate the work of them that turn aside it shall not cleave to me you got to make your mind up even when you've made a mistake repent of your sins and go on and stop looking back Daniel didn't stop praying in the face of the threat of a lion then Joshua and Caleb refused to give in to the negative reports of the majority all right when they faced naysayers but let me ask you today what hypothetical worst case scenario has Satan been putting in your path what has Satan been troubling your mind with he don't know what you think but he will put scenarios out there that's easy for a flesh that's not serving God to have inordinate worries and anxiety discouragement depression lack of apparent success seemingly unanswered prayers all can trouble and worry our minds if we haven't already proclaimed but if not Paul had legitimate reasons to worry in most circles I went back and read again in first corth or Excuse Me 2 Corinthians the 11th chapter let me tell you the things that Paul had on his mind now understanding Paul in his early years Saul was well thought of in the political Community among all of those in that religious world that condemned the Christians he' been through a lot second Corinthians 11:23 said are they all Ministers of Christ I speak as a fool I am more in labors more abundant in Stripes above measure in prisons more frequent in death often sound like he got something to be worried about does it of the Jews five times received I 40 Stripes save one that' make you kind of nervous wouldn't it Thrice was I beaten with rods once was I stoned Thrice I suffered shipwreck a night and a day I've been in the deep in Journeys often in Perils of water and Perils of robbers and Perils of my own countrymen in perils by the Heathen in perils in the city in perils in the wilderness and perils in the sea in perils among false brethren in weariness and painfulness in watchings often in hunger and thirst in fasting often in cold and nakedness beside those things that are without that which cometh upon me daily the cares of all the churches who is weak and I'm not weak who is offended and I burn not man if you'd been through all that it'd make you a little bit giddy as we say in the South man what's coming next that' keep you up late at night man who's going to beat me up next I'm afraid to get on ship I've been Shipwrecked I I've been in perils in the sea I there there's all kind of stuff been pursuing me but notice what verse 30 said he said if I must needs Glory I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities I'm not going to worry about this stuff I've already made up my mind God's going to deliver me but if not I'm going to serve him he's able to take take me out of the ocean when I'm about to sink he's able to take me out of the fire when I'm about to burn but if not I'm going to serve it somebody today today's needing to say but if not but if not I made a determination in my life Hallelujah you see Jesus himself would face The Temptations in Matthew 26 48 we read of the story of his betrayal it says now he that betrayed him gave them a sign saying whomsoever I shall kiss that same as he hold him fast and forth with he came to Jesus and said hail master and kissed him Judas betrayal and Jesus said to him friend wherefor Thou come then came they and laid hands on Jesus and took him and behold one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand and Drew his sword struck a servant with a high priest and smoted off his ear then said Jesus unto him put up again thy sword into his place for all they that take the sword Shall Perish with the sword now Paul's right here you know this story but I want you to pay attention to the next thing that Jesus said he rebuked Peter for his aggressive assault Peter meaning well to defend Jesus he said put the sword away notice what Jesus said in verse 53 thinkest thou that I cannot pray unto my father and he shall presently give me more than 12 Legions of angels but how then shall scripture be fulfilled that thus it must be now Jesus told him basically I've already made up my mind how I'm going to deal with this now some right away say oh but preacher that's not fair to use Jesus as an example he's Jesus he knows what's going to happen wait if you recall in Hebrews it said but was all in all points tempted like as we are Jesus was going through the same human emotions and temptations that our flesh goes through Jesus God manifest in flesh had that dual nature of understanding what it was like to be God but also understanding the Flesh of man Jesus said in my flesh I could call more than 12 Legions of of Angel if you if you look into history a legion was numbered and the number kept growing that finally uh it was recognized by the Romans as 6,000 men was a legion so if I get that right six 12 are 72,000 Angels I'd say 72,000 Angels could do a lot of damage don't you and in his Humanity when somebody has just betrayed him it would have been real easy in his Humanity to pray unto the Father the flesh speaking to the spirit and saying deliver me show them just how great you are zap 72,000 Angels on the scene but you see Jesus had already made up his his mind in his flesh that he was going to suffer he said but how then shall the scripture be fulfilled that thus it must be Jesus would face Temptation in his flesh but the example would be his mind Was Made Up In the Flesh to submit to all that he would suffer for our sins in fact Jesus even on the cross would face One Last Temptation in Matthew 27:33 we we read when we when they were com into the place called golgatha that is to say a place of a skull they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with G and when he ta when he had tasted thereof he would not drink many times in scripture we understanding the suffering that Jesus was going going through do not fully comprehend the importance of Jesus not drinking the vinegar mixed with G for you see the very last Temptation that Jesus Humanity would face would be to take a basically a painkiller Adam Clerk's commentary says this concerning Matthew 27:34 it was a common custom to administer a Stupify potion compounded of sour wine which is the same as vinegar from the French vinegar frankincense and myrrh to a condemned person to help to alleviate their suffering or so disturb their intellect that they might not be sensible of them the rabbis say that they put a grain of Frank incense into a cup of strong wine and they ground it on this proverb 316 give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish who is condemned to death some person out of kindness appeared to have administered this to our blessed Lord but he as in all other cases determined to endure the fullness of pain refused to take what was thus offered to him choosing to tread The Wine Press of alone end quote Jesus in his Humanity hear me today had one last chance to avoid the pain and sacrifice of the Cross but when he tasted he refused because he in his flesh knew he had already made up his mind that he had to endure the suffering of the cross that we might have our sins forgiven the analogy I would make you sadly is there is a similar last ditch effort even among the church world today to create a church that has no sacrifice no suffering no commitment and no denying of the flesh you didn't know that's where I was going did you you see it has become invoke in style even in the church world to say everybody just come as you are and I believe never mistake we should welcome all to come as they are but no one who is a sinner should come as they are and leave like they came there should be a lifechanging experiences that changes the way we think changes the way we walk changes our commitment I'm not looking for an easy path I'm looking for a straight path to follow Jesus Hallelujah Philippians said that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death that's my example what does conformable unto his death mean I'm glad you ask for the Plan of Salvation is simply this to repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost that's death that's burial and that's Resurrection that's being conformable to his death First Apostolic church we must already have our mind made up for every scenario that the enemy would try to place in our way let me tell you I'm not worried about the church facing tribulation whatever scenario you can come up with I've already made up in my mind and I hope you have as well that I'm going to follow Jesus no matter what I'm not worried about the church turning left I just want to be I want it to be known and proclaimed but if not I'll suffer but if not I'll suffer whatever savior would have me to do Hallelujah praise team get ready let me tell you there's deliverance and there's Victory when you can say but if not when there's some decisions that are already made in your life I know you're able but if not let me read you the rest of our text from Daniel 3:22 therefore because the king's commandment was urgent and the furnace exceeding hot the Flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach Meek and abedo and these three men Shadrach Meshach and abedo fell downbound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace sometimes there's going to be circumstances there's going to be fiery furnaces that you're going to fall down into they didn't just walk in it said they fell down in the furnace those who were leading them to their demise could not stand the heat even on the outside of the Furnace but something happened then Nebuchadnezzar the King was astonished I got news for you he was watching from a distance and he was still sweating then Nebuchadnezzar the King was astonished and Rose up in haste and spake and said unto his counselors hey everybody around me did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire they answered and said unto the king true oh King all the Yes Men whatever you say King he answered and said lo I see four men loose I threw three in Bound and they fell there he said now I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God you want to see Jesus even in the Old Testament the the likeness of the Son of God appeared to Nebuchadnezzar I don't know how he knew what the likeness of the Son of God looked like but I'll guarantee you he knew there were four figures walking around in the fire let me tell you if you've got your mind made up and you said but if not no matter what God's able I'm going to tell you he can help you walk in the fire he'll help you walk through the flood he'll help you walk in your trouble he'll help you walk in your situation stand with [Applause] me then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spake and said Shadrach Meshach and Abednego ye Servants of the most high God come forth come hither then Shadrach mesach and abedo came forth out of the midst of the fire all you internet folks who love to communicate with memes and you like those little short messages on Instagram and X or whatever it's called now can you just in your mind's eye with your own imagination think what shadra and meak and look like when they came out of the furnace can you imagine if it' been me I don't know about them but I believe I'd just about been strutting a little bit when I came out of the fire now some of y'all probably a whole lot more humble about that but if God had just done something like that for me I believe I would have come out saying check me out neb look here bud look what my God has done sometimes we need to testify that I've been brought out of the fire I've been delivered I need to somebody hear me today you need to tell what God's brought you through when you make up your mind and he's delivered you Hallelujah amen hallelujah and the princes and the governors and the captains and the King's counselor being gathered together saw these men upon whose bodies the fire had no power nor was a hair of their head singed neither were their coats changed nor the smell of fire had passed on them then Nebuchadnezzar spake and said blessed be God the god of Shadrach Meshach and Abednego who had sent his angels and and delivered his servants that trusted in him and have changed the king's word and yielded their bodies that they might not serve nor worship any God except their own God that's why Romans said and be not conformed to this world but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God let me give you one more scripture that's why Matthew 6:25 said therefore I say unto you take no thought for your life now again I may as well offend everybody that has any problems with me giving you other translations cuz hallman's Christian Standard Bible said this is why I tell you now this is Jesus words just being interpreted by somebody else this is why I tell you don't worry about your life English Standard Version said do not be anxious about your life New International Version said do not worry about your life New Living Translation said this is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life English Standard Version said do not be anxious about your life in fact I checked 38 translations of this passage so that way I can offend everybody but the common translation or interpretation of what Jesus said was take no thought don't worry don't be anxious in fact the rest of it this will be M's translations he said I've got got this I've got this don't worry about what you're going to eat don't worry about what you're going to drink some of you folks you hadn't been able to sleep because you've been watching too much Fox News and CNN God's got this I said God's got this stop worrying keep serving have your mind made up if I'm going to face tribulation I'll face it I know he's going to take care of me and he's able but if not God's still got thisall I want to open this altar in just a moment to everybody that something's been worrying your mind oh I don't want to confess to that let me tell you your actions has already confessed there's something been troubling you you hadn't been able to eat you hadn't been able to sleep it's been inordinately possessing every waking moment and it's been keeping you awake at night are you backslid no you're facing worry and anxiety in the name of Jesus I'm calling on the power of the Holy Ghost to hover over this place and relieve some things today oh I'm not here trying to be prophetic I'm just telling you in every one of our flesh we have worries and anxieties and they can become inordinate if we aren't careful and I'm here to tell you the answer is just simple as this I just want to speak speak the name of Jesus I just got to call that name cuz something happens when I call on Jesus if I [Music] hallelujah what else can I say if there's something been troubling you I'm asking you to step out in Jesus name right now and claim victory over that worry that's been troubling you I want you to step out right now he's got this he's got this he's got this would you come Hallelujah shout Jesus in theet shout Jesus Jesus in the he's got your problem he's able He's Able he's [Music] [Applause] able [Music] Jesus from speak it out say his name loud enough that you can hear it and call on him speak his name verbally let him hear you speaking there's Comfort there's relief in Jesus name in Jesus name your name name is power your name your name is life it's life it's life it's life it's life hey yeah yeah [Applause] [Music] W hey y y y it's healing healing it's light it's life it's life do you want life speak the name of Jesus hey [Applause] hey burn like a Hey sing it now Jesus from the m Mountain Jesus in the street Jesus in oh over every enemy Jesus would you claim your family in Jesus name right now in Jesus name in Jesus name [Applause] hey shout Jesus from the mountain [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Jesus Jesus for my family I speak Holy Name [Applause] Jesus [Music] Hallelujah power heal your name is healing your name is light break every [Music] break Hallelujah now would you give thanks unto Jesus would you thank him that he has your situation his will is going to be [Music] done hallelujah Hallelujah I thank you I Praise You Lord I Praise You Lord now I encourage you to go from this house with a spirit of Victory and deliverance over every situation God's got it he has it in control I have no reason to fear or dread I'm going to step forward and do what I can for him knowing full well he's able to do everything he needs in my life please be with us tonight tonight we're going to have a great service a great time in the Lord Prayer time at 6 main Evangelistic service 6:30 don't you miss the service tonight would you greet a bunch of winners around you you're dismissed in Jesus