Sunday Morning Worship Service

call your attention to the book of Galatians the sixth chapter I'm going to let you be seated we've been up and down several times Galatians the sixth chapter I want to begin reading at verse number 11 Galatians 6. reading beginning at verse number 11. you see how large a letter I have written unto you with my own hand as many as desire notice to make a fair show in the flesh they constrain you to be circumcised only lest they should suffer persecution for the Cross of Christ for neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law but desire to have you circumcised that they may glorify in your flesh God forbid that I should Glory saving the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision but a new creature and as many as walk according to this rule peace be on thee in Mercy and upon the Israel of God notice from henceforth let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus brethren the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit amen for a few moments this morning I want to speak to you on this subject that's going to leave a mark dealing with life's bad hops let's pray savior we love you God we're grateful and thankful for the privilege that we have of being in your house Lord I Thank you for the wonderful opportunities to minister that you have afforded us now God I pray that your anointing would be manifest Lord God of anything I can say or do but of your word and your power and your Authority Lord let us receive your word this day for all this we're grateful and thankful in Jesus name we pray amen the passage of scripture that I read in your hearing the Apostle Paul is addressing a controversy with those who believed that the physical act of circumcision was an act or Mark in and of itself of Salvation even though they were now in the dispensation of Grace he indeed refuted this ideology and he is now debunking the notion that circumcision is a Salvation issue and he's addressing the super Pious religious hierarchy of that day to let them know that this physical mark has nothing to do with salvation in fact to make a point Paul contends that when you're crucified with Christ into the world this is what activates that now identifying Mark of salvation it was not circumcision nor any other physical mark wound or scar that could be called a mark of salvation his example to those who held this doctrine that circumcision was part of salvation he began recalling his experiences in life that had resulted in many scars many marks on his flesh many injuries but none of these even though they were occurring in thee work in the kingdom of God were essential to his salvation in fact he was simply saying suffice to say that life's going to sometimes have some bad hops in it and let me say that to all of us no matter how holy you are no matter how deeply you serve God no matter how much you worship no matter how much you do in the kingdom of God life will have some bad hops let me explain growing up playing camp meeting softball and Sandlot baseball I was not the best athlete but I like to participate but one of the most unpredictable unexpected dreaded things that can happen when you're playing softball or baseball is a hot grounder that takes a bad hop just as you're trying to field it no matter how much you've practiced no matter your dexterity your hand-eye coordination a bad hop is capable of skipping and hitting shins chins are getting you right between the eyes if you've ever experienced the sickening thud of a sharply struck hopping Line Drive carrying off of an unprotected shin bone then you can relate to the following statement some semi-concerned bystander that's supposed to be your friend or Ally dead panely looks at you and says well that's going to leave a mark if you've ever had anybody say that to you if it didn't hurt so bad you'd like to say and if I could get a hold of you I'd leave a mark on you too and then all of a sudden the pain starts to kick in stop and somebody else tries to help you say don't rub it don't rub it don't cry about then the numb starts wearing off I can see some of you can relate some of you played infield in life yourself the throb sets in then the blue that will eventually turn green Plum size to great food grapefruit size swelling not will start appearing where you were struck on the shin and ironically in all of that after you survive it it either becomes a badge of accomplishment or a badge of stupidity according to how serious you took the game that you were playing I always have member memories of brother Les Daniel I could hear his voice when you get a bad hop here's what he would say tough break you'll get the next one I can still hear Brother less saying that tough break you'll get the next one so please know that no matter how holy you are no matter how righteous you are life can sometimes give you some bad Hops and bad breaks Ecclesiastes said the race is not to the Swift the fastest guy don't always win the battle's not to the strong the strongest competitor is not always the one that's Victorious in fact it went on to say but time and chance happeneth to them all Jesus said in Matthew he makes the sign to come up and I paraphrase on the evil and the just and he sends rain on both the unjust and the just life is going to have some bad breaks and bad hops no matter how good or how bad you are in fact the writer Adam Clark said of that statement I bear in my body the marks of Jesus of the Lord Jesus that the Stigmata of which the Apostle speaks here may be understood as implying the scars of the wounds which he had received in the work of the ministry oh I'm going to work for God I shouldn't have any scars but Paul didn't say that Paul said I've got marks I've got some scars I've got some injuries and that he had Clark went on to say such scars we may well conceive when we know that he had been scourged stoned maltreated in a variety of ways the writer could show such scars himself received in the same way do not trust me I bear the marks of my Lord and Master Jesus I am his and I will remain so you glory in your mark of circumcision I glory in the mark which I bear in my body for the testimony of the Lord I am an open professing Christian and have given full proof of my attachment to the cost of Christianity I say yes and amen to Adam Clark's statement last week we heard such an awesome message from Brother Woodward that gave us those four reasons for trials and troubles and tests that some come from God some come from the enemy some come from others and some come from ourselves but all of those things have the ability to leave marks on us bad hops of life Paul had experienced some things understand Paul had scars Paul had once been the fair-haired boy of those who opposed Christ he was the accomplished pursuer of Christians he had pursued and called and worked in many ways to be a destructive force to absolutely destroy all the followers of Christ it was Paul himself who would be there when Stephen was stoned and hold the cloaks of those who would take Stephen's life but now he's identifying some of the marks the injuries to those that are trying to in a super Pious manner say oh you've got to have a fleshly sacrifice of of circumcision for there to be salvation Paul was refuted and he said no it's that communication and that communion and commitment to Christ because we're all going to suffer some things he went on to say in second Corinthians the 11th chapter he said I say again let no man think me a fool if otherwise yet as a fool received me but I may boast myself a little now what's Paul saying have you noticed when kids get injuries once they've survived them and the skin knee pain is over and the scab has started forming that kids find those things sometimes as a badge of accomplishment sometimes we call them comparing boo-boos I've got granddaughters that I think they Delight in wearing Barbie Band-Aids whether they're injured or not they just like to identify that oh I've been through something but before we condemn little ones too much the older I get I also hear folks comparing scars well you ought to see where I had my appendix at you know we identify injuries so Paul said I'm going to boast a little you guys are boasting about circumcision I'm telling you it's of non-effect whether you're circumcised or uncircumcised there's a deeper commitment that goes here he said if we're going to compare scars let me just show you my scars a little bit let me show you the marks of some bad hops I've had since I've been following Christ he went on to say that which I speak I speak not in after the Lord but but as it were foolishly in this confidence of boasting it's seen that many glory after the flesh all glory also if you're going to glory after your flesh let me match injuries with you let me match marks with you for you suffer fools gladly seeing yourselves are wise for ye suffer if a man bring you into bondage if a man devour you if a man take you if a man exalt himself if a man Smite you on the face I speak as concerning reproach as though we had been weak how be it where whether whereinsoever any is bold I am bold also are they Hebrews so am I he begins giving his pedigree are they Israelites so am I are they the Seed of Abraham so am I are they Ministers of Christ I speak as a fool I am more in labors more abundant in stripes above measure I've had more bad hops than you in prison more frequently in death often I've I've lost my co-workers in Christ notice verse 24 he said of the Jews five times received by 40 Stripes save one if my math is Right 5 times 39 is 195 Stripes I'm going to tell you that's going to leave a mark Thrice was I beaten with rods I've got injuries once I was stoned that doesn't mean he was smoking left-handed cigarettes I promise you that means they threw rocks at him trying to knock his head off Thrice I suffered Shipwrecked a night and a day I've been in the deep in Journeys often in Perils of water in Perils of robbers in Perils of mine own countrymen in perils by the Heathen and perils in the city in perils in the wilderness in perils in the sea in perils among false brethren in weariness and painfulness in watching off and in hunger and thirst and fasting often in cold and nakedness he probably even told them he said see see those two little spots right there on my hand he said when it couldn't get any worse I survived a shipwreck they built the fire to get warm and the snake bit me had some marks he'd had just a lot of bad hops and to those of us who want to always equate success with being God's blessings and want to equate troubles with the Enemy troubling us I'm here to tell you sometimes life is going to give you some bad hops no matter how bad how good you've been I want you to know God is still with you no matter what you're facing today don't equate your current situation with being good or bad if you're obeying his word if you're trusting is in him glory in it he went on he even talked about the cares of the church he had to deal with stuff in the church stuff he was worried about but everybody faces injury but let me ask you today spiritually how are you dealing with the bad hops how are you dealing with the injuries that you faced or your injuries are your marks or your scars are they making you better or are they making you bitter you see I warn us all we can be injured not just by the enemy but again we can be injured by friends Zechariah 13 6 said and one shall say unto him what are these wounds on thy hands then he shall answer those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends to go back to our original analogy you know if you don't keep your heads up you can get hit by a foul ball by Young teammate and it hurts just as bad and does just as much damage you can be injured in practice by your own fellow teammate preparing to meet your foe for those who maybe have not heard the story I will Briefly summarize and read again the story of Patrick Daniel Tillman he was born the oldest of three brothers on November 6 1976 in San Jose California played linebacker for Arizona State University during his senior year he was named the pac-10 defensive player of the year in 1998 Tillman was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals he became the team's starting safety as well as one of its most popular players Tillman turned down a three-year multi-million dollar deal with the Cardinals and instead prompted by the events of 9 11 joined the army along with his brother Kevin a minor league baseball player the Tillman brothers were assigned the 75th Ranger regiment in Fort Lewis Washington and did tours in Iraq in 2003 followed by Afghanistan the next year Tillman was killed by Friendly Fire by his own fellow Rangers rather than enemy forces while serving in Afghanistan April 22nd 2004. friendly fire comes from one's own side Can it can cause just as much injury and death as the enemy can bring you brothers and sisters let me speak to those of you who may be in this house today and maybe you feel betrayed you may feel abandoned or used by someone else who you loved and trusted this can leave a mark on you a scar on you emotionally some of you may feel like God has forsaken you I'm here to tell you you can recover from the bad situations and the bad hops of life we must always be alert even when in practice scripture one place said be sober be vigilant Matthew Jesus said Watch and Pray and let me tell you advice that we all should know but should remember don't take personal attacks personal even if they're meant to be personal we've got a higher cause even if someone intends to injure you don't let it destroy you even if someone who you thought was a friend Proverbs said it this way confidence in an Unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth and a foot out of joint sometimes you're going to feel like you need a dentist or a podiatrist but let me tell you you are not forgotten you can survive the bad hops of life you can come back from those I saw a t-shirt the other day that said this when life gives you a bad hop make great plays I'm calling on everybody in this house forget about the injuries and the difficult things you face let God do something great in your life let God turn those things that seemed like a catastrophe those things that seem like so much trouble let him turn it into a great play in your life I find my example from our savior himself for Isaiah 53 he would prophesy verse 4 surely hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted didn't sound like a great savior at the time does it but he was wounded for our transgressions he took the injuries that I should be taking he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed let me tell you Jesus suffered too much that I might have Abundant Life I'll deal with whatever comes whatever trouble whatever trial whatever test I'm going to get through it I'm going to make it because he suffered it first from me verse 10 said yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him he hath put him to grief is it under any and you wonder why in Galatians 6 17 Paul would say from henceforth he said from now on let no man trouble me for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus whatever you've been through whatever you've suffered whatever situation that has been disappointing you whatever marks you find whatever scars you you know what I looked up the definition of the word scar the definition of the word scar is as in a marked left as in skin by the healing of an injured tissue I don't know about you but that inspires me if I've got scars you know what that means that means I've had a healing if I've got injuries that have left scars rather than that be something that I'm ashamed of I want to say God got me through it I've been healed some of us have gone through some things and we've got some scars you know what so we can show some other injured person say look you're going to make it you're going to survive this thing I did and you did God may have allowed something to come your way so that you've got a testimony that you can encourage somebody else you're going to make it you're going to survive I'm with you you're not alone oh God help me not to curse my scars but say I've been healed I've got something hear me in this house some of you I know you've suffered trials I know you suffered disappointments but you're gonna make it there's healing in your scars you see some find so much doubt in injuries I would remind you again when Thomas missed Jesus appearance to the rest of the disciples after he had been crucified and Resurrected Thomas was doing something that he thought was more important for whatever reason Thomas was not there in John 20 24 scripture says but Thomas one of the 12 called didymus was not with them when Jesus came the other disciples therefore said unto him we have seen the Lord now really think about the context and what took place here I mean Thomas had been involved in all the other activities Thomas had seen Miracles before Thomas but somewhere along the way Thomas found something more important to do than being where Jesus was going to be you know there's a great lesson to be learned there we can walk with Jesus for a long time told gradually we lose our priorities for being where Jesus is going to be yes God is everywhere but he also his word tells us that we're two or three agree or gather together that's where he shows up yes he's everywhere and we can make our Proclamation you all I find my church in the skies and in in the grass and and I I don't have to be in the house of God let me tell you don't forsake being together with God's people because when you do that it breeds doubt folks who habitually find excuses to not be in church become doubt-filled people preacher are you trying to pad the crowds you better know I am I want everybody to be here not because of me but because of him you need to be in the fellowship of God's people every time you get a chance you don't need to look for excuses not to be in church you ought to be looking for opportunities to be in church you don't need to look for a reason some folks act like they're almost happy they're sick you don't have to go to church well I've quit preaching started meddling hadn't I I remember the brother down in Mississippi it'll always be in my mind he he said I was too sick to miss church I came to get my healing now I I didn't preached like this and I may be the one headed for the door sick in a half hour but I'm talking about our general spirit and attitude oh God let me desire to be in your presence don't let me have the attitude of Thomas because it bred doubt in Thomas mind everybody started saying Thomas man we just saw the Lord Thomas should have said what panel are you man I hate I miss that I'm going to stay with y'all in case he comes back but instead Thompson I don't believe it I didn't see it I wasn't there if I didn't see it it didn't happen then the other disciples therefore said in him we've seen the Lord but he said except I shall see his hands and the prisoners I need to see the marks of this thing and put my finger into the print of the nails and thrust my hand into his side I will not believe and after eight days man eight days of them said man you should have seen Jesus and Thomas with them then came Jesus and the door being shut stood in the midst and said Peace be in you Jesus walked right through the closed door then he said then saith he to Thomas reach hither thy finger behold my hands reach hither thy hand thrust it into my side be not faithless but believing and Thomas answered and said in him my Lord and my god oh help us to have faith to believe in the things even we haven't seen help us to have the desire to be in the presence of Jesus prostate musicians come quickly Philippians 3 13 said brethren I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind I reach forth unto those things which are ahead and I press toward the mark I'm not talking about these scars now what did Brother Les say tough break you'll get the next one tough break you'll get the next one he was telling forget that forget about that there's going to be another time you're going to get the next one he said I press I'm forgetting those things that are behind I'm forgetting those injuries God give me a better forgetter God give me a better way of forgiving and forgetting and looking forward to press toward the mark of the High Calling of God in Christ I want to learn from my injuries but not be intimidated by them let us therefore as many be perfect be thus minded and if anything you be otherwise minded God shall reveal even unto you nevertheless whereunto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us mine the same things Brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walks so as ye have us for an example look for folks that are like-minded for he goes on to say there were some that with weeping had turned away and become enemies of the cross in fact I tell everybody rather than worried about a bad hop a bruised shin maybe a shot to the chin it may be time for us to leave some marks it may be time for us to dish out a few marks as children of God Romans said to mark them who are contrary and offensive people and said avoid them you know what sometimes you might need to take a little view of the voices in your life that are really influencing you if there's contrary offensive people that's constantly speaking into your life you might need to avoid those kind of conversations you might need to look to for some folks that's got some positive things to say about serving God got some positive things to interject into your life not always looking for Gloom Doom and despair not always trying to find a gray cloud around your silver lining and in fact ultimately as we stand here's the mark I'd like to leave I take us to Genesis when the curse had taken place for Adam and Eve when they had been put out of the garden God did not let them dwell there without hope in fact God set up an adversarial situation he said this I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed he's speaking of Satan the enemy the old serpent and it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel now with any apologies to any of you reptile lovers I don't like snakes what kind of snakes don't you got snakes oh I've had folks say well that's a good snake I'm sorry I hadn't seen a good snake I'm just not a snake lover I'm sorry oh that's a that's a snake and I don't know there's something innate In Me Maybe I'm the only one but if I see a snake of any kind I don't want to handle it well unless I do it as they used to say that Christmas handling with a ho ho ho you know somehow will get that after a while don't like snakes and furthermore most every snake I've been around acts like it don't like me it'll stick its head up and look like he's measuring to take a bite but I've got a promise that the seed would bruise his head you know the problem is too many of us are walking around Fang marks in our ankles when we needed to be be putting knots on the head of the enemy we've been allowed him to bite and and strike and mess with us when all the time we need to be knocking his head a little bit after all this is Knoxville I don't know we might ought to respell it to k-n-o-c-k-s-b-i-l-l-e we ought to be knocking his head every time the enemy the serpent shows up we ought to be laying into him he ought to be having some injuries and some marks on him I want to appeal to everybody that's in this house every Holy Ghost Field believer if you've repented of your sins if you've been baptized in the name of Jesus if you've been filled with the Holy Ghost evidence was speaking with tongues you are a blood-bought winner you're on the winning team and I invite anyone who has not done that this is the place to do it but today in particular I want everybody that you hadn't had any injuries you don't need to come if you've never been hurt if life's never given you any bad hops you don't have to come but everybody else that you face some trials and some tests but you're a witness you can make it through I want you to come if you're going through something if you've got an injury right now I want you to come I want us to have a season of re-determining in our hearts I will be victorious I'm going to overcome this thing I press forward toward the Mark I'm not going to look back I'm going to let God touch me and Lead me and make me Victorious in him would you come right now hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah yeah yeah Glory Glory singing to the Lord yeah [Music] yeah Hallelujah [Music] talk to the Lord right now Hallelujah think of the goodness of Jesus hey yeah Hallelujah I will be grateful He's been Faithful Ness [Music] you never do everything else [Music] [Applause] I'll praise you yeah can you praise him through your struggle can you praise him through your pain he's got Victory on the other side you will win you will win you will win [Music] yeah yeah I'll praise you [Music] precious [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Applause] what's up right now would you lift your hands in your heart unto Jesus and thank him thank him for your wounds and your scars and your injuries that you have healed from if you're in a trial Rejoice Rejoice that you're worthy Rejoice that you're worthy he has Deliverance for US ah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah now love him again savior I Praise You savior I worship you today savior I do honor you hallelujah hallelujah I would challenge everybody to go from this place Victorious claiming Victory if you've already had your Victory Proclaim it if you're in the middle of your test Proclaim Victory if you're facing a trial Proclaim Victory you are victorious in Christ please don't forget to be with us tonight come expecting a great time in the Lord we'll have prayer time at six our main Evangelistic service at 6 30. a Charlie fandale our missionary to Argentina will be in the service with us tonight we're looking forward to hearing him would you greet everyone as your personal protocol makes you comfortable you're dismissed in Jesus name Hallelujah