Divine Purpose | First Lady Penny Carpenter

Mother's Day did not begin with flowers. And it didn't begin with gifts. It's actually matters not just in a home but in shaping communities and even generations. In the 1800s, a woman named Anna Jarvis wanted to honor her mother. a woman who' spent her life serving others, caring for families, and bringing healing in difficult times. And may I say, "Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you." I went this morning to tell her and take her some flowers, and I scared her. I think I took a year off her life because she was trying to get ready for church. And sorry, Mom. I hope you live longer. I hope that just got your blood to flowing this morning. After her mother passed away, she found thought to create a day that would cause people to pause and truly appreciate the impact of a mother. And in 1914, it became official. But here's what's powerful. Anna Jarvis never intended for this day to become commercial. She never intended it to be about buying something. And truly after that, she fought to bring it back to that. She wanted it to be personal, personal, meaningful. She wanted it to be a moment like we have here this morning where we stop and recognize the quiet, consistent, unseen influence of a mother. And ladies, can I tell you something that didn't start with Anna Jarvis? God had had already established the value of a mother long before any holiday ever existed. Proverbs 31-28 says, "Her children arise and call her blessed, her husband also, and he praiseth her." The Bible shows us that a mother's influence is not just natural, but it is also spiritual. I'm going to say that we're not just a natural influence because as a mother, I'm a teacher. And you know, you say, "I'm not a teacher." Are you a mother? You're a teacher. Okay? It is the prayers that nobody hears. It is the lessons taught over and over and over again. It is the consistency when nobody is watching because someone is watching. But today we also recognize something important. Not every mother in this room is a biological mother. Some of you have lost babies. Some of you had prayed for children you have not yet grief that few people fully understand. Some of you are single. Some of you have never married. Some of you have raised children alone after the death of a spouse. And some of you became spiritual mothers to people God has placed in your life. And today it is not meant to magnify pain or make any woman here feel forgotten. But our value is not determined only by whether we have children. Our worth comes from the Lord. A woman can nurture life without ever giving birth physically. Some women mother through praying for others, having compassion on the hurting, imparting wisdom to a young person, teaching lessons about the word of God, teaching someone the books of the Bible, mentoring, being that example, encouraging young people that have lost their way. hospitality, bringing people into your home, serving them with grace, sacrifice, and faithfulness. There are woman women in this room who have carried people spiritually when nobody else would. They've been there when everybody else left. There there are women here who have prayed generations through difficult seasons. We just don't hear about it. It's not they're not on a loudspeaker. There are women who became safe places for hurting people. And God sees every sacrifice. Isaiah 49:15-16 says, "Can a woman forget her second child that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?" Listen to this. "Yay, they may forget, yet I will not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands. Thy walls are continually before me." The phrase, "Thy walls are continually before me," is deeply powerful. Sometimes we read over scripture, we don't really think of what it's saying to us. In ancient cities, walls represented protection, identity, security, strength, and the condition of the city itself. Jerusalem's wall walls have been broken down through suffering and captivity. The people felt abandoned, forgotten, and vulnerable. But God tells them, "I see your walls continually." God constantly keeps his eyes on us, ladies. every one of us. He sees our broken places. He remembers what concerns us. He has not abandoned our protection or our future. Some of you may feel like he has, but we need to listen to his word and we need to take him for what he says. Restoration is always in his sight. Yes, even if you have fallen, there's restoration in God's house. Amen. So spiritually this verse speaks to anyone who feels forgotten, broken, exposed, wounded or under attack. God says, "I have not lost sight of you. Your life, your protection, your future, and even the broken places are continually before me." This the verse before it h makes the meaning really even even sweeter. I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands. That is permanent remembrance. When he looks at his hands, he sees you. God is not casually thinking about us. He carries us continually. Your life is never out of God's sight. Although you may feel all alone today. He sees your broken walls and they are never beyond his rebuilding power. So today we honor all you mothers, but we also honor women who have stayed faithful, who kept praying, who kept loving, who kept serving God through disappointment, joy, loss, sacrifice, and purpose. And today, we're not just here to celebrate mothers. We're here to celebrate something a whole lot deeper. that God has given every one of us a purpose that shapes lives, a calling that carries influence behind what can be seen and a life that when surrendered to him, we walk in his favor. Because the mother is not just a role, it's a divine assignment. And sometimes we underestimate our worth. And I want you to see how God actually sees us. Being a woman of God is a divine calling. To all the fearing ladies that are in this sanctuary, I want to tell you happy Mother's Day. I want to strengthen you and I want to encourage you. A Christian woman's divine purpose is far deeper than simply fulfilling the daily roles. In scripture, divine purpose begins with a relationship with God that flows outward. So, I've always said it. It's on the inside and it works itself outward. It's influence, disciplehip, strength, wisdom, and truly kingdom impact. We just got to see ourselves as the way that God sees us. Our purpose is not merely defined by marriage, motherhood, a career, or a season of life. Because you know what? Our kids have left us. So if that was what it was all about, I would be depressed right now. Now the grandchildren, that's the blessing for raising your children. So I'm thankful for that. Divine purpose is the god orained assignment in your life. It reveals his glory. Listen to this. Through who you are in him, who we are, ladies, in God before it flows through what he wants to do through us. So it's who we become in him and then he will have the ability to flow through us. For out of our bellies flow rivers of living water. And that's what happens when we have the Holy Ghost and we keep it active. As my he husband often says after the calling is the qualifying. So we have to qualify our life. We just can't say his promise and say, "Oh, that's for me." Yes, it is. If I do my part, the forming of divine purpose is to first truly know God. And I've always said, you can't give something you don't have. Before Eve was a wife or a mother, she was God's creation. God did not create a woman, the woman as an afterthought. He formed a woman, the woman with intention, dignity, and a spiritual calling. We're here for a purpose. Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him. Male and female created he them." A woman's divine purpose is first to know God, walk with him, reflect his nature in our daily life. When you look at a mother, you should see his name. That means our value is not determined by our appearance, our age. Everybody, all the ladies 58 and up, thank you Jesus. relationship status, your children, your talent or public recognition. Many of you your name has but divine purpose flows from intimacy with him and that cannot be stressed enough in all of our and he has 66 books in the Bible. >> Truly get it in our hearts. I will. We're going away from God and we are not doing what he wants us to do, thus fulfilling his divine per influence. And if you say to me, "Oh, Sister Carpenter, I don't have influence." I'm sorry to say to you, you're wrong. We are meant we are born to influence. We're born to be a helpmate to complete our husbands in the image of God. Israel spiritually and politically. She was empowered by God. Judges 4, four, and five on the sand. No, but I'm sure it really was on the soft side, so to speak. Maybe I can tell. Beauty won the heart of Persia's king. Thus be where God calls us to do. Esther was and who knoweth whether or not thou art come and I believe we're in the last days. So this we're more important right now for what we stand for especiity and we wear it as a prowling and you know what when we step away from that what do we as not just surviving but had faith and spiritual surrender. Oh it's a beautiful thing. Surrendering is not weakness it's weakness. It's strength under control. And she was willing also to get out of her comfort zone. She had a humble heart, working hard in low positions, not complaining or demanding status even throughout a difficult season of her life. You know what? She didn't live in self-pity, right? Oh, woe is me. I've lost my husband. Here I am following my following my mother-in-law around. And look, here we are. She was teachable, making wise and rational decisions, positioning herself for divine redemption. You notice that she positioned herself and that's what I want to do. Ruth 1:16-17. And Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave thee. Please don't make me leave you. Or to return from following thee. For whether thou goest, I will go. And where thou lodest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people." And listen to this. And thy God, my God, >> my God. Where thou diest will I die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also if thou ought that death part thee and me. That sounds like a loyal woman. Don't you want to be that woman? God, help us all to become what you've called us to be. Mary Magdalene, we entrust was entrusted to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Can you believe that? She was entrusted with that. She contributed to the needs of Jesus and his disciples. first to see Jesus after his resurrection. She had childlike faith. We'll never leave that. Let's just believe the Lord for miracles and great things. She acted out her appreciation for the freedom that Jesus had given her. Mark 16:9. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Wow. Isn't that amazing? She had cast devils out of her, but he also appeared to her first. Yes, he can use a woman that has had seven devils. That gives me hope, don't it you? Yes, she's hope for me. Priscilla helped disciple believers alongside Aquilla, her husband. She sacrificially served in the kingdom, risk her life for Jesus and ministry. Paul deeply respected her. Priscilla was not passive in ministry. She was active, active and trusted. A hus this husband and wife team was called Paul's helpers in Christ Jesus. Romans 16 3 and 4. Greet Priscilla and Aquilla, my helpers in Christ Jesus, who have for my life laid down their own necks and to whom not only I give thanks, but also to the churches of the Gentiles. Remember, divine purpose is not always loud. We don't have to be loud. and sometimes obnoxious to have purpose, but it is influential. We have influence, ladies. We are more powerful than we think if we can just look for what God sees in us. Number three, a woman's p purpose includes spiritual motherhood. This is powerful and we've said this because not every woman is a biological mother, but every godly woman can nature life spiritually. So just because we don't have children or we're not married doesn't mean that we're not called to a divine purpose. Paul the the apostle called Timothy his son in the faith. Spiritual parenting exists throughout scripture. So don't give up on yourself and think it's over. You've got a work to do. And you know what? We got to get out of our comfort zone to do that. To reach out. When you see somebody hurting, reach out. It's never comfortable to do the work of God. And we have to put self aside, our own ambitions, our own wants. It will always be called the work of God for a reason. A Christian woman fulfills divine purpose when she mentors young women. There are young women that don't have their parents in the church. Now we don't take the place of any mother. All right? We just are in addition to to just help them along the way. We encourage the hurting. We teach truth sometimes. Hey, don't run in church. Hey baby, slow down. This is the house of God. We There's just little things that us as women that are God called, we can do in a sweet way. We protect the spiritual atmosphere of this church. We're not busy bodies bodies running into everybody's business. We're encouraging. We're not tearing down. Any woman can down tear down a house, but it's a godly woman that can build a house. And that's not just Yes. That's right. Any woman can do that. But we are builders. We're encouraers. And we are examples. Now the question I ask myself, am I a good example or a bad example? Only God knows that. Depends on what day it is maybe. I don't know. A woman can mother people through praying for them. We don't we don't even have to talk to them. We can pray for them. If you see somebody struggling, pray for them. Don't discourage them and talk about them. Pray for them. >> And you know what? If they're not acting right, they're probably a product of their home life. and just put that hand up and say, "Hey, I just want you to know I love you. I'm fighting for you. God's on your side." We're there's just so many things that we can do just in our everyday life. So, our divine purpose may look different than someone else's. You do you know why? Because our journeys are all different. We've all come from different backgrounds. So, therefore, the background that we come from might be what we have to offer. And really the hard times even in pain in pain and when we're hurt uh God wants to use us and he can use that pain that you've been through to a higher purpose. It isn't hasn't been meant to hurt you. For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose. Everything that you've been through all is all. It's the good times. It's the things that you thought would break you. God meant that for strength training so he could use you for a higher purpose. Psalms 31:25, strength and honor are her clothing and she shall rejoice in time to come. The Hebrew idea idea here with the word virtuous means strength. That strength under control and it might be strength that you've gained through what you've been through through hard times, through a tumultuous childhood that God brought you out of and taught you things and empowered you to help other. It's capability, moral e excellence, walking uprightly. That's a responsibility if we're a virtuous woman. And also spiritual power. We're empowered by the Holy Ghost. Yes, it came here and it's coming out here in the way I speak, the way I think, the way I move throughout my day. God meant for that to make a difference and for us to fulfill the divine purpose through that. The uh also in verse 10 31-10 the Bible says who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies. Now I mean we're just thinking y'all that's wonderful. Well this phrase her price is far above ruby means she is more precious, rare, valuable and treasured the most expensive jewels. That's what you are. You are valuable to the kingdom of God. You're valuable to your family. You're rare. We're rare. We're separated. We're set apart. That's not a bad word. We are women that profess godliness. We're women of holiness. That's what makes us so valuable. It's what's living inside of us. Rubies represented wealth, beauty, honor, and something greatly desired. So scripture says a virtuous woman is worth far more than any earthly treasure. Don't you feel better about yourself already? I know I do. And this isn't just talking about outward beauty. It's speaking of the value of our character. You know why? I've seen a lot of pretty ugly ladies. You can be beautiful on the outside, but if the inside is ugly, we'll get that inside right. And I've watched um even ladies that might not have had a lot of natural beauty be very beautiful by the way in which they conducted their life. Our worth cannot be measured financially because what we carry is eternal. It doesn't matter how much money you have and it doesn't matter if you're broke. You are valuable and your price is far above rubies. You know that rubies can can decorate a crown worth millions of dollars, but a virtuous woman can shape generations. Do you realize we got the ability to affect one generation? And I don't want to miss this window that I have to affect the next generation. And we can make a difference because we have the next generation. Many of us living in our homes now. They're living in our children's homes and this church. They're in our school. They're in our daycare. So how we act and react matters and remember God meant for us to have divine influence and that is our purpose is to have divine influence. Women carry compassion and discernment. Now we call it today intuition. Anybody ever heard of, "Oh, that's a woman's intuition." And I love it when Brother Carter says to me, "Honey, I've learned to trust that." And I appreciate that. I'm sure sometimes it hadn't always been so trustworthy, but uh throughout scripture, women often perceive spiritual things deeply. And that's what we do because we're mothers. We're made to care and to carry it. And that can be heavy at times. But just like Esther, what does she do? She desired timing. She taught us that purpose requires timing. Now listen to this because this is real important. We might have a purpose, but it requires timing. Timing requires restraint. Everybody say restraint. >> Oh, that's the hard part. And restraint requires discernment. So, we got to wait for things that God sometimes wants us to do. There's a time for it, but we got to wait. Of course, we know that God will open a door no man can shut, but he can also shut a door no man can open. But I don't want to ever be guilty of prying a door open. I believe if God wants me to do something, he'll make the way for me to do it. He will open the door. I don't have to call anybody and ask them. And a matter of fact, when they call me and ask me, I get scared to death. I hang up the phone or brother will say, "Honey, you're speaking to this." And I'll say, "Call them back and tell them I said no." And then God smokes my heart and I said, "Honey, don't call them. Don't call him. God will help me." But we don't have to make ourselves put ourselves out there for God to use us. We just need to be doing the mundane, the everyday task to the best of our ability. Brother Carpenter's always call called it being at the bus stop. He says, "Honey, I just want to be at the bus stop." And I always say, "I just want to pass the test. Whatever it is, whatever it is I'm going through, I'll just say, "God, I just want to pass the test. Whatever you're trying to say to me, help me to pass the test." Mary of Bethany sat at Jesus' feet to learn. Luke 10:39. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus's feet and heard his word. The Samaritan woman shared her testimony to her city after encountering Jesus. So after we encounter, we need to share it with everybody we see at Walmart. We need to invite them to church. Think of yourself when you get up in the morning and you look in the mirror. You need to look at yourself and say, "You have divine purpose." What is God going to do through you today? Is he are we going to encourage somebody that's discouraged? Am I going to empower a young person? Am I going to share the gospel with my friend that I meet at Walmart or the person at the office who said, "Will you pray for me? That's your moment. That's your divine purpose. We need to step up to the task." John 4:28 and 29. The woman then left her water pot and went her way into the city and saith to the men. Come see a man which told me all things I ever did. Is is is not this the Christ? We need to testify. We need to tell. Get out of your comfort zone. Wake up. It's all about what God wants to do through you. And you are a chosen vessel for a divine purpose. Hannah discerned how to pray through bitterness. Has anybody been ever been hurt, been disappointed, felt left out? Raise your hand, ladies, if you have. I know. Yeah, that's right. And men. That's right, Brother Nolan. I've been left out. That's right. I've been disappointed. That's right. Sometimes in myself. And she was in bitterness of soul and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore. And she vowed a vow and said, "Oh Lord of hosts, if thou will indeed look on the affliction of thine handmmaid and remember me." Remember, he's got you on the palm of his hand. and not forget thy handmade, but will give unto thy handmade a manchild. Then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come up on his head. So God, if you give me a child, I'm not going to keep him. I'm going to give him back to you. So although she got a child, she still had to give him back to the Lord, just like we did this morning. Our children are, they're not our property. We are stewards. And I didn't take that lightly, and I'm sure you don't. Divine purpose is often developed through pain. And that's the part we don't like. That's the all things work together for good. Many biblical women discover purpose through hardship. Hannah through barrenness, Ruth through loss, Esther through danger, Mary through surrender, the woman with the issue of blood through suffering. And all again, all of our journeys are different. We're all suffering something different. And everybody in this room, we're all suffering. If you aren't going through a trial, you've probably been through or unfortunately to say, you may start going through one. Why? Because that modes us. Pain does not disqualify us. Ladies, pain doesn't disqualify you. It shapes you into something that God can use. James 1:2 and 4. My brethren or sister, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith, what does it do? Workketh patience, because we know tribulation workketh patience. But let and I love this. Let patience have her perfect work. I like that her there. Sometimes I don't like it when it says her when it's a bad thing, but I like that one. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect or upright and entire, that you may be whole, wanting nothing. Can you believe pain can do that? But it does. You know why? Because God makes all things beautiful in his time. It's in the waiting. It's in the hidden seasons when it's so cold outside. It's at night and it's so dark you can't see your hand in front of your face. is through sacrifice and prayer. God does his greatest works in our life. In the unseen places, in the places we never expected that he could work, we look back and said, "Oh God, that's where you did it. That's where you changed me and you made me into a vessel that you could work through." So don't be discouraged in the pain and the darkness of night. It's that moment that God is making you what he wants you to be. And it is for a divine purpose. The world often tells us we need to be admired. We need to look at you as a woman. You need to do this and that to yourself. You need to be successful. You need to be beautiful as the world says. Oh, you need to be independent and stand on your own two feet. Well, I believe that I'm standing on my two feet on two feet right now. I don't have to do that outside of God, but I do it under the authority of my husband who's under the authority of God. He's God's glory. I'm his glory. Yes, I am. I'm his glory. And then my hair is my glory. So, it's such a beautiful high calling that I enjoy. But scripture, it it points to something deeper than what the world wants us to be or what our culture. And they don't even know what they want to be, much less telling me what I want to be. I They don't know if they're a boy or a girl or a furry. Did I say that right? I called a Furby one time and I got corrected by the kids. They were laughing. Sometimes when they're laughing because I don't know the latest jargon. I know. Okay. What What was I supposed to say? What did I say wrong? Bit a furry. They don't even know what they are to impart. But we know who we are. Remember, we're a child of the king. I'm a daughter of the king. Yes. So true fulfillment is not found in the applause of men or other women. It is found in becoming more like Jesus. That includes humility, wisdom, purity, compassion, faithfulness, courage to get out of their comfort zone and obedience. Romans 12 and two says, "And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed how? by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. Let God renew your mind today. We've been out in the world. We've been out in culture hearing all the ugly, dirty stuff, wars, taxes, gases are high, gas prices are higher. This person is doing it. And we get all that. But we just need to come into the presence of God and through his spirit let him renew our mind to the way that we need to think. It's not about uh walking in this world, but it's about walking with Jesus. That's what it's all about. We need to be a light in darkness, a voice of truth when there's a lie. We need to be the source of peace, a peace maker. When we are full of God's spirit, what do you do? You make peace. And you know what? We all know that Trump knows the art of the deal. All right, peace is not cheap. Sometimes you got to take the short end of the stiff. You're not always stick. You're not always going to win that little battle, but as long as we win the war, that's what God can use. He can use a vessel that knows how to make peace. And our purpose, ladies, is eternal. You might not have a lot of money or things down here on this earth, and sometimes that can be a curse. I call it the curse of the blessing because people can get distracted by money and things. You're no different than the poorest person in this church. >> You're not that you're not. God doesn't favor any of us anymore. If we are in a covenant with God and if I'm giving my$1 out of $10, I'm the same as the person that's given a thousand dollars >> out of 10 thou. It's the same percentage. God doesn't have favorites. He doesn't favor. If he did, Kenneth and Penny Carpenter would not be here right now. And I love my daddy, but my dad was a professional gambler. His daddy changed tires for Goodyear. His mama kept people. She would wear a nurs's uniform. My mama worked at Beard Mini Storage and a host of other places. Money don't make you. And your name is just your name. A child who grows up into a woman, a child is known by his doing. Penny Carpenter is not known by anybody else but Penny Carpenter. And the same for you. So you are who you want to be in the Lord. Yes. And he doesn't like anybody else in this room better than you truly because we're all just nobodyies that met somebody, right? Aren't you thankful you met him? And that's why it's so important that we will share the gospel with every person that we meet. Now we need to be uh sharing uh one generation. We need to praise his works to another. We should be examples and all those things. And we need to remember that beauty is the is vain. This is going to pass away. This is you you already see it happening. The hair's turning and all those things. I want to grow old gracefully. So don't try to capture what we've already lived. Let's be women that grow old gracefully and then let it make us sweet and kind and not bitter. And God's got a divine purpose for every person in this room. And every one of us was create created on purpose and for his purpose. That little t-shirt says God don't make junk. We all have a purpose. We just got to look for it. Look at what you're good at. Look at the talents that God has given you. Use them for the kingdom, for a higher purpose. But this is the the, you know, the clinger, the clincher. And I'm thinking, what Lord is the the the biggest thing I think that hinders divine purpose in all of our lives. And this is what I feel like the Lord gave to me. He gave me two things. One morning, I woke up and the word purpose was just there. It's like I wasn't thinking about it. As soon as I opened my eyes, purpose. It's like, okay. And then the next word is pride. But pride is the number one thing that quietly sabotages his purpose in our lives. >> And I don't care. I think we all have a little measure of that. I know I do that. I'm asking the Lord. I'm going to talk about that in a minute. That it is the number one thing is pride that sabotages what God wants to do through all of us. Pride frustrates God's purpose and it hides behind many of our attitudes and our behaviors. I'm gonna say that again. It frustrates God's purpose and it hides behind many of our attitudes and behavior interfering with God's intended work in our lives. He could use us greater. I think he's already using us. But if we'd get pride out of the way, he could truly do a work not only to us, but through us. We've got to resist pride. We have to surrender. We don't need to resist correction. We need to be dependent on God, not ourselves. We need to be obedient. Yeah. You never outgrow that. I'm We're still under somebody. We still have a pastor we answer to. All right. So, divine purpose can only fully flourish in a yielded heart. Now, we I can say, "Oh, I'm a pastor's wife. I'm this. I'm that. Well, am I submitted? Do I have pride in my life?" This is forms of pride. We all need to check our and and as I read this, I was praying and checking myself as I put thoughts together of what this needs to be, what this scripture say, self-exaltation, thinking too highly of yourself. For I say through the grace given to me to every man that is among you, not to think more highly of himself more highly than he ought to think. Romans 12 and3. When we don't think too highly of ourselves, we're not surprised when others don't. Sometimes we get our bubble burst because we think we're high and mighty when we're nothing. It's him who works through us. Boasting and arrogance is a form of pride. Pride goeth before destruction and a halty spirit but before a fall. You got pride and you're lifted up and you're halty. I'm telling you, you're coming down. I don't want to I want to humble myself. I don't want God to have to humble me. When we allow pride to get a stronghold in our life, it drives us toward destruction and it does for a fall. We're not self-made people. You may work hard, yes, but it's God that opens the door that prepares the way before us. But when we think we're self-made, we're going to find oursel in places we don't want to be. A form of pride is stubbornness, refusing correction. Only by pride cometh contention, but with the well advised is wisdom. Proverbs 13 and10. In this verse, contention is described as quarrel, debate, strife. I was wrong or I need help are difficult phrases to say because they require humility. Sorry requires humility. Pride is an ingredient in every quarrel, every disagreement. Sometimes one or both people have pride. It stirs up conflict and it divides people. Humility heals. God, help us to guard against pride. If we find ourselves constantly arguing and having to apologize, we need to examine our life. I've always told my kids, if you worry about yourself, that's a full-time job. You don't need to worry about anybody else and what they're doing. you need to worry about what you're doing because you got to go to bed at night that you're going and know if the Lord comes back tonight, I'm going in the rapture that you with nothing in my heart. We need to examine our life. Be open to the advice of others. Ask for help. If you won't ask somebody to help you, you might be prideful. Be willing to admit our mistakes and shortcomings. It will have the power to set us free. You think if you do that, it's going to make you less. Absolutely not. It will make you more. It will make you greater. And when you apologize, we've apologized to our kids. I probably have this week. I don't know if I have or not. If not, I probably need to. You know, we're not perfect people. There's none perfect, no not one. A form of pride is wanting praise from people instead of God. How can you believe which receive honor? How can you believe which receive honor one of another and seek not to honor that cometh from God only John 5:44 being a people pleaser can be a work of pride. It can come across as self poor self-esteem. Pride causes us to want the praise of man sometimes more than the acceptance of God. One day I was praying and I was asking God, "Oh God, please help me. These people are talking about me and they're not telling the truth. They're telling things about me that are not true. And I was just crying and telling God all my issues. And Lord, please help me. And he, you know what, he said something I didn't expect. He said, Penny, you care more about what others think of you than what I think of you. So instead of asking to help me, I started repenting. God, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Lord. Please forgive me. You know why? It doesn't matter what anybody in this room thinks of me, but it does matter what God thinks of me. You know why? Because he knows me best. I can put an act on in front of you and he knows what I'm doing in the darkness of night. He knows my thoughts. Yes, he does. He knows our thoughts. So, it really doesn't matter what anybody else thinks of us. We need to say, "God, what do you think of me? Create in me a clean heart. Renew a right spirit in me." Yes, that's what matters. God, please forgive me for caring more of what others think of me than what you think of me. Independence from God, that's a form of pride. The wicked through the pride of his countenance will not seek after God. God is not in his all his thoughts. Might be in his thoughts, but it said all his thoughts. Psalm 110 and4. We are not self-made. I don't care how hard you work, what success you had. God opened that door and he made the way. And we're not self-made people. You know why? Because we're God's children. Pride in possessions and success. And I've kind of hit that that we shouldn't have pride in those things. And religious pride, looking down upon it. Oh, I'm apostolic. Well, you know what? That means nothing to the person you're talking to other than you just look down on them. Okay. God, I thank thee that I am not as these men are. Yeah. Because you've had the grace of God applied to your life. It's not anything you did. It's God working through you. We always need to remember that. We're just young. D U N G. Without the mercy of God. Pride is having an unteachable spirit. Seeest thou a man wise in his own conceit. There is more hope and this scares me of a fool than of him. Proverbs 26 and 12. Pride that resists God's word work. God resisted the proud but giveth grace unto the humble. So the remedy of pride, I'm not going to tell you that problem without giving you the answer is humility. And I must hurry. We must humble ourselves before God. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord. And you know what he's going to do? And he shall lift you up. Now when he lifts you up, he's done the work. But we're in a covenant with him before he does that. James 4:10. Put on humility. When you get up in the morning, put it on daily. Yay. All of you be subject one to another. Oh, so you're not not really over anybody because we got to be subject to each other. All right. Um, and be clothed with humility, for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble. First Peter 5 and5. God help us to put that on daily. Follow Christ's example. And being found in the fashion of a man, he humbled himself, the king of all kings, the creator of this earth and became obedient to death. Even the death of the c. Oh, he came and humbled himself and died for every one of us. Wow. He was our servant. The king of all kings came in the form of a servant. So servant leadership is everything. Trust God instead of yourself. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not to your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5. You know why? Because my understanding more likely is not right. Stay repentive and teachable. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart. Oh God, will thou not despise. 51 pro Psalm 51:17. God is closest to those of a contrite heart. When we're truly broken before him, God uses humility for his divine purpose. Humility positions us for grace. Humility allows God to exalt us in his timing. And he don't do it to exalt you. He does it for himself to be glorified. That's the whole thing. The responsibility on this church to me scares me sometimes because you hear people come through. We're looking to you all. We're looking to you all. Well, that's not anything to be prideful about. It needs to scare us that every one of us needs to say, "I need to be what God's called me to be to make this church stronger." That the stronger we are, the further we're going to reach into Africa and Asia and around the world. But we get lifted up in pride and think we're the bomb.com. Our moms are the bomb spiritually speaking. But we if we think that, we're missing the whole point. It humbles me. It leads it drives me to my knees. God, help us. Humility makes usable. He wants to do something to us. Humble us so he can work through. He can't work through pride. He never has and he never will. So if you're wanting God to use you, please listen to these words. Humility keeps us dependent on God. Psalms 3 and5. Humility brings unity and peace. And that's what's going to bring the power of God down in this church with all loneliness and meekness with long ser longsuffering. What? Forbearing one another. In other words, it ain't about me. It's about you and what you're going through right now with your grandbaby, Sister Yates. It's about you all and what's happening. And we're trying to help and strengthen one another. Pride. Pride lifts self, but humility lifts God. Pride says, "I can do it myself." But humility says, "Lord, I need you. I need you. Before destruction, the heart of man is haughty. And before honor is humility. When we humble ourselves before God, he fills us with grace. He shapes our character. Then he's able to use our lives for a divine purpose. Now listen to this. You you could all stand, please. And I I I do want to ladies, if y'all want to come and pray my prayer, I'm going to pray the prayer with you of God, wash me of me. All right? Before destruction is a halty spirit. Before honor is humility. When we humble ourselves before God, he fills us with grace and he shapes us with with character. Ephesians 3:20. Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think. We say that all the time but the rest of it is according to the power and that's God p God's power that workketh in us. I don't know any person in this room now if you do let me know that has enough of the power of God and enough of the Holy Ghost. Ladies and gentlemen, may we fill this altar this morning and allow his power to work in us, asking God. And if you want to come and pray, you can pray in your pew. But if you want to come here and pray, we ask God, wash me, create in me a clean heart and cleanse me from my prideful ways. asking God to take away the uncumbly parts of us and to touch our heart every secret part to examine me and see what manner of man that I am and it's not my brother not my sister but it's me oh Lord in Jesus name