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Little

August 11, 2024 · Cornerstone Apostolic Church (Chattanooga, TN)

Recent Sunday

Transcript of a published sermon by Raymond Sloan, transcribed from subsplash. An attributed primary source — not Acts 2:38 Life doctrine text.

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Summary

Summary prepared by Acts 2:38 Life from the transcript below — the preacher’s words follow in full.

God doesn't change — my position does

  • Many of us understand the power and the purpose of our walk with God, and have seen his hand working in ways we cannot describe.
  • Some days I struggle with the simple things, like faith and like love, and other days I am on fire for God; he is the same whichever side I am looking at him from — it is my position and my view of him that changes.
  • We know him as Healer because we first had to endure a sickness; we call him Provider because he brought us through a situation we could not get through ourselves.

All things are possible to him that believes

  • Living in a three-dimensional world, we base our position on what we are exposed to — and perspective can trick the mind and the body, like a screen image so real it turns the stomach.
  • Jesus said it in Mark 9:23: if you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes.
  • God can, God will, and God wants to; what we have to alter is our vision of who God is and of how he can work in our lives.

Scriptures: Mark 9:23

Saul the desired makes havoc

  • Saul of Tarsus, whose name means desired, felt a call to stop the Christians; with the seal of approval from the rulers he imprisoned them, had them beaten, and consented in the persecution, while the scattered believers went everywhere preaching the word.
  • On the Damascus road he fell to the earth under a light from heaven — Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? — and all the desired man could say was, who are you, Lord, and what will you have me to do?

Scriptures: Acts 8:1-4; Acts 9:1-6

Saul, who also is called Paul: desired becomes little

  • In Acts 13 the name changes inside a parenthesis — then Saul, who also is called Paul — and Paul by translation simply means little.
  • Paul figured out that he is a nobody from nowhere, small on the scheme of things, and that he must decrease so that Christ may increase; the thread through his letters is, follow me as I follow him.
  • At Mars Hill the little man, beaten and scarred, walked up to the altar of the unknown God and talked about the one they did not know: Jesus of Nazareth.

Scriptures: Acts 13:9-12

A lesson from a little old lady

  • His mother, who had the Holy Ghost for 70 years, lay hurting and still reached a feeble hand to her son's face and prayed over him, speaking in tongues; she told every doctor and nurse, and the hospice nurse, that God and not they would take her life.
  • The family gathered around her bed on Thursday evening singing of the goodness of God, and she left this world knowing it is all in him.
  • You better stay little, just like that little old lady: if you ever think you are all of that, you will miss the greatest gift, eternal life.

Nobody stopped him

  • At his direction a reader takes the last chapter of Acts: Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence — and nobody stopped him.
  • The altar appeal: have a name change today — lay down everything you thought you were and everything you thought you could accomplish, and decrease so that he may increase.
  • He closes on the same word: when Paul got the proper perspective nobody could stop him, and the one working in you is the most powerful weapon on your job this week.

Scriptures: Acts 28:30-31; Acts 28:30-31

Scripture index: Mark 9:23; Acts 8:1-4; Acts 9:1-6; Acts 13:9-12; Acts 28:30-31; Acts 28:30-31.

Transcript

would you pray with me everyone Lord we are so thankful to be in your house today we are indebted to you Jesus from the rising of the sun un the going down of the same Lord your name is worthy worthy worthy right now Lord we ask you to breathe into this house we have gathered here loving you we have brought petitions to you Lord we have sung songs about you Jesus we lord we know that all things come from your hand your glory and your power are working in each of us lead us in the way Everlasting I pray Jesus we seek first the kingdom today your righteousness Lord God we run to you and in everything Lord we expect great things from your hand in the name of Jesus Lord I make myself available again to you in Jesus name we pray come on lift your voice to the Lord lift your voice to the Lord come on lift your voice to him trusting you Lord trusting you Jesus trusting you Jesus Hallelujah to the lamb Hallelujah to the lamb turn to somebody close to you and just tell them how glad you are they came today so good to see all of you in the house of the Lord thank you singers and musicians thank you Sunday School staff parking lot worker uppers and coffee pot pour outers and all the cool stuff that that people how many still believe in the power of Jesus how many believe in the power of the Holy Ghost how many believe that he is still real I believe he's right and real amen you can be seated if you feel like you need need to thank you brother her

I am certain that many of us sitting here today we understand the power and the purpose of our walk with God huh how many of us sitting here have seen the hand of God working on our behalf in ways that we cannot describe anybody un anybody online watching you understand that today have you have you ever experienced the power and the Saving Grace of your savior is there something in your life that has happened and now you know beyond the shadow of any doubt that God is alive and well in your daily life are you thankful for that give him praise would you come on give him praise Lord I Thank I'm thankful I'm thankful God I'm thankful thankful I know as for me I can see the hand of God working and moving in me every day now listen carefully please do not misunderstand what pastor's saying some days I struggle with the simple things like Faith Like Love I struggle and other days I'm on fire for God and there's an anointing and it pours out how many know I'm talking about the es and the flows of the spirit the ups and the downs one thing that I have done I have determined that in my walk with God that he will be the same at whatever side I am looking at him because he doesn't change but it is my position in my view of him that changes we understand that principle I know Mercy works as ointment on my life I know that I but other positions there are times in my life that I take up that I can't even see the hand of God God did not move he did not change brother Rob but I moved and shifted and now I wonder why it looks different from my perspective right I've come to the realization that God doesn't change but I do he Remains the Same I might shift my side may move over here or I might take up residence on this place but one thing I do know he loves me in spite of me turn to your neighbor and say Jesus loves you come on he is hope for the Hopeless he is breath for the lifeless he is fresh air he gives every one of us a reason to live amen he works in your life he puts things together his power is right and it works but one thing I want you to understand also that his power will mean nothing until you see his hand working in your situation come on I want you to know that God is God no matter what he created us and he really wants for us to have a relationship with him I know that in my life that if he has been a Healer for me I had to endure a sickness before I got to know him as a Healer I I know that if I ever call him provider it's because I had a situation I couldn't get through but God provided now I call him provider come on how far you'all want me to go I know that if I've lost my way that at the end of it all there's a way maker I know that if I'm down and out and discouraged that at the other side of that the encourager comes and he picks me up and he sets me on the right path come on none of us want to suffer none of us want to have questions but we're all finding out every day God is faithful to his word he don't lie he doesn't drop the ball he doesn't know how to fail God is God now stay with me a moment in our modern philosophies and understanding we have been driven to a place that we struggle with faith in God in all of life's situations in many fields for an example of Labor in many Mission fields for an example you you see that God is moving and the the hand of the Lord God is is pouring out and the miraculous is hanging people upside down and doing things in their lives I've seen it personally in my walk with with God I've been on a mission field to see how God works and I scratched my head why does God do it here but at home he might not come on can I be honest he don't did God take and change did he send a demig God over to the US did he send a miniature of him that might be able to and I I don't I'm okay with this because I know y'all question the same things but one thing I have come to realize in my walk with God that God can do anything God has all power and he knows all things and he's in all places but the fact remains this my perspective of God can change how God works in me my point of view can alter how God works in me come on if you want to see God then you're going to have to look at him for who he is you going have to move away all the doubt and fear and the obstructions and the distractions that can get in your way you're going to have to decide Lord Jesus I'm going to love you if the devil likes it or not I'm going to worship I'm going to be at church I'm going to be at prayer meeting I'm gonna get up in the morning with a smile on my face and it don't matter how bad life gets God you don't get bad I know that in all of life situations that we have to base our position on what we are exposed to follow me for a moment we we live in what is known as a 3D World anybody remember one dimension huh I I'll help you uh one dimension was The Flintstones that was one dimension Barney be walking this way and then the next image would go and all you didn't see him turn you just saw the leg that's cuz that's the only way they could draw it come on I'm telling the truth that's called onedimensional then twood Dimension came out and and they were able to not just have him walking and then the next scene this leg go this way but sound came with it but now we've got three perspectives threedimensional you can see the whole movement of it you can hear you can go to Disney for some reason they think they invented four dimension where where you can not only see it move but then they shake the chair underneath you anybody been in one of those theaters before come on that's because in our perspective that's how we have learned to function and in that 3D understanding we know that if we can get our minds wrapped around the reality uh can I be carnal for just a moment y'all hang on to Pastor man I'm just going to say there there are there are in the business side that I do when I do audio and video man there are some screens out there that make me sick to my stomach to look at it looks so real come on I I I was standing in front of a TV and I said put these glasses on one time I did in my stomach went and I went oh goodness that dude's about to run over me he is right there my son decides with this drone thing he said Daddy he put these on well I'm going to show you what this drone will do I said give me that I don't know how to do this and I'm sitting on the couch and I'm moving and that thingy was going and I I know Lord I'm going to telling myself I noticed in about 45 seconds brother damn my stomach started turning all I'm doing is looking at this thing I ain't going nowhere I ain't being nowhere I'm simply letting my eyes and my perspective trick my mind and my body into thinking something about to fall in a hole so I just quickly realize I'm the dad I ain't got to do this if I don't want to so there I got to go stay with me we living in a world oh Lord help me stay on track people are trying to find the nth degree of all things knowing full well they are not prepared for what they're about to meet

Bible says this in the Book of Mark 9: 23 Jesus said unto him if thou can't believe what's he say all things are possible to him that believeth all things now in that particular statement made I wonder sometimes in the King James it's written in red Jesus would have looked over the situation the child in this particular story is possessed and something's going on but Jesus looks at the dad and says if you believe it can happen the fact that Jesus was preaching and teaching of his possibilities of his name that's a lesson for anybody to learn if you get Jesus in any situation come on then anything can be possible Jesus has the power and the ability to do here's the fact can God heal somebody help me can God save somebody help me can God provide come on somebody can God protect come on it don't matter what the world is throwing at you and the doubt and the fear and the questions and the unbelief and the uncertainties of it all I've come to establish on a Sunday afternoon that God can God will and God wants to but what we've got to do is Alter our vision of who God is of what God is doing and of how God can work in your life

allow me a moment today to demonstrate this concept that I'm mentioning to you it's a it's a new testament story and all all of us know it we we' we've studied it we've heard about it time and again in the book of Acts that's the Acts of the Apostles in your Bible there there's a man about middle of the book about a little ways into the book that is his name is Saul anybody heard Saul come on elb Elbow these Sunday school kids say you know him Saul he's from a city of Tarsus he's a Jew but he's also learned he's also become citizen he's also educated in other cultures and in other ways of life he he felt a call on his life listen to this to stop those who were disobeying the law of the land that's my mission I will stop these crazy Christians I will put a stop to those who don't believe in the laws that have been established for them I will make sure that I snuff out this disrespect for the laws of the land we know then that when he would come in contact with people when he would come in contact with groups of people in cities and towns anywhere he went there was something that happened Saul had gone to the rulers of the day and he said if you'll give me the permission I will find these Christlike people and I will stop them he's given a seal of approval he's given a group of men that can go with him and the Bible reveals to US History continues the story that if he found somebody that would not bow to the law of the land that he would imprison them he would have them beaten listen he would even have them stoned to death why because Saul was on a mission and he felt like the approval came from the leaders of the day now y'all hold on to me a moment by definition the name Saul by its definition simply mean means desired it came from an original saw that all of y'all know in the Old Testament and that was the one that was head and shoulders up that was the one that when the people of God said we want a king God said now you realize you're going to pay taxes you're going to do things you because if I'm not your king and your God then there's you going to have to submit to the way and it was this Saul who established the laws and the ways and the means and the manners to do things that by definition is desired and so we then go to the New Testament and there's a new Saul that comes along and again his name simply means desired I looked at the language I looked at the tradition and I want to understand more than anything why this Saul desired why he even came on the scene when the Church of the Living God is growing with great expectation acts 8 verse4 or verse one says that Saul was consenting unto his death at this come on at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the apostles and devout men carried stepen to his burial listen to this and made great lamentation over him as for Saul desired as for Saul he made Havoc of the church entering into every house hauling men and women committed them to prison therefore they were scattered abroad when everywhere preaching the word wait a minute desired Saul is going and he's wreaking havoc is the word they use he is destroying churches he is trying his best to stop Christians he's stopping the message from being preached uh he is trying to Halt the faith that these men and women and children were presenting to their neighbors and simply telling them you need to come and see and hear what Jesus of Nazareth can do in your life the Bible says specifically the way Luke wrote it Havoc was being Reed among the churches H but the Bible continues here they began to be scattered they didn't silence their witness they didn't quiet their word they simply kept preaching wherever they went can I describe to somebody 2024 we're living in a world trying to stop your witness and deny your testimony but I've come to ask on a Sunday afternoon uh is there somebody in Chattanooga who will still rise to the occasion to say you can say what you want to you can believe how you want to but as for me in my house uh we're going to serve the Lord uh we're going to pray in the morning uh we're going to pray at noon time uh we're going to pray in the Midnight Hour we're going to believe in prayer that works for any situation we come cross come on some of y'all don't give up on prayer some of y'all are thinking it's the last resort when somebody falls down in your house you better not go grab aspirin you better call on the name of Jesus come on you better put your mouth uh where your faith is and declare the whole counsel of God uh some can I be Pastor for a moment some of y'all are living in pain and suffering in your home because you won't worship God in your home I declare the altar it's still a forgiving place but it's a Healing Place some of y'all need to get it home and throw your hands in the air and walk around your dining room uh loving Jesus uh some of y'all need to go in the bedrooms of your spouse or your children and love the Lord God speak in tongues let the spirit of God come I ain't lying to you that's why you're going through what you're going through some of you life is happening and you left God out of the equation Saul everybody say desired man he's wreaking havoc things are H let me continue may I Acts chapter n Saul verse one breathing out threatenings and Slaughter man that's a harsh word against who the Disciples of the Lord went into the high priests desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues that if he found any of this way Jesus Freaks Holy Rollers I know these are words young folk don't get if he find them in the way whether they're men women he's going to bring them bound unto Jerusalem he is on a mission to stop this foolishness men or woman it don't matter I'm gonna bind them up and I'm gonna haul them away they're going to Jerusalem they're going to stand before the court but the Bible says as he journeyed came near Damascus and suddenly everybody say right now suddenly there shine round about him a light from Heaven he fell to the Earth Heard a Voice saying to him Saul Saul desired desired why persecutest thou me and he said who art thou pause Lord and the Lord said I am Jesus whom thou persecutest it is hard for thee to kick against the Pricks and he trembling and astonished said Lord what wil thou have me to do the Lord said unto him arise go into the City and it shall be told thee what thou must do Saul is on the mission doing what he feels compelled to do has a letter in his hand we've talked about this multiple times this guy saw he was desired he was somebody that could get the job done somebody that could take charge of the situation but when he came face to face with God the only thing that could come out of his mouth is this I I thought I knew everybody I thought I knew all I thought I had this figured out who art thou Lord he just took what everything that was inside of him knowing and understanding the languages he could speak the cultures he could understand the religious folk of that day and in a mo somebody hear the preacher when the anointing of the Lord smacked him in the face with a bright light the only thing he could identify with was one simple thing I don't think I've ever been exposed to anything like this before and a bright light came and hid him now things are changing who art thou Lord or is there something you want me to do is there a place you want me to go hang on somebody he's already got it in his hand he has the written permission and the seal and yet oh at this moment brother Dan He crumbles it throws it down that don't mean nothing why I saw because I just came in contact with the most powerful thing that I've ever felt in my life uh it's blinding me so much I can't see I don't know where I'm at I don't know how to go where I need to go one thing I do know is this Lord what do you want from me and the Lord simply said get up and go and I'll tell you what you need to do uh hold on now Lord I'm going to stand here and wait on it no you're not you're going to do it my way now you thought it was the Palace of the king to get your instructions uh but I'm about to change that on you uh you're going to hear from a prophet and a prophet's going to speak to you uh and when that comes into your ears uh it's going to change who you are

acts 13 y'all still with me book of Acts Luke wrote this in verse n then Saul y'all still with me saw everybody say desired there's a parenthesis here now something has transpired then Saul opened parenthesis who also is called Paul close parenthesis filled with the Holy Ghost set his eyes on him and said oh full of all subtility and Mischief thou child of the devil thou enemy of all righteousness wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord and now behold the hand of the Lord is upon thee and thou shalt be blind not seeing the Sun for a season and immediately immediately the Bible says there fell on him mist and darkness and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand then the deputy when he saw what was done believed being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord Saul desired all of a sudden in Chapter 13 we see a change in the desired now he's called Paul which by translation simply means little they don't even say who changed his name it doesn't even say that Saul Paul guy was out there just looking for another way I I've come to understand in my little bit of study of this topic trying to grasp why in the world all of a sudden in Chapter 13 does it come in parenthesis Saul wait wait they called him Paul now why would that have changed I I believe that if you get into the life of Paul now you're going to discover something that transpires in his life he is no longer somebody that thinks him to be all of that in the box of Cracker Jacks no it ain't somebody now that thinks that he's desired and and he's all of that to be had no now Paul has figured out when it comes to Jesus I'm a nobody from nowhere and the only way that I can even crawl out of bed in the morning I know I'm small on the scheme of things and I have figured out the hard way that I am small but he is large I'm a nobody but he is everybody I'm a nothing but he is all things and when Paul found decided I'm no longer going to walk after the things of the world and the desires that would make me lift it up but instead I'm going to decrease so that he may increase listen to see somebody hear the preacher right now we're living in a world confused and chaotic and all messed up I've come to tell you the church is not dead it is not washed up it is not floating by the wayside but the church is a place where folk who think they've got answers and who think they've got it all figured out they can come to the Altar and they can recognize come on somebody remember conviction does somebody remember a broken heart and tears streaming down your face is there anybody that can recall what it felt like uh to feel the power of a holy God working in your life or have we become so desired of ourself uh that we forgot to become small Paul means little if you'll go into any of the letters that Paul wrote you're going to find a theme that's connected through a thread connected to all of them he's trying to help the Philippians he's trying to help the Corinthians he's trying the Ephesians he's doing its best to help young men and young preachers and there's a Le it's so intriguing to me that Paul would tell his followers y'all remember follow me as I follow follow him what do you mean little that I right if I use that what do you mean little I tell you what I mean if you ever in a moment think that you're all of that you have hit the wall and you're not going to overcome it listen to me somebody this world is not your home this world is not your home this world is not your final destination this world is not what I'm looking for brother Rob but I'm looking for a city whose Builder and maker is not man I'm looking for a city that he's prepared for me y'all don't think this is real keep playing with Jesus keep playing patty cake and the church you'll find out very quickly you're going to be dissatisfied you're going to be frustrated you'll walk out this door and blame everybody in this building because we didn't fulfill what you felt like we should fulfill I come to tell you if I'm expecting to get it from you I've already lost my vision but if I come to the house of the Lord on a Sunday morning and I flip on the lights in the back and I set the air conditioner and I walk around this room and I plead the blood of Jesus over this house I am making a decaration devil you can say what you want act like you want do what you want cuz you already know your fate is sealed but as for those folk that come in here today they're not yet certain they're not yet sure why because they're still here but one thing I do know is this when I come through the doors of the church house there is hope that in that day an answer will come come on some of y'all got sickness in your body you know God's A Healer but for whatever reason and he hasn't healed you what if today is your day are you willing to let that go come on some of y'all got away loved ones in your life they're are backsliding they don't want to know God they don't care about God but yet you keep crying for them and weeping for them are you willing to say today it's not going to matter when they may darken the doors of a church when are we going to concern oursel less with the desired and more with the little there ain't one of us in here that would argue that Paul was a tiny guy with no vision and no purpose what Paul was able to present to you and I even today is this I have fought good fight woo W I have finished my course H I'm I'm I'm done I did how do you know that because there is laid up for me a crown I'm almost done for those looking for hope uh

Paul gets to go to Mars Hill anybody know this great story come on some some of us want to think that Paul was all lifted up and finally put on that clean robe and he's going to now go stand in front of the the court of the day and he's going to talk to them about all the stuff they're doing we find old Paul walking around the city he said the Bible tells a story anybody read it he got there a little early and he's walking about the city and he's noticing there's gods and Idols of all kinds anybody know the story I mean you name it frogs trees planets Earth grass ungass dead roots of living Roots man there's all kind of stuff and this Paul fella this little fella walks on the scene and he sees an idol there to the unknown now wait a minute there's one over here that's raw there's one over here that's Isis we'll call them that there's one over here can I use my creativity Kashif flop I don't know their names of you I don't worship them so how would I know them oh I just hurt somebody because you know the names of the Gods of this world this Liv little walks up in front of this one and he says the unknown God y'all don't even know him but you put an idol there for him you got to understand something about this now fellow Paul he's been beaten he's been stoned he's been left in the grave he's been left in the sea in the Deep for days he spent he's starved to death he's fast Ed he's been weak he's been beat up how many you know that Paul didn't have a pretty life after he became Paul so I declare to you anybody in this room you can argue if you want to that when he took the walk up Mars Hill it wasn't a man that was full of himself it wasn't a man that was desired but instead I believe that he had breaks and bones and skin and twisted and all this and when he walked up that hill he was a little bitty he was a little small in stature probably hobbling from the scar of his beatings and all the stuff he went through and all the malnutrition he lived with and he finally scampers up as best he can up on the Mars Hill and the whole Court sitting there looking at him what is this little guy going to say what is this little man going to do what is this little dude G to say and all Paul had to say was simply this you got a god out here the unknown it's that one I want to talk about I don't care nothing about your raw your Isis none of that a I don't care nothing about ain't never helped you it ain't never done nothing for you but this one right here you don't know him man but you know that he's real how you know how I know that cuz you put something there to represent him give me just a moment to talk about that one this is the guy this is the one this is the idol that you need to get a hold of some some of y'all got all wrapped up in your mind and the confusion and you don't even know what you believe uh but I come to talk about the unknown God why Paul why little are you doing that because today uh The Unknown about to become known uh I'm going to talk about Jesus of Nazareth I'm going to talk about the one who went to Calvary and died on a cross I'm going to tell somebody it's real it's real I know it's real I'm going to tell somebody there is one name and his name is Jesus there's one God and there's one ruler and there's one that's Supreme and it is not you it is him Brother Don come help me please I'm amazed that desired became little and then when I read some of the life of Paul I recognize it's because of his relationship that he made with Jesus y'all y'all do know that Paul didn't know Jesus right y'all y'all realize the Bible doesn't call him one of those disciples he done he wasn't that he didn't know what Jesus looked like how he laughed how he spilled stuff on his tie he didn't know that Saul came along after Saul had a a purpose something was driving Saul to destroy this image of Jesus but then when Saul becomes little Paul he says to the rest of the churches I I'm in bonds my brothers have Forsaken and walked away from me if you come please come before winter I I need my warm coat hey and would you bring bring the parchments with you the Bible tells anybody here got a Bible will somebody help me the book of Acts of the Apostles go to the last chapter and the last verse just scream it out read it somebody what's that what I'm sorry anybody else see it can can you put that on the screen I know y'all are working typing very fast back there you okay you can put on that one if you Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house and received all that came in unto him right go to the next verse preaching the kingdom of God teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ what's it say who stopped him when Paul got proper perspective could nobody stop him I am so humbled brother Dan at this story understanding and knowing that when the desired Saul became little Paul he got his point of perspective to a place where he could say guys I'm not trying to win the world just trying to help you how you how you going to help me little there's a man Jesus I never met him but his power is in me how do you know that because I was on a road one day and the light came and Blinded Me and everything that I've been able to experience in my life I count it all but dung doesn't mean anything that I may that I may win Christ that I may know him does does it matter does does it matter

now I will admit to you I will confess today at 1:24 on a Sunday afternoon that I contemplated and I I kept trying my best to stay away from the events of the last couple weeks in my life because that's I want to move I want to I want to go forward but one of the last conversations that I had with my dear old mom who's had the Holy Ghost 70 years she's weak she's shaken no strength she's crying because of the pain and I walk into the living room with her sitting in the chair she's hurting and I can see it on her face and I walked up to her I said Mom you okay I put my hand on her leg and she said baby I'm I'm hurting and I'm so sorry I said Mom you don't have to apologize she said yeah baby I I don't mean to yell and be mad I just I'm hurting I said Mom I can't do nothing but I can pray and I knelt down chesty beside her and she reached her little feeble hand up touched my face and then when she touched my face she's speaking in tongues she's praying down fire on me so gently and soft all I could do is rest in her hand and my mind and my spirit sister Unice I said don't let go there is such Glory right here in a determined mind that says come what may when the pain is there and the suffering is there I'm going to love the Lord she told every doctor and every nurse she came in contact with you're not going to take my life he's going to it don't matter what you say or do it's it I'm in his hands when a hospice nurse came my sweet old mom looked at her and said ma'am we're going to help you she said no you're not God is I'm sitting there trying to help and trying to be what I need to be and a son for her brothers and sisters sitting around in my mind I said to myself self you better stay little just like that little old lady you better stay little why cuz if you ever think that you're all of that you're going to miss that greatest gift eternal life we gathered around her bed brother Dan on that Thursday evening she's already she's she's breathing but not a lot my brother's sister around some family and my brother Eddie's the piano player he got that gift I didn't I did get Mom's Bible but anyway they said at the piano in there oh my life you have been been faithful oh my life you have been so so good with every breath that I am able I will sing of the goodness of God manyy I come to church this morning heavy because I knew mom wouldn't be watching I know that we all want to think in the Hollywood version that they're up there watching us now no that's not fair don't you believe that there I didn't come to preach that they're in a place of waiting I do think that my mom's my mom left this world knowing it's all in him it's all in him the fullness of the godhead it's all in him

so you stand with me this afternoon it's 1:30 for us clock Watchers listen to me carefully please all the stuff you could gain on Earth all the money the fame the fortune the happy family and all that stuff not going to matter the end of it all there's one thing that you're going to look for you're going to look for him to say what well done servant it's going to be others that they're going to look at him and expect the same thing but they're going to hear what I never knew you so the question for today is simply this Saul desired became paulse little because he understood if I want to grow in him I've got to decrease if I'm going to be successful in God come on I've got to get to a place of so if I if I'm going to make Heaven my home it will not be an accident I will not wake up one day and wonder where I am but I'm looking for Jes Jesus a city whose maker is not man but it is God I'm looking for a place come on they call a streets of gold Gates of pearl walls of Jasper I'm looking for a place where the elders are going to be there and they don't want to be Elders there they're going to remove their Crown throw it down say it's not us it's you it is you we become little because you are great I wonder today in this room is there anybody that's ready to come to an altar and simply lay it down before the Lord Lord everything I thought I was everything I thought I could be everything I thought I could accomplish God I'm going to give it to you I don't want to be desired of this world I want to be small in this world I want to have a witness and a testimony that says might not look like much but don't you ask me to pray for something I'm GNA pray fire and hell and brimstone down on your head anybody still praying that today this altar is open for those who want to come pray come on would you allow yourself to have a name change today an identifier change today Lord I pray that you would help me God to understand your greatness your power your potential help me Lord to recognize who you are come on forgiveness is the greatest thing that you'll ever face today forgiveness is the greatest thing that you need today cleansing and washing and perspective come on Jesus I Need You Jesus I love you Jesus I trust you I may not have all the answers Lord but I am trusting you Jesus oh come on somebody somebody get real With God all of my frustrations Lord I brought myself cuz I wouldn't submit to you all of the things that I face God I know that you're mindful of them help me Lord Jesus to be what you want me to be oh come on somebody to be what you want me to be Lord to to do it the way you would want me to Jesus I can't do this myself I am nothing without you all of my righteousnesses they are as filthy rags I I must have you Jesus come on somebody pour your heart out to the Lord come on get real with God get real with God lord I know there are answers and it's you come on somebody there are answers Lord and it's you the name of Jesus oh that's right come on Jesus Jesus you increase Lord I decrease Jesus that's right come on get real with God I'm nothing without you lord I am no one without you Jesus I must have you I must have you Jesus the name of Jesus come on that's right come on that's right Jesus Jesus come on somebody leave the Lord for it right now I must decrease you have to increase you are the answer Lord I'm not you have the power Lord I don't Jesus Oh yes Jesus I love you I worship you I Trust You Lord I I trust in you Jesus great is your faithfulness oh god oh come on what's your perspective today what's your point of view of Jesus today is he great are you small come on somebody what's your point of reference Hey I Love You Lord I love you Lord Jesus oh that's right come on I Believe In You Lord I trust you today blessed be the name of Jesus holy holy holy God holy God Jesus I need you Lord I need you Lord I need you Lord the name of Jesus the name of Jesus oh come on that's right I love you Lord you I Believe In You Jesus I Believe In You Jesus hey why don't you go pray with somebody around you come on reach out a hand come on pray with somebody Lord bless my brother today bless my sister today come on get up next to somebody pray with them Lord you know what they're going through you know the battle they're facing God be with them Lord encourage them Lord I pray let the word of God work in their lives today Jesus oh come on that's right I trust you for it Lord come on get a hold of somebody else pray with them God of Glory anoint them Lord for the journey anoint them Lord for what they're in right now Jesus speak into their lives Jesus speak into their lives today God hey yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah oh that's right come on there's truth there is truth in the word of God Jesus Jesus Jesus Jesus Hallelujah to the Lamb of God Hallelujah Jesus you increase God you increase I've got to become little I've got to become small here Lord You've Got The Power you've got the power Jesus I don't I must have you Jesus brother Dan okay come on let God be God in your life come on let him let him love you today let him love you today Hallelujah come on would you lift your hands lift your voice all over this place Lord I believe you Jesus I believe you Jesus I believe you I Trust You Lord I Trust You Lord hallelujah come on we're going to pray God's going to be with you this week come on Church help me pray in the name of Jesus in the name of Jesus Jesus I speak peace right now into this situation you are in control Lord you've got a purpose God and for that we thank you in advance and we love you for it we love you for it we believe you for it oh come on that's right we believe you for it Jesus there's Revival in our families in our home God I love you today in the name of Jesus the name of Jesus honor Lord this child's faith and this grandmother's Faith to believe you Jesus You Are the Healer the way maker yes you are for that Lord we are thank for right now we claim victory in the name of Jesus Hallelujah love you today Lord I love you for it Jesus oh come on Church before you leave would you give the Lord a shout of Praise I bless you Lord come on somebody I Believe In You Jesus hallelujah hallelujah

when Luke finishes his writing Matthew Mark Luke and John he stops it amen done let it be it's accomplished he continues the writing of how the apostles acted the only thing he could say to end this particular book was this he dwelt two years at his own house received them that came preaching the kingdom of God teaching those things concerning Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence and nobody stopped him that message the kingdom of God all things are in Jesus nobody will stop you we just got to get off of this and get here where God can bless and use you you need to understand something and I'm done you're the greatest most powerful weapon on your job in your not you but the one working in you if you could walk into your job this week with confidence Lord you are with me your rod and your staff they comfort me you prepare you're with me come on anybody believe the Lord today give the Lord a hand clap of Praise I love you for it Lord and I thank you Holy Is Our God don't forget all the stack of announcements that Sam destroyed earlier go to the app look at them make sure you're where you're supposed to be doing what you're supposed to be doing amen I believe the Lord for great things don't you encourage somebody before you leave hug a neck high five if it's appropriate love you guys have a great week in the Lord go with Jesus

Scripture references as spoken: Mark 9:23; Acts 8:1-4; Acts 9:1-6; Acts 13:9-12; Acts 28:30-31; Acts 28:30-31.