The Words of Life: The Darkness Hates The Light

The words of life the darkness hates the light the words of life is what we're going to talk about in just a minute now Let's recap real quick. I'll put these up on the screen from axe Of course, we had last Sunday. That was still a mate.

I don't think I got out of axe actually for a special message and But we've been learning the Holy Spirit promised the Holy Spirit was promised at the beginning of axe They waited in that that upper room. How many of you have know what that upper room is of the experience? Have you ever have you ever experienced that in your own personal life? If not? Let me encourage you you can It's biblical when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and it's it's a very it's it's encouraging I mean, it's it's and the disciples were changed from that moment forward. I'm not gonna go into details I have before but it's important for you to know that you have the Holy Spirit in you As a believer if you're a believer many some people aren't the Holy Spirit is in you you have all of him praise God Praise God, but the majority of our problem lies in this fact.

He has all of you But you don't have all of him. I'm sorry. You have all of him, but he doesn't have all of you Catch that We have all the Holy Spirit.

There's not okay 12 years from now or next month or you know I'm gonna get a little bit more and a little bit more and a little bit more a little bit more the Bible is clear baptized with the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ Now what we do from there is what tilts the scale? Do I quench and grieve the spirit? by my lifestyle by my choices by my attitude or Do I open myself up in a biblical way to the fullness of the Spirit Lord, whatever you want to do in me. I surrender my life to you and once you make that choice That's when The fullness of the Spirit comes out and what's interesting is I can take you to tons of people you read DL Moody Oswald Chambers Adonai Jetson Hudson Taylor John Bunyan John Wesley A.W. Tozer Adrian Rogers in their biographies where they they had a they had a different It wasn't really a different experience But once they fully surrendered the fullness of the Spirit Because he's not gonna fill you to do what you want to do. That was my problem in my 20s Lord, here's what I'm gonna do.

I'm gonna retire by the age. I'm 40. I'm gonna do this.

I'm gonna make some bling-bling and and And it's okay, well you're saved here you go hot shot and boy life is tough like that Because you're miserable you blow it you're convicted you pray you can repent you blow it you bring Year after year after year because I'm pursuing the wrong things. And so that's why this this topic is so important more more More Lord pour into us even more. I was reminded this this morning kind of been avoiding it But maybe God wants me to share it with you It might help some of you too, especially those listening later I kind of need to confess and apologize for something Don't worry.

It's not bad because I know some of you do it too, but really there's a lot of prominent Youtubers out there who criticize our type of our type of service You know the emotional and I was gonna name names, but I don't know if that's wise I don't know, you know, but you know If you follow those guys and I begin to rise they're not they're not open to the gifts. They're not open to the God Dude, they're they're very there's they're straight as a gun barrel, but they're just as empty so watching them I began to like Their opinions would change things, right? I mean go after Benny and Bethel I don't care but that doesn't you don't throw everybody in the same camp. You'll get that later And so it really it's like oh man, you got you know, I don't want to be picked apart by these guys They're gonna think you know, it's and you it kind of like you allow people who have never experienced Here's here's what you need to hear you allow somebody who's never Experienced the whole the power of the Holy Spirit to tell you you're wrong or to tell you what God doesn't do anymore and All you can do is pray for these people.

I mean, they're just so bitter because they see that they see the bad fruit You guys know I'm talking about the bad fruit out. There's just Bizarre it's like Lord help us, but then they say Oh anybody That talks about revival anybody that talks about a powerful moving of the Spirit Anybody that might lift their hands or get a little emotional or they're fasting and praying But let's throw them into that camp and I don't want to be in that camp Like I said years ago. I read the John MacArthur study Bible not the Benny Hinn study Bible Or the Joelstein study Bible I don't have to have them but and you need to hear from me when I watch even clips from like Kenneth Copeland or Jesse Duplantis I get sick It's like oh my goodness.

No wonder No wonder people have this weird view or you see some stuff Bethel's doing. It's like alarming it's it's like my goodness God help us and So when you allow the critics to influence your experience with God You can really be you can really quench that because you begin to you begin to you I don't want to go deeper because of what the critics say Now within that environment we were called to steward what God is doing That means people can get a little wonky and wacky That means people can come in with a legalistic rigid heart. We got to be tender and loving that means Demonic you don't think that the devil the demonic realm is is trying to divide a church like this or Bringing people in they're just divisive and you can just I can just feel I can look at their faces like that's not healthy I'm about ready to cast it out right now, but you know, it's just Seeing even seeing that will trigger people.

I Actually think they have a harder job than I do proving those things don't happen anymore. I just read the Bible Jesus said here's the signs that will follow those who those who follow me. Here's the signs It will follow you if you follow me.

Well, that doesn't apply anymore Any proof text or that? Well, yeah, if you look back at your history in the first century second century It was obviously it was fading even the Apostle Paul. He couldn't heal certain people. So obviously that gift was fading Well, the problem is you get with Paul and he tells the church how to utilize the gifts.

So you got a big problem But they've never experienced that deep work of the Spirit and without a shadow of a doubt every single one of them is intellectual straight as a gun barrel But empty of the Spirit and can you that 18 year old raising your hands weeping at the altar? That must not be Look at that emotional church. No, sir. You should learn from her Let the little ones lead them and so if you watch these guys like I don't want to be on their channel But they're so aggressive.

You just listen. It's like man There they got they're just they're void of that And every time I know I reach out to some of them and I'm bro Where's the love and the grace is like these are false prophets and heretics. You've got a nail them Yeah, sometimes but shouldn't you weep before you whip shouldn't you Shouldn't that break your heart? instead of you being excited to do your next video when you're trying to rightly divide the word of truth and Tell you what God's heart is based on his word I don't want to misrepresent God but I also know my own good ideas get in there anybody ever been led astray by a good idea and Then it actually talked about the coming of the Holy Spirit and the crowds response was positive except for the the negative Nelly's judgmental Jerry's critical Cathy's those Pharisees man and Peter's sermon and the church grows and the lame man is healed and and they're preaching right there in the temple and Then the Bible says they continued in the power of the Spirit So they're walking out in the in the power of the Spirit actually changed the title it was something about persecution But be be forewarned to be forearmed and You know God has taught me so much about about when I start pastor.

I had I had I Had so many just what they call that delusions of grandeur Like no problems, I'm gonna be in the center of God's will like we're Lord This is your word and your will and I'm excited to preach it and boy you draw out the critics, too I mean still have atheists it that they hate me an email and Facebook pages to I don't look at him ever but they're just just we hate this guy and and the person it's like wow Lord, this is kind of like I like people liking me Anybody could relate and so the truth the words of life when people are embraced death, they hate the words of life That's why you're seeing this big cultural shift right now Because the darkness loves to stay in the darkness and So they continued in the power of the church and there and it brought tons of persecution So the reason that can strengthen strengthen use you to say, yep Yep, I was to expect this if there's no persecution no demonic attack and life is just smooth sailing Are you on the right ocean? Are you on the right course? Like I don't go out there go man, this is gonna tick him off I can't wait to preach this one I want to see some men walk out. I want to see people like yeah, you know I want to see the atheists just hate me, but it just it just happens And I was I kind of chuckle inside I want to tell him why if it's not true, why does it make you so mad Have you ever thought about that? If God's like Santa Claus in the like if I'm if I'm gonna preach a message this morning this message is on the Easter Bunny and How eggs are good for your health you can go hide them for your kids It's a pagan tradition. I know but bear with me That nobody get upset That pastor God is within us.

He's everywhere, man Look, but I just but there's no Easter. Why you why why is that a good sermon if there's no Easter Bunny? Because it doesn't cut the heart I mean just as we tick tock stop two of our videos you broke community guidelines Oh, but there's porn on here and it did all kinds of filth and girls dancing jiggling And guys doing this and what but really Come on So I said I disagree. I'm resubmitting it and they both got through so praise God God no because it comes up.

Do you agree with this decision? No, no, no so somebody because I was thinking a Unbeliever see stuff and I go I'm taking this off and then might go to a believer. Maybe they go. Oh, yeah Let's this guy.

Let's just go through so it's just interesting I mean that just just as a Christian be aware of this the the the The the darkness hates your light So don't hate them It's it's the darkness within them and and try to love them and be that example of grace and no matter how many people hate me, I hope they hope they at least spirit experience some grace and mercy, even though I get fired up sometimes and And this is so the truth and the light is so powerful. Think about how powerful this is Even when Believers unbelievers Expose the darkness the darkness turns on them What's going on with Tesla why hmm Millions of dollars going to study transgender Beatles They're exposing all this wickedness and corruption in our government How's that apply to you it's very applicable because anytime you bring hey, this is dishonest this is wrong The hey you're that where's this money go? I mean, I'm I'm a I'm shocked beyond Like how many people are 180 years old or 300 and they're still getting money for Social Security and all this You know billions of dollars going to all these places are actually Anti-america, I mean we could get into terrorism being funded. It's just because even if I'm believers Bring out the light.

It's true the truth people will turn on them So we left off in Acts 5 Acts 5 verse 17 We were talking about the Apostles actually got imprisoned Imprisoned and you guys should thank your your your your God above for America Because are you watching what's even happening in Europe like they're arresting ladies praying and in like the thought police Other states, I mean, there's there it's it's it's it. I don't even know how we've made it this far Staying under the radar of an evil Government in many areas praise God. There's there's some changes and and things like that, but they're they're We would be imprisoned easily For believing what we believe in You don't believe me.

See if you can I don't know if it's possible to take a flight to North Korea See if you ever get out of there You're not coming home Go worship with the believers in Syria How many of you heard of what's going there? thousands being slaughtered if you ever watch your course you have and I'm sure but if you're watching your own child get killed and then you're next Folks we have to be so thankful and press in and continue to pray for the next generation Don't be a king. What is it? Hezekiah? The Prophet said all this stuff's gonna come upon Israel for their disobedience 15 20 years ago. Well, at least it's not gonna happen in my time.

I often wonder could he have really rent his heart and Sought God and say God what can we do? As the children of Israel to contend for the next generation Altars will destroy the high places. We'll get back to the who knows So these imprisoned Apostles are set free so the high priest rose up and all those who are with him which is of the sect of the Sadducees and they were filled with indignation and They laid their hands on the Apostles and put them in the common prison. I Guarantee those heresy hunters that I just talked about earlier on YouTube would would put me in prison They're there whenever you challenge religious arrogance You know, there's a religious spirit it's a religious arrogance it's the form of godliness but they don't have the power of God in their life and So what's happening here? I mean, can you see have you ever seen the passion of Christ or even the there's another? Series out there.

I won't say the name because everybody people yeah. No. Well, you said it she said it It's funny those Pharisees like to To point out, you know, even like the house of David, you know, it's like wow, that's pretty incredible They're supposed to take a real realist like take some freedom there.

David's mom wasn't killed with a lion that shows false. Well We don't know what happened. They tell you hey We're gonna put in some things here as long as it doesn't change the truth of the message the foundational truth of the message I'd rather have my kids watching that than Taylor Swift My daughter, can we watch the chosen? I know no they day-date.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. That didn't happen Yet those same pastors tell you stuff in their sermons that didn't happen The woman at the well I can picture he was probably there for 30 minutes and she was probably you know Five foot ten and really just ragged and and she had this and and she probably had these basket or these things that she brought She probably you don't know that All of us have to kind of hey, let's paint the picture again, as long as it doesn't change the truth and if The chosen goes in a I haven't watched in a while if it goes in a Roman Catholic direction that absolutely I'll say something they start saying, you know Mary's okay Well now we got some problems here.

We got some issues here. So anyway a rabbit trail for someone I don't know who no no matter what every every sentence I say has critics Do you realize that you said Be quiet I'm doing what God's called me to do. I don't that could have been the flesh.

I apologize. I apologize So this is important the Sadducees tended to be with the wealthy they held more power the chief priests and the high priest were Sadducees and They held the majority of the seats in the Sanhedrin the Sadducees power was in the temple where the Pharisees controlled the synagogues Given the Pharisees and the Sadducees differing views of Scripture. It's no surprise that they argued over certain doctrines So it's important when you hear like the Sanhedrin like what is that? There is broken up.

They had the Sanhedrin. I'm sorry. They had the Sadducees That were you know wealthy and kind of more this is kind of looks like our political system doesn't it? positions like senators and governors But and the chief priests and and so it breaks down there was a difference in the high priests and the Sadducees but both of them were Upset at Jesus no surprise there was it and just so you can remember this many of you heard Chuck Smith say it I think Or Greg Laurie, they're Sadducees because they don't believe in the resurrection.

So they're sad You see so it's always good to remember as your as your belief. Okay. Now I know why they said that now that makes sense But there it's a different group, but but I'm curious.

Aren't you why were they filled with indignation? What these guys do that was so bad John 3 20 Think we have that slide as well for everyone Everyone hears the words he had underlined everyone practicing evil hates the light and Does not come to the light lest his deeds should be exposed Now when Jesus says something I sit up a little straighter. I like Paul. I like Peter, but There's something when you read those words in red Now what's interesting is that we're practicing Because people come here May not when it many of times I preach before different events people come who are searching You know that that's that's good that's healthy they don't necessarily hate hate the darkness they hate the sin they're caught in and they want help and So they're searching they're seeking right but this word practicing evil those who have made a decision To continue in a rebellious lifestyle against God Hate it when you call them out or they hate it when you live in The light and they are in the darkness That they it just man it ticks him.

Have you ever got those mean posts on Facebook or those response from your friends? That I mean they just wow what triggered you the light the light You ever go and wake up your kids and turn on the light What happens cover up get it get turn that off. I'm not ready to get up yet The light exposes doesn't expose also you see little critters Couple mornings ago. It's like 4 in the morning.

I'm in my office I just want to sit in my chair and our light comes on out front. Oh, man What's going on? Look out. There's a little raccoon That's sneaky He was trying to be all sneaky to as soon as the light come on.

He's he's bolting out of there. It exposes the raccoons In your heart and in your life What are they they go they go and eat my dog food they go and eat in the trap I mean, they're they're a little they're cute though. So that's their that's their advantage I've seen it like don't don't go down a storm train.

I mean, it's just amazing So what's going on practicers of evil hate the truth they hate the light those who want help run to the light They might not make a decision right away, but they're they're they're running to the light They've got this battle within and this is why for believers the filling of the Holy Spirit is so important This is why the this is why The filling of the Holy Spirit is so important the strength on the inside must be stronger than the pressure on the outside so in only in order for Christians to really thrive and really Flourish and and the old saints used to call it the victorious Christian life like I'm not feeling very victorious The exchange life the abandoned life the crucified life and That's why we're so adamant about this topic And of course you guys you're fine. You love it But over the years people they've man they they say man you just talked too much about the Holy Spirit well, that's kind of the Second only to salvation and the cross and Christ that's kind of pretty important for Christians That's why you can't give up that stronghold that's why you run back to the doctor for your viking and that's why you're angry and abusive It's not some checklist To her now. I'm gonna be better the and it doesn't mean you're perfect But the more you're filled the spirits The less the deeds of the flesh came out come out and you want to handle persecution be filled with the spirit You ever read Fox's book of martyrs Like how like how did that even how did they go through that? How did they endure that fill the spirit? Because when you fill up the spirit you can say like Job though he slay me yet why trust him You can say like polycarp.

I will not bow to your God King as the flames go up three three Hebrew boys caught in the fiery furnace you can because the God's strength on the inside what what what pressure? Because you know, right? That's what implosion is It's when the pressure on the outside is greater than the strength on the inside it it explodes out That's why many people explode out in anger and frustration and doubt or they backslide anybody backslide in here Let's try that again Balcony We all do don't we pastor Well, I'm not always walking forward Perfect decision perfect choice. No compromise. I did this great two weeks without sin now done This is great.

I'm gonna tell you guys how to do this No, it's more like a wimp right and like oh man the devil got me the home and it's like the warfare Warfare Oh wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of sin and death for with the mind I serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin Paul said that My choices are never free from this conflict The things I want to do I don't do and the things I don't want to do I do sometimes the flesh gets the best of me Sometimes the flesh knocks me down the key soul Christian is to get back up and to keep fighting again Keep fighting again Worship is warfare Your soldiers not sissies That's from this one. It's hard to balance to To weaken to weaken your pursuit of sin. You must strengthen your pursuit of God.

Oh If we could get that and I know it's real issues I pray for people every single Sunday without a shadow of a doubt Wednesday's the bathroom in the hallway At the store Pastor I'm bound by this again This is a stronghold in my life. I Can't believe it. You ever been there.

What'd I say? Dude, that sucks. I know I've been there. Good luck Man Mm-hmm.

Yeah, I feel for you poor wife poor spouse kids. Yep. It's gonna be a hard road ahead No, you have to make time right then And you also not only do you pray cuz I do pray I believe Jesus said it pray Lord If there's any demonic bondage if there's a demonic stronghold, I think we give in there's no demonic Possession, but there can be oppression for a believer.

I believe it's your man. He turned up the Lord I need and there can be an easing of that demonic pressure the flesh still pulls But there can be and you pray for that, but you also encourage them to weaken your pursuit of sin Strengthen your pursuit of God Because if you talk to them just talk it's Pretty clear. They're feeding The very thing they need to be fleeing you need to go and listen to yesterday's message, but I I opened up to the men about some things but And maybe I haven't used this example in a while, but it's and I like fresh examples My kids are gonna get t-shirts says beware you might mention be mentioned in a sermon, but I was up in height and Arrowhead area doing a men's conference.

I used to do that all the time for years. I would go Calvary Chapel men's conferences mainly and from Menifee up to Temecula or out to Past Palm Springs and up to North Edwards and Hatchipi and different things and This guy he was he was crying at each message. He's at the altar.

So I have can I pray with you? What's going on? He goes? Yeah, this is my this is it It's my last chance My marriage is done. My wife said Unless something really happens up here And I'm not feeling it. I don't know and he you know, he's visibly clearly Upset you've ever given ultimatums and of course, it was the the P word that many are addicted to I said, okay, we need to we need to make some changes and Tell her, you know, I said what what what triggers this and he's and he was honest He said what every time I watch sports You know ESPN or whatever in the and these these things pop up and these things just leads, you know Because certain sins if you start to feed it you you're not static It's gonna grow That's why you see something on your computer.

You could delete you don't need to see More you just delete delete delete you get in the habit of turning from it So anyway, I said well what I what I would do is repent Of course and make that decision to change and you tell your wife, you know, this our marriage is so important I'm not even gonna I'm getting rid of the TV or the computer whatever whatever it takes Whatever it takes First time I've ever felt like slapping somebody I almost did he said bro. I can't do that. I'm a sports fanatic.

I was like What See many come up and cry about it, but they don't live it out He's probably thinking what will alimony cost me child support. Oh my gosh. Oh My gosh, I mean today to this day.

I'm still amazed wouldn't that amaze you? Because bro, I can't do that. I'm a sports fanatic and I man if that right hand could have just It would have been gentle, you know You ever I don't know why this is even thing, but those slap contests now It's like when did this become a thing? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of You get to slap somebody as hard as you can and see who stands at the end I mean have we lost our I mean, is there any other exciting thing we can do? But I've saw the heart Into things I've counseled people like I can I can make your marriage work I know here's exactly what you need to do, but pride digs in pride digs in I've seen it. It's it's it's It's sad In this church in this church people coming worshiping together over the years at the altar divorced By the way men it often starts with you I've never really met a woman who retreats from a man truly following Christ Not living lukewarm and one thing on Saturday Next thing on Sunday fully sold out.

I know there's exceptions. I know sometimes it's the other spouse. I know that Golly I'm not naive.

I'm not 12, but more often than not Where the man leads the woman follows Can you imagine you know what? I need to seek the Lord like ever before. I'm sorry. I'm sorry what I did to this family Oh God, forgive me.

I'm gonna seek him and you do it. I mean Women is that my that might draw you back Now with a woman, you know, once you break that spirit, it's hard to get back You know for men you can be fighting you still like, you know, you still want to be intimate it doesn't matter we're fighting I don't care but you begin to you begin to suppress the the spirit of a woman and Manipulate and control again. Listen to yesterday You will you will get her to a point to where there may be no return But how bad do you want in all these cases? I I mean I even talked to the spouses It's like if he would just if you just seek the Lord I was all if he would just do it, but their pride digs in Pride digs in it.

I want to slap people then too, but I can't And not to hurt right to wake up like what like well, what do you that you can change this kids little kids little kids What mommy where's dad What has happened? God help us And the acts 5 continued but at night. Oh, I love the night angels But at night an angel of the Lord Opened the prison doors and brought them out God just as he sees this funny sometimes an angel goes in a Messenger is what the name the meat means as well opens a prison door brings these these jailed Apostles out and he said go stand in the temple and Let's see, what about if he said and go run for your lives get out of here Wouldn't that be mostly like I'm out of here I'm in Jerusalem. I'm going to Galatia.

I'll see you in Klossy. I'll see I'm going to Asia Minor I'm gonna get on that boat to Tarsus Nope, he said Go back and stir the pot again Go back to the temple and speak to the people All the words of this life All the words of this life and this is one of the proof texts I go I go back to often with other ones of course where as Pastors were called to preach the full counsel of God all the words of life To book to talk about life. You have to talk about death You have to talk about the resurrection As well as the burial and the crucifixion you to talk about your Savior.

You got to talk about sin To talk about heaven you have to mention hell and that's what you'll see a lot of these guys especially the popular ones because the More you want water down the message the more followers you will get It just works like that for a time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine They will look for teachers who will tell them what they want to hear tickle my ear soothe smooth words God told Jeremiah these false prophets are telling the people smooth words Seeker sensitive, that's a good term and when they heard that They argued with the angel and said no way we're out of here Did they know and when they heard that they entered the temple it'd be like, you know, I get picked up man I'm down and I'm down in County So twin towers or whatever. They call that what do they call that? No, I know but the towers down there in LA Yeah, so I know I open myself up for it, but when I went down there and I visit some inmates One actually preached from the pulpit here and we were Lancaster It's amazing what God's redemptive work does I mean it was it was dark those it was that's a heavy heavy place So they come they get me I'm down there and That somehow at midnight an angel comes takes me out It says go back and do what you were doing Well, I'm out of here We're caught we're crossing, California state lines Newsome can't find me in Idaho, but they said go back enter the temple and teach But the high priest and those with him they called the council together with the elders and They it's like, okay. We're ready to bring them out But they're not going to be there But I do want to say this about I think we have it on the screen as well angels But at night an angel of the Lord with angels believe but don't get caught up in The people get caught up in angels are a little weird to me.

I Just like See angels everywhere. I go and angels. I don't want to I don't belittle cuz I could be wrong I mean maybe God's I don't know, but there's also something off sometimes like they don't have the sound doctrine part together and The biblical the biblical narrative tells us there are angels There are angels sent to For certain tasks, maybe maybe a person will see one I don't I don't know but a lot of times a angel was a messenger.

They actually came in the form of a person We can go back to the Old Testament see a lot of examples Where God would send a messenger? God often doesn't deliver us to retreat But to fight be strong and courageous Pray and trust in God's sovereignty. He often does things that you don't even pray for. I Don't think they're praying to come and have an angel deliver us I'm pretty sure they're praying maybe for strength.

God help us or say the right words to these people I don't think it was even on their radar how to sneak attack at night seal team six and Get them out of there and then go back to the temple But God and I've rested in that fact sometimes, you know, cuz we pray man. I want to pray for this I want to pray if I don't pray for this It says asking you don't receive and I don't want to miss anything and God knows your heart sometimes Sometimes he'll open a door or an answer a prayer It's like I wasn't even praying for that right because it's court according to his sovereign purpose One example here at this church is we never and never even crossed my mind Never ever was gonna pray about it when he opened the door to purchase the radio stations. It's like Really he's like yes, I want this to this church to steward this here Well, like I I never even prayed for it like that's not even on the radar And so he'll do things though like that in your life from time to time Prayer is more about alignment than a wish list His pursuit must be your priority and here we go.

The Apostles are on trial again But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison They returned and they said we found the prison shut securely and the guards were there Any correctional officers how weird would this be? Unless you're Epstein Jeffrey Epstein Somehow the cameras aren't working. Nobody knows what happened But when we open them we found no one inside now when the high priest the captain of the temple the high priest was And the captain of the temple and the chief priests all these people when they heard these they wonder What is the outcome going to be? How how is this? God will leave your enemies dumbfounded Absolutely dumbfounded. It's amazing what he will do So they came and they told them look the men you put in prison They're standing in the temple again, and they're teaching the people Remember man cannot put you when God wants to place you Let me flush that out a minute man cannot put you somewhere that God doesn't want to place you you need to rest in that I have too often because sometimes we put more more hope and Stock in man Then what God can do he'll place a person where he wants them There's nothing I hate giving this example because it hurts feelings, and I'm not trying to hurt anybody's feelings Okay, can we would be up front with that? that wasn't very encouraging and this happens everywhere, so it's not nothing comes to mind a Personal situation that I can think of but it's it's so applicable.

I'd be Unwise to ignore it because it'll also help people who are open to this Have you ever tried to? Get a job and the boss says no Just happened a friend of mine. We've been praying for him to get Northrop or Lockheed to accept his his application and didn't happen Get bummed out. I mean we're you know when finances and And we have people sometimes that that they'll try out for something here Maybe they'll maybe they'll want to teach.

You know we have to get to know them better of course maybe they'll want to teach Or they'll want to they'll want to sing a song You see I'm going with this and we say you know we're not really we're not really filling that we don't I mean You you you think I can stop what God wants to do? No At all I can just bypass everything he wants Absolutely bypass everything he wants And I mentioned this often, but like Diana's daughter Madeline who helps with worship, I never knew she could even worship They're seeing and Brad's like oh, you got to hear a boy. You're like okay, and so wow okay same with blessing Wasn't John didn't ask me. I went and asked him God will place you where he wants to but often he might not be doing it yet because the hearts not right Or maybe he doesn't want you have that job But I and I've been I get I get Lord what's and man man says no Now God might use that to teach you and to redirect you, but ultimately what does God say? What what does God say I? Can't tell you how I've got I mean I would have so many sample examples of this over the years Where people actually get mad at the church? And that's my gifting I'm leaving I'm going to church that will honor my gifting well number one wrong heart Wrong attitude wrong response You think we want to stifle gifting Of course not but maybe God is saying no right now Until you can say Lord wherever you want me wherever you want me I Remember I went through the humbling process.

I mean when I I wrote my first book on weight loss I was speaking at like thousand people events, and I'm just like okay God, and then he calls me the ministry I'm like because what happened is it was saying the Bible, and I'm starting. I'm wanting to preach Like whoa this isn't like I'm like seven steps to weight loss, and here's what you can do Mike Man, this is what's what's going on inside of me the words heart and burning and so but so God eventually used that to To preach I mean yeah, he switched me over to that, but what before he did that To get me ready, I mean there's like a publicist and everything I would go speak at grace resource To ten homeless people on how they can improve their hygiene in their health ten I Was so fulfilled He'll put you in these spots to break you and to humble you so you stop believing your own press Because when it was we're not that impressive to God. We're not that impressive to God God often plants people in positions or areas where they won't be seen Because the desire to be seen and to be recognized Is very destructive and it's in all of us God and God has to literally break that out of you And I remember I will go where there's you know men's event For three four five hundred guys and the alters full and then the next week.

I'm in I wish I remember this place It's out by Palm Springs, Joshua something No, I know Joshua trees, but um maybe it wasn't called that I don't know but I go there and It's two and a half hour drive or so and they get me a hotel and it's right on the drag racing Street Man So I'm like on like tell two in the morning. I got to be up at six I'm like my eyes are burning. I'm like not in a good mood.

I definitely need a Christian crack that morning and Ask me later if you don't know what that is so The guys come and pick me up I'm like man This is like oh and I get there and there's like 15 people in the church And I get out of the car and I hear them worship practicing and I just felt the Spirit of God Just just so strong and I went in there I mean the guy in the front row just falls to his knees as I'm working as I'm preaching This lady's of the whole like this whole I was like the best service I've ever one of the best I've ever ever always remember that moment Always remember that moment, but it's a breaking process. Okay, hot shot Here you go. Boom we still go to the well when there's just one and Maybe God's telling you no To get you to a spot of brokenness and humility He uses no very pointedly Absolutely, nothing can stop God nothing can stop God you need to hear that this morning I'm winding down here.

But here's my closing point Why were they in prison if they committed no crime? Do you know they committed no crime? They were locked up not for life, but because of life We're gonna preach to you the words of life again life and in order to preach the words of life, you've got to confront the death in people and The dead decaying things in their heart Why is good punished? What what I wish I had a good answer for you Why is good punished and that's just the way God has it It's there's there's why were some people killed in in Syria others delivered I mean the Testimonies of God delivering people in the underground church in China from their persecutors and others being in jail forever I I don't know you just have to trust it. That's why I often say his sovereignty is my sanity. There's no other Would you be insane if it wasn't for God? I? Don't know how people do it without God.

I Honestly do not know how people do it without God Silence is the only strategy for darkness because the truth gives the life Have you noticed that Facebook was silence Twitter silence was Twitter and and these other places Silence and and shut up close the churches down Silence shut that pastor up silence and It's interesting that the things that would be coming out It was you've seen it in the past the legislation They don't care if you preach some of the Bible. Just don't preach all of the Bible that nasty Romans 1 We got to get rid of that thing Get rid of Romans 1 Why because it's crystal clear crystal clear. God is crystal clear on the issue of sexuality There's there's no gray area There's no wiggle room Even a Leviticus it says man should not put on a woman's clothing there you go You just you just this whole battle Dilla Mahoney needs to come to the cross Mahoney, what's his name you guys know and so but it says God gave them over to a debase and corrupted mind Why what did they do they were have you ever I'd never forget.

I think I was 12 I was pushing a basketball underwater see how far I could go right here And I bit my tie damn crying and I was suppressing What can't be suppressed? Suppressing that and you no matter how much they want to suppress the truth it will rise again That's why even if the churches are silent the government is on your side the school districts are woke and have capitulated Local officials no it doesn't matter They can't suppress the truth They can try they'll be it will have some effect, but you can't run from conviction You can't run from conviction. Let me prove my point if the The the whole push for gay marriage and gay, you know 50 years ago pretty much every Government church every everything said yeah, this is not this is not right correct And so they said we've got a silence that we got it and so now everybody's on your side but you're still convicted except the church and Even the church even the church is down to about now six thousand churches based on Barna surveys Six thousand that's it folks. We are the remnant That preached the totality of God's Word Jim Gardo gave that a stat a couple years ago when he spoke here And so why do you upset little on me if it's not true Because the darkness hates the life they hate the life Romans 1 they suppress the truth so so if you're like me like where is all this coming from? Somebody just sent me a video and like Lord I Kind of had enough how about you Of a trans dog There's a lady dressed as a dog and the guys commanding her to roll over and do all these cool things And I don't know what I don't know laugh or cry and people like the crowd.

Oh, that's so awesome No, that's that's that's perverted. That's meant that's demonic. You need deliverance not accolades So you like what's going on The more you suppress the truth, that's why all of this is coming out more our culture has been suppressing the truth 1970s, let's remove God's Word and prayer from the schools Let's remove the Ten Commandment monuments And churches get watered down pastors get cowardly The hope of the gospel and and the political correctness begin to Begin to switch around it and they keep suppressed So the more you suppress the truth I would hate to see what humanity looks like without the the conviction of the Spirit You actually do are you aware that we actually? Have a glimpse of what that looked like You ever read the book of Genesis It's amazing.

It says the thoughts in the intents of every person on the planet was wicked and evil But Noah found grace in the sight of God and being divinely warmed in a true dream Noah Built an ark for the saving of his family. So our culture the churches You know who's under big scrutiny right now is Charles Stanley's son Andy Stanley He's he's promoting the LGBTQ agenda and gay teachers and things like it's sad to see these people drift But we don't have the fullness of the Spirit you begin to compromise I know a friend that actually sent him my message on marriage two years ago He said oh, that's a good message They don't they're not open to that because they know what's best. I've got thousands of people Who's this guy telling me what to do? Well hot shot you need to be humbled You need to be humbled and broken by God So back to what I'm trying to tell you the more they suppress the truth What happens Romans 1? You might want to copy it because it might be out of the out in some in the future They suppress the truth God Gave them up You want it you got it That's what it says he gave them up to a corrupted and perverted mind and Men begin to burn with passion for others men and go against creation.

I mean, it's it's so clear It's like you you're foolish if you think that God would allow sexual sin In the purity of his his message in the church. I Created them not even Steve Adam and Eve Why do you talk about this because it's relevant. That's it.

You're seeing the biggest Example of this right now in our culture. Are we not? Quite the truth shut the thank God for rumble because of YouTube they get me all the time YouTube does Thank God for X now Just thank God because they help the truth get out there. Hopefully Mark Zuckerman's coming around I mean, it's like I'm excited that God's getting the truth out there I'm not one of you all just bring on the persecution brother Elon Musk is the Antichrist and Trump is his false prophet Really? I don't I'm just I'm just kind of glad with where things are going I don't know about you, but I don't I don't see Christians throughout history going.

Yeah, bring more persecution bring more evil sacrifice our kids You don't see that Ever they welcome if if it comes okay, I Don't know. I don't I'll be careful here, but if we could go and ask Paul When they beheaded him probably in Rome and then after that Nero was burning Christians at the stake Like hey, would you would you prefer to a Christian government? I mean Caesar I don't know. Would you know bring it on bring the death and destruction throwing my baby to the animals? No No way in the right mind they welcomed it when they came but boy, it's nice to have the breath of God in this place and then Constantine the 300 supposedly became a Christian when he saw a cross and You know, I'm not going to get into those things.

There's question but Christians were happy Happy when when at least got you because you get some hope in there. God is doing some incredible things and he often uses very interesting people Here's what I found out he's not gonna he's not gonna put man He's not well, he could if you wanted to but I don't think it's possible for a solid spirit filled Christian to be president Maybe back in the conception or governor. No way Because everything has become so polluted and diluted That you actually have to compromise on certain areas.

This is doesn't mean it's right I'm just saying though and also to truly be that type of leader it would be a complete restructuring of everything Light is so powerful that even when unbelievers expose the evil darkness goes after them. Like I said earlier The words of life give death to sin. They defeat Satan and they sanctify the sinner All right, I'm gonna unwind it now you ready I will say this if we happen to go long on worship I don't know John probably end on time But if not, make sure you get the kids on time move your car to the parking lot If possible, but we just we just don't want to always you know Worry about that just if God's doing a deeper work.

We don't know so I'm gonna put up there Deuteronomy I'm gonna try to get out of here real quick Deuteronomy 30 Some of you need to hear this this day this day I call the heavens and earth as witnesses against you that I've set before you life and death blessing and curse now choose life Choose life so that you and your children may live all of creation is aware of the consequences of Their actions here we go Romans wrote for the wages of sin is death. There's no life in it But the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus Philippians for me to live is Christ and to die is gain In other words if you kill me or God allows me to live whatever it is If I live if I live here, it's Christ in me who succeeds, but if I die, hey, I'm better off Mark 8 for what does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his very soul So I'm gonna ask the question what does it profit you to listen to the entire world if you're losing your soul How many people how many people lost in eternity right now are thinking? I heard the words of life. I Heard the words of life You don't think that possibly if there is a consciousness of that or that how many people heard the words of life So it's not hearing it's obeying And so many people take comfort yeah, I know about Jesus yeah, I mean come on he died on the cross blah blah blah Oh Knowledge will get you nowhere.

It's full surrender John 14 Jesus said to him. I am the way I am the truth. I am the life No one comes to the father except through me.

I Am the life I am the resurrection and the life it's interesting if you do a study He also said I am the bread of life. I am the fountain of living water I am the wellspring of true divinity. I am the true vine.

I am the light I am the Shepherd of the soul. I am the resurrection and the life. I am the Prince of life I am the Prince of peace I am Lord of all Lord of glory Lord of hosts who shatters rocks with the whisper of a Christ in Christ alone You need to turn to him with all of your heart with all of your strength He holds everything in the palm of his hands.

He he commands the seas of the world He tells the Atlantic and the Pacific here and no further Now contrast this to the Prince of darkness The devil is called the Prince of darkness long before Ozzy Osbourne You got to pray for these people. I just watch it more and like even Michael Jordan He thinks people like they're on their way to hell What does it profit you? To gain the whole world does your heart break for these people Prince of darkness deceiver Deceive he's deceiving you From embracing the light the Bible calls him a destroyer the son of Perdition a liar and I love this one Beelzebub Lord of the flies Lord of the flies flies eat dead things He's Lord of the flies they decay They eat dying flesh Flies are disgusting He's Lord of the flies Beelzebub, you know what you're in prison with a true life sentence if you don't know him I'm not trying to scare you. I'm trying to awaken you I Believe one of the greatest deceptions with people who know there's a God they're confusing his patience with his approval I Just read Jeremiah, and I wrote it with my pen.

It's so important the people during Jeremiah's day thought everything was okay, didn't they and They they said we will not listen to you Jeremiah. We're gonna continue to pour out offerings to the Queen of Heaven Like our fathers did when they were well off. That's what they said We're gonna continue Worshipping the Queen of Heaven because it all it obviously blessed our fathers.

They were doing great. Yeah, we're in a pickle now We've got the Babylonians. We've got the Assyrians.

We've got the but but we got to go back to that No, no No You're actually you're benefiting from the fruit of their labor and following God God was blessing them a blessing of them blessing him, but there comes a time listen I've seen this a lot there comes a time where eventually the judgment a hand of God will fall like a hammer on a Disobedient nation and when that hammer falls there's no reconciliation That's why it says today is the day of salvation When you hear his voice harden not your heart three times in the book of Hebrews when you hear his voice Harden not your heart. Thank God for calamity if it drives you to the cross It wakes you up It wakes you up