Unintimidated, Unafraid, & Unashamed

I'm more on your side than you think when people say God told me or God spoke to me. It's like, you got to be careful because a lot of people who say that are hearing the wrong voice. But I still believe that God can deposit things into your heart.

I mean, everything, you know, a lot of things you look back on your life, it's like, that was not even on my prayer list. Where did that, how did God lead me to do that? Because you commit your works to the Lord, your thoughts will be established. God can communicate.

And then what we do is like, Lord, is that, does that line up with your word? Does that line up with your word? Is that you? Or is that me? Is it going to help others? Is it a blessing to do that? For example, there was a family right across the street. They're selling lemonade. And I told Ray, just don't invite them to go on our sidewalk and sell after the service.

Let's reach out to the community. Is God going, Oh, now you should have did that. But those promptings, I love those promptings.

I just told a critic this recently after 25 years, God has never prompted me wrong. Now, have I been wrong? Yes. Did I listen to the wrong prompting? Yes.

Did the flesh get in the way? Yes. But when it's a God prompting and you wait on him, you listen to his voice, his word, you can step out in faith and God will confirm. I even pray, Lord, close the door.

If this isn't you, close the door before I make a bad decision. And he's, he's done that before. I've mentioned it, I think years ago, but we we've had a few opportunities when we were a new church.

There's a church, a smaller church that wanted to merge with us because the pastor was retiring in Lancaster. And it looked, it looked pretty good on the surface, you know, but then I said, Lord, I mean, I don't know if this isn't your will. God closed that door and he slammed it shut, slammed it shut.

And same thing. There was another actually church in Lancaster a couple of years after that. Same thing.

And God just slams it shut. He doesn't play around as long as we're pursuing him. A lot of times I'll put together something and then it changes or it grows.

And the title is Truth Needs a Voice. Truth Needs a Voice, Unintimidated, Unafraid, and Unashamed. And we're going to talk about Stephen.

This might turn into part two for next week as well, because I hate when I rush through things just to get through the notes, when I feel sometimes we need to really just sit and listen to what God wants to say to us through his word. But I heard this on our radio network this week. And I said, I'm going to borrow it.

And I'm going to read this probably as often as possible, especially if you're new to the church. And let's put up that opening up here. To all who are weary and need rest, to all who mourn and long for comfort, to all who fell and desire strength, and to all who sin and need a Savior, this church opens wider doors in the name of Jesus, the friend of sinners.

Isn't that a way to welcome people on Sundays? I had to pull over and say, who said that? How can I get that exact quote? But we need to encourage people. And let me tell you, part of my struggle has been, I'll say it up front, that when God does a deep work, it's painful. Anybody, amens on that one? I mean, it's not always roses.

Yeah, I feel great. This is wonderful. Incredible.

It's like that deep work. It's really like heart surgery. And when he's doing that deep work, it is painful.

And if you haven't been here, you might not know what I'm talking about, but I opened up just a lot about, you know, I wrote the book, I Almost Quit. My wife wrote a chapter, I Almost Quit Too. And just a lot of stuff we've been through.

And people have been saying, oh, you know, wasn't it great? And you know, God, you know, just took all that away. And actually, I'm still living just about everything I talked about. Everything I mentioned, I'm still living.

But now there's a joy in the service. There's a peace in it. And so sometimes God doesn't take away everything.

It's still a struggle. Life is a struggle, isn't it? And one of my biggest prayers this week has been, and I struggle with this too, on the transparency. You know, when I mentioned things, or I mentioned things that like how we've been hurt, or people call it venting.

But according to Proverbs, you know, a fool vents, but the context is vents all his anger and frustration and responds. But there can be something healthy about when there is transparency from the pulpit. I actually used AI this morning early, and I said, why aren't pastors transparent? One of the top answers was, it's not professional.

There's an appearance we must have to you. That's not healthy. And so I've been praying how much to be transparent.

So my point is, trust me, when I say certain things, it's not, usually I don't just react and say something like, oh, it's like, it's prayed through. And what's the point of it? And I think the point is often when you understand the messenger, you can better receive the message. Or it can help you.

You can find it on YouTube. The audio wasn't that great, but when I spoke in Ohio, looked like about 180 pastors or so out there. And I just, I felt the brokenness of God before I even went up.

It was hard. But so many of them thanked me for the transparency. And so that's what, it's hard though, because people use the transparency against you as well.

Remember when you said, the only people I've had come up over the years and say, well, you said you struggle with pride too. Yeah, but don't use it against me. And so this sermon was full of life, but also full of, of transparent things and, and things, you know, we're, we're all a work in progress, but I want to open up with this quote.

I don't know if I've read it here at this location. I know I did Lancaster. I might have a few years ago.

Again, the topic is truth needs a voice, unintimidated, unafraid, and unashamed. And we can actually, let's put, let's take this, uh, the screen off. Let's just put the title in for now.

I don't want people to, to, to go ahead because I'm going to actually read this. A.W. Tozer said this. Now keep in mind, this is the 1950s.

If Christianity is to receive a rejuvenation, it must be by other means than are currently being used. If the church in the second half of this century is to recover from the injury she suffered in the first half, there must appear a new type of preacher. The proper rule of the synagogue type will never do.

Neither will the priestly type of man who carries out his duties, takes his pay and asks no questions, nor will the smooth talking pastoral type who knows how to make the Christian religion acceptable to everyone. All these have been tried and found wanting. Another kind of religious leader must arise from among us.

He must be of the old prophet type. A man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the throne. When he comes, and I pray that there are many, he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear.

He will contradict, denounce and protest in the name of God and he will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment of Christianity. Such a man is likely to be lean, rugged, blunt-spoken and a little bit angry with the world. He will love Christ and the souls of men to the point of willingness to die for the glory of the one and the salvation of the other.

But he will fear nothing that breathes with mortal breath. This is Stephen. This is Stephen.

When we drift, when we drift from the anchor of truth, when we drift from that anchor of truth, I'm sorry, we drift when that anchor of truth is pulled up, we must be unintimidated, unafraid and unashamed. A.W. Tozer also said, I want to do more for God than anybody else in my generation. I want to do more for God.

He was young. He was a young pastor. He said, I want to do more for God than anybody else in my generation.

I'm sure many of you want to do that as well. Oh, I wish I could tell you his friend was encouraging. He said, Tozer, if you aim to do that, be prepared to suffer.

And guys, one of the parts I wasn't sure where to be too transparent on is this, because as parents, you know, it's hard, isn't it? Raising your kids in this culture today to know what it means to really follow, really follow Jesus. You know what you're going to see your kids go through. I even get worried they'll write, Jesus loves me on the back window.

I'm like, Oh, just don't drive to Hollywood. Don't go to the mall. Let me get some napkins and wipe that off.

I know that's wrong, but you know what the cost is. It's dying to self. It's carrying of cross.

It's persecution. And a lot of times my daughters or wife will send me, you know, things on Instagram, you know, share to your story. Heck no.

Of the 43,000 followers on Instagram, not all of them are friends. Oh, there's some mean, critical, angry, judgmental people. And I do one of my biggest, and I want them to follow Christ so passionately, but I know the pain that's going to result.

And it's hard to watch. Well, let's read the text. Stephen is accused of blasphemy.

This powerful man of God. Oh, you know what? Yep. You're right.

I changed my notes, but not here. Well, let's start here. Here we go.

Stephen is accused of blasphemy by people with a religious spirit. Think about this, this man, the Bible gives him two chapters of everything he said. It's like chapter.

Wow. It's Stephen. It records it.

Though he's dead, he still speaks. The voice of God still speaks. Stephen to us today, the father of the church.

Is that amazing? So let's talk about these people who went after him. They're always against it. Lord, help me because I've got a lot of stuff I can say, but I'm just, and you should probably know this.

The biggest challenge in this church, April already knows where I'm going with this one. The biggest obstacles we face, the biggest time zappers for me are those with a religious spirit, critiquing, gossiping, slandering. I drive home.

Sometimes I laugh because I'm like, wonder what the gospel is going to say about that one. Did you hear pastor Shane today? And they take it out of context and they use it against you. A religious spirit is judgmental.

Now I should probably tell you that I can drift towards a religious spirit. Any drifters in here? You truth tellers, you can drift. John, I don't think you'll drift or Marina.

I think you guys are on there. But some of us, right? Not that John's not a truth teller, but some of you have that personality that are just, it's all full of love. And I get jealous sometimes, but some of us are like the John the Baptist and we can get judgmental.

We went to a mega church in Kentucky and I had to just sit there and say, Lord, help me. Wednesday night, thousand kids look like a rock concert. Not once there was repentance mentioned, but I said, Lord, thank God they're here.

Thank God they're worshiping who? Maybe that's just my calling. I don't know. You know that it can creep in.

The enemy will plant those thoughts, but those judgmental people, they, they, they're looking for that. And if you come with that attitude so much, I'm trying to just wait, wait here. A religious spirit is also argumentative because here's, here's when I'm transparent and I say certain things and I've struggled with this because maybe God wants to confront that spirit.

And if I say nothing, I say something. And I'd love to ask people, how do you know what God's wanting me to say? Not say, do you spend a lot of time with him seeking him about what I should say? Now, again, open for constructive feedback. When we meet with the elders, it's like, Hey, am I, am I getting off a little too snarky here? Am I, you know, we, and we, we, we need that.

We also need to say some things to help the religious spirit. They're argumentative. Anybody know people like that? There's been people over the years where I just, I kind of tried to avoid, to be honest with you.

Nobody at this service I know of. So you're okay. Balcony.

Let me see here. No, you're okay. You're okay.

But it's, they just want to argue and you know, cause you said this, you said this, and it's just, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's sad to see. There's also comparison and critique in a religious spirit. There's a lack of joy.

That's what hurts me. These people, there's, there's a true lack of joy. They don't have that joy of the Lord because when you have joy, here's, here's, look, I put the bottom.

They may have good points or valid questions, but their heart is filled with pride. So in other words, as the people say, well, I can't critique, I can't say, no, you can say any, every, anything you want, but it has to be with the right heart because if it's with the wrong heart, it's a critical spirit and a critical God, we use a critical spirit to deflate me. Pastor Abram, others, you've been there.

You know that critical spirit that, that, that like, why did you say that other than to deflate and to, to come against, that's what the, the accuser of the brethren does. He brings in accusation and twists things in such a way. And these people, they lack joy.

If you get a chance, maybe, maybe talk to me next Sunday, use this week to do your study. But, um, I'd like to see if you can find in the Bible, one happy Pharisee. Now you might, you know, Nicodemus at night, hopefully came to know the Lord.

Gamaliel was pretty interesting that we talked about, uh, kind of protected the disciples, but one time where these guys are full of joy, just, just one, one instance, and it's, it's, they're not. And that's why it's sad because you want to pray for them. You want to help them, but they're so they're bound by iniquity and overcome by their critical heart.

And here's another sign without a shadow of a doubt, they love to critique, but when they're critiqued, but by the way, who made you the critique of everyone? They can come and they can pull apart this person, this person, this person, but like when you lovingly challenge them and nine times out of 10, it's because I have discernment from the Lord. No, you have arrogance from Satan. There's a big difference there.

And you're blinded by pride, humble yourself. And here's what's sad. I've seen people humble themselves, praise God, but it often takes a calamity or a disaster or a sickness or a cancer.

And then we finally get that call. Remember what you said years ago? I finally see it. Cause that's the thing about pride.

You don't see it. Pride blinds you. That's the problem.

And when you challenge it, pride rises up against you. That number five, they are not open for correction. And this is the religious spirit that Stephen faced.

So now we're going to talk about that and acts 30 minutes into the introduction. How's that? All right, let's put it up there. Incredible story.

I'll just leave the Bible story and Stephen. Now, why does the Bible say this? Hey, let's just throw in some words there. Full of faith, full of power.

Hmm. Hey guys, that's the sermon that preaches that first sentence. Are you full of faith and full of power? That is the sermon.

The Bible says that, and it keeps reminding us full of faith, full of power. So I have something to remind you. Okay.

You guys like sermon illustrations. I got out of the lobby. How many of you know what this is? You want me to get close to you with it? Let me unpack it.

Resuscitation. Somebody who's barely hanging on to life. That's the majority of the Christian church.

They need this shot. Boom, boom. Sometimes you got to shock them with the truth.

You've got to wake them up. You got to shock them with, with the confrontation. You've got to confront them and hit them right between the eyes, the contentious spirit.

And Stephen full of faith and full of power did great wonders and signs among the people. I can already hear the Pharisees in their mind. Well, God doesn't do that anymore.

What really now to the degree that happened in the early church, I understand. We're not seeing things to that degree. And I've talked about before.

I won't make this into a sermon on that, but I still think God does great things, but he does them through people full of the spirit. So the problem is on God's end, full of faith, full of power. And then there are rows, some from what is called the synagogue out of church.

Here comes the church members against Stephen. Why is it always the church members? I told you, that's the biggest problem at most churches. The religious spirit.

Do you know how, how incredible the services would be if all of us in this room were full and filled? My dream would come true. Now don't feel bad. Sometimes I come up, come in here, not full and not filled.

You think I just fly in on a cloud? I text him. I said, I'm irritated this morning. Pray for me.

What happens? But if we could get full and fill and actually Wednesday, I'm talking about right now, I'm talking about full of power, Wednesday, full of faith. So you got to hear part two, Wednesday on this topic of faith, unless I don't get through it today. It's hard to, it's hard to know because I'm just so excited about this topic, full of faith and full of power.

When you come out full of faith and full of power, you go into your Trader Joe's or your Vons or your Costco and you're there and your sense of like, do you, do you, ma'am, you look, do you need prayer? I mean, I can tell you're carrying a heavy weight and I do. Thank you so much. And like pastor Abram did this, we paid for somebody's groceries behind him.

Right. And that, that sets a chain of events. It happens.

And then, and then from that you're, you're filled with joy and you're maybe the parking lot, maybe you see something. And so you go about your daily business, but now you're full of joy and full of faith and full of the spirit's power because you're being led of the spirit. Unless you're like me, I got to get in there and get the stuff.

Okay. I got to go here. I don't want to see anybody I know.

Bye guys. I'll see you later. Is that not any people need to keep, keep on a schedule there or just me? And often we're not full of faith, full of power because we're in too much of a hurry.

Sometimes a hurry is good. I got to get kids somewhere. I got to do this, but you'll, you'll change.

Can you imagine being in your, your family, even though there's difficulties and you're, you're in the word and you're praying and you're, you're, you're fasted and you're worshiping. And then now you're able to handle the day instead of looking at your phone, seeing what's going on in the news or who texted you, what emails came in. So they were disputing with Stephen.

They're arguing, people in the church are arguing with Stephen and they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke. This is, this is always how you know. Truth invites scrutiny.

Error will run from it. So when you want to sit down with some, okay, let's talk this out. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

I just want to prove my point. I don't want to talk it through. Right? Because you're in error often and you can't resist the spirit.

Then they secretly, Oh, here we go. People in the church are getting nasty. They secretly induced men to say, we have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.

What they did is they twisted a little bit because what he was saying contradicts a little bit in the old Testament. However, the old Testament was pointing to Jesus. So Jesus was a fulfillment of scripture.

And so they were, they were kind of twisting things. And that's what people do, don't they? They twist things. When they want to come after you, they twist what you say.

They stirred up the people. Anybody remember the cabbage patch? I'm not doing that, but it's not people. Have you ever noticed that negative Nellies aren't just to themselves? What they like to do? Stir up others, stir up others.

And that's why a person can cause dissension in a church. And that's why we try to nip it in the bud. When we, when we go to the source and we, we talk to people, all of us are guilty of a little bit of, of, of gossip and saying things we shouldn't.

I correct. Maybe if you're, if you've never gossiped, Hey, talk to me in the prayer room. Cause I want to know how you've mastered that one.

Cause basically the gossip to define it is telling somebody something might be, it's true, but they don't need to know. You don't need to know. Slander is when you're completely slandering someone and making it up or twisting the truth.

Isn't that what the enemy does too? It's not often an outright lie because you can't, you'll get caught. It's a twisting of the truth. They stirred up the people and they stirred up the elders and the scribes.

They stirred up the leadership and they came upon him and they seized him and they brought him to the council. And then they took this false witness who said, this man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this Holy place in the law. For we have heard him say that Jesus will destroy this place and change the customs, which Moses delivered to us.

By the way, Jesus said, I came to fulfill, not destroy, but the works of man's hands will be destroyed. The legalism, the going through the emotions, the keeping of the law, because Jesus was a fulfillment of that. And basically that is blasphemy in the old Testament, putting down Moses and all who sat in the council.

Now this is interesting. So Stephen's being accused and everybody that saw Stephen, saw his face was as the face of an angel. And you think angels are nice, aren't you? Right.

Stephen's sitting there, just glowing, full of love. But you know what he did? He said, you stiff neck and uncircumcised heart. Sometimes angels let you have it.

Cause see somebody felt the spirit isn't always popular. They're powerful. And I love, I see some of you, those, you know, those godly women, right? They just smile.

My mom was getting this smile and then boom, the lashing comes out. Dang. Look at pastor.

Oh, I just love what you had to say today. But boom, those butts. Thank God for those butts.

Let's unpack this for a minute and break it down. So Stephen, full of faith and full of power, did great wonders and signs among the people. And there arose those disputing with Stephen.

Now some of this will be repetitive because I just said it, but when conviction is resisted, it disputes. Anytime you don't give a critical heart of voice or you challenge people, they want to dispute. Isn't that true? They, they, they didn't hear what they wanted to hear.

So they, they want it. They, they, they went when they're convicted and people I've heard to see this a lot. And I love it when people are convicted.

The right response is they repent to God, but that's not always the case. Sometimes they shoot the messenger and it's a load at 30-06 and it is hard or it's a shotgun 12 gauge with a slug in it. Boom.

Those are the options, correct? When you're convicted, you either repent, Lord help me, or you, you, you dig in those hills. You dig in those hills. That's why I love saying what the Puritans used to say, the same sun that melts the wax will harden the clay.

Is your heart clay this morning or is it stone? Is it hard as stone? And again, Wednesday, I'll be, I'll be talking more about the faith issue, faith that weathers the storm. I'm already prepared it, so I'm hoping it doesn't come out in this message because there's a, there's a faith is so important guys. How, how can you build the faith that weathers the storm? Well, sorry, you'll have to wait.

And here's why this is important. Here's the, here's the funny thing. I'm going through the book of Acts and probably for a couple of months, it's been on, on this point of the power of the Holy Spirit.

And trust me, nobody more than me is trying to, trying to get into the next section here because I know it's, you know, okay, we've heard this before, but, but the book of Acts is a book of power. The Holy Spirit shall come upon you and you shall receive power, not national power, religious power, political power, spiritual power. And the higher God elevates your ministry or you, the lower you must go in the prayer closet.

Spiritual power has to be regulated with humility because too many people can get puffed up. A church being revived is a powerful move of God. It's a powerful move of God.

So why am I spending, I think we have these up here for you. Why am I spending so much time on this topic? Why am I spending so much time on this topic? Maybe we don't. I'll just read them because it might be new.

There's a lot of new stuff in here. Number one, it fuels spiritual hunger. It fuels spiritual hunger.

Did you know that's one of my goals in preaching is I want you to become so spiritually hungry that you'll look, you'll run to the fountain of living water. So, so thirsty. Oh, I want that.

I need that. And you run to Christ. You run to God and you, you surrender all in order to be filled.

It fuels spiritual hunger. It fires up a dead prayer life. It's an accelerant for worship.

This topic is an accelerant for worship. It charges a dead spiritual battery. How many of you ever get that text from someone you know? I only have one bar left.

I only, it's going to die. I only have one bar left. You know how many people come to church like that? I only have one bar left.

It was all I could do to get here. Shane, you mentioned a prayer meeting, but that's the last thing I want to do. Early morning worship at 6 a.m. right here, I'd fall asleep.

Am I being too dramatic for you? Okay. But right, we just come in. I'm barely holding on to my marriage.

My kids are driving me nuts. This is falling apart. My health is failing.

I've got one bar left. That's why we focus so much on it. I love going through the books.

I love, but sometimes you need that spiritual power. You need, you need that hunger. You need that, that desire to be reignited.

So let me get your appetite going. And I think they might've handed this out. Here are some quotes on spiritual power and what God is doing here, doing in the lives of many of you and why we desperately need it.

Revival is a war between the spirit and the devil. The imparting revival is the imparting of life to those who are dead. It's the imparting of life to those who are dead and the imparting of health to those who are dying.

I wanted to unpack, undo this and take it around, but that's, I found out it's probably not a good idea. Could shock somebody, but I'm, I'm ready to go through and get some of you. I can tell that sour look that just, I can tell.

Don't make me walk around with this. Who should go first, Rick? Who should I find? Balcony, you're off the hook because you're a ways away. But that's what we need.

Spiritual resuscitation. It gives life to those who are dead. Revival is a community saturated with God.

Duncan Campbell said that. That's what it is, guys. That's what's happening.

Saturated with God. And you watch some weird video on YouTube and you say, well, that's not of God. Really? I'd say the critics are not of God because it's thoroughly biblical.

When God, what about when he visited the temple? His Shekinah glory filled the temple to where they couldn't even minister to the Lord. Moses cried, God, show me your glory. I don't know, in the upper room, they might've experienced something.

You think? Can you imagine? They're all just sitting around praying, maybe reading the Psalms. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. I don't know.

Maybe that song was written 2000 years ago and they're probably praying. Maybe they're, they're, you know, who knows? They're not exercising their spiritual gifts. I don't believe because they are not filled with the Spirit yet.

And then can you imagine, like, I would love to be just sitting in that room and it says, that's right. The sound of a rushing wind came in. Thanks, Matthias.

I got it. Okay. That was pretty good though.

That was pretty good. But there are 120 people just kind of sitting there praying, like, what's this about? We've been, we've been in here 10 days. They probably, I believe, left, maybe eight, maybe had some work, but they kept going to this prayer meeting.

They kept going to this prayer meeting. And you'll, you'll notice that most genuine when God really, really falls upon a place that it's an every night occurrence. Duncan Campbell actually was part of the New Hebrides revival.

Oh gosh, when was that one? 1940s and fifties on the islands of the Hebrides. And two women, I believe one was blind. They'd been praying for revival and God answered their prayers.

And people linger till midnight, every night. And just because there's, there is something special. And guys, I'm not just, I've experienced it.

I wish it was more often, but there've been times where you just can't go up and preach because the presence of God or God's breaking you or God humbling you. It's very biblical. The problem is those who've never experienced it love to critique those who have.

And it goes back to pride. I hate to tell you this. Usually the spiritual mature, master's degree in divinity, suit and tie.

I've been a Christian 35 years. I've been pastoring 30 of those years. Those young people are not on fire for God.

That's emotionalism. The very thing they need is the very thing they're running from. They're not open to that.

It's a movement of the Holy Spirit bringing about a revival of New Testament Christianity. That's what happened. The church wasn't born yet.

The Holy Spirit came and it felt, and I've read accounts of this. This isn't just, you know, happened one time. I've read accounts where literally the barn was shaken and the glory of God was there.

And this early church was filled with the Holy Spirit and they were filled and they didn't just sit there quiet. That's why it's okay to be expressive sometimes. I worship at home a little differently because I love to just, when you get worshiping, sometimes, you know, sometimes you're moving a little bit.

You know, what's wrong with Shane? I'm not in a cemetery, right? The worshiping God and there's something engaging. Oh, and I don't know what it is, but it's something like more God, I need you break me, humble me. And the whole body is engaged in worship.

And the Holy Spirit fell. It came upon them. And as it came upon them, that's when they begin to exercise their gifts.

And that's when the church first spoke in tongues. And I don't know why people get so bent out of shape about it. Paul did it.

Paul said, I don't speak to you. I speak to God. Can you imagine something where you're actually praying to God? I'm pretty sure that's a perfect prayer because the Holy Spirit is praying.

I don't understand it. Do I have been, in some weird services? Of course. But to me, the Bible's pretty clear.

And it's a good thing. It's a God thing. Anytime God does a thing, it's a good thing.

And they were filled with the Spirit. And then now the church is born and they go out. They go out and minister to the community.

Here's another quote. I love this one. You cannot revive something that has never had life.

So revival, by definition, is first of all a quickening. It's an awakening of a lethargic sleeping church and her members. Suddenly, the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon them.

Do we have the next screen on that one, Kim? I think it's important for people. Oh, maybe we don't. See, I threw in another one.

Good job. She's on top of it. I'm not.

So just listen then, okay? Listen. Suddenly, and again, this is D. Martin Lloyd-Jones, not Benny Hinn, saying this. D. Martin Lloyd-Jones in London.

John MacArthur said it was one of his top 10 favorite books on preachers and preaching. D. Martin Lloyd-Jones in his last chapter written book, Written to Pastors, spends a whole chapter on unction, on the power of the Spirit. He actually calls it the baptism of the Spirit.

And for that reason, his publisher would not publish his works on that title because they were reformed in theology and God doesn't do that anymore. I don't care what you call it. You better have it.

Are you overwhelmed with the Spirit, baptized? Is there an unction? Is there a spiritual power? Have you been filled with capacity? Are things flowing out? Don't make me go get the ping pong balls again. If you were here two Sundays ago, you'll know I'm talking about. But when you're filled with the Spirit, it pushes out.

It pushes out everything out. And guys, be encouraged. I'm not talking about perfectionism.

I'm not all the way full right now. I can tell you, I got some attitude issues going on. Nobody's 100% full on this side of heaven, but you can stay underneath the fountain.

Like D.O. Moody said, and you've heard me quote it, we're leaky vessels. We're leaky vessels. That's why I have to stay underneath the fountain of living water every day.

Christ, I'm leaking. I'm leaking. I can't handle my spouse anymore.

But some of you, not me, I'm just saying, but I have to give out illustrations. But no, I'm good. Praise God.

We're good. But Lord, I'm leaking. Anger is consuming me.

God, this anger and this self-righteousness and this pride, oh God, I'm leaking. And you stay underneath that fountain of living water. It's a process.

That's why we do that at this church. That's why we're not in a hurry. That's why we open the altar.

That's why we press in like never before. And it's hard. It's hard as a pastor to see this because I just recently, friends I've known for years, they don't come here anymore.

And they say, it's too much about the Holy Spirit. Worship's too long. It's too emotional.

And I'm like, guys, that's what you need. That's what you need. Your heart, heart has you bound.

Your heart, heart has you bound. I'm concerned about that. You can pick me apart.

Please do. There's no perfect preacher. But we will die trying to get to that fountain of living water.

That's our goal, to get to that and to sit underneath the fountain of life. Because when you drink of that water, you will never thirst again. I don't know about you.

Even though the world is strong sometimes, the pull is strong. Once I've tasted and seen that God is good, I'm never going back. Christ, keep me.

Hold me, God. Hold me. Hold me.

I don't ever want to go back. Because I've drank deeply of the wells of living water. And so what people think is snarky, I'm just broken and hurt for you.

The critical hearts, they hurt their family too. Those people who have the right look at church, you know, they're a modern day Pharisee. They rule their house with a rod of iron.

They hurt their kids more than, but they follow the law. They've got the Bible open, but they don't have the brokenness in their heart. Life is tough already, isn't it? My goodness, how do you exist? How do you function without the fullness of the Spirit? How? Like I would run people off the road.

I don't like to be cut off. Do you? Anybody like to be cut off? Just me. Or people right on your tailgate.

Like I'm going to pump this brake and you're going to boom. I got a trailer hitch on. Right? It's ready to come out.

It's ready to come out. What'd you say to my kid? Oh, have you? Staying broken and humble. Guys, I have to tell you something.

I pulled it out of the notes because I don't even know if it was God or me. But what He's called me to do, what God's called me to do, it's a constant struggle. It is.

Because I'm a people pleaser. I don't like to upset people. I don't like to say hard things.

But when that fire's burning, you got to put it out. And the only way to put it out is to let it out. I would not choose this.

I wouldn't choose this. Just for a minute, if I could choose this, I would have invested in Bitcoin when it was a dollar. I'd go buy 50 acres up by Bishop.

You know, the 395 there, that green meadow. And then there's the high Sierras. I would disconnect every single social media feed ever.

I'd say, I love you guys. Visit sometime. But I'm done.

I'm out of here. You'll never know me. A brand new John Deere tractor in the shed.

Big shed too, by the way. Lots of room in that big shed. And my only critic would be when the neighbor gets upset that the cows went over into his property.

Ask my wife. That's what I would do. In a moment, in a moment, I would be gone.

Bye-bye YouTube, Rumble X, Facebook, Instagram. Gone. I get kind of excited thinking about it, but then I get sad because it's not going to be a reality.

But he's called me to do this. I know my calling. I was born to set California and the nation on fire.

That's what he's called me to do. Oh, brother, that's a big calling. Why not a bigger God? You plus God is the majority.

You plus God, you don't think you can change your family, change your community, change your school district. God just needs, I just need one person. Does God need 10 or 15? Oh, the moral majority.

Oh, if we could just have more Republicans, if we could just have more independent. No, it's you plus God is the majority. Watch what God, watch what God will do.

D.O. Moody, words written to D.O. Moody said, Mr. Moody, the world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully surrendered to him. And D.O. Moody said, I aim to be that man. Research this guy.

Not very educated, not real smart. Hello? That's why I like these guys. Tozer, I think it was a farmer or something.

A guy by the name of Billy Graham, a farmer, lanky boy, kind of skinny and worked the farm and milked the cows. His life changed when he walked the sawdust trail under the preaching of Mordecai Ham. Says, God, I'm going to use that.

But God's not using me. Oh, he's using you. He might not be promoting you.

Oh, you're being used. I tell pastors all the time, I'm just not being used. Oh, you're not being recognized.

You're not being esteemed. You're not being put up on a pedestal. Oh, you'll be used.

Trust me. You'll be used. God will use you in the way he's called you.

And again, when you better understand the messenger, you'll better understand the message. But be encouraged. I don't think we're going to move up to bishop and do all that.

And that's why when God said, Jeremiah, whatever I command you to speak, speak. I know it's in your heart. That's not enough.

Speak it. Speak it. Because when you do, you will root out, you will pull down, you will destroy, you will throw down and you will build up and you will plant.

That's what Stephen did. He spoke it. And he didn't go, you know what, guys, I understand.

I know where you're coming from. He didn't pull a Joel Steen. You'll get it later.

Hey, guys, I understand. Let's sit down. Let's have a conversation.

Let me explain where I've come from. He said, you stiff neck and uncircumcised heart resisting the Holy Spirit. Guys, Stephen just signed his death certificate.

He just signed his death certificate. And speaking truth in this culture will cost you. Cowardliness is contagious.

That's why I love Reverend Truth or John Armachuka. I'm going to see him in August, me and Pastor Abram will try to get him to speak here. But when he goes to school board meetings, man, that fires me up.

I'm like, I wish I could get to Minneapolis right now. I would stand up in the audience. I would call out these devils, these demonic.

You're letting porn in, same sex attracted porn for a seven year old to read. God help us. God help us.

You are a tool of Satan. I just want to look them in the eye and just tell them off. How long will that last? Security will be there.

But it's okay. Additional thoughts. Many have a a form of godliness, but they lack the power.

Many go through the motions talking about the Holy Spirit. Oh, the Holy Spirit's speaking to me. The Holy Spirit's leading me.

But they're just as mean and bitter and arrogant as the Pharisees. No, no, no. You have form, not fire.

You have form. You're going through the motions, but not power. Second Timothy adds, turn away from such people who have form, but no power.

Be encouraged in this too. If a pastor or a preacher or a teacher is encouraging sin or is encouraging silence, turn from that church. Turn from that leader.

Do not listen to these false voices. If you want to know a true prophet, a true pastor, it's actually very simple. The Bible has a great test.

Do they balance grace and love with truth? If they're all truth and they're beating you up all the time, man, they can be full of pride. But if they're just full of truth, I mean, love all the time, and I've talked about this before, but finding that balance. Dead religion has form, but no fire.

And again, just because it's a church doesn't mean it's God's church. Just because it's a church doesn't mean it's God's church. Worshipping will bring the demonic opposition.

How many of you are following what's going on in Washington? Antifa trying to mess up a worship rally there, and the pastor's going on Fox News and different things. It's a good reminder for us of 1 Timothy 3. Paul said, I write to you, Timothy, I'm writing to you and to all of us that you should know how to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God. That's why I pray that sometimes.

We are worshiping the living God. This is a church of the living God. It is the pillar and it is the ground of the truth.

Pillars hold things up. The ground is the foundation. So truth, we cannot be intimidated by the truth and back away from the truth.

It's the pillar that holds everything up, and it's the foundation on which our lives must be built. The truth rebuilds. The truth restores.

You don't change truth. Truth changes you. And truth needs a voice.

It needs a voice. We must be unintimidated, unafraid, and unashamed. Truth cannot move.

Truth cannot move. Why aren't more Christians just posting on social media? Somebody needs to hear this today. Boys can't beat girls.

I don't see it. I rarely see it. My family members might get upset.

They struggle with trans. Good. Boom.

Blast them with the truth in the spirit of love, of course. I have to throw that in there. But can't we say boys should not play in girls' sports? My goodness, guys.

I have to tell you something. I prayed, and thank God it hasn't happened yet. But my daughter's in swim at meets and stuff.

I'm like, God, I won't be able to handle. I don't know how to keep... If there's a guy there, my pastor hat might come off. Please help me.

Please don't let that happen because I don't want to be put in that situation. I'm going to sit in the crowd like, yeah, isn't that cool? There goes Steve. Now, Stephanie.

You tell me. You tell me. You could go get a Christian from the early church.

Matthias, I need the sound effects again. Zap them 2,000 years into the church, right? You got the early church, right? On fire for God. Right out fresh of the prayer meeting of the Holy Spirit.

And they're going to sit and watch that. And like, let's say you're out of your mind. Where's your boldness? Where's your courage? Smile when you do it.

But say, ask for me in my house. This is wrong for children. This sends the wrong message.

This is a lie. Truth is unintimidated. And now it doesn't mean you always pop off.

You got to be wise. Some of us, any pop offers here? Don't make me go around. I know there's a lot more.

We cannot pop off. Truth needs a voice. Truth needs a voice.

Unintimidated, unafraid, and unashamed. But guys, let me tell you this up front. You will never have that without a baptism of spiritual fire.

See, I'm well aware of the limitations. I can say, guys, you got to be, oh yeah, pastors are unintimidated, unafraid. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh man, I'm feeling charged up. And then you leave here and nothing changes in your life. There's no passion for zeal for God.

You're not filled with the Spirit. You might as well just in one ear and out the next. Because you can't work this up.

Anybody, can you work up? Okay, you can't work it up because if it's not already in, when you're unintimidated and bold, it actually flows out of what's already been deposited in. It's not external. It's internal.

So the Holy Spirit inside of you, can you imagine, you know what, tomorrow I'm just going to read the Word for two hours. I'm not going to eat. I'm going to work.

What did you just deposit? And then you go to the bank or shopping and then something needs to be said. It's going to bubble out. That's the problem.

What's going in is coming out. And it's not a lot of spiritual healthy things. Truth coming from someone filled is always accompanied by power.

When you speak the truth and it's coming from someone filled with the Spirit, there's always a company of spiritual power. But here's what kills your spiritual power. Pride weakens our pursuit.

Pride weakens your pursuit. An invitation to go deeper with God always looks like a demotion to those who love the limelight. Spiritual power killers, performance, wanting to perform.

That's why I love our worship team and the worship leader. If it was about performance, it would push out the presence of God. Staging stifles the Spirit and entertainment voids the power.

And it goes on to say next, they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which He spoke. Yeah, might have to do part two. But let me get through this real quick.

They were not able to resist the wisdom. That's key. What is wisdom, guys? Yes, it's knowing the Word of God, but it's applying it in your life.

But it's not just the wisdom, it's the Spirit by which He spoke. So they have wisdom, the Word of God, and the Spirit by which they spoke. The Spirit of gentleness, but also boldness.

And then they secretly induced men to say, we have heard Him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God. And they stirred up the people. Remember? And because of that, they seized Him and they brought Him to the council for judgment.

They were so angry at the truth tellers that they justified lying. Don't be surprised when people lie. They don't like the truth tellers, so they'll lie, they'll manipulate a little bit.

Did you know that that's why like the President of the United States, let's say, throughout history, they have to use wisdom when dealing with, especially some of the nations in the Middle East. Because what they tell you is actually they can lie based on their holy writings. They can actually lie if it's going to further their goal.

Absolutely. Lie. Have we caught the media in any lies? All the time.

All the time. Why? Because the truth is pushed down and their agenda, their narrative is put on display. And so when a narrative is your goal, you have to push the lies.

But when truth is your goal, you just tell the truth. You tell the truth and you let the chips fall where they may. But I love this.

They were not able to resist the wisdom of the Spirit. Nothing, nobody, zero, zilch, nix, nada can resist the Spirit. Nothing can.

Now you'll say, well, the Bible says, yes, a person can resist the conviction of the Spirit, right? They can resist it. That's why I think Stephen goes on always resisting the Holy Spirit. But when the Holy Spirit wants to do something, nobody can resist the Holy Spirit.

It's not competing against the satanic realm. He overthrows. Nothing can resist the Spirit.

Don't get stirred or your vision may become blurred. They stirred up the people. And a lot of times, even in the church, I've been stirred the wrong direction.

Right? You stir each other up. You guys know anybody that's, they stir each other up to gossip or slander, or you get stirred up with the things of the world and your vision becomes clouded. They get stirred up.

Listen, I know there's a big political divide in our country, but not everyone's right. People are getting stirred up, stirred up by the lies. I'm going to leave you with this and then we'll close.

Just so you know, here's what will kill the truth in your life. Truth killers. Truth killers.

If you want to be popular, anybody want to be popular? Young adults do. Many of them. And there's okay, you want to be an influencer.

But if you're really going to be popular, you're going to have to tell people what they want to hear. For example, how many of you know the most popular pastors in America right now are Christian influencers? There's of course exceptions to the rule, but the most popular are often the least controversial. Isn't that true? Pastor Abrams got on Leonard Ravenhill's shirt today.

And I said, you know what's funny? Everybody that thinks I'm so hard, why don't you go listen to an audio from Leonard Ravenhill or David Wilkerson, or just for fun, put on Paul Washer. I'll never forget one time, maybe you can find this message, but he's preaching as hard out as a youth conference, a big youth conference. Man, he's hitting worldliness, he's doing all this.

And I don't know, he said something that they're all starting to laugh, right? And he goes, I don't know why you're laughing, I'm talking about you. But see, that's biblical preaching from time to time. It's not popular.

It's not popular. And popularity will kill truth because this is how it looks. Okay, before I share that, this is funny all the time.

People say, oh, I love that message. Why don't you share it on Facebook? Oh no, I'm not going to share your message on video. Oh, my family members will come unglued.

Well see, popular. Now I know there's a balance there, isn't there? Like you don't want to upset your kids, they already know where you stand. You've already quoted Scripture and texted them.

You don't want to fuel the fire. You don't want to be a jerk. You don't want to be antagonistic.

But if you're worried about the opinions of others, and if you have to be careful, even at work, if you have to be careful, I pray for school teachers and I pray in the fire department when they make you put up the rainbow flag and the sheriff's department when they put, it's like, I know you got to use wisdom and your heart's probably right, seeking the Lord, but be careful because popularity doesn't allow us to tell the truth. Because the truth is never popular. Find in the Old Testament one prophet who was popular.

Remember King Ahab? I'm not going to go get that prophet. He never tells me what I want to do here. Jeremiah would say, the people just want us to tell them smooth things.

Oh yes, so smooth. So smooth. And you all know, right? That was a sign of a false prophet.

That was a sign of a false prophet saying, peace, peace. There's no, there's, everything's fine. God said, I'm bringing judgment because of your sin.

The Assyrians I'm raising up, the Babylonians I'm raising up, the Egypt, the Egyptians are going to come up from the south. I'm raising these people up unless you repent. The false prophets would say, no, no, no, that's not God.

That's not God. So be careful if you're embracing same sex attraction and things like that, that are not biblical. And you're listening to the false voices telling you, oh God, man, you were born this way.

This is how God created you. Well, let's run that out a little bit. He created me to lie.

No, He didn't create me to lie. I was born to lie. Can I, I don't know, you may, I may not say this to me.

You guys might not come back next Sunday. No, too late. Because all of you can relate though, because you're the same.

You were born, I was born to cheat on my spouse. The sin nature? Come on folks, don't put on your self-righteous face this morning. You were born to lie.

You were born to cheat. You were born to deceive. You were born to commit adultery.

It's part of our fallen nature. But Christ saves us and redeems us. The Holy Spirit changes us.

So that's one of the biggest lies from the enemy right now. I was born this way. Who are you? The word says it, not me.

Why are all these transgender so militant? Like they'll kill you if they could. It's demonic. It's demonic.

God said, I created them male and I created them female. End of story. No middle ground.

If somebody's struggling, they struggle. You pray with them. You encourage them.

Hey, you struggle with that. I struggle with this. We all struggle.

Let me point you to the rock of our hope. Let me point you to the salvation. Let me point you where your sins can be, can be, can be won.

Because here's the thing. Even if every single person on planet earth, every single church, everybody, everybody they come in contact with, everybody validates them, they'll still be convicted and depressed because you cannot overcome the power of the Spirit. Nothing can overcome the power of the Spirit.

So I'm going to put up the closing slides. Closing for believers. This is a closing for you believers to think about.

Everything changes when you're filled with the Spirit. Isn't that amazing? They saw he was like his face. What does that, what does that mean actually? I mean commentators are divided, different things.

But obviously I think it meant like what Moses, how he looked when he spent time with the Lord. Shekinah Glory, there was something about him. And there's, there's something different.

There's, isn't there something? I can, you know, I don't want to get too personal, but I can tell when somebody's filled. I can tell in their demeanor, their attitude, their conversation, their words. People can tell when I'm filled.

And they can tell when I'm not. But guys, this should be our goal. Saw the face of an angel.

But again, that face of an angel spoke the truth. You stiff-necked people. But there, there should be something about you.

What, what are your kids seeing you? What, what, and this is my goal. Maybe I shouldn't say it so the kids, my kids will hear. But one of my goals has been when daddy gets home, they want to see me.

So I don't know how many of you were like me, but when he pulled in the driveway, when I was a kid, I didn't know what was coming out. I didn't know what was coming out. And I get, I'm glad he's not alive because I loved him.

My family loved him, but it was, boy, the way they raised unbelievers, farms of Oklahoma, raised kids, it would be child abuse today. I'll never forget that day. I was about 18, weightlifting, and he was getting all upset.

And I grabbed him and he saw that look. It's like, it's over, it's over. And our home, he knew, he knew, couldn't do that anymore.

I'm taller, I'm bigger. But what, what, what, what do they see in you? Will they see perfect Christian? No, that's part of growing. I tell my kids, hey guys, I'm sorry, that was not right.

I shouldn't have did that. They see, but they still see the Holy Spirit working in your heart. See, although they might not see the character of someone's filled with the Spirit every day, because you know, the home's the hardest spot, right? Come, we can act so, all of you are so sweet here, so sweet, but you get us home, grumpy, hungry, angry, what do they call that, hangry? Yeah, that's where the rubber meets the road.

But be encouraged, you can be filled with the Spirit. And you can tell you're, you can tell, you can actually reverse a lot of damage that was done by saying, you know what, I've been prideful. I've been going through the motions.

I haven't been living that life. I want to surrender to God. I want, I want, I want the more of God.

And they can see that brokenness. They can see that example of love in your heart. Because we think, oh, I got to act, be careful.

It's the rule followers that do a lot of damage. I've seen over the years, those parents that just buy the book, buy the book, follow the rules, follow the rules, follow the rules, follow the rules, follow the rules. Their kids end up lying or leaving the faith.

Or, because they can't handle this rigid rule following thing that mom and dad could never measure up to, yet they made me do it. And that's, I want to encourage people because people think, oh, I'm not like you guys. I bet your house is great.

I bet you, no, there's some challenges. All of us. Being filled with the Spirit is a continual process.

That's why I'm so glad Paul said, be being filled. You can break down the, actually the Greek language and it's a, it's a, it's a continual filling of the Spirit. That's why we teach subsequent feelings of the Holy Spirit.

Subsequent feeling when you're, when you're filled. And I'm, I'm feeling pretty good today. Aren't you? I mean, I'm feeling pretty good.

It's going to be good. But come Monday morning, you get back in traffic, you get to work. They're, they're, they're on you.

They're nasty. This, and you didn't get your timing with the Lord. And there goes that filling.

It's gone. It's gone. I'm not coming to Wednesday service because now I'm depressed and shame filled.

And I yelled and I, I did this. Get back in the prayer closet. Go low, go low and ask for God to refill you again.

It's really through, I don't know if it's really power through perseverance, power through perseverance. And if you're an unbeliever, I'll leave you at this thought. Sin can't be controlled.

It must be crucified. Sin can't be controlled. It must be crucified.

Don't let pride prevent you from turning to God. Don't let pride prevent you from turning to God. And I, I want to make this clear.

I don't want you to be reminded of these words in Gehenna. What is Gehenna? It's hell. Most people that preach hard messages, especially they often wonder, will people be conscious? Like, will they, how many, how many thousands that, that, that, that, that loud bald guy said that he said that.

And I don't want you to picture this moment in hell. I don't want you to do that. Cry out to God and say, Oh God, save me.

Set me free. Many who escaped the rocks of gross sin have been cast away on the sands of self righteousness. The crowd chose Brabus because they hated the truth.

And I know there's a lot here this morning are listening that they're going through a very challenging time. And I wish I knew more of God's will. Don't you? Or where he was taking me where he's taking you.

It's a bumpy road. Sometimes we don't always know. I don't know where he's taking you or me, but I can tell you this.

You've got a good, good shepherd. You've got a good, good shepherd. Praise God.

Next on Wednesday, I'm going to bring the lyrics, but Jason Upton has a song, little lamb. You've got a good, good shepherd. Hired hands will lead you astray, but you've got a good, good shepherd.

Praise God. Take the hand again this morning of that good, good shepherd. Maybe some of you need to kneel at this altar.

Parents wake up, wake up. The good shepherd has commissioned us to guard and to guide and to protect and to persevere. Wake up.

The good, good shepherd has encouraged parents and even grandparents to plead the blood of Jesus Christ and to pray for their families. That's why often why isn't the altar packed with parents? Why isn't the prayer rooms, prayer meetings packed with parents? Folks, there is nothing more important than contend for the spiritual condition of your children. The last time I checked, God honors brokenness, not attendance.

We think, oh, I went to church. Good for you. The Mormons are going to church.

The Mormons are going to church. The Jehovah Witness are following the watchtower at church today. Rome is leading millions astray in mass today.

He doesn't honor attendance. He honors brokenness. You know what I love about heaviness? What does it do? I've had some knee problems, but it's okay.

Heaviness pushes you down, filling the weight of the world, filling the heaviness of the message. Anybody be able to hear the heaviness of the message? You think I'm going, ah, I just told all you parents off. No, I'm preaching to myself.

I'm preaching to myself. Why isn't this more of a priority? We need to have a parents prayer meeting.