There we are. We're in. Oh, look, everybody jumping online. Good evening. Thank you so much for sharing the stuff that we do here. I hope you can hear me. We're just getting used to this new room that we're in yet you can't hear me. Thank you so much. We're going to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 31. And we are 11 verses eight verses. I've just printed off the texts before me. And I must keep emphasizing to those that keep asking for my sermon notes. I don't have actually, I don't actually have any notes. All I have is these just there's no sermon notes. It's just literally the Scripture. And I'm so sorry. So the only reference point that I can give you tonight is Deuteronomy, chapter 31. And verse six is the first point that we will press on from I'm just waiting for a couple of moments when everyone comes on before we get in. But yeah, I want to say good evening to everybody in the world of podcasting, thank you so much wherever you are across the earth, for some unknown reason. I don't know why. But America on the stats is telling us very clearly that there are uncountable amount of people and may God bless America and certain parts of the rest of the world. Not quite sure what we're doing so Whoa, whoa, whoa, there you go. My God bless you. And I just don't really want to pinpoint a certain area. But I just want to say that and to everybody tonight is joining me online. Thank you so much. We are We are so blessed here in Enoch church in Swanee for the world of podcasting, everything that we share out there, we do. You know, it's just phenomenal. What is going on, I'm just holding my horses back. Before we get into the text, I hope the sound is pretty clear. This evening, we got a few weeks, we're going to be doing a few test runs and seeing how we go with with the lighting and everything like that. So just bear with us again for a little bit longer, until we can get it a little bit bit more easy streaming for you visually sound vocals, all the razzmatazz that goes along with that, because we I feel that this is the way forward. You know, I do believe there are other things coming towards our front doors regarding faith, I do believe that there will be other measures and certain things put in place in in time that we will see lockdown happening. And I do believe that was a forerunner of many things to come. So that's the purpose and the reason why we have built what we have built so we can continue to live stream all the services. And we can continue to share what we believe or what I what I should say. What I believe is what God is pressing on my heart even though I'm a little bit wild somedays and all the razzmatazz that go along with me, God saved me. So here we go. So yes, let's get it all done with let's get it all out of the way. Thank you so much for joining us here tonight at Elim church, for those that are with us on online streaming at this moment. And for all those that will listen a week down the line. Regarding the podcast, all those that are on Amazon music, I Heart Radio, Alexa, Google Play all those other ones, Apple Music, and so so much more, I'm gonna have to write a list because I should have it in front of me though I used to we used to have a board up on the wall that I used to read out. And that was easy for me to do. Come on. Let's jump straight in. There we go. I think we're probably all there. Now we've give it a couple of minutes. So we're going to jump straight into the book of Deuteronomy chapter 31, verse six. But the first area we want to look at is about being afraid and not being terrified. Very interesting part of this plan that God had for Joshua, the Israelites and Moses. This text that we're in, deals with leadership, it deals with people being obedient when to say, I believe that this is the end of my term of leadership. I believe in many scenarios of church, many scenarios of business, many areas of life, I believe, and in politics as well. I believe that we are led by many leaders that have that should have I will just keep it to the church that should have left the pulpit many years ago, but because of control because of religion. This is an area where I'm really seeking God for at this moment in my time, God, do you want me to be in this church? Lord? Is this where you want me to be? Lord, where are you calling me to be because there comes a point in any leadership where you we have to say, God, also what we're doing here as well. I'm preparing for the next leader to come into the door. I'm preparing for the next pastor to come through the door. You know, because there will come a time when I will have to hand this over to someone else. And what is really really important is understanding as a leader when when your time is up, when your time is up. So what we are looking at verse Verse six firstly deals with about being strong and courageous. Now, Moses had a very hard line delivered to him, Moses had a very hard line delivered to him. And that line was you will not go across the Jordan, you will not this your leadership, your term is finished. And I believe that is very critical for leaders across this nation. Lord, I pray this a lot. And many of you that have been with me for a long time, Lord, if you don't want me to be here, me to be here next week, Lord, make it clear Lord, remove me off the earth. Because my character drive is so hard and so strong, I have to make sure that I am listening. So as a leader, as a pastor, Reverend, whatever, whatever can whatever label you put on my can on me, I, I have to I have to sorry, my vocabulary. I'm a bit tired tonight. So you'll have to forgive me if I don't pronounce and get my words over correctly. For me, when I read this text, this is really strong. So I believe leaders are being challenged God, are you calling me to stay? Or are you calling me to go Lord, do you want me somewhere else? Where do you want me to be Lord, what are you calling me to be? Because we are seeing across the platform. And also this is where burnout comes in. as well. Burnout comes into leadership, burnout comes into ministry, where leaders continue to go in their own strength continue to go in their own will, to go in their own purpose to go in your own planning. And I pray to God that I will never be in a situation longer than God wants me to be in the situation. But I am learning to listen, and I'm learning as a leader, to say, Lord, if your will is for me to be here next week, I thank you for that. But Lord, if you need me to be somewhere else, Lord, if you need me to be whatever, however, please make it clear. Because as a leader, you can get in a drive of going in your own strength, going in your own world going in your own purpose going in your own plan. And we see this in in many areas of different layers of life, we see it so this this text that we're in, really is dealing with a lot of things. But this is what I want to start with. Now we're all online. Verse six, it says, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them. For the Lord, your God goes with you, He will never leave you nor forsake you. I just want to encourage those tonight that feel very lonely, those that feel at a place of despair, those that just feel that there is a terrifying experience before them, those that are maybe a lone parent, those that are going through a breakdown in relationship, those that are trapped in substance abuse, those that are having suicidal thoughts, those that are caught in a work, place environment where you can't leave because of the bills are so high, that you have become so dependent. I know what this is like to be so dependent on a job to be so dependent on the cash and on the wages, and you're just stuck in this position. And fear comes upon you that what if I lose this? What if I'm made redundant? What if this closes, what if there's lots of what ifs, but if you are a child of the living God tonight, if you are looking at this, if you are dipping your toe into these live streams, I would present it to you like this. I believe God is calling you. I believe God has prepared a place for you. I believe there are greater things ahead of you. I believe in the word of God, I believe from Genesis through Revelation. But as I've mentioned before, we are in a very powerful and a very short, excuse me, prophetic window of opportunity for leaders that are leading and listening. congregations and brothers and sisters that are exploring new areas of church. God has blown the doors off religion, he's blowing the doors of a church, and God is moving God is extracting but we are living in very volatile times there. The atmosphere some strange things happening there. The atmosphere of life, you know, life doesn't seem to beat the way he used to beat the drum of the rhythm of life seems to be distorted there. There seems to be some some grit in the cogs and we're hearing some strange churning some strange things going on. It is because where we say according to the Word of God to do with Israel, n times, ABC in the eschatology, director of the church or types of areas of calendar events that have been fulfilled by the word of God, but I just want to encourage you that if you are feeling worthless if you are feeling worth less if you are feeling at a crisis point in your life, if you feel that all you want to do is cry. If you are sitting at home now and you're thinking, what is the purpose of my life, what is going on, if you're in a job that you feel really trapped, and you feel that it's become a snare, the job has become a snap, you've actually become captured by, by the work because what's happened is lifestyle, and situations that have got out of control, we have become dependent on the wage wages coming in at the end of the month for a week. And suddenly we become dependent on that place of work, rather that we are not working because we have been called and we are skilled in that area. But we find ourselves that we are in trapped and we are placed in a situation that feels very volatile, we feel very uncomfortable. So leadership is very strong, and a scripture that we're in here, when we read from verse one, but I just want to carry on just for a few moments. In verse six, it says Deuteronomy, chapter 31, verse six, Be strong and courageous, that speaks to leaders, that speaks to those that are not leaders that speaks to those that are that are coming up for the faith that are in the faith, because this scripture is thrown a blanket word over everybody. But as we go through, it breaks it down to whether you're a leader, or whether you're in the congregation, whether you're whatever part you are. So this is really critical for every one of us as individuals, because also, I honestly believe God is raising up leaders believe leaders at this moment in time, excuse me. And the ones that he's raising up for leaders, they don't even realize that they are leaders being birthed into a new experience into a new beginning, they are feeling very strange, they are feeling very uncertain. And this has nothing to do with the age bracket. The world will do everything according to our age, everything is done according to our age. But in the Bible, God flips it upside down. And God does some marvelous and some powerful things. Because age is irrelevant in the Word of God. But then you might say, Well, you've just read out a scripture that talks about age, yes, but that is recognizing the age of himself. So there is a complete difference of recognizing that I have come to the end of my ministry, I've come to the end of this layer of life. I've served my time in this context of ministry. Now God is calling me somewhere else is God calling me somewhere else? Is God calling you somewhere else to minister. So this this tonight, the scriptures are speaking very clearly to everyone. Whether you're a leader, non leader, whether you're a worship leader, whether you're a pastor, whether you're a bishop, whether you're a brother or a sister, because don't forget what we have done over the years, he's always looked to the leader in the pulpit. And just because that person is in the pulpit, doesn't mean to say that they're the one that's supposed to be in that pulpit. So there is a lot of things going on in the layers of spiritual walking at this moment. And I really believe God is birthing God is bringing into being new leaders, new leaders. Now I'm not referring now this, this is a very dangerous area where the church has trod for too long. It looks at the youth. Don't get me wrong, don't get me wrong, brothers and sisters, don't tell me don't tell me the pieces yet. We put up put too much weight on young leaders. And the young leaders have had no life skills. The young leaders have had no life experience, because God uses life. And God uses experiences and God uses men and women that have made decisions in the flesh and decisions in life that are wrong decisions to strengthen them characters they go on. But the church and religion has always looked for their youth pastor, the young pastor looks fit looks well, that looks good to the eye that looks looks like he's athletic, she's athletic. All they've got when really God is using an older generation. This is how I see this at this moment. God is using an older generation because the church has dropped the older generation, we have gone through many years where we are put such an emphasis, such a strength, such an eyeball, gaze on to the young, the young ones in the church, when the Bible says train up the children in a way that they should go. The children haven't had the training, but we have taken them from the from the cradle to the pulpit, just because they look good, they smell good. They walk right. They speak right when actually God doesn't require all leaders to be young. So when we look at this text that we have here, we can see the church across this nation has made very catastrophic, dangerous decisions in choosing young youth leaders when they haven't actually been called. Because God is doing something new God is doing something powerful that we have never seen before. Good God is using an older generation that the church has left and has gone for the iCandy of humanity. You know what I'm saying? I did say that word. Yes, God, he is using an older generation, the church has gone for the lookers. And the church wants the lookers, and the educators in the pulpit, but God has not called X amount of them. So I need to be very careful how I pronounce this our put this over. So we are finding ourselves in a spiritual crisis because many leaders haven't had the correct training in the life skills. And the Bible talks about endurance. The Bible talks about endurance. So when we look at leaders, we have to look at their life, we have to look at their, the where they've come from, because God uses and if you look at Sol, sol, sol, why do you persecute me? So I came from a very unusual background. Yes, the Bible says he was a young man. But when he was calling chosen, he had life experiences. And he didn't go straight from university to the pulpit, there was other areas of his life. So we are we are in a very unusual place within the UK of looking at who are the leaders spiritually. Now we are in a crisis, spiritually, we are in the UK, not because God has left us because the scripture says I'll never leave you nor forsake you. But the church has gone for the look, rather than gone for the sound doctrine. We are in a crisis point, we might think that we are coming out of this, what we've been through, but this is a forerunner of what is to come. Everything that we have gone through is a forerunner of what lies ahead where the Bible speaks very clearly and Thessalonians, where it speaks very clearly in the book of Revelation. But this is why I want to try and encourage you tonight. I'm going to say this, and probably it's the wrong thing to say but you know, don't look at your leaders. Don't look at me, don't follow me. Don't. It's very difficult to say this. Don't follow me. Yes, yes, yes, yes, I understand what you're saying. Don't follow me to that degree, don't follow the leaders to that degree, don't follow the denominations to that degree, where they become where they become where where I, you, we all become dependent on that leader, what I've got to become dependent on if this is the right terminology, I have to become depending on God, I have to look to Him, you have to look to God, I am just an inch. I'm just an instrument in your life. Just for a moment. I'm here just for a moment. You know, so don't put every bit of weight you've got on me put it all on God. God will lead you God is leading you. But God uses leaders in strategic times godly uses leaders for seasons, four seasons. So every leader has an X amount of energy in the bag. And once that energy, and once God has done that, then the leader has to recognize that yes, I'm a vicar get me out of here. Where are my Where are we going or what is happening to me next? It's very difficult to present this because obviously, we are looking at a nation that is in a desperate position of leadership. We are in a position where we need strong, strong leaders, strong leaders to lead us through. So when you look at Moses as a leader, when you look at Joshua as a leader, now I've experienced this I know what this is like when when when Jeffro clearly spoke to Moses and said, Look, son, you're taking too much on your shoulders, you've got to delegate. I know what that's like having to delegate, to give delegation to give over to do that and to do this, that can be very difficult to do as a leader, but God is speaking God is teaching me God is show me so many new things. But but the text that we're in is Deuteronomy 31 verse six. Now we've spoken a little bit about leaders, there's so much to unpack about that. But also as a leader amongst that when you strip off the the labeling of the leader there, there is an individual burr behind the title. So Deuteronomy 31, verse six says, Be strong and courageous. Yes, it's speaking to leaders. But yes, behind the vowel of the leader is a human being. So God is speaking to every one of us tonight, be strong, and be courageous. I want to emphasize it tonight. Whatever you face in your life, God is before you. God is your left of you. God is to the right of you. He is your rock of your salvation. He is your God and He will guide you through the crisis. I thank God for leaders in my life. You I know you thank God for for my leadership, but don't put all your weight on me put everything you have onto God, I am just a small grain of sand in what God is doing. God is doing great things. And God also is bypassing certain leaders, because certain leaders have done and I should say, did not recognize what Moses done. Moses came to this position. Let's read let's read this text. Okay, let's let's read this text is very important. Whether we're a leader, whether we're in a congregation, whatever denomination we're in, wherever you are, you're dipping your toe in a live stream, whether it's tonight, wherever you are, across the world. And I'm going to ask us all this question myself rhetorical. What is God calling us to do? Where is God calling us to be? What is our purpose in this life? Why was I born? Why was I born into the context of my surroundings? What is the purpose? Am I in the correct job? Am I in the correct postcode? Am I in the correct area of life? Am I aware God wants me to be it? We are living in very powerful times at this moment. And there is a window of opportunity. I know I'm speaking a lot about leaders. But this is this is just bubbling in my spirit at this moment. So in verse, verse one, verse one, let's read from verse one, Deuteronomy 31. But this speaks to humanity. This is speaking to everyone on the other side of the lens, if there is anyone on the other side of the lens, it says there Moses went, and he spoke these words to all Israel, verse two of Deuteronomy, chapter 31. And he says, and he says, I am now 120 years old, and I'm no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, You shall not cross the Jordan, the Lord, your God, Himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you and you will take possession of their land. Joshua, also will cross over ahead of you. As the Lord said, Now, I want to pause a moment, I just want to hold it in this position, because I believe I'm being held in this position, when we, when we unpack the scriptures, when we can't even say that we're going to do some expository sermonizing, because we don't have the time to unpack this line by line. But I just want to just hold this, he says, I am now 120 years old and no longer able to lead you that is a sign of a good leader, a good leader has heard that this is time to clear off the desk and start to move in a different area. The Lord has said to me, now this is pretty brutal, you shall not cross the Jordan. You shall not use Moses, you're not going to go into that lat you are not going to cross over into that promised land. Now Moses had to deal with that. And I believe there are many leaders in leadership in the context of church that are in pulpits that have stayed longer than they should have stayed and my prayer tonight, and has been for a long time, Lord, if You want me out of that pulpit, if you want me out of this house, Lord, you have to extract me, Lord, you have to make it very clear. You have to tell me, Please God, let me know when my time is up. Because there's nothing more dangerous than a leader leading physically when he's not hearing spiritually. Now, there's nothing more dangerous than a church leader, leading the physical and not connecting the people to the spiritual, but God has bypassed and God is bypassing certain denominations, certain leaders, the ones that are not listening. Now, I will tell you, this terrifies me. I got to be absolutely brutally honest with you, if I am leading in my flesh, if I'm going in myself, I will tell you this, we will be in serious trouble if I lead this church or any other church, if that happens if I lead by my CV, or I lead by my academics, where we're going to get foreign academia with me because there ain't much in this whole brain box, that's for sure. So I have to make sure that I am leading spiritually and completely in line with God. We are in a nation that is in spiritual crisis that is spiraling out of control. And what we need are leaders that will lead and make way for the next leadership to take their desk up or what I should say. Take up the pulpit and continue to press the gospel of Jesus Christ. but to try and to recognize, Lord, have I outstayed my welcome in this pulpit or Lord, are you still calling me to greater things in this place? A very difficult time whether we're in the congregation, because also this affects congregations, leaders that have led to long in that pulpit will lead as they want to lead and not lead as God wants them to lead. So as they lead, they are leading the congregations not in the direction that God wants them to go. There is so much in this text tonight. But I just want to press this a little bit more. It says the Lord, your God Himself, will cross over ahead of you. So that clearly says there comes a point in a leaders ministry, there comes a point in an area of leadership across the spectrum of church, where God is expecting that leader, whether it's pulpit leader, whether it's an evangelist, whether whatever ministry that may be that you are I believe God has called us to be, there comes a point when the coach has to be hung up, and the desk has to be clear. But God does not stop doing what he is doing. There is a transaction of leadership. Now you usually find it gets very gritty, in leadership in churches, when there has been a concession of leaders that have been leading in the flesh, because it gets cold out of spiritual kilter, I'll just put it like that. But when you've got a leader that is leading spiritually, that is going by the word of God, that is preaching the word of God that is listening to the Word of God, without any shadow of a doubt, that leader will say, I'm, I'm just gonna let you know that God is leading me away from this ministry, God has put this person in place, but what we have found ourselves, we have many denominations, we have many churches, looking for leaders with the strength of their CV, and not looking at their their spiritual leadership. So we are in a position where the church should be further on spiritually, but it hasn't, because we've had too many leaders in pulpits that haven't recognized that my time is done. And this is time for me to clear my desk, and even preparing I am preparing right now. For the next leader, the next pastor, whoever that is to walk in this door to make the transaction as smooth as possible. I don't know when God's gonna call I don't know when God's gonna finish with me. But all I can do is focus on preaching his word, and say, God, if you want me here this week, I'm here, Lord, but if you don't, you're gonna make it clear. Now, it can be quite startling. Because this, this affects denominations. This affects individuals, this affects nations. If Moses was to go in his own strength as he did go in his own strength, it caused a domino effect within the children of Israel. So this, although I'm speaking a lot about leadership, the effect of leadership doesn't just sit with the leader, it actually sits and very heavy with congregations. So this is why we have such this chord, and such discontent in leadership. So I just want to I just want to just keep in this place just for a moment. It says in verse three of Deuteronomy chapter 31, the Lord your God, Himself will cross over ahead of you. Moses said, my time is done. I am old, and I've reached the end of this road with this ministry with you, but you are not to stay with me. You are going to progress and you are going to go on that is another good sign of another good strong spiritual leader, where they are not frightened to step back and let the children out when I say the children, let the congregation go ahead because God is calling them ahead. And that leader needs to sit on the sideline and speak god what have you for me next in the name of Jesus, but there are many leaders block in the path of the congregation because they want the glory and God won't share His glory with no one. So suddenly, we are in a nation of seeing Burn, burn out and exhausted leaders because they have gone in the physical and they haven't gone in the spiritual when you go into spiritual, you can go on and on and on and you will find that God is just drawing and leading you in such a way you find that you don't even need food, food is not your fuel. Water is not your your fuel you will find that God feeds you. God speaks to you and he he edifies you and he leads you because you are being led super Naturally, and you're not being led physically, but this has a repercussion. When leaders do not listen to what God is saying, because it affects the ministry, and it affects the congregations. So we are in a position within the UK right now, where we are having to say, God, we need to see the spiritual leaders rise, who are going to lead us into new pastures who are going to lead us into new beginnings. Lord, Who are you calling as the end time preachers and teachers? Lord, Who are you calling to stand up against the system? Who are you calling God and Lord we cannot call as the church. But Lord, we got to ask you, Lord, when is this time for this leader to step out of this position, and let new, fresh Joshua's step in? I am very aware of this text very aware. And it says he and it says he will destroy the nation for you. And you will take position in their land, Joshua. So very clearly, it's then it brings Joshua into the frame into the congregate. Instead of calm commerce conversation, it says, Joshua will also cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said. So it is very clear that God always leads God always makes away. God always drives God always pushes over. It is not the leader, we are seeing catastrophic actions of leaders where they where they have worked in their own skill set. And suddenly we find that we have hit a wall, and we can't break through the wall. And there's been collapse. In many areas, we've seen denominations slide into the abyss of false teachings. Because when you go in your own art, when you go in your own remit, when you go in your own anticipation, when you go in logic, when you go in the your your processing, you are going as a human being, God, what God wants God, God, one thing God will get, and God will do, and God will and God is raising up leaders to lead us and my prayer is, Lord, show us, the preachers show us the teachers that we should listen to show us the strong doctrinal speakers that we can hear sound clean doctrine and teaching from that will lead us because we are in this Joshua position. And I'm not referring to Joshua as a human being. We are referring I'm referring to Joshua, as a leader. We are seeing leaders across all the spectrums of all leadership that are weary and tired, and just hanging on to retirement, if I can get to retirement. Now that is not of God, you do not retire in the kingdom of God. God is the one that puts and takes and gives the gifting. You don't you are not given a gift until you are 65. If you are a preacher, God will keep you preaching until he says this is the end. If you are an evangelist, don't look at the retirement age. But what we have we have very clear leaders in church, I should say religion, in business and also in politics that are just looking to feather up their own nest because of the retirement package, the retirement package, what will I get when I hang up my boots. So we are in a situation where we really need spiritual leaders that will go all day on no food that will go all day on no water that will preach fearlessly the gospel of salvation and not think of any consequence or not be politically and not be folk and not be politically correct. See, if I am politically being politically correct, I am watching my words, because I am worried about offending departments and governments and structure. But I'm afraid to say the word of God come in it come it came in sharper than a double edged sword. He says I'll come to bring peace. I've come into divide, to carve out I have come in to get my kingdom through to save the last. There are many lost in the context of church because of poor church leadership, because poor church leadership goes in anticipation goes in CV and goes in its own strength and then suddenly we find ourselves that church that denomination has come away from the Word of God and has got its own teaching and has got all crazy things happening. But when you look at a leader that is being led spirit ritually that doesn't look at any area that is just focused on Christ, you will find there is no compromise in the Word of God. We cannot compromise the Word of God, sisters and brothers. If you are with me tonight watching this, I pray with all of my heart, you do not look at me I pray, Dear God, Lord, take their eyes and put their eyes on Jesus, I am just a small grain. I'm here for a moment in your life. And God has greater things for you than I could ever give you are revealed to you, you are blessed you are children of the living God. And God has great things for you. There are new beginnings ahead of you. But we have to recognize all of us, we have to recognize that we've had poor leadership within denominations. And we have had poor leadership in in areas of business and government. Not that we're looking at that. But we have to because the Bible looks at governance, the Bible looks at Kings, the Bible looks at leaders, the Bible looks at the broad spectrum of life. God gave Israel a king, that he didn't want to be king. And that was so he said, I will give you that leader that you want. If you want that man to lead you, I will give you that leader. If that's what you want Israel, he is yours. But be prepared for the consequences that will happen to you, as a denomination, as a nation. As this place. Be careful. If you want that person, I will give you that person, but that person hasn't got the anointing, and hasn't got what I want them to have. But because I'm a gracious God, because I will allow you to have what you want. In this area, you will see catastrophic events in your nation, in your church in ministry, if you want that leader that is yours. See, Saul was okay until jealousy came into the arena. I know what it's like to be under jealous leaders. I know what it's like to be under the tongue of a leader that is dictatorial. I know what it's like to be under a leadership. I don't want to go down that road. But I know what it's like I very, I have been in a situation for years, where I was in a position of being under the leadership and I had to because it's Scripture, we have to honor the system that God has put in place, even though you may know that you are anointed now this is the same with David. David was anointed but David had to live with his anointing. Now God often annoyance before you get into the appointment, there is something so difficult as a leader, living in anointing, living as someone as you may be living with a vision and a dream. And I'm not talking about crazy dreams, I'm talking about a God given gift in dream that God has given you a dream, God has given you a calling. But you've got to live in the position that you're living in. But the position that you are living in, doesn't fit in what the anointing and what the vision and the dream has given you. I think that is the most heart that was the hardest challenge for me to know that God had called me. And that calling wasn't going to be released at this particular point. But God had anointed and I got annoyance. But there's a difference between God's anointing and God's appointing time. Timing is critical. As brothers and sisters, now this, this speaks to leaders, this speaks to congregations, this speaks to all of us, because timings in the kingdom of God are very different to the timings that we have within our remit, and within our life and within our planning when with our understanding, but I want to just let you know that God has gone before you, many of you are and you are looking at this and you have been on that and you might be under under leadership that are that are not leading very well and I'm sorry, where I found you. I've been a bad leader. And when I say that I you know, don't work going down there. It's yeah, yeah. Come on. Ben. Don't worry, God, repentance, and redemption. I'm learning. I'm learning. I'm learning. It's not about me. It's about Jesus. I have been called to serve. I am a servant. And we find ourselves across the platform of leadership. Leaders want to be waited on. When I, I am a servant, I serve. And I give. And I don't expect no return. You give. But that applies in many layers of life. The Scripture says in Deuteronomy 31, verse six, Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid. I want to let you know tonight if you're in leadership, do not be afraid if you're not in leadership, do not be afraid. So this what we are looking at applies to so much. And to so many of us tonight. Do not be afraid whether you are a leader, or you're not a leader, whether you're a preacher, whether you're not a preacher, this is speaking across the complete board. And I just want to pick this up. Here we go, look, now in in verse five, it says, The Lord will deliver them to you, the Lord will deliver the Lord will get you to the place, even when there's a transaction. And even when there's a gap of leadership, we cannot look to the leaders, because it is God that will get us in the Promised Land, God will lead me to that position I need to get to God will lead you to the position that you need to get to God will lead you and God will guide you. And God will strengthen you because all of us walk through Psalm 23. Even I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and your staff. They comfort me You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies me You anoint my head with all my cup runneth over. So tonight, I just want to encourage you, I just want to strengthen you I'm looking at the time time is racing, you know, and I pray for each and every one of you tonight, that God will put in your life leaders that will lead you into the Promised Land, I pray that God will give you a leader, God will give you someone that is so godly and so anointed, and will lead you and strengthen you into pastures new because I know what it's like, I know what it's like to be under a leadership and suddenly realize that that leadership wasn't leading me to the place that I thought it was leading me to. So I pray tonight that whoever you are, wherever you are across the world, do not be afraid, do not be afraid. It isn't the strength. And it isn't down to your leaders in your church that you may be to get you to where you got to be because God is getting you to where he wants you to be. Now this can be very strange to some people's ears tonight. This can be very strange. I have to be very, very careful vocally how I pronounce this I have to be very careful that I'm not bringing my views across. I'm not bringing my opinion across. I'm not bringing so for me because as I speak and as I preach, and I have done for a long time now. I am just waiting on God. And I believe these words are not from me, they are from God. And people will think you know what your crackers will let people think what they want to think about me because it doesn't worry me. Because I'm not a people pleaser. Now don't get that wrong. I'm not pleasing people. When now I'm not referring to what I do in ministry. What I'm talking about is making sure as I've done you know that everyone okay, yeah, well don't want to go maybe I shouldn't have said that. Maybe, maybe that's a wrong time to mention that. But But what I'm saying is that people pleasing that, that that is that's got a two fold to that. I'm called to be a servant. That's what I am. I'm a servant. I've been called to serve humanity. That's for sure. So the question is, is what is God calling us to be? What is God calling us to do? What is God asking us to do? What What is God doing? What is he doing? So this text is a very powerful text, it talks about leaders, it talks about individuals, it talks about them as a leader, but also it talks about them as an individual. And I believe God is leading you. So this is not all about leadership tonight. This is about God is leading you to new pastures. God, God is leading you to greater things I have been placed in your life for a moment. God is God, God as a creator place for you, God, God is drawing you. And so this is critical for all of us, to be absolutely on point with Jesus. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and everything else shall be added unto thee. Seek God we you have to you have to seek Christ. You have to seek God in His Word. You, you have to, if there's if there's a message that I want left on my gravestone is this, that that that vicar always told us that Reverend always told us follow Jesus. That is crucial for a leader to make sure that he tells everyone in front of his eyes and his voice or their voice. Follow Jesus. Because he is the way he is the truth. He is the life. He is your God. He is your King. And he went before Joshua, he went before Moses, he went before everyone he goes before. So that's all I want to mark my grave. That one six foot down, said, Follow Jesus. That's what you need to remember me for is Ben, Pastor Ben River, whatever, whatever. That's irrelevant. He said, what he made sure he done in the latter part of his life was very simply say, Follow Jesus Christ of Nazareth, follow the Godhead, the deity, follow the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, follow the God of glory, follow the God of Israel, follow God. God is your everything. God is your Yes, and God is your Amen. God is your guide. God is your healer, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Nissi, Jehovah shalom, he is everything that you require. He is everything that you need is your is your bright morning star, here's your guide, he is your light in the dark moment, he is your God, he will never fail you, I will fail you over and over. And over again, I am a human being, I will let you down I will say the wrong things. I will do the wrong things. But I can assure you, God will never, God will never leave you hanging, God will never leave you in a position of uncertainty. God will take you and get you to the promised land. He is your rock, he is your shield. He is everything you need. Trust me, God will get you for God will get you in a promised land. We are this this? This cuts me into when I look at this nation. And I look at the church. And what I fear. What I fear is when God calls me home, he doesn't say I don't know you. Fat, puts fear for my body makes me petrified that I'm not frightened to say what I want God to say to me when I when he calls me, oh, well done good and faithful. What's the last word that is on the lips of Almighty God when He calls people home? Well done, good and faithful servant. I am a servant. I'm here to clean to wash to tidy to sweep through to share a message to do whatever I have to do. I am a servant. I have been placed on this earth to serve. So what we need are leaders that will lead us into the promised land by the Spirit of the Living God. Here we have such a powerful text tonight. And I pray that the power of God will strengthen you and guide you. Yes, I thank God for leaders. I thank God for leaders. I thank God for the leaders that are around I thank God for those that are and our praise be to Jesus Christ of Nazareth. God God is building this church. That's what that's what we got to come to understand that God is building his church. That man cannot build his Church man can man build builds his own kingdom. Man builds his own domain man puts a parochial stretch with religion. But the kingdom of God is beyond the physical stretch. The kingdom of God is in a different dimension. The kingdom of God is within the kingdom of God is so vast and so wide. It is beyond the human understanding. But religion will tell you that this is our street. This is our procure stretch. We go out to the end of the road and we don't go no more. We call it a day. But the kingdom of God is everywhere the kingdom of God is within the kingdom of God is about the Kings domain. The Kings domain is everywhere. So I pray that God I will place you in churches in denominations that are for God. And the preaching is about God. The teaching is about God. It is about God, I pray that God will lead you into new pastures. I pray that God will lead you into new beginnings. I pray that God will strengthen you. And God will just show you the way because in that text, we haven't had chance to get any further. But what it says very clearly in that text that God went before God went before God has gone before you. God is making our way God God is God is the bridge. God is love. You know, love never fails. If he was to go to one Corinthians, chapter 13, verses one through 213 Round Round Round about verse four. Have I got that right sound? I gotta be careful here quote, Scripture. You know, love keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not rejoice in evil, love does not keep no records of wrongs or right. writes, love, always protects, always trusts always hopes, the power of love is, and that's what leaders need to have leaders need to be led by God. And when leaders are led by God, there is no opinion in them. There is no anger, there is no jealousy, there is no frustration in them. When a leader is led by God, you can see that they love everyone and everything. And they become a servant, because that's what a leader is. What did Jesus says He, Jesus Christ says this, he says, I have come, I am on this earth not to be served, but to serve. If Christ is a servant, what should I be a servant. There is so much to get from this text tonight. And you may be the leader listening to this, this might be a bit harsh. You might be someone in the congregation that is starting to recognize that this denomination isn't really for God. You might be have been in a church for years and years and years and in the context of that building, and, and it has become a place of being in a familiar atmosphere. Is you got a familiar seat, you got a familiar carpark space. But what is God calling you to? That is what the challenge I'm asking God tonight? Where are you calling me God? What are you calling me to? What are you calling me into? Do you want me here? Do you want me there? Do you want me A, B, C and D? We've got it we got to be completely open. And that doesn't just apply to leadership. I have to say it applies to congregations. Where do you want me to be in my life? Because when we take the label off the congregation or take the label off the leader, it comes back to the brass tacks of it comes back to the fundamental point of Christianity. Where do you want me God? Where do you want me but we are characterized and we are placed and we are put because of our parents was so that makes me I have to be my parents went to that church so I have to go to that church. My dad was a carpenter so I'll be a carpenter. My My mum was there some I'll be that my my brother you know, but you are in I am an individual and you are an individual. And what is God calling you to? Where is God calling you to be? What is God calling you into what is God speaking to you about? You know, there's such a wide text, very, very different tonight. This study very, very different to what we usually do. But I believe this has been placed in my spirit. This has been placed on my heart. And wherever you are tonight, I just thank God for your lives. I pray that you that you will feel the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray that you will feel the love of Christ because I just let me finish what I was just speaking about leaders. If a leader is leading by God, you will find that they are they are a very loving leader. They are and I'm not talking about a sub soppy love I'm talking about a love that is very, very powerful. I love that is that is that is drawing a love because because God is love. But when we are led by leaders that are opinionated, we get jealousy in the in the in the leadership band, we get frustrations, we get all types of things. So we got we got to ask God I believe as a nation tonight, as the church I am and we are together in the church. God, show us the end time preachers give us Lord these leaders that we can look at, not because we are looking at them, but because we are looking at you through them. That is it. Christ is in them. God bless you have a wonderful evening, wherever you are tonight. Just let the power of God to speak to you. The greatest investment anyone will ever get in their life is a Bible is the word of God. If you cannot afford a Bible, we will get you a Bible. There is no other literature, a church and have on its shelves, but the Word of God, there is no other ministry that should have any other ministerial books, apart from the Word of God, it should only be the word of God. Man cannot write anything greater than that is in the Word of God. So the go to manual the go to life source has to be the word of God. I thank God for authors I thank God for, for extra biblical knowledge. But the fundamental point and the basis of teaching has to be the word of God. So we look at churches, what do we see on their shelves? What literature do they carry in in the hallway? Who are they pointing me to when I go into that church? Are they pointing me to Jesus? Are they pointing me to the pastor? Are they pointed me to the denomination or are they signposting? See that word is just give me a little bit of grit in a skin and be honest with you. I'm tired of hearing that word. So clearly, all the time, we will signpost you, what signposting means. And maybe this is just me is that I will deflect this issue from here over to them. If we keep signposting people to earthly things, we will still have earthly problems. What we need to say is, um, I'm not signposting you. What I'm doing is telling you to go to Jesus Christ. So if it is the real church of Jesus Christ, we won't find any literature that is taken our higher position than the Word of God. Yes, there is extra biblical knowledge and there are courses of God. I'm not saying that. But what I'm saying is the Bible, Genesis to Revelation should take precedent should take the place of the pastor's desk. It should be the first go to place of any leader of anyone in the church of anyone. The Bible is the go to manual of life, or put it very badly down apologizing for that. The Bible is the source the Bible is the evidence the Bible is our is our faith point. The Bible is what we need. So within the church, if the church is the church of Jesus Christ, you will find on their shelves in the pastor's office, the leaflets will not be lifted up a human being, but the Word of God will be absolutely on point, you will go in that church and straight away, you will hear the preacher talking about Jesus, you will look over and you will find Bibles in strategic places for congregational members to grab, you will find no papers that are higher than the Word of God. But we have found ourselves in a position where man's literature has been lifted higher than the Word of God. We need sound doctrine, the gospel of Jesus Christ says we need sound doctrine. And I pray that God, God, God will give me sound doctrine, God will give us sound doctrine, and God will put in our pathway God will put in my pathway and your pathway leaders that will lead us into the promised land. Because we are at this strategic point of the River Jordan, we are at the strategic point of crossing over into new territory. We are at a strategic point of ever hanging around in the wilderness more years and holding on to Pharaohs ways. Or am I going to be catapulted and to be quickened to get into the kingdom, or the promised land? sound doctrine will get us into the promised land. Bad teaching will hold us in the wilderness, I am going to say good night. I'm going to say May God strengthen you and bless you, man, a hand of God always be upon you as it will. Yes, we need leaders. But what we don't want is opinionated leaders. What we don't want is controlling leaders. What we don't want is religious leaders, but we've had them and we got them. They are in the Word of God they are that we see them in the Bible. So we know that they're never going to disappear. So what I probably will bring to a point of bring into some not conclusion, but just a full stop point is what we need is to say God open take the scowls from me. Let me see who the religious leaders are. And let me see the spiritual leaders. So Lord, change my focus, change my vision, change my look, change my understanding of what the fundamental points are sanity, Lord, show me and reveal to me. So I say thank you tonight, once more. Thank you for joining us on this live stream this Bible study very different tonight probably because I'm sitting down in here. And you know what I'm like a like a wonder about and bounce up and down and jump around that pulpit. That's what I just I just love sitting here is very difficult for me very, very difficult to sit still. I'm a fidget box. I could have said something else then. But I'm a fidget box, you know, so I, you know, anyway, so thank you so much for joining us tonight here. In this little studio, wherever you are across the world. I just want to say this again. Thank you so much for following us. Not following me because I believe you're following God, you're not following me. I believe that God is speaking through the podcast, I believe God is speaking through the recordings, I believe God is is speaking to you. God doesn't need me. God is using and speaking to you. God is strengthening you. God is leading you. God is guiding you. So whether you're listening, and you're with me now on this live stream, and I can see there are many on this live stream tonight. Thanks be to God. And those that are going to be listening to this podcast back a week. Later on next week when it gets released. Through Buzzsprout and Spotify and Amazon music you can find out podcast go and have a look at the podcast on on Reverend Ben Cooper, his podcast, you will find that so much. We've just got so much more coming out with some great stuff that's going on there. So please look at that. Share that comment on that. If I've got it wrong, please, please tell me because I can't get upstairs and when I'm in a gap stare, I can't go up to heaven. I need to be corrected. If I'm failing you. I need to know. That is critical to me. I am a servant. I'm here to serve you. I'm sorry, where I've found you where I've let you down. But God is dealing with me. God has got me in a garden of Gethsemane. God is strengthening me God is stripping me back. And God is doing great things. Got it. Now let's remind ourselves of what the sermon was a few weeks ago. God is doing great things with unusual people that you guys, you are unusual, because God is using you. God is doing great things with unusual people in unusual times in unusual circumstances. Never give up. Never give up there is always hope. God is with you. And just go for Jesus. Whatever you do, put God first. Put God at the center of your life. Put him in everything you do. God bless. We'll catch you soon. May God strengthen you and be with you wherever you are tonight. in Jesus precious name, Amen.