Do you believe Truth? Do you believe God is able to do anything?

Do you believe Truth? Do you believe God is able to do anything?

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A Message of Word, Prayer, and Truth for understanding God's Way and God's Will for the Mind Body and Spirit.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

You are listening to the weekly word. The weekly word is a weekly message from God's Word. Brought to you from the archives of the Voice of Truth Center. Bel Air, Maryland. Let's listen to today's message.

SPEAKER_01 0:22

Good morning, everybody. Welcome to Sunday morning worship service. We are going to go open a word of prayer and um jump right into where the Lord has us. We're in the book of Acts. We're going to start in Acts chapter 7, verse 51, and we're going to kind of cruise to see where God takes us. First of all, yes, we are in a new place. My dear friend Dan, he is in our transition to the new place. He is allowing us to use his building, his offices. So we are in his conference room, and we're going to be doing church service here, Bible study here in our lamb class on Thursday. So thank you, Dan. A big shout out to Victory Real Estate for allowing us to use your space until we're in our space. So good morning, everybody. Thank you for joining us live. And there's a lot of people who need prayer this morning, so we're going to jump right into prayer, especially our associate pastor in media ministry. Steve is not feeling well this morning, so we definitely want to lift him up. Thank you, Father God, for your grace and mercy and favor. Thank you, Lord, for being here with us in this place, in this transition place, before you send us on up the road. So thank you, Father God, for providing all that is needed for us to carry on, press in, pray, and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you, God, for your presence. Holy Spirit, indwell in me. Give us ears to hear, eyes to see, a mouth to speak out truth. Nothing but truth. That's all we are called to do as believers and as ministers of the gospel. We are called to speak truth because the truth is what sets us free. So, Father, I'm going to shake everything out because it's been a crazy morning. And I just know, Father God, that once everything is out of me, that I'm this open vessel for you to fill, fill, fill with all word and everything, God, that is needed for us to carry on through this day. So thank you, Father God, for those joining us online. Thank you for those here with us today, because it is minimal today, but it's okay. We are grateful and we are blessed that we get to do this, Lord, that we get to go live in your word. So, Father God, please touch and heal those who are struggling this morning with stomach issues, with lack of sleep, with with some migraine headaches, with aches and pains in their bodies. Please, God, we profess and claim by Jesus' stripes they are healed and whole, delivered and reconciled, and their entire body is restored. Thank you, God, that they are in alignment with your will. In Jesus' name, Lord, we ask all these things. Lord, and not by might nor by power, but by your spirit, we are able to give word of truth, to deliver word of truth, and to believe it for our lives. In Jesus' name, amen. Woo! That was powerful. So, Lord, this morning, um, Lord kind of took me on a journey in 1 Samuel. We're not going to go there, but I'm just going to talk about this for a minute. He was talking about Saul and Saul. Saul meaning King Saul, who was the first king of Israel, who was about 30 years old when he became king, and he was actually king of Israel for 42 years. The second king, the second Saul was the one who persecuted early Christians, and he became an evangelist and an apostle. And what the Lord was showing me, because our story today is about Saul, but it's also about where we are in the world right now. But the two Sauls, I thought this was interesting. Their name, Saul means asked and prayed for. That's what their name means. Asked and prayed for. Now, Saul did not trust God. He did not trust God. The entire journey for King Saul in 1 Samuel, he did not trust God. Therefore, he lost his favor. In his kingship, he would, his faults would be uncovered. He would need to confess them to God and repent and make the changes. And he did not want to. King Saul did not want to. So that's interesting because that takes us now to Saul of Tarsus, who was converted to Paul. Okay, now remember what I told you. He persecuted early Christians and he was he turned into an evangelist, one of the greatest apostles of New King of New Testament times. He wrote most of the New Testament. So he was in the same boat as the first Saul. He needed to have his sin uncovered, his faults uncovered. He needed to die to self, right? He needed to confess them to God. He needed to repent, and then he needed to submit and surrender and make the changes. Both met one from God. Saul, King Saul, met Samuel before he was a king. And Saul from Tarsus met Jesus. Hold on because we're going to read about that. But understanding, they were both called by God for a mission. And I just thought it was so interesting because both of their stories are similar stories, but one story, so King Saul became all about self. He became self-righteous. He would not turn from his wicked ways, repent, change, and turn back to God. He was full of himself. And one of the greatest spirits that attacked King Saul was jealousy. The spirit of jealousy. Do y'all remember he was very jealous of David? Very jealous to the point of chasing David. That's what most of the Psalms are. David running from Saul. And not only running from Saul, Saul was on a mission to kill him because he knew David was being raised up to be king over Israel. So, with all that, we're gonna jump right in to Acts chapter 7, verse 51. And and while we're reading this, think about things that are happening right now in our world. This is Stephen talking, who is a martyr, as you'll know, as you'll find out in a minute. He says, You stiff necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears. You always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the just one, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it. So starting with verse 51 through 53, does this sound familiar? Does this sound like what's happening today? People are turning away, people are harming people who are Christians, who are true Christians speaking the gospel. I can only I can remind you of Charlie Kirk. Okay, he was a true prophet sent by God to minister to the people, to give word, to give truth, and that's what happened. He's in this scripture talking about all of those who have walked away, turned away, and will not repent, turn from their wicked ways, come back to God, make the changes, submit and surrender. The people who were not believing truth. That's what that's what Stephen's talking about here. So then it says in verse 54, when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. There, what does it say? They're ticked off. How much are you hearing that? When you put something out there on social media or you're standing there talking to somebody about God, I know you get opposition, and that's what's happening. These people heard truth, and instead of the truth setting them free, they took the truth, got angry, got frustrated, and they began to attack. That's happening now, y'all. Before you know it, true Christians, Christians who walk, talk, live truth, trust in the Holy Spirit, understand what Jesus did for them, and read the Bible and grasp it and do what the Bible says, those are the Christians who will eventually be the ones that people attack. It's already happening, it's already been happening. Okay? So all of a sudden in verse 54, they are gnashing their teeth, which means they're about to rise up against Stephen, against the chosen one. This shouldn't scare you, this should encourage you that we need to continue doing this because so many people have turned away from God. And then it says in verse 55, but he, Stephen, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Do you understand where Stephen's heart was? Stephen knew if they attacked where he was going. Stephen was standing there, giving truth, telling them what they don't want to hear, but what they need to hear. That's what the deal is with the Bible. You don't tell people what they want to hear, you tell them what they need to hear so they can change, repent, turn back to God, and submit to God's will. But at this moment, Stephen knows beyond a shadow of a doubt who his God is and where his Savior is, right next to his God. And the Holy Spirit, do you realize in this moment, everybody, the Trinity is in verse 55. Do you realize that? God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus, that's who Stephen is in their, he's in their presence right now, and he knows that if they attack him, where he is going for the rest of his days. So then it says, and said, Look, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. He says it twice. He sees where he's headed. So what Stephen is preaching and what is happening is glorious because Stephen knows he did what God called him to do. He spoke truth. And the truth would set these people free just like it does today. Right now, the truth will set you free. I just love this word, it's powerful. Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord. Now, my question is this did they see the glory of God? Did they see what Stephen saw? That's that's what I want to dissect and find out and research. Did they see what Stephen saw? Because I'm thinking if they cried out with a loud voice, because remember, Stephen is saying this. I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. Stephen is saying this, and before that, he was looking up to the heavens, saying he saw the glory of God. So at that moment, what happened? These people got driven to go after Stephen even more. This is what happened with Jesus. This is exactly what happened with Jesus. But Jesus didn't stop. Jesus had to carry on the mission. And Stephen is carrying on the mission. No matter what, he knows where he's gonna end up. No matter what. You press in, you persevere, and you preach the gospel. You preach truth. And that, my friends, is what Stephen is doing. And that, my friends, is what we are called to do every day. No matter what. No matter what. Pray, persevere, press in, and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. You know that will set people free. So they're coming after Stephen. You with me? Verse 58. They cast him out of the city and stoned him. Because outside of the city, you're an outcast. If you lepers had to go outside of the city, um, women with the it with their ish when they're bleeding have to go outside of the city. Do you understand that they now considered Stephen unclean? They were so far from the truth, they were so angry, they were so on a mission to destroy God's chosen one. They did the same thing to Jesus Christ. They did the same thing to Jesus Christ, what they're doing to Stephen now. But Stephen would not give up. Stephen knew he had to press in. So they cast him out of the city, and the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. There's your Saul number two. So who was there? Witnessing the glory of God, witnessing Stephen preaching truth to the people. Who was there? Saul, later named Paul. So stay with me. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Who said that? Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died the same exact way. He wasn't stoned, you know that he was crucified. But Jesus Christ left this mark on Stephen. Stephen believed with everything in him. He carried on. He didn't give up. He spoke what these people needed to hear. He spoke truth so that it would change their hearts. Then he knelt down and he cried with a loud voice, Lord, do not charge them with this sin. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Do not charge them with this sin. Do not charge them for they do not know. Exactly. Jesus. Y'all don't be afraid to preach the gospel. Don't be afraid. Because you know what? You're the one chosen. Just like I'm chosen to speak truth and evangelize and preach it and live it. More importantly than anything, live it. Because you never know when the opportunity is going to come, when the Holy Spirit takes over and says, open your mouth now and I will fill it. And you may be giving a word to someone who's on the brink of life, who who doesn't want to live anymore, who doesn't want to go on anymore, who doesn't even know there is this Jesus that saved the world, saved all. So you've got to be a Stephen. You gotta be one that says, no matter what, I will preach the gospel. No matter if anybody's sitting in the church, no matter if everybody's on their phone, somebody's gonna hear the seed that you plant. Somebody is going to respond by believing. You never know who's who's around, who's listening. Just like when we go live, we don't know, but God does. God grows it. We plant the seeds. So we're gonna carry on because remember, we're talking about Saul. Verse, we're in chapter 8, Acts chapter 8. Now, Saul was consenting to his death. Do you understand that? Saul was the persecutor of Christians. He consented to them killing Stephen. He had the garments, they laid the garments in front of him. Do you remember at the cross? Did the same thing? Except they threw uh what do you call that word? They were gambling for his garments. Yes, they were throwing lots for Jesus' garments. So Saul was there the entire time that this happened with Stephen. So Saul was consenting to his death. At that time, a great persecution arose against the church, which was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. I'm not scaring you when I say this, but Christians are going to be the target. True Christians. Christians who live and breathe this book, the Word of God. Christians who, no matter what, profess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Christians who are willing to rise up in the thick of the evil, in the thick of the darkness, and say God is sovereign, he's still in control, and I choose him, I choose to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you are that person, you are a true Christian, you live, breathe, do, walk, talk, everything. Truth. Truth. This is truth. You are a true Christian. You don't get freaked out when life gets challenging. You don't run and hide. You do what Stephen did. You stand on the foundation of Jesus Christ. You'll be shaken. We're gonna be shaken, y'all. Get ready because we're gonna be shaken. We are the light in the darkness. We are the salt of the earth. We keep our lamp up on the hill, shining bright. We do not put a lampstand on it because you never know who needs the light, who needs the salt, who needs the word, who needs prayer, who needs truth. So, going back to this Saul character, he is crushing Christians. He wants them to shut up, he wants them to stop speaking truth. And that is happening right now in this world, in this nation, and in this state. It's happening right now. They don't want Christians rising up praying for victims of human trafficking. They don't want Christians rising up praying for the darkness on their corner in their community and in their state. They don't want Christians saying anything that God can do. Why? Because God can do it. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. And God is sovereign. He sits on the throne. His mercy, grace, and favor is for now, tomorrow, yesterday, the day before, a week ahead, a month ahead, a year ahead. God is always sovereign and that will never change. That will never change. We know how to crush darkness. Ephesians 6. You know you apply the blood covenant. First you get saved. First you repent, turn from your wicked ways, and accept Jesus Christ in your heart. That's where it starts. And then you begin to change. You begin to read this book and you begin to understand, just like Saul, what's about to happen to Saul? You're gonna see in a second. But Saul persecuted Christians, and then he was the greatest apostle because of what he did for the Lord. He completely turned around. So if you think there's anybody you know or anything going on that you think God can't shut down. Turn around, shake the junk out of their trunk, and move them forward. You are completely wrong. Because God can do anything. The earth is his and everything in it. He is in control. Yes, there's evil. We're praying. We're warring. We're taking back what the enemy stole. Because we're asking God to show us, to push us. My prayer the last three days is push me, Lord, to greater things that I do not know. Push me, Lord, to press in even more and get the word of truth out there. That should be your greatest prayer. Do not be afraid. We do not live in a spirit of fear, but power, love, and a sound mind. God, God, God. Holy Spirit helps you. Jesus Christ is in you. God is for you. Who can be against you? And if anyone is against you, put your armor on. Apply your blood covenant. And the Bible says no weapon formed against you shall prosper. Rise up, true Christians. God needs us down here. He chooses to use us as his vessels to do his work. Rise up. Look out in this ministry because we're going to be asking you to join us for classes, for training, and for moving through the kingdom with the power of God. You can't do it without his power. So let's continue because I want you to hear what happens with Saul. You know I'm reffed up this morning. So Saul, Christ has preached in Samaria. Verse 4. Therefore, those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Did they stop? No. Are we supposed to stop? No. Are we supposed to carry on, march, and be soldiers for Christ? Absolutely. So then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. Something Lord just put on my heart. When Charlie Kirk died, there was a rise-up. Am I right? Bibles were being sold, people were raising up, ministers were preaching about it, Christians were popping up everywhere, all these ministries, all these happenings. Then all of a sudden, what happened?

unknown 24:28

Whoosh!

SPEAKER_01 24:30

It was the latest and greatest fad. It was it was the news of the day. But but you know what? If what's different here, Stephen was just stoned to death. And look who's rising up. Do you see what I'm trying to say? It doesn't die. You don't rise up and do God's work because it's the latest and greatest bad. You rise up and do God's work because that man was killed for his faith in Jesus Christ. That man was killed for preaching truth, for preaching the gospel. He was killed. And what happened? The disciples are rising up. The disciples are not letting down the whole book of Acts. They never give up. Christians, we are never to give up no matter what it looks like, no matter what you see out there in the world, that should elevate you in your spirit and in your mind to say no. No, this is not truth. This is not the light of God. I am the light of God. I am the voice of truth. I am the beacon of hope. God, push me, raise me up, elevate me, and show me your path. Show me great and mighty things, and I will go and I will do what you've called me to do. Because he does it through you. You're never alone, y'all. You're never, you're, you never do your call without God. He gives you directions in the Bible. He gives you the helper, who is the Holy Spirit, who he promised to give us. And Jesus is in your heart. Come on, guys. Jesus went through it. Why would we not follow? That's why the Bible says follow Jesus. Die to self. Repent and get right with God. Take up your cross. Take up all your burdens and take and put them on the cross. Because that's where they're already at. And follow Jesus. Wow, that's terrible. So Philip is carrying on. Unclean spirits crying with a loud voice came out of many people who were possessed. And many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. People need healing today and they need deliverance from the devil. Y'all don't think the devil's real? Oh my gracious, he's so real. He's more real now than he's ever been. He is bold and brazen right now. He is doing things and saying things because he's mocking the word of God. He's mocking what God says in his word, and he's twisting it to be demonic. And that's what our Bible study is about this week. So maybe you'll join us because we're going to show you in the Bible where the devil knows this book. Devil knows this book. And we're going to talk about it on Tuesday. Philip says Stephen died for the gospel. So let's go. We're going to head out now. So then it says in verse 9. But there was a certain man called Simon who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great. You know, that's witchcraft. That's demonic. Magicians, sorcerers, witchcraft, mediums, all are demonic. Okay? They're all calling on spirits of evil. Most of that is about death and about illusions. Okay? God is not about death. He's about life and he's about truth, not illusions. What you see is what you get. What you read is what you read. God means what he says and says what he means. And everything that God's done up until March 15, 2026, has been all truth, nothing but truth. And you have to understand the devil hates truth. The devil hates Jesus. The devil hates anything that has to do with word in Christ. He hates it all. Why? Because the word crushes him. And Jesus crushed him. So that's why he doesn't like Jesus Christ and he doesn't like the Bible. So what does that call us Christians to do? Preach Jesus, preach truth, praise God, worship, call on the Holy Spirit, and be a true Christian. Walk the word, talk the word, do the word. That's what we are called to do. So let's keep going. I'm sorry, I keep going sidetracked, sorry. And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. They turned from the lie and they accepted the truth. That's what's happening. That's what has to happen now. People need to turn from the lie and come to the truth. Y'all, there's just good and evil. There's lie and truth. There's world and kingdom, there's flesh and spirit. You want the spirit, you want the good, you want the truth. Because that'll all be setting you free. It's beautiful. So then it says, but when they believed Philip, I'm sorry, verse 13, then Simon himself also believed. And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. Y'all, we are called to be the Acts Church. We're the Acts Church. The Holy Spirit is in us. We have the power through the word, through Christ, to deliver people from evil, sorcery, and all this stuff, the power to heal people through the word. When God hears his word, it goes out into the atmosphere, and something happens. People get healed, demons get cast out. All of a sudden, the lie that people are believing and doing and living becomes truth. The lie goes away, and now there's truth. That's our job. We are called to live in truth, truth in spirit. So then it says in verse 14. Now, when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. See, nobody's given up, y'all. This is encouraging them to keep going. Philip now has Simon. Now comes Peter, now comes John. That's how we all come together. Hey, our ministry's starting small. God said, look, it takes two or three to gather together and I'm there. Two or three to gather together and I will do what you're asking. So imagine if two or three who don't give up, because you know me, I'm not giving up. I'm not giving up on his plans. Never, ever, never. If nobody shows up, it's me and God, that's enough. If we're live in the word and three or four people listen to the word and it changes them, and they submit and surrender and repent and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior, that's enough. That's enough. Jesus left the 99 for one. That's what we're called to do. Don't give up because it's not working the way you wanted it to. Don't give up because it's not happening as fast as you thought it would. God's timing is impeccable. And it's not yours. Time belongs to God. Right, Stephen Hohmann? I mean, Stephen Hoffmeister, sorry. Stephen Homan's an old friend of mine. Time belongs to God. Steve got that word. Time does not belong to us. God's timing is perfect. Time, God's timing is not our timing, and God's timing could be a second or a week or a day or a year, but you know what? It's coming, and that's where you have to stay. Do you know how many people give up? Because God gives them a vision, and it's not happening, it's not coming forth, and they move on and give up. I'll tell you how many people. Too many people. The darkness is still there, and you are the light. So when why do you get to decide when it's over? It's over when God says it's over. And trust me, right now, God has us pressing in, praying, persevering, and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because the gospel of Jesus Christ is where it all begins. Jesus made the way. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Come on, let's press in a little bit more. So now Peter and John are coming. Who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. If you're just joining us, I know a bunch of you just jumped on. We are on Acts 8, verse 15. Catch up and read it later if you can. I can't really catch up right now because we're on a roll with the Holy Spirit. For as yet he had fallen upon none of them, they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. So do you understand? When Peter and John showed up, they laid hands on them and they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. So they believed in Jesus Christ. They accepted Jesus Christ with Philip, and then Simon got saved, and Simon said, I'm in, I'm joining you, I'm coming with you. Peter and John showed up. You need paper? Peter and John showed up. Boom! They baptized him with the Holy Spirit. Y'all know about the Holy Spirit baptism. It's really, really, really, really, really, really, really important to read the whole book of Acts. It's the helper that God promised, and Jesus mentioned it before he ascended back up to heaven. He said, It's coming. Get ready. Wait on the Lord. The Holy Spirit baptism is coming. So, this is beautiful. Understanding that when Peter and John showed up, these folks just accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. They were baptized on the spot, and then Peter and John showed up and said, and they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands, the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money. Because Simon was one of the sorcerers. Remember that. So Simon, in his lack of understanding, somebody's here. In his lack of understanding, offered money to Peter and John. Okay? Because he didn't know. He didn't understand what was happening. Saying, this is what Simon said. Give me this power also. I'm gonna pay for it.

unknown 36:59

No!

SPEAKER_01 37:02

You know, they were gifts, these are all free gifts from God. Free gifts that cost a big price.

unknown 37:10

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 37:12

Anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit. Simon thought he could buy, because that's what mediums and sorcerers do. Let's be real, guys. You pay these people. You pay mediums, you pay witches, you pay magicians, you pay sorcerers. And the evil spirit comes upon them. I'm sorry, but I'm just talking truth. And you don't get what you want until you pay. It ain't that way with God. Salvation is a free gift, and the ultimate humongous price was paid by Jesus Christ. He took all your sins, all of them, all of your sickness, all of the demonic activity on the cross. A perfect man never sinned, holy, inside and out. He was God. He was God and human. It's free for you. Holy Spirit's free for you. Baptism is free for you. The Bible is your book of life. You don't have to pay for this. I mean, you might have to order one, but heck, we'll buy you a Bible. If you want a Bible, you know how to get a hold of me. We'll get you a Bible. This is truth. So understand that what we just read, how powerful that is. Christianity is not money. Does not cost money to follow Christ. It was bought and paid for you to live, to thrive, to grow, to be healed, to be delivered, to walk in truth. That's pretty powerful, isn't it? Healing is free with Jesus. Deliverance from anything, addiction, anything is free with Jesus Christ. So let's keep going because that was a powerful word. But Peter said to him, Your money perish with you because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money. That's pretty wild. Peter's a little offended. You all know how Peter was. You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Simon just got saved. Simon needs full truth. Here comes Peter and John rushing in to say no. Get your heart right, understand truth, and the truth will set you free from the demonic, evil, dark lies that the enemy told you. In Jesus' name.

unknown 40:18

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 40:19

Repent, therefore, if this is your wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.

unknown 40:36

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 40:38

There's unforgiveness in Simon. He needs deliverance. If you're hanging around with all that stuff, if you're hanging around with all that darkness, yeah, good point. Crystals, Reiki, Sage, the witchcraft stuff. All of that that defies this. It's not about life, y'all. It's about calling on dark, evil spirits. I don't care how mad you might get at me, that's the truth. Mediums, witchcraft, and sorcery are all in the Bible and it's all against God. There's no truth in any of it. And you've got to be delivered from it and healed from it because you believe the lie. It's a lie according to the word of God. So let's keep going. We're on to something here today. Then Simon answered and said, Pray to the Lord for me that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me. Because what did what did Peter and John preach to Simon? Truth. That this is going to happen, and this is what's happening if you are not delivered from this spirit of darkness, spirit of sorcery, spirit of witchcraft, spirit of evil. You have to be delivered from it. And the only way you're delivering from it is the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross for all darkness, all evil, all this human trafficking, all the crap that's coming out, and all the lies that people are being told. You have to truly repent because it is sin. He says, so when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. So what happened to Simon? I guess when we all go to heaven, we'll see. If Simon gave up sorcery. One leg in the kingdom and one leg in the world. Let's just be honest, y'all. God knows your heart, He knows exactly where you are, He sees everything. He's present all the time. His eyes are always on the sparrow. So are you gonna give in? Are you gonna make the choice to jump over on the kingdom side to be all in? I'll tell you what, in this ministry, I think that the folks that are part of this ministry get sick of. Me saying this, but I say this every time we meet. You're either in or you're out. You can't be both. You can't do God and the Word on Sunday and Monday and Wednesday, and the rest of the days you're in the world. You're doing worldly things. I know people who go to church on Sunday and they praise Jesus and then they're going to see mediums on Saturday night at the big party. Why would you want to be in a room with all that darkness and evil when you were in church on Sunday? Seriously. I'm not condemning you. Holy Spirit is convicting you. You gotta be all in, because guess what? There's gonna come a time, it's called judgment day. And Jesus is gonna say, I don't know you. I don't know you. You can't be worshiping the devil and praising Jesus on the same mouth. Out of the mouth cannot come blessings and cursings. That's not who God made you to be. You cannot live for the Almighty God doing his work and walking in the darkness when you think no one's looking. Don't be a Simon. Be all in. Repent. Turn from your wicked ways.

unknown 45:28

Follow Jesus.

SPEAKER_01 45:29

Come on, let's go a little further. God said we're going a little further. Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a Enoch of great authority under Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning and sitting in his chariot. He was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the spirit said to Philip, Go near and overtake this chariot. Do you understand that the Holy Spirit does this today? He will give you direction. So we're going to continue with this story, this Christ being preached to the Ethiopian. But do you understand that if you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit will lead you and show you and tell you exactly what to do? That's what he's doing here with Philip. So Philip ran to him and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and he said, Do you understand what you're reading?

unknown 46:58

I love this.

SPEAKER_01 46:58

And he said, How can I unless someone guides me? Do you see that the Holy Spirit took Philip right to this Ethiopian? And the Ethiopian just happens to be reading the Isaiah. This is so cool. I love this. He asked Philip to come up and sit with him. I get so excited when God does this. Y'all, this is how the first building we were in came about. This is how the second building we're going to came about. We were never looking. We prayed and obeyed. Prayed and obeyed. And y'all can't forget, you gotta walk by faith. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there. You gotta take those faith steps. If God says walk through this door, your butt better be standing in the hallway. If God says sow this seed into this ministry, you better not even blink and you better sow. I've been doing that for as long as I've been saved. God says sow, could be food, could be money, could be clothes, could be a word, could be a hug, could be a prayer. Who knows? Sow the seed. Trust me. Don't you want all your blessings, you're praying for God. So when he asks you to sow, that means there's a blessing coming, not only for you, but for the person you sowed into.

unknown 48:18

I love that.

SPEAKER_01 48:19

So let's keep going. So the place in the scripture which he read was this he was led as a sheep to the slaughter and as a lamb before its shear is silent. Do you understand what's about to happen? So he opened not his mouth. In his humiliation, his justice was taken away. And who will declare his generation for his life is taken from the earth? Do you understand? Put this all together, y'all. The Spirit sent Philip on this journey, and this Ethiopian Enoch, Eunuch, I never say that right, was reading about Jesus in Isaiah. That whole thing I just read you was Jesus Christ foretold back in Isaiah. So the eunuch answered Philip and said, I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or some other man? Here it comes, here it comes. Press in, persevere, preach the gospel. That's what's about to happen. Now, then Philip opened his mouth and beginning at this scripture, preached Jesus to him. Woo! When people are ready, God will send you. You have to understand this. When people are ready to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, God sends them just like he did Philip. The Holy Spirit is the helper because he helps us know what God wants us to do: the call, the purpose, the mission, the act of faith, bringing truth. That's what Philip's about to do. So then, I love this. So now, as they went down the road, they came to see some water. And the eunuch said, See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized? Then Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I know it's awesome. So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and he baptized them. Wow, profession of faith. Profession of faith. The the eunuch was completely ripe and ready, reading truth. Here comes Philip, who says, I know what that means. And by the way, you're called to get baptized. And the eunuch says, Let's do it. So then it says, wow. So he commanded the chariot to stand still, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away so that the eunuch saw him no more. And he went on his way rejoicing. God showed up and took Philip so the eunuch would believe even more than he's already believing.

unknown 51:56

How amazing.

SPEAKER_01 51:57

But Philip was found at Azetus and passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. Wow. Wow, wow, wow. We're gonna go a little bit deeper because I really want you. I am sweating in here. I really want you to hear about Saul, but let's just relish in that for a minute because what we just read.

unknown 52:24

Wow, God.

SPEAKER_01 52:27

God can do anything he wants. God can do anything he wants. He can use you if you surrender and submit to his will. God is a God of miracles, signs, and wonders. If you don't believe that, believe this story about the eunuch, the non-believer, that God took Philip right there. God knew right where the eunuch was, and God used Philip to do his work, his will, his way. It went all the way from, yes, Lord, here I am, send me to Philip being removed and placed somewhere else. Don't think for a second, God can't do that today. Because God can do whatever he wants. He's God. With God, all things are possible. With God, all things are possible, and there is nothing impossible for God, not even moving a disciple like this.

unknown 53:26

Is that wild?

SPEAKER_01 53:27

I hope you let that sink in. I know we right here in this room are letting that sink in. If we have to recap all where God took us today, it's about faith. It's about trusting in the truth, it's about believing the truth. And it's about hearing. Very good. Hearing the word, be a hearer of the word. Give them ears to hear God, give them eyes to see. We want to perceive all things through God's eyes. Ask him, push him to give you a heart for the unsaved, the heart for those living in darkness, y'all. I know I'm revved up. I know I'm on fire, but I gotta tell you, I know my cheeks are burning, but I gotta tell you something. This is how you are to live your life. This is nothing but truth, and this truth will set you free. Look at all we went through today. They it started with them martyring Stephen. And look what's come from it. This is just flowing since Stephen was martyred. They said, no, we're gonna press on, persevere, and preach the gospel because that's what's gonna save these people from the evil, the darkness, and the lie.

unknown 54:50

In Jesus' name.

SPEAKER_01 54:51

So we're gonna read a little bit more in nine because I want you to see what happened to Saul. Now you have to remember that Saul does not want the disciples to do what they're called to do. Y'all, we're gonna have Sauls running around here. We already do. That are gonna try to shut you up. You do not live in a spirit of fear, power, love, and a sound mind. God's power, God's love, God's sound mind. How do you have a sound mind? You put word in it. You gotta put the word in it, you gotta speak word, you gotta see word, you gotta hear word, you gotta have a biblical mind and God's heart. And you can do anything, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. So let's jump into. We're in Acts chapter 9 right now, because I really want you to hear what happened to Saul. Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the way, he couldn't even say Jesus. He said the way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed, he came near Damascus. You guys remember the Damascus Road? That's where Jesus was walking with. Who was who were the two disciples? Peter, was it Peter and Andrew? So Damascus Road, whose feet were on Damascus Road? Jesus. What does that mean where your feet walk? It becomes holy ground. So it's not a coincidence that Saul is walking on Damascus Road. That's cool. That's cool to me. I hope it's cool to you. So he journeyed near, then he fell. Oh, wait a minute. I'm sorry, I missed something. As he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And I don't know if you all know this, but that's read in the Bible. So who is actually showing up there with Saul? Jesus Christ is right there with Saul. And he said to him, So he asked him, Why are you persecuting me? And he said, Who are you? Lord? You're the very one I'm persecuting. What in the world are you coming to me for? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goats, which means you're not gonna win. No matter what you think you're gonna do, my God is sovereign, my father is sovereign. So he trembled and astonished said, Lord, what do you want me to do? Do you see how the spirit was there? And all of a sudden, Saul was surrendering to the will of God because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. So in this moment, Saul is surrendering his will, his plans, and his ways for Jesus. It's happening. He would have never said, Lord, he called him Lord. He knew exactly who Jesus was. What do you want me to do? Then the Lord said to him, Arise. Before I read this anymore, I'm telling you, this is for some of you right now. This is for listen to what Jesus said to Saul. Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. He's calling some of you right now to arise. Get up. Get in alignment with the Father because Christians are upright. Remember? You know what upright means? Get up, arise. Come on, y'all. It's time to be true Christians. It's time to arise. If God did this to Saul, who was persecuting, killing, and putting them in jail, he can do it for you. Nobody is too challenging for God. Nobody. Anyone can turn from their wicked ways. Repent. Turn from your wicked ways and get back to God. So listen, let's keep going. And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Who saw Jesus? Saul. Nobody else. Jesus revealed himself to Saul because it was time for G for Saul to get saved. It was time for Saul to believe in the one he was persecuting. Yes, do you hear that? This is happening. This is gonna happen to those who are persecuting Christians. You can pray this now. Anybody that you know right now that is persecuting Christians, persecuting Jesus, persecuting the word, hating God, anybody that you know, you can pray this. Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. Arise from your darkness, from your ashes, from the death that comes out of you. Arise and become alive in Christ. This is what's happening to Paul right now. Saul, he's still Saul. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Three days. Because on the third day he's gonna rise. So listen, now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias, and to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias, and he said, Here I am, Lord. God calls you, just say, Here I am, Lord.

unknown 1:01:20

I love this.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:21

So the Lord said to him, Arise and go to the street called straight, straight and narrow path, right? And inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying. And in a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight. Okay. Remember what happened with Philip and the eunuch? Now it's happening with Saul. That was the precursor to what God can do. Nothing, nothing, nothing is impossible with God. Never give up on anyone. Never give up on your ministry. Never give up on your mission. Never give up on your call. All of our purpose is to preach the gospel. So let's keep going. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priest to bind all who call on your name. But the Lord said, Go, for he is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake.

unknown 1:02:43

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:45

I mean, I'm sure Ananias was a little freaked out. Come on, let's just let's just admit it. Ananias was scared. He actually said to Jesus, uh, what? This guy's killing Christians. I what you want? Jesus said, I made the way. Boom! I made the way, Ananias. Just go. Get his vision back. A miracle is about to happen, and Ananias is the chosen one. Jesus chose Ananias to do this, and Jesus is choosing on us every single day to do God's will. We're not listening. Pray that God gives you ears to hear. Get in the word. Hang out with Jesus just like Ananias is. So then, well, where am I? And Ananias went his way and entered the house, and laying his hands on Saul, he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once, and he arose and he was baptized. He was baptized right there, right there. Because God had a plan for Saul. God has a plan for you. This wasn't hard. This was just listening. Ananias was listening to God. Saul was listening to God. Peter was listening to God. John was listening. Philip, Stephen, it started with Stephen. Get off your chair. Get out of the boat. Arise, y'all! God needs us to quench the fiery darts. God needs us to shut down, pull down strongholds, break generational curses, bind and loose the enemy's grips, and the chains will be broken in the name of Jesus Christ. So then it says, so when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately in verse 20, he preached the Christ in the synagogues that he is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed and said, Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priest? But Saul increased all the more in strength and confounded the laws who dwelt in Damascus, proving that Jesus is the Christ. We're gonna stop there. He was a Jew. Yeah. Yes, he was. Okay. Woo! Hallelujah, Lord. Wow. Wow, God. Like the sign says behind me: victory, victory, victory, victory, victory, victory, victory. Thank you, God. That whole message was about faith. That whole message was about never giving up on you, God. Never giving up on what Jesus did. Believing that what Jesus did on that cross is for us right now, today, today, tomorrow, next day, next day, next day. It's for every single day of our lives. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. You have a call, you have a purpose. You're rising up your children to be soldiers for Christ, ambassadors for Christ, preachers of the gospel, teachers of the gospel. Through our works, through through the word, through everything that you have given us, all the tools, all the weapons of warfare. And in that those couple of scriptures, there was so much meat, there was so much truth, there was so much, this is you, this is you. And you're saying, rise up, don't give up. I can do anything. This is what you keep saying. Push us, God, push us, God. So we go deeper with you. Because we're gonna have to go deeper because the darkness is getting darker and darker in this place. And we are the light. We are the light of you, God. So, Lord, all this word, boy, I'm gonna listen to this again tonight, Lord. Because in the Holy Spirit, I don't even know all you said, but I know I'm fired up, Lord, I'm fired up. So I'm excited, God, for what you're doing in this place. In this place, in that place, in all of us, Lord, who are ready to hear the word of truth and do it. I didn't preach my own sermon. I'm having notes. I had your word in my hand. My eyes spoke your word, God, and your word is truth for today. For now. Now it shall spring forth. And before that it says, Behold, I am doing a new thing. Now. Now. So I pray y'all believe that today. Because I certainly believe it every day. So thank you, God, for all good things come from above. Greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world. We are the head, not the tail. The devil's the tail. We are above, not below. We are upright. We are standing on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. Oh, yeah, we'll get shaken, but we will never get moved. For you are our provider, you are our healer, you are our guide, you are our teacher. It is you we trust. Our trust is never in ourselves and never in man. We do all things to you. And we will do unto others as we would want them to do unto us. So thank you, Father God, for the doors opening. Because we closed a door yesterday officially. It's done, it's closed. And now all the other doors will walk open. And if we need to walk in a hallway, we'll walk in a hallway and we'll knock, knock, knock, knock, knock until that door is opened. So thank you, Lord. Thank you for your mercy, grace, and favor today. Thank you. This word is in us. This word today is in us. We cannot forget because we have to walk it. We heard it, we had ears to hear. Now we walk it. So thank you, God. In Jesus' name. We come in agreement.

unknown 1:09:48

And amen.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:50

Thank you for joining us. I know we had quite a few on. If you didn't catch it all, definitely go back. We are meeting uh on Tuesday for Bible study. It is going to be powerful. We're going to continue on with Saul's journey. And if you want to be a true Christian, if you if you want to be on fire for the Lord, please join us. We'd love for you to have you. VoiceOftruthusa.org. Love you guys.

SPEAKER_00 1:10:13

We thank you for listening to today's message. You can learn more about the Voice of Truth Center by visiting our website at voiceoftruthusa.org. The Voice of Truth Center is a non-denominational Christian ministry located at 1220 East Churchill Road. Suite 100 in Bel Air, Maryland. To help support God's ministry and the production of media such as this, please perfectly consider donating at donate. VoiceOftTruthUSA.org. Today's message has been produced by Trinity Productions, the multimedia ministry of the Voice of Truth Center. All music and content has been used under permission or license. Thanks for listening today, and may God bless your day.