Dig Deep - The Word and The Spirit in Troubled Times

Dig Deep - The Word and The Spirit in Troubled Times by Will Brocker

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Alright. Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. We are thankful people, Lord. We are thankful for you, for your Son Jesus Christ, for your Holy Spirit. Thank you for the church. Thank you for this place that you've given us to come together and to worship you and to send out the gospel all over the world from this podium and this place. Thank you for these wonderful children of yours that gather here faithfully and have such a heart for you, Lord. Thank you for all those who watch or listen in other ways and other times and other places by other means. All over the world, Lord, we've been seeing the evidence of that, and we're so thankful, and we just want you to know if you're listening and hear this message, some other place or time, some other country, we're praying for you. We're praying for you. We know that you're there, and we're praying for you. I can get Joey to come up here and give a to expound on that a little bit. But we see we see you in places all over the world, gathered together and listening to these messages, and we we speak blessings over you in favor and protection. Thank you. Listen in and Lord, we just ask that they be discipled, and whoever hears this message grows in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. They become strong disciples, Lord. Thank you, Lord, for a clear calling that you have not called me to create church members, but to create disciples. And we just thank you, Lord, that we'll take both, but the work is to create disciples and just trust you to do the rest. And so we thank you, Lord, that you are working. Ask that every need be met. Everyone hearing this message, and everyone that is here today, whatever they came, I hope they came expecting, and all of their needs are being met even now in this message. In Jesus' name, amen. A pastor friend of mine had an interesting tape the other day. He said, the devil lies well because he knows the truth well. You better know the truth well so you can discern the lie. That goes with what I always say about knowing how to identify the counterfeit by studying the real thing. Jesus. Amen. Jesus. The word of God, the way, the truth, the life, the only mediator between God and man, the only door through which man can come to God. Jesus. We're living in a time when people are twisting the scriptures to fit their lifestyle instead of letting the scriptures shape their lifestyle. Jesus warned us about this. Matthew chapter 7, verse 15, Jesus said, Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. And then in Matthew 24, verses 11 through 14, Jesus said, and many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. We are doing our part. Praise God. You know, there are a lot of woes, a lot of warnings placed in the Bible, in Scripture, by the Holy Spirit, who is the author of the Bible. Just had men write it down for him. But those woes and warnings, they're intended for believers to take heed to. Not to intimidate us, but to prepare us. Right? That we not be deceived. As time comes closer to an end, everything the Lord has said to me and done to me, from the calling to the visions to the dreams and everything He talked about, the deception and the end times bride and everything, it all becomes more and more clear. Even when other things are less and less easy to understand. But we don't live by sight, we live by faith. We don't live by circumstances, we live by the promises of God. But we don't want to be deceived. Because the ruler of this world, the world system, that's run by the devil. And he knows scripture. So he uses it enough to sound like his messages or might be from God. Never forget that. Until it falls on the ears of spirit-filled born-again believers who have laid down their lives and taken them up again in the new lives in Christ. And have renewed their minds to be discerning through the Bible, the Word of God, written by the Holy Spirit through men. Say that again. Because in this world and in the world system that we are, the time we were born for such a time as this, but in many cases you'll, and many places on the left and on the right, let's say, in this nation, especially, you'll find this book in the fiction section. Mocking God. But you're prepared to help people that are in ignorance and in unbelief. And that's a wonderful thing. We're warned in Scripture not to not to twist the scripture for our own personal agendas. 2 Peter, he mentioned it in 2 Peter 3.16. He was talking about Paul's writings and Paul's letters. Some had criticized to Peter, and he wasn't having it. He said, Well, there are some things in them, speaking of Paul's letters, which he referred to as Scripture, by the way. And they are Scripture. That are hard to understand. Then he goes on to say, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction. And they do so as they do with other scriptures, he says. We're warned against distorting the true message of Christ to obtain the acceptance of man. Galatians 1 7 says, There are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. This was Paul blasting the Galatian church who were trying to add stuff to what Jesus had finished, if you remember. They were adding requirements to the finished work of what Jesus had already accomplished. Paul was not pleased when he wrote him that letter. Then there's the other end of the spectrum or the spectrum or the other deception. Instead of adding more weight, more laws and regulations, which is bad, you've fallen from grace when you start trying to earn, no doubt about that, he was right to correct them. But then on the other end of the spectrum, just make sin like there's nothing wrong with it at all. Isaiah 5.20, woo! To those who call evil good and good evil. Who put darkness for light and light for darkness. And we see that as very prevalent today. We're warned against letting the world instead of the word of God shape our lifestyle. Romans 12, 2, Paul is beseeching us. He's making an urgent plea with us to not be conformed to this world. You're going to be poured into some mold, you're going to be shaped and molded by something. It's either going to be the world or the kingdom of God. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. So we're required to find out from Scripture who we are and who we have become in Christ. Then allow that new life to govern our livestock. Amen. James 122. But be doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. So you're deceived. If you just check church off on the box, and then go and you think that's all that's required of you. You just go and you leave. God stays at church. You go about your business. He's not really interested in all that stuff. He'll pray and tell a guy in the next window over there about it later on. He'll tell you, say a few prayers and you and he'll forgive you. Wrong. Wrong. I know I'm telling Noah about the flood here, so don't get me wrong. I'm just reminding us when I tell you these things, you should see and be glad that you know these things. Because you know that's how it is. When you're on that side of the pulpit and you hear things and you're already good with that, you're like, Yeah. You know what I mean? And you celebrate, a little celebrate, a little happy dance, you and the Lord. That's how it's supposed to be. He says to do that. That's okay. As long as you don't go throwing it in the sinner's face. You know? But when I say these things also, you're very aware that all of these things that we're warned against are very prevalent in our culture and in this world today, aren't you? That's where you come in. That's why it's more important than ever. That we build upon the rock. We build upon the truth of God's word, upon Jesus Christ. That we dig deep and build upon the solid rock, a foundation that's unmovable. Jesus talked about it. He is that rock. And in Matthew chapter 7, in the verse 24 and 25, he says, Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. Well, we know that the other man did not take time to dig deep and to build on the solid foundation of the rock. And when that storm came, they both built the house, they both endured the storm. They both had the storms come. It didn't stop the storm, but the one that built on the rock was immovable, the other one was blown away. So they both built. The difference was in the building. It was how deep they dug. And a wise man is going to dig deep. What's it look like? That's what I was getting at. Remind you of that parable. Jesus didn't say things just to tell a good story. He was talking about building our lives around his teachings, his words. If we wanted to withstand the storms and the adversities of this life. What's that look like to dig deep for a believer? Well, I'm glad you asked. To dig deep so we can be established on the rock and be immovable, unshakable, and secure, and have peace in the midst of the storms of life. We have to remove a lot of things in the digging. This is not all warm and fuzzy yet, is it? If I said anything wrong, it's all true. We have to remove a lot of things in the digging. You can picture someone digging all the way down to the bedrock. I've heard people tell the story, well, they both built the house. Yeah. The other one was lazy though. Because it takes a lot of work to dig down to the bedrock and to do it right. And I'm speaking now of spiritual things, of course. Soulish things. And even spiritual things. And even physical things. Spirit, soul, and body. But the first thing I wanted to mention are when we're digging, we have to dig up some things and get rid of some things. And the first thing that I wanted to mention is something that Jesus talked about, which are the traditions and doctrines of men. Because this is a stumbling block for so many. And again, people are spiritually lazy for the most part. Again, if it doesn't apply to you, you just celebrate with the Lord. Otherwise, it says a wise man eats correction. A foolish man doesn't. That's why we don't cast our pearls to swine. Jesus said so. What was he talking about? Somebody that doesn't respect what you have to share with them? When you're trying to help them, when you're trying to lead them to God and to godly truth. You can keep praying for them, but at some point, he says they'll just turn on you anyway. Remember that. It's really hard when we love so much. Doesn't mean we give up. But people are spiritually lazy. They go by whatever they are told. Especially if they hear a lie over and over again. They begin to see it as truth. You meet people on the you see people, you hear people, if you heaven forbid, you turn on the news. Run into somebody who has who's lost their mind, it seems like, over things happening in the world. And you just sometimes want to tell them, listen, if you won't come to church, at least change the channel you're watching. But they just they want to be just fed, you know, like a baby bird. Just tell me. Don't make me look in here. Don't make me read that. I'm never going to read that. Just tell me. When they should be praying and seeking God and searching the scriptures to know the truth about God and from God. Then whatever he says, they must bear their cross and choose God over tradition and wrong teachings. That's the snare. Sometimes that's just too much for people. Well, but Mama and them, they they helped found that church. We're like a family of skunks. We got our own pew with our name on it up front. It's not just church folks. It gets way harder. We're blessed. We're blessed because of where we live, where we were born, and because of that, I think we have a greater responsibility to try to get the truth out to the whole world, to all the nations of the world, just like Jesus instructed us to, and to try and help create disciples all over the world so that they can in turn help their brothers and sisters. What if you were born in Islam, a part of Islam? And that was, and hatred and wrong doctrine and theology were drilled into your head in school and in your environment from the time you could remember. And then if you accept this truth, and this is the only truth, Jesus Christ, the only way, the only life, you hear it and you believe. Leave it. Just think how hard that is. Especially if you're a woman. They may kill you. Your own family. There's nothing in their book about women even going to heaven. They're just a little lower than animals. And you have all these people here that are that live in ways that those folks would kill them for that are siding with them. You know that is the devil. Traditions and doctrines of men, because Jesus said it makes the word of God of none effect. We have to dig up prejudices of all kinds. Everybody was born and raised with prejudices of some kind. Thank God if you have disposed of those. If you haven't, I mean it can be racial. And trust me, racism doesn't just go one way. In this culture, for in some half of the culture we live in. This sounds like a political speech. It's not. I told you a month or two ago, everything has a political, everything from the kingdom of God, from the truth of God has a political ramification. That's why you can't. That's why Christians have to be in every part of our culture and society to influence it. If they don't, there will be a vacuum and it will be, that void will be filled by the devil. He wants to intimidate Christians. He wants to kill the Charlie Kirks and all that so other young people won't speak up. But the church has always prospered in times of greatest persecution. But the true church, the ones that really belong to Jesus, all these prejudices and things like that, if there be anything in there, you can just ask God to show you these things. If there are, it could be denominational prejudices. You've heard me, I say things about everybody. Not racial, but denominational, I do. Why? Because I love them. That's the truth. If I didn't say it from that motivation, I wouldn't say it. If I said it because I didn't like them or I hated them or had some discriminatory feelings about them, I wouldn't say it. I say it because I want them to think about it and provoke them to thought, provoke them to go search the scriptures for themselves and be free from wrong theology that can hinder them and prevent them from experiencing everything that Jesus died to provide them with. That's love. I know it doesn't sound loving sometimes. My wife has a young friend, she said, Your husband pops up everywhere I look. He always seems mad. It's like mad. I just have a strong resolve to fight for Jesus and for the kingdom, for everyone who hears to know the truth and to be free from the demonic oppression and lies of the devil and the deception of the devil. There's a difference. Jesus died for everyone. And we are to love and forgive everyone as he does. And so I choose to forgive, to love everyone. But it doesn't mean I have to love what they do or what they believe. Hate the sin, love the sinner. The world doesn't understand that because they identify with their sin. They don't understand spirit. You can go to the get the best help in the world from psychiatry, from science. It can never take you past the soulish realm, your mind, will your personality and your body. It does not have any understanding of the spiritual realm, and we can't hate them for that because the Bible says they don't have the ability to understand without his help. So Jesus died for everybody, so we've got to get rid of prejudices of all kinds so that we can love them in spite of their situation or circumstances or where they were born or what they've been influenced by, so that we can get the truth to them. Because just because he died for everyone doesn't mean that they're all saved. The grace of God has been accomplished and provided. The sins of the whole world have been forgiven, paid for by Jesus Christ. But unless there's a faith response to that grace, you will not receive that salvation that is a free gift from God. But they need an opportunity to hear the gospel. Preconceived ideas. We have to dig up preconceptions of all kinds. You can't build upon God, upon Jesus, the rock, when you have strongholds and wrong ideology that you refuse to let go. Right? You can't go to God with your mind made up about certain things and then make him fit into your mold. He's already perfect. We have to get rid of unbelief. Let it go. When it comes to God, if he said it, that settles it. That's a decision that has to be made from a true disciple or follower of Jesus. Unbelief is faith in the devil. Jesus was never pleased with unbelief. It causes a spiritual tug of war against your faith. Why couldn't we cast out that demon? They asked Jesus, that epileptic boy at the bottom of the mountain after he and James and Peter and John came down from the mountain of transfiguration and they found this chaos going on down in the valley. It's wonderful on the mountaintop, folks, but the ministry's in the valley. Why couldn't we cast him out? Oh, it's okay. Jesus was not like that. First of all, when they couldn't, and the boy's father told him that his disciples couldn't, he said, bring him to me. How long am I going to put up with y'all? He said that. Oh, well, that would be mean. That Jesus was just love and he would never say that. He said it. He said a lot of stuff like that. You got to know the real Jesus. Saying it wasn't mean, it was still love. He was trying to provoke them to walk in faith, which is necessary. Hallelujah. Why couldn't we do it? Because of your unbelief. I know some translations say because of your little faith or lack of faith or something. That's not true. Unbelief. You can operate in faith and unbelief at the same time, and it's a spiritual tug of war. Peter had faith to walk out on that water. More than all of us probably would have done, to be honest with you. We laughed. We love to laugh at Peter, but awesome man of God. He walked on that water and he began to sink, which nobody begins to sink. They just sink quickly. So he was he was having a spiritual tug of war. Fishermen. I've seen these wind and waves. I know what they could do. I know people didn't come back in their boats. I know we're being swamped right now. Oh Jesus. Come here. Quit looking at your circumstances and look at me. What else we gotta dig up? I'll leave it alone when I get to five today. Rebellion. Rebellion is put it last because it's definitely not least. Probably number one. Probably all of those others can even be incorporated into rebellion or something. Rebellion is about self-will, pride. The original sin of Lucifer himself, the devil. Lucifer when he was still a mighty angel. Rebellion. God calls rebellion as wicked as the sin of witchcraft. Right? So they're equally repulsive to God. FYI, parents, there are no good witches. Sorry. That's another lie being normalized by the devil in today's culture. And it seems harmless, but it's not. A Jesus that agrees with us instead of submitting to the real Jesus. That has to be dug up and discarded. These are some of the things we encounter when digging deep. And it can be hard. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, it's impossible. So there's the good news. Because we're not left as orphans. Jesus promised us that. On the day of Pentecost, which would have been last Sunday when I wasn't ministering, otherwise, that's why I only said hello to everyone. I sat out. I told Russell, this is Pentecost. If I start talking, I'm never going to shut up. But on that 50th day after Jesus rose from the dead, he remained on earth for 40 days ministering and preparing people about the church and about the kingdom of God. And then he ascended on the 40th day and they tarried, he told them to wait. And on the 50th day, the Holy Spirit was poured out. He came, praise God. He's with us today. Glory to God. Thank you, Holy Spirit. We've been given the authority and the power from on high to proclaim the gospel. That's a great privilege. The good news is what gospel means. Really, too good to be true news is how you of Jesus Christ. And the power of the gospel. You don't have to go to seminary. Matter of fact, one of those people that I'm thinking of who perverting scriptures and doing all those things, running for political office right now in the state of Texas, went to cemetery. Went to seminary. And trust me, you listen to that man for just a little while, it will make you. Yeah. It'll make you want to go and it you want to help him. But you want to also prevent people from hearing that trash. Especially our children. All you need is the pure unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ. It's the power of God unto salvation. When we preach that by the precious sacrifice and the holy shed blood of Jesus Christ, He paid for our sins. He paid for our sicknesses. He took our poverty. Demons don't want to stay around and hear that kind of truth. But this gospel has to be backed up by the power of the Holy Spirit, working through the believer. Amen. Remember, Jesus had was baptized and baptized in the Holy Ghost. Same time as the dove. Because he had become fully like us. And then when he ascended, he told his disciples, don't you go anywhere and start this church ministry until you receive the promise from the Father, the Holy Spirit. Until He comes, you don't do anything, you wait. And they waited and He came. And we need the same help. Amen. And that help is a helper. He is a person. He's the third person of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John chapter 16, verse 7, nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It's to your benefit, your advantage that I go away. Now, what could possibly make it good that he goes away? Because if I do not go away, the helper, capital H, will not come to you. The Holy Spirit is our helper, our guide, our spirit of truth, our paraclete. That's one who comes alongside us and takes a hold with us. Hallelujah. He will lead us into all truth, the real truth. Remind us of everything that Jesus has said. And who's the wise man? The one who builds upon his sayings, his teachings, his truth, the only truth. The Holy Spirit helps us with that. That's what he's here for. But only if you're willing to lay down your preconceptions and be a free will offering. We are to become living sacrifices, Paul said, right there in that same scripture where he beseeched us and to become living sacrifices and to renew our minds according to the word. Well, the problem with living sacrifices is they like to keep crawling down off the altar, right? But when we find ourselves having crawled off, because we all do, probably every day, a few times a day, you just crawl right back up there. Ah, sorry, Lord, I dropped the ball right there. That's alright, son. Let's go. That's alright, daughter. Let's go. Amen. Only though if we're willing to lay down our preconceptions, our ideas of what God's supposed to be, and be free will offering, asking, deciding, resolving in our hearts and minds to live from our new spirit in Christ. The old man is crucified with Christ. The life that I live now is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in me and gives life to this mortal body. Hallelujah. The kingdom of God is now within you. You're no longer controlled, you shouldn't be, by your emotions or live by sight. We are to live by faith, trusting God and by the Spirit of God sent here to help us do that very thing. Amen. And God has been reminding me that faith thrives and lives in an environment of thankfulness. Hello. Just throwing this one in for free. An unthankful person can never really stand in faith. An unthankful person has that spiritual iron dome over them that Russell was talking about here last week. You know what I'm talking about? Unable to receive from God. Receive the truth. They have their spiritual arms folded, is what a picture I was seeing yesterday. But a thankful heart stays open to receive the truth. To lay hold of the promises of God. So let's stay thankful for everything that God has done and does every day that He gives us. Amen. Remember, like I was saying in the last time I spoke to you, remember that just to notice the beautiful cardinals while you're watching and waiting for the hummingbirds. And we have an amazing promise from God that keeps coming to me. Last week it was mentioned again, I think, by Russell that, and I believe he was quoting from, because it was Pentecost. Anyway, he was quoting from Joel chapter 2, talking about the promise of God to restore to us the years that the locust hath eaten, and that we shall eat in plenty and be satisfied. A beautiful promise from God. It's a familiar and wonderful passage of scripture and a wonderful promise of blessing and provision from God, and I love it. But it goes on right there in that same passage of Scripture, because I've read it and I've got it all so underlined and marked up, but he says two times in that passage of Scripture that we will never be put to shame. Never be put to shame. Now, that's a very it's very personal with me there because that's a five-word promise of God that carried me through, made me weep in joy and relief so many times in the early days of my relationship with Jesus Christ. Still does, actually. It's a common theme throughout the Bible, actually, especially with the prophet Isaiah in Psalms and in the writings of Paul, the Apostle Paul. But really, I just want to share one of each with you. Is that alright? Isaiah 54.4 is one of these are three that are the great promises, one from each, one from Isaiah, one from Psalms, and one from Paul. Isaiah 54, 4, the Lord says, do not be afraid. This is the first one that I found, by the way. Way back when. Do not be afraid. You will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace. You will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth. These are promises regarding people who have, regarding God's people, people who have come to Him and put their trust in Him. In Psalm 25, 3, no one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame. But shame will come to those who are treacherous without cause. And then in Romans chapter 10, verse 11, for the scripture says, everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. You know when you find believe, you can interchange that with trust. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Now that's a familiar passage of scripture, and I know that people use it for all kinds of things. Remember the setting, though. Paul wrote that for prison. And in context, he was talking about all of the hardships he was enduring. And so he was saying that God would sustain him no matter what. So we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Not just to fulfill our own dreams, because any dreams that we have now, that we've died with Christ and been resurrected to new life for him, they should be his dreams. When we put him first, then his desires are placed in our heart, and then he gives us the desires of our heart. Because we're walking in lockstep with him, and those are his dreams for us. Those are the plants that he wrote for us before the foundations of the world. You see what I'm saying? So not just to fulfill our dreams, but to stand firm, to endure, and to finish our race with joy, even in hard times. The Holy Spirit has been poured out. The word is alive. So let's be people who dig deep, build on the rock, place our total trust in the real Jesus Christ of the Bible. His promise is we will never be put to shame. He will never leave, never forsake you. The goal was never for us to spend our life chasing the most anointed person in the room or in the world and to go find. Because what you'll find is what you heard here last week. You can look high and low and all over the world, and what you're going to end up finding is you already had everything that you need. That's all I've ever wanted for anyone. Because the more aware you become of Him in you, the more you walk in divine help, the more you walk in divine provision, the more confidence you'll carry, the more you become a releaser of His power to your world. In your sphere of influence. Revival doesn't come from a few superstars in the body of Christ. It comes from believers discovering what they already carry in Christ and getting excited about it. The best thing a pastor can do for his congregation is to help them realize that they don't need him. And that's hard for some to do. But I was called to create disciples, not church attendees. Of course, we want this place bulging to the overflow. And I believe it will. Thank you for meeting every need of everyone here and everyone who hears this message. Maybe they're wondering about you, Lord. Maybe they're wondering what to believe. If they've heard this message today, Lord, if there's anyone out there who's heard this message and you believe, God has caused you to believe because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. If you've heard and you believe, and you say, that's real. I just, I don't know how I know, but I know. I know that Jesus really is the Son of God and He came and died for my sins on the cross. Just say this prayer. Heavenly Father, thank you that you sent your son Jesus Christ and He died on the cross for my sins. Thank you that he rose from the dead on the third day and he lives today. Jesus, I ask you to be my Lord and Savior. I repent of my old life and I take up a new life in you. Be my Lord and Savior. Amen. It's really that simple. If you really mean it from the heart and you said that prayer, then I will see you in heaven. Love to hear from you. Father, thank you for everything that you are. Every good thing, every good thing comes from you. Even in the midst of adversity and bad things that happen in the world, because it's a fallen world, there is still goodness all around us. The very air that we breathe, the fact that we can walk across the floor, the fact that we have the sun to shine on our faces. Thank you, Lord. And Lord, help us to keep our focus on you, to dig deep and build our lives upon the rock, Jesus Christ, your teachings, Lord. Let it be your will, your way. If you said it, we resolve that that settles it for us. I know as for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord. Everyone must choose. But I hope everyone will say that same thing. As for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord God Almighty. Through his Son Jesus Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit. Thank you, Father. Amen.