WEBVTT 00:00:01.439 --> 00:00:04.719 Welcome to this week's message from the Church at Chelsea Westover. 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:10.800 Our core values are vibrant worship, intimate fellowship, fulfilling service, and clear biblical truth. 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:13.359 We pray that this message changes your life. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:17.760 Let's tune in to today's message and see what God has in store for you. 00:00:18.079 --> 00:00:22.800 I want you to turn with me in your Bibles this morning to Revelations chapter 3. 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:32.079 And I have just thoroughly enjoyed going through these churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3. 00:00:32.719 --> 00:00:35.359 We started out with the church at Ephesus. 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:38.000 And we saw it was the mother church. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:44.320 It was the church probably that birthed all the other churches, or most of them, or had parts in birthing them. 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:52.560 And you know what else we saw was that you can be a church that's got a lot of great things going on. 00:00:52.799 --> 00:00:56.240 By the way, if you do not have a worship guide, raise your hand. 00:00:56.320 --> 00:00:58.399 We want to make sure everybody has one right here. 00:00:58.560 --> 00:01:00.240 Yes, so you can follow us. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:08.799 And uh if you like Rosemarie, I think Rosemary keeps every one of them and follows along. 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:18.319 And uh I gotta say this uh about uh my buddy, my brother, my closest friend David Wilson. 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:35.680 When I resigned from Open Door Baptist Church when I was his pastor for all those years, about almost 13, 14 years, when I left there to go to Liberty University, uh, David always sat right here on the front row, he and Christy, for several reasons. 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:37.280 One, to encourage me. 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:43.519 And two, he and Christy were counselors for me when people would come forth in our church. 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:46.239 And uh he always had a little spiral notebook. 00:01:46.400 --> 00:01:48.400 Christy, you remember that little notebook? 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:50.799 Do you still have those notebooks? 00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:02.480 But when I resigned, he said, Pastor, let me show you something. 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:04.959 I don't know how many had. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:06.560 There were several. 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:11.439 And he had followed every message I had ever preached, he had outlined it. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:16.560 And in those notes, he would say, God spoke to me about this. 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:31.039 And he's always had a statement that I have used, even when I was preaching all over the country all those years as the dean of the seminary and president of the university and in a different church every week. 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:41.439 The importance of going to church, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some are, but exhorting one another so much more as you see the day approaching. 00:02:41.680 --> 00:02:43.039 Hebrews 10, 25. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:53.759 David and his testimony, and you will hear this as you go through, if you join this church and become a covenant member, the last tape, there's four tapes. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:03:00.719 I do two, my wife does one, and David does the last one on how God birthed this church in his heart. 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:29.680 And he'll tell you as he's going through that lesson, he'll tell you out after 40 years of walking with the Lord, that every major decision that he made in his life with his family and with his business SERPRO, and David Wilson was the number one SERPRO guy in the country out of 1,500 franchises. 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:33.840 When corporate wanted needed help, guess who they called? 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:37.120 They called David and the boys and their teams here. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:45.840 I mean, you're very, we're very fortunate to realize that we got the best surpro in the world right here in Shelby County. 00:03:45.919 --> 00:03:46.960 Can we give God a hand? 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:47.680 Amen. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:49.039 Tremendous. 00:03:50.800 --> 00:03:55.680 But here's what he said, and I'm I I couldn't have a better introduction. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:57.759 God laid this on my heart. 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:16.399 Is that every decision he ever made in his life for his family or for his business, which became a multimillion dollar business, one of the best or the best in all of SERPRO, every major decision, now don't you miss this, folks? 00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:28.160 This is where, if you don't hear anything else, he said, I made sitting in church right there, taking notes, God spoke directly to me what I needed to do. 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:34.319 And he'll turn around and he would tell you this. 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:36.480 That's why you don't miss church. 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:40.160 Because God's got something special for you. 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:44.639 And especially when you're going through some trying times. 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:45.439 Amen. 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:47.040 Amen. 00:04:47.360 --> 00:04:49.519 So, Doc, that's your introduction. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:50.399 Thank you. 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:51.920 And we love you. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:53.439 Revelations. 00:04:54.319 --> 00:04:55.600 And we miss you. 00:04:56.079 --> 00:04:57.519 Chapter 3. 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:07.920 The title of the message this morning: A morgue with a steeple. 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:11.519 I'm afraid to ask you, do you know some of those places? 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:14.800 Because I'm afraid a lot of our hands would go up. 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:17.759 And they're still there, it's the problem. 00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:21.600 Absolutely. 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:28.079 And we see here in chapter 3, the first six verses, that God's dealing with this church. 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:35.839 And you know, life is full of car, I mean, life is full of cold, hard decisions that have to be made. 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:41.519 I know this year alone, I can't help but think of Ashley. 00:05:41.920 --> 00:05:44.160 I can't help but think of us. 00:05:45.199 --> 00:05:50.639 And some of you that you've had loved ones that were put on life machines. 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:54.560 And eventually you had to make a decision. 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:57.600 A hard, cold decision. 00:05:59.600 --> 00:06:00.480 To what? 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:04.240 Pull the plug or to let them live. 00:06:04.879 --> 00:06:08.160 And I'm not talking about euthanasia, that's not what I'm talking about. 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:11.360 And I'm not condemning those that pull the plug, nothing. 00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:11.759 No. 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:15.519 That those are cold, hard decisions that have to be made. 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:20.959 Well, in this passage of Scripture, you could title it. 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:24.319 I thought about this after I was working through it, Paul. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:29.920 You could title it, is it time to pull the plug? 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:33.120 In reference to the church. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:44.959 Because there's a lot of churches that are existing and living and moving through the motions, but yet they're dead. 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:48.399 In other words, the machine has them living. 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:50.399 They're a machine of organization. 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:56.000 There's a lot of churches that are some of the best organized machines in the country. 00:06:56.720 --> 00:06:58.480 But yet they're dead. 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:02.240 And we see that right here. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:06.879 Sardis was a church that outwardly it looked alive. 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:12.079 It had a great reputation, even in the community. 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:16.160 In fact, in the community, you say, oh man, that's a great church. 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:19.199 Remember Ephesus did too, the mother church. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:20.480 Remember the first church? 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:21.920 Oh, it was fantastic. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:23.279 It was the mega church. 00:07:23.360 --> 00:07:24.480 It was a great church. 00:07:24.560 --> 00:07:27.600 But yet God said, I have somewhat against thee. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:29.519 You've lost your first love. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:34.160 That honeymoon love, that pathos, that passion. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:37.920 And then we went through the other churches. 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:41.759 Smyrna, which was a poor little rich church. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:44.319 Poor in material things, but rich in God. 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:50.240 And then we went to Pergamon, the worldly church, and then Thyateer, the compromising church. 00:07:50.399 --> 00:07:53.120 And now we've come to the dead church. 00:07:56.240 --> 00:08:02.480 There are churches that once walked in the glory and power of God who are now living in their past successes. 00:08:02.560 --> 00:08:08.000 And there are some churches that are kept alive by nothing more than the machinery and the organization. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:09.680 And they're living in the past. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:11.839 Oh, I remember when. 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:17.759 Oh, do you remember when we broke ground? 00:08:17.920 --> 00:08:18.959 We built that church. 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:20.639 Do you remember when we sacrificed? 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:22.879 You remember when we were praying and we were fasting? 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:27.199 You remember when the men were gathered here building the church? 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:35.039 They're living in the past, not the future. 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:37.120 God help us. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:41.120 And this church right here would say, hey, hey, we're alive. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:42.000 We're doing well. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:43.759 Oh, remember this, remember that? 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:52.240 Remember when we started, remember when we did this, we built this, we reached these people, these many people were saying, Oh, remember when we baptized 50-something people? 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:53.759 Remember this, remember that? 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:54.720 Remember? 00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:58.080 Well, what about now? 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:10.000 But then the great physician comes along and he grabs the pulse of the church or the pulse of the Christian, and yet you think you're alive, he says, you're dead. 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:12.159 Wow. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:15.200 You're dead. 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:21.200 So let's look at the great physician as he gives us a checkup this morning. 00:09:21.679 --> 00:09:27.840 But regardless of the diagnosis, there can be, hey, no treatment until we understand our condition. 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:28.799 Amen? 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:33.200 In fact, I won't know what's wrong with my knee until they go and examine it. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:34.879 Amen? 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:37.120 I kind of already know. 00:09:38.000 --> 00:09:39.840 I'm gonna have to scope it. 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:40.799 But that's okay. 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:42.240 Already had one done. 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:49.200 My wife, I'm my wife, but my daughter, who's a a surgical PA, she said, well, Dad, look at it on the good side. 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:50.720 You'll have two new knees. 00:09:51.039 --> 00:09:52.879 I said, oh gee, thanks. 00:09:55.039 --> 00:10:03.759 So let's look this morning as Jesus shows us our true condition and let us allow him to prescribe the right treatment. 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:05.279 Now we're very fortunate here. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:09.600 Let me go ahead and say this about let me tell you why new churches are started. 00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:19.840 Because sometimes there's a lot of dead churches that even though the plug may not be pulled, or the plug should be pulled, they're dead. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:28.159 And there's nothing like starting a new church that brings excitement and birth to the community, to the area, to people. 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:31.679 So that's why we believe in church planning. 00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:42.879 And all the statistical data tell you that's why we plant new churches often and hey, as much as we can, even in a, you'll say, yeah, but there's churches everywhere in one area. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:44.559 Why do you want to plant a church there? 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:47.919 Because possibly those churches are dead. 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:50.159 Hello? 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:51.759 I know you said, huh? 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:54.559 You're gonna understand it when I finish today. 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:57.120 So we're gonna be looking today. 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:58.639 So let's begin. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:10:59.679 Yes. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:00.320 Yes. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:02.000 Thank you. 00:11:04.480 --> 00:11:05.519 Oh yeah. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:07.120 Hot coffee. 00:11:08.159 --> 00:11:10.799 If it's the hot won't do it, the caffeine will. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.600 Now, watch right here. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:16.960 First of all, let's look at the co-reality. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:20.320 I hear it's the co-reality of the church's condition. 00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:21.679 Look at verse 1. 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:36.000 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things saith he that hath seen spirits of the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, I know thy works, that thou hast a name, that thou livest and art what? 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:37.039 Dead. 00:11:37.200 --> 00:11:37.759 Say it again. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:39.759 What I dead. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:47.440 Now, to determine the identity of the one speaking in these verses, we need only to look back to Revelation 1.16. 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:54.720 And there we know that they were here and are told that it is Jesus who holds the seven stars. 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:59.519 It is Jesus who holds the seven churches in his hand. 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:04.399 He is the one who comes to this church to tell them their condition. 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:09.120 Now, this is not, hey, anyone speaking except Jesus himself. 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:15.279 And he tells the church, hey, he's the one who comes to this church and he tells them, you know what he tells them? 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:16.879 He tells them they're dead. 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:23.600 This tells us that Jesus is intimately interested in everything a church does. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:24.639 Amen? 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:30.960 He is, hey, interested in everything CCW's doing. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:48.320 That's why when I meet with our council, one of my greatest desires as we meet, I tell them every decision we make today for our church will either bring people to Jesus or turn them away from Jesus. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:13:00.240 Now that is an unbelievable responsibility, folks, because that means as a pastor and as the leadership of this church, as the council, one day, now you listen to me. 00:13:00.399 --> 00:13:11.600 Every one of us that are in leadership positions, including your Sunday school teachers, you will stand before God and give an account of the decisions you made to direct God's church. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:15.039 Do you understand that? 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:17.840 That's unbelievable. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:22.879 Hebrews 13 for the preacher says you will be further turnable. 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:26.720 So I think that's what we're doing. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:56.240 Hebrews 413 says nothing is hidden from God. 00:13:56.480 --> 00:14:03.279 Everything is nothing and exposed before the eyes of him to whom, hey, we must give an account. 00:14:04.320 --> 00:14:04.879 Wow. 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:09.519 So look at three things he holds in his hand. 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:13.519 Number one, he holds God's power. 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:19.279 In his hand is the penalty of the Holy Spirit. 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:20.559 Notice what he says here. 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:37.039 This is a reminder to the churches that we are not to operate under the power of human skill, under human leadership, even though God's given us talents and those abilities, but we are to live under the direction and under the power of the Holy Spirit of God. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:40.960 In fact, he says, they that are in the flesh, what? 00:14:41.519 --> 00:14:42.799 Cannot please God. 00:14:42.960 --> 00:14:44.720 Romans 8, 8. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:48.480 You cannot please God. 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:53.039 But when we walk in the power of the Spirit, there will be success. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:54.799 I meant real success. 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:55.759 Eternal. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:57.039 Let me go ahead and say this. 00:14:57.120 --> 00:15:00.879 There's a major difference in eternal success compared to worldly success. 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.240 Big difference. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:04.240 Big difference. 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:11.360 Churches can, hey, have worldly success and not have eternal success. 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:16.879 It matters are you laying up treasures in heaven or are you laying up treasures here on earth? 00:15:19.039 --> 00:15:19.679 Amen? 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:22.080 And that's very important we understand that. 00:15:22.320 --> 00:15:27.840 He says right here in John 6.63, one of the verses there for you. 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:30.320 It is the spirit that quickens. 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:32.639 Hey, the flesh, what? 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:34.240 Profits nothing. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:38.639 The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:40.159 Wow. 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:51.919 It is the power of the Holy Spirit of God working through you and me, the building God's church his way, according to God's word and not man's wisdom. 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:54.639 According to God's wisdom and not man's wisdom. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.840 God gives wisdom. 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:58.720 Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding. 00:15:58.960 --> 00:16:00.480 Proverbs 2, 6. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:02.399 So we see that right here. 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:04.000 And don't you love this? 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:09.679 He says, Ye shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:15.840 And ye shall be witnesses unto me in all Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the world. 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:17.360 Power, God's power. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:22.720 Now unto him that's able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the what? 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:25.279 Power that worketh in us. 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.799 That's Dunamite. 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:30.879 It's Dunamis, which stands for dunamite. 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:31.919 Dunamis. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:33.440 Power. 00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:34.799 Not man's power. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:36.080 There's a difference. 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:37.919 And we see it here. 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:43.440 And the seven spirits, for remember at the very beginning, that came from Isaiah 11, 2. 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:45.679 The Holy Spirit is the Spirit. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:46.240 Now watch. 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:52.000 Of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, and the fear of the Lord. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:54.320 The seven things right there, God's perfection. 00:16:54.480 --> 00:17:01.360 He says, I give you all wisdom, understanding, I give you counsel, I give you might, my power, and I give you fear. 00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:02.559 Fear of what? 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:17.359 Of me, yes, but not a fear that that makes you want to just close up and do nothing, but a fear that's honoring and exciting and knowing that God's called you to do something for him. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:22.400 It's a respectable fear. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:27.119 But there is that part that you do need to, hey, be concerned. 00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:41.599 Because he says, if you don't re he says to the church at Sardis, if you don't revive yourself, he says, if you don't revive yourself, I'm gonna pull the plug and you'll die. 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:44.799 Wow. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:51.680 Notice the second thing. 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:54.480 God holds God's preachers. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:56.720 Yeah? 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:59.200 God holds the preachers. 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.319 Oh, yes. 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:01.839 Look at what he says. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:04.640 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:07.119 And the angels, we say, yes, angels and preachers. 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:08.640 That word could be used for both. 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:11.920 So he says, Hey, I hold the preachers in my hand. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:15.119 I like what he says in Acts 14, 23. 00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.240 Listen to what he says. 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:30.160 And when they had ordained them elders in every church and had prayed and fasted, they commanded them, hey, and committed them to the Lord on whom they believed. 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:34.960 In other words, hey, choosing a pastor or a pastor being chosen by. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:36.880 By the way, let me tell you something. 00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:39.839 For young pastors, and we got a few in this church. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:41.839 Let me say something right here. 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:51.920 If you know when you're called of God to pastor, hey, you're not mama called, you're not daddy called, you're not church called, you are God called. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:19:03.920 And I believe that calling of God scripturally, listen to me, it's just as if, hey, just as rememorable and just as pointed as my salvation. 00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:14.160 I was at a James Roberts crusade in Dothan, Alabama, playing football at that time for Troy State, Alabama, Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:16.559 God jerked me out of my chair. 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:18.880 I mean, it was for the invitation. 00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:25.039 James Robertson was saying, there's young men here called of God to go preach, and you're running from God. 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:26.720 And then I'd been running for two years. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:28.960 I jumped up and just took off. 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:32.640 Everybody, the whole football team said, What's Levitt doing? 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:37.920 I don't remember, but when I got down there, James Roberts said, Well, bless God, we got one coming. 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:38.720 Anybody else? 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.039 About three or four more started coming. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:47.920 I knew what God had called me to do. 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:50.640 I changed, my whole life changed. 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:52.559 I had one purpose. 00:19:53.519 --> 00:20:03.920 I gotta do what God's called me to do, and I know it's to pre, well, at the time I wasn't sure it was to preach, but I knew it's full-time ministry, and all I needed to do is I had to get to Liberty University. 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:06.480 And now you know how I saw that? 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:15.279 I was sitting there at the fire department because I was a fireman paramedic at that time, and and and Jerry Fowell was preaching, and I'll never forget. 00:20:15.359 --> 00:20:20.880 He was talking about this mountain and talking about all that he's God's called him to build, and da-da-da. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:24.880 Now, I thought it was already built the way he was talking. 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:28.400 But he said, and God wants you and you, and he pointed that finger. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:31.440 And again, right there, I said, Okay, that's where I'm going. 00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:34.799 I called my wife and told Becky, I said, We're going to Lynchburg, Virginia. 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.759 She says, Where's that? 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:37.119 I said, I don't know. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:39.759 But that's where that school is, and that's where we're going. 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:40.720 And I'll never forget. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:48.400 I kept telling her, he had shown, he had shown all these pictures on TV of what it was, what he said it was looking like and gonna be. 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:49.680 And I thought it was built. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:55.279 So as we were pulling over the hill, I said, honey, wait till you see this beautiful, beautiful campus. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:20:58.799 And we pulled over and there was nothing there but a tent. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.599 A big circus tent. 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:08.960 She said, Uh, are we in the right place? 00:21:13.359 --> 00:21:16.799 But I said, I don't know. 00:21:17.920 --> 00:21:24.240 But to make a long story short, the next three and a half years radically changed our life. 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:28.720 Because we had to live by faith every step of the way. 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:31.599 We had to trust God for everything. 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.920 Everything. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:38.880 So we see when God calls you preachers, he provides. 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:39.920 We see that. 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:46.559 Oh, hey, listen, and and we've already looked at it one time, but it's worth looking at again in 1 Peter chapter 5. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.000 Look at what he says. 00:21:48.240 --> 00:21:50.079 Oh, what a beautiful picture here. 00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:59.680 And he says, The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:20.400 Revealed, feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint or but willingly, not for the money, or not not uh for power, but hey, but for a ready mind, neither as being lords over God's heritage, not being dictators, but being examples to the flock. 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:27.279 And when the chief shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 00:22:28.079 --> 00:22:36.880 Thank God for the pastors, the preachers, the elders, that are totally sold out and committed to teaching and preaching the word of God. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.319 Listen, listen. 00:22:38.559 --> 00:22:44.079 And I know it feels like I'm doing self-serving, but I'm old enough to know I'm not you, and you know my heart. 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:45.359 That's not the case. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:49.440 But listen to what 1 Timothy says, this is to encourage these young preachers are to hear. 00:22:49.599 --> 00:22:50.400 Listen to what he says. 00:22:50.559 --> 00:23:02.640 Let the elders that, hey, and I love this, that preach the word of God be counted, worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and teachings and doctrine. 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:12.799 Thank God there's churches filled with men of God and women of God that preach the truth of God that love God. 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:15.680 Can I get an amen? 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:20.720 And they're not compromising. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:22.480 Amen. 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:24.160 They don't compromise. 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:29.039 Notice the third thing. 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:33.920 He holds God's preach, power, God's power, God's preachers, then he holds God's perception. 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:35.119 Notice what he says. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.240 I know the works. 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:37.039 Verse one. 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:42.000 The Lord tells the church that he knows all there is to know about them. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:42.640 Ooh. 00:23:42.880 --> 00:23:44.000 Ooh, ooh. 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:46.640 In other words, here's what I wrote. 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:50.400 Danny, he knows your achievements. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:53.200 You don't have to tell everybody. 00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:59.839 Yeah, I don't have to go around broadcasting what I've done. 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:02.559 In fact, if I do, I lose my rewards. 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:07.119 God says, don't let your left hand know what your right hand's doing. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:11.440 And then he says, hey, Danny, I know your failures. 00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:14.559 None of us like to talk about our failures. 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.319 Might as well. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.519 God knows them. 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.119 Hello. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:22.640 He knows my motives. 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.839 That's what really gets me. 00:24:24.079 --> 00:24:26.000 Oh, I'm doing this for God. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:26.960 No, you're not. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:28.720 You're doing it for me yourself. 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:34.480 Let me tell you when you know you're doing it for God. 00:24:35.200 --> 00:24:36.640 Now, I'm an encourager. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:38.079 My gift's encouragement. 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:43.519 So, and I know Bob and Paul and all you men that stood up, y'all didn't like, a lot of you didn't like that. 00:24:43.680 --> 00:24:53.359 Now, if you did like it and you did this, or if you get mad because I forget to say something about you. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.440 Hello? 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:58.880 You okay out there? 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:05.200 Then you're doing it for yourself and not for God. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:09.440 See, if you're doing it for God, can I tell you something? 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:11.839 The only one that really matters is God. 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:15.359 He's the one that's keeping the books, plural. 00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:21.200 One book's for works, the other one's for salvation. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:21.920 Hello. 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:24.319 He's keeping the books. 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:29.440 And once you get credit down here, you don't get your works written down up there. 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:30.960 So it's your choice. 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:34.720 Your choice. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:38.160 Well, I just want to be rewarded down here. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:39.759 Well, help yourself, Mr. 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:41.039 Fluffy Head. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:44.079 Or Deacon Proteta Head. 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:45.599 Help yourself. 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:47.440 Well, I'm the leader in this church. 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:48.400 Oh, you are? 00:25:49.119 --> 00:25:50.240 Well, you better look out. 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:51.680 He's about to pull the plug. 00:25:53.200 --> 00:25:53.680 Hello. 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:56.720 Because if he's not in charge, he won't be around long. 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:00.079 God won't be around long. 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:06.480 Hey, he knows. 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:08.160 Hey, he knows our agenda. 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:10.480 Oh, whose agenda are we doing? 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:13.680 You doing your agenda or God's agenda? 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:16.880 And Pastor Danny doing his agenda or God's agenda? 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:19.039 Well, I can tell you one thing. 00:26:19.359 --> 00:26:20.720 God knows my heart. 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:22.640 I don't want an agenda. 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:26.960 I've been there with those, and I'll tell you what, that's a mess. 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:33.599 I don't want to have anything of Danny Love's agenda. 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:37.839 In fact, at age 63, and I'm getting older and older. 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:39.920 You know what my daughter told me? 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:43.759 See, I've been I've been on a routine working out. 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:47.039 I've been I've been best shape I've been in. 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:48.240 I thought in 2011. 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:51.119 She said, Dad, listen to me. 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:54.640 You're about to turn 64 years old. 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:57.680 I said, well, what has that got to do with that? 00:26:59.039 --> 00:27:04.640 She said, I don't think I need to say anything. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:06.640 You're falling apart. 00:27:11.599 --> 00:27:13.359 I said, you wait. 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.599 Fix this thing. 00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:16.240 Give me. 00:27:16.799 --> 00:27:21.119 Hey, some of you got bionic knees, bionic shoulders. 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:23.759 We'll be the six million dollar man before long. 00:27:24.160 --> 00:27:28.400 Lee Majors, remember the six million dollar, the bionic man. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.480 But anyway. 00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:33.680 Now for that's our older generation. 00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:38.000 Now it's it's the for the kids, it's that robot hero. 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:39.279 What is what they call him? 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:39.920 Robocop. 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:46.400 Not robot cop, but the transformers, but the guy that Iron Man. 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.119 Thank you. 00:27:47.279 --> 00:27:47.920 Thank you. 00:27:48.240 --> 00:27:49.200 Iron Man. 00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:54.160 They put these suits on and take off. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:55.759