PUT ON THE PROTECTION ON YOUR MIND, THAT NO MATTER HOW BAD THE FIGHT AND THE BATTLE IS, GOD IS GOING TO DELIVER YOU THROUGH IT. HE'S GOING TO TAKE YOU THROUGH IT.

WELCOME TO THE POPULAR MOUNTAIN FAITH PROGRAM WITH DYNAMIC PREACHER AND TEACHER PASTOR DAVID J. GONZALEZ.

PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR A GOOD WORD, AND HAVE YOUR BIBLE READY NOW FOR TODAY’S POWERFUL MESSAGE WITH PASTOR DAVID J. GONZALEZ.

THIS IS WEEK NUMBER 6 AS I TALK MORE ABOUT THE WORD SALVATION AND WHAT SALVATION REALLY, REALLY MEANS AND SHOULD MEAN TO THE CHRISTIAN. IF YOUR SALVATION IS TRUE AT ALL, IT’S A SALVATION FILLED WITH ZOË LIFE OR THE SUPER HYPER ABUNDANT LIFE. ONE OF OUR THINGS THAT WE OUGHT TO BE EXPECTING IN SALVATION IS HAVING VICTORY AND GLADNESS. SALVATION WITHOUT VICTORY IS A LIFE WITHOUT AIR, IT'S FOOD WITHOUT TASTE, IT'S A VISION WITHOUT COLOR. YOU CAN'T BE SAVED WITHOUT HAVING A VICTORY IN YOUR LIFE. YOU CAN’T BE SAVED WITHOUT SEEING WHAT THE TRUE MEANING OF SALVATION REALLY IS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM JUST FLAT OUT EXCITED ABOUT IS THAT GOD, EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT HE THROWS A CHALLENGE AT ME OR SOMEONE ELSE THAT I KNOW VERY WELL, I CAN STAND IN EXPECTANCY AND KNOW THAT NOT ONLY ARE THEY GOING TO FACE THAT CHALLENGE DOWN, BUT THAT THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE VICTORY AFTER THE END OF THAT CHALLENGE. AND YOU NEED TO EXPECT THAT. YOU NEED TO EXPECT IT. YOU NEED TO BELIEVE THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU’RE HEARING YOU CANNOT REPEAT THE WORDS OF PEOPLE THAT DO NOT BELIEVE THIS KIND OF STUFF. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN FAITH CHURCHES ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY HEAR FAITH THEY’RE NOT PRACTICING FAITH. JUST BECAUSE YOU HEAR IT DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE IT. YA KNOW, THE BIBLE SAYS OVER IN HEBREWS, “THEY HEARD BUT IT WAS NOT MIXED WITH FAITH BY THOSE WHO HEARD. SO IT DIDN’T PROFIT THEM ANYTHING.” YOU CAN HEAR FAITH TEACHING BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO APPLY IT. YOU’RE UNDER NO OBLIGATION. YOU COME IN HERE YOU HERE IT, YOU HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, YOU LISTEN TO THE CD YOU HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, YOU READ YOUR BIBLE, YOU HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, YOU HEAR THE WORD OF GOD. BUT YOU’RE UNDER NO OBLIGATION. READING THE WORD OF GOD AND HEARING THE WORD OF GOD MY INSPIRE YOU TO DO GREAT THINGS BUT UNTIL YOU MOVE OUT INTO THE REALM OF DOING SOMETHING THAT’S WHEN FAITH IS ACTIVATED IN YOUR LIFE. AND THAT’S WHEN YOU BEGIN TO LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT FAITH. CAUSE YOU CAN’T LEARN ANYTHING ABOUT FAITH JUST BY HEARING IT. YOU CAN LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT IT I GUESS. BUT UNTIL YOU BEGIN TO ACTIVATE YOUR FAITH, IN ACTION, FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD, WHEN YOU BEGIN TO ACTIVATE YOUR FAITH IS WHEN YOU BEGIN TO LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT THAT FAITH. AND DAVID HAD FAITH THAT GOD WAS GOING TO BACK HIM UP. IT WAS,” WITH ME IS GOD.” DAVID’S SAYING, “WITH ME IS GOD.” EVERYONE SAY WITH ME (WITH ME) IS GOD (IS GOD) SAY WITH YOU IS GOD. SO YOU CAN SAY TO THE DEVIL, HEY DEVIL, WITH ME IS GOD. YOU CAN SAY TO YOUR FINANCES, HEY FINANCES, WITH ME IS GOD. YOU CAN SAY TO YOUR HEALTH, HEY HEALTH WITH ME IS GOD. YOU CAN SAY TO WHAT THE DOCTOR SAYS, HEY DOCTOR, WITH ME IS GOD.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT STATISTICALLY, THAT CHRISTIANS ARE THE HEALTHIEST GROUP ON THE PLANET. CHRISTIANS, NOT MUSLIMS. NOT YOU KNOW, NOT SOME ETHNIC GROUP. NOT SOME...IF, YOU KNOW, ARE FROM FRANCE YOU'RE NOT THE HEALTHIEST ON THE PLANET, IF YOU'RE FROM GERMANY, OR ITALY, OR ASIA SOMEWHERE, OR AFRICA, IT’S CHRISTIANITY. WHY? BECAUSE WE ARE GIVEN A LITTLE BIT MORE HOPE THAN THE REST OF THE WORLD. JUST BY OSMOSIS IF YOU COME IN THE CHURCH AND SET DOWN AND DON’T EVEN LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR YOU’RE GOING TO START APPLYING WHAT YOU HEAR. (AMEN) EVEN IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT. AND AS A RESULT OF IT YOU’RE GOING TO LIVE LONGER BECAUSE OF IT. NOW YOU WON’T EVEN NECESSARILY CHANGE YOUR DIET SO MUCH AS YOU’LL CHANGE YOUR DIET OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE. CAN I HEAR AN AMEN? (AMEN) LET’S GO OVER TO PSALM 35. NOW REMEMBER DAVID HAD A LOT OF ENEMIES. WHENEVER YOU’RE DOING ANYTHING FOR GOD YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF ENEMIES. DAVID IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT QUITE A REAL SUCCESS IN EVERYTHING IN LIFE. AND YET HE LOVED GOD SO MUCH HE PRODUCED ENEMIES OUT OF HIS LOVE FOR GOD. WE FOUND OUT THAT DAVID PRODUCED AN ENEMY CALLED AHITHOPHEL. AND HE PRODUCED THAT ENEMY PARTIALLY MAYBE BECAUSE HE LOVED GOD AND PARTIALLY BECAUSE KILLED HIS GRANDDAUGHTER’S HUSBAND. WE FOUND OUT THAT ABSOLOM SOUGHT HIS OWN FATHERS LIFE, WHAT A WICKED WICKED KID THAT WAS, MY GOODNESS. HAVING YOUR OWN KID CHASING YOU AROUND WITH AN ARMY OF PEOPLE TRYING TO KILL YOU OFF. I MEAN HOW BAD CAN YOU GET? AND YET UNDERSTAND THAT WE WAR NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS AND RULERS OF THE DARKNESS, THAT WAS THE DEVIL BEHIND THAT WHOLE THING. AND WE KNOW THAT JESUS CAME THROUGH THE LINE OF JESSE AND OF DAVID. SO THE MESSIAH WAS GOING TO BE BORN THROUGH THE LINE OF DAVID. WHICH HE WAS. BUT THAT PROPHETIC WORD KEPT COMING TO PASS AND THE DEVIL WAS TRYING TO KILL OFF ANYTHING THAT WAS IN THE LINE OF DAVID. AND THAT DESTROY ANYTHING THAT WAS IN THE LINE OF DAVID. AND SO AMNON HERE HE IS HE’S MURDERED AND NOW WE SEE ABSOLOM HANGING FROM A TREE WITH THREE SPEARS IN HIS CHEST. YOU KNOW THAT JOAB HAD INSTRUCTED PEOPLE TO PUT THERE. HE’S HANGING THERE AND HE’S DEAD AND SATAN, HE’S FEELING PRETTY SUCCESSFUL. HE’S GOT DAVID BEING CHASED AROUND BY HIS OWN SONS. AND WE CAN SEE THAT SATAN WANTED TO CRUSH THAT THING. BUT GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN YOU THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD. AMEN? (AMEN) BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE AND PUT THAT INTO PRACTICE. LET’S LOOK AT THIS, PSALM 35 STARTING IN VERSE 1, “ CONTEND, O LORD, WITH THOSE WHO CONTEND WITH ME;” SO DAVID IS SAYING, “I DON’T WANT TO CONTEND WITH THEM BUT WITH ME IS GOD AND GOD YOU CONTEND WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CONTENDING WITH ME. YOU FIGHT THE BATTLE FOR ME.” LOOK AT THIS. “FIGHT AGAINST THOSE WHO FIGHT AGAINST ME. TAKE HOLD OF BUCKLER AND SHIELD AND RISE UP FOR MY HELP. DRAW ALSO THE SPEAR AND THE BATTLE AXE TO MEET THOSE WHO PURSUE ME; SAY TO MY SOUL, "I AM YOUR SALVATION." IN OTHER WORDS THERE WERE TIMES...THERE WAS AN EMPTY FEELING GOING ON, HE DIDN’T FEEL LIKE HE WAS BEING DELIVERED. AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A WARNING HERE, A REAL GOOD CHRISTIAN WARNING. IF YOU COME INTO CHURCH ONE DAY AND YOUR NOT FEELING VERY SPIRITUAL, YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THAT. IF YOU COME INTO CHURCH SOME DAY OR YOUR COMING INTO PRAYER OR YOUR DOING SOMETHING, OR YOUR OPENING UP YOUR BIBLE AND YOUR FEELING THAT YOUR NOT REALLY SPIRITUALLY MOVED, DON’T BE DECEIVED BY YOUR FEELINGS. DON’T BE DECEIVED, SEE EVEN JESUS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN HE WAS IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMMENE CRIED OUT TO GOD, “WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME, GOD LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME.” HE CRIED IT OUT AGAIN ON THE CROSS. WHEN YOU GO THROUGH CERTAIN THINGS THERE IS A TESTING TIME WHERE GOD WILL REMOVE THE FEELING OF HIS PRESENCE FROM YOU TO SEE WHAT YOU REALLY TRUST. ARE YOU TRUSTING IN YOUR FEELINGS? OR YOUR TRUSTING IN THE KNOWING THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT GOD IS GOD AND THAT HE HASN’T TAKEN HIS HAND OFF OF YOU. AND DAVID IS SAYING TO GOD, LOOK WHAT IT SAYS IN VERSE THREE. DAVID IS SAYING TO GOD , “SAY TO MY SOUL,” SAY TO MY SOULISH IMPERFECT NATURE, "I AM YOUR SALVATION." DAVID WASN’T SAYING SAY TO MY SPIRIT. HE WAS SAYING TO MY SOUL AND MY MIND AND MY WILL AND MY EMOTIONS. SPEAK TO ME AND RISE UP INSIDE OF ME AND LET ME HAVE A FEELING THAT I KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO DELIVER ME. BECAUSE DAVID DIDN’T FEEL DELIVERED. DAVID WASN’T FEELING LIKE ALL THESE BATTLES HE’D BEEN THROUGH. YEARS AGO A MINISTER THAT HAD TRAVELED ALL OVER PARTICULAR AFRICA CAME TO ME AND SAID I’M DONE WITH MINISTRY AND I ASKED WHY AND HE SAID BECAUSE I’M DONE HAVING THE DEVIL BEAT UP MY FAMILY HEAR WHEN I’M OVER THERE IN AFRICA. AND THE REALITY WAS THAT HE WAS ONLY EXPERIENCING MINOR ISSUES WITH HIS FAMILY, I DON’T KNOW WHETHER HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THERE OR NOT IS IMMATERIAL. WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON WAS HE WAS SAYING THE BATTLE HAD GROWN BIG ENOUGH I’M GOING TO GIVE UP THE BATTLE. AND AT NO TIME IN YOUR LIFE CAN YOU AFFORD TO DO THAT. YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO STOP DOING WHAT GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO DO. IF YOU’RE A MOTHER YOU CAN’T STOP BEING A MOTHER. HOW MANY MOTHERS KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT? BUT YOU DON’T WANT TO STOP BEING A MOTHER. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO STOP THAT? A MOTHER IS FOREVER. AMEN? (AMEN) COME ON. AND A FATHER IS FOREVER. WHY WOULD A FATHER WANT TO STOP BEING A FATHER? WHY WOULD SOMEONE WANT TO STOP SERVING GOD? BECAUSE THE BATTLE HAS GROWN SO GREAT THAT THEY’VE HAVE GROWN TIRED OF THE BATTLE, NOT BECAUSE THE BATTLE IS GREAT AND THEY CAN’T WIN IN THE BATTLE THEY JUST GOT TIRED FIGHTING THE BATTLE. BUT THE REALITY IS WHETHER YOU’RE IN A BATTLE FOR GOD OR YOU’RE IN A BATTLE FOR YOUR VERY LIFE YOUR GOING TO FIGHT. YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO. UNTIL THE DAY WHERE, YOU KNOW…HOW MANY PEOPLE, AND I’VE KNOWN PEOPLE THAT WENT THROUGH THESE SCENARIOS, WHERE THEY’VE LAID ON THEIR DEATHBEDS. LITERALLY THEIR DEATHBED. AND PEOPLE HAVE WAITED FOR DAYS FOR THEM TO DIE. DAYS. SOMETIMES WEEKS. AND THEY’RE NOT EVEN ON INTRAVENOUS FEEDING. THEY CAN’T EAT. AND THEY DON’T WANT TO GIVE UP SO MUCH EVEN THOUGH EVERYTHING IN THEIR BODY IS SHUTTING DOWN. THEY DON’T WANT TO GIVE UP SO MUCH THEY WON’T EVEN DIE. EVEN THOUGH SOME PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO DO THAT VERY WELL. THEY IN PARTICULAR WON’T. THERE IS SOMETHING INSIDE OF THEM THAT SAYS I DON’T WANT TO GIVE UP. SO IF YOU SAY TO YOURSELF, “OH I’M JUST GOING TO GIVE UP, BUT I’M JUST GOING TO THROW IN THE TOWEL. I’M NOT GOING TO DO THIS CHRISTIANITY THING ANYMORE. I’M NOT GOING TO DO THIS OTHER THING ANYMORE.” WHAT YOU’RE SAYING IS I’M GIVING UP ON THIS SPECIFIC BATTLE, BUT WHAT YOU DON’T REALIZE IS YOUR STILL GOING TO HAVE A BATTLE, YOUR STILL GOING TO HAVE A FIGHT. YOU GAVE UP ON THE PRIMARY BATTLE, WHICH YOU COULD HAVE WON ANYWAY. YOU JUST NEED TO STICK IT OUT LONG ENOUGH. (AMEN) THE GESTATION PERIOD FOR YOUR VICTORY HASN’T COME ABOUT YET, SO STICK IT OUT. (AMEN) DEVELOP SOME ENDURANCE. AND DAVID SAID, “SAY TO MY SOUL, "I AM YOUR SALVATION." HE WASN’T SAYING, “SAY TO YOUR SOUL, GOD IF I DIE RIGHT NOW I’M GOING TO GO TO HEAVEN.” THAT IS NOT WHAT’S BEING SAID. HE'S SAYING, “LORD YOU TELL ME THAT YOU’RE GOING TO DELIVER ME FROM THE MOLESTATION OF MY ENEMIES. THAT YOU’RE GOING TO DELIVER ME FROM PEOPLE PICKING ON ME, PEOPLE BEATING ON ME, PEOPLE TALKING BAD ABOUT ME, PEOPLE TRYING TO KILL ME.” (HALLELUJAH) AND WE LIVE IN A SCENARIO IN THE WORLD TODAY WHERE THERE IS SO MANY THINGS THAT CAN TAKE US OUT SPIRITUALLY. MY GOODNESS, OFFENSE! I’VE SEEN OFFENSE GROW, WHEN I WAS A KID I DIDN’T SEE NEARLY, AND I’M TELLING YOU A FACT, I DIDN’T SEE AS MUCH OFFENSE WHEN I WAS HANGING AROUND WITH, WHEN I WENT TO CHURCH WITH MY PARENTS AND I GOT TO TALK ON LEVELS BECAUSE OF MY PARENTS INVOLVEMENT IN CHURCH. I GOT TO TALK WITH THE PRIEST AND TALK WITH THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN MINISTRIES. I NEVER SAW AS MUCH OFFENSE AS I SEE TODAY. PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN TO BE SUCH (PASTOR WHISPERING) BABIES. I GOT TO SAY THAT REALLY SOFT OR SOMEONE MIGHT BECOME OFFENDED. (LAUGHTER) AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT JUST AS A MINISTER BUT AS A HUMAN BEING I FEEL LIKE I NEED ONE OF THOSE EMERGENCY BABY KITS IN MY CAR. A COUPLE OF DIAPERS AND A WARM BOTTLE OR SOMETHING, I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M GOING TO FIND….IT’S SURPRISING TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE GET OFFENDED OVER. AND IT’S PARTIALLY BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE NOT LEARNED HOW TO BE TOUGH. YOU GO TO OTHER COUNTRIES, MY GOODNESS, YOU TRAVEL IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WHERE PEOPLE DON’T HAVE, THESE PEOPLE ARE TOUGH. YOU SAY SOMETHING BAD TO THEM OR BAD ABOUT THEM, THEY DON’T GIVE UP JUST CAUSE SOMEONE TALKED BAD ABOUT THEM. THEY DON’T GIVE UP ON GOD. YOU GO OVER TO AFRICA AND YOU PUT ON A BIG THING, PEOPLE WALK FOR SEVEN DAYS TO COME TO THE MEETINGS AND THEY WON’T HAVE HARDLY ANY FOOD TO GO ON. THEY’LL LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND BACK AT THEIR HOUSE. ALL OF THEIR CHILDREN THEIR BABIES AND THEIR WIVES ARE COMING WITH THEM. AND THEY’RE GOING TO COME JUST TO HEAR SOMEONE PREACH FOR THREE DAYS. NO COMPLAINING, NO WHINING, (YEAH) NO IN THIS RUGGED INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITY TYPE THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY WE SEEMED TO HAVE LOST. WE THINK THAT WE'RE PIONEERS, WE THINK THAT WE'RE GREAT WHEN THE REALITY IS GENERATION TO GENERATION WE'VE GOTTEN WEAKER BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO RELY ON GOD, WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO KEEP GOING WHEN THE GOING IS TOUGH. (COME ON) PEOPLE  LOOK AT ME AND THEY SAY, “DAVID HOW DO YOU DO IT?” WELL I JUST DON'T QUIT. I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING SPECIAL, I'M NOT ANYBODY SPECIAL, MY WIFE IS NOT ANY, WELL SHE IS, SHE IS SOMEONE SPECIAL. (LAUGHING) ARE YOU HEARING WHAT I'M SAYING? (RIGHT AMEN) AND PEOPLE JUST QUIT. I SEE PEOPLE QUIT ALL THE TIME. THEY JUST START A JOB AND THEY QUIT. THEY START A FAMILY AND THEY QUIT OR THEY START RAISING THEIR KIDS AND THEY QUIT. SOMEONE CAME TO ME LAST SUMMER AND THEY SAID EVERY FAMILY OUT THERE HAS, WHEN THEY HAVE BIG FAMILIES, THERE'S ACTUALLY A PERSONALITY CHANGE IN THE CHILDREN BECAUSE OF THE PARENTS. I SAID EXPLAIN YOURSELF. HE SAID THE PARENTS ARE OVER THE TOP WITH THE FIRST COUPLE OF KIDS AND THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD THEY'RE DOING IT RIGHT ON THE MIDDLE KIDS AND ON THE LAST KIDS THEY JUST DON'T CARE ANYMORE. I THOUGHT IF THAT'S THE REALITY WHICH IT MAY BE, IT'S NOT A REALITY THAT I WANT TO LIVE WITH. (RIGHT) I WANT MY FIRST KIDS AND MY LAST KIDS TO BE AS RUGGED  AS INDIVIDUAL, AS SURE AS HARD WORKING, ARE YOU HEARING WHAT I'M SAYING? (AMEN) I GOT EIGHT KIDS, I CAN PRACTICE ON THIS. (LAUGH) I DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP ON THE LAST, BECAUSE SOMEHOW I'M OLDER. IF WE GIVE UP, THAT MEANS WE GAVE UP. IT WASN'T BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE STRENGTH. GOD WOULDN'T HAVE GAVE ME EIGHT KIDS IF I WAS SUPPOSE TO GIVE UP. OH I KNOW YOU JUST DIDN'T KNOW ENOUGH YOU DING A LING (LAUGH) YOU HAD KIDS AND NOW YOU KNOW HOW OLD YOU'RE GOING TO BE WHEN THEY'RE EIGHTEEN? GOD'S UP IN HEAVEN THINKING THAT, I DON'T THINK SO. IF I DEPEND ON GOD, GOD'S GOING TO GIVE ME THE STRENGTH TO DO WHAT EVER I NEED TO DO. MOSES WAS EIGHTY YEARS OLD WHEN HE GOT INTO THE BATTLE, AMEN? HE WAS A HUNDRED AND TWENTY WHEN HE WENT UP THE MOUNTAIN. THE BIBLE SAYS HIS STRENGTH WAS NOT WEAKENED NOR WAS HIS EYES DIM. (AMEN) THE KING JAMES SAYS HIS STRENGTH WAS NOT ABATED. IN OTHER WORDS HE WAS A VIGOROUS MAN CLIMBING THAT MOUNTAIN, IT WASN'T AN OLD MAN IN A WHEEL CHAIR OR A WALKER OR A COUPLE OF OTHER GUYS CARRYING HIM UP THERE. HE WALKED UP ON HIS OWN AND HE DIED ON HIS OWN. (AMENS) NOW IF MOSES CAN DO IT AND HE'S NOT UNIQUE, REMEMBER HE KILLED SOMEBODY. HE WAS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE DESERT RAISING SHEEP FOR AWHILE; THAT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD CALL REARING FOR THAT TYPE OF MENTALITY. (RIGHT) AMEN? (AMENS) WE HAVE TO HAVE A VISION THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT. (RIGHT) WE HAVE TO HAVE A VISION THAT SOMEHOW GOD IS GOING TO GET US THROUGH THE SITUATIONS THAT WE NEED TO GET THROUGH. (AMEN) LET'S GO OVER TO PSALM 51. IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BE ENCOURAGED THERE'S A LOT OF PSALMS THAT YOU CAN READ THAT WOULD JUST STRENGTHEN YOU. PSALM 51 STARTING IN VERSE 1, 'BE GRACIOUS TO ME, OH GOD, ACCORDING TO YOUR LOVING KINDNESS.” NOW, IF YOU HAVE A BIBLE AND IT SAYS GRACIOUS THERE, UNDERLINE THAT WORD GRACIOUS. “ACCORDING TO THE GREATNESS OF YOUR COMPASSION, BLOT OUT MY TRANSGRESSIONS. WASH ME THOROUGHLY FROM MY INIQUITIES AND CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN”, NOW DAVID IS TALKING ABOUT HIMSELF. DAVID IS TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH HIM. HE'S SAYING HE KNOWS THERE ARE SOME ISSUES GOING ON IN HIS LIFE SO LORD YOU DEAL WITH THEM THROUGH WHAT EVER MANNER THAT YOU HAVE TO. NOW DAVID IS PRAYING THIS PRAYER AFTER HE'S BEEN CAUGHT WITH THE BATHSHEBA INCIDENT AND NATHAN COMES AND PROPHESIES TO HIM, “THOU ART THE MAN”. DAVID REPENTS. IT'S TAKEN HIM SOME TIME TO REPENT, BUT NOW HE FINALLY REPENTS. THE CHILD THAT BATHSHEBA WAS PREGNANT WITH DIES AND EVENTUALLY BATHSHEBA GOES ON TO HAVE A SECOND CHILD, SOLOMON. AND DAVID IS DEALING WITH HIMSELF. HE'S LOOKING INTERNALLY AND GOES, “I DON'T LIKE WHAT I SEE IN HERE.” FINALLY HE'S LOOKING INSIDE. VERSE 2 AGAIN, “WASH ME THOROUGHLY FROM MY INIQUITIES AND CLEANSE ME FROM MY SIN”, NOW REMEMBER INIQUITIES ARE THE PROPENSITY TO SIN WHENEVER THE OPPORTUNITIES ARISES. SO NOT ONLY DO YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR SIN TAKEN AWAY BUT YOU WANT TO HAVE THE DESIRE TO SIN WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES TAKEN AWAY. (AMEN) ALL RIGHT? SO WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING AROUND YOU THAT YOU SHOULDN'T TOUCH OR YOU SHOULDN'T SEE OR SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT, YOU DON'T TOUCH IT, YOU DON'T SEE IT, YOU DON' TALK ABOUT IT. YOU DON'T TAKE IT, YOU DON'T EAT, DIGEST IT, WHATEVER IT IS. VERSE 3, “FOR I KNOW MY TRANSGRESSIONS, AND MY SIN IS EVER BEFORE ME. AGAINST YOU, YOU ONLY, I HAVE SINNED AND DONE WHAT IS EVIL IN YOUR SIGHT, SO THAT YOU ARE JUSTIFIED WHEN YOU SPEAK AND BLAMELESS WHEN YOU JUDGE.” VERSE 5, “BEHOLD, I WAS BROUGHT FORTH IN INIQUITY, AND IN SIN MY MOTHER CONCEIVED ME. BEHOLD, YOU DESIRE TRUTH IN THE INNERMOST BEING,” THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS TO GET CHRISTIANS TO DO. DEAL WITH THE MOST INNERMOST BEING. WHAT IS YOUR REAL ISSUE? WHAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM THAT YOU ARE HAVING? SOMETIMES PEOPLE THAT COME UP AGAINST YOU AND THEY DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU ARE DOING, DON'T GET OFF INTO BRAVADO SAYING, “WELL THEY JUST CANT' HANDLE THE TRUTH,” BECAUSE TRUTH IS MAYBE YOU SAID IT WRONG, BUT THE REALITY IS THERE MIGHT BE A KERNEL OF TRUTH TO THAT. AND THE REALITY IS THAT MANY PEOPLE CANNOT HANDLE TRUTH. THEY DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT TRUTH ANYMORE. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE SAW THE NEWSPAPER. THE MILWAUKEE NEWSPAPER ON THURSDAY, RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU SAW THE MILWAUKEE NEWSPAPER ON THURSDAY. THE COVER PAGE. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT SAID ON THE COVER PAGE? IT SAID ON THE COVER PAGE THAT ALL THESE SCIENTISTS WERE GETTING TOGETHER AND THEY NOTICED THAT THE EARTH IS COOLING, IN OTHER WORDS WE ARE NOT HAVING THIS CLIMATE CHANGE LIKE THEY SAID IT'S GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. AND NOW THEY'RE SAYING THE EARTH IS SELF RIGHTING ITSELF DESPITE WHAT HUMANS ARE DOING, AND THEN THEY WENT ON TO SAY IN THE TITLE HEADER, “BUT IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY”, (LAUGHING, OH MY GOODNESS, MORE LAUGHING) I'VE BEEN PREACHING ON GLOBAL WARMING AND WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON WITH THIS WHOLE GLOBAL WARMING THING BECAUSE OF MY SCIENCE BACKGROUND AND NOW THEY'RE TELLING US THAT THE EARTH IS SELF CORRECTING ITSELF.

(AMEN) BUT IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY (LAUGHING) AND THERE WAS ANOTHER SUBTITLE LIKE NUMBER THREE, “BIG DEBATE ENSUES”. REALLY?! (LAUGH) THERE NEEDS TO BE A DEBATE FOR THIS? (LAUGHING) WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE HOLE IN THE OZONE THAT NEVER EXISTED, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING THAT WAS NEVER REALLY HAPPENING, NOT FROM HUMAN KIND. AND YET YOU OPEN THE MORNING PAPER TODAY ON PAGE 3 OF THE WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, YOU'LL SEE A TINY, TINY, LITTLE ARTICLE ABOUT SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY GOING TO CHANGE THE GLOBAL CLIMATE. BUT IT'S A TINY, TINY, TINY LITTLE ARTICLE AND IF YOU JUST GLOSSING OVER THE NEWSPAPER AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR YOU'LL MISS IT. BUT IT WAS ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN THAT JUST BLEW ASH A DAY AGO FIFTY THOUSAND FEET INTO THE AIR, ALL OVER ALASKA. (AMEN) AND THEY'RE SAYING  THEY THINK IT MIGHT MISS ANCHORAGE AS IT BLOWS NORTH. BUT ONCE IT BLOWS NORTH, IT'S GOING TO COME OVER THE NORTH POLE AND GO DOWN INTO RUSSIA AND THAT IS GOING TO AFFECT THE CLIMATE. MORE IS DONE BY VOLCANOES IN NATURE TO DISRUPT THE GLOBAL CLIMATE THEN ANYTHING MAN HAS EVER DONE. (RIGHT) THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS TIMES MORE JUST BY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE ENVIRONMENT. (RIGHT) NOT BY WHAT MAN IS DOING FROM POLLUTION. I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULDN'T BE AGAINST POLLUTION, WE SHOULD BE AGAINST POLLUTION. BUT MY GOODNESS LET'S NOT BLAME US FOR EVERYTHING. AMEN? (YES AMENS) GLORY BE TO GOD. (AMEN) AND PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT TO BE TRUTHFUL. THEY CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH. AND NOW THEY'RE SAYING ALL THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS BRINGING ON A BIG FREEZE. COME ON PEOPLE. (LAUGHING) I MEAN YOU'RE CHANGING YOUR MIND SO MUCH, YOU JUST YOU KNOW----WHEN THE LORD SPOKE TO ME TWO AND HALF YEARS AGO OR WAS IT TWO AND HALF YEARS AGO? OR A YEAR AND A HALF AGO? ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO. I PROPHESIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HEAT WAVE WE WERE HAVING, THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE SEVEN YEARS OF SNOW. (AMEN) AND WE SEE WHAT HAPPENED OUT THERE THIS MORNING. (YEP) MY GOODNESS PARTICULARLY DOWN NEAR THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE. (YEP) MY GOODNESS WHEN I SAID IT I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SAID, “DAVE, THAT'S HOPEFUL WISHFUL THINKING.” (LAUGHING) BUT GORE IS OUT THERE GETTING AN AWARD FOR SAYING THAT WE'RE IN GLOBAL WARMING.” (LAUGHING) I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE GOT AN AWARD FOR, AND I DON'T REALLY CARE. THIS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE ISN'T GOING TO MAKE WHAT HE SAID TRUE. (THAT'S RIGHT) AMEN? (AMENS) WELL THAT WAS A GOOD COMMERCIAL, PRAISE BE TO GOD. (LAUGHING) LET'S KEEP READING. VERSE 6 AGAIN, “BEHOLD, YOU DESIRE TRUTH IN THE INNERMOST BEING, AND IN THE HIDDEN PART YOU WILL MAKE ME KNOW WISDOM. PURIFY ME WITH HYSSOP, AND I SHALL BE CLEAN; WASH ME, AND I SHALL BE WHITER THAN SNOW. MAKE ME TO HEAR JOY AND GLADNESS, LET THE BONES WHICH YOU HAVE BROKEN REJOICE. HIDE YOUR FACE FROM MY SINS AND BLOT OUT ALL MY INIQUITIES. CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD,” YOU KNOW THAT SONG, “CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, O GOD, AND RENEW A STEADFAST SPIRIT WITHIN ME.” IN OTHER WORDS NOT ONLY DO I WANT TO HAVE A CLEAN HEART, BUT I WANT TO BE ON A STEADY COURSE. I DON'T WANT TO BE WISHY WASHY. (AMEN) VERSE 11, “DO NOT CAST ME AWAY FROM YOUR PRESENCE AND DO NOT TAKE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT FROM ME. RESTORE TO ME THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION,” UNDERLINE THAT WORD SALVATION AGAIN. “ AND SUSTAIN ME WITH A WILLING SPIRIT.” THEN DAVID GOES ON TO SAY, “AFTER I MAKE ALL THESE CHANGES THEN I WILL TEACH TRANSGRESSORS YOUR WAYS. AND SINNERS WILL BE CONVERTED TO YOU.” DAVID'S SAYING, “WITH EVERYTHING I GOT---I STOLE A MAN'S WIFE, I KILLED A GUY, I LIED ABOUT IT, I HID IT, BUT GOD I KNOW, NOT ONLY ARE YOU GOING TO DELIVER ME FROM MY ENEMIES BUT I'M GOING TO RISE UP AND BE A TEACHER OF THE LAW ALL OVER AGAIN. I'M GOING TO FIND A PLACE AGAIN TO SERVE YOU. (YES AMEN) WHAT A POWERFUL, POWERFUL STATEMENT. (UUHHMMM) AND DAVID SAID, “RESTORE UNTO ME THE JOY OF MY SALVATION.” IN OTHER WORDS I HAVEN'T SEEN A VICTORY IN A WHILE. BECAUSE DAVID UNDERSTOOD THAT WORD SALVATION MEANT VICTORY. IT MEANT DELIVERANCE. (YEAH) AND DAVID WASN'T HAVING VICTORIES AND DELIVERANCE. HE WAS GOING THROUGH TURMOIL MENTALLY, HE WASN'T SEEING EVERYTHING GOING THE WAY HE WANTED IT TO GO AND HE SAID, “RESTORE UNTO ME THE JOY OF BEING A VICTOR, THE JOY OF SEEING SOMETHING COME TO PASS THAT'S VICTORIOUS.” (AMEN) SEE WHEN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH A CHALLENGE AND IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE YOU CAN'T WIN. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS GOING TO DELIVER YOU, YOU CAN SAY, “GOD SHOW ME THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION” IN OTHER WORDS THE JOY OF BEING VICTORIOUS. THERE IS A JOY. (YEAH) THERE IS A COMFORT, THERE IS A CONFIDENCE THAT YOU CAN HAVE REPEATEDLY THAT AFTER A WHILE IT BECOMES SO MUCH A PART OF YOUR CHARACTER YOU WON'T KNOW HOW YOU COULD HAVE EVEN BEEN THE OLD PERSON THAT YOU USE TO BE. (AMENS) YOU WON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW YOU GOT TO BE THAT WAY. HOW YOU EVER GOT TO BE SOMEONE THAT JUST YEARS AGO WOULD GIVE UP ANYTHING AT THE DROP OF A HAT; WHERE YOUR EMOTIONS WOULD TAKE YOU TO A PLACE WHERE YOU WOULD JUST THROW IN THE TOWEL NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED. AND DAVID IS SAYING, “RESTORE TO ME THE JOY OF YOUR SALVATION. RESTORE THAT TO ME. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE VICTORIOUS AGAIN.”  (YEAH) NOW WATCH THIS. DAVID SAW THAT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD HAD DETERIORATED AND AS A RESULT HE SAW LESS VICTORIES IN HIS LIFE. SO DAVID MAKES AMENDS WITH GOD. AND HE EXPECTS DELIVERANCE AGAIN THROUGH GOD. NOW WHAT HAPPENED TO DAVID BECAUSE DAVID HAD GROWN IN STATURE AND POWER AND HE GOT CONFIDENCE THROUGH THAT AND THAT WAS GOOD, BUT HE GOT OVER CONFIDENT AND HE THOUGHT HE COULD HANDLE CHALLENGE THAT WAS COMING HIS WAY. BUT THE ONE THING THAT DAVID WASN'T GROWING IN IN THIS PERIOD OF TIME WAS HE WASN'T GROWING IN GRACE. NOW GRACE IS THAT UNMERITED FAVOR. IF YOU EARN IT THEN IT'S NOT GRACE. YOU CAN'T EARN GRACE, YOU GET GRACE. YOU GET GRACE BY FAITH. YOU HAVE GRACE OPERATING IN YOU BY FAITH AND DAVID WASN'T GROWING IN GRACE, HE WAS GROWING IN HIS OWN STATURE AND HIS OWN POWER AND HE WAS SAYING TO HIMSELF, “I CAN STAND UP HERE ON THE WALL AND LOOK DOWN AND SEE ANYTHING I WANT TO SEE AND I CAN DO ANYTHING I WANT TO DO AND I PERSONALLY AM POWERFUL ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE TEMPTATIONS THAT ARE COMING MY WAY. I CAN DO THIS MYSELF.” AND THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS WITH PEOPLE. THE DEVIL WILL TRY TO USE YOUR NEW ELEVATED PLACE TO DEVELOP IN YOU A TWISTED IDEA OF HOLINESS FOR WHAT YOUR FLESH OR WHAT FLESH AND BLOOD COULD NEVER BEAR AND NEVER DO. IN OTHER WORDS YOU CAN GET INTO A BRAND NEW PLACE AND NOW YOU HAVE EXPECTATIONS ON YOURSELF AND IF NOT ON YOURSELF, BECAUSE DAVID DIDN'T HAVE IT ON HIMSELF DID HE? BUT HE HAD IT ON EVERY ONE ELSE AROUND HIM AND YOU BEGIN TO SET THOSE EXPECTATIONS IN PLACE---YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE TEENAGERS IN YOUR HOUSE OR YOU HAVE TEENAGERS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGET TO DO IS THINK BACK WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR THEM TO BE A TEENAGER. THEY FORGET TO LOOK BACK ON WHAT IT WAS LIKE FOR THEM TO BE KIND OF WHATEVER TERMINOLOGY YOU WANT TO USE FOR TEENAGERS THESE DAYS. AND THEY GO, “I NEVER DID THAT, AND I WOULD NEVER DO THAT.” BEFORE YOU KNOW IT THERE'S A LEGALISM THAT SETS IN THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANY GRACE ATTACHED TO IT. AND THE PROBLEM WITH THE ELEVATION OF YOUR LIFE IS YOU'VE FORGOTTEN WHAT SOME OF THE WARS ARE LIKE TO GO THROUGH AT DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS. (THAT'S RIGHT) YOU KNOW THE PERSON THAT COMES INTO CHURCH AND THEY'RE SHOUTING GLORY HALLELUJAH BECAUSE HE'S BEEN IN CHURCH FOR TWENTY YEARS BUT BEFORE HE GOT SAVED WHEN HE CAME INTO THE CHURCH HE WAS A MESS. AND EVERYONE HATED HIM. AND HE STUNK AND HIS WIFE DIVORCED HIM AND HIS KIDS DIDN'T LOVE HIM, BUT NOW HE'S GROWN UP IN GOD AND NOW HE HAS AN ELEVATED POSITION OF HIMSELF. AND HE THINKS WELL YOU KNOW I THINK THIS AND I THINK THAT AND YET IT BECOMES NOT JUST A THING OF HOLINESS BUT TWISTED HOLINESS THAT NO ONE CAN BEAR UNDER. NO ONE CAN STAND UNDER. AND YET AS THAT COMES OUT OF US BECAUSE OF OUR ELEVATED POSITION MANY TIMES WE DON'T LOOK TO OURSELF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING THOSE VERY SAME RULES. WE THINK THAT WE ARE BUT WE'RE REALLY NOT. AND DAVID HAD DEVELOPED THAT PLACE WHERE HE WASN'T JUDGING HIMSELF LIKE HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. HE WASN'T LOOKING AT HIMSELF THE WAY HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. HE STARTED TO SAY AGAIN, “GOD IF I JUST START JUDGING MYSELF AGAIN, IF I LOOK AT MYSELF WOULD YOU RAISE ME UP. WOULD YOU NOT ONLY DEAL WITH MY PRIDE BUT WOULD YOU MAKE SURE THAT I SEE SALVATION AGAIN”

(2009 WORLD FAITH CONFERENCE COMMERCIAL, MUSIC PLAYING)

(COME TO CHURCH COMMERCIAL, MUSIC PLAYING)

OUR MINISTRY GUEST IS PASTOR MYLES HOLMES OF MYLES HOLMES MINISTRIES AND TCT WORLD NETWORK OF MARION, IL. WE HOPE YOU ENJOY HIS MESSAGE. WE HAVE A WONDERFUL TOPIC TODAY THAT WE WANT YOU TO BE INVOLVED WITH. IF YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT, REALLY LIVING IN A PLACE WHERE, “HUUMM IT'S ALL RIGHT WHERE I AM.” MAYBE BELIEVING FOR GOD FOR SOME MORE BUT HAVING A SPIRIT OF CONTENTMENT LIKE PAUL SAID, “WHEREVER I AM, WHATEVER STATE I'M IN, IF I'M IN IDAHO OR ILLINOIS OR HAWAII OR NEW YORK,”, HE WASN'T TALKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS WAS HE? (LAUGHING) “WHATEVER CONDITION I'M IN” HE WAS SAYING I'VE LEARNED TO BE CONTENT. (RIGHT) EDDIE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL TEASE, REALLY REALLY HONEST, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE ARE SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW. AND WE HAVE TO ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BRING US BACK TO A PLACE OF CONTENTMENT. WHILE WE ARE ON THE JOURNEY, I MAY NOT BE WHERE I'M GOING, BUT I'VE GOT TO ENJOY WHERE I AM NOW. IS THAT PART OF IT? [EDDIE SPEAKING:THAT IS ABSOLUTELY SO TRUE AND IT IS SO EASY TO GET RAPPED UP INTO WHAT WE WANT, WHEN WE WANT IT, HOW WE WANT IT, WHERE WE WANT IT, WHENEVER WE WANT IT. (UUHHMM) ANYTIME AND IT GETS TO BE A SELFISH MENTALITY. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT A SPIRIT OF SELFISHNESS IS GRIEVOUS TO GOD AND THAT HE WANTS US TO LEARN AS PAUL SAID TO BE CONTENT IN WHATEVER STATE THAT I FIND MYSELF, TO BE CONTENT TO LEARN IN IT. IS IT EASY? NOT ALWAYS. IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO FIND THAT PLACE...] [CATHY WILLIAMS: WHY ISN'T IT EASY?] [EDDIE WILLIAMS: BECAUSE IT'S SO HARD FOR US TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE SUDDENLY REALIZE AND IT TAKES A (HE'S ROLLING HIS R) REVELATION]...(LAUGHTER) MYLES: TO REALIZE, “WAIT A MINUTE, IT REALLY ISN'T ALL ABOUT ME.” (LAUGHING, THAT'S RIGHT) BUT THAT'S MATURITY, ISN'T IT? THAT'S RESPONSIBILITY, THAT'S GROWING UP AND SAYING HEY IT'S A BIG WIDE WORLD OUT THERE. THERE'S SIX AND A HALF BILLION OR CLOSER TO SEVEN BILLION NOW. SIX AND A HALF BILLION PEOPLE ON THIS PLANET AND THERE'S GOT TO BE ROOM FOR EVERYBODY. [EDDIE WILLIAMS: THAT'S IT.] [VALERIE HOLMES:THE SINFUL NATURE, IF YOU GO FROM GENESIS RIGHT THROUGH THE BIBLE, IT'S SO BENT ON IDOLATRY AND I WAS PONDERING THAT VERSE THAT'S IN OUR DEVOTIONAL TODAY THAT GREED IS IDOLATRY. NOW IF YOU REALLY GIVE THAT SOME THOUGHT IT SAYS THAT A GREEDY PERSON IS AN IDOL WORSHIPER. I'M TELLING YOU THAT GOD HATES IDOLATRY. (YES HE DOES) IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT ABSOLUTELY BROKE THE HEART OF GOD, I MEAN YOU CAN HEAR HOW HEARTBROKEN HE WAS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WHEN HIS PEOPLE SERVED IDOLS AND YET HERE HE SAYS THAT GREED IS IDOLATRY. (UUHHMM) WOW THAT'S REALLY SOMETHING SO...] [CATHY WILLIAMS: WHERE DOES THE IDOL BEING SERVED IN GREED?] [VALERIE HOLMES: I DON'T KNOW, I GUESS OURSELF.] MYLES: SELF, YEAH, THE FLESH, THE CARNAL NATURE...[VALERIE HOLMES: IT'S GOTTA BE WORSHIP...] MYLES: ME, MYSELF, AND I AND THAT'S IT. (UUHHMM) THAT KILLS MARRIAGES, IT KILLS CHURCHES, IT KILLS BUSINESSES, IT KILLS RELATIONSHIPS. IF YOU'RE A FRIEND WITH SOME BODY AND IT'S ALL ABOUT ME THEN YOU LOSE. [VALERIE HOLMES: IF YOU WANT TO DO A STUDY OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY, WHAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FACED IN CONSEQUENCES OF NOT SERVING THEIR GOD BUT SERVING AN IDOL, I MEAN IT WAS SEVERE. IT WAS SEVERE AND GOD IS MERCIFUL AND GOD IS GRACIOUS, BUT HE'S TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION AND SAY I HAVE GOT TO BE FIRST PLACE IN YOUR LIFE AND HE SAID EVERYTHING ELSE IN YOUR LIFE, EVERYTHING WILL FALL INTO ORDER IF YOU WILL KEEP ME FIRST PLACE. HE WAS SAYING THAT FOR THEIR GOOD (THAT'S RIGHT) NOT FOR HIS GOOD. I WANT TO MAKE YOUR LIFE THE BEST AND THIS IS HOW TO DO IT. DON'T WORSHIP ANYTHING ELSE AND WORSHIP ME ALONE. (THAT'S GOOD, THAT'S GOOD) [CATHY WILLIAMS: THAT'S BECAUSE IN ORDER FOR US TO BE CONTENT, WE HAVE TO HAVE TRUE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM.(OH AMEN) WE'RE NEVER GOING TO BE SATISFIED WITH ANYTHING ELSE.] [VALERIE HOLMES: THAT'S THE POINT.] MYLES: EXACTLY! WHAT YOU'RE SEEKING, UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT YOU SEEK IS SPIRITUAL NOT MATERIAL. (THAT IS SO TRUE) HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE LOOKED FOR SOMETHING, WHETHER IT'S I GOT TO GET THIS THING OR WHETHER IT'S THE CAR OR THAT RIGHT DRESS OR THAT RELATIONSHIP OR THAT TOY. (IF ONLY IF ONLY) AND THAT LASTS FOR WHAT, MAYBE DEPENDING ON PERHAPS ON THE PURCHASE, MAYBE FIVE MINUTES? (THAT'S TRUE) MAYBE A WEEK UNTIL YOU FIND OUT THAT EVERYBODY BOUGHT THAT SAME COAT. (LAUGHING) BECAUSE YOU SEE IT EVERYWHERE, THEN WHAT DO WE DO? WE SAY WELL THERE MUST BE SOMETHING ELSE I'M LOOKING FOR, BECAUSE THE DEVOTIONAL IS SO TRUE, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS NOT MATERIAL, IT'S SPIRITUAL. A REST, A SATISFACTION IN GOD. (YEAH) THAT HE IS THE HUNGER THAT I'M AFTER. (AMEN TO THAT) [VALERIE HOLMES: SO IT'S ABOUT NOT LETTING THE DEVIL DECEIVE US INTO THINKING THAT WE WANT SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T NEED.] THAT'S A SILLY BELIEF THAT WE SERVE A JEALOUS GOD, HE WANTS TO GIVE US THINGS TO ENJOY, BUT HE DOESN'T WANT US TO PUT THAT BEFORE. (UUHHMMM,THAT'S RIGHT) MYLES: CAN WE GO TO THIS? LOOK AT THE FIRST ONE, “LEARNING TO BE HAPPY WITH LESS. (SEVERAL OOHHS) THIS ECONOMY? (LAUGHING) [CATHY WILLIAMS: I SAY EDDIE'S TEASE WHEN HE SAID ALL OF THOSE THINGS. WE MAY NOT SAY THEM WITH OUR LIPS, BUT OUR ACTIONS AND THE WAY WE FEEL AND THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES. IT'S WHAT WE ARE SAYING, I WANT WHAT I WANT. I'LL NEVER FORGET ONE OF THE TEACHERS I USE TO WORK WITH, THE LORD SAVED HER BEAUTIFULLY. AND AS SHE BEGAN TO LEARN TO WALK IN GOD AND TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CARNAL NATURE, THE OLD MAN AND THE NEW MAN; AND GOT TO ROMANS THE SEVENTH CHAPTER WHERE PAUL SAYS, YOU KNOW, WHAT I DO I DON'T WANT TO DO, AND WHAT I WANT TO DO I DON'T DO; THAT'S JUST LEARNING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO AND SHE SAYS, “YOU KNOW I FOUND I JUST WANT WHAT I WANT.” (LAUGHING) AND IT'S SO TRUE, WE WANT WHAT SHE WAS SAYING WAS SO TRUE OF WHERE ALL OF US COME TO IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK WITH GOD AND LEARNING TO OVERCOME THAT TAKES US TO THAT PLACE OF CONTENTMENT.] [EDDIE WILLIAMS: THAT'S RIGHT AND WANTING THINGS THERE'S NOTHING WRONG BUT WHEN YOU WANT THAT MORE THAT YOU WANT THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD. ( THAT 'S IT, PRIORITIES) MYLES: BECAUSE GOD DOES WANT TO BLESS US. (ABSOLUTELY) THIS COULD BE CONFUSING UNLESS WE UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYTHING HAS IT'S PLACE. (THAT'S RIGHT) THAT GOD WANTS YOU HAPPY, HE WANTS YOU BLESSED, HE WANTS YOU DRIVING A BETTER CAR NEXT YEAR THAN YOU DID LAST YEAR. HE REALLY DOES WANT TO BLESS US, BUT THE POINT IS NOT TO BE SO FOCUSED ON THE STUFF THAT WE MISS THE SAVIOUR. THAT'S THE POINT AND SO WE'RE NOT CONFUSED, GOD WANTS US CONTENT AND IF THERE'S A LITTLE DEBT TO GET BETTER WITH HANDLING OUR FINANCES, MAYBE WE DO NEED TO DRIVE A CAR THAT'S A FEW YEARS OLDER FOR A WHILE AND TREAT IT NICELY, KEEP IT WASHED AND KEEP IT IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION AND LEARN TO BE CONTENT BECAUSE I'M GOING SOMEWHERE. (UUHHMM) I'M GETTING SOMEWHERE. (ABSOLUTELY) [CATHY WILLIAMS: I THINK NOT BEING CONTENT MIGHT INVOLVE MAYBE OUR PRIDE SOMETIME (OH YES), IT MIGHT INVOLVE OUR PRIDE OR OUR SELFISHNESS AND MYLES YOU MENTIONED HOW IT EFFECTS OUR MARRIAGES AND BECAUSE IT IS THAT IDOLATRY.]

[VALERIE HOLMES: I HAVE A CLASSIC QUOTE FOR YOU NOW, WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT LEARNING TO BE CONTENT. I HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING THE DISCUSSION AND OUR QUOTE GOES RIGHT ALONG WITH THAT, TOO TODAY. IT'S FROM JEREMIAH BURROUGHS, HE LIVED FROM SIXTEEN HUNDRED TO SIXTEEN FORTY SIX. HE WAS A WELL KNOWN ENGLISH PREACHER, PASTOR AND AN AUTHOR. AND WHILE ONE OF THE MOST DISTINQUISHED HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST DISTINQUISHED OF THE ENGLISH INDEPENDENTS. HE DID NOT BOW TO RELIGIOUS CONFORMITY. BURROUGHS PUBLISHED MANY OF HIS WORKS, SOME OF WHICH ARE STILL IN PRINT TODAY. AND ONE OF THE MOST STIRRING BOOKS WAS WRITTEN MORE THAT THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE YEARS AGO, “THE RARE JEWEL OF CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT”. AND THAT'S WHERE WE FIND TODAY'S CLASSIC QUOTE. IT SAYS THIS, “SHALL NOT A CHRISTIAN CONSIDER IT AN UNCHRISTIAN LIKE SPIRIT TO BE OVERLY DEJECTED BY ANY AFFLICTION WHATSOEVER? THINK WHAT A GREAT DEAL OF STIR YOU HAVE WITH YOUR CHILDREN WHEN YOU WEAN THEM. HOW UNCOMFORTABLY VEXED AND TROUBLED THEY ARE. SO WHEN GOD WOULD WEAN YOU FROM SOME OUTWARD COMFORTS IN THIS WORLD, OH HOW FRETTING AND DISCONTENTED YOU ARE. CHILDREN WILL NOT SLEEP THEMSELVES NOT LET THEIR MOTHERS SLEEP WHEN THEY ARE WEANING AND SO WHEN GOD WOULD WEAN US FROM THE WORLD AND WE FRET, VEX, MURMUR AND COMPLAIN, THIS IS A CHILDISH SPIRIT. JEREMIAH BURROUGHS]

[ JUDGE BROWN:] THANK YOU FOR WATCHING “REJOICE”, I HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A GREAT DAY TODAY AND I HAVE SOME CHANGE IN MY HAND, (WHOA) I LOST SOME THERE. YOU KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE A LITTLE CHANGE THING ON THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE AND TRY TO COLLECT CHANGE AND THINGS AND YOU KNOW I WANTED TO SHOW YOU THIS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT VERY MUCH IN THERE. AND SOMETIMES IN OUR LIVES WE FEEL LIKE WE DON'T HAVE VERY MUCH. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT, WE JUST HAVE A LITTLE BIT. BUT YOU KNOW THERE'S A REAL SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPAL THERE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US ABOUT BEING CONTENT WHERE WE ARE. NOW DON'T CONFUSE BEING CONTENT WITH SLOTHFULNESS AND LAZINESS, DON'T CONFUSE THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN BE CONTENT BUT REALLY ACTUALLY BE VERY LAZY AND SLOTHFUL, BUT IT'S TALKING ABOUT, “GOD I THANK YOU FOR WHERE I AM BECAUSE I KNOW I'M GOING SOMEWHERE BETTER AND I'M GOING TO PRAISE YOU IN SPITE OF WHERE I AM AND WHAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW AT THIS MOMENT. AND LEARNING TO BE CONTENT BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE.

YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ON PASTOR MYLES HOLMES AT WWW.TCT.TV OR WWW.MYLESHOLMES.COM. NOW BACK TO OUR REGULAR MESSAGE WITH PASTOR DAVID GONZALEZ.

...WOULD YOU NOT ONLY DEAL WITH MY PRIDE BUT WOULD YOU MAKE SURE THAT I SEE SALVATION AGAIN” WHEN WE SAY IMMANUEL, WITH US IS GOD, WE'RE NOT SAYING I'M HOLY, WE'RE SAYING HE'S HOLY. (RIGHT) WE'RE SAYING THAT GOD IS HOLY ENOUGH TO DELIVER US, WE'RE SAYING THAT GOD IS STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE US BEAT BACK THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES. (AMENS) WHEN YOU SAY I HAVE A SITUATION, GOD I HAVE SOME TEMPTATIONS HERE, I GOT SOME WEAKNESSES HERE, I GOT SOME THINGS GOING ON AND YET YOU ALSO SAY IN THE SAME BREATH, “YET GOD I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DELIVER ME. YET GOD I KNOW I'M GOING TO SEE THIS THROUGH, YET GOD I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE ME BE VICTORIOUS.”(AMENS) WHY IS IT THAT YOU CAN HAVE ONE PERSON OVER HERE THAT MAYBE JUST TWO STEPS FROM HELL AND GET SAVED AND ANOTHER PERSON OVER HERE WHO DOESN'T DRINK, DOESN'T CHEW, DOESN'T KNOW ANYONE WHO DOES. AND THEY GET SAVED THE SAME DAY, HOW IS IT THAT THEY CAN HAVE EQUAL SIZE MIRACLES HAPPENING IMMEDIATELY? BECAUSE GOD ISN'T ANY RESPECTER OF PERSONS. AND GOD CAN JUDGE THINGS WITH GRACE BETTER THAN HUMANS CAN. (AMENS) AND WHEN WE FALL INTO THE TRAP BECAUSE OF OUR ELEVATED STATE, BECAUSE OF WHAT GOD HAS DONE TO PROMOTE US THEN WE GET INTO PLACES PLACING BURDENS ON PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE NEVER MEANT TO BEAR, EXPECTING PEOPLE TO DO AND ACTING IN A CARELESS JUDGMENTAL WAY; THEN WE'VE STEPPED OUT OF THAT PLACE THAT GOD WANTS US TO BE IN, AND IF WE CAN'T MINISTER GRACE TO OTHER PEOPLE THEN GOD CAN'T MINISTER GRACE TO US. (AMEN) WELL I WANNA KIND OF START WINDING IT DOWN AS QUICKLY AS I CAN HERE. NOW THERE ARE GOING TO BE THREE THINGS THAT’LL HELP MAINTAIN YOUR JOY AND VICTORY. WE’VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THEM THIS MORNING BUT LET'S GO OVER TO ROMANS CHAPTER 5 AND I’LL JUST GO THROUGH THIS QUICKLY. ROMANS CHAPTER FIVE STARTING IN VERSE ONE, ^“THEREFORE, HAVING BEEN JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,” SO WERE JUSTIFIED BY FAITH. WE”RE NOT JUSTIFIED BY WORK. ^”THROUGH WHOM ALSO WE HAVE OBTAINED OUR INTRODUCTION BY FAITH INTO THIS GRACE IN WHICH WE STAND; AND WE EXULT IN HOPE OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” SO IN OTHER WORD WE OBTAINED OUR INTRODUCTION BY FAITH INTO GRACE. GRACE IS THE OBJECT WE GET IT BY OPERATING IN FAITH SO WE RECEIVE GRACE BY GOD FOR OUR POSITION IN LIFE RIGHT NOW. AND WE SAY DESPITE GOD WHAT YOU SEE, “GOD I’M GONNA ASK FOR YOUR GRACE TO BE MINISTERED TO ME BUT DESPITE THE MISTAKES THAT I’VE MADE GOD MINISTER GRACE TO ME. GOD I’VE MADE MISTAKES IN THE COMPANY, GOD I’VE MADE MISTAKES IN THE BUSINESS, GOD I’VE MADE MISTAKES ON THE ROAD, GOD I’VE MADE MISTAKES WITH MY FAMILY, GOD I’VE MADE MISTAKES WITH THE CHILDREN, WITH THE SPOUSE. GOD I’VE MADE MISTAKES WITH THE CHECKING ACCOUNT, GOD I’VE MADE MISTAKES WITH THE CREDIT CARD, GOD I’VE MADE MISTAKES OUT IN THE PUBLIC EYE. BUT GOD WOULD YOU MINISTER GRACE TO ME AND I’M GONNA STAND IN FAITH TO HAVE THAT GRACE COME IN DESPITE THE LEVEL OF CHRISTIANITY THAT I’M AT. NO MATTER WHERE I’M AT, GOD MINISTER GRACE TO ME. AND GOD WILL BEGIN TO DO THAT BUT YOU HAVE DO THAT BY FAITH, THAT DOESN’T COME AUTOMATICALLY. EVERY TIME YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE IT BY FAITH. WHEN GOD GOES TO BLESS YOU, YOU RECEIVE THAT BLESSING BY FAITH. YOU SAY, “GOD I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS BLESSING.” YOU DON’T GO, “WELL IT MUST HAVE BEEN MY OLD TALENT COMING BACK IN, KICKING IN AND GETTING ME ALL THIS STUFF!” NO, YOU THANK GOD BECAUSE IT’S GODS GRACE GIVING YOU THOSE THINGS. CAN I HEAR AN AMEN? (AMEN) SO IT’S NOT YOUR HOLINESS IT’S IMMANUEL, HIS HOLINESS, WITH ME IS GOD. AMEN? (AMEN) NOW YOUR GROWTH IS NOT MEASURED BY GOING BACKWARD INTO PRIDE, INTO SIN, BUT IT IS MEASURED BY THE INSIGHT YOU HAVE INTO YOURSELF SPIRITUALLY. SO I GUESS THE FIRST POINT WOULD BE UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS COMPLETELY CONNECTED TO THE AMOUNT OF GRACE THAT YOU WANT TO MINISTER AND WILL ALLOW GOD TO MINISTER TO YOU. (HALLELUJAH) YOU DON’T HAVE TO FALL BACK INTO SIN LIKE DAVID TO NOTICE THAT YOUR OFF IN THE WRONG AREA! BUT WHAT YOU DO NEED TO NOTICE IS, “WHERE AM I AT SPIRITUALLY? CAN I HANDLE CORRECTION? CAN I HANDLE GOD SPEAKING TO ME? CAN I HANDLE THOSE THAT ARE OVER ME AND THAT ARE GIVING ME INSTRUCTION, TO GIVE ME THE RIGHT INSTRUCTION? CAN I RECEIVE IT AND INSTEAD OF BEING MAD, CAN I RECEIVE IT WITH JOY?” SO IN OTHER WORDS CHECK YOURSELF BY GRACE. DON’T JUDGE YOURSELF, WHERE YOU JUST CALL YOURSELF, “YOUR AS LOW AS A BUG ON A RUG.” BUT SAY, “I NEED SOME CHANGE HERE; GOD WILL YOU MINISTER GRACE TO ME!”(AMEN) DON’T PRAY THAT YOUR CHALLENGES DECREASE; PRAY THAT YOUR ABILITY INCREASES TO HANDLE THE CHALLENGES. (AMEN) PEOPLE COME TO ME ALL THE TIME, “PASTOR PRAY THAT GOD TAKES THIS AWAY FROM ME.” AND A LOT OF TIMES I’LL TELL PEOPLE PRIVATELY I CAN’T DO THAT! WHAT YOUR ASKING ME TO DO IS NOT BIBLICAL. SO I JUST WANT THIS JOB TO GO EASIER. WHAT YOU REALLY WANT IS YOUR JOB NOT TO HAVE THE CHALLENGES THAT YOUR BEING PAID TO HANDLE. OK I’LL PREACH OVER HERE TO THIS MOUNTAIN OVER (LAUGHING) HERE CAUSE THAT WAS...(THAT'S RIGHT) COME ON CHURCH! (AMEN) YOU WANT TO GET PAID A HIGH AMOUNT OF MONEY BUT YOU DON’T WANT TO HAVE THE CHALLENGES THAT GO WITH THE PAY. (COME ON, THAT’S RIGHT) “LORD TAKE THE CHALLENGES AWAY AT MY JOB!” YOUR'RE PRAYING THE WRONG THING. (THAT’S RIGHT) WHY DON’T YOU INSTEAD ASK GOD GIVE ME THE AUTHORITY AND THE POWER TO HANDLE THE CHALLENGES OF WHAT I’M EXPERIENCING IN THIS JOB, SO THAT I LOOK VICTORIOUS AND FEEL VICTORIOUS. (AMEN) WHEN PEOPLE TELL ME, “EVERY TIME I GO HOME AT NIGHT AND SEE THE PILE OF STUFF ON MY DESK AND I GO HOME AND I JUST CRY CAUSE I GOT SO MUCH WORK STILL TO DO!” AND I SCRATCH MY HEAD AND SAY THAT’S JOB SECURITY! WHAT ARE YOU CRYING ABOUT! YOU GOT A PILE OF WORK TO COME INTO IN THE MORNING, SOME PEOPLE DON’T HAVE A JOB TO COME INTO AND IF THAT PILE WASN’T THERE I COULD LET YOU OFF! HELLO? (AMEN) ISN’T THAT RIGHT? (YEP, AMEN) “WELL I JUST DON’T SEE HOW I'M GOING TO GET THROUGH IT!” I DON’T EITHER; WHY DON’T YOU PRAY! (LAUGHING) YOU KNOW PEOPLE COME TO ME A LOT, “WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN AFTER I GET ALL THIS WORK DONE?” YOU DON’T KNOW ME. (AAHHAA YEAH) AMEN? (AMEN, LAUGHING) I’LL PUT ANOTHER COUPLE OF PILES IN FRONT OF YOU; I’LL MULTIPLY THOSE PILES FOR YA. GLORY BE TO GOD. IT”LL BE LIKE THE FISHES AND THE LOAVES ALL OVER AGAIN MAN! (LAUGHING) THOSE THAT WORK FOR ME KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT. ALRIGHT, (AMEN)(PASTOR TRYING NOT TO LAUGH, OTHERS LAUGHING) DON’T GET DISTRESSED OVER SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE COMING YOUR WAY. LETS GO OVER TO FIRST THESSALONIANS CHAPTER FIVE. IF YOUR GONNA HAVE JOY, EXPECT TO SEE SOME THINGS HAPPEN WELL IN YOUR LIFE, EXPECT EVERYTHING THAT’S COMING YOUR WAY TO WORK OUT. CHAPTER FIVE STARTING IN VERSE ONE, “NOW AS TO THE TIMES AND THE EPOCHS, BRETHREN, YOU HAVE NO NEED OF ANYTHING TO BE WRITTEN TO YOU. FOR YOU YOURSELVES KNOW FULL WELL THAT THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME JUST LIKE A THIEF IN THE NIGHT. WHILE THEY ARE SAYING, "PEACE AND SAFETY!" THEN DESTRUCTION WILL COME UPON THEM SUDDENLY LIKE LABOR PAINS UPON A WOMAN WITH CHILD, AND THEY WILL NOT ESCAPE. BUT YOU, BRETHREN, ARE NOT IN DARKNESS, THAT THE DAY WOULD OVERTAKE YOU LIKE A THIEF; FOR YOU ARE ALL SONS OF LIGHT AND SONS OF DAY. WE ARE NOT OF NIGHT NOR OF DARKNESS; SO THEN LET US NOT SLEEP AS OTHERS DO, BUT LET US BE ALERT AND SOBER. FOR THOSE WHO SLEEP DO THEIR SLEEPING AT NIGHT, AND THOSE WHO GET DRUNK GET DRUNK AT NIGHT. BUT SINCE WE ARE OF THE DAY, LET US BE SOBER, HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF FAITH AND LOVE, AND AS A HELMET, THE HOPE OF SALVATION.” THAT’S NOT THE HOPE OF GOING TO HEAVEN, THAT’S NOT THE HOPE OF NOT LOSING JESUS CHRIST OUT OF YOUR HEART, THAT IS THE JEWISH UNDERSTANDING OF SALVATION BEING USED TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO BY PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTOOD WHAT THAT WORD MEANT. (AMEN) “AND AS A HELMET, THE HOPE OF SALVATION.” IN OTHER WORDS, PUT ON THE THINKING CAP; AGAIN CHURCH WE’VE COVERED SO MANY OF THESE SCRIPTURES. PUT ON THE PROTECTION ON YOUR MIND THAT NO MATTER HOW BAD THE FIGHT AND THE BATTLE IS, GOD'S GONNA DELIVER YOU THROUGH IT. (HALLELUJAH) HE’S GONNA TAKE YOU THROUGH IT. (AMEN) HE’S GONNA TAKE YOU THROUGH IT. (AMEN) DON’T GIVE UP AND SAY, “WELL PASTOR I’M WORKING A LOT MORE HOURS NOW.” WHAT IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WANT ME TO PRAY DOESN’T HAPPEN ANYMORE? (NO AMEN) I WAS WATCHING AN OLD MOVIE JUST BRIEFLY LAST NIGHT, A BLACK AND WHITE, AND IN THAT BLACK AND WHITE MOVIE THE HUSBAND CAME HOME AND GAVE HIS PAYCHECK TO THE WIFE FOR THE WEEK AND SHE SAID, “ITS SATURDAY NIGHT, WHERE’S YOUR PAY?” AND IMMEDIATELY I UNDERSTOOD THAT HE HAD JUST WORKED FROM MONDAY TO SATURDAY NIGHT AND THAT GOT HIS LITTLE WHITE ENVELOPE WITH CASH IN IT BACK IN THE FORTIES. HE HAD WORKED SIX DAYS AND YOU TELL A LOT OF CHRISTIANS NOW THEY GOT TO WORK SIX FULL DAYS FROM BEFORE THE SUN COMES UP TILL AFTER THE SUN GOES DOWN AND YOU GOT TO WORK ALL THE WAY TO SATURDAY NIGHT TO CALL THAT A FULL WORK WEEK; THEY’LL PASS OUT JUST AT THE THOUGHT OF IT. (AMEN, LAUGHING) ARE YOU KIDDING ME? (CLAPPING) I GOT TO WORK THAT MUCH?! WHAT’S WRONG WITH WORK? THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH WORK! MAYBE WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A COUNTRY TO GET OURSELVES OUT OF DEBT IS HAVE EVERY CHRISTIAN IN THE COUNTRY START WORKING EXTRA HOURS. START BELIEVING GOD FOR BIG THINGS SO THAT WE CAN GET THE WHOLE COUNTRY OUT OF DEBT ON OUR OWN. AMEN? (AMEN, CLAPPING) DO IT BY OURSELVES! (COME ON) HOW DO YOU THINK WE GOT INTO THIS? BY ONE TOO MANY MARTINI’S AND ONE TO MANY VACATIONS. COME ON CHURCH! (YEAH) PUT ON AS A HELMET, SOMETHING THAT YOU PROTECT YOUR BRAIN WITH, AS A HELMET THE HOPE OF THE DELIVERANCE FROM THE MOLESTATION OF OUR ENEMIES. THE HOPE THAT WERE GOING TO HAVE VICTORY ONCE AGAIN THAT’S WHAT THAT MEANS. IT IS NOT A HOPE OF GOING TO HEAVEN. MY GOODNESS ,IF WE HAVE TO ALWAYS HOPE IF WE’RE GOING TO HEAVEN THEN THAT’S NOT WHAT BEING SAVED IS REALLY ALL ABOUT. (AMEN) I KNOW THAT AS LONG AS I STAY IN JESUS, I’M GONNA MAKE IT. (AMEN) AMEN? (AMENS) THAT’S ALL I NEED TO KNOW. (AMEN) WE DON’T BELIEVE ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED, BUT WE ALSO KNOW ITS PRETTY HARD TO LOSE YOUR SALVATION. (AMEN) COME ON CHURCH! (AMENS) FINALLY, LETS GO OVER TO ROMANS CHAPTER EIGHT STARTING IN VERSE FIVE. IN MY BIBLE, IT SAYS RIGHT AT THE...AS A TITLE KIND OF A REFERENCE FOR THE CHAPTER, IT SAYS, “DELIVERANCE FROM BONDAGE”. STARTING IN VERSE FIVE “FOR THOSE WHO ARE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH SET THEIR MINDS ON THE THINGS OF THE FLESH,” WHAT ARE THE MINDS THINGS OF THE FLESH? HATREDS, UNFORGIVENESS, BITTERNESS, JEALOUSY’S, AMEN? OFFENSE ,MY GOODNESS, OFFENSE ,THAT’S A THING OF THE FLESH. “BUT THOSE WHO ARE ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT, THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT. FOR THE MIND SET ON THE FLESH IS DEATH, BUT THE MIND SET ON THE SPIRIT IS LIFE AND PEACE, BECAUSE THE MIND SET ON THE FLESH IS HOSTILE TOWARD GOD; FOR IT DOES NOT SUBJECT ITSELF TO THE LAW OF GOD, FOR IT IS NOT EVEN ABLE TO DO SO, AND THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD. HOWEVER, YOU ARE NOT IN THE FLESH BUT IN THE SPIRIT, IF INDEED THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLS IN YOU. BUT IF ANYONE DOES NOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE DOES NOT BELONG TO HIM.” THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND. NUMBER THREE YOU CANNOT DISCERN THE WAYS OF TRUTH AND THE WAY TO SALVATION IN YOUR SITUATIONS IF YOU ARE NOT WALKING IN THE SPIRIT. (AMEN) YOU KNOW ALREADY TODAY, I’VE GOTTEN IN A FULL HOUR OF PRAYING IN OTHER TONGUES JUST TODAY. (AMEN) I’M NOT SAYING THAT SO LIGHT CAN SHINE ON ME, I'M SAYING THAT YOU NEED TO COME UP TO AT LEAST ONE MINUTE PRAYING IN OTHER TONGUES A DAY; YOU NEED TO COME UP TO FIVE MINUTES; YOU NEED TO COME UP TO TEN MINUTES. “WELL I DON’T KNOW HOW I CAN DO THAT.” WELL YOU GOT WINDSHIELD TIME ON THE WAY TO WORK TOMORROW MORNING, YOU CAN DO THAT, YOU GOT WINDSHIELD TIME ON THE WAY HOME TODAY YOU CAN DO THAT. (AMEN) WHEN WE COME TO CHURCH TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, MY CHILDREN PRAY A MINIMUM OF FIVE MINUTES EVERY SINGLE TIME WE COME TO CHURCH WHEN THEY'RE IN MY CAR AND I BELIEVE THAT KATHY DOES THE SAME THING IN HER CAR. SO IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT CAR THE KIDS ARE IN; THEY HAVE TO PRAY. WE ACTUALLY SET IT ON OUR CLOCK. WE WATCH THE CLOCK, EVERYONE PRAY IN OTHER TONGUES FOR FIVE MINUTES. WELL I’M EXPECTING MY KIDS TO HAVE VICTORY, BUT THERE GOING TO NEED THAT SUPER NATURAL ENDOWED POWER, WISDOM FROM GOD, THAT MAKES NO SENSE NATURALLY. (AMEN) GOD CAN ALLOW ME TO SEE THINGS THAT NO ONE ELSE CAN SEE BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD. THEY'RE CHRISTIANS, BUT THEY'RE NOT BUILDING THEMSELVES UP IN THEIR MOST HOLY FAITH. SALVATION COMES, LIKE WE FOUND OUT LAST WEEK, IN ONE OF THE WAYS FROM DISCERNMENT. DISCERNING WHO TO GO INTO BUSINESS WITH, DISCERNING WHO TO WORK WITH, DISCERNING WHAT TO BUY, DISCERNING THAT CAR OR THAT THING IS GOING TO WORK OR NOT WORK. LET'S CLOSE IT WITH THIS ILLUSTRATION ON THIS THOUGHT. YEARS AGO KATHY WAS DRIVING AN OLD, OLD, OLD GREEN PICKUP TRUCK AND IT WAS SO RUSTED IN THE CENTER OF THE FRAME THAT IT WAS STARTING TO FOLD ,AND IT WAS A PIECE OF JUNK AND I MADE HER DRIVE IT, AND WE HAD SIX KIDS AT THE TIME. IT WAS GREEN AND THE WHITE HAD SO YELLOWED ON THE SIDE OF THE PICKUP…THAT IT HAD TURNED TO YELLOW. YOU COULDN’T OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE; YOU HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS, WHICH MEANT IF THAT TRUCK OLD, OLD, OLD, PICKUP TRUCK EVER BLEWUP, THEY WOULD ALL BE CAUGHT INSIDE OF IT ALIVE. AND NOW THE WINDOWS WERE STICKING TO WHERE SHE COULDN’T EVEN GET THE DOOR OPENED; SO SOMETIMES SHE HAD TO BANG ON THE WINDOW HOPING THAT SOME WOULD BE WALKING BY TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR HER FROM THE OTHER SIDE. NO REALLY, THIS IS WHERE WE CAME FROM AND SO YOU KNOW I RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS…YOU KNOW THAT WE DIDN’T HAVE ANY MONEY, BUT I SAID LORD I JUST NEED ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AND BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR KATHY. WELL AT THE TIME I HAD FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS SAVED UP IN CASH AND THE LORD SAID I WANT YOU TO GO OVER AND LOOK AT THIS VEHICLE. SO I WENT AND OVER LOOKED AT A VEHICLE AT A CAR LOT BEAUTIFUL PICKUP IT WAS STILL AND OLD PICKUP BUT IT WAS IN A LOT BETTER CONDITION AND THEY WANTED TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR IT. WELL I HAD MANAGED TO BELIEVE GOD FOR TWO GRAND JUST WITH IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THE MONEY JUST SHOWED UP AND I DROVE THE TRUCK, IT WAS A NICE TRUCK, IT WAS A SUPER CAB SO ALL MY KIDS COULD SIT BEHIND THE SEAT NOW. AND THE OTHER TRUCK KATHY WAS DRIVING WAS JUST A REGULAR CAB TRUCK, AND THAT WAS ON A FRIDAY NIGHT AND I GOT UP SATURDAY MORNING AND TOLD HER ABOUT THE TRUCK, SHE GOES, “WELL LETS GO GET IT ,LETS JUST GET IT” AND I SAID, “NO THE LORD IS TELLING ME TO GO BY MYSELF; I CAN'T BRING YOU,” AND SHE ARGUED WITH ME A LITTLE BIT, “NO LET'S GO BUY THE TRUCK. IF GOD TOLD YOU TO BUY IT ,LET'S BUY IT.” I SAID, “WELL NO, NOW HE'S TELLING ME THIS MORNING I JUST NEED TO GO LOOK AT IT BY MYSELF.” SO I TOOK ONE OF THE KIDS IN MY VEHICLE, WE DROVE OUT TO SEE THE TRUCK AND THE TRUCK WAS NO LONGER ALL WHITE. NOW IT'S WHITE AND BLACK, IT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. WHEN THEY WENT TO GO START IT UP AFTER WE LEFT, IT BLEW UP. NOW HAD I WENT AND BOUGHT THAT TRUCK FOR HER, SHE MIGHT HAVE BOUGHT A TRUCK THAT WOULD HAVE BLOWN UP AND DONE EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT THE FIRST TRUCK WAS GOING TO DO. BUT THE LORD GAVE ME WARNING AND GAVE ME PAUSE AND SAID…NOW FRIENDS YOU ONLY GET THAT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. (AMENS) IF YOU WALK IN THE SPIRIT, YOU WILL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH. IF YOU WALK IN THE SPIRIT, YOU CAN MORE DETERMINE WHAT SALVATION YOU REALLY NEED. YOU MIGHT THINK YOU NEED DELIVERANCE OVER HERE. GOD TAKE AWAY THE PRESSURE OF MY JOB BUT WHAT YOU REALLY NEED IS DELIVERANCE FROM BEING A (PASTOR PAUSES THEN SAYS LOWLY) BABY AND JUST BE STRONGER ON THE JOB. (LAUGHING) AMEN? (AMEN) IT WASN’T ME THAT SAID THAT WORD, OKAY? (LAUGHING) LETS ALL STAND. AMEN (AMENS)

WELL WASN'T THAT A GREAT BROADCAST AND A GREAT MESSAGE? FRIENDS IF YOU'VE NEVER MADE JESUS CHRIST YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR, IT'S TIME THAT YOU DID. I KNOW THAT YOU THINK SO AND I THINK SO TOO. SO LET'S DO THIS RIGHT NOW. LET'S JOIN THE REST OF THE BODY OF CHRIST IN MAKING A DECISION TO BE IN HEAVEN. REPEAT THESE WORDS OUT LOUD AFTER ME. SAY, DEAR JESUS, COME INTO MY HEART RIGHT NOW AND MAKE ME A NEW PERSON. A NEW CREATION. I DON'T WANT TO BE THAT OLD PERSON ANYMORE. THANK YOU JESUS FOR DYING ON THE CROSS FOR ME SO I DON'T HAVE TO DIE FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE WRONG. IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN AND AMEN. NOW DIDN'T THAT FEEL GOOD? I’LL TELL YOU WHAT, YOU JUST MADE THE MOST POWERFUL DECISION A CHRISTIAN CAN EVER MAKE IN THEIR LIFETIME AND THAT IS CHOOSING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO HEAVEN AND CHOOSING ON YOUR OWN. I'M PROUD OF YOU AND I LOVE YOU. AND I WANT TO SEND THIS FREE BOOKLET OUT TO YOU. IT'S CALLED "WELCOME TO THE FAMILY." WRITE TO ME AT PO BOX 847, LAKE DELTON WI 53940 AND WE'LL SEND THIS FREE BOOKLET OUT TO YOU, CALLED WELCOME TO THE FAMILY. IT'S OUR GIFT TO YOU FOR YOU MAKING A GOOD DECISION IN JESUS CHRIST AND A GOOD DECISION TO GO TO HEAVEN. WELL, THIS IS ALL I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY. SO THIS IS PASTOR DAVE GONZALEZ SAYING "PRESS IN TO GOD AND HE WILL PRESS IN TO YOU. AND I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN HERE NEXT WEEK AT THE MOUNTAIN.