1 00:00:31,859 --> 00:00:32,699 Yeah, don't mess up. 2 00:00:32,699 --> 00:00:36,099 He says, you know, it was a blessing singing Revive Us Again. 3 00:00:36,339 --> 00:00:37,299 It's kind of a. 4 00:00:37,459 --> 00:00:39,619 Kind of funny that we sang Revive Us Again. 5 00:00:40,579 --> 00:00:43,659 We were helping church plant for quite some time. 6 00:00:43,659 --> 00:00:46,939 And if you've never church planted before, man, you should do 7 00:00:46,939 --> 00:00:47,219 that. 8 00:00:47,939 --> 00:00:49,539 It's a whole new world out there. 9 00:00:49,699 --> 00:00:53,899 And my wife, she can play the piano some. 10 00:00:53,899 --> 00:00:55,379 She can play about four or five. 11 00:00:55,379 --> 00:00:57,519 Songs, and so she was our piano player. 12 00:00:57,519 --> 00:01:01,679 And we would sing the same four or five songs over and over 13 00:01:01,999 --> 00:01:03,679 and over and over again. 14 00:01:03,679 --> 00:01:05,999 And Revive Us Again was one of those songs. 15 00:01:06,479 --> 00:01:11,199 And then we got to Rock Wall and we started singing Revive Us 16 00:01:11,199 --> 00:01:11,519 Again. 17 00:01:11,918 --> 00:01:15,439 And most of the people there says amen. 18 00:01:16,479 --> 00:01:18,799 And I don't say amen. 19 00:01:18,799 --> 00:01:19,559 I say amen. 20 00:01:19,559 --> 00:01:20,679 We say amen at church. 21 00:01:20,679 --> 00:01:21,919 How many of y' all say amen. 22 00:01:21,919 --> 00:01:24,729 Whenever something good has said during the preaching? 23 00:01:24,729 --> 00:01:25,609 Nobody does that. 24 00:01:25,609 --> 00:01:27,289 If you do, it's kind of weird. 25 00:01:27,289 --> 00:01:27,849 It's weird. 26 00:01:27,929 --> 00:01:28,569 You do. 27 00:01:28,649 --> 00:01:29,129 Yeah. 28 00:01:29,529 --> 00:01:29,929 And. 29 00:01:30,249 --> 00:01:31,049 But anyways. 30 00:01:31,209 --> 00:01:33,529 And so it's kind of funny that we sang that. 31 00:01:33,609 --> 00:01:36,409 And thank you for saying amen in that song. 32 00:01:36,409 --> 00:01:36,969 Amen. 33 00:01:37,449 --> 00:01:39,368 Well, it has been a blessing to be here today. 34 00:01:39,529 --> 00:01:43,769 I've had a great time here at the church, and I've really enjoyed 35 00:01:43,769 --> 00:01:46,049 the opportunity to get to preach for you. 36 00:01:46,049 --> 00:01:49,049 And I'm thankful for the attentiveness in the services. 37 00:01:49,209 --> 00:01:49,769 It's been. 38 00:01:50,259 --> 00:01:50,899 Been a blessing. 39 00:01:52,259 --> 00:01:55,499 This morning in Sunday school, we've already looked at how the love 40 00:01:55,499 --> 00:01:59,739 of Christ constraineth us and our motivation behind what we do 41 00:01:59,739 --> 00:02:01,619 and why we are doing what we do. 42 00:02:01,619 --> 00:02:05,259 And then in the morning message, we preached on the cause 43 00:02:05,259 --> 00:02:06,259 and effect of Christ. 44 00:02:06,579 --> 00:02:08,659 They asked Peter, why are you doing these things? 45 00:02:08,659 --> 00:02:11,339 By what power, by what name are you doing the things that you're 46 00:02:11,339 --> 00:02:11,539 doing? 47 00:02:11,539 --> 00:02:13,499 And Peter stands and he preaches the. 48 00:02:13,499 --> 00:02:15,459 Word of God, basically preaches Christ to them. 49 00:02:15,459 --> 00:02:17,499 And he is the reason why we. 50 00:02:17,499 --> 00:02:18,259 Do what we do. 51 00:02:18,499 --> 00:02:20,459 And whatever Christ has done for us,. 52 00:02:20,459 --> 00:02:21,459 He saved our soul. 53 00:02:21,999 --> 00:02:22,679 He's helped us out. 54 00:02:22,679 --> 00:02:24,039 He walks with us, he talks with us. 55 00:02:24,039 --> 00:02:26,879 He promises never to leave us nor forsake us. 56 00:02:27,519 --> 00:02:29,439 He's the best friend that we've ever had. 57 00:02:29,439 --> 00:02:31,359 That friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 58 00:02:31,359 --> 00:02:33,359 Jesus Christ has been so good to us. 59 00:02:33,359 --> 00:02:36,959 And because of that, we go out and we want to share that message 60 00:02:36,959 --> 00:02:38,479 with the lost and dying world. 61 00:02:40,399 --> 00:02:43,879 And tonight I want to draw our attention and hopefully bring it 62 00:02:43,879 --> 00:02:44,479 all together. 63 00:02:45,039 --> 00:02:46,719 Out of the Little Book of Joel. 64 00:02:47,849 --> 00:02:48,969 The Little Book of Joel. 65 00:02:49,449 --> 00:02:54,249 If you have the same Bible that I do, it's on page 1136. 66 00:02:54,409 --> 00:02:56,409 If you don't have the same Bible I do. 67 00:02:56,409 --> 00:02:58,329 It's probably in the white pages of your Bible. 68 00:02:58,329 --> 00:02:58,889 Okay? 69 00:02:59,609 --> 00:03:00,889 It's the Book of Joel. 70 00:03:02,409 --> 00:03:04,129 You know, many times in church, the. 71 00:03:04,129 --> 00:03:09,769 Preacher will tell us what to do, but sometimes we don't get the 72 00:03:09,769 --> 00:03:10,009 how. 73 00:03:10,009 --> 00:03:12,249 Do we do what you're telling us to do? 74 00:03:13,699 --> 00:03:15,899 How many times have you been to church and you've been told, this 75 00:03:15,899 --> 00:03:18,259 is how we are to do this, this is how we're to do that, this is 76 00:03:18,259 --> 00:03:22,339 how you grow spiritually, this is what you're to do, but we don't 77 00:03:22,339 --> 00:03:23,419 know how here. 78 00:03:23,419 --> 00:03:27,179 Recently, I've been dealing with people, counseling people, even 79 00:03:27,179 --> 00:03:30,259 my own children, that have come to me and said, dad, I don't 80 00:03:30,259 --> 00:03:33,059 know how to properly study the word of God. 81 00:03:33,539 --> 00:03:36,139 I know that I'm supposed to read the Bible, but I don't know 82 00:03:36,139 --> 00:03:37,619 how to study the word of God. 83 00:03:38,019 --> 00:03:40,579 And these are kids that have grown up in church their whole life. 84 00:03:40,579 --> 00:03:44,259 And I would imagine there's people here, even in this church 85 00:03:44,259 --> 00:03:45,629 that have read the Bible. 86 00:03:45,629 --> 00:03:47,989 Maybe you read it through all the time, but you don't know how 87 00:03:47,989 --> 00:03:49,069 to study the Bible. 88 00:03:49,789 --> 00:03:51,549 We should be taught how to do these things. 89 00:03:51,549 --> 00:03:52,029 I believe. 90 00:03:54,269 --> 00:03:55,709 And so I pray that the message. 91 00:03:55,709 --> 00:03:58,029 Tonight will help us with the how. 92 00:03:58,349 --> 00:04:01,949 To put together the Sunday school, how to put together the AM 93 00:04:02,109 --> 00:04:02,509 Service. 94 00:04:03,389 --> 00:04:05,949 I typically don't read a whole, whole bunch, but I'm going 95 00:04:05,949 --> 00:04:06,709 to read a little bit. 96 00:04:06,709 --> 00:04:09,149 And please don't lose me as I'm reading this, okay? 97 00:04:09,789 --> 00:04:13,869 In Joel, chapter number one, Joel, chapter number one, the Bible 98 00:04:13,869 --> 00:04:17,309 says this the word of the Lord that came to Joel the son of. 99 00:04:18,109 --> 00:04:21,429 Hear this, ye olde men, and give ear all ye inhabitants of the 100 00:04:21,429 --> 00:04:21,709 land. 101 00:04:22,109 --> 00:04:25,229 Hath this been in your days or even in the days of your fathers. 102 00:04:25,229 --> 00:04:27,549 Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their 103 00:04:27,549 --> 00:04:29,549 children and their children another generation. 104 00:04:30,029 --> 00:04:33,469 So he's teaching right off the bat on, hey, we need to tell these 105 00:04:33,469 --> 00:04:36,669 younger people, this younger generation and this younger generation, 106 00:04:37,069 --> 00:04:38,909 we need to keep passing these things on. 107 00:04:39,599 --> 00:04:42,479 In verse four, he goes on to say, that which the Palmer worm hath 108 00:04:42,479 --> 00:04:44,079 left, the locust eaten. 109 00:04:44,079 --> 00:04:45,359 Hath the locust eaten. 110 00:04:45,439 --> 00:04:48,319 And that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten. 111 00:04:48,319 --> 00:04:51,519 And that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten. 112 00:04:51,599 --> 00:04:55,159 Awake ye drunkards and weep and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, 113 00:04:55,159 --> 00:04:58,639 because of the new wine, for it is cut off from your mouth. 114 00:04:59,359 --> 00:05:02,799 For a nation has come up upon my land strong and without number, 115 00:05:02,799 --> 00:05:04,479 whose teeth are the teeth of a Lion. 116 00:05:04,479 --> 00:05:07,109 And he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. 117 00:05:07,429 --> 00:05:11,109 He hath laid my vine waste and barked my fig tree. 118 00:05:11,269 --> 00:05:14,589 He hath made it clean bare and cast it away, and the branches thereof 119 00:05:14,589 --> 00:05:15,349 are made white. 120 00:05:15,909 --> 00:05:18,629 All the things that Joel is talking about are not good things. 121 00:05:19,669 --> 00:05:23,149 He says, lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband 122 00:05:23,149 --> 00:05:23,829 of her youth. 123 00:05:24,149 --> 00:05:26,709 The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the 124 00:05:26,709 --> 00:05:27,349 house of the Lord. 125 00:05:27,349 --> 00:05:29,029 The priest, the Lord's ministers mourn. 126 00:05:29,029 --> 00:05:32,029 The field is wasted, the land mourneth, for the corn is wasted 127 00:05:32,029 --> 00:05:34,419 and the new wine is dried up and the oil languisheth. 128 00:05:35,049 --> 00:05:35,769 Be ye ashamed. 129 00:05:35,769 --> 00:05:36,969 O ye husbandmen, howl. 130 00:05:36,969 --> 00:05:38,169 O ye vinedressers. 131 00:05:38,329 --> 00:05:40,849 For the wheat and for the barley, because the harvest of the 132 00:05:40,849 --> 00:05:41,849 field has perished. 133 00:05:42,089 --> 00:05:45,569 The vine is dried up and the fig tree languisheth, the pomegranate 134 00:05:45,569 --> 00:05:47,649 tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree. 135 00:05:47,649 --> 00:05:50,129 Even all the trees of the field are withered, because joy is 136 00:05:50,129 --> 00:05:50,808 withered away. 137 00:05:50,969 --> 00:05:52,169 From the sons of men. 138 00:05:53,689 --> 00:05:55,649 Gird yourselves and lament, ye priests. 139 00:05:55,649 --> 00:05:58,009 How ye ministers of the altar come. 140 00:05:58,009 --> 00:06:00,809 Lie all night in sackcloth, you ministers of my God. 141 00:06:01,409 --> 00:06:03,769 For the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from 142 00:06:03,769 --> 00:06:04,769 the house of your God. 143 00:06:05,729 --> 00:06:06,449 Verse 14. 144 00:06:06,449 --> 00:06:09,009 He says, Sanctify ye a fast. 145 00:06:10,129 --> 00:06:13,769 Call a solemn assembly to gather the elders and all the inhabitants 146 00:06:13,769 --> 00:06:16,489 of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the 147 00:06:16,489 --> 00:06:20,209 Lord, alas for the day, for the day of the Lord is at hand. 148 00:06:20,609 --> 00:06:25,409 And as destruction from the Almighty shall it come, is not the 149 00:06:25,409 --> 00:06:26,849 meat cut off before our eyes? 150 00:06:26,929 --> 00:06:30,029 Yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God. 151 00:06:30,429 --> 00:06:33,589 The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate. 152 00:06:33,589 --> 00:06:36,269 The barns are broken down, for the corn is withered. 153 00:06:36,749 --> 00:06:38,109 How do the beasts groan? 154 00:06:38,909 --> 00:06:42,189 The herds of cattle are perplexed because they have no pasture. 155 00:06:42,189 --> 00:06:44,109 Yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. 156 00:06:44,109 --> 00:06:46,109 O Lord, to thee will I cry. 157 00:06:46,429 --> 00:06:49,189 For the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the 158 00:06:49,189 --> 00:06:51,229 flame hath burned all the trees of the field. 159 00:06:51,629 --> 00:06:53,749 The beasts of the field cry also unto thee. 160 00:06:53,749 --> 00:06:56,589 For the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured 161 00:06:56,589 --> 00:06:57,554 the pastures of wilderness. 162 00:06:57,554 --> 00:06:59,549 And now, how many of y' all think this is a good passage to read? 163 00:06:59,549 --> 00:07:00,989 A very encouraging passage. 164 00:07:01,709 --> 00:07:05,309 It's not, but it's a very instructive passage. 165 00:07:07,389 --> 00:07:10,509 In chapter two, he goes on to say, blow ye the trumpet in Zion 166 00:07:11,629 --> 00:07:13,709 and sound an alarm in my holy mountain. 167 00:07:14,429 --> 00:07:17,349 Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of the Lord. 168 00:07:17,349 --> 00:07:18,829 Cometh, for it is nigh at hand. 169 00:07:19,549 --> 00:07:22,469 A day of darkness and of gloominess, A day of clouds and of 170 00:07:22,469 --> 00:07:23,069 thick darkness. 171 00:07:23,069 --> 00:07:24,709 As the morning spread upon the mountains. 172 00:07:24,709 --> 00:07:28,299 A great people and a strong There hath not been ever the like. 173 00:07:28,859 --> 00:07:32,339 Neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many 174 00:07:32,339 --> 00:07:33,019 generations. 175 00:07:33,659 --> 00:07:36,819 A fire devoureth before them, and behind them a flame burneth. 176 00:07:36,819 --> 00:07:39,579 The land is as the Garden of Eden before them, and behind them 177 00:07:39,659 --> 00:07:42,779 a desolate wilderness, yea, and nothing shall escape them. 178 00:07:43,419 --> 00:07:44,619 It's not getting any better. 179 00:07:45,739 --> 00:07:49,659 It's continuously getting worse and worse and worse and worse. 180 00:07:50,699 --> 00:07:53,049 Judgment is happening, it says. 181 00:07:53,049 --> 00:07:54,409 The appearance of them is as the. 182 00:07:54,409 --> 00:07:56,289 Appearance of horses and as horsemen. 183 00:07:56,289 --> 00:07:59,329 So shall they run like the noise of the chariots on the tops 184 00:07:59,329 --> 00:08:01,409 of the mountain shall they leap like the noise of the flame 185 00:08:01,409 --> 00:08:02,889 of fire that devoureth the stubble. 186 00:08:02,889 --> 00:08:06,529 As strong people set in battle array before their face. 187 00:08:06,529 --> 00:08:08,489 The people shall be much pained. 188 00:08:08,489 --> 00:08:10,289 All faces shall gather blackness. 189 00:08:10,609 --> 00:08:12,209 They shall run like mighty men. 190 00:08:12,209 --> 00:08:14,009 They shall climb the wall like men of war. 191 00:08:14,009 --> 00:08:17,169 They shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break 192 00:08:17,409 --> 00:08:20,019 their ranks, Neither shall one thrust another. 193 00:08:20,019 --> 00:08:22,059 They shall walk every one in his path. 194 00:08:22,699 --> 00:08:26,059 And when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. 195 00:08:26,619 --> 00:08:29,299 They shall run to and fro in the city, and they shall run upon 196 00:08:29,299 --> 00:08:29,619 the wall. 197 00:08:29,619 --> 00:08:32,739 They shall climb up upon the houses, they shall enter in at the 198 00:08:32,739 --> 00:08:33,819 windows like a thief. 199 00:08:33,819 --> 00:08:36,459 The earth shall quake before them, the heavens shall tremble, 200 00:08:36,459 --> 00:08:39,659 the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw 201 00:08:39,659 --> 00:08:40,459 their shining. 202 00:08:40,619 --> 00:08:44,059 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army, for his camp 203 00:08:44,059 --> 00:08:44,779 is very great. 204 00:08:45,129 --> 00:08:47,489 For he is strong that executeth his word. 205 00:08:47,489 --> 00:08:50,729 For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible, and who 206 00:08:50,889 --> 00:08:52,089 can abide it? 207 00:08:53,769 --> 00:08:57,369 I just read a whole bunch and none of it was good. 208 00:08:58,569 --> 00:08:59,689 It was all a warning. 209 00:09:02,649 --> 00:09:05,529 You know, you think about the prophet Joel. 210 00:09:06,649 --> 00:09:10,009 It's been thought that Joel was the first of the writing prophets. 211 00:09:10,979 --> 00:09:13,339 And the major theme of the book. 212 00:09:13,339 --> 00:09:15,619 Of Joel is the day of the Lord. 213 00:09:16,339 --> 00:09:17,699 The day of the Lord is at. 214 00:09:17,699 --> 00:09:24,179 Hand, judgment is coming, and it's really for God's people to be 215 00:09:24,179 --> 00:09:25,699 prepared for the day of the Lord. 216 00:09:25,939 --> 00:09:29,339 That's the reason why he's writing it, that we need to be prepared 217 00:09:29,339 --> 00:09:29,499 for. 218 00:09:29,499 --> 00:09:30,579 The day of the Lord. 219 00:09:31,619 --> 00:09:34,819 I believe it's safe to say that this message rings just as clear 220 00:09:34,819 --> 00:09:37,179 today as it did back when Joel wrote it. 221 00:09:37,809 --> 00:09:40,969 I believe that we're living in a time where judgment is coming. 222 00:09:40,969 --> 00:09:47,009 In the world, there's all kinds of different pestilence and 223 00:09:47,009 --> 00:09:50,089 different plagues and things that are happening all across the 224 00:09:50,089 --> 00:09:50,689 world today. 225 00:09:51,569 --> 00:09:54,849 And so what we see in the book of Joel is exactly what's happening 226 00:09:54,849 --> 00:09:55,809 in today's time. 227 00:09:57,569 --> 00:09:59,169 Listen, there's so many things in our. 228 00:09:59,169 --> 00:10:03,819 Lives, not necessarily bad things, but things. 229 00:10:03,819 --> 00:10:05,659 That will distract our walk with God. 230 00:10:07,179 --> 00:10:10,299 And as Joel is writing this, what happened was, is the people 231 00:10:10,299 --> 00:10:13,059 had just gotten distracted by living their life and. 232 00:10:13,059 --> 00:10:14,779 Just doing what they were doing. 233 00:10:17,499 --> 00:10:19,459 They were saying they were children of God. 234 00:10:19,459 --> 00:10:21,179 They were saying they were the people of God. 235 00:10:21,179 --> 00:10:24,579 But as Joel tells us, they weren't doing what they were supposed 236 00:10:24,579 --> 00:10:25,019 to be doing. 237 00:10:25,099 --> 00:10:28,259 And Joel is warning them, hey, the day of the Lord is at hand. 238 00:10:28,259 --> 00:10:30,939 There's coming a time when the day of the Lord is going to happen. 239 00:10:31,139 --> 00:10:31,299 And. 240 00:10:31,449 --> 00:10:32,609 And you better be prepared. 241 00:10:32,609 --> 00:10:33,689 You better be ready. 242 00:10:33,849 --> 00:10:36,929 And they were so distracted by every single thing in their life 243 00:10:36,929 --> 00:10:39,129 that they were not ready for the day of the Lord. 244 00:10:40,729 --> 00:10:41,129 Aw. 245 00:10:41,129 --> 00:10:42,089 Tozer said this. 246 00:10:42,089 --> 00:10:44,489 He said the devil's greatest weapon is distraction. 247 00:10:46,009 --> 00:10:47,289 You ever been distracted? 248 00:10:48,569 --> 00:10:49,849 We drive a whole lot. 249 00:10:51,209 --> 00:10:52,849 I told you this morning, my church. 250 00:10:52,849 --> 00:10:54,409 Is 70 miles from my house. 251 00:10:54,809 --> 00:10:58,099 On a good day, when my kids. 252 00:10:58,099 --> 00:11:00,099 Were going to school here, Melissa was working here. 253 00:11:00,099 --> 00:11:01,619 It was 30 miles from my house. 254 00:11:03,379 --> 00:11:06,379 You know, you drive and you see people on their phones, people 255 00:11:06,379 --> 00:11:07,219 being distracted. 256 00:11:07,219 --> 00:11:07,699 Even us. 257 00:11:07,699 --> 00:11:09,459 We can get distracted by things. 258 00:11:10,179 --> 00:11:13,299 We get distracted by our jobs, by our neighbors, by our friends, 259 00:11:13,299 --> 00:11:14,419 by family. 260 00:11:14,739 --> 00:11:15,859 We just get distracted. 261 00:11:15,859 --> 00:11:16,739 We're distracted. 262 00:11:16,739 --> 00:11:20,459 People in our Christian walk, when we decide that we want to go 263 00:11:20,459 --> 00:11:23,659 out and do something for the Lord, the devil is going to try to 264 00:11:23,659 --> 00:11:26,619 distract you and to stop you from doing what God has told you 265 00:11:26,619 --> 00:11:27,059 to do. 266 00:11:28,569 --> 00:11:30,609 Listen, we know that Jesus loves us. 267 00:11:30,609 --> 00:11:33,529 We know that his love can constrain us. 268 00:11:33,529 --> 00:11:35,169 And we know that we can be. 269 00:11:35,169 --> 00:11:37,689 Motivated by the love that Jesus has for us. 270 00:11:38,329 --> 00:11:41,489 We know how important the cause and effect of Christ is in 271 00:11:41,489 --> 00:11:41,929 our life. 272 00:11:42,009 --> 00:11:44,809 We know these things and we'll say amen to these things. 273 00:11:45,609 --> 00:11:46,889 But we just simply. 274 00:11:46,889 --> 00:11:50,289 Sometimes we get distracted as soon as we leave church. 275 00:11:50,289 --> 00:11:52,969 Have you ever been to church and you heard a message and you're 276 00:11:52,969 --> 00:11:53,849 like, wow, that's great. 277 00:11:54,009 --> 00:11:56,649 And you come down to the altar and you tell God you're gonna do 278 00:11:56,649 --> 00:11:59,179 something, and you commit something to the Lord and then you 279 00:11:59,179 --> 00:12:01,859 get up and then you shake some hands and you talk to some people, 280 00:12:02,019 --> 00:12:05,619 and as soon as you get in your car, you completely forget everything 281 00:12:05,779 --> 00:12:09,219 that was said, Everything that you promised, everything that you 282 00:12:09,219 --> 00:12:09,539 did,. 283 00:12:09,699 --> 00:12:10,819 Or is that just me? 284 00:12:11,539 --> 00:12:12,659 We do that, don't we? 285 00:12:16,179 --> 00:12:17,579 As soon as our alarms go off. 286 00:12:17,579 --> 00:12:18,739 In the morning to go to work. 287 00:12:20,259 --> 00:12:24,879 That old flesh says this again and we get distracted. 288 00:12:26,559 --> 00:12:30,119 No doubt you're just like me that you've sat in church services 289 00:12:30,119 --> 00:12:31,039 and you've done that. 290 00:12:31,359 --> 00:12:32,959 Maybe you've committed something to the Lord. 291 00:12:32,959 --> 00:12:34,319 God, I want to do this for you. 292 00:12:34,319 --> 00:12:35,759 I'm going to do this for you. 293 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:38,079 And then we got distracted. 294 00:12:40,239 --> 00:12:43,879 Listen, as they were preparing, as they were preparing 295 00:12:43,879 --> 00:12:47,839 for the day of the Lord, I don't believe that Joel was. 296 00:12:47,839 --> 00:12:51,239 Saying that they should stockpile water or stockpile food 297 00:12:51,239 --> 00:12:53,359 or ammo or other things in fear. 298 00:12:54,299 --> 00:12:57,659 But rather, I believe that he was trying to get these people to 299 00:12:57,659 --> 00:12:59,499 prepare themselves spiritually. 300 00:13:00,459 --> 00:13:04,139 I believe what we need today more than anything in our churches 301 00:13:04,859 --> 00:13:07,979 is for God's people to be a spiritual people. 302 00:13:08,779 --> 00:13:12,499 We need to be prepared spiritually in every walk that we 303 00:13:12,499 --> 00:13:15,139 do in life, whether it be work, whether it be church stuff, 304 00:13:15,139 --> 00:13:17,899 whether it be just family situations. 305 00:13:17,899 --> 00:13:21,489 We need to be prepared spiritually because we have no idea 306 00:13:21,489 --> 00:13:22,889 what's going to come our way. 307 00:13:24,809 --> 00:13:26,489 To be prepared spiritually. 308 00:13:29,529 --> 00:13:32,889 Listen, it's a big deal how you and I prepare. 309 00:13:34,169 --> 00:13:39,369 I believe that all saved people should desire to grow spiritually. 310 00:13:41,289 --> 00:13:45,449 I believe that you should have a hunger to grow in your spiritual 311 00:13:45,449 --> 00:13:46,329 walk with the Lord. 312 00:13:47,109 --> 00:13:48,149 I say this to my church. 313 00:13:48,149 --> 00:13:50,349 I say this every time that we have church. 314 00:13:50,349 --> 00:13:54,229 Every time that we have church at Rockwall Baptist Church, at 9:30am 315 00:13:54,309 --> 00:13:57,229 on Sunday morning, we have a prayer meeting with the guys in my 316 00:13:57,229 --> 00:13:57,509 office. 317 00:13:58,389 --> 00:14:02,869 Sometimes it's just Caleb and me, sometimes it's more guys, whatever. 318 00:14:02,869 --> 00:14:06,669 But I always pray that we would come to church and we would 319 00:14:06,669 --> 00:14:09,949 leave differently than we came in, that we would leave closer to 320 00:14:09,949 --> 00:14:10,309 God. 321 00:14:10,389 --> 00:14:14,349 On Sunday pm, before we have our PM service, we have a prayer 322 00:14:14,349 --> 00:14:17,149 meeting, a church wide prayer meeting in the auditorium or the 323 00:14:17,149 --> 00:14:18,149 sanctuary, if you will. 324 00:14:18,529 --> 00:14:20,609 And we pray, and I pray that. 325 00:14:20,609 --> 00:14:24,489 We do not leave this place the same as when we came in, that we 326 00:14:24,489 --> 00:14:25,369 grow spiritually. 327 00:14:25,369 --> 00:14:28,569 During the service on Wednesday night, we preach and we 328 00:14:28,569 --> 00:14:31,169 have a prayer list that we go corporately over the prayer list 329 00:14:31,169 --> 00:14:33,729 and we pray for the needs of the church, but we also pray. 330 00:14:33,729 --> 00:14:35,329 That God would allow us to leave. 331 00:14:35,329 --> 00:14:36,609 Differently than we came in. 332 00:14:36,609 --> 00:14:40,209 And I pray that today that you have left differently than you came 333 00:14:40,209 --> 00:14:40,529 in. 334 00:14:41,329 --> 00:14:43,449 If not, you have an opportunity to. 335 00:14:43,449 --> 00:14:46,159 Leave this evening differently than you came in. 336 00:14:48,079 --> 00:14:52,159 Listen, when you come to church, it should be a place of spiritual 337 00:14:52,159 --> 00:14:54,799 growth, but it should not stop here. 338 00:14:57,519 --> 00:14:58,319 Oh, listen. 339 00:14:58,319 --> 00:15:01,039 We desire to have spiritual churches all across our country. 340 00:15:01,919 --> 00:15:03,959 And I pray that you, the members. 341 00:15:03,959 --> 00:15:07,399 Of Heritage Baptist Church, desire that this church be a spiritual 342 00:15:07,399 --> 00:15:07,839 church. 343 00:15:09,599 --> 00:15:10,639 But Can I say this? 344 00:15:10,929 --> 00:15:12,689 That will never, ever happen. 345 00:15:14,049 --> 00:15:19,289 Until we as individuals are spiritual, we can't have a spiritual 346 00:15:19,289 --> 00:15:20,929 church full of unspiritual people. 347 00:15:22,529 --> 00:15:25,889 Somebody ask you, are you a spiritual person this evening? 348 00:15:28,129 --> 00:15:32,569 I believe in order for us to ever get to that point, we must listen 349 00:15:32,569 --> 00:15:38,329 to the word of God and we must act upon the word of God, apply it 350 00:15:38,329 --> 00:15:39,009 to our lives. 351 00:15:40,049 --> 00:15:43,049 Listen, if you always do the same thing, you're always going to 352 00:15:43,049 --> 00:15:43,889 get the same results. 353 00:15:44,209 --> 00:15:45,409 It's never going to change. 354 00:15:45,729 --> 00:15:48,729 So in Joel, chapter one and two, we are seeing the judgment of 355 00:15:48,729 --> 00:15:49,889 God upon Israel. 356 00:15:50,289 --> 00:15:52,169 He was talking directly to them. 357 00:15:52,169 --> 00:15:54,529 He was talking directly to his people. 358 00:15:55,169 --> 00:15:58,369 He wasn't talking to the heathen nations, he wasn't talking 359 00:15:58,369 --> 00:15:59,249 to the lost people. 360 00:15:59,249 --> 00:16:00,689 He was talking to his people. 361 00:16:00,929 --> 00:16:05,359 And he was saying, hey, you need to get spiritual because the 362 00:16:05,359 --> 00:16:05,879 day of. 363 00:16:05,879 --> 00:16:08,079 The Lord is at hand. 364 00:16:09,279 --> 00:16:11,439 Oh, I believe that we focus sometimes. 365 00:16:11,439 --> 00:16:14,319 Way too much on the world and what the world is doing rather than 366 00:16:14,319 --> 00:16:15,759 ourselves and what we are doing. 367 00:16:16,319 --> 00:16:19,719 In First Peter, chapter 4, verse number 17, the Bible says, 368 00:16:19,719 --> 00:16:22,879 for the time has come, that judgment must begin at the house 369 00:16:22,879 --> 00:16:23,359 of God. 370 00:16:23,359 --> 00:16:27,199 And if it first begin at us, what shall the end of them that obey 371 00:16:27,199 --> 00:16:28,479 not the gospel of God? 372 00:16:29,359 --> 00:16:32,929 Sometimes we focus on the people that aren't in church and 373 00:16:32,929 --> 00:16:33,849 that judgment's gonna. 374 00:16:33,849 --> 00:16:36,529 Come on them and that, oh, yeah,. 375 00:16:36,529 --> 00:16:38,449 You're gonna get what's coming to you or whatever. 376 00:16:38,449 --> 00:16:40,529 But the Bible tells me and tells. 377 00:16:40,529 --> 00:16:43,689 You that judgment is first gonna come to his house. 378 00:16:44,729 --> 00:16:47,849 We, as God's people, are gonna be judged first. 379 00:16:48,649 --> 00:16:50,249 So we must prepare ourselves. 380 00:16:50,649 --> 00:16:51,809 Are we spiritual? 381 00:16:51,809 --> 00:16:53,849 Are we doing what God wants us to do? 382 00:16:53,929 --> 00:16:55,929 Are we being constrained by his love? 383 00:16:56,009 --> 00:16:57,499 Is that our motivation is. 384 00:16:58,289 --> 00:17:00,529 Is the effect of the cause of Christ in our life? 385 00:17:00,529 --> 00:17:03,089 Is it for us to go out and do the will of God? 386 00:17:07,169 --> 00:17:11,289 Therefore, Second Corinthians, chapter 13, verse 5, says, Examine 387 00:17:11,289 --> 00:17:11,729 yourselves. 388 00:17:13,729 --> 00:17:16,009 Whether you be in the faith, prove. 389 00:17:16,009 --> 00:17:19,049 Your own selves, know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ 390 00:17:19,049 --> 00:17:19,289 is. 391 00:17:19,289 --> 00:17:20,929 In you, except you be reprobates. 392 00:17:23,979 --> 00:17:26,299 When's the last time that you truly examine yourself? 393 00:17:28,059 --> 00:17:33,299 Like, honestly, we have the Lord's Supper, and usually that's 394 00:17:33,299 --> 00:17:35,339 the time that we have a time of self examination. 395 00:17:36,379 --> 00:17:39,258 We'll come down to the altar, we'll pray and ask God to cleanse 396 00:17:39,258 --> 00:17:39,979 us or whatever. 397 00:17:40,219 --> 00:17:41,659 I don't know however you do it. 398 00:17:42,859 --> 00:17:46,739 But I believe that we should be examining ourselves way more often 399 00:17:46,739 --> 00:17:47,499 than we do. 400 00:17:49,589 --> 00:17:51,389 As Joel has been writing here in. 401 00:17:51,389 --> 00:17:52,869 This chapter and a half so far,. 402 00:17:52,869 --> 00:17:54,349 He's just saying all of These negative. 403 00:17:54,349 --> 00:17:57,829 Things, all these bad things that are happening will happen and 404 00:17:57,829 --> 00:18:01,349 encouraging the people, God's people, to prepare themselves, to 405 00:18:01,349 --> 00:18:03,989 get themselves spiritually ready, because the day of the Lord 406 00:18:03,989 --> 00:18:04,549 is at hand. 407 00:18:05,589 --> 00:18:07,269 And then we get to verse number 12. 408 00:18:08,949 --> 00:18:12,789 What's that first word that you see in verse number 12 says? 409 00:18:12,789 --> 00:18:13,269 Therefore. 410 00:18:14,879 --> 00:18:15,279 Therefore. 411 00:18:16,639 --> 00:18:23,079 I believe right now, even this evening, right now, I believe right 412 00:18:23,079 --> 00:18:27,239 here at Heritage Baptist Church, we are living in the therefore 413 00:18:27,239 --> 00:18:27,999 of scripture. 414 00:18:29,998 --> 00:18:33,519 I believe your life, you are living right now in the therefore 415 00:18:33,519 --> 00:18:34,239 of scripture. 416 00:18:35,919 --> 00:18:37,359 Don't listen to me this evening. 417 00:18:37,359 --> 00:18:39,239 The therefore is a present tense word. 418 00:18:39,239 --> 00:18:39,679 I believe. 419 00:18:40,899 --> 00:18:44,179 I don't necessarily want to focus on what's going on outside 420 00:18:44,179 --> 00:18:48,139 of the church walls, but I want to focus on. 421 00:18:48,139 --> 00:18:50,179 What's going on inside of the church walls. 422 00:18:51,059 --> 00:18:55,459 Listen, God was speaking through the prophet Joel to his people 423 00:18:55,459 --> 00:18:58,739 and telling them about the judgment that was upon them and would 424 00:18:58,739 --> 00:18:59,619 be upon them. 425 00:19:00,179 --> 00:19:03,339 Listen, we all know that God is going to judge the ungodly. 426 00:19:03,339 --> 00:19:04,019 We know that. 427 00:19:04,499 --> 00:19:06,419 But he will also judge his own people. 428 00:19:07,049 --> 00:19:10,009 In Joel, the people of God here have gotten away from him and 429 00:19:10,009 --> 00:19:12,569 from what he desired that they do. 430 00:19:13,129 --> 00:19:15,769 And they were not being a spiritual type of person. 431 00:19:16,409 --> 00:19:19,969 Jesus goes on to say in John, chapter 4, verse 23, he says, but 432 00:19:19,969 --> 00:19:23,569 the hour cometh, and now is when the true worshipers shall worship 433 00:19:23,569 --> 00:19:25,129 the Father in spirit and in truth. 434 00:19:25,129 --> 00:19:27,209 For the Father seeketh such to worship him. 435 00:19:27,369 --> 00:19:30,729 God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit 436 00:19:30,729 --> 00:19:31,289 and in truth. 437 00:19:31,289 --> 00:19:32,809 So let me ask you something this evening. 438 00:19:33,069 --> 00:19:35,069 Are you worshiping God in spirit and truth? 439 00:19:38,429 --> 00:19:42,909 Am I truly worshiping God in spirit and in truth? 440 00:19:43,869 --> 00:19:47,629 Oh, I believe that today the people of God. 441 00:19:47,629 --> 00:19:48,749 Not everybody, okay? 442 00:19:49,389 --> 00:19:54,309 But I do believe that we all can and should be closer to God than 443 00:19:54,309 --> 00:19:54,749 we are. 444 00:19:57,709 --> 00:20:00,999 I believe that we all can take that little step. 445 00:20:00,999 --> 00:20:02,839 I tell my church that we don't. 446 00:20:02,839 --> 00:20:05,239 Have to take giant steps when we come to church every time. 447 00:20:05,879 --> 00:20:07,519 Sometimes those giant steps will wear you out. 448 00:20:07,519 --> 00:20:09,359 Sometimes you'll pull a hammy taking those giant steps. 449 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:09,799 Amen. 450 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:11,239 Amen, Caleb. 451 00:20:11,239 --> 00:20:11,719 Amen. 452 00:20:12,919 --> 00:20:16,359 If we just take a little bitty step, just a little step, just an 453 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:19,359 inch closer to God every single time that we get into his 454 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:19,799 presence. 455 00:20:21,559 --> 00:20:25,399 But I believe that not everybody, where there's some that 456 00:20:25,399 --> 00:20:26,519 have gotten away from him. 457 00:20:27,749 --> 00:20:29,949 And because of that, I believe that we need a few therefores in 458 00:20:29,949 --> 00:20:30,389 our life. 459 00:20:32,069 --> 00:20:36,949 As Joel is going on and he's speaking here, he says, number one, 460 00:20:37,509 --> 00:20:38,629 therefore repent. 461 00:20:39,509 --> 00:20:40,909 The day of the Lord is at hand. 462 00:20:40,909 --> 00:20:42,869 So number one, therefore repent. 463 00:20:43,429 --> 00:20:46,389 Verse number 12, he says, therefore Also now, saith the Lord, 464 00:20:46,389 --> 00:20:48,389 turn ye even to me with all your heart. 465 00:20:50,149 --> 00:20:53,309 The first thing that God ever desires for you and I to do is to 466 00:20:53,309 --> 00:20:53,749 repent. 467 00:20:54,449 --> 00:20:57,129 We don't just repent the day that we get saved and we don't have 468 00:20:57,129 --> 00:20:58,129 to repent ever again. 469 00:20:58,689 --> 00:21:00,769 Listen, what Joel is saying is like,. 470 00:21:00,769 --> 00:21:02,249 Hey, you've gotten away from the Lord. 471 00:21:02,249 --> 00:21:03,009 You need to repent. 472 00:21:03,009 --> 00:21:04,449 You need to turn back to God. 473 00:21:05,329 --> 00:21:08,089 Listen, in this passage, the Lord is calling for repentance and 474 00:21:08,089 --> 00:21:09,489 wanting Israel to take action. 475 00:21:10,209 --> 00:21:11,769 I believe that God wants you and. 476 00:21:11,769 --> 00:21:13,889 I to take action in our service to Him. 477 00:21:14,609 --> 00:21:18,249 Look, the repentance is not some coming up to the altar and just 478 00:21:18,249 --> 00:21:21,089 confessing every prayer or every sin that you've ever committed. 479 00:21:21,749 --> 00:21:25,469 That repentance is you and I just turning to God from all other 480 00:21:25,469 --> 00:21:26,069 pursuits. 481 00:21:27,829 --> 00:21:29,189 I believe that the only way that. 482 00:21:29,189 --> 00:21:31,589 You and I can be right with God is through repentance. 483 00:21:32,149 --> 00:21:35,189 The only way that we can truly have the right motivation to come 484 00:21:35,189 --> 00:21:38,309 to church and be constrained by the love of Christ is through 485 00:21:38,309 --> 00:21:40,069 repentance by turning to Him. 486 00:21:40,869 --> 00:21:43,829 The only way that we're going to have a proper effect because of 487 00:21:43,829 --> 00:21:46,989 the cause of Christ in our life is whenever we have a mind of 488 00:21:46,989 --> 00:21:47,549 repentance. 489 00:21:47,549 --> 00:21:48,789 The only way that we're ever going. 490 00:21:48,789 --> 00:21:51,029 To grow spiritually is if we repent. 491 00:21:51,029 --> 00:21:53,099 We turn back to God and make. 492 00:21:53,329 --> 00:21:54,609 Him be first in our life. 493 00:21:57,569 --> 00:21:59,089 God is calling for repentance. 494 00:21:59,969 --> 00:22:01,809 Repentance is turning into the Lord with. 495 00:22:01,809 --> 00:22:05,889 All of your heart, as I mentioned this morning, making him 496 00:22:05,889 --> 00:22:07,089 preeminent in your life. 497 00:22:07,409 --> 00:22:09,009 Let me ask you tonight, church. 498 00:22:09,809 --> 00:22:11,089 Who has your heart today? 499 00:22:13,729 --> 00:22:15,089 Who has your heart today? 500 00:22:16,209 --> 00:22:17,649 Where is your heart today? 501 00:22:19,259 --> 00:22:22,659 In Colossians, chapter three, verse number one, the Bible says 502 00:22:22,659 --> 00:22:25,139 this, Paul, he's encouraging this church at Colossae. 503 00:22:25,139 --> 00:22:30,099 He says, if ye then be risen with Christ, who's he talking to 504 00:22:30,099 --> 00:22:30,259 there? 505 00:22:30,259 --> 00:22:32,699 Is he talking to lost folk or is he talking to saved folk? 506 00:22:33,739 --> 00:22:34,779 The saved folk. 507 00:22:35,259 --> 00:22:36,179 But he says, if. 508 00:22:36,179 --> 00:22:38,059 That if is a big word. 509 00:22:38,699 --> 00:22:42,259 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are 510 00:22:42,259 --> 00:22:44,459 above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 511 00:22:44,999 --> 00:22:47,519 Set your affection on things above, not on things on earth. 512 00:22:47,519 --> 00:22:49,599 You know what he's saying there in verse number two, where 513 00:22:49,599 --> 00:22:51,639 he says, set your affections on things above. 514 00:22:51,719 --> 00:22:54,279 He's basically saying, bend your mind toward. 515 00:22:54,279 --> 00:22:55,159 The things of God. 516 00:22:55,319 --> 00:22:57,279 Have a repentant mind toward the things of God. 517 00:22:57,279 --> 00:23:00,079 Setting your affections means that you're taking something, you're 518 00:23:00,079 --> 00:23:01,519 bending it, you're molding it. 519 00:23:01,519 --> 00:23:04,319 He's saying, mold your mind toward the. 520 00:23:04,319 --> 00:23:06,599 Things of God, not on the things on this earth. 521 00:23:06,759 --> 00:23:09,919 And when you and I have a true repentant mind, we have that therefore 522 00:23:09,919 --> 00:23:13,239 repentant mind, then our minds are gonna be bent toward the things 523 00:23:13,239 --> 00:23:13,799 of God. 524 00:23:13,879 --> 00:23:19,139 And I've come to in my life that once we turn our eyes upon. 525 00:23:19,139 --> 00:23:21,699 Jesus, we look full in his wonderful face. 526 00:23:21,939 --> 00:23:24,259 The things of earth will grow strangely. 527 00:23:24,259 --> 00:23:26,659 Dim in the light of his glory and his grace. 528 00:23:27,939 --> 00:23:30,819 He says, set your affections on things above, not on things on 529 00:23:30,819 --> 00:23:31,299 the earth. 530 00:23:32,179 --> 00:23:32,578 Why? 531 00:23:32,578 --> 00:23:34,699 For ye are dead and your life. 532 00:23:34,699 --> 00:23:35,699 Is hid with Christ. 533 00:23:36,259 --> 00:23:39,379 When Christ, who is your life, shall appear, then shall ye also 534 00:23:39,379 --> 00:23:40,499 appear with him in glory. 535 00:23:41,299 --> 00:23:43,659 Mortify, therefore, your members which are upon the earth. 536 00:23:43,659 --> 00:23:47,059 Fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence 537 00:23:47,059 --> 00:23:50,999 and covetousness, which is I idolatry, for which things sake. 538 00:23:50,999 --> 00:23:55,239 The wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience in the which 539 00:23:55,239 --> 00:23:58,239 ye also walked sometime when ye lived in them. 540 00:23:58,239 --> 00:24:00,879 He's saying, hey, you used to be this way, but you've been saved. 541 00:24:00,879 --> 00:24:01,999 Your life is hid with Christ. 542 00:24:01,999 --> 00:24:02,879 You've been dead. 543 00:24:03,039 --> 00:24:04,319 Don't do that anymore. 544 00:24:05,439 --> 00:24:09,639 But now ye also put off all these anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, 545 00:24:09,639 --> 00:24:11,439 filthy communications out of your mouth. 546 00:24:11,679 --> 00:24:14,279 Can you imagine what our churches and our world would look 547 00:24:14,279 --> 00:24:18,669 like if just the Christians took out all of the malice, all of 548 00:24:18,669 --> 00:24:22,309 the blasphemy, all of the anger, all of the filthy communications? 549 00:24:23,589 --> 00:24:25,669 Can you just think about what this church. 550 00:24:25,829 --> 00:24:27,309 I don't know this church that well. 551 00:24:27,309 --> 00:24:28,629 I know a lot of people here. 552 00:24:28,629 --> 00:24:33,229 But look, if there's anger or malice or just wrong speaking towards 553 00:24:33,229 --> 00:24:33,589 one another,. 554 00:24:33,749 --> 00:24:35,669 Just think about how much peaceful. 555 00:24:35,669 --> 00:24:39,109 How much more we could do for the cause of Christ if we got these 556 00:24:39,109 --> 00:24:42,629 things out of our mouth, how much more we could do for him. 557 00:24:44,559 --> 00:24:45,519 Therefore, repent. 558 00:24:47,679 --> 00:24:48,999 And if you're here tonight and you. 559 00:24:48,999 --> 00:24:50,159 Think I don't need to repent. 560 00:24:50,159 --> 00:24:52,479 You need to repent more than anybody else. 561 00:24:56,399 --> 00:24:58,159 He says, lie not one to another. 562 00:25:00,079 --> 00:25:04,959 As a Christian person, we ought not lie to one another or anybody. 563 00:25:06,159 --> 00:25:07,999 He says, lie not one to another. 564 00:25:08,079 --> 00:25:10,639 Seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds,. 565 00:25:13,939 --> 00:25:16,059 And I've put on the new man, which is. 566 00:25:16,059 --> 00:25:17,659 Renewed in knowledge after the image of. 567 00:25:17,659 --> 00:25:18,979 Him that created him. 568 00:25:19,619 --> 00:25:21,099 How many are saved this evening? 569 00:25:21,099 --> 00:25:24,219 I don't usually ask for hands, but I'm going to do that tonight. 570 00:25:24,219 --> 00:25:24,539 Okay? 571 00:25:24,539 --> 00:25:26,019 How many of y' all are saved this evening? 572 00:25:26,659 --> 00:25:27,859 Yeah, you're new in Christ. 573 00:25:28,659 --> 00:25:29,779 Put off the old man. 574 00:25:30,579 --> 00:25:33,299 The way that we do that is through repentance. 575 00:25:34,339 --> 00:25:36,019 The new man is a changed man. 576 00:25:36,989 --> 00:25:40,069 And we are to bend our minds as that new man to the things of 577 00:25:40,069 --> 00:25:40,429 God. 578 00:25:40,829 --> 00:25:42,669 Listen, bending takes effort. 579 00:25:43,149 --> 00:25:44,589 Bending takes some time. 580 00:25:46,189 --> 00:25:48,149 Bending takes somebody that's not lazy. 581 00:25:48,149 --> 00:25:49,789 And I believe that God is not. 582 00:25:49,789 --> 00:25:51,189 Looking for lazy servants. 583 00:25:51,189 --> 00:25:55,669 He wants a servant that's ready to bend, a servant that's ready 584 00:25:55,669 --> 00:25:57,709 to do what he's asked him to do. 585 00:25:58,189 --> 00:26:00,869 Listen, without repentance, you will never, ever. 586 00:26:00,869 --> 00:26:02,349 Be a spiritual Christian. 587 00:26:04,179 --> 00:26:07,379 Matthew, chapter 11, verse 20 says, Then began he to upbraid the 588 00:26:07,379 --> 00:26:07,659 cities. 589 00:26:07,659 --> 00:26:11,419 Talking about Jesus, it says, then he began to upbraid or chide 590 00:26:11,419 --> 00:26:14,699 the cities where most of his mighty works were done because they 591 00:26:14,699 --> 00:26:15,539 repented not. 592 00:26:15,539 --> 00:26:19,579 Do you realize that Jesus started upbraiding the city, chiding 593 00:26:19,579 --> 00:26:23,779 the city, and he stopped doing works there because they repented 594 00:26:23,859 --> 00:26:24,259 not. 595 00:26:25,219 --> 00:26:27,299 How many of y' all want Jesus to work in your life? 596 00:26:28,189 --> 00:26:30,669 How many of y' all want Jesus to work in your church? 597 00:26:31,469 --> 00:26:34,029 How many want Jesus to work in your home? 598 00:26:34,589 --> 00:26:35,629 How many of y' all want to. 599 00:26:35,629 --> 00:26:38,029 Be effective for the cause of Jesus Christ? 600 00:26:38,189 --> 00:26:39,789 Be constrained by the love of Christ? 601 00:26:39,949 --> 00:26:41,069 Then repent. 602 00:26:42,669 --> 00:26:46,589 Because without repentance, he's not going to help you. 603 00:26:47,709 --> 00:26:50,909 He's not going to deal with you until you repent. 604 00:26:52,669 --> 00:26:56,199 Number two, therefore respond. 605 00:26:57,879 --> 00:26:58,799 Therefore repent. 606 00:26:58,799 --> 00:26:59,399 Number one. 607 00:27:00,039 --> 00:27:03,639 Number two, therefore respond in verse 12. 608 00:27:03,639 --> 00:27:06,439 Again back over in Joel, chapter two. 609 00:27:07,079 --> 00:27:08,039 How do we respond? 610 00:27:08,039 --> 00:27:08,599 You ask. 611 00:27:09,239 --> 00:27:10,519 We respond this way. 612 00:27:10,919 --> 00:27:14,679 And with fasting and with weeping and with mourning. 613 00:27:19,409 --> 00:27:21,009 Fasting, weeping and mourning. 614 00:27:22,609 --> 00:27:25,169 I'm not going to ask for a raise of hands this time. 615 00:27:25,169 --> 00:27:25,569 All right? 616 00:27:27,009 --> 00:27:32,969 But how many of you have truly fasted over the things that's either 617 00:27:32,969 --> 00:27:34,929 happened in your life or the life of this church? 618 00:27:36,529 --> 00:27:41,129 How many of you truly weeped over the things that's happened in 619 00:27:41,129 --> 00:27:41,649 your life. 620 00:27:41,649 --> 00:27:44,049 Or the things that's happened in the life of this church? 621 00:27:45,099 --> 00:27:48,779 How many have mourned over the things that's happened in your life 622 00:27:49,899 --> 00:27:51,339 or the life of this church? 623 00:27:53,339 --> 00:27:55,499 Joel is saying, you need to be a spiritual people. 624 00:27:56,859 --> 00:27:58,699 There needs to be a repentance going on. 625 00:27:59,179 --> 00:28:00,219 But you need to fast. 626 00:28:00,219 --> 00:28:00,898 You need to weep. 627 00:28:00,898 --> 00:28:01,739 You need to mourn. 628 00:28:04,779 --> 00:28:10,669 Listen, a repentant heart will cause a change in your life and thus 629 00:28:10,669 --> 00:28:12,069 a response in your life. 630 00:28:14,389 --> 00:28:20,629 When is the last time that you truly fasted or wept or mourned over 631 00:28:20,629 --> 00:28:23,429 those things in your life or the things that's happened in this 632 00:28:23,429 --> 00:28:23,829 church? 633 00:28:24,549 --> 00:28:25,989 When is the last time you examined. 634 00:28:25,989 --> 00:28:29,429 Yourself and wept or fasted, mourned for a change in you? 635 00:28:31,829 --> 00:28:35,589 So many of us are so stuck in our own ways that we don't Think 636 00:28:35,589 --> 00:28:36,389 we need to change. 637 00:28:39,609 --> 00:28:40,929 Many times we ask God to help. 638 00:28:40,929 --> 00:28:46,089 Us in areas, and we don't put forth any effort into the change. 639 00:28:46,969 --> 00:28:48,169 Well, I prayed about it. 640 00:28:48,889 --> 00:28:50,009 It's good to pray about things. 641 00:28:50,009 --> 00:28:51,449 Some of y' all think it's good to pray about things. 642 00:28:51,449 --> 00:28:53,209 I think it's great to pray about things. 643 00:28:54,569 --> 00:28:58,089 But sometimes we need to pray and we need to put some feet behind 644 00:28:58,089 --> 00:28:58,809 our prayers. 645 00:29:02,089 --> 00:29:05,039 Over in James, chapter two. 646 00:29:06,879 --> 00:29:07,919 I love the Book of James. 647 00:29:07,919 --> 00:29:10,239 I just preached through the Book of James not too long ago. 648 00:29:10,959 --> 00:29:13,919 But James, chapter 2, verse number 14. 649 00:29:13,919 --> 00:29:16,399 He says this, what doth it profit my brethren? 650 00:29:16,799 --> 00:29:18,359 Though a man say he hath faith. 651 00:29:18,359 --> 00:29:20,559 And hath not works, can faith save him? 652 00:29:21,279 --> 00:29:24,159 How many of y' all think that faith and works work together? 653 00:29:24,239 --> 00:29:24,879 Very good. 654 00:29:26,159 --> 00:29:27,599 Faith is an action word. 655 00:29:27,999 --> 00:29:29,119 I said that this morning. 656 00:29:29,899 --> 00:29:30,859 I still believe it. 657 00:29:31,579 --> 00:29:33,219 Verse number 15 says, if a brother. 658 00:29:33,219 --> 00:29:35,939 Or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and one 659 00:29:35,939 --> 00:29:38,699 of you saying to them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled. 660 00:29:38,699 --> 00:29:41,619 Notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful 661 00:29:41,619 --> 00:29:43,179 to the body, what doth it profit? 662 00:29:43,739 --> 00:29:46,939 Even so, faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 663 00:29:47,259 --> 00:29:49,899 Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works. 664 00:29:49,899 --> 00:29:52,779 Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith 665 00:29:52,779 --> 00:29:53,819 by my works. 666 00:29:55,589 --> 00:29:57,749 Thou believest that there is one God, and thou doest. 667 00:29:57,749 --> 00:29:59,029 Well, the devils also believe in trouble. 668 00:29:59,029 --> 00:30:01,109 Do you realize that the devils believe in God? 669 00:30:02,229 --> 00:30:03,589 They just haven't repented. 670 00:30:04,629 --> 00:30:06,069 They didn't put their faith in him. 671 00:30:06,389 --> 00:30:07,669 They know that there's a God. 672 00:30:09,669 --> 00:30:10,709 It says verse 20. 673 00:30:10,789 --> 00:30:12,869 But wilt thou know, O vain man,. 674 00:30:12,869 --> 00:30:14,549 That faith without works is dead? 675 00:30:14,869 --> 00:30:18,069 Was not Abraham our Father justified by works when he offered 676 00:30:18,309 --> 00:30:20,229 Isaac his son upon the altar? 677 00:30:21,199 --> 00:30:23,279 Seest thou how faith wrought this works? 678 00:30:23,439 --> 00:30:25,439 And by works was faith made perfect. 679 00:30:25,439 --> 00:30:27,879 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, abraham believed 680 00:30:27,879 --> 00:30:30,919 God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness, and he was 681 00:30:30,919 --> 00:30:32,159 called the friend of God. 682 00:30:32,319 --> 00:30:35,759 Ye see then, how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith 683 00:30:35,759 --> 00:30:36,079 only. 684 00:30:36,559 --> 00:30:40,199 Likewise, also was not Rahab the harlot, justified by works when 685 00:30:40,199 --> 00:30:42,319 she had received the messengers and had sent them out 686 00:30:42,319 --> 00:30:42,959 another way? 687 00:30:43,199 --> 00:30:45,959 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without 688 00:30:45,959 --> 00:30:47,039 works is dead also. 689 00:30:47,439 --> 00:30:50,639 I believe what James, the book of James, is telling us here is that,. 690 00:30:50,639 --> 00:30:54,479 Look, you say that you have faith, then you must respond by acting 691 00:30:54,479 --> 00:30:55,599 upon that faith. 692 00:30:57,439 --> 00:31:00,959 If you want to be a spiritual people, if you want to have the right 693 00:31:00,959 --> 00:31:04,719 motivation, take the faith of God and act upon it. 694 00:31:05,679 --> 00:31:06,319 Respond. 695 00:31:08,559 --> 00:31:11,599 A spiritual Christian I believe will respond to the faith 696 00:31:11,599 --> 00:31:12,239 in his life. 697 00:31:13,769 --> 00:31:15,769 How are you responding to the faith in your life? 698 00:31:17,449 --> 00:31:18,889 He says, therefore repent. 699 00:31:20,009 --> 00:31:21,769 Number two, he says, therefore respond. 700 00:31:23,449 --> 00:31:25,129 Number three, he says, therefore rend. 701 00:31:26,809 --> 00:31:27,289 Rend. 702 00:31:28,009 --> 00:31:30,329 We don't really use that word too much anymore. 703 00:31:30,649 --> 00:31:31,769 Maybe some of you do. 704 00:31:34,169 --> 00:31:37,849 Verse number 13, it says, and rend your heart, not your garments, 705 00:31:39,459 --> 00:31:40,979 and turn unto the Lord your God. 706 00:31:41,859 --> 00:31:42,699 That word rend. 707 00:31:42,699 --> 00:31:44,219 In our Bibles, it means to tear. 708 00:31:44,219 --> 00:31:45,459 Into pieces to cut out. 709 00:31:46,259 --> 00:31:50,219 So what Joel is saying, he's given them the prescription, really, 710 00:31:50,219 --> 00:31:52,899 to how to be a spiritual people, how to be prepared for the 711 00:31:52,899 --> 00:31:53,619 day of the Lord. 712 00:31:54,259 --> 00:31:56,979 He tells them to rend your heart, not your garments. 713 00:31:57,459 --> 00:32:00,499 It's basically saying that we should completely remove our hearts. 714 00:32:00,499 --> 00:32:01,139 Why do that? 715 00:32:01,139 --> 00:32:03,579 Why do you think it's important for us to completely remove 716 00:32:03,579 --> 00:32:04,129 our hearts? 717 00:32:04,759 --> 00:32:08,599 Well, Jeremiah 17:9 says, the heart is deceitful above all things 718 00:32:08,599 --> 00:32:09,679 and desperately wicked. 719 00:32:09,679 --> 00:32:10,439 Who can know it? 720 00:32:11,399 --> 00:32:14,279 Left to ourselves, our heart is just desperately wicked. 721 00:32:15,159 --> 00:32:18,959 In Matthew, chapter 12, verse 34, Jesus says, O generation of vipers. 722 00:32:18,959 --> 00:32:20,999 How can ye, being evil, speak good things? 723 00:32:21,079 --> 00:32:23,639 For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. 724 00:32:24,039 --> 00:32:27,239 In Luke, chapter 6, verse 45, Jesus says, A good man, out of the 725 00:32:27,239 --> 00:32:29,559 good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is good. 726 00:32:29,559 --> 00:32:31,879 And an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth 727 00:32:31,879 --> 00:32:32,919 forth that which is evil. 728 00:32:33,249 --> 00:32:36,129 For out of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaketh. 729 00:32:36,929 --> 00:32:38,209 Oh, I believe what comes out of. 730 00:32:38,209 --> 00:32:41,809 Our mouths says a whole lot about what we have in our hearts. 731 00:32:44,209 --> 00:32:47,329 How many of you have told God, told somebody about God this week, 732 00:32:48,209 --> 00:32:51,489 this past week, witnessed to the Lord this week? 733 00:32:53,489 --> 00:32:55,329 How many of y' all just spoke. 734 00:32:55,329 --> 00:32:58,609 Things to somebody that wasn't in church or wasn't a Christian, 735 00:32:59,409 --> 00:33:00,769 said something about the Lord? 736 00:33:03,249 --> 00:33:06,169 How many of us have used the name of God at all, whether good 737 00:33:06,169 --> 00:33:06,609 or bad? 738 00:33:07,969 --> 00:33:09,729 You know, you think about that. 739 00:33:12,049 --> 00:33:13,169 Can I just say this? 740 00:33:14,289 --> 00:33:20,689 If you are old enough to take God's name in vain, then you're old 741 00:33:20,689 --> 00:33:22,449 enough to share a Christian testimony. 742 00:33:24,859 --> 00:33:28,939 If you're old enough to bring dishonor to Christ, then you're old 743 00:33:28,939 --> 00:33:30,379 enough to bring honor to Christ. 744 00:33:31,739 --> 00:33:34,619 If you're old enough to choose the wrong thing, then you're old 745 00:33:34,619 --> 00:33:36,139 enough to choose the right thing. 746 00:33:36,699 --> 00:33:38,499 If you're old enough to sin, then. 747 00:33:38,499 --> 00:33:39,739 You're old enough to serve. 748 00:33:39,739 --> 00:33:40,219 Amen. 749 00:33:42,539 --> 00:33:44,939 That goes for all of us, regardless of our age. 750 00:33:44,939 --> 00:33:47,179 But it all starts with our hearts. 751 00:33:47,899 --> 00:33:50,619 Listen, all throughout the Old Testament, the people would rend 752 00:33:50,619 --> 00:33:53,499 or rip or tear their clothes in order to show that they are broken 753 00:33:53,499 --> 00:33:54,139 or repentant. 754 00:33:54,849 --> 00:33:56,609 But that was just an outward showing. 755 00:33:56,849 --> 00:33:59,489 But if our outward showing does not match what's happening on 756 00:33:59,489 --> 00:34:01,249 the inside, then it is all in vain. 757 00:34:01,809 --> 00:34:05,809 And so Joel is saying, look, you need to rend your heart, not 758 00:34:05,809 --> 00:34:06,529 your garments. 759 00:34:07,169 --> 00:34:09,249 Look, don't worry about what's going on the outside. 760 00:34:09,329 --> 00:34:12,729 We can make our outside look a certain way, act a certain way, so 761 00:34:12,729 --> 00:34:15,729 people will talk to us and have pity on us or whatever. 762 00:34:15,729 --> 00:34:18,849 But whatever's going on the inside, God sees our hearts. 763 00:34:19,489 --> 00:34:21,089 He knows your heart right now. 764 00:34:22,149 --> 00:34:24,149 He knows the heart of this church right now. 765 00:34:25,029 --> 00:34:28,469 And the Bible says, therefore repent, therefore respond, therefore 766 00:34:28,469 --> 00:34:28,949 rend. 767 00:34:30,949 --> 00:34:32,269 Now, if this verse is telling us. 768 00:34:32,269 --> 00:34:34,669 That in order to be repentant toward God that we need to basically 769 00:34:34,669 --> 00:34:34,909 take. 770 00:34:34,909 --> 00:34:39,149 Our heart out in order for us to live, he's going to have to give 771 00:34:39,149 --> 00:34:39,709 us a new one. 772 00:34:39,709 --> 00:34:40,229 Amen. 773 00:34:41,989 --> 00:34:46,069 In Psalm 51, David is repentant toward God. 774 00:34:47,279 --> 00:34:47,999 You know what he says? 775 00:34:47,999 --> 00:34:50,079 He says, create me a clean heart, O Lord. 776 00:34:51,919 --> 00:34:54,959 He sees himself for who and what he truly is. 777 00:34:54,959 --> 00:34:56,319 He's a vile sinner. 778 00:34:57,279 --> 00:35:01,119 And in verse 10, he says, God, create in me a clean heart. 779 00:35:01,759 --> 00:35:05,639 And that word create he uses in Psalm 51, verse 10 is the same 780 00:35:05,639 --> 00:35:09,679 word that's used for creation in Genesis chapter one, verse one, 781 00:35:09,839 --> 00:35:12,479 when God created everything out of nothing. 782 00:35:12,479 --> 00:35:14,668 So basically what David's saying is, look,. 783 00:35:14,668 --> 00:35:17,548 I'm so repentant towards you that I don't even have a heart anymore. 784 00:35:17,548 --> 00:35:19,268 God, create me a clean one. 785 00:35:19,268 --> 00:35:20,708 Give me a brand new heart. 786 00:35:20,788 --> 00:35:24,268 And look, I believe that today, tonight, God's people need 787 00:35:24,268 --> 00:35:25,548 a new heart towards him. 788 00:35:25,548 --> 00:35:26,068 Amen. 789 00:35:28,628 --> 00:35:31,348 David came to God with his heart torn out, torn to pieces. 790 00:35:32,148 --> 00:35:33,868 And he was requesting for God just. 791 00:35:33,868 --> 00:35:37,788 To simply give him a brand new one, the same David. 792 00:35:37,788 --> 00:35:38,948 Psalm 139. 793 00:35:39,028 --> 00:35:41,348 The Psalmist says, thou hast searched me and know me. 794 00:35:43,789 --> 00:35:44,469 You know what happened? 795 00:35:44,469 --> 00:35:46,429 He started spiritually growing in the Lord. 796 00:35:47,389 --> 00:35:49,189 He asked God to search me, try. 797 00:35:49,189 --> 00:35:50,989 Me, see where I'm at. 798 00:35:50,989 --> 00:35:52,909 I don't want to ever get away from you again. 799 00:35:53,469 --> 00:35:57,189 And then in 139, that was in Psalm 26:2, it says, examine me, 800 00:35:57,189 --> 00:35:58,189 O Lord, improve me. 801 00:35:58,189 --> 00:35:59,549 Try my reins in my heart. 802 00:35:59,789 --> 00:36:02,069 David's saying, God, examine me. 803 00:36:02,069 --> 00:36:05,109 Look, I can examine myself, but I want you to examine me. 804 00:36:05,109 --> 00:36:06,509 And then I want you to search me. 805 00:36:06,509 --> 00:36:07,549 I want you to know me. 806 00:36:07,809 --> 00:36:09,489 I want you to create me this clean heart. 807 00:36:09,489 --> 00:36:12,169 Because I never want to get away from you again, because I've 808 00:36:12,169 --> 00:36:12,529 done that,. 809 00:36:12,529 --> 00:36:14,129 And I royally messed up. 810 00:36:16,609 --> 00:36:21,569 Therefore, he rended number four. 811 00:36:21,569 --> 00:36:22,769 Therefore there's a reward. 812 00:36:23,089 --> 00:36:23,489 How many? 813 00:36:23,489 --> 00:36:25,009 All like to be rewarded for things. 814 00:36:26,849 --> 00:36:33,809 My wife is teaching this year and she got a. 815 00:36:35,219 --> 00:36:37,939 A bunch of rewards because she thought she was going to be teaching 816 00:36:37,939 --> 00:36:40,899 second grade, but she's not anymore. 817 00:36:41,139 --> 00:36:44,099 She's teaching fourth through sixth grade, a little bit different. 818 00:36:45,059 --> 00:36:47,139 And she got these little stickers and things that she's going 819 00:36:47,139 --> 00:36:47,379 to give. 820 00:36:47,379 --> 00:36:50,419 And I was kind of making fun of her because I'm like, those sixth 821 00:36:50,419 --> 00:36:51,539 graders aren't going to like that. 822 00:36:52,739 --> 00:36:53,379 They might. 823 00:36:53,859 --> 00:36:56,459 She's like, kids like to be rewarded no matter what the reward 824 00:36:56,459 --> 00:36:56,819 is. 825 00:36:57,539 --> 00:37:00,429 And I was like, all right, good. 826 00:37:01,789 --> 00:37:03,629 I only said that because I really want the rewards. 827 00:37:03,629 --> 00:37:05,069 They're little Texas stickers. 828 00:37:06,989 --> 00:37:08,029 And I like Texas. 829 00:37:08,029 --> 00:37:09,549 Not the college, the state. 830 00:37:09,629 --> 00:37:10,429 Yee haw. 831 00:37:11,549 --> 00:37:12,189 Amen. 832 00:37:15,309 --> 00:37:16,669 But with God, there's a reward. 833 00:37:17,469 --> 00:37:20,429 When we repent, when we respond, when we rend. 834 00:37:21,789 --> 00:37:23,069 Look here at verse number 13. 835 00:37:24,109 --> 00:37:26,949 It says, and rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto 836 00:37:26,949 --> 00:37:27,789 the Lord your God. 837 00:37:27,789 --> 00:37:28,269 Look here. 838 00:37:28,569 --> 00:37:29,289 Here's the reward. 839 00:37:30,089 --> 00:37:36,409 For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great 840 00:37:36,409 --> 00:37:39,609 kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 841 00:37:40,489 --> 00:37:42,169 Listen, our reward is God. 842 00:37:43,209 --> 00:37:44,489 How many all want God? 843 00:37:46,329 --> 00:37:47,729 How many all want his grace? 844 00:37:47,729 --> 00:37:49,129 His grace is our reward. 845 00:37:50,009 --> 00:37:51,529 His mercy is our reward. 846 00:37:52,009 --> 00:37:54,569 His patience, his long suffering is our reward. 847 00:37:55,139 --> 00:37:57,459 His great kindness in our life is our reward. 848 00:37:57,859 --> 00:37:59,459 Listen, when you and I, when we. 849 00:37:59,459 --> 00:38:03,059 Repent and we respond, we rend our heart. 850 00:38:03,219 --> 00:38:05,339 He will reward you with his grace,. 851 00:38:05,339 --> 00:38:08,099 His mercy, his love, his loving kindness. 852 00:38:08,259 --> 00:38:09,299 All of these things. 853 00:38:10,419 --> 00:38:13,459 I'm reminded of what it says in Genesis, chapter 15, verse number 854 00:38:13,459 --> 00:38:13,699 one. 855 00:38:13,699 --> 00:38:16,099 After these things, the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a 856 00:38:16,099 --> 00:38:16,339 vision,. 857 00:38:16,339 --> 00:38:17,899 Saying, fear not, Abram. 858 00:38:17,899 --> 00:38:20,339 I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward. 859 00:38:21,699 --> 00:38:23,219 Boy, I want to be rewarded by God. 860 00:38:23,219 --> 00:38:24,179 I want God. 861 00:38:26,899 --> 00:38:28,259 And lastly, number five. 862 00:38:29,539 --> 00:38:30,659 Therefore rally. 863 00:38:32,499 --> 00:38:33,619 Therefore, rally. 864 00:38:34,499 --> 00:38:35,619 What am I talking about? 865 00:38:37,059 --> 00:38:39,899 This morning in Sunday school, I talked about how the love of Christ 866 00:38:39,899 --> 00:38:40,899 constraineth us. 867 00:38:42,579 --> 00:38:45,859 How the motivation why we do what we do is because the love of 868 00:38:45,859 --> 00:38:46,179 Christ. 869 00:38:47,419 --> 00:38:48,499 And I believe that the love of. 870 00:38:48,499 --> 00:38:51,339 Christ constraining us should have an effect inside the church 871 00:38:51,979 --> 00:38:53,979 and then spread to outside of the church. 872 00:38:54,699 --> 00:38:57,019 And then we talked about the cause and effect of Christ. 873 00:38:57,259 --> 00:38:57,859 What power. 874 00:38:57,859 --> 00:38:59,419 By what name have you done this? 875 00:38:59,899 --> 00:39:03,739 And he stands up and preaches about Jesus and he says that I'm 876 00:39:03,739 --> 00:39:05,419 not gonna stop talking about Jesus. 877 00:39:08,939 --> 00:39:10,419 Listen, what I think our churches need. 878 00:39:10,419 --> 00:39:15,499 Today is for God's people to be a spiritual people, rally each 879 00:39:15,499 --> 00:39:16,099 other together. 880 00:39:17,379 --> 00:39:19,179 The church is not a place for division. 881 00:39:19,179 --> 00:39:21,219 The church is a place for unity. 882 00:39:21,699 --> 00:39:25,539 Striving together, rallying one another, encouraging one another, 883 00:39:25,619 --> 00:39:28,579 exhorting one another, helping one another. 884 00:39:29,219 --> 00:39:30,299 Look, the whole church. 885 00:39:30,299 --> 00:39:34,779 The reason why I love the independent fundamental church, the 886 00:39:34,779 --> 00:39:38,019 autonomous church, the local visible church, is because that when 887 00:39:38,019 --> 00:39:38,219 one. 888 00:39:38,219 --> 00:39:39,779 Of us weeps, we should all weep. 889 00:39:40,329 --> 00:39:44,009 When one of us rejoices, we should all rejoice, we should all 890 00:39:44,009 --> 00:39:44,689 love one another. 891 00:39:44,689 --> 00:39:46,169 We're all part of the same body. 892 00:39:46,249 --> 00:39:48,409 We should all be helping each other out. 893 00:39:49,449 --> 00:39:51,649 And therefore we need to be rallying one another. 894 00:39:51,649 --> 00:39:52,369 Hey, let's go. 895 00:39:52,369 --> 00:39:53,209 Let's do this. 896 00:39:53,689 --> 00:39:54,329 It's time. 897 00:39:54,329 --> 00:39:55,609 Look here at verse number 15. 898 00:39:56,249 --> 00:39:58,249 He says, blow the trumpet in Zion,. 899 00:39:58,329 --> 00:40:01,049 Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. 900 00:40:01,529 --> 00:40:03,409 He's not talking to the individual now,. 901 00:40:03,409 --> 00:40:05,609 He's talking to it as a group, as a whole. 902 00:40:05,999 --> 00:40:07,959 He says, gather the people, sanctify the. 903 00:40:07,959 --> 00:40:11,119 Congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children. 904 00:40:11,279 --> 00:40:12,679 And those that suck the breasts. 905 00:40:12,679 --> 00:40:14,199 Let the bridegroom go forth of his. 906 00:40:14,199 --> 00:40:15,959 Chamber and the bride out of her closet. 907 00:40:15,959 --> 00:40:17,759 He's saying, hey, get everybody. 908 00:40:17,759 --> 00:40:18,639 That's my people. 909 00:40:18,879 --> 00:40:20,319 Gather them all together. 910 00:40:20,399 --> 00:40:21,119 Let's go. 911 00:40:22,559 --> 00:40:25,679 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep between the porch 912 00:40:25,679 --> 00:40:26,279 and the altar. 913 00:40:26,279 --> 00:40:29,839 Let them say, spare thy people, O. 914 00:40:29,839 --> 00:40:31,479 Lord, and give not thine heritage to. 915 00:40:31,479 --> 00:40:33,679 A reproach, that the heathen should rule over them. 916 00:40:34,699 --> 00:40:37,339 Wherefore should they say among the people, where is their 917 00:40:37,339 --> 00:40:37,739 God? 918 00:40:38,619 --> 00:40:39,979 You get that verse right there. 919 00:40:41,099 --> 00:40:41,979 Verse number 17. 920 00:40:43,099 --> 00:40:46,819 He's saying the reason why we need to rally together, the reason 921 00:40:46,819 --> 00:40:49,419 why that we need to repent, the reason why we need to respond, 922 00:40:49,419 --> 00:40:51,419 the reason why we need to rend our hearts. 923 00:40:51,659 --> 00:40:57,219 The reason why we need to do these things is, he says, o Lord, 924 00:40:57,219 --> 00:41:00,179 and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should 925 00:41:00,179 --> 00:41:00,939 rule over them. 926 00:41:03,239 --> 00:41:06,359 Do these things because the heathen is chomping at the bit to 927 00:41:06,359 --> 00:41:08,759 come in and destroy and rule over. 928 00:41:10,839 --> 00:41:12,559 In verse number 18 says, Then will. 929 00:41:12,559 --> 00:41:14,039 The Lord be jealous for his land. 930 00:41:14,039 --> 00:41:15,079 And pity his people? 931 00:41:15,399 --> 00:41:20,039 He says, you do this, you do all of these things, then you rally 932 00:41:20,039 --> 00:41:20,759 each other together. 933 00:41:21,399 --> 00:41:25,279 It says, then the Lord will be jealous for his land and pity his 934 00:41:25,279 --> 00:41:25,479 people. 935 00:41:25,479 --> 00:41:28,749 Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, behold, I will 936 00:41:28,749 --> 00:41:32,509 send you corn and wine and oil, and you shall be satisfied therewith. 937 00:41:32,509 --> 00:41:33,909 And I will no more make you. 938 00:41:33,909 --> 00:41:35,229 A reproach among the heathen. 939 00:41:35,229 --> 00:41:37,069 But I will remove far from off. 940 00:41:37,069 --> 00:41:38,749 Of you, the northern army and will. 941 00:41:38,749 --> 00:41:40,389 Drive them into a land barren and. 942 00:41:40,389 --> 00:41:44,108 Desolate, with his face toward the east sea and his hinder part 943 00:41:44,108 --> 00:41:48,349 toward the uttermost sea, and his stink shall come up and his ill 944 00:41:48,349 --> 00:41:50,909 savors shall come up because he hath done great things. 945 00:41:50,909 --> 00:41:51,789 You know what he's saying? 946 00:41:51,789 --> 00:41:54,589 He's saying, you do these things and I will take care of you. 947 00:41:55,249 --> 00:41:58,169 All of the reproach that's coming on you, all of the negativity 948 00:41:58,169 --> 00:42:00,369 that's coming on you, I will take care of that. 949 00:42:00,369 --> 00:42:01,809 And I will bless you. 950 00:42:01,809 --> 00:42:04,289 I will give you corn, I will give you oil. 951 00:42:04,369 --> 00:42:06,609 I will give you everything that you need. 952 00:42:08,289 --> 00:42:10,049 In verse 21, he says, Fear not. 953 00:42:10,449 --> 00:42:11,809 I will even take away your fear. 954 00:42:11,809 --> 00:42:12,449 How about that? 955 00:42:13,329 --> 00:42:16,129 Be glad and rejoice, for the Lord will do great things. 956 00:42:16,769 --> 00:42:18,569 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field. 957 00:42:18,569 --> 00:42:21,289 For the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree 958 00:42:21,289 --> 00:42:22,009 beareth her fruit. 959 00:42:22,009 --> 00:42:24,469 The fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. 960 00:42:24,629 --> 00:42:26,469 Be glad then, ye children of Zion,. 961 00:42:26,469 --> 00:42:28,189 And rejoice in the Lord your God,. 962 00:42:28,189 --> 00:42:29,349 For he hath given you the former. 963 00:42:29,349 --> 00:42:32,189 Rain moderately and he will cause to come down for you. 964 00:42:32,189 --> 00:42:34,949 The rain the former rain and the latter rain in the first month. 965 00:42:35,429 --> 00:42:37,349 He says, I will just continue to bless you. 966 00:42:37,349 --> 00:42:38,668 I will continue to bless you. 967 00:42:38,668 --> 00:42:39,029 How many? 968 00:42:39,029 --> 00:42:40,789 I want that former and the latter rain. 969 00:42:40,789 --> 00:42:41,269 Amen. 970 00:42:43,989 --> 00:42:47,349 You just do this and I will bless you. 971 00:42:49,119 --> 00:42:50,759 I believe that Heritage Baptist Church. 972 00:42:50,759 --> 00:42:53,999 I believe that you desire for God to bless your church. 973 00:42:55,519 --> 00:42:57,319 If there's somebody here that does not. 974 00:42:57,319 --> 00:43:03,119 Desire that, there's something absolutely wrong with you and you 975 00:43:03,119 --> 00:43:03,839 need to repent. 976 00:43:06,399 --> 00:43:16,569 God has given us the recipe for blessings, and it's simply turn 977 00:43:16,569 --> 00:43:17,209 to him. 978 00:43:19,529 --> 00:43:20,889 Be a spiritual people. 979 00:43:22,489 --> 00:43:26,489 Respond with fasting, with weeping, with mourning. 980 00:43:27,449 --> 00:43:28,249 Rend your heart. 981 00:43:28,249 --> 00:43:30,329 Ask God to give you a clean new heart. 982 00:43:32,889 --> 00:43:34,089 Rally each other together. 983 00:43:34,969 --> 00:43:36,969 There's a reward, and that reward is God. 984 00:43:39,219 --> 00:43:41,619 Listen, it only takes one spark to start a little fire. 985 00:43:43,059 --> 00:43:45,859 And that fire will grow and grow and grow. 986 00:43:45,939 --> 00:43:47,299 Are you going to be that spark? 987 00:43:49,059 --> 00:43:50,499 Are you going to be that spark? 988 00:43:51,779 --> 00:43:54,019 Let me ask you, when's the last time that you made a decision 989 00:43:54,099 --> 00:43:54,899 for the Lord? 990 00:43:57,299 --> 00:43:58,019 Any decision? 991 00:43:59,059 --> 00:44:00,899 I'm not saying a salvation decision. 992 00:44:00,979 --> 00:44:04,499 I'm saying when is the last time that you allowed God to work 993 00:44:04,499 --> 00:44:05,059 in your heart? 994 00:44:05,409 --> 00:44:06,689 And you said, I'll do that. 995 00:44:07,569 --> 00:44:10,849 I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I'm going to do it. 996 00:44:12,849 --> 00:44:14,369 Listen, maybe you're that spark. 997 00:44:14,609 --> 00:44:19,529 Maybe you're the start of that rally that this church needs for 998 00:44:19,529 --> 00:44:21,409 God to start pouring his blessings out. 999 00:44:21,409 --> 00:44:21,889 Amen. 1000 00:44:23,489 --> 00:44:25,489 Listen, God desires to have a heart. 1001 00:44:25,489 --> 00:44:26,289 That he can use. 1002 00:44:26,849 --> 00:44:28,289 He wants to give our hearts. 1003 00:44:28,289 --> 00:44:31,929 He wants us to give our hearts to him and to allow him to make with 1004 00:44:31,929 --> 00:44:32,929 it whatever he wants. 1005 00:44:35,059 --> 00:44:36,419 What's going on in your heart today? 1006 00:44:37,939 --> 00:44:39,459 Are you a spiritual Christian? 1007 00:44:41,859 --> 00:44:47,459 If not, or even if so, therefore repent, therefore respond, 1008 00:44:48,179 --> 00:44:50,979 therefore rend, therefore rally. 1009 00:44:51,779 --> 00:44:54,099 And you will be rewarded. 1010 00:44:56,099 --> 00:44:56,699 Let's pray. 1011 00:44:56,699 --> 00:44:56,899 Father. 1012 00:44:56,899 --> 00:44:57,939 We thank you God for this. 1013 00:44:59,869 --> 00:45:03,029 Lord, I pray that you would continue to work now during this 1014 00:45:03,029 --> 00:45:03,869 invitation time. 1015 00:45:05,229 --> 00:45:07,869 Father, I pray that everything that I said was directly from you, 1016 00:45:09,629 --> 00:45:09,949 God. 1017 00:45:09,949 --> 00:45:15,989 I pray, Father now that you would Lord, speak to hearts and God. 1018 00:45:15,989 --> 00:45:20,709 No doubt there's people here that need to make a decision for 1019 00:45:20,709 --> 00:45:22,989 you and God. 1020 00:45:22,989 --> 00:45:24,749 I pray that they would not say no to that. 1021 00:45:25,549 --> 00:45:27,839 I pray these things now in Jesus name, amen.