8-2-26 Sunday Morning Worship - 10:30 a.m.

Heat. N. Heat.

Well, good morning. And it's good to see you in God's house today. And I hope that you come seeking a blessing from the Lord because I promise you this.

If you come and you say, "Lord, I just want to hear from you." He's going to speak to you maybe through some of the music or the songs that we sing or whenever we open up God's word. I know that he's going to speak to some folks today and touch their heart. But I'm so thankful that we serve a God who is still not only alive but also is still speaking to you and me that he'll give us guidance and he'll give us understanding and he'll give us direction in our life.

But just one thing I really want to uh push the issue this morning and and then we're going to have a time of prayer. But uh we're letting the MA magi boxes over to my left. Um, we got about 200 of those boxes.

I know that some of them have been taken, but that is a great uh mission opportunity for our church. Um, I, you know, I kind of urge, you know, some of your teachers and your Sunday school class, maybe make a goal for how many uh boxes that you can do. But, as you know, every one of them goes to Mexico.

Uh, Dave and Melanie and Pastor Thomas Beard. Um, every December they go to churches and they give those to uh the children and and if I'm not mistaken in that box it will have boy or girl. So you just go out and and buy whatever is is needed and we'll make sure that on that I think it's the first Sunday of September.

Uh we'll have them all down here or over there. We'll just pray over them. Uh because you may not ever be able to go to the foreign field.

You may not able to go to a domestic uh missionary journey, but you know, you can take about $20 and impact a child's life down in Mexico that unbeknownst to us, that might be that avenue that God uses to share the gospel with that child and that child may come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And it all started with you being willing to do that. So you get you grab it, man.

It'd be good to just get them all out of here very very quickly. But remember now remember this. If you take it, bring it back full.

Don't forget about it. And you know, and and you because we got those in order to get them filled up so we can give them to Mexico. But we're going to have a time of prayer.

Um, and I'm I'm going to ask those of you that would in just a moment to come and gather around the altar because, you know, the more that we uh talk to people and the more that, you know, we just fellowship with one another, isn't it amazing how often we're having to share what's wrong with what we're going through or maybe physically, maybe it's financially, maybe it's marital, maybe it's parental. I I don't I don't know. But there's just so many there's so many problems that is in life.

But we all know it started in Genesis chapter 3. We know where it started, but we know it's not going to end until the Lord Jesus Christ comes. And but isn't it good that when we go through these valleys, when we're in those tribulations, that we have a God that is that gives us a peace.

That Paul says that it passes all understanding. You know what that means? When somebody in the world tries to persuade you that, man, you're going through all of that because God doesn't like you, you can say, no, he's a God that gives me that peace, that gives me that joy, and I I know that I can trust in him.

But while we pray this morning, I I do want you to be much in prayer for Mickey. Um, you know, she's been a member of this church for a long time. That's Kim's mom and she's not doing well.

And um so you pray for her that and give her peace and pray for Kim and and Roger and all and all the family that God will give them a a peace during this time. But you know this morning you may know somebody. Let let me say this.

If you looked around the building this morning and there might be somebody that used to be here that you know used to be here that they were on fire um in their service to God, but yet something has persuaded them to just get out of church and not be where God wants them to be. You know, today might be a good day to pray for them. Say, Lord, wherever they are right now on this Sunday morning that God, Holy Spirit, that you would just touch their heart and draw them unto yourself.

You might be seated here today and you know somebody that's lost. Now, I know that we we're not the Holy Spirit. We can't identify who's lost and who's saved except oursel.

But by their by their life and by the evidence of what they do, you would sit back and say, "Man, if I had to put their put it on a scale, I would say that they do not know Christ as their savior." You know, one of the greatest things that you can do for them is pray for them. That God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that you would draw that person under yourself. that where they might be right now that the Holy Spirit would reveal to them their lossness and that they might come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

So the reason we say all of that is everybody in this building, everybody in this building has a reason to pray either for yourself or for somebody else that may be going through difficulties or may be lost. So, Miss Jerry, if you could play, if you could come down and just gather around the altar. We're not in a hurry.

And, you know, I can always adjust the message that God has laid upon my our heart, but maybe you come today and let's pray for our church. And let's pray. And I know that you have names that you can throw up to the Lord as well.

is so grateful to be able to be able to come to the throne of grace and pray. Father, as we Lord, as we humbly bow in your presence, knowing, Father, that it's not just our responsibility to pray, but Lord, it's also awesome privilege that God, we can call upon the one who loves us, the one who cares about us. And Father, today all throughout this building, men, women, boys, and girls are praying.

And Father, we don't know what all the requests are about, but Father, it's amazing to me that even in a crowd that when we pray, you hear us in a personal way. And so, Father, today we ask that you would just hear our cry. Father, I know you remind me of whenever Israel was in Egypt and they cried unto you and you heard their cry.

And God, today in this building, Lord, there's people that are hurting, that are struggling, that are confused, that are discouraged, that are depressed. So, my heavenly father, I pray that you would bring in their life what needs to be brought. Lord, I pray for those who are sick that God where it is your will that you would bring healing.

Lord, I know in this building right now, men and women have called upon that name who used to be here but are not here anymore. God, I pray that by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit that you would draw them unto yourself. Father, we all know folks that we would deem as being lost.

God, help us to be bold. Help us to be courageous. Help us to be willing to share our faith.

God, I pray for this church. Father, I thank you that you planted this church so many years ago. And Lord, I pray that our thought and our willingness will be to share the love of God.

And Lord, I I already know that in this service, you are have already spoken. And Lord, I know that through the singing and through the scriptures, you're going to speak even more. But God, I know this.

that father somebody in this building does not know for sure if they died where they would spend eternity. So Lord, my prayer today is that something is said and more importantly, the spirit is moved that person will come to the realization of knowing you as savior and lord. God help us today to do that which we cannot do for oursel.

In the name of Jesus, we make this prayer. Amen. Amen.

God bless you. Let's all stand. I believe we're going to sing just a little bit.

>> Well, good morning church. It's good to see you. Let's worship our savior this morning as we sing Jesus Messiah.

He became sin who knew no sin that we might become his righteousness. He humbled himself and he carried the cross. Love so amazing.

are so amazing. Jesus the Messiah, the name above all. Blessed redeemer, no res.

No rest forever. Jesus the son of Lord of all. His body of bread.

His blood of wine broken and born out. Oh, the treble and the rail was so amazing. Love so amazing.

Jesus the name of the blessed redeemer. Em, Jesus the Messiah, Lord of Oh, is in all the light of the world. world.

Jesus Messiah, name above all name, blessed redeemer. Emmanuel the rescue for sinners. Jesus the son of Jesus the son of all.

Oh, what a wonderful wonderful day. Day I will never forget after darkness away. Jesus my savior.

All in your compassion. My heart shaven came down and glory to my soul. And I will see my s and my life was heaven and glory with my soul.

Now I hope that will surely endure after the passing of time. I future because of that wonderful day when the cross is eternal and bless my soul. When the cross my sins were washed away and my life was heaven down and glory my soul.

Let's give the Lord praise this morning. as you're seated >> now and sing a song. It's called My Jesus.

Are you past the point of ween weighing heavy? Is it all too much to carry? Let me tell you about my Jesus.

Do you feel that empty feeling? The shame's done all healing and you're desperate for some healing. Let me tell you about my Jesus.

He makes a way when there ain't no way. Rises up from an empty grave. Ain't no sinner that he can save.

Let me tell you about my Jesus. His love is strong and his grace is free. And the good news is I know that he knew for you what he's done for me.

Let me tell you about my Jesus. Let my Jesus change your life. Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Amen.

Amen. Who can wipe away the tears, broken dreams and wasted years until the past and disappear. Oh, let me tell you about my Jesus.

In all the wrong turns that you would going under if you could. You'll be working for your good. Let me tell you about my Jesus.

He makes the way where there ain't no way. Rises up from an empty grave. Ain't no sinner that he can save.

Let me tell you about my Jesus. His blood is strong and his grace is free. And the good news is I know he knew for you what he's done for me.

Let me tell you about my Jesus. Let my Jesus change your life. Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Amen.

Amen. Amen. Who would take my cross to Calary?

Pay the price for all my guilty. Who would care that much about me? Let me tell you about my Jesus.

Oh, he makes the way where there ain't no way. Rises up from an empty grave. Ain't no sinner that he can save.

Let me tell you about my Jesus. His love is strong and his grace is free. And the good news is I know that he did for you what he's done for me.

Let me tell you about my Jesus. Let my Jesus change your life. Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Amen.

Amen. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Hallelujah. Let my Jesus change your life. And if you don't know him as savior and lord today, he'll do that.

He'll change your life if you'll let him. Well, let's stand as we continue worship this morning as we sing Holy Spirit, breath of God. Let's worship him.

We sang this song about a couple of weeks ago. It's a new song. Let's pour our heart out to him and worship this morning and give him praise.

Holy Spirit, bread of God, witness to all that Christ has done. Great revealer, radiant life, one with the father and the son. Open our eyes.

Help us see Christ. May we behold his majesty. Open our eyes.

Spirit we cry. Show us the glory of our king. Help us we cry.

Holy Spirit, voice of truth, speaking the word of God to us. sent from heaven to our hearts that we might know the father's love. Open our eyes.

Help us see Christ. May we behold his majesty. Open our eyes, spirit we cry.

Show us the glory of our king. Help us Christ. Holy Spirit, guarantee of the redemption Christ has won.

Promise ever be our strength until this race on earth is right. Open our eyes. Help us see Christ.

May we be walking. Open our eyes. We show us the glory of our King.

Open our eyes. Help us see Christ. May we behold hissty.

Open our eyes. Spirit we cry. Show us the glory of our king.

Help us see Christ. >> Oh Lord my God, when I in awome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands shall. I see the stars.

I hear a rolling thunder throughout the univer. This is my soul, my savior come to thee. How great thou are.

How great thou are. It seems my soul my savior. How great thou are, how great thou.

And when I think that God is son to die, I scarce taken that on the cross. I burdened gladly. dead and die to take away my sinciority.

How great th shall with shallow nation and take me home. What joy shall be my heart? Then I shall bow in humble adoration and therea God my soul.

How great thou are. How great thou my soul, my savior to thee. How great are the Lord praise this morning.

>> Amen. >> Thank you. You may be seated.

Amen. Isn't the Lord great? >> Whenever you look at a beautiful star lit at night, you can say, "Man didn't do that." But the greatness of God did that.

Whenever you look at a beautiful sunrise or a sunset or a beautiful flower that blossoms in the spring and you get to see the beauty of it and you realize that there is a great God that is out there. Whenever you see the beauty of the waves rolling at the beach, you realize that there is a great God. But you know, one of the greatest things about God this morning is this, that not only do we get to know him, but he also knows us.

I want to ask you a question this morning because if you are a person that that ever shares your faith, if you ever share the gospel, be it with a family member, with a co-orker, or whoever it might be, that sometimes you ask them this question. You'll say, "Do you know this morning that if you died where you would spend eternity? Would you go to heaven or would you go to hell?" And if you have ever asked that question on a number of occasions, more than likely you have been given an answer like this.

I really don't think that I can know until death has occurred. But I believe this morning that that is not true. The Bible says in First John, well, we're going to be in Philippians 2, so go ahead and turn there.

But the Bible tells us in first John whenever John was writing those letters in the fifth chapter of that letter that he wrote the first letter he said these words these things are written that you might know that you have eternal life. Now the word that John uses in that verse literally means that our questions have been answered. Our soul has been redeemed and we know that there was that moment in our life that we trusted Christ to be our savior.

and based upon the authority of the written word of God that I know that if I died now that I would go to a place called heaven. But you see, unfortunately, there are many that that they do not have that assurance. I had someone ask me this week, ask me the question, "Do you ever doubt your salvation?" And I and I told them with all truth that I could.

I said, "To be honest with you, I I may have, but I don't remember when." There may have been a time when I began to question, "Is this really real? Is this really what we say that it is? Because I do believe this morning that there are some that are seated in this building.

If there was a spiritual lie detector put on you this morning that you may be one that are is seated here and you say, "Preacher, you know something? I do have doubts. I do have more questions than I do answers.

And to be honest with you, preacher, I really, really do not know for sure where my eternity will be. Well, I say that to say what Paul is going to help us with this morning. I I pray that you would listen to what God has to say.

I am praying Lord that the Holy Spirit will speak to if it's just one heart this morning out of all of this crowd that if it's just one heart because you see two weeks ago we talked in verse 12 of chapter 2 of Philippians about working out our salvation that that experience in our life that has occurred that we began to live our that life based upon the authority of our eternal security in the Lord. But I want you to listen to this. Please get this before you cut me off or go to sleep.

That the realization of verse number 12 will never happen unless there was the reality of verse number 13. Notice what it said. And I'm not going to read verse 12 again, but I'm going to read verse number 13.

And again, this is the Apostle Paul that is that is crying out to the church at Philippi. He said, "For it is God which workketh in you both to will and to do of it his own good pleasure. So you you see what Paul is saying in a nutshell.

He is trying to tell you and me that we can never work something out if something has not already been worked in. You see, it's more than just a display of things that we do. See, Paul is saying in that 13th verse, and whenever he says that, and if you've ever went and you've really studied that verse out, you come to the reality of this, that Paul is saying, "For it is God." There there is no debate there.

There there is no opinion of others that that Paul is saying for it is God and God alone that begins to do that work within our life that brings us that security of our assurance that we have the reality that we know God as our savior. here because listen to me very carefully. If it's not in you, then you don't have it.

If it's not there, you can't man you can't work it out. You're not going to deed it out. And so, in other words, do something more in your life.

E being ethical or being moral which are good things does not bring that within your heart and in your life. I remember whenever as a you know boy growing up in this area that and some of you may even do this even now but I I remember that sometimes we would get us an orange. I know that many of you have ate an orange before.

Make sure you still hear you an orange. And you know, there's various ways in order to eat that orange. You might take a knife and you might cut it and you might begin to eat the inside of the orange.

I know that there is a thing probably from um Tik Tok or Teeu or something like that, but Tina's got this little gadget that you stick inside of the orange and you just peel it back or pull it back and then all of a sudden it just peels the layer off or takes the layer off. But I remember as a young boy that sometimes when we would take that orange, we we would take a little knife, a little cutting knife, and we would go into the side or where the navel is or where it was stuck to the stem, and we would take that knife and we would go around where that stem was, and it would and then you would kind of pluck it out, and all you would have was a hole. And then you would take that orange and you would take your hands and you would squeeze that orange and begin to suck on the juice that was on the inside of the orange.

Now you know as well as I do that in your life there were times when man the juice would flow out and then there were times when the juice would not come out because it was not there. And you see this morning there may be somebody like that today that on the outside you look okay. On the outside, your hair is done, your clothes are ironed, and everything is good.

But on the inside, you know that's in your heart. There's nothing there. No matter how hard one squeezes, all they find is something that is empty.

So what do we do? We have to go and see what God says because again, if you'll notice in verse 13 and keep your keep your ears tuned this morning because Paul said it again like this. For it is God.

Now, now that word God is a very interesting word. I mean we read it all the time in in in in the scripture. But whenever we read what the apostle Paul is saying in verse number 13 that what Paul is bringing about is that he is referring to God the father, God the son and God the holy spirit and he is trying to tell us again that God is the captain, God is the initiator of our salvation.

And you remember what Jesus said in John chapter 15 whenever he was talking about the vine and the branches and he come to the conclusion to that to into the ears of those who listen that without me you can do absolutely nothing. You can't work it out my friend. Again you can't think it out.

How many people have lived their life in that way and they've died and then the reality of eternity face them because you do know this again your destination is secure while you're on or assured or secure on this earth but you see today God is the one that initiates it in fact we understand one of the great verses in the Bible is Second Corinthians chapter 3 where it literally says it uses this word twice that says that our sufficiency is in our God and he was referring to the salvation that we have in the Lord. And whenever we look at this when he says for it is God that that we realize that that God's intention and I believe that Peter um applauds this that God desires for all men now get this God desires for all men to go to heaven but all men will not go to heaven. Even though the Bible says that God is not slack concerning his promise that it is his desire that all men come to faith in God through the repentance of the Lord Jesus Christ.

But God knows that's not going to all happen. Now, now let me say something that I do know that has caused debate and is causing debate within the context of our churches. and just to go on the platform of who we are.

My friend, I do not believe that God creates a man and then he places those four men in a group and then he looks at at Rob and say, "Well, Rob, you're going to go to heaven, but I know Betty, I'm going to send you to hell." But what God does is he places us into this world. He places us here and then all of a sudden we live our life and we come to that that point in our life where God reveals himself for who he is and then is our um responsibility. Do we trust him or do we reject him?

But I believe that there comes a threshold. Now, let me say this as well that I do not know how long how many times you were taken to that threshold before it is too late. I'm not going to be one of those doomsday guys and say, "Well, those of you that are lost and you hear the gospel today, you may not ever hear it again." That's a possibility, but I don't know.

But I do know this when because the reason that I'm saved is because God took me to that point. He brought me to that place. And this morning to get things up because I know time is quickly going.

Notice what it said in verse number 13. The Bible says, "For it is God that workketh." Now, and I and I may not get to all of this. If not, we'll get it next week.

But I but I want you to hear something. And I want you to get this in your mind. Verse number 12 has the word that we work out our own salvation.

Verse number 13 said, "It is God that is working." Now, those are th those almost looks look like two two uh the same word, but in reality, they're not the same word. Because you see whenever Paul says that it is God that is working in you. In other words, it is God that is and that word workketh in verse 13.

the word energy could be put there or the word power could be put there that that God does something in your life that you cannot do for yourself but only God can do. I was thinking this week and I went over and read again in in the book of in the book of Genesis and I began to to look at the creation in my in my reading. And again in our reading, the Lord brought us to that that occasion where where man was created.

My friends, so often we look at that and we don't realize the magnificence of the creation of God. And I just began to read that one verse because mostly all we think think about is the Garden of Eden. Uh Eve told Adam to take it.

Adam took it. Now all of us are in sin. But the Bible says that God took the the dirt of the ground and he formed it into a man.

Now I want you to listen to me. Whenever you go and you look at that God took that soil or that dirt, we can't sit here and all be all of a sudden began to glorify that dirt. That dirt was dirt.

One great Hebrew writer said that whenever you look at that word soil, that word dirt, he said it may not be nothing, but it's it's next to nothing. Can I ask you a question? When God created that dirt, what could that dirt do?

Now, don't think out loud. It couldn't do anything. It couldn't walk.

It couldn't talk. It couldn't see. It couldn't move.

You know why? Because all it was was dirt. What changed it?

What? What caused something to happen in the in the midst of God's glorious creation? The Bible says that God breathed into his nostrils and it became life.

You know what you just learned? that God did something that only God could do. I think about and I don't I don't know the chron the chronological order of how everything was created and how God did everything except what he gives us on the basis of scripture.

But let's just say all the animals had already been created. They couldn't do anything to help that that dirt. But God breathed into him.

You know what that word breathe means in in the book of Genesis? It means the word spirit. That God, and I love how one said it, that God himself breathed himself into that dirt and that dirt became life.

That may not move you. That that may not that may not make you stand back say just as we've already saying, how great is our God. But you know something?

You were once dead in your trespasses and in your sin. You could talk. You could walk, but you didn't have a lot to say.

You didn't have anywhere to go really. But I want to tell you what happened. If you've encountered the God of chapter Philippians 2 verse 13, when you were dead in your trespasses and in your sin and you were out living for the world, doing whatever you wanted to do, living in church, being religious, whatever you were doing, you were dead and you were in and and you didn't have anything.

But then all of a sudden, God came to where you were. He came to where you were and he presented himself. And if you trusted him on that moment, he breathed into you life because all of a sudden the spirit of God came into that temple that you and I have because isn't it amazing what God can do when he comes and gives you life.

You still here? Let me give you the message. I want to show you the three workings of God because I believe that in this verse when he ever he says that for it is God that works.

How does what is what what occurs in salvation? I think the three persons of God is involved. I think first of all you have the working of the father.

Now, in fact, here's what I want you to do. This this will help keep you awake. I want you to turn over in your Bible on your pages to I think let's go to the book of Hebrews or you get there, you say, "Amen." Or if you're not going there and the person beside you get there, you say, "Amen." >> Okay, stay with me this morning.

Hebrews chapter 13. Now, and I want to give you this. What an amazing thought this is.

Hebrews chapter 13. Now, notice what the writer says. Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant.

Notice what he said in verse 21. He says, "Make you perfect." Now that word perfect literally means complete or mature in every good work to do his will. working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight.

Now notice what it said through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and forever. And you see, so the writer of Hebrews again is amen amening what the apostle Paul is saying in Philippians that it is God that is doing the work and and what we must understand is the the work of the father. And we understand in John 3:16 that we get a glimpse of it.

For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son. I began to think about the work of the father because you see nothing has you do know that nothing has ever taken the father by surprise. Nothing has ever happened that the father has had to step back and say, "Well, I didn't see that one coming." You see, we must understand that whenever we go back again to Genesis and we find that God created th this world and this earth and all that has been created.

You do understand that Genesis chapter 3 verse 1-6 that did not surprise the father. That that did not make him step back and say, "Well, I did not see that one coming." You see, we must understand. Now, get this.

We must understand that the father knew before the creation of the world was ever made that man would be created and that man would fall. He knew that. So that's why he began to remind us in Genesis chapter 3 and verse number 15 that there would come a day when the solution to that problem would be given.

But you ever thought what Jesus said when Jesus was on this earth his desire was to do the will of the father. What was the father's will? The father's will was not just that his his son would be born.

The father's will was not just that his son would come and live on this earth. The father's will was not just that his son would do all of those miracles and feed the multitude and raise the dead. You see, the father's will knew that that day would come.

Now, get this. When his will would put his son on the cross of Calvary. That's why Jesus I I wish I understood this, but I don't.

You don't either. But one of the grandest statements that Jesus ever made that we cannot comprehend is when Jesus was hanging on that cross and darkness overshadowed this earth that the son cried to the father, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me. And it was all because of the sin that the father placed upon the son.

Now get this. That the father could invite you to himself. Because one day I will stand before God.

You've heard the little evangelistic thing that we said. Well, when you stand before God and he asked that question, why should I let you into my heaven? What are you going to say?

The only thing that you can say, the reason that I can go into heaven is because of your son, the Lord Jesus Christ. So in that working we find the father but also in that god's working of course we find the son you see I I I hear these sometimes songs that are sung and sometimes it tries to portray why didn't Moses come or why didn't Daniel come or why didn't somebody else None. Because you do know this that no one no one was capable of going to the cross and doing what Jesus did.

Now you sit back and say, "But oh preacher, I could die on the cross and then that would get me into heaven." No, because before you ever went to the cross, you were already sinful. But you see when Jesus went to the cross, he was without guile. He was that precious lamb of Almighty God.

reminds us of what happened in the days of Egypt when when God told Moses that whenever they take that lamb and they let it stay in that that room for three days and then they make sure that that lamb is precious and without spot that that lamb could be slain and that blood could be applied and the deliverance could be taken way because of that blood. And you see this morning, that's that that is the foundation of how do we know? How do we know?

We weren't there. We weren't there when the when the the scourge was placed upon his back. We were not there when the fist was put upon his uh head.

the thorns upon his brow, the spikes in his hands. We were not there. But I'll tell you what did happen when God came and initiated himself by the power of almighty God.

He took me to that moment and he took you to that moment when I realized that I was a fil filthy sinner destined to a place called hell. And he allowed me to understand that not only did the father love me but the son loved me. And I realized on that day, not by my human reckoning, but by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, that Jesus Christ when he shed that blood, and don't let any preacher say that the blood is not relevant.

It is relevant. Don't ever stop singing about the blood. But on that day we realized that that blood was shed so that you sir you ma'am would allow the father to be able to look at you and be able to say those words that we can't say to ourselves and that is you are forgiven.

You see, when I was saved, he didn't save me because I was going to become a member of this church, baptized in this baptistry, carrying a black King James Bible and carrying a T. He didn't save me because of that. Whenever the father looks at me today, how can I stand before God?

I stand before him washed in the blood of the lamb. The Bible says that God is working through the Father, through the Son, and through the Holy Spirit. Let me just say this because time is gone.

Whenever I began to begin ask Lord how do we how do we look at this? as we began to look at the three persons of God and we began to think about the Holy Spirit. And you know, again, the Holy Spirit is one of those things that, you know, we we don't want a lot to do with because we're afraid of it or him.

Afraid of him, not of it. But you see, I I began to understand that without the Holy Spirit, there is no salvation. The Bible says in the gospel of John, Jesus said that unless the father draws him, he cannot go to the father.

How does the father draw? Does he take you back in a time warp to the day when Jesus died? No.

But you see the Holy Spirit of God comes and now this is a word that we don't use in modern day vernacular but it needs to be used and that is that he brings conviction in your life. Now you know what convict now listen and I'm a preacher so I can say this but there's too many preachers that are just coddling with things and not preaching the true gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. There has to be conviction.

And the conviction is this, that God reveals to me by the spirit of God that I'm lost and Christ is the savior. And I began to think, what about the timing of the Holy Spirit? Because now I'm going to close my Bible.

Don't close your ears. Okay. We We are so We are so enamored by time.

That's our life. If I was a betting man, I would say that some of you, if not many of you, have already looked at your watch several times to see what time it is. You ever notice when you go to a restaurant, they have an opening time and a closing time?

If any of you I I don't bring my phone to church, but I know many of you do, but I guarantee you if you take your little um iPhone uh G-Hog off and you look at it, the first thing you're going to see is what time it is. We operate our life in time. But have you ever thought about timing?

That timing is is more important than time itself. See, here's what we think here. Here's here's our ideal that, you know, we come to church and we have uh Wednesday night at 6:30 to 7:30 say, "All right, God, that's where we're going to put you within our time.

God, there's where you are. All right. Now, Lord, we're going to give you a little bit more time on Sunday.

So, we're going to get here at 9:00 and then we're going to go to about 10:00 and then we're going to have a little break. Now, you ain't you ain't involved in that break. We have go from 10:00 to 10:30, then we'll start again.

And then you got from 10:30 to 11:30. Lord, that's where we put you in our time. And that's how we that's how we do with God.

But I want to tell you something. The spirit of God doesn't act on time. It's timing.

How do I know that? Because Jesus when he talked about the spirit of God in with Nicodemus in the go in the book of John, he compared the spirit to being like the wind. Now, I don't know about you, but you know, a weatherman, they don't get a lot right, but what they try to do is predict time.

I I got on my on my phone, I got a, you know, app, a weather app, and sometimes it has the hourly, you know, the hourly, what's what it's going to be. And then it'll tell me what time it's going to be. It'll tell me if it's going to rain or sunshine.

And then it'll tell me how fast how much the wind is going to blow and which way it's going to blow from. And I promise you, it's not always right. But I'm going to tell you something.

in the book of Pentec on on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2. Now I don't know how all this this happened but man they were praying and they were sitting there and all of a sudden like a mighty rushing wind and the Bible says that all of a sudden the spirit of God descended upon them and baptized them into the body of Christ. And you know something, that's what God does.

I don't know about you, but there's sometimes I'm trying to write my mind my own business. And all of a sudden, the spirit of God will sweep in. That's what he does with salvation.

You know, we can try to manipulate. I you know as a preacher you know I I could do that and you know you know have your head raise your hand uh lift up you we can do all sorts of things but it's only the spirit of God that comes each down each of these aisles and brings about that conviction in your life where you're convinced that you trust Jesus as your savior and as your lord. Now, how can you know this morning that you have salvation?

How do you know that if today is your last day and that threshold is going to be stepped upon? Can you really know? Absolutely.

that you know that in your life, God did a work that only he can do. And you know what's so great about when God does that work? It'll never be eliminated.

You may be here and you might be 80 and you and you're saved and you might live to be a hundred. I can promise you this. You can be assured when you're at a hundred than you are today.

But here's what I think. I think that so often we get caught up in the ways and the methodology of church and we truly forget about the God that is at work in salvation. I prayed this morning thinking, Lord, you know what I'm going to preach and how long I preach and what we're going to say.

God, you're going to know every single person in that building. You know who they are and you know how they stand as far as their spirituality. And I know this that there's some in this church right now.

You may be a member. You may be a deacon. You may be a Sunday school teacher, choir member.

But you know this morning that you don't have that assurance that you know that you know that Jesus knows you today. It can happen. You may be seated here this morning and you don't have you you're you're not a part of this.

You ain't positional as far as the church is concerned, but you came to church today thinking, well, I'm going to hear a little few songs, little bit of scripture, and we're going to go. But you know what's happened? The wind of the Holy Spirit of God has escorted himself into this place and he sat down right on top of you and he has shown you.

Don't worry about the person beside you. He's shown you that you need to know the Lord as your savior. I'm ask you to bow your head and close your eyes and we're going to have our time of invitation.

Father, I I I prayed right now that during this moment, Lord, I I know that you have spoken, God, you have brought us to this point in this church, in this building, to allow us to see the magnificence and the power of Almighty God. And Father, there's some folks here today that their need is to respond to you in a way that you've drawn them to. God, I pray that you would continue to draw them in Jesus holy name.

Amen. Let's all stand and the uh altar is open. We're going to sing the song and perhaps you need to come this morning and pray.

Maybe there's a need in your life. But but if you're here this morning today and I I believe that God has brought us to this point and when God brings us to a point, we not just need to listen. We need to respond.

So let's sing. You come right now. I know some need to come right now.

You come. >> Lord, you know my heart. Lord, you know my heart.

>> Lord, you know my need. >> Come on, listen. Don't fight it.

Don't fight it. >> I take the burden on me. >> Lay it down at the altar.

Come on, sir. Lay down at your feet. >> I am desperate.

>> Oh Lord, how desperate we are. I am desperate for peace. >> You're the one that is holy.

Oh, and I'm the one that's in need. >> So I will lay down. Lay down at the altar.

Who am I to you when you are everything? And though I cannot be sure that my gift would be pure and be fit for my king. I will lay down at the altar.

Lay down at your feet. I am desperate for mercy. I am desperate for peace.

You're the one that is holy and I'm the one that's indeed. So I will lay you down. lay down at the altar.

>> That's good. >> Who am I to you when you are everything? And though I cannot be sure that my gift would be pure and be thick for my keys.

Lay down at the altar. >> Lay down at your feet. I am desperate for mercy.

I am desperate for peace. You're the one that is holy and I'm the one who's in need. So I will lay down lay down at the altar.

>> Amen. I I really appreciate you listening today. And uh let me just remind you before you leave, if you hadn't got one of them boxes, just grab one.

God bless you. Have a good afternoon. Be here Wednesday night.

Our WANA students and our Bible study be going on. God bless you.