The Matter of Modesty

Our evening service of prayer. Any prayer request by uplifted hand, remember those, remember those sick in our congregation, our shut-ins. Remember them. Believe the Lord's able to heal all cases. Anything we bring to Him, we believe. I believe He can heal them. Stand. Go, Lord, in prayer. Thank You, Heavenly Father, for this time we have to come before You this evening. Lord, thank You, Lord, for hearing every request, Lord, that we brought before You today. God, I pray, God, that You're moving every one of them, God, like only You can, Lord. God, bring healing to those in need of it, Lord. I pray, God, for the sick in our congregation, Lord, those that have this uh sickness going around, God. I pray, Lord, that You'd touch them and heal them, God. Make them everywhere whole, God. Lord, for our shut-ins, God, I pray, God, that You'd send the word and heal them, God. I pray, Lord, for Brother, Sister, Sister, God, that You'd touch them, heal them, God, so they can be in the next service with us, God. I pray, Lord, to touch and help them here tonight, God. Lord, every request by lifted up hand, God, I pray, God, that You'd help them, God. Lord, whatever that need may be, God, I pray, God, that You move in a way, God, that You get glory for it, Lord, that only You can take credit for it, God. Pray, God, You'd help us here tonight, God. I pray, God, that You, the power of the Holy Ghost, be felt a great way in this place. God, pray that You anoint to be on everything said and done here this scene, God. I pray, God, You'd anoint me to open the service. Anoint the worship, the giving, singing the uh, anoint Brother Shell as he leads us, God, and as he brings the word to us this evening, God. Lord God, I pray Jesus would be lifted up here this evening. God, I pray the lifting up of our hands be that evening sacrifice, God, that our prayer come before Your incense here this evening, God. Lord, I pray that You help us tonight, God, to work in this place, God. Lord, only You can take credit for. Bless us with Your presence in a great way here tonight, God. Lord God, I pray You move among us, Lord. Pray, God, You be in our presence here tonight. Thank You, Lord, for being with us earlier service, God. I pray, God, You do it again here tonight, God. Lord, thank God for Your helplessness, God. Lord, we can do nothing except we abide in You, Lord. We pray, God, help people here tonight, God, meet every need we bring before You this, God, in Jesus' name. Praise You.

>> Praise Him. Hallelujah.

>> Praise the Lord.

>> That's good to be back in God's house again this evening. You know, it's planting season and people know exactly what they're going to get out of their gardens. Bless you. Whatever they, whatever they plant, that's what they're going to reap. Whatever they sow in that garden, they, they know what's going to come back up. Galatians 6:7 says, "Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For what? Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall also reap." If we sow something spiritual into this service, we're going to reap something spiritual out of it. If we bring spiritual worship in here and worship the Lord in spirit and truth, we're going to reap something good out of this service. I know if I set on my hands, if I don't help the pastor preach none, if I don't worship during the singing, I'm not going to get anything out of service. But I won't get something out of service. So, I'm not going to do those things. I'm going to worship the Lord in spirit and truth here this evening.

>> So, let's worship in spirit and truth as soon as the choir comes. Worship Lord. Be told they might not understand. Oh, what a happy me. I hear Him calling me away. Hope this old world forever stay. And when I take my s and my blessings, I'll shout and sing through the. Oh, what a happy day. Oh, what a happy day. What a happy day. And when I walk there, I'll see my place. There you place the ground upon my head. Give me a rope and wear. I'll walk on streets on Paris. So I'll live forever and not grow. I'll shout and sing to the endless. Oh, what a happy day. Oh, what a happy day. What a happy day. What a happy me. Oh, what a happy day. Oh, what a happy day. What a happy day. Wonderful day. Before me to be with my soul forever. And when I take my handless, I shall sing to you in the sages. Oh, what a happy day. Oh, what a happy day. And when I walk to heaven, there I'll see my blessed savior there. He'll place a crown on my head in the road to wear. I'll walk those streets of his gold. I'll live forever and not. I'll shout and sing to the endless aes. Oh, what a happy day. What a happy day. Oh, what a happy day. What a happy day. And when I walk into heaven, I'll see my face. There will be a place around my head and a girl to wear. I'll walk those streets of tears. It's gold forever. And on the road, I'll shout and sing to the endless. Oh, what a happy day. Oh, what a happy day that will be when we gather there. On a happy day when we find the gold before. Oh, what a happy day. What a happy day. Will be long before.

All Praise the Lord.

>> Praise the Lord.

>> That's going to be a happy day. So don't miss it. Do whatever you got to to make it. I know in book of Hebrews it says that Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him. So obey Him. Make sure that you make it. This time I'm ask Brother Charlie and Sister Sharon come minister a song.

Like a woman brought to Jesus who was taken in her sin. I was so ashamed of what I done and where I did. Well, justice called for payment that was more than I could give. When mercy smiled upon me, saying I forgive. Oh, sweetest words He ever said was, "I forgive." The sentence then was wiped away that I could live. I like the part where He told about a man He would give. The sweetest words He ever said was, "I forgive." Now, if you're tired of living with the wrongs that you have done, come on home to Jesus. You know He's the cleansing one. In His arms, He'll hold you and you've just begun to live. When you hear Him gently whisper, "I forgive." Oh, sweetest words He ever said was, "I forgive." The destiny was wiped away that I could live. Well, like the part where He told about a mansion He would give. But sweetest words He ever said was, "I forgive." Oh, sweetest words He ever said was, "I forgive." The sentence then was wiped away that I could live. Well, like the part where He told about a mansion He would give. But sweetest words He ever said was, "I forgive." Like the woman brought to Jesus who was taken in her sin. I was so ashamed of what I'd done and where I'd been. Well, mercy called for famous that was more than I could give. When mercy smiled upon me, saying, "I forgive." Oh, sweetest words He ever said was, "I forgive." The sentence then was wiped away that I could live. Well, like the part where He told about a mansion He would give. The sweetest words He ever said was, "I forgive." Oh, sweetest words He ever said was, "I forgive." That sentence man was walked away that I could live. Well, like the part where He told about a mansion He would give. But sweetest words He ever said was, "I forgive." But sweetest words He ever said was, "I forgive."

>> Amen.

>> No greater thing you can hear than to hear the Lord say, "He forgives you." You know it when it happens, too. Whenever that weight of sin's gone, like the pastor said this morning, he didn't have to ask anybody. You know it. Whenever the Lord forgives you.

>> This time, receive our offering. For ushers to come. Brother Matthew, ask the Lord bless time again the leading. Leading on the everlasting aring leading Jesus, leading on the everlasting.

Praise the Lord. Amen.

>> Thank you for your faithfulness. Again, this time we're going to ask Sister Shelton, Sister Tina, Sister Sharon, come on that resurrection morning when the redeemed are gathering in. I'll be in that royal number when they call my name. When they all join in and sing Hallelujah to the King, I'll cry with a joyful sound. Lord, here I am. Here I am. Here I am. Here I am. I am. I'm the one. The shepherd left the fold and found. There were 90. But He left the boat to find one little lost lamb. And here I am. And old Gabriel blows the trumpet and we rise up in the air. In less time than a split second, we'll be changed from here to there. Where there'll be no grief nor pain. Perfect peace and joy shall reign. Home at last, I shall proclaim. Lord, here I am. Here I am. Here I am. Here I am. I'm the one the shepherd left the fold and found. There were 90 and nine. But He left the boat to find one little lost lamb. And here I am. Here I am. I am. Here I am. I am. I'm the one the shepherd left the fold and found. There were 90 and nine, but He left the fold to find one little lost lamb and here I am. When old Gabriel blows the trumpet and we rise up in in the air in less time than a split second, we'll be changed from here to there where there'll be no grief nor pain. Perfect peace and joy shall reign. Home at last, I shall proclaim. Lord, here I am. Here I am. I am here. I am. I am. I'm the one the shepherd left the fold and found. There were 90 and nine. But He left the boat to find one little lost lamb and here I am. And there was one little lost lamb and here I am. I'm glad He came to find me.

>> There was 99 in the fold and He came and found me. I wasn't looking for Him, but He is a good shepherd. He wasn't no hireling. He came and did what the Father sent Him to do. He uh sought and saved, sought to save that which was lost. Found me at this time on the hand of service, Pastor Brush.

Praise the Lord.

>> Told somebody before service, felt like I was 20 when I was preaching this morning. Got home, the anointing lifted off of me. I felt like I'm 55 tonight. Now feel like I'm about 35 right now. Amen. Appreciate all that good singing. Give these singers a hand of appreciation tonight. They could be doing that anywhere. They could be in a nightclub right now. They could be somewhere in a bar. They could be in a karaoke bar singing that singing for the world. But they're using that for God. Talent God's given them. And I appreciate that. And God has anointed it. Anoints it. Amen. That means it's glad to be back in God's house tonight. I want to say thank you again. I know I said it this morning, but I thank you for all the cards, I opened up cards after church today, and gift cards, and all the kind words, and um, steak. I'm going to be having that next week. Praise the Lord. I'm not going to tell you who gave it to me, but my dad brought it. I like it. Just keep bringing it. I just, just keep on coming. I like steak. All the goodies, all everything. Thank you so much. And uh, we're very appreciative. I appreciate this church. I love this church. Everything to do with our life has to do with this church right here. It's not a time we're not thinking about this work here. When we're on vacation, we don't go on vacation a lot, but when we do, we're thinking about this church. You mind? When I'm at home, I'm thinking about this church. When I'm out driving down the road, I'm thinking about this church, thinking about you. And I'm over here during the day praying. I'm praying for this church. Want God's will to be done here. Amen. I don't believe we're at the ceiling, the zenith. I believe we're at just the floor level. I believe we got a long way to go, but God will get us there if we'll go with God. Man, I want to go with God. Don't you? I'm not trying to be popular. I'm not trying to get people to like me. I told Sis Shelton last night, I said, I don't get up here to make you like me or hate me. I want people to like me, all right? But if they don't like me, I really don't care if it comes to the word of God. I'm not trying to get people to pat us on the back and all those things and accolades. I could care less about that. I want to please my Father. Albright said that this morning. Amen. So, Sister Shelton, I said, "I'd rather people be happy with me sometimes or not." I was thinking for the service. I had a man get mad at me one time. Didn't even come to this church. Came up here and want to talk to me about something and sent him down to my office and we started talking. He got mad and face got red. And I, I was just like I am right now. Just as calm as you could be. He didn't, didn't get me riled up, stirred up, nothing. And uh, I said, "Well, I appreciate you telling me what you have to say. Have a good day." He stormed out of here mad. And a few minutes later, he come back in my office. Listen, I ain't afraid of anybody. I'm just not. I don't have a fear of any man. You know why? Because Jesus said, "You don't have to fear man. You fear God. You don't fear man." Amen. I'm not going to fight anybody. My grandpa said, "You do that, you might get your head cracked open." Man. But I'm telling you, I wasn't, I didn't have any. I wasn't, didn't get rattled. He just went on out and I went back to work. Well, just a few minutes later, come storming back in there. And uh, I thought, well, I'm, he's for round two now. And he said, "How do you get out of here?" He got lost going out. So I walked him out, patted him on the back, told him I loved him. Hope he had a good day. And I didn't see him again. Don't know what ever happened to him. But you listen, even in things like that, the Holy Ghost will keep you calm and steady, my friend. Amen. We need the Holy Ghost, don't we?

>> Praise God.

>> If you have your Bibles tonight, 1 Timothy chapter 2. How many's excited about being back in church? Leaned over and told Sister Albright, I said, I feel like a kid in a candy store here tonight. Man, so good to be in God's house. Praise the Lord. Appreciate the choir tonight. Brother Charlie, Sister Sharon, thank you all for that song. Sister Shelton, Sister Dam, Sister Tina, thank you for that good song. Bless my heart. All the musicians, thank you. Praise the Lord. 1 Timothy chapter 2 tonight. Now, this is for men and women. Just because men wear skinny jeans don't mean you have to wear skinny jeans. Matter of fact, I would prefer you not wear skinny jeans. Just because some boys wear their pants down around their ankles, their knees. I don't know how in the world I, I've seen these some of these boys wear their pants down here and got a belt on. But if you got the belt on, you would be better to hold them up here. That won't do that. Get you some suspenders and that'll hold them up there for you. Guys trying to outrun the cops with them pants on. I thought when they ain't going to have a chance, them cops going to catch them. Them big old fat cops going to catch them. Amen. You don't have to do it just because everybody else is.

Father, thank You tonight. Jesus. Thank You for the Holy Ghost. Lord, give us a boldness, dear God. Lord, I need boldness to preach this message tonight. Father, I know already, God, as I've told You, going to get some resistance tonight, and I'm not afraid of it, Lord. I pray You'll anoint this servant, Jesus. uh pray You'll lay Your hand on us tonight and help us now, God. I thank You for all that singing tonight. That's just blessed my heart, Lord. I know that it blessed the heart of God tonight because they sang from pure hearts and clean lips. Uh and those words that came out of them, Lord, didn't just come to for a show or entertainment, but it came to honor You and to bless You, Father. And that's what we're going to do with preaching tonight, Lord. Want to honor You with everything that we say tonight. I pray You'll stand with us this evening, Lord. That You'll touch us, God. And I pray, dear Lord, when it's all done, when I say the last word that's supposed to be said tonight, I pray that You'll draw us into these altars, God, and there You'll work on us. Uh You are the potter, we're the clay. Keep us on that wheel, God. Mold us and shape us into the image of Your Son, Lord. Uh I thank You, God, for the day You saved my soul, the change You made in my life. Uh I'm so glad, Lord, that You've been faithful all these years. and You will be faithful till we cross that finish line. And we hear You say, "A job well done." We long to hear those words, dear Lord. Uh I pray You'll touch those that are here tonight. Remember those watching online now, those that can't be here. Also pray for those that can be here but just not here tonight. God, pray You'll convict them wherever they are, Father. And we just want to praise You and love You and bless You for all You're doing, all that You're going to do now. In Jesus' mighty name, we pray. Everybody said amen.

Praise the Lord. Y'all about preached me to death this morning. I liked every bit of it. Amen. Told somebody if I'm going to go that microphone hit the floor and we'll be in heaven. I'm 100 miles deep and devil looking around. What happened to them? Amen. Bible says here tonight in 1 Timothy chapter 2, verse 9 and 10. In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broaded hair or gold or pearls or costly array, but which becometh women professing godliness with good works. Let's read it again. In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel. This is not a personal conviction here He's dealing with. There are some things that are personal convictions that maybe not in the word but something God deals with you over personally. But modesty is not a personal conviction. It is the word of God. You can argue all day long but it is the word of God. He said that women adorned themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broaded hair or gold or pearls or costly array, but which becometh women professing godliness with good works. Can you give God one more hand of praise as you're seated tonight? I want to be a little more deliberate with you tonight if God will help us. Amen. I appreciate God letting us be back in His house tonight. Isn't that wonderful? What God was so good, let us come back here tonight. Amen. I'm thankful for this opportunity. I was listening to Brother Oxendine today. I've got some of his CDs in my car and I tell you, I listen that man of God preach and that was a, I told Sister Becky, his daughter, I said, I believe he was a four-star preacher. Amen. God used him in a wonderful way and I, I'm just blessed to hear his preaching. Amen. I want to preach tonight for a little while. The Lord will be our help this evening on this thought, the matter of modesty. Matter of modesty. Thank you, Brother Stephen, back there. God bless you. Matter of modesty. I love this time of year. Anybody else like this time, spring time of year? I like when everything starts blooming. The flowers start blooming again. The trees start blooming again. Matter of fact, I like to walk out in my yard and just look at the trees. I like to go to Lowe's. That's what I do to relax. I go to Lowe's Hardware. Now, if you got some problems, don't you chase me down there. You let me look at those plants and trees and I walk through the garden section and I just, just enjoy that quiet time out there. And then once in a while, you'll see somebody that wants to, you know, you understand. And I enjoy going to Lowe's to do all that. I love the warmer weather of springtime. I like these 68, 70 degree days. Walk outside, the sunshine, and say, "Amen." One of the things I don't like about this time of year besides the pollen, I don't believe anybody likes the pollen, but God did that for a reason. God's got a reason in everything that He does on this earth. I don't personally like the pollen because of what it does to our sinuses. One of the things I don't like about this time of year is the fact that as the warm weather begins to approach, as the sun begins to shine, as things begin to bloom and blossom, one of the first things that people begin to do is take their clothes off. I've told you before in the winter time, just about everybody dresses sanctified whether they know it or not. But folks begin to take their clothes off. They wear their clothes shorter. They wear them tighter. And they wear much less of them. Now, I'm telling you, God spoke this to my heart this week while I was working on this message that this is not a heat problem. It's a heart problem. It's not a temperature problem. It's a testimony problem. B.H. Clendon said that when a nation begins to go away from God, the first thing they start doing is taking their clothes off. We find this truth in Exodus chapter 32. How that when God was so gloriously brought the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, He was so good to those people, He heard their cries. The Bible said He brought them out by great deliverance. Can't nobody deliver you like God can. Says going to try to be deliberate, but I feel that working in me right here. Can nobody deliver you like God can? It was a great deliverance. I'm telling you, when Jesus saved you, uh, it was a great deliverance on that day. Uh, God brought you out of Egyptian slavery in the spiritual sense. The Bible says that God brought them out of Egyptian land, worked all those miracles for those people to see to prove to them that He is God, that the gods that the Egyptians worship were not like the true and living God. The Bible said they were camping there and Moses went up on that mountain and for 40 days he was gone there alone with God. God gave him those Ten Commandments and while He's away, those people think He's gone. He's not coming back. And so they go to that associate pastor Aaron, uh, and they say to that silly associate, "We want you to make us a god to worship. Moses is gone. He's not coming back. So we need something to lead us, something to follow." So Aaron took their gold earrings and all their gold and put it in the fire and he made that golden calf. And the Bible said that the people, uh, they got up and they took all their clothes off and begin to dance, uh, around that golden image. And they followed God out of Egypt. But the moment they started turning from God, uh, they started taking their clothes off them. Now, we can expect this of this lost and dying world. But it ought not to ever be that way among those who call themselves Christians. The Bible tells us plainly and simply, uh, that Christians are to dress modestly. This is not a Church of God thing. Come on and say amen. Matter of fact, a lot of our Church of God folks don't dress modestly anymore. This is not a Baptist thing. This is not a Methodist thing. Uh, this is not an independent thing. Uh, this is the word of God. Modesty is not a personal conviction. Uh, it is God's holy word. The Apostle Paul said here to Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 2:9. In like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety. The Amplified Bible defines it this way. Uh, likewise, I want women to adorn themselves modestly, uh, and appropriately and discreetly, uh, in proper clothing. Uh, now, you listen to me, brothers, before you start pointing your finger, uh, at those women. Uh, I'm telling you, modest apparel, modesty is not just for the woman. Uh, it's for the man as well. Amen. When Adam and Eve sinned against God in that Garden of Eden, uh, God didn't just kill animals and clothe Eve. Uh, but He also clothed that man, He also clothed Adam. Modesty is God's command for all of His children. Now, the Bible tells us that God sees nakedness, uh, different than the way that we do in this society today. Men see nakedness, uh, as somebody going around with no clothing at all. And I can tell you, you might see that today. You don't never know what you're going to see, uh, when you go out there in that old wicked world. But God, His view of nakedness is different than that of man. In the Old Testament, the Bible tells us that the exposed thigh, uh, was nakedness in God's sight. That means anything above that, uh, God considered it, uh, to be nakedness. Many years ago, back in the 1970s, uh, uh, a preacher told my grandfather, uh, he said, "If you preach that clothesline preaching, uh, then you're going to go out on a limb." My grandfather replied to him, my grandfather was a holiness preacher. He's a man of God. He didn't back down. I heard him say it. "If I'm right by that word, I'm not going to back up." Uh, my grandfather's reply to him, uh, was that, "I'm going out on a limb." Uh, why? Because the Bible deals with the subject, uh, of how we dress. I'm telling you, Brother Scott, we need more preachers, uh, that will go out on a limb, uh, and will preach the word of God today. Uh, we need some men like John the Baptist, uh, that'll stand up and say to the king, uh, "It's wrong for you to have your brother's wife." Uh, it might cost you your head. Uh, I'm telling you, if you stand for the word of God, uh, and you stand for the Lord Jesus Christ, uh, He's going to be standing to welcome you there, uh, when you leave this old world. Uh, we need some preachers with some backbones again. Uh, that's not afraid of making that big tithe payer mad. Uh, we're not afraid of making somebody's grandchild mad, uh, in the church. Uh, we just need some preachers, uh, that'll do like my grandpa and go out on a limb and say, "I'm going to preach the word of God." Somebody say amen. Brother Clint didn't say it. Go ahead and give him a hand of praise tonight. Oh, I got a lot of preaching to do here tonight. Brother Clinton didn't said, "How you dress does not make you holy, but how you dress can make you unholy." Whether we realize it or not, what you wear testifies of who you are. What you wear speaks to what you are. One commentator said, "When the Holy Ghost sanctifies a life, uh, even the outward man begins to testify." The Bible tells us that the clothes that we wear communicate a message. Uh, what you wear out there in that world, uh, will testify something about you to that world. We find this truth in Proverbs 7 and 10. The writer said, "And behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot and subtle of heart." The amplified says, "And behold, uh, there met him a woman dressed as a harlot, uh, and sly and cunning of heart." Uh, this harlot intentionally dressed in such a way, uh, to lure men to her body, uh, in a sexual way. Uh, her clothing told that world, uh, that she was a harlot. Uh, her clothing testified, uh, to what she was. Uh, in our society today, uh, the clothing industries are deciding, uh, and selling clothes that are tighter, uh, that are more revealing than in days gone by. Matter of fact, most of the modern ladies clothes that we see today, uh, would be more revealing today, uh, than what it was the clothing of that harlot, uh, years and years ago. And while this world, and the word of God may differ, uh, when it comes to modesty, uh, there is something this world will agree with, uh, with the word of God. Uh, they do agree that the clothes that you wear, uh, testify and communicate a message, uh, to those around you. Uh, listen to me tonight. Uh, you won't never see a prostitute, uh, on the street corner holding a sign. Uh, why? Because she doesn't have to. Uh, she's going to dress in a way, uh, to communicate to you, to talk to you, uh, to tell you that she is a prostitute. Uh, and we as Christians better pay close attention, uh, to how we dress, uh, because how we dress, uh, sends a message to this world. Uh, how we dress testifies, uh, of what we are. Uh, how we dress gives an impression, uh, and an opinion of who we are. Uh, let me tell you something, friend. Uh, if you're not for sale, uh, then don't advertise your body, uh, that it is. I said, if you're not for sale, uh, then don't walk around, uh, amen, testifying and communicating to the world, uh, that you are for sale to this world. Can you say amen? We as Christians are not to follow the pattern of this fallen world that's bound in sin and heading for hell. That includes the way that we dress, our apparel. Just because a sinful world takes their clothes off, uh, just because a sinful world dresses immodestly and immorally, uh, does not mean that we do the same thing. God's given us principles, biblical principles, uh, of modesty, uh, when it comes to the way Christians should dress. The Bible tells us that clothes should never be worn, uh, that expose or show attention, uh, to the body parts or fail to cover, uh, our nakedness. The Bible always associates nakedness, uh, with shame. I tell you, you have to agree with me tonight, uh, that we've lost a lot of our shame in this church age today. Uh, we don't blush, we'll take our clothes off, uh, and we don't even brush over it any longer. Uh, I mean, people that are supposed to be Christians, uh, or go to church half-naked anymore, uh, and they don't care. It does not bother them. Uh, I'm telling you, friend, we better get our blush back. Uh, I said, we better get our humility back. Uh, we better get our fear of God back again. Uh, for the fear of the Lord, uh, is the beginning of wisdom. Can you say amen? The Bible tells us that before Adam and Eve sinned, they were naked. Uh, but there was no shame in that nakedness. Amen. They walked around, they didn't see anything. There was nothing wrong with that. Uh, but the moment that they sinned, uh, sin brought shame. And the moment that they sinned, they realized that they're naked, uh, and they put clothes on, uh, to cover their nakedness. I'm telling you how that we dress is not some kind of side issue. How we dress is not legalism. Don't you love that word, legalism? You know who uses that word? People who don't want to live by the word of God. Everything's legalism. Uh, well, listen to me, friend. Praying without ceasing, uh, they say is legalism. Uh, if you do something over and over, that's legalism. Uh, if you lay this down or you lay that down, uh, let me tell you how I define it. Uh, amen. And if I lay down what I laid down to be saved, uh, I'm telling you that's legalism. Uh, but if I lay it down because I am saved, uh, that's a relationship, uh, with the Lord Jesus Christ. Uh, I didn't lay this world down, uh, in order to be saved. Uh, and I'm telling you, when I got saved, uh, I laid this whole world down. Uh, I'm glad there's none of Egypt in me and none of me in Egypt anymore. Somebody say amen. How we dress is not legalism. How we dress as Christians is about our identity and our testimony. This is what the Apostle Paul was dealing here with when he wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 2. Timothy served as a church leader there in Ephesus. Ephesus was a city filled with sensuality, immodesty, wealth flaunting, and the cult of Artemis. I looked this up. The cult of Artemis, uh, Artemis was a false goddess of fertility. Uh, and they worshiped her. Uh, in their worship to Art, Artemis, this pagan god, uh, women in that culture would braid gold and jewels in their hair. Uh, they used appearance to try to gain influence. Uh, they treated worship like a fashion display. Uh, in their worship of Artemis, uh, they wore extravagant and seductive clothing. And when Paul said to Timothy here, uh, in 1 Timothy 2:9 and 10, he said, "In like manner also, uh, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with hair or gold or pearls or costly array, but which becometh women professing godliness, uh, with good works." Uh, he was not attacking beauty. Can you say amen? He wasn't saying you got to be an ugly Christian. Uh, amen. I said it here some time ago. Sin's what makes you ugly. Uh, but Jesus will make you beautiful. Uh, the Bible said God beautifies the meek. Uh, I'm telling you, the most beautiful people on this earth, uh, are not those that, that are in Hollywood. Uh, the most beautiful people on this earth, uh, are not the ones on the catwalks. Uh, amen. In all the clothing. Uh, the most beautiful people on this earth, uh, is still the people of God. Uh, I still believe that from time to time, uh, that Jesus looks over the banister of heaven, uh, down to this earth, uh, and they say, "What are you looking at?" "I'm looking at the most beautiful bride, uh, that there's ever been, uh, and she's alive and well, uh, and she's beautiful, uh, walking on this earth today." Uh, Paul's not saying don't fix your hair. I'd say to people like that, you need to fix your hair. He's not saying go around with bed head. Anybody know what bed head is? It's what happens when you go to bed and get up and you leave your hair like it was when you went to bed and got up. He wasn't saying you got to go around with bed head. He wasn't saying don't use hairspray. I mean, you don't have to mess up the ozone layer, but he wasn't saying that. He's not saying don't curl your hair. He's not saying don't perm your hair. He's not saying don't wear hair clips. Uh, he's not saying don't dress in nice clothes. He's not saying that you got to dress like poor people. He's not saying you got to make your own clothes. He's not saying you got to go buy your clothes from an Amish store. Say amen. He's not saying that you got to dress homely, uh, to be holy. That's not what He's saying at all. Uh, what He's saying is this. Uh, He's confronting worldliness, uh, and sensuality, uh, and self-promotion, uh, that was trying to get into the church, uh, of that day. Uh, Paul was saying to the young Timothy, uh, "Don't you bring the culture of Artemis, uh, into the church, uh, of the Lord Jesus Christ." Uh, He's saying, "Don't you bring the culture, uh, of that world, uh, into the church." Uh, don't let it on the platform. Uh, don't let it in the teacher's stand. Uh, don't let Ahab get up behind the podium. Uh, don't let Jezebel, uh, get up behind the teacher's stand. Uh, but you got to keep it holy. Uh, because the God that we serve is a holy God. Well, somebody give Him praise tonight. I'm trying to be calm, Brother Matthew. He's saying don't let that world come into that church and influence that church in a worldly way. He said that Christians are to dress modestly with shamefacedness and with sobriety. In the Greek, modest apparel means honorable and appropriate. Shamefacedness means reverence and holy restraint. Sobriety means spirit-led and self-control. The Apostle Paul was saying, uh, that we ought to dress in a way, uh, that reflects Jesus Christ, uh, and not the culture that we live in. Uh, we're living in a culture today, uh, that has declined greatly, uh, over the last several years. Uh, there's been a definite erosion of morals and values, uh, in our society. Uh, amen. I've heard Christian women say it. I've heard Sister Shelton say it. I've heard our girls talking about this that is, it's so hard to go into a store and try to find modest apparel, uh, for a woman to wear. They said that you got to go and buy it online. And I'm telling you, it's even hard to try to find it online these days. Uh, amen. Uh, because that's the way of the world. Uh, but we can allow the culture, uh, to come into the church, uh, and to dictate our attitudes, uh, our actions, our appearance, and our appetites. Uh, I want to say this as loud as my voice, but let me say it tonight. Uh, this is not the culture's church. Uh, the world does not own the church. I said, the world does not own the church. Don't you believe for a moment, uh, that the devil's in charge of the true church? Uh, this church belongs, uh, to the Lord Jesus Christ. Uh, He said in Matthew 16:18, "Upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Hallelujah to God. The world doesn't own the church. World's got no business trying to come in the church and tell us what we're going to do and how we're going to do it. We're a holy people. We're God's people. Uh, God said to be holy, uh, for I am holy. Uh, our testimony in this world, uh, is to be a testimony of holiness. Come on and say amen. Uh, when they see us, uh, they ought to see Jesus Christ. Uh, when they see us, uh, they ought to take knowledge that we've been with the Son of God. That includes how we dress these bodies, these temples. No matter where you are, we are to dress as holiness people. Somebody said, "Well, their culture is different than our culture. Over in Africa, there's places they don't wear no clothes at all." I ain't planning on visiting there. for you. And if you preach over there, you got to do it with your eyes closed. Amen. I've told you before, when you get born again, you become part of a different culture. It don't matter what culture you grew up in. It don't matter how they dressed, how they didn't dress. Uh, when you get born again, we become part of the Christian culture. We become part of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Uh, and there's nothing on this earth like the church, uh, of the Lord Jesus Christ. Uh, amen. When you get saved, everything is to change in your life. Brother Curtis Tig, I know I've said it before, but I'm getting old and some of you are too, and you don't remember me saying it before. I'm telling you, he said he went over there to preach that place where they ain't got no clothes on. Uh, he said, "But you get them in them altars, get them born again. And uh, first thing they'll do is go put some clothes on." Uh, why? Because there's shame, uh, associated with sin. Uh, and there's shame associated with nakedness. Uh, dress is a visible language. Uh, your clothing speaks before you do. Uh, it communicates identity. Uh, it communicates your values. Uh, it communicates your allegiance. Uh, I want to say this tonight. Uh, my allegiance is not to this world. My allegiance is not to the devil. But my allegiance is to the Lord Jesus Christ. Uh, it is Him and Him alone that we're going to serve.

>> Hallelujah to God.

>> What you wear is the first sentence of your testimony. Somebody said some smart aleck said to me. You ever deal with smart alecks? I'm telling you, you can't get nothing over in the Holy Ghost. They said, "No, wait a minute. Don't matter about that outside because the Bible said God looks on the heart." That's what He said in the book of Samuel. That's what He said when Samuel came there to anoint the king, the new king, Jesse's sons. And and you know, they, they said, "Well, that scripture says that God looks on the heart." They leave that other part off that man looks on the outward. And that wasn't even what He was talking about here with Saul. Amen. He was not talking about what he was dressed in. Uh, he was talking about his height, his size. Uh, from the outside, he looked like what a king ought to look like, what they believed. Uh, that ain't got nothing to do with dress or modest apparel. That has nothing to do with that at all. They take that scripture and they twist it and turn it out of place. Uh, I'm telling you that man does look on the outward. Uh, that's the only thing man can see. Uh, we can't look directly in that heart like God can. Uh, what I see in somebody else is what you have on, uh, what you act like, what your attitude is. That's all we can see. Uh, amen. God sees that heart. But all I can see is that outward and what you wear is the first sentence of your testimony to this world. Dress is a reflection of the heart. A sanctified heart's going to produce a sanctified wardrobe. You get your heart sanctified good and I tell you, you going to go through that closet and you going to make some changes. You're going to put some clothes on. Dress is a form of stewardship. Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. How you cover your body is worship unto God. I want God to be pleased with how I worship Him in this temple, in this body. Dress is a boundary marker. Uh, clothing in scripture marked covenant, uh, and calling, and consecration, uh, and identity. Holiness people ought to be identifiable, uh, in that world. Uh, there was a time, I'm just going to stay in the Church of God. Uh, that's what I'm a member of. Uh, there's a time in the Church of God, uh, you could tell the Church of God folks in the mall. Uh, you could tell the Church of God folks, uh, on vacation. Uh, you can tell them Church of God folks, uh, when you were in Walmart today. We mixed ourselves, uh, just like Israel, so much with that world, uh, that you can't tell much of the Church of God, uh, from much of this whole world today. Uh, I want to say this to you, uh, that true church, uh, she's still a city, uh, set on a hillside, uh, that cannot be hid in this old world. People are to be identifiable people. When people see us, they ought to be, they ought to say, "There goes those Christian folks." Drift is a safeguard against temptation. Modesty protects purity, both yours and the purity of others. You ought to have enough God in you to dress in a manner to that that causes somebody else to lust after you. You to have enough God to put some clothes on. If you dress in a manner that causes somebody to look at you and lust after you, you say, "Well, that's on them." And I'm going to tell you something. Uh, if you dress that way to tempt them that way, you're just as guilty as the one looking. To have enough God in you to put some clothes on, uh, and cover this temple of God. Uh, dress is a witness to this world. Uh, there's some people that'll never read that Bible. Uh, you're the only Bible that they're going to read. Uh, and when they read your life, uh, it better bring glory and honor, uh, unto the Lord of glory. Uh, we ought to glorify God. Paul said, uh, in both our spirit and in our body, and to glorify God inwardly. Uh, I'm to glorify God outwardly. Uh, it is a testimony of this great God that we serve. Can you say amen? Prayers is a testimony of separation. Separation is not isolation. It is identification. It identifies us with Jesus Christ. You don't dress like a haunted person. You dress like a holiness person because the God we serve is a holy God. Can you say amen? I'm representing Jesus Christ in this.

world. Well, I'm going to say something, preachers. Hold on. Buckle up a little bit.

I cannot stand to go out in town, see a preacher dressed like a bum. I'm doing all right, Sister Shelton. I got some birthday cake at home. I'm doing all right, then. I can't stand to see preachers. I've seen them out there in. Not these preachers here. I've seen preachers out there in town before dressed like a bum. Look like something just climbed out of a hole somewhere.

Uh, I want to tell you, brother Clinton said, he said, "I'll wear a suit when I get on a plane." Uh, and said, "One day the steward said to me, uh, you know, I remember a time that that even businessmen, uh, seem like would wear suits when they got on this tie, but they don't do that anymore. But why do you still wear your suit like that?"

Uh, he said, "Well, first of all, I'm a preacher. Uh, you don't have to dress like that on a plane. You can relax a little bit." Uh, amen. I'm not telling you boys to wear your suits when you mow your yard and fly. I'm just telling you what that man of God said.

He said, "Oh, oh no, ma'am." He said, "I represent a different kingdom than anything on this earth." Uh, I represent the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Listen to me, friend. Uh, amen.

Whether I'm in church, uh, whether I'm on the job, uh, whether I run the Walmart real quick, uh, I want to dress in a way, uh, that represents the one, uh, that saved my soul, uh, that sanctified me, uh, that filled me with the Holy Ghost. Uh, I represent the Kingdom of God here in this whole wicked world. We identify with Christ and we represent Him.

You ain't going to want. You ain't going to find me out there in that world looking like I ain't shaved in nine days. And I'm not talking about you boys got beards. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about just, you know, just don't care. Let themselves go. Got neck hair that long. Got longer neck hair than they got head hair. That ain't no choice. I'm not going to give you that for free. We as Christians, I'm not talking about there's a right kind of pride. You can take pride in how you dress to represent the King. Amen.

I've said it before. I can't stand it. I can't stand to see preachers get up on a platform and they won't in this church, uh, in a pair of jeans and flip-flops and a t-shirt going to try to handle that holy word. Uh, I'm telling you, even the President of the United States, uh, when he goes to other nations, you won't never see him in a golf shirt and flip-flops. Uh, he's always dressed up in a suit and a tie because he represents this nation. Uh, when he goes to those foreign countries, uh, that's why when you get up in this pulpit, I've told these preachers, uh, you're going to dress up. I'm going to wear the very best you have. You won't get up here in jeans, uh, and a t-shirt in this church. Uh, we're not that kind of place. Uh, we ain't going to paint the walls black like a movie theater. Come on and say amen. We're not going to serve you donuts and coffee at your seat. This is a holy place. Uh, we're on holy ground. Uh, and everywhere that I go, I'm representing a holy God. Somebody raise your hands and praise Him tonight. Hallelujah to God.

How blessed, Lord. Dress is a mirror of your calling. You don't dress for where you are. You dress for who you are. You dress for whose you are. Some people go to the beach. They go to the lake and they take their clothes off, run around in those colored underwear because of where they are. They won't go visit the neighbors. They won't answer the door for the UPS man. They're boxers. They wouldn't dare go to the door for the mailman in a, in a bra and panties. Did I say that? I'm just trying to make you understand it. They wouldn't dare go to the door like that. They wouldn't go check their mailbox in a bra. A woman wouldn't go check their mailbox in a bra and a slip down the driveway, back up the driveway, and waving at cars going by. No, sir. But when they get to the beach, they think because of where they are, uh, that they got to dress for where they are, uh, and they run around in colored underwear.

I'm just telling you, that's not how a Christian does it. Uh, we don't dress for where we are. We dress for whose we are and who we are. I'm telling you, whether I'm in Walmart, uh, whether I'm in the post office, uh, whether in my yard working in my yard, uh, if I'm on the job, uh, I'm not dressing for my surroundings. Uh, I'm dressing for Jesus Christ. Uh, I represent this King. Well, somebody give Him a hand of praise tonight. I'm preaching good tonight. Hallelujah to God.

Somebody said, "Well, I got to get my beach attire." Said, "Shel and I go to the beach sometimes. Not very often. I love that beautiful water." We'll usually go down there in November, you know, or February when it's cold because you ain't got all them what Brother Gob will call them, sex devils laying out there on the beach. Bunch of. He said, "A bunch of sex devils laying out there." Amen. Well, he told the truth. A bunch of lust out there. We don't dress. We don't change our dress because we go somewhere like that. You got to dress modest wherever you go. God's people do not dress for where they are. We dress modestly and we dress decently everywhere we go. Amen.

Dress is a message to the next generation. We're responsible for teaching this younger generation about modesty and holy living. Listen to me, parents. I know their kids. I understand all that. But you don't let them run around half naked. Amen. Let, let me tell you why. 'Cause there's some, there's some perverted sex devils out there that are that'll look at your children like that. I, we, I don't watch this mess. I can't stand it. We've talked about it before about these, these, these mothers that'll take them little girls, them seven, eight, nine, 10 year old girls and and dress them up for the beauty pageants and and make them look like they're 25 and 30 years old. Uh, and we heard it said that there's pedophiles that are getting that audience, uh, just to look at them little girls in a wrong way. Uh, amen. You better, you better do it right by your children. Come on, say amen. This is a different time than we were coming up. Uh, these are different days. Amen.

I told you the time years ago I was at the mall walking through the mall and uh, I'd go out there and walk sometime and I went into JC Penney and was going to get some dress pants and I didn't go to the skinny jean section. I don't know of any, I don't know of much worse than to see a man that's got a big old belly and got legs that big around and a pair of skinny jeans. Can't even get his wallet in the, in the back pocket because it's so tight. It sits down, going to split. Nevertheless, I went in JC Penney going to try to find some dress pants and I walked by through the, through the teenage section and there they had a display set up with a, it was an outdoor setting and they had a clothesline out there. Anybody remember clotheslines? Amen. I'm not talking about a wrestling move. I'm talking about that you'd hang your clothes up on outside. I used to clothesline my brother when we'd wrestle. I'm five years older than him and I throw him around. Amen. Nevertheless, they had a clothesline display when you was young. When I was young, we had clotheslines. We'd, Mom would make us go out there and put the clothes on the clothesline with clothespins. I remember sometimes it'd be so cold and I'd go out there and them things would be stiff. Y'all remember that? Be cold and your, your pants would be, you just take them down. They stand in straight and stand them up. We had to get, that's how we did our laundry a lot of times and dried clothes like that. And I tell you, they sure were fresh smelling when you put them home back then. Amen. Nevertheless, they had that display and they had, they had clothes on there like they were hanging out to dry and it was little shorts. I, I mean shorty shorts, uh, for teenage girls. And I, I stopped and it just grieved my heart and I, I called one of the ladies that worked. I said, "Come here. I want to ask you a question." I said, "Do, do parents come in here and buy these shorts for their little girls and their teenage girls to wear?" And she said, "I'm afraid to tell you that they do." And she said, "I can tell you." She said, "I've got little girls and there's no way I'd ever put my little child in something like this." I told her, I said, "I'm a preacher. I pastor the church down there. I'm a Christian." It's just a shame what parents, uh, will put their children in, uh, and send them out there in that world, uh, that's full of perversion. Come on and say amen. And let somebody eat that child up with their eyes. Uh, amen. You better be careful how you treat your children. Uh, how we train them. Uh, it's got to be more than just preaching about it. Uh, it's got to be more than teaching about it. Uh, but they got to see it in that mama. And they got to see it in that daddy. Uh, they got to see that daddy put some clothes on, uh, before he goes out that door. Uh, they got to see that mama put some clothes on, uh, before she goes to the mall. I'm telling you, friend, we've got to teach them, uh, and train them by the word of God. Well, shout amen.

I'm telling you, there's some preachers and some pastors and some church people that are going to stand and answer to God one day for the way they dressed in front of their children and told their children this is all right to dress this way. They, some preachers going to give an account before God one day for the way they dressed and taught their congregation it's all right to do that now. You know, we don't have to do like them old fogies back there. Uh, let me tell you something about them old fogies, as you would call them. Uh, them old fogies had the power to raise the dead. Uh, them old fogies had the power of God to lay their hands on the sick and they would recover. Those old fogies, as you would call them, they were consecrated unto God. Uh, they didn't have to blow smoke in. Uh, the Shakinah glory would fill the house. Uh, they didn't have to have the gimmicks, uh, and the crowns and the bands and the drama teams, uh, and the flag wavers. Uh, they had the anointing, uh, the power of God that would fill that house. They were holy people separated unto God. And there's some preachers going to answer to God one day and some preachers' wives going to answer to God one day, running around in their little shortest shorts and no shirts on and teaching this generation coming up behind us that this is all right because God don't care about that outward.

I'm telling you, if God didn't care about that outward, He'd have left Adam and Eve alone in those fig leaves. They tell me and study, I ain't got time to preach all this. It's my birthday. Let me preach a little bit longer. Let me enjoy this as long as I can tonight. They tell me in studies that those fig leaves that they covered themselves with covered more than what most of you modern-day beachwear wear at the beach. But God said that won't work in my presence. I'm a holy God. And God killed animals and took their skins and made coats for a covering for them. Because remember I told you that sin brings shame and nakedness brings shame. The fact that we're all dressed and got clothes on here tonight's proof that sin brings shame with it.

Had a man tell me one time, a smart aleck one time told me. He said, "Well," he said, "you know, we, it don't matter. God don't care about how we dress." I said, "Then why are you wearing clothes right now then?" That's exactly right. If God don't care about how you dress, why you got clothes on? Because there's shame in nakedness. Sir, that's what God said.

Somebody said, "Well, God doesn't care about how we dress, all that. He just cares about the inside." But God shows us in the very beginning that He's interested and concerned and cares about how we dress these bodies that belong to Him. They'll use that. They say that's Old Testament. I'm rambling now. They say that's Old Testament. Uh, but they'll use the very same thing in the beginning, uh, to say, I guess, homosexuality. Well, in the beginning, God made them male and female, man. They'll use that. Uh, but when it comes to dressing and covering, they say that's Old Testament. That has nothing to do with us. You can bark at it, bite at it, growl at it, but you can't take it out of the book. God demands we dress modestly as His people. Buck at it. Do whatever you want to do against it. But one day there's going to be some people stand before God. They're going to give an account of how they taught this younger generation. We represent Christ. We are His ambassadors. I got a whole lot more and I ain't got much time here.

Holiness is not a private feeling. It is a public witness. Bible's clear. It starts in the heart. You don't get it in the heart, no matter how you, you can cover yourself up completely like Casper the ghost and you won't be holy. Holiness begins in that heart. But I'm telling you, what's in that heart is just as sure as you plant that seed in the earth and you water that seed, something's going to sprout up and it's going to tell you in just a little while what that is. You can walk out here and look at trees. Scott was telling me today or yesterday about yesterday about some trees in his yard and he, he knew what they were because of the leaf on that tree. Amen. That's how it is with us. When Jesus is in your heart, uh, you can't keep Him hid in your heart. Amen. Wholeness begins in that heart. It affects our mind, uh, our spirit, our inner man. And I'm telling you, what's inside is going to make its way towards the outside. Uh, amen. The Bible's clear that what Christ does, uh, on the inside of us always shows up on the outside. Uh, holiness always begins inwardly, uh, but it always becomes visible, uh, on the outside. Uh, sanctification's not just an inward cleansing, uh, but it is an outward distinction, uh, that separates us and sets us apart from the wicked, sinful people of this world. One preacher said holiness is not an act but a condition of the heart. When Christ becomes Lord of your life, He becomes the Lord of your lifestyle. When Christ becomes the Lord of your heart, He'll become the Lord of your habits. When Christ becomes the Lord of your identity, He will become the Lord of your appearance. Can you say amen tonight?

Just. All right, come on. I got to quit. I, I got more, but I got to come to a close here. I don't want to skip over any of this. for not careful today. You see, you can't get your eyes on men. 'Cause if you start following that church up the road, that church over yonder, that church down the road, they'll have you'll be so mixed up. You won't know what's up and down. You won't know day from night, light from dark, right from wrong. People say, "Well, we don't dress. We don't have to dress like that anymore. We don't have to cover these bodies anymore like that. Men don't have to dress like men. Women don't have to dress like women anymore." That's right. That's what they say in the church today. You look at the filth in the church today. What calls itself the church? We've lost the power of God. We've lost the anointing because men have lost the consecration and sanctified life. You know why? They'd rather have this old world. But I like that song. Brother Earl, Sister Sharon's daddy used to used to play on the harmonica. "You can have this whole world, but give me Jesus. Give me Jesus."

If we're not careful, listen to me. If we're not guarded, we're going to let that world style us. We're going to let that world shape us and dress us before we ever step out of the house. But when we identify with Christ, we don't allow the world to set the standards of our living or our identity. We let God's word and the Holy Ghost be our standard. Can you say amen? Loose dress reveals a loose heart. What's on the inside eventually comes out.

Everybody stand, please. We are not to flaunt ourselves or exhibit our bodies in any immodest way. This is biblical. Hold on one second. Is this all right? This is biblical. You go through that Bible. I'm a student of that Bible. Every Christian ought to be a student of that Bible. Don't let me serve up all your meals for you. Amen. Don't let me do all the cooking. You get in that word and you study that Bible. You don't understand something. You don't know something. The Bible said, "If any man lack wisdom, let him ask God." God will reveal His. There's been times I've read something, God, I don't understand what that means. And you talk to Him long enough. Wait, He'll talk to you. He wants to you to under. He wants to reveal His word to you.

The Bible tells us, you go through that word of God, every time a man's unclothed in scripture, it's always the devil who's behind that. Every time you see a man in clothes, it's God who does that. In Mark chapter 5, we have one of the greatest examples, that demoniac. You, you know that story. And the Bible makes a point. You see, he didn't have to put that in there, but he did. The Bible makes a point about his dress. The Bible said when he was in, in sin, bound by the devil, he wasn't in his right mind. He was naked. You know what that tells me? People run around naked ain't in their right mind. They can't be in their right mind. He wasn't in his right mind. He was naked. But the Bible makes a point. The moment Jesus set him free, the Bible said he was clothed and in his right mind. That's not in there just by accident. That's not just coincidence. I'm telling you, the Bible marked that intentionally that immediately when he got saved, he didn't just get clothed in salvation. He put some clothes on this temple of God. You raise your hands and praise the Lord tonight.

We're not to dress immodestly the way the world dresses. He wants our bodies consecrated to Him. Whether you're at the beach, on vacation, at work, in Walmart, in church, working in that yard, we're to always dress in a modest manner. We're to always keep these bodies covered properly. We are the temple of God. Say amen to the preaching tonight. That means you believe it's true. This Bible, it's just plain and simple there. The reason people don't want to live it and believe it's because they don't want to live it and believe it. They want to live like that. But I found this to be true that when you really meet Jesus, I mean really get old-time salvation. All you want to do is please Him. If you mess up, anybody ever messed up before? Yes, sir. They can't nobody in this house saying they ain't messed up somewhere along the way. But you'll go to Jesus. You go to Christ. The church needs to identify with Him.

Time won't permit me to tell you about the meal at Christmas again. You've heard that enough. They said there's church people and I couldn't tell which one was which, but Christ's people are going to stand out in this old world. Not just your appearance, your attitude is going to be right. Your actions going to be right. Your appetite's going to be right. If they're not, you need to get in this order and pray through till you got victory again. If you've lost your joy, God's the one who is the. He's the one that gives joy. So, you need to go to your Father. That's who you go to your Father. I need joy, Lord. If you need patience, better be careful because God's going to give you some tribulation and cause that to work some patience in your life when it comes to this matter of dress. The church has to stand on the side of God's word. We have to see it the way God sees it, not the way men see it. Men will lead you the wrong way. God's word will lead you to heaven. Can you say praise the Lord?

Everybody come tonight and stand, please.