Apostles (The Sent Ones)

Uh, Pastor uh, said to mention not to forget 6:00 a.m. prayer Monday morning. We need I am what I am by Grace. I am what I am. Everybody say with me, by Grace, by Grace. I am I am what I am. Let's start with one verse there. So Jesus said to them, peace be to you, peace to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you. Again, Jesus said, peace to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you. Let's pray, Father, right now, in Jesus' name. Today, God, we believe for the miraculous. We believe in God today. Your word, God, you come to set the captive free. Hallelujah, Father, right now, in Jesus' name. Hallelujah.

I'd like to read also John chapter 17. I'm going to teach a little bit this morning, and I hope I can end in preaching, but I want to teach you something because I believe that the Lord has been talking to me about this for about a year now, and I've been waiting to preach this sermon for about a year. So, for you young preachers out there, sometimes you want to maybe study for 2 or 3 weeks or 2 or 3 hours. This one has been 365 days and more for me, and it's because when God is going to birth something, it has to grow, that's right, in your spiritual womb first before it could be released and birth on the earth. And I believe by the end of this sermon, we're going to birth something, Hallelujah, not only in you, but I pray in our community, in our city, and our H, amen. John 17, verse 1-14, talking about the sent ones. John 17, Jesus here making a prayer, one of his last with his disciples, very important prayer. If you ever want to read an important prayer, read all of John 17. And but verse 14 says, I have given them your word. The world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. The first thing you have to understand about Jesus is he is not of this world. That's right. He just came into the world to visit us for a little while. That's right. But when he called his disciples, when he called his Apostles, he said, I've given them your word. Jesus came to give us his word today, and I pray that you open your ears and tune in and hear what the word of the Lord will have to say to you, because that's why we're here today. He says, I've given your word. That the world has hated them. One thing you must know, brother, is if you have the word of God in you, the world is going to hate you. Most of us want to be nice little Christians and go to work and pay our taxes, but when you love Jesus, the world will hate you. Come on, the devil will hate you. Said, I've given them my word, and the world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of this world.

Verse 15, I do not pray that you should take them out of the world. Some of us pray a lot of times when we're going through trials, God, take me out, just send me home. But God sent you here for a reason, and it wasn't to go home; it was to live a life for Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. And he says, I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one, that means from the devil. They are not of the world, just as I'm not of the world. Verse 17, sanctify them through your truth. Your word is true. Verse 18, again to correlate the previous verse, as you have sent me into the world, yes, I also have sent them into the world. As you have sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. World, see, you didn't come to the Earth just to be here; you were sent here by God. There is a purpose in your life; there is a plan in your life. We are not just here because we feel like it. You're here because God created you to be here. God has a plan for your life; God has a direction for your life. Hallelujah. Lord has called you with a purpose. Hallelujah, amen. And the main purpose we're here, and I'm going to read from 1 Corinthians 15 now, and uh, I want you to get this real important, really important, because I can't preach the rest of the sermon until you get this. Verse 15, uh, 1 Corinthians 15:1, more brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preach to you, which you also received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you should hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. So we see here, when I ask you what is the gospel, the gospel is that Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected. The main reason why we're on the earth and the church is here is because of the Gospel, for the gospel's sake. We're not here for ourselves; we're here for the gospel's sake because God sent you here with a plan and a purpose, and the purpose is the gospel, the good news. And I got good news for you today. I don't got bad news for you today. If you want to watch the news, you're going to get nothing but bad news. I'm not Peter Jennings, Walter Cronkite, that's theopolis guy, right? No, they give you bad news. God called the preachers and the apostles to give you good news, and the good news is that Jesus died for your sins, to take away your burdens, to take away your pain, to take away your sorrow, to take away your sins, because the blood of Jesus washes our sin away, and that is the good news. Hallelujah. People were asking me, Brother Rangle, are you going to say something about The Passion of the Christ? No, because I'm not Peter Jennings. Come on, I didn't come to preach like Peter Jennings preached; I came to preach like Apostle Peter came to preach. I preach what they preach; I'm not preaching something new; I'm preaching something [Applause] true. I didn't come to preach something new; I came to preach something true. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man can come to the Father except by me. That's the truth. Oh, Hallelujah. I wish I was in an Apostolic Church, go preach to the BST of aarian. Oh, I wish I was in an Apostolic Church. Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Thank you. Hallelujah. The good news, the main message of the church from 2004, I told you at the beginning of the year, was restoration. Hallelujah. And the reason why we're preaching restoration is because you need restoration in your life; your family needs restoration; your friends need restoration. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. That's the good news. But I will tell you, just 'cause I know you're wondering, some of you younger men are, tell me, but what about The Passion of the Christ? I'll tell you, you talk to your pastor about The Passion of the Christ. It's in the Bible. Am, go tell your pastor, Pastor, I want to go see the Passion of Christ. I'll tell you right now, don't go there; he's going to say no. Hallelujah, because we live the gospel every day. Amen. Hallelujah. If you want to read about it, let me give you something. I'll give you something. You want something? I'll give you something about the Passion of the Christ. You read the articles, and you go to your friends and neighbors, and you tell them the good news about The Passion of the Christ. This is not how he died, but then he resurrected from the dead. That we don't serve a dead God. He didn't stay on the cross, but he resurrected on the third day, and he's alive, and he's alive. He's not a dead God; he's a living God. And because that he sent the Holy Ghost to the Earth, and because I got the Holy Ghost, I preach this Gospel of life. That's what you got to tell them. Use a tool. So I believe in the Passion of the Christ, but let me tell you the truth about it. Hallelujah. Go to slide number two, please.

Apostles, let me talk to you about apostles because the Lord has put this in my heart about a year ago, actually been a few years. First time the Lord ever mentioned to me about Apostles was 1989, and I will tell you what it means, because there's been, I know a debate in the churches today, that we should call ourselves Christians and not Apostolic. But I want to show you today and bring Revelation what the word means, Apostolic and apostles. Apostles means apostol, the sent ones. It means the sent ones. When you talk about Apostles, the original Greek means the sent ones, the ones that were sent. And apostas also, the root word meaning the Apostle, same word, two Greek words saying the same thing. Then the third one means Apostolic, which we call ourselves, relating to or conforming to the teachings of the Apostles. So when you say you're Apostolic, you're saying we believe in the sent ones, and we follow the teachings of the Apostles, because Jesus said and Paul wrote, We are built upon the apostles and the prophets, and Jesus Christ being the Chief Cornerstone. And the reason why we follow the teachings of the Apostles is because God told us to follow the teachings of the Apostles. And because we follow the teachings of the Apostles, we are Apostolic, because we are sent ones. See, I come to the understanding after many years. I've struggled with my calling; I've struggled in loo when I was growing up, and that's it. I was growing up in East High School. I have to come back from Washington, and all my cousins were crazy, dramatic. So I be, come on, that's why the Bible teaches, Bad company corrupts good morals, or like your daddy used to tell you, tell me who you hang out with, and I'll tell you who you are. But I want to tell you something this morning that I believe that when you start getting into the word of God and understanding the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles, you'll understand those men were sent here with a purpose. Those men were burnt into the Earth and were sent by God. And let me step a little further here, and we don't like to say nothing about ourselves, but I'll tell you, I've come to the conclusion after many years of struggling with fear, with my own uh, doubts of who I am, I have to come to the agreement with the scriptures, if I'm Apostolic, then I have an Apostolic spirit, and if I have an Apostolic Spirit, then I'm a sent one also. And I'm going to tell you, you've been sent here with a reason and a purpose today. Hallelujah. So when you say Apostolic or Apostles, you're saying the sent ones. So our organization in the Greek would read, the sent ones that have assembled together in the faith of Jesus Christ. We've been sent. Hallelujah. See, I don't believe because the Bible tells me, even though I'm in the world, I'm not of the world. That's why the Bible tells you, love not the world nor the things that are in the world. It's the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. And I know that's not going to make anybody run to the altar or run around when I tell you, love not the world, because you're not a part of it; you're just passing through. And God gave you maybe 70 years to be here, and he sent you here. I don't care if you were born out of wedlock; I don't care if you don't know who your father is; I don't care if you don't know even who your mother was. But when you were born in the earth and in the eyes of God, he knew you before the foundations of the earth. He predestined you; he called you; he justified you; and he has glorified you in Christ Jesus. Now let me go on to give you an Old Testament example of a sent one. Exodus 3:14, slide number three. Moses was sent. Hallelujah. Exodus 3:14 says, and God said to Moses, I am who I am. Has said, thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I am has sent me to you. We have an Old Testament example of one of the greatest men of God that asked God at the burning bush, who shall I say is sending me? And all God says is, I am who I am. I am who I am. Yes, that is mean Jehovah, the self-existent one, that you shall say to the children, I am has sent you. I am has sent me to you.

Speak to us. Number four, Apostle Isaiah was sent, and I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send? And who will go for us? Then I said, here I am, send me. Isaiah was living in a time when King Ziah just died, and there was a lot of sin in the nation, and he saw the glory of God, and he felt and knew that he had sinned, and God had to come and purge his sin away. Yes, and God spoke to him and said, who will go for us? And I ask you a question, young men and young ladies, and everyone in this church today, God is looking for somebody to preach his gospel. God is looking for somebody to live the life. God is looking for somebody to stand up and say, I believe the word of God; I believe in Jesus; I serve the Lord. And for he said to me, I will go. [Applause] But we're living in the time right now, now fasten your seat belts for a minute. We're living in a time right now where everything is all about you. You come to church to hear what about me? What can I get from God? But God is telling you today, it's not about you and your kingdom; it's about me and my kingdom. I didn't send you to the Earth so you can make yourself a little king. I send you to the Earth so you can stir up riches, because Jesus said, where your riches are and your treasure, there your heart will be also. Put your heart and your treasures in Heaven. Will they not be destroyed or stolen or more or rot come to them? But I know we have needs today, but I'm telling you from Heaven to you today that God is saying, stop worrying so much about you and start worrying about my kingdom and my gospel. Hallelujah. I don't see I don't see nobody jump now. All, going preach the gospel to you today. Hallelujah. See, because some of the worst trials that I've gone through in my life so far today, I know there's more ahead of me, because that's the call. The higher you go, the more hell you'll see. The more Revelation you have, the weaker you become. The more understanding you have, the more the devil will come against you. That's right. But the beautiful thing is is when the devil shows up, the one that is greater lives inside of us, and he can't do nothing to us, and that's the Lord of all lords. But some of the greatest trials of my [Music] life, I've decided to say, God, had enough. I'm not one of that first church. Lord, get me out of here. Because you know I told you 20 years ago and I tell you 20 years later, I didn't want to come here; I didn't want to be here. I said, God, send me anywhere in the world, when he first called me. I will send me anywhere in the world; send me anywhere, but don't send me to the first church's house. I know I told you that; it's true. And what did the Lord do? Go to the first church's house. God, all my friends in Bible College went to Europe; they went to South America; they went overseas; they went to different states and became pastors years ago. God, thank you, Jesus. I had brothers after all come up to me and say, you're still there? Glory. Thank you, Lord Jesus. And that's how God, I have enough. More than leave. The Lord tells me, why should you die before the time? Why should I send my angel to kill you? I said, I'll be here this second morning. [Applause] Because I'm not here for me; I'm not here for my calling; I'm not here for my anointing; I'm here for God's calling and God's anointing. God's grace, God's anointing power, because it's not all about me; it's all about him. That's that I'm needing. Yes. Hallelujah, God, go feed the sheep I gave you to feed. Work with those that I've given you to work with. See, if you can't be faithful in the little things, God ain't going to give you more if you don't are not responsible and faithful to the last thing God told you. Don't expect him to come and tell you something new because if you weren't faithful to the last thing, that's right. He's waiting for you to be obedient to his kingdom. Oh, brother, the word obedient. Praise God. Lord Jesus. Hallelujah. There was a pastor I read that he wanted to start a new missionary program in his church. Called all the young men. I'm, he said, I'm going to make you all subm missionaries. He got all excited. He goes, yeah, it starts with submission. [Applause] Again, submission to God's kingdom, to God's word, to God's laws, to God's praise, to his truth. That's right. That sets you free. Thank you, Jesus. You see, too many of you are wondering why your life is so messed up, and we get in holes and problems, and it's probably because I'll tell you, you're not doing what you're supposed to be doing. You're not walking according to the calling that God gave you to walk in. When you let your calling go, get ready for the devil to come into your life, 'cause if you don't do God's will, you're going to do the devil's will. And when you open the door to disobedience, you're saying, come on, devil, come and get me. I don't want to do it, Pastor. No. Oh, yeah, get ready, honey. Monday morning, the devil's going to show up in you. Said, I heard you didn't want to be disobedient. You know, I've been down that road; I know how you feel. We'll hang out; we'll be disobedient together. I'll make you feel real good, so much that you'll become a drug addict and a wife beater and a man hater. You'll end up in jail, lose everything, but at least you'll be free; at least nobody can tell you anything; at least you'll be your own man; at least you'll be somebody that's strong, and you can hang out with the bottles in prison and get a lot of tattoos and pump iron all day long until you walk around, don't take a shower, and don't pick up the soap when it falls because you're going to be somebody's little chica. I don't want to go to prison 'cause I don't want no bco trying to kiss me. [Applause] Oh, you want me to tell you the truth, or you want me to go somewhere else? You want to hear the whole truth? Oh, you'll be free, all right, free, but you'll be in bondage to the devil. Spirit of bondage. Hallelujah. Truth. The more disobedient you become, the more the devil loves it. And now I know why I've been here for 20 something years; it's because God had to break me and break me and break me again, and the Lord broke me again, then made me, then he broke me again until I come to the understanding that I am nothing without you. I know that if I don't do God's will, I don't have a life. He told me, choose life or death. I said, I'm going to choose life. He said, if you seek your life, you're going to lose it, but if you give me your life, you're going to find your life. Thank God, I found God. Thank you, Lord. I found Jesus Christ because he made me what I am, and I am what I am because of him. You'll never be who you should be until you know I am who I am, then you will become I am what I am. Because until you know who, you'll never know what. I'm going to let God, next slide. Jesus was sent. The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the gospel to the Lord. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to recover sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are bruised. And that was so wonderful for us to see the other day as a pastor had said, the blind eyes being opened. Praise God. Thank you, Jesus. Because God is telling us we are living in a time now, in 2004, where God wants Apostolic. That's right. Movement. Apostolic workings among his people. That's right. That's right. That's right. Because Jesus said, I've come here; he sent me to heal. There may be somebody here today with a broken heart, but I'm going to tell you, in Jesus' name, your heart can be healed today because Jesus Christ is here; he's available. And the reason why we preach this gospel is because he told us to preach it, just like he preached it. We're not here for popularity; we're not here to be number one; we're here to be obedient and servants of the Lord Jesus Christ and preach what he gives us to preach, to walk like he walked, to talk like he talked, to believe like he believed. Hallelujah. And until you understand that, you'll never be a true Christian, because Christianity means to follow Christ. And if you're going to follow Christ, you're going to have to follow him and be like him. Because when it comes down to it, I don't want you to become like me; I want you to become like Jesus. Your goal in your life is not to become like Uncle Pepe or your a or Billy Bob. Your goal in your life is not to become rich and famous, even though there's nothing wrong with money if God gives it to you. Just praise the Lord. All the pastors were talking about they're waiting for millionaires to walk in. [Applause] The Hallelujah. Go to slide six. Apostolic Apostles. There is a flow, anointing, power, authority, and way. Oh, my God. They were just opening up their hearts, and it just, they were so transparent. Am, it uh, it touched us deeply. Oh, you should have been there; you should have been there. I think out of all the ones I've been to, that was the best end time that's ever been. But let me tell you, last year about this time, last February 2003, uh, I got invited to go to India, California, which is his testimony. The Lord opened the door, and I got involved in National Evangelism along with Brother Robert Garcia. We went over there. Brother Robert, a COA, could be a witness; he was with us. We went down to India, California, and the door was open, and we got involved in National Evangelism, and I was really excited. Oh, I'm a national evangelist now. Move, all right. Went over there, and I'll tell you the first night, lighting up all the evangelists, they were getting laid out in the aisles. God was touching and blessing people. I was, oh, my God, I just was just so blessed. We were casting out devils till like 11, 12:00 at night, and it was just awesome, awesome. Everywhere I turned, God was touching somebody and healing somebody, and I was said, oh, God, this, I love this. The next day, the morning, the Lord, I was in one of the comforts, and the Lord told me, go outside; I have to tell you something. So I'm in the conference; I walk out of the parking lot; I start stirring up the gift; God starts speaking to me; and God says like this, he goes, you have evangelists and pastors and even prophets on the Earth, but now I'm going to send my Apostles to the Earth, and there shall be an Apostolic flow; there will be an Apostolic anointing; there shall be Apostolic power like never before; there shall be an Apostolic Authority and Apostolic way coming to the Earth. Glory to God. All right, God. Hallelujah. Go back in the church, sit down. I said, Lord, if you want me to prophesy this, there's about 700 people there. I, you're going to have to give me opportunity and ask something's going to have to ask me an now. Later, Freddy Jose came up to say, brother, can you give, give a testimony tonight? And I said, yes, sir. God, Lord Jesus. Hallelujah. So 700 people, Bishops, I got up and prophesied the Apostolic now. The reason why I'm telling you this is not the glory of myself, was because I'm telling you this because God has been placing the seeds in the church for a while now. God is bringing a church into a new dimension that you've never been before. God is ready to break out and break him from opposition. An anointing that has never been seen before.

This generation, before the apostolic flow, there is a flow in the dimension of the spirit that must be tapped into. When I say Apostolic flow, that has to do with the way God flows in the service; the spirit in the level must be strong. When we praise God, we must praise God like Apostolic people that believe Jesus Christ is Lord. We can't worship God in the apostolic clo—hallelujah, hallelujah—and be religious. Come on, that's good. There is a flow in the dimension in the spirit that is deeper and wider and higher than we've ever been before—far—and just let me stop here and pause, cuz I'm going to remind some of you: over a decade ago, in the early 90s, I got up and prophesied the prophets coming to the Earth, and everybody looked at me cross-eyed. I didn't even get an amen. I got up, and the Lord told me, "Prophesy the prophets coming to the Earth." Hallelujah. So I stirred it up, prophesied the prophets and the prophetic coming to the Earth in the early 90s. Went home, nobody said too much that night. About 2:30 in the morning, I heard a crash in my house; it was like a clanging of two swords together. Have you ever heard two swords clang together in battle? I heard a sword—he had another sword—and I stayed in bed; I didn't move, and I knew it was spiritual. About a minute later, a presence came over my body, and I'll say it was a ruler of Darkness or principality—I don't know—it was a devil, came over me and said, "What you prophesied tonight, take back what you said tonight, take it back." I laid there in my bed; I didn't speak in tongues, I didn't get loud. I said, "No, in Jesus' name, what I said shall come to pass." Hallelujah. So the prophecy will be performed. He said, "Take it back." I said, "No, in Jesus' name." Amen. Then they left. Then I went to sleep.

I'm telling you today, church, this day, let it be known, let it be said: I step up of Faith; the apostolic Ministry is on the earth, and God will flow with those that believe and step into it. If you don't believe, you won't receive; if you doubt, you're going to go without; if you don't stand in faith, you're not going to stand at all. There is an Apostolic anointing and power and demonstration that I've been waiting for, and yesterday I began to see it, and I'm so glad that God is true to his word, that in these last days he's going to open the blind eyes; the lame shall walk; the brokenhearted shall be healed; the captive shall be set free, because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It's not just for the first church of San Jose, but for all the world. "For I am looking for a people," says the Lord, "that will desire me in a new dimension, in a new flow—they've known that before—but I will now open the door," says the Lord, "for I am that I am, I am that I am, I am that I am." Hallelujah. "And I send you now today," says the Lord, "and open new doors," sh—"for there are devils in this territory that have said for a long time, 'No one shall be healed, no one shall be set free, no one shall be healed in this territory.'" But the Lord says today, "The doors have been open!" Oh, glory! The doors have been open for those that believe in my name; you shall cast out devils, set the captives free, recover sight to the blind, and heal the brokenhearted, for I am looking for a man and woman today, says the Lord, to say to me, "Here I am, send me," sh—"for I, the Lord, have long desired to bring a new dimension to this church, even to the First Apostolic Church of San Jose, but you have not been ready." "I desired for a long time," says the Lord, "to bring a new dimension to this church, but the hour has come," says the Lord, "because there is a man leading this church that shall open the doors wide to the apostolic governing power that I've long desired to bring. The hour has come," says the Lord, "and I have placed my man in this season. I have placed this pastor to lead this congregation to new waters and new depths they have not known before, for the spirit of the Lord is upon him." Hallelujah. "And he shall lead the sheep to waters; those that are thirsty, those that have been hungry, he shall feed them, because I, the Lord, desire it, and I have looked for a man that would lead in this new dimension. The hour has come," says the Lord. "The day is new, the time has come, and I am ready now for those to step in that believe my word, for I have sent my word today to give you this word."

B—"for there are many of you that are in bondage. Say you are in bondage to your credit; you are in bondage to lust; you are in bondage to anger; you are in bondage to hatred; you are in bondage," says the Lord, oh sh—"oh, the indifference! You are in bondage, my people; you are in bondage because the devil has prevailed in your life. But I tell you today," says the Lord, "today is a day of Deliverance, and now is the time to tear off the shackles of unbelief and allow the Lord to heal your heart," sh—"for I desire a people to be strong in the Lord and in the power of my might. I desire a people," says the Lord, "that would be strong in the Lord and in the power of my might," sha—"for I am that I am, Jehovah, the Eternal one, the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end. I am he," says the Lord. "Let him that has an ear, let him hear," sh—"for those that doubt, you shall remain in bondage, but I bring liberty to you today; I bring comfort and I bring authority to the apostolic message." So says the spirit of the Lord. Somebody worship the Lord right now! All hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah [Applause] hallelujah—need one and one—one Hallelujah. I'm not done. I'm done—on. I need five more minutes. I'm not done preaching; just worship the Lord for a minute. I got something else for you. Hold on, hold on. [Music] [Applause]

A—so this time the Lord released me this week, says I, time to preach the apostolic. Let you know, the pastor—prevent you—I thank God for him; he gave me a book last week about the five ministries, about the need of the pastors allowing the apostolic and prophetic to flow in the churches. He didn't know how deep that was for me; I didn't say nothing, but the Lord knows everything. Thank God. But this year, in January, I want you to hear this: the Lord gave me this wooden sword in a vision. It wasn't exactly the same, but it was a wooden sword, and I'll just tell you very quickly that I had a vision: I was by a body of water, a lake, and I was about to get in—dozens of swords on the floor—and I—I looked at all these swords, and I was picking up one and I put it down, pick up another, said, "No," pick up another and took—and they were all looking like those long three-foot sabers from the U.S. Calvary or those uh—ja—stressed that was and anxiety because I knew I had to get—I was going to go to a fight and I needed a sword—and somebody tapped me behind the back; it was a man, I think was an angel; he didn't tell me—he said, "Here, take this sword," and he put a wooden sword in my hand, and he gave me this wooden sword, and it was short—only maybe about 18 inches; it was fat—about 2 1/2 inches uh thick—and it didn't look like it was a wooden sword. I thought, "Hallelujah!" And uh, I turned around, and three men came up to me; they were big men; they were just a little taller than me; they were like maybe 6 foot, and uh, they—but they were about 500 lb each. Two were huge men; three of them came up to me. First one came up to me, pulled the sword out; I just lifted my sword up, blocked it, and uh, in the right hand appeared a dagger. I stabbed him in the kidney, and then he went back, and the other two saw that and they took off running. I like that! I believe those were devils—there, some kind of principalities and powers about this—and uh, so I got to internet, and uh, Jonathan, we—we were looking—I said, "I need to find a wooden sword. What's up with this wooden sword? I never saw a sword like this." So I looked all over the Internet, and I found the sword, and what I found out is that it's called the—the—the rudis—rudis—and what it is, it's a sword given the gladiators that after all their battles they were given the sword of Freedom. Hallelujah. It was given to Roman soldiers also; they had the same similar sword, but this one was wooden—was given to gladiators. So I was thinking, "What does that mean?" Well, it's very simple: I believe the Lord is giving the church a sword that doesn't bring death but life and freedom. Hallelujah. See, we need to lift up our words because right now there's many of you that are going through trials and going through tribulations, and—and you can't figure out why it's not working for you. That's right. And it's because you're walking in a dimension, in an area where you don't belong. God wants you to walk fully with him as a soldier of Christ, with your sword drawn and ready for battle. God didn't call you to be a nice U.S.A. citizen like everybody else. God sent you here to the Earth with a specific plan, and until you line up with the plan of God and say, "God, here I am, send me," and you got Apostolic sword, which is the word of God.

[Music] Hallelujah. And say, "Devil, let go of my family; devil, let go of my finances; devil, you tormented me too long; I'm going to stand up in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I'm going to fight like I was called to fight; I'm going to live like I was called to live; I'm going to be as you called me to be. I am what I am by your grace," yes, sir—"not according to my goodness or my works, but according to the anointing and calling that you've given to me on the earth. I'm not going to withdraw; I'm—I'm not going to turn back no more; I'm not going to be weak, but I'll become strong in the Lord and in the power of His might—not because of me, but because of him; not because I can do it, but because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Hallelujah. "You've been called more than conquerors, my brothers." You need the Bible; Paul wrote that just so you can have a nice little title—"I'm more than a conqueror"—but you don't even believe God can pay your life bill; you can't even get out of bed when the Devil comes against you; lay there in depression; you play the victim. [Applause] And God's waiting for a man and woman to get out of bed, put on your armor and stand up like a man and a woman of God. Get—he called you to the generation. God is not weak; God is always strong; God is not a weakling; he doesn't run from battles. When the devil made chaos in heaven, God didn't run and hide in his room and lay down in bed and play the victim. Oh, thank you, Lord Jesus. Hallelujah. "Wo is me," oh, "wo is me," oh—"Wo up! Let's just grow up!" Thank you. We go through tribulations; we go through devastating—I went through a devastating trial—but you don't know—devil came after me after the revival—you wouldn't even know—the—the devil literally came and tried to possess my body; he tried to force himself into me; I couldn't even talk; he rattled my body and shook me. All I could say was in my heart, "In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, I rebuke thee, Satan; get thee behind me, in the name of Jesus, sir; depart from me," yes, sir. Hallelujah. I have problems; I have tribulations, but I'm not living this life for Richard Rangle. I've come to be about my Father's business. Everything I have—my money, my time, my energy, my life—is for the Gospel's sake, and I don't say that perfectly; I say that because that's what I want to do because I am what I am because of God's grace. I'm going to wrap this up now. Apostle Paul was sent, and we can read in First Corinthians—I'm end with this; I want you to get this because there's some of you here that need to hear this before I leave—1 Corinthians 15. Paul writes—after he writes the first four verses—he says, "And I was seen by Cephas; Jesus was seen by Cephas and the twelve. And after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep." Verse 7: "After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles." They were seen by Jesus; uh, they saw him resurrected. Then verse 8, he says, "And last of all he was seen of me also as of one born out of due time: for I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." I want you to note four things: Paul was born out of due time; that is to say, he was not from the original twelve Apostles, but he was came way after; he didn't start his ministry even though he was in his early 30s; he didn't—his ministry—historians tell us—till his mid-30s after he came off the road of Damascus. But I'm—what I'm telling you with this is—some of you think your time has been passed and maybe you've missed the mark, but I'm going to tell you—there's times still—that's right—your timings are not like God's timings; his ways are not like your ways; his timings are perfect. Some of you have left the Lord over the last 10 years or 12 years or 15 years, or you've come and gone, but I'm going to tell you—Paul was born out of due time; that means—actually, in the Greek—he was like an abortion, a miscarriage; people wrote him off and said, "Paul"—but I'm going to tell you—when God calls a man, God has his time, and you, my brother, if you're breathing, you still can call the name of the Lord; your time has come, yes, to serve the Lord. Stop letting the devil beat you up; God has a time for you, and I believe it's today. He calls all the least of the apostles, is because—see, Paul knew he wasn't worthy because God was worthy. Amen. I told a young man recently—what God has called clean, don't call unclean. We're not here because we're worthy; we're here because God's worthy. I'm going to tell you something today: we're not here because we're good; we're here because he's good; we're not here because we're perfect because he's perfect; we're not here because we got the nicest clothes on, yes, or we got the best house or best car, or we got the best title, or we got the best family. No, we're here because of the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ, Hallelujah, and because he's worthy—and the reason why I serve him is 'cause he's worthy; I'm not worthy—in fact, I'll tell you—Hallelujah—I never wanted to be a preacher; never said, "Oh, boy, I want to be a preacher," yeah, hey—hey—anybody who wants to be a preacher, you must be crazy; you do more work in counseling and church business, and the Devil comes after you and your family—but you want to be a preacher? You have to be called to be a preacher because then God gives you the ability to do it. We don't do this on our own strength; we do it on the strength of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen. Hallelujah. He said, "I persecuted the church." He said, "Listen"—all the reasons why he couldn't be an imposter—and this is a list for you why you say you can't live a strong and beat—"I persecuted the church." Some of you persecute the church—before you know—you persecute the church; you don't show up; when you don't pay your ties—"I am the assistant pastor," I will throw that in—you persecute the church when you talk about your brother in the church. Hallelujah. You persecute the church when you come here and sit there and you're indifferent. You persecute the church when you come and hate your brother but you say you love God, who you can't even see. You persecute the church when you're not willing to come and pray and get full of the Holy Ghost, 'cause if you're not for us, you're against [Applause] us. You persecute the church when you don't give respect and honor to the pastor, Hallelujah, and you're not obedient to him—God—Jesus. Hallelujah. But I'm going to tell you—you can repent today because Jesus is here—and by grace I am what I am. Uah. It's time to put on the battle clothes. Hallelujah. Take off your little bunny slippers and your nice little pajamas that you lay in all day and sit there and watch Looney Tunes. Anybody watches Looney Tunes, you got to be Looney too, especially if you're over 10 years old. When you're 10 years old—huh—God didn't call you to be a Looney Tune Christian; he called you to be a warrior in his kingdom. Bow our heads now. Bow our heads. Father, in Jesus' name, there be anybody here, Lord—yes, Lord—who would take this message, this word of God to heart? Yes. Hallelujah. And be set free to become an Apostolic—Jesus' name—sent to the Earth to live a life—God—pleasy to you—to live a life—God—that is obedient to your kingdom; to live a life, Father—oh, that it would be a blessing to the neighbor, a blessing to their family, a blessing at their work, a blessing at their school, a blessing, Father. Hallelujah. They would be an example of the Gospel. You sent them here, God, for that reason; we're here, Lord, to be an example of the believers and faith, word and conduct. Yes, you called us, God, to be servants—to be servants, God, in your kingdom; to walk as you walked, God; as you were in the world, so are we. [Music] Hall. Now if anybody got this word today and you're going—those that would be servants of the Lord, those that would live the life, those that love the Kingdom more than your own—delight yourself in the Lord; he'll give you the desires of your heart. You can see, along with me being a preacher, God has blessed me; he's given me life; he's given me a family; he's given me children; he's given me understanding of his word, and he's given me a life. Hallelujah. I'm not here because I don't know who I am; I'm here because I know who I am and I know where I'm going. Yes. And that's a problem with this generation: there are people here don't know who they are, where they're going. Hallelujah. I'm going to believe right now for Apostolic Ministry. [Music] Yes. I believe if there's somebody here that has cancer right now, God's going to—right now—Jesus Christ is [Applause] here—going to pray for those—if you have a broken heart, been crushed by the world, crushed by your—crushed by your friends, crushed even by so-called Christians—true Christians oppress each other; two Christians lift up each other; love each other; have mercy upon each other; give grace to each other, because if you don't forgive, you won't be forgiven. Now, is there anybody right now that has a sickness in their body, or sickness that is a spiritual sickness? Maybe you've been in bondage. On—Hallelujah. Come on, feel—you don't know [Music] why you don't want to live; you don't know why—Hallelujah—you—to come right now, lay hands on—going—God—for—is right now. [Music] Jesus Christ and the apostolic message has been preached. [Music]