Transcription
John 21:4-9. I'm going to have a few pictures here in a minute. Don't want them to show them yet.
But scripture says that early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the followers did not know [clears throat] it was Jesus. Then he said to them, "Friends, did you catch any fish?" They answered, "No." He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." So they did, and they caught so many fish that they could not pull the net back into the boat.
The follower whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Peter heard him say this, he wrapped his coat around himself. Then he jumped into the water. The other followers went to the shore, went to shore in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. They were not very far from shore, only about a hundred yards. Capture that.
When the followers stepped out of the boat and onto the shore, they saw a fire of hot coals. There was fish on the fire, and there was bread. Now we understand the context of this scripture that this is the resurrection. Jesus has now just come back. He's defeated death, hell, and the grave. And the disciples have kind of dispersed. They went back. We know the context like I said.
Um, but I want to just think with with me for a moment because in this story it has to do with left and right ministry. They've been fishing on the left side of the boat and we see that on the left side of the boat is not good experiences. There's nothing being caught. I know many times we can come to conference discouraged. >> Yeah. >> You're not seeing what you want.
And I begin to think back to my old life. My uh I was saved in 2005, January 1st. Um, I got saved after they murdered my little brother November 22nd, 2004. Uh, pastor buried him, did the funeral, and God God finally got a hold of my heart. And so I got powerfully saved January 1st of 2005. And in 2008, we my wife and I were originally uh set to be launched to Chicago, Illinois in 2008. But right at the last minute, my my dad, who's my pastor at the time, said, 'There's a church in South Phoenix that has opened up. Uh, would you like to take it? So, I said, "Whatever you want to do, Dad. I'm I'm uh, you know, I'm game for whatever." And so, he said, "Let's give it a try. Let's let's see South Phoenix." And I say all that to say this is that I went there and nothing happened. After two years, he pulled me back in, said, "Hey, why don't you just help me, assist me? Uh, I need some help here." And so, I we begin to do that. my wife and I.
But how many know sometimes you come home defeated? I'm gonna pick you up right now. Sometimes you get discouraged. Been fishing all night. You've been giving your time, your energy, your effort. And so, not knowing what God has down planned the road down the road back there assisting Gundel's. I mean, it's taking off. God is doing tremendous things. And all of a sudden two years later in 2012, Pastor Pocky Raj who was pastoring in New Delhi, India at the time in Nida gives my dad a call and says, "Hey, I want you to come out and do a crusade for me." And he says, "If you have anybody that can help you minister, bring them along." So my dad asked me, "Hey, I got this opportunity. Would you like to go with me?" So we went.
This is the flyer that they had made from 2012. If you can show that first picture, take you through a little journey. And this is the picture that they did the flyer on. And it's my dad and myself. And so what's amazing about it though is that this is in 2012. Okay, this is in March. In April, in April, God speaks to me. My dad is doing a grand opening for one of our baby churches. I'm at the altar right here. And God speaks to me and says, "Go to your pastor and let him know you want to go to India." I come to my dad right after. I said, "Dad, I want to go to India." He says, "When do you want to do this?" I said, "Uh, whenever you can." He says, "Well, we're just getting momentum, so maybe two years down the road." No problem. I'm game. I'm enjoying what I'm doing at the moment. I'll never forget that's April. In June, we're on outreach. And he says, "Are you really serious about going to India?" I said, "Yeah." He said, "There's an opening." He said, "There's an opening at the church that you you just preached at. Would you like to go?" I said, "Like when?" Like next week. Okay. I go take the church over. I come back, wait for my wife and my daughters to get their documents. We go back. We We land in July.
But this is where it gets interesting though. Pocky Rods has done a tremendous job there. The church is three years old. If you can see that flyer says celebrating our third year church anniversary. We take it over. If you can show that next picture. Amen. Who's that young guy right there? Show that next picture right there. He's He's right there on the right hand side. Amen. That's the first year we're there with Pastor Campbell. Show the next picture. That's the dirty dozen we take for the first time to India for the Bible conference there. >> The guy you see in the right in the blue all the way in the back. He eventually would take the church over.
But this is what I want you to listen to because at this time there's kind of a crisis in India. It's kind of been through. I just got there. Amen. The the first wave of missionaries leave. Uh, it's just me and Pastor Dave Ellers who are there. We're the only missionaries there. And uh, I remember my wife and I sitting in a Bible conference just like this. We began to speak and talk amongst ourselves and we said you know if God is going to do a work in India these people have to understand and get what it means to invest in a Bible conference. Some of those people there would take 48 hours by train to get to a Bible conference. We said this church is going to have to be willing to sacrifice. We came back. We challenged. We said, "Listen, we have to pay our own way to conference. You have to sacrifice." Said, "God has called us to be burden relievers, not burden givers."
>> Show the fourth picture. God began to give us increase after we left that first conference. It's like God began to move supernaturally. We were in a building transition at this time. We're having a Christmas party at my house and we're about to switch to building them. We need AC's in India. That's very costly to have AC's. And I'll never forget this young lady after this Bible conference comes to me. She had just gotten divorced and she is, you know, broken and life is happening. But I'll never forget part of her divorce settlement was that she was going to receive some AC's. I don't know how that all works out. Amen. But it does. She said, "Pastor, God spoke to me to give these AC's to the church."
>> I said, "Sis, listen. Listen to me, folks. In India, it's a luxury to have AC." >> And she says, "No, pastor. God spoke to me." Praise God. [clears throat] >> To sacrifice and to give these to the church.
>> Show the fifth picture. >> That's them currently. I attribute that. Listen, I attribute that to giving to a Bible conference. I have to admit, I don't know all the dynamics. I don't understand all the ins and outs. Amen. But what I do know is that giving to a Bible conference can take you from the left side of the boat to the right side of the boat.
>> Come on. >> Yes. >> Cuz that's what we come in here for, right? We want God, God, help us. Which side do you want me to go fishing on? And not only that, we see that when they come to the shore, the Bible clearly states there was a coal of fire with fish on it and bread already ready. Some commentator says this was Jesus's way of telling the disciples, reminding them, I have provided you for you above and beyond all that you can think of. Think about that. 100 yards away, right? You think that much of a catch would be off in the deep and maybe over miles away from the shore, but here it is just a hundred yards away. The biggest catch of their life. You know, I'm going to tell you something. Revival is closer than what we really think.
>> Oh, come on. >> Yes. >> It's just a matter of what side we're fishing on.
Let me bring that to today. We're in Chicago. God's helping us. God's already dealt with me, spoken to me what to do. We've been saving money to expand our building. We're going to have to knock down some walls, make some room for some more chairs cuz God's helping us God.
>> But I tell you tonight, God can do that all over again.
>> Show the next picture. Look at my dad now. Look at him with that smile. It's my dad Glenn's investment. Me and my wife had the privilege to go. And there you see four couples from that church. Those are all pastors and their wives. Every one of those people got saved. All but two of them came under our ministry. You see them in those pictures. And there they are from just 2012 to just 2026. 14 years later. four churches out. They're having flaming revival. It's already ready to launch one out next year, next Indian conference. And I want to tell you, man, wasn't anything that I did was genius. Wasn't something that I concocted. It was just simply God preparing me. Yeah, you're discouraged, but I have a right side ministry for you. I have something on the right side.
I want to challenge you tonight because listen, this is our conference. I know we're we I come from Chandler, others come from different places, but I want to tell you the Midwest is our home. Just like Phil said.
>> Yes. Yes. Come on.
>> This is our home. And just the same mentality that I had in India. That was my home for that time. I [snorts] got to make sure that Cox Town is not left with the bill. I got to make sure we come to bless, not just to receive.
Some of you tonight, you have money saved. Maybe you got a building project like I do. Can God speak to you tonight and I know you're giving people already. The Midwest astounds me on what you guys do. But I want to tell you tonight, this is for my brothers who may may not so much be from this local area, but we've been sent here by other wings of the fellowship. But can I tell you tonight, we are still a fellowship. Carbondell's done more than enough. People have taken the week off to serve us, clean for us, watch our children, labor for us. So, we're not asking them to do anything more than they what they've done already. I'm speaking to those who are on the outside who have come in to receive. What can you do tonight? Cuz I tell you, man, God is not a God who's short-handed. I can go on with the miracles and miracles. this church, they send an offering back every conference to Glendale church when they launch launch a new church, something we started. They'll send thousands back to help Glendale plant a new church. They're into it, man. But I want to tell you, it all started with sacrificial giving in an off in a conference setting like this. I know God's going to come through tonight. I know you're going to bless the Carbondale church cuz God's put it in your heart. and what we see from that. Listen, we're just one offering away from the left to the right side.
Let's bow our heads tonight. Father, we love you. I thank you for Pastor Haynes. I thank you for Miss Leanne, the Carbondale Church. I thank you for Pastor Campbell, God, his years of labor and sacrifice. these men that you have pointed over us and given us these churches. I'm asking you by the Holy Ghost, God, that you would pour out your spirit, my God, break strongholds, God, you see the gifts of your people coming up before you tonight. I'm asking, God, bless these churches, God, bless these men that give. And I pray, let us be a blessing to the Carbondale church. Lord, we thank you and give you all the glory. Let the name of Jesus be glorified forever more in this city and in the Midwest. I pray, Father, thank you for the challenge and for the ability to come together in Jesus name. And all God's people said, God bless you as you give tonight. Hallelujah. Time Pastor Campbell's here with us. I have a flood of memories in the 70s77. I prayed a sinner's prayer. One of the first revivals I ever set through a whole revival was John Metsler. Uh, but one of the revivals that I could never forget as an early convert, Pastor Campbell focusing in, that's when I got filled with the Holy Ghost. Amen. Prayed for me, got filled with the Holy Ghost. I would not even know there was a fellowship except for him. We all thank him so much. Let's give him a welcome as he comes home today. Love you. [applause and cheering] [applause]
>> Thank you. Uh, it's wonderful to be home >> and as Pastor Haynne says, home has a lot of memories. Thank you, pastor, uh, for the invitation. I remember when some of you were just kids. I remember when some of you were just crazy, [clears throat] uh, stumbled into church, uh, probably alcohol on your breath. I'm not naming any names, but anyway, uh, but it's a wonderful thing God has done. and what he's doing in the Midwest. We rejoice with you. Uh, this new facility that's uh in the uh progress of coming together. Thank God. Amen. I was just in Dominican Republic introduced to some people tonight from Cuba and Venezuela. Very I was just in Dominican Republic rally. There's about 35 churches in the Caribbean now in our fellowship. uh workers from Jamaica and all across and and Cuba, etc. You're part of a powerful move of God.
>> You've heard me say it for years. I believe God has positioned our fellowship for a last day powerful revival move of God. Don't miss it. Don't miss it. Don't allow the demonic to deceive you. uh enlist you, tempt you to walk into the world. Amen. Live for God. It uh I can stand decades and decades. And there's something powerful about longevity. I was just in Holland Conference and I preached there many years ago. Uh, Pastor Mitchell went in. I went in that might have been 35 people in the service, 40. I preached a sermon. the invisible line and when you step across it, I don't know where it's at, God does. There's judgment. And the interpreter was interpreting the invisible lie, lie. But there was about seven people saved and five of them are either pastors or pastors wives today. You never know the influence of your life and your words. a powerful uh generational. And so, Pastor Leanne, so good to see you, girl, and thank God for you.
You have your Bible this evening, Genesis chapter 50. A grace many times hides in the pain of life. You can be living right in the center of God's will and God's grace and not recognize it because it's disguised behind pain. In other words, the pain is so severe, so agonizing that it's like grace gets camouflaged. God, I'm hurting so bad. My world's flipped upside down. All that I'm going through, how can there be any grace? But the truth is grace can be all over you but you miss it because of the pain. I want to minister tonight. Grace hides in the pain of life. [snorts]
A very familiar verse. Genesis 50:19-20. Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for I am in the place of God. As for you, you meant evil against me. But God meant it for good in order to bring it about as it is this day to save many people alive."
Father, we come tonight by the blood and by the spirit of God. God, I'm asking you to minister to these people, God. Give them understanding of life. You bind up those whose hearts are broken, going through things, God, taking hits in life. Open prison doors to those who find themselves bound. Set at liberty those that are bruised. I'm asking you tonight to heal the sick, save the lost. God, give these people revival and fruitfulness. Bless these churches. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.
I want you to think with me about the sovereignty of God. God is powerful. He has all authority. He's able to override all other powers and authorities. Nothing can stop God. when he decides to bring something about it's going to happen an event, a purpose, a calling, a promise. God is sovereign. That's you. Somewhere in your faith and your theology, you need to understand if God be for me, who can be against me? If God would bless, who who can curse?
>> He's all knowing. He's all present. He's all power. He's all wisdom. Job 42:2 gone through all kinds of extreme pain and problems. I know you can do everything and that no purpose of yours can be withheld from you. Daniel 4:35, "All the inhabitants of the earth are respected as nothing. He does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain his hand or say to him, say to God, what have you done?" That's sovereignty. He is God. He rules in the heavens. He rules in the earth. He rules in your neighborhood and your city. There's none like him. The B He is king of kings and lord of lords. Isaiah 46:9-10. Remember the former things of old. For I am God. There is no other. None. In other words, none can compare. I am God. I declare the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, "My counsel or my word shall stand, and I will do all of my pleasures."
In other words, sometimes we're living life and it seems like the demonic or circumstances or situation, it seems to be totally out of control and unfixable or unchangeable. But you got to somewhere your faith and your relationship with God, if you're going to survive life and all the chapters, somewhere you have to understand God is sovereign. I don't care your situation. I don't care your background, color, your skin, nation. God is sovereign. He rules with wisdom, justice, and mercy.
Listen to the text. Here's Joseph. You meant evil against me, but God but God meant it for good. And he has a he has an order. He has a plan. He has designs on my life in order to bring about as it is this day. Can you hear the sovereignty of God in that language saying you were trying to destroy me? You were plotting against me, lying about me, jealous of me. You sold me as a slave. told dad I was dead. You did everything you could to get rid of me, reject me. You banished me. And yet God overruled all of your designs, all of your schemes. God's plans supersede man's plans. That's sovereignty.
Human evil. You ever question? You ever have someone that has evil intent against you? Say mean, hateful, vicious things about you that are lies. I know no one here has ever met anybody like that, but they slandered you, questioned your intentions, gossiped about you, pointed their finger at you. They're out to get you. And yet, this is Joseph. Listen to him. But God turned it. God turned all your viciousness against me. All the things you said. Some of you wanted to kill me. God turned all of that. That chorus, God turn it around. God turn it around. That's God.
Balam in the Old Testament, he's a prophet. Balak is king of Moab. People of Israel, they're coming out of Egypt. They're going to the promised land. Balak sees them. He fears they're going to consume the land. He hires Balam. He said, "I want you to curse these people, which are God's people. If you will curse them, I'll honor you with gold, silver, oxen, sheep. [snorts] I'll make you wealthy. I'm going to bestow all of these goods upon you." And Balam wants in my mind to curse the people of God. But the Bible says these words in Numbers 23, God put a word in Balam's mouth. Numbers 23:19, he begins to speak. He begins to talk about this. God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man that he should repent. He has said and will he not do. He has spoken and will he not make it good. Behold, I've received commandment to bless. He is blessed and I cannot reverse it. In other words, God put a word of blessing in a mouth that wanted to curse.
>> God can cause people to bless you that don't even like you. They don't want to. Thank you for listening to the Taking the Land podcast. If you made it to this point, that means you're probably hungry for more sermons. Please check out the premium Taking the Land podcast. [music] Link in the show notes. For only $3 a month, you'll get interruption and adfree listening experience. Early releases to start your day right sermons will appear in your feed by 6 a.m. [music] in the US. Full versions of Testimony Tuesday. Access to the premium subscription WhatsApp [music] group. Finally, the best reason to subscribe. All proceeds go to World Evangelism. We don't take a dime. Until next time, we wish you God's speed as you pursue his will for your life wherever you [music] are serving him. Keep taking the land.
had a guy in our church number of years ago and uh he uh he was convinced I was going to pull the whole Chandler wing out of the fellowship. He's writing these letters to Pastor Mitchell. Pastor Mitchell sending them to me uh every men's day, every conference, every time he saw Pastor here he'd come with a story. And so I call him in my office and I say to I'm getting word that you're saying all these things. Uh where do you get this from? He said God spoke to me. I mean what are you going to who's going to argue with God? Huh? And he wasn't infecting other people. So I be to pray. I said, "God, you said you could bless when others want to curse." Something happened. He totally shifted. He got married. Maybe that helped. If you're here single, he got married. They've gone to foreign nations with me.
>> My 80th birthday, Terry and Leanne were there and was a riot. He gave me 10 $100 bills on my 80th birthday. Listen, God can cause people, >> they may not even like you. Your boss may not like you, but he can give you a raise or a bonus.
>> That's sovereignty. God is sovereign. He predestines, but we choose. Ephesians 1:11, "In him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will." God predestines. He has plans for you, but you have to live it. You have to make choices. Revelations 22:17 Jesus the spirit and the bride say come. Let him who hears say come. Let him who thirst come. Whosoever will. Let him take of the waters of life freely. John 5:40. But you are not willing to come to me that you may have life. What he said? Whosoever will willing. Matthew 23:30. Oh Jerusalem. Jesus looking over Jerusalem with compassion in the heart. Oh Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets, stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather you as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you would not. You were not willing. Are you willing tonight? Are you making choices that put you in the center of God's will, his calling, his purpose? The greatest place of spiritual safety, the greatest place for your soul is in his will. Is that where you're at this evening? God was sovereign, but Joseph still had to live it. And so do you. God has plans for you and churches and ministry. God has design, but you still in the throws of life like Joseph, you still got to make those choices. to live in it.
The problem with pain and God's purpose is very interesting. September 2023, I'm speaking. I'm at home. Connie's ill. She got CO in 2020. She been declining, declining, declining. speaking with pac pastor Rob Waltz. Uh he pastors in Sydney, has a Bible conference. I'm scheduled to go preach. Connie's not doing well. I'm speaking with him on the phone. I got him on speaker and I'm talking to him and I said, "Listen, I don't think I can come." I said, "Connie's got some physical issues and I'm I'm trying to ease out of this." And she hears me and she says, "No, Joe, you're going. You made a commitment. You're going." So, I went.
You know the story. I land in Sydney airport. I get off of the plane, rushing down to get my bag. I'm waiting on I'm talking to Connie on the phone. It's my wife, if you're here visiting. And uh as I'm talking to her, I said, I'm kind of dizzy. I I collapse in the in the floor right there by the belt going around. Guy picks up the phone, says, "Who is?" Said, "I'm his wife." Said, "He's not breathing. But there was a medical doctor standing right beside me. He leaped on me, began to give me CPR. He's breathing. But think about God's sovereignty. I'm in the perfect place to have a cardiac arrest. My heart stopped. doctor standing beside me and I understand life life has a lot of different flavors and chapters. I'm 20 minutes from one of the best if not the best hospital in Asia for heart condition, heart attacks, splints, etc. Stances I could have been in Africa, India, my own backyard. But I came back to the states and I went to Dr. Labadi. He's a heart specialist and he said, "You know, you're a miracle." Said, "Only about 6% survive. I didn't just have an attack. My heart stopped." Only about 6% survived what happened to you. and only about 2% out of that 6% that aren't impaired in some fashion or another.
Your greatest place of safety and I understand a lot of things happen in life. We were living in Mariam when our daughter 16 years old died. Tragic accident. But I'm in the hospital. They've done surgery. There's pain. I'm trying to recover. I'm not thinking about grace. They gave me a button that had morphine in it. Finally, they came and took the button away from me. I thought I was back in my old days down in Fernand Cliff or said, "Whoa, man. This button, man. Woo." [snorts] But I'm there in the hospital and I'm wondering I'm not grace is not on my mind. I wonder Joseph when they took him into Egypt in chains his ankles. You don't hear him at that point saying God meant this for good. What about you? When he's thrown in prison, Piper's wife lied about him when he's being blessed and his whole world flips upside down. Can you see God's hand at work? Can you see grace in these agonizing, painful, disturbing, upending chapters and seasons of life. Too many, my experience, they bail out right here. They get bitter. Joseph could have very easily became bitter. Too many quit, throw in the towel, complain all the time. and their whole spirit becomes tainted. Maybe you're in a painful place tonight, taking some hits. People have said things. You're not seeing God do what you expected him to do. So easy right here to quit. Walk away from ministry and calling Joseph. Only later you sold me here, but God sent me here. Oh, you orchestrated this and you thought you were getting rid of me. You thought you were violated. You were You thought you had an advantage against me, but God sent me. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God. Can you grasp the impact of that in the arena of your personal life? Because somewhere you're going to need that.
The problem with anguish and pain. When you're in agony of soul, mental torment, your world is spinning seemingly out of control. It's so hard to see grace when you're hurting. Where are you, God? All the wise begin to come. God, why? Why me? God, why me? Why me? It's like grace moved to Georgia. God, you don't even know he's there. The pain is screaming. Just quit. No hope. Could be in relationships. Could be in marriage. could be physical. What's the use? It's over. Grace is God's love being demonstrated when we don't deserve it. We don't see it. We don't feel it. It hides behind the pain of life.
Watch and listen to Grace. I came home from Australia. As I say, I went to the heart specialist, gave him a bit of my history. Says, "I don't want you flying international for a year. I don't want you flying national in the US for seven or eight months." I had no clue at that point that I had a couple years left with Connie. Knowing me, if he hadn't have said that, I would have just kept pushing. But Grace was saying, "I want you to stop. I want you to spend time with Connie. I want you to talk with her. I want you to laugh with her. Watch her sleep. Listen to her." And I have to admit, in hindsight, I look back and I thank God for those moments. We laughed, especially as it she knew she was dying. and some so funny things. there was a nurse uh came in and was tending to her and she told this nurse she said said yeah I've been married 60 plus years and the woman said to the same man the other time she told a nurse she said yeah my pastor she had neuropathy her legs pain started in her feet moved up I mean she was screaming pain sometimes she told the nurse said, "Yeah, my pastor comes in every day and rubs my legs." Confed laughed. She probably said, "I want to go to that church." No, [laughter] she said, "He's my husband." He's my husband. He's my husband. grace, seizing moments that sometimes you just blow through with people you love. Listen, don't miss the moments in life with God and with people. I'm 83, be 84 in May. Listen, it's it's if you're not careful, you're so busy. Are you wasting your life on things that mean nothing to God, nothing to people, and nothing to eternity? We talked about ministry, places, people. You marrying mounds. See, some of you folks, I mean, my Lord, you got saved in mounds. I looked at some of those old sermons I preached at you. It's a miracle you're saved. Point one, hell is real. >> Point two, you're going there. Point three, repent. [laughter] [snorts] My point is in the pain of life, in the struggle, difficult places, agonizing places, don't be blind to grace. Don't miss the God moments. The Apostle Paul, you can read it in second Corinthians. Some say eyes is all kind of speculation. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Grace makes the difference in the pain places of life.
Can you hear God's voice? Said, "I am in the place of God. You meant evil against me. But God turned it. God was using what you were doing to me to shape me, prepare me, fashion me in his purpose and will. I thank God in hindsight that he stopped me. Stopped me. Thank God. Grace sees the big picture, not just the moment.
I ask you to bow your head with me this evening. Before we do anything tonight, I want to focus. You're here. You're in this place. Grace brought you. You're unsaved. You're not right with God. Dealing with secret sin that you think nobody sees, but God does. You're tormented in anguish because of sin. There's only one cure for sin. You have to repent. There's only one way to be born again. Old things pass away. All things become new. I prayed a prayer 1971 right down the road here, Sanduski, Illinois. Might have been 25 people. I didn't plan on praying a prayer that night. I went with Connie to church. I was angry is why I went. I was angry at someone. Grace that night. I I had no clue. That night I prayed a prayer a child could pray. It changed my whole world. Connie and I. Our whole world over time shifted all the way to the grave. I never once that I can ever remember as an unsaved person thought about being a preacher or pastor. Not once. That's the love of God. He's here tonight to save you. I wonder how many of you be honest with yourself. You say, "I'm not right with God. I'm not living for God. I need to be born again. I need to repent. I'm backsliding." You just lift your hand. You just lift your hand. Lift your hand front to back, side to side. You just lift it up. That's me, pastor. That's me. That's me. I want to get my heart right. You'd lift your hand. Don't miss your moment with God. Anyone. Anyone. Anyone you'd lift your hand.
Okay. I want to change the order of this service. God has spoke to you tonight. Maybe you're in one of those seasons and those chapters that are just can be brutal. I'm going to ask you to stand with me all over this building. and you'd stand to your feet [music] with me. I want to open these altars. You'd stand to your feet. I want to open these altars. You want to come and [music] talk to God. You're here this evening and you're in one of those seasons, those chapters, those it seems so confusing. It can be disorientated. It's pain. >> [clears throat] >> It's pain. It's agony. It can be people. Can be relational. It can be physical. It can be mental, emotion, can be ministry. I I've pioneered churches. I've been a missionary in a Muslim nation when every local pastor told me, "You can't be here." And I know what it's like. We're talking Joseph 20 years, two decades before he stepped into what God had planned and his purpose. I know the agony of of being in a church and it just it it seems stuck. But listen, God God is faithful. I'll never forget I was with pastor Mitchell and there was a number of pastors there and one of them asked him said pastor Mitchell if you could change anything of your ministry etc what what would it be and I'm I'm waiting that's a great question I'm [music] and it's very interesting he said I would preach more on hope we need hope we need grace and I noticed the last 10 years as I was privileged of being with him, he he preached a lot more on hope. Listen, he'll never forsake you. He'll never forsake you. To know him, especially in these chapters, sometimes they just come out of nowhere and blindsid you. You're not expecting it. Uh, you're not asking for it. You're not in rebellion. You're not out. You just those moments. I charge you. Look for grace in it. Too many [music] too many I feel and I've seen and witnessed. Too many time of temptation [music] just running rampant. Your kids go crazy. [music] Things just happen. I've too many I've seen in those moments just some back up, some walk [music] away. Don't be one of those. But you're here tonight and uh you're in one of those places. I want you just come and stand. I want to pray for you and believe God you're in one of those seasons, one of those chapters. Do you trust in God? We sing the chorus, [music] but do you trust him here in this place? Listen, God's faithful. He's faithful, dear. He's faithful. He's faithful. When I when I went I thought I had all kind of thoughts. I won't even repeat them. But I wasn't thinking grace. I can tell you that. I wasn't thinking grace. I wasn't thinking. It's only in hindsight that I thank God put the brakes on. We married 60 plus years. Feel like I got amputated. [snorts] And some of you know what I'm talking about. But I prayed when that happened. Some of you I think Gordon Willis and I gave me a word at Prescott conference. I prayed God if you save me for a purpose. Don't let me miss it. Sometimes his greatest purpose hides behind a chapter of pain. I preached before Joseph. I think the pain prepared him for his purpose. God God's sovereign. He wasn't asleep. Wasn't on vacation. Would this happen to you or me? He's sovereign. He's sovereign. I want to pray for you. It's supernatural. Grace is supernatural. I want to ask pastors to come. All the pastors here, if you come, uh, help me. I just want to I want to listen, dear. He God, God, God, you're in a season. You're in a season. [music] People season. People pain season. And sometimes the people that you know who hurt you the most, people that you love. Somebody in Walmart can curse me out for witnessing. I'd give a reg to God Jesus. But it's people that you love in relationship. Amen. I'm going to ask these pastors to come just lift your hands. We want to pray. Let's begin to pray. God can turn a chapter just like you turn a page in the Bible. You can be going through hell and he said, "Okay, I'm going to turn a page." I I know what it's like. I' I've pastored before uh pioneered had a guy was in 28th Street in Phoenix. Guy pulled up in the parking lot on Sunday morning and man, I'm excited. Somebody's coming. Somebody's coming. We're looking out the window. He He was lost. He wanted direction. I go I got I go out. I'm think. He said, "Yeah, could you tell me where so and Amen. Connie and I learned to laugh? >> We learned to laugh. We uh listen, it it's great met. We just laugh about things and things that happened and we had this guy that uh he wasn't, you know, he was mentally disabled and he'd break in the church and get on the organ. He could play, but he only played what he wanted to play. >> [laughter] >> I know it's like have your kids taking offerings, you know, they're passing the plate and uh one of them may be doing those days in overhead and anybody walks through the door. I had this lady, you may have heard me, she had this big purse and I'm watch ain't nobody there but her and my family and his purse is alive. All of a sudden, this dog's head comes in. I'm walking down the aisle. It's over. I'm going to shake her head. She got a check. She's ready to sign it. She said, "Would you pray for my dog?" I said, "Lady, just write the check. I'll pay for your dog, your cat, your parent." Now, would you give God praise, Pastor