1. Introduction
   1. Ever since I’ve been a Christian since 1981 I think I’ve heard every excuse that there possibly could be as to why people can’t and won’t come to church.
   2. The worst part of it is that they proclaim to be Christians! I came from a bible-believing and soul-winning church – an evangelistic church and was trained and equipped to be the ultimate soldier for Christ.
   3. I remember so many times going out, knocking on doors and asking and saying, “Good afternoon or evening. My name is Wayne Patterson. I’d like to invite you to our church.”
   4. Right off the bat, “Are you a Jehovah’s witness? I see you carrying a bible. Are you a Mormon?” I’d say ”No I’m a bible-believing Christian who has the love of God in him and loves God with all his heart and has the love to reach out and go out of my way without any excuse to tell you about the saving grace and knowledge and give you an invitation to our church and an invite to receive Jesus Christ as your own personal savior.”
   5. Right off the bat it would be “Well I’m already born again.” “Do you go to Church?” “No, we’re more home Baptists.” “Mam or Sir, that doesn’t cut it.”
   6. “Why not?” Because the bible tells us in Hebrews 10:25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
   7. “Well I don’t care. I still am not going to go. I am satisfied with receiving Christ as my own savior and that’s all I need to do.”
   8. I said to the lady that this is wrong thinking. You have a duty, and responsibility.
   9. When you accepted Jesus Christ as your own personal savior, the bible says this in 2nd Timothy 1:6: Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God. You don’t have an excuse as to why you can’t be in church.
   10. You don’t want to be the one getting in by the skin of your teeth. You want to hear Jesus say to you as it says in Matthew 25:23: His lord said unto him Well done, good & faithful servant. Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
   11. This is what you want our Lord and savior to be saying on the day of your departure. You never want to hear him say, when he asks you “Did you go out and tell people about me?
   12. “No Lord I was shy.” Did you share your testimony with anyone? “I didn’t feel it was necessary.” Did you ever encourage people to come to church?
   13. “ I think I did once.” Did you ever pray for anyone’s healing? “It was none of my business. I don’t interfere in other people’s things.”
   14. His words to you may be these. The bible says in Matthew 7;23: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
   15. Christians, when you accepted Jesus Christ as your own personal savior, the excuse then was that you were lost, but now you have no excuse because you’re saved.
   16. You are called to do everything you possibly can do. As we are created in the image of Christ to be Christ-like. We must seek and save that which is lost.

1. As you were once lost and now you are found. I plead with you today. Your best is what God is looking for, without any blemish or spot and without any excuse.
2. He gave his life for you. Reach out so another life can be given to Him. Now let us look into our message,

2. You Have More Excuses than
   a Kangaroo looking for its baby
   as to why you can’t come to church!
3. Why do people give excuses for things they know they can do?
   1. Some give excuses and do not do what they are called to, because they lack the faith to step out in their callings. James 1:6-7: But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. Every one of us have a mission, a calling, and a purpose. It’s time to be confident and faith-filled and obedient!
   2. Some give excuses because they prefer not to work at all. 2nd Thessalonians 3:10: For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. There are a lot of people that are having their EBT shut off during this shut down. What is interesting, is that the majority of those that are experiencing this are those who are not legitimately disabled but those who choose to live solely off the government. We all need to work either in voluntary ministry service or in a vocation.
   3. Why do people call themselves Christians if they don’t want to be Christ-like?
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4. What’s the purpose of being a Christian?
   1. We always get our definitions from the AV1611 King James Bible dictionary, which defines a Christian as the following;
   2. A believer in the person and teachings of Christ.
   3. A professor of his belief in Christ.
   4. and the definition that we are focused on in this message is A real disciple of Christ; one who believes in the truth of the Christian faith, and studies to follow the example, and obey the precepts, of Christ; a believer in Christ who is characterized by living the life Christ exemplified.
   5. So to sum it all up, a Christian is someone who is Christ-like. We are made in the image of Christ. Romans 8:29: For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. So if you are a Christian, the image of Christ should reflect off your life and testimony.
5. Do you not know that you have the power of the Gospel and the Spirit that drives it to change the course & direction of one’s life if you apply yourself?
   1. Remember that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God. Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. You have the power of God if you have received the gospel of Jesus Christ.
   2. The Power of the Gospel of Christ, and the Spirit of God can change your course and direction, from a life of sin and emptiness, to an abundant joy-filled life. Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The Gospel and the Spirit of God does the course correcting and transforming as you hear and study the Word of God.
6. Do you carry a bible? Do you study the bible? Do you know anything about the bible? If you don’t it’s time you did.
   1. It is important to carry a bible because it is your witness, as we say every time we get together. Deuteronomy 6:6-8: And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. In this day that we live in, everything we say relating to the gospel must be backed up by scripture or it will be under scrutiny and rejected.
   2. Do you study or even know anything about the bible? Remember that Jesus is the Word, so the more of the Word you know, the more of Him you know. John 1:1-4: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. Clearly you see here that Jesus IS the word, and Jesus IS God. So get to know more of that book and you’ll get to know more of our awesome God!
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7. We’re living in the last Days, the Laodicean Church Age.
   1. Let’s look at Revelation 3 verses 14 to 18 and see if it matches with the times in which we live.

1. Let’s first look at verse 14: 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; Did you notice that this verse goes right in line with what we just read from John Chapter 1? Jesus is the beginning of the creation of God, meaning He was the creator – God right from the beginning.
2. Have you ever taken a drink out of a water fountain and found it to be lukewarm. The metal fountains were always nice and cold, but the white ones were always lukewarm and terrible tasting. Let’s read verses 15-16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Now it is important to remember, that Jesus is talking to a church. He is not spewing individuals out of His Mouth. The church in this Laodicean Church Age has become watered-down and giving a very lukewarm message as we often hear as we travel.

1. Jesus gives the diagnosis of the ailment that is plaguing the church today in verse 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, & increased with goods, & have need of nothing; & knowest not that thou art wretched, & miserable, & poor, & blind, & naked: Those that have this world’s wealth think they are all set! What do I need a savior for? I’ve got everything I need. I’ve lived a good life.
2. Now let’s see the prescription in verse 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. Are you rich in the spiritual riches that don’t burn up when the fire of this world’s cares gets hot? Are you clothed with the righteousness of Christ and the peace and joy of the Lord that passes all understanding? Or are you fully engulfed in the chaos and strife of the Laodicean Church Age?
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8. We’re living in a time when everyone seems to have the right to do whatever they want. Even Christians believe this who proclaim to be Christians.
   1. This sounds very much like the mixed-up world that the prophet Isaiah saw. Isaiah 5:20: Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! We don’t have the right to do whatever we want, but we are to offer our lives as a living sacrifice according to Romans 12 verse 1.
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9. The bible says we are to preach the word in season and out
   1. Paul gives this exhortation in 2nd Timothy 4:2: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. This is not just an exhortation to pastors and teachers, but for all Christians. We are all to preach the word to those who are lost and in need of a savior. We are all to reprove and rebuke those who are misrepresenting the simplistic salvation message of Jesus Christ. We are all to exhort one another so that all will come to sound doctrine.
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10. The bible is filled with patriarchs who had more excuses than Carter had liver pills to neglect or discard their responsibilities. They try to make you believe if they could that there was a black cat in a dark closet only to find out it’s just another excuse to escape responsibility.
    1. Moses met God at the burning bush with a bushel of excuses as to why he couldn’t go to Egypt. God brushed off every excuse. For example, Exodus 3:10-12: Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. After a bunch of other excuses, Moses did finally carry out his responsibility at least partially.
    2. There was a rich young ruler that met Jesus and gave an excuse as to why he couldn’t follow Jesus. Luke 18:22-24: Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! We need not be so attached to this world’s treasure that it hinders us from following Jesus wholeheartedly.

1. Jesus gave a parable where a man held a banquet and had many guests that he had invited, and they all gave excuses as to why they couldn’t come. Luke 14:16-20: Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. What did the man do in response? He sent his servants out to the highways and byways to compel the lost to come in and THAT my friends, is what Jesus has directed you and me to do.
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11. The kangaroos seem to know how to find their own.
    1. Yet how much more wisdom, knowledge, grace & mercy, love & understanding has God given us to reach those who are less fortunate to bring God to their hearts & salvation to their souls.
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12. Story A Lost Sheep & the Shepherd
    1. A lost sheep, separated from the flock, endures a lonely and frightening journey through the wilderness, fearing predators as it wanders further into the unknown.
    2. Meanwhile, its shepherd, after noticing the sheep is missing, leaves the rest of the flock to search for it, calling out its name until he finally finds it, often caught in thorns, but still alive.
    3. Overjoyed, the shepherd gently lifts the weary animal onto his shoulders, carries it back home, and celebrates its return with friends and neighbors, filled with relief and joy for finding the one that was lost.
    4. The sheep’s perspective: The sheep feels the deep isolation of being lost, wandering with a growing sense of panic and fear as the familiar flock recedes and darkness falls.
    5. The shepherd’s action: The shepherd’s love for his sheep compels him to leave the comfort of the ninety-nine to search for the one. He perseveres through the search, which is often described as long and arduous, driven by his commitment to rescue the lost sheep.
    6. The moment of rescue: When the shepherd finds the sheep, often in a state of distress, he reacts with immense joy and relief.
    7. He carefully puts the sheep on his shoulders, a position of honor and safety, and begins the journey home.
    8. The return and celebration: Back at his home, the shepherd gathers his community to celebrate. He calls his friends and neighbors to share in his happiness, proclaiming, “Rejoice with me, for this sheep once was lost, but now is found.
    9. As a Christian who is Christ-like, the love He has for lost sheep should radiate from your life. Will you do all you can to see the lost sheep in your family become rescued, saved, and heaven bound?
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13. Conclusion
    1. Based on this message, what excuses do you really have for not winning the lost and sharing your testimony? What excuse will you give God when it’s all said and done?
    2. Has this message changed your life and thinking? Has it encouraged you to step up to the plate to be a Christ-like Christian, for we are nothing more than vapors in the wind, here today and gone tomorrow.
    3. Every day must be the best opportunity and day to tell someone the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

Terror in the City

1. Introduction
   1. You and I are facing one of the most unusual sets of times where leadership in the country has greatly diminished.
   2. The Laodicean church age is now taking form and root according to Revelation 3:14-18: And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

1. You and I need to look at these scriptures very carefully because everything that we are facing is in the ingredients of these scriptures.
2. Where leadership is greatly diminishing.
3. Where there is no respect for authority
4. The currency of the dollar has greatly changed.
5. The one world church is being talked about now more than ever.
6. We’re now seeing the Catholic Church beginning to raise its ugly head now once again. Signing a concordat with the Muslim religion,
7. Allowing gay marriage to take place. Once again being the political war machine that it has always been since the time of Jesus on the world stage.
8. Leadership from our country that was founded on the principles of God’s Word, and the men that wrote our constitution and declared our country a Christian nation would turn over in their graves if they had seen what is transpiring now in this day and age.
9. Leadership is at an all-time low. Crime is at an all-time high. Every moment, every day is an unknown moment for each and every day.

1. You and I who know God’s Word and study it (2^nd Timothy 2:15) know what the key is to wallowing through this hellacious mess that’s going on throughout the world and in our very own country.
2. The Christian world is almost like the world itself. Soon you won’t be able to tell the difference.
3. When you can, rest assured that these Christians will be scrutinized, judged, laughed at and possibly even killed for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
4. Many in the Middle East who are Christians have been beheaded by the Taliban, Isis and so forth because they wouldn’t reject the one true resurrected King. His name is Jesus.
5. There are many Peters in this world who’ve been compromises, who are still compromisers, who have chosen not to study God’s word to know the signs of the times and the return of our Lord and savior.
6. They’re just drifting through life on the premise that I’m saved and that’s enough. It’s not enough. Getting into heaven by the skin of your teeth is not what God had you sign up for.
7. Things are going to dramatically change for the Christian world as the Christian world was once a majority, soon it will become a very fast minority.
8. In every city that we look at on TV, when we turn the news on we see nothing but destruction. In 2020 we saw the destruction throughout the United States.
9. People burning buildings, looting, stealing, cursing and swearing, and everything evil under the sun. No wonder they call themselves black lives matter.
10. Black is always a dark color. It seems as though life does not matter. But to God all life matters.
11. We’ve only a couple of times had to send the national guard in to clean up a city. Now they’re becoming the police and the police are adhering to them.
12. Next we’ll see martial law and a federal takeover, commanding and demanding that people adhere to the federal government’s rules and commands.
13. The bible instructs us to obey all man’s laws. (Romans 13:1: 3 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.)
14. Hosea 4:6: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
15. You and I need to remember that in this scripture, there is no power but of God. The powers that are ordained of God.
16. We must obey all man’s laws but we must always adhere to God’s law first. If that law goes contrary to the Word of God, than what must I do? You must stand for the Word of God.
17. In this message, Terror in the City, many Christians in fact millions of Christians who call themselves Christians need to get educated in God’s Word.
18. They need to know God. They need to know what’s expected of them. They need to check out those who are teaching and leading them.
19. A small remnant will lead the charge to unite all true Christian brotherhood. Together, we’ll usher in the return of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Now let’s go into our study, Terror in the City.

2. When I talk about terror in the city, I talk about all the cities throughout the United States. The uprising evil and sin that’s penetrating all of our cities and people. People are becoming weary, lost, unteachable, unreachable, and just drifting through this life.
   1. Protests and riots ravaged parts of the nation in the days, weeks and months following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis Minnesota.
   2. The demonstrations that followed Floyd’s death in 2020 at times turned into riots that included looting, violence and destruction. In one case, protests carried on for more than 100 days.
   3. Protests happened in city after city. Among the most memorable was Portland Oregon, where rioters took over the city. Businesses were looted. Buildings were burned. It was chaos.
   4. God’s word paints an accurate picture of this time of terror in the cities. Let’s look at 2nd Timothy 3:1-5: This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Let’s break some of this down and see what God’s antidote to these perilous times is
   5. The passage we just read said that men would be lovers of their own selves, and covetous. We who study God’s Word know that we are to look on the things of others more than ourselves. Philippians 2:4: Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Are you concerned about the people around you, or are you consumed with your own interests?
   6. Our passage in 2^nd Timothy said that people in the last days, people would be boasters, and would be proud. Proverbs 16:18: Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Rest assured that if you are proud and boastful, you are headed for a quick fall.
   7. Our passage in 2^nd Timothy 3 also said people in these last days would be blasphemers. Exodus 20:7: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Over the years, there have been those who said that they were Jesus Christ, and some have said that we are demigods. This is all blasphemy at its worst.
   8. The list in 2^nd Timothy 3 goes on. People aredisobedient, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, and so forth. It’s all playing out in the Terror in the City, but God’s Word has the answers that can bring our nation back to what He intended.

3. Christians when you speak to them have no more credence for the Word of God than the world does.
   1. I fault the church leaders for disarming the Christians and not encouraging them to carry their bibles to be the witness that God wants them to be. Deuteronomy 11:18: Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. This is why at every service I make sure to remind you to BRING A BIBLE WITH YOU! If you don’t have one we have some on the shelves. Just take one, and then return it when the service is over.
   2. Most pastors today don’t even read the bible. Jeremiah 10:21: For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the Lord: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. Many I’ve talked to are vague and you can tell it when you talk to them.
   3. When your conversation is the conversation of Christ on a consistent diet, you know these Christians by the fruits they bear. Philippians 1:27: Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; When someone talks to you, do they tend to hear about Jesus most of the time, or is it everything else? This is something to think about.

4. What is terror?
   1. In the AV-1611 bible dictionary we see the following definitions;
   2. Terror is that which may excite dread; the cause of extreme fear. Malachi 4:5; Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
   3. In Scripture, the sudden judgments of God are called terrors. Psalm73 :18-19: Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
   4. We who know the Lord need not fear the terros that may come by night. Psalm 91:5: Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; We need not fear any terros that may come because Jesus is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble, according to Psalm 46:1.
5. In the Old Testament, there was much terror in the city.
   1. The flood was certainly a terror for those who were on the earth in Noah’s day. Genesis 7:16-18: And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in. And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth. And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. Picture this. The rebellious, unbelieving rascals made fun of Noah as he was working on the ark day by day. Then, you see him bringing all kinds of animals. They were probably still laughing. However, when the rain storm came and the ark rose high above them, they weren’t laughing any more.
   2. Job experienced terror in the city when everything he had was taken away in one day. Job 1:13-19: And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. Now that’s a lot of terrors, one right after the other! What was Job’s response? Why, he didn’t get mad at God, curse and sweare, and rebel! Look down at verse 20. It says he worshipped!

6. In the New Testament, there was much terror in the city when Jesus walked with the Pharisees in the temple

1. As we learned 2 Thursday nights ago, there was terror in the church when Ananias and Saphira died suddenly in front of the whole congregation. Acts 5:3-5: But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. The same scene was repeated when his wife Saphira came in, and she too died on the spot.
2. Whenever Caiaphas and his band of merry men got together, it meant terror for the people of God. Matthew 26:2-3: Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. Here he was, their long-awaited Messiah that they prayed for for centuries, and they were plotting his end.

7. If this represents me as a Christian, what must I do to change?
   1. Should I rededicate my life? Revelation 2:5: Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. You might need to heed this warning from Jesus. Rededicate your life to Him and get back on track. Get into the Word. Get into church, and be about the Father’s Business.
   2. Should I pray for discernment? God’s Word is a discerner. The more you are in it, the more discernment you will have. Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Yes, pray for discernment, and obtain it through studying God’s Word.
   3. Should I pray For faith? God is the one who gives each of us a measure of faith. Romans 12:3: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. We can all use more faith and that comes through prayer, worship and fellowship, sharing our testimonies.
   4. Should I pray For a complete transformation and renewing of the mind? Romans 12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The more we walk with God, the more we are being transformed to be more and more like Jesus and less like the old worldly nature we had before we got saved.

8. If you would examine yourself today, and understand this message, you’d know right away, is this you?
   1. Are you going the way of the world as a so-called Christian or living out every day with your conversation being the conversation of Christ? Philippians 1:27: Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
   2. Are you living and preaching His Word and looking on the things of others more than yourself?
9. Do you trust completely in the Word of God?
   1. Will you change and study God’s Word? Psalm 119:9-11: Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. One of two things will happen. Either your sin will keep you from that book, or that book will keep you from your sin. Get into it. Study it. Digest it. It’s good for the soul.
   2. Will you carry your bible to each and every service? Psalm 119:37-38:  Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
   3. Will you stand and make the sacrifice that God made for you? Ephesians 6:13-14: Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; We must all stand on the innerant word of God, and live the life He’s called us to, leading souls to the saving knowledge of Christ.
10. Pray with me that God will give you
    1. strength, Psalm 29:11: The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.
    2. wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, Psalm 119:169: Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.
    3. courage, bravery, confidence, consistency, Philippians 1:6: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
    4. motivation, and energy to lead a victorious life, the life that Christ died on the cross to give us. 1st Corinthians 9:24: Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. The answer lies within you.
    5. I challenge you this morning to stand for God, resist sin, resist the devil and he shall flee James 4:7: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

11. Story about Trusting God in Difficult Times
    1. The writer of our story says “I am thankful for the many blessings God has bestowed upon my life. I have also encountered many challenges.
    2. All Christians will encounter difficulties.
    3. God never said life on earth would be easy. 1 Peter 5:10 speaks loudly to my heart.
    4. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. “
    5. God loves us so much. Challenges help us trust him. Reading that verse reminded me of three occasions where God tested my faith.
    6. Each time, I thought my world would come crashing down. After suffering for a while, my faith in God grew because he allowed me to emerge victorious in each situation.
    7. After I gave birth to my daughter, she ended up in ICU. She was born with meconium(the first fecal excretion of a newborn )in her lungs.
    8. The medical term is called Meconium aspiration syndrome.
    9. It is rare for a newborn to breathe a mixture of meconium and amniotic fluid into their lungs. This syndrome is a leading cause of severe illness and death after birth.
    10. Everyone in my church started to pray for a miracle, and sure enough, my daughter survived the ordeal.
    11. Imagine the turmoil I went through after giving birth? Instead of rejoicing and holding my baby, I had to watch her from the ICU window.
    12. I do recall praying too, but I also questioned God. Why me? Why are you testing my faith at such a joyous time?
    13. After my daughter made a full recovery, I stopped blaming God. Instead, I began giving him praise for sparing my precious bundle of joy from severe complications or even death.
    14. God loves to test our resolve. He wants to see whether or not we can withstand what we must go through, so we can walk in the calling and destiny that he has for us.
    15. Eighteen years after the birth of my daughter, God tested me again. This time my youngest son spent nine days in the hospital.
    16. He almost died because the doctors did not know what was wrong with him. After conducting many tests, a specialist diagnosed him with Lemierre’s Syndrome.
    17. Lemierre’s Syndrome is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of bacterial infections that usually affects previously-healthy adolescents and young adults.
    18. I believe God heard my prayer and the prayers of everyone in my church. God worked mightily in the specialist too.
    19. Once diagnosed, my son was able to get the proper medications. Thankful my son survived, I spent many hours giving praise to God. My faith grew even more.
    20. The third test shook me like a category five hurricane. In 2009, the principal at my school decided to cut expenses. I lost my teaching job.
    21. I applied for other positions in the district. After three months, I had not procured a new job.
    22. What I did not know is the principal had a personal vendetta against me. He placed my name on the “NO HIRE LIST.”
    23. Now I knew why I was not getting any interviews. The assistant principal came to evaluate me several times.
    24. He knew that I was highly qualified in my field of French and Spanish. He acted on my behalf.
    25. He highly recommended me to a school that needed a French and Spanish world language teacher. I interviewed. Later the principal called to offer me the position.
    26. God came to my rescue, and in the end, my faith grew in leaps and bounds.
    27. The icing on the cake, my new job is 20 minutes from my house. It took me an hour and thirty minutes to get to my old school.
    28. My former principal hired a new teacher to replace me. The principal tried to harm me. In the end, he did me a huge favor.
    29. I am still teaching at the same school. After thirty years in the same school district, I will retire in May 2021. I am thankful I learned to trust God even during trials and tribulations.
    30. Whatever terror in the city you might be facing, press in. Study GOd’s Word. Digest it. Get it into you and depend on it. He will always see you through.

12. Conclusion
    1. Was this a message you needed to hear? If so, why?
    2. Is it a message that will change your thinking, your pattern of how you view today and if tomorrow should come?
    3. Will you carry your bible, hold it up high? Rise up and take your rightful position? Follow Jesus and bring yourself and many to the cross?

This was delivered at our Mt Zion Chapel concert on June 7th 2026

Encouragement

1. Introduction
   1. In this lesson, I want to talk about the importance of encouragement and being encouraged.
   2. It’s so important to note the importance of one’s words to another. How important those words can be, to bring someone way up or very low.
   3. In the ups and downs, and challenges of life that we all go through, we need encouragement.
   4. We depend on it. When we don’t get it, we stay still, stuck in our own minds, trying to figure everything out that’s come upon us in everyday living that we all exist in.
   5. When encouragement doesn’t come from others around us, we must lean on our Lord and Savior. He’s the one that stays closer than any brother ever will.
   6. Proverbs 18:24: A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
   7. God’s word never changes for you and me. It is strength when we are weak. It’s the foundation of what God has made us to be through His Word.
   8. I want to encourage you to stay in God’s Word. Follow God’s Word. Study God’s Word, and you too will realize the secret that will be manifested to the light, which will in turn become the foundational truth of knowing how you can always be encouraged.
   9. Now let us look into our lesson

Encouragement.

2. What is Encouragement
3. ENCOUR’AGEMENT is the act of giving courage, or confidence of success; incitement to action or to practice; incentive.
4. Encouragement is the act of giving courage, or confidence of success; incitement to action or to practice; incentive.
5. It is that which serves to incite, support, promote or advance, as favor, countenance, rewards, profit. Hebrews 10:24: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: When you are encouraged or given affirmation in regards to a job or anything that you do, it causes you to want to even be better at it.

3. Who did God encourage in the Bible
4. God encouraged Joshua after the death of Moses. God was raising him up to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. Joshua 1:5-6: There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people, shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I swore unto their fathers to give them. God was giving Joshua a pep talk.

Moses had just passed, and God was passing the leadership on to Joshua, and Joshua needed to be encouraged in order to have the courage and confidence he needed for the task at hand.

1. Isaac had just been through a season where his herdsmen and the herdsmen of Gerar were striving over water from wells that were dug. When that season of striving was over, God appeared to him, reassuring him that He was with Isaac and would bless him.  Genesis 26:24: and the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake. When you are going through a hard time, remember God is with you and will bless you as you live for Him and do His Will.
2. God encouraged the nation of Israel in Isaiah 41:8-10: But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. He went on to say that those who had come against Israel would be dealt with. God is bigger than our problems. He will always be with us and lead us to victory.

4. Why do we need encouragement?
5. We need to be encouraged so we are not hardened by sin’s deceitfulness – Hebrews 3:13 – But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Encouragement helps us to constantly improve and endeavor to sin less and less, and live for God.
6. Encouragement helps us overcome trials, and the attacks of the enemy. John 16:33: In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Because Jesus has overcome the world, we can, and we will as we follow Him.
7. Encouragement helps us continue to have victory over the traps, trials and snares of the enemy. Ephesians 6:12: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. When trials come our way, many times they are from the enemy, who is always trying to trip us up, and derail us from God’s Plan, but encouragement helps us to keep on going and serve God, and overcome all of the devil’s attacks.

1. Jesus stressed the importance of loving one another. If we want the world to know we have something they need, we need to love and encourage one another. John 13:34-35: A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Jesus stressed this point time and time again. If the world sees Christians attacking and tearing down other Christians, they won’t want what we have. If they see us encouraging and loving one another, that will draw them.

5. How did Jesus encourage the disciples?
6. He encouraged them and us to come to him, and to give our burdens, our cares, and our sins to Him, and receive the abundant, purpose-filled, and eternal life He offers. Matthew 11:28-30 – Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. He wants you to come to Him, cast all of the baggage you carry at His Feet. He will give you rest. Then, take His Yoke upon you. His Yoke is easy and His Burden is light. Not heavy!
7. He encouraged and taught them to pray, using the pattern found in Matthe 6:9-13 – After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. It is important to note that at this time, the disciples were under the law. In the Age of Grace, we don’t need to recite this, but we can use it as a pattern. The pattern starts with worship, prayer for His Will to be done, prayer for our needs to be met, prayer for forgiveness, protection from evil, then worship again at the end.
8. He encouraged Peter to step out in faith: Matthew 14:29 Matthew 14:28-29: And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. We often remember that Peter took his eyes off Jesus and sank, but also remember that he is the only one that had enough faith to step out to begin with. Do you have faith to step out and be used mightily by God in your calling?

6. How can We Encourage Others?
7. We can encourage others in our conversation: always pointing the other person to Jesus, and having the conversation of Christ. Ephesians 4:29: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. How are your conversations? Are they uplifting, or are they corrupt? Do you sound like the world, or is your conversation different? Is it the same on Sunday as it is throughout the rest of the week? Something to think about.
8. We can encourage others by spending time with them: This includes being in the House of the Lord, and also having regular fellowship. Hebrews 10:25 – Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. We were never meant to live the Christian life on our own. We need to spend time together for prayer, encouragement, and growth in our walk with God.
9. We can encourage others by reminding them of Jesus’ soon return: We are told to comfort or encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 – 6 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. When someone is in the middle of a tough time, you can encourage them by reminding them that Jesus’ Return is fast approaching.

7. How Can You Encourage Yourself?
   1. Encourage yourself by singing songs of praise to the Lord:  Psalm 96:1: O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Put Christian music on or sing to the Lord yourself.

You’ll find as you do, that you will be encouraged and your faith and trust in Him will increase. What kind of music are you listening to? Is it mostly secular, or are you tuned into positive, encouraging worship music that lifts you up and gives you a good, godly prospective?

1. Remember your victories, times when God has helped you. There are many instances of God reminding His People of what He had done for them before as a way of encouragement. Exodus 6:3-5: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them. And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant. At this time, Moses had just come on the scene and God was starting to deal with Pharaoh, who in turn was making life harder for God’s People. God encouraged Moses’s faith by reminding him of what he had done and what he was about to do for His People.
2. You will be encouraged as you see things from God’s viewpoint. Romans 12:2-3: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. The more time you spend in the Word of God and in prayer, the more you will see things as God sees them.
3. Rekindle your passion for a closer walk with God: Revelation 2:4-5: Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Do you have the zeal for God that you had when you were first saved? Maybe you need to rededicate your life to Him. As you walk close to Him, you will find real, lasting encouragement. 

8. Story – The View from the Window.
   1. Two men were seriously ill. They occupied the same room in the hospital. One of them was lying in the bed near the only window in their room.
   2. Every day he was allowed to spend some time sitting up in his bed to help draining the fluid from his lungs. The other man was forced to spend all his days flat on his back.
   3. They talked a lot about their lives, families, jobs, and vacations.
   4. Every time, when the first man was sitting by the window, he described in details all that he saw outside the window.
   5. His roommate always looked for those moments, when his world was broadened and brightened up by the world outside.
   6. Amazing views of a park with a beautiful lake could be seen from the window of their room. Children delightfully played among ducks and swans.
   7. Couples walked arm in arm among colorful flowers. Also the stunning city skyline could be seen.
   8. While the man by the window thoroughly described all that was happening outside the window, his roommate would close his eyes and imagine all the beautiful scenes of life that were told to him.
   9. One night the man, whose bed was near the window, died peacefully during sleep and his roommate was very sad.
   10. After some time, when the nurse came to visit him, he asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse agreed and kindly made the switch.
   11. When she left, the man slowly and painfully propped himself up on one elbow and took the first look at the world outside. He was stunned. The window faced a blank wall.
   12. When the nurse came to visit him the next time, he told her about beautiful things outside the window that his roommate described him.
   13. The nurse replied that his roommate was a blind man. She said: „Probably he just wanted to encourage you.“
   14. If you are walking with God, spending time in the Word and in prayer, you will be encouraged, and see great blessings, even when faced with a blank wall.

9. Conclusion
   1. Are you encouraged today? I want to encourage you with these closing thoughts.
   2. He loves you. He is for you, not against you. When He is for you, no one else can be against you.
   3. You are God’s very own possession, bought and paid for with His shed Blood on the cross.