First Church of God (11-8-26)

It’s a beautiful fall Sunday. The group sings "Happy Birthday" to Brenda Stacy and Waylon, discussing driving privileges and chaotic Florida traffic compared to Europe. They share personal stories about insurance costs and accidents before Dave leads prayers for the offering. The congregation sings hymns like "Little is Much When God Is In It" and "God Is So Good," reflecting on faith and gratitude. Finally, someone shares a difficult prayer request regarding an unexplained trial in their family life. What a beautiful fall Sunday morning. Have we got any announcements? Brenda, any announcements? No. We got a couple of them. We got Brenda Stacy and Waylon. Let's do happy birthday to both of y'all. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, every day of the year, may you feel Jesus near. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, and the best one you've ever had. Now let me... I was just getting ready to ask him now, is he allowed to drive by himself now? Tuesday. All right. Good luck, brother. Has anybody got the phone number we could call? Of course now people my age are getting on the other end of the spectrum, like, is he still driving? Yeah, we're about ready to give it up. Yeah, about ready to give it up. I just went to Tampa, Florida, and I'll tell you what, that's like driving in Bangladesh. It is so crazy down there. Florida's ridiculous anymore, you drive down there. But it made me feel like I was back in Europe and all them cars are doing this number in Turkey. And then I had some lady behind me that backed off and looked at my tag to see where I was from. I guess 'cause I was doing the speed limit. Where's this idiot from? You're a traffic hazard. I'm running... Insurance down there, I know I got relatives down there, and insurance for cars, driving, is outrageous because of the habits they have with driving. And my oldest stepson was rear-ended two weeks ago. And that's the second time it's happened to him. And it's always somebody that has a hard time speaking English. I'm just saying. Dave, would you pray over the offering and the service for us, brother? Try 565. 565. In the heart that's filled down right, there's a word for all who do. Mark the Lord, God is calling to the heart that's called to do. Little is much when God is in it. Labor not for wealth or fame. There's a crown and you can win it if you go in Jesus' name. Does your labor seem so small as it's gone in its strength? God is in it and it's not in its own. Little is much when God is in it. Labor not for wealth or fame. There's a crown and you can win it if you go in Jesus' name. When the trump here is ended and our race on earth is run, He will say if we are faithful, welcome home, child of God. Little is much when God is in it. Labor not for wealth or fame. There's a crown and you can win it if you go in Jesus' name. You want to try 122? E sharp. 122. God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me. He answers prayer, He answers prayer, He answers prayer, He's so good to me. He cares for me, He cares for me, He cares for me, He's so good to me. I love Him so, I love Him so, I love Him so, He's so good to me. God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, He's so good to me. Has He been good to you this week? Yes. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Him. Amen. Who's got a prayer request they want to make? This would be G sharp, I think. G sharp. I don't understand the reason for the trial. Every burden is our family I have brought. I can't find the answer, but God knows. All I know is I can't make it alone. All I know is I can't make it... Lord without you I'll be honest I don't know what's ahead And perhaps it's all a mystery unfolding All I know is I can't make it Lord without you I'm a wanderer And I am lost Not where I'm meant to be And I need direction But if you hold my hand right now That's all that matters All I know is I can't make it Lord without you All I know is I can't make it Lord without you I'll be honest I don't know what's ahead And perhaps it's all a mystery unfolding All I know is I can't make it Lord without you And perhaps it's all a mystery unfolding All I know is I can't make it Lord without you Through the valley of this life I have wandered I've worked for Jesus all along the way But now I see things so much more clearly I have reached the ending of my way Lord I've been faithful in the service you have given And the harvest of the fields Lord I have done But now my steps are growing weary Lord I'm waiting I'm ready to go home Looking back upon the life I've lived for Jesus I can see how he has helped me all the way And the tears I shed just helped to keep me humble And each burden only taught me how to pray Lord I've been faithful in the service you have given And the harvest of the fields Lord I have done But now my steps are growing weary Lord I'm waiting I'm ready to go home How I hate to leave so many friends behind me The parting of our way will touch my heart I'll wait for them inside the gates of heaven Where the children of God will never part Lord I've been faithful in the service you have given And the harvest of the fields Lord I have done But now my steps are growing weary Lord I'm waiting I'm ready to go home Lord I'm waiting I'm ready to go home Jeremy, catch your mom before she gets off stage, brother. Come on. Hey, Steve, let me... I'm so behind, guys. I was standing by my window On one cold and cloudy day When I saw the hearse come rolling For to carry my mother away Will the circle be unbroken By and by, Lord, by and by There's a better home awaiting In the sky, Lord, in the sky I said to the undertaker Undertaker, please drive slow For this body that you are carrying Lord, I hate to see her go Will the circle be unbroken By and by, Lord, by and by There's a better home awaiting In the sky, Lord, in the sky Well, I followed close behind her Tried to hold up and be brave But I could not hide my sorrow When they laid her in her grave Will the circle be unbroken By and by, Lord, by and by There's a better home awaiting In the sky, Lord, in the sky Will the circle be unbroken By and by, Lord, by and by There's a better home awaiting In the sky, Lord, in the sky Well, we sang the songs of childhood Hymns of faith that made us strong Ones that mother and daddy taught us To all the angels sing along. Will the circle be unbroken, By and by, Lord, by and by. There's a better home awaiting In the sky, Lord, in the sky. Well. It's warm up there. Luke? Is there anybody else in the family? Is that true? That's pretty cool, man. Cry holy unto the Lord, Cry holy unto the Lord. Well if I could, I surely would Stand on the rock where Moses stood. What a name, what a stranger name, Oh Lord, I ain't no stranger now. I've been urges to follow in the sun, Oh Lord, I ain't no stranger now. Cry holy unto the Lord, Cry holy unto the Lord. Well if I could, I surely would Stand on the rock where Moses stood. What a name, what a stranger name, Oh Lord, I ain't no stranger now. I've been urges to follow in the sun, Oh Lord, I ain't no stranger now. Cry holy unto the Lord, Cry holy unto the Lord. Well if I could, I surely would Stand on the rock where Moses stood. If I could, I surely would Stand on the rock where Moses stood. Jimmy you got one? But I better use it with her time. Life is easy When you're up on the mountain. And you've got peace of mind Like you've never known. But then things change And you're down in the valley. Oh, don't lose faith, For you're never alone. For the God on the mountain Is still God in the valley. When things go wrong, He'll make them right. For the God of the good times Is still God in the bad times. Oh, the God of the day Is still God in the night. You talk of faith When you're up on the mountain. Oh, but talk comes so easy When life's at its best. But it's down in the valley Of trials and temptation. Oh, that's when our faith Is really put to the test. For the God on the mountain Is still God in the valley. When things go wrong, He'll make them right. For the God of the good times Is still God in the bad times. And the God of the day Is still God in the night. Yes, the God of the day Is still God in the night. This song's been on my mind all night long. I'd feel bad at myself if I didn't try to do it. And I did very well all night long singing it. Now if there's a time for me to mix it up, it'll be now. But I think this song is very appropriate for today. And I think this first, I would change the first line in this song. Not any day, but someday soon. But anyhow, let's do it. Any day, our Lord could say, I've had enough of sin. This world where people mock my name Is coming to an end. My people there are tossed about, Their cries have reached my throne. So son, I'm sending you again, Go bring my children home. Go bring my children home to me. They watch and wait for you. I've seen their tear-filled eyes before, I know what they've been through. I want them here close by my side, No more to be alone. So son, I'm sending you again, Go bring my children home. When His all is gathered from this earth, This homecoming day. For those that are left behind, It'll be too late to pray. So be one of those to praise His name, And child, don't you go wrong. For any day now God could say, Go bring my children home. Yes, someday soon our Lord will say, Go bring my children home. I think it's pretty good. Y'all can blame this one on Brother Mike. Sorry, I about forgot. When my flesh is weak and discouraged about life. And I've convinced myself giving up would be all right. Satan whispers, I'll make you slip forever someday. Oh, it's not that easy, there's a cross standing in my way. And that old cross stands between me and forever. To die in sin is a choice left up to me. That old cross... Stands between me and forever. If I go down, I'll have to pass right by that tree. Sinner, hear the words I'm saying to you now. If sin's plains become your home, I don't see how. Because you'll go there through loved ones' prayers they pray for you. Oh, and not to mention, there's a cross standing in your way. That old cross stands between you and forever. To die in sin is a choice left up to you. That old cross stands between you and forever. If you go down, you'll have to pass right by that tree. If I go down, I'll have to pass right by that tree. Right by that tree. Brother Donnie, pray for Brother Mike. Before I open up my message, I'd like for all the veterans to stand. Thank you for your service, folks. Think of all the people that's given their life in the service for our freedom, and those here and that. We got a lot to be thankful for. We never want to forget that. You know, Donna was saying something, shared something with me the other day, and it was that Satan thought he had Jesus. But on that third day, the stone was rolled away. And Satan, there's a cross that stands in your way. And if anybody goes to hell, it won't be because of Jesus Christ, because he paid the ultimate price. But yeah, we just had an election, and I just encourage everybody, don't get down, look up. Because last I know, Jesus is still on the throne. He said he'd never leave us nor forsake us. I think of the Gaither Vocal Band, and they sang this song that says, sometimes it takes a mountain, sometimes a troubled sea, sometimes it takes a desert to get a hold of me. Your love is so much greater than whatever troubles me. Sometimes it takes a mountain to trust you and believe. You talking about a wake-up call. You talking about a message that we as Christians, we win. But if we ever, ever, ever needed to pray, it's now. I think of our, I mentioned my grandkids and great-grandkids and my family and that. It's only 25 years ago, you remember 9/11? The mayor of New York now, he'll be a senator here before long. But you see what's going on in our country. But Psalms puts it this way before we get into Romans 8:28. The wicked plotteth against the just and gnasheth upon with his teeth. But the Lord shall laugh at him, for he seeth that his day is coming. Now I was thinking of Elijah. You know who Elijah is. He didn't die, he was taken to heaven on a chariot of fire. But Ahab was the king and Jezebel was his wife. But Ahab had just slain the 450 prophets of Baal. And Jezebel wanted him dead, was chasing him. And he got down and he got so discouraged. He told God he wished he could just die. But God had a different message for him. He told him to get up. And if there's ever a time for us to get up, it's now. And you remember he let, now listen to this, the enemy was Baal and all his prophets. He let them scream and cry and cut themselves up to pieces and that. And he just let them go on and on till they hung themselves because he prayed. And you remember it hadn't rained for three and a half years, but he prayed. And he prayed that God would take care of it and God sent fire down from heaven and slew them. And God's just the same now. And we all got loved ones and families that need to be saved. And Jesus is coming. How many times have I shared we're living in Matthew 24? But we need to build us an altar. And we need to be praying to God and pray God will send fire down from heaven. That God will avenge our enemies. We can't do it, but he can. And you know the polls all look like they're against us. But I think all this happened for a reason. And I think, I tell you, I'm not looking down, I'm looking up. And I believe I'm looking for big things. I've been quoting Revelation 18:4, and I heard a voice from heaven saying, come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that's the world, and that ye receive not her plagues. He said come out of her, my people. He didn't say the world, he said come out of my people. And this is a wake-up call for Christians. If there was ever a time that we need to raise up and pray, we got the most powerful weapon on earth and it's called prayer. Come out of her. And I think again of all the veterans that's fought for this country. And I think how they gave it all. And then the veterans are still here and the price you paid. And we are blessed. And I shared just 9/11 was 25 years ago. But Islam, we're talking about Islam. We're talking about Mohammed, their god. But that was a, they don't need no planes no more. They're not coming, they're here. And we need to equip ourselves. If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves, seek my face, turn from their wicked ways, that means support me. We were put here for a purpose and that was to support Jesus Christ and to lift him up. That's what's so important there. And what's going on today, God's still in charge. That's so important. Psalms 9:17 says the wicked shall be turned into hell. Now, I don't understand a lot of things. I don't question God because I know he knows what he's doing. He's got it all under control. We win. As Christians, you can't lose there. And he said come out of her, my people, that ye receive not of her plagues, the plagues of the world. And I think what just happened to our country is an abomination. But I don't think it's over. Don't be discouraged. He's still in charge. God's got a plan. And that's what we're going to be talking about today. Romans 8:28. But Steve was sharing a story with me, I guess just Tuesday. He was down here at the post office, church got a post office box there. He seen a guy laying on the ground over there by his vehicle. I guess Steve drove over there, walked over, but he thought the guy needed help. And this guy was on a rug and he was praying. So that's why I'm trying to tell you, we're being surrounded. Revelation said that when the The campus of the saints are surrounded, but listen, we're being surrounded, but we still, we got Jesus, and we win. And Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things," how many things? All things work for the good to them who are called according to His purpose. We all got a purpose. God knows the very hairs on our... I love that scripture. I don't understand what, but I know one thing, all things, that don't, we was just talking about in the Sunday school lesson, all things, all things work for the good. Now that don't mean you're not going to get sick or have a tragedy or something, but it's all going to work out for the good if we serve His purpose, who are called according to His purpose. I always loved Cousin Del's favorite passage was Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Aren't you glad that you're saved? And if you're not, mercy's here. The very fact that you're still here, no one has to be, no one has to worry. Take no thought of tomorrow. You know what worry is? That's depression. Worry is of the devil. He said, put your trust and faith in Me and everything that you want. Does anybody here remember the 60s? Someone said if you do, you weren't there. That was an error. That was something there. But I remember some crazy times. Crazy. There were tumultuous times. Our nation was so, it was in an uproar. Revolution, taking over the government, everything. It's just a different, same devil, but the same things going on there. But I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis. Does somebody remember that? We was carrying gallons of water, water bottles, and they were teaching us how to get under our desk, like that was going to knock off the nuclear war, I guess. But that's how crazy. But I remember that time there. I remember them teaching us all that. That was Flintstone, I mean, that was the rock ages. And yet, but there were tumultuous times there. And I remember, you remember Greg Laurie that played in the Jesus Revolution? He was the cadet in that movie. And he describes the 60s. And his description of the 60s is the same 60s I was in. And he pointed to the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy and John Kennedy, and it just goes on and on, the trauma of all the young men coming back from Vietnam. They were treated like dogs. They just were nothing. Were nothing. It was like it was their fault. And you see everything going on now. Remember Washington and how, well, I remember over the intercom it come over that John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I believe our own country had him assassinated. That's my view. But the things, but I was in the class, my senior year was in '68. And we didn't have a, everybody their senior year would go to Washington, but we didn't even have one because there was so much turmoil. Martin Luther King Jr. got killed. And so this nation was split and all rioting and all this stuff going on. And I worked at Chevrolet in Norwood right out of school, but the riots, I remember all that. I remember my dad, he worked at Fairfax at Ford then, but going through Madisonville and they surrounded his car. They were shaking his car and just all the turmoil. I remember that. And the days and the times, and Greg Laurie put it this way. He said it were psychedelic times. He said the optimism, he said it was the hippie movement, you know, Woodstock and all that right there, and all the experimentation of drugs and everything, and free love, Woodstock, everything going on, the division, the crime in the streets, the riots, and the deep racial division, all the things he described that. And you see our country. You remember the Beatles? Anybody remember the Beatles? You remember old John Lennon? He wrote and sang, "Imagine there's no heaven." I don't know where he's at right now, but he knows, he knows if there was or ain't. That's for sure. Someone shot him right in the head, right out of his apartment in New York. And let peace, and give peace a chance. That was one of their big songs there. And saying, "All we are saying is give peace a chance." You remember that? "All we are saying is give peace a chance." Everybody's talking about revolution, evolution, flagellation, regulation, integration, meditation, the United Nations, congratulation. All we say is give peace a chance. Now that's '69. And that's everything. Imagine there's no heaven. Could you imagine saying something like that? Imagine there's no heaven. I know there's a heaven because Jesus told me, "In my Father's house there are many mansions." Where's God's, where's His house? It's heaven. And we look up into the heavens, we look up to the stars and the moon and that, but we're talking about a heaven past Pluto. We're talking about a heaven that where there's no sin. We're talking about a heaven where there's nothing but peace. I remember the Beatles when they came over here. You remember the Ed Sullivan Show and they made their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show? Now that's some history there. But he goes on and he shares all this, Greg Laurie did, and he said his personal journey. He said as a teenager in Southern California, he raised up in a single home, but he lose, he not lose, but he lived through all this culture there. And he was attracted to drugs. He was attracted to alcohol. And he was attracted to LSD or acid. And he said he looked in the mirror and he seen himself melting. And he knew right then, he something got a hold of him right then because he thought he was dying. And something got a hold of him. He was hallucinating. I remember all that, and several of you here do too. But I remember going through all that. But something happened. Something happened through all that. And I think of Bobby's dad, Don and Steve's dad. I think of how they prayed for us. They prayed that they would leave this country better than they got it. And I thank God. And that's what, that's what, and through all of that, I've been through all the drugs, but through all that, you know what He brought out? The Jesus Revolution. And that's because people prayed. People sought God's face. And through all that, the Jesus Revolution. How many people do you think Greg Laurie is preaching to? How many people do you think come to the Lord through him? Chuck Smith, how many people? He was played by Kelsey Grammer, but how many people? How many people? Because we prayed. And if our nation ever needed prayer, it's now. You talking about in a crisis. And I always, we're living Matthew 24, and I quote all time, I quote, put your faith in Jesus. We don't know the hour or time, but be ready, for in such an hour as you think not, and He's coming. This world couldn't be much longer. And you know, Jesus on that third glorious day, you know, a thousand years with the Lord is a day and a day is a thousand years, but on that third day, that'd be like three thousand years, on that third day, the stone was rolled away. And whosoever will, let him come. If you haven't made that decision, the call is going out. Be ready. And I'm just sharing with you. It was through the 90s or the 60s that this Jesus Revolution came and it turned the world around. And our world was on fire. And we need another Jesus Revolution because we got family and loved ones that aren't saved. We got plenty empty pews here that need to be with our family and friends. We need and the only way we're going to get is get them is praying and praying them to Jesus Christ from chaos the revolution for Jesus Christ the emptiness of everything going. You know what our generation in the sixties we were searching for something. And look at our generation now. They don't know if they're cats and dogs. It's Halloween. I tell you Halloween's probably the most normal day there is anymore. You got I mean I it's and they're lost. They're crazy. They're being deceived and Satan has got them and that's his whole whole mission there. But the emptiness and he states that the same time that he raised we've got that opportunity. And he went and he said he got saved through all that and Jonathan Romy played him but but he said all that to say this. Jesus Christ is our only answer. This world is Satan's territory. Again he called us all things work for the good to them who are the called according to his purpose. He called us for a reason and that's to go through the earth and tell people about Jesus Christ. The greatest decision you can make in life is the one for Jesus Christ. I I can remember when I got here. I got saved here in 1984 but before then I mean I had hair all down my back. I I was full of drugs and drinking but previously and I wasn't fit to be blowed up. But I can remember the people here loved me. They cared. They didn't condemn me but they prayed for me. Lord I I've been preaching what 32 years but I come out of the sixties. Greg Laurie come out of the sixties. How many come out and what God did. He had a he he he he gave us a message. There is a better way. There's a better hope and through Jesus Christ. Matthew says love your enemies bless them curse that curse you do good to them that hate you pray for them despite despitefully use you. Jesus if he did it in the sixties he can do it now. And he's given everybody a chance. For whosoever will. It's his will that no one should perish but that all should come to repentance. Hell wasn't made for you. Did you know that? Hell wasn't made for you it's made for the devil and his angels. Hell is made for them who love for them who reject Christ. But for them who accept Christ you got so much coming. Eyes have not seen nor ears have heard says neither has it entered into the heart of man what the Lord has in store for them who love him. That song what a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see when I take him by the take him by the hand. Can you imagine that? All things work for the good. Enter in thou good and faithful servant. Just because you've been faithful over a few things. Boy that's what I want to hear. I don't want to hear depart from me for I never knew you. I want to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. I don't want nobody going to hell. I want us to accept Jesus Christ and serve him. It's the greatest decision you can make. Lord it's only by the grace of God. The grace of God that I'm here and all of us has got a story and it's only by his grace and you're here for a purpose. All things work for the good to them who love him who are called according to his purpose. And Greg what that Chuck Smith that Chuck he he was the preacher that was Kelsey Grammer in the Jesus Revolution movie but he said he said do you think that we'll ever see another Jesus Revolution? And his answer that's Chuck's answer he said I don't know because people aren't hungry enough. Now listen to that. How bad do you want to see your families and loved ones? How bad do you want to go to heaven? I think we need to be desperate for prayer for our families and friends that God will send another revolution there. I don't want to see my loved ones go to hell do you? Because that's there's no there's only heaven or hell. There's only two masters it's either Jesus or the devil. Again you can't serve both of them because you got to disobey one to obey the other. And I want to serve Jesus Christ don't you? We know that all things work for the good and he's called he's called you. He said whosoever will let him come. We're going to have an invitation. I don't know everybody's situation and your condition with Jesus but this is the day that he has made. He said today is the day of salvation. Harden not your heart. As the singers will come ahead. It was from chaos to Jesus revolution. Give peace a chance. All you got to do is just read down a few verses from 8:28 and it talks about there's nothing will separate you from the love of God. No hardship persecution or death. Nothing. I want to cite Elijah. Said the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. He prayed and it didn't rain for three and a half years and he prayed and then it rained. Now that's the power we got. Same God here right now. And he says come as you are. The greatest invitation ever given. This is serious now. This is serious. The decision you make is a decision you'll be in eternity with. You know faith cometh by hearing hearing by the word of God. You heard the word of God that's where your faith comes. 450. Jesus keep me near the cross. There a precious fountain free to all a healing stream flows from Calvary's mountain. In the cross in the cross be my glory ever till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river. You know we was talking about Elijah he didn't die he went home on chariot of fire and there was another guy his name was Enoch and he didn't die he was just translated he was walking with God one day and God took him home. But before he took him home he had this testimony Enoch did. His testimony was that he pleased God. And the greatest way you can please God is to love him. Is to give your life to him. That's what's so important there. We need you know the old song oh how I wish it would rain. We need a rain okay we need a spiritual rain in this country. We got schools full that they've indoctrinated our nation and they don't know where they're going they don't know what they're searching for something. And who he is what they're searching for is Jesus Christ. And they they don't know how to get there. And the only way we we got to get in there, we got to be praying. We got to be praying fervently that there'll be an awakening, that they'll come out of this fog they're in. Oh, how I love Jesus. At the cross I stood one day, Love and mercy found me. There the bright and morning star Shed its beams around me. In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever, Till my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond the river. The scripture says that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. There's the confession. If you confess and believe in your heart that Jesus will do you, he said you can be saved. He said if you'll confess me before men, I'll confess you before my Father. There it is, it's all about confession. With your mouth and it goes down through your heart. For with the heart man believeth. We're going to sing one another verse and if you're not sure, today's your day. Today's the day of salvation. Tomorrow may never be here. Are you ready today? Near the cross I saw a stream, Flowing from Calvary. It was blood, so rich and pure, Cleansing power there. In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever, Till my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond the river. Amen. Oh, Satan's jumping up and down right now. He thinks he's got it going. But he's a loser. Don't, don't look down, look up. When you see these things, all these things happen, the scripture says, look up, for thy redemption draweth nigh. We win. It ain't over. It's not over. So hold on there and pray like you never prayed before. Amen. Brother Wesley, would you pray? Would you close us?