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Rev. Dewayne Presson Preached on 7/12/2026
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Summary
Rev. Dewayne Presson explores the history of God's voice from Eden to the present, urging believers to distinguish the Shepherd's call from the chaotic noise of modern culture. He emphasizes that while the world offers many distractions, true freedom and purpose are found only in personal communion with Jesus Christ.
Key points
- •God identifies His people by their ability to recognize and respond to His voice above the noise of the world.
- •Every sin begins when an alternative voice (culture, fear, or self) becomes more believable to us than God's Word.
- •Jesus frequently had to retrain His disciples to listen to the Kingdom perspective rather than their own feelings of inadequacy, pride, or revenge.
- •The Holy Spirit was sent as a Comforter to ensure we never have to be out of communion with God again.
- •Greater things are in store for the church, but they require a people prepared by listening and obedience.
Scripture
Faith
Holy Spirit
Discipleship
Spiritual Growth
Purpose
Life application
This week, identify the 'loudest' voice in your life-whether it is the news, social media, or personal anxiety-and intentionally quiet it to make room for reading Scripture and listening for the 'still small voice' of the Holy Spirit.
Reflection questions
- Which 'competing voice' has been shaping your thinking or causing you the most confusion lately?
- In what ways are you like Moses or Elijah, hiding in a 'cave' of doubt or past mistakes instead of listening to God's current calling?
- How can you shift from simply having 'knowledge' about God (like the Pharisees) to truly 'knowing' the heart and voice of Jesus?
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Full transcript
0:00>> There is freedom.
0:00Jesus reigns. Jesus reign in [music]
0:02this place.
0:07>> Showers of mercy [music and singing]
0:09and grace
0:12>> falling on every face
0:14>> falling on every
0:22>> Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
0:26Oh hallelujah. Let's just take a moment.
0:28Let's just entertain the presence of the
0:30Lord right now in this place.
0:32Hallelujah. There's a presence of the
0:34Lord in this place. I feel freedom in
0:37the house of the Lord this morning.
0:41I said, I feel freedom in the house of
0:44the Lord this morning.
0:47Hallelujah.
0:50The Lord spoke to my heart as I was
0:52coming up here and said to tell them
0:55some of you the chains have been broken.
0:59But you're still bound by your mind.
1:03I said the chains have been broken
1:05because whom the son has set free is
1:07free indeed. But the enemy has lied to
1:11you too long and told you you still
1:14belong to him. THAT YOU'RE STILL BOUND
1:17by the vices of life. Uh that he has
1:20control. But I'm here to remind you this
1:22morning by the spirit of the Lord that
1:24you are set free. And there is freedom
1:27IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. UH if you
1:30need deliverance, you can find it in the
1:32presence of the Lord this morning. Uh if
1:35it's in body, mind, or spirit,
1:38he's able to set you free. Oh, if you
1:41believe that, worship him this morning.
1:47Hallelujah.
1:49Hallelujah.
1:52Oh, I feel the presence of the Lord in
1:54this place right now. Thank you, Jesus.
1:58Can we just worship him a little bit
2:00more? Come on, let's just thank you,
2:01Jesus. Thank you for freedom. Thank you,
2:04Lord, for your touch. Thank you for
2:06salvation. Thank you for the cross, for
2:09the resurrection, for the birth of your
2:12spirit into our lives today. Oh, thank
2:16you, Jesus, that you are with us this
2:18morning.
2:19Hallelujah. You're in this place this
2:21morning and your will be done.
2:24Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
2:26[snorts] Freedom in the house of the
2:29Lord.
2:30Could we give the Lord a hand praise
2:32this morning? Just
2:35hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
2:44We are so blessed to be in the wonderful
2:46house of the Lord in this wonderful
2:48church.
2:49that is irrevocably
2:52intertwined
2:54in the fabric of my life and that most
2:57of you know I was raised here as a young
2:59child.
3:03[snorts]
3:05I stand on the shoulders
3:07of men and women
3:09who serve the Lord.
3:14Brother Roick, I can remember you
3:16teaching me in fifth or six six year old
3:18class
3:20downstairs in the Sunday school room.
3:23I can remember the saints of God who
3:27were mentors and examples to me in my
3:30life and I'm thankful for that. But I
3:32want to tell you there are greater
3:34things in store for New Life St. Louis
3:36than you've ever seen before.
3:40I said there are greater things in
3:42store.
3:46Hallelujah. God has been speaking to my
3:48heart for the last year and a half about
3:50things and I don't even know why he
3:52gives me some things because they just
3:54boil there and kind of get me
3:56frustrated. But he's trying to stir the
3:59body of Christ up.
4:02The latter reign will be greater than
4:05the former.
4:07>> And we will do things by the hand of the
4:09Lord. Not because we're anybody or we're
4:11special, but because he's special.
4:14Somebody told me a long time ago, the
4:16glory is not in the faucet. The glory is
4:18not in the bottle, but it's the water
4:20inside of the bottle that I give thanks
4:23for. And it's the spirit of the Lord
4:26that's doing the work and that's going
4:27to continue to do the work. and greater
4:29things shall be done at New Life St.
4:33Louis. But the spirit of the Lord is
4:36trying to get the attention of his
4:39children
4:41to get our mind off of the things of
4:44this world and our lives and remind us
4:49he has a plan.
4:51He is in control.
4:54He does have all power in heaven and
4:56earth
4:57>> and his will will be done.
5:01>> You can count on it. I want to say I'm
5:04thankful to be in the house of the Lord.
5:05Thankful to be part of this wonderful
5:07church. There wouldn't be a Pentecostals
5:11of Warrington Church in Warrington,
5:13Missouri if it wasn't because of this
5:14church that supported a young minister
5:17and his wife and children to start a
5:20daughter work there. And I was thankful
5:22a couple weeks ago they baptized 16
5:24people on a Sunday. I was thankful for
5:26that.
5:33But New Life has always
5:35been a church of vision and missions and
5:39reaching the lost and the hurting and
5:41the wounded. But God is blessing you for
5:44that and he's going to continue to bless
5:46you for that.
5:48And so I'm privileged here this morning
5:50to and humbled and honored that Pastor
5:53Bachelor would allow me to share from
5:56the pullpit what God has given me some
5:58time back. And it's one of those things
6:01that I pray, Lord, help me to
6:04glean it out and pick out the things
6:07that need to be there and the things
6:08that don't. Help me to stay in the vein
6:10of the spirit this morning. And I thank
6:13him for doing that.
6:15He might have had a a a wife there that
6:17was twisting his arm a little bit too. I
6:19don't know. But
6:21but I do uh honor our pastor today and
6:24thank him for his love for God, his
6:28family, and this church. Amen. And I'm
6:31so thankful for that.
6:34I want to share with you today a few
6:36passages of scripture and opening uh and
6:39with God's help today
6:41I hope to just convey to you and bring
6:44to you
6:45what I reveal in my spirit that God is
6:49trying to talk to the body of Christ
6:54because there's some things that he
6:56wants to do but he can't do it until
6:59we're prepared
7:01just like before Before he came on this
7:04earth in his earthly ministry, there was
7:06some preparation that had to be taken
7:08place and there was some preparation
7:09that continued to take place. There are
7:12some things in the spirit. He says, "I
7:13I'm I'm ready to do it,
7:16but let's work on these things with the
7:18help of God." I want to go to Genesis
7:21chapter 3 and verse 8
7:23and just read
7:26a few verses of scripture.
7:29And I if I don't know if I gave you the
7:32right translation, doesn't matter, but
7:33I'm going to read. And they heard the
7:36sound of the Lord God walking in the
7:37garden in the cool
7:40of the day.
7:42Then the Lord God called Adam and said
7:44to him, "Where are you?"
7:47Would you turn to somebody this morning
7:49and say, "Where are you?"
7:52Where are you? The first question God
7:55asks in scripture is not because he lost
7:57Adam.
7:59God knew where he was. He knows all
8:02things.
8:04But it was because ADAM HAD LOST
8:06FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.
8:09IN other words, GOD WAS SAYING, "WHY DID
8:11YOU LEAVE ME?"
8:15The first voice heard after
8:18sin entered the world was not
8:20condemnation.
8:22It was a loving voice of a father who
8:24was pursuing his child.
8:27I'm going to find you. You can't get
8:29away from me. I'm thankful this morning.
8:31He's still searching. I said, I'm
8:33thankful this morning. He's still
8:35searching for that one lost sheep.
8:37Hallelujah. The wounded, the hurting.
8:41That's the kind of God he is. Matthew 3
8:44verse one, the voice of one crying in
8:46the wilderness,
8:48prepare the way of the Lord,
8:51make his path straight.
8:55After 400 years of prophetic silence, a
8:57voice was heard again. Not pointing to
9:00itself,
9:02but pointing everyone to Jesus.
9:05The spirit of the Lord is trying to
9:07point us to him again above all the
9:09noise and all the chaos. Look to Jesus.
9:13[snorts]
9:14John chapter 10, Jesus said, "My sheep
9:18hear my voice and I know them and they
9:22follow [snorts] me."
9:24You see Jesus identifies his people by
9:27one distinguishing mark. They know his
9:31voice.
9:33I said they know his voice. That's what
9:35he desires.
9:38Final scriptures. Revelations 2:7.
9:41He who has an ear, let him hear what the
9:45spirit says to the churches.
9:47The last invitation of scripture is
9:51still one word. Listen.
9:55Say it with me. Listen.
9:59Could we pray? Dear God, I thank you
10:01this day for your presence. God, I'm
10:03humbled in your presence. Thankful for
10:06your mercy. Thankful for your grace,
10:08your goodness, your word, your spirit.
10:11And Lord, I pray today that you'd help
10:13this lump of clay, God, to bring your
10:16word, not my design, my plan, but your
10:19word. And that the hearts would hear it
10:21and receive it and the seed would be
10:23planted and grow thereby by the spirit
10:26of the Lord. And we'll thank you for it
10:28in the wonderful name of Jesus. The
10:31church said, "Amen."
10:33>> You may be seated.
10:37>> [snorts]
10:38>> Every day we are surrounded by voices.
10:43News, politics, social media,
10:47entertainment venues, culture,
10:50religions friends.
10:53Voices that speak to our minds and our
10:56hearts. Even our own thoughts are there
11:00to speak to us. Sometimes when we don't
11:02even want it to speak to us, our inner
11:05man speaks to our heart and our lives
11:08about things and tries to get us to
11:11focus on many areas of our life as we
11:15hear the many voices. Every voice is
11:18trying to shape how we think. And the
11:21question this morning has never been, is
11:23God speaking? Because he is always
11:26speaking and searching for his sheep.
11:30THE QUESTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN whose voice
11:33are we listening to? Whose voice has
11:37been shaping our lives? That is the
11:40question for us today. Because every
11:43decision we make, every belief we have,
11:46every priority we have in our life,
11:49every action that we TAKE BEGINS WITH
11:52THE voice we choose to listen to and the
11:55voice we choose to follow. I am here
11:58this morning to remind you, to encourage
12:01you, to exhort you to follow after the
12:04voice of Jesus Christ in this world that
12:07we lead. HE WILL NEVER LEAD YOU ASTRAY.
12:11HE WILL NEVER LEAD YOU WRONG. HE WILL BE
12:13THERE. HE IS A FRIEND THAT'S STICKER
12:16CLOSER THAN A BROTHER. HE HAS A WORD OF
12:18ENCOURAGEMENT. HE HAS A WORD OF
12:20EXHORTATION. UH HE HAS A WORD OF
12:22CORRECTION. BUT EVERY KNEE IN THE
12:24SPIRIT, THE VOICE OF the Lord will speak
12:27to you if you'll let him.
12:30In the beginning, there was one voice.
12:33In that garden, perfect place that God
12:36had made before sin. There was perfect
12:38fellowship with God. God didn't simply
12:42create Adam and Eve. He communed with
12:46him. He walked and talked with them, if
12:49you will. The Bible says they heard the
12:51sound of the Lord God walking in the
12:54garden. But then along comes another
12:57voice in that wonderful environment in
13:00that perfect relationship. The serpent
13:03began didn't didn't the serpent didn't
13:06begin with open rebellion. He simply
13:10questioned God's word. Has God indeed
13:14said that? Is that exactly what God
13:17meant? The first battle in mankind's
13:20history was a battle over which voice
13:23would be believed. I'm here to tell you
13:26today that battle is still raging in our
13:29hearts, in our minds. The voice that's
13:31trying to say, "Listen to me." And the
13:34voice of God THAT'S SAYING, "HERE AM I.
13:36HEAR ME AND FOLLOW AFTER ME."
13:40>> Every sin begins when another voice
13:44becomes more believable than God.
13:48Let me say that again. Every sin begins
13:52when another voice becomes more
13:54believable than God. Eve, that's not
13:58what God meant. That's not what he
14:01intended. And so, she began to believe
14:04that voice and it led her away from a
14:07relationship with God. But let me tell
14:10you this morning, the voice of God never
14:13stopped calling.
14:14Oh, I'm thankful this morning that he
14:16never stopped calling. He'll call you in
14:18the middle of the night. He'll call you
14:20when you're worried about your children.
14:22He'll call you when you're worried about
14:23your grandchildren. He'll call He'll
14:25talk to you AND CALL YOU WHEN YOU'RE
14:27WONDERING about your finances or what's
14:29going to happen tomorrow IN THE NEWS. UH
14:32GOD SAID, "I'LL TALK TO YOU. I'LL HELP
14:35YOU. I'LL STRENGTHEN YOU. I'LL GUIDE
14:37YOU. I'LL BE THE PEACE that you need if
14:41you need it."
14:43Hebrews Paul Paul said God who at
14:45sunundry times and in various ways spoke
14:47in times past to the fathers by the
14:50prophets. And although mankind lost
14:53communion with God, God never stopped
14:56pursuing mankind.
14:58And he said, "Well, if I can't be there
15:01with him, I'll send men that will speak
15:04to them." And so he raised up voices to
15:07preserve his covenant and point people
15:10people back to himself. I'll just touch
15:13a few of them. Noah, a voice of
15:15salvation before judgment. The earth was
15:18filled with corruption and sin. And God
15:21spoke to a man and said, "Make yourself
15:24an ark." Noah became God's voice to a
15:27generation that refused to listen. God
15:31is still looking for some Noah's that
15:33will be the voice to the world that
15:35needs to understand that there is a
15:37savior that wants to save their soul.
15:40There is a savior that wants to heal
15:42their heart. There is A SAVIOR THAT
15:44WANTS to mend a broken heart.
15:48Abraham, a voice calling a people into a
15:50covenant. God interrupted Abram's
15:53ordinary life and he spoke. He said,
15:55"Get out of your country. Get out of
15:58that familiar zone in your life to a
16:00land that I will show you." And I submit
16:03this morning that's what the Lord God is
16:05trying to do to his church today. I'm
16:08trying to get you like an eagle desert
16:10eagllets to stir them in the nest. Get
16:13out of your comfort zone. GET OUT OF
16:15THAT PLACE YOU'VE BEEN FOR YEARS BECAUSE
16:18I WANT TO TAKE YOU TO A LAND OF PROMISE.
16:20I WANT TO TAKE YOU TO A LAND OF VICTORY.
16:22I WANT TO TAKE YOU TO A LAND THAT FLOWS
16:25WITH MILK AND HONEY. I WANT TO DO
16:26SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE. I'M CALLING TO
16:29YOU CHURCH.
16:31Everything that became Israel
16:34began with one man responding to the one
16:38voice of God. [snorts] Moses
16:42running from the mistake. We do that,
16:45don't we? Sometimes running from his
16:47mistake, [snorts] running from his past
16:51to the wilderness. But God had something
16:53to say to Moses. A burning bush that
16:57would not consume. You know the story. A
17:00holy God speaks. Moses,
17:03MOSES,
17:05HERE I AM. YOU THINK YOU'RE ALONE. You
17:08think it's all over. You think you're
17:11GOING TO JUST BE HAPPY BEING A SHEPHERD
17:12ON THE BACK SIDE OF A WILDERNESS
17:14SOMEWHERE BECAUSE YOU FAILED AND YOU'RE
17:16NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND YOU MADE THE
17:18ULTIMATE MISTAKE. BUT I'M HERE TO TELL
17:20YOU, MOSES, TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES BECAUSE
17:23YOU'RE STANDING ON HOLY GROUND. AND I'M
17:26NOT DONE WITH YOU YET. IT'S NOT OVER,
17:29MOSES. I WANT TO TELL SOMEBODY THIS
17:31MORNING, IT'S NOT OVER FOR YOU YET.
17:33HALLELUJAH. YOU CAN HIDE IF YOU WANT TO,
17:35BUT YOU CAN'T HIDE. YOU CAN RUN, BUT you
17:37can't hide. Hallelujah. You could feel
17:39like you're useless and you're soaking
17:42somewhere, BUT GOD HASN'T FORGOT YOU.
17:48>> He'll speak to you if he'll let you.
17:52Samuel,
17:54a time of spiritual silence.
17:57a young lad.
17:59[snorts] The word of the Lord was rare
18:01in those days, the Bible says in 1
18:02Samuel. But Samuel [snorts] heard his
18:06name called.
18:08Who is that? And finally the prophet and
18:11began to tell him, "Hey, when you go
18:14back this time, say speak Lord for your
18:17servant hearth."
18:20Some of you been listening to so much
18:22chaos in the world, so much noise in the
18:25world, and God is trying to break
18:28through, and you're wondering why you
18:30can't sleep at night. You're wondering
18:31why you can't think straight. You're
18:33wondering why your mind is confused.
18:35It's because you're listening to
18:37everything else but your maker. And he's
18:39saying, "Hold on a minute. SAMUEL,
18:41[screaming]
18:43>> I'm calling you." Amen. Young person,
18:46he's calling you today. Hallelujah. Mom
18:48and dad, he's calling you today. Aunt
18:50and uncle, HE'S CALLING YOU TODAY.
18:52GRANDMA AND GRANDPA, HE'S CALLING YOU
18:54TODAY.
18:56I've got a plan for your life.
18:59And he said, "Speak, Lord, your servant
19:01hears." God was restoring [snorts] his
19:03voice to a nation that had grown
19:06spiritually dull.
19:08They weren't sinful, but dull in their
19:11spirit. Elijah, a voice that learned to
19:14listen. [snorts] God was not in the
19:16wind. In first kings,
19:19he was not in the earthquake or the
19:21fire. But what was he in? He was in the
19:24small still voice.
19:27I'm thankful today. Amen. That when I am
19:30hurting, Amen. perhaps because of the
19:33loss of a loved one or maybe a a
19:36terrible incident in my life that I can
19:39find a place to kneel and to pray and I
19:42don't hear any thunder. Hallelujah. I
19:45might not see any lightning, but I can
19:47hear the spirit of the voice of the Lord
19:49speak to my heart and say, "It's going
19:51to be all right. I'm with you. Come on.
19:53Let's work through this together. Let's
19:55make it together. I'm not finished yet."
19:58And the prophet was learning that.
20:01[snorts]
20:02Jeremiah, a voice called before birth.
20:05Amazing Jeremiah. He felt he was too
20:08young. You look at the scripture in
20:09Jeremiah chapter 1. I'm too young. I'm
20:13too inexperienced. But I but God
20:15answered. He said, "Listen, Jeremiah,
20:19before I formed you, I knew you.
20:23[laughter]
20:24Before you were even formed in your
20:25mother's womb, I had plans for you." I'M
20:28TELLING SOMEBODY TODAY, DON'T YOU CUT
20:30GOD SHORT IN YOUR LIFE. DON'T YOU LET
20:32THE ENEMY CONVINCE YOU THAT YOU CAN'T DO
20:34IT, THAT YOU'RE NOT CALLED, THAT YOU
20:37HAVE NO PURPOSE. GOD IS TELLING YOU,
20:39"BEFORE YOU WERE BORN, [screaming] I
20:42KNEW YOU.
20:44I'm not done with you. Listen to the
20:47voice of the one.
20:50And so it continued generation after
20:53generation, different men, different
20:56circumstances, but the same voice. Each
21:00prophet pointed toward a day when God
21:02would no longer simply speak through a
21:04prophet, but he would speak himself
21:08through the person of Jesus Christ.
21:11>> [snorts]
21:11>> One voice prepared the way through the
21:14ministry of John the Baptist. The
21:16silence of 400 years had ended. God
21:19spoke [snorts] again and it says, "The
21:21word of God came to John." John never
21:24claimed to be the light. He never
21:27claimed to be the Messiah. He only said,
21:30"I am the voice of one crying in the
21:33wilderness." His message never changed.
21:37Repent and prepare the way of the Lord.
21:43It's a message that resonates today in
21:46the spirit of GOD TO A LOST WORLD THAT
21:49SAYS, "REPENT AND PREPARE THE WAY OF THE
21:52LORD." JUST AS JOHN THE BAPTIST preached
21:55a message of preparation, THE SPIRIT OF
21:57THE LORD IS TRYING TO PREACH A MESSAGE
22:00OF PREPARATION. REPENT. PREPARE YOUR
22:03HEART FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD IS
22:05[screaming] NIGH. AND I'M READY TO DO A
22:07GREAT WORK. I'M READY TO DO A POWERFUL
22:10DEMONSTRATION OF MY SPIRIT.
22:13But seek me, find me, and follow me.
22:17Hallelujah. [snorts]
22:19Sometimes we need reassurance. Anybody
22:21ever need reassurance in your life? Come
22:24on, you might as well be honest. I'm not
22:25afraid to say it.
22:28In an uncertain world, we need that. In
22:31Luke 7, John had faithfully preached the
22:35message, repent, prepare the way of the
22:36Lord for your hearts. John had baptized
22:40Jesus. What amazing event.
22:45He heard the father's voice from heaven.
22:47He watched the spirit descend upon
22:49Jesus. And no one had greater
22:51confirmation that Jesus was the one.
22:57But in spite of that,
22:59isn't it funny how our minds, this
23:02carnal mind, the Bible said, this this
23:04carnal mind is immity with God. It
23:07cannot be subject to the law of God. He
23:09cannot work in harmony with God. So
23:11that's why we have to bring the body and
23:12the mind under subjection and give it to
23:14the Lord because even in spite of all of
23:17that happening in his life, John now sat
23:19alone in prison.
23:21Days became weeks, weeks became months.
23:25Rome was still ruling. Chaos was all
23:29around. Hear me this morning. Herod was
23:32still reigning. And the world was unjust
23:35and unfair. Does it sound familiar
23:37today?
23:39John remained firmly imprisoned in a
23:43terrible place. A terrible place in his
23:44life. Nothing was unfolding like he
23:47thought it would. Questions abounded in
23:49his heart and mind. So John sent his
23:52disciples and he asked Jesus, "Are you
23:55the coming one or do we look for
23:58another?" In other words, are you the
24:02one? I just need to know. I'm going
24:05through so much right now. I just need
24:07to know, are you really the one? I'm
24:11here to tell somebody today, maybe
24:12you're struggling under the weight of
24:14life. You're struggling under the weight
24:16of circumstances. You know it about
24:19Jesus. You have a relationship with
24:21Jesus. Maybe you've been born of the
24:23water and the spirit in your
24:24relationship with Jesus. You know he's
24:26real. But like John, you're in a place
24:28and you're saying, "Lord, are you the
24:31one?" Jesus didn't say, "Hey, yes, I'm
24:34the one." [laughter] He didn't make some
24:36long statement about it. He said, "Just
24:38go tell John what you see.
24:41Go tell what is happening around in this
24:45world now."
24:47He simply says, "Go and tell John the
24:49things which you hear and see. The blind
24:52receive their sight. The lame walk. The
24:56lepers are cleed. The deaf hear. The
24:57deaf are raised. The poor have the
24:59gospel preached to them." Then Jesus
25:01concluded.
25:03Blessed is he who is not offended
25:05because of me. Another translation
25:08states it this way. How happy are those
25:10who have no doubts about me.
25:13Oh, come on. We all wrestle WITH IT. THE
25:16DISCIPLES WRESTLED WITH IT WHEN THEY
25:18SAID, "LORD, we believe, but help thou
25:21my unbelief."
25:23I know in my HEART OF HEART, BUT
25:25EVERYTHING AROUND ME IS MAKING ME DOUBT
25:28WHAT I KNOW IN MY HEART. BUT I'M HERE
25:30THIS MORNING TO ELEVATE THE VOICE OF THE
25:33LORD AND LET HIM SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOUR
25:35CIRCUMSTANCE, TO SPEAK LOUDER THAN THE
25:38VOICES THAT ARE COMING INTO YOUR LIFE
25:40AND REMIND YOU that he is near.
25:44>> Hallelujah.
25:45Sometimes faith isn't believing
25:47something new.
25:50Sometimes faith is remembering what God
25:53has already spoken.
25:56>> I said it's not learning something new.
25:58Lord, if you just show me this, I'll
25:59believe. If you let this happen, I I'll
26:02believe. But sometimes it's just
26:05remembering, hey, he's already spoken
26:07that.
26:08>> I said he's already spoken that. He
26:10cannot lie. There is no variable of
26:13turning or shadow of turning. Amen. BY
26:15GOD, WHAT HE SAYS is true and
26:17everlasting. AND IF HE SPOKE IT, it's
26:19going to last for eternity.
26:22It's going to happen.
26:24Amen. Sometimes
26:27faith is remembering what God has
26:29spoken. Even John had to learn not to
26:31interpret God's voice through his
26:33circumstances. Uh oh,
26:36we've all done that. I've pastored long
26:39enough to hear that one. Well, I thought
26:41God was with me. This didn't happen the
26:43way I wanted. But where was God? I'll
26:47tell you where. He was there all the
26:48time standing patiently in line.
26:52Hallelujah. Saying, "Hey, I didn't
26:53change." Listen, life is not fair. Life
26:57is not just it's it's not something
26:59heavenly, but I'm glad that I have
27:02something heavenly with me in this
27:03earthly plain. I can hold the hand of
27:06the man that calmed the seas, and his
27:08name is Jesus Christ. Hallelujah. He can
27:11speak peace be still to my life.
27:15Hallelujah. If I let him if I listen to
27:17him. Even Peter had the the whereabouts
27:19to say that. Lord, you're walking on the
27:21storm. Lord, if you speak, will you? He
27:24said, I I my eyes see you. But if I hear
27:27your voice, then I'll walk out on the
27:29water. I want to encourage somebody.
27:30Walk out on the water. Step out of the
27:32boat. Walk on the water and let Jesus
27:35motivate you to follow after him.
27:37Hallelujah.
27:39And Jesus, I'm going on. The voice of
27:42God became flesh. The one voice became
27:45flesh. The disciple John explains that
27:48Jesus is the voice.
27:51John reaches back to Genesis.
27:54I'm talking about the Apostle John now.
27:57But he says in the be beginning was the
27:59word.
28:01The voice that created the universe
28:03entered creation. And then he went on to
28:05say, "That word became flesh and dwelt
28:08among us and we beheld him." Hallelujah.
28:11That same voice said, "Now is the time
28:14when I'm coming to walk among them."
28:16Amen. The serpent took it away. But I'm
28:19here to declare that I am here. They are
28:22so distracted. They are so full of
28:24confusion. They are so full of chaos.
28:27They've got to start listening to my
28:29voice. And so he began to speak TO THEM
28:31AND SAID, "FOLLOW me and I'll make you
28:35fishers of men." Hallelujah. [snorts]
28:39Both his disciples, you see, Jesus had
28:42to begin to retrain the people's way of
28:45thinking. Both the disciples and the
28:47religious leaders had been shaped by
28:49other voices that did not reflect God's
28:51heart. So before Jesus could send them,
28:55he had to train them not in knowledge
28:59but in knowing the heart, mind and
29:01spirit of God.
29:03He to do that the first he first had to
29:06reshape how they listened and who they
29:09listened to. Makes sense, doesn't it?
29:12Jesus [snorts] retrained his disciples
29:13through life's events. And I'll just
29:15mention a few of them.
29:18Fear. Amen. in Matthew 8, Mark 4, Luke
29:218. Amen. They, the disciples found
29:24themselves in a storm, and Jesus in the
29:26bow of the boat, and fear began to come
29:29into their life. We're living in a time
29:31when fear is like an ugly bear trying to
29:34permeate into our life and and corral
29:38ush and inhibit us from living for God.
29:42And the disciples listened to the storm
29:44and Jesus said, "Why are you fearful?
29:47Oh, you of little faith. Why are you
29:49listening to the voice of the wind? In
29:51other words, what's going on?
29:55Fear wins when it becomes louder than
29:58God's promises.
30:01I said fear wins when it becomes louder
30:04than God's promises. Come on. Amen. That
30:08early New Testament church turned the
30:10world upside down. And they didn't do it
30:12by listening to what was going on in the
30:15annals of Rome and its government. Amen.
30:18And they had it because they listened to
30:20the voice of Jesus Christ through the
30:22teachings of the apostles and they went
30:25forward by faith.
30:28>> Hallelujah. [snorts]
30:30>> Jesus had to deal with their feelings of
30:31inadequacy. Anybody ever felt that way?
30:35Going to feed 5,000. Oh yeah, we are.
30:37Okay. Yeah,
30:39sure. Go ahead, Jesus. Go at it. That's
30:42what we would say. But Jesus, you see,
30:45the disciples saw what they liked. They
30:46said, "Lord, look, we only got this
30:48little bit here [snorts]
30:50in a basket." But you see, Jesus knew
30:52what he had and it was enough. And what
30:56did Jesus say? He said, "Give them
30:57something to eat." What? Give them
31:01something to eat. 5,000. Here we are.
31:05You see, he was trying to teach them a
31:07lesson in their mind. The world says,
31:09"You don't have enough."
31:11And doubt begins to take root. Oh, I
31:13don't have enough. Oh, oh, uh, that my
31:15mind, my eyes perceive, the mind
31:18conceives, and the heart responds, Lord,
31:21I don't have enough.
31:23But Jesus
31:25says, bring me what you have, AND I'LL
31:28BUILD YOUR FAITH. [laughter] YOU DON'T
31:30HAVE ENOUGH FAITH, BUT YOU HAVE THE THE
31:33FAITH as of a grain of MUSTARD SEED.
31:35JESUS SAID, YOU BRING IT TO ME. AMEN.
31:37I'LL PLANT IT. I'LL GROW IT. I'LL SHOW
31:39YOU HOW TO DEVELOP IT IN YOUR LIFE. OH,
31:42LET ME TELL YOU, HE WANTS TO DO SOME
31:44GREAT THINGS AT NEW LIFE ST. LOUIS THAT
31:46YOU HAVEN'T S SEEN YET. BUT HE'S WAITING
31:48TO DEVELOP THE FAITH IN YOU. WHATEVER
31:50YOUR BACKGROUND, HOWEVER YOU FEEL
31:52INADEQUATE IN YOURSELF, HE'S NOT done
31:55with you.
31:56>> He's got a plan for you.
31:59>> They had to deal with feelings of pride.
32:01Oh my. Anybody, nobody has that here.
32:05>> Jesus spoke about his coming death. The
32:08disciples instead of being concerned
32:11about his death debated who's the
32:13greatest among us.
32:17So Jesus did what only he can do. Give
32:21me that little child.
32:24Puts him in the midst of what's he
32:25doing? Whoever humbles himself as this
32:28little child is greatest in the kingdom
32:31of heaven. We live in a world that turns
32:34that upside down today.
32:38The kingdom measures greatness by
32:40humility and service, NOT BY POWER AND
32:45ABILITY. THE LORD SAID, "YOU GIVE ME
32:47NOTHING AND I'LL MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF
32:49IT." YOU GIVE ME THE LITTLE BIT YOU GOT
32:51BY FAITH AND I'LL DO A WORK IN YOU.
32:55HALLELUJAH. I don't stand UP HERE TODAY
32:57BECAUSE THIS IS THE WAY I WAS BORN. I
32:59DIDN'T BECOME A MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL
33:01BECAUSE I WAS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY AND
33:03NO WAY. HALLELUJAH. But it was because I
33:06had a savior that said, "I know you're
33:08timid. I know you're shy. I KNOW YOU
33:11CAN'T EVEN HARDLY TALK TO PEOPLE. BUT IF
33:13YOU GIVE YOURSELF TO ME, I'LL DO A WORK
33:16IN YOUR LIFE." I'M HERE TO TELL YOU,
33:17YOUNG PEOPLE, DON'T EVER DIMINISH the
33:20work that God can do in your life by
33:22letting the enemy tell you you can't do
33:25it.
33:26>> He'll do it.
33:28>> He [snorts] called another another thing
33:30was revenge. Oh man, we live in a world
33:32today. It's all about revenge.
33:35Let [snorts] me take it.
33:37I'll take care of it. It happened more
33:40than once with the disciples.
33:42James and John, sons of thunder,
33:45[snorts]
33:46wanted judgment when the Samaritans were
33:49unresponsive to Jesus. He said, "JESUS,
33:53LET US CALL FAR [groaning] FROM HEAVEN
33:55and we'll consume them."
33:58That's the disciple of Jesus Christ.
34:00>> Man, that lesson went over his head
34:02somewhere.
34:05That's what they said. And then of
34:07course the response was, "You do not
34:10know what manner of spirit you are of."
34:15I'm telling you, a spirit of revenge is
34:18not my God.
34:20He said, "You don't know what manner of
34:22spirit you are of, for the Son of Man
34:23did not come to destroy man's life, but
34:26to save them." James and John, I DIDN'T
34:29COME TO WIPE HIM OFF THE PLANET of the
34:31earth. I came to reach them. I DON'T
34:33LIKE THEM. IT DON'T MATTER. HE HAD TO
34:34TELL HIM OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IT DON'T
34:36MATTER IF YOU'RE A SADDUCEE, IF YOU'RE A
34:38PHARISEE, IF YOU'RE A TAX COLLECTOR.
34:40AMEN. IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO IS DESTITUTE
34:43AND DOWNTRODDEN, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF
34:45YOU'RE A PROSTITUTE. HE SAID, "I WANT TO
34:47[screaming] SAVE THEM. I WANT TO
34:48REARRANGE THEIR HEART. I WANT TO LOVE
34:50THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THERE'S A BETTER
34:52LIFE FOR THEM IN MY SPIRIT." OH, ARE YOU
34:55THANKFUL FOR that this morning?
34:57>> Hallelujah.
35:00And you know the beautiful thing about
35:01that
35:03is that years later John returned to
35:06Samaria not with fire but bringing the
35:10Holy Spirit in Acts in the book of Acts
35:13chapter 8. Oh hallelujah. See Jesus knew
35:16hey you don't think they're worth saving
35:18but they every soul is worth saving. Can
35:21I get an amen of that this morning?
35:23Don't you become the judge and jury
35:25today.
35:30what judgment you judge. He said, "Then
35:33you're going to be judged.
35:36>> I can preach the word,
35:38>> but thank God I'm not the judge.
35:41>> I leave that into his hands."
35:44Come on, you hear me? I can I [sighs]
35:48Man, I could go for that. I better not.
35:52[snorts]
35:53Violence. Jesus had to teach him about
35:56vi violence.
35:58Just one example of many time poor Peter
36:01well at least he was able to just speak
36:03out I guess and tried to do the right
36:04thing better than sitting back and doing
36:06nothing I guess but here they are in
36:08Matthew 26
36:10and Peter did what seemed right some way
36:14yes bless God they're going to take
36:16Jesus I'm going to draw my sword and cut
36:18their ear off
36:21they're going to take Jesus I'M READY TO
36:23FIGHT THEM
36:25that's what he it. [snorts] But Jesus
36:28said, "Put away your sword. Put it in
36:30its place, Peter. Peter, you're still
36:33fighting the wrong battle. Peter, you're
36:36still listening to the wrong voice.
36:39Peter, I've got a plan. I've got a
36:41purpose. And what you think is the right
36:44answer for that purpose is not the right
36:46answer. How are we going to know that
36:48when we listen to the voice of the one
36:50this morning? Let him lead us. had him
36:53help us become the light of the world.
36:57Hallelujah. Politics,
37:00restoring the kingdom. Jesus, [snorts]
37:03the disciples still had a mindset for a
37:05political earthly realm. And so Jesus
37:08said, "No, no, no, no, no. That's not
37:10it." The disciples still expected
37:12political restoration. They asked,
37:13"Lord, will you at this time restore the
37:16kingdom to Israel? Are you going to
37:18raise us up an army and you're going to
37:21help us fight these Roman dogs and we're
37:23going to we're going to destroy them?
37:25We're going to beat them back when Jesus
37:28redirected their thinking. No, no, no.
37:30That's why I'm here, guys. Just sit here
37:32and listen.
37:34You shall receive power when the Holy
37:36Spirit has come upon you and you shall
37:38be witnesses to for me. Come on.
37:41Hallelujah. Said, "No, I'm not here for
37:43an earthly kingdom. I'm here to
37:45establish a heavenly kingdom by people
37:48on earth that are looking to heaven.
37:50That's why he says, "Set your affections
37:52on things above, not on things of the
37:54earth." YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND your
37:55answers HERE ON EARTH. YOU'RE NOT GOING
37:57TO FIND LEADERS GOOD ENOUGH TO LEAD YOU
37:59IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO JESUS CHRIST.
38:01YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE ENOUGH LAWS
38:03THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS WORLD
38:05RIGHTEOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD BECAUSE
38:07SALVATION COMES BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
38:11>> Pharisees proved that. They had all the
38:13laws down.
38:15>> [snorts]
38:15>> But they were one of the number one
38:17targets of Jesus, too. Jesus corrected
38:20and instructed those leaders
38:22[snorts] who resisted correction.
38:25Those spiritual leaders heard him, but
38:27they didn't follow him. Now, here's the
38:29difference. Follow me. I'm trying to
38:31hurt him. See the clock? Oh, I got
38:32plenty time.
38:37Those spiritual leaders heard him
38:40but did not follow him.
38:43The disciples at times misunderstood
38:47Jesus.
38:48That happens. We misunderstand. Oh,
38:51okay. I thought I had it figured out. I
38:53I see. All right. You were right, Lord.
38:57What a surprise.
39:00The disciples misunderstood Jesus, but
39:03the religious leaders resisted Jesus.
39:07That's where the danger comes. when he
39:11speaks
39:12and you listen and then you begin to
39:15resist. They possessed the knowledge.
39:19Listen, you're not going to find
39:21salvation by knowledge,
39:23but listened more to their tradition
39:26than to the heart of God. Jesus
39:29repeatedly challenged those spiritual
39:32leaders who were resisting him. He said,
39:35[snorts] "Have you not read?" Can you
39:37imagine telling the higher echelons of
39:40the educational theological realms, have
39:43you have have you not read where the the
39:46Old Testament says this? The you know
39:47the prophet said this and then he says
39:50you heir not knowing the scriptures and
39:53then he says in one place go and learn
39:55what this means. Boy, he's really
39:57bringing them down a notch you too is
39:59he? He said you have made the
40:01commandment of God of no effect through
40:03your traditions.
40:05And then he chastised them. Come on. I'm
40:07telling you what. Why was he doing that?
40:10Because they resisted him to the point
40:12that they affected others trying to
40:14follow him.
40:16He chastised them. He called them blind
40:18guides, blind fools, hypocrites,
40:21whitewashed tombs, full of dead men's
40:23bones, full of hypocrisy and iniquity,
40:25serpents, brood of vipers, children of
40:27the devil, evil and adulterous
40:29generation, foolish, wicked, those who
40:31shut up the kingdom of heaven. clean on
40:33the outside, corrupt on the inside,
40:35lovers of honor and titles of men more
40:39than God. He was hard on them because he
40:42was trying to reach them and he was
40:45teaching them in their hearts they need
40:48to follow him. They thought they knew
40:51the scriptures but failed to recognize
40:54to wh the one to whom the scriptures
40:57revealed Jesus Christ. The cross. Going
41:02to the cross tonight. Can't leave
41:03without going to the cross. The cross
41:06restored what the garden lost. The cross
41:08did more than forgive sin. It restored
41:12communion with God.
41:15I was blessed yesterday. I say that
41:19because it was a homegoing of Sister
41:21Amita Denny who was a member at our
41:24church at Warrington for years and then
41:25here at New Life for many years. And
41:27when I was talking to Larry, one of my
41:31young people from my time period way
41:33back there, you know, uh we were just
41:36talking and he mentioned, you know, one,
41:37the reason the Lord created man was so
41:39he could talk with him. And I didn't
41:40tell him that, but yeah, you're already
41:42touching on my sermon. Be quiet.
41:45[snorts]
41:46But you see, it it re it restored
41:50God's relationship with mankind. access
41:54to the presence of of God was reopened.
41:57The chief shepherd came once again
41:59calling a sheep saying once again,
42:01"Where are you? Where are you?" Jesus
42:05said, "My sheep, hear my voice." The
42:09relationship, the personal communion
42:11that was lost in Eden became possible
42:13again through the selfless sacrifice of
42:15Jesus. He would never be separated again
42:18from those who sought his presence
42:19because of the great commission. He
42:21said, "Behold, I am with you always to
42:24the end of the age." He said, "I'm
42:27making a plan that I'll never have to be
42:30out of communion with you again if you
42:33invite me into your life. If you're born
42:35of the water in the spirit, amen, when
42:37you kneel to pray, when you drive down
42:39the highway, when you're at work on a
42:42bad day, when you're struggling under
42:43the weight of finances, he said, "Y'all,
42:46you got to remember, I'm right there
42:48with you. I'm just a prayer away. I'm
42:50ready to encourage you. I'm ready TO
42:52HELP YOU. UH I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU
42:55COMFORTLESS.
42:57I'M SENDING YOU A COMFORTER. AND IT CAME
42:59ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST. AND WE
43:01CELEBRATE IT EVERY TIME WE'RE IN HIS
43:04PRESENCE. THANK God for him restoring
43:08his relationship with us. Hallelujah.
43:12Many voices I've said many voices of the
43:16one. John's ministry was unique, but his
43:19message continues
43:21today. Jesus desires to speak through
43:24his church, its people, through its
43:27pastor, as teachers, evangelists,
43:30missionaries spiritfilled and
43:32spirit-led fathers, mothers, children,
43:35young people.
43:37Not proclaiming many messages, but
43:40echoing one eternal voice to lead souls
43:43to Jesus Christ.
43:46You see, [snorts] the church's mission,
43:47hang with me just a little longer. The
43:50church's mission remains in the same as
43:52John the Baptist. Prepare the way of the
43:56Lord.
43:57I said, "Prepare the way." He's coming
43:59again, is he not? He said, "Oh, hallelu,
44:03I'm coming in a twinkling of an eye in a
44:05moment when you think not." And one will
44:07be in the field work. Two be in the
44:09field work and one will be taken, one
44:10left. Two will be in the home. One be
44:11taken, one left behind. You won't even
44:13know what happened. Amen. But he's
44:15telling the church, "Prepare the way of
44:16the Lord. Prepare the bride for the
44:18bridegroom. Point people to Jesus, the
44:21way, the truth, and the life, the voice
44:23of one, proclaiming the one true voice
44:27to a world that needs him today." And
44:30so, the church's greatest challenge
44:33today,
44:35never has there been more noise. Oh my
44:37word.
44:39Never. Voices of culture, politics,
44:42all of that I've mentioned, materialism,
44:44self-promotion,
44:46religion without relationships, personal
44:48ambition. Above all,
44:51like the disciples, like the Pharisees,
44:54Sadducees,
44:55we can slowly begin thinking contrary,
44:58if we're not careful, to the teaching of
45:01Jesus while believing we are serving him
45:04and doing his will.
45:06How do I know that? It happened.
45:09We get our mind. I I get ahead of
45:12myself, but you have the zealot Saul
45:16who was doing all the right things all
45:19the wrong way. At least he thought he
45:21was.
45:23I'm doing what God wants me to do.
45:26But he had his own Damascus experience.
45:32And Jesus didn't strike him down on the
45:34road and take his life. HE JUST SAID,
45:36"HOLD ON A MINUTE.
45:39How long are you going TO KICK AGAINST
45:41THE BRICKS? HOW LONG [screaming] ARE YOU
45:43GOING TO FIGHT ME, SAUL? WHAT ARE YOU
45:45SAYING?" I SEE SOMETHING IN YOU, SAUL.
45:47YOUR HEART'S IN THE RIGHT PLACE. UH, BUT
45:50YOU'RE APPROACHING IT ALL THE WRONG WAY.
45:52AND SO, INSTEAD OF destroying him, he
45:54said, "I'm just going to REMAKE YOU. UH,
45:56I'M GOING TO REDESIGN YOU. I'M GOING TO
45:58TEACH YOU. I'M GOING TO USE YOU." AND
46:00THEN HE WROTE MORE BOOKS IN THE NEW
46:01TESTAMENT THAN ANY OTHER APOSTLE. WHY?
46:04BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY MY SAVIOR
46:05WORKSHARRANGE
46:09us and use us if we'll let him too.
46:14>> Hallelujah. Somebody today might need
46:16their own Damascus road experience.
46:21Are you listening to his voice or are
46:23you just doing what you've been told to
46:25do?
46:27The church's greatest need is not more
46:29information or more data stored in our
46:31memory banks up here. Our greatest need
46:34is a renewed sensitivity to the
46:36shepherd's voice and a desire to follow
46:40him. [snorts]
46:42A church that hears the his voice can
46:45still turn the world upside down. I'm
46:47here to tell you again this today. And
46:50bear with me here to tell you today
46:53because the Lord has given me in my
46:55heart many things the last year and a
46:57half. I said, "Lord, what is this? What
47:00what what are you trying to say in the
47:01spirit?" And I've shared some with my
47:03elders, some I haven't. [snorts] And the
47:06thing is, God came back and said,
47:08"Because I'm preparing the way for
47:11greater things.
47:13There's a work that needs to be done.
47:16And my sheep, my people, my children
47:19need to see what is about to happen and
47:23look to me to fulfill the plan that I've
47:26done uh have planned for their life."
47:29And so the Lord is trying to help us
47:32[snorts] to hear his voice and bring us
47:35back to the beginning. From the garden
47:37to Noah to an Abraham to a Moses to
47:40Samuel, Elijah, Jeremiah to one crying
47:42in the wilderness. From the cross to the
47:45church family to every child of God, God
47:48is calling and saying, "Will you follow
47:50me?" In fact, God has never stopped
47:53speaking church.
47:56In fact, the question to is not is God
47:59speaking. The question is again, what
48:03voice am I hearing? What voice am I
48:05following?
48:08Amen. And I'm going to get ready to
48:10close. The musicians will come.
48:13I want to give an invitation today in
48:15the house of God for repentance.
48:19the repentance of the competing voices
48:21that you've allowed to shape your
48:24thinking, that you've allowed to detract
48:27from God's will in your life and his
48:30desire for your life. [snorts]
48:33A renewed to turn your attention to the
48:34voice and calling of Jesus Christ.
48:38A renewal to say, "Jesus,
48:41I want to hear your voice.
48:43I want to get beyond the confusion of
48:45the day and I'm going to commit to
48:47follow you wherever you will lead me,
48:50Jesus. I want to follow you. You see,
48:53he's not he's not uh impressed by your
48:56knowledge. He's not impressed by your
48:58pedigree or how much money you got in
49:01the bank or any of that. But what he has
49:03oppressed
49:05is a sinner that says, "Lord, I'm not
49:08worthy. Would you have mercy on me, a
49:11sinner?
49:13He said, "Oh yeah, I'll do it. I'll
49:15reach out to that sheep."
49:18And so [snorts]
49:20there's a first words of an old familiar
49:22song, and I'm not singing it tonight
49:24today. Probably wouldn't know it, but I
49:26remember as I was thinking of this a few
49:28months ago, and I felt in my prayer
49:30time,
49:32the Lord brought the words back to me
49:34and said, actually two songs that came
49:37to mind. One of them is an old song
49:39said, "Tell them even if they don't
49:41believe you.
49:42Even if they don't receive, you tell
49:44them. But then I came to these words in
49:46my prayer time. It says, "There's a
49:48voice calling me from an old rugged
49:51tree."
49:52And it whispers,
49:55"Draw closer to me.
49:59Leave this world far behind.
50:02There are new heights to climb and a
50:05place in me you will find."
50:08And so I'm here this morning to
50:10encourage somebody if you'll stand with
50:13me in clos in closing [snorts]
50:16to say, "Lord,
50:18I want to follow you."
50:22Whose voice have you been following?
50:27Is it the news,
50:29social media,
50:32influencers?
50:35Let him become your influencer.
50:38I said, "Let Jesus Christ become your
50:40influence. Lord, influence me."
50:43What voices need to become quieter so
50:45the shepherd's voice can become clear.
50:48[snorts] I remembered a story and so I
50:49looked it up.
50:51There's a Jewish legend told of Rabbi
50:54Yitk
50:56Ali Herszog.
50:59[snorts] One day in 1946,
51:02Rabbi Herszog arrived at a large
51:04monastery
51:07>> [snorts]
51:07>> which was known to have taken in Jewish
51:09children sent away by their parents to
51:12protect them from the Nazi terror which
51:14had ravaged Europe during World War II.
51:17Now the time had come for the children
51:19to return home but they couldn't find
51:22their parents and the parents couldn't
51:23find them.
51:25The rabbi turned to the reverend mother
51:27and thanking her for saving the lives of
51:29the children and requesting to receive
51:31them back to the Jewish people now that
51:34the war was over and get them back to
51:35mom and mama and papa. The nun was happy
51:39to agree, but she asked the rabbi.
51:44How can you know
51:46which of the hundreds of children here
51:49at the monastery are Jewish?
51:53After all, it' been many months since
51:55their parents had sent them here, and
51:58many of them have were mere infants at
52:01the time. [snorts] Rabbi Herszog assured
52:04the Reverend Mother that he would know.
52:11He asked together all the children in a
52:13large hall. Bring them all in together.
52:17Ascended
52:19uh the stage
52:22cried [snorts] in a loud voice
52:26Elohim Adonai ahead
52:29here. O Israel, the Lord our God,
52:33the Lord is one.
52:39the voice of the Lord speaking through
52:43his holy anointed word. [snorts]
52:46Immediately dozens of children rushed to
52:49the stage shouting, "Mama, papa!" as
52:53tears filled their eyes. Many were
52:56sobbing uncontrollably.
52:58Though few of the children remembered
53:00much of their early lives, the sound of
53:02the shama, the most famous prayer in the
53:05Jewish faith instantly brought back
53:07memories of reciting those Hebrew words
53:10with their parents before bedtime.
53:14Again, Jesus said, "My sheep, my sheep
53:19hear my voice. I know them and they
53:23follow me." I'm not bringing you a new
53:24message this morning,
53:27but it's a message that we need to be
53:29reminded of to follow Jesus Christ. He's
53:35going to do great things. Greater things
53:37are coming,
53:39but he's not COMING HERE TO DO IT.
53:43He's looking FOR YOU AND I TO BE HIS
53:46HANDS, to be his feet, TO BE HIS VOICE,
53:50TO STEP OUT ON THE WATER BY FAITH, TO
53:52TOUCH THE BLIND, UH TO TOUCH THOSE THAT
53:54NEED HEALING. UH LET THE SPIRIT OF GOD
53:56WORK IN YOUR LIFE SO THAT THE WORLD CAN
53:59SEE IRREVOCABLY, UNDENIABLY.
54:02THERE IS ONE GOD, ONE VOICE THAT'S READY
54:06TO SPEAK TO THEIR HEARTS, TO SPEAK TO
54:08THEIR LIVES, THAT HAS ALL POWER IN
54:11HEAVEN AND EARTH.
54:15BUT UNTIL WE PUT ASIDE ALL OF THESE
54:18earthly thoughts and teachings that are
54:21contrary to the scripture of our Lord
54:23and Savior,
54:25it's going to hinder the work of God.
54:30I'm sorry. Jesus didn't come to build
54:33heaven on earth. Boy, I'm glad he
54:35didn't. He can have this earth. I I want
54:38to I want the one he's preparing for me.
54:41But if we'll let ourselves listen long
54:43enough, the world will try to convince
54:44us that we can make a place good enough.
54:48Come on. We can make a place good enough
54:51like heaven on earth. We can make a
54:54place good enough
54:56that God will bless us. I'm going to
54:57tell you what. God doesn't bless us
54:59because we're good enough.
55:01He blesses us because of amazing grace.
55:04How sweet the sound that saved a rich
55:07like me.
55:10You say, "Well, we'll just we'll just
55:12make more laws and and make everybody
55:14holy. You're sounding like the
55:16Pharisees.
55:18You're sounding like the Sadducees.
55:19How'd that work in prohibition?" That
55:21worked pretty good, didn't it?
55:25What I'm saying is salvation begins in
55:27the heart.
55:29And somebody says, "Lord, here I am. Oh
55:33God, I need you.
55:36I'm tired of my mind being confused. I'm
55:39tired of my mind being full of doubt.
55:42And I'm tired of my mind looking here
55:44for an answer, looking there for an
55:46answer. How is it
55:50that a prophet can call fire from
55:53heaven?"
55:55Man, that had to be amazing, didn't it?
55:57All them barrels of water, all those
56:00sacrifices on the altar and fire comes
56:02down from heaven at his word by the
56:04prophet of God and consumes everything
56:07up.
56:09Now that ought to bring revival to you,
56:10right? Either that or you be running
56:12fast, one or the other.
56:14But how is it that that same prophet
56:17just a few days later is hiding in a
56:19cave because of old wicked queen
56:21Jezebel?
56:25He's hearing a voice that he shouldn't
56:27be listened to. BUT THAT'S WHY GOD CAME
56:29TO HIM AND SAID, "COME ON, ELIJAH.
56:31GET UP OUT OF THAT PLACE. YOU DON'T
56:33BELONG THERE." I'M TELLING SOMEBODY THIS
56:35MORNING, GET UP OUT OF THAT PLACE. YOU
56:37DON'T BELONG THERE. YOU DON'T BELONG
56:39SITTING IN THAT DARK CAVE ALL ALONE AND
56:41THAT DAMP PLACEH IN THAT PLACE OF DOUBT
56:43AND CONFUSION AND FEAR. OH, [screaming]
56:46BUT YOU BELONG IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR
56:49heavenly father.
56:51Hallelujah.
56:55One thing that stands out from all these
56:57callings is that God rarely spoke to
56:59people when they [snorts] were expecting
57:01him.
57:04Noah was living in a corrupt world.
57:07Abraham was living as a pagan. Yes, he
57:09was a pagan.
57:11And then he got called out of it. Moses
57:14was tending sheep after 40 years in
57:16obscurity. Samuel was sleeping in the
57:19tabernacle. Elijah hiding as I said.
57:21>> [snorts]
57:21>> Isaiah worshiping in the temple.
57:24Jeremiah felt too young. Daniel was
57:26praying. Jonah
57:29eventually ran away, tried to run away.
57:32And John the Baptist in the wilderness.
57:35Different places, different people,
57:38[music] different circumstances. I'm
57:39here this morning to ask you, would you
57:42come and talk and listen to the voice of
57:46the one this morning? He's calling you
57:48[music] this morning to a deeper walk.
57:51He's calling you to ministry. Maybe
57:54you've been wrestling with that. I don't
57:55know why I'm so jittery. I don't know
57:57why I'm always unhappy or why I'm always
58:00confused because maybe God is speaking
58:03to your heart and say, "Come on. I've
58:04got a new direction for you. I want to
58:06do something in your life. You say, "I
58:08can't do it." He says, "That's right.
58:09You can't do it. Give it to me and I
58:12will do it in your life." Oh,
58:14hallelujah. I'm speaking to us today.
58:16Come on. Would you listen to the voice
58:18of the one? Hallelujah. The voice of the
58:21one this morning is say, "Come on, my
58:23sheep. Hear my voice." Come on, young
58:27person. Don't you let the enemy tell you
58:29you're not good enough. You don't have
58:31enough experience.
58:33Oh, hallelujah. Put your hands in the
58:35hands of the man that calm the sea and
58:37watch what he'll do. Hallelujah.
58:43Hallelujah.
58:46Oh, thank you, Jesus. I need you, Lord.
58:49Oh God, I need you Jesus. Hallelujah.
58:52Hallelujah. Lord, put us on [music] that
58:55path.
58:56Hallelujah. Jesus, lead us, God, by your
58:59hand of mercy this morning. Lead us in a
59:02deeper walk with you, Lord. [music]
59:03Hallelujah.
59:07Oh, that's it. Come on. Thank you,
59:08Jesus. Here I am, Lord. Here I am,
59:11Jesus. Use me, Lord. Here I am, Jesus.
59:19I give you my dreams. I give you my
59:21hopes, my ambitions. Lord, I don't know
59:24where to turn. I'm going to turn to you
59:26this morning, Jesus. I'm going to look
59:28to you, Jesus.
59:32Hallelujah.
59:47I hear you call my name.
59:51I'll never be the same. [music]
59:54Oh,
60:01I hear you call my name. I'll never be
60:06the same. Oh, [music]
60:15I hear you [music and singing] call my
60:17name. I'll never be the same. Oh,
60:23[music]
60:28I hear you call my name. I'll [music]
60:32never be the same. Oh,
60:36[singing]
60:38[music]
60:42I hear you call my name. I'll
60:46[music and singing] never be the same.
60:51[music]
60:53>> I hear you. I hear you.
60:56>> I hear you. Call [music and singing] my
60:58name.
60:58>> I'll never be
60:59>> I'll never be the same. [music]
61:06I hear you call my name.
61:10I hear you call my name. [music]
61:12>> I'll never be
61:13>> I'll never be the same.
61:20You're calling me. You're calling me
61:22[music] Jesus.
61:23I call
61:28closer. I'll never be the same.
61:32Oh [music]
61:34I hear you calling.
61:37I need you on my heart. Ever may ever be
61:42[music] the same. Oh,
61:47[music]
61:51>> I hear you call my
61:54>> I'll never be the same.
61:58[music]
62:01Hear you calling me, Lord.
62:04I hear you call my name. [music]
62:08I'll never be the same.
62:14[music]
62:16Holy Lord, I
62:20[music]
62:22never
62:24be the same. [music]
62:29I hear you call Jesus. I hear you call
62:34again. [music]
62:35I'll never
62:46Heat. Heat.
62:51[music]
63:01[music]
63:09Heat.
63:21[music]
63:22Heat.
63:40I hear [music]
63:43you.
63:46I am
63:49the [music and singing]
63:51Lord.
63:53I'll say
63:57yes.
63:58[music]
64:00I am [singing]
64:03[music]
64:06I am I
64:11[music]
64:14[singing]
64:15am I am
64:20say [music]
64:26here I am
64:29I
64:31>> [music]
64:32>> I am available Jesus.
64:40God,
64:43[music]
64:50>> I'll say [music] yes.
64:53I
64:56am here. I [music] am
65:00[singing]
65:04[music]
65:05you know
65:09[music]
65:10I am
65:15whatever God say [music]
65:23[music]
65:24my life to Jesus. Heat. Heat.
65:39I [music]
65:42say
65:48[music]
65:52here I am. [music]
65:58I'm [music]
66:01doing whatever you want.
66:08I just want to know you. I just want to
66:11know you, [music] God.
66:15Give me your heart, Lord. Give me your
66:18heart, God. [music]
66:20Oh,
66:33I surrender. I surrender all to you.
66:39All to you, Lord.
66:41Give it all to you.
66:46Oh [music]
66:49say I
66:56[music]
67:02[music]
67:15my [music] Heat. Heat.
67:23[music]
67:26I am [music]
67:36Jesus. [music]
67:40I
67:43[music]
67:45might
67:47[music]
67:53[music]
67:58I know you got
68:01[music]
68:03your
68:09way.
68:10[music]
68:19You are God.
68:22You are God.
68:41>> [music]
68:42>> I
68:49hallelujah. [music]
68:51Glad that voice is still calling this
68:53morning. If you haven't been baptized in
68:56the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that
68:58voice is still calling this morning.
69:00[music] Say, "Whosoever will, let him
69:01come." Jesus the prime example was
69:04baptized
69:05ushering us the way. You got the sign
69:08over here. It's I [music] have decided
69:09if you want to be baptized in the
69:11wonderful name of Jesus for the
69:13remission of your sins. Today is the
69:15opportunity [music] for you to do that.
69:17Hallelujah. Thank you Jesus.
69:20Oh praise the Lord. Let's love the Lord
69:22again this today. Thank you Lord.
69:24Hallelujah.
69:29Praise God.
69:31Hallelujah.
69:34I don't know if you could indulge me,
69:36but
69:38an old man here that song that I
69:41mentioned earlier, there's a voice
69:42calling me from old rugged tree. I just
69:44feel to sing that a little bit this day
69:45because that voice is still calling us
69:47today. And we may leave here in a little
69:49bit, but we want to take that voice with
69:51us in our cars and our homes and our
69:54jobs and keep speaking to us.
70:01There's a voice calling
70:04me
70:06from an old rugged
70:09tree.
70:11And it whispers,
70:14"Draw closer
70:17to me."
70:22Oh, leave this world far behind.
70:28There are new highs [singing and music]
70:31to climb
70:34and a new life
70:37in me. You
70:40will find
70:45for whatever
70:48it takes. Oh, hallelujah. To draw closer
70:54to you, Lord.
70:57Oh, that's what [singing]
71:00I'll be willing, do you mean it? To do.
71:08And [music] whatever
71:11it takes, [singing]
71:13oh, to be more
71:17like you.
71:19Oh, that's what
71:22I'll be [music] willing
71:26to do. Think about this. Oh, [music]
71:30I'll trade sunshine
71:34for rain. Hallelujah. For cover,
71:40for pain.
71:42Oh, that's what
71:45I'll be willing
71:48to do.
71:53Oh, for whatever [music]
71:57it takes.
71:59Oh, for my will
72:02to break.
72:05Oh, that's [music] what
72:08I'll be willing
72:11to do. Hallelujah.
72:15Oh, I praise the name. Let's love the
72:16Lord again. I just feel that wonderful
72:18presence of the Lord. Thank you, Jesus.
72:21Hallelujah.
72:26Hallelu. Come on. Just love him this
72:27morning. The shepherd's here.
72:29Hallelujah. Let the sheep speak to the
72:31shepherd this morning. Loving him.
72:34Hallelujah. I surrender all Jesus to
72:37you. [music]
72:38Give it to you Lord for your glory, your
72:40praise and your honor. Hallelujah.
72:42Hallelujah.
72:44Hallelujah.
72:48The voice of the one is still calling us
72:51today. I pray that whatever you're
72:54facing, you remember that he's just a
72:55prayer away. Whatever thing you face in
72:58the future, whatever you may be facing
73:00now,
73:02whatever this world holds or to bring to
73:05us for us to deal with, you remember
73:08that he is nearby.
73:12I was thinking the other day I had
73:15somebody share a story of their family
73:19that was in the Ukraine Christian family
73:22doing a work in I don't know anything in
73:24specifics about him but they would just
73:26say remember my family because they're
73:28being bombed right now and having a hard
73:31time and I think Lord
73:34who am I to complain
73:38I'm going to stand in judgment with
73:40people that have faced much more than I
73:42ever have. And I whine,
73:45remember the old song they used to sing.
73:46Lord, forgive me when I whine.
73:50I'm not going to sing that one to you.
73:53But Lord, we're so blessed
73:58and God has put invested so much into us
74:00by his blood and his spirit. He's going
74:04to do greater things. But let's listen
74:06to his voice [music] above all of this
74:08other junk out there in the world. When
74:09you do that in the coming days, look to
74:12Jesus, the author and finisher of your
74:15faith. Hallelujah. In the name of Jesus.
74:17Praise God. Well, we want to pray. Ask
74:20the Lord to go with us. Remember [music]
74:21pastor and his family as they finish
74:23their trip in the next few days and come
74:26back. [music] Lord, bring them home
74:27safely and uh keep his hand upon them.
74:30We appreciate [snorts] our pastor and
74:33his family. Amen. Praise God.
74:36Let's pray together. Dear Lord Jesus, we
74:39thank you for your spirit. We thank you
74:43Lord [music] for the voice that speak to
74:45us through that spirit. We're thankful
74:48Lord that no matter what we're facing,
74:51no matter what we're looking at, that
74:53you're wanting to remind us that greater
74:56is he that's in us than he that is in
74:59the world.
75:01And the noise that tries to be the
75:04loudest, the loudest, the bully that
75:06tries to be the loudest on the
75:07playground is not the strongest. He just
75:10wants everybody to think he is. And the
75:12enemy is trying to be loud enough so
75:15that we believe he is the bully that has
75:17all authority. But I'm here to declare
75:20and mine that you have all power in
75:22heaven and earth. Uh you are in control.
75:25You know our lives. You know the very
75:26number of the hairs on our head. You
75:28know what we're facing. You know what
75:29we're going through and I'm praying God
75:31you help us in the coming days to reme
75:33remind oursel of that fact and look to
75:36you the author and finisher [music] of
75:38our faith. Go with us, keep us, protect
75:40us, help us to grow in the knowledge of
75:43your word. We ask in the wonderful name
75:45of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah church say
75:47amen. Amen. Lord bless you in Jesus
75:50name.
75:54[music]
75:58Heat.
75:59[music]
76:07Heat.