Well, we're on the air
and we're coming to you live
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from Oakwood University.
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And live television sometimes
has a quirk here or there.
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So if we have some tonight, that
is right par for the course.
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Anchors Of Truth is a
series that we put together
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several years ago that has
been extremely popular on 3ABN.
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And we have come up with
something that Pastor Murray
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refers to as Anchors Away.
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Which means that we
often take the truck
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and travel to a location.
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We've been out to California,
we've been to Florida,
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and we've been to
some other places.
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And now we are here
in Huntsville, Alabama
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at the beautiful
campus of Oakwood University
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with some of the most
beautiful young people
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you have ever seen.
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If you take a look at
this choir right back here,
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I want to tell you, you
will not find any young people
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anywhere in the world who
shine with the love of Jesus
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like you will see
with these young people.
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And we're just
so happy to be here.
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Now this series,
this particular one,
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usually we have one
speaker for the entire time.
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But Dr. Leslie Pollard
came up with a concept.
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We had asked him to be
the speaker, but he said,
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"You know, I want to
share this with others
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that are here at Oakwood."
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And so tonight, our first
speaker will be the pastor
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of this church, who is also
the speaker for Breath Of Life.
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And that is Dr. Carlton Byrd.
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He will be our speaker tonight.
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And his subject is
going to be, Armed Forces.
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Now Dr. Byrd...
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I'll just tell you a little
bit about him before we move on
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to speak about the others.
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His wife's name is
Danielle, and they have two
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beautiful pre-teenage daughters.
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And so this is a
man who loves the Lord.
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As you know, he was pastor
of Berean Church in Atlanta
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before coming here.
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And for several years
now, has been the speaker
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for Breath Of life.
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Another speaker that we'll
have is Pastor Debleaire Snell.
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He's pastor of
the Huntsville First
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Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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One who is known very
well to me will be speaking
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on Friday evening.
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And that's Dr. James Doggette.
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And we've known each
other for a number of years.
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He is a Professor of Religion
here at Oakwood University,
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and also is the
founder of the Madison Mission,
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which has become a real
miracle around the world.
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We recognize the great
ministry of that congregation.
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And you're going to
appreciate getting to know
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each of these pastors.
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Sabbath morning,
Dr. Leslie Pollard,
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the president of
Oakwood University,
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is going to be our speaker.
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And he was at our
camp meeting a year ago.
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And when he spoke at our
camp meeting, people said,
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"We have to hear
him on 3ABN again."
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And so we will be listening
and watching as Dr. Pollard
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speaks to us on Sabbath morning.
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And then the one who closes
the series is Dr. Jessie Wilson.
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And he is also a
professor here at Oakwood in the
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religion department,
and works with Dr. Doggette
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out at Madison Mission.
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So these are five
highly qualified speakers
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that are going to be
bringing us the Word of God.
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The series is entitled,
The Battle Is The Lord's.
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And that's the theme of
the messages that we will be
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hearing from
these five individuals.
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We're going to have
Pastor Ronald Pollard come.
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He is the Oakwood
University chaplain,
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and he's going to
have prayer for us.
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And then after that, we're going
to hear from Dynamic Praise,
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our music group.
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And the next voice you
will hear after Dynamic Praise
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will be the voice
of Dr. Carlton Byrd
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with our message for tonight.
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And Pastor
Pollard, would you come.
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Let us stand for opening prayer.
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Let us bow our heads.
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Father, we thank You so
very much for this series,
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Anchors Of Truth.
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We also thank You, Lord,
that the theme this week is,
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The Battle Is The Lord's.
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We praise You,
because we need that reminder
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that with everything we
go through, everything that
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takes place, You are
fighting that battle for us.
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And as long as You are
fighting the battle for us, God,
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we know that we'll win.
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So, on tonight, we praise
You that through this series,
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You will revive our
hearts one more time.
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You will revive our
spirits, Lord, You will revive
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our courage, You will revive our
willingness to hang in there.
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And because of that, we
will walk forward and stronger
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and better, because
the battle is Yours.
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So tonight, Lord, bless
our speaker, bless our choir,
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bless our young people.
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May they know,
Father, may the parents know,
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may everyone
watching and listening know,
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that every battle that comes in
our lives is determined by You.
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And because of that, we
are more than victorious.
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Thank You, oh God,
for this anchor of truth.
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In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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Now, Dynamic Praise is going
to bring us, Joy To My Heart.
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Quench my heart,
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quench my mind,
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quench my spirit.
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Quench my heart,
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quench my mind,
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oh quench my spirit,
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with Your presence.
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Let the atmosphere of
heaven fill this place.
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Let the atmosphere of
heaven fill this place.
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God fill this place.
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Quench my heart,
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quench my mind,
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oh quench my spirit.
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Oh quench my spirit.
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Oh quench my spirit.
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Oh quench my spirit.
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Oh quench my spirit.
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Oh quench my spirit.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Be now with us.
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Let's give Dynamic
Praise another hearty amen.
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If you're happy to be in
the house of God tonight,
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let me hear you say, "amen."
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What about, "praise the Lord."
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I don't know about you, but I
was glad when they said unto me,
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"Let us go into
the house of the Lord."
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Praise God from
whom all blessings flow.
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We are grateful to the Lord
that we, at Oakwood University,
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can partner with 3ABN.
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Can you say amen.
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And so to Pastor Jim
Gilley, and then also to all the
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team members of 3ABN,
we are grateful to the Lord
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that they are here with
us and we can be here and
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fellowship and
praise the name of Jesus.
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To Brother Danny
Shelton, the founder of 3ABN,
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praise God for his vision
and following the voice of God.
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Can you say amen.
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This week, we are
dealing with the theme,
00:12:48.56\00:12:50.95
The Battle Is The Lord's.
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Everybody say, "The battle..."
00:12:52.66\00:12:54.03
Come on, say it
like you mean it.
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Say, "The battle is the Lord's."
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And I don't know about
you, but that motivates and
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encourages me
every time I say it.
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That I recognize,
this thing is not about me,
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but it's all about Him.
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But I don't have to
worry too much, because
00:13:07.10\00:13:09.03
the battle is the Lord's.
00:13:09.06\00:13:10.43
Can you say amen.
00:13:10.46\00:13:11.83
With this theme, and in
harmony with this theme,
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we want to ask you, if
you have remembered your
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Bibles, to join us.
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If you're watching us, take your
Bibles to the book of Ephesians.
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What book did I say, everybody?
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Ephesians chapter 6.
00:13:22.27\00:13:24.75
And we're going to
go to verse number 10.
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Ephesians chapter 6, and
we're going to verse number 10.
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And the apostle Paul
has something tonight
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for us from God's Word.
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Ephesians chapter 6
and verse number 10.
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If you have it, let
me hear you say amen.
00:13:42.79\00:13:45.88
Alright, we're reading.
00:13:46.61\00:13:47.98
The Word of God says
in Ephesians chapter 6
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verse number 10,
"Finally, my brethren..."
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And I'm reading from
the King James Version.
00:13:54.64\00:13:57.00
"Finally, my
brethren, be strong..."
00:13:57.24\00:14:00.34
Be what, everybody?
00:14:00.37\00:14:01.74
Come one. Be what, everybody?
00:14:01.84\00:14:03.48
"...be strong in the..." Whom?
00:14:03.77\00:14:06.08
"...be strong in the Lord, and
in the power of His..." What?
00:14:06.34\00:14:10.55
"Put on the whole armor of God,
that ye may be able to stand
00:14:10.88\00:14:15.41
against the wiles of the devil.
00:14:15.44\00:14:17.22
For we wrestle not
against flesh and..." What?
00:14:17.28\00:14:20.16
Come on, "...but against
principalities, against..."
00:14:20.63\00:14:22.70
What else, everybody?
00:14:22.73\00:14:24.10
"...powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world,
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against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
00:14:27.09\00:14:31.56
Wherefore," verse 13
says, "take unto you the whole
00:14:31.59\00:14:35.17
armor of God, that ye
may be able to withstand
00:14:35.20\00:14:38.35
in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand.
00:14:38.38\00:14:42.40
Stand therefore, having your
loins girt about with truth,
00:14:42.43\00:14:45.36
and having on the
breastplate of righteousness;
00:14:45.61\00:14:47.60
and your feet shod
with the preparation of the
00:14:47.63\00:14:49.81
gospel of peace; above
all, taking the shield of faith,
00:14:49.84\00:14:54.27
wherewith ye shall be
able to quench all the
00:14:54.30\00:14:57.03
fiery darts of the wicked.
00:14:57.06\00:14:58.52
And take the
helmet of salvation,
00:14:58.55\00:15:00.45
and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of..."
00:15:00.48\00:15:02.44
Whom, everybody?
00:15:02.47\00:15:03.84
Come on. The word
of whom, everybody?
00:15:03.87\00:15:05.24
"...God: praying
always with all prayer
00:15:05.55\00:15:09.29
and supplication in the Spirit,
and watching thereunto with all
00:15:09.71\00:15:13.91
perseverance and
supplication for all saints.
00:15:13.94\00:15:16.89
And for me, that
utterance may be given unto me,
00:15:17.45\00:15:20.22
that I may open my
mouth boldly, to make known
00:15:20.25\00:15:24.26
the mystery of the gospel."
00:15:24.55\00:15:27.20
Tonight, as we begin our series,
we begin with the message;
00:15:27.52\00:15:32.02
put your war clothes on.
00:15:32.39\00:15:35.88
Put your war clothes on.
00:15:36.09\00:15:38.34
Before we talk with
you, let us talk with God.
00:15:38.37\00:15:41.83
Father God, we ask
now that You would breathe
00:15:42.07\00:15:45.01
Your Holy Spirit in this place.
00:15:45.04\00:15:47.27
Oh God, we ask for the
power of Your Holy Ghost to
00:15:47.47\00:15:49.94
touch each and every
individual that is hearing
00:15:49.97\00:15:53.27
this, Your Word, tonight.
00:15:53.30\00:15:55.37
Hide me behind Your
cross, forgive me of my sins.
00:15:55.40\00:15:58.91
And God, when we should
have ended this sermon this day,
00:15:58.94\00:16:03.18
may You get all the praise,
the honor, and the glory.
00:16:03.21\00:16:07.36
In Jesus' name we
pray. Let everyone say amen.
00:16:07.39\00:16:11.28
And amen.
00:16:11.31\00:16:12.68
Put your war clothes on.
00:16:13.01\00:16:17.33
All of us in this place can
attest to the fact that since
00:16:18.21\00:16:22.59
you found Jesus, if
you've known Jesus for 10 years,
00:16:22.62\00:16:27.31
10 months, 10 days, or
for somebody, 10 minutes,
00:16:27.34\00:16:32.18
you know that the devil has
picked you out to pick on you.
00:16:32.21\00:16:37.06
As a matter of fact, sometimes
it's interesting because
00:16:37.47\00:16:40.13
it seems as if the
devil doesn't have anyone else
00:16:40.16\00:16:43.97
to mess with but you.
00:16:44.00\00:16:46.33
But I say it all the
time, and let me remind you,
00:16:46.36\00:16:48.74
that if the devil didn't bother
you, perhaps you and the devil
00:16:48.77\00:16:52.94
are running in
the same direction.
00:16:52.97\00:16:55.28
Because when you turn
your back on the devil...
00:16:55.48\00:16:57.92
I'm a witness, and I believe
I've got some more witnesses
00:16:57.95\00:17:00.00
in this place.
00:17:00.03\00:17:01.40
...you have to realize
that you become a threat
00:17:01.43\00:17:04.00
to the devil's kingdom.
00:17:04.03\00:17:05.40
You see, the devil is mad
with you because you love God.
00:17:05.58\00:17:10.75
The devil is mad with
you because you trust God.
00:17:11.07\00:17:15.38
The devil is mad with
you because you obey God
00:17:15.41\00:17:18.80
and because you believe in God.
00:17:18.83\00:17:20.71
And when you love
God, when you trust God,
00:17:20.74\00:17:23.91
when you obey God, and
when you believe in God,
00:17:23.94\00:17:27.37
guess what you have.
00:17:27.40\00:17:28.77
A mad devil.
00:17:29.05\00:17:30.85
Peter says he's like a roaring
lion seeking whom he may devour.
00:17:32.05\00:17:38.77
Which means, you don't have
to go searching for the devil.
00:17:39.31\00:17:42.62
You don't have to go
looking for the devil.
00:17:44.12\00:17:46.72
If you're
determined to do God's will,
00:17:47.12\00:17:49.92
if you're
determined to be a worshipper,
00:17:50.09\00:17:52.68
if you're determined to
be a witness for the Lord,
00:17:52.71\00:17:55.60
then believe me, you don't have
to go looking for the devil.
00:17:55.63\00:17:58.62
The devil will look for you.
00:17:58.65\00:18:00.77
And so I've learned that
any time God is trying to
00:18:01.01\00:18:04.34
take you to another level
in Him, the enemy goes crazy.
00:18:04.37\00:18:08.39
The higher
level, the higher devil.
00:18:08.70\00:18:12.31
But I refuse to
let the devil scare me.
00:18:12.66\00:18:15.82
I refuse to let
the devil run me.
00:18:16.02\00:18:19.32
I refuse to run
around terrified, petrified,
00:18:19.35\00:18:23.58
and horrified of the devil.
00:18:23.61\00:18:25.56
I refuse to let the
devil back me up in a corner.
00:18:25.59\00:18:28.90
No, the devil,
you need to back up.
00:18:28.93\00:18:31.25
Because greater is He that is in
me than he that is in the world.
00:18:31.73\00:18:34.80
Do I have a
witness in this place?
00:18:34.83\00:18:36.60
The spiritual life
is not a playground,
00:18:37.22\00:18:41.31
but it's a battlefield.
00:18:41.60\00:18:43.45
And too few of God's people are
armed, equipped, and dangerous.
00:18:43.86\00:18:49.57
It's time for the
people of God to stand up
00:18:49.60\00:18:52.93
against the enemies of God.
00:18:52.96\00:18:54.90
It's time for the
people of God not to be scared
00:18:54.93\00:18:58.02
of the enemies of God.
00:18:58.05\00:18:59.52
If the devil is
going to do his thing,
00:18:59.55\00:19:01.67
then the people of
God must do their thing.
00:19:01.70\00:19:04.35
So tonight, put
your war clothes on.
00:19:04.38\00:19:07.32
We're at war. Put
your war clothes on.
00:19:07.95\00:19:10.79
And the warfare that
we're a part of is spiritual.
00:19:10.99\00:19:14.13
Everybody say, "spiritual."
00:19:14.16\00:19:15.79
In fact, we've been in
warfare all of our lives.
00:19:16.21\00:19:19.54
If you don't know Jesus,
you're in spiritual warfare.
00:19:19.63\00:19:24.01
And if you do know Jesus, you're
in warfare with the devil.
00:19:24.04\00:19:28.78
But I don't know about you,
but I'd rather be in warfare
00:19:29.08\00:19:32.39
with the devil than
be in warfare with God.
00:19:32.42\00:19:36.11
Because you can't
win with the devil.
00:19:36.14\00:19:39.13
But somebody knows
that you can win with God.
00:19:39.16\00:19:42.60
Genesis 3:15 says, "And I
will put enmity between thee
00:19:42.80\00:19:46.97
and the woman,
between thy seed and her Seed.
00:19:47.00\00:19:50.17
It shall bruise thy head,
and thou shalt bruise His heel."
00:19:50.20\00:19:54.26
In other words, there's been
an ongoing great controversy
00:19:54.54\00:19:58.95
between God and Satan.
00:19:58.98\00:20:00.84
An ongoing battle
between right and wrong.
00:20:00.87\00:20:04.91
And this battle will intensify
until the coming of the Lord.
00:20:04.94\00:20:08.68
But the text says,
here's the good news,
00:20:08.71\00:20:11.30
the text says that Satan
would bruise the heel of Jesus.
00:20:11.33\00:20:16.28
Which means that Jesus
would have to go to Calvary
00:20:16.31\00:20:19.23
to die for our sins.
00:20:19.26\00:20:21.58
But then the text also
says, hallelujah somebody,
00:20:21.61\00:20:24.85
that one day Jesus is going
to crush the head of Satan.
00:20:24.88\00:20:29.83
Hallelujah, somebody.
00:20:29.86\00:20:31.23
So then, you don't have to
wait until the battle is over,
00:20:31.47\00:20:34.37
you can go on and shout now.
00:20:34.40\00:20:36.18
Because you know in the
end, we are going to win.
00:20:36.21\00:20:39.70
Now, if you're going to
be successful in this battle,
00:20:40.00\00:20:42.74
put on the right war clothes.
00:20:43.38\00:20:45.30
If you want to be successful
in this fight, you've got to
00:20:45.33\00:20:48.87
be prepared for the fight.
00:20:48.90\00:20:51.15
And being prepared, part of
it is having the right weapons,
00:20:51.45\00:20:56.51
and then having on
the right uniform to
00:20:56.54\00:20:59.51
compliment the weapons.
00:20:59.54\00:21:01.11
Because if you don't
have on the right uniform,
00:21:01.14\00:21:03.43
you won't maximize
your use of the weapons
00:21:03.46\00:21:05.95
on your uniform.
00:21:05.98\00:21:07.49
Now most official fighting today
is done through the military.
00:21:07.95\00:21:15.60
Yes, there are some
people who, unfortunately,
00:21:16.31\00:21:20.71
fight each other
with their fists.
00:21:20.74\00:21:23.04
Come on and say amen.
00:21:23.07\00:21:24.44
But most official
fighting is done through
00:21:24.79\00:21:29.66
national militaries.
00:21:29.69\00:21:31.72
And it's going to get
worse as it comes to the end.
00:21:31.75\00:21:35.01
Let me throw this snippet in.
00:21:35.04\00:21:36.55
The war will not
cease in the Middle East.
00:21:36.58\00:21:40.81
The war will not cease in Syria.
00:21:41.14\00:21:44.87
The war will not
cease in Afghanistan.
00:21:44.90\00:21:48.99
Iraq will always be at war.
00:21:49.02\00:21:51.60
Iran will always be at war.
00:21:52.01\00:21:54.82
The Bible told us
this was going to happen.
00:21:54.85\00:21:57.51
Abraham, the father of
many nations, because of his
00:21:57.71\00:22:02.11
lapse of faith, laid
with his handmaid, Hagar,
00:22:02.14\00:22:06.46
who bore him a son, Ishmael.
00:22:06.49\00:22:09.01
And now for over 4000 years,
there has been bloodshed and
00:22:09.32\00:22:13.70
fighting and strife between
the son of the promise, Isaac,
00:22:13.73\00:22:17.89
and the son of
Abraham's disobedience, Ishmael.
00:22:17.92\00:22:21.01
And that's why we
have Iran versus Iraq,
00:22:21.04\00:22:23.73
who fight each other
all in the name of the Lord.
00:22:23.76\00:22:26.39
But it will not end.
00:22:28.45\00:22:29.82
Because I read somewhere in
the book of Matthew chapter 24
00:22:30.19\00:22:33.09
where Jesus said, "And ye shall
hear of wars and rumors of wars.
00:22:33.43\00:22:39.24
See that ye be not troubled.
00:22:39.27\00:22:41.97
For all these
things must come to pass.
00:22:42.00\00:22:44.98
But the end is not yet.
00:22:45.01\00:22:47.22
For nation
shall rise against..."
00:22:47.25\00:22:49.17
What, everybody?
00:22:49.20\00:22:50.57
"...nation, and
kingdom against..."
00:22:50.60\00:22:51.97
What, everybody?
00:22:52.00\00:22:53.37
"And there shall be
famine and pestilence
00:22:53.40\00:22:54.77
and earthquakes
in diverse places."
00:22:54.80\00:22:56.63
Jesus said, "All these
are the beginning of sorrows."
00:22:56.66\00:23:00.81
We look at the
United States military.
00:23:02.07\00:23:04.15
And there are approximately 1.5
million people actively serving
00:23:04.69\00:23:08.55
in the Unites
States Armed Forces.
00:23:08.58\00:23:10.91
Better known to us
as the Army, the Navy,
00:23:10.94\00:23:13.74
the Air Force, the Marines.
00:23:13.77\00:23:15.14
"Be all that you can be."
00:23:15.17\00:23:17.28
The Army is charged
to protect us by ground.
00:23:18.32\00:23:22.02
The Navy is charged
to protect us by sea.
00:23:22.41\00:23:26.17
The Air Force is
charged to protect us by air.
00:23:26.34\00:23:30.28
The Marines are charged
to protect us by providing
00:23:30.62\00:23:33.73
power projection from the
sea, to deliver combined armed
00:23:33.76\00:23:38.52
task forces quickly.
00:23:38.55\00:23:40.49
And every day these soldiers
wake up, they put on a uniform.
00:23:41.30\00:23:46.56
They put on a
uniform that identifies them,
00:23:47.48\00:23:51.04
a uniform that
distinguishes them,
00:23:51.49\00:23:54.60
a uniform that protects them.
00:23:54.63\00:23:57.86
Uniform colors
identify military branches.
00:23:57.89\00:24:01.92
Uniform patches distinguish
rank classifications.
00:24:01.95\00:24:06.90
And uniform accouterments
protect military soldiers.
00:24:06.93\00:24:11.89
In order to properly
fight, you have to have on
00:24:11.92\00:24:15.33
the right uniform.
00:24:15.36\00:24:16.73
You've got to have
on the right clothes.
00:24:16.76\00:24:19.66
But tonight, we're not
talking about physical battle.
00:24:19.69\00:24:22.67
Remember, we're talking
about a spiritual battle.
00:24:22.70\00:24:25.48
And spiritual battles
require spiritual strength.
00:24:25.58\00:24:29.48
Spiritual battles
require spiritual uniforms.
00:24:29.51\00:24:33.23
Spiritual battles
require spiritual weapons.
00:24:33.46\00:24:37.93
Paul said, "Put on
the whole armor of God..."
00:24:38.23\00:24:42.85
Not just part of
it, but all of it.
00:24:43.38\00:24:45.60
"...that ye may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil."
00:24:45.91\00:24:48.86
Without God's armor, we
will not be able to stand.
00:24:49.10\00:24:53.96
"For we wrestle not,"
Paul says, "against flesh
00:24:54.37\00:24:57.95
and against blood, but against
principalities, against powers,
00:24:57.98\00:25:02.89
against the rulers of
the darkness of this world,
00:25:02.92\00:25:04.42
against spiritual
wickedness in high places."
00:25:04.45\00:25:08.10
What is Paul telling us?
00:25:08.13\00:25:09.63
Don't get it twisted.
00:25:09.66\00:25:11.52
Your enemy is not your brother.
00:25:11.88\00:25:14.22
Your enemy is not your sister.
00:25:14.25\00:25:17.28
Your enemy is the devil.
00:25:17.31\00:25:19.31
And you have to understand
that the devil will use people.
00:25:19.34\00:25:23.04
And if we are not
spiritually mature enough,
00:25:24.61\00:25:27.76
we'll get in a fight with
a person when we're really
00:25:27.79\00:25:30.91
at war with the devil.
00:25:30.94\00:25:32.61
Let me make this practical.
00:25:33.18\00:25:34.93
Have you ever had
one of those weeks
00:25:36.82\00:25:39.34
where it seemed like
everyone you spoke with,
00:25:40.96\00:25:44.35
or everyone you
came in contact with,
00:25:44.97\00:25:47.87
there was some
conflict with them?
00:25:48.40\00:25:50.33
Tell the truth, chain the devil.
00:25:52.34\00:25:53.71
Anytime they said something,
or anytime you said something,
00:25:54.72\00:26:00.23
there was an argument,
there was a verbal conflict.
00:26:00.68\00:26:04.28
I heard a preacher once
say that to deal with this,
00:26:04.66\00:26:07.78
every now and then God would
have to put him on a word fast.
00:26:07.81\00:26:12.20
What is a word fast?
00:26:13.58\00:26:14.95
A word fast means, in
other words, God will say,
00:26:14.98\00:26:17.41
"Don't talk to anyone."
00:26:17.44\00:26:19.51
Now some of you will
think that's being evasive.
00:26:20.43\00:26:22.84
That's being sadiddy.
00:26:23.18\00:26:24.95
That's being aloof.
00:26:24.98\00:26:26.35
But you're not being aloof.
00:26:26.38\00:26:27.75
You're just under assignment
not to say anything to anybody.
00:26:27.78\00:26:30.98
Because if you say
the wrong thing to them,
00:26:31.01\00:26:33.37
they just might go off on you.
00:26:33.40\00:26:34.94
Anybody know what
I'm talking about?
00:26:34.97\00:26:36.34
So every now and then, God
will put you on a word fast.
00:26:36.85\00:26:40.70
And God will say,
"Don't say a thing.
00:26:40.73\00:26:44.42
Don't call him back.
00:26:45.12\00:26:47.60
Pray about it first
and think about it second."
00:26:47.86\00:26:51.11
And then, somebody knows,
after you've prayed about it,
00:26:51.56\00:26:54.66
after you've thought about it,
you recognize that it's not even
00:26:54.69\00:26:58.56
worth it for you to
come down to their level
00:26:58.59\00:27:01.15
to respond to
what they're saying.
00:27:01.18\00:27:02.83
Do I have a
witness in this place?
00:27:02.86\00:27:04.45
That's why I believe,
hallelujah, that caller id
00:27:04.87\00:27:08.67
is God ordained.
00:27:08.70\00:27:10.39
I've gotten to the point in
my life, I'm not answering that
00:27:12.71\00:27:15.97
because there's nothing
good coming out of that.
00:27:16.28\00:27:18.98
God's not in that.
00:27:19.01\00:27:20.38
Are you hearing what I'm saying?
00:27:20.41\00:27:21.78
You'll look at the phone
and say, "No, not today."
00:27:21.81\00:27:24.01
Because, somebody knows,
what it took five seconds to
00:27:24.04\00:27:26.90
get in your spirit could
take five weeks to get out.
00:27:26.93\00:27:30.24
"For we wrestle not
against flesh and blood,
00:27:32.57\00:27:35.61
but against
principalities, against powers,
00:27:35.64\00:27:38.29
against the rulers of
the darkness of this world,
00:27:38.32\00:27:40.12
against spiritual
wickedness in high places."
00:27:40.15\00:27:42.92
This thing, friends
of mine, is spiritual.
00:27:42.95\00:27:46.00
It's spiritual warfare.
00:27:46.64\00:27:49.45
So, I know whom I'm fighting.
00:27:50.15\00:27:53.61
The devil.
00:27:53.91\00:27:55.28
But what kind of
uniform do I need on to fight?
00:27:55.51\00:27:59.11
Because a soldier is no
better than his equipment.
00:27:59.57\00:28:03.27
We can't be on the
battlefield with Versace.
00:28:05.27\00:28:09.28
I'm stepping on somebody's toes.
00:28:13.59\00:28:15.08
Hugo Boss, Donna Karan.
00:28:15.74\00:28:20.38
But we have to have
on the right uniform.
00:28:21.15\00:28:24.60
In the text, Paul
identifies seven uniform pieces.
00:28:24.90\00:28:30.98
Because seven
signifies completion.
00:28:31.01\00:28:34.17
In the first five, he
talks about uniform pieces
00:28:34.59\00:28:38.63
designed to defend.
00:28:38.66\00:28:41.72
Everybody say, "defend."
00:28:41.95\00:28:43.43
Now, Paul describes the
armor of the Roman soldier.
00:28:43.93\00:28:48.71
And he uses the image of
their armor to teach us how we
00:28:48.74\00:28:51.94
need to dress up
for the battlefield.
00:28:51.97\00:28:54.38
Because if we're
going to win the war,
00:28:54.41\00:28:56.33
we've got to be dressed right.
00:28:56.36\00:28:58.16
We've got to put
our war clothes on.
00:28:58.19\00:29:01.41
He starts out with
number one in verse number 14.
00:29:01.71\00:29:04.27
He says, "Stand
therefore, having your loins
00:29:04.30\00:29:08.37
girt about with truth."
00:29:08.40\00:29:10.32
So number one,
the girdle of truth.
00:29:10.35\00:29:12.21
The girdle of what, everybody?
00:29:12.24\00:29:13.61
Come on. The
girdle of what, everybody?
00:29:13.64\00:29:15.11
Truth.
00:29:15.14\00:29:16.51
Now you may know,
or you may not know,
00:29:16.54\00:29:21.27
particularly the
brothers, but girdles are tight.
00:29:21.30\00:29:26.33
Girdles tighten things up.
00:29:28.99\00:29:32.90
Everybody on the
count of three say amen.
00:29:36.71\00:29:38.22
One, two, three. Amen.
00:29:38.25\00:29:40.50
Back in the day, the
girdle encircled the waist.
00:29:42.41\00:29:47.49
And the girdle served
to stabilize the body.
00:29:47.99\00:29:51.58
The girdle was designed
to protect the midsection
00:29:51.97\00:29:55.84
and provide the soldier with a
place to restrain his garments,
00:29:55.87\00:29:59.99
so that his movement
in the heat of the battle
00:30:00.02\00:30:01.99
would be unaltered.
00:30:02.02\00:30:03.58
Now, if you're a football
fan, and if you watch sports
00:30:04.47\00:30:09.10
and if you watch football,
running backs and wide receivers
00:30:09.13\00:30:13.45
when they put on their uniforms,
their uniforms are tight.
00:30:13.48\00:30:19.43
Because you don't
want to give the opponent
00:30:19.46\00:30:21.86
anything to grab.
00:30:21.89\00:30:24.18
I wish somebody knew
what I was talking about.
00:30:24.21\00:30:25.82
I want God's truth
to be so tight on me
00:30:26.49\00:30:31.63
that my
opponent can't grab me...
00:30:31.66\00:30:33.97
I wish I had a
witness in this place.
00:30:34.00\00:30:35.70
...and mess with me
with vain false doctrine.
00:30:36.02\00:30:40.40
Having your loins
gird about with truth
00:30:40.43\00:30:43.35
means knowing the
truth of the Word of God.
00:30:43.38\00:30:45.70
"Sanctify them
through Thy truth;
00:30:46.10\00:30:48.12
Thy Word is truth."
00:30:48.15\00:30:50.05
"And ye shall know
the truth, and the truth
00:30:50.08\00:30:52.27
shall set you free."
00:30:52.30\00:30:53.75
"To the law and to
the testimony, if they
00:30:53.78\00:30:56.18
speak not according to
this word, it is because
00:30:56.21\00:30:58.95
there is no light in them."
00:30:58.98\00:31:00.63
The truth will prevent
us from being tripped up
00:31:00.66\00:31:03.58
in the battles of life.
00:31:03.61\00:31:05.18
The truth will protect us.
00:31:06.77\00:31:08.54
Truth needs no defense.
00:31:08.57\00:31:10.70
The truth will keep
us, the truth will save us.
00:31:10.73\00:31:14.87
Jesus said, "I am the way, I
am the truth, I am the life."
00:31:14.90\00:31:18.32
So when you put on
truth, you put on Jesus.
00:31:18.35\00:31:20.66
Verse 14
continues with number two.
00:31:22.31\00:31:24.86
The breastplate
of righteousness.
00:31:25.29\00:31:27.28
Everybody say, "The
breastplate of righteousness."
00:31:27.31\00:31:30.84
Now, the breastplate
refers to the part of the body,
00:31:31.16\00:31:34.50
body armor that
was worn to protect
00:31:35.01\00:31:38.16
the vital areas of the body.
00:31:38.19\00:31:40.96
Specifically, the breastplate
covered and protected
00:31:41.54\00:31:46.17
the heart of the soldier.
00:31:46.20\00:31:48.79
You see, the devil
is after your heart.
00:31:49.33\00:31:52.97
In the Bible, the heart speaks
of that hidden part of the body
00:31:53.27\00:31:57.65
that nobody
sees but you and God.
00:31:57.68\00:32:01.78
The Bible says, "Man looketh
at the outward appearance,
00:32:01.81\00:32:05.59
but God looks at the heart."
00:32:05.62\00:32:08.35
The Bible says, "Love the Lord
thy God with all thine heart."
00:32:08.38\00:32:12.63
The Bible says,
"Blessed are the pure in heart."
00:32:12.66\00:32:16.35
The Bible says, "God will give
you the desires of your heart."
00:32:16.38\00:32:20.12
The Bible says, "Trust in
the Lord with all your heart."
00:32:20.15\00:32:23.50
When the devil attacks,
he's coming after your heart.
00:32:23.53\00:32:26.92
He's trying to get
that hidden person,
00:32:28.04\00:32:29.95
the hidden part of
you that nobody sees.
00:32:30.68\00:32:32.38
Because he knows if he can
disrupt your heart, he has you.
00:32:32.41\00:32:35.54
But God, hallelujah,
wants to protect our hearts.
00:32:35.83\00:32:40.58
Because God wants our hearts.
00:32:40.61\00:32:43.35
The breastplate was
to protect the heart.
00:32:43.38\00:32:46.15
But notice, Paul doesn't
just say, "the breastplate."
00:32:46.18\00:32:49.47
But Paul says, "the
breastplate of righteousness."
00:32:49.50\00:32:54.01
Before we found Jesus,
we were not right with God.
00:32:54.04\00:32:58.88
Before I found
Jesus, I was messed up.
00:32:59.08\00:33:03.31
Before I got to
know Jesus, I didn't know
00:33:03.61\00:33:07.37
which way I was going.
00:33:07.40\00:33:08.81
Because to know
Him is to love Him.
00:33:08.84\00:33:11.08
I wish somebody knew
what I was talking about.
00:33:11.11\00:33:12.74
But understand,
praise God for Jesus.
00:33:13.17\00:33:17.19
Praise God for Calvary.
00:33:17.22\00:33:19.46
Paul says in 2 Corinthians
5:21, "For God hath made Jesus
00:33:19.49\00:33:22.92
to be sin for us, who
knew," hallelujah, "no sin;
00:33:22.95\00:33:27.51
that we might be made the
righteousness of God in Him."
00:33:27.54\00:33:30.94
The righteousness of
God covers the child of God.
00:33:30.97\00:33:34.19
Our righteousness in the sight
of God is but as filthy rags.
00:33:35.16\00:33:38.49
But Romans 1:17
teaches that the righteousness
00:33:38.52\00:33:42.26
that God approves us is
righteousness which comes
00:33:42.29\00:33:44.90
by faith in Jesus Christ.
00:33:44.93\00:33:47.23
Number 3, verse 15
says, talking about uniform,
00:33:47.66\00:33:52.24
clothes, war clothes;
the shoes of the gospel.
00:33:52.27\00:33:56.84
Everybody say, "the gospel."
00:33:57.14\00:33:58.51
The Bible specifically
says, "Your feet shod with the
00:33:59.44\00:34:01.35
preparation of
the gospel of peace."
00:34:01.38\00:34:03.34
Roman soldiers wore
sandals that had nails driven
00:34:03.64\00:34:09.10
through the bottom
to provide the soldier
00:34:09.13\00:34:12.34
with sure footing
on the battlefield.
00:34:12.37\00:34:15.07
The soldier did not have to
worry about his feet slipping
00:34:15.40\00:34:19.44
in the heat of battle.
00:34:19.47\00:34:20.94
Because the soldier
was always well grounded.
00:34:21.27\00:34:25.25
As followers of Christ,
we have to be well grounded
00:34:26.07\00:34:31.35
in the things of God.
00:34:31.38\00:34:33.29
We have to know what we believe,
why we believe what we believe,
00:34:33.49\00:34:39.34
and where it's found.
00:34:39.37\00:34:40.78
That's why we've
got to come to church.
00:34:40.81\00:34:42.68
That's why we've got
to study the Word of God.
00:34:42.71\00:34:45.00
Because we need sure footing
against the wiles of the devil.
00:34:45.03\00:34:48.92
Let me tell you something.
00:34:48.95\00:34:50.32
You can't fight
the devil slipping.
00:34:50.35\00:34:52.34
You've got to be able to
grip the ground you walk on.
00:34:56.45\00:34:59.20
Are you hearing what I'm saying?
00:34:59.23\00:35:00.62
And I'm finding that there
are too many folks slipping.
00:35:00.65\00:35:04.75
Number four,
the shield of faith.
00:35:07.05\00:35:10.24
The shield of what, everybody?
00:35:10.27\00:35:11.65
Verse 16, "Above all,
taking the shield of faith,
00:35:12.50\00:35:14.70
wherewith ye shall be
able to quench all the
00:35:14.73\00:35:18.91
fiery darts of the wicked."
00:35:18.94\00:35:20.63
Now understand, this was
not a little round shield
00:35:20.66\00:35:25.99
that we've come
to know of today.
00:35:26.34\00:35:28.08
But this was a
large rectangular shield
00:35:28.71\00:35:32.29
behind which a soldier could
be safe from all the fiery darts
00:35:32.58\00:35:36.97
of the enemy.
00:35:37.31\00:35:38.68
The child of God must know that
before he or she goes in battle,
00:35:38.89\00:35:44.31
they must have in their
possession the shield of faith.
00:35:44.34\00:35:48.25
Our shield is not leather.
00:35:48.56\00:35:50.82
Our shield is not brass.
00:35:51.77\00:35:54.62
Our shield is not iron.
00:35:54.65\00:35:57.48
But our shield is our faith.
00:35:57.51\00:36:00.66
This shield will never
fail because faith honors God,
00:36:01.11\00:36:05.54
and God honors faith.
00:36:05.57\00:36:07.79
God rewards those...
I'm a living witness.
00:36:07.82\00:36:11.79
God rewards
those who are faithful.
00:36:11.82\00:36:15.63
If you have faith in
God, God will protect you.
00:36:15.66\00:36:19.36
God won't let your
enemies expose you.
00:36:19.39\00:36:23.07
God won't let your
enemies embarrass you.
00:36:23.10\00:36:26.43
Faith allows us to stand
in battle and receive victory
00:36:26.46\00:36:32.70
regardless of what we face.
00:36:32.73\00:36:34.71
Somebody knows,
"Faith cometh by hearing;
00:36:34.74\00:36:37.30
hearing by the Word of God."
00:36:37.33\00:36:39.28
"Faith is the
substance of things hoped for,
00:36:39.31\00:36:42.15
the evidence of
things not seen."
00:36:42.18\00:36:44.52
"Without faith, it is
impossible to please God."
00:36:44.55\00:36:47.74
"God is a rewarder of
them that diligently seek Him."
00:36:47.77\00:36:50.35
Friends of mine,
things may get rough.
00:36:50.38\00:36:55.94
But somebody knows,
keep on trusting in God.
00:36:55.97\00:36:58.85
You may feel like
giving up sometimes,
00:36:59.15\00:37:02.17
but keep on trusting in God.
00:37:02.20\00:37:04.96
There may be
sickness in your body,
00:37:04.99\00:37:07.40
but keep on trusting in God.
00:37:07.43\00:37:10.20
Your bills may be
due, your money may be low,
00:37:10.23\00:37:13.80
you may not have a
penny to your name,
00:37:13.83\00:37:16.11
but keep on trusting God.
00:37:16.14\00:37:18.41
I once was
young, but now I'm old.
00:37:18.44\00:37:22.05
And I've never seen
the righteous forsaken.
00:37:22.08\00:37:25.12
Your marriage may be in
shambles, but keep trusting God.
00:37:25.15\00:37:29.48
Your children may be
wild and out of control,
00:37:29.58\00:37:32.23
but keep trusting God.
00:37:34.00\00:37:35.67
Have faith in God.
00:37:36.21\00:37:40.46
Number five, verse 17,
the helmet of salvation.
00:37:41.47\00:37:44.72
The helmet of what, everybody?
00:37:44.75\00:37:46.12
Now, the helmet is
given to the Roman soldier
00:37:46.73\00:37:50.67
to protect the soldiers head.
00:37:50.97\00:37:53.81
Regardless of how well the rest
of the soldier was protected,
00:37:54.77\00:37:57.67
a blow to the head
of the soldier rendered
00:37:58.26\00:38:02.46
the soldier ineffective.
00:38:02.49\00:38:05.47
You can have everything else on,
but if you don't have anything
00:38:06.41\00:38:12.05
to protect your
head, you're in trouble.
00:38:12.08\00:38:16.31
That's why they tell you in
football that whatever you do,
00:38:16.83\00:38:20.77
don't take your helmet off.
00:38:21.08\00:38:24.13
If you get in a
fight or get in a skirmish,
00:38:24.16\00:38:26.57
don't take your helmet off.
00:38:26.60\00:38:29.39
Protect your head.
00:38:29.42\00:38:31.26
One blow by the
enemy across your head;
00:38:31.29\00:38:34.80
you'll fall with your girdle on,
00:38:34.83\00:38:37.06
you'll fall with
your breastplate on,
00:38:37.09\00:38:39.55
you'll fall with
your shield in your hand,
00:38:39.58\00:38:41.92
and you'll fall to the
ground with shoes on your feet,
00:38:41.95\00:38:45.42
you will be knocked out.
00:38:45.45\00:38:47.35
Dressed well, looking good,
in uniform, but knocked out.
00:38:47.65\00:38:53.74
Because there's
nothing to protect your head.
00:38:53.77\00:38:57.91
Salvation provides the
helmet that is necessary
00:38:58.56\00:39:02.80
to protect you from
the attacks of the enemy.
00:39:02.83\00:39:05.75
My Bible tells me
that there's only one name
00:39:05.78\00:39:08.92
under heaven
whereby we can be saved.
00:39:08.95\00:39:12.56
And that's the name of Jesus.
00:39:12.59\00:39:15.70
There is salvation in Jesus.
00:39:15.73\00:39:19.55
When we're pursuing salvation
in Jesus, we are transformed.
00:39:19.83\00:39:24.10
And it is this transformation
that allows us to think right,
00:39:24.13\00:39:28.31
walk right, act
right, talk right, do right.
00:39:28.72\00:39:34.71
Let me tell you something.
00:39:34.74\00:39:36.11
When we stand firm
for the truths of God,
00:39:36.14\00:39:39.20
let me tell you, Satan is going
to attack us from every angle.
00:39:39.23\00:39:42.54
It could be family members,
church members, class members,
00:39:43.93\00:39:49.60
co-workers, anything, anybody.
00:39:50.21\00:39:53.22
Satan will attack us.
00:39:53.25\00:39:55.28
And our shield against
these attacks is faith in God,
00:39:55.31\00:39:59.33
the truth of God,
and the belief in God,
00:39:59.36\00:40:01.36
and His ability to protect us.
00:40:01.39\00:40:03.14
The helmet of
salvation protects us.
00:40:03.17\00:40:06.71
The mind must be protected.
00:40:06.74\00:40:09.30
That's why, as the
old folks use to sing,
00:40:09.33\00:40:11.26
"I'm walking and talking
with my mind stayed on Jesus."
00:40:11.29\00:40:15.31
The girdle of truth, the
breastplate of righteousness,
00:40:15.61\00:40:20.26
the shoes of the
gospel, the shield of faith,
00:40:20.29\00:40:25.31
the helmet of salvation.
00:40:25.34\00:40:27.91
They were all weapons,
all a part of the uniform,
00:40:27.94\00:40:32.24
that was designed to defend.
00:40:32.27\00:40:35.55
But God has some more weapons.
00:40:36.38\00:40:39.87
God has some more
uniform accessories.
00:40:40.25\00:40:43.98
But if he strikes,
you better strike back.
00:41:12.98\00:41:18.01
How do I strike back?
00:41:18.75\00:41:20.12
Verse 17 says, "And take
the helmet of salvation."
00:41:20.15\00:41:22.38
And number six,
"The sword of the Spirit,
00:41:22.41\00:41:27.23
which is the word of God."
00:41:27.56\00:41:30.96
The B-I-B-L-E.
00:42:14.26\00:42:16.04
Yes, that's the book for me.
00:42:16.07\00:42:18.67
I stand alone on the
Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E.
00:42:18.70\00:42:22.56
But I've got some more offense.
00:42:22.59\00:42:24.89
After the word of God, I
strike with number seven.
00:42:25.49\00:42:30.41
Number seven is prayer.
00:42:30.75\00:42:32.46
Everybody say, "prayer."
00:42:32.49\00:42:33.86
"Praying always with
all prayer and supplication
00:42:34.14\00:42:37.92
in the Spirit," verse 18
says, "and watching thereunto
00:42:37.95\00:42:41.33
with all perseverance and
supplication for all saints."
00:42:41.36\00:42:45.33
God's Word says,
"Anything you ask,
00:42:45.36\00:42:50.10
anything you ask in My
name, if you just believe,
00:42:50.91\00:42:55.14
you shall receive."
00:42:55.17\00:42:57.09
"Anything you ask, ask
and it shall be give you."
00:42:57.30\00:43:00.65
"Seek and ye shall find,
knock and the door shall be
00:43:00.68\00:43:05.17
opened unto you."
00:43:05.20\00:43:06.57
This is the confidence
we have in approaching God,
00:43:06.60\00:43:09.89
that whatever we
ask, we know we have.
00:43:09.92\00:43:12.94
I found the answer.
00:43:12.97\00:43:14.97
I said, I found the answer.
00:43:15.37\00:43:17.66
I've learned how to pray.
00:43:17.69\00:43:20.27
We use to sing,
"Jesus on the mainline.
00:43:20.30\00:43:23.27
Tell Him what you want.
00:43:23.30\00:43:25.23
Call Him up and
tell Him what you want."
00:43:25.26\00:43:27.72
You can even call collect.
00:43:27.75\00:43:29.67
He'll accept.
00:43:29.88\00:43:31.25
Tell Him what you want.
00:43:31.28\00:43:33.15
Yes, church of the
living God, I have some defense.
00:43:33.18\00:43:36.24
But I have some offense too.
00:43:36.27\00:43:38.09
The girdle of truth, the
breastplate of righteousness,
00:43:38.12\00:43:41.29
the shoes of the
gospel, the shield of faith,
00:43:41.32\00:43:44.21
the helmet of salvation.
00:43:44.24\00:43:45.78
Yes, they're all weapons.
00:43:45.81\00:43:47.40
Yes, they're all
uniform armaments that are
00:43:47.43\00:43:49.71
designed to defend.
00:43:49.74\00:43:51.11
But I have some offense.
00:43:51.14\00:43:52.94
The sword; the Word of God.
00:43:54.00\00:43:56.86
I have prayer.
00:43:57.40\00:43:59.04
And let me tell you
this; prayer time is high time.
00:43:59.32\00:44:04.55
I said, prayer
time is high time.
00:44:05.21\00:44:08.75
When you fall on your knees,
you'll feel your heart ease.
00:44:09.24\00:44:14.08
Because Jesus is
near and He will hear
00:44:14.11\00:44:17.51
when you pray.
00:44:17.54\00:44:18.91
Sooner than right now,
faster than immediately,
00:44:18.94\00:44:22.33
the Lord answers prayer.
00:44:22.36\00:44:24.82
I can fall on my knees and pray.
00:44:25.31\00:44:27.28
I serve a prayer answering God.
00:44:27.97\00:44:30.15
Anybody else serve a
prayer answering God?
00:44:30.35\00:44:32.97
Let me tell you, the
enemy can't stand prayer.
00:44:33.34\00:44:37.57
The enemy can't stand prayer.
00:44:39.50\00:44:41.25
So because I'm in the business
of making the enemy mad,
00:44:41.78\00:44:44.97
you've got to
pray without ceasing.
00:44:45.55\00:44:48.17
You've got to
pray in the Spirit.
00:44:49.50\00:44:52.45
I'm grateful to
know that in this army,
00:44:52.74\00:44:55.25
I have direct communication
with the Commander in Chief.
00:44:55.28\00:45:00.05
I don't have to go
through any sergeants.
00:45:00.08\00:45:02.73
I don't have to go
through any captains.
00:45:02.76\00:45:05.08
I don't have to go
through any lieutenants.
00:45:05.11\00:45:07.48
I don't have to go through any
generals or private officers.
00:45:07.51\00:45:10.45
I don't have to go
through a room and confess my
00:45:10.48\00:45:12.76
sins to another man.
00:45:12.79\00:45:14.16
Prayer unleashes the
power of God in your life.
00:45:45.47\00:45:48.77
Let me tell you something.
00:45:49.04\00:45:50.41
There's a lot of things
the devil can try to do to you.
00:45:50.44\00:45:52.08
But one thing the devil
can't do; the devil can't
00:45:52.11\00:45:53.79
stop you from praying.
00:45:53.82\00:45:55.25
And the devil can't stop God
from answering prayer either.
00:45:56.30\00:45:58.94
Whatever you want, God's got it.
00:45:59.40\00:46:02.96
Whatever you
need, He will supply.
00:46:03.44\00:46:06.52
Whatever you want, God's got it.
00:46:06.72\00:46:08.50
My friend, right now it's yours.
00:46:08.53\00:46:10.60
Put your war clothes on.
00:46:10.63\00:46:15.63
Put your war clothes on.
00:46:16.15\00:46:21.27
Because I'm a soldier
in the army of the Lord.
00:46:21.72\00:46:27.21
I said, I'm a soldier
in the army of the Lord.
00:46:27.24\00:46:32.93
I've got my war clothes on,
00:46:33.40\00:46:36.30
in the army of the Lord.
00:46:37.01\00:46:39.88
If I die, let me die
in the army of the Lord.
00:46:39.91\00:46:45.13
God wants
soldiers, not scaredy cats.
00:46:45.42\00:46:48.36
God wants warriors, not wimps.
00:46:48.39\00:46:50.95
God has not given us a spirit
of fear, but a spirit of love,
00:46:50.98\00:46:55.52
a spirit of
power, and a sound mind.
00:46:55.55\00:46:58.41
No weapon formed
against you is going to prosper.
00:46:58.44\00:47:02.16
"If God be for us,
who can be against us."
00:47:02.19\00:47:05.96
"The kingdom suffereth
violence, but the violent
00:47:05.99\00:47:09.08
take it by force."
00:47:09.11\00:47:10.48
"Be strong in the Lord,
in the power of His might."
00:47:10.57\00:47:14.34
"Fret not thyself
because of evil doers,
00:47:14.37\00:47:17.27
neither be thou envious against
the workers of iniquity."
00:47:17.30\00:47:20.12
God is going to cut them down,
00:47:20.15\00:47:22.22
like the grass.
00:47:24.66\00:47:26.60
"The Lord is my
light, my salvation.
00:47:26.63\00:47:31.53
Whom shall I fear?
00:47:32.08\00:47:33.91
The Lord is the
strength of my life.
00:47:33.94\00:47:36.93
Of whom shall I be afraid?"
00:47:36.96\00:47:38.65
"Lift up your
heads, O ye gates."
00:47:38.68\00:47:41.27
I said, "Lift up
your heads, O ye gates.
00:47:41.30\00:47:44.39
And be ye lifted up,
ye everlasting doors.
00:47:44.42\00:47:48.29
And the King of
glory, the King of glory,
00:47:48.32\00:47:52.59
shall come in."
00:47:52.62\00:47:54.41
Somebody asks, "Who
is the King of glory?
00:47:54.44\00:47:57.06
The Lord strong and mighty.
00:47:57.09\00:47:59.65
Who is the King of glory?
00:47:59.68\00:48:01.74
The Lord mighty in battle."
00:48:01.77\00:48:04.33
Get your war clothes ready.
00:48:04.54\00:48:06.95
Get your fighting shoes ready.
00:48:06.98\00:48:09.25
I'm ready.
00:48:09.74\00:48:11.18
I said, I'm ready.
00:48:11.21\00:48:12.86
Are you ready?
00:48:13.17\00:48:14.74
But don't worry.
00:48:15.34\00:48:16.71
The fight is fixed.
00:48:17.32\00:48:19.15
The battle is already won.
00:48:27.78\00:48:29.31
Do I have a
witness in this place?
00:48:29.34\00:48:30.76
The battle is not yours.
00:48:31.60\00:48:34.29
It's the Lord's.
00:48:34.32\00:48:35.77
The fight is already fixed.
00:48:35.80\00:48:39.52
Because, "Jesus went to Calvary
00:48:41.11\00:48:45.01
to save a wretch
00:48:46.07\00:48:47.91
like you and me.
00:48:48.38\00:48:50.67
That's love. That's love.
00:48:50.70\00:48:53.38
They hung Him high,
00:48:53.41\00:48:54.97
they stretched Him wide.
00:48:55.69\00:48:58.07
He hung His head;
00:48:58.51\00:49:00.53
for me He died.
00:49:01.09\00:49:03.60
That's love. That's love."
00:49:04.27\00:49:06.78
Then I like this
part, "And that's not how
00:49:06.81\00:49:09.71
the story ends.
00:49:10.80\00:49:13.12
In three days He rose again.
00:49:13.32\00:49:19.68
That's love. That's love."
00:49:19.97\00:49:21.34
And because he lives, I live.
00:49:21.37\00:49:24.46
Because He got up,
one day the dead in Christ
00:49:24.49\00:49:27.95
are going to get up.
00:49:27.98\00:49:29.35
"And then we which are
alive and remain are going to be
00:49:29.38\00:49:31.70
caught up to meet
the Lord in the air.
00:49:31.73\00:49:34.93
And so shall we
ever be with the Lord."
00:49:34.96\00:49:41.52
We close this way.
00:49:43.84\00:49:45.34
A Roman conquistador
was different than a
00:49:47.76\00:49:54.32
Roman centurion soldier.
00:49:54.35\00:49:57.60
There's a difference
between a Roman conquistador
00:49:59.12\00:50:02.00
and a Roman soldier.
00:50:03.35\00:50:05.88
A Roman conquistador
wore a breastplate...
00:50:06.95\00:50:12.78
Look it up.
00:50:12.81\00:50:14.18
...that covered and
protected the entire body.
00:50:14.56\00:50:18.57
A Roman
conquistador wore a breastplate
00:50:20.09\00:50:25.12
that protected
the back, the front.
00:50:25.52\00:50:30.20
The entire body was protected.
00:50:31.03\00:50:35.44
But a Roman
centurion wore a breastplate
00:50:37.20\00:50:44.14
that protected only the chest.
00:50:44.44\00:50:47.64
The back wasn't protected.
00:50:49.26\00:50:51.56
So once you started
in battle, if you were a
00:50:52.95\00:50:56.18
Roman centurion soldier,
you had to move forward.
00:50:56.21\00:51:00.54
You couldn't go backward.
00:51:03.93\00:51:05.60
You couldn't turn around.
00:51:06.86\00:51:08.99
You couldn't retreat.
00:51:09.62\00:51:11.90
There was no
option of turning back,
00:51:12.68\00:51:16.02
because your back
was not protected.
00:51:16.74\00:51:20.56
Tonight, I just
stopped by to tell somebody
00:51:21.91\00:51:26.73
that I'm not a
Roman conquistador.
00:51:28.09\00:51:31.25
But I'm a Roman
centurion servant.
00:51:31.96\00:51:36.13
Which means, I'm not going back.
00:51:36.16\00:51:40.50
I'm not retreating.
00:51:41.18\00:51:43.74
I'm not turning around.
00:51:44.23\00:51:46.11
The Lord has brought me too
far for me to turn back now.
00:51:46.14\00:51:50.11
I wish I had a
witness in this place.
00:51:50.14\00:51:52.42
I'm going forward.
00:51:52.80\00:51:55.71
I press toward the mark
of the high calling of God.
00:51:55.74\00:52:01.10
In Jesus
Christ, I won't go back.
00:52:01.13\00:52:04.76
I can't go back.
00:52:05.14\00:52:07.83
I've come too far.
00:52:07.86\00:52:10.25
The Lord has been
mighty good to me.
00:52:10.28\00:52:12.72
And I've got to
tell it everywhere I go.
00:52:12.82\00:52:16.18
He loosed my
shackles and He set me free.
00:52:16.21\00:52:19.85
I've got to tell it
00:52:19.88\00:52:21.90
everywhere I go.
00:52:25.00\00:52:26.78
I won't go back.
00:52:26.81\00:52:30.06
Tonight, are you going
to be a Roman conquistador
00:52:32.93\00:52:38.75
or a Roman centurion servant?
00:52:40.61\00:52:44.48
I'm going to be a
Roman centurion servant.
00:52:49.21\00:52:51.62
Because this
one thing I do know,
00:52:53.96\00:52:55.65
when I put my war clothes on;
00:52:55.68\00:52:57.78
helmet, shield, sword, girdle,
00:52:59.93\00:53:06.06
I've got the Word
of God, I'm praying,
00:53:06.59\00:53:08.78
when I put my Roman
centurion servants uniform on,
00:53:08.81\00:53:13.88
I'm not so much
worried about my back.
00:53:15.33\00:53:19.11
Because I know
God has got my back.
00:53:20.30\00:53:23.24
Tonight, I don't care
what you did back in the day.
00:53:28.74\00:53:33.81
I don't care what you did
back last week, back last...
00:53:36.05\00:53:39.10
For somebody, what
you did back last night.
00:53:39.13\00:53:42.66
If you want to be a
Roman centurion servant,
00:53:44.84\00:53:47.03
walk in the knowledge of
God, walk in the will of God,
00:53:47.06\00:53:54.16
walk in the way of God...
00:53:55.42\00:53:57.99
You're willing to put your
uniform and your war clothes on,
00:53:58.77\00:54:03.01
knowing that it's
not going to be easy.
00:54:03.90\00:54:05.56
But you also know you
may lose some battles,
00:54:06.43\00:54:09.38
but we're going to win the war
because the war is already won.
00:54:09.41\00:54:11.91
The battle is not yours.
00:54:13.52\00:54:15.83
The battle is the Lord's.
00:54:17.26\00:54:21.06
If that's you
tonight, I just want you to
00:54:21.78\00:54:23.74
stand with me as we pray.
00:54:23.77\00:54:25.53
That, "God, I
want to be a soldier."
00:54:27.07\00:54:29.56
That, "God, I won't go
back. God, I can't go back.
00:54:30.43\00:54:34.15
God, You've just
been too good to me."
00:54:34.18\00:54:38.37
Tonight if that's
you, stand with me.
00:54:40.24\00:54:41.91
You're not standing because
someone else is standing,
00:54:41.94\00:54:43.70
but you're standing
because the Holy Spirit
00:54:43.73\00:54:45.44
has spoken to you to stand.
00:54:45.47\00:54:47.59
"Having done all, to stand."
00:54:47.62\00:54:50.22
Stand; even those
watching by television today.
00:54:50.75\00:54:53.58
You might be in your home, you
might be in your living room,
00:54:54.38\00:54:56.28
you might be in your bedroom,
you might be around your
00:54:56.31\00:54:58.38
kitchen table; God's calling you
to be a Roman centurion soldier,
00:54:58.41\00:55:03.23
to put your war clothes on.
00:55:04.54\00:55:06.36
Yea, we're going to have
some battles till the end.
00:55:07.82\00:55:09.69
There's a great
controversy going on.
00:55:09.72\00:55:11.36
But fully and
clearly understand,
00:55:12.60\00:55:15.17
the war has already been won.
00:55:16.75\00:55:18.42
God, thank You.
00:55:19.44\00:55:20.81
God, we praise You tonight.
00:55:21.56\00:55:23.57
God, we lift You up
and we magnify Your name.
00:55:24.37\00:55:27.67
Tonight, we put
our war clothes on.
00:55:28.34\00:55:32.07
We put our war
clothes on tonight, Lord.
00:55:32.68\00:55:35.33
So God, give us our uniforms.
00:55:36.00\00:55:38.01
Give us our uniforms that
we might be able to stand.
00:55:38.35\00:55:41.33
Stand as mighty men,
stand as mighty women,
00:55:42.21\00:55:45.20
stand as mighty young people,
stand as mighty boys and girls.
00:55:45.23\00:55:48.56
That we might stand
as a people for Thee,
00:55:48.59\00:55:51.01
our Lord God.
00:55:52.59\00:55:53.96
I pray in the name of Jesus
that, Lord, through this series,
00:55:55.17\00:55:57.70
that You will do
something special and specific
00:55:57.73\00:56:00.03
for everyone who's
on their feet right now,
00:56:00.06\00:56:02.41
for everyone who's in
their home watching right now
00:56:02.71\00:56:04.68
that, oh Lord, is going
through a battle right now.
00:56:04.71\00:56:07.80
God, through these
messages this week, through our
00:56:08.00\00:56:10.33
worship this week,
do something for us.
00:56:10.36\00:56:14.15
And God, we'll be careful
to give You all the praise,
00:56:15.22\00:56:19.04
all the honor, and
every single bit of the glory.
00:56:19.95\00:56:22.92
We thank You for
the ministry of 3ABN.
00:56:22.95\00:56:25.21
We ask that you'll be with
its leaders, its production.
00:56:25.80\00:56:28.66
As it goes across the
airwaves, may people see Jesus,
00:56:28.69\00:56:31.10
and never be the same again.
00:56:31.13\00:56:32.74
Lord, we pray for
Oakwood University;
00:56:33.44\00:56:35.39
our leadership,
students, our faculty,
00:56:35.78\00:56:38.36
our staff, our community.
00:56:38.39\00:56:39.76
God, bless us.
00:56:39.79\00:56:41.16
And like a mighty army,
move Your people, we pray.
00:56:42.29\00:56:46.08
And we'll be careful, oh
God, to give You all the praise,
00:56:47.08\00:56:49.81
the honor, and every
single bit of the glory.
00:56:50.47\00:56:53.85
It's in the name of Jesus,
our Commander in Chief, we pray.
00:56:54.39\00:57:00.30
Let everyone say amen. Amen.
00:57:00.92\00:57:03.91
If you want to put
your war clothes on,
00:57:03.94\00:57:05.49
come on and give God some
praise, all of us together.
00:57:05.52\00:57:07.90
God bless you.
00:57:09.75\00:57:11.12
You may be seated.
00:57:11.67\00:57:13.04