Sermon #S040 - When God Disrupts
Your Contentment - (Part 1)
00:00:06.30\00:00:20.18
Pastor Snell: Hebrews chapter 11
and verse 24. When you get
there, lemme hear you say Amen.
00:00:20.22\00:00:23.92
[ Congregation: Amen]
00:00:23.95\00:00:25.55
Now one of the things I do want
to say, just as a foundation for
00:00:25.59\00:00:27.66
the message today, how many of
us understand that the key to
happiness is to live a life of
00:00:27.69\00:00:35.26
service? [ Congregation: Amen]
00:00:35.30\00:00:36.36
Okay, some of you all
seem like you don't believe it,
00:00:36.40\00:00:38.30
like I need somebody to be clear
that the key to the happiness is
not just in how much you
00:00:38.33\00:00:44.64
receive, how much you possess,
but in how frequently you allow
yourself to be a blessing to
00:00:44.67\00:00:51.58
somebody else. [
Congregation: Amen]
00:00:51.61\00:00:52.61
Amen. Hebrews
chapter 11 and verse 24.
00:00:52.65\00:00:57.25
When you get there,
say, pastor, I'm here.
00:00:57.29\00:00:58.79
[ Congregation: I'm here]
00:00:58.82\00:01:00.92
The Bible says, by faith, Moses
when he became of age, refused
to be called the son of
00:01:00.96\00:01:07.76
Pharaoh's daughter. Choosing
rather to suffer affliction with
the people of God than to enjoy
00:01:07.83\00:01:16.57
the passing pleasures of sin is
steaming the reproach of Christ,
greater riches than the
00:01:16.60\00:01:21.98
treasures of Egypt. For he
looked toward the reward by
faith, he forsook Egypt,
00:01:22.01\00:01:27.62
not fearing the wrath of the
king for he endured as seeing
him who is invisible.
00:01:27.65\00:01:35.06
Now go over, if you don't mind,
to Exodus chapter three will
read a a fair amount, not all of
00:01:35.09\00:01:41.00
it, but just enough to kind of
give you context today. Exodus
chapter three, and we'll begin
00:01:41.03\00:01:46.80
together at verse number one.
That's the first second book in
the Bible. Exodus three and
00:01:46.84\00:01:52.21
verse one, when you get there,
just say, pastor, I'm there. [
Congregation: I'm there]
00:01:52.24\00:01:54.21
Exodus chapter three and verse
number one, the Bible says, now
Moses was tending the flock of
00:01:54.24\00:02:01.52
Jethro, his father-in-law, the
priest of Midian, and he led the
flock to the back of the desert
00:02:01.55\00:02:06.72
and he came to ho
the mountain of God
00:02:06.76\00:02:09.72
and the angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a flame of
fire from the midst of a bush.
00:02:09.76\00:02:16.03
So he looked and beheld the bush
was burning with fire, but the
bush, somebody check this out,
00:02:16.06\00:02:26.71
is on fire, but it's not
consumed. Then Moses said, I
will now turn aside and see this
00:02:26.74\00:02:36.38
great site, why the bush does
not burn. So when the Lord saw
that he had turned aside to
00:02:36.42\00:02:43.19
look, God called to him from the
midst of the burning bush and
said, Moses, Moses. And he said,
00:02:43.22\00:02:48.36
here I am. Then he said, do not
draw near this place. Take your
sandals off your feet for the
00:02:48.40\00:02:54.37
place where you stand is holy
ground. We still believe we
ought to reverence God every now
00:02:54.40\00:03:01.01
and then that we ought to show
some deference to our great
king. When you approach God,
00:03:01.04\00:03:06.72
even in your private worship,
realize you're not calling your
homeboy or your homegirl. Like
00:03:06.75\00:03:10.49
we talking to the omnipotent
one, the ancient of days. Then
the Bible says here in verse
00:03:10.52\00:03:16.62
six, moreover he said, I am the
Lord, the God of your father,
the God of Abraham, the God of
00:03:16.66\00:03:22.36
Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And
Moses hid his face for he was
afraid to look upon God. And the
00:03:22.40\00:03:28.44
Lord said, I have surely seen
the oppression of my people who
are in Egypt and have heard
00:03:28.47\00:03:30.24
their cry because of their
taskmasters. For I know the
Bible says their sorrows Now
00:03:30.27\00:03:39.21
slip back over to Exodus chapter
two in verse 11. Exodus chapter
two in verse 11. Again, we're
00:03:39.25\00:03:45.62
just providing some context for
our story today. Exodus two, in
verse 11, the Bible says before
00:03:45.65\00:03:50.66
Moses gets to Midian, now it
came to pass in those days when
Moses was grown, that he went
00:03:50.69\00:03:55.30
out to his brethren and he
looked at their burdens and he
saw an Egyptian beating a
00:03:55.33\00:04:00.90
Hebrew, one of his brethren. So
he looked this way and that way
and when he saw no one, he
00:04:00.94\00:04:08.74
killed the Egyptian and hid him
in the sand. And when he went
out the second day, behold two
00:04:08.78\00:04:15.48
Hebrew men were fighting and he
said to the one who did wrong,
why are you striking your
00:04:15.52\00:04:21.22
companion? Then he said, to who
made you prince and judge over
us? Do you intend to kill me as
00:04:21.26\00:04:27.73
you kill the Egyptian? So Moses
feared and said, surely this
thing is known. And when Pharaoh
00:04:27.76\00:04:34.17
heard of this matter, he sought
to kill Moses, but Moses fled
from the face of Pharaoh and
00:04:34.20\00:04:39.01
dwelt in the land of Midian and
he sat down there by the well.
Then the Bible says here in
00:04:39.04\00:04:45.15
verse number 16, the priest of
Midian had seven daughters and
they came and drew water and
00:04:45.18\00:04:49.22
they filled the trust to water,
the father's flock. Then
shepherds came and drove them
00:04:49.25\00:04:55.99
away, but Moses stood up and
helped them and watered the
flock. Verse 19, when they get
00:04:56.02\00:04:59.49
home, they tell their dad all
about it. They say, an Egyptian
delivered us from the hand of
00:04:59.53\00:05:02.63
the shepherd and drew enough
water for us and also watered
00:05:02.66\00:05:06.57
the flock. So he said to his
daughter, so where is he? Why is
it that you have left the man?
00:05:06.60\00:05:11.57
Call him that he may eat bread.
00:05:11.61\00:05:13.84
Verse 21. Then the Bible says,
then Moses was content to live
with the man and he gave Zepora
00:05:13.88\00:05:26.02
his daughter to Moses. Verse 21,
the Bible says then Moses was
content to live with the man and
00:05:26.05\00:05:35.36
he gave Zepora his daughter to
Moses. Today, saints, I want to
talk to you for a little while
00:05:35.40\00:05:38.27
under the subject, when God
disrupts your contentment, let's
00:05:38.30\00:05:48.08
pray together. Father, would you
allow a palatable anointing to
settle over today's service.
00:05:48.11\00:05:59.85
Father, I'm asking in the name
of Jesus Christ that you would
give us a sensitivity to your
00:05:59.89\00:06:06.90
voice and the courage to act
according to your divine will.
00:06:06.93\00:06:11.53
Father, I'm praying that you
would help raise up a generation
that does not live by sight,
00:06:11.57\00:06:17.41
but teach us, oh God, how to
walk by faith. Father, I believe
that you have a special work for
00:06:17.44\00:06:25.25
many, yay, all of us to do. And
so Father, give us Lord the
dexterity, Lord, the elasticity
00:06:25.28\00:06:32.45
of spirit to be willing to
pivot, Lord, wherever you move
us. So Lord, would you hide me
00:06:32.49\00:06:39.33
in the shadows of the cross that
Jesus alone might be seen, that
Christ alone would be heard. And
00:06:39.36\00:06:44.83
at the end of our time together,
may Jesus alone be praised. We
ask this in the name of him who
00:06:44.87\00:06:50.77
is all together lovely. It is in
the name of Jesus that we pray
all things, let God's people say
00:06:50.81\00:06:53.54
together. Amen and
amen. [ Congregation: Amen]
00:06:53.58\00:06:55.71
You may be seated in the house
of the Lord again today we are
talking under the subject when
00:06:55.74\00:07:06.69
God disrupts your contentment.
00:07:06.72\00:07:11.56
Sometimes when we look at the
call of Moses, sometimes we
assume that this is where God
00:07:11.59\00:07:24.51
begins with Moses, when in truth
God shows up to preserve what is
left. In other words,
00:07:24.54\00:07:30.78
there is something in inside
of Moses that is on the verge of
00:07:30.81\00:07:36.82
dying. If God does not intervene
at this moment, you see the
problem is too often we see
00:07:36.85\00:07:46.86
Moses as this benign docile,
stuttering, shepherd when the
truth is we forget who Moses
00:07:46.90\00:07:56.20
actually was. You see Moses was
actually a militant, bold,
weaponized advocate for the
00:07:56.24\00:08:00.84
Hebrew people. You see, Moses
does not emerge as some
disquieted soul from an
00:08:00.88\00:08:07.92
oppressed people. Moses leaves
his unoppressed position to
begin to advocate for an
00:08:07.95\00:08:16.46
oppressed children of Israel. In
other words, this fight is not
necessarily his. And yet Moses
00:08:16.49\00:08:26.33
identifies himself with the
afflicted in Egypt and it's
crazy because the Bible says
00:08:26.37\00:08:34.44
that he reaches a point where he
refuses to be called the son of
Pharaoh's daughter and he would
00:08:34.48\00:08:43.32
rather suffer affliction with
the people than to enjoy the
pleasures of sin for a season.
00:08:43.35\00:08:52.96
And it's crazy because Moses
gets to a place where he can no
longer enjoy his personal
00:08:52.99\00:08:58.17
comforts as long as he is in
close proximity with somebody's
pain. And let me just say this
00:08:58.20\00:09:05.27
to the church, that there is
something wrong with your
religious journey. There is
00:09:05.31\00:09:13.95
something broken with your
spiritual construct. There is
something wrong inside if you
00:09:13.98\00:09:21.66
can enjoy your comfort when you
are close to somebody else's
pain. In other words, church, I
00:09:21.69\00:09:31.03
need you to know that something
is dying inside of you when you
see other people's problems as
00:09:31.07\00:09:38.47
somebody else's problem.
Remember now that James says
that pure and undefiled religion
00:09:38.51\00:09:40.61
is this, is to visit the
fatherless and the widows in
their affliction and to keep
00:09:40.64\00:09:49.18
yourself unspotted from the
world. And other words, friends,
your religion is incomplete if
00:09:49.22\00:09:50.45
all of it does is create a
religious covid mask to keep you
from being infected by the
00:09:50.49\00:09:55.52
world. I need you to know good
religion has a level of advocacy
to it. In other words, good
00:09:55.56\00:10:01.13
religion is not just about my
personal sinlessness, good
religion causes me to pour into
00:10:01.16\00:10:06.10
your brokenness. [Congregation:
Amen] And it's crazy because I'm
not sure if Moses has been born
00:10:06.13\00:10:10.37
again. I don't know exactly
where he is in his walk with
00:10:10.41\00:10:13.84
God. But it's crazy because in
his natural devices he comes to
the conclusion that there is
00:10:13.88\00:10:21.62
something wrong for me to have
all these resources and all
these benefits and all this
00:10:21.65\00:10:27.46
opportunity and I hoard it
without addressing somebody who
00:10:27.49\00:10:32.16
is suffering. And see friends
too often the issue is that our
lives reflect the trends of
00:10:32.19\00:10:39.10
secular culture where we don't
begin to embrace the missionary
tenets of Jesus Christ.
00:10:39.13\00:10:44.71
You see, too often, even Oakwood
students choose a career instead
of embracing God's call.
00:10:44.74\00:10:52.38
Too often the aim of young
couples is to build an empire as
opposed to advancing a kingdom.
00:10:52.41\00:11:00.79
And what happened is our goal is
to live these very comfortable
00:11:00.82\00:11:05.56
and safe survival-based lives
where the only risk we take are
for our own benefit.
00:11:05.59\00:11:13.07
And for many today I need you to
know the missing part of your
walk with God is an active level
00:11:13.10\00:11:22.71
of advocacy. Let me say it again
that the missing part of your
walk with God is an active level
00:11:22.74\00:11:28.78
of advocacy. Now the reason some
are indifferent is because when
you hear the term advocate,
00:11:28.82\00:11:33.69
you think it means that you have
to join an organization or a
cause or get a certain title.
00:11:33.72\00:11:39.93
But how many of us know that
when you are in close proximity
00:11:39.96\00:11:44.73
to suffering, that you don't
have to have a title to be an
advocate. In other words,
00:11:44.77\00:11:50.07
when you live a life that is
dedicated to service, it makes
you an advocate for your fellow
00:11:50.11\00:11:57.25
man. You see how many of us know
that if you have resources you
can be an advocate for the poor,
00:11:57.28\00:12:02.68
that you can be an advocate for
children, that you can be an
advocate for those with cancer,
00:12:02.72\00:12:08.96
you can be an advocate for the
immigrant, you can be an
advocate for the missing.
00:12:08.99\00:12:14.36
Is there anybody that knows you
can be an emotional advocate,
that you can be a spiritual
00:12:14.36\00:12:20.94
advocate, that you can be a
financial advocate. And the
thing I need somebody to know is
00:12:20.97\00:12:28.01
that Jesus said, you are more
blessed to be able to give than
to be able to receive. I see you
00:12:28.04\00:12:34.65
all are not with me. See how
many of us know that sometimes
our praise is incomplete
00:12:34.68\00:12:39.09
because the greatest blessing
is not just in what I receive,
00:12:39.12\00:12:43.99
I need you to know that you are
sure enough blessed when you are
in a posture to be able to give.
00:12:44.03\00:12:51.37
In other words, your greatest
blessing is not the ride that
00:12:51.40\00:12:56.77
you drive, but sometimes the
greatest blessing is the ride
you can give to somebody
00:12:56.81\00:13:02.28
walking. Sometimes the greatest
blessing is not the check that
you cash, but sometimes it is
00:13:02.31\00:13:10.29
the check that you write.
Sometimes the blessing is not
the hookup that you got, but
00:13:10.32\00:13:18.13
sometimes the blessing is the
hookup that you gave. And see
how many of us understand that
00:13:18.16\00:13:24.63
the greatest promises in
scripture are for the advocates
and those who choose to be a
00:13:24.67\00:13:34.54
blessing. See, Proverbs 28:27
says that those that give to the
poor lack nothing. But those who
00:13:34.58\00:13:41.38
ignore their cries receive many
curses. In Proverbs 19:17, the
Bible says those that have pity
00:13:41.42\00:13:49.32
on the poor lend to the Lord and
the Lord is going to reward
them. Does not Matthew 6 say
00:13:49.36\00:13:55.00
When you give it shall be given
back to you. Good measure, press
down, shaken together and
00:13:55.03\00:13:59.73
running over. There's an even
better promise for Jesus says,
when I was hungry, you fed me.
00:13:59.77\00:14:07.71
When I was thirsty, you gave me
drink. When I was naked, you
gave me clothes. And when I was
00:14:07.74\00:14:13.48
in prison you came and visited
me. And the rightious say, when
did we do those things? And
00:14:13.52\00:14:20.32
Jesus says that what you've done
to the least of these, you've
done it also unto me. Enter into
00:14:20.36\00:14:25.93
the joy of thy Lord. [
Congregation: Amen] And what I
need somebody to know is that
00:14:25.96\00:14:30.63
your testimony is incomplete. If
it's only about what I receive,
your testimony's not complete.
00:14:30.67\00:14:35.30
You can tell, you can testify
about what you've given. Ah, let
me say it this way.
00:14:35.34\00:14:41.04
See how many of us know that the
blessing you receive is a bag of
00:14:41.08\00:14:45.65
fruit, but the blessing
you give is a bag of seeds.
00:14:45.68\00:14:49.22
Okay, let me preach to somebody
on this side that the blessing
you give is a bag of fruit that
00:14:49.25\00:14:56.79
is consumed in one week or one
month. But the blessing you give
is a bag of seed that's going to
00:14:56.83\00:15:04.50
bless you not just for this
season but for generations and
generations to come. You all not
00:15:04.53\00:15:10.07
with me. Let me say it this way.
It's crazy because 13 years ago
when I first moved here to
00:15:10.11\00:15:14.14
Huntsville, there's a senior
citizen in this community that
just for some reason showed
00:15:14.18\00:15:21.08
great favor to Gianna and myself
and she would often do things
for our kids. And it's crazy,
00:15:21.12\00:15:25.79
Dr. Doulan, she would go so far
out of her way that it made us
feel a little uncomfortable and
00:15:25.82\00:15:31.36
strange because we had not
really done any ministry acts
toward us. And so we were on the
00:15:31.39\00:15:37.27
verge of saying, we don't want
you to overdo it or do something
00:15:37.30\00:15:40.94
to harm yourself. And she made
it very clear that Pastor, this
is my duty. And she began to
00:15:40.97\00:15:47.88
tell the story. Now if you've
been around here a little while,
you may know my wife's
00:15:47.91\00:15:52.25
grandfather, Richard Norman who
used to work in the accounting
department. And when he was
00:15:52.28\00:15:57.32
working there, he would do very
kind acts for folk who are
trying to get into school.
00:15:57.35\00:16:02.32
And he helped this woman get
all her kids through Oakwood.
00:16:02.36\00:16:05.89
And it's crazy that because
granddaddy blessed 30 years ago,
guess what? His granddaughter is
00:16:05.93\00:16:13.64
getting blessed. His
great-grandkids are getting
blessed because of a seed he sow
00:16:13.67\00:16:19.77
30 years ago. And what I'm
saying to somebody today, when
you give you sow generational
00:16:19.81\00:16:28.55
blessings that are going to
bless you and your children and
your posterity. And let me be
00:16:28.58\00:16:35.56
clear, there ain't nothing wrong
with eating the fruit, but don't
eat the fruit and throw away the
00:16:35.59\00:16:38.76
seed. See, you are supposed to
bury the seed so it can bless
somebody else. So you all
00:16:38.79\00:16:46.20
hearing me today
friends? [ Congregation: Amen]
00:16:46.23\00:16:47.44
And so friends, as we
go through this story,
00:16:47.47\00:16:49.74
there's some just some a few
basic faith principles I want to
share with us today.
00:16:49.77\00:16:54.04
Now as we look at the story of
Moses specifically early on
before the burning bush,
00:16:54.08\00:17:00.28
there are some mistakes Moses
makes you see the first mistakes
is he tries to fight the battle
00:17:00.32\00:17:08.86
using the wrong weapons. But the
second mistake Moses makes is he
anticipates appreciation.
00:17:08.89\00:17:15.66
See, the word says that there
was a time where Moses now is
ripening into this freedom
00:17:15.70\00:17:22.90
fighter, it is becoming clear
that he can no longer sit
silently and watch the
00:17:22.94\00:17:29.14
affliction of his people. And so
the Bible says that he sees an
Egyptian dealing very harshly
00:17:29.18\00:17:35.45
with a Hebrew. And the Bible
says that your boy Moses is
trying to cover his steps.
00:17:35.48\00:17:39.55
The Bible says he looks to the
left and he looks to the right
to make sure that no one is
00:17:39.59\00:17:45.76
looking. And the Bible says that
he goes and he smites the
Egyptian dead and buries his
00:17:45.79\00:17:54.67
body so that no one will notice.
But I need you to be clear that
God does not allow the violent
00:17:54.70\00:18:00.44
act to be covered. So that soon
thereafter Moses goes back out
again and he finds two Hebrews
00:18:00.48\00:18:08.65
in conflict with one another and
Moses is now taking on a
deliverer posture. He is saying,
00:18:08.68\00:18:15.62
man, we can't fight against one
another. We've got to use our
power to fight against the man.
00:18:15.66\00:18:24.90
In other words, Moses tries to
function as a broker of peace.
He is trying to bring
00:18:24.93\00:18:34.01
collaboration and see the
problem is Moses anticipates
that because he killed the
00:18:34.04\00:18:40.38
Egyptian, that he's got a
credibility with his brethren
that they will appreciate what
00:18:40.42\00:18:47.46
he has done. But do you notice
that when he calls them to
oneness, they don't turn with
00:18:47.49\00:18:54.83
celebration, they turn around
and say, who made you judge over
us? Are you going kill us? And
00:18:54.83\00:19:03.54
they say it in earhart us out of
the Egyptian guards, are you
going to kill us like you killed
00:19:03.57\00:19:09.08
the Egyptian? In other words, I
need you to see how this thing
goes because Moses checks and
00:19:09.11\00:19:15.95
looks things out. And he does it
in such a way when he kills the
Egyptian that the only ones who
00:19:15.98\00:19:26.66
will know is the Egyptians that
are being harmed and the Hebrews
that are rescued. And so the
00:19:26.70\00:19:36.17
only way the Egyptians know is
if those who are rescued out,
the one who rescues them. And
00:19:36.20\00:19:42.51
it's crazy because Moses risked
his physical life in tussling
with the Egyptian. He risked his
00:19:42.54\00:19:53.56
position in Egypt by taking
aside with the Israeli people.
But isn't it amazing how those
00:19:53.59\00:19:55.76
that you help the most, oh God,
have a way of turning on you the
quickest? Oh you all going to
00:19:55.79\00:20:06.20
get quiet in here. Isn't it
amazing friends how some of the
ones that you pour the most into
00:20:06.23\00:20:13.21
have a way of taking the most
from you? And see this friends
is very critical counsel for the
00:20:13.24\00:20:18.08
church because if you anticipate
appreciation, your sacrifices
will cause you to become bitter.
00:20:18.11\00:20:22.52
And see, one of the things, even
as I'm espousing the need for us
to live as advocates, how many
00:20:22.55\00:20:26.65
of us know that advocates don't
have a life of appreciation? All
right, see, I need you to get to
00:20:26.69\00:20:33.83
a place where friends of mine,
when you function as an
advocate, your cause has to be
00:20:33.86\00:20:42.00
your currency. See, if you are
an advocate, your cause has to
be the currency and not the
00:20:42.04\00:20:50.08
subjects of the cause because
sometimes the subjects will
always appreciate your sacrifice
00:20:50.11\00:20:57.45
and some will give up on the
cause because sometimes we deal
with some sketchy subjects along
00:20:57.49\00:21:04.06
the way. And see, one of the
things I want to encourage us is
that we've got to get to a place
00:21:04.09\00:21:13.30
where we draw fulfillment from
our work where we get
fulfillment from our assignment
00:21:13.34\00:21:17.57
where you get to a place where
you find joy in your task, not
in the response of the people
00:21:17.61\00:21:19.81
your sir - am I preaching to
anybody today? [ Congregation:
Amen] Because see, I need you to
00:21:19.84\00:21:25.61
understand that if a teacher or
an educator signs up to be an
educator for appreciation, [
00:21:25.65\00:21:29.15
Congregation: Laughing] how many
of us know you ain't going to
last very long? Am I telling the
00:21:29.18\00:21:32.52
truth today? In other words,
teachers, am I lying that
sometimes the students you help
00:21:32.55\00:21:40.06
the most are the ones
that appreciated the least? [
00:21:40.10\00:21:42.26
Congregation: Yes] And sometimes
it's the parents of the kids
that you trying to help that
00:21:42.30\00:21:48.57
show up at the school with a
durag on their head trying to
side with the child that they
00:21:48.60\00:21:55.34
know is wrong, am I preaching to
anyone?. I mean that sometimes
it is the patient that the nurse
00:21:55.38\00:22:03.92
helps the most, that tries to
abuse them the most, that
sometimes it is the one the
00:22:03.95\00:22:10.03
social worker gives the most to
that takes the most from them.
That sometimes is the business
00:22:10.06\00:22:17.83
owner. The one they try to hook
up is the one that turns around
and tries to scam them. And even
00:22:17.87\00:22:25.54
as a pastor, I can attest that
the ones that you're trying to
help the most are the ones that
00:22:25.57\00:22:32.51
bruise you the worst. And see,
one of the things I need
somebody to get is that the
00:22:32.55\00:22:36.12
truth is that we cannot live
this life looking for
appreciation down here. Am I
00:22:36.15\00:22:41.16
preaching anybody today? Truth
is that your spouse will not
always appreciate your
00:22:41.19\00:22:49.50
sacrifices. That your children
won't always appreciate your
sacrifice. That your boss will
00:22:49.53\00:22:54.54
always appreciate your
sacrifice. That sometimes in the
church your sacrifice will
00:22:54.57\00:23:01.21
always be appreciated. And what
I want to encourage somebody to
do is to make sure that you
00:23:01.24\00:23:05.91
don't abandon your assignments
because you don't be fulfilled
thoroughly appreciated. And see,
00:23:05.95\00:23:11.42
one of the things I need
somebody to get is that if
appreciation is your fuel, your
00:23:11.45\00:23:18.09
tank going to always be on
empty. If gratitude is what
feeds you, guess what? You going
00:23:18.13\00:23:21.60
to always be hungry? Come on and
say amen with the pastor today.
[ Congregation: Amen]
00:23:21.63\00:23:23.23
See the thing I need somebody to
get about service is that
service is not emotional.
00:23:23.26\00:23:28.10
Service is principled. It is why
the book of Colossian says
whatsoever your hands find to do
00:23:28.14\00:23:40.52
to do it with all your might as
if you are working unto God and
not unto man. Are you all
00:23:40.55\00:23:46.39
hearing what I'm saying? And see
what Paul is teaching us is that
you got to render serving acts
00:23:46.42\00:23:52.36
unto God, not unto people that
may or may not appreciate it.
00:23:52.39\00:23:56.50
So that even the work you do on
your job, your excellence is not
00:23:56.53\00:24:02.57
unto your boss. Your excellence
is unto your God. Let me say it
to you all on this side.
00:24:02.60\00:24:06.61
In other words, wife, your
duties as a wife is rendered
unto God and not just unto your
00:24:06.64\00:24:13.68
husband. In other words,
husband, your excellence is unto
God, not just unto your wife.
00:24:13.72\00:24:19.75
And see, when you
minister unto God, guess what?
00:24:19.79\00:24:23.29
Your service doesn't fluctuate
based upon whether or not they
say thank you or appreciate you.
00:24:23.32\00:24:29.63
Your excellence is all on the
endcline because you know that
the God who sees in secret
00:24:29.66\00:24:35.84
[ Congregation: Amen]
00:24:35.87\00:24:36.94
when he comes, he's
going to reward you openly.
00:24:36.97\00:24:39.87
And see this is the thing I need
to say because some of us are
feeling like, oh no pastor, it
00:24:39.91\00:24:44.65
ain't right. Folk ought
appreciate me more. And yes they
00:24:44.68\00:24:47.48
should. But let me ask you a
question so you can get out of
your feelings for a moment.
00:24:47.52\00:24:52.92
What if God only blessed people
that show a requisite amount of
00:24:52.95\00:25:04.37
appreciation? Oh yeah, I'm
bowling yo alley right now.
00:25:04.40\00:25:06.74
What if God only blessed folk
that showed gratitude in a way
that's commensurate with his
00:25:06.77\00:25:15.94
goodness toward us? But do I
have seven folk that are
thankful that even though we
00:25:15.98\00:25:21.62
lack gratitude, God is not
sitting on his throne with his
mouth poked out and his arms
00:25:21.65\00:25:29.49
folded up and his fists clenched
saying, I ain't going to bless
them until they give me the
00:25:29.52\00:25:33.60
right amount of praise. Is there
anybody that knows that you
forgot to give thanks for a
00:25:33.63\00:25:41.47
multitude of mercies that your
mind could not even perceive
that God is so faithful that his
00:25:41.50\00:25:47.41
blessings are too many to count?
And the good news is that when
we forgot to say thank you, God
00:25:47.44\00:25:53.88
still provided. He gave
protection when we didn't say
thank you for protecting me.
00:25:53.92\00:25:58.55
He still kept us when we didn't
say thank you for keeping me.
00:25:58.59\00:26:03.06
We still blessed us when we
didn't say thank you for your
00:26:03.09\00:26:07.60
blessings. We get ours and we
keep on moving. But thank God
that he keeps on blessing.
00:26:07.66\00:26:13.90
[ Congregation: Clapping]
00:26:13.94\00:26:16.14
Thank you so much for joining us
for the Breath of Life
Television Ministries broadcast
00:26:16.17\00:26:23.21
with Pastor Debleaire Snell! We
hope and pray that you have been
blessed by this third message in
00:26:23.24\00:26:31.55
the sermon series entitled “The
Pivot.” Join us next week for
Part Two of the message entitled
00:26:31.59\00:26:41.30
“When God Disrupts your
Contemptment" You don't want to
miss it! Have you ever wondered
00:26:41.33\00:26:49.70
why life is so painful? Have you
ever questioned whether or not
the pain will ever end? Have you
00:26:49.74\00:26:56.88
ever just stood in need of some
hope? I want you to know that
trouble won't last Always. This
00:26:56.91\00:27:01.98
summer, Breath Of Life Ministry
will be coming to Seattle,
Washington, where I'll be
00:27:02.02\00:27:06.89
preaching a two week revival
under the theme “Almost Home.”
These messages are designed to
00:27:06.92\00:27:13.19
teach us that this world and its
horrors are passing away. We'll
be meeting from July 16 through
00:27:13.23\00:27:19.67
July the 30th each night at 7
p.m., with the exceptions of
Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
00:27:19.70\00:27:23.41
I'll be joined in partnership by
gospel recording artist Karen
Clark Sheard, Jonathan Nelson,
00:27:23.44\00:27:31.88
Lucinda Moore and Tamara Bodie.
Dinner is going to be served
each night from 6 to 7:00 pm
00:27:31.91\00:27:37.69
and there'll be special
programing for your little ones
between the ages of four and ten
00:27:37.72\00:27:44.09
years old. The services are
going to be held at the Emerald
City Community, SDA Worship
00:27:44.13\00:27:49.60
Center. It's an in-person event
only, so you've got to come in
person. For more information,
00:27:49.63\00:27:55.20
go to our website at
www.BreathofLife .TV. I look
forward to seeing you where
00:27:55.24\00:28:03.28
we're going to have great food,
great fellowship and the Word of
God.  I need you to know that
00:28:03.31\00:28:09.75
this world and its horrors are
passing. And Dorothy said it
best that there is no place like
00:28:09.78\00:28:21.50
home. (Breath of
Life Theme Music)
00:28:21.53\00:28:44.92
[END]
00:28:44.95\00:28:59.93