WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.320 --> 00:00:03.240 So you know, if you were here for the summit, 2 00:00:04.440 --> 00:00:07.200 you saw Todd Smith. Pastor Tom Smith was here from 3 00:00:07.240 --> 00:00:12.000 North Georgia Revival. Some of you saw you were here, Okay, good, 4 00:00:12.279 --> 00:00:15.039 So you know it was an exciting time and he 5 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:20.120 had a great word. I wanted to experience a little 6 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:23.519 bit of that ministry this morning with you in that 7 00:00:25.239 --> 00:00:31.359 His story is so it's so typical of what God 8 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:35.679 wants to do, what God has done, but what most 9 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:41.200 of us never see. And you know, his story was 10 00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:49.119 he was called to take over a church Dawsonville, Dawsonville, Georgia, 11 00:00:49.880 --> 00:00:54.960 fifty miles northeast of Atlanta. And so he's called to 12 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:59.640 take over this church and the become the pastor. And 13 00:00:59.799 --> 00:01:02.079 that that was, you know, I don't know twelve fifteen, 14 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:05.799 I don't even know how many years ago, but it 15 00:01:05.840 --> 00:01:10.599 went terrible and this is like his fourth church to pastor. 16 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:14.959 It just kind of going up and going down, and 17 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:18.000 they're hovering around one hundred and fifty people and it's 18 00:01:18.079 --> 00:01:23.439 just kind of dead. And so he tells the story 19 00:01:23.519 --> 00:01:25.599 and you're not going to hear this farther this roy 20 00:01:25.640 --> 00:01:27.799 I'm giving you a little backdrop, but he tells the 21 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:34.120 story of just his exasperation discouragement. He wants to resign. 22 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:38.879 So he's going to resign his wife and the elders 23 00:01:38.879 --> 00:01:43.879 wouldn't allow him to resign, and so they called a 24 00:01:43.920 --> 00:01:48.480 twenty one day fast, kind of like what we just 25 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:50.959 went through, right, They called it a twenty one day fast. 26 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:52.920 I think it was the water only fast though. And 27 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:56.560 two weeks into the fast, he's in the auditorium of 28 00:01:56.599 --> 00:02:01.519 the church, praying across, walking across platform, praying back and forth, 29 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:05.280 you know, kind of pacing the platform, prank and seeking God. 30 00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:08.680 And he has a vision and he sees the water 31 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:12.400 baptismal tank and they had one of these, you know, 32 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:16.919 baptismal tanks included in the podium or in the platform. Right, 33 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:20.479 he sees the water baptismal tank and he sees it full. 34 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:23.000 Now it's empty, but in the vision, he has about 35 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:26.240 an eighteen second vision. In the vision, he sees the 36 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:30.080 water baptismal tank full, and he sees fire on top 37 00:02:30.120 --> 00:02:34.199 of the water. So he's like, Okay, what in the world, 38 00:02:34.199 --> 00:02:36.240 you know, God, what he's trying to say, And so 39 00:02:36.319 --> 00:02:39.919 he decides to call for a baptism service. A couple 40 00:02:40.039 --> 00:02:44.360 weeks later, they have a baptism service and it's powerful 41 00:02:45.280 --> 00:02:47.599 and it's like the fire of God is in the 42 00:02:47.639 --> 00:02:52.000 baptismal tank and it's amazing. And so he's like, Okay, God, 43 00:02:52.039 --> 00:02:53.919 you want to do something with new converts. And they're 44 00:02:53.960 --> 00:02:56.080 trying to figure it out, right, they're trying to Okay, 45 00:02:56.199 --> 00:02:57.960 people that are new to the Lord. They're going to 46 00:02:57.960 --> 00:02:59.800 be baptized. It's going to be fiery, it's going to 47 00:02:59.800 --> 00:03:01.919 be beautiful. And they're trying to figure out what in 48 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:05.639 the world God was saying in this vision. And so 49 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:11.120 they have another baptismal service. Dead. Nothing happens. I baptize 50 00:03:11.159 --> 00:03:13.159 you in the name of the Father's Son Hall, you know, 51 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:17.039 just dead. And so he's like, Lord, what in the world, 52 00:03:17.400 --> 00:03:19.199 you know, what are you trying to say? So they 53 00:03:19.560 --> 00:03:21.680 seek the Lord and they pray for about a year 54 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:25.360 and really nothing happens except for their just pressing in 55 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:29.000 and they're desperate and they're hungry, and they're they're praying. 56 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:31.960 They're praying on Monday nights, they're praying on Tuesday nights, 57 00:03:31.960 --> 00:03:35.560 they're praying on Saturday nights. They're just pressing in, pressing 58 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:39.199 and pressing in in prayer. Corporate prayer prayer at home, 59 00:03:39.319 --> 00:03:42.360 individual prayer. Every just got all this and they're pressing 60 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:44.879 in and the Lord was doing a work in them, 61 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:47.960 and the Lord was doing a work in him. And 62 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:54.599 so somewhere about a year into that prayer, they just 63 00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:58.479 feel like the Holy Spirit wants them to again open 64 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:02.960 up the baptismal tank, and they do and the fire 65 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:07.240 of the Lord falls on the baptismal tank. People are healed, 66 00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:11.039 people are baptized in the Holy Spirit. It's a it's 67 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:15.360 a it's a signs and wonders break out, right, and 68 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:20.920 so he's like, okay, Lord, So they continue in this 69 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:26.480 and the Lord continues to meet them. This is seven 70 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:32.399 years ago, so they've been in non stop revival now 71 00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:40.240 for seven years. They've they've baptized forty five thousand people. 72 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:48.439 Forty five thousand people, that's all of Puella. That's most 73 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:50.920 of a federal way to give you kind of a 74 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:53.480 you know, a kind of a sizing thing, right, that's 75 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:56.560 a large portion of Tacoma. People have come from all 76 00:04:56.600 --> 00:04:58.439 over the world. If you haven't heard of the North 77 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:02.279 Georgia Revival, you could be living in a hole summer. 78 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:05.920 I'm not sure, but anyway, people, I'm kidding, but people 79 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:10.079 have come from all over the world. They've chronicled multiple 80 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:15.639 it's just common healings, miracle healings, lots of meerical healings, 81 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:18.000 and then just lots of you know, just the touch 82 00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:22.360 of God on people's lives. It's it's been astounding and 83 00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:25.519 it's been going on. So like, like tonight they'll have 84 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:30.079 water baptism. They never have, they never have less than 85 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:32.959 two hundred people baptized on a Sunday night. They have 86 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:37.040 three full size above ground swimming pools in the church. 87 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:40.240 One of them's in the main auditorium, just a big 88 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:43.639 giant above ground swimming pool in the main auditorium. Then 89 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:46.639 two others, like they don't call it the fellowship Hall. 90 00:05:46.680 --> 00:05:51.879 They call it a pool hall. You'll get that later, okay, 91 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:54.800 So they call it the pool hall. And so they've 92 00:05:54.800 --> 00:05:58.079 got these giant pools, you know, and and so tonight 93 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:01.639 they'll have two hundred and the baptism service. It starts 94 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:03.959 with a little bit of worship and a message, and 95 00:06:04.040 --> 00:06:06.319 usually one of the ministers from the city will come, 96 00:06:07.079 --> 00:06:09.000 you know, deliver the message. It doesn't always have to 97 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:13.360 be him. And then it goes from four pm until 98 00:06:13.399 --> 00:06:19.079 one in the morning, because it's not just like a dip. 99 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:22.079 It's like the Holy Spirit meets people in the water, 100 00:06:22.439 --> 00:06:25.839 like people are touched by the Spirit in the water 101 00:06:25.959 --> 00:06:29.079 powerfully right. But the central point of all of it 102 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:33.600 and the central point of his message, his word, the 103 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:36.639 you know, the rama on him, the glory on him, 104 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:41.240 is really for prayer. It's not about any church replicating 105 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:44.480 what they're doing. It's not about Okay, that was beautiful. 106 00:06:44.519 --> 00:06:47.319 Now we're going to start baptisms and we're gonna have 107 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:51.040 that next week. And it's not it's not they're walking 108 00:06:51.120 --> 00:06:56.160 in an individual rayma for their church and for their ministry. 109 00:06:56.199 --> 00:06:59.360 This is this is like a The glory is there 110 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:04.480 because of them cooperating, partnering with God in the ram 111 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:05.959 of that he gave him. But the ram of that 112 00:07:06.040 --> 00:07:09.040 He gave to them was through prayer. It was through 113 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:14.720 pressing in out of desperation. We're tired of fruitlessness. We're 114 00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:17.680 tired of the same old thing. We're tired of not 115 00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:21.160 seeing the move of God. We're tired of all this 116 00:07:21.360 --> 00:07:24.240 happening in our community, in our region. We're tired of 117 00:07:24.279 --> 00:07:33.279 dead religion. So that prayer and that press sing is 118 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:38.439 what brought them to their rama, which the theme of 119 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:41.040 you know that we all desire is the glory of 120 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:43.800 God to come right. We all want the glory of 121 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:46.040 God in our midst. We want the glory of God 122 00:07:46.079 --> 00:07:48.199 in our lives. We want the glory of God in 123 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:52.560 our midst. And so Holy Spirit is going to lead 124 00:07:52.759 --> 00:07:56.879 us to the individual expression of our body, of our 125 00:07:56.920 --> 00:07:59.199 people what He has for us. As we press in 126 00:08:00.040 --> 00:08:03.720 will received the ramas that allow us to partner with God. 127 00:08:03.839 --> 00:08:07.040 Rama means living word. If you don't know what rama means, 128 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:09.639 it's like when you hear God talk to your heart, 129 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:13.040 the leading of the Lord on your heart. That's not 130 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:16.160 the logos, which is the written word. That's a rama, 131 00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:19.199 which is a spoken word over you, right, And so 132 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:23.000 that that when we when we partner with that, that's 133 00:08:23.040 --> 00:08:27.199 what leads to glory, that's what leads to the overflow 134 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:29.519 of the spirit. And that's what we all want. Yes, 135 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:35.159 So I want to I want to show you. I 136 00:08:35.159 --> 00:08:38.480 wanted to show you a portion of his message from 137 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:44.519 the summit because it was so relevant, uh two, to 138 00:08:44.679 --> 00:08:48.159 what we can grasp, what we can get ahold of. 139 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:49.919 So we're going to go to that for a few 140 00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:51.159 minutes and I'll come back. 141 00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:58.519 Blessed to be his only name? So how did it? 142 00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:00.759 How do we sustain it? Go to Matthew after twelve. 143 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:03.519 I want to just spend a moment here. I got 144 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:10.399 about fifteen minutes. Are you all okay? 145 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:11.080 Help me? 146 00:09:11.159 --> 00:09:16.159 Holy ghost? Right here, Matthew twelve to twenty nine. Look 147 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:20.799 at the screen. You're thinking this is kind of an 148 00:09:20.840 --> 00:09:27.320 awkward text, but I love it. Or again, how can 149 00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:30.480 anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his 150 00:09:30.600 --> 00:09:36.799 possessions unless he first ties up the strong man, then 151 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:38.519 he will plunder his house. 152 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:44.559 Now, this teaching in this scripture has you. 153 00:09:44.519 --> 00:09:50.240 Know, a specific application when Jesus was talking, but it 154 00:09:50.279 --> 00:09:51.960 can also be applied. 155 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:53.720 To other things in other places as well. And I 156 00:09:53.799 --> 00:09:55.360 want to take a little bit of liberty here to 157 00:09:55.399 --> 00:09:55.799 do that. 158 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:59.279 And I think it will fit contextually and theologically, and 159 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:04.399 I think it would be sound communication and doctrine tonight. 160 00:10:04.440 --> 00:10:05.519 So just resting that. 161 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:08.120 Now. 162 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:12.200 I live in Georgia and we are a very strong 163 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:18.919 Second Amendment state. I was talking to a Pakistanian and 164 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:22.279 Pakistanian that came to Georgia to do some ministry and 165 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:24.320 she says, man, I hear all y'all have guns down here, 166 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:27.360 and she goes, how many do you have? I said, 167 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:32.679 if I told you, I have to kill you because 168 00:10:32.679 --> 00:10:35.399 I'm an avid hunter, I'm an avid pig hunter. I 169 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:37.919 don't go anywhere crazy with that. I know some of 170 00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:43.960 y'all thinking he's not just lost him. But the videos 171 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:50.440 are real. I mean the pig hunting videos. You don't 172 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:57.519 think of the other videos. Yeah, But anyway, I know 173 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:00.399 here in Washington there's a lot of gun owners here. 174 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:02.320 I know there are you've got you've got them. I 175 00:11:02.360 --> 00:11:04.519 know that's six great Second Amendment state as well. 176 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:16.360 But if I broke into your house, are you okay? 177 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:22.440 If someone was breaking into your house, the first person 178 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:25.240 that they would look for, honestly, if they're a burglar, 179 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:31.759 to identify the strongest individual in the house, okay, And 180 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:36.679 what they want to do is to neutralize the strongest individual. 181 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:38.639 Now, Jesus is teaching. 182 00:11:38.320 --> 00:11:40.679 This right here. You got it right here. So he's 183 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:42.799 just using this example. If you're going to plunder a 184 00:11:42.840 --> 00:11:47.080 man's home and you're going to rob his house while 185 00:11:47.080 --> 00:11:51.399 he's there and his family and the and the strongest 186 00:11:51.559 --> 00:11:56.679 person comes to the door, and it's typically Now, don't 187 00:11:56.679 --> 00:12:00.120 get offended, ladies, is typically going to be the guy 188 00:12:00.879 --> 00:12:01.879 in most cases. 189 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:07.240 I've told you we live in a different era. Come on, 190 00:12:07.320 --> 00:12:11.000 I know now, you don't want to mess with my wife. 191 00:12:11.080 --> 00:12:15.639 She's one hundred and six pounds, southern beale, high heels, 192 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:18.120 very girlish. 193 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:29.000 But you miss with her dwelling fings, claws, horns. That's 194 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:30.320 all I gotta say. 195 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:34.720 But anyway, as she pushes me to the front, if 196 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:39.679 you were robbing our house, the burglar would want to 197 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:44.559 do one thing, and that is to neutralize the strong man, 198 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:50.879 because the strong man poses the biggest threat to the burglar. 199 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:56.720 After neutralizing the strong man, the others. 200 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:58.679 Just normally typically would fall into place. 201 00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:01.320 Maybe the wife and the and the children are nothing 202 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.720 more than nuisances. 203 00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:06.960 Do you hear me? Can I come down there? Can 204 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:08.440 y'all turn on the lights right here? I want to 205 00:13:08.679 --> 00:13:14.960 because I need to talk to you. So here's what 206 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:15.639 I want to do. 207 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:20.639 People ask all the time, how has the revival been sustained? 208 00:13:20.679 --> 00:13:21.840 I want to talk to you about this. 209 00:13:25.120 --> 00:13:31.720 The burglar wants to neutralize the strong man, the thief. Now, 210 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:35.279 I went to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, 211 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:38.039 and I want you to hear this. 212 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:40.840 Because it's important. I was taught by some. 213 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:47.240 Of the greatest men and women on the planet. But 214 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:50.960 they told me, if I did a few things right, 215 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:55.840 I could grow my church. I could be well established 216 00:13:55.840 --> 00:14:01.120 in the community and a man of reputation and high esteem. 217 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:04.519 And they taught me that the most important thing that 218 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:10.600 a preacher does and identified the strong man of the 219 00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:13.759 local church is the preaching. 220 00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.600 Of the Word of God. 221 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:19.360 Now just stay with me, so I Pastor Ivan, can 222 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:21.279 you come on up here for me for just a moment. 223 00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:27.519 I want you just to stand right here, stand right here, 224 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:30.320 hold this up and let everybody see it. 225 00:14:32.600 --> 00:14:33.559 Most of us. 226 00:14:35.720 --> 00:14:39.639 Believe that the strong man of the church is the 227 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:43.480 preaching of the Word of God. Now think about that 228 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:47.480 for a moment. You and I a lot of times 229 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:53.279 choose our churches based upon this one thing. And we 230 00:14:53.399 --> 00:14:58.480 leave our churches, and one of the first things that 231 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:01.720 we say is this, I gotta find a new place 232 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:08.759 because I'm just not getting I'm gonna ask you guys, 233 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:12.279 because they did pretty good. We leave our churches a 234 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:16.039 lot of times because something's going on with the preaching, 235 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:19.679 and we got to have good preaching. And we will 236 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:23.919 choose a church based upon how good the preacher feeds us. 237 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:32.879 We leave because we're not getting So there's a lot 238 00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:39.440 of money and a lot of effort that is invested 239 00:15:40.200 --> 00:15:43.799 in making sure that this strong man is propped up, 240 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:47.519 and we parade our preacher. 241 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:50.399 Our preacher is better than your preacher. 242 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:55.840 My preacher said, I'm not going to your church because 243 00:15:55.879 --> 00:16:01.679 your preacher is awful. Now am I telling the truth 244 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:06.639 that we have identified the strong man of the church, 245 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:09.799 the preaching of the Word of God. 246 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:12.759 Do you hear what I'm saying? 247 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:16.159 Now that's probably most of us in this room, that 248 00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:18.840 this is the most important thing that a church does. 249 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:23.759 Preach the Gospel, Preach the Word, Preach the Gospel, preach 250 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:28.039 the Word. And so we've all rallied around that. We 251 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:35.240 even build our buildings to highlight what. We even have 252 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:43.720 a beautiful table for the pastor to stand behind. All 253 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:51.559 of you are sitting angled toward the central communication piece 254 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:58.480 and you're hearing I was taught in Seminari's most important thing. 255 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:04.359 Now just stand right there. You want to come help me, 256 00:17:06.359 --> 00:17:11.759 And if that's not the case, it's this right here. 257 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:15.160 Hold that up so everybody can sit stand with him. 258 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:19.680 Hold that up so everybody can sit. Everybody say worship. Now, 259 00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:27.319 think about this for a moment. Preaching and worship are 260 00:17:27.359 --> 00:17:30.039 the two items and the two things that we do 261 00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:34.759 and put most of our money in. Perhaps this building 262 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:40.440 again is designed for two things, for you to come 263 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:41.920 and hear the. 264 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:44.039 Word and worship. 265 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:50.319 How much money is on that stage right there, that keyboard, 266 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:56.839 those guitars, that drum kit, the screens. 267 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:01.200 I love it. It's excellent in here. 268 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:07.519 But it just validates the point that we in the 269 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:13.720 Western Church have elevated these two things as the strong man. 270 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:18.519 If you have good preaching and good worship, you're gonna 271 00:18:18.519 --> 00:18:21.920 reach your community. People are gonna gonna they're gonna come, 272 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:25.319 and they're gonna love it, and they're gonna stay. 273 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:27.599 We're gonna build our church on these two things. 274 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:33.319 Now, if it's not these two, somebody in this house, angela, 275 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:33.920 can you come on it. 276 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:40.200 Let's stand right there. We've propped up discipleship. 277 00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:44.359 As a strong man of the church, the great commission 278 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:45.160 going all the world. 279 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.680 Do what priests the gospels make disciples of all nations baptized. 280 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:52.039 You know, the great commission. It is the great commission. 281 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:57.319 And yet listen to this. We have elevated this. 282 00:18:57.440 --> 00:19:02.960 Hold it up that everything we do now is about discipleship. 283 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:04.400 Small groups, community. 284 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:09.880 Groups, Bible studies. We're pouring into one another, all necessary. 285 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:14.920 But can you see what's happening that we are identifying 286 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:18.839 the strong man of the church now one more. And 287 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:22.960 if it's not that, come on up here. It's winning, Sauls. 288 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:28.400 We gotta win the loss. Jesus came to seeking to 289 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:30.400 save the loss. We gotta win the loss. So we 290 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:35.000 gotta have social ministries, we gotta have homeless ministries, we 291 00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:38.119 gotta have street evangeliums, we gotta have missionaries, we gotta 292 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:42.240 have all these things. And so those are important. But 293 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:47.720 the modern New Testament Church, these are the four foundational. 294 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:54.119 Pillars that we believe. If we do these right, then 295 00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:55.079 we're gonna have revival. 296 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:04.839 I mistakekenly put all my eggs in the preaching basket. 297 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:13.240 I would spend twenty thirty hours a week perfecting a talk. 298 00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:16.400 That within seventy two hours you're. 299 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:18.519 Going to forget ninety five percent of what I had 300 00:20:18.519 --> 00:20:18.920 to say. 301 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.079 Now, don't feel bad. 302 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:23.279 I went out to eat after one of my sermons, 303 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:26.359 and there's another preacher in the lobby whos we're waiting 304 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:29.079 on our table. He goes, man, what'd you preach on 305 00:20:29.119 --> 00:20:31.480 this morning? 306 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:36.200 I said, bro, I have no idea, so give me 307 00:20:36.240 --> 00:20:36.680 a moment. 308 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.000 And I did it. 309 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:43.200 I'm the one that spoke. And I can't even remember 310 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:50.599 what I said, but about thirty hours a week pouring 311 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:55.119 over texts and cross referencing it. And I'm not saying 312 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:58.160 that's bad. But the reason I did it because they 313 00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:01.759 told me. If I'm a good reacher and I exegeate 314 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:04.359 isageen of texts, and I do all the right things, 315 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:06.519 and I put it, you know, three points and a 316 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:10.039 poem and a great illustration and make people laugh, that 317 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:11.440 my church would grow. 318 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:13.880 And people's needs would be met, and they'll keep coming. 319 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:16.079 And you have to go to two services and eventually 320 00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:17.039 three services. 321 00:21:17.359 --> 00:21:20.960 Oh, build a new building, have extension campuses and all 322 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:23.240 these type of things. And so I gave my life 323 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:25.599 to this as if this was the most. 324 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:32.480 Important thing that I did. But watch me. What you 325 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:34.279 think is the strong man. 326 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:38.079 And what the burglar and the thief thinks is a 327 00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:42.240 strong man are entirely two different things. 328 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:47.839 So when the devil comes into. 329 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:54.119 This church, and he's walking into the building and he 330 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.200 comes through the door. 331 00:21:56.440 --> 00:22:02.920 He's looking for one thing, trying to find out where 332 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:04.039 the strong man is. 333 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:10.400 And while our faces and noses are pointed towards the stage, 334 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:18.160 he's not looking there. As we're being mesmerized and encouraged 335 00:22:18.160 --> 00:22:22.799 and strengthened by the worship and the praise, and how 336 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:25.000 talented they are and wonderful they are, which. 337 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:27.279 They need to be. While we're looking that way with 338 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:29.319 our hands up and we are. 339 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:35.079 Experiencing somewhat of a move of the Holy Spirit, the 340 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:39.519 one who's come to still killed and destroy is looking 341 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:43.880 for the strong man. And he's not looking on the stage. 342 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:48.200 He's not looking in the offices. He's not looking at 343 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:51.279 your mission budget. He's not looking at your outreach budget. 344 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:55.119 He's looking for one strong man. 345 00:22:59.079 --> 00:23:02.559 And I want to share this with you. Can you 346 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:03.519 come up here and stand with me. 347 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:13.799 As important as these are, they're not the strong man. 348 00:23:20.519 --> 00:23:28.400 If preaching could bring revival, we would already be in revival. 349 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:36.319 Sunday morning, four hundred thousand churches gathered together in North America, 350 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:41.480 with the average attendance between seventy five and one hundred people. 351 00:23:41.599 --> 00:23:44.079 Let's just say one hundred forty million people in North 352 00:23:44.119 --> 00:23:48.599 America came together to hear the word. 353 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:56.000 And I'm not being ugly when I say this, and 354 00:23:56.039 --> 00:23:57.079 don't read into it. 355 00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:02.960 I'm nice, I really am. But we're no closer to 356 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:09.400 revival on Monday than we were on Sunday, after four 357 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:14.519 hundred thousand sermons that have echoed through the airways, into 358 00:24:14.559 --> 00:24:17.079 the ears and out of the ears, and inside the 359 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:20.720 brains and inside the hearts of people all across this nation. 360 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:22.920 I'm not talking about the world. I'm just talking about here. 361 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:28.079 America is no closer to revival, and we had four 362 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:34.920 hundred thousand sermons. Now, don't get mad at me. I'm 363 00:24:34.920 --> 00:24:44.440 just telling you the truth. Not only that, but we 364 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:53.119 had four hundred thousand worship teams. Seven per worship team 365 00:24:53.160 --> 00:25:01.960 two point eight million worshipers. They're no closer to revival today, 366 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:06.240 even though we sang all the right songs, hit all 367 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:14.000 the right notes. If worship listen to me and preaching 368 00:25:14.039 --> 00:25:17.079 could bring revival, it would have already happened. 369 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:21.720 Now, don't think that I'm saying that it's not important. 370 00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:24.400 I'm just telling you they're not the strong man that 371 00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:35.440 we think they are, and so we're putting every ounce 372 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:38.559 of strength and resource in the preaching and the worship, 373 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:42.119 thinking that if we just sang a little longer, preach 374 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:47.359 a little harder, be a little bit more relevant, then we're. 375 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:49.079 Gonna be birthing revival. 376 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:54.559 You cannot name one single sustained move of God in 377 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:58.000 the history of humanity that began with the preaching. 378 00:25:59.079 --> 00:26:04.440 Are with worship. It may a surface there, but it 379 00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:05.400 didn't begin there. 380 00:26:06.480 --> 00:26:10.720 It may have manifested publicly, but it did not begin there. 381 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:17.880 So as he walks in, as we're looking toward the 382 00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:22.880 pulpit on the platform, he's looking elsewhere. 383 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:29.839 And the strongman of the church is this right here, stand. 384 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:39.680 Right there, hold it up high and let everybody set. 385 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:41.880 Let these folks over here see it way over here 386 00:26:41.880 --> 00:26:50.119 in the crowd. Now, I'm gonna help you right here, 387 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:51.559 come on, keep. 388 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:53.720 I know you're clapping now, but you're. 389 00:26:53.599 --> 00:27:03.839 Not gonna clap in a moment, I promise you. So 390 00:27:03.960 --> 00:27:09.160 here's what the devil does. He walks into your church, 391 00:27:09.519 --> 00:27:12.200 and he don't mind if John three sixteen's preached. 392 00:27:12.440 --> 00:27:14.559 He doesn't mind if the Romans Road is preached. 393 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:17.839 He doesn't mind if there is a ministry, a prophetic ministry, 394 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:21.680 deliverance ministry, so winning ministry, homeless ministry. He says, let 395 00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:24.079 them have their way, let them continue to do it. 396 00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:27.160 They may have success, but their success is going to 397 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:34.880 be limited. He looks for one ministry that he wants 398 00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:35.680 to tie up. 399 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:44.440 Have you ar He says, if I can bind hold 400 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:45.200 this pie. 401 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:51.319