January 25, 2015 - Carter Conlon - Speak to The Foxes

praise God good morning times for a church god bless you welcome again to all of our visitors today and I do trust that you will take time to fellowship with us after the service today over the annex in room 204 I believe it is this coming Tuesday begins a three day fast for this church from Monday night at midnight through till after the service on Thursday night we will fast from solid food never from liquids in this church at any time and I want to encourage you those who can to fast with us now if you can't fast some people are not very good at that I've ran into a young person in the church as I said no pastor I just can't I can't fast I'm so food obsessed after missing one meal that I can't pray I can't enjoy myself I just sit in my chair in rocking so if that's your case then obviously if you're you have a medical condition or you're pregnant or whatever the situation is and you don't feel you can you could fast a meal or you could give up breakfast or lunch or something like that and join us but please don't let that stop you from coming out don't feel like you're a hypocrite and you can't come out to pray because you can't fast but for those who can we encourage you to join with us I think it's of pivotal importance we're praying for the future of this church we are without doubt and living in a very dark day and I rarely say this but I have a message for the next Sunday morning as well and it's called a sure path through the coming storm and I want to encourage you if you can't be here listen to it online we are as a church we've known an incredible blessing of God right from the inception of this church under pastor David Wilkerson in 1987 there's been life here there's been songs here there's been numerous people come to Christ I remember the first year second year I was here we baptized a thousand new believers a thousand people are professing to be coming to Christ in sincerity and today the testimony has not diminished it has increased our worldwide prayer meeting is now being accessed by people and groups from 145 different nations we're on radio in a hundred stations across the country I expect that to increase in the future we're on television in Europe all across Europe numerous cable stations in this country and other things as well large viewership on our internet site but that's no guarantee of the blessing of God in the future the Lord's been gracious to us he's kept us but if you and I are going to be a testimony in the days ahead I remember the Lord spoke to Pastor David Wilkerson and told him that this church was ordained to be a lighthouse in a coming storm and so I'm telling you that it's time to polish the light it's time to clean the windows check the hinges on the doors it's time to get ready for this storm if we are going to be a testimony in the coming days there are some things that God's going to have to speak to our hearts about yours and mine things that we're not aware of things that we've embraced and they're there they're part of our lives we don't see it as wrong but it is weakening and maybe so maybe it's not necessarily wrong but it can be weakening to the testimony of Christ in our lives the Lord is going to help us to see these things remember it's the tenderness of God that's drawing us to himself now it's not the judgment of God it's not the anger of God he's not looking for fault and you and I he's drawing us because He loves us and he's saying my son my daughter I want to give you strength in the days ahead and now we have to talk just as Isaiah said we have to reason together about some things titled my message this morning is speak to the foxes speak to the foxes Luke chapter 13 and Matthew chapter 17 both of those chapters those where we'll start Luke chapter 13 and Matthew chapter 17 the father I thank you God it is evident your presence is here with us today there's no debate about that you brought us here as a body to speak to us Lord a thousand times you could have justified Lee walked away from us but you didn't you've stayed with us and you've tied the honor of your name in with the testimony of this church and thankfully with many others in the nation we bless you for your humility we thank you God for simply being as kind as you are Lord Jesus Christ we want to walk with you we want to honor you we want to know your power in the days that are upon us we want to be a church that has a living testimony and can gather can sound the trumpet and gather people from all over the city and even all over the nation to a moment of Prayer to a moment of intercession to a moment where men and women and children may have a chance to hear the saving gospel of Jesus Christ God you have to give us strength to do this you have to give us a testimony Lord for we can't testify without your presence we can't Lord we can try our best but we fall short of your glory it's only your life within us that can give us strength so I'm asking you Father in Jesus name to remove everything God out of every corner of every temple that has become a hindrance to your life being seen clearly from within us help us Lord God to not call things Lord by other names than what you call them help us Lord Jesus Christ to turn away from that which weakens the testimony of your life inside of us God give us the grace God give us the strength give me the ability to speak this today and give us the power to hear it we stand against every weapon of darkness we stand against everything of the devil sent against the testimony of every life in this house Satan we resist you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ God thank you Lord that you've set before us an open door and no man can close it and you said it will go through you'll give us to eat of the Tree of Life you'll give us strength you'll give us power you'll give us names God that only you know and you will reveal it to our heart to give us strength that doesn't come from anything of human will a reason God helped me today god help this church God help us to hear what you're speaking help us to go forward help us Lord God to be a testimony that must be reckoned with in this generation oh Jesus son of God we call out to you as you called out to your father father glorify thy name Lord you have glorified it and you will glorify it again we trust that we believe that with all of our hearts we don't come to you with strength this morning we come in our frailty we don't come knowing at all we come needing to know what you want to speak to our hearts we don't come with a plan you are the only plan we want the fullness of your life to be evidenced in us and displayed through us we want you to guide our path Lord your word is a light for our path in the lamp for our feet God Almighty let that be true in our lives let it be true Lord give us the grace to yield our will to you give us the grace God to walk in the way that you have for us Lord God give us strength in the days ahead help us Lord to love people like you do help us God to speak Lord in these days of darkness give us power we thank you for it in Jesus name Luke chapter 13 verses 31 and 32 on that very day some Pharisees came saying to him this is Jesus get out and depart from here for Herod wants to kill you and he said to them go tell that Fox behold I cast out demons and performed cures today and tomorrow and the third day I shall be perfected now that word perfected also means resurrected and other translations say on the third day I shall arrive at my goal Song of Solomon in chapter 2 verse 15 it tells us of a request now Song of Solomon most see it and if ever you do want to read read Hudson Taylor's commentary on the Song of Solomon is a phenomenal commentary on it but the Song of Solomon is a representation in measure of Christ and his bride and in Song of Solomon there's a request that comes to the bridegroom from people who know him and in the new American Standard in chapter 2 verse 15 says it this way catch the foxes for us the little foxes that are ruining the vineyards while our vineyards are in blossom in other words we're in a fruit bearing time we are in a season where everything we have planted what we have watered what we have believed for it has come to fruition but there are little things that if they're left on dealt with can take away some of the testimony which our lives should have been when you look at the size of a vineyard a fox is just a little thing but they can eat the tender grapes they can devour the prod use as it is they can take away the the beauty and the testimony of everything that we've worked for in Matthew chapter 17 we see an example of this and it's at a time when in verse 24 when Peter walked into the temple it says when they came to Capernaum those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said does your teacher not paid the temple tax and he said yes now of course we know this is a lie it wasn't true he didn't pay it that he didn't know if Jesus paid it and when he had come into the house Jesus anticipated or took notice of him and said what do you think Simon from whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes from their sons are from strangers and Peter said them from strangers jesus said then the sons are free nevertheless unless we offend them go to the sea cast in a hook and take the fish that comes up first when you have opened its mouth you'll find a piece of money take that and give it to them for me and for you now Peter was in a season of relative youth in his walk with God up to this point most everything had gone well it was you might say was a fair-weather walked with the Son of God it was exciting miracles were happening they're being sent out two by two they're beholding Satan fall as Christ told them as lightning from heaven miracles are help this is all of their desire that they've ever had is being met they know the Messiah is with them they know the power of God is upon them but Peter was going to need much more faith than he had at this point just like you and I are going to need faith that's deeper in the days ahead than the faith faith we have now I'm telling you listen to me we're going to need deeper faith and we have now and much was going to be required of Peter and he would need great faith to accomplish it but there were small things in his life that if they weren't dealt with now they could diminish his fruitfulness in the future he lied now I'm sure that in his mind he had good reason to lie you know you and I have the capability of taking wrong and making it right that's one of the problems of the human heart after all it was about taxes in the Roman times and these times that they lived in that I was reading a commentary one time on all the taxes you wouldn't believe the number of taxes they had you you you had a tax on your income you had a tax on your outcome you had a tax on yet you were taxed if you wanted to use the roads to take your project you were you're taxed almost every time you turned around there was there was a new tax there's a marriage tax of penalty tax a death tax the Romans had even gathered all the people just 30 years ago or so and they had counted them all just for the purpose of more taxes just so they could tax everybody even more and now to add insult to injury there was this small little use your friendly tax me I call it in the temple it's something you just gave it probably most likely for the the maintenance to assist with the maintenance of the temple a temple tax and Peter in his mind I'm sure coming in say I pay enough taxes I'm not going to pay taxes to go into the temple to the house of God forget this I'm not paying taxes and so when he's approached by somebody that came to him and they said does your master does your teacher pay the temple tax he goes yeah sure yeah he does you know but he comes into the house after saying this and Jesus takes note of him and begins to speak to him it's only a small thing you know temple tax only a little tax it's only small it's like a fox on a vine but it can rob you of faith and Jesus takes notice of Peter as he comes in just as today God is going to speak to some hearts Tuesday Wednesday Thursday God is going to speak to us as a church about things that we don't think are a big deal I know this in my heart because I'm not I didn't I didn't sit down and try to crap what am I going to say on Sunday morning I prayed say God what do you want to speak to us as we go into this week of fasting in prayer what really is important to you and he spoke to my heart clearly and said I want to talk to my people about the little things that are in the hearts and daily practice of my people that they don't see the weakening power of it now when Peter comes into the temple it's into the presence of Jesus it's in it it's an interesting thing because Jesus enters into a dialogue to basically tell him that we don't really have to do this we're covered the sons don't pay taxes only strangers and we're not strangers to the house of God therefore Jesus tells them plainly we're exempt from this there's no penalty for us it's a type of you and I realizing that our sin is covered our failings are covered our shortcomings are covered by the sacrifice of the cross of Jesus Christ David the psalmist said oh God if you marked iniquities who could stand if there was a mark against us if it was imputed to us every time we thought something wrong or did something wrong or went somewhere wrong or something wrong if there if it was imputed against us none of us would have any hope this morning when we're covered you understand that when you came to Christ you were covered that's what Jesus was telling Peter about this temple tax we're covered there's really nothing that says we have to pay this because we are the sons of the one who owns the temple and the sons don't pay tax only strangers pay tax praise God now Jesus leads him though to understand in verse 27 that when we do wrong even the little things he said now lest we offend them and Jesus hadn't have even been there he was somewhere else when Peter was asked this question but Jesus leads him to understand that when we do wrong even little things as Christians we draw not only our own testimony down but that of Christ into a diminished place in the eyes of those who are watching us when we do little things we don't consider them big but I can imagine people in the temple saying you know that guy lied he hangs out with Jesus I know Jesus doesn't pay the temple tax because and you the story the story tells us that because at the end when Peter went to catch a fish jesus said the coin you find in its mouth is going to be for me and for you for the both of us neither one of us have paid the temple tax even if we still have the victory our testimony is diminished people are looking at us and the little things that we do do make a difference the little things we speak the little things that we have embraced the little things that we become familiar with doing the things that we can come in the house of God with and just brush them off we're God tries to speak and say oh you do it yeah sure yeah no problem at all let's move on this is about grace let's talk about grace today you know I was given I was handed I had this message before this example but I was handed a prime example of this with the upcoming NFL Super and one of the teams got into the Super Bowl by apparently under inflating the football I think most of you most of you are aware of this right you've heard the debate on it I don't know who did this I really don't know but I'm telling you something it doesn't it make the victory that brought this team into the Super Bowl rather hollow the fact that you and I are on the sidelines and you want to believe that people are people of integrity you want to believe that athletes are are playing by the rules you want to believe and know it's just a little thing right just a pound of air and a football why should it make such a difference I mean think about all the training that goes in and all the salaries that are paid and and all of the the the grunting and groaning on the field and all the physical conditioning that has to happen and all the plans and all that and the whole thing can be diminished by just a football with a pound of air out of it and now it's a hall of victory isn't it and you're gonna go into the Super Bowl next Sunday's going to be played and that's going to be in everybody's mind that's watching it there's a team out there on the field the whether they did or didn't it's not for me to judge but there is an appearance that they cheated to get there and if they win if they should happen to win the Super Ball people are going to be drawing back and said but they cheated doesn't it takes away from the victory they still have the victory of the game that got them into this but there's something been taken away even though it's just a little thing that's my point it's just a little thing but it it affects the whole team doesn't it it affects everybody everybody from the general manager right down to the the waterboy on the bench everybody is affected everybody is tainted by maybe just one person's action although we don't know who that might be everything is tainted everything is and when you and I allow these little things into our lives even though we can point to all we do right I go to church once in a while I pray I do good deeds and you could you could point to all the things you do in the field and all the spiritual exercises you get involved in and all the warfare conferences you've been to but if you're missing a pound the air somewhere it taints the whole thing I'll tell you no matter what the outcome is next Sunday is going to be a hollow victory which is all the more reason that you should be in the house of God Sunday night I'm not watching a football game Pollard had to get that out it's out now it's gonna be Hollow and that's all everybody's gonna talk about it's only a little thing right well pastor don't get onto me about the bending the house of God for the super ball game it's just a little thing right I'll tell you when any sport in this country has the power to empty the house of God it is idolatry you're going to have to deal with it it is what it is I'm not against sport I'm not against it at all so don't misunderstand me but I am against anything that has the power to empty churches in this nation when we should be worshipping God a little thing can stain a great victory that's my point today in proverbs 24 let me just read this to you the writer says I went by the field of a lazy man and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding that means the the men who was not willing to receive instruction I went by his vineyard remember the the cry of the those who knew the bridegroom was take the Foxes catch the Foxes for us before they spoil our vineyard and it was all overgrown with thorns and the surface was covered with Nettles and the stone wall was broken down when I saw it I considered it well and I looked on it and I received instruction a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands to rest so shall your poverty come like a prowler and you need like an armed man and actually the real translation of that is your poverty will come like a person who's travelling and they're spending freely but they have no source of income there's nothing coming back in on the other side they're just constantly doling out and doling out just a little sleep can do that just a little slumber just a little folding of the hands just little things and we don't recognize what they can do I'm sure when akin went in with Joshua into the Promised Land and there's there's hundreds of thousands of people involved in this this pursuit to honor God in the earth and just a it's just a little thing just if just a few bars of gold just a little bit of silver just a few garments what's the big deal not realizing that a little thing can bring a great deal of weakness into the testimony of God a little sleep a little lie hey Bob saw you at the game Monday night I thought you've booked off sick Monday morning all Frank yeah I was feeling rather down Monday morning but by 4 o'clock I started to feel real good and I just happened to have a couple tickets on me to the ballgame so I decided to go to it little lie just a little lie but Frank knows you're a Christian Frank knows a little unrighteous anger there's a righteous anger that is warranted and it's not sin but there's an unrighteous anger as well a little theft the taking home of little pencils and pens and paper and stuff and volge from the workplace just a little theft it's not much what's the big deal they don't pay me enough anyway a little gossip just a little gossip I'm not a big gossip rim just a little gospel I don't tell everything on everyone I just tell little things about a few it's not a big deal a little cheating we talked about that earlier this message just a little change just a pound two air what's the big deal I mean there's 12 and a half other pounds there and this thing why is everybody making such a big deal out of this just a little bit of cheating just a little peek in forbidden places it's only a little one I mean God knows I'm not like that God knows I'm not gonna go there oh oh really a little sip of alcohol just to calm my nerves after all Jesus changed water into wine didn't he just a little sip oh there's so many people today just a little sip but I'm tell you something whatever you do a little of when depression comes and discouragement comes you'll do a lot of you will go to what has been offering you comfort do you understand that that's where you will go it's an amazing thing when you begin to think about it the hindrance of these things I remember you know my story some of you but when I was first saved and I was a cop and I had never heard a sermon on this ever and I was every day when I came home off of nightshift I would stop at this restaurant on the highway and they had an incredible ham and eggs breakfast with huge home fries slicer another potato of deep fried it was awesome I loved it I'm a brand-new Christian I love God with all my heart and so I sat down at the table and the restaurant I'm a brand new believer in Christ and I had my bacon ham my eggs my Bible and a beer I didn't see anything wrong with it nobody's ever told me anything you know for me at least I used to drink a lot and I'm just drinking a little just a little bit and I was reading my Bible where the angel came to Zacharias and Elizabeth and told them that there's going to be this baby that's going to be born this new life and this man is going to be one who introduces Jesus Christ to his generation it's going to be a herald of his coming and he's the angel said and wine will never touch his lips and I looked at the I said that's interesting if that if that was a condition of this man leading many to the knowledge of Christ then I'm I'm professing from this day forward that wine is not going to touch my lips and I remember reaching out I pushed that bottle across the table that's 37 36 37 years ago I put that away and Here I am today and wine is doesn't touch my lips and there's nothing that alters alcohol can alter your speech can alter your mind it can alter your even just a little bit of it just a little bit can alter you and having been a police officer you have to understand I've seen the broken bodies and the beat-up furniture and abused kids I've seen what alcohol does in this culture so there there is no cultural context of alcohol in America as far as I'm concerned in North America the man who led me to the Lord I remember he told me he said I used to be a drunk and a womanizer and a gambler I was so taken by how different this man was I remember one time offering him a beer just to see if he'd take it when he came to share Christ with me you see and if he had if he had ever or if I had gone to his house knocked on his door looked through the window and saw him sitting with a glass of alcohol at his table I might not be here today I would have assumed that that man is just like I am but he's just added religion to it that's all he's done but he could say but it's just a little thing but for me it wasn't for me if you are truly a new creation you are for me it was black or white there was no middle gray area in this thing you either have old things have passed away because that's what he was telling me a Christian looks like or old things are still there there was no middle ground if he told me that I could have a transformed life that more attracted me to Christ than the Cross itself in the beginning it wasn't about the Cross with me it wasn't about hell in heaven it was about a transformed life and this God sent a man before me whose life was transformed by the grace of God I pushed every button in him that I knew to push I tried to prove him a fraud and I couldn't he kept coming he kept witnessing he kept loving he kept carrying about my soul and he was not a hypocrite he was not a fraud and he wasn't compromised and because of it I read the Gospel of John in the New Testament then saw the cross then understood my Redemption but I think to this day god forbid that anybody should ever walk in a restaurant in New York City or ever come to my home and look at my door and see something in my life that would cause them to say Christ is not real god forbid even though it's just a little thing folks it's just a little thing but little foxes spoil the vine remember Jesus said to Peter we're covered I know we're covered I'm not if we're going to suggest you have a glass of something you're gonna go to hell you I don't you're not going to you're covered but your testimony can be greatly diminished and is that really worth it that's something you and I have to think about is it worth it how much do we really care that Jesus Christ be glorified through our lives how much do we really care that what we speak is truth what we see is to how we live is truth how much does it really matter that we are a lighthouse to this generation speaking and living of the ways of God how much does it really matter to us yes we want to go deeper yes we want a more powerful testimony but that's not going to happen if we're not willing to let God deal with the little things little things just little foxes on the vine that take away that spoils the fruitfulness of the vineyard when it's in blossom a little bit of prayerlessness a little bit of laziness a little bit just a little slumber a little sleep a little folding of the hands we'll bring you the writer sit into poverty spiritual poverty you'll go out you'll spend everything you know but nothing is coming in from the other side and what a tragedy it's only little things that are causing this things that were already covered for realistically it's amazing just a little fox but think of the promise that Jesus gave to Peter again to matthew chapter 17 verse 27 the sons are free says in verse 26 in other words we don't have to pay this tax there are certain things I can do but Paul says in Corinthians you can read it for yourself it might be lawful but it doesn't mean it's good it might be allowable but consider the consequence the sons are free nevertheless lest we offend them that's that's the key Jesus knew he didn't have to pay the temple tax and neither did Peter have to pay it but lest we offend them lest our testimony should be diminished when we come into the temple lest they should be able to point to us on the street and said thieves they don't pay the temple tax even though we know we don't have to lest we should offend them now here's where it gets really interesting the question is why didn't Jesus just reach into his pocket and give him the coin why did he give him the instruction go down to the sea cast in the hook take the first fish that comes up when you've opened its mouth you'll find a piece of money take that and give it to them for me and for you so what's the point of this if it was just about paying a few cents that was part of the temple tax why didn't he just give it to him Jesus if he didn't have it in his pocket he could manufacture it there as much as he could in a fish's mouth so why did he do that here's what he was teaching Peter and here's what he's trying to teach us if you will deal with the little things now I will open to you the way of supernatural faith and provision I'll open to you something of God that will bring the name of God to honor you can just see Peter going down to the seashore where are you going God told me to go catch to fish and he said there would be money in its mouth to pay the temple tax and you can imagine the other fishermen saying man the guy has lost it he's been hanging around with this teacher and you can see when he comes back an hour later and he's got the gold coins in his hand and said just as he said I caught a fish opened its mouth and in its mouth was enough for me and for Jesus the provision was there that I needed the provision to be honest the provision to tell the truth the provision to stop doing what I know is not right it's diminishing the testimony of God the provision of joy that I was looking somewhere else to get the provision of comfort that I was seeking in other places when I make the choice to do right I found a supernatural provision that is not available to those who don't walk in truth there's life there's joy there's faith there's vision for the future there's an ability to trust God there's a power and her voice to call people back to God himself there's spiritual authority over darkness to pull down things that exalt themselves above the knowledge of God there's power and a home to speak across the table to our children to our families there's ability to see into the incredible depths of the Word of God and everything comes to life everything begins to live when we just will let Jesus go into the corners of the temple and say I want to talk to you about something I want to talk to you about something that you don't have to do if you don't want to do it I want to talk to you about it because you not doing it is leading both of us into reproach more than you and I will ever realize it that brings us back to our opening scripture in Luke chapter 13 on that very day some Pharisees came to him and said get out and depart from here for Herod wants to kill you Jesus said go tell that Fox behold I cast out demons perform cures today and tomorrow and the third day I shall be perfected that means I will reach my goal when the enemy tells you you're not going to make it when he tells you there's another way to do things than the ways of God you have power to speak to that Fox you tell him no sir I have been given power to confront evil Healing is flowing through my life not only am i confronting evil but healing is flowing through my life Healing where I go Healing goes there's a savor of God I'm not bringing something through my workplace that calls itself Christianity but stinks as I pass by not bringing that sweet presence of God with me everywhere I go that presence of hope that presence of Christ that that which offers vision and power and provision and strength and hope and heaven I'm bringing that with me everywhere I go I have power to confront evil I have healing as flowing through my life and trusting in God and in God alone I am going to finish my journey and I'm gonna reach the full potential of what my life is called to be go tell that Fox go tell that Fox the devil is coming down go tell that Fox people are gonna be healed go tell that Fox that I'm not turning away from the will of my father and I'm gonna get to the end of my goal and I'm gonna finish this journey that God's given me to finish and I'm gonna do it for the glory and the honor of Almighty God through Jesus Christ no Fox is gonna drive me from the plan of God for my life no little thing and that was a little voice that just kept coming and saying give up give up give up you're not gonna make it find another way do it another way that voice was always there and jesus knew it was a fox trying to destroy the fruit of the vineyard that God had given him you and I have been given the power to speak to those little things now they're just little things but they do have great power in the long run we'll still get to heaven I'm not talking about going to hell here but the stadium of this world will watch us play just like they'll watch this game coming up next weekend and it's tainted our testimony is tainted we've drawn Jesus into something through these little things it's so important folks I'm not trying to be nitpicky and neither is God he wants to give us power we have to polish the light now polish the windows check the hinges the little things can make a huge difference in the long run we have power to speak to them now and say to these foxes I will entertain you in my life no longer by the grace of God I will be rid of you by the grace of God the bridegroom will catch you and throw you into outer darkness by the grace of God I will no longer entertain you by God's grace I'm going with Jesus and my life is going to glorify Him foxes are just little things folks I've had to fight them just like you do just little things the little things that come up to surprise us sometimes even but take away our strength but we have power over these things and really there's no shame in it because God already knows they're there if it's hidden it's only hidden to us we're still covered still loved still going to heaven still going to stand before his throne and know how deeply we're loved the issue is now about the testimony of our lives how deep do I want my life to be a testimony for Christ do i Peter was going to need courage in the days ahead he was he was he had up to this point not confronted real danger and he was by nature cowardly the scripture shows us that when it came to the things of God but historians tell us at the end of his life he was crucified upside down he was going to need courage that he didn't have you and I are going to need courage in the days ahead we're facing an onslaught of evil we're going to be courage and now's the time to deal with the little things the little temple tax so that we can stand strong in the days ahead of us by God's grace by God's grace and we allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us not to condemn us you must understand this it's not to condemn us it's that we might be given strength we might be drawn into the supernatural because I know there's people here like Peter might say look I just have been lying about taxes for so long I don't not and speak right when it comes to it I just so resent all of these taxes even in the temple but Jesus was saying if you pay it if you'll do right if you'll do right I will open to you the provision I'll bring you to a place of faith that you're going to need to be to get through the days ahead I'm gonna teach you that when you walk my way you will never lack my supply never supply of courage and strength the physical provision everything will be yours if you will do it in truth hallelujah the father I thank you with all my heart Lord for just allowing me to speak this word today I thank you Lord that you've already been speaking to my heart little things little plans little dreams little vision just little things that could take my strength I thank you God for the grace to speak to these things and say you will not you will not govern my life you will not lead me I will not be brought into weakness through you I thank you for courage my god I thank you for courage Lord that only you can give I'm going to need courage in the days ahead that I don't have naturally it will have to come from you and so I'm trusting you Lord for provision I'm trusting you that I can join Peter and go down and catch that fish and find in it what I need father I thank you for these things would you help us as a body to not write these things off this morning will you help us not to put it away Peter could have easily have walked away on you and said now if I'm free that I'm not going to pay it all how he would have regretted that you were teaching him about the supernatural we will need your power in the days ahead God please help us give me strength give this church strength God Almighty we want to shine for you as a city that's set upon a hill that can't be hidden we want to be salt and light in our streets God give us the grace that we will need and do it now and we ask it in Jesus name I'd like to give an altar call this morning for the main sanctuary for North Jersey campus for those that are in the annex if the Lord spoke into your heart and you already know what it is or perhaps you're just here this morning and you could say as I have this week Lord I don't know every corner of this physical temple you do and so I'm inviting you to come in sweep the house what I'm doing what I'm saying the plans of my heart anything in me that's going to lead me to weakness I invite you God to speak to me about it I'm not going to try to shut your voice out because I know you want to give me strength and if that's the cry of your heart this morning as we worship for just a few moments I'm gonna ask you to just come and join me here at the front of this out to try them out I'll consider myself the first one here because I want God to speak to my heart I want to make it through this and make a difference for God let's stand together if the Lord speak in your heart just come we'll take a moment to pray together in advance before we fast for this week you know the intent of this message is not that you and I from this day forward walk on pins and needles spiritually speaking no it's this one we're beginning to walk with God that he's free to speak to us we're already covered that's the key you have to know that you're already covered if your believer in Christ it's not about Heaven and Hell anymore it's about being a testimony of Christ and and how much does that matter in my life and in your life that that we speak truth we live truth we walk in truth we we have this supernatural provision of God that that causes others to look at us and say where did you get that when the early church burst out of that upper room they they had they were going fishing Jesus himself said I'm gonna make you fishers of men and they came out of that upper room they were walking in truth and they were with one Accord and in one place and they were singly in heart in purpose with God and that supernatural provision that coin that Peter found was in them now and they're standing there and it caused three thousand people that had a belly full of religion to look at them and say our religion doesn't give us that where did you get that well I got that miraculously from God that was a gift from God it's not available to those who who simply are not willing to to be a witness for Christ it you have to understand what I'm saying there's there's no real cost to this the cost is if we don't hear it and the cost is not necessarily does it's others that we could have influenced it's two places we could have made a difference it's the things we could have said it's two miracles that could have flowed healings that could have happened the devil tries to push you and I away and say you know this this path is is too hard for you take an easier way you did after all you don't have to do it this way and that's when Jesus said no no no I cast out demons and healing is flowing and on the third day I'm gonna get to my goal by the power of God I'm going to get their father and thank you Lord for these men and women Lord and those in their hearts or with us today father just we want Lord God to be a testimony in this darkened time we don't want to be just a tourist attraction we want to be a lighthouse a light that is switched on a light that does beam from miles unhindered by any dirt on the glass or dullness father we just thank you for this God give us the grace Lord that we're going to need in the days ahead and we recognize you want to give it to us but we must hear you and so give us open ears you yourself said all the way through revelation he was ears to hear he was ears to hear and you were speaking to your church god help us to hear you I hope with my life to you Lord and I don't assume that everything I'm thinking is right and so lord I ask you to sweep the corners out God everything Lord that hinders the testimony of your life I just don't want it help me give me the courage to put away what needs to be put away and to let go of dreams that aren't from you help me God help me Father and I thank you for it with all my heart in Jesus name Amen and amen praise God Oh hallelujah thank you lord can we give them a shout of praise this morning in this thing thank you God for your faithfulness thank you Jesus God is so faithful to us what a day this is going to be what an hour what an hour oh Jesus help us when we pray this week help us mighty God help us Lord God help us to pray father we thank you for this incredible victory you want to give to us in Jesus mighty name amen and amen god bless you

Channel: Times Square Church

Views: 11,870

Rating: 4.8989172 out of 5

Keywords: Carter Conlon, Sermon, Times Square Church

Id: gdrQfUBuqD0

Length: 48min 22sec (2902 seconds)

Published: Fri Jan 30 2015