Bible Teaching

Calvary Temple Teaching Library

Honor To Whom Honor

Let's turn to 1 Peter. We just finished a fourteen-week series on perfecting the tabernacle of God, which is the tabernacle of our lives. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are to honor God in our body and our spirit, which is the Lord's, the Scripture says. We've seen that call to honor Him, to enter in and offer up our lives wholly on the burnt altar, or as Romans says, to "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). We saw that we are to look into the laver and that we are to, as James says in the epistle, "Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22). Don't depart from the Word of God and forget what manner of man you are. We are to enter the holy place with thanksgiving and praise. Our prayer and our worship ascend as a sweet-smelling savor, and we know that "man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live" (Deuteronomy 8:3). We saw the candlestick: the illumination of Jesus' redemptive work, the Word of God, and symbolism that we are the light of the world.

I was meditating while we were gone about what to share. We're not going to start another series right at this moment, but one of the things that was on my heart was that aspect of our responsibility to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. How is it that we can go out and be different, really, in this generation? It's tragic that today in so many churches--and thank God, not ours--young people are no different in churches today than they are in the world. The teen pregnancy rate is just about the same. The divorce rate is just about the same. I've had pastors tell me, "You are so lucky that you don't have that in your church." It's not luck; it's hard work! It's choices that are made by you to train up your children in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. It's the choice to be doers and not hearers. Do you know what? There is nothing easy about that, because we are living in a society that is absolutely after one thing, and that is compromise. The more we become a people that refuse to compromise, the greater the hatred for us and the greater the misunderstanding.

As I was flying back on the plane, I was watching--I don't remember if it was Eye on America or 20/20, but it was one of those. They were interviewing a panel of nine seniors that had just graduated from high school. They were asked a number of questions, and these children all responded exactly the same. They believed they were the greatest generation that has ever lived. I would beg to differ with that. It was very interesting as they commented on these things. They believed their greatness was because of their ability to compromise and have no convictions. They said, "We are the most tolerant generation." I thought, "Well, yes they are." They were asked the question, "How many of you believe in gay marriages?" and they all said, "Oh, yeah, yeah, that's fine." They believed that they were very informed. Every one of them had a cell phone stuck in his ear. They have all kinds of information, but very little knowledge. The Scripture says that as we are trying to train up a generation, we need to come to the knowledge of the Lord. That is our wisdom and our strength. The thing that grieved me as I was watching this particular thing was the one lady who seemed to be the primary spokesman--and I won't infer anything by the fact that it was a lady. Yes, I will. In our generation, we are becoming a matriarchal society. The women are taking over. Now, you women are saying, "No, we're not taking over. We've always been in charge." There is some truth to that, except in the church where the Word of God is taught and where divine order is required. In our society, we have disorder. We have women running the show. It's a very sad thing. I don't know how many of you saw My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I love what the one lady was telling her daughter who's getting married, "The husband is the head, but the woman is the neck. She turns the head whatever way she wants!"

With order being broken, us becoming a matriarchal society, and so many of our children having lost sight of authority and discipline, it's a weak society that we have in this country. They see themselves differently. They see themselves as strong because they are conformists. Now, I come from the non-conformist generation. I see some of you ex-hippies in here. We won't mention any names. We were the dropout generation, non-conformists. We are not advocating that, but the thing that these people prided themselves in--this young lady spoke. (We'll get into 1 Peter here and show what's on our heart.) She said, "We're a generation that has learned to cooperate. We want to please and be a part. We want to be accepted, primarily of our peers." The most important thing to these young people is the acceptance of their peers. They wouldn't think of dressing differently, having a style other than whatever the style for the day is. We were just in LA, down there where all the Chicano hoodlums and the "brothers" were. Dear Lord, each one of them has enough cloth on him to make 12 pieces of clothing! These things are gigantic and baggy, and they're walking down the road holding their pants up, with gigantic chains hanging off them--and they look just like the guy next to them. They wouldn't think of looking any different.

They said, "We're a generation that believes we're the best because we are told by our parents that we are the best." This girl laughed and said, "My room is full of trophies, like seventh place. We are rewarded for participating." I have trouble identifying with that. As a Christian, I have trouble identifying with that. I am of the generation where a tie is like kissing your sister--there ain't nothing to it, no reward at all. I'm like Leo Derocher: If my mother was rounding third base for the winning run, I'd trip her. In our racing, second place is the first loser. Here is a generation, growing up here in America, playing their little video games, and to participate is enough. In this kingdom that you and I are living in, the kingdom of God, participation is not enough. Paul said that we were to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). We are to be ever, fully extending ourselves so that we might apprehend that for which we are apprehended. But we are living in a society that says, "Don't put that pressure on anybody. Just let everybody move at their own pace. Be tolerant." Now it's becoming law in this country that we be tolerant. We must be tolerant of other people's profanity (let them swear and say anything they want), but don't you mention the name of Jesus. They will teach Buddhism and Islam, but you can't teach the Word of God. Then we are told by this spirit that has come into the churches that we're to accept that. They use verses like this. (Have you found 1 Peter yet, Chapter 2? They tell us that the Word of God says that (beginning at verse 11), "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; [They say, "Okay, there is a personal holiness."] Having your [living, your lifestyle] honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak [evil] against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they [see], glorify God in the day of visitation." This is true. They should see our good works, Jesus said, and glorify our Father which is in heaven. Then in verse 13 is where they bring false doctrine in this day, because of this spirit of antichrist, this spirit of compromise, this spirit of tolerance, acceptance, and amalgamation instead of separation; a generation that doesn't believe in absolutes, a gray generation. As Christians, we live in a black and white world. Jesus said, "You'll love Me or you'll hate Me. You'll be for Me or you'll be against Me." You talk like that and people look at you very strangely. They are not used to absolutes, a generation that has been raised in situational ethics and existential thought. We're just simple people that believe that the Word of God is truth and everything that opposes it is a lie; and we're weird in their sight. We're aliens. They look at us and begin to believe in UFOs. They all think they're the Men in Black and that we ought to be annihilated. Here we are a people, separate, distinct, and despised of this world; yet God says that as the distinct and unique, we are a generation of priests and kings, a holy nation that is called to show forth the praises of Him that has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

The tragic thing is that in our generation, we now have Christian leaders, well-known, national voices that are telling us (verse 13): "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well." This is Peter's representation by the Holy Spirit of what Paul said in Romans 13. The fact of the matter is we are to obey the laws of our land. The reason why Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 were written was because Christians in that century thought they were exclusive from all kinds of civil responsibility and laws. "I'm a citizen of heaven. I don't have to obey the law here." There are consequences. When you get pulled over for speeding--I know none of you do, but if you were and you told this gentleman, "I have a right to speed. I'm a Christian. I don't recognize your laws; I'm a foreigner." He is going to write you up, and he may haul you away! We are responsible to obey the laws until there is a conflict with the propagation of the gospel, until the nation begins to ask us to honor them more than God.

Here's the problem that we have. He says that we are to submit ourselves to every ordinance. This word "ordinance" in the Greek means "institution" or "colony." You know what's interesting? We here in the United States (for you visitors) are supposedly a democratic republic--which, in truth, we are not any longer. I believe that we have come to a time in our nation when we are really under a judicial tyranny. Because of that, it is no longer "We the people...." It is "We the courts...." Because of the usurping, we have a handful of individuals, instead of the people, setting the course for our nation, and everybody like sheep just follows along. What am I saying? Am I talking about the fact that we need to have a Sterling Tea Party? No, I don't believe it is our place to get involved in the political goings-on. I believe differently than that. I believe that as citizens of the kingdom of God, our responsibility is to the kingdom. We are to obey the laws of the land until they conflict with our obligation to the kingdom of God, and as much as we are able, we are to live peaceably with all men--as much as we are able.

Now, this whole teaching is about this: you are going to continue to see laws passed, and you are going to continue to see the ordinances or the powers of your particular jobs telling you that. It's interesting that it's only Christianity; it's the spirit of antichrist. Christians are being singled out and told we have no right to speak this name of Jesus. Turn over to Romans 13 for just a second. We've got to see these mandates. First Peter 2 gives us the mandate of obedience. In Romans 13, we find Paul speaking to us. He says, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God..." Whichever government is in oversight, God has permitted that to be. Whether it is some type of dictator, parliament, or democracy, God is in charge. However He has orchestrated these things, it is not for us to question. Within all of those types of governments, God can move. Many of them are perverted. (I don't want to get off course. I'm getting a little bit off here.) If you read Romans 13, you will see why God instituted government. It was for good. It was to restrain evil and to promote and protect good. Now in our generation, good is being called evil, and evil is being called good. We are living in a day when tolerance, blatant denial of God, and mockery of the Word of God are being accepted. The same-sex marriage thing, the divorce rate being what it is, and all of these different things fly in the face of God today. When we speak against them, we are being told we're "evil" because we're "judging people" and we're "not tolerant." We are living in an upside-down world from where we are citizens, the kingdom of God, and because of that, we are going to be persecuted.

What I want to ask this evening is, "What are you going to do?" What are you going to do when this denial comes to you from the power? Christian people are telling us, "Look, the government is in charge, so we just have to obey the laws of our land." Yes, we do, but to what extent? Many of us have a tendency to gravitate that way because it is the easy way out. "Well, my boss said I can't speak about Jesus because if I do he is going to fire me. I have to provide for my family." No, you have to trust God to provide for your family. If your family is depending on you, they are in trouble. We need to point them and show them that Father is our source. Show them, as David said, "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Psalm 37:25), and that our God is able to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings that we can't contain.

How are we going to get God supernaturally involved in our lives? I think one of the great examples is Daniel. Turn over there for just a second. We're all familiar with Daniel and his trip to the lion's den, but what got him there? Don't you love the part of the story where the king comes the next day and wants to know how Daniel is doing? I do. Daniel just fluffed up one of those lions as a pillow and had a good night's sleep. The angel of Lord, the Scripture says, shut the lions' mouths. I'm going to tell you something. The Scripture says Satan is going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Do you want to know how to shut the lions' mouths? Do you want to know how to keep from getting eaten, swallowed up, in this generation of tolerance? Do you want to be a champion for God, a representative of the kingdom, an ambassador of Christ in our generation, someone that will be the light of the world, the salt of the earth? Do you want to be a light that takes the bushel off in a day when everyone is cowering down, when everyone is afraid to speak the truth because it is perceived as faction? Whether you know it or not, beloved, we as a people are being vexed continually. You've got some decisions to make.

The Scripture is very clear concerning Daniel. Daniel, Chapter 6, verse 3 says, "Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him." I like that. He had an excellent spirit. He was a standout. In a generation when just participating is rewarded, we are a strange people that teach you are supposed to be a standout and you are to do your best to honor God. Daniel was a man that knew the anointing, and the people were jealous of him, verse 4 says. So they had to find some way to bring him down. "We've got to find a fault with this guy." They couldn't. I think that challenges us. Can your co-workers find faults with you? Do you show up to work on time? Do you put eight hours of work in for eight hours of pay? Are you trustworthy? Is your work there to honor God and not to promote yourself? The Scripture says that everything we do we are to do as unto the Lord. We are not working for ourselves; we are working to honor God. That's your pulpit. We're out working. Can they find anything against you? Only one thing could they find in Daniel. Do you know what they said? "They could find none occasion nor fault [in this guy]; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him." I don't know about you, but that gets my attention and tells me that I have some work to do. This guy was being scrutinized like a presidential candidate. That's why Colin Powell wouldn't run for president: He didn't want the scrutiny. The dude could have been elected right after the Gulf War incident. He didn't want to go through all of that. I'm not implying that he had any skeletons in his closet, but I'll tell you what, when you go through a scrutiny like Daniel was going through and like presidential candidates are put through, how many of you think something might be found out about your clan? Aren't you thankful for the blood of Jesus? Aren't you thankful for the mercy of God? He is working in us to cleanse us and to purify us and to make us separate and strong.

They couldn't find anything. Then somebody came up and said, "We can use the law of God against him, the Word of God, because the one thing we know is this guy is going to do the Word." Is that the reputation you have? I think many of us do. "You know what I hate about that guy? He always does the Word!" Thank you. "Those people won't compromise!" Thank you. "They're absolutists. They say there is only one truth!" Yes. Amen. Thank you. I'm glad you realized that about us. "Let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4). "Thy word is truth" (John 17:17). I was talking to a guy the other day (an attorney), and he said, "Isn't there something in the Bible about 'the truth shall make you free'?" I said, "No, it says, 'Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.'" Truth doesn't make anybody free that doesn't know it, that doesn't live for it, that doesn't have it working in them, and that isn't a "doer of the word," as James says.

Daniel had a weakness (as the world perceived it). "They will always do the Word; they're predictable." Are you? So they decided that they would set up a decree that prayer could be made to no other gods but the king. The king signed the decree, and then--I love what verse 10 says: "Now when Daniel [Listen!] knew that the writing was signed..." Some people would say, "Well, it's going to be over in just a few days. The Lord knows my heart. I'll just pray in my heart. I don't want to cause any conflict. I don't want to embarrass anybody. I don't want to bring unnecessary persecution on my house. I have a great position, and I've been able to use it for God. I've been prosperous here. People know who I am. They have respected me. They'll realize that I'm just obeying the laws of the land, and that God has put me in this position of honor." "When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did [every other day] aforetime [King James says]." What are you going to do?

We see it in the New Testament in the book of Acts. Turn over there for just a second. As you're turning over there, stop in Matthew, Chapter 10. There is a really interesting portion of Scripture here in Matthew 10. Jesus is speaking. He is sending His disciples out to do the work of the ministry. He gives them power to cast out devils and to heal the sick. In the midst of all of this, as He is ministering, He makes an observation in verse 20. "And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, [don't worry] how or what ye shall speak.... For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another... [You've got to understand] the disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord... If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? [They are going to call you Beelzebub. They are going to say that what you are doing is of the devil.] Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness ["Darkness" means "in absence of their observation." In other words, "What I've told you in the secret chamber of your prayer life...." This is "in darkness" because of the fact that these are spiritual truths. The natural mind cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God, Corinthians says, because to them they are foolishness.], that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (verses 18-28).

I don't want to get off course. I was meditating; I was going to preach on hell tonight. I can't ever remember necessarily preaching a message on hell, maybe once in 25 years. It's a lost topic, not among ourselves; we've referred to it a lot of times, but I can't remember doctrinally sitting down and doing a teaching on it. I think it's interesting in the context. Jesus speaks about hell more than anybody in the Scriptures. He has a right to; He is the one that paid the price for us not to go there. In the midst of all of this, He says the way to go to hell is to cower down to the world. That's what the context of this is saying. "Do you want to go to hell? Then be afraid of those that can kill your body." Deny Me before men, and I will deny you before My Father which is in heaven. I want to tell you something. This family that we belong to, the kingdom of God, isn't some kind of mealy-mouthed religious club. Our leader died. Those who went before us as the great cloud of witnesses were torn asunder by animals, lived in caves, and counted it a privilege to endure hardship for the name of Jesus Christ. Some of us are almost embarrassed to say it in public. "Honour to whom honour [is due]" (Romans 13:7). Jesus deserves His honor. His name deserves to be spoken. His name should be on your lips as often as it possibly, contextually, applies to any situation. Yet, we are living in a society that doesn't want to hear that name. Oh, they'll worship movie stars and athletes. We are here to seek the glory and honor of the Lord.

There is a powerful passage in John. Turn over, if you would, to John's gospel, Chapter 5, verse 39. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might life. [Look at verse 41.] I receive not honour from men." Do you want to know one of the major problems that you and I have today? We do receive honor from men. We want this guy to like us, we don't want to be in conflict with this organization, or we are concerned with whether our relatives think that we're some type of freaks now that we have been born again and now that we are seeking the kingdom of God with all of our hearts. Jesus emphatically says, "I seek not honor from men." We are to honor Him. We will see that in context, He is making reference to that. What He is saying is that He's not looking for the world's approval. "I don't need it, I won't be flattered, and I won't be bought." "But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. [That's a powerful statement. He is ripping these guys up!] I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive." We have all of these false prophets that come in their names and start different religions. You've got Joseph Smith, the maharishis, Krishna, and Mohammed--the dudes are all dead! "I come and bring you life, and you reject Me," He says. "How can ye believe [Look at verse 44. This is a powerful statement, beloved.], which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. [He is speaking to the Pharisees. He is saying, "You say you know the Scriptures and you say that you know God, but it's the Scripture that speaks of Me.] But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" In other words, "You say you believe, but are you keeping the Word of God? Do you read and understand what the Scripture requires of you? Are you a 'doer of the word,' James says, and not a 'hearer only, deceiving yourselves?'" We are being called to analyze our own lives. Am I seeking the honor of men, or do I choose the Word of God regardless of the consequences (when it doesn't make me comfortable or when it doesn't gratify my flesh)? What am I identifying with in this generation?

We'll finish with this for tonight. Look over in Acts, Chapter 4. We see the powerful message that Peter brings in Chapter 3. They bring ministry in the temple to the lame man. We know the story. They are there, and the lame man is begging. Peter looks at him and says, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6). He takes him by the hand, lifts him up, and the power of God heals him. The lame man leaps and jumps and praises God, and a big revival breaks out. Everybody is rejoicing at the goodness of God, but the religious people say, "We can't have this! These people are making us look bad. We all know that our brand of religion is acceptable and our mediocrity is the norm. This is how you are to conduct yourself."

"Let's make the gospel palatable, seeker-friendly. Let's not offend anybody." We've told you what is going on here in the country, super churches that are growing and they are playing secular, pop-forty music in the services just to make the people feel more comfortable; Starbucks in the foyer so you can sit out there and drink coffee while watching the service on video. You can stroll through the mall--church malls! They're building malls in the churches! Dear God, we have enough malls, much less bringing them into the house of God. What did Paul say? "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16). Beloved, in the generation that we're living, with the seduction of our souls and the vexing of our spirits such as righteous Lot in Sodom, in our generation we have to ask ourselves, "What is going on around me? How influenced have I been? How filthy have I become without even realizing it? What are my thought processes when I am confronted with any situation? Is it always, 'The Word says...'? Do I always make a decision that defends and honors Jesus first and not worry about what people think about me or seek for any way to flatter others?" That's what we are being called to.

We know the story. After the miracle, the people really got a little bit upset. They came and asked him, "What are you doing?" Peter responded and said, "It is by the power of God in the name of Jesus whom you have crucified that God has raised this man up and healed him. You need to repent and be converted of your sins." That's not a popular message today, especially when you're telling it to the religious people, the leaders of the church, the priests and the pastors. Then we come into this fourth chapter. It says in verse 2--look at this. This is why the seeker-friendly message is so popular today. Verse 2 says, "Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. [A powerful gospel, not a powerless gospel.] Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.... Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven give among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" (verses 2, 10-13). I want this to be my testimony: I've been hanging with Jesus. These guys had been hanging out with Jesus. They're not typical religious people. They're not mealy-mouthed Christians by title. These are a people that have been hanging with Jesus. So what was their response? They couldn't deny that a notable miracle had been done, verse 16 says. "But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus" (verses 17-18).

We'll be ending with this. This must be your response. You are going to be facing this at work, and you are going to face it at the mall. We have been told, "You can't share the gospel here. You can't pass out literature here. You can't speak the name of Jesus here." Well, I have something to ask you (verse 19): "[Is it] right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, [you judge]. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." Is that your response? Are you giving honor to whom honor is due? Yeah, we are to obey the laws of the land--until they say we can't speak the name of Jesus. Then I have a question: "You tell me, is it better to obey God or man?"

The Scripture then tells us that they gathered together, sought God, and prayed, and the place they were gathered was shaken. Then verse 33 says, "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked [Look at that.]: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the [things together and distributed for every man's need]." Give honor to whom honor is due. Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. It's tragic to see what has happened here in our country, and it's only going to deteriorate. We are going to become more unique, more weird. But if God is for us, who can be against us? I seek not the honor of men, but I want to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Father, we do thank You tonight for Your presence and Your love for us. Father, You've been so good to us, and we're thankful for the opportunity to live in this time of Your soon coming. We thank You for the liberties that we've known (those that we still have), but we don't trust in the arm of the flesh. We don't trust in the ordinances of men, but in the power of God. We will throw the windows open and pray. We will proclaim Your name, and when we, like those in Acts, are taken and beaten, we will come forth rejoicing that we have been counted worthy to suffer for Your name's sake. Lord, we are a people that have been raised up in a comfortable generation. Make us strong. Make us warriors. Change the treasures of our hearts. Let us seek the kingdom of God and Your righteousness first. Let us pursue You with all of our might and press toward the mark, the prize, the high calling of God that is in Christ Jesus. Give us grace and strength to pour out our lives for Your honor, that men would see the good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven. For it, Father, we are going to give You all of the praise, in Jesus' name, Amen.

Let's stand before the Lord. As Gary plays for us, we'll take just a moment to allow the Spirit of God to search our hearts. How does this apply to you? Where are you in this spectrum of those that profess and those that obey? The Pharisees came and said, "We know God." He said, "Not if you're not doing the Word. You seek honor one of another, and you compare yourselves by yourselves." If you're a hearer of the Word and not a doer, you're deceived, James says. So what are we doing? Are you stronger than you were last week? Are you in greater pursuit than you were last week? Are you less dependent on your own strength and resolve and more dependent on God's grace and mercy to finish the work in you? You can't do it. It is He that works in us to will and to do His good pleasure. Is there less of self and more of God, as we talked about in the filling of the temple? Is it less about you and more about the kingdom? If it is, you will be able to stand in this hour.

As we sing this, worship Him and thank Him for His goodness in your life and all the grace that has been sufficient. "O, Lord, You have been good...." Lord, You are the faithful God; a covenant sure to a thousand generations, a covenant that says You'll never leave us nor forsake us and that You would not leave us comfortless. You said if we would seek You with all of our hearts, we would find You. You said if You are for us, no one could be against us. We are for You, Father, but we need more grace to know You more, to pursue You as the hart pants for the brook. Lord, let us decrease and You increase, we ask in Jesus' name, Amen. Before you go, turn to somebody next to you and say, "Honor to whom honor is due." Amen. Go in peace; God's love go with you.

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