8.13.23 By The Water

Welcome to the broadcast service of the Central. Baptist Church of Baltimore City Rodney T Morton senior pastor. We are located at 2031, West Baltimore Street, in the heart of Southwest Baltimore City. Maryland. Thank you for joining us. We are so grateful that God has brought you to us today. We are prayerful that you will find meaning in our worship and that it will be impactful to you and will help you along this Christian Journey. Let us know if there's a Next Step that we can help you with so let us begin today's worship experience.

Good morning and praise the Lord. Good morning and praise the Lord. If you got up this morning with some attention I pray that it was with the intent to give God all the glory today. If you're blessed, why don't you celebrate god with your sacrifice of praise. I tell you this morning to open up your mouth and offer up a praise to our God. Tell him something that you haven't told him all week. Tell him that you love him, that you appreciate him. He came to praise the Lord this morning and got a little bit of strength. I dare you to stand on your feet and help me.

Praise the Lord, everybody.

Praise the Lord, everybody.

Praise the Lord, everybody.

Praise the Lord. Everybody! Clap your hands and praise the Lord. Praise. Cup your hands and praise the Lord.

Purple heart every Friday.

Praise the Lord, everybody.

I have a sore throat.

Amber sent the song soldier in the army. I mistake the phone by Soulja & Beyond. Is fat.

Airpods.

Who's a soldier?

I'm a soldier.

October.

I got my home Kohl's on indeed. Dead Man. Walking

Alcohol on, indeed. So praise the Lord, everybody.

Praise the Lord, everybody.

Open YouTube.

Open your mouth and praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Your hands. Clap your feet and praise the Lord. Praise him. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Nobody nobody to me. Africa.

Broccoli cheese. I said nobody, as you say, Okay, nobody do me like the Lord. There's nobody can do me. Like I said, he's picked up a pick-me-up.

said, he picked me up, told me to run

Luminite do you know what is he a picture? And it told me. Yes, he picked me up. Told me to run.

I like the front to pick me up. Call me. Pick me up. Call me right back. He's pretty awesome. Daddy! Pretty am I? Doggy baby. Pull me to run.

Now everybody clap your hands. We just have a little church this morning.

in the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus and he have this is David. Precious thing. Shannen Doherty.

Putin. Russia Street.

We got back to the top of that, in the name of Jesus.

We have Peppa Pig. Pictures of July. The Flash's name.

Jesus Precious, Jesus.

How old is Jesus? Precious Jesus. We have the victory.

Victory victory, Jesus. Jesus. Jesus, gave us Victory. Everybody. Clap your hands.

This is only for those. Don't have time for this is the victory that the Lord has given us. Everybody clap your hands.

Call sweet. Sweet heart. Yeah, cuz we have the victory.

DJ power and all haircuts. Jesus, the victory.

Tell me who can come back and tell me where we call on baby pumpkins.

If you know that you got it, I do believe that you got it. Why don't you show some sign of your victory? What? Rights are so awesome song. We're not going to show them. We're not going to show them. I want to see all the Victorious. People show us a sign that we serve a God that has already given us the victory.

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I heard a story the other day about a man telling his dad, he came in the house and said that he was being bullies to keep bullying me a beat me up, they keep me for my sneakers and they beat me and hate me. Father said you got to you got to use your toolbox, you got to dig down and you use the things that I gave you to defend yourself. So the following week when he came back to his father he still looked a little roughed up and yeah, his father asked them, why you look like that? He said I got into another fight the father ask him one question. Did you win? Back signifies that victory has an apparent. Victory has a sound. So if you've already gotten the victory, I need. You don't look like a Victorious. People, I need you to sound like a Victorian people because you've already used the tools that your father has given you a picture. Do you have to be? We have the victory. We have.

Last time. Say we have perfect. Hallelujah.

Place.

Begin to move.

To move into this Sanctuary. I greet you this morning in the precious name of Jesus. Our Risen Christ on behalf of our pastor, Reverend Rodney T, Morton the first family, and the entire grateful leadership of the Central Baptist Church here in Baltimore City. Again, I say, welcome to you all, and thank you for joining us in person, and by social media for our worship Gathering. Once again, we give glory in the highest, the name of Jesus amen. Amen. Amen. Our scripture. That we might want to keep in mind that service. Begin is Psalm 118:24 where it says, this is the day that the Lord has made us right there. We have the proclamation is proclaiming. This is the day that the Lord has made, but then it gives us some Construction is says let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Hallelujah. Glory to your mother's name because he's worthy of all the breeze, amen. Amen. Amen. We are coming and worshipping with us this morning. If you're here by social media reaction, now, buckle up getting ready because we going to shout from the highest this morning, that you have an opportunity wherever you are. Everybody will know. I'm in the presence of the most high God. Hey man. Hey man, so let us now pause and have a word of Prayer. Our father and our God, the Risen Christ. We come this morning, humbly. Come this morning. Knowing god, we are sinners. But saved by grace. And right now we ask for the presence and power of your Holy Spirit in this service. If you would have your way from heart to heart and mind to mine from pewter few. Oh God from the floor, to the ceiling. Let your spirit have its way in this place. Thank you for bringing us together.

The how about Hearts Chill by the singing of your gospel? Music. We asked that you would let the ground that withstand going to be shaken. Oh God by the reading of your script and then God we ask that turn off the speed of the word as it is preached to us from on high. So father we pray right now for the preacher and the priest words we thank you. We love you. Lord and we actually have your way in this place in Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen.

They still enjoy your Jesus.

I want to help me. Clap your hands right here.

The song says holy spirit. You are welcome. We want me to come on in and take a seat and have his way.

Holy Spirit, you are welcome, and take a seat and have it all. Praise God, that your presence, Holy Spirit, you are welcome to take a seat and have a praise God of knowledge, your presents.

Yeah.

Right here would say we acknowledge your presence. Holy Spirit, you are welcome. Come on in and take a seat in heaven. I pray that your presence. Holy Spirit, you are welcome, take a seat and I'll praise God. We acknowledge your presence solo.

Acknowledge your presence. Hold on, one more time. Say you are welcome. Come on in and take a seat and have it. I'll praise God of Judas, Mayan. We acknowledge your presence. Holy Spirit, you are welcome to take a seat and have it. I praise God of Zion, Judas lion. We acknowledge your presence.

Sounds like victory.

We acknowledge your presence. One more time, sack or Hallelujah.

Ruby t'god. Hallelujah.

I bring you the word of God by the spirit of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. Our Lord, the victory is wrong. It was all on the cross of Cavalry. We are victorious. Hitman. The word of God, I'm reading from psalms 27. That in front of US, 1.

I'm right in front of you in the National version.

The Lord is my life. Emma, salvation of my life of whom? Shall I be afraid? When the wicked violence against man? The divorce mean. it is my enemy, my fault, who was tomoe and fall, No. An enemy B6 me, my heart will not fear War break out against me even then I will be confident. one thing I ask of the Lord, This Spooner, do I see that? I made dwell in the house of the Lord, all the day of my life. To Gaze on the beauty of the Lord and 216 in his Temple. For in the day of trouble, he will keep me safe in his dwelling, he will hide me in the shelter of his secret Temple. Set me high upon a rock

Then my heart will be exalted above the enemy, who surround me. I'm his secret and I would suffer if I will shout of Joy, I will sing and make music to the law. Yeah, my buzz when I call law. Be merciful to me and answer me of you your face. I was sick. Do not hide your face from me. Do not turn your servant away angle. You have been my heifer. Do not reject me or forsake me. Oh my savior.

No, my father and mother forsake me. The Lord will receive me. Please me your whale or leave me a straight path. Because of my oppressor do not turn me over to the desire of my fault for Fault. When is it up against me? 40, Mi malicious accusation. I remain confident of this. I was sick, the goodness of the Lord, in the land of the living. With for the law, be strong for the law that reading of the word of God. In Jesus name, God bless his people.

Bless the Lord. Oh my soul. And forget not the Lord's benefits. Amen. Beloved before you in regards to our tithes and offerings.

Pol. Pasta pole reminds us in 2nd Corinthians 9:7. Paul tells us that God Love.

We got some readers out there. We got some readers out there. God loves A cheerful Giver.

But the word of God, also teaches us.

As children of the utmost High.

That obedience.

Is better.

Obedience is better than Tampa fight. So we asked today that you would be Earnest in your givings, you will be gracious in your giving. And that you will be cheerful. And you'll givings and here at the Central, Baptist Church. We give in various ways their various types of ways that we did and we're going to ask that those of you that are present, as I'll just come for that, you would fill out if not raise your hand, if you don't have an envelope and a luscious will see to it, that you do have an offering envelope. Fill it out in its completeness. Amen. So that it could be dealt with properly. So as I Rush has come forth, we're going to ask that, you would take your time and your offer and send them down to the end of the road and they will collect them. From there. All right, we do give you able to go on to give me a fire. You're able to come to the church 2031, West Baltimore Street, place it in the mail slot on the Pulaski Street. Amen. And to give your ties in your office, you going to ask how musician if you would play softly. You can't be God's giving. No matter. How you tried for the more that you give? He'll give unto you.

Come on. Can we sing a little bit of that as our ties and office are being collected? You.

No matter how.

You try.

You get here.

Do you give to you?

All you have to do.

For you.

B, b gun.

No matter how you try a man. Amen. Amen, let our hearts now. Pray.

most ever and ever writes his bodies once more and again, That we come, come. Thanking you. For these precious gifts. We say God, take it. Use it. For the up building of your kingdom. Thank those who gave graciously. Oh God, thanks. So, who were obedient to your word for God? We said those who has the heart. And not yet the means we see God. Let them know it's just as if the woman was just that little bit of seed she gave evil That she had we say God take it, use it. In Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen. Amen. so, you

Beat God's giving.

No matter how.

You try.

No, you can't beat God giving you can't beat him. You cannot beat him. It's at this time where we now have the moment. We're the kids connection service is ready to begin. So, we're going to ask now that all of the young people have the opportunity to leave to science where I can go to the multi-purpose room for the kids connection service. Amen. Amen, amen. My brothers and sisters while they're transitioning, we need to to know right now. There is a preacher in the house to glory. Be to God. There's a preacher. In the house we have today for Klima. Real preacher. Reverend Colby little, he's a longtime friend of our pastor. Pastor more in to be on that short list. You must be a very, very awesome man or woman because the pastor has a short list of Those whom he calls close to his heart as friends. Amen. Amen. Reverend Colby little serves as president of the Baltimore and a a c p and vice president and political action, chairman of the Maryland State Conference of the n-double-acp. He also serves as the advisory Council for strong future. Maryland. He's a global citizen, a strategic advisor, public policy, Advocate, and Faith founder, Is this morning as the proclaimer of God's word. We want you now to allow the spirit to move, stretch out your right hand toward Kobe little this morning and let us pray. Holy Spirit, have your way. Breeze thru. Reverend little using, oh God. The way you would see fit to preach your word in Jesus name, we pray amen, amen. Amen. After the next election. Receive you him. Reverend Colby little Hallelujah, as we prepare our hearts to receive the word, anybody know that the Lord is worthy to be praised. The simple song. I'm So we all know and I will help you all join in with me. Hallelujah.

Why can I see you soon?

Why? God, why don't you?

Big dog, pictures.

Pittsburgh.

Easy to.

Now, put your hands on it.

Wind down.

Jesus. B2B.

What are you talkin about?

Psy.

Now we going to put the double tap on it. Clap your hands right here.

Do I talk to her?

Caleb.

Tell me boy 2. Hair braids. Her name is Jesus. plus, it's a

So why don't you do come suck it out of your own. Now, that's not the right, pick up his son cuz I'm shutting up that team's done but I'm trying to lose it. Why don't you blessing today? Hallelujah.

He's Worthy. Binge-worthy. Big Worm.

Good morning, Central Baptist Church.

It is a blessing to be in the house of the Lord today.

I said it is a blessing. To be in the house of the Lord today. I give thanks to the Lord. Woke us up. And allowed us to make our way into his temple on this morning. I'm happy to be here with you today at Central Baptist Church.

We certainly want to thank the Reverend Kendall shows for that very kind introduction. It's always good to see my other friends, my sisters and brothers on the ministerial staff this morning with, thank you for reading the word of God and praying on our behalf to our God. It's an honor and a privilege to stand before you today, and I bring greetings to the mothers of this church and to the fathers of this church. And to All of You Beautiful People of God, who find yourself in church today, in Church online. We're delighted not only to see you, but to be able to share and worship with you this morning.

I have a special treat today. I'm joined today here on. Baltimore Street by my daughter. African princess. Please fan honey.

I used to be when, you know, when your children, a little that they cling to you, they, they cry for you, they that they hold onto your legs at the jump on you, that want to be with daddy or Mommy. But then they get older and they have their own business to take care of. They got their own things to get into, they have their own stuff to do. So I count it as a blessing that today, my daughter who just finished a summer job, working at a law firm in Boston who just returned from a little vacation in the Turks and Caicos a blessing that you can find a little time for Daddy and uncommon and empty in church today,

And I have to tell your church, that I'm, I'm very proud of my daughter. I love my daughter and I'm very proud of her, because not only did she go to Spelman College, and graduate from Spelman College, but she was accepted at Howard University, law school and

I thought she has completed a two years of law, school at Howard University and has a, I think a 3.5 GPA and might be, it might be a little bit higher, I'm not sure. But this semester she's actually only down here in the Mid-Atlantic for just a few days because she's on her way to Columbia law school for her next semester of law school. So I'm really this delighted this morning that that she could could could join us in our, we ask your prayers for my daughter. And, and, and all of my children as I pray for, for, for your children and the sick and the children of the city on today, I would be remiss if I didn't Express two to each of you how grateful I am. For the Friendship for the partnership for the Brotherhood that I share with your pastor. Rodney Todd Morton as it has been fed, is my friend. He is also my brother and I count him as my leader and teacher as well. And so, we are very delighted to be here and through that friendship through the friendship, with with Reverend Morton, we have developed the partnership between the n-double-acp and, and Central Baptist Church that has been been beneficial to so many, so many people in our city, and across our country. And I'm grateful that this morning when I arrived, I was greeted by Brother Leon and the members of the security team. And before I move on, I just want to give a shout out. I assume he's somewhere here on campus to brother Bernard who has been a faithful faithful friend, and colleague as we work to keep our community safe from covid and also to deliver fresh produce. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I'll probably not God, we We invite you now to tarry with us. Come by here. Lord, please. Come by here. Oh God. That we might worship you in spirit. And in truth, Come by here. Lord, that we might hear a word from you. Lord allow me to hide behind you. Allow your word to go forth is our prayer in Jesus name. Amen.

this morning, I want us to focus for just a little while.

On the theme by the water.

By the water. I don't hear all that well, and perhaps you're sitting next to someone who is hearing impaired, like I am. So, if you would just look at your neighbor and say, today we're going to talk about by the water.

You know, before we get to the sermon, just let me just say, one last thing, if you would, the Lord is good.

You know, God gives us all of us gift. And if you're feeling down on yourself right now, You're worried about what your child is going to do in the future. If you feel like you have hit a dead end, I want you to remember that, God gives us purpose, and God gives us gifts to fulfill that purpose.

I'm reminded of this. Because of the fabulous, musicians, who have raised the spirit invited the spirit into this place today. These musicians.

A vocalist. They've been given gifts. I may have been committed to cultivating those gifts. Refining those gifts and then because God has prevailed on them, they've been willing to share those gifts with us. So just meditate a little while about the gifts that God gives you meditate a little while about the gifts that God gives your children. And then think about how you're cultivating and refining those gift and then about how you're sharing those gifts with the people of God, That man. That was an easy one to shout. All that was an easy one to say. Amen. To

like, many of you, we live in the information age, And now information travels at the speed of light. Something happens here. And everybody over there, already knows about it. And like most of you, if not all of us. I came to find out. About some activity down in Montgomery, Alabama.

I was.

Possessed by a multitude of emotions and feelings.

I was just Harden. I felt disheartening.

I told her angry.

I felt. Fearful, if I'm honest. About the future of this country.

I was also proud.

I also felt strong.

and if I'm really honest, After reading some of those memes on the internet and on my mobile phone, I also laughed a lot.

And I want to again, thank Pastor Morton because even though he's on vacation, we we talked for actually many hours over several days about what happened in Montgomery. As you all know. Dr. Morton and I have deep roots in Alabama.

Not only are we connected to Alabama? Not only are we connected to Summer and Montgomery, but all African people in this country. If not around the world or what that to the fight that was fought, the sacrifices that were made In Alabama. I'm Mississippi and Georgia and other places. so, even though Montgomery is a little ways from here, We ought to be concerned with what's going on in Alabama.

after I laughed about, The man with the chair.

The brother who swam a distance. The way the brothers appeared on the scene, like superheroes. The way the brother threw his hands up in the air. Just signal. Not only am I not afraid. I'm about to get down and do some business, but if my people, if y'all see me, hurry, hurry, cuz I need help after I laughed about all of those things.

I also began to think about what a touch-tone moment. this is not only in the life of America, but in the life of God's people,

A lot happens.

By the water.

A lot happened by the water. And that's why this morning we are focusing on the theme by the water.

We play by the water. We bathe by the water. We drink by the water. We drink the water. We find food in and around the water. What plant our crops? Around the water. We'll build our homes and businesses by the water.

We go to the water when we need to cleanse. When we need to heal. When we need to relax.

I'm church. We also go down by the water. When it's time to baptize.

and when we go into the water,

we are born again.

Town developed by the water.

Commerce. Thrive by the water. Even our town. Our city Baltimore.

Was born Groove, develop fries, and is known the world over. Because we are by the water.

Ramada happened. By the water.

No, I have to admit and I've already said it, but I'll say it again.

I was shocked. Horrified. And perhaps even terrorized by the entitlement.

The arrogant. The disrespect.

Molalla Smith. The aggression. And the violence of the pontoon boat owners and their Confederates.

When I saw our brother calling ahead and saying, please move your boat because this ship is supposed to burp there when I saw the refusal, I was reminded But nearly 200 years ago. The Supreme Court of the United States declared that a black person has no rights. Matter white person is bound to respect.

now, since then through the effort, A Baltimore Zone circuit Marshall and other. Back, juridical president.

Percent gone by the wayside.

but even though it's not the law of the land anymore, Clearly. Clearly, there are still folks who feel that way.

The truth of the matter is.

The Golden Rule teachers ass. But we are supposed to respect all of our sisters and brothers. After all, how can we love God? Whom we do not see. And hate and disrespect, our sisters and brothers. Whom we do see, so, I was taken. Far beyond. Montgomery. When I considered what happened by the water.

but I was also very, as I said, proud of the solidarity,

I'm going to take the I'm going to take my time with these words because these are words that we need to embrace, I was I was proud of the solidarity.

The collective action. The commonality of purpose.

The unity and self-determination. And self-defense.

That was exhibited. By our people. I celebrate. That black people came to the rescue of other black people.

Celebrate that we saw. One of my own in me. And responded in kind.

I celebrate. But we saw something going down and we didn't like it. Undecided. You hater. You're not going to write the end of this story.

I celebrate and I'm delighted. if we recognize that we have power,

And we use that power.

For the benefit of our community.

My sisters and brothers. Not only do we do all of the things that I've already said, but apparently we can learn from down by the water.

Lessons that we can learn.

And I'd be remiss. I'll be wrong. I wouldn't be telling the whole story. if I also didn't express some gratitude, For the white allies who joined in protest protection and publication of the facts. I first heard in fact, we were in Boston returning from Boston for the, the n-double-acp National Convention. Your pastor was one of the delegates of the Baltimore City, branch or two that convention, and my mind was stayed on the things and Boston stayed on the work of the n-double-acp and it wasn't until I got a message yet this from Tanzania asking me about what was going on in Montgomery that I actually found out and turn my attention to what was going on in Montgomery. And that person sent me an article from ABC News.

and the ABC News article included a video of an interview with a white woman, Who recorded what was going on? And she said, I just wanted to make sure that the truth got out that people knew what really happened and that this man was just trying to do his job.

Now, I'm clear that white people are the office of white supremacy, but I want to share something with you. As brutal as white supremacy is to black people and other people of color. There's no one who suffers worked under white supremacy than white people.

it went went with the sisters and brothers decided to March a protest in Selma and surrounding areas for voting rights. They were a number of murders. People who were killed because they dared to fight for democracy. Jimmie. Lee Jackson was a young brother who stepped in to protect his Elder and was beaten by the Alabama State Police and it was Jimmie Lee Jackson's death that led to the selma-to-montgomery March.

But the reality is that the majority of the people who were killed during the Voting Rights Movement, we're actually white people.

I'm so it is no small feat for a white person to come to the defense of black people. I'm for that. Human solidarity. For that goodness. We ought to be grateful. And acknowledge that. white people are not the enemy, but white supremacy is

y'all hear that? White people are not the enemy but the ideology the practice is the the policies, the tradition of white supremacy. Show know, that's our enemy.

but after we get beyond all of what we've already talked about,

that question that the Reverend Doctor Martin King ass It pops up.

Matt question is,

where do we go from here?

where,

where do we go from here?

Some of you. Probably thinking this is a speech cuz he ain't said the scripture yet.

Told you imma take my time this morning.

But as weird as we. Meditate contemplate by the water. The Lord didn't give me these two passages of scripture that I'd like to share with you. This morning for this sermon.

The first. Pericope come from the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. if you turn to the 17th chapter and focus your attention on the 7th and 8th versus, you would find these words,

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. Whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water.

By the water. That sends out its roots by the Stream. It does not fear when heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought. I never fails to bear fruit.

I'm shot with you.

My sisters and brothers when we trust in the Lord. We are rooted. I'm connected to the ultimate source of provision. Sustenance power and protection.

Those who trust in the Lord are at peace.

Confident. Unproductive and Victoria. Even win. The Heat is turned up.

And disaster, strikes.

Now, your pastor is not only a preacher, but he is an intellectual of the highest order and he is a theologian. So exegesis of the text is nothing new.

but in every passage of scripture, God is speaking deeper and deeper, meaning to So the next time that that you go back and you read that very familiar passage from Jeremiah. Remember But that passage is telling you everything I just said.

Even when do the Heat gets turned up and disaster, strikes?

You can be productive when you're rooted like a tree planted by the water.

when we are planted by the water, Trusting the Lord. Rooted in God, our source, our creator connected to Christ. We're able to drink the water that Jesus gives us.

And we never thirst.

Did you hear? Did you hear the prophet? Did you hear the savior? He can hear. The Christ say come come and drink of me and you'll never thirst. I'll give you the lemon water and you'll never thirst.

So much happened. Bye. The water.

We talked a lot about. What happened down by the water, on the Alabama River. But the truth of the matter is that beyond the river Beyond, Montgomery, Beyond, Alabama, all of us daily, weekly, all throughout our lives.

We're facing conflict. We're facing disrespect. We're facing abuse. We find ourselves feeling all alone. and, the truth of the matter is also that We're abusive, with disrespectful with trespass. We hate we abused and you get where I'm going with that.

And this is why it's important for us. To stay rooted. This is why it's important for us to stay rooted so that we can be connected to the store so that we can keep our eyes on the prize so that we can always hear the voice of God. Our creator.

Scripture says that the the devil is like a lion going to and fro seeking who he can devour. Another way to put this though, is that the Devils goal is to separate us from God. It's the up, route us to pull us away from our source. I'm so when we know that there is a consistent and constant and Powerful threat, it's incumbent upon us to stay rooted. We must stay rooted.

For now, I think we can agree that God is our source and that there is value in staying rooted and connected to God. And that when we do that, God provides for us, he sustains up. He empowers us and protects us. But the question this morning that I'd like to ask now sisters and brothers. Is why? Why does God? Sustain us. Why does God Empower us? Why does God provide for us? Why does God protect us?

And the answer. In one word. Is love.

Because God's love song. God provides for us and sustains us and empowers up and protects us. God is love.

Why does God call us to come to and, to return to the store?

Yes, God calls us. To return to the store to reconnect to reconcile with God because God wants to provide for us and sustain us and Empower us and protect us. But also

So that we will also call our loved ones. To the source. Listen to these words that are found in the New Testament. 2nd Corinthians, the fifth chapter verses 18, 19 and 20.

All this is from God. Who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

That is in Christ. God was reconciling the world to himself. Not counting their trespasses against them.

Not counting their trespasses against them, we're going to continue with the scripture, but, but but ask yourself one of my trespasses that God has not counted and still called me to return to God.

Reconciling the world to himself not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us. The message.

A Reconciliation.

Why did?

What happened by the water happen?

Why why did that man? Who meant for evil. Do what he did?

I'd like to offer this morning Central that while that man meant it for evil God.

God meant it for good.

Was an opportunity. For a reckoning on race. Presents an opportunity for racial reconciliation, presents an opportunity.

Brought the self-examine on to self improve as black people as individual as black people, as white people as a nation. And as Humanity, you know, my sisters and brothers 2nd Corinthians. 5:18 through twenty tals us a lot. Tells us that God is. Complete sentence. Is. Love you. God is love. God. So loved the world that he gave Jesus, his son, whom he loved as a sacrifice, that the entire world. Would be filled with love. Jesus models, how we should live, how we should treat one another, how we should give and reconcile. Even when there are ones who have been violated, even when we are the ones who have been violated

we ought to reconcile even when we are the one who have been violated They literally hung Jesus on a tree. And nailed through his arms and ankles. And killed him until he was dead dead.

And he stole of this world.

That he overcame death. And came back and then went to prepare a place for us.

Not just so that we can see Glory when we die. But the scripture earlier said, even in the land of the living,

that's how much God loves us. That is the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

I told Jesus models how we should live. How we should treat one another. And he has shown us. That God is love. God is the model and love is the model. If we're going to stop the violence in Baltimore, Hello.

It's going to be love.

Not romance, love. Going to be loved, it is going to be a commitment to live and act goodness to live and act Justice to live and act peace. And to share that love with the people around us that's what's going to transform this city. God is love. God is the model love is the model. So after consulate. After you and your spouse argue. after you, and Your siblings, cut each other out. Y'all know y'all caught each other out.

After you and your neighbor grit at each other. After conflict, there must be reconciliation.

No, that's easy. To swallow when both sides are wrong.

But a lot of conflict is asymmetrical. Just just one person is wrong. Or at least we perceive at least. We perceive that only the other side is wrong. And in those instances just like when everybody is wrong. Reconciliation is the order of the day. Drive to conflict. There must be a Reconciliation after the conflict the righteous. Must call Peach truth. Tell there's no reconciliation without true color. Forgive.

You must forgive.

And then build for the future.

At the same time, the Bad actors must recognize the error of their ways apologize. Learn Learn from themselves, burn from the truth-telling, learn from their mistakes. Repent repair. And reconcile.

Y'all see that? After the conflict, everybody has work to do. After the conflict reconciliation must come. And so, just as God give to us even when we trespass against God, Stand up, if you did everything right last week. Now, stand. Now just raise your hand if despite what you did last week. God, still bless you with air to breathe.

God. God keeps blessing us even when we trespass. Injustice love keeps on loving just as God keeps on love and just as love keeps on loving even when we are indifferent and hateful, we must recognize that we must love and give even when others trespass against us, somebody read The Lord's Prayer, the cycle of life. And Reconciliation require. That we love. We must be lovers. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. So we should all be well-versed in all of the responsibilities in the cycle of reconciliation. In other words, what we talked about today, which is not new material for any of us, we have a responsibility to rehearse it, to practice it, to employ it and teach it to. Our children are friends and neighbors are loved one and I are enemies.

There is no reconciliation without truth-telling but there is also no reconciliation without giving and we ought to give love, we ought to give resources, we talked to give solution with quick to give fryer. But blessed are the peacemakers. My sisters and brothers as we close this morning. I admonish us, I declare We need to go down by the water. We need to be by the water. We need to stay by the water. We need to live by the water Christ. Jesus, the founder of God in the water. Backwater God, is that water God? Is that water? That that drink this and never thirst water that living water. And today my sisters and brothers as we leave from this place, I invite you to join me. I'm going to lay down my sword and shield. I'm going to go down by the Riverside. I'm going to go down by the Riverside. I'm going to study war. No more. I'm Going Down by the Riverside. I'm Going Down by the Riverside. I'm going to lay my burdens down. I'm going to lay my burdens down Down by the Riverside Down by the Riverside. I'm going, I'm going down by the Riverside. I'm going to try on my story clown. What is that mean? Wait a minute, wait a minute. Wait a minute. What is that mean? I'm going to try on my story Crown. It doesn't mean I'm going to be a king. Now, I may be a change, but it doesn't mean I'm going to be king. It means I'm going to embrace all that God has taught me. I'm going to embody what God has called me to be down by the Waterside. This morning. As we leave from this house of worship.

I want us to contemplate. The meaning of the lessons that we learn by the water. I want us to focus. On this Flashpoint.

The opportunity to create reconciliation.

I want us to pray for the people of Montgomery.

because when you do the right thing, There's often a penalty for that. I've heard that the boat Men Who rush to their colleagues age have been fired. But they did the right thing.

We ought to pray that their jobs are restored or that they're given. New employment. We ought to be praying this morning for the people who were bruised and injured. And that brawl by the river. We ought to be praying. For the people who were terrorized, not only by that event. But who were triggered in I'll having flashback from all of the white supremacist attacks on her.

We are to be prayerful for the children of Montgomery and Alabama as a process and tried to come to grips with what it is this evil that adults do.

But the truth is beloved. A charity. Charity. Begins at home.

And spreads abroad. so, even as we Pray for the people of Montgomery. Even as we pray for racial reconciliation, even as we pray for an end to conflict around the world, and an advent of peace and Reconciliation around the world. We ought to be laying our own swords down by the harbor.

We ought to be laying our own guns down by the Glens Falls.

We ought to be focusing. Our energy and our effort on bringing about reconciliation here. Between the neighborhood kids.

We are to be working to bring about reconciliation between the east side in the west side. we ought to work to bring about reconciliation, all of the pain that is called us to do hateful and evil things to one another

I love this church, but we ought to be making sure that we're doing everything to bring about reconciliation at Central Baptist. I don't know the details, maybe there are none, but if there are, we ought to be laying down our arms. I'm bringing about a Reconciliation here.

This is an important moment in our lives. I'm closing now I promised but I ask you this one question. Why has the Lord kept you yet living? Why why has the Lord kept you yet living? If not. To embrace the ministry of reconciliation. If not to spread God's love, if not to give even to those who trespass against you. This is our prayer. This is our prayer and Men.

The doors of the church. Thank you. Thank you. The doors of the church are open this morning.

We're going to issue a number of calls. For you to come by the water. No, it's not the Potomac River. It's not.

It's not the gwynns Falls is not cold stream. Today, we're inviting you to come. To the water of the living found. To the water that quenches thirst. To the water that gives Everlasting Light. Won't you come this morning?

Come this morning. If you need a blessing. Come this morning if you have found yourself beset by conflict and you need encouragement. Come this morning to the water. Come to the water this morning, if you need sustenance, if you need provision. If you need power, won't you come now? Most folks in church.

They've heard of the Everlasting stream. Renault. About the Fountain of God. They know about.

The water that quenches off.

They know about Jesus. But if you're here today,

And you don't have a relationship with Jesus. You don't know Jesus. You haven't carried in the water. You haven't waited in the water of Salvation won't you come? Come today.

Jumping in the water.

It's a little chilly but it heals you it's a little cold but it's a stains you it's a little distressed but it will lift. You won't you come this morning? The doors of this church are open. Won't you come?