DOORS...part 5
DOORS • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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TO FIGHT, OR NOT TO FIGHT....
THAT IS THE QUESTION THIS MORNING
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—
YOU DO NOT COUNT COST...
ONCE YOU HAVE ALREADY STARTED
YOU COUNT COST BEFORE YOU BEGIN
NOT AFTER YOU BEGIN
HOPE IS GREAT TO HAVE...
IT’S GREAT TO HAVE HOPE IN YOUR HEART
BUT HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY
OH COME ON....
GOD IS VERY STRATEGIC
HE IS VERY INTENTIONAL
INTENTIONS....
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE INTENTIONS OF BUILDING SOMETHING GREAT
BUT YOU DO NOT FIRST SIT DOWN AND CONSIDER....
DO I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO FINISH
OH COME ON SOMEBODY...
I’M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT MONEY....
WHEN WE HEAR THIS PASSAGE
WE OFTEN JUST THINK ABOUT MONEY
DO I HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FINISH
I’M TALKING ABOUT MORE THAN JUST MONEY
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
TO FINISH THE RACE
OH MY LORD...
OUR GOD IS THE AUTHOR AND .....
FINISHER OF OUR FAITH
HE’S ALPHA AND OMEGA
HE’S THE BEGINNING AND THE END
A LOT OF PEOPLE BEGIN...
BUT DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO FINISH???
IT WOULD BE GOOD TO CONSIDER...
CAN I FINISH THE MARRIAGE
BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY GET MARRIED
OH COME ON SOMEBODY...
YOU DON’T DECIDE THAT AFTER YOU SAY…I DO
BECAUSE ONCE YOU SAY I DO
YOU DONE DID...
WHAT DO YOU MEAN PASTOR? CAN I FINISH THE MARRIAGE?
WELL, CAN YOU STAY COMMITTED… NOT TO WHO THEY ARE
BUT TO WHO THEY MAY BECOME?
MOST OF US MARRY BECAUSE WE LOVE WHO OUR SPOUSE IS....NOW
BUT CAN YOU STAY COMMITTED EVEN DURING THOSE SEASONS...
WHERE YOU DON’T LIKE WHO THEY ARE
....MAN IT’S QUIET....LOL
YOU MARRIED THEM IN THE LOCKS OF HAIR STAGE....
CAN YOU LOVE THEM IN THE BALD STAGE?
OH COME ON SOMEBODY...
YOU ADORED HER AT 120 LBS..
BUT CAN YOU LOVE HER AT 163
MAN I’M ALL IN YOUR BUSINESS NOW
LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBOR AND SAY...
THINGS CHANGE
CAN YOU FINISH???
PASTOR I WANNA START MY OWN BUSINESS....
THAT’S GREAT
HAPPENS ALL THE TIME
AND 90% FAIL IN THE FIRST YEAR
CAN YOU FINISH IT???
PASTOR I WANNA START MY OWN CHURCH
THAT’S GREAT
9 OUTTA 10 OF THOSE FAIL TOO
CAN YOU FINISH IT???
I’M GONNA LOSE 50 LBS....OK
AFTER YOU’VE LOST YOU FIRST 4 LBS
YOU CAN NOT CELEBRATE WITH CHEESECAKE
OH MY LORD…I NEED TO MOVE ON…LOL
29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
IN OTHER WORDS…HE’S SAYING...
DON’T FIGHT BATTLES THAT YOU CAN’T WIN
DON’T START PROJECTS YOU CAN’T FINISH
AND DON’T FIGHT BATTLES YOU CAN’T WIN
ACTUALLY IF YOU KEEP ON READING....I THINK THIS IS HILARIOUS
JESUS SAYS....
IF YOU LOOK AT THEM AND SAY YOU CAN’T WIN...
HE SAID…MAKE PEACE
LOL…I THINK IT’S FUNNY
I CAN’T BEAT YOU...
CAN I SHAKE YOUR HAND? LOL
...open in prayer....
TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR....HERE WE GO!
YOU CAN’T FIGHT EVERYTHING
WHAT I READ TO YOU IN LUKE 14.
JESUS SAID...
HOW MANY OF YOU WILL NOT FIRST SIT DOWN AND CONSIDER...
CAN YOU FINISH
THE SECOND THING WAS....WITH THE KING
HOW MANY OF YOU WILL NOT FIRST CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN WIN?
I HAD A FRIEND GROWING UP WHO WAS A FIGHTER...
EVERYTHING THAT SWUNG
HE WOULD SWING BACK
THIS GUY WAS ALWAYS IN TROUBLE
ALWAYS GROUNDED
AND HE WAS ALWAYS MISERABLE
ALWAYS SEEMED EXHAUSTED
OH COME ON....
YOU KNOW ANYBODY LIKE THIS????
SOMEONE THAT IF...
YOU LIE ON ME I’M GONNA ENGAGE
IF YOU DON’T LIKE ME…I’M GONNA ENGAGE
I MEAN THEY JUST FIGHT EVERYTHING
I DON’T KNOW
MAYBE THATS YOU THIS MORNING
MAYBE YOU STRUGGLE WITH PICKING YOUR BATTLES
INSTEAD, YOU FIGHT EVERYTHING THAT COMES YOUR WAY
WHEN WE LOOK AT LIKE 14: JESUS SAYS..
NO…NO…NO YOU GOTTA PICK YOUR BATTLES
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR ENEMY
HE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU FIGHT ALL THE TIME
OH COME ON...
YOU GOTTA ASK YOURSELF THIS ONE QUESTION....
WHAT DO YOU WIN?
IF I CAN’T COME UP WITH SOMETHING AT THE END OF THIS QUESTION
I DON’T FIGHT
SOMEBODY NEEDS TO HEAR THIS THIS MORNING.
YOU CAN’T FIGHT EVERYTHING
SO WHAT BATTLES ARE WORTH YOUR ATTENTION?
THE BIBLE SAID...
THERE IS A TIME FOR WAR
AND THERE IS A TIME FOR PEACE
THE ENEMY WOULD HAVE YOU FIGHT THINGS ALL THE TIME THAT HAVE NO SPOILS
SO BEFORE YOU PICK A BATTLE TO FIGHT…YOU GOTTA ASK YOURSELF ONE QUESTION
ARE THERE ANY SPOILS TO THIS BATTLE?
IS THERE ANYTHING TO WIN?
WE THINK DAVID IS JUST THE MOST WONDERFUL GUY
BECAUSE HE FOUGHT THIS GIANT GOLIATH
BECAUSE HE JUST LOVED GOD SO MUCH...
THAT IS NOT WHAT THE STORY SAYS…THE STORY SAYS...
THAT HE WALKED UP AND SAID...
WHAT DOES THE MAN GET WHO FIGHTS THIS GUY?
WHAT DO I GET?
WHAT ARE THE SPOILS OF VICTORY?
WELL DAVID YOUR GONNA GET...
A LOT OF MONEY
NEVER PAY TAXES AGAIN
AND YOU GET THE KINGS DAUGHTER
DAVID SAID....GIVE ME A ROCK AND A SLING
I’M ABOUT TO TAKE THIS GUY DOWN RIGHT NOW
IN OTHER WORDS....HE SAID
WHAT ARE THE SPOILS OF THIS BATTLE
I’M NOT GONNA FIGHT IF THERE ISN’T ANYTHING TO WIN
OH MY LORD...
SOME OF YOU ARE EXHAUSTING YOURSELF AND EMPTYING YOURSELF
YOU NEED TO STOP AND ASK
WHAT IS AT STAKE IN THIS BATTLE
AND IF NOTHING IS A STAKE
THEN YOU NEED TO QUIT FIGHTING
COME ON SOMEBODY
CAN I GET AN AMEN???
SO I ONLY FIGHT TWO KINDS OF BATTLES
WHERE THERE ARE SPOILS
BATTLES THAT THREATEN MY DESTINY
THEY DON’T LIKE ME
THEY DIDN’T INVITE YOU TO THIS
DID YOU SEE WHAT THEY MESSAGED ABOUT YOU
WE CAN’T FIGHT THOSE BATTLES
YOU CAN’T DO NOTHING ABOUT THAT ANYWAY
BUT NOW....
IF I’M HERE AND GOD SAYS I’M SUPPOSED TO BE OVER THERE
AND YOU STAND IN THE MIDDLE AND SAY....I’M GONNA STOP YOU
NOW WE GOT A PROBLEM
OH COME ON SOMEBODY...
BECAUSE IF IT HAS TO DO WITH
MY PURPOSE
MY FUTURE
MY DESTINY
THAT IS A BATTLE WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO FIGHT
IF I FEEL LIKE GOD IS TRYING TO TAKE ME SOMEWHERE
AND THERE IS SOMETHING TRYING TO RESTRAIN ME
FROM SOMETHING GOD SAID IS MINE
THAT IS A WARFARE THAT I WILL ENGAGE IN
CAN I GET AN AMEN?
SO THERE IS TWO THINGS YOU HAVE TO STOP AND CONSIDER
CAN I WIN.....
IS IT WORTH THE BATTLE
IS IT SOMETHING THAT IS THREATENING MY DESTINY
SOME OF YOU IN HERE ARE BEING SET FREE
BECAUSE YOU GOT ABOUT NINE BATTLES WHEN YOU GET HOME
YOU CAN LOOK AT THEM AND SAY..
NOPE I’M NOT FIGHTING THAT ANYMORE....WHY
BECAUSE THERE AIN’T NOTHING TO WIN
THERE IS NO REASON TO FIGHT
THAT ONE DON’T THREATEN MY DESTINY
WHAT DOES IT MATTER IF THEY DON’T LIKE ME
THERE OPINION CAN’T HURT ME
ALL I GOTTA DO IS CARE ABOUT WHAT GOD TOLD ME TO DO.
CAN I GET AN AMEN??
ANOTHER THING THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IS...
NOT ONLY DO ENEMIES ANNOUNCE THAT YOUR AT A DOOR
BUT,
THE INTENSITY OF THE WARFARE INCREASES WHEN YOUR CLOSE
OH COME ON.....
IF YOU ARE SENSING AN INCREASED STRAIN
INCREASED PRESSURE
INCREASED TURMOIL
INCREASED ANXIETY
INCREASED FEAR
YOU ARE CLOSE (HOLD FINGER CLOSE TOGETHER)
450 YEARS PASSED WITH ISRAEL UNDER
THE COLD HARD WHIP OF PHARAOH
EVERY DAY WAS BAD
BUT WERE DOWN TO THE LAST DAYS OF THERE CAPTIVITY
EXODUS 6, 7,8,9,10.
AND GOD IS ABOUT TO BRING THEM OUT
WE SEE GOD WILL SEND A PLAGUE
AND READ THE LAST VERSE OF EVERYONE OF THOSE CHAPTERS
“AND PHARAOH HARDENED HIS HEART”
AND GOD SENT
AND PHARAOH HARDENED HIS HEART
AND GOD SENT
AND PHARAOH HARDENED HIS HEART
IN OTHER WORDS...
THE ENEMY DUG IN DEEPER
THEY HAD BEEN THERE FOR 450 YEARS
BUT THE LAST DAYS WERE THE WORST DAYS THEY HAD EVER ENCOUNTERED
WHY?
BECAUSE THEY WERE CLOSE TO GOD GIVEN THEM THEIR DOORWAY OUT OF CAPTIVITY
INTO A BRAND NEW LIFE IN THE PROMISED LAND
OH MY LORD...
I WANT TO TALK TO SOME PEOPLE THIS MORNING
WHO ARE ABOUT TO THROW IN THE TOWEL
YOU ARE ABOUT TO QUIT
AND YOUR SAYING....
I’M MENTALLY EXHAUSTED
I’M EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED
I’M RELATIONALLY EXHAUSTED
I DON’T WANT TO TALK TO ANYBODY
I DON’T EVEN KNOW IF I’M SAVED RIGHT NOW
OH COME ON SOMEBODY
CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING???
BEFORE YOU QUIT
(HOLD FINGERS TOGETHER)
THAT USUALLY MEANS YOUR ABOUT THAT FAR AWAY
YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO BE THINKING ABOUT QUITTING
YOU ARE TOO CLOSE TO BE WALKING OUT ON THIS THING
IT’S TIME TO GET IN THERE AND FIGHT…WHY?
BECAUSE YOUR RIGHT THERE AT YOUR DOOR
YOUR ENEMY IS FRUSTRATED
YOUR ENEMY CAN’T BELIEVE YOUR EVEN STILL STANDING
CAN SOMEBODY GIVE HIM A SHOUT OF PRAISE.....
DON’T QUIT
DON’T GIVE UP
YOUR TOO CLOSE
TOO CLOSE TO BEATING THAT DISEASE
TOO CLOSE TO GETTING THIS HABIT OUT OF MY LIFE
TOO CLOSE TO A BREAK THROUGH IN MY MIND
MY HOUSEHOLD IS THIS CLOSE TO BEING SAVED
I CAN’T QUIT NOW
OH MY LORD…HELP ME
TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR...
DON’T QUIT
YOUR THIS CLOSE
DAVID WAS PLAYING A HARP IN KING SAUL’S PALACE....PART TIME
THEN ONE DAY THE PROPHET SAMUEL
ANNOINTED THE NEXT KING
AND IT HAPPENED TO BE THE HARP PLAYER
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW....
THAT MAKES FOR A HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT....LOL
AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN....
THE GUY PLAYING THE HARP PART TIME FINDS OUT...
HE OWNS THE PALACE
SO WHAT DOES THE KING WHO IS NOT CRAZY ABOUT THE TRANSITION START DOING????
HE STARTS CHUCKING SPEARS AT DAVID
IN OTHER WORDS...
AS HE STARTS TO ASCEND TO HIS THROWN
THE CLOSER HE GETS
THE MORE PRESSURE HE BEGINS TO FEEL
16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
I’M NOT SENDING YOU OUT AS SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF SHEEP
I SEND YOU AS SHEEP TO WOLVES
IN OTHER WORDS...
I’M SENDING YOU INTO PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DEVOUR YOU
SO YOU GOTTA BE WISE
OH MY LORD....
THIS MEANS YOU CAN’T FEEL
YOU GOTTA THINK
IT’S VERY HARD TO END UP AT A WISE PLACE
WHEN FEELINGS ARE DRIVING YOUR DECISIONS
OH COME ON....
BE WISE...
BUT BE HARMLESS
YOUR NOT FIGHTING THE PEOPLE
THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL
YOUR NOT FIGHTING THE PEOPLE
OH COME ON....
YOUR FIGHTING THE SPIRIT THAT IS USING THE PEOPLE
TO TRY TO STOP WHAT GOD IS DOING IN YOUR LIFE
AND HE SAYS…BE HARMLESS...
DON’T HURT THE PEOPLE
BUT BE WISE
DISCERN YOUR SITUATION
AND KNOW WHAT TO DO
22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
HE WHO ENDURES TO THE END....
THERE ARE SOME ENEMIES THAT...
YOU MAY TOTALLY CONQUER
BUT YOU MAY HAVE TO OUTLAST
YOUR GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM AND SAY...
I KNOW YOUR STILL STANDING
BUT I’LL BE HERE WHEN YOUR GONE
WHEN THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID....EPH.6.
WHEN YOU’VE DONE ALL YOU CAN TO STAND
STAND FIRM WITH THE ARMOR OF GOD
IN OTHER WORDS...
WHEN YOU HAVE SWUNG AND DONE EVERYTHING THERE IS TO DO
DIG YOUR HEALS IN
WHICH MEANS I’M NOT GIVING UP ANY GROUND
I’M GONNA STARE YOU DOWN
AND I’LL BE HERE WHEN YOUR GONE
“HE WHO ENDURES”
...WORSHIP TEAM JOIN ME.......
SO I WANT TO END WITH THIS QUESTION...
HOW DO YOU ENDURE???
YOUR EXHAUSTED
YOUR SPENT
YOU GOT THINGS FALLING APART EVERYWHERE
YOU GET “A” PUT BACK TOGETHER AND “B” FALLS APART
IT’S EXHAUSTING
HOW DO YOU ENDURE???
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT GIVES YOU THE ENERGY TO ENDURE IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION...
WHAT YOU SET BEFORE YOU!
WHAT IS THE JOY??
I SAID WE DON’T FIGHT BATTLE THAT HAVE NO SPOILS
IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT GOES TO THE WINNER
YOU HAVE TO SET THAT IN FRONT OF YOU
OH MY LORD....
MOST PEOPLE DON’T MAKE IT BECAUSE...
THEY DON’T FOCUS ON THE SPOILS
THEY FOCUS ON THE FIGHT
AND IF I ASK THEM HOW IT’S GOING
THEY TELL ME EVERYTHING THATS GOING WRONG
HOW TIRED THEY ARE
HOW TOUGH IT’S BEEN
COME ON ...
THAT’S NOT BAD BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS TELLING ME?
YOUR NOT FOCUSED ON THE JOY SET BEFORE YOU
YOUR FOCUSED ON WHATS COMING AGAINST YOU
IT HAS ALL OF YOUR ATTENTION
GOD NEVER TOLD YOU TO FOCUS ON YOUR ENEMY
WELL, JESUS HUNG ON THE CROSS
BECAUSE HE WAS THE SON OF GOD
AND HE JUST HAD SPECIAL POWER
UNDERSTAND THIS...
JESUS WAS AS MUCH FLESH AS ME AND YOU
HE WASN’T HALF MAN, HALF GOD
HE WAS 100% MAN
AND 100% GOD
HE FELT EVERYTHING THAT A CRUCIFIX MAKES A PERSON FEEL
THE BIBLE SAYS
HOW DOES HE STAY ON THAT TREE WITH THEM SPIKES THROUGH HIS HANDS AND FEET
HE DOES IT WITH THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM
WHAT WAS THE JOY SET BEFORE HIM?
ME AND YOU
HE KNEW THAT SALVATION COULD BE PURCHASED FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD ASK.
IF HE CAN JUST ENDURE IT
HE DID NOT KEEP THE CROSS IN FRONT OF HIM
THAT’S THE BATTLE
HE KEPT THE JOY
A LOT OF YOU ARE LOSING YOUR ABILITY TO FIGHT
BECAUSE YOU HAVE SET THE WRONG THING IN FRONT OF YOU
OH COME ON...
YOUR FOCUSED ON THE BATTLE
YOUR FOCUSED ON THE FIGHT
AND YOUR FOCUSED ON THE ENEMY
AND JESUS FOCUSED ON THE…JOY
HE SAW ME AN YOU AT THE END
AND IT GAVE HIM THE ABILITY TO ACCOMPLISH
WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO.
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT
WHAT ARE YOU FOCUSED ON?
BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ENDURE
ARE THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP THEIR EYES ON THE RIGHT THING
THE WAY YOU WIN YOUR BATTLE IS...
BY KEEPING THE PURPOSE AND SPOILS OF THE VICTORY
IN THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR MIND
WHEN YOU KEEP THE RIGHT THING IN FRONT OF YOU...
YOU KEEP YOUR POWER
WHEN YOU FOCUS ON THE WRONG THING
YOU BECOME EXHAUSTED
.....STAND TO YOUR FEET....
I WANT TO DRAW YOU BACK TO...
WHY ARE YOU FIGHTING
AND IF YOU CAN’T GIVE THAT A JOYFUL ANSWER
THEN IT’S NOT A FIGHT THAT YOU NEED TO FIGHT
IT EITHER HAS SPOILS
AND HIS HAS A JOY
AND HAS DESTINY ATTACHED TO IT
OR
YOU DON’T NEED TO BE...
WASTING YOUR ENERGY
MARRIAGE?
WORTH FIGHTING FOR
YOUR HEALTH?
WORTH FIGHTING FOR
YOUR KIDS?
WORTH FIGHTING FOR
YOUR PRIDE?
NOT WORTH FIGHTING OVER
AMEN???
BOW YOUR HEAD AND CLOSE YOU EYES.
PASTOR CHRIS...
I’M TIRED AND EXHAUSTED
I’M MISERABLE
AND I JUST NEED HELP ENDURING
WHAT ARE YOU SETTING BEFORE YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU FOCUSED ON?
ARE YOU FOCUSED ON THE BATTLE
THE ENEMY?
THE AREAS THAT ARE FRUSTRATING YOU
OR ARE YOU FOCUSING ON THE JOYS
THE SPOILS?
YOUR DESTINY
YOUR PURPOSE
THE END
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
FINALLY....
COME ON ALL OVER THIS HOUSE
JUST BEGIN TO STRETCH YOUR HANDS TO HEAVEN
AND SAY THANK THE LORD
FOR WHAT HE IS ABOUT TO DO IN YOUR LIFE
THESE ALTARS ARE OPEN....
IF YOUR HERE AND IN NEED OF STRENGTH TO ENDURE
WOULD YOU COME
LET US PRAY WITH YOU