NPCC Sunday Morning Service: Beyond The Crowd

I want just add to that a little bit this morning. I'm pleased to say I've actually had the opportunity. I very seldom do the same message twice, but I've had the opportunity to share this I watched you for many many years ago or a version of it, and I know that you will be blessed. Acts chapter 8 beginning and verse 4 the scripture reads as such now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and Proclaim to them the Christ and the cross with one Accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs what you did what were the times that was a loud voice came out of many who had them and men who were paralyzed or lame or heels? So that was much joy in that City a man that would reviver going on and then finally verse 26 you didn't stay there forever.

And he told Phillip the angel of the Lord said to fill arise and go toward the South to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. Gaza this is a desert Place Let Us Praise the heavenly father. Thank you for all that you do for all that you can do and Lord just help us to receive what you're trying to do and each and everyone of us. Lorde Let us have not just hope but God ambition and determination. God let let us not be Christian settlers Lord. Oh Father give us so I just an inspiration on the inside to go to the height or where we can go in our relationship with you bless us today God that we might hear your voice and it will be right be inspired to go beyond the crowd. In Jesus name we pray let us all say amen. Amen. You may have your seats. You may have your c-cell the time of today's message beyond the crowd beyond the crowd Everest Mount Everest.

ISO Mount Everest is in the Himalayan Mountain range on the borders of China and Nepal. And Mount Everest is the highest mountain peak in the world.

There's not a single place in there. So you get a perspective.

Is 29029 ft? to the top That's a long way up there. Yeah people from all over the world visit Mount Everest every year. It is one of the top destination for mountain climbers, but here's the strange part. Thousands and thousands of people go to Mount Everest. But very few. Go to the top. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, but you know where they go when they get to Mount Everest. Basecamp so this is base camp and it's it's it's it's kind of like on the way to the top of the mountain. even now is 29,000 feet to the top 17,000 ft but now

and in the end the top of the mountain. You could.

You can.

You can ride.

if you if you

you can shower

But not at the top of the mountain. Yeah. See see if you going to the top of the mountain you got to be in a whole nother level of a being a cry, to get their amen. So

Because I like in this example to Christians and Christian leaders leaders. leaders sad to say for a lot of Christian need is getting ordained. The license is like they just can't they just want the title and you'll be able to show what they got every now and then and no pick up a little the cheese at the end. Yeah, they're glad to say that I've been license. So I've been all day, you know, I'm a little better at this than you are but just like people to go to Basecamp. They don't always stay. What a guy. A lot of Christians that they go so far and then many of them stop. And no just stay there. They go back down, you know and trying to describe walking with Christ one time to acquit to somebody cuz I was telling me you can't just quit you you are we got to go see God and keep seeking God. And it's like a stick shift before. All right, so I took my little boy.

And discontinue assistant real quick that you have to drive a stick shift different when you're driving and in a place with with hills and mountains. Yeah. So I'm at the stoplight and I got it in gear and brake on there and then I'm on the hill do and I'll go to pull off and I hit the gas and mad and quit. I've been doing that a couple times. I made an adjustment. I figured out that I had to keep my foot on the gas all the time have it on the break so that when I took it off the break I have no gas to keep it from going back and the and the keep going.

if you are Christian your spiritual walking like driving on mountains. You have to keep your foot on the gas. If you think you going to stop somewhere and park in Jesus, you'll find yourself going back down the mountain. Yeah, we call it back slide. So so I want to encourage you today don't settle where you are in God a man fight to go to another level for it. It's a challenging and it it it it becomes more difficult the higher you go but God is with you and he will help you to get there because the crowd made me stay at a base camp, but I would encourage you to go beyond the Crowd Goes at the top.

Maybe yeah. Look at The View when you get above the crowd above the clouds when you go beyond the crowd and get a buzz look at the view from from Maryland.

but but the air is seeing up there and

only a few can go and I want to encourage you don't don't know backslide trying to park somewhere and God go beyond the crowd. God wants you to live on a spiritual mind so that you can encourage others. The come to the mountain and the go to a higher place. It takes skill and training to climb Mount Everest and it tastes getting more training in and becoming more skillful in prayer and and studying the word of God to go to another place and God, you know, I was I was talking in the first service this morning about the Prophet Jeremiah and I was sharing about how you know, God didn't just talk to the people directly. He he use the problems he use other people. You know, why God does that you see if he's trying to get someone here to go here. Him saying that is one thing but him having someone that's already there. They had that conversation. You don't just hear what God is saying, but you see what God is saying, is that make sense? That's why the scripture talks about we need to be living Epistles to be read of men when you give somebody. Hope they should be looking at somebody that have some. Oh, yeah where you eat when you when you tell somebody about faith. They should be looking at someone that's walking in faith. When you tell somebody about love, they should see a loving person. So so when you tell somebody about going higher in the Lord, you need to be going higher. I seek God I get in my word. I think I try to do that not just everyday two or three times most days. I'm constantly challenging myself to go hire a couple weeks from this coming Monday. I'll be taking classes at the Baptist University of Florida to work on my masters of divinity. I don't know how far we'll get everything but I don't necessarily have to but here's the thing. I want to keep going. As a leader, I know whoever I park at I'm creating a ceiling for you. I want to go higher so that I grow more and no more so that I can help you to go pass where you're at or I can inspire you that there's higher that you can go to that. That's more than you can know that that's more growth for you that great a blessing for you. So I'm trying to to be an example so that I have an encouragement to you to go beyond the crowd and to go to the next level a man. So so when to use Deacon Philip, one of the first deacons are in the Christian church the kind of show you the kind of quality you you need to have if you going to go beyond the crowd and that there's five of my want us to look at in there. All right here in Acts 8 and let's start by looking at the first one. In verse 26 Angel of the Lord said to fill up rise and go to water the South to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to God. This is a desert place. So if you going to go talk about it this morning, if you going to go beyond the crowd if you going to not Park to go higher you need to be committed. You need to make a commitment and the phone, correct? There may be.

Working with me. Hello. Thank you fellows commitment is an act of committing to a charge or trust commitment. They just talk. Commitment is walk a promise to give yourself your time your money and your support to something. In this day and age commitment is at a low level. Yeah, yeah people not committed to jobs people not come on. Now, you know most people go to work committed to getting paid. That should have committed to doing the work. And we all believe me go to a fast food place and try to get some service every week, but I went to Wendy's. Anna you know, I got you know, I knew what I was going to get a checkup. So I just thought I was going to a better place, you know what I mean? And so I get in the windows and they don't change some things right. So so we got there me and this other guy was meeting him. We was talkin about about the Lord and say meet me up there in so and it's after 5. I didn't know it but after 5, you have to pay in order to the kiosk. 9 people standing there, cash registers, but but I go do you have to use the kiosk and it's not working? So I try to use the other kiosk and it's not working. So I wasn't hey neither one of the kiosk is working. So the guy comes from behind the counter and Lucas is it she'll know you right? It's not working when he leaves and goes back behind the counter and I'm thinking when are you going to take my order at the counter or not?

I'm looking at him and he looked at me for a minute and I left and went to Burger King.

viral video then I wouldn't you're helping her to make money for the because they were not committed to good service to the customer. Yeah, I hate to say it. But a lot of Christians are just as bad as committed to walking with Christ and serving the lord, you know as those two workers at Wendy's. So by the way, if you going that way and it's after 5, it's going through the drive-thru. I need not going to help you on the inside of you got some sad to say

they didn't have a train going from Jerusalem and Gaza. They didn't have a bus going he didn't have a bicycle. He didn't have a motorcycle. He had to walk. But God told him to go and he was committed to God. So he went from Jerusalem to God. That's 52 MI. one way but he he got up. and he went Walking reprise, you know how to Staples have the easy but that's no easy button it is. Yeah. Yeah. I was teaching the class and I was talking about it and it talks about how the leaders are supposed to train the members up to do the work of the ministry not the play of the ministry that the vacation of the ministry the work of the ministry just to get here and setup and for us to have the committee and the reason why more people aren't hearing the gospel and the reason why are more people are growing in Christ because they lack of commitment Philip took the journey without hesitation because God trusted him to go and in the care of the gospel and he honor that trust he was committed to his relationship with God. He was committed to helping others have a relationship with God. So he stopped putting lanard in front of Robert and exchange. So so so feeling with an abusive what the scripture talks about in Romans 12 Romans, 12:1 and 2 says I appeal to you therefore Brothers by the mercies of God to present your body as a Living Sacrifice level of commitment that God is expecting. He's expecting you to make a commitment to give yourself a living Holi h o l y but also wh0at well and acceptable to God This is real worship. See we think we're civilians. We throw our hands up when we sang the song that that's part of it. But real worship is your life real. Where is your life saying? God is good. Look real worship is people see your thankfulness and they see the goodness of God by the life. You live. That's real worship. Yeah and pursue says do not be conformed to this world, but be what friends for be changed and in the beginning of the team is the renewing of your mind, you know, you got that you got that poison is been put into your finger in your thinking process. Because it didn't get the new and because y'all know if you got some some some garbage and then you go in to wash dishes with with salt water. Nobody knows who I'm talking about. Yeah, you going to Kitchen? You smell the water you pull the rack up you smell it, but then you going to put some glasses and some place watch.

And you know what get a glass. Did somebody don't why? The dishes in some salt water getting in and then pull something in there and try to drink it.

Yeah, you got nobody know what I'm talkin about.

So when you wash it, you got clean glasses or when you get there and when you get ready to use it, you know, you don't get the taste of yesterday's breakfast. Yeah.

Is it that is in your in your when you come to Christ change the water?

No, Jesus what they're saying thinking that you had be transformed then you know what God wants you to do you're ready to accept the will of God then you'll know what it's good for the acceptable. What is perfect. Yes. God is asking us to be transformed and in our heart that we are really committed to him will commit it not just to him but to the work that he's called to do so he rose up and went dance verse 27

And he started Stephen. I was going to take him a couple days to get there. I don't know if he had lunch with him or not. But two days plus William, you know, if it didn't have a place to buy it for a cuz he was going in the desert, you know, they might have had to do some sacrifices. He made me hungry right then just committed that he was dedicated. He was devoted. Dedication is setting yourself aside for a particular purpose is is is being self-sacrificing is taking you is giving your activity your time. Your energy is your resources to something that you think is important now, that's a that's a very pertinent definition because you

That's what you going to give your time to what is that important or not? I remember this guy that stayed down the street from us. He was a mechanic. And I love working on cars and he was on the car and Monday the Jack came out from under the car and the car fell on him and an injured him and and he got a settlement for that accident. And you know what you did with a large portion of the Sailor Man. He went and bought a new car. Yeah, I still remember the car it cuz it was like it was a Cutlass 442 had a big engine dual exhaust for barrel carburetor. You can hear and come here. I'm coming down the street and it was always White had a black vinyl tile. It was beautiful and you know, he was committed. He was a devoted and dedicated to his car. So much so that that he he pretty much washed that card every day. Yeah, and he saw Lorraine come and he went out and put it in a tarp and his trunk and he put this the tarp over his car. And Eddie are bunch of small kids. Right, and you know what small kids do in cars? If not, I can lend you one. It won't take them long to do it to yoga. So so guess how he rolled his car. He didn't. He bought another used car now. He won't his wife can ride in the car cuz he had to be careful to but the children know he bought her another used car if you had to take that y'all get me.

But when I when I realize how dedicated and devoted he was to the car when he went and bought. a rifle and he put the rifle in his trunk. And you know, what? Why why do you have a rifle and he said if anybody hit his car they wouldn't go get away with it. So he kept a rifle in his car. They mean about his contract to get away. He was going to shoot them up by hitting his car.

Needed to say he's he's no longer with us and the car left before he did. But he was committed he was devoted and you know what we can get tricked into being devoted to Temporary things like that car. Y'all get sidetracked with the Devil Couldn't half us up about stuff and we can get so devoted and into stuff that we missed the most important thing that we can ever have and that's a relationship with God. Yeah, come on now TV show getting more attention than God. Okay, we can let a high be. You'll take up more of our resources and time man getting closer to the Lord.

Okay. Well, let me go on to some other point to serve God at a higher level you have to set yourself aside for his use. What time ministry but what I wasn't in full-time Ministry I gave myself to our I went to work and that was my daytime Ministry witnessing on the job and being a good good example for your for the employees. I was I was doing my first of all my children do that that your daddy will say Man, you know one of my favorite things to do was the read the Bible to them before they went to sleep every night. So they want me to read as many stars as possible. But whatever you need me to do with the ministry. I figured out how to make how to make that happen. Whatever you you really want want to get done to get done.

Is it is is a heart issue love the Lord. Thy God with all thy heart all them and all are so it'll make you a better person. It'll make you a better father. It'll make you a better husband. I think that's why I last Friday or charlatans. I celebrated 38th wedding anniversary.

Let me tell you the man that I used to be when the made it eight year. Let us know in 38. You know, what I goddamn changing the war? Yeah, I'm just saying can you order? Yeah. Yeah. So what about you?

What is your life say that you are committed to? What what is how you spend your time and energy in your resources what it say about your your level of dedication?

Just food for thought there's 27 says he meant when he got the two and a half days 52 miles and there was an Ethiopian a unit a court official of Candace queen of these Europeans who was in charge of all her treasure. The Ethiopian had to come to Jerusalem to worship and was now returning back to Ethiopia. But at this point he on that road was had stopped. Seated in his Chariot and even though he had already been to church. He was still reading the Bible and was reading the prophet Isaiah at that time. Indian spirit said the fellow go over enjoying the Chariot that notice what Philip did it says when he had the opportunity when the when the angel spoke them it says Philip ran to that easy open unit days and you running to get to somebody to tell them whatever. God wants you to tell them. That talks about the third thing that you need to have if you going to another lover you need to have passion. passion You see he had an intense driving feeling or conviction. A strong liking our desire for a Devotion to some activity or concept something that you are strongly interested in and enjoy. Obviously he enjoyed serving the lord. Obviously. He enjoyed talking to someone about Christ because he didn't look for a hotel or motel. He wouldn't you know it when is hello when he had the opportunity he ran to this man that had never seen before ready to do whatever God would have him to do to help that man. a man

I love for God should be that intense. We we should be just as passionate. We should be just as eager about saving Souls. We should be just as eager about teaching and sharing of the Lord cuz people need it. Hey, man, there's a lot of foolishness going on in this world. I talked to sessions of of my workshop on Friday and strangely enough. You can about a 21 in one section 22 and another session in a room that could use them for air conditioner, but we would dedicate.

Anyway yesterday I went to breakfast sausage and I and we saw John Jamail and Elvina and Latonya it was already there. So we we want to go and sit and fellowship but they had no room in their table, but that was room at the table next to them. And that was a couple there so we went and sat at the table with the couple next to them and they welcomed us and then we discovered that both the man and his wife had come to the day before then come together, but when it come to water when it comes to the other and so the husband was asking me a question. He wanted some further information about what I was taught. What I thought you know, I like I love answering question. Absolutely. Love it. I like helping people.

And then he started asking other questions not what I didn't care for. He had an agenda going on with his questions. Yeah. He started asking questions about leadership at courses about women in Ministry and right. And so I didn't didn't think anything about it or not only answer the questions, but I gave him scriptures and I gave him the best answer I can give me from from God's word.

And so I asked him about neither was he involved in Ministry and come to find out he was a Associated and his church, that's good. But but but those questions he was asking what he was he was trying to lead me into making some comments to throw shade on his wife.

That's not a good good thing to do. Yeah matter fact, that's the intent of his heart was not the best. So so she began to inform me of some things so that I would know that her husband was trying to use me to shoot at them. But but what is the information I got was sad? Why he was the number two guy and actively involved in his church. She was the number two woman and actively involved at church.

Okay. Nobody's getting what I'm saying? Yeah, so she's at one place and she's your sister at somewhere else. Do this. What you doing? So using was done I had to address that situation and I told him I'm praying for y'all. Yeah, Carlos castorena in the other hand that's confusion. But what kind of example is that to the members of the church and they are letting y'all do this kind of stuff and you know ain't helping somebody to see something right. But how come it was and it could have been him so didn't matter who it was but Herr comment was when the Lord tells me to leave my church I leave and not before.

So to be honest with you, if you look at the work correctly you he didn't already told you in this world, but I doubt if you listening.

This is what's going on in the world today. And that's why churches families communities. That's why there's so much Division and confusion and the children are literally collateral damage. by the way Neither one of their churches are really growing. And with that kind of spirit going on in the leadership I can see why neither are growing. listen You got to love God. And love is word. More than you love your own little program you trying to run?

Just making sense.

God's will is the best thing out. There is nothing higher. There's nothing wiser than God's word. I have discovered if if I feel one way of I'm thinking certain way in in the in the Bible says something different change the water get rid of and one of the things that has been a key to my success not just in Ministry, but in life. Is whatever God wants me to do. Even if I don't want to do it. I learned the do it in like doing it because it's the best thing to do. In other words if God wants the temperature to change them all together with whatever temperature he wanted to be. If you want if he said the circuit and I'm going to be the first one to tell you I do not always like doing What God Says. And I've been coming over. I've been walking with God for 48 years and there's still times when God says do this or say this, but I want you to preach there are times when God says go tell him that she was like, you know, I want people to like me, you know what I mean? I want to be mad with me. I don't have to service, you know, this was going that way and now we're going that way again.

But I loved the obedience and I loved it more important to me to give you what you need. That is give me give you what you want. And if you don't if you don't like me, man, we got whatever long as you get what you need. I'm good with it. Amen. You don't that's what the commitment in the dedication. That's what the passionate is all about telling you what you need is going to help you and that's what's really going to make your life better. And it listen you should want the truth. regardless yo, if you got some people pick up sticks and and he didn't go to somewhere else were you know, they can hear more toward their flavor know you want one flavor in God and ask the wholehearted biblical adulterated truth, you know as strong as they make it you that's that's what you really want. But you want the truth and God said walk on the right side of the street walk on the right side of the street that you don't know what's going to happen on the left side. But but you know, he said walk on the right side. That's the best side for you. Don't don't try to do like like them to say what I'm thinking right now, but that couple yesterday. You're trying to manipulate me. You two are leaders and somebody to Sturgis with this kind of foods. You can play in these kind of games is sad. They need to go beyond the crowd. They need to go to another level. Amen. Sorry about all that, but I just maybe they help somebody here. Satan is going to work currently on trying to get you to to to love something else. besides obeying God to the point. He'll try to get you the the not love God at all the love yourself more to love the love of your stuff like like that young man. Love that Cutlass 442 don't do it. Change recalibrate your heart and your life to whatever God has for you and you will live the best life ever.

Go to hell for 38 years. I have two wonderful children. And I have maybe the greatest grandson ever made. I'm just saying I mean I got you in my life. That's wonderful in yourself. You know, I got good memories. I got friends, you know, my house is not leaking. You know, my truck on my van life is going well, but I promise you it's the the fruit of the goodness that I'm enjoying his come from changing the water. From letting God change my heart. From from putting his will above my thoughts and my feelings so that he could bless my life. And I don't let that be a blessing to the lives of others man. When I think about over the years the number of marriages that God has used me to help save and in in in Hollows family has improved and doing well and and and now I'm counseling and the children 20 years ago.

Because it's another generation of good examples.

dedicated myself when I made this a passion now, where am I going with that? God has something in you and you and you and you and especially you. I have some things that just like he's using me to help in the way that I help. There's some things in you that God wants to use the to be a special blessing to others as well. It's an adventure that that has a good ending find out what God made you to do and how God made you to do with it and we'll listen when I was in a few blocks from here smoking weed and drinking under the tree and you know, right down the street and I had no idea the potential that I could be a musician. I didn't know that I could be a writer. I know idea that you know that I could write something that could actually be produced on stage are you know, I didn't know that I can teach I didn't it just so many thing. I had no idea. the God damn You know, you know I was going to be the best dog. I could be until Jesus change my life. There's great things in each and everyone of you and and and you know, what at 68 years old. I'm as excited now about what God has called me to do as I ever was. I'm a dedicated as a fashion as I ever was right now. I want to stay longer. I want to enjoy this longer and help other people by the way, but when he called me home a piece so you got to do this from your heart. You you you got to give God your heart your man. Give him everything. Amen. We must

I'm an ISO and I stream. I'm about done in verse 38 and heard him reading Isaiah. Do you understand what you are reading? And he said, how can I unless someone guys me and he invited Phillip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this like a sheet. He was led to the slaughter in like a lamb before its shearers is silent. So he opened not his mouth and the eunuch said to Philip about who I ask you does the prophets say it is say this about himself or about someone else then. Open his mouth and beginning with that scripture. He told him the gospel the good news. He told him about Jesus. You see he was perfectly prepared. He was ready. So the new when he had the opportunity he was able to serve that person for God the way that person need the way that you need it. Do you want to walk around with the Bible? He didn't have it on this phone have a phone.

He had those scriptures that he has spent time and prepared himself so that when God wanted to use him he could be used. Let that when God wanted to turn this vessel and pull out truth. He had put enough proof that he will bring back all things to you remember bring back. He brought it back. Why was he able to bring it back? Because Philip and put it in there.

And he was ready to to be a blessing and to share the gospel and help this man coming to the Saving Grace that has been afforded by Jesus Christ. He was accountable accountable accountability is an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility. and to be a take into account or actions Answerable. Responsible for and having to explain his actions.

God wants Christians to be accountable

the world holds us accountable. That's why I went and finds out that you're not very good at it. They call us Hypocrites, but truth be told we hold each other accountable. Yeah, we look at each other. And when in your hand when we're over and let me just say this is an example of being accountable. You can tell you he going to be there at 2:31 in the morning. Would you had to come to my house to take me to the airport in crazy time?

I'll do do anyone. I'm out here pass if you ready I'm out here. I'm waiting on you. Let me know.

That's accountability. So many people and even Christians today. Well what happened was passed.

Not being responsible not being accountable.

I remember the time when movies on Friday night, right we go to the wing place peace, whatever and we would get home and we have a move for the kids, you know, Beauty and the Beast whatever it was and then we have some you know, Terminator some action movie or something we would watch or afterwards so, please don't start a movie and they knocked out full of Peace in the room and you know, we didn't remove it and then the house

it's in the beauty of it is I have been accountable. I was able to say with perfect confidence. Hey, I paid the bill.

That I mean, I seen like anything. But I've learned that that you don't make excuses and you know, I've learned to be accountable.

If my wife don't get up and go to work. When she's been sick sometimes and couldn't go to work for months. Hey stuff still got to be on the right. I'm the head of the right. I got to be accountable.

Which means? Know what bills do when they do and then and how to pay them?

I had a gentleman and his wife got sick went to the hospital and I had to send some things around the house to help him figure out what a bills was wouldn't cuz he had no clue.

That that ain't the way it ought to be. If I'm going to be the head of my household.

God needs Christians to be accountable. That's what

Let me get let me see if I can get somebody else to come down here 52 mi in the desert. You wait right here in about 3 days. Somebody going to come help, you know, he was ready. He was prepared and we should be a counter. We should be ready for whatever God wants. If if my wife needs prayer my daughter and my son-in-law and my child, I'm not calling somebody else to pray for them. You had a question about something in the Bible. I gave them the answer. I prepared myself so that I can be what they needed when they need all they need. Now I'm not picking on you Michael or can are you I'm not I'm not picking on you fellows, but you know what?

Me and especially we need to be more accountable.

If our families need need need to okay.

This couple we was talkin to. And they said something class about our anniversary, right? So she went to me and I came to Christ and almost 10 years later and it's a old y'all waited that long. Yes. My wife was wild and wise enough to let the blood drive.

Okay. Nobody knows what that is.

She you know, she wanted to make sure that Jesus was cure, you know that he didn't realize that the blood of Jesus in New York that that thing has taken full effect. Because I was going when you got married now, I'm her head. And she's supposed to be following me. She wanted to make sure that I was going to take her in a ditch somewhere.

So she gave me time and encouraged me. Yeah, I remember I first dates tell him haul was it fifth floor 7th floor 5th floor and I will go up and looking good. So we had a good weekend as I can. Look now. I'm a project when it comes to looks but looking good smelling good and and She come at a roommate was asleep. She come out in the cold. We going to sit in the house today. So before we can talk about anything, I need to finish reading my scriptures.

And I'm in the middle of the Wayne is 36 room two people front room. And we we at the staircase where everybody come off the off the floor. I mean only off that the elevated office thing we sitting and she's there with a ruler or red or black pen and highlighter, you know, and I'm sitting there cuz I ain't got nobody yet and she going through and what was going on.

But she she made sure that I understood where her heart was with God from the beginning from jump. So when I got save I thought walking that we can get past or no. No he can't. Yo, then she cut back on being together at all. Because I know you need your time with the Lord. I'm going to make sure you got time to do that when so yeah. And I got mad at first. But I'm so grateful now that she held the standard that help me understand it and keep a standard and I just wish more people would keep that kind of standard today. Yes, she was accountable and help me account and taught me accountability and 38 years later from what she told me the other night. She still good with keeping this deal going a man. Yeah, we trying to figure out how we can get the 40 years and we might do something so, you know what, you know, and I'm not trying to let you know the blow your head up everything. I'm just I'm just giving you credit I do you say that.

We started the church in 13. We took our first mission trip in 2015. And in that mission trip was about the same time of the year. So we we spend our anniversary that year. Phantom flies on a on a cane Mack in hundred and ten degree heat eating gold and whatever in Haiti She never complained. She didn't complain when we spent our next anniversary in the same place doing the same thing. She didn't complain the next year when she couldn't go we coming baby, but give a 5 minutes so she could she didn't complain with the next year came around and she couldn't go in and I went and we weren't even together on the on the game at what anniversary. Because she understood the importance of what God had called us to do.

She understood that we need to be accountable.

That we need to be dedicated a passionate. It devoured it. She live that she showed me the example and now I'm living that out and an f and together we're trying to be the the example and I'm not telling you to go to Haiti or your next mission on your next anniversary and since leave on a caveman. I am telling you to get stuff straight in your life and in your relationships and then your finances and then your health. So that you your blessing you get blessed and and you glorify God Amen Let me give me finish this up. Give back to God. In some way for the blessing of being safe.

Give your best to God. Because he gave his best. to you and finally on 36 and as they were going along the road they came to some water and the eunuch says he hears water he from from Philip explain things. He knew he he had to be baptized and Philip baptized them and they came out of the water in the spirit of the Lord now, they came out to water the Holy Ghost. Karen Subway in the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing but what did Philip do did he go on vacation? Take a break? No Philip found himself at a sodas. And as he passed through he preach the gospel to all the titles until he came to us as a real. My last point is he persevered? He tried to perseverance has is to do or continue to do something in the determine way despite difficulties. He was yet walking dozens of miles after having walked dozens of miles. But he was a kind of but he was dedicated. He was committed and he persevered in his dedication and his commitment. You see that's what you got to do to get past base camp and and go to the top of Mount Everest. Many people died going there. They recently found love somebody from 20 years ago that some of that died in the frozen in the snow moved and they found the body, but but you don't quit.

Your heart tells your man we keep going in and your love for God to tell you two to keep going for the Lord. Satan will give you a hundred reasons every day to do something other than what's right, don't do it. You got to fight him. You got the fight yourself. Got to fight all bad thinking. You got to fight all bad habits. Come on now.

You got the fight. Paul said in 2nd Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith make it your Ain that you able to have that testimony when God calls you. 2 to come up with a job and get retirement. That's heaven.

And so you can you can get to the top? You mean you can you can go beyond the crowd you can go over yon Basecamp. You can live not in the physical haven't but you can lift your hands in the heaven of heavens. And say yes. I made it and hear God say what well done. My good and faithful servant.

I want to encourage you today.

to go beyond

Amen, heavenly father. Thank you for this opportunity just to the share part of my journey and Charlotte's journey and Phillips journey and Paul's your lord and your journey with us. Thank you God for bringing me this far. And Lord, I know you will go with me you go with us the rest of the way. God of there's anyone here that is a little discouraged about some of the challenges that they're facing. Things changes that they're facing in their personal life challenges that they're facing in their relationships are facing in their finances and they help lower than anyone here. That's a little discouraged about some of the challenges. They faced Lord. I pray that they encourage They can fight this good fight and they can win because you will help them Lord. Let each and everyone of us. Give you control Lord trust you with ourselves and all that you giving us and follow you totally Lord so that you can bless us and make us a blessing. I pray that you improve in every way the life of each and every person even the children God that are sitting here that are listening to this message today. Lord give us a testimony that we were going a little higher and seen your goodness and your grace at another level. Thank you Father for helping us to go beyond. Look how