QUOTES FOR SEPT 12, 2026

 

I HAVE A DREAM

 

When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.  5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.  8 In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

 

Lesson one:  God’s timing is perfect it would take two more years for everything to fall into place.  Joseph had to wait.  But he was faithful.  When you are in that time of waiting here are some things you need to do.

 

5 Things to Do While You Wait on God

 

REMEMBER WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN THE PAST

 

As my life has unfolded, I see that God’s hand has been in every single step, and that His plans were so much better than I even expected. Now, while I wait, I’m learning to deepen my trust in Him, and to remind myself of His faithfulness.

 

DEEPEN YOUR PRAYER LIFE

Why worry when you can pray? We’ve all heard that one before. But how true is that? Why over-analyze my future, when I have the opportunity to impact my future by calling on the supernatural, most-high God?  God is so big, I want to learn to connect with Him , to communicate with Him, and to spend time with Him while I wait—

 

DEAL WITH YOUR BAGGAGE

I think the period of waiting can be a huge time of healing and growth.   He was working out my sin, refining my heart and fanning the flame of His Spirit inside of my life.

 

 

DREAM BIG

 

 I don’t always dream big or expect great things.  But I want to see this time of waiting as a time to ask God to take me where He wants me to go—“ I want to trust Him to do everything that I can’t do. I want to dream big.

 

SPEND TIME IN WORSHIP

 

it’s about realizing that over every moment in our lives, He is already victorious.  No matter where I am, I want a life that’s marked not by waiting, but by worshiping. He deserves that and so much more.  Joseph I believe did this.  He was also faithful where he was.  Be faithful like Joseph and your time will come.

 

Pharaoh had his two dreams.  He woke up and was troubled.  Remember last time we were together we learned that the Egyptians had a dream book with red being important dreams, black being bad dreams.  They had who groups who were dedicated to the interpretations of dreams.  So he calls all these wise men and magicians.  He told them his dreams but no one could interpret them.  This is God’s moment.  Remember God moves behind the scenes.  One last thought.  When something is of God only men of God can interpret it.  That is why discernment and judging prophecy, tongues and interpretation is so important.  We need the word, prayer, the Holy Spirit and those who possess the gift to interpret it.  This was of God and so the devil’s crowd would never be able to interpret it.  Joseph was the only man of God around.

 

Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.”

 

Lesson Two:  When it is God’s timing even those who may have ignored, forgotten or even cursed you can become a channel in which God works.  The cupbearer remembers Joseph, his abilities and the outcome of his gifts.  God was putting all things together.  Remember God can make a way where there is no way.  God is the mover and shaker of all things.  Everyone will submit sooner or later to His sovereignty.  You will get to where God wants you to be in His timing.  All you are required is to love God, seek His will, be a channel of blessing and stay faithful.  Micah had something great to say about this.  He said in Micah 6:8,   He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?  Great advice.

 

So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.  15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”  16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

 

Lesson Three:  Joseph was sent for.  He brought out of the dungeon, shaved and changed his clothes.  Now why would joseph have to shave?  The Egyptians were clean shaven, wore wigs and believe in hygiene.  Joseph could not go before the king as he was.  A little lesson here, know now how to work in the world you live in.  What is fashion, culture, ideas, philosophy and values.  It does not mean you join them but understand them.  Paul said, I become all things to win all men.  Now when Joseph was brought before the king, the king acknowledged his gifts and talents but notice what Joseph did.  First, he said, He did not take credit for what God had given Him.  He did not take credit for the gifts, talents and abilities he had.  He knew they were from God.  This is humility.  Next, he directed the king to the one true God.  Not the gods of Egypt which had failed.  Joseph was here because of his faith, trust and love for God.  I love John’s reaction when they asked him about Jesus.  He said, Jesus must increase and I must decrease.  This attitude was his steeping stone and ours to big dreams and blessings.  He said, God will give you the answer you desire.

 

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river. 18 Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. 19 Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows. 21 When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22 Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven [a]heads came up on one stalk, full and good. 23 Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. 24 And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”

 

Lesson Four:  The King then tells Joseph the dreams.  He then explains that the wisemen and magicians could not explain the dreams.  I can see these Egyptian occult leaders hanging on every word.  They have been excluded from seeing the truth because these were dreams given by God.  The world will never grasp what God is doing.  If the devil would have grasp what God was doing he would never have put Christ to death.  Remember that which is flesh is flesh, that which is spirit is spirit.  When something is of God the world, the flesh and the devil will never get it.  The Bible is closed to people until they are born again.  It is myths, legends and words.  The Bible condemns sins; therefore, sinners do not enjoy reading it. Deeds of darkness do not enjoy exposure to light. “Everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20).  Some Minds Are Cluttered with Other Things.  Some Are Prejudiced against It. If we wear sunglasses, the world looks dark. When we put shades over our mind’s eye, the Gospel light becomes dim. Many come to the Bible with their minds already made up as to what it says.  But once you become a Christian the Bible is life, food, water and sustenance for the soul. 

 

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good [b]heads are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. 28 This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. 29 Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; 30 but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. 31 So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. 32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

 

Lesson Five:  Joseph tells Pharaoh that God gave him the dream.  Both dreams are the same.  A time of plenty is coming and then a time of famine.  The famine will be so severe that all the good times will be forgotten.  The dreams were repeated because these things were established by God and it will come to pass.  Joseph points the King to the sovereignty of the one true God.  All the gods of Egypt are false, demonic and idols.  One sovereign God.  The true God.  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has spoken.  God spoke to the king because he was the one man who could prevent it.  He spoke to Him in a manner he could receive it.  God will speak to us and our loved one in a manner we can receive.  There were steps to you salvation. God confronted you numerous times.  He used people, circumstances, situations, methods and means to speak to you.  Paul stated the day you hear about Christ, that is a day of salvation.  In my case God all my life spoke to me but it took 17 years to finally accept Him.  He is patient and will speak to your loved ones.  He will speak to you as well about His will.  Four times Joseph directs Pharaoh to God here.  This is God’s doing.  He and He alone will make this come to pass.  The Lord has ordered everything in this world.  The seasons, the time, the whole universe is His and His alone.  God’s will is going to be done.  We are complete when we do His will.  No greater things we can do is the will of God for our lives.  We will never be fulfilled, complete or have true life until we do His will.  So today ask God, what is your will for me today?  Then do it.   I am going to close this message and next week we will look at Joseph’s advice and what happens to Him next

 

IF MY PEOPLE

 

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

 

     I was in prayer on Thursday night and was preparing for Sunday and God spoke to my heart about a series of messages on revival and how right now there is a need for healing our land.

 

Summary of recent events have brought to the forefront the need for this series.  This series is not just for this setting but will be broadcast virtually to an audience of almost 70,000 people via social media.  Covid 19 was the first, then the economic shutdown, suspension of church services, the rising debt of 350 billion this year, the recent political scandals, the suspension of personal freedoms by medical orders and governments, the mandatory wearing of PPE’s, the rise in domestic violence, overdoses, suicides and covid numbers.  I have also heard through Christian leaders of the rise in occult activity and attacks on Christian leaders myself included.  It is time to turn this around.  It is time for a real revival and this is in our hands.

His

The background for this verse is Solomon had dedicated the temple.  He had spent time leading the people in a prayer of dedication, repentance and revival.  This verse was God’s response.  This verse had become a cornerstone verse for nationwide revival for generations.  So let’s spend a few moments breaking down this verse and apply it to our personal, church, city, province and country situation. 

 

If my people, which are called by my name, this means the believers.  It could be Jew or Christian.  We are covenant people.  You and I are covenant people through Jesus Christ.  The responsibility for healing our nation is not in the hands of government, business or any other form of social fabric.  It is in the hands of God’s people.  Our nation health and wellbeing is in our hands.  We are the reason this nation is in trouble.  We have not answered the call of the spirit.  The message is not a sermon to condemn but the challenge.  Solomon wrote in Prov 14:34, righteousness exalts a nation but sin to a reproach to any people.  We are called by God to do four things in this passage. 

 

We are called to humble ourselves.  This means to repent for our sins, lack of love, forgiveness,    I love how what this person wrote.  it means coming before Jesus in awe and reverence, despite of what people may think of you. It's being willing to say, “I was wrong”. ... Confess your sins to the Lord, give up whatever is burdening you, and be willing to leave it at the cross.  Jesus gave the example of the Pharisee and the sinner.  The sinner got it right.  He mourned over his sin, he humbled himself, wanted his heart pure.  Daniel did the same thing. 

 

Pray.  This is so important.  It means closing yourself off in prayer, praying with spouse or prayer partner, prayer in small groups, corporate prayer and prayer rallies.  Calling out to God and doing intercessory prayer.  God does expect the ungodly to pray before He does expect His people to pray.  What do we pray for?  We pray for our spouses, family, churches, leaders, communities, province and country. 

 

Spouses:  For communication, love and unity a passion for life, passion for love and intimacy, passion to grow in wisdom, and passion to serve you together.

Families:  Household salvation, protection, passion, purpose guidance, wisdom, grace and favor.

Churches:  Church leadership, unity, love, power, anointing, wisdom clarity, boldness listen to what Paul stated  in Colossians 4:12, Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Leaders:   National, Provincial and municipal.  Pray for wisdom, integrity, transparency, honesty and accountability. 

Cities, province and nation, for transformation, revival, healing and God’s dominion. 

 

Seek His face:  it means we are seeking to know Him, understand His character, and hear His voice.  Ps 104:5, Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually!"  Matt 6:33, His kingdom and righteousness.  The primary ways we can seek the face of God—His Word, prayer, and worship. When we read His Word, we learn His character and His ways. As we pray to God and spend time with Him, we learn to hear His voice. When we worship Him, He shows up as we welcome His presence.

 

Turn from our wicked ways.  Simply means to turn from anything that hinders our relationship with God.  Confess, renounce and completely abandon our sins, wicked ways in whatever form they come.  Our thoughts, word, deeds, attitudes and motives that are sinful and displeasing to God.  You ask God and He will show you.   This is the difficult part.  This takes time and true honesty.  Like the old song says, it is me Oh Lord standing in the need of prayer.

 

God’s promise is this.  He will hear from heaven.  God will answer.  He will forgive our sins.  He will heal our land.  Simply put.  We do our part and God will do His.  He is not a man that He will lie.  Remember the promises of God are yes and Amen. 

GOD IS WITH US.

 

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

 

 

1.      There are four things wish to share from this scripture today.  The first, is the Lord will give a sign.  Why did the Lord do this?  We all need a supernatural experience.  All here who have given your life came through a supernatural encounter.  You heard the word of God, by some means.  Tt entered your mind, your ponder it and then accepted it.  You chose by an act of will in your heart , to put your eternal and natural life in the hands of God.  God saw that and knew we needed a savior.  That is why in Gen 3:15 right after the fall God told us the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent.  Man lost it but God would restore it through Jesus Christ.  The Lord Himself we initiate and provide salvation. It would be through grace.  Christ riches at God’s expense.  We would through unmerited favor to live an abundant and eternal life

 

2.      There are three four reasons by a Virgin was the chosen reason for Jesus to be born.

 

a.      To Fulfil prophecy.  Gen 3:15, the seed of the women.  Our scripture today points this out.  Also

Isaiah 9:6-7, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa 9:6).  The virgin birth fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah in order to establish the uniqueness and particular duties of this coming child. He will bring peace and establish an unending kingdom. It is not only a prophecy about the future. Rather, it is a prophecy that cements the identity of Immanuel.

b.      To establish is divine origin and identity.  God with us.  It shows that God will dwell among His

people.  Isaiah 11:10 records, “In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.”  The virgin-born Immanuel will do something that requires the miraculous power of God. And this power finds a root in the Holy Spirit: “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord” (Isa 11:2).  In Luke’s account, Gabriel tells Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).  An angel tells the shepherds that the baby is “Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). The word “Lord” echoes the Old Testament’s primary title for God, “LORD.” What Luke intimates through the whole story of Jesus’s life, death, and especially his resurrection, John says quite plainly: “The Word was God” (John 1:1).  The virgin birth establishes Jesus’ divine origin through the Holy Spirit’s act in Mary’s womb. In some mysterious and glorious way, the Spirit unites humanity to the divine Word of God. Jesus is and always was the union of God and man: Immanuel, God with us.

c.      To confirm Jesus’ sinless humanity.  Given Jesus’ divine origin that the virgin birth underscores,

 we can now understand why Jesus could be like us in every way “yet without sin” (Heb 4:15). While the human flesh may be weak, the power of the incorruptible God is not. Christ as one person with two natures could withstand relentless temptation (without ever caving to temptation to relieve the suffering of temptation) because of his divine nature. He came to redeem us from our sins, to overcome death, and to defeat the devil. Yet the question here concerns why God chose the virgin birth of Jesus. In answer, he did so to fulfill prophecy, to establish Jesus’ divine origin, and to confirm Christ’s sinless humanity.

d.      Sin was a manmade problem and an eternal problem.  Only an eternal man could solve it.  So Jesus the God man did this. 

 

3.      The virgin will conceive and give birth to a so God became like us through Jesus Christ.  He was

100% and 100% God, the perfect union of the divine and natural.  His broken body and shed blood, his death, burial and resurrection would accomplish it.  Mary was the vessel.   God visited us in our frailty and weakness in order to save us from our sins. Had God not become what we are, then we would remain what we were—dead in sin, children of wrath. Instead, we have become by adoption (children of God) what Christ is by nature (the Son of God). By following his Spiritual birth, we too are all born of the Spirit. And we follow the firstborn of the new creation into heaven where we will have joy forevermore.

 

4.      He is called Immanuel.  Luke makes it clear that Jesus is God with us.  God dwells among us.  Jesus lived among us.  He got hungry, tired, had all the difficulties of mankind yet without sin.  He relied on the power of the Holy Spirit and only wanted to do the will of the Father.  What proved His claims was the resurrection.  He rose from the dead.  Christmas is the beginning but Easter is the end, yet also the new beginning. 

 

 

 

LOVE IS ACTION

 

Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

 

 

1.      Today we are looking at the most well known portion of scripture in the Bible.  The background is that Nicodemus a well connected leader came to Jesus by night to learn truths that would set him and the religious world on their ear.  They would learn that good works, tradition, law and manmade ideas were irrelevant to God. 

2.      Jesus told Nicodemus here that like the serpent in the wilderness so the Son of man must be lifted up.  So Jesus is revealing the method here of His death which would be crucifixion. Jesus reveals that whoever believes the word here has two meaning believe on Him as the object of believe and believe in Him which means you put your trust in Him.  You believe, trust, embrace and receive Him.  You believe that only through Jesus Christ you can have eternal life.   You put your whole life in the hands of Jesus Christ.  You accept that Jesus is the way, truth and life and that no one comes to the father but by Him.

3.      John 3:16, For God so loved the world.  God is love.  It is His character, nature and essence.  He is the beginning and end of love.  God proved he loved the world by giving his Son.  Jesus is the proof of love.  God gave His best.  God’s agape no strings attached love was proven by Jesus Christ.   Jesus is the only Son of God.  There has never been and never will be anyone who can claim this title.  Jesus also proved it by His resurrection. 

4.      Jesus then says everyone.  This is the universality of the call.  It is also the free choice of the call.  It is whoever and wherever and everyone.  I love this.   This is an everyone message.

5.      Who believe the Greek word is “ pistis”, which means salvation and regeneration comes by faith.  Your heart is literally made new.  It is a spiritual heart transplant.  A scholar wrote,  “True faith contains a number of components: acceptance, embracing something (someone) as truth, union with God and his Word, and an inner confidence that God alone is enough. “

6.      You believe in Jesus Christ.  You do not perish.  You have eternal life.  You pass from death to life.  You go into heaven.  You are with the Lord forever.   The ticket to heaven is Jesus Christ.  There are two trains in eternity.  You can determine which ticket you get and what train you take by the choice you make to believe in Jesus or not.  The writer of Hebrews says you have one life and then you face judgment

 

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

 

1.      Jesus says God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world.  God does not want to judge, or pronounce sentence on mankind.  Condemn is a legal term.  It is justice.  It means to bring a form of punishment for crimes committed.  God is complex.  He is justice, righteous and holy nature.  He also is love, mercy and grace.  Jesus was the balance between the both.  Jesus is salvation and redemption.  Jesus bought us back with His broken body, shed blood, death, burial and resurrection.  Through Christ we have had our freedom paid.  The sentence was pronounced on Him.  He became our substitute. 

2.      Now here are two truths.  Those who believe put their faith and trust in Jesus are not condemned.  They have escaped and  been freed by another.  The payment has made.  So belief  or faith is the release.   Those who do not believe are condemned already.  They have been marked, judged and sentenced already.  The simple truth when you hear the gospel or truth immediately you become accountable to the truth.  Whatever form it comes. 

3.      The reason they did not and would not believe in the name of the only Son of God.  Jesus is the only Son of God.  He is the only Messiah is they have not seen the light.

4.      Jesus said judgment came because light has come into the world.  Jesus called Himself a light.  Now Jesus exposes why people hate light.  First, they deeds are evil.  They have evil hearts.  It comes from  in alliance with the prince of evil.   Those who do not know Christ live in satan’s kingdom.  Man’s heart and nature is sinful.  We inherited from Adam and only Christ can save us and only the Holy Spirit can change it.  Secondly, those who love darkness and hate light is because they do not want their deeds to be exposed by the light.  Light reveals truth of things.  Exposure demands change, consequences and humiliation.

5.      The first step to change is admitting we have a problem.  The second is doing what is necessary to change it and be free.  Jesus brings that freedom.  Jesus brings to light why people won’t or will not change.  They see others as the problem not themselves. 

6.      Jesus says those who come and accept the light.  It becomes clear that their deeds are done or directed by God.  We show our faith by what we do.  People of the light have consistent, faithful, moment by moment fruit.  Jesus said by their fruits you will know them.  The evidence is in the walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

QUOTES FOR SEPT 10, 2026

 

IN TOUCH

 

     Today I am excited to start this new series.  The Holy Spirit has been giving us messages about the coming of the Lord in one manner or another.  First, we taught about Joseph on how we are to live in a pagan world.  In Daniel we learned how to pray in a godly manner for the godly and for the people of the world.  Now in John we will learn how to confront careless living among the people of God and what to share with the world at large in our present time and the reality of Jesus coming at any time.  Through the life of John we will learn how to prepare our world for the coming of the Lord. 

 

Our scripture we will look at today is where John is described as the one to prepare the way of the Lord.  Listen to what Jesus says about John the Baptist.  In Matt 11:9-10, “Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:” ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.

 

John was an amazing man he was definitely a unique man.  He was very much like Elijah.  He wore camel skin clothing and ate wild locust and honey, a very unusual diet.  John was also a man who had a special call of God.  Over the next Three Sundays we are going to examine nine characteristics that made John who he was.  Today we will look at three characteristics that John displayed and a great list that we can emulate, copy and exhibit. 

 

Characteristics of John

 

1.                Self denial:  The definition of this term is the denial of one's own interests and needs; self-sacrifice, or an act or instance of restraining or curbing one's desires.  In the Christian sense Self-denial is saying “no, to ungodliness and worldly passions and living our lives within the righteous framework God has established.  Self-denial requires that our desire to obey God overrule our destructive desires to find satisfaction outside of what God has for us.

In Matt 3:4, John knew that the only way to serve God is make sure that the world did not influence him but that he influenced the world.  Jesus said that if you are not willing to deny ourselves and follow him that we are not worthy of him.  Matt 16:24 – Then Jesus said unto his disciples “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”  This is done by submitting yourself to God and resisting the devil and he will flee from you.  When you deny self you are following the advice of an old Christian native leader who said, you have two wolves in your life a good one and bad one.  The one you feed is the one who will rule you.  Basically, what you feed your life is what will eventually show up.  Denial of yourself, leads to purity, power and perspective.  When you read your Bible, pray, go to church and share your faith you are exhibiting God in your world.  Jesus said that friendship with the world is being an enemy of God.  Now I am not advocating a John’s lifestyle where you live in the wilderness, eat exotic food and pray all day.  What I am advocating is a lifestyle where your first priority is God, His will, desire and goals.  Talk about the Egyptian prayer movement of the 3^rd and 4^th century.

2.                Courage.  Matt 3:7, 14:4, John demonstrated courage.  A definition of courage is the ability to do something that frightens oneself.  A second thought is strength in the face of pain or grief.  He spoke fearlessly to the religious leaders, the Romans, the common people and the King who was Herod.  This courage would eventually lead to his death.  Courage is being willing to do something no one else wants to do.  It is being able to overcome your natural fear and do what needs to be done.  Courage in the things of God is realizing you are doing God’s work, in God’s way, in God’s will, in His power, and wisdom.  Being courageous is not being afraid.  It is overcoming your fear and being willing to do what is right, truthful, honest and fair.  It means confronting evil when no one else wants to.  It means being God’s person who stands in the gap.  I love what Wikipedia says about courage.  Courage is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty.  This is what John did.  We have all four of these things working in 2020.  These need to be courageously confronted.  People need the church to be the church.  The devil is coming in like a flood today but the Lord is raising up His church to be a standard against Him.  One of the sevenfold mission of the church is to act as a restraining and enlightening force.  We are reflecting the light in this darkness.  We are the light on the hill and the lamp in the house.  John Wesley called us the candle in the darkness.  This world is dark and deadly.  It will take courage to confront the darkness and evil of this world.  One man said, evil will overcome the good if good men will not stand. We need to courage to walk in love.  Love does not allow selfishness, greed, and foolishness to prevail.  James puts it this way.  If you rescue someone from a path of self -destruction you are saving them from a multitude of sins they will inflict on themselves and others.   You are standing like Eliezer between the living and the dead.   Here are some things to think about.  “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”  Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”  Be brave to stand for what you believe in even if you stand alone.” 

3.                Obedience:  Matt 3:15, John did what he was asked to do.  In the Bible it means to "to hear," "to listen and then do.  Obedience is the supreme test of faith in God and reverence for Him.  He learned the truth of 1 Sam 15:22, that obedience is better than sacrifice.  Andrew Murray states in his book in the School of Obedience that God is looking for someone to simply obey.  God is looking for a willing vessel.  When you obey God the supernatural happens.  Talk about Len Lindstrom calling out people to be healed of deafness.  The Bible says that Jesus learned obedience by the things he suffered.  The Centurion teaches us a lesson about obedience when he stated that he is a person of obedience.  When he is told to do something by a superior officer he does it.  Jesus called this real faith.  God is not looking for a debate on his will what he looking for is someone who will say, “Yes Lord us me.”  The problem with so many today is that we have been taught that our autonomy and independence is a right.  My greatest discussion with people is about their rights and when someone violates it.  I have bad news for you.  When you became a Christian you surrender your rights to the Lord.  You said, Yes, to God and no to you.  Joab disliked David’s request to do a census but because David was the King Joab did it.  There will be many times you will not understand, or even like what God wants but if you do it you will prosper.  From Joseph’s life we learned that by obeying those who were in charge of him he prosper and eventually was promoted.  You need to be faithful where you are because in obedience we learn patience, trust and endurance.  John did and Jesus called him the greatest of all.  I thought this was an interesting point to close on.  John called himself the least and Jesus called him the greatest. A great lesson for us to learn here is that if you want to be great in God’s kingdom, learn to be the servant of all.  If you want be first choose to be last.  Close with Saint Francis going to town and the young student who wanted to know his secret.  Talk to children, a woman, helped a beggar, help a merchant load his cart and help  washer woman with her clothing, bought supplies and came home.  We learn self denial, courage and obedience in the everyday things of life.  In the decision we make and the people we touch daily.