Scripture reference: Ephesians 1:15-19 (MSG); Ephesians 2:10 (AMPC);
Genesis 27:40 (KJV & AMPC); Hebrews 4:2 (KJV); Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV); Philippians 3:14 (MSG); Psalms 112:6-8 (KJV); Psalms 112:7 (AMPC);
Psalms 112:1-10 (MSG); Habakkuk 2:2 (KJV); Proverbs 29:18 (AMPC & MSG);
1 Corinthians 9:26 (MSG); Hebrews 6:15 (MSG); (Hebrews 10:36 MSG)
Pastor John Bendixen:
Praise Jesus. Come on, raise your hands people. Just raise your hands to heaven. Say thank You for Your glory, Lord. Thank You. Thank You, Jesus. Just raise your voices and praise Him; just praise Him. Just praise Him for thirty seconds. Just show Him that you appreciate His presence. You love Him here. Hallelujah. Glory to the name of Jesus. Glory to the name of Jesus. Glory to the Most High God. Glory, Glory. Glory to the Most High one. Hallelujah. The name of Jesus that is above every other name. Praise the name of Jesus. Glory, Glory hallelujah, Lord. Yes, yes, yes. Yes. Praise You, Jesus. Praise You, Jesus. Hallelujah, Lord. Glory to God.
Well, what a time we’re having. I mean, this whole day has just been extraordinary. This whole time that we’ve had together has been amazing. This has been wonderful in God to just be in His presence. Have a word from the Lord. Hallelujah. It’s our honour and our privilege to have Brother Jerry here. Hallelujah. As senior spiritual leader of this house, Apostle of this house, please invite Brother Jerry and welcome him to come to the pulpit. Brother Jerry.
Brother Jerry Savelle:
Thank you. You guys were wonderful tonight. [Br Jerry speaking to Music Ministry team and Meredith] Hey, you’d fit in Texas real well. All right, smile real big at somebody and tell them, “You’re in the right place tonight.” Amen, and you can be seated. Hallelujah. Did you enjoy your services this afternoon? This morning? Great. Everybody do well? Tony did good? Joe did good? Alright, we’ll keep them. Okay, praise the Lord.
Let’s open our Bibles once again tonight, first of all to Ephesians chapter 1. Ephesians chapter 1 just for a little review, then move on to some new material. I’ve been ready for church all day. I got all rested up last night. Ready. Talked to my wife earlier today. That just changes everything. Hallelujah. Let’s see. We celebrated 56 years, 55, 54, yeah, I got a lot of 50’s in my life. 54 years of marriage back in July. So we’re headed to 56. Amen. It’s just gets better all the time. When you marry the right woman, and the right man for you, women, not talking to men marrying men, women marrying the right man. Amen.
Carolyn’s Pastor used to say, “A man that findeth a good wife findeth a good thing.” He said, “You just find a wife. You just got a thing.” So how many of you men in here got a good wife? Well, you got a good thing. Praise God. Amen.
Ephesians chapter 1. Just briefly, as I mentioned, talking about particularly from The Message Translation, let me just read that for the sake of time and not necessarily read it from the King James. 18Your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, and to, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers (Ephesians 1:15-19 MSG). This glorious way of life. Look at somebody and say, “I’m supposed to be living a glorious way of life.” Did my mic go off? That was weak. I said, “Tell somebody, I’m supposed to be living this glorious way of life.” Amen. That’s God’s plan for your life. Amen. And then we found in Ephesians, chapter 2 from the Message Translation …10 [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live] (Ephesians 2:10 AMPC).
So once again, notice in both of these chapters from the writings of the apostle Paul, God has pre arranged for you and I, a glorious way of living. And the good life. Hallelujah. We’re supposed to be living the good life. Look at somebody and tell them, “I’m supposed to be living the good life, the glorious life. And I’m not going to accept anything less.” [Congregation repeats after Brother Jerry.] And give the Lord a good shout if you receive it. Praise God. Amen. I like living the glorious way of living. And I liked living the good life. Hallelujah. Amen.
Now, if you’re not living a glorious life and a good life, then I encourage you to follow me right now to Genesis chapter 27. I’ll tell you what to do. (Electricity goes off.) And let there be light. We’ve preached in the dark before all over the world, haven’t we Joe? Hallelujah. Yeah, it’ll come back up. It always does. I’ll just, I’ll just take a little side journey while we’re waiting for the lights to come on. In the early days of my ministry, I was asked to come to a little town in Arkansas, called Prescott, Arkansas. It’s the area where Gloria Copeland was from and her family lived there at the time when I went there. And I was supposed to preach in this Pentecostal church. And when they found out I was not licensed and ordained with their organization, they wouldn’t let me in. They canceled the meeting. So, I’m there, my wife’s there, both my girls were very small at the time, we’re there. And the preacher wouldn’t let us in the building. He said, “No, I thought you were ordained through our organization.” I said, “No, I’m not.” I didn’t say this but when I found out the religious politics that were involved, I was glad I wasn’t ordained in their organization.
And so, I’m gonna keep telling my story, even though the lights are on. I think you’ll like it. And so, we started looking for a place to have the meeting, because I’m there. I was supposed to be there for three nights. Three days and nights. Three services a day and the only place we could find was what they called an American Legion hut and trust me, it was a hut and it was filthy. I don’t think they used it in a long time. It had a bad smell in it. It was filthy and so my wife and I, we found a couple other people, we went in, had to clean it up before we could have a meeting that night. So, we got to the service and I’m preaching on the basics of faith and that pastor who wouldn’t let me in his church came, I thought the devil sent him over there just to harass me. But I preached anyway, preached on faith, ministered to people and we had a good service, it wasn’t a large building and it wasn’t a large crowd. So, the next morning, I started part two and that pastor came. That afternoon I went to part three and that pastor came, just teaching on The Basics of the Life of Faith. And that night, he came again and then the next morning he was there, the next afternoon he was there and then before we got to the evening service, I am still wondering, why is this guy here? He’d just sit and listen and then he’d leave, we didn’t talk or anything.
So, we got to the service that night and got ready to preach and the lights went out in the American legion hut and they stayed out for a little while. I am back in a little room back there praying and the Lord said, “What are you intend to do? Well, I said, “”I came here to preach – I’m going to preach.” He said, “Then go out there and tell the people by the time you say open your Bibles, the lights will be on.” He said, “You’ve been teaching on faith all weekend, now we’re going to find out if you really believe it.” I said, “Okay.”
So, I went out there in the dark, the guy had a flashlight and led me up to the podium and I said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t know why the lights are out, I don’t have a clue, but I do know this, by the time I tell you to open your Bibles, the lights will be on.” Then I added this and God didn’t tell me to say this, but it just came up out of my spirit. And if they don’t come on, then I’m a false prophet. And that’s exactly what they did, Sharon, is aaaah. That bastard he squirmed, I think he wanted to get out there as quick as he could. I said, “Oh Jesus.”
So, the Lord said, “You’ve been preaching on faith, do you really believe it? We’re going to find out now.” I said, “Yes Sir, I believe it.” I said, “Open your Bibles” and the lights came on. I could have closed the meeting right there. God confirmed the word and everybody saw it and that pastor jumped up, came running to the platform and said, “You’re preaching in my church in the morning.” The next morning was Sunday morning. I thought to myself, I don’t want to preach in your ugly church, you were mean to me. I said, “Lord, do I have to preach in his church? He didn’t want me when I first came.” He said, “Are you so dense, you haven’t figured out what’s happened?” He said, “The man heard every sermon you preached. He got it, and he is acting on it. You told him he could have what he said.” And he said before I addressed him, he said, “I’m saying it, I’m saying it. You’re going to preach in my church in the morning”. The Lord said, “He is saying it, go preach in his church.” Amen.
We had a revival in one Sunday, I mean, we had a move of God that was amazing and this pastor, if you can imagine this, he was shorter than me. Okay, just a little tiny guy and he is sitting on the platform out on the edge of his chair like this and then when the anointing hit the place and the people, I mean got so excited, he started jumping up and down, jumping up and down and said, “I haven’t seen anything like this since 1957. I haven’t seen anything like this since 1957.” I thought, dear God, where have you been man? And all it took was the lights coming on and the move of God took place. Do you suppose God is going to repeat Himself? [Congregation shouts: Yes!] Why don’t we give the Lord another shout in advance? Amen. Hallelujah.
Now before the lights went off, we said, let’s go to Genesis chapter 27. If you’re not living this glorious way of living, and you’re not enjoying the good life, as the Bible says, God is pre-arranged for us, then perhaps this is what you need to do. Now you remember the story of Isaac blessing his sons, Esau and Jacob and when Esau realised what a mistake he had made, then he asked his father, “Is there not but one blessing left for me?” And here’s what his father told him. Look at verse 40. 40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break loose the yoke from off thy neck (Genesis 27:40 KJV).
Now, let me interpret that since we sometimes struggle with the King James Version. The Amplified Bible says, 40 …[the time shall come] when you will grow restive… (Genesis 27:40 AMPC) And the word restive means restless, or dissatisfied. Amen, or as we would say, in our American vernacular, fed up. Do you use that term over here? Anybody ever get fed up? What happens when you get fed up, you take action. The mic keeps going off, I’m going to try this side of the auditorium. When you get fed up, then you take action, you begin to do something about what you’re fed up over. Amen. And this is what he was telling him. “Now you’re going to live in servitude to your brother. Until you reach the place where you grow restive of this kind of lifestyle or fed up and the moment you get fed up, then you’re going to break that yoke from off your neck.”
Now I tell Christians all over the world. If you’re not living the glorious way of living, and you’re not enjoying the good life, then maybe it’s time for you to get fed up. Because nobody’s to blame but you. I know, you don’t want to hear that. You know, we’d rather it be somebody else’s fault. We got that off Adam. When Eve did what she did, God came through. And he asked Adam, what happened? “That woman You gave me, I was doing fine until You gave me her.” And notice it didn’t impress God at all. Amen.
Do this. Hold your finger up like this, put it right in front of your face. And say these words, say them loud. I have got a revelation tonight. I have discovered where my problem is. It’s you, it’s not my fault you’re not living the glorious life. It’s not my fault you’re not living the good life. It’s not God’s fault that you’re not living a glorious life. And it’s not God’s fault that you’re not living the good life. And let’s see, did I miss anybody? It’s not God. It’s not Jesus, not the Holy Spirit, not His Word. Only thing left is you. You are the reason.
And I know a lot of people don’t like to take responsibility. But if you want to move on, and enter into the realm of the good life and this glorious way of living, then take responsibility for yourself. I have a hard time with people that don’t take responsibility for their own actions, that they don’t take responsibility for the way they’re living. Amen. So always somebody else’s fault. And that’s never gone over with God and it still doesn’t go over with Him. So, it’s your responsibility to get to the place, if you’re not enjoying the kind of life that He says is available to you and that He has prearranged. Then take responsibility and go ahead and be honest with yourself and say, “It’s my fault.” And now you’re ready to move on, praise God! Can you say amen? So I’m not going to ask for a show of hands of how many would say: “I’m not living the glorious way of living, and I’m not living the good life, that’s not necessary, you know who you are. Amen?
So, let’s get on with the program, what do you say? And enter into this glorious way of living and this good life He’s prearranged and then fulfill the prophetic word He’s given us for this year, Going to the Maximum and the Highest Level Attainable. Look at somebody and say: “I’m going there, whether anybody else does or not, I’m going there and I believe I’ll praise God in advance for taking me there, hallelujah!” Amen. Come on, give the Lord another good shout of praise. Amen.
Now we learned last night as we’ve already just said that God has already prearranged this kind of life for us, according to the book of Ephesians. But to actually enjoy it, then we have to take the responsibility to first of all, receive it by faith. Receive it by faith. The Bible says in the book of Hebrews chapter 4 verse 2, that the Word did not profit them, not having mixed it with faith. So if you don’t mix your faith with what you’re hearing, then it’s not likely that it will profit you or benefit you. Or in other words, you won’t see the results of it.
So let me lead you in this confession before we go any further. Lift your right hand, say this out loud: In the Name of Jesus, what I am about to hear, knowing that it will be the Gospel, I mix my faith with it before I ever hear it, so it will profit me. I didn’t come to this service tonight just to take up space, I came to mix my faith with the Word preached and God assures me that it will profit me, and benefit me in Jesus’ name. And then say this: I receive it now! Amen! That’s how you mix your faith with the Gospel that is preached. Now I go to a lot of meetings where I’m not speaking. Back, years ago, I attended many, many, many of Kenneth Hagin’s meetings. I preached at his camp meetings from time to time, and over a period of time he set up meetings across the country that he called mini-faith seminars. M-I-N-I. Mini-faith seminars. It wasn’t a week long, it was only three nights, and he would invite me to be the other speaker with him. And before I would even go to the service that night. It opened on a Thursday night and it would go through Saturday. Before I would even go to the service, Carolyn and I would join hands in our hotel room and we’d say: “Whatever Brother Hagin preaches tonight, we mix our faith with it right now and it is going to benefit us.” And it always did, hallelujah!
If I went to hear Oral Roberts, and I preached at Brother Robert’s many times, I served on his board for over twenty years, and every time i’d go to hear Brother Roberts, before I’d leave my hotel room I’d say: “In the name of Jesus, I don’t know what Brother Roberts is going to preach tonight but I know it will be the Gospel, and I know that it will be inspiring and I mix my faith with it right now before I ever hear it so that it will profit me.” And I’d go to the meeting and my faith is already activated and I’d get something everytime out of that service that I could take home with me and act on it and God would confirm it with signs following. So I want to encourage you to do that. You just did it by faith. So say it again: “I receive it, in Jesus’ name.”
Now, one thing that is vitally important after we’ve made that declaration, I want you to turn to somebody and say to them, I’m praying for you right now and my prayer for you is this; that you will pay attention. Amen. Because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. So don’t be thinking about what you’re going to eat when you get on the service. Don’t be thinking about and wonder how long it’ll be before we get to eat. Don’t be thinking about what you didn’t do today, what you should have done today and what you got to do tomorrow. Turn all that off. Amen. Cast every negative thought down and pay attention. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I’ve already preached myself, well, I was already happy before I got here, but I’m happier now. Anybody happier since you came in?
Now once again, to actually enjoy this glorious way of living and this good life that He’s prearranged, we have to take the responsibility to first of all receive it by faith. Amen. Receive it by faith and then pursue it by establishing a goal for it and stay focused on that goal. Let me repeat that. We have to take the responsibility, first of all, to receive it by faith and then pursue it by establishing a goal for it and then stay focused on that goal. It’s been said, there’s nothing more powerful than a focused life. Focused people see their goals become reality. Amen. Everything I’ve focused on, everything I’ve set a goal for and stayed focused on it, has happened. The ones that haven’t happened yet, is just simply because they haven’t happened yet. But they’re on their way to happen. Amen. I’m a goal oriented person and I’m a focused person. I’m not easily distracted. I couldn’t say that prior to 1969 because I was easily distracted back then. Then I was not a focused person. Amen. I mean, I had ambitions as a young boy. Several things that I wanted to do in my life and I’d get so far into it and then I’d get distracted. Once I got distracted then I no longer pursued it because I wasn’t focused anymore.
I grew up as a young boy, started playing baseball. I know you guys play cricket or something over here that’s similar. No, the rules are not the same but I played American baseball. I started playing baseball when I was nine years old with a little league team. I played all the way up to a farm league team, they called it, that was sponsored by the Kansas City Royals. After you played for a while in that farm league team, then you made it, if you were chosen, you made it to the pros. So my ambition was to become a professional baseball player. I was focused from nine years old, until about 17, 18, 19 years old and then I got distracted. I was no longer pursuing that goal. Also, I had an injury, I broke my leg and that put me out, not being able to finish the season. When I recovered from my injury, I was no longer focused on that dream, on that goal.
Now the other goal that I had, I was going to either be a professional baseball player or I was going to race automobiles and own my own business doing it. So when I lost focus on the baseball career, then I began focusing entirely on owning my own business and racing cars like my dad did. What he did when I was growing up. Well, I pursued that for quite a while and then I got distracted and I lost focus and I no longer was pursuing that goal or that dream. Anybody in here identify with me? I’m not the only one here. Amen.
And it wasn’t until 1969 when I received Jesus as my Lord and finally accepted the call of God that was on my life from a little boy and got into the Word of God. That’s when my whole life changed. I learned how to be unwavering in my faith. I learned how to be non distracted. I learned how to stay focused and if you talk to people that know me, well, that’s what they’ll tell you, “Jerry Savelle is a focused man. He is a goal oriented man. He’s a man that won’t waver in his faith.” That’s been my life now for 54 years and God has honoured it. I believe He will just keep on honouring it. The beautiful thing is He’s no respecter of persons. If He would honour that in my life, He would honour it in your life as well. But you have to get to the place. I’m sorry, but I struggle with Christians who just want it handed to them. We live in a generation today, where young people feel like they just deserve it. They don’t want to work for it. Some of their parents are the same way. Amen.
I want to leave you with a fact right now. It is a proven fact. If your parents didn’t have children, neither will you. I’m trying to loosen you up a little bit. You’re too quiet tonight. Oh, I know. It’s because you’re focused. Okay, okay. Thank you. Amen. Some of you still try to figure that one out. Okay, so let’s repeat what we said, the first thing we must do, to live this glorious way of living and this good life that He’s prearranged and to experience the prophetic word that He’s given us about the maximum and the highest level attainable is we must first of all, receive it by faith and then pursue it by establishing a goal for it. Then stay focused on that goal. All right.
Now, let’s go to Philippians chapter 3 for a moment. Philippians chapter 3. I love doing what I do, it’s so much more fun than baseball and there’s so much more fun than racing cars. You know, you didn’t know you didn’t win every game when you played baseball and you didn’t win every race when you raced. But I’m winning every time now. Praise God. Hallelujah, with the Word of God, Amen. Hallelujah. Philippians chapter 3. And let’s begin in verse 13. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended it, but this one thing I do: forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth under those things which are before. Now consider that phrase reaching forth under those things which are before, as your goals as your vision as the maximum and the highest level attainable. Amen. That’s my goal to reach that. No matter how good my life is right now. There’s always another level and my goal is to go to that next level. Amen. To experience the maximum and the highest level attainable. So that’s our goal. Okay.
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14 KJV). Now, in the Message translation, it reads this way. 14I’ve got my eyes on the goal… I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. I’ve got my eyes on the goal. I’m often running, and I’m not turning back (Phillipians 3:14 MSG). Amen. You can’t keep looking back. If you keep looking back and he’s using this analogy, like a runner in a race. If you are a runner in a race and you’re determined to finish, to cross the finish line, then you learn if your coaches taught you that you don’t look back.
Now in high school, I not only played baseball, but I was involved in track and field events as well and I loved doing long distance running, when back then we ran the mile. Okay. And there were four guys on our team and we were all seniors in high school and I had gone out for the track team and I was going to run the mile and there was four guys on that track team who had the best records. Now one of them I’ll never forget him, his name was Charles Stampley. Charles Stampley was our fastest runner. I could never catch Charles Stampley. Sometimes I’d be number two, sometimes I’d be number three, sometimes I’d be number four. But my goal was to one day beat Charles Stampley and if I reach that goal as far as I was concerned, I’m through a track. I’ve accomplished my goal, you know.
So, we had an invitational track meet at our high school. You had to qualify, only two guys got to run in the invitational. It was Charles Stampley and me. So, we started the race. Of course, you know in a long distance race you don’t give it all you’ve got on the first lap. You keep pacing yourself and then hopefully, when you reach that last lap, you finish with a strong kick, as they say, to cross that line. Well, I’m out running Charles Stampley. I can hardly believe it. I see the finish line. Then, like a dummy, I turned to see where Charles was and I started falling end over end and when I raised up, Charles was across the finish line. I looked back.
Paul says, I’ve got my eye on the goal. I’m off and running. And I’m not looking back. Amen. No matter what’s going on in 2022, forget it. If it was good, keep praising God for it. If it wasn’t good, forget it. Quit looking back. Don’t let it hang over you. Don’t let it prevent you from reaching your new goal. And that is the maximum and the highest level of attainable. Amen. If you keep looking back, that’s what Paul said, forgetting those things which are behind. You own purpose, forget what didn’t happen, what goals you didn’t reach, the challenges you endured, or didn’t endure? No, just say, “Hey, I’m in a new season. I’m in a new year and I’m forgetting everything that happened in the past, other than the good things and the blessings that came and the miracles and the breakthroughs that came and I’m lifting my hands and praising God over that, but now I’m focused on the new goal and I’m headed for the maximum and the highest level attainable. Everybody see that? Look at your neighbour and say, I got it, how about you? Alright, now we’re not looking back. Amen.
God is expecting us to follow Paul’s example. Now, let me give you three keys from what Paul said here to achieving, or experiencing the maximum and achieving the highest level, or experiencing the highest level achievable. Number one, set the goal. Number two, stay focused. Then number three, never give up.
Number one, set the goal. Number two, stay focused. Number three, never give up. Say that with me, Set the goal, stay focused, and never give up. Amen. You know, I’ve had the privilege over the years of ministering to professional athletes with some of the National and American Football League, professional teams, like the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys; I’ve had the privilege of going in and doing chapel services for them before the game and this is what I would teach and sometimes, you know, one time when I was invited to do this with the San Francisco 49ers, they had just won the Super Bowl the year before. Now they’re in a new season, they asked me to come and do a chapel service and I’m thinking, “What in the world could I tell these guys?” You know, and first of all it looked like a thousand pounds of muscle on the front row with them all looking at this little… [Pastor John: Hunk of a man.] Hunk of a man. Hallelujah. Thank you sir.
Well, thank God I’m not 76 years old and my belly’s hanging over my belt; I don’t look bad for 76, but anyway, I was about 56 then, but anyway, these guys are champions, their world champions. I still haven’t figured out why the Super Bowl produces World Champions, when it’s the only country in the world that plays this game. Okay, anyway. So anyway, they’re the Super Bowl world champions, and they’re sitting there on the front row looking at me, and at that time, one of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL was Joe Montana, he was the quarterback and a very dear friend of mine who arranged this meeting for me with the 49ers, he was one of their running backs, his name’s Wendell Tyler. And I had mentored Wendell all during his professional career, and even though he’s retired now, he still considers me as a father in the faith for him.
So, got all these professional athletes, they’ve already won the Super Bowl what, two or three times, and now they asked me to come. What do I say to these guys that will hold their attention? I’ve never won a Super Bowl. I’ve never even played professional football. What could I possibly say that would get their attention? So I thought, “Well, Lord, I sure need Your help right now.” And I heard this come out of me, “Gentlemen, you’re world champions, your Super Bowl winners. This is not the first time you’ve won the Super Bowl, you have become a dynasty. However, the only thing most of you are good at is carrying a football down the field, everything else, including being a good husband, a good father, and money managers; you’re failures.” I thought, “Dear Jesus, where’s the door?” I did not plan on saying that.
Boy, did I have their attention, they’re out on the edge now. And then I heard myself say this, “And the reason I know this to be a fact is your wives call my office asking for prayer for you.” Do they have another door somewhere I could get out? I had their attention and this is what I preach to them. Set the goal. Stay focused. Never give up. They already knew these things. But they only knew to do it with football. We’re talking about life. There’s more to life than football. There’s more to life than cricket. There’s more to life than you know racing an automobile. There’s more to life. God wants you to be a winner in every facet of your life. Can you say, amen?
Do you ever notice they never go in the locker room with a microphone and interview the losing team? “You guys lost again today. The whole world was watching. How do you feel right now? Do you feel like losers?” No, they don’t do that. They only go in the locker room with the winning team. Amen. “How did you guys manage to do this?” “Well, we had a goal. We were focused and we never give up.” Now, they may not say it in those terms. But that’s exactly what happened.
Now that brings me to this. You guys know what’s coming. Years ago, now I don’t get to watch sports as often as I would like, but when I’m home and I’m not traveling somewhere, if there’s some kind of major event going on, then I’ll watch it. And I love boxing. I have a passion for boxing. I know it’s brutal and I know people are praying for my deliverance. But I keep telling them, “Don’t pray because there’s a good fight coming on this weekend and I don’t want to miss it.” I don’t just watch boxing. I help him. I am absolutely worn out when that match is over. I need a shower and a massage. My wife and daughters come in there and see me watching boxing. And I’m throwing punches, I’m jabbing, I’m ducking, I’m weaving. They laughed at me. I invited a group of guys from our church over to watch Evander Holyfield and somebody fight and we all were in the room there and we had brought in snacks to eat and everything. Just as the fight was coming on, I stood up and announced to all these guys, “I’m your Pastor and I want to say in advance, forgive me for what I’m about to do.”
So anyway, I got to watch the championship basketball game, the NBA. That particular year I don’t know who they were playing. But the San Antonio Spurs were the team that was playing in the finals or in the championship game and they were not supposed to win the championship, they weren’t even supposed to get to the championship. It turns out they won it and so they went into the locker room for the winning team that the Spurs and they walked up to this one man. He’s sitting on the bench and they said, “How did you guys manage to do this? Nobody believed that you would win this championship.” Now, this guy is, you know, nearly seven foot tall, a black gentleman, and he stands up and towers over that little reporter. He said, “It’s what we do, man. It’s what we do.”
I said, there’s a sermon in that, hallelujah. So say, this with me. I have goals, I stay focused and I refuse to give up. It’s what I do, man, it’s what I do. Some of you won’t remember anything about the sermon other than you go home doing this. Amen. It’s what I do. Hallelujah! I set goals, I stay focused and I refuse to give up, it’s what I do, man, it’s what I do. It’s lifestyle with me, it’s not something I do occasionally. It describes the way I live all the time 24/7. Amen. So, I’ve got my eye on the goal, I’m off and running and I’m not turning back. Amen. God’s expecting us to follow Paul’s example. This is why God gives us a prophetic word every year. Why He does it with me and I’m represent the apostolic authority back home and Pastor John has acknowledged that here and my position or my responsibility, as the apostolic authority is to hear from God and set a vision to create a goal for every member.
Now, what I do back home, is, once I received that prophetic word, then the first thing I do is I go to my publication department and I have them print up these little bookmarks. With that prophetic word that I received. For this year, 2023, The Year of the Maximum and the Highest Level Attainable. We give everybody in our church one of these. We have every staff member has one on their desk. So, every morning when they come into the office, that’s one of the first things they see. Because we want everybody on the same page. We want everybody going toward the same goal. Amen.
Then, on the screens at the church, we keep that prophetic word up there. So that when they come in the church as the first thing they see, we keep it on while I’m preaching. I’m not there, most of the time, I’m traveling, but Pastor Justin, our pastor there, keeps it on the screen while he’s preaching. Not only that, usually, he will pray and ask God to give him sermons that will follow the pattern that I’ve created by bringing them that prophetic word. Okay. Who’d like to have this? You would like to have this? You know, much these things cost? You can have one here. [Brother Jerry giving his bookmark to Pastor Christi]
So, what are we doing? We’re doing Habakkuk chapter 2, 2Write the vision, make it plain. So, he that reads it can run with it (Habakkuk 2:2 KJV). In other words, when you write the vision when you establish the goal, then that being written out and you can focus on it. It helps you to stay focused. So, I keep those in my notebook. I keep those in my office or at the ministry. I keep them in my study at home. I even have them in my classic car museum on my desk in there and around my toolboxes. Why? Because everywhere I go, I want to see that prophetic word, staring me right in the face and remind me if you will set to goal and you will stay focus and refuse to give up, you’ll be talking about it soon. And consequently, I’m already talking about I’m already having results. I’ve already superseded what happened to me in 2022. I’m well on my way Amen. And God is no respecter of persons. Amen. But you have to take responsibility for doing this yourself. I can’t do it for you. Amen.
So once again, set the goal, stay focused and refuse to give up. Amen. Are you still here? Alright, let’s move on a little further. The Bible tells us in Proverbs chapter 29, you’re very familiar with it, verse 18, 18Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18 AMP). Where there is no vision. Now, another translation says this way, where there is no prophetic oracle from God, the people cast off restraint. Where there is no prophetic oracle from God. See, the prophetic word is designed by God to motivate you, to keep you focused, amen. Once again, that’s why we print it that’s why we keep it before the people keep it in their eyes. Where there is no prophetic oracle from God, the people cast off restraint. The word restraint here means cast off discipline or the will and the determination to persevere. When people are unwilling to persevere, it’s not likely that they’ll see that prophetic oracle come to pass in their life. Amen. And persevere, is not a favorite word among most Christians. Because they want their Christianity to be easy. I don’t want to have to fight a good fight. I just want it to happen. But it doesn’t come that way.
Now, please give me the privilege of thinking, are you thinking that I’m not done? Would you give me that privilege? I am not done. Now, if there was any other way to achieve what the Bible says, is available to us, don’t you think that in 54 years, I would have figured it out? But the way it happens to me and the Bible way is we walk by faith. Amen. Amen. That’s right. We take our stand and refuse to waver and determined that we will persevere no matter how long it takes. Now, I wish I could stand here and tell you every dream I’ve ever had from God, and every goal that God has ever given me, and every vision that I’ve ever received from God, why? My goodness folks, it came to pass before dark. Well, that’d be a lie to start with. Because it very seldom happens in the same day. Sometimes it has, and I thank God for it. Fact, one of my favorite words in the Bible is suddenly but you know, suddenly is rare. Amen.
But for me, it is having done all the stand, stand. That’s my middle name. Jerry, having done all the stand, stand. I have become an expert in the art of standing. Amen, I just don’t quit. I just don’t back off. I just absolutely refuse to allow the devil to win. Amen. And then, and I’ve had many opportunities. He picks on me just like He picks on you. In fact, He picks on me, sometimes more than He’d pick on you because to whom much is given, much is required. Many of you are not, you’re not required, with what I’m required. Amen.
So, I know what it’s like to feel like, I can’t take any more. I know what it’s like to feel as though this is a waste of time, nothing’s happening. But you have to cast down those thoughts. And make up your mind once and for all. That quitting is not an option. Quitting is not an option, and that I am going to persevere no matter how long it takes. Brother Hagin used to say this… How many of you are familiar with Brother Hagin’s ministry? I know there are a lot of new people that have come into this and Brother Hagin has gone to heaven. But I’m quite sure, like me, John refers to him from time to time, and others in here refer to him from time to time because he made such an impact on our lives with his messages.
In fact I carry with me, in my pocket, many times, if not in my pocket, in that briefcase there. In fact, let me pull it out and show you. In that little deal right there, there are 1200 sermons by Kenneth Hagin, Oral Roberts, T.L Osbourne, Kenneth Copeland and John Osteen. I’ve heard them all hundreds of times. Do you have American Express over here? The credit card? Okay, back home in America, American Express came out with this advertisement, a slogan, and they would say: “American Express, don’t leave home without it.” That’s my slogan about this: Don’t leave home without it. Why? Because when you fly twenty one hours, after a while you’ve just gotta have something to listen to and something to watch. I have another one that has the videos on it. Not that many, but some of my most favourite teachings of these men in video form. I can watch it and I can hear it. Oh, what a way to travel. I don’t leave home without it. Amen. Some of these messages Brother Roberts preached in 1948, and they still have the same anointing on them that they had in 1948. In fact, sometimes in my hotel room, when I’m listening to these I can’t stand it. I get up and take off running and sometimes I’ve got to open the door and run around the hotel, come back in and get another dose, whoo!
I was listening to a message by Kenneth Hagin one time, and I was flying on British Airways and I’m in the first class section in the bulkhead, I got a seat I like. I got listening to Kenneth Hagin, and some of the things he said were so funny I just started laughing out loud. I had a headset on so I was oblivious to everything else that was happening on that airplane. In fact, I really thought I was on my own airplane, because I can shout whenever I want to. I can get and run in the aisle whenever I want to. But he said something so funny, I just laughed out loud and the flight attendant came by and said, “What is so funny?” I said: “The Bible.” She said, “The Bible? I never saw anything funny in the Bible.” I said, “Well, if you heard it taught like this you would.” And then another flight attendant came, rolled in the car with the drinks and the snacks, and that lady told that one, “Don’t give him anything, he’s already had too much.” I don’t drink liquor or anything like that. They wouldn’t give me coke because they thought I had too much, you know? Amen. I carry that wherever I go. I listen to them all the time. And many times when I was preaching with Kenneth Hagin I knew exactly where this was going, I knew the next line, I knew the example, I knew the story, and if any time he’d just stop and say: “Brother Jerry, take over.” I could preach it just like he did. Why? Because I heard it so many times, amen. It’s deep down in my spirit and not only that, what he preached worked and it’s still working, praise God. Amen. So look at your neighbor and say, Set the goal, stay focused and refuse to give up.
Right now. Restrain once again, when there is no prophetic oracle from God, people cast off restraint and restraint once again, meaning they have a lack of discipline or they lack the will and the determination to persevere. Now the Message Translation adds this to Proverbs 29:18, 18…But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. Without a prophetic oracle from God, the people cast off restraint, but if they attend to what He reveals, then they are most blessed. How many of you like be most blessed? I mean blessed are good, but most best, that’s like another level. Amen.
This is how you go to maximum. This is how you experience the highest level attainable. What does it take? First of all, a prophetic oracle from God. Well, we got it. We’ve got it. I’ve given it to you and let me just back it up with this. I entered into this dimension of my ministry in 1991, by Brother Copeland prophesying over me, in the Southwest Believers Convention in Fort Worth Texas, on a Thursday night, when he was introducing me to preach and when he walked off, started off the platform, he stopped and said, “Jerry, wait a minute, before you preach, the Word of the Lord is coming to me, and He said, tonight God is moving you into a new dimension of ministry and it’s the office of the seer and it is part of the prophetic ministry. And God is going to begin to show you things to come, things on His agenda, that He’s plan for the body of Christ. And once you receive them, He’s holding you responsible for sharing them everywhere He sends you.”
From that time, that was August 1991, I have set aside October to do just that. Go to my secret place or my private place of prayer, and ask the Lord what’s on your agenda for the coming New Year. And if I don’t receive it right away, then I just pray in tongues and in a little while, I might ask, what is your agenda for the coming New Year? If I don’t receive it right away, then I pray in tongues. If I don’t receive it that day, then I’ll come back tomorrow and start the same process. The most of the time, I received that prophetic word in just a matter of a few hours. And then once I receive it, okay, Hallelujah. Boy, we kick in. Go get it printed; get it on the screens in the church, and preach it to the church, no less than three sermons before I’ve preached it anywhere else around the world. Amen.
Every year, that prophetic word that the Lord has given me since 1991, has come to pass in my life. And I have testimonies from people that has come to pass in their lives all over the world. This year, we’re not even through this year. I mean, were through this year, but last year, and were obviously into the new year, but last year, how many of you remember what that prophetic word was? If you will not be moved, by all the chaos and all the disorder that is happening in the world around you, that I will open my hand and cause you to experience supernatural extraordinary and unusual provision. How many of you experienced that? Well, we certainly did and when I asked the church at the end of the year, this year, how many of you that prophetic word came to past? The majority of the hands went up in our church, and we get testimonies from people all over the world. Well, now we’re in a new year, they got a new goal. We’re going for the maximum. We’re going for the highest level attainable. I’m going there, anybody else going with me? Hallelujah. Let’s give the Lord praise and another shout. Hallelujah. Praise God.
Let me remind you of this. Some of you, probably, perhaps never heard it before. But in 2004 I was preaching all over South Texas and I’ve been out for a week in a different city in South Texas every night. The last night I was there I was preaching in Joel Osteen’s church. His dad and I were close friends. I’ve known Joe since he’s just a little boy and Joel asked me to come and preach in his church and when I got through that night, I was going to fly home. A Pastor friend of mine, in a little community called Liberty, Texas. That’s not too far from Houston. He came up to me and said, “Brother Jerry, would you consider staying over one night and preach in our church tomorrow night?” I said, “Pastor, I am tired. I’ve been preaching every night. I’ve traveled to a different city every night. I really would like to go home. And I’ll look at my schedule and see if I can, you know, lock you in with a date later in the year.” Oh, Brother, Jerry, please. We want to hear you, now. Would you please reconsider? And just one more night? That’s all I’m asking, one more night. Well, it’s hard for me to say no. And so I said, “Okay, I’ll be there tomorrow night.”
So we went over to Liberty, Texas, a small community, small hotel. Well, hotel is a stretch of the imagination. Anyway, a small accommodation. So as soon as we got to that hotel, I went into my room and the only thing I unpacked was my alarm clock. I just pulled the cover back, I just laid down in the clothes I was traveling in and I set my alarm for one hour. You know, sleep, a power nap, as we call it. Because I knew if I didn’t get a little bit of rest, I wouldn’t be worth fifteen cents over there and I don’t like going into a service when I know I’m not prepared and not rested, I’m not prepared. So I just set the alarm for one hour. I laid down when my head hit the pillow, the Shekinah Glory of God filled that room. I couldn’t even see the furniture anymore and the Lord appeared and here’s what He said, “My people know Me as Savior. Some know Me as Baptizer in the Holy Ghost. Some know Me as Healer. Some know Me as Deliver. But they don’t all know Me as the God of the Breakthrough.” He said, “If they did, then they wouldn’t be so quick to give up.” He said, “Tell them tonight. The God of the Breakthrough wants to visit their house.”
Well, and I was energized, refreshed. Got up showered, putting a suit on and it’s still an hour before the service. Oh, man. I’m ready. Like I told Him tonight, I’m ready, I’m fired up. Let’s go. I can hardly wait to get over that service. I had a prophetic word from the Lord. That became my word for that year. Then, when I was preaching it, the Lord said, “Tell the people at the end of the sermon,” He said, “Tell the people the intensity of your praise will determine the magnitude of your breakthrough.” He is talking about praising in advance. Amen. The intensity of your praise will determine the magnitude of your breakthrough and boy, I’m telling you that place broke out, broke out in praise. I mean, the God of the Breakthrough visited that house that night.
I got in my airplane, flew home. Alright, the pastor took me to the airport. He said, “Brother Jerry, did you check out of your room?” I said, “Well, I didn’t officially check out. I left the key on the desk there. But I’m out. I’m flying home, obviously.” He said, “I’m going by that hotel. They don’t know you checked out. Give me your key.” I said, “Well, I did give the key to the front desk.” No. I said, “I left the key on the table there.” He said, “I’m going to that hotel. I’m checking in the room that you were in. I’m going to sleep on that bed you were in. I believe that that same anointing will come on me, that came on you and tomorrow is Sunday morning, I believe we’re going to have a major breakthrough.” And he called me later that night, and said “Brother Jerry, you didn’t get all that anointing. It came on me just like it came to you, and the God of the breakthrough showed up at our house again.” Amen.
So let me just encourage you right now. The intensity of your praise in advance, will determine the magnitude of your breakthrough. What do you say? What do you say? How desperate are you for a major breakthrough? How desperate are you to reach your goal, maximum and the highest level attainable? Hallelujah. Is that the way you demonstrate excitement? Okay, I guess I’ll take this message to someplace else… [Congregation jumps up and starts shouting.] Glory to God. [Shouting continues.] Hallelujah, praise God. Amen. Look at someone and say, “I have just begun. Just wait till I get home.” Alright, be seated, praise God. Amen.
18 But when they attend to what he reveals, that’s what I was reading at the beginning. I asked you to pray for the other person and pray that they will pay attention. Okay. 18…when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed (Proverbs 29:18 MSG). The word attend here means to give heed to, and to direct one’s mind, one’s thoughts, and one’s energy to what has been said. Amen. That prophetic oracle from God. When you’re willing and determined to do this, then you can expect the fulfillment of that prophetic Word. Amen.
Now, let’s go back to Philippians chapter 3 for a moment, and look at verse 14. And just the first three words, or actually the first two words. 14 I press… 14 I press… 14 I press… What is Paul talking about? In other words, he’s determined, he’s got his mind set. He has become resolute, you might say, that turning back, giving up is not an option. 14 I press… (Philippians 3:14). I wrote down that one of the meanings of the word press is to keep on keeping on. Just keep on keeping on. Amen.
I read one time where it said, successful people are willing to do what unsuccessful people aren’t willing to do. And one of the things unsuccessful people aren’t willing to do, is keep pressing. Unsuccessful people have the attitude that if it doesn’t happen soon, that I’m not playing anymore. I’m not… I’m not going to waste my time pursuing this. Successful people are willing to do what unsuccessful people aren’t willing to do. Successful people sometimes don’t feel like doing what they know they need to do, but they do it anyway. Are you still here? Look at your neighbour and say, He’s talking about me. I’m one of those successful people.
Alright, now go to Psalm 112. How are we doing on time? Praise God. I was in the… Joe and I were in Anchorage, Alaska one time. I said, “Preach all night, brother.” It didn’t get, the sun didn’t go down till about three o’clock in the morning. I said, “You’ll have to invite Kenneth Copeland for that meeting.” He can do it; he can preach till three o’clock in the morning. Now, once again Psalm 112, this chapter impressed me so powerfully in the early days of my ministry, it became my first book. I entitled it, The Established Heart.’ That was about eighty six books ago. But that was my first book because it just, inspired me so much. I remember the first time I read it, I stood up in my little bedroom in Shreveport Louisiana, I lift my hands and I said, “God, someday I’m going to be like that man.” I’ve become like that man.
Psalm 112, you found it yet. Notice, and we won’t read the entire Psalm. But notice, if I can get to it, particularly verse 6 through 8, 6 Surely he shall not be moved forever; the righteous shall be held in everlasting remembrance. 7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: His heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, Until he see his desire upon his enemies (Psalms 112:6-8, KJV).
Notice here it says this man is not moved by anything negative that is happening around him. Not moved by anything his adversary is doing. He’s heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord, his heart is established. The Amplified Bible says, 7… his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord. (Psalms 112:7, AMPC). The Message Translation says, he is Unfazed… Spirit firm, unperturbed (Psalms 112:1-10, MSG). That’s good, unperturbed. What does unperturbed mean? Well, I wrote these words down; never flustered, nor bothered by negative things that are happening around him, unwavering, marked by a firm determination, unshakable, unwilling to accept failure and defeat. Amen. Unperturbed. How many of you are unperturbed tonight? [Congregation: Yes!] Hallelujah. Then I got good news for you, get ready, you’re headed for the maximum. You’re headed for the highest level attainable.
Now, if you go back to Paul’s writings, many times he uses the analogy of the life of faith like a runner in a marathon, okay. The runner in the marathon, no matter how tired he might become, he refuses to give up. He won’t give up until he crosses that finish line. Even if he’s the last one to cross, okay. I read one time that in a marathon, back in 1968 in Mexico City, there was a man from Tanzania. I don’t remember his name, but this is an actual fact. He was in that marathon, his country sent him there, okay. To do this race with other competitors around the world. He came staggering into the stadium more than an hour behind the winner of that race. After the race, he was interviewed and they asked him why he didn’t quit and these were his words, “My country sent me here to run this race and they sent me .. they sent me here to run this race and they sent me here to finish it, not to give up before I finished it.” Even though he came in an hour behind the winner. He was not going to go home, embarrassing his Nation. “I started the race, and I finished the race. I didn’t win it, but I’ve finished.” Amen.
Well, why don’t we practice that same principle. But let’s go a step higher. Let’s win it. Let’s win it. Let’s run the win. Praise God and I’ll drink to that. Amen. Don’t give up just because it looks like it’s all over. No way in the natural for you to ever achieve this goal. God’s expecting us to set the goal, stay focused, and to never give up.
The apostle Paul said in First Corinthians chapter 9 verse 26, from the message translation. 26 I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard to for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got (1 Corinthians 9:26 MSG). In the book of Hebrews chapter 6 verse 15, talking about Abraham, reading from The Message translation. 15 Abraham stuck it out and got everything that God had promised to him (Hebrews 6:15 MSG).
He stuck it out and got everything that God had promised to him. Ask yourself right now, am I willing to stick it out? If you are willing to stick it out, then I got good news for you. You’re about to run your victory lap. Anybody know what a victory lap is? Back when my dad was racing automobiles and I was just a little boy, there was a man from Keokuk, Iowa. I’ll never forget him. His name was Ernie Derr. And he was national champion in this particular kind of automobile racing. He’d come to my town of Shreveport, Louisiana and if my dad wasn’t racing, Ernie would ask my dad to be his pit boss in the crew and make sure his car was prepared and ready to win the race. Because Ernie won just about every race he got in. I remember as a little boy, I’d get to be in the pits with my dad. I’d get to meet Ernie and he talked to me every time he’d come.
One day, when he won the feature race, he stopped in front of the grandstands and they handed him the checkered flag and usually the winner would hold the checkered flag out the window and do a victory lap. This time, Ernie did this to me. (Pointing to Brother Jerry) I said, “Me?” He said, “Come.” He said, “Get in the car.” And he put me in the car next to him. He said hold the victory flag out while I do a victory lap. I tell you my head swelled up this big and then he gave me the victory flag. I went to school the next day carrying the victory lap flag. Just dare somebody asked me where I got it. Well, you should have been at the race. Amen, you are about to have your victory lap. If you’re determined that quitting is not an option. Stand to your feet and give the Lord your best shout.
Hold up your right hand, act like you are waving a flag. Say: “That’s my victory lap. I am waving my flag. I’m about to take my victory lap.” And go on and praise Him some more. Hallelujah. Amen. Remain standing. Hebrews 10 verse 36, the Message Translation, talking about Abraham again, 36 You need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion (Hebrews 10:36 MSG). So you’ll be there for the promised completion.
And now let me just share this with you. You can just remain standing. I received this word from the Lord this afternoon when I was preparing for this service.
This is a new season that you have entered into.
A season of greater blessings that I have arranged for you.
Blessings that you’ve never experienced before,
So get ready to receive them, they are yours for sure.
I am taking you higher, yes, that’s My plan,
So stay in faith and take your stand.
Refuse to be moved by what others say,
I’m in charge, and I’ll have My way.
Yes, this is a new season, which many thought would never come.
But I’ve made it happen, yes, it’s what I’ve done.
I’m still the God who makes the impossible possible – it’s what I do.
And it’s all because of My love for you.
So rejoice and be glad with outbursts of joy and laughter, too.
You’re entering into the realm of the maximum, just like I said you would do.
Hallelujah. Come on, raise your hands and give the Lord a great shout. Hallelujah. Now remember He said, “Outbursts of joy.” Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. Come on praise team, come on back up here. We are not done yet – outbursts of joy. Hallelujah, hallelujah. Amen and amen. Praise God.
Lay your hands on the person next to you for a moment. Say this, In the name of Jesus, I believe God was speaking to you tonight. This message was sent from heaven for you. And I prayed at the beginning that you would pay attention. I believe you did so. I believe you received the Word with faith. And I now agree with you in particular with what God just said to us, that you are getting ready to run your victory lap. So I encourage you right now, I encourage you right now, do what the Holy Ghost told us to do: outbursts of joy and laughter. Because God is making it happen for you. Come on, let’s do it, praise God.
You have an outburst of joy. Hallelujah, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on. Hey, hey, hey, come on. What are you quitting for? What are you quitting for? Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Amen. Let’s do it. Let’s do it. Come on. Come on. Glory, glory, glory. Glory, glory, glory. Glory, glory, glory. Yes, Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hey, hey. Praise God. Come on. Come on. Glory, glory, glory.
[Sound and Song: Hallelu-Jaweh]
Pastor John Bendixen:
You know, when I was still a conservative Christian, I went to a camp meeting by Brother Hagin in, I believe it was, 1989. I was standing in an auditorium filled with about 10, 15 thousand people and I was sitting up in the bleachers. Brother Hagin, during the course of the service he stopped, and he looked at a lady – she was sitting in a wheelchair – and he said to her, “I perceive you have faith to get out of the wheelchair, right now.” There wasn’t anybody standing around her. He said, “Get up and walk!” She got up out of the wheelchair and she started, first a little groggly and unsteadily, she got out of that wheelchair and she started walking in front of the platform. That day, I saw 4 people get out of the wheelchair in different levels of healing.
The auditorium, filled with those thousands of people, went crazy. Like we just went crazy. [Congregation shouts] They went crazy and I’ll tell you what happened is that I was watching them all go crazy. And this conservative South African male said, “Lord, I wish I could do what they’re doing.” He said, “You can.” He said, “Just give it all you’ve got.”
And I’ll tell you what happened to me; I just shut my eyes right then and I threw up my hands and I screamed. I screamed as loud… that’s the loudest I had ever screamed in a church service. I promise you. I screamed as loud as I could scream and I praised God. And right then, because of the communication that happened between me and God, it’s like He put His hand inside of my spirit, down here, and He pulled a plug out of my spirit and rivers of life burst through my mouth, out of my life. And since then, I’ve never been the same. Since then, I can dance. Since then, I can shout. Since then, I can run. Since then, I can do anything in the Spirit! Anything in the Spirit!!! [Pastor John and congregation jumps and shouts] Hallelujah! Glory! Glory to Jesus!
I can tell you, I am not a conservative man anymore. I am filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire. All of my life I will never be the same again. Every day I will dance. Every day I will dance. Every day I will shout. Every day I will walk in victory. Every day I will praise His name. Every day I will glorify Him. In my house, in my life, in my ways, I will praise Him!!
Hallelujah. Ja, I suppose church is not supposed to be this loud. Sorry. Sorry, but not sorry. I’ve been loud like this my whole life. Sharon and I, some of the greatest victories we’ve ever had is just the two of us doing this thing in our lounge shouting and screaming, just the two of us. Because in that moment, when you need God to show up… Brother Jerry’s not here to do it, and me, we’re not here to do what we’re doing now, in your lounge. When you need God to show up, then you’ve got to do it yourself. You’ve got to do it yourself. This is just a practice run. Hallelujah.
I told you, we told you, our prayers told you that this was going to happen when Brother Jerry came. And this is just the beginning! Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah! Hallelujah, Jesus! [Pastor John and congregation jumps and shouts]
Tomorrow morning, who knows what can happen tomorrow morning? All I know is God is going to show Himself amazing, glorious, wonderful. He’s the most awesome God. He is just amazing and I thank God for the beauty of who He’s connected us to. And that we haven’t quit on our relationship in 27 years. He hasn’t quit on us in 27 years. And we’re still walking together for another 27 years, God willing. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. And who knows, if Kenneth Copeland has his way, he’ll live another 27 years, that’ll put him to 120. Who knows, or more, who knows what’s going to happen. But if, you know, hey, hey, hey, hey. All I know is we don’t quit. God will have to take us out of here, becasue we don’t quit. Hallelujah.
So, I don’t know how to quit the meeting other than to say goodnight, God bless, and I’ll see you tomorrow morning – revved up and fired up for Jesus! Bye, you all.
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