Than our hearts how Great everybody sing how Great sing with me how great hard to see how great How great is our God name above name above all name you are worthy then our hearts will see how Great how great How Great Is Our God see with me how great God heart you see how great How Great Is Our God oh how great is our God that’s the best we can push him that the best we can push Him see if we can bring the monitors up see if we can bring the monitors up is our God sing with me Great how Great above above all name you are worthy of How Great Is Our God how great see with me how great I got one how great How great is our God is our God this he’s my soul this my soul My Savior God to me how great th how great th VI my soul
Myor God how great how great Name above name above our name you are worthy let our hearts will see how great is our God all over the house how great how great sing with see how great hard to see how great is our God oh how great is our God it’s just a blessed morning to be
Alive to give him praise for he’s worthy to be praised oh how great let’s see it up How Great Is Our God Sting with me our great in our hearts Great Is Our God one more time how great How Great Is Our God oh how great is our God then our hearts will
See is our [Applause] God can I hear a few more voices with us then our hearts will see how great is our God how great oh sing with me how great in our heart will see oh this is a marvelous day that the Lord has made he shall rejoice and be
Glad in it oh how great how great how great let’s he it is our God sing with me how great is our God then our hearts will see how great how great is our God I’m trying to figure out which sex is the loudest oh how great How
Great Is Our God I think it’s the right side How Great Is Our God that our hearts will see how great is our God hallelujah God from whom all blessings flow praise God from all blessings flow Praise Him All Creatures here below Praise Him above the Heavenly praise pra Father Son and
Holy on this Sunday as we celebrate the third Sunday in Black History Month we sing Our negro national anthem lift every voice and sing and we’re going to ask this young lady here she comes come on sweetheart we’re going to ask her to lead us in this hymn as she is there we
Go come on now we’re in your hands go ahead Sweetheart Ofy let our reing CH I Am th the Sing full of the faith that the darkness has sing the song The the Dark facing the Rising Sun of our new days beun let us march on till Victory is One thank you Good morning Lord it is prayer time now we come to you we want all eyes open and All Hearts to be filled up with you father I Stretch My Hands To Thee no other help I know if thou withdraw thyself for me Lord whe shall I go we come this morning oh
Lord to give you thanks and praise we come this morning to lift up all the sick those that have pain in the body because we realize that you are the greatest doctor that’s ever been so right now in the name of Jesus we bring up all illness before you
Ask you in the name of Jesus would you touch each one touch them from the crown of their head to the soul of their feet Lord we just thank you for another day because we wouldn’t have gotten up this morning if it weren’t for you laying
Your nail scar hands upon us and lifting us up higher and higher Lord I thank you I thank you for every good and perfect gift I thank you for my church my church family and the ones you have put here to lead us Lord have mercy upon each and
Everyone touch us oh God I’m asking you to touch each and everyone you made all of us and you know all about us so Lord we thank you be with those that have lost their loved ones this week I ask you to give him the best thoughts Lord
God have mercy upon us lead us and guide us don’t leave us alone because you are the best thing that ever happened to any of us so God we sing praises to you I’m asking you in jesus’ name bless my family all of my children grandchildren great grandchildren you know all about
Us and rock them in the Cradle of your love for Jesus sake I pray Amen Lord I just want anybody come to give him thanks this morning thank You from the bottom of my heart say Than my heart [Applause] say I just I Just somebody said he’s B So hey he hey he so so so good He and I just stop by here to say I just Want somebody said he’s made a way Made a way out of nowhere he’s made I don’t know how he did it I don’t know how he did it but he made a Way I just want You I just want To would all who are able please rise for the reading of God’s word today’s scripture scripture comes from The Acts of the Apostles chapter 16 and we will be reading verses 16- 28 The Acts of the Apostles chapter 16: 16- 28 I’m reading from the NIV
Version once when we were going to the place of prayer we were met by a female slave who had a Spirit by which she predicted the future she earned a great deal of money for her own by fortune telling she followed Paul and the rest of us shouting these men are Servants of
The most high God who are telling you the way to be saved she kept this up for many days finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit in the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her at that
Moment the spirit left her when her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone on They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities they brought them before the magistrates and said these men are Jews and are throwing our city into an uproar
By advocating customs of unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice the crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods after they had been severely flogged they were thrown into prison and the Jailer was commanded to guard them
Carefully when he received these orders he put them in the enter cell and fastened their feet in the stocks about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God the other prisoners were listening to them suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken at
Once all the prison doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose the Jailer woke up and when he saw the prisoner doors open he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped but Paul said shouted don’t harm yourself we are all here this is the
Word of God May the Holy Spirit illuminate it for our understanding you may be Seated we want to see your light we want to see your light great we want to see your light we want to see your light we want to see your light praise he said I am the light the light of his world and if you will follow me you won’t have to go
Through Darkness just your will just your light it will lead you to what’s right trust your will trust your will trust your life trust your life it will lead you it will lead you to what’s right to what’s right we want to see your life we want to see your
Life we want to see your life great we want to see your light we want to see your light we want to see your light great je we want to see you we want to see you how many of y’all want to see Jesus we want to see
You we want to see your light we want to see your light we want to see your light prise see your light we want to see your light light we want to see your light great Je and the people of God said amen we are so happy today just to be in the house of the Lord one more time amen let me ask all of you who are visiting with us for the the first time if you’d stand all of our first time guests who are
Here we’re going to get to the divine nine but amen there we are there we are there we are come on you all let’s celebrate them come on you can do better than that yes indeed we are so happy to see each and every one of you here this
Morning and all the members of the divine nine who are here if you would stand all of the members of look at this look look at this amen amen amen God is good God is good we are certainly happy to have all of you and
Then I’m going to ask all of the members of of our Masonic family if you would stand all of the members of our Masonic there they are amen amen and we’re certainly always happy to have uh the Reverend Dr Wilton Blake who joins us this morning the former presiding Elder of this church
WIll you wave your hand and let us see you God bless you my brother he’s the Pope in this area you all know that don’t you and then let me also let me also acknowledge the presence of those who are members of the NAACP who are here yes amen God bless
You my brother God there we are they’re still standing there Carmen’s in the back and we’re going to hear some more from them a little later on in our worship we are so so happy that you are in worship with us and at the end of this worship experience we’ll go into
The fellowship hall where we will Fellowship even more and celebrate your presence God bless you now let us hear from our music Ministry our Lord our Lord we Reign nobody like our God nobody like our God our Lord our Lord he reigns nobody like our God
Nobody like our God all Lord our Lord he reigns nobody like our God nobody like our God our Lord our Lord he reigns nobody like our God nobody like our God who is strong and mighty Our God sitting on the throne Our God high above the heavens Our God he is God alone
Our Lord our Lord he reigns nobody like our God nobody like our God our Lord our Lord he reigns nobody like our God nobody like our God and mighty Our God Seated on the throne Our God high above the heavens Our God he is God alone
Oh Our Lord our Lord he reigns nobody like our God nobody like our God our Lord our Lord he Reign nobody like our God nobody Like I want everybody to stand up on their feet to sing praise the Lord with me today put your hands together put your hands together if he woke you up this morning so at the next part we going to sing y’all going to repeat after me nobody like our God nobody like our
God he is Lord he is Lord say nobody like our God nobody like our God he is Lord he is Lord say nobody like our God nobody like our God he is Lord he is Lord say nobody like our God nobody like our God he is Lord he is say nobody like
Our God nobody like our God he is Lord he is Lord say nobody like our God nobody like our God he is Lord he is Lord nobody like our God nobody like our God he is Lord he is Lord nobody like our God nobody like our God he is Lord
He is Lord say nobody nobody nobody no nobody he is Lord he is Lord nobody like our God nobody like our God he is Lord he is say nobody like our God nobody like our God he is Lord he is Lord say nobody like our God nobody like our God he is
Lord he is Lord nobody like our God like our God how many of y’all know there’s nobody like our God he sits high and he looks low he died on a cross for our sins he didn’t have to do it but he did amen Amen Well I promis the Lord that I Oh hold out I promised the Lord that I would hold out until he meets me in Gile well I promised the Lord that I would hold out oh well I promis the Lord that I would until he meets me oh you got it you got it well I promis the Lord that I
Would that I would would well I promise the Lord that I would until he meets me come here first lady come here first lady well I promise the Lord that I would I need you to help me to direct this just direct the choir for Me well I promised the Lord that I would until he meets me in Again Yes I promised the Lord that I Would until he meets me oh I should have the whole church right about now well I promise the Lord that I I will well I from promise the Lord that I would I until he meets me in keep that going till till me that’s it that’s It I got to know out there somewhere how many of you promised the Lord that you would hold out lesan Pace puts it like this there was a boy playing Football and his daddy said to him Lamont it’s always a little M playing football Y’ he said I’ll be there to pick you up after football practice don’t go nowhere till your daddy comes football practice was over and LaMont put up his gear in his locker and walked out front by the gate couple of his friends about 2 minutes later drove by and
Said Lamont what you doing right there come on in this car we we’re going to take you on home but there’s a party down down the street we’ll go there for a little while then we’ll bring you on home but Lamar remember what his daddy
Said he said no no no no I I wish I could guys but my daddy said he’s coming back for Me 2 minutes later car pulls up group of girls in the car guys you know how hard it is hey Lamar won’t you get in the car with us and hang out with us lont start walking toward the car and he stop he’s said oh
Oh oh I forgot my daddy said I can’t go nowhere 5 minutes later the storm clouds begin to rage started thundering and lightning out there a long car stretched out wide came by and said Son you better get in this car it’s about to rain two things he
Remembered daddy said never ride with strangers second thing he remembered I better not go nowhere until my daddy comes like he said and some of you out there know when the storms begin to range and the rain begins to fall and you got hell hound raging on your
Heels you come to church and you feel like sometimes not going we think about reading our Bible sometimes but we get a little tired sometimes know that we ought to get up and go to church church but our body is Wrecking with pain but I promise Lord that I would hold
On and hold out till it re how many of you going to stay right there until your daddy comes back did you promise him that you would hold on and hold out well I promised the Lord that I would hold down tell mebody it hold down W I promise until him me
Me oh I wish I could get 10 more of you to sing it oh I promise the Lord hold down that I would down that I would hold I promise the Lord that I would until he meets me in yeah let me hear that everybody I just want to hear the church
Oh I promis the Lord that I hold out hold out come on don’t make it out fire I promise the Lord that I would until he meets me do I have some Alphas in the house oh I promised the Lord that I would I got a few hold
Out well I promis the Lord that I would until he let me get some sororities up here come on AKA where are you well I promised the Lord that I would hold out hold out hold down hold out hold down well I promised the Lord that I
Would until he meets me let’s put all the sororities together come on D where are you oh I promise the Lord that I would that I would that I would well I promised the Lord that I would till he now I want the fraternity of Jesus five Jesus Alpha and Omega when we
Stand up and sing where I prise the Lord that I come on everybody I I would that I would oh I promise the Lord that I would until he meets me in yeah let’s give him some Praise In The House amen Amen amen and the people of God shouted amen you have your Bibles turn with me as quickly as you can to the book of Acts in the 16th chapter in the book of Acts the 16th chapter Reverend Turner has read but I want to go back and get the 25th and the
26th verses in fact I may have to go all the way down to verse 28 but stay with me here beginning at the 25th verse where we find these words about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the other prisoners were listening to them
Suddenly there was a v vient earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken at once all of the prison doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose the Jailer woke up and when he saw the prison doors open he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he
Thought the prisoners had escaped but somebody shout but but Paul shouted don’t don’t harm yourself we are all here I want you to pray with me these next few moments from the subject don’t make your move too soon don’t make if you don’t mind if you’re not too
Antisocial look at your neighbor and say neighbor oh neighbor don’t make your move too soon that must have been the wrong neighbor I didn’t even feel a shift in this atmosphere look on the other side smile like you just got out of the dentist chair and say neighbor or
Neighbor don’t make your move too soon now God we turn to you because we need to hear a word from you I have studied but I need your strength I have prepared but I need your power I’m willing and I want to but only you can make me able
Holy Ghost have your way in this place Holy Ghost don’t leave any stone unturned God move not by power not by might but by your spirit and allow no flesh to glory in your sight oh Lord my strength and my redeemer and the people of God said amen don’t make your move
Too soon you do know that we are a people who are always on the move I mean when you decide you’re not going to move anymore brother Mark that’s the time time we ought to call the Undertaker because as you deal with life and the
Many ups and downs of life we are always in some form of transitory motion in fact seasons change are if we’re dealing with education we go through different levels of education and so we change from one grade level to the next you buy a car or a house and it’s not long where
You’re looking for another car or maybe another house fashion changes from one generation to the next even in your relationship it changes you move from dating to Honeymoon to maturity and sometimes you even move on or move apart but every now and then we recognize that things change even in the church what
Works in the church today won’t work always as it relates to Ministry and therefore we are all always in a posture of moving always in a transitory motion if you will and if you just look at your life you can attest to the fact that God
Has designed a life for you and an atmosphere for you in such a way that you feel like things are always shifting from one thing to the next one day to the next even if you look at the Seasons Winter does not stay forever summer does not stay forever fall does not stay
Forever spring does not stay life is transitory G uh leaves are green one season and brown another season because everything in life will change and so it’s hard to be still but we’ve got to learn throughout this thing called life we’ve got to be still and watch God work
And I wonder do I have anybody here who’s dis discovered that if you stay put there’s a blessing in waiting on the Lord maybe I’m alone maybe I’m by myself but I believe I’ve got 16 Witnesses I’ll make number 17 you live long enough to know that even though you missed the
First bus thank God for the second bus even though you didn’t get it the first time thank God for the second time and the reason at least six of you ought to be smiling right now is because you missed some opportunities but God gave you another chance you missed some
Opportunities but God opened another door can anybody celebrate God for another door that he opened even when it looked like the door was closed in your face see it’s worth the wait now let me unpack the text you’ll stay with me won’t you in the story that we have
Before us we find Paul who has gone to the Roman colony of Philip II and on this day we find where they are headed to the place of prayer but while they are on their way to the place of prayer they encounter a little girl who has the
Spirit of python this little girl is wrestling with an evil force that is controlling her and causing her to make predictions and foretell events many of the things that she was forthtelling that it was true but Paul got upset because Paul recognized that even though what she was saying was true this young
Lady was giving the credit for the information she received to the wrong person in other words don’t people make you sick when they try to take the credit for the very things that they have in life have you ever dealt with somebody who didn’t recognize to whom
The credit was due for the very fact that they have what they have and live where they live and drive where they drive don’t get quiet on me is there anybody here who knows what it’s like to recognize see I’ve got somebody here who knows where your blessings come from and
So you have a testimony you can say to God be the glory for the things that God has I wouldn’t be standing here if God didn’t do it I wouldn’t have what I have if God didn’t do it see we’ve got to learn who to whom the credit it is due
And so some people there are some people because of their Own Strength because of their own intelligence because of their own power they will run around telling you what they have and what they have done but the Devil is a Lie everything that I have God has given given it to me
Every car that I drive God gave it to me that house that we I live in God gave it to me everything that’s happened to me that’s been been good god did it in fact he woke me up this morning and started me on my way I could have been dead last
Night but God didn’t let last night be my last night and I’m still here because God has been good to me has he been good to anybody else up in here and so and so as we look at this text as we look at this text there are those who had
Ownership over her they were pimping her out for money if you will and the owner got upset he got upset when Paul spoke over her when Paul spoke over that evil spirit inside of her and I want to tell you this one for free and that is some
Folk don’t want you to be free some folk don’t want you to be delivered some folk don’t want you to be blessed some folk don’t want you to be healed such is the case of the text and so they brought Paul and Silas before the courts and
Because it was because of what Paul had done and the Bible says that in the earlier verses of the of chapter 16 when they brought them before the court not only did they accuse them not only did they convict them but they beat them and they threw them into the jail and while
They were in jail they encounter an earthquake at midnight see that’s the part of the story that all of us love here it was midnight for them and an earthquake decided to shake the very foundations of the prison and let me come home because somebody made their
Way to Quinn today and you’re in a midnight experience you’re going through a midnight you’re enduring a midnight you’re crying tears because it’s midnight you’re you’re going to the doctor because it’s midnight you’re trying to hire a lawyer because it’s midnight anybody know something about a midnight experience in your life life
It’s because of midnight you haven’t shouted all service long it’s because of midnight you haven’t smiled all day long but can I tell you it’s good to know that it’s midnight because just like God works in the daytime God works in the Midnight Hour do I have anybody here who
Knows that God can work not just in the day but God works late even in the Midnight Hour and so there was an earthquake there was an earthquake but it was because of the earthquake at midnight that it caused their chains to fall off and somebody you might even be
Struggling or discouraged at midnight but the good news is God can break chains at midnight God can break curses at midnight God can break habits at midnight God can break a bad day and a Bad season at midnight and so you got to thank God for some chains that are about
To fall off it might be midnight night but don’t get discouraged it’s chain falling season it’s time for some chains to fall off it’s time for God to loose some things and let you go free see some chains of low self-esteem some chains of emptiness and poverty some chains of
Loneliness and depression even chains of sickness and cancer I want you to know before you cry another midnight tear before you cry another midnight tear I want you to give God praise because some chains are about to be broken you know what Ray Charles said Ray Charles said
The night time is the right time and so if you’re in the night time that’s the right time to celebrate the God who can break chains at midnight and so as we keep trying to go through this text there is something else that happens in this text that arrested my attention if
You look at this text you will discover you will discover that you see in the text a Jailer who notices that prison doors are open at midnight but he suspects that the prisoners have all escaped so he’s already concluded that he’s got to take his own life where are
You getting that preacher I’m glad you ask because you do remember at this time in biblical Antiquity the law in Rome was that if any prisoner escapes under your watch as the prison guard the consequence was you had to lose your own life and Paul shouts out to him just
Before he’s about to take his life we are all still here now now now they are in prison on trumped up charges they are beaten within and inch of their lives but an earthquake comes and when an earthquake comes it presents something that should free them but nobody moved
Because they decided I’m not going to make my move too soon they are AOW they are given an a way out they are given a way of Escape but they do not Escape right away because they recognize they are on assignment and so even when the
Doors open even when the chains fell off they stayed in an uncomfortable condition they recognize that we this is where we ought to be they recognize that we are on assignment see they were still needed in galatia they were still needed in Corinth they were still needed in
Thessalonica but they said to them themselves even though we’re needed there we cannot make our move too soon because your head may be in Corinth but your blessing is in that Philippian jail and that’s a word for somebody your head may be somewhere else but your blessing
Is in the place where God has called you to be your head may be with Sam but your blessing might be with Mike and therefore you’ve got to hang in there and be where God told you to be so the Lord sends an earthquake and remember an
An earthquake is a natural occurrence so God either sends it or God allows it the earthquake which is what leads to the falling off of the chains and the opening of the doors and it happens somewhere about midnight but what is going on preacher while These Chains
Fall off well they are praying and they are praising God they are praying and they are praising God and when they pray and when they praise God an earthquake comes and the doors of the jail open up and chains fall off but they don’t move because obviously they recognize that
God opened the door but as a result of the prayer but they stay right where they are and this ought to teach you and this ought to teach me that every every open door is not an invitation for you to walk away way every open door is not
An invitation for you to move on sometimes God opens a door but he wants to know will you stay right where I called you to be or will you make your move too soon see sometimes open doors are put in our face because God wants to
Know do you trust me or will you move before you’re supposed to move I wish I had some company in this place in other words every open door is not an invitation to move and we’re always so quick to declare that the Lord will make
A way out of nowh we’re always so quick to say the Lord will open doors no man can open and shut doors no man can shut but every open door is not an invitation to leave because if I walk out too soon I might miss my assignment if I walk out
Too soon I might become incomplete in the task that God has for me and so the real blessing the real blessing for us is not feeling like we got to get away but sometimes we got to wait and stay right where God called us to be yall
Quiet so let me call Jesus to the witness stand you don’t mind if I call Jesus to the witness stand you will remember when Satan tempted Jesus and G and Satan said now if you’re the son of man why don’t you start turn these stones into bread because Jesus was
Fasting but Jesus did not take that open door because he knew he was on assignment and therefore you’ve got to be still and know who God is and wait on him because there’s a blessing if you just wait on the lord well they that wait on the Lord shall renew their
Strength and if you wait on him he may not come when you want him but he’s right on time anybody waiting on him tears rolling down your face but keep on waiting friends keep turning on you but keep on waiting the doctor hadn’t given you a good report but just keep on
Waiting you getting tired you feel like giving up but keep on waiting is there anybody here who can say I’m waiting on him maybe just maybe maybe you feel like giving up but I declare if you wait on him won’t he turn it around if you wait
On him won’t he make a way anybody in the won’t he crowd won’t he do it if you wait on him anybody ever waited on God and God made a way out of nowhere you waited on God and God did what you couldn’t do for yourself anybody ever
Waited on God and God turned your situation around I need somebody who can declare I waited on him and Look What the Lord Has Done I waited on him Look What the Lord has brought me from I waited on it Look What the Lord can do is there anybody here who can celebrate
God because you Waited well let me give you three things and I’m through there are three things that come out of this text and I’m through first thing to come out of the text don’t allow unexpected obstacles to derail your original intention don’t allow unexpected obstacles to derail your original intention you do know that unexpected
Mess will show up come on y’all talk back to me if you can see I think we have a major misfire with this text because often we look at this text through the wrong angle we look at it through an angle that is cute but not correct we often hear they were praying
They were praising then when that prayer and praise party took place at midnight God God opened the doors and God decided to loose some shackles and therefore if you pray and praise at midnight God will do the same for you but when you do your homework of the text you know that
There’s more to the story than that touch your neighbor say neighbor there’s more to the story than that because not only were they praying not only were they praising and the doors open and the chains fell off H but that obviously was not what they were praying praying for I
I’m I hope I’m not too deep for you I hope I I hope I’m not too deep for you because if that was what they were praying for then why didn’t they walk out when God answered their so-called prayer some of y’all might not get that till Tuesday Morning in other words if
I’m praying to get out and get out takes place then why don’t I start walking out you so so the question Quinn is what are they praying for I’m glad you’re still with me today because you got to go go back to verse 16 to get the answer to
The question verse 16 lets us know that they are on their way to the temple for a prayer and a praise worship experience they are on their way to the temple for a prayer and a praise worship experience they expect an unexpected rather Interruption of this little girl which
Is being used by men for her out for their own economic gain takes place and as a result of this unexpected Interruption an unexpected obstacle happens they end up in jail y’all still with me aren’t you and while they are in jail they decide well since we’re here
Let’s go ahead and have some good oldfashioned church because after all they’re sitting there and all they have is a wing and a prayer but when all you have is a wing and a prayer all you need is a prayer and a praise uh uh is there
Anybody here who could say I’ve had my back against the wall but that’s when I really learned how to praise my God they were on their way to church for a prayer and a praise service but they they encounter an unexpected Interruption that leads them to an unexpected place
And while they are in that unexpected place they start doing what they originally set out to do before they got interrupted they didn’t make it to church but they prayed praised God anyhow they didn’t make it to their destination but they praised God anyhow now let me come get somebody who’s not
Worshiped all morning long have you ever been in a place in your life where you couldn’t make it to church but you learn how to praise God in a living room you learn how to praise God in a shower you learn how to praise God in a backro you
Learn how to praise God in a car I need about six of you who aren’t too cute to clap aren’t too sophisticated to shout and aren’t too arrogant to say Amen because you can thank God even when you didn’t make it to church you learn how
To praise him all by yourself you learn how to worship him all by yourself see sometimes you got to praise Him anyhow I might not have the blessing but I’m going Praise Him anyhow I might not have the B Miracle but I’m going Praise Him anyhow is there anybody here
Who can say I’ve got an any how Praise well they did not make it to the worship experience but they were but they worshiped him anyhow they did what they intended to do even though they encountered and something unexpected even though something showed up unexpectedly but with all of that it was their intention to pray and that’s
What they did and their intention to it was their intention to praise and that’s what they did and I wonder what is your intention when you come to worship on a Sunday morning they were lied on but they praised God they were beaten but they praised God they were locked down
But they praise God see every now and then you’ve got to have an you’ve got to have an attitude that says I don’t care if you don’t want to praise him don’t hinder me because I came today to praise my God in in fact if I got to praise him
All by myself I will do so because you don’t need what I need from the Lord and since you don’t need what I need from the Lord I’m going to praise him the way I need to praise him because I need too much for him from him and he’s been too
Good to me in fact if you just look back over your life you got to you’ve got something to celebrate God for well if you got something to celebrate God for He’s Worthy to be praised and I wonder is there anybody here who can say I’ve
Got a reason to praise him and our foreparents our foreparents back in the day used to sing over my head I hear music in the air there must be a god somewhere out on a slave plantation trying to make it from one day to the
Next but they said there must be a god somewhere in fact I’m going to praise him because he’s still good to me but then there’s one more there’s a there’s a second thing to come out of the text and that is there is an assignment there is an assignment there is an assignment
Of impact but make sure you have the right people with you make sure you have the right people with you look at your neighbor say neighbor I hope I’m sitting next to the right person see when you decide when you decide you will not make
Your move too soon you got to make sure you got the right people with you if you look at the text if you look at the text if you look at the wording of of the text the text says Paul and Silas somewhere about midnight about midnight
Paul and Silas were praying and singing both of them are in jail and do you not find it interesting that the name Silas is only mentioned when they get arrested and are thrown into jail I need some biblical Scholars now in other words everything that led up to the arrest was
About Paul Paul was the one who tried to exercise that demon out of the little girl Paul was the one who decided to go to Lyra and Philippi Paul got the credit for having converted Lydia Paul is the one who conver confronts the spirits operating in this little girl that leads
To the arrest Paul is the one who is responsible for all of this mess and yet through Paul though Paul by himself is responsible it is silence who did not leave when the doors of the jail open up Silas says I’m going to stay here because if my friend is in trouble I’m
In trouble too in other words all of us need some people in our Lives who will Who will be in Covenant partnership and Covenant relationship with us so that if I have a problem you have a problem too if you have some trouble I have some
Trouble too I don’t care how much you know I don’t don’t care how much you’ve got the fact of the matter is if you C my Covenant partner we in this thing together if you move I move just like that and I don’t know about you but I
Need a silus in my life is there anybody here who needs aylus or aista in your life you saying I go through enough Hell by my enemies I don’t need any friend ofies and I don’t need any more Associates see y’all quiet it’s because you keep confusing Associates with
Friends you think some of your Associates are your friends but the fact of the matter is some of your Associates are your friendenemies but I need somebody when I’m down to my last dime and I don’t know which way to turn I need a silence in my life who can speak
Over me and tell me everything is going to be all right do I have a silence up in here who can say I need Somebody who won’t walk away from me yes sir and they won’t act like it’s none of their business but then go around the corner and tell all of my business no I need a silus in my life who will stick with me when the going gets tough who will stick with me when
The tough gets going anybody grateful today because you’ve had a silus in your life that prayed you through some rough situations you had a silus in your life who prayed you through some hellified situations is there anybody here who can thank God for a silence in your
Life Paul Paul had Paul had such a such an impact brother fan on on Silas Paul had such a major impact on Silas that he that he could have left but because of his Covenant relationship he stayed right there and all of us need we don’t
Need any more fake and phony friends who only want to be your friends when things are good no I need somebody who’s with me when the chips are down I I need somebody who’s with me when I’m in a state of flux I need somebody who’s with
Me when I cuz if you can’t be with me on the bottom don’t try to roll with me when I get to the top I I need somebody I need a silus in my life well I think I kept you long enough there’s one more thing to come out of the text
And I’m through and that is when you stay although you could have left your stay will start to make sense your stay will start to make sense see I’m looking at some people and you may not you may not see it but you just the fact that you’re staying where God
Told you to stay will make sense after a while can I pull it out of the text and we’ll shout our way out of here the text says that the prison guard sees that the door is open and he knows that according to Roman law he has if a prisoner is set
Free on your watch the consequence or the result Reverend Turner is that you have to take your own life and so the prison guard is all prepared to take his own life y’all still with me aren’t you and that’s why you can’t make your move too soon he’s about to move forward he’s
About to take his own life but he St he has to stop because he hears a voice of somebody who stayed after they could have been set free he’s ready to kill himself and the only reason he does not is because somebody said something but that’s not and it’s not just anybody but
This is somebody who did not make their move move when they could have it’s somebody who stayed when they could have left he’s ready to die because of what he’s thinking he’s ready to let go because of what he’s thinking he’s ready to give up because of what he’s
Anticipating but Paul’s voice saved the day for the Jailer Paul said we’re still here Paul had to be in place because his voice was needed for such a time as this if Paul had left the man would have died if the J if the prisoners had left the
The the Jailer would have died but because Paul stayed there the jailer’s life life was still intact and the only reason he survived is because Paul and the prisoners stayed in place because Paul used his voice to help somebody else and that’s a word for somebody who keeps letting somebody else steal your
Voice that’s a word for somebody who keeps let somebody letting somebody else silence your voice no God gave you your voice so why don’t you use it God gave you your anointing so why don’t you use it God gave you another chance so why
Don’t you use it see I came to speak to somebody who is sick of where you are well you got to learn how to stay there because God’s going to use your voice to save somebody else God want you to stay right there because you somebody’s on
The verge of giving out giving over and giving in but they just need you to use your voice and tell them God Can Make A Way somehow tell them look and live my brother live look to Jesus now and live because according to his word hallelujah
It is only that you look and live in fact look at somebody and say live my brother live my sister if you go if you feel like you’re at the end of your rope this is not the time to give up and this is not the time to give in but hang on
In there because God’s got another move on your behalf hang on in there because the Lord is still your Shepherd you shall not want well the earthquake comes and the earthquake is a very violent moment in the life of that prison experience and so in the midst of the
Earthquake it’s moving and everybody if you read if you do your homework you will discover that everybody was supposed to die as a result of that earthquake because it was so graphic it was so intense but I’m glad to report that the Bible ible lets us know that
Even though they should have died even though they could have died even though they would have died God kept them because God showed up right on time let me come get about six of you and I’ll make my way to my but is there anybody
Here who can say I could have died I should have died I would have died but God showed up right on time is there anybody here who can say you don’t know like I know I am so when I think about the goodness of Jesus and all he’s done
For me my soul Cries Out Hallelujah I thank God for saving me I thank God for healing me I thank God for delivering me I don’t know about you but I’ve got a right to praise him but I’ve also got a reason to praise him he’s been so good
To me I cannot tell it all I could have been in a prison cell but the Lord’s been good to me I could have been in a hospital bed but the Lord’s been good to me I’ve been it could have been in a casket but the Lord’s been good to me
High five your neighbor and say neighbor don’t make you move too soon the Lord is with us don’t make you move too soon he walks with us don’t make you move too soon because greater is he that is in US then he that’s in the world don’t get it
Twisted just like he showed up for Paul and Silas he’ll show up for you just like he showed up for Paul and Silas he’ll show up for you and aren’t you glad today he will show up right on time hallelujah hallelujah as we stand all over this sanctuary
As we stand all over this Sanctuary I want to encourage every individual under the sound of my voice you do know that all of us will have to deal with some unexpected disappointments but be clear my brothers and sisters God shows up right on time just as he did for Paul and Silas
He can do the same for you and so my brothers and sisters while you’re standing on your feet I want to encourage you today this is your time if you’ve not given your life to Christ if you are here today and you’ve not surrendered your life to
Him I invite you to come now while the doors of the church are open I invite you to come recognizing that there’s power in the presence of almighty God just as God had to through this text change the life of that little girl God wants to change
Us so if you’re here today and you’re saying preacher I’m ready for a change I’m ready to go in the right direction I find myself like Paul find myself like Silas and I need a loosing at midnight if you’re here today and you’ve not given your life to him I invite you
To come now the doors of the church are open and God is patiently waiting on you why don’t you come oh to Sur maybe you’re maybe you’re here and you’re saying preacher I’ve given my life to Christ but I don’t have a church home I’m looking for a church
Home I want to unite with a body of Believers so that I can grow in the word the work and the will of God if you’re here today and you don’t have Church home I invite you to come right now God is waiting on you God brought you to this
Place for such a time as this maybe you want to renew your relationship with Christ you’ve been out far enough and you feel like coming home why don’t you come maybe you’re a candidate for baptism but I invite you to come right now I surrender all I Sur surrender is there one
Today God is patiently waiting on you I surrender All to the why today Surrend you may be seated in the presence of our God let us prepare to give God we thank you for this moment of giving God help us to worship you not just through the Clapping of our hands and through the singing and the praise but God help us to worship you as we
Give give knowing that your word teaches us that it’s far better to give than it is to receive and if we just try you you’ll open up the windows of heaven and pour us out of blessing that we don’t have room enough to receive God bless God heal and God
Deliver in Jesus name and the people of God said amen For All It All all all of My Problem yes I I put it All I put it All yes The master Of let us stand all over the sanctuary all things come of Thee amen you may be seated in the presence of our God just before we go let me just say a few things first of all uh where is Carmen Carmen who’s going to make that announcement will you come now yes we have an announcement coming from the NAACP will you
Come you can come up here God bless you well thank you first off for this opportunity uh Reverend Dr Covington uh it is a pleasure to be before you this morning in the house of the Lord there’s no better place for us to kick off our launch of our mobile
Unit you have to start with God first cuz that’s where it started at I bring you greetings on behalf of our President Joe mallerie my name is David Whitehead I am the third vice president of the Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP I’m also first Masonic District Mason so I am
Delighted to be here with you this morning we want to make sure that we remind you that come this Tuesday will be the last day to register the vote it is crucial of of a time as we say staying staying there staying in place we need to stay in place with this fight
Our fight is generational each time our generation comes we have a different fight so now we’re using different tactics we’re taking the voting opportunities to the people opposed to sitting back and letting them dictate how we live how we are governed so now is a time in which we ask you to within
All your different organizations especially this is a great opportunity with the divine nine because your mission is is complimentary to what we’re trying to do in regards to making sure that the people have an opportunity to have their voices heard we don’t want to be silenc this is a a attack on
Democracy and we need to make sure that we are united as people and making sure that we are telling our friends and family to come out and participate in the process so I just thank the I thank the Reverend right here this is a this was amazing uh it was an amazing sermon
That you gave it touched me I am currently a member of St James you know but I will be visiting this church a little more often so uh yes this is wonderful uh and if you have an opportunity come out to the bus uh is actually I I named it hope
It’s helping our people Elevate and this is what we want to make sure that we do as we Elevate as a people so thank you and that stand this was a vision in 2011 okay it is 2024 when it actually becomes a physical action coming out of the meeting and
Planning room and into the street taking it to the people thank you God bless you God bless you this kind of brother too aren’t you there we go there we go and the people of God Said Amen Let me just share a few announcements before jeta
Comes first of all the lock in for our young people is tonight at 8:00 p.m. also fish fry tickets will be sold in the vestibule immediately after this worship experience all Ministry leaders are asked to record their new member video in the library I believe it I
Believe it begins today at noon also uh let me ask your prayers of the fam for the family of Brother Ali Scott we will celebrate his life today at 3 p.m. also let us keep in our prayers as a family of brother Charlie Milton one of the star warts of this church who
Transitioned on Thursday morning so we’re going to keep him in our prayers let me also celebrate uh Dr Quenton sweat for having written this book and sent me a copy where is he where is he stand up and let us see you yes yes he sent he sent me a copy and I
Want you to know I appreciate this it has a journal inside and I’m going to I promise you this book will mean more to me than you’ll ever know God bless you God bless you my brother he’s doing all right he just got the wrong colors on all right sister your qu go
Please good morning Quinn as some of you may know on Friday the 16th we celebrated the new year for our first lady Miss lenda Covington and on behalf of the women’s ministry and the women’s missionary Ministry we just wanted to present her to this morning morning with a love
Offering to celebrate her for being a starart in these Ministries and for taking the hym of the women’s ministry and doing such a great job with them so we want to give her thanks this [Applause] morning come on let’s celebrate come on you all let’s celebrate amen amen amen let us stand all over the sanctuary as we prepare to go it has been a great day and um I am just glad to be in the house of the Lord amen amen praise God from whom all blessings
Flow [Applause] The Praise father Son Jesus went over 2,000 years ago and so he has no hands but your hands he has no feet but your feet go now and be the hands of Jesus go and be the feet of Jesus and the Lord bless you the Lord keep you the Lord make his face shine upon you
And give you peace now henceforth and forever more Let the saints of God Sing amen please meet us in the fellowship hall as we continue to celebrate great so let us do
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