John Gray - A Leader God Can Trust
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listen, I want you to go to Romans chapter 13. I want you to know what I was going to preach, but after the events of last night, last evening, yesterday afternoon, the Holy Spirit shifted me, and I need to be a pastor who listens to his Lord and shifts when the Holy Ghost shifts. I was going to preach «The Hookup Part Two,» because three weeks ago, I talked about «The Hookup One,» first hook, first fish, but then there was another scripture where Jesus said, «Let down your nets» with an’s' for a catch. It’s one thing when God does it for everybody; it’s another when He does it for you. And I need you to hear me. For those who are getting ready to give, God is about to do something that is specific to you. Y’all don’t play with me, because God’s about to shock you. Not y’all, there’s a corporate blessing, but then there’s a personal blessing for you, Lamont, and you, Don, Travis, and you, Rebecca, and you, Suie, Julie, Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, Ralph, Johnny, Usher, Luda. That’s I don’t, okay? Everybody look at somebody and say, «There’s something for you.» There’s something that God wants to do specific to you; it’s going to mess you up, and it’s going to set you up. But the world changed yesterday, and if you are a pastor worth your salt, then you should be greatly troubled and grieved by what happened yesterday.
So I want you to go to Romans 13, because we need the Word of God, not my opinion. We need the Word of God; here is the Word of God. So I want to say that if you get mad, please get mad at Jesus; please don’t get mad at me. I didn’t write it, but I am an employee of the Most High God, and I’m going to say what He says. Here’s what it says in Romans 13, verse 1- Romans 13, verse 1. This is the New King James version: «Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God.» Yes, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. I am going to say it again; thank you, sir. I appreciate your exuberance, sir; I appreciate that. «Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.» Watch this, therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. Just in case you think you can hate somebody from a different political party, God just said you can’t. Oh, you can, but judgment’s coming to you. Once again, don’t get mad at me. If you leave, please know you’re leaving because you’re mad at Jesus, not me. The Bible said, «My arm is on fire,» but that’s because I got to get my strength back. All right, I can have some medicine afterwards, though. I see babies flying around; no? Okay. The Bible says to submit to the authorities, because why? All authority is set up by who? So it’s not an election, so who you vote for has nothing to do with who God decides gets the office. Oh, I’mma preach it like I feel it. Let’s try this again.
So, when we were cheering when Obama got in-first Black man, yay! Eight years, and then went to a totally different direction for the next four years. Oh, God, what are we going to do? Then comes President Biden; finally, now we got somebody. Okay, so what happens if your preferred candidate doesn’t win in November, right? Where are your emotions going to be? You going to have an aneurism because you’re worrying about what’s going to happen with the economy? You’re worrying about what’s going to happen in Congress and on the Supreme Court when none of that has anything to do with the state of your soul. We’re not talking about heaven or hell; we' re talking about who’s in office-that has nothing to do with who’s going to heaven or hell. Heaven or hell is far more eternally important than who gets into an office. If I’m going to lay down my life, I’m going to lay down my life preaching Jesus. I ain’t laying down my life for no political party.
Pastor, are you so obtuse as to say that politics has no place and that the church should be quiet? I would never say that. That’s dishonoring to the traditions of the church, particularly the African-American church, which needed to be the fulcrum or the focal point for the Black community in underserved times, particularly post-Reconstruction, after the Emancipation Proclamation, after having worked 230-plus years for free and not having an economic base on which to walk into freedom. Even though you said, «I’m free,» I’m still in bondage because I have no land, I have no voting rights; grandfather clauses don’t allow me to vote if my grandfather didn’t vote. And even if I could vote, they’ll kill me. To dishonor the history of the church is not what I’m going to do in a nation that has a history of lynching people who object to the authorities that are set in. I’m not here to offend anybody, but I’m also not here to bow down to anybody. I understand the history of the church and its role in the political expression, the franchise, the right to vote. I understand all of that, but I’m not here to worship at that altar. I am a pastor in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and He must be preeminent. Is there anyone here who will lift up Jesus with me? Will somebody lift Jesus up? If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.
Now I’m going to give you one more scripture, and I’ll let you sit down. It’s 1 Samuel 24. 1 Samuel 24, verses 1-11. I’m telling y’all, at the same time, as the people who are handling the confidence monitors are getting it: 1 Samuel 24, verses 1-11. Now it happened when Saul had returned from following the Philistines that it was told him, saying, «Take note, David is in the wilderness of En-Gedi.» Then Saul took 3,000 chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David. David must be a bad man when you take your 3,000 best soldiers to try to kill one dude. This dude-somebody just say «balling.» You really got to be scared of a gangster named David when you take 3,000 people to kill one man. Man, the problem is all 3,000 people trying to kill one man forgot that that one man had one God. There are some people that have tried to come after you, and they have messed up because they are not plotting against you; they are plotting against the God that’s standing behind you. Ooh, they got no time left on the clock; they’re messing with the wrong one. Put it in the chat feed; you’re messing with the wrong one. Touch somebody in here; tell them they’re messing with the wrong one, because if God is for you-
They went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats. So, he came to the sheepfold by the road where there was a cave, and Saul went in to attend to his needs-he went to use the restroom. David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave. Then the men of David said to him, «This is the day of which the Lord said to you, 'Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hands that you may do to him as it seems good to you.'» I need you to know this is a trick question from God: I’m going to put your enemy in your hands; do what you think is good. What would you do if the person that gave you the most pain, caused you to shed the most tears? If you were ever abused, what would you do if you had your abuser in a room with no cameras, and they were shackled up and you weren’t? What would you do if the person that beat your face to a bloody mess was helpless in a room and you were there? And God says, «Do what seems good to you.» And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe, and he said to his men, «The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.» So, David restrained his servants with these words and did not allow them to rise against Saul and kill him. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way. David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, «My Lord, the king.» And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth and bowed down. Even though you tried to kill me twice, I’m still going to honor that God anointed you the king, and I am going to show proper reverence to someone who has proven not only are you trying to kill me, you’ll kill anybody connected to me. But I can’t let what you are and what you do change who I am and what I do. I’m going to bow my face to the ground, and I’m still going to honor that. It’s in God’s hands whatever happens to you, but I’m not going to be the one.
Pastor Mike, I’m trying to help our church. And David said to Saul, «Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Indeed, David seeks you harm'? Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you, and I could have, but my eye spared you, and I said, 'I will not stretch out my hand against my Lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.' Moreover, my father, see, yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand, for in that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, yet you hunt my life to take it.»
The title of my message for the next 20 minutes is «A Leader God Can Trust.» A leader God can trust. You can be seated. Warren, I need you to prepare your seed. If the Lord tells you to move, you move. For those who are electronic, let me see the electronic givers like me; where are my electronic givers? If you have your electronic gift in your hand, lift it in the air; say, «Jesus, Jesus, guide my giving, guide my giving. I will do what you say; I will do what you say. Your servant’s here and obey.» For those who are giving through other means, lift your hands if you’re a giver of other means, say, «Lord Jesus, I will listen for your voice; I will give what you ask; your servant hears.» They got real; your servant hears; I really want to say your servant hears and will obey.
All right, «A Leader God Can Trust.» We are in a dangerous time, church family, and I’ve just made it clear to you where I stand. I stand on the side of the Word. We’re not going to take sides; we’re going to pray for our nation. You should vote your conscience; vote who you believe should be in office. Be wise, because you and I both know when you start talking politics, you can lose friendships, you can lose family, you can lose coworkers. So, I’m not telling you not to have a political affiliation, but I am saying be wise who you share with and what you share, because some people won’t be able to get past your choice based on their life perspective.
It’s real quiet in here; I knew that it would be an uncomfortable time, but I was tasked by God to tell the truth. Be wise how you express your political views in a hyper-volatile environment. If you don’t agree with them, that’s crazy. I don’t have to agree with you to respect your right to your opinion. Thank you for the seven people that clapped. You ain’t got to clap; you don’t mean it. I love you, but where we should draw the line is when your politics get in front of the blood. If you worship more a Republican or a Democrat over the King, you have made your politics an idol. Your God is not a donkey or an elephant. Your God made donkeys and elephants and lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
The problem is we vote politicians, but what we need are leaders. Politicians will tell you what you want to hear and won’t do it, but a leader will tell you what you don’t want to hear because you need it. I had to make a choice today: will I be a political pastor or will I be a leader? And today I chose to go with God. See, when I die, I’m going to have to face God for myself, and you’re going to have to do the same, and He’s not going to ask you before I let you in, «Who did you vote for?» Because He doesn’t care-not the way you do.
A leader that God can trust. David was anointed to be king; it was going to happen. Tell somebody, «It was going to happen.» Moses was always going to lead God’s people; he was going to lead God’s people out of bondage. Tell somebody, «It was always going to happen.» But they both went in different directions based on choice. Tell somebody, «You going to have to choose to choose.» Choose what? Pastor, you’re going to have to choose your heart posture, because depending on how you posture yourself, you’ll walk in offense and you will be ready to cuss people out over the next four months because of politics. Or you will say that politics is a necessary part of our society.
I am going to exercise my right to vote for my chosen political candidate, but I will not allow that to override my commitment to the Kingdom of God and to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Now, even if you don’t want to applaud, you can at least say «Amen,» because what I said is true. The problem is you haven’t heard that from a pulpit, because pulpits have been paid for. When I say you don’t know what I’ve given, I genuinely mean you don’t know what I’ve given. That’s why I can stand here with a pure heart and tell you no matter who comes to ask me for prayer-whether it’s presidents or leaders or the most famous athletes or the most famous entertainers in the world-I always pray because everybody needs prayer.
I can’t believe you pray for them. Have you listened to their songs? Can I check under your cabinet? It’s real funny how church people want to judge who shouldn’t or shouldn’t get prayer, like everything in your life is perfect, like you’ve never cussed in the car, like you haven’t drank a little too much, maybe you smoked a little too much, maybe you slept with somebody that wasn’t your spouse, but you’re ready to throw everybody away and put them in hell and say they’re not worthy.
Maybe you need to have a little grace, and you should have more grace when you know what you used to do. Excuse me, what you still occasionally do. Excuse me, what you did last week. Sorry, last night. Seven-seat praise break only for the real ones. Only for the real ones. Somebody needs to go ahead and sow right now; that was your moment. I’m talking to you-head on down here and sow whatever God told you to sow. We don’t have the right to judge who gets to come into the presence of God and who doesn’t. We don’t get to determine, because they have a different political affiliation, whether or not God wants to save them.
Oh, it got real quiet in here. I was at the mall, and there was a woman, and she was there with her wife and their kids, and she said, «Hey Pastor John.» I said, «Hey baby, how you doing?» She said, «I’m good; we’re going to be at church.» So, I said, «Come on; I can’t wait for you to come to church. Love you; hug the babies; kissed on them.» You know, it’s people that will say, «Why you hugging them?» You know what the Bible says. I know what the Bible says about a lot of things. Have you done everything that the Bible asks you to do? You’re real quick to throw people to hell, but you don’t know how fast God can turn a life around. You don’t know what God is doing; you don’t know how people ended up in the life choices or decisions that they make.
Before you go sending people to hell, you might want to be quiet and get to learn somebody’s story before you want to send them off to hell. I know what the Word says, but here’s what the Bible says: you got to work out your own soul salvation with fear and trembling. So, before you tell somebody what they’re doing wrong, make sure everything in your life has lined up with the Word. It’s funny which sins we choose to highlight; oh, they’re drinking, they’re smoking, they slept with somebody, but you lied on your taxes. You know good and darn well you didn’t pay no money trying to claim them kids.
They got real quiet, huh? You stopped worshiping, didn’t you? And let me tell you something; I guarantee you if you lie on your taxes, you ain’t no tither. If you’ll steal from the government, you’ll certainly steal from God. What happened to me? I done got bold. I done took my harness off, and I’m just-yeah, yeah. Get in there, wobble with it; wobble. Stop playing. I ain’t got a lot of time; we got to dip these people in the water, and y’all be ready to go in a hundred minutes or less. Tell somebody, «You have a choice.»
Moses had a choice; he had a word. «I’m going to lead the children of Israel out of bondage.» Well, here’s this Egyptian soldier doing something crazy. You know what? I’m going to kill him, and I’m going to bury him in the sand. But you can’t bury all your stuff because if you bury it in the sand, all it takes is a little wind, and it’s going to come right back to the surface. The Bible says the Holy Spirit is likened unto the wind. The Holy Ghost ain’t going to let you hide. The Holy Ghost is going to expose anything in you or in me that’s not like Christ.
And if you have a proclivity or a judgment against somebody else, God’s going to deal with you the same way. People didn’t want to look at lepers in the days of the Bible; today we have new age lepers-people that we don’t want to touch. And that’s exactly where Jesus would be. He would be with the lost, the hurting, the homeless, the broken-those who don’t know who they are or who have decided they’re somebody else and they don’t fit in their body. And why you want to throw those people away? Those are the people that Jesus is running after with the truth of the Gospel: that you are loved, that you are valued, that I died for your life, I died for your sins, I died for your healing, I died for your freedom. Is there anybody in here that’s grateful that Jesus died for everybody, not just your body?
Eighteen-seat praise break! What are you waiting on? I shouldn’t be the only person grateful for the blood of Jesus. I shouldn’t be the only person in here thinking about how much the blood paid for me to get free. I’m not the only one in here that Jesus saved. Who else got saved by the blood? How many people in here got some stuff you hope nobody ever finds out about you? Can you be grateful that it’s under the blood, and nobody can go get it? Is there anybody other than me grateful that God won’t allow your enemies to prevail over you? Is there anybody other than me grateful that forgiveness is forever, even if people’s memory? Junius, I’m trying to help them; I’m trying to bless God’s people.
A leader that God can trust. David was in a cave with the man that had tried to kill him. Moses killed somebody. Anybody know how long his sentence was? They like, «Well, he didn’t go to jail.» Forty years! One act of disobedience cost him 40 years. He wasn’t in the wilderness because he had to go; he was in the wilderness because he got outside the Father’s will by killing someone, putting his hand on it, instead of waiting on the timing of God. I don’t know who this is for. The Bible says vengeance is mine, says the Lord; I will repay. So, you can feel it, but you got to let God do it. I had that conversation with Pastor Tim Ross, and he blew my mind with that-vengeance belongs to God.
So, you can feel those emotions, but you got to let God do it, because when you do it, you’ll mess it up. But when God does it, ain’t nothing anybody can do about it. When God decides to fight your battle, baby, it’s a problem for your enemy; it’s a problem for the devil. I wish I had some help. Is there anybody that God fought your battle, and He did it better than you ever could? A leader that God can trust. David had the man who tried to murder him in the cave, taking a dump. And his homeboys say, «We got that fool! Hey, slide his throat, and the kingdom is yours!» But they said, «Hey, this is the day the Lord said, „I’m going to put him in your hands so you can do what seems good to you.“ This means God gave him choice and free will to make a decision, and God was observing: does he understand the moment he’s in? Will he take matters into his own hands, or will he take his hands off of it and let me do it? Because you reap what you sow.
And if you got to kill to get in power, you’re going to have to kill to stay in power, and somebody’s going to kill you to get the power. I need some help in here, and y’all going to be ready to go in a few minutes, but today is not one of those regular Sundays, and I feel God in here. But I want to honor the time. David cut the corner of the robe, and immediately his heart said, „I’m convicted.“ Some of y’all are like, „I wish my enemy would be somewhere!“ And God said, „Do what you want.“ Because the truth is some of us in here would take our enemy smooth out. You said, „Do what I wanted? That’s what I wanted.“
„Do what seems good to you.“ What seems good is to take the life of the person that would kill me if they were in the same position, but God says, „I need to check your character. Are you a politician, or are you a son? If you’re a son, then you trust that I put you in a position of leadership that no one can take you out from.“ Let me tell you something. As much as I went through in the six years me and my wife have been here, you know how many times I could have used my mic? 'Cause I got a big mic; I got a lot of platforms. I could have used it to my advantage. God said, „Shut your mouth! They out here lying on me; some of it is true, but almost 89 to 96% of this is lies-about 7% is true, but about 93,2% is lies-almost all of it when it came to this church.“ When all hell was breaking loose, I had advisors, „Man, you need to go ahead and blast your enemy. Blast him! Tell them what you know! Show them what you got! Show your evidence!“
I said, „It won’t matter anyway, because the people that don’t like me are rejoicing, and the people that love me don’t need evidence.“ Let’s go! Where the real ones at? It don’t matter what you say about my pastor; I made my decision. I rock with Love Story; I rock with my church; I rock with Jesus Christ! Who am I talking to? So, if I’m fighting for approval, who am I trying to impress? Because if they don’t like you, nothing you say is going to change their mind anyway. God says, „Can I trust you with trial? Endure like a good soldier.“ Somebody go pick up John chapter 19. I don’t have time to read it right now, but in John chapter 19, Jesus is before Pilate. Pilate starts asking Him questions. The Bible says Jesus doesn’t open His mouth.
This is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but He don’t answer to you, Pilate; you’re a governor. I’m a king-one is elected, the other is given a coronation. I’ve been crowned; I haven’t been elected. Nobody elected me; I’m the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I don’t answer to you, Pilate. Then his wife said, „Pilate, leave that man alone! That’s a good man! I’ve suffered many things in a dream because of him today.“ And then Pilate said, „I washed my hands of the blood of this man; what should I do with him?“ They said, „Crucify him!“ He said, „We ain’t got no law in Rome that he deserves to die!“ They said, „We have a law as the Jews that he deserves to die because he said he is the Son of God.“ Go read John 19, because you ain’t read it in a long time, if ever. Bless your heart.
The next thing the Bible says Pilate ran back to Jesus and said, „Who are you?“ He was scared. The Bible said he was terrified. „I’m messing with the wrong one.“ People keep messing with you, and they don’t know who they’re messing with. They’re messing with the anointing that God invested in you. They’re messing with the calling that God invested in you. They’re messing with the power of the Holy Spirit that’s on the inside of you. He said, „You won’t answer me? Do you know I have the power to either keep you in bondage or let you go?“ Jesus said, „You would have no power over me at all unless my father gave it to you.“ Jesus said, „I’m only here because my father said I got to do this, but I could call 12 legions of angels right now and clear all of this up. Everybody in here be dead, and I walk out of here on water-moonwalk right up out of here! But I got to go through this so I can save souls.“
What are you willing to endure so somebody else can get saved? The Bible says that David said, „You are the Lord’s anointed.“ This is going to mess you up. There are some people that God anointed that you don’t like. If all authority is set up by God, and you don’t like President Trump, I can respect that-you don’t like him or his policies. God called him to be president four years ago. You don’t have to like Obama; God called him to be president for eight years. You didn’t have to like Bush; God called him to be president for eight years. You didn’t have to like Reagan; God called him to be president for eight years. You probably didn’t have to like Gerald Ford or Lyndon B. Johnson or anybody else, but presidents answer to God, not people. Presidents might be voted on by you, but it’s God’s choice.
Do you understand who you’re dealing with? God is not up in heaven like, „I hope they vote for what I want!“ You real goofy-what’s wrong with the body of Christ? Y’all keep submitting yourselves to something that’s beneath the blood, beneath the cross. The Bible says in Romans 13, all authority is set up by God. So get mad, but every leader on every level-it’s God who allows it or ordains it, which means if it’s somebody you don’t agree with, it doesn’t change that God appointed them for that time. They don’t like this teaching right here. What you trying to say? I ain’t trying to say nothing; I’m just trying to say read the Word. David said, „You’re still the Lord’s anointed, and I’m going to honor that.“
Even though you tried to kill me twice, but who’s counting? But I’m not going to put my hands on you. That was Saul’s last olive branch; he could have turned the kingdom over right then, and he could have kept his life. But even after that, the ambition and the allure of power caused him not to let go. Power is a dangerous thing. Some of y’all got supervisors- they got four employees they supervise; they act like they are the president of South Carolina. „I’m going to have to see if I’m going to be able to give you an extra shift! I don’t know; I' ll- I don’t really know.“ I don’t care what you do, Leroy; you’re not in charge of me.
" I' m going to spread this around; I won’t be able to give you overtime.» Well then, somebody’s going to sow so I can get this extra money to pay this bill, but I’m not worshipping at no altar of no man or no woman. God provides for me. Come on, come on! Stand up! David said, «You’re the Lord’s anointed; I’m not putting my hands on you.» Watch this: «And I won’t let anybody connected to me put their hands on you either.» Woo! It’s real quiet in this church house.
So, what you saying? I could tell you who’s going to win the election right now, because the Lord already told me, but I’ll never tell, because you’ll think that what I say is political when it’s spiritual, and I’ll be honest with you, uh-uh, because they’ll open the envelope. These people around here crazy! My wife said, «Write it on an envelope.» Nope! The Lord spoke very clearly. But here’s where your hope needs to lie-in Jesus Christ, Christ alone, cornerstone. There’s so much I want to say, but I want to honor your time, and I want to honor that we have baptism today. Baptism- all I care about is souls being saved.
Do me a favor, Church Global Love Story, local Love Story Global: lay your politics down, pick up Jesus. Stop worshiping at the altar of political affiliation and worship at the altar of Jesus Christ! By all means, vote; enjoy and support your political affiliation, but do not worship it! Did you hear what I said? Do what seems good to you, but when you start cussing people out and being ready to fight, you done went too far. Because at the end of the day, nobody has power except the King; His name is Jesus! If somebody’s in office, it’s because God wants them there, and He’s going to get glory from it! Amen? So whether President Biden continues or we have another choice, your hope is in Jesus Christ. Is that clear?
Oh Lord, I said what you told me to say. I said what you told me to say. We’re still talking about David as a king because of the way he treated the bad king. Your character does not grow when you do to your enemy what your enemy would do to you. Your character grows when you would do what Jesus would do. Heads bowed. Lord, seal this word. Moses had to sit in the wilderness for 40 years because he took matters into his own hands. David ascended to the throne because he didn’t take matters into his own hands. And in fact, Moses, who we rightfully honor and revere, didn’t even get into the promised land because he got distracted by people. So even great leaders can be moved incorrectly by the wrong motives of people. May we never worship people; may we always worship you. Make us leaders that you can trust, and whatever our political affiliation is, we will be committed to that, but we will not worship that.
I’m going to say it again, Lord, until these people who don’t want to say «Amen» to what I said hear what the Word of the Lord is. Lord, we will vote. We will participate. We will be loud about what we believe is right, but we will not worship it. We will worship you. All power and glory belong to you. In Jesus' name, amen. I don’t want anyone leaving. Give the Lord a great praise! I need everyone who’s going to sow; if you have an envelope or cash, walk yourself down here. Do that now. For those who say, «I didn’t like what you said, but I know that’s the truth, and I feel like this is the church I need to come to because I know you’re going to tell me what I need, not what I want to hear,» if that’s you-you are already saved, but you want to be a part of this church-meet me at the front of this altar. If you are not saved but you want to give your life to Jesus, meet me at the front of this altar because I can tell you right now we are a church that will love you and walk with you.
I believe if you applaud, they will come! Are you coming to join the church? Come on here! Welcome! She done dragged you down here! Like, «I was not coming.» Well, you don’t have-I mean, I’m glad you’re here! Yeah man, I’m glad you’re here! I want it to be your decision though, but we love you! Yeah, no, it’s never about forcing anybody. I love it! We’ll pray for you, but you got to make that decision, because if it ain’t real to you, it’s not going to stay real. I know «ain’t» is not a word for all you judgmental people; I just said stop judging! Come on! You want to get baptized? You getting baptized? Getting baptized? New salvation! We are not a Black church; we’re the Lord’s church! Church! I’m going to say that again: we’re not a Black church; we’re the Lord’s church! Grateful to God!
I need another elder to stand with her; come on over here, Elder Carla. Stand there; got you-your nice hair with the red on it, looking good. You and your baby daddy, go make another baby! Girl, are you coming down here? You getting baptized? Let’s go! Anybody want to get in that water? You come down here too; we’ll baptize you fully clothed! Come on in here; we’ll mess your baby hairs up. All your wig glue will be right in that pool. Come on! Join me in this prayer! Everybody who’s at the altar say, «Lord Jesus!»
«Lord Jesus, it’s me. I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus is Lord. Thank you for the blood that was shed for me. I receive the free gift of salvation not through my works, but the finished work of the cross. The blood is enough to pay for all my sins. Now, Holy Spirit, come live inside and teach me how to be more like Jesus each and every day. You are my savior and my Lord. In Jesus' name, amen. Amen and amen!»