In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the faithfulness and provision of God. They share personal testimonies of how God has provided for them, including a miraculous provision of a vehicle. The speaker encourages obedience to God, stating that when we obey Him, He shows up and performs miracles in our lives. They also highlight the importance of having an open heart towards God and towards others. The sermon concludes with a reminder that God may ask us to do things we don't want to do, but He is an awesome God who can multiply our efforts and bring blessings into our lives.

This message is one of the Times Square Church Pulpit Series. It was recorded in the sanctuary of Times Square Church in Manhattan, New York City. You are welcome to make additional cassettes of this message for free distribution to friends. However, for all other forms of reproduction or electronic transmission, existing copyright laws apply. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. My message today is entitled, An Awesome God. Amen. Father, we praise you today. You are an awesome God. Oh Lord, we pray the Holy Spirit would come and make that so real. Lord, you would deposit something in our spirit today. That we would leave here God so secure in your awesomeness. Hidden in a secret place in you. Lord, where you cover and protect. Where you reveal yourself to be awesome. Lord, where we know we are protected. Where we see our enemies defeated, oh God. And that a trust born, Lord, of experience in an awesome God is walked with us. And Christ is real to us. Because we honor you and we praise you as an awesome God. And Lord, we thank you for it. In Jesus' precious name. Amen and amen. We have two scriptures to turn to today. And if you would just turn with me to Psalm 4. And then our second scripture will be John chapter 2. Psalm 4 and John chapter 2. An awesome God. I believe that it's the desire of the Lord to have his people stand in an awesome reverence and fear and awe of him. It's a kind of thing that is hard to describe. Because we don't feel in the godly sense that way towards any other thing. And I believe that there is an anointing that God is going to grant people to walk in. To have such a holy fear. And to be overwhelmed by the greatness of our God that truly gives us the power to walk in a new and a fresh way with him. I want to speak today about standing in awe of God. I don't believe we decided this moment, alright, right now I'm going to start to walk in an awe of God. I believe that having that awe, that overwhelming respect and love and godly fear is the result of something. I believe that something is a sober account to determine to obey God when he speaks to us. I think it's the result of that. I think it's when we get down in our spirit that Lord when I hear you speak and I know it's you. I determine to obey. Now we know that that will come with the resulting, what I call, torment of trust. Where we have to learn in that decision, by God's grace you're going to see me through. By your grace I'm not going to turn back. By God's grace I'm going to face the can't do I feel in my spirit and the won't do that I feel in my spirit. But God I'm going to trust you because I'm going to submit it to you. Everything that rises up to take away that determination to when I know it's you speaking I'm going to obey you. I'm going to submit everything that rises up to take that out of my heart and spirit. I'm going to keep submitting it to you and I'm going to ask you to change my heart. And I believe that that's a reckoning that needs to come in all of our heart. And it's going to be a cry from it Lord make me willing to hear this message. Make me willing God to have a heart like that. When we hear something like this it sets off a chain reaction. It sets off God I know that you have been faithful to me. But I just know that you're going to lead me on a path and I'm going to confront something that does cause me torment to trust you. But I know that God is faithful to every tiny step of faith that we make towards that and beloved miracles happen. One time I was listening to an excellent Bible teacher. And she began to share an exciting thing that happened in her life. And you could tell as she was teaching there was a true bubbling up. It was like a fountain spring of joy as she remembered how God led her through something. And that joy also was kind of fueled by God I just can't wait to see what you're going to ask me to do next. Because it's such an adventure with you. That God you in spite of my fears and in spite of my don't want to you show up and you take me through it. And this walk with Christ was such an exciting and a very real thing with her. And she told about the time I've shared before but how God had asked her to go to a public place and say and do something for a person. And I remember at the end of that study being rooted in my chair with my head down. And everybody else was saying that was a fantastic teaching wasn't that? That was such an anointing on that. And I remember being rooted in that chair with a sober realization. God even though you're God if you had asked me to do something like that I wouldn't do it. And I realized with that sober realization in a flash that me not being willing or wanting or I wouldn't. And I tell you at that moment I would not do it. I felt such a grief not in my heart but in God's heart saying you know Teresa there are ways that I could use you. There are ways I want you to know me. But you're just setting aside that whole by your refusal to do it. You're cutting out a whole chunk of our relationship that would set you free, enrich you, fill you with a glory. In Psalm 404 it says stand in awe and sin not. Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still. Selah. Commune, meditate, think, consider what obedience will mean. You know beloved God was awesome when he brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea. That was an awesome act of God. That deliverance. And 3 million people walked through that deliverance and that awesomeness and that awesome act of God. And they went into the wilderness and seemingly affected by it. You see God is awesome and God will be awesome. But it seems like for that to get into our spirit. And to produce the fruit that when we say God you are incredible. And when you are asking me to do something Lord I'm going to obey you just on the strength. It's God Almighty, my God asking me. Regardless of the blessing and the freedom that will result because we do it. But getting to a point where God says can I be God to you. And the children of Israel went through the Red Sea but it didn't get in their spirit that they had an awesome God. Because he was not awesome within them in the sense that they would bend their knee to him. They would sing the song but they would not bend their knee. And I think that in this scripture Psalm 4.4 God says I want you to meditate now on your own bed. I want you to consider your own heart. Because my spirit will come as a searchlight and I will show you some things that are there. That you are having a deep struggle with. Where the fear grips, where there is torment, where there is confusion. I'll tell you why. Because you know and I know if I ever called you into the light on that question. You would not come. You would not do it. And it says here commune on your own bed. And it says and be still. Now beloved I don't know about you but I know that when God begins to speak to me about areas of my heart that's very deep. Where there is a struggle. I'm not still. There is an earthquake. I'm not lying there in this perfect peace. I'm lying there Lord. It's producing something that you know I don't want to hear necessarily. But the scripture says that if we stand in awe and sin not. That means that we are saying okay God I want now to be. Because it's coming from you a word to me. I want to hear it. And Lord I want you to give me the grace to hear it all. And I want you to bring the light. And keep dealing with me till there is peace. Till I am silent on that bed. Till I am convinced Lord. That the thing that you're dealing with me about. That the thing that you're speaking to me over and over about. I'm going to settle it by bending my knee. Where my energy is not going to go to running away from you. To justifying. To not wanting to hear. To changing the subject. To pointing to all the times I have obeyed you. Lord but being so willing to take my energy. And run towards you. And say God I'm not going to fight you on this. I need the grace to yield to it. I want my energy to go that way. And Lord you be God to me. Having an awe of God. I believe is the result of obeying in the hard things. And then we will always come up with a God ending. And a God solution. We will always come up with a God ending and a God solution. When we let him speak to us about those areas. That are hard for us to obey in. Having an awe of God means we continually transfer our trust from ourselves to God. Having an awe of God means continually transferring our trust from ourselves to God. And in John 2.5. There is a very interesting line in the Bible here. And it says. Whatsoever he says unto you. Do it. In a nutshell. Whatever he says unto you. Do it. When that word is made real to us. And we know that it is God speaking. It is God asking. Beloved God is not offended if we are saying. Lord is this my flesh? Is this you know hyper religion? Is this the devil trying to fuel? As long as there is an honest doubt in our heart. God says. Okay deal with me. Ask me. Ask me to confirm it. Ask me to have a word spoken from the pulpit or the choir to sing about it. Or in your daily devotion when you open the word. The Lord says. I am pleased that you want to test and prove that this voice is me. But he says. What are you going to do when you find out it is me? What are you going to do when you know like you know. Because you have that sinking feeling. And you know your flesh would never think this one up. What are you going to do when you know it is me? Well beloved when that word is made real to us. We are going to see in John 2. That means when God is asking us to do something at that level. He is getting ready to do something awesome in us. He is getting ready to do something awesome through us and around us. That line was said by his mother Mary. What so ever he says unto you. What so ever. That is an intimidating word. That is too open ended for the flesh. That is something that is very radical. What so ever he says. Do it. We see starting at this parable. Starting at verse 1. It says in the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. And the mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus was called and his disciples to the marriage. And when they wanted wine the mother of Jesus said unto him. They have no wine. And Jesus said unto her. Woman what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants. What so ever he saith unto you. Do it. And then this parable goes on to say that after she said that. That there were six water pots. And Jesus says to servants standing by. Fill them up. And a large quantity of water was poured into these water pots. And then he says draw it out now. Take it to the governor of the feast. And this water turned wine was brought to the governor of the feast. And when he tasted it he took it to the bridegroom of the wedding. And he said in verse 10. Every man at the beginning sets forth good wine. And when men have well drunk then that which is worse. It says you have kept the good wine until now. And this parable closes by saying. This beginning of miracles to Jesus in Cana of Galilee. And manifested forth his glory. And his disciples believed on him. John tells us this is the first miracle that Jesus ever did. In his public ministry. And we have here. This word. What so ever he saith. And it's a very intimidating word. But it's crucial I believe to. To seeing where the. Understanding this parable and what that line means. This saying God I want. I want to get to the point. That when I know it's you speaking. Even in the hard things. I'm going to bend my knee to you. Because it's you. And I'm going to do it. And to be able to get to that point. Of the what so ever and the what so ever he saith to you do it. We have to understand what's going on here. Because there's a lesson here. And lesson number one. Of having an awesome God live in our hearts. That we can unquestionably obey. Despite that torment of trust. Is that thing of humility. There is a humility in this story. It's where it says I don't understand all you do. Or when you do it. But I don't need to. It says it's saying in this story. That your ways are not my ways. But Lord I'm going to believe you for the grace to accept it. And here's how it's taught. Verse three Mary comes to her son and says they have no wine. Now Mary tells Jesus that. Because she knows him. He has done no public miracle. But we are now dealing with a woman. That has conceived this child by the power of the Holy Ghost. This woman knows him. She knows who she's dealing with. No one in that room knows him like she does. And she turns to him and she says they have no wine. Now Jesus answer is very very surprising. Because he turns and he says woman. What have I to do with this? My hour has not yet come. And woman when he answers her like that. That woman that sounds very harsh to our ears. But actually he said that to her from the cross. When he said woman behold your son. It is a term of endearment. But I'll tell you when he says that. That may have been the very first time that she ever heard him say to her woman instead of mother. That may have been the very first time that she's been addressed like that. And when he does that. He's saying I'm telling you. You know some things about me. But my hour has not yet come. It's not ready for revealing. And now I'm going to say not mother but woman. And it's like saying. Before this point you were my mother. And I honored you as such. And I've been guided by your direction. But I'm breaking off that voluntary submission. And I'm now going to be led by another voice superior to your own. He tells her my hour has not yet come. You know me. I'll tell you the push of his family. Was always been Jesus show yourself. There was always a push to him. Show be something. Be somebody. Step out. We know you Jesus. You're not an ordinary man. Now step out and show them. And Jesus said to her my hour has not yet come. As you know me. It's not my hour to show them. And beloved you know. I know. That she heard him. I know that she heard. By his response. You don't run this show anymore. You don't dictate anymore. You've known me as Jesus the son. Now you must know me as Jesus the Lord. There has to be a reverence here. A reverence that had an awe. Had to take heart in her root. And she was his mother. There had to be. In order for that humility to take root. Not be offended. Not be rejected. There had to be an acceptance. There had to be an awe here. For that humility to take root. She was so familiar with him. Yet it was very clear at this moment. You must reverence me. And what you're asking me to do. I know you're convinced in the cause. But I'm going to say this to you. What you're asking me to do. What you're asking me to show forth at this time. My hour has not come. There's a song that says. About Mary. It says the child that you've delivered. Would soon deliver you. And there was a change in the relationship. And this woman had to have the humility. To accept it. Now there's only one perfect parent in the world. That's our Heavenly Father. Mary was not a perfect parent. Mary was not always right. But with a true humility. Comes a Holy Ghost boldness. I'm going to say that again. With a true humility. Comes a Holy Ghost boldness. I'll tell you something that delights God. That delights Him. Because God always makes. A brave and bold heart. From a chastened heart. From a humbled heart. You can trust a humbled heart. Because it's not acting selfishly. You can hear the request and the cry of a humbled heart. Because it's moving in another spirit. It's not about flesh. And the Holy Ghost can speak. Through a humbled heart. And she heard Him. She understood what He was saying at that moment. But I'll tell you something. Because she received with humility. What He had to say to her. Now she had something to say that He could hear. And the Bible says that she turns to a servant. She says, whatever He says to you. Do it. And beloved, she's not dictating. She's being bold because she's not asking for herself. She's being moved by compassion. She's being moved by a spirit that animates Him. And He recognizes that they're the same family. Beloved, she can speak boldly because she lives with Him. She lives with the Son. She knows His heart. And when she moves now after being chastened. After hearing a right relationship with Him. She can ask in boldness. And it gets answered. Beloved, she's bold in her appeal. Because there's no wine in a place where there should never be no wine. And she knows that Jesus, her Son, is the only one who can supply a new wine. And she's bold. She knows His heart. He cannot resist her appeal for this family. For this marriage. For this situation. Jesus cannot resist a humble heart. She may not have done everything right. But that does not prevent her from declaring, I know you. And you will do something. She says boldly, whatever He says, do it. Because she's saying, I'm not dictating to you. But I know your heart. You're going to do something. So do whatever you need to do. Do whatever you feel to do. But I know you will do something. You know, beloved, our imperfections do not hinder God from answering our humble cry. Our imperfections and our failures do not prevent Him when we lift up our voices for our marriage and for our families. Only our indifference and our unbelief block His ears. But beloved, awe causes us, inspires us to pray large. To pray big. To pray limitless prayers. Because an awe and unbelief can't live in the same heart. And Mary all of a sudden was getting this relationship. But she knew His heart. And she was filled with the awe of who her son really was. But she knew His heart. And it made her bold and it made her ask largely. And then, when He went and filled those water pots, I know that she was even more humble. And stood in awe of Him when we discovered the great humility of God. You see, she found her place. She heard Him. But then, in that heartfelt cry, moved by the Holy Spirit in her, He humbled Himself and listened to her. He said, My hour has not come. But He turned around and did it. Now, He did it in a way that did not draw attention to Himself. He did it so only those that knew Him are supposed to understand what He was about. His disciples and her knew. He did it in a way that when He said, My hour has not come, beloved, He was talking about the cross. Because really, He did not say, My hour has not come, until He was ready to go to the cross. When the power and penalty of sin and darkness that holds us captive was about to be broken. But that did not stop Him from somehow working what He can only work. A God's solution to a problem put before Him by a humble heart. And He worked it out. And there was that new wine flowing. But beloved, God, the humility of God, that even what seems to be outside His timetable says, A humble heart, I can't resist. A humble heart that is in awe of me. But we cannot have that awe of God without a deep set humility. We cannot. If we think that we're going to be in awe of God and the pride in our heart untouched. Will not, cannot happen. But saying, Lord, I want that awe of you, says that's good, we're going to start with lesson number one. Humility 101. God says, because you see, when you move in a humble heart, I can't resist that cry. And I'm going to humble myself. And the scripture says in Psalm 116 verse 1 and 2, the psalmist decried, I love the Lord because He has heard my voice and my supplication. Because He has inclined His ear unto me. Therefore will I call upon Him as long as I live. So as long as I have breath, there's going to be a prayer. As long as I have breath, there's going to be a prayer. Because in my humble heart that's saying, God, be God in this situation. He says, I'm going to incline my ear. That means I'm going to bend over. I'm going to listen intently. I'm going to hear what you have to say. That's Psalm 116. He says, when I hear a heart cry, that's going to have the courage to pray however you answer it, Lord. Whatsoever you say, I'll do it. It's open-ended. Because a humble heart with a humble cry is not dictating. It's not saying, it's got to be this way and I've thought it all out and here's what we'll do. It says, God, I'm humble enough to know that you are awesome enough that you are going to fill this situation with yourself. Ways I can't even begin to think about. Ways I can't even begin to know about. Ways that you're going to settle to your glory and to my good and this situation in only a God solution. I can't even begin to think it out. So however you settle it, God. That's what a humble heart says. How many times, beloved, I have been brought up short by a faithful Holy Spirit when I've just said something. And the Holy Ghost challenges me and says, what was that about? And I realize, oh no, that was me wanting praise and glory. What about when I think about something and a faithful Holy Ghost checks me off and says, what was that about? That was me wanting praise and glory, Lord. He says, what are you going to do with that? Then Lord, I give it to you. Because you're teaching me I don't want it. I give it to you. I was so blessed on Friday I went to the New Believers class. And there are two teachers there. And they were asked a question. They said, a young believer, well, what's the difference between humility and meekness? And I love the answer that these two men gave. I love the answer because when I heard such a humility in them as they gave the answer. I rejoiced because I saw that God had placed humble men over the young ones. It's easy to lord it over the young ones. It's easy to impress, puff up like you know something. But there was such a humility in their answer. And I thought, Lord, you know I realize humility is always worked into us. Always worked in. It never springs up like a weed. Humility is like a rose. It like has to be cultivated. Tended. And they said, what's the difference between humility and meekness? One teacher said, well, humility is when you get small in your own sight. In the presence of something very great. Have you ever felt small in your own sight in the presence of something very great? It's one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. It really is. Another teacher says, humility is admitting we are not and we can't. Because all of us want to have an image of ourselves and many times God's got to knock down that image. That we're not the good guy we thought. There'll be a lot of people that will say, I know good people. But beloved, when we're talking about God and his goodness. And he says, be perfect as I am perfect. We're not good. It's like we could say, everyone in this room, we're going to swim to Hawaii. I'm a very good swimmer. And maybe that very good swimmer could swim 16, 18 miles. But still fall so short. And beloved, it's walking in that attitude. Lord, I want to stay in my own eyes small. Because that's how you get the glory. This is how I'm going to walk in awe. This is how you're going to be an awesome God. This is how when you begin to ask certain things of me. Lord, I'm going to be quick to bend my knee. Because I've got the right picture. I've got a right understanding. My mind's been expanded now. To begin to take in just how great you are a little bit. And what I am in comparison. The scriptures say, blessed are the pure in heart. With pure motives they see God. Now also in this wedding story. Another key to the whatsoever. He says to do, do it. He says to you, do it. Another key, beloved, is when God starts to put our hand on the issue of provision in our life. When he starts to ask us who controls it. When we start to ask a strange question if we really thought about it. But when the issue of provision comes up, we go, God, can I trust you with it? Well, we say we do. But God, of course, sees right to the center of the heart. Because he made all hearts alike. He made all hearts the same, he says. He knows what he's dealing with in the heart of man. And it tells us in this parable that there was no wine. And yet Mary knew wherever her son Jesus is, there is no lack. That in his presence there is no lack. And we need to learn that. That's got to get into our spirit. Because, beloved, I will tell you, God will put his finger on our provision. Whether it be rich or poor. And anywhere in that great middle, he is going to do it. Because if he's determined to be Lord over our life, he's going to be Lord over this area too. And can we say, when God begins to touch our provision and begins to speak to us about things, that God, whatever you do, whatever you ask me will be right. Whatever you ask, whatever you're requiring of me will be for good. If we could pitchfork souls into heaven as soon as they got saved, we would not have to worry about material things. But since we have to live in this world, and all that it means, God is saying, I want you now to trust me in a very spectacular way for your provision. Just like at this wedding. The first miracle. I believe that God is asking us to be open-handed and generous and give into hospitality. Maybe that's an old-fashioned thought or seemingly unworkable thought in New York. But as the Lord laid that thought in my heart and I looked up all the scriptures on hospitality, I was amazed how many references there were. Give into hospitality, the scripture says. Be a lover of hospitality. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. God is saying, now the provision that I've given you is not just for you. And I want you to have an open heart so you can have an open home. He's saying that many have entertained angels and didn't know it. When they opened up their heart and then opened up their home. There's an area here we need to hear him on this. Say, Lord, I need to be open to this. For some, maybe the hospitality in the New York style is taking an interest in people and spending time over a cup of coffee. But God is saying as mature saints, He's saying that I'm going to open your heart and I want you to use hospitality one with another. There are too many people that come in to this place and they've sat here for months and they don't know the name of one person. There are too many lonely people here in this place and it ought not to be so. And if we were open to the Holy Spirit and say, God, please show me who it is that you want me to extend your hand to and your ear to. And to show some concern. Beloved, sometimes it's in these simplest and smallest of things that we feel we have a liberty not to listen. But when we were given to hospitality, there is something awesome that happens. You know, when we were just young marrieds and there was only one income coming in. My husband was given to hospitality. And he was forever inviting people over to our house. And I was not a lover of hospitality. But, you know, over the over those times when I look back, that was the beginning of miracles in my life. That was the beginning of having that sense of God, you are awesome. And you care about the little things and the big things. And you take care of things that that only I fully understand. Lord, this was you. One time after church, he invited a whole crowd over. And I knew it was such a tiny roast. And when I got to the oven and opened it up, it had shrunk to the size of a baseball. And everybody is in the living room hungry and waiting. Finally, it was a long time I was standing in disbelief in the kitchen. My husband comes out and he goes, what are you doing? What's the matter? And I said, look. But you've got to cut it so thin, if a piece drops to the floor, it goes like this. And God granted him an anointing to cut the roast like that. And we just put it on a piece of bun and, you know, put some gravy on it and macaroni salad. And guess what? I had leftovers. Just enough for this little family. And my sister-in-law was over. And all of a sudden, you know, the phone rings. And it's some people that I'd met a long, long time ago on the other side of Canada. And I said, you know, if you're ever in the area, drop round. And they did. With their family. And my sister-in-law is looking at me and saying, I don't know how you're going to do this. This is a true story. Five minutes later, I hear a car in the driveway. And I go and I look in the driveway. And I can't believe it. But it's this family with five kids. And they were coming right at dinner time. And I knew that meant something. And when I got out of the car, I recognized it was the family that didn't like us very much. Spoke about us a lot. And was like, Lord, please don't let me be ashamed in front of them. And they came in and I knew there was a reason that they were there at the time they were. And I invited them for supper. By this time, my sister-in-law is looking around the room. It's standing room only in the kitchen. Then I hear a noise in the driveway again. Two motorcycles pull up. And it's my husband's brother and a friend on a cross-Canada trip pulling in. And then her son. And this much hamburger. And, God, there's got to be a reason. I had to believe that. I had nothing else to believe. Again, I had leftovers. I don't know how he multiplied that dinner. And then I knew why he had a reason why he brought all those people together. He was doing something in our midst. Beloved, do you have a place that people can go to? Do you have a place people can drop into? Is there a place where there's a welcome? You know, after the spaghetti miracle. God was bringing us on to other tests. One time the Lord said, I want you to take your reserve. And I want you to buy this other pastor a car. And that was hard for us. Because that was the reserve. That's what all there was. And, you know, with a family of five, three children, you can think of reasons why you might need that. But when I look back, God was saying in the little things. It started with the hospitality. Was I faithful to you? In a way that only the hostess could fully rejoice in him. And understand, even in those little things, God, you saw and you were so faithful and you had a purpose in it. And it gives us courage when he takes us to the next step where he's saying, I want you to do this. Because he's a gracious God and he takes us in the steps that are needed, that we can follow him in. He doesn't take the giant steps if we're babies. We start with the baby steps. And when he asked us about the car and the Lord was able to do that, I tell you something. We have never lacked for a vehicle the rest of our life. God has more than supplied. God has more than given to us in that area. No, we don't give to get, but I'm telling you that if we obey him, God shows up. And God does miracles. And he gives more than we can ever think or know. And we begin to have a testimony of the awesomeness of God. In a way that delights us. In a way that we're able to say he is faithful. That when we obey him, we open up the zipper of heaven. And that a blessing that he is longing to give us is being poured out upon us. That his people can have built into them a sense we serve an awesome God. And the fear level lowers every time we remember those testimonies. Wednesday, this young couple had this wedding feast. You can see the type. They just said, let's just invite everybody. And they did. And then what happened? It looked like the provision was going to run out. But when they entertained at their wedding, they entertained greater than angels. There was one greater than angels there. And he put a blessing on that marriage as such as no other marriage could have. He said that there's going to be a new wine flowing in this place. There's going to be a new glow and a new glory upon this couple that have an open hearted approach to me and to my people. Beloved, how can we say, God, I want a wide open heart to you and we're so narrow with each other. We have such a closed heart, one towards another. God says, I'll be a miracle working God and I'll fill you with awe. But it starts with the little things. It starts in being faithful in the small things I'm commanding you. God came through that wedding because there was a transfer of trust. Now, beloved, God also to give that sense that he is an awesome God, sooner or later he's going to ask us to do something we don't want to do. You know it, I know it. He's going to ask something that we don't want to do. We're going to say we can't do it. And if there's something like that in our hearts, know it's going to happen sooner than later. Mary came to Jesus and she said, we have no wine. Now, it's not recorded in scripture. But maybe, just maybe her first response was that, what has that got to do with me? Why should I be concerned about that? What can I do about that? Yes, I know Jesus is here, but it's not his time. It's not now. But the scripture does tell us she did go to his son. She did go. Beloved, many times when God's going to put some, when he puts his finger on something now, he's going to deal with now. Even in this message, our first response many times is going to be, not here, not now. God, I'm not ready. I can't do that. I can't forgive and release that one. I can't go back there and not lie. I can't, Lord, be honest in this area. It'll bring me shame. Be too many questions. I can't, I can't. I can't is I won't. God says that if we will take that step, say, God, I need the grace to want to obey you. God says if you'll make that first step that you will be willing. He says, I'm going to fill the empty water pots. Because when we start to resist him and not to obey, we're going to be empty. God says, look, my heart is to fill you on this place. I'm going to work it out in a way you could never understand how I would do that. He says that when you obey me in this place, when you make me willing, I've got a glory and a blessing for you that all your life you're going to reap the benefit of. All your life you're going to look back and that is going to be a testimony that no man will take from you. And it will be the strength from which you'll take the next step. But beloved, if we say no and we keep saying no. It gets so easy to let that be our first response. It gets to be a place where we have a tin pot testimony. It's so tinny because it's so hypocritical. I remember not too long ago, I've shared this with you, but I don't usually talk a lot about myself. But there's no way I can kind of describe the journey of learning an awe of God except that it sounds so theological. But when we see it in each other's lives, we kind of get what we mean. But there was a day that I totally resisted. I did not want to do what God was asking me to do. I had a huge fear of man. And in that huge fear of man, it's a snare, the Bible says. It's a snare because it's the kind of thing that brings torment to your soul. It's where you definitely need the approval of people. It's where pride is uppermost in your heart. It is where you're very critical of others. It is a terrible place to be. And when I saw that woman teach, and I saw glory upon her, and I knew I could never know that. Because God was dealing with me about my fear of man. And I remember one time sitting down there, and the Holy Spirit spoke to me, and He said, Someday you're going to speak up here. And I remember almost rebuking that thought, thinking it was the devil. So it do. But over time it became clear that that's what God wanted me to do. And I remember if some of you were here then, I would get up, and it was agonizing. It was agonizing for me. It was agonizing for you. This is too hard. I don't want to do this anymore. This is too hard. This is too painful. And I'm not even good at it. God gets somebody up there who knows what they're doing. I just found out God's not looking for people who know what they're doing. He's looking for people who know what He's doing. But there came a day when I said, God, I don't want to do this anymore. There is an agony, and I agonize. I am afraid. I don't want to do this. And God answered me with one big, huge silence. That's what He does a lot of times. And the silence continued. Till finally, in that small, still voice, He says, am I calling you to do this? Am I calling you to do this? And if it's me calling, will I equip you? See, we can argue on lots of levels. We can take it where we think we're going to win. On the ground, we've got the argument. He said, I'm not talking about your ability. I'm not discussing that. He says, I'm telling you. I'm telling you. I'm asking you. Will you? And the strange thing is, I felt I had a choice in it. But I knew, if I said no to this, that frustrated, fretting, anxious, selfish, proud, no trust, no obedience, no joy, countenance would be mine. And not only would I pay, but all those around me. And the testimony of Christ would suffer. And so, grace was given. And by grace, I saw that the world did not need one more follower of a humble and powerful Jesus Christ. A follower who would betray Him like that. A follower who would portray Him as a God who would be unable to deliver me from my bondage. When all along, I had chosen that bondage. When I chose not to trust it. Beloved, the rebellious dwell in a tried land. With no awe of God. But I found out He turned water to wine. I found out He turns the ordinary to extraordinary when we seek to glorify Him. When we say, Lord, let You get the glory. Lord, it's a privilege for me to praise You. It's a privilege for me to tell the great things You've done. It's a privilege to say I'm empty and have You fill me. And then see You pour out living water. Beloved, I'm so glad that the grace was given to say yes. That I can begin to know an awe in my heart. And I can truly say that He has saved the best for last. And every day is the last. And every day it keeps getting better. You know, this year is the first year that I have lived longer being saved than unsaved. I was saved when I was 23 years old. And I walked with Him 24 years. And you know, looking back, now in my 24th year. I can say I feel so established. So settled in Him. This is a testimony He has done in me. I have given Him some very timid yeses. I have almost closed my eyes and held out a hand. So reluctantly. But He was so gracious to me. And He was so humble to me. And He was so powerful to me. And He was so faithful to me. And He took me through places of my heart. And places and seasons of my life. And all He did was good to me. And all He did was set me up on a hill. Over my enemies. Set me free. All He has ever done is put a glory in my soul that I did not deserve. When we start walking with Him, you know, we walk what seems like contrary to the world. But we're that salmon swimming upstream against everybody and against, against. And you know, we feel like the religious hate us and are offended when we say the name Jesus. And the partyers scorn us. And the lust-laden pity us and revile us. But beloved Psalm 119.61 says, Princes have persecuted me without a cause. But my heart stands in awe of thy work. And give me a new heart and a new spirit. I wasn't moving against the world. Jesus Christ came and lifted me up and over it. Have grace in Him. He's taught me relinquish it to Him. Give it to Him. Because the outcome will be a glory and an awe in my soul. God does not need my permission to rearrange my life. And God does not owe me an explanation if bad things or hard things happen. Because beloved, I know something so deep in me. That He reigns over me with love. And He reigns in me to subdue my enemies. And a heart sometimes that's contrary to Him. And He reigns through me. And I give Him all the glory for that. Beloved, there are dark days ahead. There are dark days for the church. There are very dark days for the world. And those that can dwell in the secret place of the Most High. Dwell in an awe land. A glory land. Of knowing He reigns. And no matter how bad it is all around us. That a thousand shall fall at our right hand. And ten thousand on the other. That we will not give way to fear. We will not give way to the anxiousness and the doubt. That's going to make the heart of the world melt like wax. There's going to be a day where the confusion and the terror and the lust. And the sin of this world. Is going to go way over our heads. And only those that are in Christ. And can keep bowing their knee because they have an awe of Him. You will be God. You will reign over this. I do not let fear reign over me. I submit to your glory. I say you're going to be God through this. And you'll protect and take me through. Those that are going to stand in the last days. Beloved. He's looking for a people that have an awe of Him in their soul. And we get that by a radical obedience. We get that through obedience in the hard places. Beloved, He will give us. He will give us that grace. To say yes. To what we need to. Will you stand with me? The musicians come. For some in this place. Your very first miracle. I say this with all the love in my heart. But your very first miracle. Has got to be you're going to trust Him to say yes. To what He's dealing with you about. Your first miracle to say yes. That the Lord has spoken to you. And you're asking Him for the grace to face what you must face today. What you must face. You do not take a step farther in Christ. Till this issue is settled. Will you come? Some of the most. Costliest. Things we can ever say is that three letter word. Yes. Yes Lord. But Jesus Christ. Said a very costly yes for us. When He went to the cross. He says you're not going to walk this alone. You're going to turn around. And all of hell is going to come against you to take that yes. Out of your heart and spirit. He says I'm going to walk with you. And that yes is going to be a reality. Beloved the enemy is going to try to tell you. If you do this thing. If you commit to do this thing. And he will start to pick a pincher. Of what your obedience is going to be. But in Psalm 27. Two lines. I want to read to you the truth. It says. When the wicked even my enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh. They stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me. My heart shall not fear. Though war should rise against me. In this will I be confident. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? Beloved God knows what this yes means. And sometimes the first few yeses are the most costly. But I'll tell you. The whole power of heaven. And the glory of Jesus Christ. Will come into you. And you're going to be changed. You're going to get a God solution. God's going to make a way that you could never even envision. He's going to turn something that was going to be so incredible. And all your life you're going to have a testimony. Of when you said yes. Heaven came down. And everything changed. Beloved I stand here today. Because I said yes. And I thank him every day I did. Beloved you're going to thank him every day. He's going to give you the power. And Jesus Christ is going to be so sweet to you. And real to you. And you're going to get a God solution. That's going to just stagger your mind. He knows the cost of yes. But he knows the power of yes. Will you pray with me. Lord Jesus. I say yes. To what you're speaking to me about. It is going to be by your power. And obey you. Receive your glory. And Lord let your awe. To you. Of you saying yes back to me. And Lord I'll give you all the praise. Amen. This is the conclusion of the message.