Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the transformative power of God's promises, highlighting how He brings beauty from ashes and joy in place of mourning. He encourages believers to nourish their new selves in Christ, reminding them that true righteousness and salvation come from God alone, not from human effort. The preacher calls for a humble approach to God, urging the congregation to be faithful with what they have received and to seek a deeper relationship with Christ. He reassures that as we yield to God's grace, He produces in us obedient, willing, pure, and diligent hearts. Ultimately, the message is one of hope, redemption, and the joy of being in communion with the Lord.

To proclaim to captives liberty, and to bound ones an opening of bands. To proclaim the year of the good pleasure of Jehovah, and the day of vengeance of our God. To comfort all mourners. To appoint to mourners in Zion. To give to them beauty instead of ashes. The oil of joy instead of mourning. A covering of praise for a spirit of weakness. And he is calling to them trees of righteousness. The planting of Jehovah to be beautified. What beautiful, beautiful promises from the word of God this evening. And this is exactly what God has done in our midst tonight. He has given unto us the spirit of rejoicing. Reminding us that he indeed is our redeemer. He indeed is the Lord that lives. He indeed is the one who has sanctified us by his death and resurrection. And he calls us trees of planting. Trees of righteousness. That he might be glorified. Aren't you glad for times of rejoicing in the Lord? Oh, there's times of quietness. There's times of intense heart-searching before the Lord. But when the Lord comes and visits us and gives us a season of rejoicing, isn't he being gracious? Aren't you glad when you don't have to force rejoicing? But when God gives you a spirit of praise, then you can praise. Praise the Lord. I'm so happy that my redeemer liveth tonight. Amen. To comfort all mourners. To appoint to mourners in Zion. To give them beauty instead of ashes. The robes of righteousness. That's beauty, isn't it? The robes of righteousness. The very righteousness of Christ himself has brought your salvation. You are declared innocent before God. When a sinner comes to Christ and is saved, God looks at him and says, You are innocent. You are free from all the trespasses that you've ever committed. And then as they continue to walk with the Lord, the righteousness that they acquire is the Lord's righteousness. So the righteousness from the beginning is God's, and then the righteousness that's developed in their character is God's, and the righteousness that they possess ultimately when they stand before God is God's. So it's all his doing. It's all his work. And what we do is stay on our knees and say, Heavenly Father, thank you. Continue to have mercy upon me. And I will praise you all the days of my life. Amen. Thank God for the blood. Praise God forever. Does anyone have something to praise God for before we continue to sing and rejoice? There's several things the Lord has placed upon my heart tonight, and I get nervous. There's several things, but there's several good things from the Word of God that the Lord has put upon my heart. Yes. I've received from the Lord some insight. Now, reading from chapter 5, we can just begin reading a few verses here, and hopefully tonight the Lord can give us some insight into this particular Scripture, because it has to do with what we're speaking on now. Go now, ye rich, weep, howling over your miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted, your garments have become moth-eaten, your gold and silver have rotted, and the rust of them for a testimony shall be to you. And shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye may treasure in the last days. Lo, the reward of the workmen, of those who ingathered your fields, which have been fraudulently kept back by you, doth cry out. And the exclamations of those who did reap into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath have entered. Listen to this, verse 5. Ye did live in luxury upon the earth and were wanton. That means you wanted everything. Ye did nourish your hearts. That's it right there. I read that, and the Holy Spirit of God, like, took a magnifying glass. Ye did nourish your hearts. Ye did strengthen your hearts. Listen. Ye did find a way to fulfill and strengthen the desires of your heart. As opposed to, ye did nourish the new man. So the insight that the Lord gave me was, Who are you nourishing? To whom are we yielding ourselves? What is being strengthened in us? It is God's will for the Christian to become intimately acquainted with the new man, and learn how to nourish him, and strengthen him. And as far as the old man, mortify. Put to death. That's what the Bible says. But now how do we put it to death? See? We put the old man to death by abiding in the shelter of the Almighty God. It's Christ. In Christ. Listen. As ye have received the light, so walk ye in it. What light have you received? Walk in it. Be faithful to it. So many Christians long for more truth. And they're so unfaithful with what they have. God's not going to give you a greater revelation of himself until you have proven to be faithful with what you already have. As in the natural, so in the spiritual. A wise boss or manager would never entrust greater responsibilities to an employee if, having watched that employee for one year, has discovered an unfaithfulness to what has already been granted to him. Is God any different? Certainly not. Beloved, God will hold you accountable for what Pastor Beach knows. God will hold you accountable for what you know. What light has shined in your soul? What understanding has God given you? Where has God brought you on your pilgrimage thus far? How has God opened up his word to you? Are you being faithful with it? Or are you coveting something? And in coveting something, you're being unfaithful with what you have. Now listen. You can covet more than silver and gold. You can covet a position in God. You can want to be like somebody. Now there's nothing wrong with wanting to be more spiritual. But when wanting to be more spiritual rips you from being content with where you are in God and prevents you from being faithful with what you have and you're always living in the realm of, boy, it's greener on the other side. Boy, it would be so much better if I was something. Now see, the Savior wants us to become content. And listen. Nourish. Strengthen. Become stable in what you have received. The way to get more in God is to become incredibly faithful with what you have. Listen. We've heard the story of the talents over and over again. What did God give you? Well, be shrewd with it. Don't always be wishing you had more. Don't always be looking with an eye to say, oh, if I could only be like brother so-and-so or sister so-and-so. What do you have in God? What light has God given you? Have you stopped that habit that God's dealt with you about for the past five months? If you haven't, then why are you asking God for greater revelation if the present revelation you have is not working? Oh, I want to be able to do this, God. And then God comes to your own backyard and sees, well, you haven't done very well with the grass I've given you. Look at all the weeds growing in your garden. You know, we say, oh, Lord, I want a garden five miles long. I want a ministry. I want this, I want this. And God comes and says, well, what have I given you? Huh? Well, how are you going to handle what you're asking me for when I look and see what you've gotten? You haven't learned to be faithful with it yet. Beloved, put your heart to rest. Stop striving in the flesh. Rest in the Lord. Understand what God has wrought for you. Listen, you're special. You don't have to be like somebody else. Listen, Jesus is doing a special thing in your life. He really is. He's doing a special work for you. He that is faithful in little shall be what? He shall be made steward over what? Much. How do you get real close to Jesus? Where are you at now? Be faithful. Whenever the slightest ray from heaven shines, oh, we're looking for such astounding revelations, what about the little light that God brings to you and says, now, stop speaking harshly to that person? Oh, boy, that's insignificant. I want an anointing to preach. I want something bigger and better, Lord. Now stop that grumbling. And we come to God and ask Him for something more, and God says, you haven't been faithful with what I've asked. You want to be real close to Jesus and learn to love Him and walk in Him and always do those things that are pleasing in His eyes? Then settle down. Talk with the Lord and say, now, Lord, what have you entrusted to me? What are you saying to me? Take out His word and let His word speak to your heart. And then by the grace of God, by the power and energy of the Holy Spirit, determine in your heart that you will be faithful with the teeny bit He's given. And then you watch Him bring the increase. You watch God bring the increase. Strengthen and nourish that new man in Christ Jesus. Amen. Turn your Bibles to Exodus. Chapter 20, verses 24 and 25. No, make it 25 and 26. Exodus chapter 20, 25 and 26. And if an altar of stones thou dost make to me, thou dost not build them of hewn work. Now listen. When thy tool thou hast waved over it, then thou dost pollute it. Neither dost thou go up by steps on mine altar that thy nakedness be not revealed upon it. Now here is a commandment that the Lord gave the children of Israel that has great significance to you and I today. The significance is that contained within these two scriptures are spiritual truths that are so very essential to the Christian. The first spiritual truth that we find from here is God is saying, Listen. When you build an altar to me, don't build it out of stones that you've carved with your own hands. Because as soon as you touch the stone, you pollute it. And then the second one is, when you come to me, don't come on steps lest your nakedness be revealed. Now, let's go to 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2, beginning in verse 1. Having put aside then all evil, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envying, and all evil speakings. See, that's the old man. We put that aside because the old man's been crucified with Christ. As newborn babes, the words pure milk desire ye, that in it ye may grow. If so be ye did taste that the Lord is gracious, to whom coming a living stone, by men indeed having been disapproved of, but with God choice precious. Listen. And ye yourselves, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Now turn to Ephesians chapter 2, verse 10. Ephesians chapter 2, verse 10. Ephesians 2, verse 10. For of him we are workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God did before prepare, that in him we may walk. Now another version says we are his workmanship. So the idea here, beloved, is that we are living stones being built together by God, and the work is wrought by him. As we fix our eyes upon Jesus Christ, and be filled with his divine spirit, and crave the word of God, he does the work. And our tools do not pollute his work. Our tools simply is that which we do to try and help God do what only he can do. What a beloved salvation. What a great salvation. A salvation that Jesus Christ brings as we simply look to him, yielding our heart as the light shines. Next, Zechariah chapter 4. Zechariah chapter 4. Remember, we're dealing with stones that are not to be cut by our hands. A salvation, the spiritual application is a salvation that was not wrought by men, but wrought by God, initiated by God, perfected by God. We don't help God, we only hinder. Zechariah chapter 4, verse 6, the latter part, this is the word of Jehovah unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by a force, nor by power, but by my Spirit, said Jehovah of hosts. So once again, the attention is on the work of Jesus Christ. Beloved, a great lesson to learn is keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ. Like Debbie shared, she was delivered from a great grief, a great despair, when she saw the victory had already been wrought, and all she had to do was just enter in by faith into His rest. The victory had already been wrought in Christ. See? Psalms 127, verse 1. Psalm 127, verse 1. If Jehovah doth not build the house, in vain hath its builders labored at it. If Jehovah doth not watch a city, in vain hath a watchman waited. Vain for you who are rising early, who delay sitting, eating the bread of griefs, so he giveth to his beloved sleep. That's powerful. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. Jesus has begun my salvation, and Jesus is going to perfect my salvation, and all I'm going to do is steadfastly look to Him. And as I look to Him, He changes my heart. He changes my mind, and He conforms me into His image. It's so easy to get lost in ourself, but we must learn by the grace of God to get lost in Christ. Now, the latter part of that verse is, if you build an altar to me, don't go to it on steps. There's a powerful message there, friends. Let's turn to a story in the New Testament that perfectly gives us the spiritual application to that verse in Exodus. Turn your Bibles, if you would, to Luke chapter 18. Luke chapter 18. Beginning in verse number 9. And He spoke also unto certain who have been trusting in themselves that they were righteous and have been despising the rest. Two men went up to the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, having stood by himself, thus prayed, God, I thank Thee that I am not as the rest of men, unrighteous, rapacious, adulterers, or even as this tax gatherer. For I fast twice in the week. I give tithes in all things, as many as I possess. And the tax gatherer, having stood afar off, would not even the eyes lift up to the heaven, but was smiting on his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, the sinner. I say to you, this one went down declared righteous to his house, rather than that one. Now listen, everyone who is exalting himself, everyone who is approaching God's altar on steps, going up, shall be humbled. And he who is humbling himself shall be exalted in Christ. You know, we've often heard, brother, humble yourself before God and he'll exalt you. And we associate exaltation with notoriety, becoming well-known, having people see you, beloved, that is a great, great dishonor to what it means to be exalted. The Bible speaks of being exalted as not some glorified place where the light is shining on you and people are admiring you. But exaltation in God's eyes is to be seated down with Christ Jesus in the heavenlies. There, hid in him, glorifying him, loving him, having not a righteousness that comes from your own self, but one that comes from the very life of Christ himself, expressing through you. Friends, let me encourage you to do something. Ask God to put in your heart a desire not to be seen of men, but to be hid in God. Friends, take your steps off the altar of prayer. Take your steps down from approaching God and come to him boldly in Christ, understanding that he alone is worthy and he has made you worthy. He has made you accepted in the beloved. He that humbleth himself shall be exalted, shall find a place of sweet, blessed communion with God Almighty. What other place would you want, friend? Tell me what other place you could desire. Tell me a better place to dwell than to dwell hid with God in Christ, fellowshipping with Jesus, having his life flow through your mortal body, having his words come out of your mouth, having his compassion exploding in your heart, having his long-suffering enabling you to put up with the most difficult trials, having his faith so that you can believe God for everything that pertains to your life. What else would you want, beloved? How sweet Jesus really is. And now listen closely, friends. When you are joined to Christ and you nourish the new man and you mortify... Now remember how we do these things. It's simply by reckoning. Paul said, reckon yourself. Yield yourself. This is what happens. Four things occur in your life. Four things. I want you to mark these things down. Listen, we talked about the salvation that was wrought by God. We talked about the righteousness that comes by faith in Jesus Christ. We've talked about the spirit of rejoicing. We've talked about humbling ourself so we can hide in Christ and then in Christ we're exalted. We're made to sit down with God. Now here's what happens. Here's the work of God now. Here's the work of God. Here's what occurs in your life and my life. When we submit ourselves to the wooing of God's grace, to the drawing of God's spirit. 1 John chapter 5. Here's what it means to grow in our salvation. Here's what it means to be perfected in Christ. Begin in verse number 1. Everyone who is believing that Jesus is the Christ of God, he hath been begotten. And everyone who is loving him who did beget, doth love also him who is begotten of him. That simply means that you can't love God and not love those who are children of God. Don't you love all Christians? I tell you though, you love sinners too. But there's something about a Christian that's part of the family. In this we know that we love the children of God, when we may love God and his commandments may keep. For this is the love of God that his commandments we may keep. And his commandments are not burdensome. The first thing that happens in the life of a believer who is growing in their salvation and the operation and working of God through faith is occurring on a daily basis, God produces an obedient heart. A heart that is yielded to the life of Christ. And it is the righteousness of Christ that cannot and will not go against the commandments of God. He cannot fail. Have you ever found it impossible to love someone? But does the Bible say that you've got to love? What do you do? You find the love that's in the Savior and ask him to incorporate it in you. He becomes the way to fulfill what God asks. Number two, Psalm 110, 3. This is perhaps one of my favorite scriptures. We're only going to go a couple more minutes. Psalm 110. Boy, I'm slow with this new book here. Psalm 110, C. CX. What'd I say? 110, 3? Okay. Let's begin with verse 1. The affirmation of Jehovah to my Lord sit at my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool. The rod of thy strength doth Jehovah send from Zion. Rule in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people are freewill gifts in the day of thy strength. In the honors of holiness from the womb, from the morning, thou hast the due of thy youth. The second thing that God does through Christ is he gives his people willing hearts. Listen, it's in the day of his power. The day of God's power. Listen, when your soul sees him, your heart will become willing. So many Christians struggle. Here's the end of the struggle. See him. See him. Get a vision of him. And the very vision of Christ produces willingness. Produces yieldedness to God. Number 3, 2 Timothy 2.22. 2 Timothy 2.22. Now, beloved, these are things you should be praying for. Asking God for every day. 2 Timothy 2... What was it, 2? 22. 2 Timothy 2.22. I hope. Yes. And the youthful lusts flee thou and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those calling upon the Lord. Listen to this. Out of a pure heart. The third thing God produces in those who find shelter in Christ is a pure heart. So we have an obedient heart, a willing heart, a pure heart, and this last one has been gripping my soul lately. Hebrews... I'm going to read two scriptures and then we'll let you go if you want to. If you don't, you can pray. I'll read two scriptures. This last one is something's gripping my heart. Hebrews 11.6. Now, aren't you glad that God's taken the responsibility to put these things in you? See? Don't... It's God's responsibility. All you do is just look. Behold. Turn. When He shines His light, say, Yes, Lord. Thy servant heareth like Samuel. Be like Samuel. Hebrews 11. 6. And apart from faith, it is impossible to please well. For it behooveth him who is coming to God to believe that he is, listen to this, and to those seeking him he becometh a rewarder. The fourth thing that God produces in a person whose life is getting hid in God by Christ is he produces a seeking, diligent heart. A seeking, diligent heart. Now, one more verse I gotta read for you. James. You know the King James? The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. But I love the way this man says it. It shed new light. I wanna begin with verse number 16 because verse number 16 is an integral part of being a righteous person. What is a righteous person? Someone who does what is right. Someone who does what is right. Christians whose life is Christ do what is right. Because Christ in them cannot do any wrong. Now listen. Verse 16. Be confessing to one another the trespasses and be praying for one another that ye may be healed. Now here it is. Very strong. Oh, I'm sorry. Did I give you the reference? James 5.16. Be confessing to one another the trespasses and be praying for one another that ye may be healed. Very strong is a working supplication of a righteous man. Very strong is a working supplication of a righteous man. And then the writer brings our attention to Elijah who exemplified what a strong working prayer of a righteous man could accomplish. He shut the heavens for three and a half years. So what are we looking for as we serve God? We're looking for God to produce an obedient heart, a willing heart, a pure heart, and a seeking, diligent heart. And these things will equip us to please God in all things. Anyone have any questions? Does everybody love Jesus? Amen. Well, if you want to spend time at the altar, if you have to go, that's fine. If you want to spend time at the altar here, fine. If you want to talk, please go into the vestibule and you can fellowship. But if you want to spend time before the Lord and let Him minister to you, that's fine. Praise the Lord. Thanks for coming out tonight, everyone. And God bless. Oh, I'm sorry. I have an announcement. Anybody who wants...