In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the humility of God and how it should be reflected in our lives. He refers to Zechariah chapter four, highlighting the attention to detail that God has and how we should also pay attention to the small things in life. The preacher encourages the audience not to despise the day of small things, emphasizing the importance of how we live our lives, spend our money, and use our time. He shares a personal story of a friend who nearly died and questions why it takes such experiences for us to see God in a greater way.

Hello, this is Brother Denny. Welcome to Charity Ministries. Our desire is that your life would be blessed and changed by this message. This message is not copyrighted and is not to be bought or sold. You are welcome to make copies for your friends and neighbors. If you would like additional messages, please go to our website for a complete listing at www.charityministries.org. If you would like a catalog of other sermons, please call 1-800-227-7902 or write to Charity Ministries, 400 West Main Street, Suite 1, AFPA, 17522. These messages are offered to all without charge by the freewill offerings of God's people. A special thank you to all who support this ministry. Greetings in Jesus' name. Welcome to the house of prayer. I really appreciated Brother David's message last Sunday on prayer and meditating on that this week. It was much on my heart when Brother David called me and asked me if I would preach today. Because I was in a mode of repenting at the time, I really saw my need and I was seeing my need in my own life. Well, I just didn't feel like I was the right man to be in the pulpit this morning. I've often heard preachers get up and say to pray for them and them express their weakness or their smallness. And at times I think I've thought that, well, it's not necessary for them to say that or that maybe they should just preach their message and not say anything about that. Not that I don't believe in humbling ourselves. But today I would like to join those preachers and ask you to pray for me. I do see a great need in my life. I see things that need to be changed. I see things that need to be changed in my family, in my wife, in my church. And thank you, Brother David, for sharing with us that door this morning. What a sweet door it is to be able to clear the cloud over our life, to be able to clear the guilty conscience, to have our hearts set free. Praise God for the wonderful grace of Jesus that's greater than all my sin. And it's greater than all your sin. And yet it's a responsibility. It's an awesome thing to get up and preach the Word of God and sometimes you sit down and you realize, I'm preaching things I'm not even living. Or at least not in the fullness that I preached it. And it causes a real sobriety upon my life. And my tendency is to despair at times. So, I request that you pray for me. And young men, it won't be very long. And it will be your turn to stand up here and to preach the words of eternal life and what a privilege it is. And Paul says that probably the greatest thing you can covet to do and long to do is to preach the everlasting gospel. To preach the Word of Life. To preach forth the mind and will of God. It's something to be ended. And I don't want to share in a way that makes it sound like it's a terrible thing to be standing up here. And yet, I would that you young men would get some sobriety in your life and purpose in your heart to put your roots down in Jesus Christ. To establish yourself in Christ. To establish yourself in His Word. To, as Paul said, he lived his life. He endeavored to live his life with an open heaven. With a clear conscience before man and God. Learn to do that now. And someday you can stand here in this place and be effective for God. When I was 10 years old, 12 years old, I would sit back there and I grew up in a brethren setting. And some of those brethren men could preach fiery messages. And the one that I probably heard more than any other is my Uncle Robert sitting back here this morning. And many times when messages would be preached, my heart would burn. And that seems like such a short time ago. And I think that even though I had the desire, that wasn't enough. So many things, so many foolishnesses along the way attracted my attention. And steered me in a way that I should be much further along today than what I am. I should be further down the road or higher up the ladder. More mature. I should have a greater depth than what I do have. I should have a greater knowledge of the Word of God. It takes more than a desire. We need to set our will. We need to live that life of repentance that Brother David talked about this morning. Well, that's not my message. So, let's turn to Luke 2. The title of my message is, The Humility of God. The Humility of God. I'm going to read the account of Jesus' birth here. The first 24 verses of Luke 2. And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea. Unto the city of David which is called Bethlehem. Because he was of the house and lineage of David. To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes. And laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo the angel of the Lord came upon them. And the glory of the Lord shone round about them. And they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest. And on earth peace, goodwill toward men. And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven. The shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord, and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons. The humility of God is something that in recent, I would say in the past year, is something that has caught my attention, that I have considered and pondered a number of times. We talk about the attributes of God. He's all-powerful. He's everywhere present. He is love. He is merciful. And I don't know how much you've pondered it and saw this in Scripture. But God is humble. And I think I missed it many times. In my Christian life, I didn't see it so much that God is humble, because I think I saw God as all-powerful, and as the creator of the universe, and as the awesome God that He is, and looked past the humility of God, and how humble God is. When God is telling Zechariah some things, in Zechariah chapter 4, He says to him, and we'll go to that later, but I just want to use this here, this saying in the beginning. He says to him, For who hath despised the day of small things? Or it's like He's saying, Who hath despised the day of small things anyhow? Or why would you despise the day of small things? And it's sort of like He's given him a picture of His humility there. And because He's humble, just like He's love, and just like He's all-powerful, He's humble. And that just flows out of His nature. Humility. In a sense, He doesn't humble Himself. He is humble. He is humility. Humility is a humiliation of mind, according to the Strongs. Modesty. Humbleness of mind. Or loneliness of mind. That's what the Strongs says. And the Webster says, It's a freedom from pride and arrogance. Humbleness of mind. A modest estimate of one's worth. And then, a deep sense of one's own unworthiness in the sight of God. So, I thought to take a little tour through Scripture and point out some of the very clear instances that shows, and we're going to miss many of them, that shows the humility of God, that shows God's humbleness of mind, that shows His modesty, freedom from pride and arrogance, even though He is all-powerful, even though He is all-knowing, and even though He's the Creator of the universe and He spoke this world into existence and holds it together with the Word of His power, He is humble of mind. And I hope to convince you of that this morning, if you don't believe that. And I chose to read from Luke chapter 2 here, in the opening, because in my estimation, this is a perfect example of the humility of God. Here we have God the Son coming to earth, putting on the prison of flesh and doing it in the form of a baby and going through the whole time from conception to birth in Mary's womb. That speaks of a humility that I only envy. That speaks of a humbleness of mind that I must confess, I don't understand. I haven't even reached it. I guess, not that I think that I should have reached it by now, but I do want to strive for that, for that which I have been called unto and we have each been called to a humility of mind. I don't know what it's like for God in the spiritual world that He dwells in, that He lives in, but I know it is in a more glorious, much higher, much greater place of freedom than what we know in our bodies of flesh. So therefore, it shows us a picture, a clear picture of the humility of God. Yes, it does show us a picture of the love of God, for God so loved that He sent. But I think, outside of the fact that He was humble enough in His mind, He could never have bowed that low. He chose Mary, an insignificant young lady, not insignificant in that she did fear God, she was a virtuous woman, but insignificant in the eyes of society, insignificant in the fact that it was obvious she was poor, she did not have much of this world's goods or esteem among men. Joseph, also obviously a poor man, by the sacrifice that he made of the pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons here, it was the poor that offered the pigeons for their sacrifice. The humility continues in that God said, no, the inn, or a proper house, that's too high. I want my son born where the animals are. And, I'm going to give the message to the shepherds, possibly the lowest class in the society of that day, the shepherds, known to be not very trustworthy, and also, a job that not just anybody wanted to do, more of a lowly job. Not everyone was willing to, or not just anybody was willing to, humble themselves and accept the life of a shepherd, where they had to stay out there all night long and watch over their sheep. And most of them were just servants, doing it for their master. So, it all gives us a very clear picture of the humility of God. I thought of the humility of God in creation, in forming us out of the dust of the earth. He made us in His image. And, He didn't choose the most precious metal that He also created, which, as we know today, of His gold. He didn't make us out of gold, did He? These physical bodies, as far as the amount that they are worth, in today's society, would probably only be a few pence, a few pennies. They're not worth much. They're made out of dust, and they're going to return to dust. He chose, for the making of a person into His own image, He chose dust. He chose dirt. Most of us aren't even humble enough to accept dirt for most things that we do. We don't even want to build our house out of dirt. We at least want to use wood, or concrete. We don't like to work in the dirt. But God is humble. And, God does not despise small things. When Elijah was looking for God, He was looking for Him in the whirlwind. He was looking for Him in the big things, in the great things, in the things that, as Elijah would have thought, would have been just made sense for God to reveal Himself in. After all, He's all-powerful. Why wouldn't He reveal Himself in something big, something great, some great storm? But, no. It was a small thing. Just a still, small voice. He told Zechariah, not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit. And I think that, again, He would say, just a still, small voice, Zechariah. After all, who is despising the day of small things? I am humble, God's telling Zechariah there, I believe. Jeremiah 45.5 You seeking great things for yourself? He says, Don't seek great things. Don't seek great things. Jesus said, and this is probably where the inspiration has come to me that I have pondered the humility of God. Jesus said, I am meek and lowly. You want to know who I am? You want to know who you're following? I am meek and lowly in heart. The very core, the very foundation of who I am, the very essence of my being is lowliness. And He continued to work with His disciples and show them that by His example time and time again. He called a little child into His midst and said, the person who is the greatest in the Kingdom of God has to become just like this little child. As a matter of fact, He said, unless you become like a little child, you can't even enter into My Kingdom. And it's because it takes humility. It's because He's saying, I am humble. I am lowly in heart. You can't follow Me if you're not willing to humble yourself. You must be free from pride and arrogance. Well, the humility of God has to have an application for us. It needs to be made practical in our lives. And Hebrews 6 verse 20 talks about Jesus being our forerunner. And it's very clear that Jesus was our forerunner in this matter of humility. Jesus did not despise the day of small things. Jesus expressed humbleness of mind in every step from the time He was born to the time He was crucified. He could have called 10,000 angels. He could have called 10 legions of angels, which I think is much more than 10,000 angels. Why not? Why didn't He? Because He was humble. Because His humility brought about a... You know, we always talk about it, because He loved you and I. And He had His face set to go to the cross. It was out of love. But, you can't avoid seeing the humility of mind that was there. And aside from the fact that He was humble, He would have called those angels. He would have just displayed some of His power there and chose some other glorious or more powerful way to die for us. Some more miraculous way. He could have. But, no. God is humble. I'd just like to turn now to Zechariah 4. I'm going to read verses 1-10. I'd like to try to make the humility of God practical in our lives. And the angel that talked with me came again and waked me as a man that is wakened out of his sleep and said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold with a bowl upon the top of it and His seven lamps thereon and seven pipes to the seven lamps which are upon the top thereof and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl and the other upon the left side. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me saying, What are these, my Lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord. Then he answered and spake unto me saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel saying, Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings crying, Grace, grace unto it. Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it. And thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts, the Lord of hosts, hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven. They are the eyes of the Lord which run to and fro through the whole earth. These seven candlesticks or the seven lamps on top of the candlestick are the eyes of the Lord that goes to and fro through the whole earth. Now, God is saying, don't despise small things as if Zechariah was maybe tempted to think that you mean you're using these seven candlesticks as your eyes going to and fro through the whole earth? Why couldn't you use lightning or something that's more awesome, something that will catch everyone's attention and make everyone stand at all? You mean you're using candles? Just seven lamps? Seven little lamps to liken your eyes going to and fro through the whole earth? That's the picture that I get there. So, we have a prophecy here of Jesus coming and I'm not going to say much about that because we're talking about the humility of God and I'd like to capitalize here on this verse 10. Who hath despised the day of small things? First of all, I'd like to look at the small things in our own lives personally. Each one of you individually. Who hath despised the day of small things? Do you despise the day of small things? Are you unhappy with how God is working in your life? are you not satisfied with the steps of faith that you have taken? The grace that you have seen in your life? Now, yes, we need a holy dissatisfaction but I have known and have been tempted many times myself Christians, especially young Christians who spend a lot of time in discouragement because I believe they're despising the way God is working in their life. Some, when they are led to Christ say, well, is that all? Is that all I do? Yes. Only believe. Yes. You cry out to God. You repent. You turn from your sin. And you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe it is a small thing. Maybe it seems like a small thing. And maybe it doesn't seem like some great big splash from heaven over your soul. But don't despise it. Don't count it as no worth. And maybe you didn't get born again. I'm not saying just a little prayer and everything is alright. Maybe you didn't get born again. But don't despise God's grace in your life. God works in many ways His wonders to perform in our lives. And most times He works in a quiet way and in a small way. There are times like in the Apostle Paul's life, where he was struck down to the earth and blinded by the great light. And God audibly talked to him from heaven. And the others around there heard them speak. Heard him speak. But, don't despise the day of small things. Brothers and sisters. And young people. Don't look for God so much in the lightning. Yeah, there are times and we read of them and we many times we'll read the Bible or we'll read testimonies of men who, was it Samuel Morris was led out of Africa by a light that went before him. Came here to the United States. Was very effective for the few short years that he was here. Seemed like God just miraculously led him and saved him without anyone going to him and preaching the Gospel to him. You hear testimonies of the Chinese Christians. Different ones that have miraculous things happen in their life. And we sometimes think in our lives, because everything just seems to happen normally in our lives, that, well, who am I? Well, don't despise the day of small things. I want to encourage you today to be faithful to do what you know to do and be done with discouragement. Look at it as sin. Repent of it. Go through that door that Brother David had up here. And if you are to live a life in obscurity, so be it. Because God doesn't despise the day of small things. God is humble. And He knows that if He did some great splash in your life, you probably wouldn't be able to handle it. He wants you to walk before Him in humility. So, young believer, maybe you're just a baby in Christ this morning. And maybe your life seems pretty average. And maybe there's sin in your life that needs to be repented of. But I'm assuming that you're clear with God and keeping your heart and conscience free and clear before God. Walk in freedom. Walk in grace. Walk in trust. In faith. Trust Him every day. Just trust Him every day. When you get out of bed in the morning, you put your trust in Him. Maybe it doesn't seem like much is happening in your life, but you put your trust in Him. Maybe it just seems like small things are happening in your life. But, I want to tell you this morning, if you will walk in simple, childlike faith and trust before Him every day, and you start repenting of the sin of discouragement, of the unbelief, start looking for God in the small things, I believe you'll have more to thank God for than you had any idea of. I think you'll be able to soon say with the songwriter, as he counted his blessings and named them one by one, he was surprised at what God had done. The other thing I want to, point number two I guess, is to not despise the day of small things in others. Don't despise others. Maybe they're a baby in Christ. Maybe they haven't come to Christ. Maybe we think they should have come to Christ already and haven't. Well, and I guess this goes more for those who are mature. Maybe you have been a Christian 20 years. And because of the way that we're prone in the fallen part of our nature to become proud, maybe we think we're mature. And I trust that if you're a Christian 20 years, you do have some maturity. But don't despise the day of small things. Don't despise the babes in Christ. Don't despise those who have just begun. Learn how to come alongside of them. Learn how to bring yourself down to their level and see them where they are and reach out a helping hand to them. If you're further up the ladder, learn how to reach down and grab their hand and pull them along up. Don't despise them. Look for baby steps of grace in their life. Now, I'm not saying they never need to be admonished. But if you do it in the spirit of despising where they are, it won't bring forth fruit unto righteousness in their life. You're going to discourage them. And sometimes we do need to admonish. And people can be offended when we admonish. But be careful that you don't have that attitude of superiority and that I'm up here and I don't understand why you're not up here. What's wrong with you? Why haven't you come along? Why aren't you getting free from that besetting sin? There's a verse, I think it's in Jeremiah, that talks about remembering the rock or the pit from which you were hewn. Remember, you were a baby at one time. And think about the people that influenced you in a right way. Think about how they took you under their arms and the patience they had for you. Don't despise the little ones. If you offend one of these little ones, Jesus said, it's better for a millstone to be hung about your neck and to be cast into the sea, to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Those are sobering words for us this morning. Brothers and sisters, God calls us to a humbleness of mind, a modesty, a modest estimate of our own worth. Many times, and probably, maybe it's all the time, the reason we would despise others comes out of us having a higher estimate of our own worth and value. Paul said, I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound. He had learned to humble himself and to live in a place of humility before God. When that humility, when he was being tempted, it seems he early caught himself that that is an attitude of pride. That thought is an attitude of pride. That is not right. And he would turn and he would repent. He would use that key that brother David talked about. And as he would do that, he learned both how to be abased and how to abound without becoming proud about it. He also learned not to despise the day of small things in others. I'll just read a couple of scriptures here. In Philippians. In Philippians chapter 1, verse 23, he says, I am in a strait. I'm in a hard place between two. Between two ways. Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. So, he didn't just live out his old age in retirement enjoying all the extra free time he had. He spent his time with the babes in Christ. He spent his time discipling others. The only reason he had any desire to stay here was so that his people, those who he had led to Christ, those who were coming to Christ, could be discipled, could be ministered unto. He didn't despise the day of small things. He said here in Philippians 1, verse 6, he was confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it. He knew that even though God sometimes works in small ways, sometimes works in great ways. And I would say, for the most part, works in a way without causing a lot of publicity or a lot of esteem among men. That's the way God usually works in our lives. Because He knows what we're made of. And He knows that if He was to do some great work in our life, it would be to many of us, it would be to our demise. So, don't despise the day of small things. Let's walk with God in humility of mind. Let's let the humility of our God, the humility of Jesus, the humility of our Lord Jesus Christ, provoke us to humility in our lives. And one more point, before closing here, as I see this matter of small things in the practical side of our lives, in our everyday lives, there is a tendency for us to become generalized in our lives and have the attitude of just classifying things as small and insignificant. When I look at the way Christianity has evolved over the generations, and seemingly just a few generations, there are many things that have been shrugged off as it doesn't matter. It's just a small thing. It only says it one time in the Bible. Or, let's just concentrate on the love of God, the big things, you know, the redemption of God for mankind. And let's just preach that Jesus died to save sinners. And these other things, they just are insignificant. Well, I would say that God says to us, don't despise the day of small things in the matter of the way we live our lives, the way we spend our money, what we do with our free time, those small opportunities that we have. Maybe it's just ten minutes. But it could be ten minutes reading our Bible, or just ten minutes flittered away into nothingness. It could be ten minutes that we could have called someone and encouraged them not to give up, encouraged them to look unto Jesus. Or it could be just ten minutes that is wasted. Many of us have those small things in our lives, small opportunities, a small word here, a small thing there. Well, maybe it is a small thing. But remember, God has given some attention to detail. And where He has given attention to detail, you give attention to detail. He says we're to redeem the time. And you can spend a whole lifetime on that one. He says, in the direction that the Apostle Paul gives to Titus and Timothy, many specific things there. And we're not going to go into the details of them, but when I think about the humility of God and the attention to the small things of life, I'm reminded of the way that we live our lives. It does matter. You think no one notices. You think it doesn't really matter. But, in the sum total of your life, those things do play a big part. The humility of God does not mean that He was defeated just because He didn't call all those angels to His rescue didn't make Him defeated. Just because He risked being born of a virgin and going through the accusation of being a bastard didn't make Him defeated. Didn't change the truth. Didn't change the whole picture as we see it now. And the greater picture as you look back now over the whole scene. God is still God. He's still all-powerful. And every knee is going to bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Just because God is humble doesn't change, doesn't make for defeat in His life. And neither does it for you in your life. It's okay for you to say no. Boys, in the midst of your friends, maybe it seems like, oh, it's just a little thing. Doesn't matter if I laugh at their joke about that. But those things do matter. Those little things make a big difference in where you are five years down the road. It's the little things. Ezra 8. Closing here. 21 and 23. Ezra chapter 8. Humility. How do we become humble? How do we overcome this tendency to pride in our life? This arrogant attitude. This I can do it myself. This feeling of superiority to others. And this attitude of it doesn't matter. How do we overcome it? Ezra here faced a hard time in his life. Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Aheba that we might afflict ourselves before our God to seek of Him a right way for us and for our little ones and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way. Because we had spoken unto the king saying the hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him. But His power and His wrath is against all them that forsake Him. So we fasted and besought our God for this. And He was entreated of us. So, the reason I bring this out is that maybe you find yourself up against it, in a hard place. Well, humble yourself. This proclaiming a fast has everything to do with humility. It has to do with rather than saying, Oh, as Ezra had already proclaimed to the king that his God was able to deliver them from the hand of their enemy. And now they were in a hard time. And rather than to let pride and arrogance step into the way there. He could have said, Well, you know, I've said this and I'm going to stand on that. And He could have been defeated there. He could have become proud in His statement there of confidence in His God that He made to the king that could have been perceived as pride. Or it could have become pride in His heart. But then when a need arose, He humbled Himself before God. He fasted. And He called a fast. And they cried out to God. And God did see them through. And God will see you through. And He will give you grace. And He will empower you by the Holy Spirit. Just like He does, just like He did the Apostle Paul. And all of those who it may look to you like God did great things in their life. Well, God will also do great things in your life. But one little thing at a time. Don't despise the day of little things. Yes, praise the Lord. I appreciate those words, Brother Dean. The humility of God. Do we forget that that is a strong and clear attribute of God that we are to follow and is a tremendous example for us in our Christian life and experience. Made Himself of no reputation. Took upon Himself the form of a servant. Humbled Himself to death, even the death of the cross. And then many Christian men demand their rights. Demand, you can't do that to me. You know. And I don't have to put up with this. And those kind of attitudes are very arrogant concerning their own abilities or their own desires or programs. May God balance us indeed this morning with that challenge of humility. Putting away of arrogance. And take the example of Christ very personally down into our homes, our jobs, where we live, where we move. Amen. Thank you for that clear reminder. Beautiful balance of God's attributes and character there. Alright, shall we open it up for further testimony? Up here, for the Myron. Yeah, I just want to thank God for me. It has been a another layer of God's Word to me. Amen. I have realized that I have needed the humbling hand, the mighty hand of God upon me. I have been thanking Him for that. Mm-hmm. God bless you, brother. I just want to make the, put the key in the door and make the public statement that I believe God is working in our family. And I just want to thank you all for praying for us. Mm-hmm. And pray that we might get the full lessons that God has for us. Mm-hmm. I want to thank you all for your love. Thank you. And we do love you, brother. And be assured that our heart is still with you and for you and your family. To gain the victory. Overcome. Amen. Yes, Stoy? Yes, I would like to thank God for the message this morning. I praise God that He has humility because all that God has is not available for me if there is not a humility to come down to my level and give it to me. And I praise God that He had that humility for me. And I want to confess also before you, my brothers and sisters, that God's mighty hand has been over my life and I've been chastening underneath it. And I would just like to I was, after David's message this morning, I went back into the prayer room and I just cried out to God. And He has been so real to me this morning as I just laid it all down again and said, God, I take it all in. You do whatever you want. And I've been praying that God would humble me because I see a lot of pride in my life and it has been manifesting in different ways and different situations. And I confess it as sin and it's a sin that's hindering me from going on with God. And I would just like to thank God that He's loving me enough to show me these things. I believe one of the keys that I've not been putting into the door, I've repented and I've been very open with it. But one thing I've been lacking is confessing it. And I would like to just be open and transparent before you. I've been very weary because I've been so God has been so breaking me and crushing me and some areas that I've been very weary and I would just like to confess that God has been very real to me this morning. And I thank Him that I have the privilege of coming to a service like this and hearing God in such a real way. So pray for me and God bless you all. Thank you, Doi. Over here. I just want to confess this morning that I have been giving in to that discouragement that with my back the way it is and I'm not able to do things that I'd really like to do. And Satan just as I'm laying there and as I'm just pondering things Satan is just so there to bring discouraging thoughts to the point that I'm almost to the point of depression at times. And I just want to confess that and turn away from it. Not let Satan rule my life in that area. Because it's something that I've never battled with before but the last 10 months has become something very real in my life. And I just want to confess that and just ask for your prayers that I can have victory over that and just be clear of that. Thank you, Misty. May you learn the things that God wants you to learn through it all. It's amazing how travail and pain makes a better person. I talked to someone on the phone, an old friend of mine this week who nearly died of pancreatitis and he said what he went through and what it did for him to lay in the hospital for 7 weeks as they settled into his lungs and nearly died from that. Why does it take those kind of things to get us to see God in a greater way? Is there someone back here? Yes, brother. I want to thank the Lord this morning too for His mercy. And repent of my despair and passive heart in dealing with my family and rising up and being the Papa I need to be. And I just want to repent of that this morning and take that key and enter into that door by His grace. Also, thank you for your love and your prayers. And we ask you to please continue. Thank you. God bless you, Nolan. Yes, Leonard? I've been pondering about David's message last week too. I have many needs in my own life. But I praise God for His grace and mercy. And as Brother Dean was sharing, I was thinking about Naaman as he came to Elijah. And probably expecting great things that he's sending down. The Spirit of God would come upon his life and heal him from his leprosy. But God does not work that way in each one of our lives. Sometimes He brings miracles. But I think for the most part, He wants to see our needs as He gives us grace as we walk through things in our life. And I believe that Naaman came to him that he's expecting a miracle. But God sent him to the river of Jordan and told him to steep down seven times. And it was probably a question to him why that way. But if we do things that God wants us to do, He will give us the victory in those things. I want to thank God this morning for the message that Dean preached. There are a number of things there that I'm asking the Lord questions about in my own life. But the one thing that I see, I've confessed this before, and I want to just make it clear again this morning, that in the ministry, there's a pressure upon me to be something. I feel like, oh, I've got to be the minister here. I've got to be the preacher. And I really appreciated the ministration of your message this morning, Dean, that to focus on the little things and not try to be a flash of lightning in the church of God, but just a little man. That's my desire.