BLAMING GOD OR WORSHIPPING GOD - Tim Dilena

I want to speak to you what God began to speak to my heart, and there is a reason for this. But it's not just speaking. I want to speak to a person, but I want to speak to you as a church. There's some things. I want to talk to you about blaming God or worshiping God. I have a sermon today for Billy Crystal. Right down the street, actor Billy Crystal has been in the news, and I want to speak to him through this today. You'll understand as we get ready just to go through the scriptures, I'll explain what this means. Blaming God or worshiping God. Father, in these next few moments, I just want to say thank you for all that you've done for us. Truly, God, you are worthy of all of our praise. What you have done for us, God, is astounding. Who are we, God, that you would pour out so many blessings? We just say, God, thank you, thank you, thank you, God, for all that you've done. I'm praying today, open up your scriptures, open up our eyes in Jesus' name. And everybody said, "Amen." Now, this is the one o'clock service. I can't have you sit just yet. I got to dismiss the choir. Bring a screen down. So would you for a moment at least greet three or four people and say, "Get one person's name." Say, "What's your name again?" And say, "I'm so happy to see you here." And then you may be seated. [BLANK_AUDIO] [BLANK_AUDIO]

Recently, I had a young pastor in my office who asked me a question. He said, "I want to ask you about your devotional life." He said, "Beyond what you do, whether you're preparing a sermon or writing for chapter by chapter, what do you do?" And I explained something to him, "Would I have to do to feed my soul, to fill my soul?" And I told him, I said, "I borrowed something from the great Christian writer A.W. Tozer who taught me something." And I'll tell you how it happened. I was reading an introduction of a book and he was talking about his own devotional life. Tozer said this. He said, "This is in the 1950s." He said, "His shelves of his library are covered with all the different translations of the Bible." And Tozer said this. He says, "But I have found food in the King James Version. Not that the others are wrong, but this is what he said." He said, "The old Elizabeth in that language of the these and the vows." He said, "May seem antiquated, but what it does is it slows us down to read slower." And at times he said this, "That we can almost digest those words because we're not used to those words." He says, "The modern translations will make us zip through chapters, zip over sentences, zip through words." And he says, "I have slowed down and have allowed the Holy Spirit to speak to me." And I have done that, folks, with an old King James Version, to read slower and to see God speak through that. There's nothing wrong with any of the other translations. It just helped me to see some things and to start with chapters and to read slower. And it started to fill my spirit. The second thing that he said was, is that I keep a King James Bible and I keep a hymnal next to me. He said it's the Word of God that begins to feed my soul. And then that hymn, the hymnal, gives me a language to praise him. It is like good theology to praise him with all four of those verses. I have a treasure that I have with me right on top of that King James Bible. It is a old hymnal of 4,000 hymns that was written by John and Charles Wesley

during the revivals and the awakenings on both continents. It was a hymnal that was given from Leonard Ravenhill to one of the Day of Wilkerson's children. And recently they put it in the mail and said, "We want you to have it." And I've been reading that King James and that hymnal and just praised him. Each morning I rise and read from both, and my soul has been so full. And it's allowed me to slow down and even give God in my mind just a praise from these words as these awakening words that took place in the 19th century. It's been so powerful for me doing that. I was reading slow in the book of Job and God spoke to me and I want to share it with you. that's where you would start with the King James Version Job, but there's something here I wanna share with you. They said that Tozer said he would go to work with a suit on, and as soon as he got in, he said he would put on a pair of overalls, grab his Bible and lay on the floor and beg God to speak to him out of just desperation. He said it was as if I was going into labor and laboring to hear the voice of God. I don't own a pair of overalls, I don't have a pair of overalls, but I do have a desperation in my heart for God to speak. And so I fell on the floor and just say God speak to me. And for me, it started with a hymnal and a King James Version Bible. And I wanna talk to you about Job for just a second. Job is going to face in one day what no human being has ever faced in human history. There's no one that has suffered like this. Think of it for a moment. He will bury 10 children.

There'll be 10 coffins that will be before him and his wife. He will lose his home and his dwelling. He will lose his health and he will lose his wealth. The only thing he didn't lose for those that know the story is his wife. And those that know the story, I will stop there at that point and we'll say nothing else. The subplot is supernatural. It keeps us out of seeing what conversation was happening in heaven between God and Satan. It was out of physical sight, but it was Satan was given permission by God to attack Job, but he couldn't touch his life. Keep this in mind, because as I was reading this, I started to thank God. As Satan said, you've put a hedge about him. I can't even get to him. We'll talk about a hedge in the weeks to come. But what's interesting was keep this in mind. Satan is not a CEO. He cannot act independently without God's permission. There is something you need to know. Whatever battle you're facing, flesh and blood, and I'm gonna show it to you in a second, or something that comes from hell, all of those things are all under God's supervision. You are not all by yourself. Satan didn't get loose. A demon didn't get loose.

God sees it all, and God sees you in the midst of that battle. Now, someone needs to hear it. I put it in my notes just this morning, and I said, but I feel so strongly, because someone Cindy and I love dearly, is facing the battle of their life and are involved in a very toxic situation. I sent this text to them last night. I asked that the team would put it up on the screen. I wanna read to you exactly what I sent to them last night. And we're just putting it here, but I wanna give you this verse. Listen to this. I said, I'm at home praying for you right now. I said, I'm so proud of you, and we love you so much. God defines your life, not people's dysfunction. Toxic behavior in a sinful heart are trying to deconstruct who you are and what God made you to be. It will not happen. God's got you. You are not at their mercy. You are under God's watchful eye. This verse came to my heart tonight for you. Jacob is under horrible leadership, Laban, his uncle, and he says this. Some of you need this verse. Listen to this. He said, Jacob says, you know that I've served your father with all my strength.

Here it comes. Yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages 10 times. However, God did not allow him to hurt me. This is so powerful. Think of it. You cheated me, but you can't hurt me because God did not allow it. Folks, I'm telling you, God has a leash on hell and God has a leash on evil people. Listen, this side, God it. I don't know what's going on on this side over here, but I'm going to give you one more chance. God has a leash on hell and God has a leash on evil people. You have to understand that. There is nothing that someone can do to you unless God allowed it and says, I got you. I'm watching you on this situation. This is such hope for us. You cheated me, but you can't hurt me because God did not allow it. This is what happened to Job when Satan was let off the leash a little bit, but still under God's control. Here's what it says. When Job started to hear the report of what was happening to his family, Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,

a messenger came to Job and said the oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them. And the Sabians attacked and took them. They also slew the nations, I'm sorry, the servants with the edge of the sword. And I alone have escaped to tell you. So he's just lost the first part of his sustenance, his property. And while he was still speaking, another knock on the door came, the fire of God fell from heaven, burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them. And I alone have escaped to tell you. While he was still speaking, would you have not answered the third door? I'm just going to ask you right now. Would someone would say, like, nobody's home? That's what I would have said. While he was still speaking, another came and said, the Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels, took them, slew the servants with the edge of the sword and alone who have escaped to tell you. Now, number four, while he is still speaking, the fourth person comes in. Your sons and daughters are eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house. Behold, a great win came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house. It fell on the young people and they all ten died. And I have alone have come escaped to tell you.

This is unbelievable, the tragedy, how catastrophic this is. And then it says this. Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, fell to the ground, and worshiped. This is unbelievable. And he said these words, "Naked, I came from my mother's womb, and I shall return there." And here it comes, the Lord gave. And the Lord has taken away. But blessed be the name of the Lord's. (audience applauding) And then it ends. The chapter ends with this, through all of this, Job did not sin, nor did he blame God. Think of that for a moment. After this tragedy, in fact, chapter two tells us that the enemies attack on his body physically. Job worshiped, and Job did not blame God. I have a book in my library from an old English preacher named Effie Marsh, and in his book, Disciples Manual, he says we have three enemies that constantly oppose us. And he says it like this. He says there's the internal, there's the external, and then there's the infernal. The internal is the flesh, the attitudes, that arrogance, the pride, the lust that's inside of us, that's the internal. He says then there's the external, that's the world, the culture, it's the toxic systems, the dysfunctions, the sinful people that will try to come.

But he says, but what is most potent is when the infernal comes. That is hell itself. Job is facing the infernal. Hell is gonna be unleashed, has been unleashed on Job. And that's what makes this so intense as you read the book of Job. Now, two different responses are happening on Broadway. Six blocks apart in regards to who God is. There's two different responses that are happening. One is happening now, and one will happen in a few hours. One theater will be worshiping God, and another theater will be blaming God. Six blocks from Times Square Church at 249 West 45th Street is the imperial theater. They are having a one man show called 860. It's Billy Crystal speaking about his life, and he's talking about why he doesn't trust God anymore. Billy Crystal told CBS Sunday morning a week ago that he no longer trusts God after experiencing two very painful life tragedies. He lost his family's Pacific Palisades home that they've owned for 46 years in last year's wildfires in California. And then he said, when my good friend Rob Reiner was tragically stabbed by his own son, this is what Billy Crystal said. I'll put it on the screen. Billy Crystal told CBS Sunday morning

that he wasn't speaking to God anymore. He said, because I don't trust him. Too many bad things have happened, and the earth is in bad shape. He said, he went on to say there's a priest in Ecuador, crucifix falls on him and kills him. There's a shooting, a school shooting in Oregon that's taking place. And he finally said, and this is the part I don't want to be missed, because this is what he said. Billy Crystal explained that his feelings are not abandonment of faith, but I don't trust him in these key words right now. Billy Crystal emphasized, he said, "I said right now." He is in a position that he is upset with God. I'm okay with right now, because that's why this is not a rebuke to Billy Crystal. This is to share your just starting a journey, Billy Crystal, because if you go to the Imperial Theater, there will be people who have faced tragedy but are blaming God. But if you go to the Mark Hellinger Theater on 51st and Broadway, (audience applauds) there are also people who have faced tragedy but are worshiping God in this place that are saying God is still in control. God is still on the throne. God is still God.

Hallelujah. (audience applauds) It's moving from tragedy to worship. Job has lost everything, 10 children, everything he owns. He's lost his home and his health, but he has not lost God in the midst of all that's taking place. See, when you blame God, instead of worshiping God during tragedy, you'll find an alternative for God. You will turn, you'll try to find it in another religion. You'll try to find it in atheism. You may even try to find it within yourself and you become God. But in the middle of the emotions, loss and tragedy, he worshiped God and did not blame God. Job worships God in the middle of the loss and not at the end when he gets everything back. The story ends amazing. You know, when you read the story in those first 10, 12 verses and you see all that God gave to him and then the next half you read all that was taken away. The end of the book says this in Job 42. You won't see it on the screen, but it says, when Job prayed for his friends, God restored everything back twofold, twofold. So read the number of sheep and oxen and servants in chapter one and you'll see those numbers doubled at the very end. The one thing that I loved at the end was this. The only thing that wasn't doubled, he had 10 children

and at the end you thought it would say, God gave him 20 children, but he doesn't. It says God gave him 10, but he had 20 children. The other 10 are in heaven. So he has doubled the children when he gets to see them and what a family reunion when they get to see God. How could Job worship with such horrific tragedy? Here's what it says. "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I shall return. "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, "blessed be the name of the Lord." Okay, get this now. The worship of Job here is not just blessed be the name for provision, but it's even blessed be the name of the Lord, even for subtraction. It says, it doesn't say God gave Satan took away. It says God gave, God took away, but his name is to be blessed. So whether he is giving or whether he is taking, he is still God. See, our biggest test of praise is when we choose to praise him when something is taken from us. Anybody can pray, easy praise is praising him for provision. When something is given, a baby, a mate, a marriage, a person, a check, a job, an entrance into a university, that's easy to praise him. But can I just submit to you that he's still God when something is lost in your life? He's still on the throne when something is taken. It doesn't mean you don't worship. It just means you're gonna worship with a shaved head,

torn clothes, but my hands are still gonna be up because he is still God in that situation. Understand how important this is. In Queens, New York, there is a name plastered on a world-renowned arena that is recognized all over the world. It's a name that's plastered on there. That reminds us that in subtraction or in addition, God's name is to be blessed and praised. is the World Tennis Center and the most famous arena of all tennis that happens there. It's called Arthur Ashe Stadium. Tennis superstar Arthur Ashe died of AIDS, which he contracted from a blood transfusion during heart surgery. He went in to get his heart fixed. They put blood inside of him that had AIDS in it, and Arthur Ashe died at 49 years old. He was not just a great tennis player. Arthur Ashe was a Christian who said his parents introduced him to Jesus. Ashe could not have become embittered and self-pitying in the face of this, because he always kept Christ at the forefront. As he was dying at 49, someone wrote and asked him if he was bitter about the AIDS that came through a blood transfusion, and this is what Arthur wrote. Arthur Ashe wrote, if I asked why me about my troubles, I would have to also ask why me about my blessings. Folks, that's subtraction and provision.

See, we have a way of going, God, why? Why? Why did you take this? But why don't you ask, why did you give this to me? I don't even deserve this. God, see, we have to praise him, we have to praise him for provision and subtraction. And if you're gonna question him in subtraction, question him in provision. See, every time we ask why me of my blessings, it rebukes the why me of the tragedies. It's saying that I don't deserve it, but God, we always say I don't deserve the subtraction. God, I'm telling you, I'm coming to the place like Job and Arthur Ashe. We don't even deserve the blessings. It is because we have a good God that does this. Now listen to me, I wanna say something to you. And it's something that I felt the Lord speak to me. I want you to listen to me very carefully. I felt like God gave me this in prayer. In probably the next three years, this nation is gonna face some very difficult times. It's gonna face some catastrophic moments, not only as a nation, but even in this city, that we are gonna have to get ready. And I want you to get this. And the ways that the pulpits, I know we have different nations here, so let me speak to the West for a second. And I know it's probably it's faced

with in other parts of the world. But the way these pulpits are preaching today, we are being set up that when any subtraction comes, we are going to charge and blame God foolishly. There is a theology that's coming that we're being heard today. It's a theology of, it's gonna cause casualties in the kingdom of God. We have preached the gospel of only provision. And when it is taken away for the difficult times that are coming, they will not stand with God, they will blame God. And this is why this is so important that folks, when it comes, we have to be in a position that says God, whether you're giving, blessing, or taking away, you are still God. You are still, and I'm telling you, listen to me. If you're in a church that doesn't teach you, he's still God when he takes away, then get out of that place. 'Cause you're not getting ready for what's coming this way. That we are gonna face some things here in New York City and around the world that we have got to be in a place that no matter if he's taking or he is adding, our hands are up in the air and say, "You are still God in all of this." Folks, how do you worship when your world has fallen apart? How do you worship when you are faced with some horrific things that are coming away?

This is what it says about Job. Job got up, tore his robe, shaved his head, and then he fell to the ground in worship. You worship at times. It's gonna sound, and I'll explain it. You worship with the torn clothes and the bald head. What does that mean, Pastor Tim? The torn clothes and the bald head. That's the human side. That's the anger. That's the tears. That's the pain that we go through. Because we're human. The Bible says that God knows our frame, that we're just dust. That's all we are. We understand this part. But the worship that comes from Job, that is the miracle side. That's God. That's God, us never losing sight of who he is, even though it seems that everything is trying to block him out. That's why I say this. I have a burden for Billy Crystal six blocks down. My word for Billy Crystal, who said he is not talking to God right now. I have a word, I do, and I say this out of love. You are on Broadway and 46, and the clothes are ripped right now.

And the head is bald, per se, and that's okay. I'm just gonna ask you to switch theaters and come worship with us before you go on stage at 7 p.m. Come at 10 a.m. And sit here amongst us of people that have faced horrific situations, but something inside of him has moved from the human side to the miracle side, lifted up both hands, and said, "God is worthy. "God is on the throne. "God is to be praised. "He is worthy to be worshiped when he gives to us. "He is worthy to be worshiped when he takes from us. "He is God in the middle of all of it." (congregation applauding) How do you go? How do you go from where are you, God, to you are worthy, God? How do you make that transition? It's a battle, it's a fight. In that fight that sometimes I face even here of so much that comes our way, I got some help recently from behind my seat where I sit in the sanctuary from three people unexpectedly just a couple weeks ago. I got help that I'm holding on to today. I got help and it wasn't so much in the, through words from these three people,

I was given three pictures drawn from me by three little boys who sat behind me that encouraged me for the fight. They were six, eight, and 10. And these three papers I treasure. Let me tell you about what I hold in my hand. The first one is from Hunter. Hunter says this, he said, he wrote this to me. He said, I got from God a word for you. That's what it says. He says, I got it from God that he is proud of you. I'm looking at this. I just said, this is amazing. And then he drew a picture of me walking with Jesus and it looks like a dove or a New York pigeon. But either way, it just, it works. It's me, Jesus, and a dove, and Jesus saying, I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you. I just, I took it, it helped. It helped me. And then I got, then Noah wrote to me. And he wrote, I got the word for you now. This is what he wrote. I got the word. He says it's Colossians 4 17. These are kids. I got the word. It's Colossians 4 17.

And this is what it says. See to it that you complete the ministry which you have received from the Lord. (congregation applauding) That's what he's writing to me. And then he puts, he has a bat down there. So I guess it's like to hit people so I can complete the ministry that God has given to me from the Lord. But I gotta tell you my favorite one. It's the youngest one. It's Caleb. Caleb, he's six years old. And if I showed it to you, he drew all these random, I don't even know what these pictures are. There's like, it's like a head. There's not even a body. There's no torso. It's just a head with legs. And so it's all I got. And Caleb, right, drew all these pictures, crossed out a whole bunch of things. And then he says, "To pastor Tim with an E, P-A-S-T-E-R. "To pastor Tim, this is the one I love." Two words, be brave. (congregation applauding) Be brave. That's all it was. You don't know what those pictures are, but I do know it says be brave.

And these things, I needed to hear that from Caleb. I needed to hear that because I was facing some subtraction moments. I was facing those moments that I needed to be brave and say, "I'm gonna lift my hands and worship him. "I'm gonna glorify his name." I saw it in others in the dark times they would worship with ripped clothes and shaved heads, but their hands were lifted high in the middle of it. They were brave in the middle of it. They were in a spot like Job that they found a way to lift their hands up. I had it told to me some years ago and it was probably 20, 25 years ago, I'm gonna guess it was on, I think it was a new show called 2020, I think it was 2020 that did this remarkable thing. They followed four cancer patients see how you end up. What condition you're in. The story was told to me. And I remember being told that all four people were facing it different ways. The first one was facing it with anger, the why me, I can't believe this. My whole life's ahead of me. They said the second one was a young lady who was just in despair, who was just going I can't believe this, I can't believe this, everything's over. I'm going to see my children and just despair. The third one was regret as an older man with regret going I should have done this, I should have made amends with my family, I should have made amends with this, I shouldn't have bought

this. Why would I spend my money on all these things? And you're dealing with anger, you're dealing with despair and you're dealing with regret. But the one that they told me about was that they could not figure out how the fourth one had joy in the midst of the diagnosis. They couldn't understand why he was brave even though he was terminal. It was an old Mississippi pastor, preacher who shocked everyone that he was brave enough to have joy and he's still worship. When they asked him, I think ironically, like Job, his head, his hair is gone. He's bald from chemo and here he is as a picture of Job that his head is shaved but his hands are raised. And when they asked this old man and said, "How are you joyful? This person is in despair, this person is angry and this person has regrets and you have joy." He mustered the strength and he couldn't even come up with his own words but he had to give them the lyrics to a hymn that they sang in church. And so as they're saying, "How do you do this? This is what he said." He said, "I'm pressing on the upward way." He said, "New heights I'm gaining every day, still praying as I'm onward bound, Lord plant my feet on higher ground." And then with the strength and size, "Lord lift me up and let me stand by faith on heaven's table land, a higher plain than I have found, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground." And before they can take the microwave, he was going to verse 2, "My heart has no desire to stay where doubts arise and fears dismay, though some may dwell where these abound, my prayer, my aim is higher ground." And before they can say another word, he was going to verse 3, "I want to live above the world, though Satan's darts at me are hurled, for faith has caught the joyful sound, the song of saints, hallelujah is higher ground, and if you did three verses, you got to do four."

And he said, "I want to scale the utmost heights and catch a gleam of glory bright, but still I'll pray till rest I found, Lord, lead me on to higher ground hallelujah." That Mississippi preacher was brave. He got Caleb's words to me. "David was brave in Psalm 22," listen to these words, "the words that Jesus used from the cross, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me far from my deliverances or the words of my groanings." Listen to verse 2, he says, "Oh my God, I cry by day, but you do not even answer me." And by night I have no rest, here it comes folks, this is the brave part, get ready for the brave transition. He says, "I cry by day, you don't answer yet, you are holy, and you inhabit the praises of your people." That's a Joe praise, that's Joe worship, that's the brave transition from you do not answer to yet you are holy, folks, do you understand that it's the people that say, "I pray it and nothing has happened?" It seems like nothing is going on, but it doesn't change who God is. It doesn't change who, what he has done, it doesn't change and he's sitting on the throne for us. If we can't worship this way, there is not a song you can hear around the world that will change that. You have got to learn to praise him with your head shaved and your clothes ripped and say, "You are still God and God alone." Another way to say yet, he is holy, is regardless of what's going on. Despite everything that's happening and changing around you, remain the same. Despite how I feel, you are still the same. You don't change God, though everything around me is changing. See, the praise that goes up when life is going down is a different kind of praise.

That's the praise that God says I inhabit those kinds of praises. I show up when people praise that way. And if you wanna know how to praise that way, move to New York City. We'll show you how to praise that way. Come down here, try to go on these subways, walk these streets, hear about killings and stabbings and everything else, but look closely down at the train platform. You just might see a Times Square church person with their hands up and say God, I trust you in the middle of all the stuff that's going on. (audience applauding) One person said when we lift our voice to worship Jesus, the devil loses his. Let me finish with this as the band comes. Job had torn clothes and shaved head, but his hands were raised. The shaved head was a sign of loss to everyone. It was making a statement where they shaved their head in the middle of loss. It was a statement, it was going public. This is where I'm at right now. I'm in a bad place. The shaved head spoke to everybody and said, look, this is where I'm at. I'm not hiding it, it's going public. The torn clothes was emotions coming out because those garments that they would wear would be costly. There was no TJ Maxx or marshals.

There was labor intensive and what you wore identified who you were. But when they would rip the costly, when they would rip those clothes, it was showing hostility. I'm angry. And that's why I say with compassion, I say because I'm praying for him, Billy Crystal just has a shaved head and torn clothes. And I wanna say to that precious man, don't stop there because you can worship with a shaved head torn clothes and you can still lift up your hands and begin to praise him for who he is. So how do you do it? I'm gonna ask, you guys, come on, come on, everybody, get them because I gotta tell you about how do you do it? How can you be brave? I wanna talk to not only those here, those around the world. The Apostle Paul faced so much and asked this question. Listen to Romans 831, what then shall we say to these things? And he was speaking about all that was coming against them as they're watching Christianity birth in the epicenter of idolatry, right in the city of Rome. And Paul is looking at the believers going, what are we gonna say to this stuff?

What are we gonna say to an arena that's killing Christians? What are you gonna say to the persecution? That if you don't bow in need and surrender, that's why the word Lord, Kuryas was so important at that time because the name that when Paul says in Romans 10, 9 and 10, he says that you have to confess Jesus as what? Lord, that was a word reserved for the Caesar. And Paul was going, no, no, no, no, he's not Lord. He's Lord, and we're living in a time even now that we are faced with so many things happening around us and the question arises again for us. What shall we say to these things as they're rising all around us? What do we say to those things that have been unleashed from hell against us? What things was Paul talking about? A few verses down, he talks about it. He said, I'm convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor things present, things to come, powers, height, depth, or any creative thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. He says these things, this is what he says. He said, whether you're job facing principalities and angels fall in angels or whether you're my friend that I'm texted when we talk about created things, whatever this may be, things present, what we're facing now in society, my goodness,

it's overwhelming. Well, I didn't give you the full verse. This is the full verse. What then shall we say to these things? If God, that's the whole verse. If God is for us, who can be against us? Come on, lift those hands and say, if God before us, who can be? Against us. Oh, hallelujah, hallelujah. They, they, they say that, that when you are looking at those things and you're going, I don't know, I don't even know how to do this. I don't even know how to do this. That's where you look at them and just say, if God is for me, who can be against me? If God is for me, we had a tragic killing just on a subway here at 53rd and 7th, just a few blocks away. This last week, I was, I was there just probably within 30 minutes of the whole thing taking place there. I was at the church and walking that way. It was, it was, I was leaving here and going that way. And all I could do was just go, God, I'm just not only pray for those people, but God, as fear, we'll try to come in. You just go, what do we say to those things? If God before us, who can be against us? God before us, who can be against us? See, here's, here's what happens. They say as you'd walk those streets of Jerusalem in the first century, those dark corridors, and as you were looking for fine pottery, fine, that was, that was very expensive. They said something very interesting as you're trying to find,

not a replica, we would say in New York City, some of you know these words. If you don't know it, if you know, I guess my kids, if you know, you know. So it's this, it, they didn't want to buy, how many know this word, a knockoff. Anybody know what a knockoff is? If you don't know what a knockoff is, go buy something right there on Broadway. And that's called, let's go, because some of you are going, like, "I got a deal on that Louis Vuitton purse." Let me help you, that's a knockoff. Okay, that's a knockoff. So how did you not get a knockoff in, in, in Jerusalem as you're looking for pottery? I want the real thing, I want the real artist, I want the real pottery. This is what they would say. Listen to these words. They said, if they would take their finger and they said, if you hit it, it will sing. They said, if you hit it, it sings. That's what happens to true believers. When you hit them, hands go up and they start to worship. All of a sudden, Satan comes in and throws everything at Joe. And the only thing, Joe, he said, Joe goes, I'll cry, I'll rip my clothes, but my hands are going up. I'm going to go ahead and worship him and say, you are worthy to be prayed. I know what a report says, I got served papers, they're going to evict me from here, but I just got to tell you this, God is still God. God is the one that is on the throne, that's the one I'm going to worship. Okay, I got it. Here's the deal. Here it is. This is the real ending. Listen, listen, listen. As I was reading through this, this didn't come from the hymn, I started singing a song from over 25 years ago. It was just one line in it. It was a song I embarrassingly say

that I used to lead on my guitar to people. Don't get any ideas, I'm not giving them up. But I used to lead it on my guitar. And it was just one line. The name of the song was called We Will Worship the Lamb of Glory. It was done by a man named Dennis Jernigan. Some of you will remember the chorus. And it goes, and with our hands lifted high, we will worship and sing. And with our hands lifted high, we come before you reach your, here it comes, get ready. And with our hands lifted high, here it comes. When the world wonders why, we'll just tell them with love. How many have ever heard that song before? How many have heard that before? And that's why I'd love the part when it says, and the world is wondering why? We'll just tell them we're loving our King in the middle of it. Come on, lift those hands. And with our hands lifted high, we will worship and sing. And with our hands lifted high, we come before you reach your, sing with our hands lifted high. Come on, let's sing it again. Come on, join with me everybody. Here we go. And with our hands lifted high, we will worship and sing. And with our hands lifted high, we don't before you become Oh, this is the part. And with our hands lifted high to the sky. Where do you get to tell the church? Come on, let's sing it loud. Come on, with our hands. And with our hands lifted high, we will worship and sing.

And with our hands lifted high, we don't before you rejoice. And with our hands lifted high, we will worship and sing. Come on, you got to sing it like a choir. And with our hands lifted high, we will worship and sing. And with our hands lifted high, we will worship. With our hands lifted high, we'll worship and sing. We'll just tell them we're loving our King. One more time. So here's what we're going to do. We're going to close this one. We'll sing this again. How many... how many heard that song before? How many? What a powerful song. When the world wonders why? Why are you lifting your hands? I want to tell... and I'm saying... God knows my heart. I'm saying this. I want to... I want to sit there with Billy Crystal. And when... if and when he comes, we're going to sing this song. And you're going to sing loud. And we're going to go ahead and lift our hands. And we're going to go win the world. And I really want you to emphasize that part. And when the world wonders why, we're just telling we're loving our King. In the midst of it, folks, you have the bald head, the shaved head, and the ripped clothes. But a song hasn't come out of the hit. A song hasn't come out of it. It's been the... even at times the blaming of God. The King James, as I was reading through it, as I was reading through the King James, and it talks about at the end it says, "and charged him foolishly for what happened." He wouldn't charge him foolishly. Some of you have been hit, but you don't sing. You've been hit. And there's no song that's coming out. See, when I read through those, the very first verse of Job, and it says, "There was a great man in the east, who's from us, whose name was Job." It says, "He was blameless, upright." I have a new American standard here. He was fearing God. This version says, "He was turning away from evil." I like the King James. It says, "He eschewed evil." I had to look that word up. I didn't even know what a "shoot" was.

Other than this, I wear a size 12 "shoot." That wasn't too good. But you know what? You know what? That's just a list of characteristics. You know what proved him? No, it proved this is when the hit came, and you hit the man, and he started to worship. That's when you're going, "That's a righteous woman. That's a righteous man." But some of you lost the song. I couldn't find the song. And the spouse, the roommate, the mom, that you keep calling. I'll never get married. I'll never... Whatever it may be. I can't seem to get this. I can't seem to get this. How do they get it? They're not even living for God. And what happens is, blame comes out instead of worship. And you say, "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Blessed be the name of the Lord. balcony main floor, those watching from Africa, Europe, Central and South America, here in the U.S., Canada, and Asia. If you're here today, especially, you that we're going to make this Joe 121 here. We're going to we're going to say, God, I lost the song in the in the hit. I lost the song. I lost the song. And instead of people seeing a righteous woman, they're watching something change. They're watching the complaint. Today is a day that we go, I'm going to find that music again. I'm going to find the song again inside of me. It's going to take boldness. But if you're here today and say, Pastor Tim, I got hit, but I lost the song. Today, I'm going to get my song back. And that's you get out of your seats. We sing this just wherever you have quickly. Get out of your seat. Just get down here and say, I want my song back. I want the song back. I've been hit, but I'm going to get that song back. Come on. And with our hands lifted high. Come on, balcony, main floor. You come. You come. Whoever it is. Come on. Sing it again. And with our hands lifted high. Sing it again. And with our hands lifted high. Sing it again. And with our hands lifted high. Sing it again. We're going to sing one last time. Come on, Church. Here we go. And with our hands lifted high. And with our hands lifted high.

We'll just tell them we're loving our King. You know, if I didn't value it so much, I wish I could give all of you and just say, be brave. Be brave. You can, you can praise Him even in takeaway. You've maybe cried to the Lord and say, God, I've talked to you like the David, the David bravery. I've called to you. I don't even get an answer. I don't even get a, yeah, you are holy. Yet you are holy. It's Job going. I've lost, I've lost everything. I've done everything. But I will worship you. The Lord gives, the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name. It's Paul saying, what are we going to say to these things? It's Paul saying, here's what we say. If God before us, who's going to be against these? God's touching you, my friend. Come here. What's your name? Joanne. Joanne, first time here? You've been here before. God's going to give me your hand. I'm going to pray for you right now. Father, for this precious young man with God, you're doing something in him. He's been hit and you're going to put a song back inside of him again. You're going to put a song back inside of him. Those tears are crying out for a song. Those tears come, one of the elders, come over to the David, come here. We're going to put right now a song inside of Joanne that let the Holy Spirit, O God, what seems to have been taken away, what seems to be tragic, what seems to be catastrophic. Now, God, there's a song that's coming. There's a song that's coming. Come on, pray for Joanne right now. Father, in Jesus' name, in Jesus' name. This is the shaved head. This is the torn garments. You're doing something in him. You're doing something. For just a moment now, just lift those hands to them. Just lift those hands and just say, God, I'm going to worship you right now. Just tell them. Just say, God, and then declare. Say, say these words. If God be for me, who can be against me? Say these words. You can cheat me, but you can't hurt me. God won't allow it. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. So Father, right now, I'm going to ask for this. put a song inside of them today. Put a song inside of them today. Let this be the day that God, that this, a new song is gonna come in Jesus' name. Now, those at the Psalter, look at me for a second. Here's what I wanna, here's what I wanna just challenge with.

It starts with this, Ricardo's gonna lead us in one more song, sing that song, don't just stand. 'Cause that's what the takeaway wants. Take what he just wants to sit there and just go, I'm not gonna say, sing that song, and just go, I'm gonna worship you, God, in the midst of this, how do I do it? How do I do it? If God be for me, who can be against me? You can cheat me, but you can't hurt me. God won't allow me. God has a leash on evil people, and God has a leash on hell itself, and say, you are under God's watchful eye. You are under God's watchful eye. Now, let me just say this, if you're here today, and you've been trying to get through tragedy and catastrophic moments, yet you can't do this without God. Some of you have walked away from God, some of you have left God, some of you don't even know God, and I'm telling you, you're wondering why, how we can worship God with all that we've gone through. I'm telling you why, we just love our King. We love Jesus, but you've never experienced that before. I'm telling you, this is the moment to say, God, I need you in my life. I'm not inviting you to a church, a religion, a denomination, or at a times, I'm inviting you into relationship with the King of all kings and the Lord of Lord. Can I just ask this real quick?

I'm not even gonna belabor this. You're here today and you're saying, I need God in my life. I've been away from, raise your hand right now, as high as you can, hold it up high. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Keep them up high. I wanna make sure I see every hand that's up. Keep them up, thank you, thank you over there. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. All over there, yes, balcony, keep them up. Yes, got you back there. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Okay, come on, pray this with me right now. Say, God, I need you. Come into my life and change me. Forgive me, God. I have blamed you. I have accused you. But today, I realize you're not against me. You are for me. Change my life. I thank you that you are in me, in Jesus' name. And everybody said, amen and amen. Okay, here's what we're gonna do. You've raised your hand. At the end, you can go to exit seven. They'll get you a Bible and spend five minutes with you and get you on a journey, those online. You'll see the links to click.

I want us to sing one more song. I want us to go ahead and get ready. We got that song. Come on, sing this song. Let's worship him, please. [MUSIC PLAYING]