The End Is the Beginning

Come on, let's stand and just praise him for a second. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Thank you, God. Bless the Lord. God is the strength of our hearts. He's the strength of our lives, and we thank God for that today. What a blessing. Thank you, choir. Boy, what a tremendous, from opening prayer all the way to now, we sense his presence here. We're so happy that you've made it. For those that are watching around the country and around the world, we've had a snowstorm here. It's cold outside, but I'm telling you, Jesus is here today doing some tremendous things. We want to welcome all those that are watching from around the country and around the world. What a joy to have every one of you that are watching from around the tri-state area, around the United States, and around the world. Let's, I want to welcome all those that are live with us that are watching from South Africa, Kenya, Togo. We say hello to Nigeria and Namibia, Seychelles and Eswatini, Senegal, Uganda, and Ethiopia. We welcome India, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. We say hello to Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Turkey, Myanmar, which is Burma. We welcome Israel. We say shalom to Israel, and we're praying that God would begin to bring peace to Jerusalem. We're praying for the peace of Jerusalem, for the United Arab Emirates. We also welcome Australia. In just a moment, we're going to begin to pray. There was a tragic shooting on Hanukkah.

Their 11 lives were lost as a gunman opened up for some precious Jewish people celebrating at Bondi Beach, and they killed 11 Jewish people. We're going to be praying in just a moment for you, Australia, but especially for the Jewish people. We also lift that we thank God for New Zealand, the UK, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Lithuania. We say hello to Poland, France, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, Spain, Germany, and Austria. We welcome Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Albania. We say hello to Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal, and Finland, our northern neighbors, Canada. We also welcome the Navajo Nation that's watching, Mexico, Haiti, Barbados, Guatemala, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, French Guiana, Cayman Islands, Honduras, Panama, Cuba, Grenada, Suriname, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. We welcome all those that are watching. We welcome some 45 states that are watching around the U.S., and this is always my favorite part. We welcome all the universities that are watching. We welcome the University of Delaware, Old Dominion University, Houghton University, the University of Toronto. We welcome our Bible school, Summit International School of the Ministry. We welcome New York University in Shanghai. We say hello to Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Texas, and we also welcome Pace University and Iona University. Would you welcome all those that are watching? We will take a moment when we start to pray. We're also going to pray for those shooting victims at the Brown University that just took place last night. Folks, we live in such a time that we need people that pray. We need to, so when we come together, we're going to begin to pray. I do want to make just one ask tonight, if you're here or watching from the New Jersey area or even here, tonight, we're so excited. At 6.30, we'll be joining, I'm going to get a chance to go over to our New Jersey campus

for the Christmas service. Over there, I'll be preaching. So if you live in the New Jersey area, 6.30 at the New Jersey campus with Pastor Brad and Lisa Geist, we're so grateful to be there. On Saturday, as I was preparing for Sunday, I just, there was something very strong on my heart that came from my devotional reading. I put aside some notes and I want to just share with you before we get ready to pray here. I had a meeting just on this Thursday or Wednesday, I think it was Wednesday, with two of my favorite people that flew in from Jerusalem. These are two Jewish men that I love dearly and the work that they're doing, there's some things we're doing in Israel that I'll tell you about in January. But he told me a story about, before I share the updates on a project later on that we're involved with. And one of the gentlemen told me that, he said, before we talk about anything in Israel, he said, I just want to tell you a story. And I want to tell you a story about Times Square Church. He said, I was doing a conference with 400 people in Singapore that are praying and believing, most of them Jews, in Singapore. And so, and while I'm there, so you have to keep this in mind, he says, I flew from Jerusalem, I'm in Singapore, and an Indonesian woman comes up. To me and says you look familiar, and he goes. I don't know what you mean. I'm I'm not popular. I'm not a famous person, but I'm just here to do the conference So just keep this in mind a Jew from Jerusalem is speaking in Singapore who meets an Indonesian woman in Singapore at this conference, and then she says this she says I know who you are Said you were at Times Square Church a few months ago She said I was there the night you came to hear our speaker She said I have a picture of you and and and there with some of our leaders She says this to me. She says I go to Times Square Church so Jerusalem Indonesia

Singapore and New York City all met there the kingdom of God is so big and then And then these two Jewish men said to me. They said we have a saying we either say It's a small world or a big God. I said I'm gonna go with a big God I said I think that's the reason why you do it I mean, it's the same thing that happened one of the husbands of our staff We're on a flight to Ghana this last week And he was sharing the gospel with the flight attendant and told the flight attendant in the gut the the Ghana Flight attendant to go to the TSC website, and they said to him. I'm already An online member and I go to TSC already On the Ghana flight God is doing something around the world and we're so thankful for it So today I want to talk to you about that this has been on my heart And I'll explain in just a moment the end is just the beginning the end is just the beginning Let's pray father in these next few moments. We're going to talk about a big God today God you are big big enough to be at Brown University with those grieving families big enough to be in Sydney, Australia Father as 11 of precious Jewish people were were killed on a beach as they were celebrating the first day of Hanukkah Father you can begin right now to speak and comfort these precious families in Rhode Island and in Sydney, Australia I'm gonna ask you even right here in New York City that you cover our Jewish friends all over New York City during Hanukkah I pray that the hand of God would send just angelic forces to protect them here in New York City and around the world We stand with those Lord God that father we stand with the people that you love You said if we that whoever blesses you will be blessed and on this day we bless the nation of Israel today We're praying God that there would be peace God in that nation revival would take place not just there But in all of those Arabic nations that God and we thank you for what we're seeing take place around the world now Today, would you show us that we serve a big God today show us how great our God is father We just thank you for what you're going to do. We give you all the praise and all the honor in Jesus name And everybody said Amen before you sit down. You need to greet about three or four people. They made it through the snow They need a smiling face today. Tell someone so great to see you and then you may be seated In Conrad Reid discovered a 17-pound rock while fishing in Little Meadow Creek Not knowing what it was made of his family used the 17-pound rock as a doorstop for three years on their home

Until a few years later his father took it to a jeweler and realized they had a 17-pound piece of gold That he had been using for a door stopper this lump of gold that they could not believe It was one of the biggest gold nuggets ever found east of the Rockies 17 pounds that today would be worth over a million dollars and they were using it as a doorstop of their home They had no idea what they had They thought it was a rock and there was something of huge value there And that's why as I began to read through the book of 2nd Corinthians chapter 1 I kept thinking we may not know the value that we have when we go through testing trial in the furnace We may not know the actual thing that's happening that there is a value that's there Then instead of just pushing it off to the side and going. Thank God. We're through that There's something that God is doing was Charles Spurgeon who said fiery trials make golden Christians and this is so important for us Peter kind of bears this out when he says pure gold put in the fire Comes out of it proved pure Genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine when Jesus wraps this all up It's your faith. Not your goal that God will have on display as evidence of his Victory I want to ask you this question. I want to give you a challenge If and most and that if have you faced suffering and received Comfort in the heat of the battle how many would say yes? You have been in a heat of a fight and God has come through and comforted you I want to challenge you as God was challenging me There is still one more job for you that this battle is not done That the end is just the beginning and let me share this with you because your job is this You are to help someone through their battles Through their suffering because the end is the beginning the end of difficulty For all of us is the beginning of ministry for other folks the end is not you I'm glad that's over with that was really difficult But the end is let me tell you what God has done for me And if he brought me through he will take you through it

listen to 2nd Corinthians chapter 1 where the Apostle Paul reminds us that the end is just the beginning that the end of a battle is the beginning of ministry Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ The father of mercies and the God of all comfort who comforts us in all of our afflictions So that we will be able to comfort those Who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God There is what he was talking about that the end is the beginning for just as the sufferings of Christ are ours and abundance So also our comfort is abundant through Christ if we are afflicted is for your comfort and salvation For comfort it is for your comfort which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings Which we also suffer and our hope for you is firmly grounded Knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings So also you will be sharers of our comfort the Apostle Paul is reminding us that the end of a battle is just the beginning Of ministry, it's where God is challenging us I remember reading someone saying if you're looking for somebody who can give you wisdom May I recommend you that you look for someone who has been hurt deeply and whose faith has remained Unshaken they said that's the person that you look for It was Hudson Taylor who? Began to open up the door for the revival that they're experiencing to this day in the nation of China Through the underground church was the ministry and faith and even the suffering of Hudson Taylor Who went through so much and now today the Chinese Church the Chinese underground church There are more Christians in China today than any other country in the world That God is doing something so powerful there And it was this man Hudson Taylor and he took you Ricardo let us in a song today That we were we were speaking you were singing Jewish names Jehovah Nisi and Jehovah Rafa God do heals the God our fights our battles and what Hudson Taylor did in the midst of his battles is he had a plaque in his in his home in his apartment There in China, and he had two names up there that I want you to get down He said he put these two names Ebeneezer and Jehovah Jireh Ebeneezer when you read it in the book of Samuel Ebeneezer means thus far the Lord has helped us and The name Jehovah Jireh means the Lord will provide

One look back while the other one looked forward One reminded him of God's faithfulness and the other name Assured him that God will show up in it. No matter what fight is ahead These two names are critical and so important I know people who have gone through suffering have gone through affliction have gone through battles I want you to listen to me, but have aborted before the comfort has come That have left it that have exited it that is just left. They didn't know Jehovah Jireh They didn't know that the Lord will provide for them God will provide strength God will provide wisdom God will provide the endurance and the patience to walk through they have faced loneliness a toxic culture at their job a disease diagnosis a destructive marriage Family dysfunctions a false narrative that has been raised about them Financial woes and debt, but they didn't wait for part two of the second Corinthians promise God is not just a God that says that says you will face affliction you will face sufferings But you have to understand He is also the God of all comfort that says I will show up in the midst of the fire I will be there when you go through but once you get Through it. It's not done. The end is the beginning that when God comforts us God is getting ready to prepare you to give that same challenge to other people What is the comfort that i've learned that I think we've all learned in suffering? It could be a scripture to hold on to it could be an encounter with god in prayer It could be a miracle answer to prayer in the midst of it It could be a believer that has helped you a church that was there to walk you through That battle that affliction I received A letter from the west coast of somebody i'm sorry from down south That somebody was telling me about how god comforted their sister. They said on sunday morning Some months ago my wife brought to the 10 a.m Service our church sister our to church our sister who is from brazil She was grateful. We had decided to let her come along with us to new york city and even more grateful

That we had brought her to times square church He said she doesn't understand english So she was plugged into the translation service and was listening in portuguese that tsc provides But at the same time during the service her reception went dead and couldn't continue to listen To what pastor tim was preaching but only as god would have it She remembers that she was being moved by the holy spirit Even though the sound went out on her headphones He said that she began to cry that spirit moved on her and she recalls praying in portuguese God, I don't understand a word that this pastor is saying don't worry people who understand me don't understand sometimes But somehow I understand everything that's being said I believe that you are healing me of this cancer in my blood That the doctors in brazil say that I have I believe in my healing and I will leave here today With healing is what she prayed right in the middle of the service. So well, well Well, some people would get angry going what the the headphones went out. I can't listen She went she felt the comfort of the holy spirits Then she said she felt a lifting of something off her body And she said she went back to brazil went through more testing because the doctors ordered it And after she went through some more tests holding on and believing that she was truly healed Since her experience with god on that sunday at times square church She underwent a specific type of biopsy that would give her a definite answer whether or not she had cancer Well, she received her results on october 9th and after consulting with the doctor to understand all the medical jargon That was on the report. The doctor just simply said this you are cancer free. That's what the doctor told her The letter said she wanted you in the congregation at times square church and the world at large that That god if we believe is still in the business of healing setting free And saving all of the people that will trust in him She has a great reason today to be thankful for what he did for her Even before the doctor had pronounced the good news. She felt the power of god's It was a it was this quick Affliction suffering i'm i'm here. I come all the way from brazil and the sound goes out. I don't understand anything Here's the good news. You don't have to understand me because we want god to speak and god

Healed her in the middle of the message that she didn't even understand Only god can do that's comfort in the middle of the battle. That's god's that's jehovah. Jireh Jehovah jireh god will provide even though technology gets moved out of the way Can I just promise you this even though there's a snowstorm god still shows up in new york city You Folks i've experienced it. I kept going through that list that I wrote down I kept going through the list that said what is the comfort in suffering? Whether it's a scripture to hold on to an encounter with god like our sister from brazil a miracle answer to prayer a believer That helped or a church that was there I had a word come to me. I'll tell you what the word was I was in a situation some years ago That it was an accusation against me that I couldn't defend I had to sit and listen and hear and could not fight back And god even spoke to me specifically and says do not fight do not fight. Let me defend you Keep your mouth shut and god brought me through my comfort In this affliction my comfort in this battle Was a scripture that god gave to let me give this to you. This is the scripture that god gave to you It's a powerful word From from from the book of genesis take a picture of this because one day you're going to need it I've used this to help others and it's just simply these words from Genesis 30 33 my honesty will answer for me later how many need that scripture today my honest and this is when God says to see the problem with that verse keep that on the screen the problem with that verse is the word later I want it to be now and I have given that verse because God brought me through with that verse keep your mouth shut I'll vindicate later and I felt the Holy Spirit say you don't defend yourself let me do it your honesty will answer for you later that verse it wasn't that wasn't the end of my battle it was the beginning of giving other people that verse I've gone if you ever in this affliction I I knew that what I went through that this verse that God gave to me I would use it to give it to other people and this is what's so

important see those who left and escaped before God would give the comfort the scripture the healing whatever that would be don't have comfort to give in their conversations when they're talking to people in pain don't miss what I'm about to say those that have not received comfort in the battle those that have not received an encounter with God answer to prayer scripture to get them through and all of a sudden when you talk to other people that are in a similar battle they don't have anything to give all they have is a painful story to tell you without any help I got out I just left I won't go back to that church they just tell you how bad everything is how corrupt this is and how bad this is and what happens is is something so dangerous because what they're doing is is they don't have the comfort they need the comfort themselves I've been musing on this I don't I don't I'm sorry I kind of made up my own answer to this but I thought about this I went all the way back to the book of Genesis and thought to myself Joseph who is put in prison falsely accused of raping his employer's wife which which was so far from the truth it never happened in fact he was left ran from the from his from the the office from the palace where he was serving and while he is in prison for this accusation he tries to get his own way out of this listen to these words he looks at a group of guys he looks at a cupbearer and a baker from Pharaoh's palace and says hey keep me in mind this is prison these are prisoners talking to each other keep me in mind when it goes well with you and please do me a kindness mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house for I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews and he and I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon what what if Joseph would have gotten out that way think of that just for a moment what if God goes you want you want a way out because I'm gonna because God those who know the story of Joseph know that God is going to give Pharaoh a dream that nobody can interpret and then they're gonna go back into the prison and say there is a Hebrew that interprets dreams and in one day he takes off a prison jumpsuit and puts on the robes of a prime minister in one day but if he would have gotten his own way and got out when before that took place

I kept thinking to myself he goes back to Canaan faces the famine but Joseph stank God that God didn't answer that prayer Joseph stays in jail for almost 12 years released by that dream and the memory of a cupbearer God's exit strategy and comfort would make him a prime minister there's something more that God is doing when you want to get out let God begin to comfort instead of you exiting ask God for help ask God for a scripture ask God for a prayer ask God for a miracle but don't try to make your way out of that thing God has something that he's wanting to do suffering without the God of all comfort is dangerous it's toxic you're hearing from someone who is who when you're hearing from somebody who has not experienced the comfort of God they just it was difficult so I left it was difficult so I got out of the marriage it was difficult so I left New York I got out of the job I left the staff I don't know whatever it may be I'm just throwing things out there you're hearing from someone who is hurt but not healed comfort heals and preps you for the ministry that's supposed to take place God is wanting to do this is where God is going The end is just the beginning. Your testimony brings comfort to people. That's one of the ways God uses the powerful tool of a testimony. That when God brings you through, it's not over. It's just beginning. For you to tell that story, you can make it through. You can get through that. I think that for even my daughter, who is in college sports and resilient, who has gone through injury after injury after injury. I think that God, you're giving her a story. You're giving her a testimony.

She blew out her knee and then has to rehab and misses a whole year of recruiting and all of a sudden it's gone. But God put her in the right place. Then the first day back after she's cleared by the doctors after surgery, she runs her mouth into the knee of somebody at a tournament and her front teeth get pushed in the back. She has to go through surgery and stitches inside of her mouth. I'm just thinking to myself, this poor girl is going through it over and over again. God has done resilient things through her faith and what God wants to do through her that she just hasn't quit. It's a story to tell that God can bring you through. It's so important. Just because you went through a difficult moment doesn't mean you have something to offer unless you've received what God has given to you. You cannot just think, you're going through it, I went through it, let's talk about it. If the person who's talking has not received something from God, you are going to hear a story with a bitter tone. Some of you are going, I knew I should have stayed home this Sunday. Your suffering story without the comfort of heaven means you need comfort before you comfort others. It's so important to understand that God wants to use you. Now I want to just tell you this.

I want to tell you what Paul does. Paul tells his suffering and then tells his comfort story. I think our monitor is up there. Okay, perfect. Paul tells his suffering and comfort story. The Apostle Paul's comfort came from a prayer meeting that was 300 miles away from his suffering. This is important to understand. The end is just the beginning. The end of what you went through is just the beginning. What does that mean? That when God takes you through something, you're going to help somebody else get through something. When God gives you a scripture, a word, a brother, a sister, that is not the end going, wow, you got me through. No, no, no, you are meant to get other people through it also. The end is just the beginning. Paul is going to show us this. Paul tells us his suffering and comfort story. The Apostle Paul's comfort came from a prayer meeting, and I want to tell you this. Why this is important is because Paul is going to tell you about a big God. Just like, remember, Jerusalem, Singapore, New York City, and Indonesia. 300 miles away, there's a prayer meeting while Paul is going through the challenge of his life. Paul's problem, he's going to tell you this, which is modern-day Turkey, that's Acts 19. And the prayers that were going up for him,

so this is the prayers that were happening. This is the comfort that was taking place. The prayers were going up in Corinth, which is in Greece, that's 2 Corinthians 1. So keep this in mind. We're going to read both of these scriptures. You have Acts 19, 2 Corinthians 1. These verses in your Bible may be 60, 70 pages apart, but on a map it was 300 miles apart. 300 miles from Paul's problem, there was a prayer meeting that was going on that literally rescued him. 300 miles across the Aegean Sea, God was going, I've got comfort. I've got a group of people that are going to stand in the gap for you. They're going to pray you through this, Paul. Listen to it. For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, we have the sentence of death within ourselves, so that we did not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us. He on whom he has set our hope, he will yet deliver us. Now here it comes. Listen to the prayer meeting. Also join us. Joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf, for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many. This is amazing, because Paul tells us, if you look at verse 10, it said, He who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us.

That's Ebenezer in Jehovah-Jireh right there. Thus far God has helped us, and will provide a way out. He's going to begin to do it. It's faithfulness and assurance. Paul said, I was in an affliction in Asia that was about to crush us. He said, I thought we were about to die. But thank God there was a prayer meeting happening in Greece, while we were facing death in Asia. Thank God that no matter what you may be facing in Australia, or what you may be facing in Israel, or what you're facing in Ukraine, I'm believing that there is a church here in New York City, thousands of miles away, because prayer bridges the gap. What seems to be miles on a map, there is no miles or gap between that, when the people of God begin to pray. And that's what happens here. Asia has a problem, and Greece has a prayer meeting. Let me say that again. Asia has a problem, and Greece has a prayer meeting. So if you're watching from California, get people praying for you, even though they may be thousands of miles away. Prayer always works. You need people to seek God for you. Look at the problem that he had in Ephesus. This is what he's talking about in 2 Corinthians 1. About that time, there occurred no small disturbance concerning the way, for a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, was bringing no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together with the workmen of similar trades, and said, men, you know that our prosperity depends upon this business. You see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away a considerable number of people, saying the gods made with hands are no gods at all. Not only is there danger that this trade of ours falls into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless, and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship

will even be dethroned from her magnificence. Look at this talk. Paul's reputation of winning people to Christ, now, all of a sudden, this battle is brewing. The pot is boiling. And then when they heard this, they were filled with rage, and began crying out, great is Artemis of the Ephesians. The city was filled with confusion. They rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus. Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia. And when Paul wanted to go into the assembly, the disciples would not let him. This is where they knew that death was looming over them. Also, some of the Assyriacs, who were friends of his, sent to him and repeatedly urged him not to venture into the theater. So then some were shouting one thing and some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and the majority did not know for what reason they had come together. Some of the crowd concluded it was Alexander, since the Jews had put him forward and had motion with his hand. Alexander was intending to make a defense to the assembly, but when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from all, as they shouted for two hours, shouting this phrase, great is Artemis of the Ephesians. Wow! This is what's going on. Two hours they're shouting the same phrase. And we, Paul says, we thought we were about to die. We thought it was all over for us, but something was brewing in a house prayer meeting in Greece. Something 300 miles away,

there was a little prayer meeting in Corinth that got a big God to help us. That all of a sudden, without the comfort, without knowing that these people were praying that God would protect, and God did protect them. God did begin to surround them. God did begin to get them out of there safely. It's the power of prayer. Can you imagine if Paul just leaves without knowing the comfort of a prayer meeting? He could just tell people, don't go there to Asia. Those people are mean. They hate us Christians. But here's the story because of God's comfort. It's Paul telling them, no matter where you go, no matter how dangerous, no matter who's against you, if you have people praying for you, God is with you. God will cover you every single time. It's the presence of God that we need. It's the power of God that we need. I was talking to someone the other day when they were asking... me about a church that has people from all over the world in it and they and it's and they're trying to find this kind of thing to like what do you do for all the nations what do you do like we live in a time that's trying to make the pulpit kind of connect with people out there i said you know what the great equalizer is it's the presence of god it's god's power i don't have to stand up here with a beanie on and and ripped up jeans and and and and sit up here with a with a with a latte talking to you with with words that i can't even pronounce that my kids are laughing at me all the time folks i i hip is is gone out of my life i am not hip though someone said i walked into a place and they said hey that outfit you're wearing is dripping and i don't even know what that means how do you bring together over 120 nations in this place it has to be god's power

and presence we're not here to make you feel like hey we're connected i want you to get connected with god not with me but with god i speak that to leaders that are that with to 60 and 70 year old men that are trying to be hip and stick their hair straight i don't okay let me just stop listen to me right now stop stop it ask god to show up at church ask the presence of the power of god and it doesn't matter what you look like as long as god is in the house take that off i don't know why i said that listen to me let me finish with this this is how paul describes the corinth prayer meeting let me read it to you look at the screen second corinthians 111 band you can come up you and your prayers are part of the rescue operation i don't want you to be in the dark about that either i can see your faces even now lifted in praise for god's deliverance of us a rescue in which your prayers played a crucial part hallelujah wow that's amazing to me god says your prayers played a crucial part a crucial part and that's what god wants to do let me finish this is a for real finish on saturdays i come in the mornings and i or mid-afternoon and pray over the seats pray over the place pray over these spots pray um that god would just move prayed over your seats and just asking god to move and then usually in the evenings i try to take another walk i praying for god to protect this place but i did something i have never done before i took a different prayer walk last night for my evening prayer i went to a pizza place to pray not not it was an eating and praying but i was standing outside of it and praying i want to tell you why there was a pizza place close by just a few blocks down the street that boasts to be the largest pizzeria in the country now i have to tell you it's a little bit significant they boast on their website this is the largest pizzeria in the nation but there's more to this pizza place called john's pizzeria on 44th and 8th it's on 44th and and if you go down seven blocks from here make a left you're going to see an old building a giant sign and it's going to say john's pizzeria i have to tell you a story because if you go to that pizza place there's something that occurred there i think it was elder chris that told me about the church that once was down here and he said pastor tim do you know there was a church down on eighth john's pizzeria answered the question that i've been looking at for four years i'm going where was that church located john's pizzeria was actually gospel tabernacle gospel tabernacle let me now let me tell you why that's important gospel tabernacle this pastor was a man named ab simpson who started the christian

missionary alliance it would be birthed there in 1881 the fourfold gospel christ our savior christ our sanctifier christ our healer christ our coming king and from that church they would start nyack college nyack College Where if I listed to the alums of that both in ministry and Christian music, it's amazing The man that had an influence of that that whose books have affected so many from that church a W Tozer But how does gospel tabernacle turn into John's pizzeria How does it turn into John's pizzeria between 43rd and 44th What what happened That the church is no longer there Even Nyack the school ish. It's just shut its doors after being open a hundred and forty years and it's shut What what battles did they face folks I'm not here to be judgmental or critical it sobered me as I was looking at this thinking to myself God there's always a fight. There's always a battle. There's always something that wants to shut this place down There'll be a battle that wants to make you give up going it's not gonna and I go God, please In every battle send that comfort Send that answer. I don't want to give up. I don't want to exit. I don't want to just say well, it's financial problems It's this no one's sure I want to go God What do you say get me through this in Jesus and when he does the end is just the beginning It's not just to get you through. It's to get other people through that So get all of us through that As all the as all the singer everybody comes listen to me. I was just I just heard this CBN 700 Club just reported it They said just this year in the country this year 15,000 churches in America have shut their door in the next couple weeks 15,000 church in America has shut their door. It's over no more think of that for just a moment For a thousand churches every month, I didn't even do the math So if it's if it's you have 30 days in a month and a thousand churches are shutting down What is that? That would be 30 churches every day Every day they just go this is the last sermon. We'll close our doors. We'll close. That's just this year and

They said in the coming years this country will experience a hundred. They said that these were their words 100,000 churches in the next few years will shut their doors Folks I'm telling you We are going to face battles We are going to face affliction You're going to face affliction You're going to face suffering and the goal is not for you to get out The goal is for you to get out and then help others to get through The issue is not like oh, I'm so glad or my family went through that. No The end is the beginning When God has brought Cindy and I through Cindy and I and our children through it wasn't so we can get through is so we can Walk other people through it. It's not so you can sit here It's so ministry starts the end is the beginning That's what Paul was saying. Paul was going I learned that he is Ebenezer He is the God that has helped us thus far and he is Jehovah Jireh God will provide that's what it means God will future tense will provide in the midst of the battle in the midst of the difficulty It's not just an abundant of affliction Paul says but there's an abundance of comfort that comes from heaven There is God that steps in and says if you receive the comfort I'm gonna teach you how to get other people through this. I'm gonna teach folks. I'm telling you this I am NOT interested in this place turning into a Broadway theater We are going to pray we are going to fight. We are going to believe for God's comfort They're not gonna walk by this place and go wasn't there a church that was there wasn't no no no no They're gonna they're gonna walk by they're gonna see an LED wall They're gonna see a whole screen and going that church isn't going anywhere Listen stand with me stand with me stand with me. Listen, listen carefully there is a There is a And a preacher from Australia is from from 70 80 years ago

I've picked up his sermons and I've read them and it just and I'll never forget some years ago reading this story. He told of I want to get make sure I got my name, right? He talked about the great British scientist Alfred Russell Wallace he said Wallace discovered this incredible thing about the emperor moth. He said in his laboratory he was watching this this amazing specimen of an insect that was trying to get out of a cocoon and as it's trying to get out it's struggling to get out. And so you know what Dr. Wallace did? He took a pen knife and made it easier. He cut the hole bigger for that emperor moth. It said when it came out it said it never flew and it lost its color. He said because in the struggle he realized when it's struggling through the hole the gunk on its wings are coming off. That junk is coming off. Through the struggle the junk is coming off of us to do what we're supposed to. So if you're in a battle right now don't cut the hole bigger. That's what Joseph was doing. Cut the hole bigger. Get me out of here. And God goes no no no no no I need you to fly as a prime minister. I need you to do something. I need you. So I'm not gonna make it a bigger hole. It's going to be a struggle but when you come out I'm telling you junk will be off you. You'll be able to go where God wants you to go. Don't listen. The end is the beginning. The end is the beginning. Don't take your battle and just put it as a doorstop and going like whoa thank God that's over with. Let's go to church. No! It's time for ministry. It's time to fight. If God brought you through something it's not for you to simply be on a mic. It's for you to tell others God will take you through this. God will get you through this. That's what he does. So if you're sitting there singing and you're going like oh my goodness this I'm in a battle and I'm trying to get out of this thing don't cut the hole more for them. Listen to me. The struggle is worth it. It's worth it. The junk is coming off as you struggle through. The stuff is coming. So what you want to do is go and let's get out. Let's go back. Folks ask me they go have you ever wanted to leave Times Square Church? All the time. I've told Cindy before I said just let Hawaii call. But I'm not. I'm telling you it may be a struggle but that junk is coming off.

I'm going get this junk off me. And you know what it is? God goes this is what God says to me. This is what God says to me. He says and this is what he spoke to me. He says the end is the beginning. If I can get you out it's just the beginning of what I want you to say. God did not bring you through to put you in a choir or in a microphone. He brought you out. He didn't bring you through those that are these these instruments, these singers, these ushers, the TSC kids, those that are sitting in here. He didn't bring you through to sit in a seat or sit behind the mic. He brought you through to say you can do it. Don't listen to those. Don't listen to those that have never experienced comfort. Don't listen to their bitter story. Listen to the ones that says let me tell you about Ebenezer. The Lord has helped thus far. And let me tell you about Jehovah Jireh. God will provide. Hallelujah! How many are saying it's a struggle right now? It's a struggle. It's a fight. I'm in a fight right now. Okay. Let me ask you again. How many are in a fight right now? Raise your hand. Okay. How many are kind of wishing for a bigger hole to get out? Anybody with me? Go like and you start and I've done this. Listen to me. I've done this. When people have gone to you they're going like hey how you doing? What can I pray for you about? I know God wants me to be quiet. You're going like hey we just praying over you know I remember doing this a few years ago back in Detroit. Yeah we're going through a financial need. I'll be praying for you. Yeah just be praying because it has to be $1,322.16. What was I doing? I was trying to tell them what to give me. It was so gross when I stood back going God why can't I just trust you? What do I have to make it up for? Know what I was doing? I was cutting the hole. I was cutting the hole and God goes let me do it. Let me do it. Do you have a song on your heart? Perfect. If you're in a struggle right now and you're going he's got to get this gunk off me now. As we sing this just get out of your seat. I want to pray for you because I'm with you. The end is the beginning. Just get out of your seat. Get up here and just say balcony. Come on get down here. If you're in if you're in the annex or if you're at Jersey campus I want you to go to the altar right now. Come on. You come. Let's

sing this as you come. Come on. Sing me how great is our God, and oh see how great, how great is our God. Oh how great, how great is our God. Sing with me this evening. How great is our God. And oh see how great, how great is our God. You're the name above all names. You're the name above all names. And you're the name above all names. You're worthy of all praise. And my heart will sing how great is our God. How great is our God. You're the name above all names. You're the name above all names. You're worthy of all praise. And my heart will sing how great is our God. How great is our God. Sing with me how great is our God. And oh see how great, how great, how great is our God. How great, how great is our God. Sing with me how great is our God. And oh see how great, how great is our God. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Don't close shop. Don't give up. His comfort's gonna come. His comfort's gonna come. Okay, and here's the thing. It's not just to get you out. The end is just the what? The beginning. He says I'll take you through, not to simply get you through, because there's more work to be done. I'm gonna use you. Some of you are, I'm looking at some of your faces. You're going like, he can use me? He can use me in what I'm going through? Can he use me in this? Yes, he can. Yes, he can.

You can ask Cindy. There were moments I gave to Cindy. I scripted to her. One of our hardest moments, I scripted the cocoon home, and this is what I told her. I said, we're out of here. I'll never forget. I said, we're done. I said, here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna go back over here, and we're gonna live with your parents, and then I'm gonna say, she goes, first of all, I know that's not the Lord. She said, because we're not living with my parents. Those are what she said, and what was I doing? I was cutting the cocoon hole bigger, and God goes, no, and thank God for a godly wife. You know what? She wouldn't let me take the pen knife. She goes, and not that she said this, but the junk was coming off of me. The junk was coming off. That's what was happening. I had stuff. I couldn't go where God wanted me to unless he got it out. So there is, there's blessing in the struggle, but you've got to listen to people that have gone through and received comfort. You may be, and I feel so strongly, listen to me online. Balcony, listen to me, this altar. You listen to people that have gone through it and have received from the Lord. You don't go to people and go, oh, you went through it? Ask them this. Tell me what God did for you in that. Because if all that comes up is going, that's why I don't go to church anymore. That's why I'm starting my own ministry. At that point, run! How many know what I'm talking about? Moments they didn't get comfort they found an exit they cut open they cut open the cocoon the junk has to come off I Listen, I thank God for the people in my life. I thank God for the pastor Carter's. I thank God for my wife I thank God for the people that said no no we're not making the hole bigger. God is doing something. He's doing something He's doing something so come on lift those

Gunky wings to the Lord right now Come on lift them up because what he's doing and just say thank you Lord. There's blessing in the back I thank him right now for it. Would you just say God with your help? I'm not gonna exit prematurely I'm not going to abort mission. I'm not going to abort would you just tell God say Lord? I know the end is gonna be the beginning the end is gonna be the beginning of what you're gonna Do come on I'm lifting my gunky wings to the Lord right now There's stuff that he's got to get off of me right now, but God I'm asking you Bring people in our life or God that has been through it that has not exited, but said we know what God can do Come on. Would you praise him for a second for being Ebenezer Ebenezer? That name means thus far the Lord has helped thus far the Lord has helped thus far The Lord has helped you are standing at this altar because he is Ebenezer thus far the Lord has helped hallelujah Thus far he has helped me thus far. He has worked miracles for me thus far Now would you praise him for being Jehovah Jireh? Would you just say God you'll provide you'll provide a scripture you'll provide a prayer meeting for me You'll provide the body of Christ the brother or sister that will put an arm around me and a hand on my In my hand and walk me through this come on. Just tell him say I thank you that you are Jehovah Jireh You are Jehovah Jireh the Lord will provide Thus the Lord has helped thus far thus far We have got promises and assurances. We have got faithfulness and assurances God is with us God is with us God is with us hallelujah hallelujah Those at this altar just look at me for saying don't give up Just don't give up The promise He said there's gonna be abundance of affliction and suffering I'm gonna go and I don't want to read that I Came in the snow for that You came in the snow for this there will be an end, but that's the beginning

That's the beginning That's the beginning I've operated so much in my life that the end is the end And it's not he's just prepping you. He's getting you ready Because we want to bolt we want to bolt listen you're looking at number one bolter right here Get your finger out and tell the person to say don't bolt Look at the person next to you and say the end is the beginning God's Gotcha He's got you. He's got you. There's hope in this you're not look at me. You're not gonna become a pizzeria And I don't want any of you listen if you go down there you're not to buy the pizza just pray That's what I don't want anybody going like hey, that's pretty good Pete nobody gets John's pizza I just want you to go not again. I'm not against John. I just want it to be I want it to be a Memorial for us just to pray. I'm not angry. I'm not I'm not even critical. I just I've used it as gotta I want to fight I'm gonna fight because that's what the enemy wants to do the enemy wants to turn me into a pizzeria I'm not doing it. You're not gonna see me on ace going like hey, what's a slice I? Will fight we will fight God is with us