The Ebenezer Principle I Jentezen Franklin

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Ebenezer Principle | Jentezen Franklin at Free Chapel (September 8, 2025)

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Episode Overview

In this passionate sermon, Pastor Jentezen Franklin explores "The Ebenezer Principle," drawing lessons from the biblical account in 1 Samuel where Israel experiences both devastating defeat and miraculous victory at a place called Ebenezer. Using the symbolism of memorial stones, Franklin encourages listeners to recognize, remember, and proclaim God’s faithfulness, especially in the face of past failures and current uncertainties. The episode is rich with biblical insights, personal anecdotes, and encouragement for building faith amid life's battles.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Setting & Story of Ebenezer

• Israel’s Defeat at Ebenezer ([01:05–11:18])
  • Pastor Franklin recounts Israel's grave defeat by the Philistines at Ebenezer, where 34,000 soldiers die, the Ark is captured, and the high priest’s family is decimated. The naming of a child "Ichabod" signifies the departure of God’s glory.
  • “This child has lost everything. It’s the worst defeat. It's terrible. The glory has departed.” ([09:14] – Franklin)
• God’s Self-sufficiency & Defense of Israel
  • Even as the Ark is taken, God displays His sovereignty by defeating the Philistine gods—demonstrating that He needs no human defense:
    • “Israel’s God is more than capable of defending himself.” ([11:20])
    • “You will not beat God. He knows how to defend Israel every time. God will win.” ([12:05])

2. The Return & Redemption at Ebenezer

• The Ark Returns, Prayer & Repentance ([12:21–13:56])
  • Samuel calls Israel to repentance; as they pray, God moves and the Ark is returned. Samuel marks the moment by erecting a stone—Ebenezer—as a memorial to God’s help.
• The Ebenezer Principle Explained ([13:59–16:40])
  • The word “Ebenezer” means “stone of help.” It marks both Israel’s deepest defeat and, later, their stunning victory, showing how God redeems even the worst places of our lives.
    • “The exit of God's presence... was marked by one word, Ichabod. But the reentry... was memorialized by one word, Ebenezer. Up to this point, the Lord has helped me.” ([15:28–15:46])
    • “God turned the same place that had been their greatest defeat into their greatest victory.” ([16:19])

3. The Power of Testimony & Remembrance

• Setting Up Memorials of God’s Faithfulness ([13:59–18:23])
  • Franklin likens the biblical memorial stones to the testimonies and memory markers in our own lives and churches.
    • “If those walls could talk... they would have to say, truly, God has done everything he promised he would do.” ([06:05])
• The Testimony of Hitherto
  • “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us” becomes the refrain—recognizing God’s help up to “this moment.”
    • “All I can tell you is this... hitherto, which means up to this point... the Lord has helped me.” ([14:42–15:07])
  • Emphasis on living in gratitude for how far God’s brought us, instead of anxiety over the future.

4. Jesus as Our Ultimate Stone of Help

• Connecting Old & New Testaments ([21:01–22:19])
  • Franklin connects Ebenezer to Jesus as the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19–20; Acts 4:11) in the New Testament.
    • “I have Jesus and He is my Ebenezer under the new covenant.” ([22:14])
    • “We too have a place where our sins had caused us to see the glory of God depart... but when we prayed and repented... the glory came back and Jesus Christ became our Ebenezer stone.” ([22:54])

5. God’s Blessing upon House & Legacy

• David’s Humility & God’s Generosity ([24:14–26:45])
  • Franklin recalls David’s desire to build God a house, and God’s greater blessing in establishing David’s lineage—reminding listeners that God honors both our desires and obedience.
    • “When you build my house, I'll build your house. When you bless my house, I'll bless your house.” ([25:10])
    • “Who am I, Lord God... that you have brought me to this place?” ([26:29])
    • Encourages humility and appreciation for God’s favor: “Who am I to get to praise the Lord? Who am I to get to sit at Free Chapel on Sunday morning in God’s presence?” ([27:18])

6. Personal Application & Encouragement

• Facing Obstacles & Remembering Help ([28:32–30:55])
  • Listeners are reminded to focus on God’s past faithfulness instead of worrying about tomorrow.
    • “All I know is I've got strength for the day... and I'm going to let God be God tomorrow.” ([29:01])
• “Up to This Point...” as a Mantra for Faith
  • “All I had to do was just say, Lord, up to this point... every phase, you have helped me.” ([32:18])
  • Even amid personal and family struggles, Franklin testifies to God’s faithfulness:
    • “Now they all love the Lord... I should have said during the middle of all that, hitherto the Lord has helped us.” ([33:54])
• A Prophetic Word for Listeners ([37:02–38:19])
  • Shares 1 Samuel 11:9: "Tomorrow, by the time the sun be hot, you shall have help." Encourages faith that God brings deliverance at just the right time:
    • “God sometimes lets stuff get hot. But He said, I won’t put more on you than you’re able to bear. And by the time it gets hot... you shall have help.” ([37:45–38:19])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• The Unchanging Jesus:
  “The one constant in my life is Jesus. Jesus never changes. He’s good. He was good yesterday. He’s good today, and He’ll be faithful and good tomorrow.” ([00:37])
• On God’s Sovereignty in Defeat & Victory:
  “God turned the same place that had been their greatest defeat into their greatest place of victory.” ([16:19])
• On Testimony:
  “We are overcomers by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.” ([14:21]) “Encourage yourself. The Lord has helped me.” ([16:32])
• On Generational Legacy:
  “You don’t know what God’s doing even in generations from now. You just need to set up a memorial.” ([29:36])
• Personal Humility:
  “Who am I that a king would bleed and die for? Who am I, and who is my family that God would call my family and use my family?” ([28:13])

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Major Timestamps for Reference

• [00:37–01:05] - The unchanging nature of Jesus
• [03:00–07:00] - The biblical context of Ebenezer and memorial stones
• [09:14] - The loss at Ebenezer, the child Ichabod, and the sense of utter defeat
• [11:18–12:19] - God defeats the Philistines' idols; Israel's unique relationship to God
• [13:59–14:55] - Establishing the stone called Ebenezer and its significance
• [15:28–16:32] - Transformation of defeat to victory; hitherto the Lord has helped
• [21:01–22:19] - Transition to the New Testament: Jesus as the chief cornerstone
• [24:14–27:18] - David’s heart for God’s house, God’s generational blessings
• [32:18–34:28] - Franklin’s personal testimony on family and faithfulness
• [37:33–38:19] - Prophetic encouragement: “Tomorrow… you shall have help.”

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Overall Takeaway

Jentezen Franklin’s message on the Ebenezer Principle invites listeners to look back and recognize God’s help “up to this very moment” and to anchor their faith for the future on His demonstrated faithfulness. The sermon weaves together biblical history, personal story, and practical encouragement, culminating in the challenge to make remembrance, gratitude, and memorializing God’s help a regular practice—no matter what tomorrow may bring.

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Key Action for Listeners:
Reflect on the “stones of help” in your life—moments when God brought you through—and declare in faith, “Up to this point, the Lord has helped me.”

Transcript

[A]

Hello, this is Jensen Franklin, and thank you so much for joining us for this week's podcast. Our goal is to provide you with biblically based teachings that will challenge, inspire, and equip you to live for Jesus. If you haven't already, I'd love for you to go ahead and subscribe today to this podcast so you can get the latest updates from us and you don't ever have to miss a new message.

[B]

Let's go right into the service.

[A]

Record it at Freechapel. I believe it's going to bless you today.

[B]

Don't you love him this morning?

[C]

I'm still.

[B]

I'm still passionate about Jesus. He's the one thing that has never changed. Hallelujah. Life keeps changing. You'll know that as you live a little longer, you go through different stuff and different seasons and everything's changing. But the one constant in my life is Jesus. Jesus never changes. He's good. He was good yesterday. He's good today, and he'll be faithful and good tomorrow.

[C]

Tomorrow.

[B]

Hallelujah. Well, I wanted to preach another sermon, but I'm stirred up now and I got to go with this one. So here I go. Open your Bibles with me to the book of First Samuel, chapter four. First Samuel, chapter four. Let me give you these as a gift, and that'll clean my pulpit off. Thank you. Amen. Give Sean a big hand. Good to have him all the way from the west coast in the house. He leads worship out there and he's amazing. Appreciate all of our team. I just want to point out a couple of things real fast. In 1st Samuel, chapter 4, verse 1. Now, Israel went out to battle against the Philistines and encamped beside Ebenezer and the Philistines encamped in apec. Notice where this battle is taking place. At a place called Ebenezer. Verse 21. I won't take time to read everything. Verse 10 tells that 30,000 were killed. Another verse, I believe it's verse 3 or somewhere like that. Four maybe says that 4,000 were killed. Total of 34,000 of Israel. They went to battle against the Philistines with the Ark of the Covenant. And 34,000 were killed. And there's a woman that's having a baby in verse 21, and she named the child Ichabod. The glory has departed from Israel. Where did that happen? At. At, Ebenezer. The glory has departed from Israel because the Ark has been captured. Verse 22. The glory has departed from Israel. The Ark of God has been captured. Verse 1 of chapter 5. The Philistines took the Ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Again, I'm doing this to emphasize Ebenezer, because it's. Everybody say Ebenezer. It's a good. A good word. You know, when the Bible said he made Adam help make the word nezer is help. In. In. In Hebrew. And a helper. Ebenezer. Ebenezer. And I'll explain that in just a moment. But notice that was one of, if not the worst, one of the worst tragedies ever to hit Israel. And I'll go there in a minute. But now I want you to look in chapter seven. What, four chapters over? Three chapters over. And I won't take time to read some things I could. You'll have to trust me that they're there. But the Scripture points out in verse 10. Now, Samuel was offering up burnt offerings and Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But God the Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day and confused them, and they were overcome. And verse 12. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shem and called its name Ebenezer, saying, and I love the King James on this. Hitherto, I bet you hadn't used that word today. If you have, you're real old. That sounds like some old talk right there. Hitherto and such and such. And hitherto everybody say this. Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. I love that. I love that. Many times in the Bible, especially the book of Joshua, if a great person died or God did some miraculous thing at a particular place, if there was some commitment to God that was very special, like a covenant that was made with God, they would stack stones up, they would take a stone and they would build up stones as memorials to be a solid witness that something miraculous happened in that place and in that spot on such an occasion as Joshua 24. I believe it's the 27th verse, but it's in Joshua 24. And he said to all the people, Joshua, this stone, this is when they had crossed over, shall be a witness unto us, saying that this stone shall be a silent witness to remind Israel that the words of God were spoken over them. Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us, for he hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spoke to us. In other words, God spoke to us here. We know he spoke to us here. And we are setting up. He promised us some things here. And if these trees and the stuff around this Spot could talk. You know, I thought about Free Chapel and all the words that have been spoken and all of the things that were promised way back for. For decades. And how that if the walls could talk, if the walls could talk, they would have to say, truly, God has done everything he promised he would do. And when I think about the outreaches and the things that God is doing through the church now, that is just common, normal now to see breakthroughs. But it was all in prophecy form. But God spoke it. Sometimes through sermons, sometimes through preachers, sometimes through prayer meetings, but God spoke it. And then the miracles came. And even your own house, if those walls could talk of the nights that you trembled and you cried and you prayed and you were hopeless and in despair and you didn't know what to do, and you got a bad report and you walked the floor over that child or that son or that daughter. And you. I mean, if the walls could talk. But God has helped you through it all.

[C]

Through it all.

[B]

God was there through it all.

[C]

Now, what is so miraculous about this.

[B]

Story is in 1st Samuel, chapter 4, after one of the most stunning defeats in all of the Bible, and I'm preaching today on the Ebenezer principle. The Ebenezer principle, because after a stunning defeat, the Philistines were gathered and they decided to attack Israel at a place called Ebenezer. They were highly successful. There were 34,000 Israelites that were killed, soldiers that died in that battle. The battle between the Philistines and Israel has been going on for millenniums. And this time it looked like they would win. And they even stole the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God's presence. And the scripture said that the two sons of the high priest, Hophni and Phinehas, were evil and they were killed in the battle. Not only were they killed in the battle, but the text said, if you read it and you read it there in 1st Samuel 4, that when the news came to the father's ears that his sons had been killed, he fell backwards in his chair, broke his neck. So the father is dead, the sons are dead. One of the wives of the sons was pregnant. And she goes into labor when she hears the news. And as she is having the baby, she is dying. And before she leaves, she speaks up and she says, name this baby. She knows she's dying, and she says, name this baby, Ichabod. The glory has departed and she dies. And that baby is born. Think about this. That baby is born and it does not have a grandfather. It does not have a father. It does not have a mother. This is important. It does not have a God. The God has even departed. This the picture God Almighty is gone. The God in the box. He's not with us. This child has lost everything. It's the worst defeat. It's terrible. The glory has departed. And Israel and the Philistines take the ark back to their town and set it up in their temple. And for seven months they kept it. And the longer they kept it, the more it tore them up, the more it defeated them.

[C]

It kept knocking over their statue gods.

[B]

And breaking them into pieces. It kept afflicting them with disease after disease. I just want to throw this in. Israel's God is more than capable of defending himself.

[C]

There is nobody or no power. There is nothing anybody can do to.

[B]

Israel without having to pass through God Almighty.

[C]

And when you mess with Israel, you mess with God. That does not mean they're perfect. That does not mean everything they do is right. That does not mean. It just means this battle's been going on a long time. And the Bible said God will bless those that bless Israel and God will.

[B]

Curse those that curse Israel.

[C]

And I don't care who you are and how smart you are, you will not beat God. He knows how to defend Israel every time. God will win.

[B]

Shout Amen, somebody. That's why we, we stand with Israel. Later, when Samuel would would hear this news, he called a prayer meeting. I didn't have time to read it, but it's over in the seventh chapter. Now, while they're praying, I want you to listen to this. The Bible said that the Philistines loaded up the Ark of the Covenant and put it on a cart with oxen and they pulled it without a driver and they took it all the way back to Israel. And when Samuel saw the Ark of the Covenant coming back, he falls down on the ground and he calls the nation to prayer.

[C]

And he makes all the people all.

[B]

Across the nation bow down in the fields wherever they are, and they begin to repent of their sins.

[C]

And after they repented of the sins.

[B]

Here comes the Ark of the Covenant right back. And suddenly he commands, like Joshua of old, a large stone be brought and the stone be placed as a memorial to remind us. And he said, the name of this stone will be Ebenezer. And he said, from this point forward.

[C]

Every time we look at this stone.

[B]

It will be a solid witness in our minds. Listen, listen, this is where I'm trying to go. This is what your testimony is supposed to be. See, the Bible said in Revelation 2. I believe it is that we're overcomers. Maybe 3. That we are overcomers by the blood of the lamb. And 12 I was close.

[C]

And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb.

[B]

See, two was in there.

[C]

And they overcame by the blood of.

[B]

The Lamb and the word of their testimony.

[C]

You know what our word of testimony should be?

[B]

It should be that stone.

[C]

All I can tell you is this.

[B]

About my life hitherto, which means up to this point.

[C]

One translation said, right to this very moment.

[B]

I love that.

[C]

Because every time I walk up here.

[B]

I say, do I have anything to say?

[C]

And the times that I'm not sure I've learned to do this. All I know is, up to this.

[B]

Point, the Lord has helped me. And when Samuel set that memorial, saying, hitherto the Lord has helped us.

[C]

You see, the exit of God's presence.

[B]

In the Ark of the Covenant was marked and memorialized by one word, Ichabod.

[C]

But the reentry of God's presence into.

[B]

The people of God again was memorialized by one word, Ebenezer. Up to this point, the Lord has helped me. Ebenezer had been.

[C]

Had been the greatest sight of defeat.

[B]

For Israel that they had faced concerning their army up to that point. 34,000 killed in one battle.

[C]

But God turned the same place that had been their greatest defeat into their greatest place of victory. And they set up a stone and.

[B]

Said, God has been here.

[C]

And up to this point. Say that up to this point, up.

[B]

To this moment, encourage yourself. The Lord has helped me. Hitherto is classic Old English. That means up to now. One translation said, right up to where we are right now. Another one said, as far as we have come to this moment, God has helped us. That's our testimony. That's our confidence. That's the testimony of this church. Up until this moment. God has helped us.

[C]

And I love the fact that, you.

[B]

Know, that doesn't mean that we won't have any enemies anymore.

[C]

That doesn't mean that they'd never fight a battle again. That didn't mean that they would not have perplexing circumstances and dark days and setbacks and all kinds of bad news. But my testimony and my response and the Ebenezer principle is, no matter, no matter. I can't really worry about tomorrow. All I can do is talk about God's faithfulness in the past. God's faithfulness right here, right now. Cause you're sitting here whether you wanted to be here or not. God brought you here. Cause he made me some promises way back there. And he said, if you'll keep preaching my word. I will never be able to build a building big enough to handle all the people. Hallelujah for that. Whoo. And up to this point.

[B]

The Lord has helped us.

[C]

Don't forget your stone of help, Ebenezer. Literally means Ebenezer is stone of hell.

[B]

I don't know what you're facing.

[C]

I don't know what's going on in your family. I don't know what's going on in your health. I don't know what is going on with your children. But all I've come to do is remind you of your testimony. Remind you that God has memorials that he set up. He spoke over those children, and some of them I held in my hands and I dedicated to the Lord right here in this spot. And hell doesn't have a chance against our almighty God. God is absolutely capable of defending you and your house, Ebenezer.

[B]

Hitherto, up to this point, right up to this moment, the Lord has helped me.

[C]

I don't know what's coming tomorrow. I didn't know the pandemic was coming when it came. I didn't know the war was going to break out in Russia. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. It might be crazy. It might be wonderful. All my testimony is going to be up to this point. The Lord has helped me. He has helped me. He is helping me. He will always help me. He won't put more on me than I'm able to bear. And I have a rock, and that rock is Jesus. And he is my Ebenezer. A present Help the time of trouble.

[B]

Hallelujah. Hallelujah. He's our. He's our right up to this point. Lord, who has helped. You should have been dead. You should have been killed. You shouldn't have what you have. You shouldn't be living like you living. And you still sit there quiet.

[C]

You shouldn't have another chance. You shouldn't be in the job. You shouldn't get the open door. But God said, I open it and no man can shut it. All I can tell you is right up to this moment, look how the Lord has provided. Look what the Lord has done. Look back as a memorial and then declare. All I know is up to this point. Point.

[B]

The Lord has helped me. No matter what I face. I said, no matter what I face, right up to now, I will not forget my stone of help. In the New Testament, it talks about another stone. In Acts, chapter 4 and verse 11, it says that he has set at naught the stone rejected by the builders, has become the chief cornerstone. And then it goes on to say, neither is there salvation in any other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Jesus. I don't pray to Ebenezer Stones. I have Jesus and he is my Ebenezer under the new covenant. I just remember the blood of the.

[C]

Lamb and the word of my testimony in that rock solid foundation that I.

[B]

Built my life on is up to this moment. The Lord has helped me. Ephesians 2 and 19 puts it like this. It says that, that we are built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. Ephesians 2, 19 and 20. Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. That beautiful.

[C]

Tell somebody I've got a stone of help.

[B]

Jesus Christ. You see, we too have a place where our sins had caused us to see the glory of God depart from our life. And we were hopeless and we were helpless. But when we prayed and we repented like Samuel and Israel did, the glory came back and Jesus Christ became our Ebenezer stone. We have a stone of hell. God took our punishment. God took our sins.

[C]

God took our failures and he put.

[B]

Them on Calvary's heel.

[C]

And I don't care what you face.

[B]

He'Ll never leave you and he'll never forsake you.

[C]

And you need to go on and make a declaration. I can't promise you you won't go through the stuff. But I can promise you up to this point and up to this very moment that you're breathing, listening to me, wherever you are, the Lord has helped you. He held stuff back. He pushed devils back. He made a way where there was no way way. He has helped you.

[B]

Now I want you to listen to this. I found a verse in 1st Chronicles 17 and verse 16. And David wanted to build God a house. And God said, no, I'm not going to let you build me a house. He begged, God, let me build you a house. And God said, no, I'm gonna let your son do it, but I'm not gonna let you do it. But I'll build you a house. This is the kind of God we serve.

[C]

He said, I see your heart of.

[B]

Wanting to do it, but you're so bloody. You killed thousands of men and you're so bloody.

[C]

And that's what God told him, that I see your heart, but I tell you what, you got such a good heart. God is not stingy. God said, I'm not going to let you build me a house, but thanks for wanting to build my house. Just your desire to want to Build my house.

[B]

Makes me want to really build your house.

[C]

Because when you build my house, I'll build your house. When you bless my house, I'll bless your house. When you bring the tithe and the offering into my house, I'll open the.

[B]

Window of heaven over your house.

[C]

Didn't he say it? Shout on that. Like that's John 3:16. That's what he said.

[B]

Now put my verse back up. And King David, after God built him a house, King David came and sat before the Lord and said, you ever had a moment like this?

[C]

Who am I?

[B]

If you don't, you're so full of yourself, you've forgotten where you came from. Who am I and what is. I don't like that translation. I like the King James. That is the King James. In my Bible, it said, who am I and who is my family? That's the new Internet version. Whatever that thou has brought.

[C]

No, go back.

[B]

I like that one. My bad. Go back.

[C]

That thou has brought me hitherto.

[B]

There's that word again.

[C]

David said, I wanted to build you a house. You didn't let me.

[B]

But then you turn around a man.

[C]

With all the faults that I have.

[B]

And who am I, Lord God? And what is my. And who is my family that you have brought me to this place? That's how we ought to go around. Who am I? Who am I to get to sing in the choir?

[C]

Who am I to get to work? Who am I to get to build.

[B]

The kingdom of God?

[C]

Who am I to get a car like I have, or drive or have clothes? Who am I, who am I that God would use me to raise somebody out of a dungeon and give them Jesus? Who am I to get to praise the Lord? Who am I to get to set it free chapel on Sunday morning in God's presence. Lord, out of all the millions of people you've been up to this point, you have helped me. I tell you, I'd rather have a good church than $10 million in the bank. That's the truth. I'd rather have a good church in my life where I know I can go in before I leave there. I'm going to feel God.

[B]

I feel him right now.

[C]

All I hear going off in me.

[B]

Is, who am I? Who am I? Who am I that a king would bleed and die for?

[C]

Who am I and who are my. Who is my family that God would call my family and use my family? Lord, I praise you.

[B]

Up to this point, you have helped me.

[C]

You got to get out of the mully grubs you got to quit whining about everything that's wrong and get your eyes on all the stuff God has done and begin to praise him and set up a memorial. Well, I'm not going to worry about tomorrow. All I know is I've got strength for the day. I've got food for the day. I've got everything I need for today. And I'm going to let God be God tomorrow.

[B]

I don't know who I'm preaching to, but you do. And you talk about building a house. I'm done. Almost. I got two minutes. I'm going to take them both. But you talk about. You talk about a house. He said in Jeremiah that when the Jeremiah 33, 20 and 21. He said when the sun. When you can stop the sun from.

[C]

Shining and you can stop the moon.

[B]

And the stars from.

[C]

From moving in rotation.

[B]

He said that's when you can tear down the house of David. Do you know why he said that? Who am I that you would build me and my family a house? Because in Matthew 1:1 it begins with the book of the generations of Jesus Christ, the son of David. You don't know what God's doing even in generations from now. You just need to set up a memorial. And your response all week long needs to be when trouble tries to steal your joy or panic or fear or worry about this, that and the other, just say all I know devil is up to this point hitherto go Old Testament English on him. Hitherto that's a good cuss word. Hitherto the Lord has helped me. You sorry devil, my God, he has helped me.

[C]

Little country boy from eastern North Carolina.

[B]

Can'T have talk butchers the English language.

[C]

Every time he gets up here, English teachers are offended and leave and come back and leave and come back all the time. Oh, I feel like shouting up to this point. Who am I? He could have picked a whole lot better people than me.

[B]

Who am I? I'm so glad that I'm not. I didn't go out and buy a lottery ticket to win a billion dollars. Now if you do win it, remember your boy.

[C]

More importantly, remember your church.

[B]

That would be 58 million point something.

[C]

Tithe if you take the instant payout.

[B]

And some of you wouldn't do it.

[C]

If you had the 580 million. If God gave it to you today, you wouldn't write that check to the Lord.

[B]

You know I don't never preach about this stuff, but I'll get in your business since you're just looking at me. I Know I would gladly joyfully, I do, I will, I am and I always will. Ain't giving to no church. I'm giving to God. Ain't giving to no preacher. I'm giving to God. God knows my heart. How did I get on that? That was not the ending. But I'm so glad that up to this point, oh, I look back, I was thinking about this sermon. All, all the stuff I worried about, all the stuff I stressed about, all the stuff I got. All. All I had to do do was just say, lord, up to unto this point, every phase, you have helped me. You have helped me with my kids. They're all grown. Every one of them went half crazy sooner or later, except maybe one or two. Just crazy as a bat. But now they all love the Lord. Now every one of them are saved, filled with the Holy Ghost, serving Jesus, raising their families to honor God. I should have said during the middle all that hitherto the Lord has helped us. He helped us when that one went to a party and got drunk. He helped us when that one did something crazy. You know what? The Holy Ghost dealt with every one of them. And in his time, they're coming home. They're turning back.

[C]

They shall be saved. He's building your house. A sure house. Oh, somebody shout it. Up to this moment, this very moment, the Lord has helped me.

[B]

So why should I worry? Now stand to your feet. You've been a great people to preach to. It's your fault I preached this sermon. I might preach my other one in the next service. But lift your hands up. Just say, who am I, Lord? My family. That you would honor us with your presence.

[C]

You turned Dagon over in this house.

[B]

A long time ago.

[C]

I mean, I can have an Ebenezer because you turn. You took the devil. He was lording over my house.

[B]

And I've seen you break him to pieces. You're building us sure houses that will stand for eternity. And for that we give you thanks. And for that, we give you praise. Every head bowed and every eye closed. I feel like there are people who are going through things that are really, really something. And I know that when it's your doctor's report or your issue or your children or your marriage or whatever it is that you're going through your business, that is harder, a little bit harder to get it. But when God brings you a specialized message like this, you need to step out on his word. And some of you, even who've been bound in addictions and, and the enemy's been dangling, saying, come on back. Come on back. Come on back. You need to declare, up to this very moment, I've been living in sobriety, or I've. I've said no to that life and that lifestyle. I'm done. The Lord has helped me, and I'm gonna get a renewal of my strength this morning.

[C]

So if you're in this room and.

[B]

You know this message is for you, I don't care if you're in the top balcony or the main floor, wherever you are, at every campus, you would say, pastor, this is for me. Get out of your seat and step forward because here's what I feel like telling you. And I got to close with this last thought. I forgot. I wrote it down. First Samuel, chapter 11 and verse 9. This is a word from the Lord for somebody. This came to me this morning early.

[C]

The prophet said, tomorrow, by the time the sun be hot, you shall have help.

[B]

And.

[C]

And when I thought of that verse, it came to me just as clearly. And the Lord said, notice when the timing is. By the time it gets hot, God sometimes lets stuff get hot. But he said, I won't put more on you than you're able to bear. And by the time time it gets hot, throw it up, you shall have help. He won't let it get so hot, you can't take it.

[A]

I really want to say thank you for joining us this week. If you haven't already, make sure you click on the subscription button and leave us a review. It helps this podcast reach even more people when you comment, when you give us your feedback. For more messages and inspirational materials, download the Jensen Franklin app or you can head over to JensenFranklin.org I want to thank all of you who give generously to help us produce weekly content like this to reach the world with the message of Jesus. God bless you, and we'll see you next time.