"Identity Crisis" - Rev. Thomas H. Garner

48:06 god we thank you today for your grace we thank you for your love father we thank you for your kindness god we thank you for your oil the oil oh god that you pour over our head oh god that allows our cup to be filled and also overflow. Father, right now in the name of Jesus, as we gather, many of us have different needs, different reasons for why we came to church, God, but one thing in commonality, we need something from you. And so, oh God, right now as we gather in this worship space, God, we pray that your oil never runs dry. We thank you, God, for your presence. We thank you for your power. We thank you oh God for your strength we thank you oh God for all that you do for us oh Lord and now Lord in this preaching moment I pray oh God that you have your way God allow my cup oh God to run full God I pray now oh God that you give me preaching power and preaching strength like never before oh God hide me behind your cross so that your people can see all of you oh Lord sit me down so that you might stand up, oh God.

49:20 God, allow something that I say today, oh God, be beneficial to somebody in this place, oh Lord. God, I pray that what you have placed on the inside of me in private is able to be poured over in this public space. And now, God, have your way. We trust you. We thank you for your darling son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to save us from our sin, to liberate us, to give us peace, power. And now, Lord, have your way. In the mighty and in the matchless and holy name of Jesus Christ, we do pray and all of God's people said amen. Amen and amen. Would you please help me thank God for the young adult, the tribe ensemble today, for they blessed us tremendously. Come on, you can do better than that.

50:13 Didn't they do a wonderful job this morning? We thank God for our amazing minister of music, Minister Saul Gates, my brother beloved. Thank you so much for the work that you do and continue to do in this space here at Friendship West. Also, would you please help me thank God for the baddest pastor on this side of heaven, our drum major for justice, the one who advocates for those who have no voice, the one who has a pastor's heart and pours into so many people in the person of Reverend Dr. Frederick Douglas Haynes III in his absence. Would you please help me thank God for our senior pastor and also his lovely wife, Lady Deborah Peake Haynes. We thank God for her. Happy anniversary to them on today. We also praise God for Albany Jewel Haynes and also Mother Lynetta Haynes Oliver, the entire first family. my beloved frat brother uncle emerson latimore we thank god for you all of you my brothers and sisters in christ so grateful to stand in the midst of each and every one of you today i have a privilege of serving with an amazing staff here at friendship west i thank god for our executive pastor the person of reverend dr david malcolm magruder thank you so much brother for all of the leadership that you give here at the church our children's pastor who is the pastor for my children, Dr. Nerissa Grigsby. We thank God also for my beloved sister, Pastor Kia Westbrook, who gives leadership to our youth and our young adult. And then also in her absence, she's not feeling well today. Pastor Ayers, I pray for you this morning. She is our pastor of justice. And so we thank God for her as well this morning. Amen. All of the staff, Sister V, Miss Michelle, the safety team, all of you, as we say, lotty-dottie, and everybody, to our deacons, our trustees.

52:06 And real quick, while you may be seated, you may be seated, but I do want to acknowledge a special group of people. I wasn't going to do this, but then Pastor Grigsby got up, and then Pastor Westbrook got up and acknowledged all of the wonderful ministries that they helped give leadership to. And so if you are part of the bereavement ministry, the comforters ministry, the health care ministry, GAP, Voices That Shout, our marriage ministry, O Black ARJ, and on our pastoral care team, would you please stand? We want to shout you out. Thank you all so much. Our health care ministry for all that you do to help serve our amazing congregation. My entire family is here. Family, y'all stand up. Let the people see you this morning. my mom my dad my mother in love my father in love pastor robert l thomas he left his pulpit today in houston to be here with us on this morning and so i thank god for your presence uh my amazing sisters are here my sister in love my sister cassie and then i have two amazing children Lord have mercy Jesus Paxton Hayden Garner the youngest member of the bereavement ministry he has a name badge and everything he comes to the funerals on Saturdays he helps sets up in the repass for families and so shout out to the most amazing son in the world and then the little girl who has me wrapped around all ten fingers and ten toes. Yes, Miss Parker Janine Garner, I love you baby girl. But then before I conclude and we go ahead and get into the word, I'm going to ask this young lady to stand up. My lovely wife, Miss Taylor Denise Thomas Garner. The heartbeat of my

54:12 soul, the cream in my coffee. Lord Jesus, and today is not just any day. Today is my wife's birthday. And so happy birthday, baby. If I can sing, I shown up with saying right now to you. But I thank God for you and all that you do. I celebrate you for being my amazing rib. I am not the man that I am without you. And so happy birthday, baby. I love you. There is a word from God today. If you have your Bibles, would you please turn with me to two passages this morning, two passages this morning, two passages that are coupled with each other. The first text is going to come from first Samuel chapter 22 verses one through five a verses one through five a and then after that we're going to turn to Psalm of David Psalm 142 Psalm 142 first text for today will be first Samuel chapter 22 verses 1 through 5a and then we will read the psalm of David and psalm 142. The word of God reads David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it they went down there to be with him. All of those who were in distress and those who were in debt and those who were discontented gathered around him and David became their commander. About 400 men were there with him. From there David went to Mishpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, would you let my father and my mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me in the midst of this identity crisis. So he left them there with the

56:23 king of Moab and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold. Then verse number five says, but the prophet of Gad said to David, do not stay in the stronghold. Go to the land of Judah. And then from there we get more context to what David is feeling like in the midst of this identity crisis when we read Psalm 142 David writes these words and he says I cried aloud to the Lord I lifted up my voice to God for mercy I pour out before him my complaint and before God I tell my troubles when my spirit grows faint within me it is you Lord who watches over my way in the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me look and see there is no one at my right hand no one is concerned for me I have no refuge no one cares for my life then David takes a shift in verse number five he says I cry to you Lord I say you are my refuge my portion in the land of the living. Listen to my cry for I am in desperate need. Please rescue me from those who pursue me for they are too strong for me. Set me free from this prison that I might praise your name and then those who believe in justice will gather round about me to see your goodness. This is the word of God. Thanks be to God. Identity crisis.

58:10 David is minding his business. Can you see it? Friendship West walk with me through the pages of our Bible on this morning. Can you see it? He's likely on the backside of his father's pastures. He has his feet probably kicked up on one of the sheep. He is probably twiddling his thumbs with his back lying thrust against another sheep. David is chilling and minding his business. Can you see it, friendship, Wes? He's probably rubbing the head of one of his father's sheep or even pouring oil on the nostrils of another sheep, not knowing that God was preparing to pour oil on his head. David friendship West he is Minding his business can you Can you see it and God Speaks to the prophet Samuel And tells him to get up and go Fill your horn with oil So that you can go down to Jesse's House and anoint the future king This king maker this king Breaker by the name of Samuel Shows up with a heifer In hand he's ready to Make a sacrifice and Listen to God Meanwhile, friendship West, guess what David is doing?

59:38 He is minding his business. In fact, the Bible tells us that when Samuel shows up Saul to Jesse's house to make the request for him to line up all of his sons, young David is not even invited to the ceremony and Jesse lines up son number one. Samuel takes the horn of oil and attempts to pour it and the oil does not pour. He lines up another son and he attempts to pour the oil and the oil does not pour. He takes another son. He lines up that son, Sister V, and guess what happens? He attempts to pour the oil and the oil does not pour. He lines up son number four, five, six, and seven, and he attempts to pour the oil to anoint the one who he believes should be king, but the oil does not pour. Even when you read more into that particular text, the Bible will also remind us that God does not look at the outer appearance, but the God that we serve has a way of looking at one's heart.

1:00:55 And then Samuel has the audacity to look at Jesse and say, man, is there another son? I'm pretty sure he was confident. He knew exactly that he was where he was supposed to be. He has tried to pour the oil on these sons and these are none of the kings. And then all of a sudden the Bible informs us that there is another son, the youngest one, who is tending to the sheep. Can you see it? David is just minding his business. They sin for David. And the Bible says that David comes skipping down the hill as the Bible describes with his handsome self. He's glowing with the Lord's anointing over his life. And the Bible says that David pulls up on his brothers and those who were there. And the prophet anoints David in the presence of his brothers.

1:01:54 And the text says that the spirit of the Lord was powerfully upon David from that day forward. Guess what, child of God? David was just minding his business. And David goes from minding his business to not having a clue that the Lord was getting ready to enlist him into a life calling that would ultimately cause him to have high moments in life, but also low moments in life. He had no idea that this seesaw and anointing of a call on his life would make him be challenged by way of his mental health. He would be challenged by way of his integrity, challenged in his character, challenged in his mind, and challenged to the depths of his soul. David had no idea that when he accepted this anointing and this call from God that he would ultimately go through a whirlwind and a seesaw of a calling that would ultimately what I believe in this text lead David to being in some sort of an identity crisis.

1:03:06 The child of God, David did not seek after this call. David did not pray for this calling. David was surely not asking and praying for God to send the prophet to come down and anoint him instead of his brothers. David had no secret ambition nor an opportunistic spirit. David was just minding his business. God did not tell David, Friendship West, that his calling would cause him to suffer with an identity crisis that ultimately caused him to look to the God of refuge. David was just minding his business. And the Bible does not say that God gave David this forewarning that his anointing would cause division amongst his brothers. God did not tell David that he would get a glimpse of palace life by serving as an ad hoc musical position for the king who had an evil spirit. God did not tell David that he would be a poet and a writer and a harp player.

1:04:10 God did not tell David, y'all walking with me this morning church, God did not tell David that he would one day slay a 10 foot giant by taking a smooth stone from the side of his hip, busting him in the head running over him standing over his body chopping Goliath's head off and then riding back into the city and listening to the voices of the people God did not tell David that the praises of the people would one day backfire against him and call Saul to grow fearful of him God did not tell David that his big brothers would call him arrogant wicked-hearted and nosy God did not tell David that he wouldn't be an armor bearer for a king who was should have been mentoring him and pouring into him but instead he was throwing spears and daggers at David on multiple occasions God did not tell David that when he accepted his call that he would one day have a hit out on his life God did not tell David the details of his life he didn't tell David that one day you would act crazy like a psychopath because you were fearful for your life and you would play like you were insane because you're going through an identity crisis. God did not tell David that before he actually served in the position that he was called for, appointed to, anointed for, that he would one day find himself in a cave in a doulum struggling with mental health issues in a psychological prison going through an identity crisis that would ultimately cause him to look unto God at some point and say, God, you are my refuge. So, when we land in Psalm 142, we realize that this is not just any cry this is a cry of anguish and lament this is a cry

1:06:15 based on the theological implications of the text that David is giving us a glimpse of his life and he's suffering with some type of identity issue he's trying to figure out God what will you have of me. God, what will you have for me? This is complete lament, child of God. This is not the David that we see in the identity of Psalm 1 when David says, delight yourself in the law of the Lord. This ain't David in Psalm 7 when he says, I'm singing praises to God. This ain't David in Psalm 18 when David is singing about how much he loves God and God loves him and how God has delivered him from the hand of his enemy. This ain't David in Psalm 23 when he says the Lord is my shepherd, child of God. This is not the identity of a David in Psalm 34 when he cries for mercy. This is not the David who is saying I will bless the Lord at all times. This ain't even And the David in Psalm 51, when he is pleading to God for mercy because he has taken Bathsheba, he has now murdered her husband, and then he attempts to cover it up.

1:07:37 This is not the identity of a David in Psalm 100 when David is making a joyful noise unto the Lord. Child of God, this is David in Psalm 142. David is a David who identifies as someone who is suffering with an identity crisis, attempting to figure out what God is going to do. And David ultimately realizes that even though my spirit may be broken, even though my spirit may be hurt, I can still turn to God. And the big idea and the hopeful words of the text this morning that David proposes for us is that when we find ourselves inside of a cave and you might be dealing with some type of an identity crisis and issues in life. David's message is super simple for us this morning.

1:08:37 He reminds you and I that we have a God who gives us refuge. I know somebody came. Y'all were talking about, man, I want to hear this deep, spooky message this morning. No, I came with a simple message for somebody who may be brokenhearted, dealing with grief, struggling with depression, and trying to figure out what God's plan, purpose, and path is for your life, I want to remind you that no matter what dark season you might be in right now, we have a God who gives us refuge. And the first thing that David reminds us today is that when we are inside of a cave, struggling and suffering with an identity crisis, that we can come to God however we are.

1:09:42 I'll say it again. And the first thing David reminds us today is that when you are suffering with an identity crisis, when you're suffering with pain, when you are inside of a cave, that you and I can come to God however we are. And guess what? David is all over the place. David, David, in verse number one and two of Psalm 142, David says, I cry, I lift, and I pour. David is probably yelling. David is screaming. David is fussing. And if David is somebody like me, I ain't even going to lie to you. David is probably inside of that cave and he doing a little cussing too. David, let's not forget, don't get too holy on me this morning. David is in a cave by himself. He ain't got nobody listening to him. He's in there by himself. He's struggling with his own thoughts, thinking about what God is going to do for his life.

1:10:38 He's trying to figure out what in the world am I going through? What in the world did I accept when I told God that I was going to follow after him? He says, look, he's probably cussing. He's probably fussing. He is not the young poised man who plays the harp for Saul as he's dealing with his spirits. David at this time is dealing and wrestling with spirits of his own. Can you see it, Trenship West? Can you imagine what David is really going through? he's already processed and he already knows about the sovereignty of a God who can show up in the midst of our storms. David has probably already processed. He already knows that if you can't trace God, we can just trust God. David has gone through all of these things in his mind. He knows all too well about the eminence of an eminent God. David knows all too well. In fact, in his previous writings he has already showcased unto us that he knows what it means to trust in a mysterious God and God's omnipotent will. David knows all too well about the reality of processing the decisions of a timeless God who steps into our time to lead us in his path. Can you imagine child of God what David feels like right now. David is in a cave. David, he's inside of a cave. David, his hair ain't cut. His edge up. It's lacking. It's dark. He probably has a five o'clock shadow on his face. He probably ain't sleeping good in the middle of the night. He's waking up at two and three o'clock in the morning trying to figure out, Lord, what are you doing in my life right now? David, he's not sleeping on a lead soldier's tent. He's not sleeping in a king-sized bed inside of the palace. David, he ain't even sleeping on the cot back at his daddy's house. David, he's in a cave. Can you imagine how David really feels right now? David, David, is he skinny because he ain't eating enough and he's spending all of his time

1:12:47 scrolling on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, scrolling through social media. I mean, scrolling through the thoughts of his mind. What's going on with David? Is he eating? Is he skinny? Is he not eating? Is he eating too much? We do know the Bible tells us that David has killed a lion and David has killed a bear. So we know David is capable of getting food for himself. Is he leaving the cave at night going to get food, coming back eating milkshakes, drinking milkshakes and blue bell ice cream in the middle of the night? Is he eating too much lamb meat in the middle of the night? What's going on with David? What is going on with David? Can you see it? Because his clothes fit. Are they too small? Are they too big? He's in a cave. David, he probably musty. David is stressed out. He ain't washed his behind. David's hair is uneven and he looks dusty. David is toe up from to flow up. He says, I feel like I'm all alone.

1:13:50 has anybody in friendship west ever been in a cave before i mean you have had don't act too holy and high on me this morning don't act like you ain't never dealt with nothing have you ever been in a cave of stress, a cave of grief, a cave of political and social injustices, caves of occupational obstacles, caves of marital issues, caves of relationship issues, caves of despair with your children, caves of despair with your parents, caves with your grandchildren, caves of heartache, caves, caves, caves, caves, caves, caves. Every time you turn around, it don't seem like God is blessing you, it seem like God is sending you into a cave.

1:14:45 but in the middle of David's experience mentally and emotionally and his identity crisis David says I cried I lifted and I am pouring. Notice how there's this self-awareness in verse number one and two of David's personal incapability. David and his approach in verses one and two exposes the finiteness of his anthropological boundaries and his fleshly reasoning by simply recognizing Pastor Kia that I just ain't strong enough to do this by myself.

1:15:43 David says, you know what? I'm in this cave, but let me try to get myself together right now. And I don't know who I'm talking to right now. And you may be in a cave in this exact moment. You may have woke up this morning inside of a cave, but let me tell you, you can get yourself together. David says, in spite of what we're dealing with, He says, in spite of what I'm going through, he says, it's now and no longer time for me to cry in mirrored waters inside of the puddled cave trying to make up and figure out what God is doing. David says, I'm no longer going to lift my voice in my own head and try to figure out God's will for my life. Because when you read the text, David says that his path obviously is not working out for him. David says you know what I no longer need to pour out what I got going on before my own self but it's time to look to God.

1:16:44 My New Testament professor at Baylor University by the name of Dr. David Garland says that these verses ultimately illustrate the tension between the anguish of one's soul and then also the dependence of a sovereign God. And when we realize that we are not strong enough to go through our cave crisis alone, it is imperative that we depend on the hand of an almighty God. David starts in a low place, but David climbs to a high, holy, and a heavier place. When he says, when I cry, I cry to God. When I lift my voice, I'm lifting it unto God. He says, when we cry, we should be unto God. When we lift our voices, it should be for God's mercy. And when we pour out our troubles and our complaints, it should be before God's feet. You can come to God however you are.

1:17:42 and someone came to friendship west today you may be high but you can come to god somebody strolled in here probably in the balcony you might be hung over but guess what you can come to God. They may get on social media and call you a 304, but guess what? Tell them, baby, I'm coming to God however I am. David, Old Testament scholar David Kinder says that we can refuse to relapse in silence. Take the time and go ahead and talk to God. Come to God however you are.

1:18:37 You might be beaten, but you may not be broken. Come to God. You might be stressed dealing with mental health issues, but you come to God. You go to therapy, get yourself together, and tell God, God, I may be beat up, but I'm coming to you and I'm pouring it all at your feet. I hear Jesus saying in the New Testament, those who may be weary and brokenhearted, we can lay our problems at the feet of Jesus and he will give us rest. So when you're in a cave, suffering, dealing with identity crisis, come to God however you are. But then, Bible also teaches us this morning that some caves are designed for us to discover identity and the direction of God. You're not going through the cave for no reason.

1:19:36 your cave is not pointless your your struggles your trials and tribulations are only a test this is not permanent this is temporary he says look your cave is designed for us to discover identity and the direction of god what where am i getting that from we read both the of the couple texts this morning. When we look in first Samuel chapter 22, the Bible tells us that David is inside of the cave in a doula. In verse number three of that same passage, the Bible tells us that David is out of the cave. I'll say that again. Verse number one in first Samuel chapter 22, David is inside of the cave in a doula. In verse number three, David is physically out of the cave pastorissa in verse number one the weight of the depression and the despair of the cave is on david while he is inside of the cave but in verse number three david is no longer in the cave but what's interesting when we read the text carefully david still has some cave on the inside of him. The Bible essentially tells us that when David comes out of the cave physically, he still has some cave on the inside of him mentally. Child of God, it's one thing for you to walk out of a cave, but it's another thing for the cave to walk out of you. It's one thing for you to go to therapy, but it's another thing for us to do the work after the session is over.

1:21:24 It's one thing for you to leave a jacked up or bruised or broken relationship that is bad on your psyche. It's another thing to leave that house and then put that phone on block so they can't get in contact with you. It's one thing, child of God, for us to claim freedom, but it's another thing to fight for justice. Sometimes we can leave a cave physically, but we can still have the cave on the inside of us. And I stopped by Friendship West to tell somebody this morning that it's time to free yourself from that cave, that you no longer have to walk around with that cave-like mentality on the inside of you. Clothes can't cover it up. Smiles cannot cover it up. Alcohol can't cover it up. Weed can't cover it up. Sex can't cover it up. It doesn't matter what you try to use to cover up that depression. That thing is still on the inside of you and I don't know who I'm talking to today but my Bible tells us that our sable skin savior from the ghetto saying to set the captive free you are not bound by your cage but even through David though David still has the darkness of the cave on the inside of him he has shifted his perspective when you read the text carefully pay attention to the sequence of events. David, David now understands, look, I'm out of the cave, still got some cave on the inside of me, but then David still has a plan. He says, the Bible tells us that he goes to the king of Moab. You got to have a plan to get out of that mess. You, you, you just can't, if you just sit there, I don't know who I'm talking to, who this is for today, but if

1:23:30 you just sit there in that dark space, in that dark room internalizing that thing, you've got to come up with a plan. And you've got to rally up some people around you so that they can tell you, baby, I'm praying for you. But I'm also going to call you and tell you, you need to go to therapy next week. You need somebody around you who can call you and hold you accountable so that even when you're dealing with your cave crises, that you have somebody who is saying, I'm praying for you. I'm checking on you. Let's not overlook the fact that the Bible tells us that David is now surrounded with 400 men around him. In fact, David and his mother and his father and his father's household are even present with David during this stronghold. This thing was so bad on David that David literally had to call his mama. You know you really insubmiss when you call mama. In fact, even when you read the Bible over and over and over and over and over and over again, it's probably about one, two, maybe three references of David's mother in the entire Bible from front cover to back cover.

1:24:33 But David said, look, I got to call on mama. You do not have to stay in that cave. You've got to rally some people around you. but David says, I got a plan. He says, I'm going to leave my family with the king of Moab. David makes this pivotal statement and embraces the turning point of his entire cave crises there in verse number three. He says, look, can my mama and daddy and them stay with you? But even though they're going to stay with you, He says, I still got some searching to do. He says, I still need to go learn what God has for me during this dark season of my life. David basically says that when you and I are lost, that God is our divine compass to lead us out of the cave. And God is also the same God who helps get the cave out of you.

1:25:39 Thank you. So, when you don't know what to do in dark cave-like moments, it is God who guides us. It is God who girds us. It's God who gives us the ability to get up and to go out. And also for the cave to get out of us. David has now reached this point of mental and emotional exhaustion he's no longer good to himself let alone anybody who is around him David in fact when you read the text in the Hebrew language the Bible paints a picture of David's soul literally being broken it's literally a word used there that's affiliated with death when he says set me free from this prison David is talking about This thing is on him so bad.

1:26:35 I feel like I want to go to glory. David says, look, look, I am enwrapped by my emotions. I'm overwhelmed. His soul is aching. And in the midst of his weariness, David realizes that his own path is not good enough. But God's path is everything. He says, there it is in the text. He says, it is you, Lord, who watches over my way. David, Pastor Magruder, he says that I'm going to transition from complaint and petition and move to godly assurance. I can hear David saying right now, I don't know if he wrote 23 before or after, but I can hear it in my spirit right now. He says, God leads me in the path of righteousness for his name. Say, yea, though, I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil.

1:27:30 why? Because the God that we serve is with us. God can guide you. Get you out of that cave. Lastly, y'all praying with me church. The third point is is that identity is found when we stop looking at self all the time and start looking to God. David says there is nobody on my right side that right hand in biblical antiquity is a place of someone who is an advocate David says I feel like that nobody is concerned for me David says finally he says no one cares for my life but David does not stay in this stronghold He realizes that he's not strong enough and he does what Leslie Allen calls goes from cries in a crisis to cries for a new future.

1:28:32 David completely changes his tone and the direction of the psalm in verse number five. David stops making everything about himself. And child of God, there are times when we go through trials and tribulations of our own and we want to make everything about us. We didn't spend time talking about me. I feel bad. I don't feel good. I'm stressed out. Everywhere you go, you can't even bring joy inside the room because that thing is on your back that heavy. Here it is. David says, look, look, I've got to stop making everything about me and I've got to shift my perspective and start looking to God. It's right there in the text. Verse number one, David says, I, I, my. Verse number two, I, my, I, my.

1:29:26 Verse number three, my, me, my, I, me. Verse number four, my, me, I, my. Verse number five, I, I, and my. Verse number six, my, I, my, me, me, and more of me. Verse number seven, David says, me, my, me, me, me, and more of me. David acknowledges himself in seven verses almost 30 times and only talks to God less than 10. Child of God. But the pivotal point is found in verse number five. ultimately when David says even though I have made this thing all about me I've got to turn to God and simply say let's just read the Bible and shout together I cry to you Lord I say you are my refuge and is there anybody in this house today who knows that God is our refuge Thank you.

1:30:25 we've got to stop making it all about us we've got to start looking to God David says when we come to God we come to God however we are David says that when we're going through cave crises and identity crises we can depend on God to give us a sense of direction because those caves are designed to give us or lead us into the direction of God. And then David reminds us that through it all, I've got to stop making this thing about me.

1:31:18 I've got to turn to God. Here's the last thing. And we ain't going to be here long at all. I know y'all ready, y'all hungry, y'all ready to go on and go to brunch and eat some of those chicken and waffles and pancakes and grits with cheese. some catfish I don't want first lady to be mad at me. Don't be eating that fried chicken.

1:31:47 No, but seriously, God, in the midst of it all, Pastor Rissa, Reverend Kerm, he will give us a word to lead us out of the prison so that we can walk into places of praise. God, God, God will give you and send you a word so that you can leave the prison behind and walk into a place of praise. Do I have a witness in the house? The Bible says that in 1 Samuel chapter 22 verse number 5, David leaves his family with the king of Moab. And the Bible says that David has an encounter with the prophet of God.

1:32:49 and the prophet of God leaves David with one phrase, two separate words. I'm going to drop these same phrases on you, and I'm going to go sit right down next to Reverend Jerry. The Bible says that David meets the prophet, and the prophet says, do not stay in the stronghold. is simple and do not stay in the stronghold but go to judah child of god the hebrew translation for that word judah simply means praise and i stopped by friendship west on this last sunday in the month of August to tell somebody that you do not need to stay in your stronghold, that you can walk out of your prison and walk out of your cave and you can walk to a place of praise. Have a good day church and may the Lord bless you real good. But on my way to my seat, I dare you to turn to your neighbor and say, neighbor, don't stay in the prison, but walk into your place of praise.

1:34:23 That's the wrong neighbor. Say, neighbor, get out of the prison and walk to a place of praise and sing your song. Child of God, I don't know what your song is, but you can sing your song. what a friend we have in Jesus have I got a witness in this house you can walk out of the cave and sing your song guide me oh thy great Jehovah pilgrim through this barren land I am weak but thou art mighty hold me with thy powerful hand I dare somebody to walk out of the cave and start walking to a place of praise. I don't know what your song of praise is. Is it, can't nobody do me like Jesus.

1:35:18 Can't nobody do me like the Lord. Have I got a witness in here? Amazing grace. How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm found. I was blind, but now I can see. You can walk out of your cave and sing your song. Do I have a witness in Friendship West? I don't know what your song is. I want Jesus to walk with me. Great is thy faithfulness.