IT’S TIME TO TAKE IT BACK!
BEFORE WE START TODAY’S MESSAGE, LET’S TRY SOMETHING.
EVERYTIME I SAY, “1 - 2 - 3”, YOU SAY, “POS, DUH!” SOUND GOOD? ALL RIGHT, NOW, I’M SURE THAT IN PREVIOUS MESSAGES YOU HAVE HARD ABOUT FAITH. FAITH CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS, BUT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS USELESS. ONCE YOU CONFESS YOUR VICTORY, YOU’RE SAYING IT’S DONE. REMEMBER THAT FAITH IS SEEING SOMETHING DONE IN THE SPIRITUAL ROUND, AND NOT SEEING IT, BUT BELIEVING IT. AFTER YOU MOVE YOUR MOUNTAINS, YOU HAVE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO GET BACK WHAT YOU LOST BEFORE YOUR MOUNTAINS WERE MOVED. ARE YOU WITH ME? IN SOME CASES, IT COULD BE YOUR FAMILY, YOUR MONEY, JOY, PEACE, FRIENDS, BUT THE ONE THAT HAPPENS TO MOST CHRISTIANS IS THE FIRST LOVE OF THEIR SALVATION. “WELL, HOW CAN I GET ALL THAT BACK?” ASKED ONE OF THOSE WEIRD OLD LADIES. YOU KNOW, THOSE THAT ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT ON YOU WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO PROVE A POINT? THEN SHE SAID, “GOD KNOWS I KEEP ON TRYING. I’VE TRIED AND TRIED, BUT I DO NOT SEEM TO BE ABLE
TO BE HAPPY.” THEN SHE SAID, “I KNEW IT ALL ALONG THAT
SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN TO ME!” POS, YA
LO CONFESO! SHE HAD DOUBT. CON GANAS DE DARLE CON LA
BIBLE PARA QUE LE SANE LA HEAD! MAYBE SHE WOULD
UNDERSTAND WHAT LUKE CHAPTER 10 VERSE 19 SAYS. IN FACT, TURN WITH ME TO THAT SCRIPTURE. IT STATES: “BEHOLD, I GIVE YOU POWER TO TREAD ON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS, AND OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY: AND NOTHING SHALL BY ANY MEANS HURT YOU!” NOW, EVERYONE REPEAT AFTER ME: “LORD, JESUS, SPEAK TO MY HEART, AND CHANGE MY LIFE. IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME, AMEN.” EVIDENTLY GOD WILL NOT TAKE AWAY ANYTHING OF BLESSING FROM YOU UNLESS THE FACT THAT HE TAKES IT AWAY FROM YOU WILL BE OF BLESSING LATER ON IN YOUR WALK. NOW, IF GOD DOESN’T DO IT, THEN, WHO DOES IT? 1 - 2 - 3! POS, DUH! HELLO, MC FLY, THE DEVIL! DO
YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE GLAD TO BE IN THE HOUSE OF
THE LORD? WHEN YOU WOULDN’T EVEN BRING A WATCH TO
CHURCH BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T CARE WHAT TIME IT WAS? WHEN
YOU WERE HAVING AN AWESOME MARRIAGE? DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE DEBT FREE? WHEN YOUR SON AND DAUGHTER WOULD SPEND HOURS ON THEIR FACE, SEEKING THE LORD AT THIS ALTAR? WHEN YOU WOULD LIVE WITHOUT ARTHRITIS, CANCER, DIABETES, BRONCHITIS, FLOJERITIS, AND A PAIN HERE AND A PAIN THERE? WHEN THEY WOULD ASK YOU TO
GIVE FOR A NEED OF THE CHURCH AND YOU WOULD ASK HOW
MUCH AND NOT FOR WHAT? WHEN THEY WOULD ENCOURAGE
THE CONGREGATION TO JUMP AND YOU WOULD JUMP AND YOU
WOULD ASK IN A SHOUT, “HOW HIGH?!?” WHEN THEY WOULD ASK YOU TO LEAD THE SERVICE AND YOU WOULD RESPOND, “I’LL DO IT THIS WEEK AND THE NEXT IF YOU LET ME!” WHEN YOU WOULD COME TO CHURCH EARLY WITH A SPIRIT OF EXPECTANCY AND YOU WOULD COME, REJOICE AT THE ALTAR AND SOAK IN HIS PRESENCE AND WITH MUCH JOY IN YOUR HEART YOU WOULD JUST SEEK MORE AND MORE OF HIM, JUST LONGING TO SEE HIS FACE AND WITH A HUNGRY HEART YOU WOULD SHOUT, “WHAT - A - SIZE IT, LORD!” WHAT HAPPENED? YOU LOST IT! THE WORD SAYS: “HE HAS GIVEN US AUTHORITY TO STEP OVER SCORPIONS AND SERPENTS.” IF WE HAVE THAT AUTHORITY GIVEN TO US BY THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, THEN, WE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO STOMP OVER THE SNAKE WHO TOOK ALL THAT WAS OURS AWAY! WAS IT GOD? NO, IT WAS WHO? 1 - 2
- 3! POS, DUH, THE DEVIL! PREACHERS COME AND WE END
UP SINGING, “EL DIABLO ES PURO BALOGNY!”, Y CUANDO SE VA, WE FIND OUT IT WAS ALL JUST EXCITEMENT OR WE FEEL
THAT WE LOOSE THAT AUTHORITY THAT WE HAD AND THEN WE
ARE THE ONES THAT END UP SMELLING LIKE PORK! EVEN
WORSE THAN BALOGNY BECAUSE PORK IS MORE FATTENING!
WE SING THE SONG ENEMY’S CAMP, BUT WE DO NOT REALIZE
WHAT AN AWESOME AND POWERFUL MESSAGE THE WORDS WE
ARE SINGING HAVE. OH, GLORY TO GOD, LISTEN TO THIS: IT’S TIME TO TAKE IT BACK! MANY TIMES I WOULD TELL MY SISTER, “IF YOU DON’T CLEAN YOUR ROOM, WASH THE DISHES, MOW THE LAWN, BATHE THE DOG, AND CLEAN THE CITY STREETS WITHIN AN HOUR, YOU ARE GOING TO GO TO CHURCH WITH ME!” NAH, JUST JOKING, ALL I WOULD ASK HER TO DO WAS TO CLEAN HER ROOM THE SAME WAY THE YOUNG LADIES FROM CHURCH HAVE THEIR ROOMS, REAL NICE AND CLEAN WITH A GIFT FOR ME ON THEIR DRESSER, I MEAN, THE OFFERING FOR JESUS WAITING ON TOP OF THEIR BIBLES. IF SHE WOULDN’T DO HER DUTIES, SHE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH. AT THE TIME, GOING TO CHURCH WAS A PUNISHMENT FOR HER. WELL, SHE STILL WOULDN’T DO IT. ALL I
WOULD DO WAS BARK AND BARK, BUT NEVER KEEP MY WORD.
FINALLY, ONE TIME I GOT FED UP WITH HER STUFF AND SET MY FOOT DOWN. IT WASN’T UNTIL USED MY AUTHORITY THAT MY EARTHLY FATHER GAVE ME WHEN HE STAYED IN HOUSTON AND
LEFT ME IN CHARGE OF MY HOUSEHOLD WITH MY TWO SIBLINGS. I HAVE A 16 YEAR OLD BROTHER AND A 15 YEAR OLD SISTER THAT I CARE FOR TEMPORARY. IT WASN’T UNTIL I USED MY AUTHORITY SHE ENDED UP DOING WHAT SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. NOW, INSTEAD OF CLEANING SO THAT SHE WON’T GO TO CHURCH, SHE DOES IT TO GO TO CHURCH. WHY? BECAUSE I TOOK THE AUTHORITY I WAS GIVEN AND GOT RESULTS! THAT’S THE WAY IT WORKS WITH US, THE CHILDREN OF GOD. GOD GAVE US THE AUTHORITY AND POWER TO REIGN! MOST OF THE TIMES, AFTER WE SUPPOSEDLY GET FED UP, WE’RE LIKE, “DEVIL, OKAY, GIVE ME MY MONEY, AND MY HUSBAND, AND, LIKE, MY KIDS BACK, OKAY, OR ELSE!” THEN THE DEVIL COMES AND GOES, “LE’ GROWL!!!” AND YOU SAY, “WELL, I MEAN, IF IT’S OKAY WITH YOU, TEE HEE.” QUE ES ESO?!? THEN, YOU GET ALL PUMPED UP AGAIN
AND YOU TELL THE DEVIL AGAIN, “NO, REALLY, LIKE, THIS TIME I REALLY MEAN IT, DAWG! LIKE, GIVE ME MY STUFF BACK, DAWG!" THE DEVIL GROWLS AGAIN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENS! LISTEN TO THIS, THE DEVIL IS LIKE A DOG. HE CAN GROWL, BARK, HASTA PUEDE HACER DROOL EL COCHINO, BUT HE DOESN’T BITE. HE, MY FRIEND, IS AT THE MERCY OF OUR CREATOR. I MEAN, HE IS MORE SCARED OF US THAN WHAT WE SHOULD BE SCARED OF HIM. PLUS, IF HE KNOWS THAT WE ARE SCARED OF HIM, HE IS GONNA THINK HE IS ALL THAT AND A BAG OF CHIPS AND DIP AND A PEPPERONI AND CHEESE PIZZA FROM PIZZA HUT WHEN HE IS A PIZZA FROM H - E - B ONLY! A VERY FAMOUS PHILOSOPHER WOULD SAY: “ESTA TODO QUESO!” THINK OF IT THIS WAY: IF YOU WERE TO BE WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY AT FOLEY’S BECAUSE YOU WERE SHOPPING FOR A DRESS FOR YOUR PASTOR, NOT BECAUSE IT’S HER BIRTHDAY, NOR MOTHER’S DAY, NOR PASTOR’S DAY, BUT BECAUSE SHE IS SO LOVABLE AND YOU LOVE HER TO DEATH, AND WHILE YOU WERE LOOKING, SOMEONE WERE TO COME AND YANK YOUR KID AWAY FROM YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? WOULD YOU SAY, “MR. SCARY MAN, GIVE ME MY KID BACK, OR I’LL GET REALLY, REALLY MAD.” NOMBRE! NOT IF YOU ARE A WOMAN FROM THE VALLEY
WITH MEXICAN BLOOD IN YOUR VEINS. ESPECIALLY MEXICAN
WOMEN. MAN, IF YOU’RE A MEXICAN, TE LE HABIENTAS Y LE
RECUERDAS HASTA LA QUINTA GENERACION DE MOMS! Y
LUEGO, YOU WOULD PROBABLY USE YOUR TEN POUND PURSE
FULL OF CREDIT CARDS, MEDICINE FROM LAS FLORES AND
REYNOSA, AND SMACK HIM ON THE HEAD WITH IT. MAN, I REMEMBER WHEN WE WOULD GO VISIT MY GRANDPARENTS RANCYH IN MEXICO AND MY MOM WOULD TAKE HER PURSE EMPTY. SHE WOULD RETURN BACK TO THE STATES WITH A PURSE FULL OF EVERY MEDICINE YOU COULD IMAGINE. JUST IMAGINE IF SHE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE "MAD ANOINTING" AND HIT SOMEONE WITH THAT THING! THAT SAME WAY YOU WOULD FIGHT WITH YOUR TEETH AND NAILS FOR YOUR CHILD IS THE SAME WAY YOU SHOULD FIGHT THE DEVIL FOR YOUR VICTORY! YOU NEED TO TAKE BACK WHAT HE HAS STOLEN FROM YOU AND LET YOUR BOLDNESS COME OUT! USE THE AUTHORITY GOD HAS GIVEN YOU AND SHOW THE DEVIL WHO’S GOT THE PANTS IN THIS BATTLE. JUST PRETEND YOU ARE BOSSING YOUR HUSBAND! SURE, THEY PROBABLY WEAR THE PANTS, BUT COME ON, YOU ARE THE 100% PURE MEXICAN LEATHER BELTS! YOU KEEP THEM PANTS UP! NOW LISTEN TO THIS: YOU HAVE ALREADY MOVED THE MOUNTAIN. NOW GO THROUGH AND SAY, “WATCH OUT, SATAN, WATCH OUT, ‘CAUSE I’M COMING THROUGH!” COME ON, SAY IT WITH ME: “WATCH OUT, SATAN, WATCH OUT, ‘CAUSE I’M COMING THROUGH!” WHO WANTS TO DO THAT? COME ON, MAKE A LINE IN THIS CENTER ISLE. WORSHIP TEAM, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A MUSICAL REVOLUTION HERE TONIGHT! GET READY. EVERYTIME ONE OF
THESE PEOPLE MENTIONS WHAT HE OR SHE WANTS BACK, YOU
ARE GOING TO PLAY JUST ONE BEAT AS LOUD AS YOU CAN. THE SAME WAY THE ISRAELITES WERE MARCHING AROUND THE
WALLS OF JERICHO AND WITH THEIR TRUMPETS AND TIMBRELS
THE PRIESTS AND MAIDENS PLAYED WITH FAITH AND AUTHORITY
IN JESUS, THAT’S THE SAME WAY WE ARE GOING TO OBTAIN
VICTORY TODAY! WE’RE GOING TO SHOW THE DEVIL WHO’S
BOSS TONIGHT! AS YOU STAND IN LINE, THINK OF WHAT YOU
WANT TO TAKE BACK. BELIEVE THAT BY THE TIME YOU GET TO
THIS MICROPHONE, GOD HAS ALREADY DONE IT. YOU ARE JUST
GOING TO CONFESS IT AND MAKE THE GLORY OF GOD COME
TRUE IN YOUR LIVES. YOUR DELIVERANCE IS NEAR! YOUR
FREEDOM IS HERE! IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE. YOU JUST
NEVER PROCLAIMED IT. BE INTERCEDING FOR OTHERS UNTIL
IT’S YOUR TURN. THAT SONG, “ENEMY’S CAMP”, HAS BEEN SUNG ALL OVER AMERICA AND OTHER NATIONS, BUT NOW, IN THIS SMALL METROPLEX CITY, THE LORD IS GOING TO HEAR OUR VOICES SHOUT IT. THIS SONG IS GOING TO COME ALIVE, AND IT’S GOING TO SHOW WHAT WE HAVE GOTTEN BACK, IN JESUS’ NAME!
