← ArchiveSuitcaseSuitcase: The Power of LoveDateAugust 29, 2021SpeakerJeremiah CastilleText—TranscriptMachine transcribed · click any line to jump0:00Music playing. Music playing.0:30Music playing. Amen. Amen. Good morning. It is an honor to be here at Bethel Baptist this morning. Thank you, Pastor Josh and the leadership for inviting us to come and share with you all. And as I have made a habit of saying when I get a chance to speak, I have always my goal is to equip and encourage the saints.0:54And as I have made a habit of saying when I get a chance to speak, I have always my goal is to equip and encourage the saints. So I know God's word is true. And what we want to do this morning is help equip you and then encourage you in your journey. And all of us are in a journey at some place in our life. And so this morning, I believe the Lord wants to continue to encourage you on the way for those of us that know him.1:24And so this morning, I believe the Lord wants to continue to encourage you on the way for those of us that know him. And if you don't, then we want to encourage you through the word that you commit your life to the Lord. There's no greater place to be. Amen. Than in in the kingdom. Amen. There's no greater place to be than a citizen of the kingdom. We have we're I'm in a kingdom. If you know Jesus, he's a he's a king. Sometimes we can get confused living in this country about there's an eternal kingdom.1:52Sometimes we can get confused living in this country about there's an eternal kingdom. There's earthly kingdoms that come and go. But there's one kingdom that's eternal. And as a son or daughter of the most high God, you are a citizen of that kingdom. And he rules and reign in this kingdom. Amen. Amen. And so this book right here is the instructions that he give us as sons and daughters of citizens of that kingdom of how to live.2:16And so this book right here is the instructions that he give us as sons and daughters of citizens of that kingdom of how to live. Now, I don't think he created the kingdom. For us to not prosper and be blessed. Amen. I'm going to give you all permission to say amen as I share this morning. Amen. And y'all help me preach this message.2:45And y'all help me preach this message. Amen. But I want you to think for a moment for all of us are parents. What have you done for your children when they were brought when they came into the earth? You matter of fact, you prepare. For the arrival of that son or daughter. Amen. And what did you want for them? The best. So now I want you to take on this thought process as we share this morning. That before God, when God in his creative act, what he wanted. For you and I that are living in this time is the best.3:15For you and I that are living in this time is the best. Now, you'll see people that don't believe that. They may not be in the kingdom. They may not be in the kingdom. But for all of us in the kingdom, that should be our thought process. So for a little poor black kid growing up in Phoenix City, Alabama that had alcoholism and drugs and just circumstances that said,3:39So for a little poor black kid growing up in Phoenix City, Alabama that had alcoholism and drugs and just circumstances that said, You're going to be a victim. Man, ain't no way you're going to make it. All you got to do is look at your siblings and everything around you. I pray you get the spirit of this message this morning. And you leave out of here on fire. And you start to realize in your thought process.4:08And you start to realize in your thought process. How God loves you. And I pray that you'll let that love lift you to the place that he's called you to in the kingdom. So that you start carrying out. What he created you to do.4:43So title of the message, the power of love. God's just given me a series. I've been just talking about the power. It's a power. See, when God created us, or created Adam and Eve, if you look back and you go, we don't go to Genesis, but he gave them a command to go and take dominion. Now, if you know anything about Alabama football in the last 15 years, you've seen our teams take dominion. We call it dominate. One of the goals when Coach, if you're in the locker room before we go out, guess what?5:13One of the goals when Coach, if you're in the locker room before we go out, guess what? Before we go do battle, you know what one of the goals is? At every position, he got on the board. Dominate. Is that just for football players? Where it comes from? It's out of the Bible. When he created Adam and Eve. Go and take dominion over everything. So this morning, I pray you'll let God, through the Holy Spirit, elevate your thought process. How you see circumstances that you're in right now.5:41How you see circumstances that you're in right now. Woo!5:57There's nothing more powerful than the Word of God. And if men that represent God stand up in a pulpit, they ought to preach it with authority and power and enthusiasm and excitement. So if you're wondering, why is he like that? Because that's the way I believe you do it. Can you think of anything more powerful than the Word of God? It says it's powerful. It's alive. Hebrews 4 tells us that. So as we share this morning, you just realize that I'm opening up and I'm reading you the eternal Word of God.6:23So as we share this morning, you just realize that I'm opening up and I'm reading you the eternal Word of God. And there's only one way you do it.6:41So this power, he placed it in man and woman. This power, you and our images of the eternal God. Let us make man in our image, in our likeness. Let us make man. You and me. I came to understand this at 13 when I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior.7:00I came to understand this at 13 when I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior. When I was told that God loved me, and he demonstrated that love through the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus. Sitting there as a little boy, 13 years old, sitting on the front row of a little church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Phoenix City, Alabama.7:28Sitting there as a little boy, 13 years old, sitting on the front row of a little church, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Phoenix City, Alabama. I received that good news. It's still good news. Can I share something else? And it's still powerful. It doesn't matter how many people represent it, misrepresent it. It's still the good news. It's still the most powerful news. Why? Because it saves. He delivers.7:57He delivers. Woo, amen. And so that's what, so let me ask you, when the last time you got excited about that? How about this one? When the last time you shared it with someone else? Sharing this week in, last week in Bible study, I said, all essence has expression. Break it down for you. All essence has expression. All nature has expression.8:26All nature has expression. God is love. His nature is love. For God so loved, he gave. He expressed. This love that you and I have been given through Jesus, the Son, God says, Jeremiah, go and express it to the world. Some of us wonder, why I don't feel powerful?8:55Some of us wonder, why I don't feel powerful? Why I don't feel strong? Because you're not expressing the nature of God that lives in you. So there I was. I came to the Lord. And this love relationship began. And you know what I found out? God's powerful. I don't know if you understand. I said, God's powerful. So you understand the salvation process.9:24So you understand the salvation process. The spirit of God. Now, when we accept Jesus, the spirit of Christ lives in us.9:42And I became, I started walking in my journey of power.9:52Alcoholic mother, the power and the love of God said, gave me the ability to love her right where she was at. It's amazing how we as believers. I can't do this. I can't do that. I can't do. What if the God that heaven and earth had that attitude? We'd all be dead.10:21We'd all be dead. So, the power of love. Go to Deuteronomy real quick. Turn to Deuteronomy 6. I want to share. We will get through a few verses. I won't be able to finish this. So, Pastor Josh, you want to invite me back? That'd be all right. Amen. But we're not going to get through. But I want you to go to Deuteronomy 6. And I want to read in verse 5. If you look at what that verse says. It says, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.10:58So, God has commanded that you and I, his creation, love him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength. Now, you go to Matthew, you may not, you may not, Matthew 22, I'm going to read a verse in verse 37. It's the great command that the Pharisees asked Jesus about. Jesus quotes this same scripture.11:27Jesus quotes this same scripture. So, whether Old Testament or New Testament, we're New Testament. Amen. The command is the same. So, he commanded in the Old Testament that men should love him with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength. And today, he's saying the same thing. And let me ask you, we have the complete reveal word of God.11:54And let me ask you, we have the complete reveal word of God.12:04When's the last time you loved Donnie?12:11Oh, Paul's right there. You need to think about that. You know how important it is? Turn with me to Revelation 2. Second chapter. I'm going to read something to you out of Revelation. Let's tell you how important this love relationship is. Chapter 2, verse 1, to the angel of the church of Ephesus, write, These things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand,12:40These things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. I know your works, your labor, your patience. That you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not. And have found them liars. And you have persevered. And have patience. And have labored for my name's sake. And have not become weary.13:08And have not become weary. Man, it sounds like a good church, doesn't it? They're working. They're laboring.13:25Nevertheless, verse 4. Nevertheless, I have this against you. Nevertheless, I have this against you. That you have left your first love. What matters most to God the Father13:56What matters most to God the Father is that intimate relationship when you came to know him as Lord and Savior. That intimate relationship and fellowship. He says, Jeremiah, Bethel Baptist,14:23He says, Jeremiah, Bethel Baptist, everything that you do starts here. Everything you'll do for me and all your representation of me, it starts with this love relationship. See, if we look at an individual or a local congregation's works, we can become deceived. You ever met people in ministry and they do ministry work for the sake of the ministry? They do ministry work for the sake of the church?14:53They do ministry work for the sake of the church? And their love is cold. Mmm.15:06Why is this important? Why is this first love? What is this first love about? See, when you come to truly see and know who God is, this love captivates you. You're in awe of him. Woo! I love to tell people this. You can't have this kind of love encounter and be the same. Changes you forever.15:36Changes you forever. Empowers you. Gives you the wisdom. Gives you the foresight. Everything you need for the journey. The faith. The confidence. Woo!15:57So he's saying it starts with me. And don't ever forget that. So every day, guess what God's looking for you to do? Love on him. Let me ask you this. When last time in just your fellowship and your worship in your intimate time with the Lord, you said, Lord, I just come, I just got to tell you I love you today. Mmm. I just, I just love you, Lord. Mmm. Don't want anything.16:26Don't want anything. Didn't come here asking you for it. I just want to tell you I love you. What are the three most powerful words we say? In, in, in, in, I love you. When's the last time you told God that? Get caught up in all the doings. Well, guess what? When you have this nature, the doing's automatic. I like, I like to ask people, you ever seen a lion? A lion acts like a lion.16:55A lion acts like a lion. Wouldn't walk through that back door. We all, we, we'd see it quick, wouldn't we? All of us be responsible. Yeah, but, hello, amen. A lion, yeah, watch out. A lion's nature, he's a predator. Lionesses are predators. They know how to hunt. It's in their nature. And that nature is expressed. If it's not expressed,17:25If it's not expressed, they, they, they're not going to get a meal. They're going to die. What am I sharing with you? See, if you don't practice the first, you may run out of gas. You can get in ministry 15, 20, 30 years. The next thing you know, man, I, I, I, I, I, I just don't, I, minister, minister ain't for me. What happened? Lefty first love.17:56Lefty first love. You think God runs out of energy? Out of power? He's eternal, saints. Amen. You mean people, well, I used, I used to be in ministry. Well, I used to. What happened? They left their first love. I challenge you to spend the next seven days. The moment your eyes wake, pop, open up. The first thing you do18:26The first thing you do is hit your knees and you say, Lord, I love you. I challenge you. You know what that seven days will turn into? Seven months. You know what that seven months will turn into? Seven years. You know what that seven years will turn into? Seven decades. Seven decades. Seven decades. Seven decades. Seven decades. And in that journey that God has assigned you to,18:53that God has assigned you to, you will be one powerful person. You will be one powerful individual demonstrating and expressing the love of Jesus to a lost and dying world. Woo! That's what he's called his church to in this community. That this essence be expressed in a powerful way. That when people walk through, that there is an essence,19:22that there is an essence, there is a fragrance because of that essence.19:36So, Church of Ephesus, I'm going to read one more verse. Listen to what it says. Remember, therefore, from where you have fallen. You keep reading. It says, repent.19:51So, the great command is for you and I to what? Love the Lord with all our what? Heart. With all our soul. With all our strength. So, God has given us a heart to love him.20:11Let me ask you, what dominates your heart? If we could cut you open and look at your heart, what would we see on the inside? What do you love? Who do you love? Hmm. Good question, isn't it? And you know what? We said it earlier. Essence shows expression.20:40Essence shows expression. Whatever it is you love is being expressed every day.20:53Do you love Jesus? Do you love him? Because when you fall in love with him, you know what you're going to realize? God created me to win. My accomplishments. When I came to the Lord, I realized it don't matter what neighborhood I'm in. It doesn't matter what my address is, baby. Whoo! Hallelujah. Hallelujah.21:23Hallelujah. Doesn't matter what my address is. Doesn't matter what people are saying. Doesn't matter all the negatives. Doesn't matter what the circumstances. Matter of fact, the bigger they are, guess what? Man, God's saying, get ready. I'm really fixing it. You're getting ready to go on a trip, Jeremiah. You're going to be able to tell some people some things. Amen? And listen to me, young people. God's no respecter person. Well, you sure was lucky.21:57No, I was in love with my Savior. I put him first. Hello, amen? Amen. I put him first. And you know what he did? He started to raise me up through the vision that he gave me for my life. These things are going to change, Jeremiah. Your mother will be sober one day. Your father can be sober one day. This address will change. This is just a passing by place. Whoo! So when I got to Alabama in 1979,22:27So when I got to Alabama in 1979, I walked on that campus with God. I walked on that campus knowing Jesus. What am I looking for? What do I know is going to happen? God's get ready to bless me. How do you approach whatever the career is God's called you to? The village of the town. How do you break? Do you take God there? This love relationship you can't believe for anyone or anything else. He has his best in mind for me. Even when it looks like22:56Even when it looks like it's a negative. Preaching bed and y'all saying amen. Amen. Hallelujah. Amen. So it doesn't matter. People are you going to let has God stopped loving because of COVID? All this does is give you and I a chance to to shine the light even brighter. so this heart23:21so this heart you know God has a heart. Where do you think yours come from? He gave you what he has. Read Genesis 6. We don't have time to go there. Read Genesis 6. He said he grieved God's heart that he had made man. God has a heart. He gave you one. And we're supposed to do the same thing23:50to do the same thing with him. Love.23:58We see a messed up world because people are disobeying the command. That's all it is. Don't get confused. You know what the scheme of the enemy is? I'll get ready to close. You know what the scheme of the enemy is for you and I? It's to corrupt your heart. However long you've been living however long that's been the manifestations in your life is a result of what's in your heart. That's it saints. Amen.24:28Amen. So he tells you and I choose. Jeremiah choose. Bethel Baptist choose. I guarantee you this God get 4, 5, 6, 7 of us in here to start choosing and loving you transform Moody you over build He would have a powerful whoo. I started24:56I started with my mother in this love relationship and God changed my mother powerfully. Changed my life powerfully. Wants to change your life powerfully. You know I took on the football field I took my relationship with the Lord. I'm going to play like this. I'm going to act like this. I can hear Coach Brian help me in25:26help me in that. Man let's play with class.25:38Are you living life with class? Are you a classy person? Woo! See you know what we do when I play man I go up there man I make a real good tackle on a guy. Mm-hmm I was going to make a real look but you know what I do man we reach down there pick him up pat him on the bottom and say I'll be back next time too. Amen. Hey we talk to guy26:08guy I'll be back. That really messes with him doesn't it? You stand over guy guess what he saying I'm going to knock you out next time. I was trying to put him to sleep. Make my job easier. Class we can live and you know what God does in this love relationship you know what it does you this true love26:38love relationship it humbles you that God would love you. He's chose to love you. It humbles you and you know what through that humility you learn to serve. That's that fragrance. Bethel you need that fragrance in this place. People come through the door there's a fragrance of Jesus. Hallelujah. Amen. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. So I loved my mother27:07mother served her she lived the last 34 35 years sober. went on to be with the Lord sober. Nothing can defeat love. Nothing can defeat how come because God is love. You start practicing this love. Doesn't matter how27:37matter how many people are against you. Hallelujah. Amen. I share with Pastor we was talking a little bit about private and public so I was third round pick in 1983. I played five seasons right at four seasons with Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I was a starter from a rookie year on and my fifth year there I got fired. Lost my job. You ever lost, you ever been fired and you felt like it was unjust? I went28:08I went from starting to cut. I couldn't even make the team. I went from leading the team in interception where I'm not even on the team. because of this love relationship with Jesus. Walked in on that Monday they said hey pack your stuff up you're no longer a buccaneer. All right. I grabbed my stuff I'm walking out and the fellow said man what you going to do? How you going to make it? This is my response. I said God own all the jobs. Monday night28:38Monday night my wife and I we got I think our two older boys I go home that night Denver and the New York Giants were playing. Monday night preseason football. This was my prayer. Lord I sure would like to be playing in Denver. Prayed that prayer on a Monday night that Tuesday morning the Denver Broncos and the New York Giants called my house. I jumped on a plane that Tuesday that Wednesday headed to Denver. ended up that season29:08that season playing in the AFC championship game. Super Bowl 20. You can go pull it up. So how did I get from the outhouse to the penthouse? He don't change when your circumstance change. He don't bow to circumstance. He's still king. He's still Lord. Then you live that way. You act29:37You act that way. Man. Well, it did me wrong. Hey, he's still king. He's working all that for your good. Amen. Woo. Pastor, I told you I didn't have enough time to preach this mess. I'm ready to close. I have five things that makes you powerful. What makes love powerful? God gives. God forgives. God loves sacrifices. When I say God loves, that's30:07that's synonymous. You get that? That's synonymous. God loves. God is love. When you love, you're acting like God. When you forgive your enemy, you're acting like God. When you sacrifice, you're acting like God. You know what that does? That gives you spiritual muscle. Amen? Amen. That gives you what? That makes you Jesus strong. all this COVID and you know what you need to be, church? Jesus30:36Jesus strong.30:43So his love. So there I was. We get in that game. I didn't start that game, but I prayed a prayer that Monday before we played on that Sunday. Lord, I should like to get in that game and make something happen. That's truth. I put my hand on the Bible. Well, guess what? Fourth quarter of that game, God said, okay, I'm going to answer that prayer. you're in the game. Put me in the game. God played in front of me. He caught a, he got, he was injured. Castillo, you in. Who, me? Would you31:15Would you want to be in a pressure situation like that? Well, I've been walking with the Lord all my, since 13. Hey, okay, Lord, we're going in this baby. And you know what? Well, I'm going to tell you what, that drive they put me in, they went right down the field and scored a touchdown on me. Cleveland Brown did. They came back, minute by minute, 35 seconds, they was on our six-yard line. And they31:45And they called the same play I got beat on in the series before. I can tell you right now, I was mad. Why'd they call that play? Why'd they call that play? That's stupid where it got beat last time. But when you walk with God, he's always looking after you. And you know what saints, he wants to bless you in whatever your profession, whatever your secular calling is. I don't even like you secular. It says the32:16It says the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. What is it that he gave you the ability to do that puts you out in the world and the world can get a chance to see the love relationship you have with your God? So there it was. Ball was on the six-yard line. They give it to Ernest Biner about a minute, a little over a minute ago, and Ernest and I meet on the two-yard line. I just try to be32:44I just try to be honest with you. He was about 235 and I'm about 175, so you do the math right there, and you know I didn't want to tackle a guy. How many more pounds was he then? That's about 50, isn't it? Mm-hmm. You want to talk to somebody 50-plus pounds heavier than you? Man, he got muscles popping out everywhere, baby. I'm talking about everything about him. He's in the eyes had muscles. The man was just put33:14just put together. He run over everybody on the team. I'm on the two-yard line. I'm like, what am I going to do? Let me tell you something. God just slowed the play down. The spirit just poof, and I had all day to think about what I was going to do. Like I had 24 hours. The thought come to mind, knock the ball out. Mm-hmm. That sounds good to me. If I don't, he's going to knock me out, right?33:44right? Amen? I hit that ball, boom. Two-yard line is right there on the ground. I'm lying on my back, on the two-yard line. The ball's right here. And I just rolled on top of it. Hallelujah! That's what I'm saying. Praise the Lord. Now, if you took that mic and put it down in that pile, that wasn't all that was being said. I was praising some other folks. Y'all get the picture. You know,34:17You know, two weeks later, I had a chance to share with 400 reporters my love relationship with Jesus in San Diego. Amen? Amen? Guess what? When it looked like it's at its worst for you, all God doing is working it out for you. Woo! So you ought to get excited. Don't let a circumstance, don't let COVID steal the fire and that love relationship that we34:45that we are supposed to be expressing to him first and to a lost and dying world. Love wins. Let me read this verse to you as we close. I'm in Romans. Amen. What you got to remember, God wins. God wins. Romans 8, just listen to what it says. You don't35:15You don't have to turn over there with me. Woo! That's what you got to know. That's what I knew growing up. You know, so you know what I would be telling myself? I'm a winner.35:29I'm a winner. You know Jesus, you're a winner. Listen to what it says, Romans 8. Hallelujah. I'm just going to find a place to start here. Golly. I'm going to start in verse 31. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who35:58He who did not spare his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? How many things? All things. Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died. Furthermore, is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes36:28makes intercession for us. How about this, verse 35? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Who? What? Who or what? What are you letting separate you from Jesus? Your love relationship. What? Who?36:53Shall tribulation? COVID? Distress? Persecution? Famine? Nakedness? Peril? Sword? Sword?37:10Verse 37. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors. Yet in all these things. Verse 38. For I am persuaded neither death nor life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, depth, nor any other created37:40created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. This love, this essence was expressed through a Savior. God became man and he demonstrated that love by going to a cross, a cross where his blood that was perfect was shed for you and I. And when38:11And when you place your trust in the demonstration or the expression of this love by God the Father through Jesus Christ, then guess what? Now all things are possible to you. Let us pray.
