The Power of Proximity: Passover 2026

The Power of Proximity Passover 2026 — April 1, 2026 Rev. John Shane Vaughn — First Harvest Ministries International ________________ 1 Turning to the book of Hebrews today, chapter 10, verse 25; last Sabbath, I left the service very upset because I knew that Yahweh had given me perhaps the most important sermon of my entire ministry, and I was not able to preach it. 2 Some of thee may remember; for some reason — that hath never happened before — time slipped away; I have never allowed that to happen; I looked at my clock, it was two o'clock. 3 And I left the service quite — because I take my job seriously of preaching the word and feeding thee; and I felt like I did not feed anybody last Sabbath; and I left because the Lord shut it down. 4 And I told the Lord all the way home, I said, but thou toldest me how important this was; he said, it was not time; he said, thou art to preach it on the day of covenant. 5 But I said, Lord, that maketh no sense, because this hath nothing to do with Passover; it hath nothing to do with the day of Awe; and I really wanted to drive down the day of Awe; so me and the Lord — we have little tussles once in a while; he always sort of wins. 6 But I did not want to preach this here today because it is not Passover-y material; and that is when I heard the Lord speak to me and said, it is more about Passover than thou realizest. 7 Because if everyone that is assembled — and that is when it hit me — will grasp what thou preachest today, thy ministry will go to the next level; amen. 8 Some things I am going to say today will upset many people; it will cause thee to feel uncomfortable; but it will transform thee, if thou allowest it to. 9 Hebrews 10:25 — and let us start at verse 24; and let us consider one another, how we may urge one another on toward love and righteous works; amen, but I did not realize it at the moment. 10 Let us read it again; let us consider ourselves, one another, how that we may urge one another towards a certain goal; now I am going to answer a question today. 11 Is it the job of the Holy Ghost to urge us to good works, or is it the job of one another? And then Paul followeth it up in Hebrews in the next verse and telleth us how to do that — how to urge one another to good works. 12 By not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some in this ministry is; if we had everyone here today that saith I am their pastor, this room would not contain them; as the manner of some is. 13 What is their manner? To serve God by themselves; to serve God in privacy and in solace; to serve God on their own; according to the word — as the manner of some is, do not be like them. 14 Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together; exhorting one another; I am going to tell thee why; and this is going to upset a few of thee — because the Holy Ghost is not enough. 15 Paul said it is going to get so bad in the last days that thou shouldest do more assembly towards the end than they have ever done in the past; now listen — exhorting one another so much the more as thou seest the day approaching. 16 But the next verse is interesting, is it not? But if thou sin willfully after Pastor Vaughn hath taught thee about the assembly, there no longer remaineth a sacrifice for thy rebellion; thou mayest be seated. 17 The book of Second Corinthians chapter 3 and verse 18, if thou wilt turn there; today is going to be a deep day; how many already feel it? 18 There are many of thee here today that literally fought hell to obey that scripture. 19 Where is the Smith family? Would y'all stand for me? All the Smith family and the Sherry McLaren family — where they drove in yesterday — are they not with us? Samantha's? They are outside. 20 These folks drove two days; they got here at three o'clock yesterday and they were here about five o'clock in their white clothes; a whole family all the way from Pennsylvania; thank thee, children. 21 I could go around this room and tell thee story after story of people that took money out of their savings account, and some of them did not even have a savings account, but they got here; they obeyed Yahweh. 22 Why? Because they understand something — in these last days thou needest more than the spirit of God; thou needest the church of God; because he is in the assembly. 23 Let us read Second Corinthians 3:18 — but we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of Yahweh are changed into the same image from glory to glory. 24 If thou art here today and thou art not being changed into the image of Yahweh's son, thou must do it; thou dost not do it overnight; thou doest it from glory to glory or from level to level. 25 Every time thou keepest the feast, thou hast just gone to another level or glory in thy transformation process; thou art called to be transformed. 26 And what is interesting today — people are reading the Bible in Christianity; even in the Messianic movement, people are reading the Bible more than ever; they are quoting more scripture than they have ever quoted; and yet no one is changing. 27 If thou still hast the same temper thou hadst when thou foundest this ministry, thou hast not even gone to the first glory; if thou hast got the same selfishness thou hadst — 28 How many can truly say thou hast seen thyself shedding some things over the years? Hallelujah — from glory to glory, hallelujah. 29 So I asked the Lord, how are people in this ministry not changing? Because we have some; the national church — how are they listening to my sermons and not changing? And the Lord gave me an answer; I hope thou art ready for it. 30 I said, they read all my books and they are not changing; they read the Holy Bible, they are not changing; and the Lord spoke to me and said, the answer to thy question is not that they have a lack of truth — they have a lack of proximity. 31 Why? Truth doth not change thee — proximity doth; I will prove it; John, chapter 4 — we will not read the whole thing. 32 It saith a woman came to Yeshua and said, we worship God on this mountain, and thou worshippest him in Jerusalem; Yahweh answered her and said, ma'am, at this moment worship is location, but worship will soon become transformation. 33 He said, thou wilt no longer worship God on this mountain, nor say in Jerusalem, but thou wilt experience true worship in spirit and in truth; because worship is no longer about — watch this — just where thou goest, even headquarters. 34 Worship is not about thou drove here and came to headquarters; worship is not that thou camest to Passover, but it is when Passover cometh to thee. 35 Worship is not that thou art just here at Jerusalem, if thou wilt, keeping the day of Awe, but while thou art keeping the day, the day must keep thee; and thou canst only be kept when thou understandest the truth thou art going to learn today. 36 Pastor Vaughn, if worship is internal, like thou sayest it is — and I do say that — thou sayest it is not on that mountain or that mountain, but it is internal; then how canst thou preach that we should assemble together if it is internal? I am glad thou asked. 37 Because even though transformation is internal, it can only be formed externally; I know some of thee are lost — stay with me; thou dost not become what thou knowest; thou becomest what thou stayest around; the power of proximity. 38 If thou wantest to be transformed, it will not be because thou readest one of my books, but it is because thou stood in our presence and the power of proximity worked in thy life; what thou art around. 39 Thou canst not come around Jerusalem — what he was telling that woman, he was not telling her that they would never worship at Jerusalem again; what he was telling her is what thou gettest from Jerusalem will come internally because of Jerusalem; I will prove it to thee. 40 The book of Luke chapter 6, verse 40; God told me to tell this church today — thou needest to start hanging around more if thou wantest to be transformed. 41 Thou dost not get transformed by reading; thou dost not get transformed by YouTube videos; thou gettest transformed in the fire; when thou art among the house that bringeth the fire, when thou gettest around this truth, it will transform thee. 42 Luke chapter 6, verse 40 — the disciple is never above his master, but everyone that is perfect, it will be because he stayed around his master; the power of proximity. 43 Oh, listen to me — he said, thou wilt never be above thy master, but thou wilt never be like thy master until thou gettest in the presence of the proximity. 44 The twelve disciples of Yeshua were not changed; they were not transformed by the Holy Ghost; they had no Holy Ghost; the disciples of Messiah were not changed because they had a Bible. 45 The Holy Ghost had not yet fallen; twelve fishermen were not transformed by teaching or preaching, but they were changed by what they hung around — by proximity — hallelujah! 46 And that is what will change thee; what thou stayest around will transform thy life; that is why he said, do not forsake the gathering together, the proximity. 47 Those disciples went in as fishermen; but because they hung around the word, the man of God, because they stayed in proximity, and because they stayed around him, what he was they became. 48 The weakest people in this ministry are the ones that are not here; they do not understand — God sent them an apostle; he sent them a man. 49 When God sendeth a man, thou findest a way to get in the proximity of what God is doing in thy hour, in thy day; do not run from it — run towards it. 50 I will say this — when I was a little boy, I had a nickname from my grandmother, and it was Shane the Shadow; my woman of God, a woman that was as close to Yeshua as anyone I could imagine — I honor her memory, Sister Lois Gatlin; I always say her name so it doth not die. 51 Before I ever got the Holy Ghost, something started rubbing off on me from her proximity; being in her presence, I began to sort of pray like she prayed; I catch myself today walking around the house and it soundeth like this — oh, Lord; that is my grandmother. 52 I did not get that from the Holy Ghost — I got that from my grandmother; I was in her proximity; I stayed around; I hung around men and women of God that transformed my life. 53 Those of thee that are not gathering, thou art scaring me; I was her shadow; I would watch her preach; and I would go in the bathroom mirror and try to stand just like her — that finger; when thou seest that finger, that is proximity. 54 When thou seest me forgive my enemies, I did not learn that from the Holy Ghost; I watched Lois Gatlin forgive her ex-husband that left her with ten children; I watched her forgive her enemies, and something about her rubbed off on me from proximity. 55 Thou needest to find out who thou art going to hang around, who thou art going to be around, who thou art going to sit under. 56 I am going to tell thee something — if thou art here today and thou dost not have no faith, thou dost not need the Holy Ghost; thou needest to get around Frank Kendrick, Karen Kendrick Vaughn, and I promise thee faith will rub off on thee; got to say it. 57 Yeah — well, Pastor Vaughn, I do not know about — I do not know why thou dost not know about it; thou still hast not got no faith; thou hast been filled with the Holy Ghost — how many years? Why? The power of proximity. 58 Twelve disciples without the Holy Ghost, without a Bible or a YouTube channel, walked out of the presence of a man and changed the whole world — not from the power of the Holy Ghost, but the power of proximity. 59 Thou dost not understand how important these assemblies are; because it is in the presence of the church where thou art urged towards good works. 60 Pastor Vaughn, I believe the Holy Ghost can speak to me; I do too; but my problem is I believe ninety percent of us cannot truly hear what he is saying; oh, he can speak directly as long as thou hast cleaned those ears out; but here is the problem. 61 How many of thee in this room hath the Holy Ghost told thee thou wast wrong this week? If not, thou needest more than the Holy Ghost; thou needest an elder; thou needest a pastor; thou needest a bishop. 62 Thou needest someone that will look thee in the face and say to thee, thou art filled with rebellion; because the Bible said the heart of a man is desperately wicked; thou canst not trust it. 63 If thou ever sayest, I am following my heart, then thou art following it all the way to darkness; thou canst not follow thy heart — follow a leader; follow a leader; thy heart will deceive thee. 64 If thou art in this room right now and thou hast said these words — I do not follow a man — then thou canst not follow God; thou dost not believe me? Let me prove it to thee. 65 When Yeshua called Paul, or Saul, Shaul, on the Damascus road, after he came down from heaven and called him to be an apostle — thou knowest what he told him? Now go find Ananias to baptize thee; go find a man and get in his proximity. 66 These feasts are the proximity that thou art urged; if thou stayest outside these doors, Sister Christie, thou wilt do it thy own way; thou wilt think thou art all right. 67 And if anybody tried to tell thee thou art not, thou wilt tell them these words — I am following God; no, thou art not; the Bible said if any man saith he loveth me but is not walking in my commandments, that man is a liar. 68 The problem, Minister Mallory, is that thou in thy mind wilt never think thou art wrong about anything; thou dost not even think thou art wrong with how thou treated thy husband this morning; nobody is ever wrong; and yet thou art wrong every day. 69 But it is only in the convocation that somebody seeth beyond thee and saith no; I had a lady three days ago sent me an inbox message on Facebook; she is the city councilwoman in Biloxi. 70 And she was telling me how her husband was demanding so many things for the Passover; they had never kept it before, they just came to the faith; she was telling me how hard he was being and could not even turn on a light switch and on and on and on. 71 And she said she thought I was going to take her side because she knoweth we are not quite that strict around here; and she said this — and then she said, I want to please Yahweh, not man. 72 I said, if thou wantest to please Yahweh, obey thy husband; boy, that was weak, was it not? She was not expecting that answer; she is a prominent political figure in this community; I did not hear from her for a whole twenty-four hours. 73 When I did, thou knowest what it said? That is what I needed to hear; people are desperate for truth. 74 The entire work of God is out of order; the entire work is out of order; everybody is doing — the Bible said every man doeth what is right in his own eyes; everybody — there is no order. 75 And the reason is thou art forsaking the assembling of thyselves together; Yahweh gave thee a weekly Sabbath for a purpose — it was for thy checkup from the people of God who thou art in proximity to; thou hast to get in the right proximity, brothers and sisters. 76 Here is what they did not have, those disciples; they did not have the Holy Ghost; they had not yet had a day of Pentecost, and no Bible; but here is what they did have — his presence. 77 And listen, folks, they were not transformed by even his teachings; not even his teachings changed them; because they did not even understand his teachings. 78 The disciples of Yeshua would go to him and say, what art thou talking about? Couldst thou please try to break that down? They understood nothing he taught. 79 Because Messiah understood something — if he wanted to change them, he did not need them to understand him; he needed them to stay around him; because everything he was teaching, he was demonstrating in his life. 80 And if thou wantedst to know the teaching, watch him and it would all rub off on thee; I will give thee an example — when Peter cut that man's ear off, he saw Yeshua pick it up and put it back on. 81 Yeshua was teaching; he was teaching, that is not how we handle things; he was; but he had to be in proximity to grab it; the congregation is the proximity of the house of Israel. 82 Yeshua did not say study me — he said follow me; get in my proximity, get in my presence; thou art not transformed by reading or analyzing nor memorizing — but by beholding. 83 Second Corinthians 3:18 — let us read it; Second Corinthians 3:18, I want to focus on one word — art thou there? Say amen — beholding; we are changed into the same image — not reading, beholding. 84 Thou becomest internally what thou art around externally; because change is forced on the inside by the outside conditions; if thou wantest to see a man change, put him in jail. 85 He will go from the most distinguished gentleman to talking like he is from the wherever — am, bro, thou heard me? What is up, bro? Thou heard me? He will be talking different; he will go in wearing his pants around his waist, and then they will be around his butt; not because he read anything. 86 People will go in that have never cussed in their life, and they will come out cussing; they did not read that, they did not study that — they was around that; they beheld it. 87 Today, many of thee are here; thou art beholding what obedience looketh like; thou art beholding it with thine eyes; thou art beholding what obeying the scripture looketh like; and because of thy proximity, thou art being transformed not by analyzing. 88 We have books on that back shelf out there that are wonderful, but they are not transforming; the only thing that transformeth is the presence of Messiah; and that presence is in his people. 89 That is why Yeshua said, if anybody telleth thee Messiah is over yonder, do not go; if they say Messiah is out there by the ocean, do not go; because Messiah is right here in the people called the church, the assembly of apostolic people. 90 This is the presence of Messiah; and what I am trying to teach thee today — how many of thee say, oh yes, pastor, if I could be around the presence of Messiah, I would be transformed as well; I agree with thee. 91 That is why thou canst not forsake the assembling of thyselves together; this is the presence of Messiah; it is here today; and when thou findest a man or woman filled with the presence of Messiah, just hang around him; that is all thou hast got to do. 92 If I was in California, I would just stay around Sandra Braud; just stay; why? It will transform thee. 93 Watch this — let me show thee what happeneth; negative people, the minute they find positive people, they will run; and the positive people run too. 94 If thou art tired of being negative, do not ever buy a book on how to be positive — thou wilt waste twenty dollars; if thou wantest to be positive, get in the proximity of positive people and do not leave until thou art changed. 95 Art thou grumpy? Then thou wilt find grumpy people to hang around; but if thou saidst, I am tired of being grumpy, I want to be transformed — then find people that are filled with the spirit of Messiah, that love everybody and everything; get in their proximity and thou wilt change. 96 Some of thee need to quit coming to the altar to change — it hath never worked for thee; some of thee do not need more prayer time; thou needest proximity time; thou needest to find an elder or a worker in this ministry and transform by the spirit of Messiah. 97 Dost thou know why people do not want to come in our proximity? They have got a dysfunctional family; let me tell thee something — everybody here hath got a dysfunctional family; every one of us hath got kids that are not doing right; every one of us hath got stupid stuff in our family — drugs, alcohol. 98 If thou wantest to save thy children, do not put them in the altar — put them around the people; I am not saying do not go to the altar; listen to what I am saying; put them around the people; bring them in the proximity. 99 Sister Jackie Boyd — where art thou? Sister Jackie, stand up; this woman every year hath brought them same grandchildren to every meeting; and them grandchildren are not all living right, they are not all doing right. 100 But she bringeth them in the presence and the proximity of the spirit of Messiah, and they will do right one day because of proximity. 101 I came today to tell thee — forsake not that scripture; it is not telling thee, go to church; assemble is not going to church; this is not church; this is apostolic assembly; this is not church. 102 Because at church thou gettest to walk in, sit down, and everybody leaveth thee alone at church; we do not leave thee alone around here; we are all in thy business; when thou gettest a little weird look on thy face, we are like, thou needest to straighten up. 103 Why? Thou art in the spirit of Messiah; thou art among the presence of Messiah where thou art being urged; thou art being urged towards good works. 104 If the Holy Ghost was enough, why would Paul say that it is the assembly that urgeth thee? Brothers and sisters, thou listen and listen well — the moment thou gettest away from the proximity of the people, it is over; thou wilt fall into deception. 105 Only being around the people will keep thee free from deception; somebody will check thy spirit; somebody will say, sister, do not say that word like that; sister, brother, do not. 106 It is a Passover message — I will put my law in their inward part; let me show thee why people get stuck in their journey. 107 First Corinthians 8:1 — would y'all mind if I take this jacket? It is very hot; hallelujah, sweat is pouring; hallelujah, thank thee Lord; First Corinthians 8:1 — read it for me, Elder. 108 Corinthians 8:1 — yes, sir; now, as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge; knowledge puffeth up; we all have knowledge; he is talking to Christians. 109 How many in this room hath got more knowledge than thou ever hadst in this ministry? Here is what it doth — listen — knowledge puffeth up; knowledge will make thee fat; it will puff thee up; it doth not change thee. 110 If I could just read one more book — that doth not change thee; nothing wrong with all of that, but it puffeth thee; when doth it puff me up, pastor? 111 The moment thou leavest the proximity of the people that will not allow thee to stay puffed up; they will not allow thee to stay puffed up; because the minute thou sayest something stupid, they are telling thee — that is not the word, that is not the word. 112 Thou wilt not even let thy wife tell thee that; thy husband cannot tell thee that; only the body of Messiah can keep thee from continuing to puff up with how much thou hast learned. 113 If thou art not here this week, thou hast not learned anything after five years; and I am not talking to y'all evidently — I am on camera; that doth not go for those out; why do I have to always repeat it? 114 That doth not go for the sick; that doth not go for the ones, the husbands — well, y'all already know that. 115 But there are some folks watching me right now who do not fall into the categories; thou art puffed up; thou hast got all the knowledge, but the Bible said if thou wilt get around the people, they will take a little pin and they will un-puff thee — hallelujah. 116 Why do people have every Bible translation on earth and they are not growing? They have retreated into controlled learning; listen — controlled learning without surrender; it is safe in a Zoom class; that is called controlled learning; thou canst log off and go right back to being un-like Messiah. 117 But when thou art in the proximity of the people, thou art not allowed to get knowledge without being required to turn it into wisdom; what is controlled learning, pastor? Allow me to explain — it is listening without being corrected. 118 Controlled learning; it is study; how many of thee would like to study? Controlled learning is study without confrontation; thou likest to study, but dost thou like to be confronted? 119 When thou art not in the proximity of this ministry, thou wilt not be confronted; thou wilt continue to study with us without growing with us; do not let it happen to me. 120 Thou wilt know without being changed; the most dangerous Christian is not the ignorant one — it is the one that knoweth everything and hath been changed by nothing. 121 Well, pastor, I need to be alone with God; I need to be alone with Yahweh because that is where I grow and that is where he speaketh to me; I would like to answer thee today if I might. 122 There are two places of loneliness in thy walk with God; one is forced loneliness — thou couldest not find an assembly of truth, so Yahweh met thee in the wilderness; I need thee to hear me; I am talking on some of thy history, some of thy experiences; Sister Sandra caught that one. 123 Forced loneliness — thou couldest not find the truth, so Yahweh met thee carte blanche in the wilderness; I am one of them. 124 But then there is a chosen wilderness where thou foundest the truth and thou art avoiding it by running to the wilderness; one is a wilderness, the other is a hiding place; and Yahweh never leaveth thee in either one permanently. 125 As a matter of fact, we read about Elijah under the juniper tree — forced wilderness, Brother Noon; forced wilderness; chapter 19; let us read what he said, verse 4; First Kings 19:4-5; let us find out where Elijah was alone; read; grab a mic up there, elder; hallelujah. 126 First Kings 19:4-5 — amen; but he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die and said, it is enough; now, oh Yahweh, take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers. 127 Elijah was so alone, he could find no assembly of Israel; he thought he was the only truth-lover left in the world; he thought, I will just quit all the churches and I will just me and God right here. 128 And loneliness worketh for a while, but it is not God's plan; it was not his plan for Adam to be alone; he was alone for a while; he said, but now I cannot take it anymore. 129 If there is no one else that loveth truth besides me, take my life; Yahweh did not rebuke him for being alone; Yahweh met him there, fed him, and strengthened him. 130 But notice what he said next in verse 5 — and as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him and said unto him, arise and eat; the journey is too great for thee. 131 Is that what it saith? Arise and eat; read — and he looked — no, it said as he lay and slept under the juniper tree, behold, there an angel touched him and said unto him, arise and eat. 132 An angel touched him and said, eat — the journey is too great for thee to do it alone; verse 7 — read; then an angel of Yahweh came again the second time. 133 Thou wilt be in the wilderness of Babylon until one day an angel, a messenger, will touch thee on YouTube and say, eat; the journey is too great for thee to do alone anymore; oh, blessed be God; is that thy testimony today? Hallelujah. 134 He kept thee alone long enough — woo! I prophesy the days of loneliness are over; he hath raised up a work; he hath raised up a work; thou dost not have to assemble alone anymore — forsake not the assembly. 135 An angel touched a man that loved God; Elijah had to leave his church; he was lonely; and it worked for a while until he said, take my life. 136 I am tired of knowing all this truth for all these years; nobody to get excited with me about it; nobody I can call and say, didst thou hear that sermon? Dost thou hear what I am — I am alone, I am by myself. 137 But y'all wait — God said, when he got to the point where he would rather have death than no more truth, God said, I send a messenger to touch thee and say, arise; thou hast been alone long enough; thou hast been alone long enough; thou dost not have to hide out anymore. 138 A work hath arisen, a work hath arisen; that is what bothereth me about people in this ministry that tell me they need alone time; I am like, my God, thou was alone before thou foundest us; thou was alone before we found thee; well, no more. 139 Thou dost not need to be alone; thou needest to be in the proximity of the people of God; get rid of that lonely spirit, get rid of it; get shed of it. 140 Quit trying to eat by thyself; I bought the Holy Ghost bus so people would ride on it together; and we still have little cliques wanting to ride in their own car; get thy butt on the bus; get around the people, get around the people. 141 Quit trying to be alone; when that is over, that is over; alone is over; we did that; I did that; thou didst that; thou art not alone no more; thou foundest the people; I said thou foundest the people and the people found thee — woo! I have got to hurry. 142 Exodus 3 — we are not going to read it; Yahweh said to Moses, I will send thee to Pharaoh that thou mayest bring forth my people; Moses spent forty years alone with Yahweh; and Yahweh was teaching him truth; but that truth was not transforming him — it was preparing him for when he found the people. 143 Pastor, what dost thou mean it was not transforming him? Why did he hit that rock? He had truth; but it was only when he got around the people that he knew what he had done was wrong; he had failed the people; he had failed the people. 144 And God spoke to him and said, go to Pharaoh and bring my people together; thou tell them they were alone in Egypt and thou wast alone in the wilderness, but thou prophesiest to them, Moses, that the days of a lonely Israelite are over. 145 I am re-gathering, I am re-gathering, I am re-gathering from the north, the south — I am re-gathering; the days of loneliness have ended; this is the gathering of the house of Israel. 146 It would be like a single woman tired of being single and a man proposed to her and she said no; thou art either tired of being single or thou art not with the right man; I think we get so used to being lonely that we do not know how to be in proximity to people. 147 COVID did that to us; that forced loneliness was put upon us; saints, thou hearest me? If thou dost not get around the people — those of thee that miss the Sabbath every week — thou thinkest thou art serving God by thyself. 148 No one can correct thee; no one can say, sister, do not say that, that is not right; because thou hast drifted from the people looking for God. 149 My grandmother, Sister Gatlin, was a country singer when she was fourteen years old before she got saved; and she said, I used to sing a song in Holden, Louisiana at a little restaurant; and the title of that song was, I overlooked an orchid looking for a rose. 150 And I fear that when thou lookest around this assembly today, thou hast overlooked an orchid looking for God; thou hast overlooked the very presence of Messiah trying to find God. 151 Thou canst not find God outside of Messiah, and he is in this building right now, today; that is where thou findest God. 152 He fed us in the desert; how many agree he fed us in the desert? He met us in the wilderness; he preserved us when no living water could be found; Satan is the oppressor. 153 If Yahweh kept thee alive in the wilderness, it was not to leave thee there — it was to keep thee until the angel touched thee and said, come and meet the people; come and meet the people; hallelujah. 154 I want to try to begin to close here; Satan is an oppressor; the nameless one is not trying to stop thy salvation; Satan is not trying to steal thy salvation; he is not trying to stop it; he cannot — it is a free gift, it is done. 155 There is only one thing he is after — patience; thy maturity — that is right, that is right, that is it; he cannot un-save thee; but he can stop thy maturity. 156 Thou listenest to me today — if thou wast called to this ministry, it was not to be saved; they do that down at First Baptist quite well; it was to mature thee. 157 A forgiven — and by the way, there is a baptism today at six o'clock at headquarters; another way to honor the burial of Messiah; hallelujah; to put other people in the grave with him; hallelujah; oh, thank thee, Father. 158 A forgiven people — please hear this — but an immature people is not a threat to his kingdom; his strategy is to delay thy growth; keep thee at stage one; when thou art isolated, growth sloweth down — yes, sir. 159 Deception increaseth; self-life — let me start over because I want thee to grab them; when thou art isolated, here is what happeneth: growth sloweth down, deception increaseth, self-life strengtheneth; it is no longer about others, it is about thee; accountability disappeareth. 160 The assembly is not optional; today, the fifteenth of Aviv, the high Sabbath, is not optional; it is the workshop of transformation; thou art going to meet somebody this week; Sister Rearwick, others — thou art going to meet somebody thou didst not know this week. 161 That person is going to become probably thy new prayer partner; when thou leavest here, thou art going to find — thou art going to meet some folks; thou art going to exchange phone numbers. 162 And next week when thou art going through that hard struggle, this text is going to come from out of nowhere from Messiah himself. 163 Elder Braley, art thou — art thou going to help serve? No, ma'am; thou sit back down, thank thee; thou art too old for that; thou comest on, honey; no, she doth not serve; she is not at her age; let thee sit right back down; come on, sister, come on back with it; amen; hallelujah. 164 Praise the Lord; all of our elders get a pass — not not young elders, but the more wise elders get a pass; hallelujah, praise the Lord for their service; hallelujah; that includeth Elder Jan and Elder Boggs; not that they are — anyway, I am getting in trouble. 165 Back to the sermon; nobody needeth to leave; thou art too much leaving; all right, there we go; because what I am saying today is words of life, they will change thy life. 166 Pastor, I wish I could hear from Messiah; he cometh through text; whoever thou meetest in this assembly this week that sendeth thee that message — that is Messiah urging thee to good works. 167 Right when thou hast confused — maybe thou hast got a husband or wife not working with thee; and thou saidst, if I could just hear from God — nine times out of ten it will not be from God, but yet it will be; the power of proximity. 168 Thou seest, if Satan can keep thee isolated, Sister Timbrook, suddenly everything thou doest is right and not wrong; thou canst not grow that way; thou wilt only be deceived that way. 169 Brothers and sisters, thou must find thy way; if thy region is having a gathering — what dost thou mean, are we going? What — what is — what is that? If thy elders are calling a meeting — well, it is three hours; my God, thou drivest three hours to weddings. 170 I would be ashamed of myself if I lived in a region where there was a gathering and I was at home alone; those days are over; thou art not alone anymore; an angel hit thee on the side and said, go. 171 Dost thou know why we do not want to go to those meetings? Because our spirit is messed up; we do not want nobody to know it; we are fighting with our husband; if thou art fighting with thy husband, bring him to the meeting and he will get right in the meeting; just do not stay by thyself. 172 I am trying to close; this is a workshop of transformation; Acts chapter 2, verse 42; we call ourselves apostolic; dost thou know what that word apostolic meaneth? Like the apostles; like the early church; I want thee to read this and tell me if thou art apostolic; because this is thy test. 173 Acts 2:42 is what the apostolics do; let us read about them; I would say start at verse 41 maybe — amen; then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 174 All right, we have got folks saved; apostolic, we have got them baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost — yes, sir; wonderful; we have done the work of God; no, thou hadst not; the work had not even started — apostle — amen. 175 Next verse — let us find out in the next verse what apostolics do; and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship; and fellowship — they continued getting together in any way they could; and in breaking bread; and they ate food; that is us — we are apostolic. 176 And prayed; and prayed; that is what they did; that was apostolic life — getting together; why? The power of proximity; thou art what thou art around. 177 When thou walkest in those doors and thou thoughtest thou was doing everything right, suddenly thou art like, I need to sharpen up; that is the power of proximity. 178 Read for me Proverbs 27:17; I wished I had two swords here — somebody, who hath got two knives? I need two knives; doth anybody carry a knife on them? Come on, brother; thou art from Tennessee, of course thou carriest a knife; come on, he is Tennessee; look at Tennessee. 179 Open them up; all right, let me borrow thine; thou stand here with me now; read for me, Elder — Proverbs 27 and 17; iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. 180 Now watch this — hold thy knife out; these are people that are apart; they are not in proximity; thou canst not sharpen one another if thou art not in the proximity of people. 181 But when thou comest together and thou begin to rub one another wrong, thou gettest on their nerves; thou dost not work as hard as the other one and they notice it; thou knowest why Satan doth not want thee in these meetings? He wanteth thee thinking thou art all right. 182 But notice the next part of that verse — a man sharpeneth the countenance; where is Sister Broady? Where art thou? Sister Broady, stand up; now she loveth me, I can get by with this; now Sister Broady, I am not trying to embarrass thee, but I am going to, because I love her and she loveth me. 183 And she is tapping me on my back like, oh my God; Sister Broady was walking out of the barn a few days ago; she had been working all day, pouring sweat, hot; oh yeah, bless her heart. 184 And I noticed she did not know I was looking; I was in my car and I was going to drive off; now she had just gotten tired or hot or something and she came out the barn; something had gotten on her nerves; somebody or something had gotten on her nerves. 185 She said somebody had gotten on her nerves; and I — I rolled my window down; I said, thou stop that; somebody had to stop it; I had to stop; I said, that is not how we act; and she said, thou art right, yes sir, pastor. 186 And I changed the countenance of my friend; thank thee for being a good sport; I changed the countenance of my friend; thou knowest why? She did not know I was not the only one seeing her countenance. 187 Now she hath never done that before — normally she is always smiling, but I knew I could point her out because I wanted to make a point. 188 I walk up to the people; I will see brother — where is Brother Ryan? Where is Brother Ryan? Minister Ryan, where art thou, son? Sometimes Brother Ryan is not a real smiley person; there thou goest. 189 And I will walk up to him and I will literally do this; I am changing the countenance of my friend; I am letting him know we are happy people; yes, we are; we are filled with joy; and why? Because we are Israel and we sharpen one another. 190 Dost thou know why I give people in this ministry last-minute instructions? Ask anybody that works with me — literally, I am telling them thirty minutes before an event what we are — thou knowest, I am waiting to see if anybody needeth a little sharpening; Sister Pat said she is one of them. 191 Because every member of this ministry will tell thee one thing — we have never had one event that did not come off perfectly and beautifully; oh, get in my proximity and it will all work out; we will work it out together; thou dost not need a plan — just hang around me; thou wilt find out right before it is time. 192 Hast thou been trying to grow in isolation? I do not want to embarrass anybody, but I want to ask thee this question; how many of thee — do not raise thy hand, for God's sake — had to think about if thou was coming this year? 193 Do not raise thy hand; do not raise — I am being serious now; thou overcamest that — congratulations; Satan doth not want to stop thy salvation; he wanteth to stop Sister Broady from becoming just like Messiah; he wanteth to stop thee from becoming just like Messiah. 194 So in order to do that, he doth not have to un-save thee; he hath to pull thee away; when we work on the land, pouring sweat, people so tired — I can truly say, I want thee to hear me. 195 In the years of working at Remnant Ranch, there hath never been one altercation; there hath never been one confrontation, not that I am aware of; there hath never been one; if they have, I do not know it. 196 Why? I want to be like Messiah; I want to be what I say I am; I want to be transformed by being around Messiah's people. 197 This sermon hath three parts; that was part one; I really wanted to get to the rest today, but I will back off and let thee know that thy environment is thy formation; if thou comest forward back into proximity, thou wilt come back into the fire. 198 I have watched people change the moment they step back in the church; I have watched it happen; I have watched it; I have watched people change that did not even have the Holy Ghost, but they was around the church. 199 I am calling this ministry to know the power of proximity; find somebody in this ministry that thou knowest their walk with God; I will give thee a — if thou wast lucky enough for Elder Jan Meadows to give thee her phone number, honey, she will not play with thee. 200 If thou callest her looking for a pity party — I am not giving thee Elder Baker's number either; if thou art looking for somebody to say thou art doing right, thou art doing the wrong thing; thou needest to find somebody that saith thou art doing wrong and pointeth it out to thee and saith, thy tithe cometh first. 201 Now when they tell thee that, thou hast got two choices; well, I am listening to God; thou canst not get to God without Messiah; and this is Messiah; find somebody with the spirit of Messiah; find them; hook up with them; quit running from them. 202 Hook up with them; say, can I have thy phone number? Can I have thy email? Because I want to make sure until Shavuot that I am doing all right; the power of proximity. 203 When I tell thee to pray for me, I am not telling thee to agree with me; I am telling thee to shake me; I am telling thee, tell me if I do not look like Messiah; tell me. 204 Why? Because when that return happeneth of Yeshua, he is only coming back for those that have been transformed from glory to glory into the image of Yeshua. 205 Let us stand this morning; hallelujah, hallelujah; the power of proximity; forsake not the assembling of yourselves together as the manner of some is; Sister Yvonne, if thou wouldest come; hallelujah, praise the Lord. 206 There is more to this; I will preach it this Saturday at the headquarters church — part two and part three next Saturday; this is the gathering of the house of Israel. 207 Ezekiel's dry bones heard the words of Immanuel; the wind and the spirit hath breathed upon us all; let us all come into proximity; let us come into proximity with one another; come on; this is the gathering of the house of Israel.