November 7, 2025

A Celebration of Triumph

Honor to our Lord Jesus Christ

Honor to every saint of God gathered here tonight

Honor to this local assembly Soul’s Harbor

Honor to all the ministers here tonight from near and far

Honor to the speakers, Davies and Burgess

Honor to the entire Sissel family, children and grandchildren

Honor to Pastor/Bishop/ Brother Sissel and Sister Sissel

2 Cor 2.14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph (meaning a noisy iambus)

An iambus (from the Greek iambos) is a metrical foot consisting of two syllables: The first syllable is unstressed (˘) The second syllable is stressed (´) So it sounds like: da-DUM da-dum da-Dum Example: aWAY reLIEVE 

It is like we-Won, we-Won, We-Won……that’s an Iambus

When several iambi (the plural of iambus) are strung together, they form iambic meter, the most natural rhythm of English speech.

This form of writing originated about 700 years before Christ. This is what Paul picks up in this verse and uses the Greek word triumph. And it is a word that is illustrated by this iambic pentameter rhythm.

It is something we do without thinking about it. It has become the most natural rhythm of our speech in the English language. In this verse when Paul says God always causes us to triumph… if you were allow me just a tiny bit of liberty in this to understand it Paul is saying God always causes us to sing about our triumphs.

This rhythm is how we naturally speak- learning very early in life to not stress some syllables and put emphasis on others -this creates a very smooth, flowing rhythm that makes our emotion expression give power to the words

In redneck terms, it’s getting noisy about winning

This verse is part of the introductory comments the Apostle Paul  makes when he writes his second letter to the church at Corinth. Paul was celebrating because he won the battle confronted in 1 Corinthians. 

 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

A week or so ago, I was on a tour in the country of Turkey to tour the seven churches of Asia that are talked about in chapter 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation. These churches were addressed by the great apostle John in his later years. It was written sometime around 96 A.D. and one of the most captivating and obvious things you notice is these letters were written to the preacher (Angel) of the church. 

They reflected the pastor’ ministry. The churches were judged according to what the pastor allowed and tolerated and to what he held faithful. 

At the very outset tonight, let me give honor to brother Sissel, because without his vision, without his labor, without his life sacrifice… This night would not have been achieved for a night of celebration of triumph.

He would be the very first to tell you he did not do it by himself. Sister Sissel was right by his side. And tonight as we go along, we’re going to talk about the contribution of others, but consider this any one of the others could have quit and walked away, and we could still be here tonight but if this pastor, if this angel of the church had not done his job, we would not be here tonight. 

Right here at the beginning can we take a moment and stand to our feet and give him a round of applause and then lift your hands and thank God for his life, his dedication, his stability, his determination.

So tonight… We celebrate we celebrate a tremendous triumph. Yes a single triumph overall, but also many small triumphs that flow into one river that brought this dream to come to pass.

Let me begin tonight with some triumphs from history.

Just a little over two weeks ago, I climbed the steps of the temple of Apollo in the city of Didyma. The day before we had stopped briefly on the bus, been allowed to disembark and take pictures of the remains of the temple of Artemis, who, according to Greek mythology was his twin sister.

These two temples built many years before the church was begun were impressive, and even their ruins are still impressive. They were considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Artemis was the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and nature.

While her twin brother Apollo was god of light, prophecy, music, and healing, there was a very famous Oracle there that people came from far away to get advice from their gods.

These buildings were massive. They are partially still there to this day and they are an archaeological wonder.

The temple of Apollo was 167 feet wide and 358 feet long. The white marble columns were 65 feet tall.

His twin sisters temple must be begun 200 years before and then rebuilt at the same time his was being built and it was 225 feet wide and 377 feet long. The marble one this one was embedded with a gold. This temple was surrounded by a reflecting pool and it was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Certainly impressive because of size, the beautiful marble columns, and the fact that it was built 400 years before Christ.

But if I can speak of a moment that I experienced standing on the steps of the temple of Apollo. While we were all just milling around… I looked around at the debris, the broken fallen columns, the partial building that no longer stands complete and was in fact, never finished, and the only value it has is history and archaeology. They don’t have a congregation. Their message has long died out. 

No one goes to Didyima for the oracle or divine direction anymore. 

As I stood on the steps of those magnificent ruins I was overcome by the fact that all of this grandeur was overcome by handful of peasant fisherman. 

It was not an army that overcame these things. 

It was the church of Jesus Christ.

I stood on those steps and admired what had been done, but also realized those temples have no impact today. As I looked at those  remaining magnificent marble columns, the immense size of the building, I realized that temple has been overcome and no longer matter.

That temple changes no lives today. Hey Apollo you have no value except to look back. Artemas you have no future to look forward to.

The church has triumphed over you.

While, you have been destroyed and lay in ruins and no longer really matter in everyday life, we sing a song 

IT’S THE OLD SHIP OF ZION

IT’S THE HOPE FOR THE LOST AND DYING

IT’S A SOUL SAVING STATION

IT’S THE TOWER OF SALVATION

IT’S THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT, OH LORD

AND IT’S BUILT BY THE HAND OF THE LORD

Chorus

I’M TALKING ABOUT THE CHURCH IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

IT’S BUILT ON THE ROCK, IT’S GOT A FIRM FOUNDATION

IT’S BEEN THROUGH THE FLOOD AND IT’S BEEN THROUGH THE FIRE

BUT ONE OF THESE DAYS THE CHURCH IS GONNA MOVE UP HIGHER

IT’S THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT, OH LORD

AND IT’S BUILT BY THE HAND OF THE LORD

Verse 2

IT’S BEEN THRO’ THE STORM BUT THE WIND COULDN’T TURN IT

IT’S BEEN IN THE FIRE BUT THE FIRE COULDN’T BURN IT

FED TO THE LIONS BUT THE LIONS COULDN’T EAT IT

FOUGHT A LOT OF WARS BUT NEVER DEFEATED

YES, IT’S THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT OH LORD

AND IT’S BUILT BY THE HAND OF THE LORD

Tonight right here we have a celebration of triumph.

There are elements of triumph that all of us share as brothers and sisters together.

There are triumphs that we read about in history and we celebrate the Civil war, World War I, World War II.

There are other failures we also share of the pain.

Vietnam, a failed military mission.

The feelings about a triumph or failure are always directly related to how close it was in  time and proximity and how much you were personally attached.

Our children will grow up in a world that talks about COVID but they will not feel the same attachment or repulsion because they were too small or they were born afterwards.

And it’s only something we talk about.

So triumph is on the scale of feelings and celebration, dependent on your involvement and how recent it occurred.

There are some triumphs that supersede all other triumphs and that pass through generations and centuries and millenniums without losing any of their impact.

And we celebrate them today, even though we are thousands of years from it.

The moment when the Roman soldier nailed Jesus to a cross is far removed from all of us in distance and time.

But everyone in this room has bowed their knee in celebration to the moment when he cried, my God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?

We are here tonight to celebrate a triumph on several levels.

In this building tonight there are triumphs that will be celebrated on a personal level.

we-Won, we-Won, we-Won

People here who have overcome incredible odds to just be here, who have broken the bonds of sin and addictions that sit in this building tonight who can truly say, I have triumphed over the old man and today I am a new creature in Christ.

I have overcome.

Then there is the triumph of a pastor who came here 36 years ago and has patiently worked and built a church.

He has gathered together people who have also overcome and they made it.

we-Won, we-Won, we-Won

We also come here to celebrate the triumph of building this edifice.

An incredible triumph of building a church debt free, pay as you go, which very, very few in our generation have ever done or achieved.

Tonight is about triumph.

We are here to celebrate.

we-Won, we-Won, we-Won

The world does not have to understand our doctrine to understand our celebration.

This achievement being recognized by all of you that have come here, whether you drove from nearby churches or flew from far away, you are all a part of a rowdy crowd, drunk on the same Holy Ghost that fell in Acts 2. 

This is a magnificent triumph.

A triumph over every opposition of Satan.

A triumph over money and the need of it in today’s world to build something this great.

But most of all, a triumph of the purpose that Jesus came to this world for. The gospel of Jesus Christ.

we-Won, we-Won, we-Won

He is the one that said, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

If there should be anyone here that thinks what we’re representing here tonight to celebrate was easy, oh no, no no it was not easy

you  are simply greatly misinformed.

If there’s anyone here tonight that doesn’t understand what went into this moment and this celebration, 

If you are clueless, and you don’t understand what we’re doing…

bear with us while we celebrate the moment. 

Because tonight we celebrate!

We sing our song of victory!

The country boy said somebody hold my mule while I shout.

It’s been a long time coming, and we stand here tonight celebrating the church of Jesus Christ.

We celebrate every life changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Broken people who came needing help, needing strength, needing the power to overcome. People out of the gutters of life whom society had thrown away.

People who submitted themselves to the preaching of the word of God and obeyed that form of doctrine they heard to repent, to walk away from their sin.

People who  have received forgiveness and remission of sins by being baptized in the name of Jesus.

People who have been filled with the spirit of the One who had the greatest triumph in the history of our planet.

He overcame death, hell and the grave.

And he has now taken up residence in our lives.

Jesus lives in us.

That’s the greatest triumph any individual or human being could ever experience on their earthly journey.

On the secondary level, much more human is the triumph over government regulations.

Silly little ideas by educated men in little cubicles with a pencil, paper and a flowchart.

Making you do things that don’t make sense.

Making you obey their little viceroy commands as though they are in charge of the universe.

We have triumphed over our repulsion to their egos.

We have triumphed over all of the little investigative things they do.

Put this here.

Take that out.

Add this.

Don’t do that.

You endured all of this.

And today we stand here in triumph.

You won.

The building is up.

All of the codes have been met.

All of the little things that seemed so important to them and so unimportant to us.

We have won the war of building this church 

…to God be the glory.

we-Won, we-Won, we-Won

But our greatest triumph, as great as this is, is yet in front of us.

It will occur in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

For the last trump will sound.

And the dead will be raised incorruptible.

And even those who have gone on to be with the Lord.

Those that helped make tonight a triumph.

James Springer, Faithful saints, they lie waiting until that moment.

That triumph, that sound of the trumpet will be the ultimate triumph.

When the dead rise first and then the living rise in the air to meet him in the air, so shall we ever be with the Lord.

And this triumph is magnificent and wonderful.

And we’re here to celebrate tonight.

But it’s not eternal.

Time will have its effect on this triumph, but that triumph will last forever and ever and ever.

We come to dedicate this place.

We come to set it aside as a house where God lives in this city.

We dedicated to the spirit of holiness.

We dedicate it to Brother Jude’s admonition to pull them out of the fire!

We come to pray that God will triumph in many, many more lives than just the ones that are here and have already been changed.

It has been built for more room so more can come.

That’s the triumph we celebrate, it ain’t over and Soul’s Harbor ain’t done…..that’s the triumph we look forward to.

We want to stand and say, I have overcome some things to achieve this night.

And every person in this room who has ever been baptized and received the Holy Ghost can joyfully celebrate tonight, your personal triumph.

Even if it’s a triumph that no one knows but you.

Even if it’s a personal battle that no one will ever know, and Jesus will cast into the sea of forgetfulness, and Jesus will never mention it, even if it’s in that category.

You can celebrate it tonight, because tonight we triumph.

Tonight we shout.

Tonight we dance.

Because we did it.

we-Won, we-Won, we-Won

 A few days ago, when I stood in the ruins of the Temple of Apollo in the nation of Turkey.

I looked at fallen columns, I looked at marble pillars.

I looked at a huge foundation footprint of archaeological remains.

And I marveled at the cost, the labor, the unbelievable effort it took to build that magnificent structure.

And I realized it was all in ruins.

All that’s left is for archaeologists and historians to come and try to piece together what once was, but no longer exists.

And as I stood there, I had the feeling that though they maligned Christianity while they walked around in their Roman togas and their Roman chariots and their Roman arrogance and look down their noses on this thing called the Church, 

the Church rose up and the Church lives on.

The Church has triumphed not just over the Roman Empire, but every continent, in every country and over 200 countries of the world the gospel of Jesus Christ is being preached.

Jesus Christ said this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached into all the world for a witness and then shall the end come. 

The Jesus name message is being preached, taught, while Apollo’s effect is gone, the Oracle is silent, while the Temple of Artemis is no longer important in Ephesus, we have triumphed.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ has triumphed.

we-Won, we-Won, we-Won

And we are on our way to an eternal triumph like no one can even imagine.

The great apostle said, eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

The Church has triumphed. This church has triumphed!

We marvel that in 300 AD the Roman Empire was considered to be 10% Christian. (Gibbons -rise and fall of the Roman Empire and- Durant the story of civilization)… while they try to figure out what went wrong we’re celebrating about what went right. The church has been built by the hand of the Lord.

When you study the numbers today in our world today, the official number is the Christian church in all it’s various claimantsis 28.8%, not just of the Roman Empire, but 28.8 % of 8.25 billion people on this globe.

Almost one third of the people on this globe claim to be Christians of some form. Apollo and Artemis are long gone..but

the might of the message of Jesus Christ dying on a cross has marched far and wide.

And we have the privilege tonight that- that is what we’re celebrating, the March of Truth.

The old song says, his truth is marching on.

I have seen his glory in a hundred.

Watch light fires.

His truth is marching on.

Tonight we celebrate the winning of this battle.

This battle will someday flow into the river of a thousand, yea, ten thousand of the battles of churches built, of lives transformed, of people saved.

2000 years or marching on…

It’s called the church.

Jesus Christ built it.

This tonight is part of the church that Jesus built and said the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

We celebrate tonight because we have triumphed.

To God be the glory for all that he has done.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

We win forever.

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2 Cor 2.14

From the root word meaning a hymn sung in festal processions

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory (3534 triumph). Same word

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory (3534-triumph)? Same word

56 — The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory (3534-triumph -same word) through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Guess what that word victory means?

g3534. νῖκος nikos; from 3529; a conquest (concretely), i.e. (by implication) triumph : — victory.

For many years in history, they celebrated triumphs. 

It happened on a Sunday 2000 years ago when Jesus Christ rode a donkey into Jerusalem.

Caesars would have triumph parades

Kings and military conquerors would have parades…

But there’s never been a parade like the one Jesus Christ is going to have when he climbs up on the back of a great white stallion…. gives a nod to the angel with the trumpet. with one long blast, the greatest parade ever to happen begins. And you and I are going to be in that parade.

You and I get to be in that parade…

Come Lord Jesus 

I’m talking about the church in the book of Revelation

It’s built on the rock. It’s got a firm foundation.

It’s been through the flood. It’s been through the fire.

And one of these days, it’s gonna move up higher

Tonight we celebrate the triumph of this achievement, this building, this revival island in the midst of sin…