Dharius Daniels - No Cap

All right, I want to talk during our time together about this subject. I want to tag this title to this text: «No Cap.» Considering the generational diversity present in this room and watching online, it’s probably advantageous for me to explain the adjectives I’ve used as a title for today’s teaching. In other words, I need to clarify my communication when I say «cap,» as your location and generation may affect your interpretation of this word. For some in the room, when I say «cap,» maybe this image comes to your mind. That is not incorrect, but that’s not the kind of «cap» I’m referring to. For others in the room, when I say «cap,» perhaps this image comes to your mind. That’s not incorrect either, but it’s also not the «cap» I’m referring to. And because I’m in the 11:30 service, for some in the room, maybe this image comes to your mind when I say «plus the cap, pastor.» Although all those images reflect the way the word «cap» has been used, I am utilizing the word in a way that is consistent with an urban euphemism that suggests bloviating, exaggerating, overselling, or lying. So, when someone is «capping,» parents, pay attention, when someone is «capping,» they’re overselling; they’re exaggerating; they’re bloviating. So, if you hear someone say «no cap,» it means I’m not lying; I’m telling the truth; I’m for real, for real. Now, you may be wondering about the relevance of this word to today’s preaching presentation. As I contemplated this concept of «capping,» I saw how it was pertinent to this series of sermons I’m preaching on called «Faith.» Let me tell you why: because our faith is only as strong as the credibility of the person we put it in. In other words, it’s difficult to have strong faith in someone with weak character. I’m simply suggesting, Donna, it’s possible to put two people in a room, and both of them may say the same thing, yet you believe one person and not the other. The truth of the matter is, it isn’t about what is said; it’s about who says it. We can have faith in one person’s word and not in another’s because it’s not just the words spoken that give us faith; it is the credibility, predictability, and consistency of the one speaking the word that determines whether or not we can have faith. When I realized this truth, a thought came to my mind that I want to teach on in our time together today: that with God, there’s no cap. The writer of Numbers tells us God is not a man that He should lie. In other words, He does not exaggerate; He does not bloviate; He does not oversell Himself. He can do exactly what He says He can do; He can do it the way He says He can do it; and He can do it anytime He gets ready to do it. He is God; He does not lie. So, when He says, «No weapon formed against you shall prosper,» and «Every tongue that rises to judge you, I will condemn,» He wants me to tell you that’s no cap. When He says, «Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning,» He wants me to tell you that’s no cap. When He says, «Your enemies will come at you one way, but flee seven ways,» He wants me to tell you that’s no cap. When He says, «I want to do what your eyes haven’t seen, your ears haven’t heard, and your heart has not conceived,» He wants me to tell you that’s no cap. When He says He wants to do exceedingly and abundantly above all you ask or think, He wants me to tell you that’s no cap. God cannot lie. Am I making sense? Yeah. Notice I didn’t just say God does not lie; I said God can’t lie. That may be confusing for some of us, right? Because you’re like, «What do you mean God can’t lie if God can do anything?» Well, the Scriptures teach in Hebrews chapter 6, verse number 18, the Bible clearly communicates these words: it says it is impossible for God to lie. Do you see that? It’s impossible. This is what the writer is suggesting: God, who can do anything, made a decision to impose limitations on Himself. So if He can do anything, He can choose not to do something, and He says, «I’m going to decide not to lie.» Therefore, everything that comes out of My mouth is true because I’m God. It’s truth because I’m God. Because I’m God, I’m good; but it’s truth because I’m God, and because I’m God, I’m great. Goodness speaks of His character; greatness speaks of His competence, meaning because I’m competent, I can’t lie. In other words, even if it’s not what I say it is when I say it, it’s got to become what I said. Did you hear me? I can’t lie because once I speak it, whatever I speak to has to become and align with what I say. My words have creative power. So, He steps on the edge of nothing, speaks into nowhere, and says, «Let there be light.» And even though nothing was there, the words have creative power to create exactly what He says. So, if you’re weak and He calls you strong, your weakness is lying. Did you hear me? If you are the tail and He calls you the head, you’ve got to line up and become exactly what He says you are. Your circumstances don’t change the word, but the word will change your circumstances. God cannot lie; no cap.