Pilgrim Baptist Church

Something grabbed a number, packaged it in a melody borrowed from the most-watched children's song in internet history, attached it to a self-admitted Santería priest, and sent it into the mouths of an entire generation. Christian parents called it "brain rot" and moved on. Pastor Fortunato says: look closer. This message walks through every 6:7 address in the Bible — from Genesis to Galatians — to show that whatever came to claim that number arrived at an address God had already been living at for a thousand years. This isn't a message of panic. It's a message of authority. The rapper behind the trend is a self-admitted initiated priest in Santería who sacrifices animals, dedicates his music career to orishas (false deities), and openly places the works of darkness on display. And children across America — including children in Christian homes — can't stop repeating it. Jesus named this exact mechanism in Matthew 6:7. The enemy didn't invent a new strategy. He put God's strategy in reverse. This expository sermon walks through Scripture address by address, explaining: • Exodus 6:7 — God staked his claim on your children before any principality did • Deuteronomy 6:7 — God's command to parents to fill their children's minds first, through daily repetition • Matthew 6:7 — Jesus names vain repetition and identifies it as the heathen method — before it ever went viral • Genesis 6:7 — The pattern and consequence when heathen customs become normalized in a generation • Isaiah 6:7 — God offers the coal to the unclean lips before the wrong chant fills them • Mark 6:7 — Jesus releases authority over unclean spirits before the principalities showed up • Galatians 6:7 — God is no

The most dangerous spiritual condition isn't atheism — it's religious performance that replaces personal faith. In John 7:32-36, the Pharisees send officers to arrest Jesus while He stands in the temple courtyard warning them their window is closing. They can quote His words back to Him in verse 36. They just won't obey them. This expository sermon through John 7:32-36 traces the closing window of God's invitation — from the Pharisees changing the locks on a building they never owned, to the prophecy of Isaiah 55, to the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. The message is urgent: religious men missed Jesus while He was standing in front of them. The same thing still happens today. If you've ever wondered why intelligent, dedicated religious people reject Christ — or if you're worried you've been going through the motions — this sermon speaks directly to that question. This verse-by-verse expository sermon walks through John 7:32-36, explaining: • Why religious opposition to Jesus was never theological — it was territorial • How the Pharisees were changing the locks on a building they never owned • What Jesus meant by "yet a little while am I with you" — a dispensational clock ticking out loud • The difference between seeking and curiosity — and why desperation is the only thing that finds God • Why "ye shall seek me and shall not find me" isn't a threat — it's a grief • How Genesis 11's tower of Babel and John 7's Pharisees were building the same thing • Why religious men with everything from Moses still missed the one Moses was pointing to • The danger of discussing the truth rather than obeying it — and what it cost the officers sent to arrest Jesus

You know Psalm 46:10—but you've been reading it wrong your entire life.

You're exhausted from chasing success—but somehow, you still feel empty. What if everything you've been working for isn't actually what you need? In this powerful exposition of Proverbs 3:13-18, Pastor Fortunato reveals why your achievements, career success, and financial security can leave you spiritually bankrupt. Solomon, the richest and wisest man who ever lived, discovered something shocking: wisdom is better than silver, gold, and rubies combined. But most Christians completely miss what he's really saying. This sermon unpacks the biblical truth about why success doesn't bring happiness and how we've been "trading our whole lives for counterfeit currency." You'll discover: ✓ Why you feel empty despite having everything you prayed for ✓ The connection between Proverbs 3 and the Tree of Life from Genesis ✓ What Solomon meant when he called all his achievements "vanity" in Ecclesiastes ✓ How to stop chasing fool's gold and lay hold on true wisdom ✓ The difference between situational happiness and biblical contentment ✓ Why Christian burnout is epidemic—and what God says is the real solution Pastor Fortunato doesn't just diagnose the problem of worldly success versus biblical wisdom—he shows you exactly what Scripture says about finding what your soul was actually made for. If you're tired of pretending that everything you have is enough when your heart knows it isn't, this message will meet you right where you are. The Tree of Life that Adam and Eve walked past in the Garden? It's been found again. And it's accessible right now. Proverbs 3:18 calls wisdom "a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her"—and this sermon will show you exactly how to stop walking past

Why would Jesus deliberately hide from the crowds? In John 7:10-13, we discover a forgotten truth that will challenge everything you think about following Christ. This isn't about Jesus being afraid—it's about Him testing who will seek Him when it costs something. What you'll discover in this sermon: ✓ Why Jesus went "as it were in secret" to the Feast of Tabernacles ✓ The difference between thrill-seekers and truth-seekers in your faith ✓ How private devotion in the secret place creates public courage ✓ What it means when "everybody's talking about Jesus, but nobody's talking FOR Jesus" ✓ The spiritual game of hide-and-seek God plays to refine His followers ✓ Why comfortable Christianity might be costing you more than you realize The piercing question this passage forces us to face: Are you only following Jesus when it's convenient? When the crowd approves? When there's no cost? Pastor Fortunato unpacks the deliberate strategy behind Christ's hiddenness in John chapter 7—and reveals why God sometimes withdraws from public view not because He's afraid of His enemies, but because He's testing His friends. You'll learn why time in the secret place with God is essential before you can speak up in the public square. This expository sermon on John 7:10-13 explores the cost of discipleship, the danger of religious activity without private prayer, and the biblical pattern of God hiding to see who will truly seek Him. From Moses at the burning bush to Elijah hearing God's still small voice, Scripture shows us that the search refines the seeker. If following Jesus has become too comfortable, this message is for you.

Have you been hurt by church? Struggling to trust after experiencing betrayal from false teachers or Christian friends?

Ever wonder why God allows pain in your life if He really loves you?

Ever had someone close to you—someone who knows you well, who's sat at your table—question whether God can use you? Pastor Fortunato unpacks one of the most painful moments in Jesus's earthly ministry: when His own brothers rejected Him, doubted His identity, and tried pushing Him toward danger disguised as "good advice." This isn't just ancient history—this is YOUR story if you've ever faced church hurt, family rejection, or pressure to prove your faith to skeptics. Why Jesus refused to attend the Feast of Tabernacles (and what it teaches about strategic obedience vs. people-pleasing) | The shocking reality that Jesus's brothers wanted Him dead—and how unbelief can blind even those closest to you | Why "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thy house" isn't a guarantee, and what that means for your family's salvation | How to recognize when people package doubt as concern—and why Jesus never defended Himself to prove who He was | The most addictive drug in the world (hint: it's not alcohol or marijuana—it's celebrity status, recognition, and fame) | Why the world will always hate genuine Christians who refuse to participate in darkness | What "your time is always ready" means for evangelism and why everyone you meet needs to hear the gospel TODAY Cultural religion wants the feast without the Lord of the feast. America is more concerned with the FORM of worship than the FOCUS of worship. You can landscape a landfill and get used to the stench—that's exactly what rulers and religious systems do with this evil world. But Jesus calls it what it is, and so should we.

⚠️ Every Christian will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ—but it's NOT about your salvation. If you've ever wondered whether believers face judgment, this sermon on Romans 14 will change how you understand your eternal future. Pastor Fortunato breaks down the three critical judgments in Scripture that every Christian must understand: the Judgment of Sin (finished at the cross), the Judgment of Sons (happening now through God's discipline), and the Judgment of Saints (your future report card in heaven). Here's what most Christians miss: The Judgment Seat of Christ isn't about WHERE you're going—it's about WHAT you did for Jesus. This isn't condemnation; it's a divine evaluation of your service, faithfulness, and stewardship as God's child. Will you receive rewards and crowns, or will you stand before Christ empty-handed? You'll discover: ✅ Why judgment and condemnation are NOT the same thing ✅ The difference between the King James Bible and modern versions on this doctrine ✅ How the Judgment Seat of Christ proves Jesus is God (powerful refutation of Jehovah's Witnesses) ✅ Why working for God is NOT legalism—it's required faithfulness ✅ What parents will answer for at the judgment seat ✅ How to live NOW with that future day in mind This message includes a powerful object lesson with folders illustrating each judgment—perfect for teaching your family about eternal accountability. Whether you're raising children, struggling with motivation for ministry, or wondering what happens after the rapture, this sermon provides biblical clarity on believers' rewards in heaven.

Most people think Esther ends at chapter 9 with the dramatic rescue and celebration—but God had a different plan. Chapter 10 seems like boring tax documents and bureaucracy, yet it contains one of the most powerful prophecies about Christ's coming kingdom hidden in plain sight. Why does the book of Esther end with tributes and chronicles instead of a climactic finale? In this verse-by-verse exposition of Esther chapter 10, Pastor Fortunato reveals how Mordecai's sustained faithfulness and second-in-command position paint a stunning picture of Jesus Christ's millennial reign. You'll discover why daily faithfulness matters more than mountaintop moments, how Gentile nations will one day bring tributes to the King of Kings, and what this forgotten chapter teaches about generational blessing. You'll Learn: