We're just having a tremendous
time here at Camp Meeting 2011.
00:00:47.84\00:00:53.83
And you know something?
00:00:54.07\00:00:55.46
Camp Meeting is for
people of all ages, isn't it?
00:00:55.66\00:00:58.65
And we have
tremendous children's meetings
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that are taking place
here. They last all day long
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and right up into the evening,
and they're just fantastic.
00:01:06.47\00:01:10.24
And this is one of the students
00:01:10.54\00:01:14.10
who has been at the
children's meetings today.
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Have you had a
good time today? Yes.
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All right!
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And... and what
is your name? Levi.
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All right. Levi... and
your middle name is James.
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Where did you get that name?
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From... my... mom.
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This is my grandson.
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And it's amazing. You
know, we were praying about him
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before he was even born.
And we began... we didn't have
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a name. We didn't want to
pray for unborn baby, and so
00:01:55.61\00:01:59.21
we began to pray for Levi.
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And when he was born,
his mother thrilled us
00:02:02.55\00:02:07.98
when she said: "We've
named him Levi James. "
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And so thank you
so much for coming out
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and being with us.
OK? All right. Thank you.
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All right. Well you know that's
one of the things Danny and I
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have in common is we
love our grandchildren.
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And we just have a great time.
You've met most of them before
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from our side of the family.
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And so this time it's just
been great to introduce you
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to Levi.
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I need to talk
to you, Granddaddy.
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OK. I'll talk to you
in just a minute, OK?
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OK. We have a great
time here as a family.
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You know, don't we? And
I... I tell you, this...
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these grandchildren,
boy... I don't have to tell you
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anything about them, you
know all about grandchildren
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and how much they mean to us.
00:03:02.23\00:03:03.72
Tonight we believe that
the Lord is going to bless us
00:03:04.02\00:03:07.08
in a special way. We
have Pastor John Bradshaw
00:03:07.28\00:03:11.66
who is the Speaker/Director
of It Is Written.
00:03:11.86\00:03:15.47
And he has been here to 3ABN.
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He did one of our
Anchors of Truth series and
00:03:19.33\00:03:23.64
we really enjoyed that.
00:03:23.84\00:03:25.69
Tonight he's going to speak on
Spiritual Gifts and Ministries.
00:03:25.99\00:03:30.58
And just before
Pastor Bradshaw comes
00:03:30.88\00:03:34.78
we're going to be
favored with a special song
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by Dr. Yvonne
Lewis: Just Once More.
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Here I am again.
00:04:17.88\00:04:21.41
I'm on my knees again.
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But these are different tears
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from a brand new set of scars.
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Now they may look the same
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but these are not the same.
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These are dirty tears
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so I can't see where You are.
00:04:46.87\00:04:51.03
But I pray You'll understand
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and I pray You'll take my hand
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and I pray there's still a place
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in the shelter of Your grace.
00:05:02.81\00:05:06.76
I know I don't
deserve another chance.
00:05:07.16\00:05:13.07
Oh, but I'm sorry. I blew it.
00:05:13.27\00:05:18.71
I failed You once again.
00:05:18.91\00:05:22.78
All the things I
said I was I haven't been.
00:05:22.98\00:05:28.94
And I know that
You've heard this
00:05:29.24\00:05:34.77
a million times before
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but I need You to forgive me
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just once more. Oh,
00:05:44.97\00:05:48.80
I need You to forgive me.
00:05:48.90\00:05:53.64
Now I made promises,
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lots of promises
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tied with ropes of sand
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so they never last for long.
00:06:06.77\00:06:10.24
And I'm ashamed to ask
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but I've just
got to ask, oh Lord.
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May I start again?
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Will You carry me back home?
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Can you look beyond the sin
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to the helpless fool within?
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Can You take what I've abused
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and make from it a
vessel You can use?
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I admit I don't deserve
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another chance.
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Oh, but I'm sorry.
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I blew it; I
failed You once again.
00:06:53.12\00:06:59.04
All the things I
said I was I haven't been.
00:06:59.24\00:07:05.21
And I know that
You've heard this
00:07:05.51\00:07:11.21
a million times before.
00:07:11.51\00:07:16.90
But I need you to forgive me
00:07:17.21\00:07:20.96
just once more.
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Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh.
00:07:24.03\00:07:29.07
Can you look beyond the sin
00:07:29.37\00:07:32.25
to this helpless fool within?
00:07:32.45\00:07:37.17
Can you take what I've abused
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and make from it a
vessel You can use?
00:07:40.04\00:07:44.63
I agree I don't
deserve another chance.
00:07:44.93\00:07:50.87
Oh, but I'm sorry.
00:07:51.37\00:07:54.79
I blew it.
00:07:54.99\00:07:57.58
I failed You once again.
00:07:57.68\00:08:00.98
All the things I said I was
00:08:01.18\00:08:04.56
I haven't been.
00:08:04.76\00:08:07.62
And I know that You
00:08:07.82\00:08:12.28
heard this a
million times before.
00:08:12.48\00:08:18.46
But I need You to
forgive me just once more.
00:08:19.74\00:08:24.76
Lord I said I
need You to forgive me
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just once more.
00:08:31.07\00:08:33.17
Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh.
00:08:33.38\00:08:39.12
Lord I need You to forgive me
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just once more.
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Oooh, oooh, oooh.
00:08:51.43\00:08:57.17
Amen!
00:09:02.98\00:09:04.55
Thank you so very much.
00:09:06.68\00:09:09.04
It's a privilege to stand here
after Dr. Yvonne Lewis has sung.
00:09:09.24\00:09:13.00
Good evening, everyone.
00:09:13.20\00:09:14.82
Good evening. A real blessing
to be here with you tonight
00:09:15.12\00:09:19.16
and a thrill to be at the
3ABN Camp Meeting this year.
00:09:19.37\00:09:22.54
Really a thrill. You
know, I have to begin
00:09:22.74\00:09:25.57
by thanking 3ABN from
the bottom of my heart.
00:09:25.77\00:09:29.15
We just completed a 4-day...
and by we, I need to say
00:09:29.45\00:09:34.68
It Is Written... we just
completed a 4-day/night event,
00:09:34.88\00:09:38.85
a 4-part event,
in Las Vegas, Nevada,
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which signals the
beginning of a longer event.
00:09:41.33\00:09:45.55
It Is Written has partnered
with the church leadership
00:09:45.75\00:09:49.29
in Nevada and Utah
and church ministries from
00:09:49.49\00:09:52.18
sea to shining sea.
A great number of them.
00:09:52.38\00:09:54.76
It's a wonderful event.
There's a vast collaboration
00:09:54.96\00:09:58.45
taking place to
conduct evangelistic outreach
00:09:58.56\00:10:02.33
in Las Vegas... and
from Las Vegas to the world.
00:10:02.43\00:10:06.29
And It want to
thank It Is Written...
00:10:06.69\00:10:08.88
Well, OK, I'll thank It Is
Written too... But I want to
00:10:09.09\00:10:11.26
thank 3ABN very, very sincerely.
00:10:11.36\00:10:13.78
You know, when Elder Jim
Gilley found out about our
00:10:14.08\00:10:17.74
Babylon Rising
project he said to us:
00:10:17.94\00:10:19.86
"You know, 3ABN has a
local television station
00:10:20.06\00:10:24.42
there in Las Vegas. " He
said: "If there's anything
00:10:24.62\00:10:29.28
that you would like to
broadcast to advertise the event
00:10:29.48\00:10:33.09
or prepare for this event,
" he said: "I want you to know
00:10:33.29\00:10:35.92
that 3ABN is ready to
help you in any way possible. "
00:10:36.12\00:10:39.73
And so, you know, we...
we were blessed to be able
00:10:40.04\00:10:44.27
to get a few things out on the
air on the local 3ABN station
00:10:44.37\00:10:48.01
in Las Vegas that
we otherwise would not.
00:10:48.21\00:10:50.09
And you know, here's
what ended up happening.
00:10:50.49\00:10:53.27
Babylon Rising was
really a seed-sowing event.
00:10:53.58\00:10:56.25
An entrance event
00:10:56.45\00:10:58.48
designed to build
momentum to the larger event
00:10:58.68\00:11:01.74
which will finally take
place in January and February
00:11:01.94\00:11:04.19
of next year.
Now I can't tell you
00:11:04.39\00:11:06.65
because I don't know how
many times, but many times
00:11:06.85\00:11:09.68
people said to us: "There I was.
00:11:09.88\00:11:12.94
I flipped on the local
Christian television channel
00:11:13.14\00:11:16.90
and I saw this Babylon
Rising event being advertised
00:11:17.10\00:11:21.10
and I said: "I have got to go
00:11:21.31\00:11:22.51
and I've got to be
part of this. " Amen.
00:11:22.61\00:11:24.58
One lady, she said: "I
woke up at 1:30 in the morning.
00:11:24.78\00:11:26.99
I couldn't sleep and I turned
on my Christian TV channel
00:11:27.19\00:11:30.51
and I saw the advertising.
I said: "That's the Lord.
00:11:30.81\00:11:34.00
He woke me up just to
see that. I've got to go
00:11:34.20\00:11:36.48
and hear what's going
on down there. " Amen.
00:11:36.68\00:11:39.17
And then there was
Mike. This is a great story.
00:11:39.31\00:11:41.56
So Mike was in Las
Vegas for a convention...
00:11:41.96\00:11:45.21
well, a business-retreat
convention sort of a thing.
00:11:45.41\00:11:48.28
And Mike was a very,
very committed Christian.
00:11:48.58\00:11:52.99
I'm not sure what
church he's a member of...
00:11:53.19\00:11:54.98
but an evangelical church
somewhere on the East Coast.
00:11:55.18\00:11:58.38
On the East Coast
as a matter of fact.
00:11:58.58\00:12:00.24
Right on the East
Coast as a matter of fact.
00:12:00.44\00:12:02.10
And Mike saw the
advertising and he said:
00:12:02.40\00:12:05.15
"I've got to go to that;
I've got to go tonight. "
00:12:05.35\00:12:07.13
So he rushed down
to the Cashman Center -
00:12:07.43\00:12:11.41
large place - and when
he arrived, somebody said:
00:12:11.61\00:12:15.24
"Um, are you a volunteer? "
00:12:15.27\00:12:18.15
He said: "Sure, if
you need me I can help. "
00:12:20.88\00:12:24.87
So they said: "Come right in! "
00:12:26.26\00:12:28.21
And he got in and he
said: He said: "Ah, there's only
00:12:28.31\00:12:31.17
like a hundred people here
00:12:31.27\00:12:33.20
and this auditorium
seats almost 2,000. "
00:12:33.40\00:12:35.56
And then he
realized he was a day early.
00:12:35.76\00:12:38.03
He'd come a day early.
00:12:38.24\00:12:39.84
So I was giving a
devotional to the volunteers.
00:12:40.14\00:12:43.75
It was the volunteers
evening and Mike came in
00:12:43.95\00:12:45.73
and he sat down. He said:
"Wow, I really like this. "
00:12:45.93\00:12:48.33
He said... and then he
realized we were breaking up
00:12:48.53\00:12:50.00
into the various
groups of volunteers.
00:12:50.20\00:12:52.44
And he said:
"Well, that's not... "
00:12:52.64\00:12:54.22
He said: "You know what
I can do? I can go downtown
00:12:54.42\00:12:56.18
right now and start
inviting people to come
00:12:56.38\00:12:58.14
to Babylon Rising. He
went out in the foyer,
00:12:58.24\00:13:00.13
scooped up an
armload of advertising,
00:13:00.33\00:13:02.28
and went off downtown Las Vegas
00:13:02.48\00:13:04.26
handing out these
things on the street.
00:13:04.46\00:13:06.01
"Man, you've got to go
to this. This is great!
00:13:06.21\00:13:07.90
You're going to love it! "
00:13:08.10\00:13:09.25
He came the next...
In fact, the next day
00:13:09.45\00:13:11.77
he was supposed to
leave Las Vegas and go home,
00:13:11.97\00:13:14.31
but he said: "I'm not
missing this for the world. "
00:13:14.51\00:13:15.94
He extended his stay
in Vegas for an extra day
00:13:16.14\00:13:18.78
so he could be
there opening night.
00:13:18.98\00:13:20.30
On opening night he grabbed
another armload of materials
00:13:20.50\00:13:23.74
AND one of the
Babylon Rising volunteers.
00:13:23.94\00:13:26.38
He said: "You need to
come with me downtown.
00:13:26.58\00:13:28.09
We'll go hand
these out together!
00:13:28.29\00:13:29.62
People have got to come! "
00:13:29.82\00:13:30.96
So thank you 3ABN.
00:13:32.27\00:13:33.97
You know, this is ministry
00:13:34.27\00:13:37.07
and friends and
partners working together.
00:13:37.27\00:13:40.25
And that was really a blessing.
Babylon Rising went great.
00:13:40.45\00:13:44.31
I'd love to tell you
about the deaf lady who heard
00:13:44.61\00:13:47.31
the presentation one night,
00:13:47.51\00:13:49.25
but I don't have
time for that right now.
00:13:49.45\00:13:50.92
Uh...
00:13:51.22\00:13:54.43
What?
00:13:57.30\00:13:58.44
I really didn't mean to do that.
00:14:00.58\00:14:02.54
I really didn't
think I had time.
00:14:02.84\00:14:05.13
OK, I'll get to
that; I'll get to that.
00:14:05.43\00:14:07.42
Um, we had some interesting...
some interesting experiences.
00:14:07.62\00:14:11.76
And... because you
know why, don't you?
00:14:11.96\00:14:15.55
When you get together in a
place to preach the Word of God,
00:14:15.76\00:14:19.71
to proclaim present truth,
00:14:19.92\00:14:23.54
to convey to others
the everlasting gospel,
00:14:23.57\00:14:28.13
is God there with you? Amen.
00:14:28.33\00:14:30.09
God... Now listen, you
don't have to be in an enormous
00:14:30.19\00:14:32.82
auditorium in Las Vegas
for God to be there with you.
00:14:32.92\00:14:36.20
You know, when you're
holding an evangelistic outreach
00:14:37.00\00:14:39.47
in your town whether it's in
a big town or a two-horse town
00:14:39.67\00:14:42.01
it might be you
and one other person
00:14:42.21\00:14:44.64
and God is there too.
00:14:44.84\00:14:47.01
The Holy Spirit shows up
when we proclaim God's end-time
00:14:47.31\00:14:51.07
message. And when
the Holy Spirit shows up
00:14:51.28\00:14:53.86
great things have to
happen because the Holy Spirit
00:14:54.06\00:14:58.84
is in the business
of doing great things.
00:14:59.04\00:15:01.28
So here's what I was told.
00:15:01.48\00:15:03.12
Somebody approached
me on the final night:
00:15:04.45\00:15:06.85
"Oh, Pastor, I've got
to tell you about my friend
00:15:07.05\00:15:09.93
who came last night and
she accepted Jesus Christ
00:15:10.13\00:15:14.21
as her personal
Savior for the first time. "
00:15:14.41\00:15:16.80
And I said: "Praise the Lord. "
00:15:17.00\00:15:18.28
You ought to as
well, by the way.
00:15:18.48\00:15:19.63
All right. I said:
"Praise the Lord. "
00:15:19.83\00:15:21.80
He said: "No, but
that's not the best thing. "
00:15:21.90\00:15:23.73
I said: "Well,
what's better than that? "
00:15:23.97\00:15:26.45
He said: "I've
got to tell you. "
00:15:26.75\00:15:28.36
He said: "We've been inviting
this lady to the Bible studies
00:15:28.56\00:15:31.17
for forever...
she would never come.
00:15:31.37\00:15:32.73
So we said: "Come
this Babylon Rising event"
00:15:32.93\00:15:35.88
and out she came. He said:
00:15:36.08\00:15:38.35
"The lady is
very hard of hearing.
00:15:38.45\00:15:40.58
Deaf. She cannot hear
unless she has very special
00:15:40.78\00:15:45.43
assistance to help her hear. "
00:15:45.63\00:15:47.35
I said: "Oh, and you're
telling me this for a reason? "
00:15:47.55\00:15:50.69
"Yes, yes. We got one of
the hard-of-hearing devices.
00:15:50.90\00:15:53.02
She tried it; it
didn't help her at all. "
00:15:53.22\00:15:54.64
She was going to
leave but I said:
00:15:54.84\00:15:56.10
"Come on in anyway. "
00:15:56.30\00:15:57.49
She came into the
meeting, sat down.
00:15:57.79\00:15:59.98
At the end was said:
"How did you enjoy it? "
00:16:00.18\00:16:01.67
She said: "I enjoyed
everything I heard. "
00:16:01.77\00:16:03.88
And they said: "You heard? "
00:16:04.08\00:16:05.38
She said: "I heard absolutely
everything clear as a bell. "
00:16:05.58\00:16:09.18
Amen.
00:16:09.38\00:16:11.59
Is God still in the
miracle- working business? Amen!
00:16:11.89\00:16:14.22
Yes He is!
00:16:14.32\00:16:15.49
When it means getting the
message through to somebody
00:16:15.69\00:16:17.98
so that somebody
can meet Somebody -
00:16:18.18\00:16:20.51
the main Somebody - God is
still in the business of doing
00:16:20.71\00:16:24.88
great, great things.
00:16:25.08\00:16:27.20
Please be encouraged.
00:16:27.50\00:16:28.89
The God who does great things
in other people's meetings,
00:16:28.99\00:16:34.09
in other people's towns,
00:16:34.29\00:16:37.70
in other
ministries, is the same God
00:16:37.90\00:16:40.65
who shows up and
answers your prayers when you
00:16:40.75\00:16:43.15
pray the prayer of
faith in the name of Jesus.
00:16:43.25\00:16:45.20
So God is in the
business of doing great things.
00:16:45.50\00:16:47.55
And I just believe...
you can tell me I'm wrong
00:16:47.75\00:16:50.10
and maybe I am... but I
believe the closer we get to the
00:16:50.30\00:16:52.72
return of Jesus God is
going to do the sorts of things
00:16:52.83\00:16:56.46
that SHOULD NOT amaze us but do.
00:16:56.67\00:16:59.41
Why should we be surprised
that a deaf lady heard?
00:16:59.71\00:17:02.29
Why are you
surprised about that?
00:17:02.59\00:17:04.24
Why was I surprised
about that? I was surprised.
00:17:04.44\00:17:06.34
I reached out; I put my
hand on the guy's shoulder.
00:17:06.54\00:17:08.59
I said: "Are you
telling me the truth? "
00:17:08.79\00:17:10.92
He had this... he had
this little look on his face
00:17:13.43\00:17:15.33
for a moment. "Yes, I'm
telling you the truth! "
00:17:15.43\00:17:17.34
"Well I thought you
were but I'm checking. "
00:17:17.65\00:17:20.74
He was telling the truth.
00:17:22.34\00:17:23.59
So God does great things.
I want to mention a couple
00:17:23.79\00:17:25.78
of things to you,
just rudimentary things
00:17:25.88\00:17:28.59
regarding It Is Written.
00:17:28.69\00:17:30.20
You are going to ask me so
I will pre-empt your question.
00:17:30.40\00:17:34.63
Someone's going to ask
me: "How is Shawn doing? "
00:17:34.83\00:17:37.08
No, no, no. The first question
is probably going to be:
00:17:37.28\00:17:41.23
"What's wrong with Shawn? "
00:17:41.44\00:17:42.97
Well I'm going to tell
you... I'll tell you later.
00:17:45.60\00:17:49.27
You're hearing this
straight from the horse's mouth.
00:17:52.30\00:17:54.70
In fact, he could be watching.
00:17:54.90\00:17:57.09
And if you are, pardon me for
having some fun at your expense.
00:17:57.39\00:18:01.38
But we're friends so this is
what you have to put up with.
00:18:02.88\00:18:05.30
Here's what's wrong with Shawn:
00:18:05.70\00:18:08.30
we don't know.
00:18:08.50\00:18:10.41
Sorry to disappoint
you... but we don't know.
00:18:10.61\00:18:12.85
You don't know
00:18:13.09\00:18:14.62
and no one you know knows.
00:18:14.82\00:18:18.23
I've had people tell me:
"I know what's wrong with him"
00:18:18.43\00:18:20.33
and I say "Wow! " I
mean, who is this? Melchizedek?
00:18:20.53\00:18:25.10
Are you the Holy
Spirit? I mean how do you know
00:18:25.30\00:18:26.98
when the doctors don't
know? Shawn got terribly sick
00:18:27.18\00:18:30.29
and no one quite
knows what it was.
00:18:30.49\00:18:31.83
When I say no one quite
knows, no one knows what it was.
00:18:32.03\00:18:33.98
He was terribly sick
and it wasn't at all good.
00:18:34.19\00:18:37.68
His health rapidly deteriorated
00:18:37.86\00:18:40.13
and... and it wasn't good.
00:18:40.33\00:18:43.25
But you know
something? The same God
00:18:43.45\00:18:46.29
who makes the deaf to hear
00:18:46.49\00:18:48.00
is able to make the
Shawn Boonstra well.
00:18:48.20\00:18:50.53
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:18:50.73\00:18:52.20
Shawn said to me, he said:
00:18:52.40\00:18:54.45
"I wouldn't say
that I'm 100 per cent. "
00:18:54.65\00:18:57.05
He even said this: "I
don't know if I'll be 100%
00:18:57.08\00:18:59.68
but I'm a whole
lot better than I was
00:18:59.88\00:19:03.63
and I... " He said
words to the effect
00:19:03.83\00:19:06.47
"I'm almost the old me...
00:19:06.67\00:19:08.13
I'm getting back
to being the old me. "
00:19:08.23\00:19:09.72
Amen! So thank the Lord.
00:19:09.92\00:19:11.07
And if you have prayed for
Shawn thank you so very much.
00:19:11.27\00:19:14.14
He's a wonderful man of
God, a great evangelist,
00:19:14.34\00:19:16.51
a committed Christian.
00:19:16.71\00:19:17.89
And it's wonderful to
know that God has worked
00:19:18.09\00:19:23.15
in his behalf and our behalf.
00:19:23.45\00:19:26.40
That's... that's just wonderful.
00:19:26.60\00:19:28.71
Uh, something that I would
like you to know is that we have
00:19:28.91\00:19:32.12
a daily devotional at It Is
Written. It's called Every Word.
00:19:32.22\00:19:35.07
I just paused so that I might
even hear a murmur of agreement
00:19:36.27\00:19:39.70
or approval from someone.
"I know about that, yeah.
00:19:39.80\00:19:43.00
I've got it right
here on my phone. "
00:19:43.20\00:19:44.64
But I know some of you have.
00:19:44.94\00:19:46.58
Um, and it's a daily
devotional 60 seconds long.
00:19:46.79\00:19:50.62
Every now and then we
stretch it beyond 60 seconds.
00:19:50.92\00:19:53.72
Like poker, every now and then
we stretch it beyond 60 seconds.
00:19:53.92\00:19:57.20
Um, but the idea is it's brief.
00:19:57.40\00:19:59.49
It's a Bible verse that you
can take and apply to your life
00:19:59.69\00:20:02.28
and be blessed
with today, right now.
00:20:02.38\00:20:04.04
And the wonderful thing
about it: it's shareable.
00:20:04.34\00:20:06.88
You can go to our
website: itiswritten. whatever
00:20:07.08\00:20:09.40
and I mean com or org...
anything will take you there...
00:20:09.60\00:20:13.31
and sign up and subscribe to it
00:20:13.51\00:20:16.67
and we'll send it to you every
day. And the neat thing about it
00:20:16.88\00:20:18.62
is we have people who are
barely even Christians who say
00:20:18.72\00:20:21.65
"I watch this. I wouldn't
miss it. This is a blessing.
00:20:21.85\00:20:24.42
It connects me with God. "
00:20:24.62\00:20:25.77
So have a look at it.
00:20:26.07\00:20:27.11
You'll be blessed...
there's no question about it.
00:20:27.21\00:20:28.52
And then you're going to
say: "This is one I can forward
00:20:28.72\00:20:31.16
to my neighbor. I can forward
this to my non-Church-member
00:20:31.36\00:20:34.40
friend. I can
send this to the kids.
00:20:34.50\00:20:36.38
So it's Every Word and it's on
the front page of our website.
00:20:36.58\00:20:39.34
And if you want to follow what
we're doing at It Is Written,
00:20:39.54\00:20:41.47
please do.
Facebook. com/itiswritten
00:20:41.67\00:20:44.28
Follow us and that way we
can just let you know what
00:20:44.48\00:20:46.63
is going on and
you can pray for us.
00:20:46.83\00:20:48.23
'Cause you know why things
happen in places like Las Vegas?
00:20:48.33\00:20:51.61
Because people are
praying that God will work
00:20:51.81\00:20:54.24
and God is answering prayer.
00:20:54.45\00:20:56.03
Speaking of prayers, let us pray
00:20:56.13\00:20:58.34
and expect God's
blessing tonight. Let us pray.
00:20:58.54\00:21:00.78
Our Father, We
thank you that we can
00:21:01.08\00:21:04.05
come to you tonight
in the name of Jesus.
00:21:04.15\00:21:05.79
We come humbly but
we come with confidence
00:21:05.99\00:21:10.52
because You told us: "Come
boldly to the throne of grace. "
00:21:10.62\00:21:14.89
So here we are.
You said if you do that
00:21:15.09\00:21:18.20
then you'll be able to
obtain mercy and grace to help
00:21:18.30\00:21:22.01
in time of need.
Lord we need mercy
00:21:22.11\00:21:24.92
and right now we need
grace. This is a time of need
00:21:25.12\00:21:29.06
for we need Your Holy
Spirit to guide us in Your Word.
00:21:29.26\00:21:31.83
Be merciful to me... Your
faulty human instrumentality.
00:21:32.13\00:21:36.44
And bless us that Your Word
would do what You want it to do.
00:21:38.04\00:21:41.47
You said it
won't come back void.
00:21:41.57\00:21:43.18
So tonight, let it
prosper in Your hand.
00:21:43.38\00:21:47.59
We pray in Jesus'
name. Please say with me
00:21:47.79\00:21:50.97
Amen.
00:21:51.17\00:21:52.96
I was working at a radio
station when I met a local
00:21:54.83\00:21:57.39
church pastor named Jim.
00:21:57.49\00:22:00.02
Jim was the pastor of
the biggest church in town.
00:22:00.32\00:22:03.16
It was huge! It
had been a supermarket
00:22:03.46\00:22:06.73
but they
converted it into a church.
00:22:07.03\00:22:09.96
Now going back that many
years and in that culture
00:22:10.26\00:22:13.72
and at that time, just the idea
00:22:13.92\00:22:17.04
of a supermarket
being turned into a church
00:22:17.25\00:22:19.85
was an
astonishing idea just that.
00:22:20.05\00:22:22.44
And Jim would come to the
radio station where I worked
00:22:22.84\00:22:25.50
and he would record his
30-minute radio program.
00:22:25.60\00:22:28.95
I would watch this guy, and he
would sit there with his Bible
00:22:29.05\00:22:32.25
and a couple of
notes and he'd speak
00:22:32.45\00:22:35.31
and he'd get right to
29 minutes and 57 seconds
00:22:35.41\00:22:39.69
and he'd say:
"And God bless you. "
00:22:39.79\00:22:42.12
I mean, the man was a master.
00:22:42.22\00:22:43.89
And one day Jim
said: "John, why don't you
00:22:44.29\00:22:47.33
come visit my church? "
He knew I went to church
00:22:47.53\00:22:50.28
and I said: "I'd love to. "
00:22:50.48\00:22:51.80
So I turned up in
the supermarket church.
00:22:52.00\00:22:53.82
Huge. And, you know, by today's
standards it probably wasn't
00:22:54.02\00:22:57.35
very big... but
then it was a colossus.
00:22:57.45\00:23:01.09
And I sat back... way back there
00:23:01.29\00:23:03.64
and I was so impressed because
Pastor Jim came out and at the
00:23:03.84\00:23:08.79
beginning of service he
said: "And I'd like to welcome
00:23:08.89\00:23:11.44
John Bradshaw here
from the radio station
00:23:11.64\00:23:13.73
or whatever
radio station it was.
00:23:13.93\00:23:15.09
"Welcome, John, I'm glad
you're here. " And I said:
00:23:15.19\00:23:17.55
"Wow! " And Pastor
Jim started to preach.
00:23:17.75\00:23:21.05
And... and I was interested in
this. I was spiritually curious
00:23:21.25\00:23:24.48
and I decided I would go to
this church even though it was
00:23:24.68\00:23:27.45
very different to the church
I was raised in and attended.
00:23:27.55\00:23:31.76
Then Pastor Jim started
to preach. He took his Bible
00:23:31.96\00:23:34.85
and he stood down front
in a pulpit much like this.
00:23:35.05\00:23:37.74
And he started in his
measured but very confident way
00:23:37.94\00:23:41.85
to share the Bible.
And not long after he began
00:23:41.88\00:23:45.72
it began. Like
a clap of thunder.
00:23:45.92\00:23:49.53
A lady... this I've never
seen done in a church before...
00:23:49.73\00:23:53.62
she stood up. There
was a big, big open area.
00:23:53.82\00:23:56.81
She walked down front
and she started to screech.
00:23:57.01\00:24:00.12
"My people" she called out.
00:24:00.32\00:24:03.80
"I've got a message
for you my people. "
00:24:10.09\00:24:14.65
And I inhaled
and I didn't breathe
00:24:15.05\00:24:18.58
for about 4-1/2 minutes.
00:24:18.88\00:24:21.70
And I sat there gripping...
the chairs had armrests...
00:24:22.00\00:24:24.84
gripping the armrest
and my knuckles were white.
00:24:25.04\00:24:27.52
Understand this... In my
church all the people ever did
00:24:27.72\00:24:31.50
was recite pre-determined
mandated rote responses.
00:24:31.70\00:24:37.18
If this had happened at my
church there would have been
00:24:37.48\00:24:39.40
a scandal... a scandal!
00:24:39.50\00:24:42.03
And the young lady sitting next
to me noticed that I was nervous
00:24:43.29\00:24:46.18
and she said:
"What's... what's the matter? "
00:24:46.38\00:24:47.57
I said: "That's
right. What's the matter? "
00:24:47.77\00:24:50.08
She said: "What's
the matter what? "
00:24:50.68\00:24:52.76
I said: "What's the
matter with that lady? "
00:24:52.96\00:24:54.33
"What in the world? "
00:24:54.53\00:24:56.24
And... and I didn't want
to create a scene. And...
00:24:56.44\00:24:58.75
But it was hard... it was hard
to create scene in that church
00:24:58.96\00:25:01.53
in particularly. People were
making a noise and everything.
00:25:01.73\00:25:04.57
I'm just saying I'd
never seen that before.
00:25:04.77\00:25:06.46
And the lady said:
"Don't worry about a thing...
00:25:06.66\00:25:10.25
that's the Holy Spirit. "
00:25:10.46\00:25:12.63
Now I had heard of
the Holy Spirit before.
00:25:18.35\00:25:21.08
In our church we
recited the Apostle's Creed
00:25:21.38\00:25:24.24
very frequently. And part
of the Apostle's Creed says
00:25:24.44\00:25:27.15
"I believe in the Holy Spirit. "
00:25:27.35\00:25:30.20
That comes right
before the part that says
00:25:30.40\00:25:32.86
"The holy Catholic church,
00:25:33.06\00:25:34.63
the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins,
00:25:34.83\00:25:37.18
the resurrection of the body.
" That's impressive, isn't it?
00:25:37.38\00:25:39.90
"And life everlasting, Amen. "
00:25:40.10\00:25:41.66
Wow, I just pulled that...
that came from 20+ years ago
00:25:41.96\00:25:44.62
just like that.
00:25:44.82\00:25:45.83
And so I believed
in the Holy Spirit.
00:25:46.03\00:25:47.51
And she said: "The
lady is in the Holy Ghost. "
00:25:47.61\00:25:49.85
And I said: "Oh. "
00:25:51.15\00:25:53.99
And that explained everything.
00:25:54.49\00:25:56.11
That was my first
introduction to the idea
00:25:56.42\00:26:01.23
of the... of something
called spiritual gifts.
00:26:01.43\00:26:04.67
First time I had
ever been introduced
00:26:04.97\00:26:09.67
to the
phenomenon or even the idea
00:26:09.87\00:26:13.02
that the Holy Spirit gave people
gifts which you might even say
00:26:13.05\00:26:18.62
were "unusual. "
00:26:18.82\00:26:20.99
And since then, I've
learned from the Bible
00:26:21.29\00:26:23.95
that God does give
spiritual gifts to His people.
00:26:24.16\00:26:27.56
Amen. And that sometimes
when God gives spiritual gifts
00:26:27.76\00:26:31.73
to His people and those
gifts are manifested, sometimes
00:26:31.93\00:26:34.84
it's spectacular.
Sometimes it's very spectacular.
00:26:35.04\00:26:39.73
Uh, in fact, the Bible
talks about the Holy Spirit
00:26:40.91\00:26:44.76
a lot. And almost always when
the Holy Spirit is mentioned
00:26:44.96\00:26:49.50
it's mentioned in reference
to something remarkable.
00:26:49.70\00:26:53.29
The power of the Holy
Spirit is so incredible that
00:26:53.59\00:26:57.50
there was one fellow in
the Bible so impressed by it
00:26:57.70\00:27:01.33
that he took out his
wallet and offered money
00:27:01.63\00:27:05.05
for the gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:27:05.25\00:27:07.51
That's how
impressed that fellow was.
00:27:07.81\00:27:11.10
There came a time after
the experience that I had
00:27:12.21\00:27:14.58
in the supermarket church
that I, too, wanted to have
00:27:14.79\00:27:17.99
the gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:27:18.19\00:27:20.56
Now I never did offer
anybody any money for it.
00:27:20.86\00:27:23.30
But being spiritually
curious and being in a group of
00:27:24.32\00:27:27.09
Christians in my
church that was atypically
00:27:27.29\00:27:31.55
ecumenical, we would
visit different churches
00:27:31.86\00:27:35.15
from time to time. And the
opportunity would be given:
00:27:35.25\00:27:37.78
"Come forward and receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit. "
00:27:37.98\00:27:40.43
Well, who wouldn't want that?
00:27:40.63\00:27:42.54
Prayed for me.
00:27:44.12\00:27:45.48
They prayed and they
prayed and they prayed.
00:27:45.68\00:27:47.60
Prayed I would
receive the gift of tongues.
00:27:47.80\00:27:49.79
Never happened.
00:27:51.15\00:27:52.42
I have to tell you, I was some-
what disappointed about that.
00:27:52.61\00:27:54.41
That man said one
day: "Come on up here
00:27:54.71\00:27:57.56
and be healed. " And I said:
00:27:57.76\00:28:00.43
"Who wouldn't
want to be healed? "
00:28:00.63\00:28:01.92
But I felt envious of
sick people... I wasn't sick.
00:28:02.02\00:28:05.15
If I was sick,
I could be healed.
00:28:05.35\00:28:08.07
And then I remembered:
I don't see very well
00:28:09.85\00:28:12.94
out of my left eye.
00:28:13.14\00:28:14.70
That's something God could fix!
00:28:18.11\00:28:20.04
So I went up front confident.
00:28:20.34\00:28:21.77
"Ah man, everyone's
getting healed here tonight.
00:28:21.87\00:28:23.67
Let 'em heal my left eye. "
00:28:23.87\00:28:25.35
I have what now
you call astigmatism.
00:28:25.55\00:28:28.53
Back then the optometrist
or whoever he was told me
00:28:28.73\00:28:31.67
it was a defective cornea.
00:28:31.87\00:28:34.35
I mean I could see but
I can't see a whole lot.
00:28:34.65\00:28:36.99
I can't see anything good.
00:28:37.09\00:28:38.30
And so when I get
towards the end of the sermon
00:28:38.60\00:28:42.57
and I see the
clock on the back wall
00:28:42.87\00:28:44.99
I close my right eye, I
look at it with my left.
00:28:45.19\00:28:47.16
Couldn't see the clock.
00:28:49.40\00:28:50.83
And he prayed for me and
he put his hand on my forehead
00:28:55.31\00:28:57.83
and he pushed me
over. Pushed me over!
00:28:58.03\00:28:59.94
Where I was from you had to be
careful about pushing a brother
00:29:01.43\00:29:04.28
over in my town.
00:29:04.38\00:29:05.81
You'd get a... you'd end
up in a world of trouble.
00:29:06.21\00:29:08.61
But he pushed me over
and someone caught me.
00:29:08.92\00:29:10.96
And so I laid on
the ground and I thought
00:29:11.06\00:29:13.00
"I can't get up too quickly
because that wouldn't be cool. "
00:29:13.20\00:29:15.42
So I waited a
realistic period of time
00:29:15.72\00:29:18.41
and then I opened my left eye.
00:29:18.71\00:29:22.30
I wasn't healed.
00:29:25.68\00:29:27.13
By my friend Lynley said: "Maybe
you didn't have enough faith. "
00:29:28.03\00:29:31.10
And I said:
"Maybe you're right. "
00:29:31.30\00:29:33.11
Then there was
another time I went forward
00:29:33.31\00:29:34.64
and this is interesting.
Was at a big, big gathering.
00:29:34.75\00:29:36.99
More than this.
And you'd just go up
00:29:37.93\00:29:41.51
and he'd put a... make
a little prophecy on you.
00:29:41.71\00:29:43.94
Put his hand on your
head and say something
00:29:44.14\00:29:45.11
from God to you. And
well... who wouldn't want that?
00:29:45.12\00:29:48.79
And he put his hand
on my head and he said:
00:29:49.09\00:29:51.12
"One day you're going to
use that fiery red hair of yours
00:29:51.32\00:29:54.23
to preach the gospel. "
00:29:54.33\00:29:55.86
I thought "well,
that'll never happen. "
00:30:05.55\00:30:07.44
How wrong can a guy be?
00:30:10.91\00:30:12.83
This evening we consider
the subject of Spiritual Gifts
00:30:14.77\00:30:18.10
and Ministries. It's important
that we do because it is a
00:30:18.20\00:30:21.77
foundational
subject in the Bible.
00:30:21.97\00:30:24.48
Foundational.
00:30:24.68\00:30:26.79
It is a subject that
has occasionally been
00:30:27.09\00:30:30.21
a little or maybe even more
than a little misunderstood.
00:30:30.41\00:30:33.93
Now I have a statement
here prepared by the leaders
00:30:35.07\00:30:39.63
of the church on the subject of
spiritual gifts and ministries.
00:30:39.83\00:30:44.13
And if you will pardon me,
I'm going to read it for you
00:30:44.33\00:30:46.25
so it gives us a little bit
of a foundation to launch from.
00:30:46.45\00:30:49.24
To launch from.
00:30:49.45\00:30:50.98
Here we go: listen carefully.
00:30:51.28\00:30:52.85
God bestows upon all
members of His church
00:30:53.05\00:30:55.74
in every age spiritual gifts
00:30:55.84\00:30:58.75
which each member is to
employ in loving ministry
00:30:58.96\00:31:01.56
for the common good of
the church and of humanity.
00:31:01.76\00:31:04.16
Try to hear this. When a
guy's reading it can be dull.
00:31:04.46\00:31:06.91
But if you
listen, you'll grab this.
00:31:07.11\00:31:09.77
Given by the
agency of the Holy Spirit
00:31:09.98\00:31:12.76
who apportions to
each member as He wills,
00:31:12.96\00:31:15.26
the gifts provide all
abilities and ministries
00:31:15.46\00:31:19.29
needed by the church to fulfill
its divinely-ordained functions.
00:31:19.49\00:31:22.75
According to the
scriptures, these gifts include
00:31:22.95\00:31:25.93
such ministries
as faith. Yes or no?
00:31:26.03\00:31:28.73
Healing. Yes or no?
00:31:29.04\00:31:31.23
So when I went up
hoping my eye would be healed
00:31:31.54\00:31:34.48
did I have a Christian right
to expect God might heal me?
00:31:34.68\00:31:38.51
Yes. Absolutely. Nothing
wrong with that. That's fine.
00:31:38.71\00:31:41.06
Um, where was I? Prophecy.
00:31:42.07\00:31:44.64
Prophecy. Proclamation,
teaching, administration,
00:31:44.84\00:31:49.59
reconciliation, compassion,
and self-sacrificing service and
00:31:49.79\00:31:53.89
charity for the help and
the encouragement of people.
00:31:54.09\00:31:56.45
That's a spiritual gift too.
00:31:56.65\00:31:57.97
Some members are called of God
and endowed by the Spirit for
00:31:58.97\00:32:02.00
functions recognized
by the church in pastoral,
00:32:02.10\00:32:05.20
evangelistic, apostolic,
and teaching ministries
00:32:05.40\00:32:08.07
particularly needed to
equip the members for service
00:32:08.27\00:32:12.04
to build up the
church to spiritual maturity
00:32:12.25\00:32:15.31
and to foster unity of the
faith and knowledge of God.
00:32:15.51\00:32:19.95
All these are what
spiritual gifts are for.
00:32:20.15\00:32:21.92
When members employ
these spiritual gifts
00:32:22.22\00:32:24.58
as faithful
stewards of God's very grace,
00:32:24.68\00:32:26.95
the church is protected
from the destructive influence
00:32:27.15\00:32:30.21
of false doctrine.
00:32:30.41\00:32:32.38
It grows with a
growth that is from God
00:32:32.58\00:32:34.40
and is built up
in faith and love.
00:32:34.60\00:32:37.85
Which is
reflective of what Jesus said
00:32:38.05\00:32:40.77
in John chapter 14.
00:32:40.97\00:32:42.82
In John 14 and
verse 16 Jesus said:
00:32:43.02\00:32:47.45
"And I will pray the Father
00:32:47.65\00:32:49.84
and He shall give you
00:32:50.04\00:32:53.53
another... "
What? "another Comforter
00:32:53.73\00:32:57.01
that He may abide
with you forever...
00:32:57.21\00:33:00.62
even the Spirit of truth. "
00:33:00.82\00:33:05.04
Jesus promised us He would
send to us the Holy Spirit.
00:33:05.14\00:33:09.85
Through the Holy
Spirit Jesus would be present
00:33:10.05\00:33:13.95
with and present in believers.
00:33:14.15\00:33:18.61
The personal presence
of Jesus would come to us
00:33:18.81\00:33:21.80
through the ministry, through
the person of the Holy Spirit.
00:33:22.00\00:33:25.77
Now, the statement
I read a moment ago
00:33:26.07\00:33:28.12
says that God
gives spiritual gifts
00:33:28.32\00:33:32.32
which are to be used for
the common good of the church
00:33:32.52\00:33:35.06
and of all of humanity.
00:33:35.26\00:33:37.64
It's probably, then,
a good idea to remember
00:33:37.94\00:33:41.26
what the purpose
of the church is.
00:33:42.45\00:33:44.63
Let's consider that.
00:33:45.95\00:33:47.23
Someone wrote this:
"The church of Christ
00:33:47.53\00:33:51.19
is God's appointed agency
for the saving of souls. "
00:33:51.39\00:33:55.16
Can you say Amen? Amen.
00:33:55.36\00:33:56.77
Its mission is to carry
the gospel to the world.
00:33:57.07\00:34:01.82
What is the church's
mission? Tell me, please.
00:34:02.12\00:34:04.00
To carry the
gospel to the world.
00:34:04.20\00:34:06.04
You know what I love? I
love mission statements.
00:34:06.34\00:34:08.06
I love them.
00:34:08.26\00:34:09.97
They're great. And
they can be this long...
00:34:10.27\00:34:12.39
I've pastored a
couple of churches...
00:34:12.69\00:34:14.14
"Have a mission
statement here? "
00:34:14.34\00:34:15.58
"Yeah, we don't
remember what it is. "
00:34:15.78\00:34:17.29
I said: "That's
good. I know what it is. "
00:34:17.60\00:34:19.78
The mission of this church is
to take the gospel to the world.
00:34:20.08\00:34:23.81
That's what it is.
00:34:24.01\00:34:25.10
It's the same for
all of God's churches:
00:34:25.30\00:34:27.21
take the gospel to the world.
00:34:27.42\00:34:29.36
If there's a
committee meeting at your church
00:34:29.56\00:34:31.87
to decide on a mission
statement for your church,
00:34:32.07\00:34:34.65
the meeting's a waste of time
because the mission statement
00:34:34.85\00:34:38.61
has been written already.
00:34:38.81\00:34:40.00
It's to take the
gospel to the world.
00:34:40.20\00:34:43.70
Amen. Now I understand,
pastor... look at me...
00:34:43.90\00:34:46.71
there's a time that you
might want to fatten that up
00:34:46.91\00:34:48.57
a little bit and talk about
doing good to the man on the
00:34:48.67\00:34:51.23
street and reaching out
to people in your community.
00:34:51.33\00:34:53.17
And that's fine. If you
want to sharpen it up like that,
00:34:53.37\00:34:55.67
that's good. But we recognize
the mission of the church
00:34:55.87\00:34:58.57
is to take the
gospel to the world.
00:34:58.67\00:34:59.83
And the obligation
rests on all Christians...
00:35:00.13\00:35:02.41
everyone... to the extent
of his talents and opportunity
00:35:02.61\00:35:05.48
is to fulfill the
Savior's commission.
00:35:05.78\00:35:08.19
The love of Christ
revealed to us makes us debtors
00:35:08.29\00:35:11.43
to all who know Him
not. God has given us light -
00:35:11.54\00:35:15.02
Yes or no? Yes -
00:35:15.32\00:35:17.63
not for ourselves alone
00:35:17.93\00:35:20.96
but to shed upon them. Amen.
00:35:21.17\00:35:25.79
Those programs you
have in your church?
00:35:25.99\00:35:28.64
They're not for you.
00:35:28.84\00:35:31.65
They're for the
people that you invite
00:35:31.95\00:35:35.81
to bring so at that
program they can meet Jesus.
00:35:36.01\00:35:39.12
Amen. That's the whole idea.
00:35:39.42\00:35:41.22
The purpose of the church is to
carry the gospel to the world.
00:35:41.52\00:35:45.36
We are to be vessels
00:35:45.66\00:35:48.53
through which the living
Christ works to reach others.
00:35:48.83\00:35:53.93
And Christ does
that... He reaches people.
00:35:54.23\00:35:57.18
He grabs hearts; He
turns lives upside down
00:35:57.39\00:36:01.23
through the agency of the
Holy Spirit of Almighty God.
00:36:01.54\00:36:05.03
God will give you...
00:36:05.34\00:36:09.10
the... not just the Holy Spirit
but let's put a point on this...
00:36:09.30\00:36:13.39
gifts given by the Holy Spirit.
00:36:13.59\00:36:16.74
I Corinthians
12... let's go there.
00:36:16.94\00:36:19.04
I Corinthians 12.
00:36:19.34\00:36:21.40
I don't want to slow you down
but you want to follow along.
00:36:21.60\00:36:24.05
If I go there and
just start reading,
00:36:24.25\00:36:26.03
you're going to turn
there anyway and follow along.
00:36:26.23\00:36:28.24
So I'll give you
time to get there.
00:36:28.44\00:36:29.66
I Corinthians 12 and
we pick it up in verse 9.
00:36:29.86\00:36:33.67
I Corinthians 12:9.
00:36:33.87\00:36:35.91
The Bible says: "To another...
" No, let's back up here.
00:36:36.11\00:36:40.09
Why am I
starting way down there?
00:36:40.29\00:36:42.40
Let's go right up... verse 4:
00:36:42.60\00:36:45.20
"Now there are
diversities of gifts
00:36:45.40\00:36:47.40
but the same Spirit. "
00:36:47.70\00:36:50.83
Now that word gifts is
the word... In Greek we
00:36:51.13\00:36:55.08
transliterate it to
English as the word charisma.
00:36:55.28\00:36:57.55
Charisma.
00:36:57.85\00:36:59.40
"There are differences of
administrations or ministries
00:36:59.60\00:37:03.52
but the same Lord.
00:37:03.72\00:37:05.29
There are diversities of
operations but it's the same God
00:37:05.59\00:37:08.47
which worketh all in all.
00:37:08.57\00:37:09.68
But the manifestation of
the Spirit is given to... " Who?
00:37:09.88\00:37:13.36
To which man? "every man. "
00:37:13.56\00:37:16.51
Just so you know we
are not gender exclusive
00:37:16.71\00:37:18.47
that would be every
man and every woman.
00:37:18.87\00:37:23.32
Men and women given the
gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:37:23.62\00:37:27.58
And where did we get to?
00:37:28.93\00:37:31.52
Uh, OK. "to profit... " Who?
00:37:31.78\00:37:33.69
Yeah, I lost it... somebody
down there said something.
00:37:33.99\00:37:37.47
Threw me off the scent.
00:37:37.78\00:37:39.65
No, no, don't be sorry.
00:37:39.95\00:37:41.67
You be sorry if you stop
giving me some feedback here.
00:37:41.87\00:37:45.00
"The manifestation of the spirit
is given to every man and woman
00:37:45.20\00:37:48.84
to profit... " - Who? - "all. "
00:37:49.04\00:37:51.21
That's right. So does the
Holy Spirit come and... and
00:37:51.41\00:37:55.49
visit me and gift
me with spiritual gifts
00:37:55.69\00:37:58.45
for my benefit only? Yes or no?
00:37:58.65\00:38:00.83
No, that can never
happen. The Bible tell us
00:38:01.03\00:38:03.48
that spiritual gifts
are given to you and/or me
00:38:03.68\00:38:07.48
for the benefit of all.
00:38:07.78\00:38:11.02
We've got to remember that.
00:38:11.22\00:38:13.20
"For to one is given by
the Spirit the word of wisdom.
00:38:13.40\00:38:16.77
To another the word of
knowledge by the same Spirit.
00:38:17.07\00:38:21.20
To another faith
by the same Spirit.
00:38:21.41\00:38:24.36
To another the gift of
healing by the same Spirit.
00:38:24.56\00:38:28.02
To another the
working of miracles.
00:38:28.32\00:38:30.43
To another prophecy; to
another discerning of spirits.
00:38:30.63\00:38:33.28
To another
diverse kinds of tongues.
00:38:33.43\00:38:35.76
To another the
interpretation of tongues.
00:38:35.96\00:38:37.60
But all these worketh that
one and the self-same Spirit
00:38:37.90\00:38:41.95
dividing to every man
severally as He wills. "
00:38:42.15\00:38:47.17
That's what the Bible says.
00:38:47.37\00:38:48.71
God decides that He will
give you spiritual gifts.
00:38:49.01\00:38:52.04
And He might give you one
or He might give you another.
00:38:52.24\00:38:55.51
That's not for
us to worry about...
00:38:55.71\00:38:57.80
it's for us to thank God for.
00:38:58.00\00:39:01.31
I want you to notice something.
00:39:01.62\00:39:03.01
Some of these
gifts are remarkable!
00:39:03.21\00:39:04.98
Whole churches have been built
on the back of one or the other
00:39:05.18\00:39:09.08
of these spiritual gifts.
00:39:09.28\00:39:10.98
Oh it's interesting.
I never did see a church
00:39:11.18\00:39:14.62
bragging on themselves because
they had the gift of helps.
00:39:14.82\00:39:18.06
Did you ever hear that?
00:39:18.26\00:39:19.32
We are a Holy Ghost church
00:39:19.62\00:39:22.48
and we are very into the gift
of administration around here.
00:39:22.79\00:39:25.92
That might be our
church... I don't know.
00:39:26.22\00:39:28.35
Might be our church.
00:39:28.65\00:39:30.39
You don't hear about that.
You hear about the spectacular
00:39:31.29\00:39:34.17
churches... the
spectacular gifts, rather.
00:39:34.38\00:39:38.08
The gift of helps: that'd be...
that's be kind of like the gift
00:39:38.28\00:39:41.11
that deacons have.
And I've met some deacons
00:39:41.21\00:39:42.98
who have spectacular gift...
the gift of helps, serving.
00:39:43.18\00:39:47.52
And as I read one commentary
it talked about how this
00:39:47.72\00:39:50.31
would be the gift of
maybe helping the poor
00:39:50.42\00:39:52.40
or helping the sick as well.
00:39:52.60\00:39:54.15
Unfortunately,
people like to be "wowed"
00:39:55.78\00:39:59.11
and we like the
spectacular gifts.
00:39:59.31\00:40:01.34
Now, when It Is
Written was in Las Vegas
00:40:01.65\00:40:04.31
we discovered shortly
before Babylon Rising began
00:40:04.51\00:40:07.29
that a well-know preacher,
you've probably heard of him,
00:40:07.49\00:40:10.51
very popular preacher by
the name of Benny Hinn, was
00:40:10.71\00:40:13.21
going to be in Las Vegas
at exactly the same time.
00:40:13.41\00:40:16.23
And we thought... we thought
"Well we've got an auditorium
00:40:16.43\00:40:19.48
that seats 2,000.
" And we checked...
00:40:19.58\00:40:21.07
Benny had one that seated 4,000.
00:40:21.17\00:40:24.36
So I said: "Well, I
mean, God bless him... "
00:40:24.50\00:40:25.78
But you know, you worry about
after putting all this effort
00:40:25.88\00:40:28.66
in that maybe... maybe...
maybe folks might go there
00:40:28.76\00:40:32.53
instead of there. But you know,
you let God worry about that.
00:40:32.73\00:40:34.86
Amen. And so we
talked about this.
00:40:35.16\00:40:36.97
And so my children said on
the drive to Vegas, they said:
00:40:37.18\00:40:39.67
"Daddy, who's Benny Hinn? "
00:40:39.88\00:40:41.10
And I explained to him
that he's a well-known preacher
00:40:41.30\00:40:43.96
and he travels the
world and he does this.
00:40:44.16\00:40:45.73
"And so what's his
thing? " they said.
00:40:45.83\00:40:47.11
I said: "Well, he's coming
to Las Vegas to do a miracle
00:40:47.22\00:40:50.70
healing crusade. "
'Cause that's what he does
00:40:50.90\00:40:53.47
are miracle healing crusades.
00:40:53.57\00:40:55.04
And they said: "Oh, OK. "
And they asked me some questions
00:40:55.34\00:40:57.64
about that. Well now...
00:40:57.84\00:41:00.59
you're going to think
I'm funny but it's the truth:
00:41:01.51\00:41:04.06
we took the
goldfish to Las Vegas.
00:41:04.36\00:41:07.01
We have four
goldfish and a little catfish.
00:41:08.00\00:41:11.31
We're not going to eat it.
00:41:11.51\00:41:13.48
The catfish keeps
that goldfish bowl clean.
00:41:13.78\00:41:16.78
That's nasty, isn't it? Yes!
00:41:18.96\00:41:20.89
And so we took
this thing to Las Vegas.
00:41:21.09\00:41:23.57
because we didn't
want to leave it home.
00:41:23.77\00:41:24.79
They can't feed themselves.
00:41:24.90\00:41:26.19
Well, we got up one
morning and Melissa, my wife,
00:41:26.98\00:41:30.34
went to the
fish bowl. "Oh, no! "
00:41:30.54\00:41:33.48
Well it had happened before
00:41:33.68\00:41:35.25
when you find the fish doing
backstroke instead of freestyle.
00:41:35.45\00:41:39.24
And she said: "Oh, no! "
00:41:39.64\00:41:41.29
And so we scooped out three
of them and put them in a...
00:41:41.59\00:41:43.71
in a bucket of clean
water, a bowl of clean water.
00:41:43.91\00:41:47.26
And we hoped and we hoped and...
00:41:47.36\00:41:50.63
and, you know, we prayed 'cause
you know, with the kids there
00:41:50.84\00:41:52.94
we prayed: "You know, Lord, if
You'd like these fish to survive
00:41:53.14\00:41:55.19
that's fine. If not, you
know... that's all right. "
00:41:55.39\00:41:56.77
You're busy running
a world, you know...
00:41:57.08\00:41:59.72
praying about three goldfish.
00:41:59.92\00:42:01.35
But we put it out to the Lord
that if He would like to see
00:42:02.34\00:42:04.50
these fish revive
like they had that'd be OK.
00:42:04.61\00:42:06.66
And you know, after 5 or 10
minutes it was still backstroke.
00:42:06.80\00:42:09.67
My daughter Shannon came
into my room with a smile
00:42:11.83\00:42:13.80
on her face. She said: "Daddy,
got Benny Hinn's phone number? "
00:42:14.00\00:42:16.19
We... we like the
spectacular gifts.
00:42:29.99\00:42:34.48
We like those.
00:42:34.88\00:42:36.54
Yet in I
Corinthians we read this:
00:42:36.84\00:42:39.19
"God hath set some in the
church. First, apostles. "
00:42:39.39\00:42:43.55
That'd be missionaries.
00:42:43.76\00:42:45.28
"Secondarily, prophets. "
00:42:45.58\00:42:47.44
You've read Joel.
00:42:47.74\00:42:50.03
"Prophets. Thirdly, teachers. "
00:42:50.24\00:42:53.36
Which says to me...
00:42:53.67\00:42:55.02
Well, I'll tell you what
it says to me in a moment.
00:42:55.23\00:42:56.66
"After that
miracles. " Miracles!
00:42:56.86\00:42:59.55
Is God still in the
miracle- working business?
00:42:59.75\00:43:01.26
Yes He is! "Then
gifts of healings. "
00:43:01.46\00:43:04.53
Does God still
heal people? Amen!
00:43:04.73\00:43:06.56
Does He do it
miraculously? Amen!
00:43:06.76\00:43:08.52
I've been involved in anointings
where hopeless cases have
00:43:08.62\00:43:11.00
been... have been
given their lives back.
00:43:11.20\00:43:13.18
I've been involved in
anointings, too, where
00:43:13.38\00:43:15.08
the undertaker was called
just a couple of days later.
00:43:15.28\00:43:17.65
We don't get to choose but
God still works spectacularly.
00:43:17.86\00:43:21.03
"Then gifts of
healings, helps, governments,
00:43:21.33\00:43:24.13
diversities of tongues. "
00:43:24.33\00:43:27.27
You notice something...
that right on the same level
00:43:27.57\00:43:31.70
as miracles is the gift of helps
00:43:31.90\00:43:34.93
and the gift of teaching.
00:43:35.13\00:43:38.61
Teaching: that's a wonderful
spiritual gift, you know.
00:43:38.91\00:43:41.60
God gives a
variety of spiritual gifts
00:43:41.80\00:43:45.95
and He wants to pour them
out. We shouldn't be surprised
00:43:46.15\00:43:50.56
that God is doing great things
through human instrumentalities
00:43:50.76\00:43:54.81
because God is in the
business of winding up His work.
00:43:55.02\00:43:58.54
Do you believe
Jesus is coming back soon?
00:43:58.74\00:44:00.93
Amen! He is coming back
sooner than we think I think.
00:44:01.13\00:44:04.08
Amen! And so if
He's coming back soon,
00:44:04.28\00:44:07.96
then you know God is
going to do great things.
00:44:08.16\00:44:10.93
You know, there are 800 language
groups in Papua, New Guinea,
00:44:11.03\00:44:15.82
where they
don't know the gospel?
00:44:16.02\00:44:18.32
What do you think? Are we
going to wait for everybody
00:44:19.63\00:44:21.61
to translate the Bible
into those 800 languages?
00:44:21.71\00:44:24.05
This is just my belief:
00:44:24.25\00:44:26.67
God's going to wrap
that thing up quickly.
00:44:26.88\00:44:29.27
Amen! There are spiritual
gifts to take care of that!
00:44:29.47\00:44:32.72
Amen! No question about it.
00:44:32.92\00:44:34.73
The gifts are given for
the purpose of building up
00:44:34.93\00:44:39.98
the kingdom of God.
Paul wrote to the Ephesians
00:44:40.18\00:44:43.84
that spiritual gifts
were given... here's why...
00:44:44.04\00:44:47.61
for the perfecting of the
saints for the work of the...
00:44:47.81\00:44:53.20
ministry. That's
what they're given for.
00:44:53.40\00:44:57.32
It is material that
Jesus is coming soon.
00:44:57.72\00:45:01.15
We know God's going to
pour out His Holy Spirit.
00:45:01.35\00:45:05.29
There's something
though. There was a story
00:45:05.49\00:45:07.83
about ten young women.
00:45:08.03\00:45:10.04
And God would
have liked for them all
00:45:10.34\00:45:13.54
to have had their lamps filled.
00:45:13.74\00:45:15.63
But all of them
slumbered and slept.
00:45:15.83\00:45:21.37
You know, I can't
even point my finger at you
00:45:21.67\00:45:23.87
even if I were
self-righteous enough to do so
00:45:24.07\00:45:26.08
because the story says
they all slumbered and slept.
00:45:26.28\00:45:29.03
And that would include me, too.
00:45:29.13\00:45:30.57
Well there's a thought.
00:45:31.87\00:45:34.02
The gifts are given for
the perfecting of the saints
00:45:34.42\00:45:37.22
for the work of the
ministry. Helping us grow
00:45:37.32\00:45:39.30
unto the measure of the stature
of the fullness of Christ.
00:45:39.40\00:45:42.55
All right then, how do
we get these spiritual gifts
00:45:42.75\00:45:44.60
do you think? Well Jesus
said: "If you then being evil
00:45:44.71\00:45:47.80
know how to give good
gifts to your children
00:45:48.00\00:45:49.38
how much more will your heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit
00:45:49.58\00:45:53.59
to them who ask. "
00:45:53.69\00:45:55.72
Ask and you shall receive.
00:45:55.92\00:45:57.72
I cannot imagine any person
00:45:57.92\00:46:01.44
letting one day go by
without praying for God to
00:46:01.64\00:46:05.08
pour the Holy Spirit
into her or his life.
00:46:05.29\00:46:07.04
I'll just tell you
straight: if you are not praying
00:46:07.24\00:46:10.39
daily for the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit in your life,
00:46:10.59\00:46:12.71
then I've just given
you... God has just given you
00:46:12.92\00:46:15.12
something extra to pray for.
And it's probably more important
00:46:15.32\00:46:18.45
than anything
else you can pray for.
00:46:18.56\00:46:19.90
We've got to be pleading
with God for His Holy Spirit.
00:46:20.20\00:46:23.14
How do we receive
the Holy Spirit. Point B:
00:46:23.34\00:46:25.51
the Holy Spirit will be
given to those who faithfully
00:46:25.71\00:46:28.96
seek after Christ. We
read before where Jesus said:
00:46:29.16\00:46:32.44
"I will pray the Father and He
will give you the Comforter. "
00:46:32.64\00:46:34.83
But right
before that Jesus said:
00:46:35.13\00:46:38.48
"If you love me... "
"and I will pray the Father. "
00:46:38.68\00:46:43.68
So we cannot think for a moment
that spiritual gifts will be
00:46:44.18\00:46:47.94
manifest in the lives of those
who are ignoring the leading
00:46:48.14\00:46:51.26
of the Holy Spirit;
who are ignoring obedience.
00:46:51.36\00:46:53.86
We are told in
Acts 5 and verse 32
00:46:54.26\00:46:56.76
"The Holy Spirit is
given to those who obey God. "
00:46:56.96\00:47:00.68
We should keep
something in mind.
00:47:00.88\00:47:03.04
There are gifts of the
Spirit and then there is the...
00:47:03.24\00:47:06.37
the fruit of the Spirit.
00:47:07.35\00:47:09.62
Or the fruits. You can't
take one and not the other.
00:47:09.82\00:47:13.33
It's the fruit of the Spirit:
love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
00:47:13.53\00:47:16.90
gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance.
00:47:17.10\00:47:19.16
These grow in the life
of a believer like fruit
00:47:19.36\00:47:22.56
does on a tree. Before
God is going to give a person
00:47:22.66\00:47:26.09
the gifts of the
Spirit God wants that person
00:47:26.29\00:47:28.55
to have the fruit of the Spirit.
00:47:28.75\00:47:30.96
The fruit of the
Spirit... that's God in you.
00:47:31.16\00:47:34.20
The gifts of the Spirit...
that's God through you.
00:47:34.40\00:47:38.35
This is where I take
exception to the statement
00:47:38.55\00:47:40.66
as I read it to you before.
00:47:40.86\00:47:41.97
The statement said:
"God bestows upon all members
00:47:42.17\00:47:46.46
of His church in
every age spiritual gifts. "
00:47:46.49\00:47:48.42
That's not true. There
are some church members
00:47:48.62\00:47:50.94
who have never been
within a bull's roar
00:47:51.04\00:47:53.39
of gifts of the Holy Spirit.
00:47:53.59\00:47:54.83
And that's because
they've never been converted.
00:47:56.14\00:47:58.76
Because they've never yielded.
00:47:59.06\00:48:01.79
God will fill you up but He...
00:48:02.09\00:48:05.33
Have you ever tried to
fill up a cup with water?
00:48:05.43\00:48:07.22
You've done that, right? Maybe
from one cup to another cup?
00:48:07.32\00:48:09.72
But did you ever try to fill
up a full cup with another cup
00:48:09.93\00:48:12.78
of water? Doesn't work, right?
00:48:12.88\00:48:15.32
God can't fill you
up with the Holy Spirit
00:48:15.52\00:48:17.49
if you're filled up with self.
00:48:17.69\00:48:19.65
That's just the truth.
00:48:19.96\00:48:21.59
How in the world is the Holy
Spirit going to work through me
00:48:21.79\00:48:25.06
if I'm filled up with
some other kind of spirit?
00:48:25.26\00:48:27.56
God would have
us emptied of self.
00:48:27.95\00:48:31.69
Simon Magus. Simon
Magus. The brother was baptized.
00:48:31.89\00:48:35.95
He was a member of the church
00:48:36.15\00:48:37.59
but when the Holy Spirit
fell it didn't fall on him.
00:48:37.79\00:48:41.24
And that's because he
was not given to Christ.
00:48:41.44\00:48:46.00
You know, with spiritual
gifts... you ought to be
00:48:46.20\00:48:48.81
asking God: "Where
is it? What is it? "
00:48:48.91\00:48:52.24
And you don't need to
take a spiritual gifts test
00:48:52.44\00:48:55.79
to figure out what
your spiritual gift is.
00:48:55.99\00:48:57.73
You just need to wake
up in the morning and say:
00:48:57.93\00:48:59.37
"Lord, what do You want
me to do for You today? "
00:48:59.57\00:49:01.65
If you want to take the
test... OK, sorry, pastor.
00:49:01.85\00:49:03.89
You've told your church
that you're going to do a test
00:49:03.99\00:49:05.56
this week and now I blew it.
00:49:05.66\00:49:07.79
I've blown it for you;
I didn't mean to do that.
00:49:07.99\00:49:09.33
But you can just say to
God: "What do You want me to do
00:49:10.49\00:49:14.60
today? " The Lord will tell
you, will He not? Sure He does.
00:49:14.80\00:49:18.64
And you might even not
know He told you until you get
00:49:18.84\00:49:21.14
to the end of the day
and look back and say:
00:49:21.24\00:49:22.59
"So that's how God's Spirit
wrought through me today. "
00:49:22.70\00:49:27.95
Uh, if you want to receive
the Holy Spirit and see gifts
00:49:28.25\00:49:33.06
flourish in your life,
do something that requires
00:49:33.26\00:49:37.30
the Holy Spirit
flourishing in your life.
00:49:37.50\00:49:39.54
If you're in a Bible study,
you'll see God's Spirit working.
00:49:40.57\00:49:43.69
If you want to see the
gift of teaching in your life,
00:49:43.89\00:49:46.62
then teach. I remember doing
some literature evangelism.
00:49:46.82\00:49:50.87
If you want to ask someone
for a testimony about the
00:49:50.98\00:49:53.80
Spirit of God at work
and spiritual gifts at work,
00:49:53.90\00:49:56.47
ask a literature evangelist.
00:49:56.67\00:49:58.17
They are on the front lines.
00:49:58.47\00:50:00.38
It's them and the Holy Spirit
00:50:00.49\00:50:02.61
against all of
the powers of hell.
00:50:02.71\00:50:04.43
And I was working one
day and I had a good day.
00:50:04.63\00:50:06.66
And I was on my way home
and a voice said "go back"
00:50:06.86\00:50:10.41
because I drove past two houses.
00:50:10.61\00:50:12.05
And when I say a
voice... it wasn't a voice but
00:50:12.26\00:50:15.04
it was a strong impression.
I'm calling it a voice.
00:50:15.25\00:50:17.40
I do not... no, I'm
not going to do that.
00:50:17.60\00:50:19.67
And I got up to
the T. Had to go left.
00:50:19.87\00:50:23.45
I remember it like it
was yesterday and it wasn't.
00:50:23.65\00:50:25.48
Like this... And the voice
said: "You've got to go back
00:50:25.88\00:50:28.67
'cause not the young
family but the elderly couple...
00:50:28.87\00:50:31.69
they're going to buy your...
" "No, no, I don't even need it.
00:50:31.89\00:50:33.92
And that doesn't
happen in my life. "
00:50:34.12\00:50:35.84
I'm driving down the
street and it was like...
00:50:36.04\00:50:38.63
it was like God
wasn't letting me go.
00:50:38.73\00:50:40.02
And so I said: "OK, OK, OK. "
00:50:40.22\00:50:41.34
I said out loud: "I
think I could be crazy
00:50:41.64\00:50:44.19
but I'm not going to take
the chance. " I went back,
00:50:44.39\00:50:46.94
walked, up... they
bought one of everything I had.
00:50:47.14\00:50:49.12
Because you're out there, you
need the Holy Spirit to work...
00:50:50.23\00:50:52.90
the Holy Spirit will work.
00:50:53.10\00:50:54.30
Amen!
00:50:54.60\00:50:55.65
A voice will speak to you;
00:50:56.38\00:50:57.92
impression will
be made in your life.
00:50:58.12\00:51:00.21
If you will
accept that nomination,
00:51:00.31\00:51:01.92
if you will take that
chance, accept that assignment,
00:51:02.13\00:51:04.78
preach that
sermon, give that study,
00:51:04.98\00:51:06.96
take that loaf of
bread to a neighbor,
00:51:07.16\00:51:08.94
offer to take your
neighbor's kids to the
00:51:09.15\00:51:11.31
Vacation Bible School,
you will see God at work.
00:51:11.41\00:51:16.53
And you'll discover:
"I've got a knack for that. "
00:51:16.73\00:51:18.97
I can talk to my neighbors.
00:51:20.04\00:51:21.21
I know how to bring
a conversation around
00:51:21.41\00:51:23.40
and then... and then deliver
them a spiritual question
00:51:23.50\00:51:26.24
and whip out a book and
say: "You'll like this. "
00:51:26.34\00:51:29.41
I know how to open up the Bible.
00:51:29.74\00:51:31.66
Who knew? And I can
break down a passage and say:
00:51:31.86\00:51:34.17
"this is what God is saying.
" Is that the spiritual gift
00:51:34.37\00:51:36.65
of teaching? You had
better believe it is!
00:51:36.75\00:51:38.96
You know, the only way we're
going to be growing in grace
00:51:39.06\00:51:41.87
is by disinterestedly
doing the service of God.
00:51:42.07\00:51:45.56
Amen. Strength
comes by exercise.
00:51:45.76\00:51:50.41
If we are walking with
Christ and working with Christ,
00:51:50.61\00:51:54.81
we will see the Spirit
of God at work in our lives
00:51:55.01\00:51:58.62
and spiritual
gifts will be manifest.
00:51:58.72\00:52:01.25
You don't have to sweat it.
00:52:01.45\00:52:03.58
When God calls
you to teach or preach
00:52:03.78\00:52:07.06
or pray for a sick person
00:52:07.26\00:52:10.01
or... organize or assist,
00:52:10.21\00:52:15.01
you don't have to ask:
"Is this my spiritual gift? "
00:52:15.21\00:52:17.65
You've just got to check
with God. "Are You wanting me
00:52:17.85\00:52:19.63
to do this? " And then dive in!
00:52:19.73\00:52:22.15
God wants to use
you for something.
00:52:22.55\00:52:24.67
If He's using you for nothing
00:52:24.77\00:52:25.94
then anything would
be better than nothing.
00:52:26.04\00:52:28.02
Amen.
00:52:28.22\00:52:30.73
And God wants to
get the job done.
00:52:31.14\00:52:33.42
He simply does.
00:52:33.62\00:52:35.63
And so He would look to you
to put up your hand and say:
00:52:35.83\00:52:38.17
"Here am I, send me. "
00:52:38.47\00:52:40.68
The spiritual
gifts are available.
00:52:40.88\00:52:42.85
You might not be given the gift
of speaking in foreign languages
00:52:43.05\00:52:47.52
for the purpose of
preaching the gospel.
00:52:47.72\00:52:49.75
The gift of tongues...
you might not get that.
00:52:49.95\00:52:51.72
But you might!
00:52:51.92\00:52:53.39
You might get the
gift of working miracles
00:52:53.59\00:52:56.33
but you might not. It
hardly matters. Does it matter?
00:52:56.53\00:52:58.78
It doesn't matter!
00:52:58.99\00:53:00.08
You might have the gift of
teaching and you might not.
00:53:00.39\00:53:03.18
And by the way, don't, don't,
don't come with this to me.
00:53:03.28\00:53:06.15
Don't give me this:
"Sister, will you teach
00:53:06.35\00:53:08.92
the Sabbath School
lesson this week? "
00:53:09.02\00:53:10.38
"That's not my gift. "
00:53:11.52\00:53:12.90
"Brother, we need you to
teach the Early teens class
00:53:17.57\00:53:20.81
this year. " "Well
that's not my gift. "
00:53:20.91\00:53:24.00
Huh. Don't try that.
00:53:27.41\00:53:30.60
I mean, if God tells you
no then you just tell them:
00:53:30.90\00:53:33.88
"The Lord does not
want me to do that. "
00:53:34.08\00:53:35.53
But if God's... You
know, when you try that...
00:53:35.83\00:53:39.04
"Well that's not my gift. "
If you listen, you'll hear God's
00:53:39.24\00:53:41.99
voice saying: "Oh, come on. "
That's what God will be saying.
00:53:42.19\00:53:45.18
Who are you trying to kid, huh?
00:53:46.22\00:53:48.78
Nineteen people in your
church and you're waiting for
00:53:49.18\00:53:52.32
someone with the gift of
teaching to do the teaching?
00:53:52.52\00:53:54.40
Do the teaching!
00:53:54.70\00:53:56.22
God wants to work;
the gifts are available.
00:53:56.63\00:53:59.47
They are there. God is at work.
00:53:59.67\00:54:02.41
And the best thing we
can do is - pardon me -
00:54:04.08\00:54:08.63
spiritual gifts or not,
get into the field of service
00:54:08.83\00:54:13.11
and labor for the Master. Amen!
00:54:13.31\00:54:16.23
The gifts will come;
the talents will come.
00:54:16.43\00:54:20.75
The blessings of God will come.
00:54:20.95\00:54:23.79
There was somebody in
that parable of the talents
00:54:23.89\00:54:25.82
who took his and
hid it in the ground.
00:54:25.92\00:54:28.02
This great gift of
the Holy Spirit of God...
00:54:29.22\00:54:31.71
You read through the
book of Acts - Acts chapter 1-
00:54:31.91\00:54:34.45
Jesus had told them: "Wait
and I will give the gift. "
00:54:34.65\00:54:37.38
Acts 2- the Spirit falls down.
00:54:37.58\00:54:40.46
They are given
the gift of tongues
00:54:40.66\00:54:42.28
and the gift of evangelism.
Unlearned fisher folk they were.
00:54:42.48\00:54:46.07
Acts 3- Peter and John
given the gift of healing.
00:54:46.27\00:54:49.67
Acts 4 verse 8 says Peter
is filled with the Holy Ghost.
00:54:49.87\00:54:53.58
Acts 5- they are given
the gift of discernment
00:54:53.78\00:54:56.92
as Ananias and
Sapphira found out.
00:54:57.02\00:54:59.12
In Acts 6 the deacons have
the capacity to work miracles.
00:54:59.32\00:55:04.92
"That's not my
gift. " Hang on, man.
00:55:05.22\00:55:07.93
Back then the deacons... what
do we call them in our church?
00:55:08.13\00:55:12.15
The offering takers.
00:55:12.35\00:55:14.67
No disrespect, but am
I right or am I right?
00:55:16.00\00:55:19.54
No disrespect. If
you're a deacon, you ought to
00:55:20.52\00:55:22.79
front up to God in
prayer one day and say:
00:55:22.89\00:55:24.36
"I read about these
guys in the book of Acts.
00:55:24.56\00:55:26.09
It's time for some
miracles to start working. "
00:55:26.29\00:55:28.08
Amen!
00:55:28.29\00:55:30.07
Limiting God? No
point limiting God.
00:55:30.27\00:55:32.64
Deacons working miracles.
00:55:32.84\00:55:34.25
In Acts 7 the
deacon had a vision.
00:55:34.35\00:55:36.32
In Acts 8 Philip has the
gift of teaching and evangelism.
00:55:36.52\00:55:39.34
He is conveyed
by the Holy Spirit.
00:55:39.44\00:55:41.48
In Acts 9 Saul receives
the gift of the Holy Ghost.
00:55:41.68\00:55:44.31
In Acts 10 Peter has a
vision and he manifests
00:55:44.51\00:55:47.46
the gift of
teaching. This church began -
00:55:47.56\00:55:50.26
and I'm saying "this church" in
terms of the Christian church -
00:55:50.36\00:55:52.62
this church began through an
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
00:55:52.82\00:55:56.35
Of any Christians, we ought
to be able to look back at our
00:55:56.55\00:55:59.23
history and say:
"God has blessed us
00:55:59.43\00:56:02.59
by pouring out spiritual
gifts. That's why we're here. "
00:56:02.79\00:56:06.82
And the work is going to be
finished because people will
00:56:07.02\00:56:09.52
put up their hands and say:
"God, do Your work through me
00:56:09.62\00:56:14.24
by the power of
the Holy Spirit. "
00:56:14.44\00:56:15.83
Amen! A gift greater than that
we know it reminds me of this
00:56:16.13\00:56:18.56
fellow, an immigrant
100+ years ago in the Bowery
00:56:18.96\00:56:24.20
in New York City. He
had a pawn broker shop.
00:56:24.39\00:56:27.16
A lady came in. She
said: "I need two dollars. "
00:56:27.36\00:56:29.24
He said: "Well what are
you going to leave me as
00:56:29.54\00:56:31.25
collateral? " She said: "I've
got nothing but my fur coat. "
00:56:31.35\00:56:33.76
He said: "Oh, man, I don't
know anything about fur coats.
00:56:33.96\00:56:36.58
I need to get my $2 back if
she defaults on this loan. "
00:56:36.78\00:56:39.16
He took a risk:
"I'll take the coat. "
00:56:39.36\00:56:40.81
Then he threw in a handful
of moth balls and put it up
00:56:40.91\00:56:44.23
on a shelf. And she
never did come back.
00:56:44.33\00:56:46.49
She never did come back.
00:56:46.69\00:56:48.14
He said: "Oh, I've got
to get my $2 somehow. "
00:56:48.34\00:56:51.16
Took this thing to the auction
and when the bidding got up
00:56:51.40\00:56:54.03
to $1800 he
said: "Wait a minute. "
00:56:54.13\00:56:55.89
It was a Russian sable. It was
worth $5000 in the year 1907.
00:56:56.09\00:57:02.05
He didn't know the
value of what he had.
00:57:03.28\00:57:05.40
I wonder if God would
say the same to us today?
00:57:05.90\00:57:08.20
"You don't know the
value of what you've got. "
00:57:08.41\00:57:09.65
Amen. God wants to do so
much in our lives, in us.
00:57:09.85\00:57:12.69
He wants our ministry to
expand and grow... just explode.
00:57:12.89\00:57:16.86
And God is able to do
this because He has blessed us.
00:57:17.67\00:57:20.21
God is able to do
this because He says to us:
00:57:20.62\00:57:22.75
"I will do the doing.
00:57:22.95\00:57:24.49
I will work in your life.
00:57:24.69\00:57:26.49
I will give you all the
spiritual gifts you need
00:57:26.69\00:57:29.10
to get the job done. "
00:57:29.31\00:57:31.06