We come now to the
last hour for this evening.
00:00:48.01\00:00:51.91
And... you know, the Bible
talks about saving the good wine
00:00:52.51\00:00:58.49
for last. Amen! The
vintage wine for last.
00:00:58.69\00:01:01.59
And we have a power-packed
speaker, and we are so happy
00:01:01.79\00:01:05.06
that you have chosen to
stay by here in our audience
00:01:05.26\00:01:08.66
in Thompsonville
and our world audience.
00:01:08.66\00:01:11.80
Now before I introduce
the speaker, I need to ask
00:01:12.00\00:01:14.04
a very special
personal favor from you.
00:01:14.24\00:01:16.57
I have invited my
neighbors to come and be with us
00:01:16.77\00:01:19.87
on tomorrow evening:
my neighbors to the right
00:01:20.08\00:01:22.81
and my neighbors to the left
00:01:22.81\00:01:24.11
and they have
consented to do so.
00:01:24.31\00:01:26.31
But I want you to pray.
The neighbors on the right
00:01:26.61\00:01:29.75
are the Rogers and
the neighbors on the left
00:01:29.95\00:01:32.12
are the Newells. The
Rogers, the wife of my neighbor,
00:01:32.32\00:01:37.83
her father is the pastor of the
local church around the corner
00:01:38.03\00:01:41.10
and he has
consented to come also.
00:01:41.30\00:01:43.67
Amen. And so I don't
want the devil to get in.
00:01:43.87\00:01:45.93
I want them to come and feel
the Spirit of God in this place.
00:01:46.13\00:01:48.90
So would you pray with me
for the Rogers and the Newells
00:01:49.10\00:01:51.41
that nothing will hinder them
from coming on tomorrow evening?
00:01:51.61\00:01:54.34
That is very,
very special to me.
00:01:54.54\00:01:56.78
I do not know when I
first met C.D. Brooks.
00:01:58.18\00:02:02.18
It seems as though I
have always known him.
00:02:02.48\00:02:05.49
I guess there was a
time when I did not...
00:02:05.49\00:02:07.32
but I don't know
when that time was.
00:02:07.52\00:02:09.39
When I was in college
he was preaching even then
00:02:09.59\00:02:13.70
powerfully for
the Breath of Life.
00:02:13.70\00:02:15.53
There was a sermon
that he preached called
00:02:15.73\00:02:17.77
Rendezvous at Beth Peor.
00:02:17.97\00:02:20.17
And all of the senior
theology majors were preaching
00:02:20.37\00:02:23.30
Rendezvous at Beth Peor.
00:02:23.51\00:02:25.41
We preached it in the
mirrors in our bathrooms.
00:02:25.41\00:02:27.48
We watched his gestures and we
tried to emulate his gestures.
00:02:27.48\00:02:30.65
Everybody wanted
to be C.D. Brooks.
00:02:30.85\00:02:32.75
And you were really good
if you had a C in your name.
00:02:32.95\00:02:35.85
And I strutted
around Oakwood College
00:02:39.65\00:02:41.89
'cause I was C.A. Murray.
00:02:42.09\00:02:43.59
And people who
didn't have C's invented C's
00:02:43.79\00:02:46.46
because everybody
wanted to have a C.
00:02:47.23\00:02:49.76
There was C.E.
Bradford and C.D. Brooks
00:02:49.76\00:02:52.67
and C.B. Rock and...
and just C's everywhere.
00:02:52.67\00:02:57.01
So if you had a C in your name
you were destined for greatness.
00:02:57.21\00:03:01.08
But Elder Brooks and
Elder Walter Arties began
00:03:03.08\00:03:06.98
a ministry so many years ago.
00:03:06.98\00:03:08.88
Amen. There are
at least 13 churches
00:03:09.08\00:03:12.25
in and across the world
00:03:12.45\00:03:15.02
that carry the name
Breath of Life that were,
00:03:15.22\00:03:18.19
as we used to say,
"preached out" by C.D. Brooks.
00:03:18.19\00:03:22.03
God used him so many
years in so many ways
00:03:22.23\00:03:27.37
at the Breath of Life.
00:03:27.57\00:03:29.54
The thing that touches
me about this man of God
00:03:29.94\00:03:32.94
is his humility.
00:03:33.14\00:03:34.98
When you meet him you know
he's a genuine child of God -
00:03:35.18\00:03:39.85
Amen - who has
been used greatly by God
00:03:40.05\00:03:43.05
but who retains a
humility that is refreshing,
00:03:43.25\00:03:48.36
humbling, and enduring...
00:03:48.66\00:03:51.99
and endearing.
00:03:52.29\00:03:54.73
He travels with his
wife. I know Walterine is here.
00:03:55.00\00:03:57.83
I don't see her but I
know she's in the audience.
00:03:58.03\00:04:00.10
She's never far from his side.
00:04:00.10\00:04:01.77
And we are both pleased and
blessed to have this man of God
00:04:01.97\00:04:05.21
to come to be with
us. This, I think, is his
00:04:05.41\00:04:08.54
third year, and as
long as he wants to come
00:04:08.74\00:04:11.28
Jim has said
there's a place for him
00:04:11.48\00:04:13.01
because there's always
a place for a man of God
00:04:13.21\00:04:15.52
who preaches the
plain, simple Word of God
00:04:15.72\00:04:18.59
and has been used by
God for so many, many years.
00:04:18.79\00:04:23.89
He is speaking on the
topic Growing in Jesus.
00:04:24.09\00:04:27.60
Growing in Christ.
00:04:27.83\00:04:29.00
A very timely topic. And I
am sure that God will use him
00:04:29.20\00:04:32.77
in a very special
way to touch our hearts
00:04:32.97\00:04:35.37
as we give ear to the man of God
00:04:35.37\00:04:38.17
who will be
preaching the Word of God.
00:04:38.37\00:04:40.74
Before he comes, there
is a favorite song of mine
00:04:40.94\00:04:44.18
that bespeaks a walk with Jesus.
00:04:44.38\00:04:47.78
We love Christ because
He does so very much for us.
00:04:47.98\00:04:52.85
It's no wonder that we love Him.
00:04:53.25\00:04:55.56
When we think of all the
things Jesus has done for us
00:04:55.76\00:04:58.63
could we help
but love our Savior?
00:04:58.83\00:05:01.86
When I think how Jesus loved me,
00:05:18.35\00:05:23.62
how He waited patiently,
00:05:23.92\00:05:28.29
even when I turned
my back and walked away.
00:05:28.49\00:05:34.36
When He knew I wanted everything
00:05:34.76\00:05:39.23
this world could offer me
00:05:39.43\00:05:43.24
then I guess He knew
the price I'd have to pay.
00:05:43.44\00:05:49.38
So He watched me
stumble downward,
00:05:49.58\00:05:54.02
saw each compromise I made,
00:05:54.22\00:05:57.82
heard each lie I
whispered just to get my way.
00:05:58.12\00:06:04.09
Still He waited there to hear me
00:06:04.39\00:06:09.26
when I cried to Him and prayed.
00:06:09.56\00:06:14.30
Then He saved my
soul, and that is why I say:
00:06:14.50\00:06:20.34
Tell me, is it any wonder
00:06:20.54\00:06:26.25
that I love Him
00:06:26.65\00:06:31.12
when you consider all He's done
00:06:31.62\00:06:35.19
for me?
00:06:35.42\00:06:39.09
And is it any wonder
00:06:39.49\00:06:43.23
that I long to do His will
00:06:43.43\00:06:47.34
and let His light
shine out for all to see?
00:06:47.54\00:06:53.44
And is it any wonder
00:06:53.64\00:06:59.28
that I praise Him
00:06:59.58\00:07:03.25
each time I think of how
00:07:03.55\00:07:06.45
He's made me free?
00:07:06.65\00:07:10.69
And is it any wonder
00:07:10.99\00:07:15.26
that I've given Him my heart
00:07:15.56\00:07:19.27
when Jesus freely gave His life
00:07:19.47\00:07:23.54
for me?
00:07:23.74\00:07:28.18
When I think how Jesus loves me,
00:07:38.29\00:07:42.59
how He watches patiently,
00:07:42.89\00:07:47.60
how His arms are
stretched to meet me when I run.
00:07:47.96\00:07:53.90
When I'm feeling down and lonely
00:07:54.20\00:07:58.97
how He's there to comfort me.
00:07:59.17\00:08:03.08
In the darkness He
becomes my morning sun.
00:08:03.28\00:08:09.18
When I think of
how He's healed me,
00:08:09.68\00:08:13.79
how He's touched me in my pain,
00:08:13.99\00:08:17.93
how His gentle hands
have wiped my tears away.
00:08:18.23\00:08:23.63
How He's taken every heartache
00:08:24.70\00:08:28.64
and brought happiness again,
00:08:28.84\00:08:32.61
Oh, I want the world
to hear me when I say:
00:08:32.91\00:08:38.91
Tell me is it any wonder
00:08:39.31\00:08:44.82
that I love Him
00:08:45.12\00:08:49.32
each time I think of
how He's made me free?
00:08:49.92\00:08:55.83
And is it any wonder
00:08:56.13\00:09:00.50
that I long to do His will
00:09:00.80\00:09:04.51
and let His light
shine out for all to see?
00:09:04.91\00:09:10.91
And is it any wonder
00:09:11.21\00:09:15.98
that I praise Him
00:09:16.28\00:09:20.62
each time I think of how
00:09:20.92\00:09:24.39
He's made me free?
00:09:24.59\00:09:27.96
And is it any wonder
00:09:28.16\00:09:32.40
that I've given Him my heart
00:09:32.70\00:09:36.14
when Jesus
00:09:36.40\00:09:38.87
really gave His life
00:09:39.07\00:09:44.11
for me?
00:09:44.31\00:09:50.29
I feel greatly blessed - Amen -
00:10:08.47\00:10:11.37
to come back again
to this miracle place
00:10:11.67\00:10:15.48
where everybody
is so nice to me.
00:10:15.81\00:10:19.11
My wife and I
are glad to be here
00:10:21.18\00:10:23.59
and we appreciate the invitation
00:10:23.99\00:10:27.59
to join in this
year's Spring Camp Meeting.
00:10:27.59\00:10:32.53
May God bless you.
00:10:32.99\00:10:35.10
Would you pray with me now?
00:10:35.40\00:10:37.50
Heavenly Father,
00:10:37.80\00:10:39.77
we ask for help because
we are always desperate.
00:10:40.17\00:10:43.97
We always need Thee.
00:10:44.37\00:10:47.41
Be our God and use this
final segment to Thy glory.
00:10:48.84\00:10:52.88
We humbly pray in
Jesus' name, Amen.
00:10:53.18\00:10:57.99
I want to be
loyal to my assignment
00:10:59.65\00:11:03.96
and I think I can
00:11:04.36\00:11:07.10
while at the same time
switching topics a little bit...
00:11:07.40\00:11:10.63
or titles.
00:11:10.83\00:11:12.50
I want to speak on the
title, under the title,
00:11:14.30\00:11:18.94
God and Angels Amazed.
00:11:19.24\00:11:22.34
But first welcome to section D.
00:11:23.95\00:11:28.28
I don't know where
I got this or when...
00:11:28.58\00:11:31.09
but it came to my
mind. Section D: depression,
00:11:32.25\00:11:35.72
decline, depravity,
00:11:37.09\00:11:41.36
doom, denial,
00:11:41.66\00:11:45.60
decay, debacle,
00:11:45.90\00:11:50.04
dementia, debt,
00:11:50.34\00:11:54.78
deconstruction, dissipation,
00:11:55.08\00:11:58.21
distrust, drugs,
00:11:58.51\00:12:02.85
dilly-dallying,
00:12:03.25\00:12:05.19
despair, devolution,
00:12:05.59\00:12:10.39
danger, dysfunction,
00:12:10.69\00:12:15.23
degradation, divisiveness,
00:12:15.53\00:12:21.54
depravation, deficiency,
00:12:23.07\00:12:27.14
dilemma, damnation,
00:12:27.44\00:12:31.75
death and darkness.
00:12:32.05\00:12:36.69
Welcome to section D.
00:12:38.12\00:12:40.92
Since I met with you last,
00:12:42.79\00:12:45.36
the world remains
an unfriendly place.
00:12:45.56\00:12:48.96
If we're not
getting tired of it now
00:12:49.36\00:12:52.70
and longing for another place,
there's something wrong with us.
00:12:52.90\00:12:58.84
I was reading again from
the Psalms... excuse me, from
00:13:01.58\00:13:05.65
Isaiah chapter
59 and these words
00:13:05.85\00:13:10.75
beginning with verse 10:
00:13:10.95\00:13:13.15
"We grope for the
wall like the blind.
00:13:13.46\00:13:17.76
We grope as if we had no eyes.
00:13:18.26\00:13:22.46
We stumble at
noonday as in the night.
00:13:24.50\00:13:27.27
We are in desolate
places as dead men.
00:13:27.57\00:13:31.01
We roar like bears
00:13:31.31\00:13:35.11
and mourn sore like doves.
00:13:35.31\00:13:38.15
We look for
judgment but there is none;
00:13:38.45\00:13:42.55
for salvation, but
it is far off from us.
00:13:42.55\00:13:45.79
For our transgressions
are multiplied before Thee
00:13:47.16\00:13:50.39
and our sins testify against us.
00:13:50.59\00:13:53.23
For our
transgressions are with us,
00:13:53.63\00:13:56.73
and as for our
iniquities, we know them!
00:13:56.97\00:14:00.34
In transgressing and
lying against the Lord
00:14:00.77\00:14:04.27
and departing away from our God
00:14:04.47\00:14:07.21
speaking oppression and
revolt, conceiving and uttering
00:14:07.41\00:14:11.45
from the heart
words of falsehood.
00:14:11.65\00:14:14.15
And judgment is turned
away backward, and justice
00:14:14.35\00:14:18.72
standeth afar off.
00:14:18.92\00:14:21.59
For truth is
fallen in the streets
00:14:21.89\00:14:24.13
and equity cannot enter.
00:14:24.33\00:14:27.03
Yea, truth faileth.
00:14:27.23\00:14:30.07
And he that departeth from
evil maketh himself afraid.
00:14:30.27\00:14:34.37
And the Lord saw it,
and it displeased Him
00:14:34.57\00:14:38.31
and there was no judgment.
00:14:38.51\00:14:41.21
And He saw that there was no man
00:14:42.28\00:14:47.68
and wondered
00:14:49.25\00:14:51.85
that there was no intercessor. "
00:14:52.15\00:14:55.56
We have read
these solemn accusations
00:14:58.49\00:15:02.00
even against the people of God.
00:15:02.20\00:15:04.93
And when we come to verse 16
00:15:05.23\00:15:08.80
the Bible says: "He
saw that there was no man
00:15:09.10\00:15:14.31
and wondered that
there was no intercessor. "
00:15:14.51\00:15:19.38
God and angels amazed.
00:15:22.25\00:15:26.09
Ellen White says angels wonder
00:15:27.02\00:15:31.39
that there's so little prayer
00:15:31.39\00:15:33.83
coming from those
in such desperate need.
00:15:34.10\00:15:37.87
Angels are
amazed; God is amazed.
00:15:39.03\00:15:44.57
The infinite heart of God throbs
00:15:44.77\00:15:48.18
for men in their desperation.
00:15:48.58\00:15:51.91
God wants to hear from us.
00:15:52.21\00:15:54.48
And there will be no growth and
no development in Christ Jesus
00:15:54.48\00:15:58.29
until we learn how to
pray extraordinary prayers.
00:15:58.49\00:16:03.56
And that's what I
wanted to talk about.
00:16:03.96\00:16:07.30
God wants to hear from us.
00:16:07.60\00:16:12.43
The Lord's servant says
there will be no revival
00:16:12.73\00:16:18.34
without prayer.
00:16:18.54\00:16:21.88
He who kneels before God
can stand before any man.
00:16:22.18\00:16:27.15
As a matter of
fact, a lot of kneeling
00:16:27.45\00:16:30.69
will keep you in good standing.
00:16:30.89\00:16:34.26
Rode down the street and
saw a sign on a church lot.
00:16:35.89\00:16:39.46
It said: "Our church
is prayer-conditioned. "
00:16:39.66\00:16:43.87
That's what God wants from us.
00:16:44.17\00:16:48.44
That's His will for us.
00:16:48.74\00:16:51.11
God wants to bail us out...
00:16:51.31\00:16:54.84
to rescue us from
the mess that we're in.
00:16:55.14\00:16:58.75
But He can't reach us unless
we are willing to talk to Him
00:17:00.35\00:17:03.92
and develop a
relationship with Him.
00:17:06.12\00:17:10.96
He said: "In all thy
ways acknowledge Him, and He
00:17:11.36\00:17:15.23
will direct your path. "
00:17:15.43\00:17:17.20
Look what He's offering if
we will just acknowledge Him.
00:17:17.40\00:17:21.87
"The steps of a good
man are ordered by the Lord"
00:17:22.07\00:17:25.47
the Bible says.
00:17:25.67\00:17:27.21
"Ask and ye shall
receive, seek and ye shall find,
00:17:27.54\00:17:33.48
and whatsoever you ask
believing will be granted. "
00:17:33.78\00:17:37.95
God pledges that.
He is a merciful God.
00:17:38.19\00:17:42.96
He wants to be amongst us.
00:17:43.36\00:17:46.93
He wants to do extraordinary
things with His remnant church.
00:17:47.23\00:17:50.77
He does not want
business as usual.
00:17:51.07\00:17:54.87
God wants us to get
something going that will finish
00:17:55.07\00:18:00.34
the work under His
direction and power.
00:18:00.54\00:18:05.35
"Like as a father
pitieth his children,
00:18:05.65\00:18:09.08
so the Lord pitieth
them that fear Him. "
00:18:09.28\00:18:12.59
And in case you wanted
another touch, Isaiah says:
00:18:12.79\00:18:18.19
"As one whom his
mother comforteth. "
00:18:18.39\00:18:22.20
There is no comfort
quite like that of a mother.
00:18:22.50\00:18:25.73
I remember once
romping through the forest and
00:18:25.93\00:18:30.37
stirring up a
whole nest of hornets.
00:18:30.57\00:18:34.24
And they took it out on me.
00:18:34.54\00:18:37.48
I was running and
screaming and fighting...
00:18:38.88\00:18:41.12
it seemed for naught. And
my mother heard me coming.
00:18:41.32\00:18:44.49
It seemed that when
she shut the screen door
00:18:45.42\00:18:48.49
she shut all of them
out and all of me in.
00:18:48.72\00:18:51.76
And then she began the
ministration to relieve my pain
00:18:53.09\00:18:58.13
and to encourage me
00:18:58.33\00:19:00.04
and to make me feel
that big boys don't cry.
00:19:00.27\00:19:03.97
"As one whom his
mother comforteth. "
00:19:06.07\00:19:09.84
All of this and yet
heaven seems to be incredulous:
00:19:10.15\00:19:15.58
where are the praying saints?
00:19:17.19\00:19:20.19
There's lots of complaining.
00:19:20.49\00:19:23.32
Lots of blaming
others; a lot of questioning.
00:19:23.63\00:19:27.46
A lot of
theologizing and philosophying.
00:19:27.76\00:19:32.73
All these things we
hear all the time, but
00:19:32.73\00:19:36.30
where are the prayers?
00:19:36.50\00:19:40.28
Ellen White makes
an unusual statement.
00:19:41.14\00:19:44.51
She suggests that praying
three times a day is not enough.
00:19:44.81\00:19:48.18
Now Daniel was a man of power;
he prayed three times a day.
00:19:49.65\00:19:53.62
There's a song about it.
00:19:53.92\00:19:55.46
But you have to
believe as I believe
00:19:55.76\00:19:58.49
that Daniel prayed
a lot more than that.
00:19:58.69\00:20:00.66
These were formal
prayers with the windows open.
00:20:00.96\00:20:03.60
These were witnessing prayers.
00:20:03.80\00:20:05.50
But Daniel stayed in an
attitude of prayer all the time.
00:20:06.74\00:20:12.21
And the Lord's servant
says we've got to come to that.
00:20:13.48\00:20:17.51
And she uses a word that
I want to use here tonight:
00:20:17.81\00:20:21.28
we've got to learn
to "agonize" in prayer.
00:20:21.48\00:20:25.05
We've got to go to
our knees and stay there
00:20:27.06\00:20:29.46
until a change comes.
00:20:29.66\00:20:31.76
Got to stay there
until something happens.
00:20:32.06\00:20:37.00
And God is powerful
enough to make it happen!
00:20:37.30\00:20:40.77
He loves us
enough to make it happen.
00:20:40.97\00:20:43.77
Some of us are
tired of our old selves.
00:20:45.31\00:20:48.78
God wants to make a change.
00:20:49.08\00:20:52.08
Ellen White says there's
some things God knows to do
00:20:52.38\00:20:55.55
but will not do it until we ask.
00:20:55.75\00:20:59.29
You see, this business of
praying and God blessing...
00:21:00.79\00:21:04.09
this is a
relationship, an interchange.
00:21:04.29\00:21:07.36
You and God; you and God.
00:21:07.66\00:21:10.17
You as an individual
talking to a wonderful God.
00:21:10.47\00:21:15.24
The King James version
uses the word "wondered. "
00:21:15.54\00:21:20.78
"God wondered that
there was no intercessor. "
00:21:21.08\00:21:24.91
I read some other authorities
on this and they said
00:21:25.21\00:21:29.45
that word is too weak to
convey the Hebrew meaning.
00:21:29.65\00:21:34.72
And they suggest it
comes closer to saying
00:21:35.02\00:21:39.16
God was "desolate"
wanting to hear from us.
00:21:39.36\00:21:44.73
Another one says:
"He was astonished"
00:21:45.67\00:21:49.87
that we were not praying.
00:21:49.87\00:21:51.67
Section D? All that
we live with day by day?
00:21:51.67\00:21:55.88
God is astonished that
we can see crime and evil
00:21:57.15\00:22:01.88
on every hand and
not cry out in prayer
00:22:02.08\00:22:05.75
more and more and more.
00:22:05.95\00:22:09.59
We've got to agonize in prayer.
00:22:09.99\00:22:13.73
And if we're willing to do
it, God is willing to assure us
00:22:14.00\00:22:17.03
"I am not dead! I am alive!
00:22:17.23\00:22:22.10
And I'm ready, and
heaven is open for business.
00:22:22.40\00:22:26.47
If you will simply come to Me
in prayer, I've got some answers
00:22:26.47\00:22:32.55
that you are in
desperate need of. "
00:22:32.55\00:22:35.08
"I will confirm the
truth in your heart.
00:22:35.28\00:22:39.19
I will rise up but I'm
waiting on you to ask. "
00:22:39.39\00:22:44.26
I see amazing things
happening amongst us.
00:22:45.86\00:22:48.43
I've been around a long time.
00:22:48.63\00:22:50.97
My birthday came
on Sabbath last year
00:22:52.13\00:22:54.90
and I saw my grandson
slipping into my church.
00:22:56.10\00:22:59.01
He goes to another.
00:22:59.21\00:23:00.28
I wondered:
"What's he doing here? "
00:23:00.58\00:23:02.28
But then I thought: "Oh, they're
going to my house for dinner
00:23:03.48\00:23:05.61
so that's it. "
But that wasn't it.
00:23:05.81\00:23:08.85
At a certain point he got
up and walked to the rostrum.
00:23:09.15\00:23:12.22
It was prearranged.
00:23:12.42\00:23:13.56
He thanked those for giving him
an opportunity to say something.
00:23:13.86\00:23:16.93
And then he said: "We
have an unusual thing happening
00:23:17.13\00:23:20.03
in our family this week.
00:23:20.23\00:23:21.33
My grandmother's
birthday was Thursday;
00:23:21.53\00:23:24.10
my uncle's birthday
is the next day, Friday;
00:23:24.30\00:23:27.87
and today is my
Granddaddy's birthday
00:23:28.07\00:23:31.04
and he is 80 years old. "
00:23:31.24\00:23:33.54
I wasn't ready for that
to be general knowledge!
00:23:33.74\00:23:36.98
The secret is out now.
00:23:40.02\00:23:42.98
But God's been good to
me and I've seen things move
00:23:46.79\00:23:51.19
from this to that.
00:23:51.39\00:23:52.53
And some of the moves
are not always encouraging.
00:23:52.73\00:23:55.86
God allowed me to do
evangelism for a lot of years,
00:23:57.27\00:24:00.47
and when we ran
these big campaigns
00:24:00.67\00:24:02.64
in these various cities,
the objections came from men
00:24:02.84\00:24:06.21
out there somewhere.
00:24:06.21\00:24:07.54
Today objections
are coming from within.
00:24:07.84\00:24:10.68
We've got people
who seem determined
00:24:12.21\00:24:15.25
to change our message.
00:24:15.25\00:24:18.25
They want it to suit them.
00:24:19.55\00:24:21.29
I found something in my Bible.
00:24:21.69\00:24:24.03
If I can find it,
I'll show it to you.
00:24:24.03\00:24:25.56
It's something... it's
been in here a long time.
00:24:26.06\00:24:28.96
You can't see it but at
least you know I have it.
00:24:30.40\00:24:32.90
I copied it from
the Associated Press.
00:24:33.20\00:24:36.04
And it says
that they found a pig
00:24:36.34\00:24:40.04
in Indonesia
00:24:41.11\00:24:42.88
that is like a pig
anywhere else except this pig
00:24:43.91\00:24:47.68
chews its cud.
00:24:47.88\00:24:49.55
And it is said that a certain
famous rabbi in Los Angeles
00:24:56.86\00:25:02.73
pronounced it kosher.
00:25:02.93\00:25:05.30
And others say the same thing:
00:25:09.74\00:25:12.94
it can be included
in the Jewish diet.
00:25:13.14\00:25:16.88
Then I thought to
myself: "How like us that is. "
00:25:18.68\00:25:22.55
We want a pig
that chews the cud.
00:25:22.85\00:25:26.55
We're looking
for something easier.
00:25:28.09\00:25:30.86
But it's not
going to get easier.
00:25:31.16\00:25:33.09
And in case you don't
know, I want to explain to you
00:25:33.29\00:25:37.07
the dragon - Revelation 12:17-
00:25:37.27\00:25:41.17
verse 9 tells you who that is -
00:25:41.40\00:25:43.27
" The dragon was
"wroth with the church
00:25:43.47\00:25:46.54
and went to make war... "
00:25:46.74\00:25:49.04
Went to make what?
00:25:49.24\00:25:50.68
War! "with the remnant
of her seed. " Who are they?
00:25:50.98\00:25:53.65
They keep the
commandments of God
00:25:54.58\00:25:56.75
and have the
testimony of Jesus. What's that?
00:25:56.95\00:25:59.69
Revelation 19:10: it
is the gift of prophecy
00:26:00.06\00:26:03.69
or the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:26:03.99\00:26:05.69
We are at war!
00:26:06.03\00:26:08.66
And there is a
terrible enemy who despises
00:26:10.20\00:26:15.57
every loving one of
you... and God knows that.
00:26:15.77\00:26:18.81
And he can do you harm
if you drop your guard.
00:26:19.01\00:26:23.11
So God is amazed
that you don't pray.
00:26:23.51\00:26:27.18
That you don't ask
for angelic protection.
00:26:27.48\00:26:30.59
That you don't resist
the devil for he trembles
00:26:31.95\00:26:35.69
when the weakest
saint is on his knees. Amen!
00:26:35.89\00:26:40.73
That's you; that's me!
00:26:40.96\00:26:43.33
You don't have to be
some high professional.
00:26:43.63\00:26:46.37
The weakest saint.
00:26:46.57\00:26:48.44
We are told that
before the end of time
00:26:51.27\00:26:53.74
thousands will join the church
00:26:53.94\00:26:55.98
and be baptized in a day.
00:26:56.28\00:26:58.85
And I'm afraid some of us
in this country and Europe
00:26:59.15\00:27:01.75
and other places figure
that has to pertain to us.
00:27:01.75\00:27:04.39
I want to tell you
it's already happening!
00:27:04.62\00:27:07.09
And it's happening among
people who can't even read.
00:27:07.59\00:27:11.73
They hear the Word of God.
00:27:11.93\00:27:13.76
They do not
object to the standards.
00:27:13.76\00:27:16.26
They are glad to hear
these wonderful things
00:27:16.46\00:27:19.53
that set them free! Amen!
00:27:19.73\00:27:22.54
Reminds me of when I
was a 10-year-old child
00:27:22.77\00:27:25.51
in a Sabbath-keeping home.
00:27:25.81\00:27:29.18
But we didn't know
any better... we just...
00:27:29.38\00:27:31.65
we just did what the Lord said.
00:27:31.85\00:27:34.15
And He didn't
tell us how to do it.
00:27:34.45\00:27:36.72
And mother, on Friday evening,
00:27:37.02\00:27:39.79
would be baking
long after sunset.
00:27:39.99\00:27:43.43
We didn't know.
00:27:43.73\00:27:44.79
But we finally found the church.
00:27:45.09\00:27:47.46
1940... I was 10 years old
00:27:47.66\00:27:50.37
and we went into the
church for the first time.
00:27:50.67\00:27:53.37
And it was as though
God spoke to me and said:
00:27:53.67\00:27:55.77
"This is it. "
00:27:55.97\00:27:57.17
And I haven't
changed my mind in 70 years.
00:27:57.37\00:28:00.54
Amen! I want to
tell you something else.
00:28:00.84\00:28:03.01
When we as a large family heard
the standards of the church,
00:28:03.31\00:28:07.48
the standards of God's Word,
00:28:07.68\00:28:10.02
they didn't turn us
off... they turned us on!
00:28:10.22\00:28:13.72
We thought: "My, we are
joining something special. "
00:28:13.92\00:28:17.96
Amen!
00:28:18.23\00:28:19.86
What is this
that all of a sudden
00:28:20.16\00:28:22.33
we want to adjust
and change and re-do.
00:28:22.53\00:28:27.00
It's as though we
think God made a mistake
00:28:27.20\00:28:30.04
when He did it the first time!
00:28:30.04\00:28:32.77
And so now we are
saying: "All right, Lord,
00:28:33.07\00:28:35.38
let's see if we can't
get You straightened out
00:28:35.58\00:28:38.28
and get this thing together. "
00:28:38.48\00:28:40.32
God says: "No! " As a
matter of fact, in verse 1
00:28:40.52\00:28:43.92
of this chapter I
was reading He says:
00:28:44.12\00:28:46.59
"Behold the Lord's
hand is not shortened
00:28:46.59\00:28:49.26
that it cannot save;
neither is His ear heavy
00:28:49.46\00:28:52.69
that it cannot hear. "
He's still the same God
00:28:52.89\00:28:55.96
yesterday, today, and forever.
00:28:56.16\00:28:57.87
He can still do as He pleases.
00:28:58.07\00:29:00.97
He's waiting on us... - Amen! -
00:29:01.17\00:29:04.57
so that we can
get some things done.
00:29:04.84\00:29:08.34
And then He promises: "No weapon
that is formed against thee
00:29:08.64\00:29:13.58
shall prosper. "
00:29:13.58\00:29:15.45
"My sword is the
breath of My mouth;
00:29:15.75\00:29:18.59
My heart is set
on advancing you.
00:29:18.79\00:29:22.82
Moving you up... making room
for others who will come in.
00:29:23.12\00:29:29.00
Now it is true that 'those whom
I love I rebuke and chasten'
00:29:29.30\00:29:33.97
and I do it for the
development of your character. "
00:29:34.20\00:29:37.54
We try to get this point across:
00:29:37.84\00:29:40.58
nothing that God
allows to happen to you
00:29:40.78\00:29:43.31
is against you... only for you.
00:29:43.51\00:29:46.48
Amen! I don't
care how rotten it is.
00:29:46.78\00:29:49.05
One of the easiest
texts to talk about
00:29:49.25\00:29:51.32
and hardest to put into practice
00:29:51.52\00:29:53.62
is Romans 8: "All
things. " How many things?
00:29:53.82\00:29:57.23
All. "All things
work together for good
00:29:57.43\00:30:00.16
to them that love the Lord. "
00:30:00.46\00:30:02.23
You've got to believe it and
you've got to really believe it.
00:30:02.53\00:30:06.47
And you've got to
believe it even more!
00:30:06.67\00:30:10.37
Ellen White says that
God's hand amongst His people
00:30:10.67\00:30:14.21
left a mark of
prosperity. He still does that.
00:30:14.41\00:30:17.31
He takes better care of us
than our complaining hearts
00:30:17.51\00:30:21.22
are willing to admit.
00:30:21.45\00:30:24.15
God knows who He is;
do you know who you are?
00:30:24.45\00:30:28.09
Do I know who I am?
00:30:28.39\00:30:30.06
God is saying to
us: "I cannot be held up
00:30:30.36\00:30:33.93
nor held back. "
00:30:34.10\00:30:36.56
"I know the thoughts
that I think towards you:
00:30:36.77\00:30:39.33
they are thoughts of peace. "
00:30:39.53\00:30:41.50
"I have your best
interest at heart,
00:30:41.80\00:30:44.57
and if I don't treat you exactly
as I do this man over here,
00:30:44.77\00:30:47.94
it's because you don't need
the same treatment he needs.
00:30:48.14\00:30:51.71
I know what I'm doing,
00:30:52.11\00:30:54.62
and if you and I could
get into a conversation,
00:30:54.92\00:30:58.39
it would become
clear... even to you. "
00:30:58.59\00:31:03.36
There used to be an old
man, a great evangelist,
00:31:04.99\00:31:07.96
by the name of J.G. Thomas.
00:31:08.16\00:31:10.77
I don't know if
anybody can remember him
00:31:11.07\00:31:13.47
but when I was just
a youngster in ministry
00:31:13.47\00:31:17.47
he was a man of great power.
00:31:17.67\00:31:20.01
He was already 82 years old when
I called him to do a revival
00:31:20.21\00:31:23.08
at my church. And
then after breakfast
00:31:23.08\00:31:26.88
we'd go down by the lake
and I would sit at his feet
00:31:27.12\00:31:30.95
and learn and learn
and absorb and absorb.
00:31:30.95\00:31:33.62
Now he was a man who
had only gone to school
00:31:33.82\00:31:37.13
through the 5th grade,
and we talked about it.
00:31:37.33\00:31:40.00
And I said: "But
your English is perfect
00:31:40.00\00:31:43.23
and this and that and the other.
00:31:43.43\00:31:45.83
These are things that you
find amongst polished men.
00:31:46.03\00:31:50.21
How did you acquire this
with a 5th grade education? "
00:31:50.41\00:31:54.44
He said: "Ah-ha,
00:31:54.64\00:31:57.08
the Lord said if we
would offer Him a perfect heart
00:31:57.38\00:32:02.02
He would show Himself
strong in our behalf. "
00:32:02.22\00:32:06.19
He said: "And I
believed God and He did it! "
00:32:06.39\00:32:10.39
Amen. "He did it. "
00:32:10.63\00:32:12.86
He stood in my
pulpit like a 20-year-old,
00:32:13.16\00:32:16.06
ramrod straight,
and preached with power.
00:32:16.26\00:32:19.27
He rests in Jesus now
but I will never forget him.
00:32:19.67\00:32:25.21
You can't bother God.
00:32:25.61\00:32:28.44
He said: "I'll never
weary of listening to you.
00:32:28.74\00:32:32.88
You might even pray the same
prayer over and over and over.
00:32:33.18\00:32:36.48
Now don't think that I'm
hard and not listening...
00:32:36.69\00:32:39.19
I am listening.
00:32:39.39\00:32:40.42
I want you to keep on
saying it until you mean it! "
00:32:40.62\00:32:43.79
"I will not weary... "
00:32:45.39\00:32:48.43
Clad with zeal, ready and eager
00:32:49.83\00:32:54.40
to advance the
welfare of His children,
00:32:54.60\00:32:57.21
God is often
immediately responsive.
00:32:57.41\00:33:03.24
Did you hear what I said?
00:33:03.24\00:33:04.61
Immediately responsive.
00:33:04.91\00:33:07.32
I baptized a fine
gentleman and his entire family
00:33:07.62\00:33:11.45
when I was in New Jersey.
He drove a big, heavy truck
00:33:11.65\00:33:16.02
for a living. And
after he was converted -
00:33:16.02\00:33:18.56
you talk about a
man who loved the truth
00:33:18.76\00:33:20.93
and loved the church -
but he would leave home before
00:33:20.93\00:33:25.17
the sun came out every
morning with that big truck.
00:33:25.40\00:33:29.54
And as he rolled along
the highways that were not yet
00:33:29.74\00:33:32.97
filled with traffic, he
loved to sing. He sang in church
00:33:33.17\00:33:36.38
and he was good at it.
00:33:36.38\00:33:37.95
And on this particular morning
he is going down the road
00:33:38.15\00:33:40.98
perhaps a little too
fast, and he is singing
00:33:41.18\00:33:43.52
to the glory of God when all of
a sudden that great big vehicle
00:33:43.52\00:33:47.12
went into a spin.
There was ice on this curve
00:33:47.12\00:33:50.13
and a steep drop into a ravine.
00:33:50.33\00:33:53.63
And he thought he had had it.
00:33:53.93\00:33:56.13
He called me Chief. He
said: "Chief, I cried out
00:33:56.53\00:33:59.73
Lord! " He said:
"That's all I had time to say. "
00:33:59.93\00:34:03.74
I said: "Man, that's enough! "
00:34:04.04\00:34:05.27
Amen.
00:34:05.54\00:34:07.18
"That's enough! " Amen!
00:34:07.48\00:34:09.41
"He's up there; heaven
is open for business 24/7.
00:34:09.71\00:34:14.62
And when you said 'Lord, '
He connected that to what you've
00:34:14.82\00:34:18.55
been saying all the
other times. " Amen!
00:34:18.55\00:34:21.89
"He didn't have time to wait
on you to finish your prayer. "
00:34:22.22\00:34:25.09
You remember when Peter was
sinking trying to walk on water?
00:34:25.29\00:34:27.93
He said: "Lord save
me. " What a short prayer.
00:34:28.20\00:34:30.77
Worked! If Peter had
prayed like some of us,
00:34:30.77\00:34:33.47
he would have drowned
before he could say Amen.
00:34:33.67\00:34:35.94
And so he cried: "Lord! "
And the truck actually ran off
00:34:39.81\00:34:44.38
the road and tilted.
00:34:44.38\00:34:46.35
But he called me Chief.
He said: "Chief, you know
00:34:46.55\00:34:49.28
there was an old tree standing
there and it was dead! "
00:34:49.48\00:34:55.02
God using a dead tree.
00:34:55.22\00:34:58.09
And he said: "That
truck just sort of leaned over
00:34:58.29\00:35:01.80
against that tree
and came to its rest.
00:35:02.00\00:35:04.87
And I climbed out the other side
and when help finally got there
00:35:05.07\00:35:08.80
we got out of there. And
the truck wasn't even damaged. "
00:35:09.00\00:35:13.41
I want you to know, and I could
tell all kinds of experiences
00:35:13.61\00:35:16.91
that I have had, God
can answer immediately!
00:35:17.11\00:35:20.72
If He waits a
while, that's His business.
00:35:21.02\00:35:24.12
We have to keep
on talking to Him.
00:35:25.42\00:35:28.16
He wondered; He was desperate
00:35:28.66\00:35:33.29
that there were no intercessors.
00:35:33.60\00:35:36.30
People were politicking.
00:35:36.60\00:35:40.40
They were all stirred up.
00:35:40.70\00:35:43.04
They were active.
00:35:43.34\00:35:45.77
They were busy.
00:35:46.07\00:35:48.04
But God and angels
wonder why there are so few
00:35:48.44\00:35:53.82
real prayers coming in.
00:35:54.02\00:35:58.45
I find an objection to
standards of the church.
00:36:01.19\00:36:04.36
Do they bother you?
00:36:04.86\00:36:06.80
I don't think the church
ought to make up standards
00:36:08.06\00:36:10.27
just to make life
dull for young people.
00:36:10.47\00:36:13.00
Don't believe in that.
00:36:13.30\00:36:15.30
But before you cast it
out you'd better consider
00:36:15.50\00:36:17.97
whether God said
it or a committee.
00:36:18.17\00:36:20.58
You might have some
leeway with a committee
00:36:23.18\00:36:24.98
but you be careful how you
start moving God's ideas around.
00:36:25.18\00:36:30.52
For some the church
is too old-fashioned.
00:36:30.92\00:36:34.16
Somebody told me that one day.
00:36:34.46\00:36:36.89
She said: "You're an
old- fashioned preacher. "
00:36:37.09\00:36:38.29
I said: "Doesn't bother me
at all. God's old-fashioned. "
00:36:38.49\00:36:40.96
He was, He is, He shall be.
00:36:41.23\00:36:42.96
Been around a long time.
00:36:43.37\00:36:46.33
I'm in good company
if I'm old-fashioned! "
00:36:46.67\00:36:49.14
And not only that, He says:
"I am the Lord; I change NOT! "
00:36:51.87\00:36:57.38
God does not
create a dichotomy between
00:37:00.38\00:37:04.42
the modernists
and the conservatives.
00:37:04.72\00:37:07.82
That's something we do.
00:37:08.02\00:37:09.89
We look at people
with grey hair and figure
00:37:10.19\00:37:12.49
"They're old-fashioned.
No need to listen to them. "
00:37:12.69\00:37:16.43
I don't take it personally
00:37:16.73\00:37:20.07
but I don't see it the same way.
00:37:20.37\00:37:25.17
In Malachi the Lord
tells us that the day of Elijah
00:37:25.17\00:37:29.11
will come before the great
and dreadful day of the Lord.
00:37:29.31\00:37:31.75
And when Elijah comes, he...
you know what that means...
00:37:32.05\00:37:35.28
he will turn the hearts of
the fathers to the children
00:37:35.48\00:37:38.42
and children to the fathers.
00:37:38.62\00:37:40.72
The Holy Spirit
doesn't divide us.
00:37:41.02\00:37:44.56
He brings us together. Amen.
00:37:44.96\00:37:48.13
I heard a powerful
message tonight on unity.
00:37:48.43\00:37:51.20
That's what the Lord does
and that's what He wants to do.
00:37:53.87\00:37:58.47
And really, it's
what He is going to do.
00:37:58.67\00:38:02.18
The Bible says the
enemy comes in like a flood.
00:38:03.68\00:38:07.02
Then the Lord will lift
up a standard against him.
00:38:07.32\00:38:09.88
You've got to have something
that anchors your soul.
00:38:10.09\00:38:13.02
You know, the devil
will get you into retreat
00:38:13.32\00:38:15.96
and you're going backward.
Somewhere before you crash
00:38:16.16\00:38:19.19
on the shore
there ought to be a rock
00:38:19.39\00:38:21.46
to which you fasten your bark
00:38:21.76\00:38:25.10
and past which
you will not retreat.
00:38:25.40\00:38:28.87
God gives you
answers from the Word of God.
00:38:29.27\00:38:32.71
And when the devil comes in
like a flood, you hold them up!
00:38:33.01\00:38:36.68
And he'll stop
dead in his tracks.
00:38:36.98\00:38:41.72
He planned on a mighty onslaught
00:38:42.02\00:38:45.02
and turned all of his
big guns on a small target.
00:38:45.22\00:38:49.39
Wicked? Look how
he treated Jesus.
00:38:49.59\00:38:53.43
He's no friend.
00:38:53.73\00:38:56.00
Sometimes he'll pat you on the
back and make you think he is.
00:38:56.30\00:38:59.47
But he's no... You
know what Ellen White says?
00:38:59.67\00:39:02.17
The demons that were
cast out of heaven with Satan
00:39:02.47\00:39:05.54
don't even like each other.
00:39:05.74\00:39:07.44
And yet we think we can befriend
them and hang out with them.
00:39:10.38\00:39:14.08
Not on your life!
00:39:14.38\00:39:16.32
Worldliness will
come in like a flood.
00:39:16.62\00:39:19.25
I want to use this
metaphor a little bit.
00:39:19.45\00:39:21.92
Like a flood: television.
Now I'm not against television.
00:39:22.22\00:39:26.76
3ABN would be good for
nothing without television.
00:39:26.96\00:39:30.23
Is that clear? And I felt the
same way about Breath of Life
00:39:30.43\00:39:34.07
and all the other entities
that are now carrying the truth
00:39:34.37\00:39:38.27
24/7 to all of the world.
00:39:38.47\00:39:40.38
But there's something
attached to our television
00:39:40.68\00:39:43.78
or unattached...
it's got a little button
00:39:43.98\00:39:46.38
and you are supposed
to know how to work that.
00:39:46.38\00:39:48.35
And there are
things you can't look at
00:39:48.65\00:39:51.59
in good and regular
standing for Satan has harnessed
00:39:51.89\00:39:56.06
the industry and he sends
his temptations by the minute
00:39:56.06\00:40:01.36
over television to
reach the corresponding chords
00:40:01.66\00:40:07.67
of our fallen nature.
00:40:07.87\00:40:09.94
And then we get to the place
we feel compelled to go along.
00:40:10.24\00:40:14.81
And our minds begin to change.
00:40:15.11\00:40:18.38
Change about modesty.
There's a word "they. "
00:40:18.58\00:40:23.22
This is what "they" are wearing.
00:40:23.42\00:40:26.55
It's not a question of
whether a Christian ought to...
00:40:27.96\00:40:31.33
it's what are "they" doing.
00:40:31.53\00:40:35.76
You know what? Only those who
live up to the light they have
00:40:36.06\00:40:42.04
will receive the Latter Rain
says the Spirit of Prophecy.
00:40:42.27\00:40:46.14
Are you weak and sinful? Oh,
by the way, there's another one.
00:40:46.44\00:40:50.25
Ellen White said the
standards of the church are for
00:40:50.55\00:40:53.38
spiritual people only.
00:40:53.58\00:40:55.78
You're a worldling;
standards don't make sense.
00:40:57.72\00:41:00.19
You don't want to hear them.
00:41:00.49\00:41:02.49
But the question is:
are you weak and sinful?
00:41:02.79\00:41:05.56
Many of us ARE!
00:41:05.76\00:41:09.46
And yet there are many
who are really conscientious.
00:41:09.76\00:41:12.13
They desire to live for Jesus.
00:41:12.37\00:41:16.04
They want to be His.
00:41:16.34\00:41:18.81
He will lead
them to eternal life.
00:41:19.11\00:41:24.21
But the enemy runs
up with his suggestions
00:41:24.51\00:41:27.15
and makes them
see their own faults.
00:41:27.35\00:41:30.55
He makes them dwell
on their own weaknesses.
00:41:30.85\00:41:36.39
I quote the Lord's servant:
00:41:36.69\00:41:38.36
"We should not dwell on
and indulge anxiety and fear
00:41:38.56\00:41:43.47
whether we will be saved or not.
00:41:43.67\00:41:45.80
Commit the keeping of your
soul to Christ and trust Him. "
00:41:46.00\00:41:50.67
The devil's got many
wondering: "can you make it? "
00:41:51.87\00:41:55.08
And we become
consumed with that.
00:41:55.38\00:41:58.01
We're not supposed to do that.
00:41:58.31\00:42:00.58
We are disturbed
over the contending forces
00:42:00.88\00:42:05.62
that want to
control our very souls.
00:42:05.82\00:42:08.52
And that will
cause us to focus on them
00:42:08.52\00:42:11.33
and stop praying as we ought.
00:42:11.53\00:42:15.06
And the world today
is given to reveling...
00:42:15.36\00:42:17.90
to the party spirit.
00:42:18.23\00:42:20.70
The world today wants to
have fun: a three-letter word
00:42:21.80\00:42:26.37
that I'm beginning
to have a problem with.
00:42:26.57\00:42:28.84
We want everything to be fun.
00:42:30.11\00:42:32.05
What we really mean
is we want an easy road.
00:42:32.35\00:42:34.92
We want to be
able to go to heaven.
00:42:36.12\00:42:37.72
Oh, don't let us miss that.
00:42:37.92\00:42:39.39
But we want to do
it on our own terms.
00:42:39.69\00:42:42.69
We want to do it
while not giving up anything
00:42:42.99\00:42:46.43
in particular. We want
to do it without sacrifice.
00:42:46.66\00:42:51.37
We want to go to heaven
while doing as we please.
00:42:52.67\00:42:58.34
And so active amongst us
today are debates over the
00:42:59.61\00:43:02.84
morality of movies.
00:43:03.04\00:43:04.61
A lady approached me one day
00:43:05.01\00:43:07.58
and she wanted to discuss
Harry Potter vs. Mother Goose
00:43:07.78\00:43:12.35
in teaching children to read.
00:43:14.02\00:43:16.59
You're wasting your time
talking to people sometimes.
00:43:16.89\00:43:22.53
Satan and his imps
come in like gangbusters.
00:43:22.83\00:43:26.17
He's not kidding...
Satan is DEAD serious.
00:43:26.47\00:43:29.60
Every one of us that he
can get to bear his own sins
00:43:29.90\00:43:33.41
makes it lighter on him
00:43:34.94\00:43:36.88
in the final
judgment of the devil himself.
00:43:37.38\00:43:40.88
He has great wrath
and he will blow you away.
00:43:41.48\00:43:46.55
But I thank God he
will be confronted. Amen.
00:43:46.79\00:43:51.03
When you love the Lord
and your prayers are ascending
00:43:51.26\00:43:54.56
and Satan makes a
beeline towards you,
00:43:54.76\00:43:57.37
angels are on the
wing. He will be confronted.
00:43:57.57\00:44:01.70
He can be defeated by
Bible study, by prayer.
00:44:02.00\00:44:05.67
I told you three
times a day... not enough.
00:44:05.67\00:44:08.08
You've got to
"agonize, " Ellen White says.
00:44:08.08\00:44:10.01
And sermons... sermons
are meant to buck us up,
00:44:10.31\00:44:14.38
not compromise.
00:44:14.68\00:44:17.75
Who are we kidding?
00:44:20.09\00:44:22.62
Sermons without substance
and above everything else
00:44:24.06\00:44:28.00
examples. We have a
right to expect to see examples
00:44:28.20\00:44:33.50
in the church.
00:44:33.70\00:44:34.90
And to be taught. Taught by
parents while we are yet small
00:44:35.97\00:44:41.71
and taught in a way
that it will not leave us.
00:44:42.01\00:44:46.05
Now in case we don't remember it
00:44:46.35\00:44:48.52
the entire world wants
to hear the Word of God.
00:44:48.72\00:44:53.32
They don't even know they
want to hear it, but they do
00:44:53.72\00:44:56.42
because it's the
only thing that satisfies.
00:44:56.73\00:44:58.76
The world is wanting
to hear the Word of God.
00:44:59.06\00:45:05.00
Baptized a man in a
big effort in Chicago.
00:45:05.30\00:45:07.97
That man would come every night
but he'd sneak away as soon
00:45:08.27\00:45:11.31
as we were
ready to offer prayer.
00:45:11.51\00:45:12.81
Obviously he lived very well.
00:45:13.11\00:45:15.44
He had a luxury car; he
had an outfit the same color...
00:45:15.64\00:45:19.05
the jacket and the
pants. And his wife was elegant.
00:45:19.25\00:45:21.85
It was just... everything.
00:45:21.85\00:45:23.55
And I could never get to him
because I'm busy shaking hands
00:45:23.75\00:45:26.15
with all the other folk.
And one night he showed up
00:45:26.15\00:45:28.89
waiting for me.
00:45:29.09\00:45:30.86
And he said: "Pastor, I
need to ask you a question. "
00:45:31.16\00:45:33.43
He said: "I've got a lot
of good liquor in my house.
00:45:33.63\00:45:35.63
If I join your church,
what shall I do with it? "
00:45:35.83\00:45:38.37
I said: "Well, first of
all you're laboring under
00:45:40.00\00:45:42.00
a misapprehension. There's
no such thing as good liquor.
00:45:42.20\00:45:44.84
What you mean is
you've got expensive liquor. "
00:45:48.48\00:45:50.91
Now you want to
know what to do with it.
00:45:52.28\00:45:54.18
First of all, if you give
it away and the man goes out
00:45:54.38\00:45:56.15
and has a wreck and kills
himself, that's written down
00:45:56.35\00:45:58.22
in heaven against your name.
00:45:58.42\00:45:59.75
Same thing if you sell it.
00:46:00.06\00:46:01.22
The Bible says: 'Woe unto him
00:46:01.22\00:46:02.46
that gives his
neighbor drink. ' "
00:46:02.46\00:46:03.63
He said: "Then what
will I do with it? "
00:46:03.86\00:46:05.16
I said: "I don't think
I'll tell you what to do.
00:46:05.36\00:46:07.46
Let me tell you what I'd do.
00:46:07.66\00:46:08.86
I'd go into my bathroom
and declare it a chapel.
00:46:09.16\00:46:11.73
I'd bow down before the
toilet and declare it an altar.
00:46:13.37\00:46:16.57
And I would start talking
to God about my intentions,
00:46:17.07\00:46:22.14
how serious I was, and
I would start uncorking
00:46:22.34\00:46:25.85
and unscrewing and I'd
turn them up and let them
00:46:26.05\00:46:28.82
gurgle out into the toilet.
00:46:29.02\00:46:31.72
Amen. And when I
finished, I'd thank God
00:46:32.02\00:46:34.76
that I was finished forever. "
00:46:34.76\00:46:36.56
Amen!
00:46:36.83\00:46:37.99
To my surprise he
almost snapped his finger.
00:46:38.29\00:46:40.96
He said: "If you
had said anything else
00:46:41.16\00:46:43.37
I was walking away from
here never to come back. "
00:46:43.57\00:46:46.07
Oh, when he died he was
the first elder of the church.
00:46:47.44\00:46:51.17
We're not playing
games... this is heaven or hell!
00:46:52.81\00:46:55.81
Oh, there's something
else that people want to hear:
00:46:56.21\00:46:59.05
they want to hear
voices from outer space.
00:46:59.25\00:47:01.45
They are listening all over
the world trying to hear voices
00:47:03.45\00:47:06.42
from outer space. The other day
00:47:06.62\00:47:09.42
a fine lady who had been shot
00:47:09.62\00:47:13.26
said goodbye to her husband
and he took off into space.
00:47:13.50\00:47:17.27
The shuttle was
making it's last flight.
00:47:18.70\00:47:21.77
On board was a $2
billon instrument.
00:47:22.07\00:47:26.57
Two billion dollars!
00:47:26.88\00:47:28.48
And it would be
fastened to the Space Station
00:47:28.98\00:47:32.35
and the scientists
back on earth are hoping
00:47:32.55\00:47:37.12
that that $2 billion nothing
00:47:37.32\00:47:41.19
will give them clues as
to how the universe began.
00:47:41.49\00:47:46.90
Give me one red
penny and I'll tell you.
00:47:48.50\00:47:51.23
"In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth. "
00:47:54.04\00:47:57.51
They want to hear
voices from outer space...
00:48:01.74\00:48:04.88
well I've got
voices from outer space.
00:48:05.08\00:48:07.98
When I read the Word
of God to men and women
00:48:09.65\00:48:12.85
who are languishing in sin today
00:48:13.05\00:48:15.92
they are listening...
they are listening to words
00:48:16.22\00:48:20.83
from the land of pure delight.
00:48:21.00\00:48:24.03
When I open my Bible
they are going to hear words
00:48:24.53\00:48:28.37
from Beulah Land! Amen!
00:48:28.57\00:48:31.27
Words from outer space.
00:48:31.57\00:48:33.74
Nobody down here could produce
what I read from day after day
00:48:33.94\00:48:39.81
after day and what I preach from
00:48:39.81\00:48:42.98
every time I get up, or my
preaching isn't worth a dime.
00:48:43.18\00:48:48.76
I've got a message from a land
where storm winds are called
00:48:49.06\00:48:54.73
zephyrs...
00:48:54.93\00:48:57.20
somewhere out
there in outer space
00:48:57.50\00:49:02.74
where the Tree of Life is.
00:49:03.04\00:49:05.67
Where the leaves of
the tree hang over the wall
00:49:06.17\00:49:09.21
and Ellen White says
you can pluck them now.
00:49:09.21\00:49:11.91
They're for the
healing of the nations.
00:49:12.21\00:49:15.72
Just like that man I
baptized with the liquor...
00:49:16.02\00:49:19.59
he got healed and
hated what he once loved.
00:49:19.89\00:49:24.69
And Ellen White in her writings,
00:49:26.26\00:49:29.20
let me say it
as boldly as I can,
00:49:29.40\00:49:32.20
this is God giving
us inside information.
00:49:32.40\00:49:37.27
Amen. You can't
get it anywhere else.
00:49:37.57\00:49:39.64
And it is written in the
Testimonies that "they are
00:49:39.94\00:49:43.98
given to guide us
through the time of trouble. "
00:49:44.18\00:49:48.32
Now when I was
reading to you a while ago
00:49:48.62\00:49:50.49
it says we "grope as
though we have no eyes. "
00:49:50.69\00:49:54.39
In ancient times,
prophets were called seers.
00:49:55.66\00:49:59.79
They could see what
ordinary folk couldn't see.
00:50:00.10\00:50:03.93
We have a
prophetess. How on earth
00:50:04.23\00:50:06.77
could God supply all the
various epochs of His people
00:50:06.97\00:50:10.04
with a prophet and we come down
to the most important thing -
00:50:10.24\00:50:13.64
the climax of the gospel,
00:50:13.84\00:50:15.74
the coming of the
Lord Jesus Christ -
00:50:15.94\00:50:18.08
and there's no
prophetic voice for us?
00:50:18.28\00:50:21.88
YES THERE IS! Amen.
00:50:22.08\00:50:24.69
But some of us think it's
smart not to pay attention.
00:50:25.19\00:50:29.29
Young college girl walked
up to me and said: "Pastor,
00:50:30.83\00:50:32.99
here are some questions
and I want Bible answers.
00:50:33.19\00:50:35.66
I don't want to hear anything
Ellen White has to say. "
00:50:35.96\00:50:38.10
I said: "Well that attitude
assumes that Ellen White is
00:50:38.40\00:50:40.97
un-Biblical. Now if
that's true, you bring yours;
00:50:40.97\00:50:43.67
I'll bring mine.
Let's start a fire
00:50:43.67\00:50:45.04
and invite everybody with
a Spirit of Prophecy book.
00:50:45.24\00:50:48.01
Pile it on...
we'll burn them up!
00:50:48.21\00:50:52.25
Mine and yours
to start the fire.
00:50:52.55\00:50:55.72
But before you start that
fire you'd better search the
00:50:55.92\00:50:58.99
scriptures and see if
God promised such a gift
00:50:58.99\00:51:02.62
to His people. "
00:51:02.82\00:51:03.99
Oh, thank the Lord.
"Surely He will do nothing
00:51:04.29\00:51:07.10
but He reveals His secrets
to His servants, the prophets. "
00:51:07.30\00:51:10.60
God wants to hear from us!
00:51:11.90\00:51:13.80
Not complaints and fightings...
but to hear from us.
00:51:14.10\00:51:19.21
And He will give us
answers... inside information.
00:51:19.21\00:51:24.18
I spoke about God
answering prayers immediately.
00:51:24.48\00:51:28.65
A man at the General Conference
was sitting on a big plane
00:51:29.45\00:51:33.05
headed home. And
as he was headed home
00:51:33.25\00:51:36.36
suddenly he heard a
racket and all the loose papers
00:51:36.66\00:51:40.76
began to fly up and the top
of the plane just peeled off.
00:51:40.96\00:51:44.30
Now that... that's dying time.
00:51:45.57\00:51:48.07
They were told
quickly how to take positions
00:51:49.74\00:51:52.74
and get on... and he
said as his head was bent over
00:51:52.94\00:51:55.08
he remembered his
phone was in his pocket.
00:51:55.28\00:51:57.28
So he called his
wife to say "goodbye. "
00:51:57.51\00:51:59.61
And when it didn't explode
and finally the papers stopped
00:52:00.35\00:52:04.12
flying around... it
had depressurized...
00:52:04.32\00:52:06.35
he decided to call her back and
tell her how much he loved her.
00:52:06.55\00:52:08.89
They interviewed him
on national television.
00:52:10.49\00:52:13.23
And then subsequently another
plane had part of it rip aside
00:52:13.53\00:52:16.83
and they came back to
interview him again at the
00:52:17.03\00:52:19.50
General Conference.
00:52:19.50\00:52:20.50
God answers
prayer right now! Amen!
00:52:20.80\00:52:23.97
I don't know who else
was on that plane, but I know
00:52:24.27\00:52:27.24
that that man was praying.
00:52:27.44\00:52:29.51
Yet God is shocked
that the remnant church
00:52:29.81\00:52:33.31
with such a heavy responsibility
00:52:33.52\00:52:36.02
is not praying as it ought.
00:52:36.22\00:52:39.35
In the Congress of the
United States they have a very
00:52:39.65\00:52:41.99
important committee called
the Ways and Means Committee.
00:52:41.99\00:52:45.53
They make great decisions.
00:52:45.83\00:52:47.50
They determine how
your money will be spent.
00:52:47.73\00:52:51.70
Well I want to tell you: God
has ways and means committees
00:52:51.90\00:52:55.34
made up of angels. The
Holy Ghost is the chairman!
00:52:55.54\00:52:58.91
And when the devil
comes in like a flood
00:52:59.21\00:53:02.08
back to that metaphor again:
00:53:02.38\00:53:04.95
these angels lift up
a standard against him.
00:53:05.25\00:53:09.12
Now if you don't have that
standard, you need to understand
00:53:09.42\00:53:13.56
that a flood is violent.
00:53:13.56\00:53:15.16
You need to understand
that a flood will sweep away
00:53:15.36\00:53:19.29
what it took wealth
and time to acquire.
00:53:19.49\00:53:22.90
You will understand
that a flood takes homes:
00:53:23.20\00:53:28.17
mansions in Malibu,
little cabins somewhere else.
00:53:28.37\00:53:33.58
Floods don't care;
they strip away the topsoil
00:53:33.58\00:53:37.95
producing stony ground
where the Word cannot take root,
00:53:38.15\00:53:43.28
where gullies and debris linger.
00:53:43.59\00:53:47.66
And there are some who
grieve away the Holy Spirit.
00:53:47.96\00:53:50.69
The Lord's servant says after
they have done it they are left
00:53:50.89\00:53:53.90
in a careless attitude
00:53:53.90\00:53:56.33
thinking they're in
the fairway to heaven
00:53:56.63\00:53:59.77
but they are already lost.
00:54:00.04\00:54:03.30
When the enemy
comes in like a flood
00:54:03.61\00:54:05.64
he ravages and he desolates.
00:54:05.84\00:54:07.98
A flood is noisy, too,
and we have to remember that.
00:54:08.18\00:54:13.68
A flood is noisy.
00:54:13.98\00:54:16.28
The devil comes in like a
flood and we get a lot of noise
00:54:16.48\00:54:21.46
that doesn't amount to anything.
00:54:21.76\00:54:24.39
A flood is an
equal-opportunity destroyer.
00:54:24.69\00:54:28.63
The educated and the limited,
the rich and the poor...
00:54:28.93\00:54:32.20
he doesn't care. When the
flood comes in, he destroys
00:54:32.40\00:54:37.87
and ruins and takes away
everything that is beautiful.
00:54:38.17\00:54:42.78
Jehosophat was praying
when he saw himself in a dilemma
00:54:43.08\00:54:47.92
and knew no answer
for. He said: "Oh, Lord,
00:54:48.12\00:54:51.19
we don't have the
might to face this enemy
00:54:51.39\00:54:54.26
nor do we know what to do. "
00:54:54.46\00:54:56.73
Now I remember
reading that a long time ago
00:54:56.93\00:54:59.66
and I thought: "Here's a
king and if he is disheartened
00:54:59.86\00:55:03.00
how in the world can
he inspire anybody? "
00:55:03.20\00:55:05.43
But he did! He said:
"Lord, we don't have the might
00:55:05.63\00:55:08.47
to face these folk nor
do we know how to do it...
00:55:08.67\00:55:11.64
so we are turning to You. "
00:55:11.87\00:55:16.14
Amen! Oh my, what a
decision he had made.
00:55:16.44\00:55:21.68
"Lo, we turn to You. "
00:55:21.98\00:55:26.12
God is not
overwhelmed by our emergencies.
00:55:26.42\00:55:30.56
God has
advantages that He can use.
00:55:30.86\00:55:34.20
God can blink His eyes and
people are moved out of their
00:55:34.50\00:55:39.90
places and annihilated.
00:55:40.10\00:55:42.24
God knows how to
answer our prayers
00:55:42.54\00:55:45.41
and He's willing to do it!
00:55:45.61\00:55:47.18
He just can't understand
why we don't pray more.
00:55:47.18\00:55:51.01
We are going to
become a conspicuous church.
00:55:51.31\00:55:55.78
Did you hear what I said?
00:55:56.08\00:55:57.52
We are coming to the point where
we will be the focal issue.
00:55:57.82\00:56:01.42
The whole world
will pay attention
00:56:01.62\00:56:03.93
and many will make a
last-minute decision then
00:56:04.13\00:56:07.03
when the doors of
probation have already closed
00:56:07.23\00:56:10.27
for the rest of us.
00:56:10.47\00:56:11.87
It's coming. The
church will be conspicuous.
00:56:12.17\00:56:15.84
How could it be
and not face problems?
00:56:16.14\00:56:20.58
And not face the assault of the
devil for he is at war with us.
00:56:20.88\00:56:26.88
I remember Dr. Chen's
book A New Look at God.
00:56:27.18\00:56:31.99
He talked about a machine
they had to measure emotions
00:56:32.29\00:56:34.89
and things. And
there was this woman
00:56:34.89\00:56:37.29
who was very sick but
she was a good Christian.
00:56:37.49\00:56:40.26
And as she was
going under the anesthesia
00:56:40.46\00:56:42.93
that woman began to pray.
00:56:43.13\00:56:45.53
And instead of
falling to the negative side
00:56:45.83\00:56:48.00
Dr. Chen says the needle
swung over to the positive side.
00:56:48.24\00:56:51.84
Something is going on. That
prayer is getting out yonder:
00:56:52.14\00:56:55.48
past the skies,
past the planets,
00:56:55.68\00:56:59.01
past the galaxy to be anchored
in the Throne Room of God.
00:56:59.21\00:57:03.72
God is shocked
that we don't pray more!
00:57:04.02\00:57:07.36