Participants: Ron Halvorsen
Series Code: 13RVT
Program Code: 13RVT000015
|
00:05 In today's troubled world
00:08 people are wondering where we are headed? 00:13 Revelation Today presents the answers. 00:17 Bible prophecy reveals what the future holds in store. 00:23 Revelation Today. 00:37 Good evening, everyone. 00:39 I am glad that you are here tonight. 00:41 Because tonight's subject is one that 00:42 you don't want to miss. 00:45 I'd like you to think of the most 00:46 beautiful place you've ever been. 00:48 Is it the Smoky's, the Blue Ridge Mountains? 00:51 You might say the Outer Banks, 00:53 you might say further away, 00:55 the Gulf Coast, further, the French Riviera, 00:58 the Swiss Alps, Yosemite, Statesville. 01:02 In spite of what sin has done, 01:04 this world is still very beautiful. 01:07 But it's true that we haven't seen anything yet. 01:10 The very best is still to come. 01:14 You'll be blessed by tonight's presentation, 01:16 "As Good as It Gets." 01:18 The presenter of Revelation Today 01:20 is Ron Halvorsen. 01:27 Good evening. Good evening. 01:30 That's our topic tonight, "Heaven, As Good as It Gets." 01:34 Amen. 01:35 I lived on this blue marble planet 01:38 for almost 76 years 01:41 and I've been in some of the most 01:43 beautiful places in all the world. 01:47 I stood on a mountain in Switzerland 01:50 in the early morning and watch the fog 01:53 sweep up the valley walls like a jewel scarf 01:56 being taken off a lady's shoulders. 01:59 I've stood on beautiful clean clear meadow lake 02:04 in New Zealand, fly fishing at day break. 02:08 I could hear the sheep bells 02:10 and just at that time a flock of sheep 02:12 came up over the crest of the hill 02:14 and looked down upon me. 02:16 It was morning. 02:17 I'll never forget 02:19 that I was touched by the cool morning water 02:22 and invigorated by the cool unpolluted air, beautiful. 02:28 For 75, almost 76 years I've lived on this beautiful 02:34 blue marble planet called earth. 02:37 And I've been in places some just dream about. 02:41 I kissed my wife in the shadow of the Taj Mahal. 02:44 They say you live forever after that with each other. 02:47 Amen. 02:48 So you better get a plane trip, man. 02:52 I rode on a boat on the beautiful fjords of Norway, 02:56 my country of my ancestors. 02:58 And I watched 100 water waterfalls 03:00 tumbling down from the cliffs 03:02 and cascading down to the water's edge. 03:06 I swam in Nylon Pool in Tobago just off of Trinidad. 03:11 So beautiful and so clear, you can look 100 feet down 03:15 and it seems like just a few feet. 03:18 Beautiful, Nylon Pool in Tobago. 03:23 I stood in-- on my skies at Keystone Mountain in Colorado 03:28 and I've been the first one to come up to chair lift 03:31 and I was there all by myself 03:32 and a foot of snow fell that night 03:34 before in fresh powder. 03:36 And there I was and then I started down the mountain, 03:38 I was exhilarating, invigorated by the snow and the wind. 03:45 I've swam in the Crystal River, 03:48 a thousand times with the manatee 03:51 and I listened as they blew the water from their nostrils, 03:55 Crystal River and the Three Sisters Springs. 03:59 My son and I walked the Shadagee river 04:01 fly fishing in New York State, fishing for brown trout. 04:05 And I remember sitting on the boulder with my son at noon 04:09 and we watch the midday hatch and we sat together 04:13 and we ate a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich together. 04:20 All on this blue marbled planet, 04:26 this beautiful place. 04:28 But I'm not fooled by beauty. 04:30 I've seen the world old and I've seen it dirty 04:35 and I've seen it dying. 04:38 I've been in the slums of India 04:39 and so poverty that lowest level. 04:42 The stench of horror, the open sewers, hungry people, 04:46 it was Gandhi who said, 04:48 "Poverty is the worst kind of violence." 04:50 I've been there. 04:52 I've been in South Africa during apartheid 04:55 and preached at Soweto, a township 04:57 where I wasn't supposed to even go. 05:00 And I saw the poor and I saw sadness in the faces. 05:06 I've been in a Barrios of LA and saw poverty and dirt, 05:10 I saw falling down shacks where four families lived together 05:14 surviving and hoping for a job. 05:18 I lived in the ghetto. 05:20 I mean the slums of Coney Island. 05:23 My only scenic view out the window 05:26 was the garbage barrels in the alleyway. 05:28 I lived with the violence and the blood 05:33 and the gore and the death. 05:37 I've been in the inner cities of the great nation 05:39 and saw what drugs and alcohol 05:40 and sin can do to wreck a neighborhood 05:43 and hold its citizens captive 05:45 behind the doors captive to violence. 05:49 I've seen the pollute waters of Coney Island creek. 05:53 And I saw the east river where I swam 05:57 and when I came up I had a sheen of oil on my body 06:02 and I had to watch out for the water rats 06:03 when I crawled out of the river. 06:07 I've been there. 06:08 I discovered that all this beauty in this world 06:11 which has inspired the tracing of artists 06:14 and the words of poets is not sufficient. 06:16 You see, that is the world, 06:19 that is this world and it's not enough. 06:22 There is a better place. 06:24 I mean, and that brings us to our subject tonight, 06:27 it's as good as it gets, the good as it gets. 06:32 The Book of Revelation can be called 06:33 the book of homecomings. 06:35 For there in that book he's given the picture 06:37 of a heavenly home. 06:38 And heaven is our true home. 06:40 You see, anonymous writer about an American tourist 06:43 visit to 19th century Polish Rabbi, Hofetz Chaim. 06:49 As he walked into the Rabbi's home, 06:51 he noticed there was so little bit of furniture 06:53 and it was just a room filled with books 06:55 and a table and a bench. 06:57 And the tourist asked then, 06:59 "Rabbi, where is your furniture?" 07:02 And the Rabbi said, "Where is yours?" 07:05 He said, "Mine?" 07:06 Asked the puzzled American. 07:08 "I'm a visitor here. I'm only passing through." 07:13 And the Rabbi looked at him and said, "So am I." 07:16 Amen. 07:18 So am I. 07:20 You see, Revelation describes of people who are pilgrims 07:25 and not tourists that they are pilgrims 07:27 going to the Promise Land. 07:29 They are pilgrims like Abraham starting out trusting God 07:33 every step by faith until they found their promise land. 07:36 We are pilgrims today. Amen. 07:40 I went home recently back to New York. 07:42 I go there every now and then just to walk up 07:44 and down the streets and smell again the smells 07:46 and hear again the sounds. 07:48 I love the city. 07:49 You get to heaven I know 07:51 you have a place out in the country, 07:52 I'm gonna live in a condo in New Jerusalem. 07:57 But I went back to New York, I went back to Coney Island 08:01 the boardwalk and also I went to ground zero. 08:05 I stood on the spot where the age of fear was born 08:09 and the war on terrorism really began. 08:11 The skyline looks so different. 08:13 It looked like some teeth were plucked out of the city. 08:17 I mean, the skyline looks strangely different. 08:20 Twin Towers lay in ruins. 08:21 I stood reverently thinking about 08:23 those people that perished that day. 08:25 They had everything to live for 08:27 and I stood there with bowed head 08:29 and thought of those people. 08:31 David Tatkey, twin sons and daughters, 08:35 he died at 47 years old at the towers. 08:38 I mean, Patrick Sean Murphy, 08:42 he left behind a two year old daughter 08:44 and he died in the ruins. 08:47 William Rob, 38 years old 08:50 left behind a wife and six year old daughter. 08:53 Vincent Brunton, Captain, Truck Company Ladder 105. 08:59 He left behind a two year old and a three year old. 09:03 Just a few names 09:05 and it tells me death be not proud. 09:08 My Bible tells me in 1 Corinthians, 09:11 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, 09:14 we are all men most miserable." 09:16 He tells us that this is the only hope that we have, 09:18 here charlotte at North Carolina. 09:20 If this is the only hope we have, 09:22 United States of America, 09:23 if this is the only hope we have, 09:26 if this is the only hope we have, 09:28 we are miserable. 09:31 Because there's a good and the bad, 09:33 there's the beautiful and the ugly. 09:36 And even our tranco world is ripped apart 09:39 sometime in our growing years. 09:43 Does God have anything to say to a world held hostage? 09:47 Does God have anything to say to those who grieve? 09:50 I have good news for you. 09:51 Yes, God has something to say to us. 09:54 The book is written in the age of pain, Revelation. 09:56 The book is stained with tears, this Book of Revelation. 09:59 This book is stained in blood, the Book of Revelation 10:03 and it gives us hope. 10:04 The apocalypse, the Revelation is a book of the soaring 10:07 and it says, "I, John, saw." 10:09 Nearly 50 times, 10:12 John the man of Patmos says, "I saw." 10:17 And why he says that 10:18 is because when you read this book, 10:20 he wants you to see. 10:22 He wants you to see what he saw. 10:24 He wants you to see 10:26 the beautiful kingdom of heaven. 10:28 He wants you to see the curtain open, 10:30 he wants you to see the angels of God rejoicing at the throne, 10:33 he wants you to see Jesus Christ, 10:36 King of kings and Lords of Lords. 10:38 I saw, he saw things of the past. 10:42 I saw Jesus walked to the water 10:44 and be baptized by John the baptizer. 10:47 I saw and beheld he says, I saw Jesus Christ 10:50 as He came up out of the water. 10:51 John saw it with his own eyes, that was past. 10:55 He saw the slain lamb Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. 10:59 He saw the upper room where He was with His disciples 11:01 and where Judas came and betrayed his Lord 11:04 for 30 pieces of silver. 11:06 But what do we betray Christ for? 11:09 What cheap things do we betray Christ for? 11:12 I saw, he says. 11:14 I saw the upper room, the feast. 11:16 I saw the garden where He prayed, 11:18 where drops of blood poured from His forehead 11:21 and mingled with the dust of the earth. 11:23 "Let this cup past from the me, o God, not my will 11:26 but Thee be done." 11:28 He said I saw the trail of Jesus. 11:32 I saw where they took the crown of thorns 11:34 and crushed it upon His head. 11:36 I saw Him die upon the cross, bloodied by man's spear 11:41 and bloodied by man's whip. 11:43 I saw Him die. 11:47 I, John, I saw Him. 11:52 I saw Him resurrected. 11:55 I saw Him come forth, I saw Him 11:58 who had broken the bonds of death 12:00 and the stone had been rolled away. 12:02 I saw Jesus alive. 12:04 I, John, saw. 12:06 The ascension of Jesus back to heaven 12:09 and the future is open to John 12:11 and the veil is pulled away and now He sees things 12:13 that will come to pass in the future. 12:15 And those are the things he wants you to see. 12:17 He wants you to see the Christ of the past 12:20 and the Christ of the present and the Christ of the future. 12:23 He wants to show you and there are two things 12:25 among many that he shows us. 12:27 First of all he shows us a world ruined, 12:29 a world ruined by man and then secondly 12:32 a world restored by the Son of Man. 12:36 1 John says, the world is ruined. 12:39 Listen, "And I looked, and behold a pale horse, 12:42 and his name that sat on him," this is prophetic. 12:44 Listen to what he says. 12:45 He said, "Behold a pale horse, 12:47 and his name that sat on him was Death, 12:49 and Hell," that translated in Greek is the grave. 12:52 I saw the grave. "Followed with him. 12:55 And power was given unto them 12:56 over the fourth part of the earth." 12:58 And he describes it. 12:59 "To kill with sword, war and with hunger, 13:02 pestilence and death, 13:04 and with the beasts of the nation of the earth." 13:06 He saw all these things a world ruined by man, 13:10 a world ruined by man. 13:12 And then in chapter 6 verse 4, he says, 13:14 "And there went out another horse," 13:16 this is the four horse galloping across 13:18 the scene of human events 13:19 telling us what terrible things are going to happen 13:22 before Christ comes. 13:23 He says, "And there went out another horse that was red, 13:26 and power was given unto him that sat thereon 13:28 to take peace from the earth, 13:30 and that they should kill one another, 13:32 and there was given unto him a great sword." 13:34 He describes this terrible world, 13:36 the world of war, the world of hate 13:38 when nations can't get along together. 13:41 The war of hate. 13:42 He talks about it and he says, it says, 13:45 if the horse gallops across the scene 13:47 the scene of human events. 13:49 And the Bible tells us, Roman 3:17, 13:53 notice, and it says, 13:54 "The way of peace have they not known." 13:57 What a world. 13:59 Must I remind you we are at war. 14:01 Iraq, Iran, I mean, Afghanistan. 14:05 We're at war, 14:06 we're at war with terrorism around the world. 14:09 And we are at war and the Bible says, 14:11 it needs the Prince of peace, the Lord Jesus Christ. 14:14 Amen. 14:15 And so John describes it in that chapter, 14:17 the sixth chapter of Revelation. 14:19 He describes a world, a world throttling 14:22 on the brink of disaster. 14:24 And the Bible again tells us, 14:26 "Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars." 14:29 And he says, the end's not yet. 14:31 Not one decade has been in universal peace 14:34 in our lifetime. 14:36 Always somewhere man is at war. 14:38 I mean John sees it there in Revelation. 14:41 And he goes and says, 14:42 "And when he had opened the third seal, 14:43 I heard the third beast say, Come and see. 14:45 And I behold, and lo a black horse." 14:47 Notice, he says, "A black horse and he that sat on him 14:50 had a pair of balances in his hand." 14:52 They're trying to balance out the food supply for the world. 14:57 "And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts, 15:00 the four nation say, 15:01 A measure of wheat for a penny, 15:03 three measures of barley for a penny, 15:05 and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine." 15:09 Figuratively who is speaking listen, 15:11 the food is weighed out in small portions at a time. 15:15 Famine and inflation will play a major role 15:18 in the last days. 15:19 I'm Paul when I go to Africa, 15:21 I'm Paul when to the third world countries. 15:24 And I think of what we have here in America 15:27 and we're always complaining. 15:30 I'm amazed. 15:32 Follow me through those Sahara places, 15:37 those dry places. 15:39 Go with me into some of those townships. 15:42 Go with me with a people who are hungry 15:44 and starving and they have no-- 15:45 and they are following their momma, 15:47 they're looking for something, something to eat. 15:50 Some haven't had a bit of food for the week, 15:54 those little thin children with bloated bellies. 15:59 Bible says it will get worse and worse until 16:01 the man ruined the world that God gave them. 16:04 All the beautiful things I talked about man ruins it. 16:07 He pollutes the sky. 16:08 I mean he does away with the ozone. 16:11 I mean he melts the ice cap. 16:13 Listen to me, friend, we are our worst enemies. 16:17 "And when he opened the fourth seal, 16:18 I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, 16:20 Come and see. 16:21 And I looked, and behold a pale horse, 16:23 and his name that sat on him was," what? 16:25 "His name was Death." 16:28 And we go on. 16:29 "And Hell followed with him. 16:30 And power was given unto them 16:32 over the fourth part of the earth, 16:33 to kill with sword, 16:34 and with hunger, and with death, 16:36 and the beasts of the field of the earth." 16:39 We find a world ruined by man. 16:41 But we find a world soon to be restored by God. 16:44 God is about to restore in spite of pestilence, 16:48 in spite of anthrax and smallpox and Rickets 16:52 a world under the threat of chemical warfare. 16:54 In spite of all that God has an answer for our future. 16:59 A world will be restored again. 17:02 I'll look for the restoration of this earth. 17:04 I long for the restoration of this earth. 17:07 And God says that He will do it, restore it. 17:10 When I was a young minister, I got a telephone call once. 17:13 I was in my study reading the Word of God, 17:15 trying to write a sermon for the coming Sabbath 17:17 where I was to preach. 17:20 If in this life only we have hope. 17:23 And I got a telephone call 17:24 and this was a mother of C.M. Jennings 17:27 and she said, "My boy is in the hospital." 17:29 I couldn't believe it why he was a seminary student, 17:32 that weekend he was there at the church and I-- 17:34 I had him have opening prayer 17:36 and he was so excited about finishing seminary 17:39 and going out and preaching 17:40 and being a minister of the gospel. 17:42 And I said C.M? 17:44 She said, "He's in the hospital at New Haven 17:47 at Yale at the medical center there. 17:50 Would you go see him?" I said, "I sure will." 17:51 And so the next morning I drove down from New London, 17:54 Connecticut down to New Haven. 17:57 I walked into the hospital 17:58 and up the stairs and down the hallway 17:59 and got to his room, third floor. 18:04 The door was open a little, I noticed 18:05 he was sitting on the edge of his bed 18:06 and he was reading his Bible. 18:09 And so I walked in and he said, "Hi, pastor. 18:13 I'm so glad to see you." 18:15 And we sat down together and we talked a little. 18:17 And then he says, "You know, pastor, 18:19 I've been reading about Abraham. 18:21 The Bible says Abraham looked for a city 18:23 whose builder and maker was God." 18:26 And we spent the most beautiful hour and a half together 18:29 studying the restoration of the new planet. 18:32 And he was so excited, he was so thrilled, 18:35 we had prayer together. 18:36 I went home and when I got home, 18:38 the mother called me. 18:39 She says, "The tests have just come back. 18:42 C.M. has leukemia." 18:44 Nineteen year old boy. 18:47 He has leukemia and it's deadly. 18:52 So I prayed for C.M., 18:54 the next day I went down to the hospital. 18:57 Then the next day. 18:59 About the fourth day he was looking weaker and paler. 19:03 And I was sitting on the bed beside him 19:04 and we again studied about 19:06 the restoration of the new earth. 19:09 And he said, "I know I have a terrible disease, 19:11 pastor" he said. 19:12 But I look for a builder 19:16 who's the maker is Jesus Christ. 19:18 And that city, that restoration. 19:22 Few days later I came to the hospital, 19:24 I walked and he was in last stages of leukemia. 19:27 His fiancée was standing at the foot of the bed 19:30 and mother, father, brother, sister, two sisters. 19:37 And I sat down beside him and I took his hand. 19:42 And he squeezed my hand and he said, 19:46 "Abraham, Abraham. Abraham." 19:51 I said, "C.M., go to sleep. 19:55 I'll see you with Abraham." 19:59 That's right. Amen. 20:00 I walked out in the room and I was crying because-- 20:05 then after I came back 20:06 the bed sheets were out in the hall 20:07 and there was mother and father heartbroken 20:10 and a brother and two sisters. 20:14 It's hard to explain but was through his death 20:17 that I let his mother and father to Jesus Christ 20:20 and the kingdom of God 20:22 and I baptized his three, his three siblings. 20:27 Looks for a kingdom. 20:30 I left that place a different man. 20:32 I was determined from the moment on, 20:34 that any opportunity God gave me 20:36 to show a man or a woman or a young person and child 20:39 to the kingdom of God 20:40 that's why I live for and I die for. 20:42 Amen. 20:44 Revolutionized my ministry, 20:46 if in this life only we have hope a world-- 20:50 a world restored. 20:52 Now this miserable world without God, 20:57 why because we've been held hostage. 20:59 Look at this man he is in chains, 21:01 the more figurative that we had to put real chains on him. 21:04 Sin has brought him to ruin. 21:07 Alcohol and drugs 21:09 and there is no denying that we live here 21:11 but we really don't have a full abandon life, come on. 21:14 Just when you think everything is going all right, 21:16 you get news from the doctor, come on. 21:18 Just when you think everything is going by you 21:20 hear news from the bank. 21:22 Just when you think things-- 21:24 you're finally getting on top of it you know fall. 21:29 In this life we don't have permanent love here. 21:32 I mean we will laugh we don't have 21:33 permanent happiness here. 21:35 You see sinners robbed us and God will restore us 21:38 and that is what John is saying in the Book of Revelation. 21:41 The ultimate life, the ultimate love, 21:43 the ultimate happiness is heaven. 21:46 And that's why I'd like to talk about heaven. 21:48 I mean, I love to talk about heaven. 21:51 You see heaven, 21:52 you see it's true that a Christian has a-- 21:54 I mean ability to enjoy life here on earth. 21:57 I mean I love life, I mean, everyday is a blessing, 22:01 I mean even when I'm sick it's a blessing. 22:03 I mean everyday, I mean, I can't help 22:05 but to be rejoicing and happy. 22:07 Sometimes my wife she says, what's this? 22:12 I say, that's right, I take two pills, 22:14 one in the morning prayer and one in the evening 22:16 and the whole day goes better. 22:19 A whole day goes better. 22:21 I mean, a world filled with evil 22:23 yet we can find some kind of good. 22:25 Can't we as a believer? 22:27 I mean tragic circumstances the believer finds 22:30 happiness in a world of unhappiness. 22:32 The believer finds peace in the world of panic. 22:35 Believer finds love in the world of lust, 22:37 I mean but the ultimate happiness, 22:39 the ultimate peace and the ultimate joy 22:41 will be in heaven itself. 22:42 A person is not prepared to live 22:44 until he's prepared to die. 22:46 Amen. 22:48 Bob Harrington, chapel in the Bourbon Street 22:50 had his Bible in his hand was walking along Bourbon Street 22:53 singing a hymn just moving fast through Bourbon Street 22:56 and there was the bartender 22:58 standing out in the corner he says, 22:59 Bob, where you going? 23:01 He said, heaven just passing through town. 23:05 I like that, we are pilgrims on a way to heaven. 23:10 And you're just passing through town. 23:15 Heaven is for real people, for you and for me. 23:19 It's for young people and old people. 23:21 I mean, in fact, do you realize 23:23 that 88 percent of people surveyed, 23:26 said they believe heaven is a place 23:28 where people live forever with God. 23:31 Fifty seven percent people believed 23:33 people get there through a mixture of 23:36 faith in God and good works. 23:38 Seventy nine believe Mother Teresa is in heaven. 23:42 Sixty six believe that Oprah Winfrey 23:44 will go to heaven, that's nice. 23:47 I wonder if I'm on this survey anywhere. 23:51 I mean, I kind of like her but surely if Oprah is going 23:54 I want to go, come on I mean. 23:57 Sixty one percent believe that Princess Diana 24:00 will be in heaven. 24:01 Eighty seven believe that they were going there. 24:05 I don't know if that's faith or presumption 24:07 but anyway 87 percent. 24:10 I don't think the average American 24:11 gives it a second thought until someone they love dies 24:15 and then heaven is real. 24:18 Heaven is real and the restoration of eternal 24:21 never ending life and peace and happiness and joy 24:24 spoken out by John and John did not lie to us 24:27 Revelation is a revelation of Jesus Christ 24:30 and Christ is never lie to us and if my Christ says 24:33 I go to prepare a place for you, 24:34 I will come again receive you unto Myself 24:37 I'm waiting, 24:40 I'm waiting to go home to be with Jesus Christ. 24:46 I tell you what a wonderful promise. 24:48 Heaven is for real people, the Bible tells us. 24:52 "And he showed me," Revelation 22:1-5, 24:55 'he showed me a pure river of water of life," 24:58 you see listen to me at Eden there was a river, 25:01 when sin came into world it was divided. 25:03 Sin always divides. 25:04 And then there was a river and remember the time 25:06 they came through the waters of Mara 25:10 and remember they, the waters were bitter 25:14 and then he took the tree and then through it in the waters 25:16 and it became sweet the tree always makes lives sweet, 25:20 Calvary always makes life sweet. 25:23 And then you know the river-- the river flows 25:26 it flows through the Old Testament 25:27 then my blessed Lord hangs upon a tree, 25:30 they pierce His side and blood comes out 25:32 and water the river runs through it 25:35 from Genesis to Jesus and Jesus to John. 25:37 And then John says I saw a new river. 25:40 Amen. 25:42 The river of life "clear as crystal, 25:47 proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 25:50 In the midst of the street of it, 25:51 and on the either side of the river, was a tree." 25:54 Listen, "and there was a tree of life, 25:55 which bare twelve manner of fruits, 25:57 and yielded her fruit every month, 25:59 and the leaves of the tree 26:00 were for the healing of the nations. 26:01 And there shall be no more curse." 26:04 Amen. Amen. 26:06 Nothing can harm us there. Armies cannot touch us there. 26:10 Terrorist cannot fight us there. 26:13 I tell you floods cannot destroy us. 26:15 Fires cannot burn us. Evil cannot overcome us. 26:19 Famines cannot starve us. 26:21 Torture chambers cannot hold us. 26:23 Concentrated camps cannot defeat us. 26:28 That's we are children of God. 26:31 There will be no more tears. 26:33 I love that. 26:34 "But the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it, 26:36 and the servants shall serve him, 26:38 and they shall see his face, 26:39 and his name shall be in their foreheads." 26:41 The name not 666 26:43 but the name of Jesus written in your forehead 26:46 because that your forehead is where of your thoughts are, 26:48 that's where your mind is, 26:50 you respond to Christ here in your forehead. 26:53 He says, the name of Christ is written 26:56 "and there shall be no more night there." 26:57 What a description of this world. 26:59 "And they need no candle, neither light of the sun, 27:02 for the Lord God giveth them light, 27:04 and they shall reign for ever and ever." 27:06 I remember as I was knocking on door sharing faith 27:09 and I would go into the home and I would shared Jesus 27:12 and give them the assurance that the Bible gives. 27:14 And I remember I was in this doctors home and he says-- 27:17 he says, I don't believe in heaven. 27:20 Now I was taken back because that's my first line. 27:24 If you died would you go to heaven? 27:25 He said, I don't believe in heaven. 27:27 So I said, what if there was a place, 27:31 that there be no taxes, no sickness, 27:37 no pain, no death, no separation 27:42 and I went on and on and on just describing 27:44 what the Bible describes about heaven 27:46 and he said, this, he said, you'll have to be crazy 27:48 not to, want to go there. 27:50 I said, that's right, may I share with you 27:51 the gospel the good news? 27:53 Amen, amen. 27:55 You'd have to be crazy if you don't go there. 27:59 There in Revelation the Bible teaches us, 28:02 I think Jesus is personal, 28:05 I think that children will flock to Him. 28:07 I was out at a little church school the other day, 28:09 we have two beautiful church schools in this city, 28:12 you should check up on them for your children, believe me. 28:15 And anyway when I finished 28:18 the children came and ran and grab me, 28:21 held on me, this grandfather's heart 28:24 I tell you it was beating boom, boom, boom. 28:29 I think it was like that with Jesus. 28:31 Isn't a terrible thing now? 28:34 Come on, isn't a terrible thing now? 28:36 There is so evil people that they can't 28:39 a child cannot put their arms around you. 28:42 Amen. Amen. 28:43 I remember when I had a church 28:45 I had a big church in Washington DC 28:47 and the children like me for some reason. 28:49 I'm a pretty likeable guy for little ones. 28:53 And we had many doors out of this great Cathedral Church. 28:57 And one day a mother came up dragging her child 29:01 and she said, he won't go home until he hugs you. 29:07 I hugged him and he went home. 29:11 And then I-- then a little girl came up to me 29:12 she heard I like Snicker bar 29:14 and she's came up to me one day 29:16 just before I get up to preach just a little girl 29:18 and she said, I got something for you, pastor, 29:21 and she held it out was Snicker bar. 29:25 And I said, honey, I said, I got to go preach 29:27 I said, I can't-- I said, I tell you what, 29:29 you hold it and after you and I will split it. 29:34 She sat in the front row holding a Snicker bar 29:39 and I preached the shortest sermon 29:41 I preached a whole year. 29:46 Wow, no more sickness. 29:51 No more land grabs and loan forecloses. 29:56 No more runaway inflation in trillion-dollar depts. 29:59 Amen. 30:00 No more poverty and hunger and hurt, 30:03 no more beggars, no homeless, no war no-- 30:07 and you don't want to go there? 30:10 You don't want to go there? 30:12 My friend Johnny, no my friend Richard, 30:16 excuse me, my friend Richard was out -- 30:17 I told you about my conversion there 30:20 the other night and Richard was with me 30:22 remember the young man that was with me 30:23 just out of reform school. 30:25 And I remember when I gave my heart to Jesus, 30:26 I turned Richard and I wanted to invite him to come 30:28 and he looked up and he said 30:30 it cost too much to be a Christian. 30:33 Later he murdered someone 30:35 and he spent the rest of his life in prison. 30:37 And I've traveled around the world 30:39 to the most beautiful places a human being can ever go. 30:43 It cost too much not to be a Christian. 30:46 Amen. 30:47 No tears, no sorrow, no Taliban, 30:51 I mean we have God's word on it. 30:53 I John saw the new heaven and a new earth 30:56 wherein dwelleth righteousness. 30:58 The people of God listen they're safe at last 31:02 and my Bible tells me Revelation 21, 31:05 "And I heard a great voice out of heaven," 31:07 this is my favorite chapter in Revelation. 31:09 I want you to look at it, 31:10 "And I heard a great voice in heaven saying, 31:12 behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, 31:14 and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, 31:16 and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." 31:19 You don't have to build the tabernacle, 31:21 you are a tabernacle. 31:22 Amen. Amen. 31:24 Then he goes on to say, 31:26 "And I heard the number of them 31:27 which were sealed, and there were sealed 31:29 an hundred and forty and four thousand 31:30 of all tribes of the children of Israel. 31:32 After this I beheld, and, lo," notice he goes on, 31:35 "and a great multitude, which no man could number, 31:38 of all nations, kindreds, people, tongues, 31:40 stood before the throne, before the Lamb, 31:42 clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." 31:45 Multitude after multi-- friend, 31:47 God is trying to make it for you 31:49 the kingdom possible, the kingdom possible. 31:53 Revelation 7, and God will wipe away all tears here it is, 31:57 "God will wipe away all tears from their eyes, 32:00 and there shall be no more death, 32:02 neither sorrow, nor crying, 32:04 neither shall there be any more pain, 32:06 for the former things are passed away." 32:10 I have good news for you there will be a heaven. 32:14 Amen. 32:15 And it does by the way the Bible speaks about it 32:17 doesn't argue the point it just takes it. 32:20 He talks about heaven, he just takes it, 32:22 don't argue it. 32:24 You can't argue with ignorant people anyway. 32:27 Heaven is real place with real person 32:29 with real people. 32:31 Heaven is a real place of newness 32:32 that's what the Bible teaches us, that is a place-- 32:35 wipe away all the tears from their eyes. 32:38 Wow. 32:40 I want to and wipe away the tears 32:41 from my eyes, don't you? 32:43 That's the tender touch of Jesus Christ. 32:46 That's the God you serve 32:47 not some tyrant sitting on a throne 32:49 looking to see you whether you're doing exactly 32:52 like you should so He can zap you. 32:54 Amen. Amen. 32:55 Listen to me, we have people in the church 32:59 that give a bad impression about who God is 33:02 and how He is and how He acts. 33:05 We got bad people behind a pulpit 33:07 trying to make God out as a tyrant. 33:09 But I want to tell you He wants to wipe away 33:10 your tears with His own finger. 33:13 And heaven is a real place with newness. 33:16 It's a place of newness. 33:18 The people of God are safe at last in this new place. 33:23 Listen to me, the people are safe at home, 33:26 "Let not your heart to be trouble, 33:27 ye believe in God, believe also in me. 33:29 In my Father's house are many mansions, 33:31 if it were not so, I would have told you. 33:33 I go to prepare a place for you. 33:35 And if I go and prepare a place for you, 33:37 I will come again, and receive you unto myself, 33:39 that where I am, there ye may be also." 33:41 Amen. 33:42 The Taj Mahal, I don't know, if you ever been there, 33:44 it's a beautiful place. 33:45 That's after he took all the jewelry out of it, 33:46 it was still a beautiful place all the jewels. 33:49 Shah Jahan, built this for his wife for 14 years 33:53 who died giving birth to his son. 33:57 It was constructed of white marble. 34:00 I mean it's so beautiful. 34:02 It's-- I can't explain it even after they robbed it, 34:08 it's so beautiful. 34:09 It took 20,000 artisans to build it 34:13 and when they finished it he cut off their right hand 34:17 so they could never duplicate Taj Mahal. 34:21 My wife and I went there together. 34:23 I've been preaching all across India 34:25 and we went to the Taj we had a day off. 34:28 And what was it, it was a tomb. 34:32 A tomb. 34:34 Imagine what Jesus has prepared for us. 34:37 If a mogul could build such a monument or tomb, 34:42 tomb to his wife 34:45 but heaven is a place of newness. 34:47 Let me tell you that heaven is a place of newness, 34:50 a new earth, a new city, a new beginning. 34:56 I mean notice Isaiah describes and talks about it. 34:59 He talks about this new place and this newness. 35:01 "Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, 35:03 for the former shall not be remembered, 35:05 nor come into mind." 35:06 It's not gonna bother you any more this old earth, 35:09 your mind is gonna be clear of it. 35:10 Amen. 35:11 And it's gonna be new. 35:13 And there is something about newness isn't there. 35:15 I grew up in a inner city I told you about that. 35:18 I mean I grew up inner city and we were poor. 35:23 Just suppose how poor I don't know what this group. 35:25 I mean, one minute you're happy 35:26 and the next minute you look like 35:27 you lost your best friend, come on here. 35:32 How poor, I was so poor. 35:34 My momma used to scrimp and save. 35:36 You ever hear that word. 35:37 My momma used to scrimp and save to get enough money. 35:40 She would buy a suit, one suit 35:44 once a year for one of the boys. 35:46 Now there are five boys so you get-- 35:49 I remember it was my turn. 35:51 We got on the subway train in Coney Island 35:52 rode out to 34th Street in Manhattan. 35:56 Got off the train walk by Macy's that was too expensive, 35:59 went on to Gimbel's by the way I even, 36:02 I even put a little gimbel there is gimbels. 36:05 And my momma said she brought me there 36:07 and I remember I went into a room with suits 36:10 and I looked and my eyes got big. 36:13 Saw a new suit and then she kind of 36:17 guided me to the sales section. 36:20 And then she says all right son pick it out. 36:24 I was walking up and down, up and down, up and down 36:26 and the poor sales person 36:27 he want to get rid of these sales 36:29 and I mean he want to sell this boy 36:31 and get him out of there. 36:32 I get up suit once every five years 36:35 I'm gonna enjoy it. 36:36 Amen. 36:39 And finally I saw it, it was a pale blue suit. 36:45 Come on now pale blue suit in Coney island, 36:50 a pale blue suit. 36:54 My momma said, you sure son? 36:58 She said, this is a beautiful suit. 37:00 I said, oh no, momma, I love that suit 37:03 and she said all right. 37:06 And I took it to the counter, laid it on the counter 37:08 and the woman rung it up, I don't know what it was $7 37:12 or you know in those days you could buy a suit 37:15 now you got-- 37:16 bring whole trailer of money to get a suit. 37:19 But anyway or if you get one of those cheep once 37:22 you get home and the unravels on you, 37:23 have you notice that? 37:26 And so I had the blue suit and this woman she said, 37:31 should I put it in the bag? 37:32 I should a bag, I lean back and my momma grab me 37:36 I should a bag-- I want to box. 37:40 And there were these Gimbel boxes 37:42 I don't know with the wooden handle 37:44 and I dragged up box all along 34th Street 37:49 and sat on the subway with that box 37:51 sitting on my lap. 37:55 My momma said, now its Easter Sunday 37:57 you're go in the Sunday School, 37:58 I was first one in Sunday School 37:59 in my pale blue suit. 38:02 I mean isn't it something about getting something new. 38:05 Come on you women know that, you're from Venus, 38:08 I'm from Mars. 38:13 A new suit. 38:14 My Bible tells me I'm gonna have a new body. 38:16 Amen. Amen. 38:18 All things are new a Wal Mart made new again, 38:21 a body shaded made new again, 38:23 a home desecrated made new again, 38:26 the Bible was on to describe this place. 38:28 "And he that sat upon the throne said, 38:29 Behold, I make all things new. 38:31 He said unto me, Write, these words are true 38:33 and the faithful." 38:34 God has always been faithful. 38:36 Death will be no more, 38:38 that's what the Bible teaches us. 38:40 He is going to us glorious bodies, 38:42 fashion unto his body. 38:43 "For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised, 38:46 And if the Christ be not raised, 38:47 your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins. 38:50 Then they also which are fallen asleep," 38:53 they have "fallen asleep in Christ" 38:55 and then he says, "are perished." 38:56 But notice 38:57 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, 38:59 we are of all men most miserable. 39:01 But now is Christ risen from the dead, 39:03 and become the firstfruits of them that," what? 39:05 "Slept." Amen. 39:07 I have not seen. 39:09 Amen. 39:10 Nor ear heard. 39:12 You see it's gonna be real forever, it's a real life 39:17 and "Behold I shew you a mystery, 39:19 we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 39:21 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, 39:23 at the last trump for the trumpet shall sound, 39:25 and the dead in Christ shall raise first" 39:28 and then we which are alive and remain 39:30 shall be caught up together with them in the cloud 39:33 to meet the Lord near. 39:34 Amen. 39:35 So shall we ever be with the Lord, 39:39 that's a promise made right from God's holy book. 39:42 Listen to me, Jesus wants us to enjoy that life forever. 39:48 I have not seen He says, there is beauty in that truth. 39:52 A real forever life, cataclysmic change. 39:57 You say how does that happen? 39:58 How will those things become new? 40:00 Notice, notice how. Fire. 40:04 You see, cataclysmic change. 40:05 Why fire? Why cataclysmic change? 40:08 The answer lies in the fact of sin, 40:10 the fact of redemption. 40:11 Sin cannot be eradicated by scientific process, 40:14 just there has to be a cross on Golgotha 40:17 to end sin in the human heart, 40:18 so there must be another divine invent 40:21 to end sin in the world and the universe. 40:23 A cross fro a new heart 40:25 and a coming King for the new world. 40:28 2 Peter tells us, 40:30 "But the day of the Lord will come" what? 40:32 "As a thief in the night, 40:33 in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise." 40:35 Someone says well, that's very secret. 40:37 If the heavens are passing away with a great noise 40:39 I don't know if that's secret. 40:42 "And the elements shall melt with fervent heat, 40:44 and the earth also and the works 40:45 that are therein shall be" what? 40:47 "Burned up." 40:48 Notice how John puts it. 40:50 well, Malachi, "And behold, the day cometh, 40:52 that shall burn as an oven, all the proud, yea" 40:54 notice "and the day that cometh shall burn them up," what? 40:58 "Up, saith the Lord of hosts, that is shall leave them 41:00 neither root nor" what? 41:02 "Branch." 41:03 2 Peter seeing then, 41:05 "That these things shall be dissolved, 41:06 what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation, 41:09 godliness, looking for an hasting 41:12 unto the coming of the day of God 41:14 wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, 41:17 and all the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 41:19 Nevertheless we, according to the promise, 41:22 look for new heavens and a new earth, 41:24 wherein dwelleth righteousness." 41:25 Let me illustrate, it says, it shall dissolve away. 41:29 It shall dissolve 41:37 by fervent heat. 41:39 You see the tablet disappears but it's not destroyed. 41:44 It becomes liquid. 41:46 You see, the old world the Bible says, 41:48 the old world will dissolve away. 41:50 I mean, mortality will dissolve into immortality. 41:53 I mean, corruptibility shall 41:54 dissolve into incorruptibility. 41:57 Death shall dissolve into life itself, 42:01 the world change by the power of God. 42:04 The world whose role models 42:05 entertain as athletes, politicians, 42:07 tragedy as many of whom lack morals and integrity 42:10 and even come in decency. 42:12 But in that day the day will burn them up, the Bible says. 42:16 But you don't believe that I do believe it 42:19 because God said it. 42:21 A world where there is no compromise. 42:23 "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, 42:25 for the first heaven and the first earth 42:27 were passed away, and there was no more sea." 42:31 The Bible tells us. 42:32 hey, listen, grab all the gusto you can 42:34 you only gonna go round once 42:36 but if you are believing you are gonna round twice 42:39 and you are gonna have the most blessed eternity 42:41 that anyone could ever offer. 42:43 He offers it to you, every one of you. 42:46 You can have eternal life. 42:47 You can possess eternal life. 42:50 You can have it if you were just reach out 42:52 and if you would take it. 42:54 If you would take it. 42:55 Just think what that's going to be like 42:57 the kingdom of heaven. 42:58 "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, 43:00 coming down from God out of the heaven, 43:02 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." 43:05 Listen, I've never seen an ugly bride. 43:08 I saw a lot of husbands that needed help 43:11 but I never saw an ugly bride. 43:14 I've known all kinds of people. 43:16 I know drug addicts and drunkards and reprobates 43:18 and rich men and poor men, housewives and down trodden 43:21 but I found them changed 43:22 by the anointing of God's spirit. 43:24 I saw their life looking in the gutter, 43:26 looking in darkness now looking up into the light 43:29 longing and praying 43:31 for the coming of the kingdom of Christ. 43:33 I find it everywhere. 43:34 Isaiah said, "They shall not build, and another inhabit, 43:37 they shall not plant, and another eat, 43:39 for as the days of the tree are the days of my people, 43:42 and my elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands." 43:45 You are gonna build houses and you are gonna keep. 43:48 "They shall not labor in vain," 43:50 and you won't need the government 43:51 trying to help you to keep them until they run out of money 43:54 and then they leave you in the-- 43:56 I mean, come on, and he says this, 43:59 "Their offspring with them." 44:01 Jesus Christ never fails, 44:03 I want to tell you that tonight. 44:04 The Lord Jesus never fails. 44:06 You may fail but Jesus never fails. 44:08 We're gonna know each other in the kingdom of heaven. 44:10 The Bible says "For now we look through a glass, darkly, 44:12 but then face to face, now I know in part, 44:15 but then shall I know even as I am known." 44:18 So you walk up to me and you say, 44:19 Ron Halverson, and I say dove. 44:24 Well, we met there at Charlotte, 44:27 North Carolina at the Ovens Auditorium. 44:31 I say, oh, you were in the fifth row, fourth seat. 44:34 Yeah, and will spend a good time together 44:37 where we can get to know each other better. 44:40 It's gonna be real. 44:41 It's a real place for real people 44:45 and Jesus, listen to me, 44:47 the lame will leap in joy at that day 44:49 and the blind will see for the first time in that day 44:53 and the deaf will hear. 44:55 Mortality shall put on immortality. 44:57 I mean, mother weep no more for that baby. 45:00 He's gonna put it back in your hands again. 45:02 I mean, husband weep no more for that wife, 45:03 God is gonna give her back. 45:05 I mean, you're gonna know each other. 45:06 Wife weep no more for that husband. 45:08 God wants to give you it back. 45:10 God wants to welcome you back. 45:14 The story has told the missionary name 45:15 Samuel Morris and that was his name. 45:18 Who after 25 years in Africa, serving God in Africa 45:24 was returning to the United States to die. 45:28 As it so happened he traveled home on the same ocean liner 45:31 that brought President Teddy Roosevelt 45:34 who had just been in Africa to hunt. 45:37 And the old man lost his two children while in Africa 45:40 and buried then in Africa. 45:42 And just before he was to return home with his wife 45:44 she perished there in Africa 45:46 and he buried her in the soil of Africa. 45:49 Now its time to go home Pastor Morrison 45:53 and he climbs on the same ship that Teddy Roosevelt is on 45:57 and they sail across the ocean. 45:59 When they come to the harbor to New York harbor the-- 46:03 fire boats are out shooting up water 46:05 and there's fireworks and here comes Teddy Roosevelt 46:09 walking down the gangplank with his rifle. 46:13 He spent two weeks in Africa and they are cheering 46:18 and there is bands playing and there is-- 46:20 I mean, all of this because he's come home, our president. 46:25 After all this the marching bands 46:28 Pastor Morrison came off the ship 46:30 and no one was to greet him. 46:32 Twenty five years he served in Africa, 25 years. 46:36 He tried to find a taxi 46:38 but couldn't even find a taxi cab. 46:40 And so here he is, I mean, here is this poor man, 46:43 I mean 25 years he gave his life to Africa, 46:47 he gave his children to Africa, he gave his dear wife to Africa 46:52 and now he is home in America and no one there to greet him. 46:57 And so he was walking through the dark streets of New York. 47:00 The bands had seized and gone home and he was alone. 47:05 And as he was walking he said, Lord, 47:11 these 25 years I served You in Africa, 47:14 25 years I've been faithful in Africa 47:18 and now I'm home and no one here to greet me. 47:22 And God said, oh, you are not home yet. 47:28 I prepare a place for you and I prepare a place for you 47:33 I will come again and receive you unto Myself. 47:39 My dear child, you are not home yet. 47:41 We are almost home but we are not home yet. 47:47 So therefore when you wake in the morning say your prayers. 47:51 When you wake in the morning open your word, 47:53 read your Bible. 47:55 Say, I don't know much about, I can't understand. 47:57 Doesn't matter read your Bible 47:59 because eventually you will begin to understand. 48:02 Read your Bible, witness to the faith of Jesus Christ. 48:05 Tell others of the glorious fact 48:07 that this Jesus who was crucified, 48:09 this Jesus who was buried in the tomb, 48:12 this Jesus who hung upon the cross 48:14 and now lay in a dark musty tomb, 48:17 that this Jesus is going to come again 48:20 in power and great glory 48:21 and for one purpose and one purpose alone 48:24 and that is to give you a mansion in heaven. 48:27 Amen. 48:28 You may not have it here, you may never get it here 48:34 but I'm telling you what he says in Revelation 48:36 you will get it soon. 48:38 I prepare a place for you and I will come again. 48:43 With that great joy we want to be ready 48:45 for the coming of Jesus Christ. 48:47 He is going to give us a place, a place called heaven 48:51 and I want to see with my eyes Jesus. 48:54 I want to feel with my around Him, Jesus. 48:58 I want to walk with Jesus and I want to be forever 49:02 in the kingdom of God. 49:03 I want my family to be in heaven. 49:06 Amen. 49:08 And so therefore I witness everyday. 49:10 I share faith everyday until that day 49:13 when Christ breaks through the cloud 49:15 and I'll be looking up and say lo, this is God, 49:18 I waited for Him, He has come for me. 50:00 Good evening, everyone. 50:01 Really a blessing to be able to answer 50:03 some Bible questions. 50:04 Tonight, we will start with the first question 50:06 on our list and it is this. 50:10 "When we look at Bible prophecy how can we be sure 50:12 that what we are looking at 50:13 is not simply one man's interpretation?" 50:17 Very good question. 50:19 Let me read a verse to you that I think is, 50:22 is a good one for us to consider. 50:25 It is 2 Peter Chapter 1 50:30 and we look at verse 21, 20. 50:36 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture 50:40 is of any private interpretation. 50:44 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man 50:47 but holy men of God spoke as or spake as they were moved 50:50 by the Holy Ghost." 50:53 Scripture isn't really up to me and you to decide 50:57 for ourselves what it means. 50:58 Now, I know you could take 51:00 what I just see and turn it upside down. 51:01 Sure it is for us to decide for ourselves 51:03 but we decide not on the say so of us 51:08 or the say so of a teacher 51:10 but on the say so of the Holy Spirit 51:12 on the say so of the Bible. 51:15 You know, the prophet wrote that we should look at 51:17 scripture line upon line, precept upon precept, 51:21 here a little and there a little. 51:23 You don't want to build your case 51:25 when you study the Bible on just on thought, 51:27 one text, one idea. 51:29 You want to study the Bible and take into account 51:31 as much as you can find on that subject. 51:34 When you do that you are at very well rounded picture of 51:37 what God is trying to get through to you. 51:39 And that's a good thought to consider. 51:42 When a Bible writer wrote 51:46 and then we read what the writer wrote, 51:49 we are not really trying to find out 51:51 what we think that means. 51:53 What we are trying to find out is 51:54 what the Bible writer thinks or thought it means. 52:01 What did the Bible writer have in mind? 52:03 Now back to the question, how can we be sure 52:06 it's not a matter of one person's interpretation? 52:08 That's by studying the Bible for yourself. 52:11 Jesus said, "search ye the scriptures 52:13 for then you think you have eternal life 52:15 and they are that testify me." 52:17 We need to do some searching and some studying. 52:19 And that's not hard, it's not onerous. 52:21 Pick up the Bible and read it for yourself. 52:23 It's a joy and it's a blessing. 52:26 If there are some things you don't understand 52:27 ask somebody. 52:29 And then be careful, is that really right? 52:32 Ask someone else. 52:33 Ask God and study the Bible being careful 52:37 not to have very dogmatic opinions 52:42 until you are certain you received a revelation 52:44 from God in the Bible as to what something really says. 52:47 So if you are willing to just seed your thought process 52:53 to somebody else you'll believe whatever you are told. 52:56 Some people won't believe anything you tell them 52:59 but other people will believe everything they are told 53:01 by whomever and that's just as bad. 53:04 So if you want to know what the truth is 53:07 get into the Word of God study, be very careful 53:11 not to just give over your mind to somebody else, 53:14 pray and ask for God's direction 53:16 we have been promised by Jesus 53:19 that the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. 53:23 You pray for the Holy Spirit's enlightenment 53:25 and God will certainly give that to you. 53:29 Another Bible question now. 53:31 "Since by the law is the knowledge of sin 53:34 in Roman's 3:20. 53:35 Wouldn't it make more sense not to know the law 53:38 so that we wouldn't know sin?" 53:41 Okay, that's a good honest question. 53:44 John, if I only hadn't learn some of these things 53:46 then I wouldn't be responsible for what I found out. 53:51 Do you think God wants you to have a very small picture 53:56 of not only the Bible but of His will for your life 53:59 and of His character or would it be that 54:01 God wants you to have the biggest picture? 54:03 Of course God wants us to have a larger, 54:06 well rounded picture of the Bible 54:08 and of His message so that we can know Him better, 54:12 enjoy Him more closely 54:14 and follow Him with more of our heart. 54:17 God doesn't share truth with you to trip you up 54:22 He shares truth with you 54:23 and He takes a bit of a risk when He does it 54:26 because he wants you to grow in His grace. 54:28 Now sometimes we learn certain things, 54:30 we say, oh, I didn't want to grow like that. 54:32 But that's a lot like the people 54:34 living in Jesus time. 54:35 They wanted a Messiah 54:37 the Jews were desperate to see the Messiah come 54:39 and when He came they said 54:42 we don't want a Messiah like that. 54:44 You mean we have to, 54:45 we have to be that sort of person. 54:48 If someone smash us once let him hit us-- 54:51 let them hit us again. 54:53 If they want our shirt 54:54 we are gonna give them cloth as well. 54:56 Now hold on a minute, we want to be selfish, 54:59 we want to be a benefited, 55:00 we want to be great and powerful 55:03 not realizing that the power of love 55:06 is far greater in the eyes of God 55:08 than the love of power. 55:10 So, yeah, God wants us to grow, He wants us to-- 55:14 He wants us to live in all we can and thank Him for it. 55:18 Lord, if this is Your will I am grateful 55:22 and I say amen and its a good thing. 55:26 You don't want to be willingly ignorant. 55:29 Okay, I've come to Jesus, I know a little 55:32 don't tell me anything more because it just might make it 55:35 hard for me and mess it up. 55:37 Run to Jesus, study the Bible, keep on growing. 55:40 God wants you to know His word. 55:42 The law of God is given to protect and bless you 55:44 the principles of heaven are given with the same reason 55:47 and the more you learn the more of God you understand. 55:50 So you keep on studying, keep learning 55:52 of God's character and keep on growing, 55:54 surrendering to God at every step. 56:10 Eyes for India, is giving sight to the blind 56:14 and you can be a part of this amazing work that God is doing. 56:17 Fifteen million blind people live in India, 56:20 more than any other country in the world. 56:22 And many of the blind in India could see again 56:25 if only they could have simple cataract surgery. 56:28 It Is Written, is making that happen. 56:31 Would you support Eyes for India? 56:34 For just $75 you'll be giving the gift of sight 56:38 to someone who desperately wants to see. 56:41 Here's all you need to do. 56:43 Call 1-800-253-3000 56:46 to donate and support Eyes for India 56:50 or you can write to It Is Written, 56:52 Box O, Thousand Oaks, California, 91359. 56:56 You'll also find Eyes for India online 56:59 at www.itiswritten.com. 57:01 Eyes for India, doing the work of Jesus 57:04 in opening the eyes of the blind 57:06 and opening hearts to the love of God. |
Revised 2014-12-28