Participants: André C. Waller
Series Code: 15WAC
Program Code: 15WAC000008A
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00:16 Good Morning, Happy Sabbath!
00:20 Before we begin, I realize that I'm not smart enough 00:23 or intelligent enough to communicate the realities 00:26 of the gospel to you this morning, 00:28 and because of that, I'm going to ask, 00:29 if you don't mind, if we could kneel together 00:31 and ask God for special help - is that all right? 00:41 Dear Father in Heaven, It is a wonderful privilege 00:47 to be able to call You our Father and our Friend, 00:53 our God and our Confidant, and Lord, surely Your presence 00:59 is in this place, but Lord, we're not satisfied... 01:05 We desire more of You, Father. 01:09 Father, right now we ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit 01:12 which is the only effectual Teacher of truth. 01:16 And we pray this in the name of Jesus, 01:17 and we claim the merits of His 01:19 Holy and most precious blood... Amen, amen 01:24 This morning I'm going to tell you a personal story... 01:33 A few years back, many years now, actually... 01:37 I was a freshman in college, and I received a phone call 01:43 from my little sister and she said to me... 01:45 "Andre, Andre, mom has chased dad out of the house." 01:52 Now, if you know anything about my family, 01:55 you know my mom doesn't run after anybody, 01:58 and for her to call and say to me that she has chased 02:00 dad out of the house - didn't make any sense either. 02:02 Let me just give you a little background.. 02:04 You see, my family, if you had seen us growing up, 02:07 we were considered the "ideal Adventist family 02:12 sitting on the front row, you know, from dad to mom 02:15 to big brother, middle sister, little sister. 02:18 You know, we sit in order... 02:19 You follow what I'm saying? 02:20 Everything was exactly the way it was supposed to be, 02:24 but I get a phone call from my sister in my freshman year... 02:27 "Andre, mom has chased dad out of the house." 02:31 You see the ostensible... what looked like a religious 02:35 home, was actually in great turmoil. 02:38 What was unity in heaven on earth when I was little, 02:41 when I became older, actually became hell on earth. 02:45 I began to think about this. 02:48 I called around trying to figure out where everybody was. 02:51 I called my mother and she answered the phone, 02:53 and I said, "Mom, what's going on?" 02:55 She said, "Well, your dad did this, 02:56 and your dad did this, and your dad did this." 02:59 Went through a whole list of all the things that my dad did. 03:01 I said, "Mom, well is there anything that you may have done" 03:07 She said, "Well maybe." 03:09 I said, "Well mom, let me ask you a question, 03:11 and I said, if God brought the family back together, 03:14 would you allow God to bring the family back together?'' 03:17 She said, "Yes, if God brought the family back..." 03:20 I said, "Thank you mother." I hung up the phone. 03:22 I called around trying to figure out where my dad was, 03:25 and finally found my father - he was at his mother's house 03:29 and I spoke to him. 03:30 Now you have to understand something about my father... 03:33 My father is a very, very educated man; 03:36 two Master's degrees, working on his doctorate even today, 03:39 and one of his degrees is in theology... 03:43 You know, Master's in Divinity, I don't know how 03:44 you can master divinity... you follow what I'm saying? 03:47 But he had a Master's in Divinity and I'm calling 03:50 my father on the phone, and I'm talking to him 03:53 and he is like - you know how you say something 03:56 and it's just going into a dark hole. 03:58 Everything I said was just going into darkness. 04:01 There was nothing being effectual in what I was saying. 04:04 And finally I asked him the question... 04:06 "Dad, if you allow God to bring the family back together..." 04:09 He said, "Andre, let me just tell you right now, 04:11 your mom did this, your mom did this, your mom did this, 04:14 and your mom did this." 04:15 I said, "Dad, I'm not asking you all those questions, 04:18 I'm asking you one question... 04:19 If God brought the family back together, 04:23 would you allow God to bring the family back together?" 04:26 He said, "Only if God does it." 04:28 I said, "Thank you very much," and hung up the phone. 04:30 That night, 19-year-old man, myself, cried myself to sleep 04:35 in a fetal position because all I knew, all I understood 04:39 about my Christianity was wrapped up in my parents. 04:42 The God of my parents was not yet my own God. 04:46 So I cried myself to sleep that night and I asked God 04:49 to do something to save my family, 04:52 and I got up the next morning, it was a Sabbath morning, 04:54 put on the nice suit, you know how we do 04:56 when we come to church fronting... yeah 05:00 Put on a nice suit, came to church and the pastor 05:03 had an appeal or a special prayer and he said, 05:06 "Is anyone dealing with anything or do you want special prayer 05:09 for your family, just come down to the front." 05:12 And a whole bunch of people came down to the front, 05:14 and I came down to the front, and I knelt on 05:16 the left-hand side which is your side, my left, your right, 05:20 and I knelt right there. 05:22 I remember it to this day. 05:23 I'm on my knees and I feel like, listen to me, 05:27 I love my family so much, I felt like 05:29 I was going to die right there. 05:32 On my knees, I was crying and I could not stop crying. 05:35 There was nothing anybody could do or say that would put 05:39 back together my brokenness in that moment. 05:42 And I remember as I was on my knees praying 05:45 and asking God for help, I remember asking Him 05:47 for one of two things... 05:48 I said, "Father in Heaven, You have to do one of two things 05:51 for me... Either You have to bring my mom and dad 05:53 back together or you have to give me what the Bible says 05:56 is "Peace that passes all understanding." 06:00 You gotta do one of the two things, Father, 06:01 because if You don't do this, 06:03 I don't know what I'm going to do, 06:04 I feel like I'm going to die." 06:06 And as I prayed that prayer, I promise you, my friends, 06:09 I'm not making this up, I remember it to this day, 06:12 a woman put her arm around me 06:14 because she saw that I was crying uncontrollably... 06:16 She put her arm around me, but then there was something else 06:19 that transpired... 06:20 There was a hand - I believe a hand from heaven, 06:24 came down and touched my shoulder, 06:27 went through my shoulder and touched my heart, 06:31 and there was peace... 06:32 Listen, this thing about Christianity and the gospel, 06:36 and Jesus is this peace and He is the wonderful counselor, 06:40 this is not a game, it's not a theory, it is a reality! 06:45 And as I'm on my knees and this peace just comes over me, 06:48 I couldn't make it up, it didn't make any sense to me, 06:51 but I felt completely at ease with God. 06:54 And in that moment in time, I knew, no matter what the 06:58 situation was, everything was going to be all right. 07:01 Now I tell you that story and I want to transition now 07:05 to another story - about another war. 07:08 Revelation 12- Go there with me if you will. 07:10 Revelation 12- There's another war, another family dispute 07:15 that took place, but this war was more than just 07:17 on planet earth between husband and wife, son and daughter... 07:22 This war is a war that took place in heaven and the Bible 07:26 tells us in Revelation 12, beginning at verse 1, 07:29 the Bible says, "And there appeared a great wonder 07:32 in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under 07:37 her feet, and upon her head, 07:38 a crown of how many stars, my friends? 12 stars. 07:42 And she being with child travailing in birth, 07:45 and pain to be delivered, and there appeared another 07:49 wonder in heaven. And behold, a great red dragon 07:53 having 7 heads and 10 horns, and 7 crowns upon his heads." 07:59 Well you've seen the imagery you've seen this before. 08:01 You've been to an evangelistic meeting, is that right? 08:03 Now, you've seen the woman impregnated, 08:06 and you see the dragon on the other side, 08:07 a great red dragon and you see that this woman 08:10 is not in any way advantageous. 08:14 She is actually at a disadvantage as this dragon 08:17 seems to be coming after her... "seems to be" 08:20 But I want you to see verse 4... 08:22 It says, "And his tail drew the third part of the stars 08:26 of heaven and did cast them to the earth. 08:27 And the dragon stood before the woman which was 08:30 ready to be delivered for to devour her... 08:34 what does it say there, my friends? 08:36 To devour her child as soon as it was born." 08:39 Is the dragon there for the woman, my friends, 08:41 is the dragon there for the woman in this text? 08:43 No, the dragon is there to devour the child. 08:46 There's something about this child that the dragon 08:48 does not like. 08:51 Again, just to test your Biblical acumen... 08:53 A dragon in Bible prophecy is a symbol of what? 08:59 Look at verse 7, you see there in verse 7, 09:02 it says, "And there was war in heaven and Michael and his 09:04 angels fought against the dragon, 09:05 and the dragon fought and his angels, 09:07 and prevailed not; neither was there a place 09:09 found any more in heaven. 09:13 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent 09:18 called the Devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole world; 09:23 he was cast out into the earth, 09:26 and his angels were cast out with him." 09:28 So a dragon in Bible prophecy is the Devil and Satan. 09:31 Is everybody all right with that? 09:32 What about a woman in Bible prophecy? 09:34 You tell me... what is a woman in Bible prophecy? 09:36 Church! Very good. 09:38 Now I'm not going to ask you where it is in the Bible, 09:39 but I'm going to tell you where it is - is that all right? 09:41 Go to Jeremiah 6:2, 2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5, 09:46 all tell you that a woman in Bible prophecy 09:50 is a symbol of the church. 09:51 So you have a warfare between the devil and the church. 09:54 And the church is impregnated with a child 09:58 that causes the devil to fear. 10:01 Now let's take a moment... 10:03 The Bible also says that the devil used his tail. 10:06 What is a "tail" in Bible prophecy? 10:08 Open your Bibles to Isaiah 9, 10:13 and we're looking now at verse #15. 10:16 Isaiah 9:15 and I love the sound of the pages turning. 10:23 I hope you're taking notes. 10:25 You should not trust any preacher that 10:26 stands in the pulpit. Amen? 10:29 Well this is not the time to trust preachers, 10:31 no matter how charismatic or exciting you think they are 10:34 "Thus saith the Lord," and you need to make sure 10:36 it's coming from the Word of God. Amen? 10:38 Isaiah 9:15- The Bible says, "The ancient and honorable 10:43 He is the Head and the prophet 10:46 that teaches lies, he is the - what, my friends? Tail. 10:50 So the dragon used his tail or he used lies 10:54 to take down one-third of the stars. 10:57 Now you're going to give me a good answer on this one as well. 10:59 Revelation 1:20 tells you that stars equal what? 11:03 "Angels" - very good. You're very smart. 11:06 Revelation 1:20- tells you that stars equal angels, 11:08 so watch carefully - I'm going to say this slowly 11:11 because I need you to make sure you understand the 11:14 principle that I'm laying right here. 11:16 The devil used lies to deceive one-third of the angels. 11:23 Think about that for a second! 11:26 Angels who have never sinned; 11:28 angels who were perfect in all their ways. 11:33 I wonder what kind of lies the devil told the angels 11:38 to get them to take their eyes off their loving God. 11:42 I want you to open your Bibles now - you're already in Isaiah. 11:45 Go to Isaiah 14, look at verse #12. 11:49 Isaiah 14, beginning at verse #12... 11:52 Please notice here what the Bible has to say... 11:55 Isaiah 14:12- The Bible says: "How art thou fallen from 12:02 heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! 12:06 How art thou cut down to the ground which 12:09 didst what, my friends? 12:11 Put a little flag there, I'm going to come back to that. 12:14 Which didst weakened the nations. 12:16 Verse 13- For thou hast said in thine heart, 12:18 "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne 12:21 above the stars of God. 12:23 I will sit also on the mount of the congregation 12:25 in the sides of the north. 12:27 I will ascend above the heights above the clouds 12:30 I will be like the Most High." 12:36 Tell me, you tell me, you see right there in that text, 12:39 you tell me what is the devil's problem? 12:42 He has an I problem, is that right? 12:45 The devil has an I problem. 12:46 I wonder if anybody in this church has an I problem. 12:50 I wonder if anybody in this room has an I problem. 12:53 You see, this I problem caused him to have a vision 12:57 or a goal that usurped his position. 13:00 He wanted something that did not belong to him, my friends. 13:04 He wanted something that did not belong to him. 13:08 He thought he knew better than God. 13:11 I wonder what he was thinking 13:13 when he started thinking this way. 13:16 I want you to hold your hand here or - 13:17 you have 10 fingers, is that right? 13:20 Four fingers, 2 thumbs, whatever, 8 fingers, 2 thumbs. 13:25 Go to Ezekiel 28 for a moment. 13:29 Ezekiel 28, notice here what the Bible says... 13:32 Ezekiel 28:12- Notice here what the Bible says in 13:37 Ezekiel 28:12- and brothers and sisters, I really 13:43 need you to pay attention as we do this, all right? 13:45 Ezekiel 28:12- "Son of man, take up a lamentation 13:50 upon the king of Tyre, and say unto him, 13:53 "Thus saith the Lord God, Thou sealest up the sum 13:58 full of wisdom and perfect in beauty... interesting 14:05 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God. 14:07 Every precious stone was thy covering; the sardius, 14:11 the topaz, the diamond, the pearl, the onyx, the jasper, 14:14 the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle and the gold. 14:18 The workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes 14:21 was prepared in thee in the day that thou was 14:25 ... the key word there... "created." 14:27 Now pause for a moment, think about it. 14:30 I actually went back and just wanted to see 14:32 what these stones looked like, right. 14:34 So I went and looked up what a sardius stone looked like, 14:36 and a topaz and an emerald, and a carbuncle. 14:38 I went and looked them up. 14:39 Do you realize this man was made out of blue stones, 14:43 and orange stones, and red stones, purple stones. 14:48 This is a beautiful angel! 14:50 Absolutely gorgeous, and in my mind, 14:53 as I try to picture what this angel looked like, 14:56 I can see why this created being 15:00 began to get confused about his position. 15:04 Listen to me, this created being... 15:07 remember he is created - this created being 15:09 begins to get confused about his position 15:11 because he's made out of the most beautiful elements 15:14 that you could possibly see! 15:16 And in fact, just to emphasize this idea, 15:19 notice what the Bible says, continuing on there in verse 14 15:23 Look at verse 14, it says, "Thou art the anointed cherub 15:27 that covereth and I have set thee so." 15:31 He's the anointed cherub? 15:33 What does the word "anointed" mean? 15:34 You've been here in the conference... 15:35 what does the word "anointed" mean? 15:37 That at this point, this angel is filled with the Spirit. 15:43 Nobody is listening right now. 15:45 This angel is anointed. 15:50 This angel has direct connection with the God of heaven. 15:54 This angel that God created has somehow lost this 15:59 fullness of wisdom and now at some juncture 16:03 in his experience... Look at what it says in verse #17. 16:06 Look what it says, actually verse 16. 16:08 Look at verse 16- it says, "By the multitude of thy 16:12 merchandise, they have filled the midst of thee with... 16:20 what my friends... Remember, what was he filled 16:23 with before?... What was he filled with before? Wisdom! 16:28 But the merchandise has confused his mind. 16:31 What is the merchandise? 16:33 The diamond, the beryl, the onyx, the emerald... 16:37 These jewels confused his brain cells because 16:41 somehow he's taking the blessing of God, 16:45 he begins to worship the blessing of God 16:48 over the God of the blessing. 16:50 Y'all are not hearing me right now. 16:53 Did you hear what I just said? 16:55 He begins to worship the blessing of God. 16:57 You have a job right now, right. You have a job. 16:59 You make money, it comes in. 17:01 Some of us want to worship our jobs over the God 17:03 that gave us that job. 17:06 We have children, right? 17:08 The children are the joy of our life. 17:10 They are our precious seed. 17:11 Oh whatever they ask for, we want to give them. 17:14 But some of us as parents, worship our children 17:17 over the God that gave us those children. 17:21 It's by the reason of his own beauty, 17:23 his reason becomes confused. 17:25 No longer is he full of wisdom, he is now full of violence. 17:31 Well that's strange. 17:35 I want you to keep your hand here... 17:37 go back to Isaiah 6... I want you to see something else. 17:41 Isaiah 6- Remember the Bible says that he's an anointed 17:45 covering cherub. 17:47 Isaiah 6:1- Please notice here what the Bible has to say. 17:52 Isaiah 6:1- The Bible says, "In the year that King Uzziah 17:58 died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, 18:01 high and lifted up and His train filled the temple. 18:05 ... watch this now... Above it stood the seraphims 18:08 each one had 6 wings, with twain he covered his face, 18:14 and with twain his covered his feet, 18:16 and with twain he did fly... and watch this... 18:19 And one cried unto another and said, "Holy, holy, holy 18:25 is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory." 18:31 Now tell me something... 18:32 You've just read the text, so you know the answer already. 18:35 In the text, what is the purpose of the wings? 18:38 With two wings, he covers his feet; 18:41 with two wings he flies, and with two wings 18:44 he covers his face... well that's interesting. 18:48 If you ever look at the anointed covering cherub, 18:50 the cherub doesn't cover his face. 18:53 The anointed covering cherub has wings, 18:55 they connect one to the other, 18:57 and they look down directly into the presence of God. 19:00 See Lucifer was not a seraphim. 19:03 Lucifer didn't have to cover his face. 19:06 Lucifer looked directly into the presence of God, 19:10 and him - Lucifer, ...you know the word 19:11 "Lucifer" means light bearer; one who bears light. 19:15 Listen, I use my imagination when I study the Bible 19:17 so awesome, so here you go, he's made out of 19:20 gold and carbuncle, emerald, topaz, sardius, 19:25 and all these things - so he's like blue, purple, 19:27 and imagine the glory of God shining through this angel. 19:32 Can you imagine that? 19:35 This is a beautiful angel. 19:36 But this angel does not cover his face. 19:41 He sees directly into the presence of God. 19:43 He has access like no other created being has... 19:49 And this angel leaves God's presence, 19:52 and begins to spread lies about God. 19:54 Are you hearing what I'm saying? 19:57 So some of you now, you know, I've traveled here, 19:59 you like me now because I'm here in your country. 20:01 Right? You like me! Amen, praise the Lord! 20:05 So I'm here in your country, you like me, 20:07 and what if I got up here and I began to tell you 20:09 a story about my wife, and I began to slander her, 20:11 and say bad things about her. 20:13 You've never really had to encounter her face-to-face 20:16 on a one-to-one basis, 20:17 but because you like me, you know what I'm saying... 20:19 Because you like me, you will be more leaning 20:22 towards believing what I'm saying... 20:24 You hear what I'm saying? 20:27 Remember, the other angels couldn't look directly on God. 20:31 Lucifer does; he leaves the presence of God, 20:33 and he begins to spread his lies about God. 20:39 They don't have access like he has access. 20:42 Remember, Lucifer is supposed to be a messenger of God. 20:45 Can you imagine what that would have been like 20:47 if someone that's so close to God, 20:50 comes from God and says, "You know what, 20:52 God is really like this... 20:53 He's not really like what you think He is." 20:57 Begins to question God's authority in his person, 20:59 and the principles of how heaven is supposed to run. 21:02 Can you imagine what impact that might have had 21:04 if someone so close left the side of God, 21:07 and began to slander the character of God. 21:12 Brothers and sisters, it caused great chaos in heaven. 21:15 I want you to go back with me now to the book of Ezekiel. 21:17 Go back to Ezekiel 28, and listen, to be honest 21:24 with you, the same warfare that took place in heaven 21:27 and the same way that Lucifer did his dirt in heaven, 21:30 is the same thing that happens in the church today. 21:32 I say it with a smile... the same thing. 21:38 Little whisperings here and there... 21:41 Little backbitings here and there. 21:43 Little talking about members here and there... 21:45 causing dissension and separation in the church. 21:48 That happens today! 21:50 I remember being at church on time and the guy 21:52 didn't know that I was sitting around the corner. 21:55 And I heard them saying, "Oh brother Andre, you know 21:57 oh he's a fanatic." When he said it, 22:04 I waited until he was done talking and then I 22:06 walked around and he stops and says, 22:08 "Oh, happy Sabbath, Brother Waller." 22:13 That happens too often, don't you think? 22:16 One moment we say one thing to somebody in their face, 22:19 but behind their back, we're destroying them. 22:23 In fact, I want you to see something... 22:25 Go back to Ezekiel 28, look at verse #16... 22:30 Remember now when I showed you here in Ezekiel 28:16, 22:33 it says, "By the multitude of thy merchandise, 22:36 they have filled the midst of thee with violence, 22:40 and now has sinned; therefore I will cast thee 22:43 as profane out of the mountain of God. 22:48 And I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, 22:50 from the midst of the stones of fire." 22:52 Well that's interesting to me because in this verse, 22:57 it's saying that he's filled with violence. 22:59 Now I want you to go to John 8:44 23:03 The Gospel of John 8:44. 23:07 Please notice here what the Bible has to say... 23:12 John 8:44- The Bible says, "Ye are of your father, 23:19 the devil, and the lust of your father ye will do." 23:24 He was a... what's the word there... 23:27 He was a murderer - remember, he was filled with violence, 23:30 but here my question is, "How was he a murderer 23:32 from the beginning?" What made him a murderer? 23:35 He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not 23:38 in the truth because there is no truth in him. 23:44 There's no what in him, my friends?... Mercy 23:50 When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own 23:54 for he is a liar and the father of it. 24:00 You know, in America, there is a little slang that comes out... 24:05 "Who's your daddy?" "Who's your daddy?" 24:12 Now, let me ask you a question... 24:14 Is it ever okay to lie? EVER? 24:18 Nobody? Is it ever okay to lie? 24:23 NEVER is it okay to lie! Never 24:26 No white lie, purple lie, green lie, blue lies. 24:31 No small lies, no lie works out for good... none! 24:37 It may, for a moment, stop you from getting arrested, 24:40 or it may, for a moment, stop the great wrath of 24:43 your mother, your granddaddy or whatever! 24:46 But at the end of the day, that lie will lead to your death 24:52 No matter what the lie is, big or small, 24:55 that lie is your death, and every time you lie; 24:59 every time you falsely say something that is not true; 25:03 every time you express something that is not legitimately 25:06 from the Word of God, or even in your experience 25:08 or your disposition, every time you do it, 25:10 you are saying, "the devil is your daddy." 25:15 He is the father of lies! 25:18 He is the originator of lies! 25:21 I don't want him as my dad. Is that right? 25:23 I don't want to believe a lie; I don't want to live a lie; 25:26 I want my life to be the reality of what God 25:28 has intended for it to be for me - is that all right? 25:32 Now, 1 John - I want you to go to 1 John now. 25:34 1 John - remember he's a murderer from 25:38 the beginning... 1 John 3:15 25:48 1 John 3:15- Please notice, please notice 25:52 what the Bible says in 1 John 3:15 25:56 The Bible says, "Whosoever hateth brother is a 26:02 ... what's the word? 26:05 Remember, I just read to you that the Bible says 26:08 that Lucifer was a murderer from the beginning! 26:12 This just told us that if you hate your brother, 26:15 you are a murderer. 26:19 Now how do you show hatred to someone - how do you do that? 26:24 It's easy to do, you know. 26:27 When you see someone on the street they need food to eat, 26:30 and you turn your back and you walk the other way. 26:33 You just murdered your brother... Amen 26:39 You see a member in need and you ignore the 26:42 reality of the member of your body 26:45 because we are one body. 26:46 You see a member in need and you turn your back 26:49 on that member, you are a murderer. 26:51 You're a murderer! 26:54 Who is your brother? Who is your mother? 26:56 Who are these individuals that 26:57 you're supposed to take care of? 26:58 Who is your neighbor? Jesus said... 27:02 Brothers and sisters, we gotta wake up and say to ourselves 27:07 "We don't want to believe a lie." 27:08 I don't want to say, ...listen to me... 27:10 I don't want to say that I am a Christian 27:12 and then my life is completely opposite of what 27:14 Christianity is all about. 27:17 I don't want to come to church once a week and 27:20 sing songs and praises to God, 27:22 but then all week long, I'm living something 27:24 completely opposite... That's a lie. 27:29 You're committing murder, you're murdering yourself, 27:31 and you're murdering other people... Every time! 27:34 Listen, and I pray and ask God to help me because, 27:37 listen, there are times when I just don't feel, 27:40 "feel" - this is a key word - 27:41 I don't "feel" like being a Christian. 27:43 Anybody ever felt like that? 27:46 I don't "feel" like having devotion. 27:49 I don't "feel" like going to knock on doors. 27:51 I don't "feel" like preaching. 27:53 I don't "feel"... guess what? 27:54 Christianity is not based on your feelings. 27:57 Feelings - faith, faith and feelings are as 28:00 far from each other as the 28:02 east is from the west, my friends. 28:05 The Christian does not operate on his feelings. 28:08 The Christian does not even operate on "I think." 28:14 The Christian operates on the Word of God. 28:17 That's the Christian, that's the true Christian position. 28:20 So 1 John 3:15 again says, "Whosoever hateth his brother, 28:25 he is a murderer and ye know that no murderer 28:29 hath eternal life abiding in him... keep that in mind. 28:34 I want you to go into Proverbs, the book of Proverbs, 28:42 Psalms, Proverbs - I believe it's the 28th chapter 28:46 I want to go to... Proverbs 26. 28:54 Proverbs 26, so we're going to begin reading at verse #22. 28:59 Proverbs 26 beginning at verse 22, 29:02 please notice what the Bible has to say. 29:05 In Proverbs 26:22, the Bible says, 29:07 "The words of a talebearer, ... what's a talebearer? 29:11 That's a gossiper! 29:15 You know, I'll stop right there, just to mention a point. 29:17 Gossip websites, gossip magazines, 29:22 gossip, gossip, gossip is of the devil. 29:29 Can I say it again? 29:31 You see, when you imbibe this gossip, this spirit of gossip, 29:35 it is actually the spirit of the devil. 29:38 And some of us don't know, so we're just trying to be 29:40 entertained; trying to, you know, deal with life, 29:42 and our pressures, and so forth and so on, 29:44 but this says the words of a talebearer are as wounds. 29:48 And in the New King James, it says they are as 29:50 trifles, they're sweet like morsels. 29:53 They go down into the inner most parts of the belly. 29:56 "Burning lips and a wicked heart are like potsherd 29:59 covered with silver dross." 30:00 Now watch this... "He that hateth dissembleth 30:05 with his lips and layeth up deceit within him, 30:08 when he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are 30:12 7 abominations in his heart whose hatred is 30:16 covered by deceit." Happy Sabbath, brother Waller. 30:19 That was deceitful. 30:22 Whose hatred is covered by deceit... now watch this. 30:27 His wickedness shall be shown before the whole congregation." 30:32 Verse 27- "Whoso diggeth a pit, shall fall therein, 30:36 and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him." 30:40 Now what does that mean? 30:41 That means if I'm gossiping on somebody else, 30:44 guess what, somebody's talking about you. 30:48 Is that right? 30:49 Now watch this - last point that I want to make before 30:52 I transition to another thought. 30:53 It says, "A lying tongue hateth those who are afflicted by it. 31:02 Do you see it? What kind of tongue? 31:05 Hates... a lying tongue. 31:08 He was a murderer from the beginning. 31:11 He was full of violence. 31:13 In his heart was deceit. 31:15 He lied about the character and person of God. 31:19 And we have a problem because if God's character 31:24 is impugned that way; if he's attacked in that nature, 31:27 from someone that's so close to Him, 31:29 how will God ever vindicate Himself? 31:33 Have you ever... it's funny you know, 31:36 have you ever got in trouble or you've seen someone 31:39 get in trouble and they defend themselves. 31:44 How well does that defense work? 31:45 It seldom works, my friends. 31:49 It seldom works. 31:50 What you have to do... you have to have 31:52 someone else outside of yourself come in 31:55 defense of you... 31:56 Are you hearing what 31:58 I'm saying... You have to have 32:00 someone else - you can't just say to yourself, 32:02 "No, I didn't mean that, I didn't do that." 32:04 No, you have to have someone else vouch for you 32:06 to say, "You know what, in the mouth of 32:08 two witnesses, or the mouth of three witnesses, 32:11 let the matter be established." 32:13 So let's see what God does. 32:15 I think God is ultimately wise and powerful. 32:18 Remember, Lucifer was full of wisdom. 32:21 I want you now to go with me to the book of Proverbs. 32:25 The book of Proverbs 3 now, and we are looking 32:28 particularly at a couple of more points because 32:30 my time is running from me. 32:34 Proverbs 3- I want you to see verses 1, 2 and 3. 32:38 Place close attention, please write these things down. 32:41 Proverbs 3, verses 1, 2 and 3, notice what the Bible says, 32:46 "My son, forget not My law, but let thine heart 32:53 ... let thine what, my friend? 32:55 Let thine heart keep My commandments. 32:59 Well watch, what's the result of this? 33:01 For length of days and long life, 33:04 and peace shall they add to you. 33:08 So when your heart retains God's commandments, 33:11 long life, length of days is given to you. 33:14 So what gives long life, length of days? 33:16 What gives it, my friends... The commandments 33:19 Now watch - I want you to go to verse 13, watch carefully. 33:23 Watch carefully my friends. 33:25 The Bible says in verse 13, "Happy is the man that 33:28 findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 33:34 For the merchandise of it 33:38 is better than the merchandise 33:41 of silver and the gain thereof of fine gold. 33:46 Did you get it or did you miss it? 33:47 See, this is what I got. This is what I got. 33:48 Lucifer was confused because of his merchandise. 33:53 Remember, he was full of wisdom, 33:56 but his wisdom is corrupted because of the merchandise. 34:00 Now here, the wise one is saying... 34:04 "Look, wisdom and understanding 34:06 is more valuable than merchandise." 34:11 Watch what he says... "Happy is the man that 34:13 findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding. 34:15 For the merchandise of it is better than 34:16 the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof of fine gold. 34:20 She is more precious than rubies; 34:22 and all the things that thou canst desire 34:24 is not to be compared unto her. 34:26 Length of days is in her right hand, 34:31 and in her left hand riches and honor." 34:33 Question... What else gave us length of days prior to this? 34:37 What gave us length of days? The Commandments! 34:40 So the commandments and wisdom are synonymous 34:46 ...listen to what I'm saying to you, 34:47 are you hearing what I'm saying to you? 34:48 The Commandments of God and the wisdom of God 34:52 are synonymous - they go one and the same together. 34:55 Lucifer was full of wisdom, that means Lucifer 34:59 beheld the Law of God and loved the Law of God. 35:03 He beheld it and he loved it. 35:07 David says he meditates on the law day and night. 35:13 Question... Do you do that? 35:17 Just asking questions, not pointing any fingers. 35:21 Do you meditate upon God's Law day and night? 35:25 And then you should ask yourself the question, 35:26 "How can I meditate on God's Law day and night?" 35:31 Go with me to Psalm 119, watch this... 35:38 Psalms, Proverbs, Psalms 119 beginning at verse 97... 35:47 And notice what the Bible says in Psalm 119:97... 35:53 The Bible says, "O how I love thy law! 35:56 It is my meditation all the day. 35:58 Thou through Thy commandments has made me wiser 36:04 than mine enemies, for they are ever with me. 36:06 I have more understanding than all my teachers, 36:10 for Thy testimonies are my meditation. 36:13 I understand more than the ancients because I keep 36:15 Thy precepts. I have refrained my 36:18 feet from every evil way that I might keep Thy word. 36:21 I have not departed from Thy judgments 36:24 for Thou hast taught me." 36:27 That's powerful. Let me ask you a question. 36:31 Just a personal question, a private question... 36:33 When you get up in the morning, and you put your 36:34 plate on the table... 36:35 do you take the law and compare it to your plate? 36:39 When you take your clothes, and you put them on, 36:41 you're thinking to put them on, 36:43 do you take God's law and compare it to your clothes 36:45 to see if this is the right thing to do? 36:48 Are you hearing what I'm saying? 36:50 Because of our natural selves, our own intellect and wisdom, 36:55 will lead us to destruction. 36:57 Look around our world! Look around our world! 37:02 Think about marriages that are broken up... 37:06 because the husband stepped out on the wife, 37:09 or the wife stepped out on her husband. 37:11 Think about the children that are disrespecting 37:13 their parents all around the world. Think about it! 37:17 You tell me if God's way is not the best way. 37:21 There's a problem in the land today... 37:22 Man thinks that he's wiser than God. 37:26 Man thinks.. because he went to school, 37:28 that his education now puts him in the position 37:30 to look at the Bible and critique it 37:32 as if he has some type of power. 37:37 I'm going to share something with you... 37:38 I find it fascinating. I want you to hear... 37:39 In fact, before I share it with you, 37:40 I want to go now to the book, oh yes, same book, Proverbs. 37:47 Proverbs, go back to Proverbs. 37:49 I moved to Psalms, go back to Proverbs. 37:53 Psalms, Proverbs - go back to Proverbs. 37:54 Watch this now... about to make a transition. 37:58 In Proverbs 3- same chapter, look at verse #19. 38:07 It says, "The Lord by wisdom... The Lord by wisdom 38:16 hath founded the earth; By understanding, 38:21 hath He established the heavens. 38:24 By His knowledge, the depths are broken up, 38:27 and the clouds dropped down the dew." 38:30 So based on this verse, the Lord, by wisdom 38:34 established the whole world. 38:36 I thought that was fascinating. 38:38 But go back to the book of Genesis now. 38:39 Go to the book of Genesis 1, and watch carefully 38:43 as I read to you what began to transpire at creation. 38:47 In Genesis 1 beginning at verse #3, the Bible says, 38:50 "And God said, "Let there be light." 38:55 Verse 6, "And God said, "Let there be a firmament." 38:59 Jump down to verse #11, "God said, "Let the earth 39:03 bring forth grass, and the herb yielding seed." 39:05 Jump down to verse #14, "And God said, "Let there be 39:08 lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the 39:10 day from the night and let them be for signs, 39:13 and for seasons, and for days, and for years." 39:18 How did God create the world? 39:21 He said it. Could I ask you a question? 39:24 How many of you think you are God? 39:28 Can you speak and things come into existence? 39:32 The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the deep; 39:34 He spoke - birds came! That's power! 39:39 God spoke and animals just started appearing out of nowhere 39:43 The Word spoke and it was done, and this Word 39:47 was based on wisdom. 39:51 There was nothing... think for a moment, 39:54 think for a moment with me. 39:55 There was nothing, there was absolutely nothing. 39:57 Everything here is just chaotic; there was just water 40:00 a bunch of places, and God speaks and as He speaks, 40:03 all of creation just kind of orchestrates around His word. 40:07 I tell you, that's power! That's power! 40:12 I'm going to read something to you now. 40:14 Based on what I just said to you, watch this... 40:17 The creative energy that called the worlds 40:22 into existence is in the Word of God. 40:26 Wait - This Word imparts power, it begets life. 40:33 Every command is a promise accepted by the will, 40:38 received into the soul, it brings with it 40:43 the life of the Infinite One! 40:47 So when I open this Book... this is no ordinary Book. 40:49 You see, this is not Shakespeare. 40:50 This is not some book for school for a class young man. 40:54 This Book, when I open this book, 40:55 this is the Word of God. 40:57 And when I read it, and I believe it, 40:58 there's transformation power that begins to affect my life! 41:04 Accepted by the will, received into the soul. 41:08 It brings with it the life of the Infinite One. 41:13 Oh that's why the devil is so smart, you know. 41:15 You see, he does everything possible to 41:17 get us not to study the Word. 41:21 You think about your life, I don't even have to tell you. 41:24 The Holy Spirit is already telling you, 41:25 "Think about your life, think how busy you are. 41:28 Think about all the books you read outside of the Bible. 41:34 Think about all the TV shows you watch, 41:36 and the games you like to play, 41:38 and the sports you want to do." 41:39 "Think about all those things and then think about 41:41 how much time do you really spend in this Book 41:44 that gives you transformation power!" 41:54 The Lord, by wisdom, established the earth. 41:58 He spoke and it was done. 42:02 I don't care what a pope says, there's no such thing 42:05 as evolution...Amen! God spoke and it was done! 42:10 Take that idea now... I want you to go with me 42:15 ... Oh, I have to move so quickly, 42:16 but I believe the Spirit will help me. 42:18 I want you to go with me to the book of John. 42:19 John 1 beginning at verse #1 42:24 Please HEAR what I'm going to say to you. 42:27 John 1:1- The Bible says, "In the beginning was the Word 42:35 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 42:38 The same was in the beginning with God. 42:39 All things were made by Him and without Him 42:44 was not anything made that was made. 42:47 In Him was life and the life was the what?.. the light of men." 42:56 My friends, the Word... 42:59 Who is this Word? Tell me who this Word is? 43:00 This is the Word of God, this is JESUS in flesh. 43:04 In... now watch, watch what I say to you now... 43:07 Remember the Spirit of God moved upon the faces of deep. 43:10 The earth was completely corrupt, it had no order. 43:14 They used the word "abuso" as if there's this deep, dark pit. 43:18 And when the Word came into "abuso," 43:20 He now organizes and orchestrates what the 43:23 world is supposed to be when the Word comes in. 43:27 The Word was made flesh. 43:32 Verse 14- "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt 43:37 among us, and we beheld His glory... 43:39 The glory as of the only begotten of the Father, 43:43 full of grace and truth. 43:44 Look at verse 18- "No man has seen God at anytime. 43:47 The only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father, 43:52 He has declared Him." 43:54 Wait, why is that important? 43:55 Remember, I told you, Lucifer was an anointed 43:57 covering cherub; he stood in the direct presence of God. 44:00 He was as close as a created being could get, 44:02 but then God said, "I will send someone 44:04 that's even closer to Me to vindicate Me to mankind." 44:09 No body heard me! 44:12 Listen to what I said... 44:13 Remember, I told you, God is not just going to say 44:15 himself, I'm not evil, so He sends someone that's 44:20 tight in his bosom. 44:21 He said, "Son, will You go down and let the 44:24 world know what I'm really like." 44:27 "Son, will you go down and demonstrate for the 44:30 confusion that is in humanity, 44:32 I want You to put on that confusion... flesh, 44:36 put it on, and that creative energy that I used 44:41 to create the world... Well, I want you to use it 44:42 to re-create man. 44:45 I want you to use it to re-create man in the very 44:48 image of God. I want you to put on flesh. 44:50 I want you to walk among them. 44:51 I want you to show them what they can be 44:54 if they simply trust the Word." 2 Corinthians 45:04 2 Corinthians chapter 4, 2 Corinthians 4. 45:11 I'm going to start reading verse #3. 45:17 2 Corinthians 4 beginning at verse #3 45:20 please notice as I begin to wrap this up what the Bible says 45:23 It says, "But if our gospel be hid...Now who would hide it? 45:27 Who would hide the gospel? Well the devil would do that. 45:31 If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost. Why 45:36 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds 45:40 of them which believe not, lest the light of the 45:45 glorious gospel of Christ who is the... Who is He? 45:48 He is the image of God. ... should shine unto them. 45:53 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, 45:56 and ourselves, your servants for Jesus' sake." 45:58 Now watch this... For God who commands the light to shine 46:03 out of darkness... Remember, He said, "Let there 46:05 be light, and there was light." 46:08 "For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, 46:11 hath shined... where my friend? in our hearts." 46:16 So what God is doing, God is equating the confusion 46:20 of the original world... 46:22 to the confusion of each one of our hearts. 46:24 That's what He's doing, and I don't care if you're 46:27 Adventist for 50 years, you still have the same 46:30 type of heart if you haven't given it to Jesus. 46:33 You can cover it with all your religious activities 46:36 if you want to, but we need the Spirit to work inside of us 46:40 to orchestrate, if you will, a rejuvenation, 46:44 a revolution in our hearts, my friends. 46:48 It says, and I'm finishing, "For God, who commanded 46:51 the light to shine out of darkness hath shined 46:54 in our hearts to get the light of the knowledge 46:57 of the glory of God in the ... what does it say? 47:01 ... in the face of Jesus. 47:04 I'll tell you a funny story... 47:07 My wife and I, you know we're married now for 8 years, 47:10 praise the Lord...but when we first got married, 47:12 you know, I go to bed for one reason - I go to bed to sleep. 47:17 My wife likes to go to bed and talk. 47:22 So I come to bed and I lay down and, you know, 47:25 she starts talking to me - you know we're face-to-face, 47:27 the lights are off now, we're face-to-face, 47:29 and we're talking and then, you know, I start kind of 47:31 dozing off, and so I kind of turn my shoulder to go to sleep 47:34 on the other side, right? And she pokes me. 47:39 So I have to turn my face back this way to 47:42 engage her once again, even though it's dark... 47:45 you understand what I'm saying? 47:49 She wants me to face her even in the dark. 47:55 I wonder why it says, "We behold the image of God 47:58 in the face of Jesus." 48:02 It doesn't say - We could behold Him in His kneecaps, 48:04 or in His side or in His knees or anything like that. 48:06 We behold Him in His face. 48:07 There's something about looking into someone's face, 48:11 and the devil does not want you to look at Jesus' face. 48:15 He doesn't want you to see Him! 48:17 Because when you see Him, He's the most lovely, 48:20 the most awesome, the most beautiful. 48:23 He's the most caring, the most wise, intelligent being 48:27 that you could absolutely link up with for 48:30 the rest of your life, but He doesn't want you to see His face 48:32 but I want to see His face, don't you want to see His face? 48:36 My dad told me a story, I was there, 48:40 but I was a baby, so my dad said that he was 48:45 painting the house...my mom and dad told me the story. 48:46 He was painting the house and as he was painting the house, 48:49 my mom went into labor. 48:52 And as my mom went into labor, they called him at his house, 48:55 and he said he couldn't catch the bus because the bus 48:58 was running late and he said, "You know, Andre, I ran 49:02 from the house to the hospital," and he said the song that he 49:07 sang on the way was, "I just want to see his face, 49:12 I just want to see his face." 49:16 Now, all the way, he's running, just running. 49:20 That's what I want to do, I just want to see His face. 49:23 I just want to see His face. 49:27 And God is preparing youth and adults right here in this 49:29 last generation to see His face. Not to... 49:32 listen, not to die and then see Him. No, no 49:35 He wants the generation to be here and just look 49:37 on His face - this is who I have been waiting for. 49:42 NOT AFRAID! Not afraid of the crisis. 49:45 No, send me through the crisis. 49:47 Father, if you see fit to send me, send me, 49:50 because I know you'll be with me through the whole way. 49:53 I want to tell you the end of the story of my mom and dad. 49:57 You know they're married today much happier now than before. 50:01 God stepped in with His Word, and recreated, rejuvenated 50:05 their life and I believe God can do the same 50:08 for any family or any child, or any boy, woman, 50:10 anybody in this room today. 50:12 How many want God to do something special 50:15 in their hearts today? 50:16 How many want God to rejuvenate and create 50:19 in you something that you yourself don't 50:21 have the ability to do. 50:22 You want that for yourself? 50:24 Go to your knees with me... 50:25 Let's ask God to help us. 50:35 Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart. 50:51 Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart. 51:03 In my heart, in my heart, 51:15 Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart. 51:27 Lord I want to be more holy. 51:29 Lord I want to be more holy in my heart, in my heart. 51:46 Lord I want to be more holy in my heart. 51:59 In my heart, in my heart, 52:12 Lord I want to be more holy in my heart. 52:25 Lord I want to be like Jesus. 52:26 Lord I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart. 52:44 Lord I want to be like Jesus in my heart. 52:57 In my heart, in my heart, 53:10 Lord I want to be like Jesus in my heart. 53:23 Dear Father in Heaven, 53:24 You've heard our prayer in song. 53:27 We just want to be like You. 53:29 We don't want to take Your place. 53:31 We just want to be like You. 53:32 We want to love You, Father. 53:34 We want to learn to love other people. 53:36 We want to be sacrificial, but we're not, Father. 53:38 Our hearts are far from You, Lord. 53:40 And we ask, Father, that You take our hearts, 53:43 we cannot give them; they are Your property. 53:46 We ask, Father, that You keep 53:47 them for we cannot keep them ourselves. 53:49 We ask, Lord, that You raise us into a pure and holy 53:52 atmosphere where the rich currents of your love 53:55 float through our souls. 53:57 And we pray all this in the name of Jesus. 53:59 And we thank You for answering our prayer... Amen |
Revised 2015-06-09