This evening I would like to
invite you to kneel as far as
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possible with me. We're
going to invite God's presence
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with us this
weekend as we meet together.
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Father in heaven we're coming
here tonight at the beginning of
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this ASI convention. Our hearts
are stirred with the music
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and our hearts want to be
open to the Holy Spirit tonight
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and not just tonight but through
this entire weekend we're
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inviting Your presence here.
We're just pleading that You
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will send Your Holy
Spirit in a remarkable way
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and we're asking that each one
of us will just open our hearts
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and minds to receive the
influence and the guidance
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and the directing voice of the
Holy Spirit. We believe that the
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ASI family has a special
work to do for You during these
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closing hours and
days of earth's history
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And so we're praying
that You will draw near to us
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and impress us as to what that
work should be, individually
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as well as corporately. Bless
us now this evening in this
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meeting and be with those who
will be testifying as to their
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experiences with You. Be
with our seminar presenters
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be with our exhibiters and
Lord grant mercy to the speakers
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as well. In Jesus'
name we pray, Amen.
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It's a wonderful privilege
that God gives to each one of us
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to be personally involved
in the mission of the Church
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And it's important
that each one of us, pastors
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and lay members alike, work
together in order to accomplish
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our mission.
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Without our lay members being
involved the work can never
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get finished. It's critical that
each one of us takes hold of
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whatever talents God has
given to us. Each one of us has
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spiritual gifts intentionally
designed by God to be used by
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by each one of us to be
coordinated together in the body
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of Christ in order to accomplish
His purpose here in this world
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And so I encourage each one
to take a look at what are the
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gifts that God has given
to you. What are the abilities
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and how can they be used
as a method of reaching people
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with the message of Jesus Christ
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If you were to go out here and
go door to door you would find
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that one in every four people
speaks another language besides
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English. Now of course many of
those are Spanish. But there are
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also thousands who speak
German and Navajo,Talagog
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Vietnamese and a lot more.
They need to hear and know the
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love of Jesus. They need to
recognize what God has done for
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them. It was such a joy for
me on the plane coming today
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to sit and talk with a family
that comes from Palestine and
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Jordan. They are here from
places that are very difficult
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to reach. In just the last
10 to 20 years, 74,000 refugees
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have gotten off the plane,
come down like you did today
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and walk into the city
fleeing war, fleeing persecution
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from countries like Iraq,
Somalia and Bosnia. They need
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the love of Jesus Christ. How
many of them have been unable
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to meet Him. When I think of
the huge diversity in this one
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metropolitan area, I am
reminded of what we saw there in
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Jerusalem on Pentecost where
we read in Acts chapter 2:5
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it says, And there were dwelling
in Jerusalem Jews, devout men
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from every nation under heaven,
sounds like Phoenix doesn't it?
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In verse 8 it says those
people said, how is it that
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we hear each in our own
language in which we were born
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as we are praying for revival,
are we praying for the same
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results? That all these people
will get to hear the good news
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of Jesus in their heart language
But some people are upset
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at the fact that these people
are coming here. Evangelism
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page 570 shows us what God
thinks about this situation
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It says we should be
able to see in the multiplying
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opportunities to reach
many foreigners in America
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a divinely appointed means
of rapidly extending the third
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angel's message into all
the nations of the earth.
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God in His providence has
brought 'em into our very doors
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and thrust them as it were
into our arms that they might
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learn the truth and be qualified
to do a work we could not do
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in getting the light
before men of other tongues.
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So while you're in Arizona
this weekend, watch for people
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pray for them and share.
Together let's reach the world
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next door. Will you pray
with me that God's strategy
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might be fulfilled? Let's pray.
Father in heaven, You see every
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single person of every
nationality, tribe and tongue
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and you love them as if
they were only one. So Lord,
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we want to confess that we
don't love them like You do
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We don't care so much about the
people who are different from us
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So we ask you to fill us
with Your heart, with Your love
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for them and enable us to reach
out. Please be with the church
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members here in Phoenix and
throughout the state of Arizona
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Raise them up to reach out to
these people that in some places
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we can't even get into their
countries are missionaries.
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Use them, use us. Throw us out
into Your mission field that we
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might see Your work
finished and Jesus return.
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We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
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I have three wonderful
ladies that are here with me and
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I don't know if any of you were
standing in the registration
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line yesterday and you may have
heard some music. Did you hear
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some music? You may have heard
a testimony of how God brought
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some very special people here
at ASI and with me on the stage
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I have three wonderful
ladies that came on faith to ASI
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Phoenix. Next to me in Marilyn,
and in the middle we have
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Cookie, yes and then next
to her is Rainie. Sorry got a
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little nervous and I'm so
grateful that you guys came up
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this morning. Now I wanna ask
I'm going to start with Cookie
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that's your nick name and
Cookie, tell us how did God
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bring you to ASI 2016.
Good morning. My real name is
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Margie Guyton from a beautiful
town called Quitman, Georgia
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We wanna uh, two weeks ago
I read about, in the Southern
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Tidings about ASI and I
said Lord I need to go there
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and promote my book and to talk
about the homeless that I feed
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This will make my fifth year.
And I said, Lord I need to go
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How can I get there? And as
I prayed, the Lord said, Cookie
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I want you to go to Winn Dixie,
to your used-to-be manager
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and ask him could you see
we stand and sing to raise the
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money. Well he said yes.
And so we sang about 50 songs
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every day for four days
and we were able to raise $1300
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for registration, car
rental, and hotel and gas fare
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Now I feed the homeless. I have
about 9 locations that I feed in
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and I need a food truck.
And I'm on GoFund.com. Please
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pray for that. I, uh,
I'm driving a '94 van you all
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It's called chug-a-lug. I'm
telling you if you all get in
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you'll see why. It sounds
like a locomotive train. I had
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to go to the dollar store, I
was so embarrassed and get me
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a pair of shades one day, and
I tell you the truth. So I need
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I want to get, another friend
of mine, her name is attorney
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Shelby Sellers. She said, well
Cookie you need a food truck
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so she put me on there. So
you all pray that people will
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respond and I need your prayers
and it's listed under Feedin the
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Homeless, Margie Guyton. Amen.
And I thank God for my cousins
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that are with me. Rainie,
and I've been singing her for 30
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some years. We didn't even
realize we were kin each other
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till uh my uncle's got the
David House and they work at
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White House and he said those
are your cousins and I realized
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that Marilyn is kin too and
we're glad to have her. We're
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gonna add her to our additional
singing. Amen, amen. So Cookie
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you went to Winn Dixie,
which for those who don't know
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that's a grocery store, ok, in
the South and you sang to raise
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your way to ASI. Yes I did.
And the Lord provided, amen!
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Amen. And now
Rainie, what was that like?
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Beautiful you know. Uh
we sang old fashioned gospel
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we sang acapella. They
don't hear that much, especially
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people our age. And one day
we were standin up singing and
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and someone said, well
what church do you all attend?
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And somebody else said, we don't
care what church they attend
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they are bringin joy
to our house. They are
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relieving us our stress
and it's just a blessing.
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Amen. We love it, we love
it and they love it also. Amen.
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And I wrote a children's
book I said Lord I need to hear
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from this tired of
begging and knocking on doors
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How can I do this also? And
He said what's that in your hand
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like He told Moses. And I said
Lord what are you talking about?
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He said remember
your puppy called Teardrop
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that my grandfather gave
me for my fourth birthday
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And so I wrote the
book you all in two days.
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And everybody that has read it
is inspired. It's called Cookie
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and Teardrop gets home.
A lady came up at the store
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and I prayed last week they told
me last Friday that they didn't
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have the funds, the
attorney's office are my friends
00:10:59.32\00:11:02.52
and I said don't worry, God's
gonna make a way. So on Sunday
00:11:02.56\00:11:06.46
Sunday, a lady came out the
store. She said what are you
00:11:06.49\00:11:10.17
all doing? And I shared
with her and she read my story.
00:11:10.20\00:11:13.80
And then she said, are you all
hungry? Y'all want something to
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eat? I said, can you afford it?
And she said, yes. And she went
00:11:16.27\00:11:20.18
across the street to Wendy's
and when she came back she said
00:11:20.21\00:11:23.51
Miss Cookie I want to see that
book published. She handed me
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the $350 that I
needed to get the book done.
00:11:27.75\00:11:31.42
Don't tell me there's nothing
too hard for God. Amen, amen.
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My favorite Scripture is
Genesis 18:14, Is anything
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too hard for God? Amen, Praise
the Lord, Is this the ASI spirit
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Amen. Praise the Lord. This
is really seizing the ASI spirit
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Thank you ladies for coming
on faith to ASI. What would you
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say to someone, who maybe
they have a dream in their heart
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Cookie and you want to encourage
them to follow their dream
00:11:51.91\00:11:55.51
Just step out in faith. Take
God at His word. And as I say
00:11:55.54\00:11:59.61
my favorite Scripture is
Genesis 18:14, Is anything
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too hard for God? We
have not because we don't ask
00:12:03.92\00:12:07.19
If you, I think they
want to hear them sing
00:12:07.22\00:12:11.09
Wait, do you guys
have a number for us? We do
00:12:11.96\00:12:13.56
We do, we do. I think
they prepared something
00:12:13.60\00:12:15.46
Alright. A song from Winn Dixie
00:12:15.50\00:12:18.13
Trials dark on on every
hand and we cannot understand
00:12:26.91\00:12:35.75
All the ways that God will lead
us to that blessed promised land
00:12:35.78\00:12:44.89
But He'll guide us with
His eyes and we'll follow till
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we die, we will
understand it better by and by
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Singing by and by Oh
when the morning comes
00:13:00.48\00:13:09.82
And you know all the saints
of God are together at home
00:13:09.85\00:13:18.69
And we'll tell the
story of how we've overcome
00:13:18.73\00:13:27.70
And we'll
understand it better by and by
00:13:27.74\00:13:36.18
Amen, amen. Marilyn,
Cookie, Rainie God bless you.
00:13:36.21\00:13:40.22
Thank you for being here
00:13:40.25\00:13:41.65
Good evening everyone. Wow
I'm surprised to see how many
00:13:45.52\00:13:50.19
people are here this evening.
I think it's going to prove to
00:13:50.23\00:13:53.23
be a wonderful convention.
Now no doubt you're going to see
00:13:53.26\00:13:58.10
and hear and experience a
lot of wonderful things here
00:13:58.13\00:14:01.50
this weekend. But central
to all of that of course is the
00:14:01.54\00:14:04.84
Word of God and Jesus Christ.
I'm going to invite you to
00:14:04.87\00:14:08.91
turn in your Bibles. This
is for our Scripture Reading
00:14:08.94\00:14:11.48
We're in 1 Corinthians chapter
1 we're going to read one little
00:14:11.51\00:14:17.35
verse, verse 26.
1 Corinthians 1:26
00:14:17.39\00:14:23.96
"For you see your calling
brethren how that not many
00:14:23.99\00:14:28.50
wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble
00:14:28.53\00:14:33.54
are called." I expect that
we're going to hear about that
00:14:33.57\00:14:38.71
in just a few minutes. It's
also my privilege to introduce
00:14:38.74\00:14:43.75
the keynote speaker this
evening. Now there's no doubt
00:14:43.78\00:14:47.82
in my mind that you know him.
Steve Dickman is the President
00:14:47.85\00:14:51.55
of ASI. And now there's
many people in this world that I
00:14:51.59\00:14:55.12
admire, but not so many that
I admire more than Steve Dickman
00:14:55.16\00:15:00.03
I don't know anyone who
surrounds more than he can
00:15:00.06\00:15:03.30
surround. He's the President
of Harbert Hills Academy
00:15:03.33\00:15:06.57
He's the President of Laymen's
Foundation. He's the President
00:15:06.60\00:15:10.71
of ASI. He's the Board Chairman
of OCI. He's the Board Chairman
00:15:10.74\00:15:15.11
of ASI as well. And I think he's
the Board Chairman of something
00:15:15.14\00:15:18.45
else besides. He just surrounds
all of this stuff and yet he
00:15:18.48\00:15:22.75
has time to prepare a sermon
and to present it to us this
00:15:22.78\00:15:27.99
evening and there's no doubt
in my mind that the Lord is
00:15:28.02\00:15:31.16
going to bless us. So I
just pray that while we listen
00:15:31.19\00:15:36.20
to this special music, you
will send a little prayer up
00:15:36.23\00:15:39.30
in your heart to the Lord that
Steve Dickman be blessed by the
00:15:39.33\00:15:43.91
Holy Spirit, that we may be
blessed as well. God bless you
00:15:43.94\00:15:47.51
I lift Him up
00:16:16.20\00:16:20.01
Tis He that bids you
00:16:20.04\00:16:23.24
That the dying look
00:16:24.31\00:16:28.98
and live
00:16:29.02\00:16:32.15
To all weary, thirsty sinners
00:16:32.19\00:16:37.99
living waters will He give
00:16:38.03\00:16:43.97
And though once
00:16:44.83\00:16:47.14
so meek and lowly
00:16:47.17\00:16:50.91
Yet the Prince of Heaven was He
00:16:50.94\00:16:56.58
And the blind
who grope in darkness
00:16:56.61\00:17:02.68
Through the blood
of Christ shall see
00:17:02.72\00:17:08.46
Lift Him up this precious Savior
00:17:12.03\00:17:18.33
Let the multitude behold
00:17:18.37\00:17:23.64
They with willing
hearts shall seek Him
00:17:23.67\00:17:28.81
He will draw them to His fold
00:17:28.84\00:17:34.35
They shall
gather from the wayside
00:17:34.38\00:17:39.72
Hastening on with joyous feet
00:17:39.75\00:17:43.83
They shall bear
the cross of Jesus
00:17:43.86\00:17:48.83
And shall find salvation sweet
00:17:48.86\00:17:53.64
Lift Him up the risen Savior
00:17:53.67\00:17:59.41
High amid the waiting throng
00:17:59.44\00:18:03.65
Lift Him up tis He that speaketh
00:18:03.68\00:18:08.68
Now He bids you flee from wrong
00:18:08.72\00:18:14.32
Lift Him up in all His glory
00:18:24.10\00:18:29.30
Tis the Son of God on high
00:18:29.34\00:18:34.48
Lift Him up His
love shall draw them
00:18:34.51\00:18:39.98
E'en the
careless shall draw nigh
00:18:40.02\00:18:45.25
Let them hear again the story
00:18:45.29\00:18:50.13
Of the cross, the death of shame
00:18:50.16\00:18:55.03
And from tongue
to tongue repeat it
00:18:55.06\00:19:00.54
Might throngs
will bless His name
00:19:00.57\00:19:06.61
Oh then lift Him up with singing
00:19:07.78\00:19:14.08
Lift the Savior up in prayer
00:19:14.12\00:19:18.75
He the glorious Redeemer
00:19:18.79\00:19:23.26
All the sins of men did bear
00:19:23.29\00:19:27.50
Yes the young
shall bow before Him
00:19:28.16\00:19:32.33
And the old their voices raise
00:19:32.37\00:19:37.24
All the dead shall hear hosanna
00:19:37.27\00:19:41.64
And the dumb
shall shout His praise
00:19:41.68\00:19:46.82
Lift Him up the risen Savior
00:19:46.85\00:19:51.09
High amid the waiting throng
00:19:51.75\00:19:55.69
Lift Him up tis He that speaketh
00:19:56.66\00:20:00.80
Now He bids you flee from wrong
00:20:00.83\00:20:05.33
Lift Him up
00:20:05.37\00:20:08.87
the risen Savior
00:20:08.90\00:20:11.91
High amid
00:20:12.51\00:20:15.54
the waiting throng
00:20:15.58\00:20:17.75
Lift Him up
00:20:19.28\00:20:22.08
tis He that speaketh
00:20:22.12\00:20:24.62
Now He bids
00:20:25.32\00:20:28.89
you flee from wrong
00:20:28.92\00:20:32.69
Now He bids
00:20:40.17\00:20:46.98
you flee
00:20:48.18\00:20:50.78
from wrong
00:20:50.81\00:20:56.92
I want to thank our musicians
tonight for that great music
00:21:15.50\00:21:19.47
As we're here tonight,
it certainly is my prayer
00:21:21.14\00:21:25.35
that we will lift up Jesus
00:21:25.38\00:21:27.98
Lift Him up so that the
rest of the world can see
00:21:29.38\00:21:32.49
so that the rest of the world
can know what a Savior we have
00:21:32.52\00:21:36.16
We invite you this evening
before we open the word of God
00:21:37.06\00:21:40.03
to bow your heads with me
00:21:40.06\00:21:42.90
Father in heaven, we come here
tonight and we humble our hearts
00:21:42.93\00:21:47.57
now before You, crying out to
You that You would send us the
00:21:47.60\00:21:51.37
Holy Spirit. For without the
Holy Spirit we cannot understand
00:21:51.41\00:21:55.61
Your word. And tonight,
our desire is to understand
00:21:55.64\00:22:00.85
Your word. In
Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
00:22:00.88\00:22:05.59
Saul was on his way
to the city of Damascus.
00:22:10.56\00:22:15.73
So he was on his
way, he was on a mission
00:22:16.87\00:22:19.07
And he was pretty certain
that he was on a mission for God
00:22:20.20\00:22:23.94
until that blinding light struck
and he was knocked to the ground
00:22:27.41\00:22:34.85
and he ended up blind. Tonight
I want to talk to you just a
00:22:36.02\00:22:42.46
little bit about some of
the experiences that Paul had
00:22:42.49\00:22:46.49
Saul had, Paul had. Saul became
Paul through the calling and
00:22:46.53\00:22:53.34
the empowerment of the
great God that we serve
00:22:53.37\00:22:57.91
through the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit, a man who was a
00:22:57.94\00:23:01.74
persecutor became a preacher.
00:23:01.78\00:23:04.55
A man who was
against the cause of God
00:23:05.18\00:23:08.08
converted sides and
became completely dedicated
00:23:08.98\00:23:12.35
to the cause of God.
00:23:12.39\00:23:15.82
And tonight we're living in the
world in such an age that each
00:23:15.86\00:23:20.20
one of us has a similar decision
to make about on which side
00:23:20.23\00:23:27.10
we will stand. Whose life will
we advance? Will we advance the
00:23:27.14\00:23:32.34
life of God through Jesus? Will
we say as Paul did, I determine
00:23:32.37\00:23:38.15
to know nothing except the cross
of Christ and Him crucified.
00:23:38.18\00:23:42.15
So tonight I'd like to invite
you, if you have your Bibles,
00:23:43.55\00:23:46.05
to turn with me to 1 Corinthians
chapter 1 and we find here
00:23:46.09\00:23:53.60
Paul speaking to the Corinthian
church and this is what he says
00:23:53.63\00:23:58.23
here. Paul, called to be
an apostle of Christ through
00:23:58.27\00:24:03.57
the will of God.
00:24:03.61\00:24:06.47
Paul was called.
Would you agree with that?
00:24:07.34\00:24:09.94
Would you agree that he had a
dramatic and miraculous calling?
00:24:10.91\00:24:15.22
Obviously, getting struck from
his horse and falling to the
00:24:16.22\00:24:20.36
ground blind, it was obviously
a miraculous calling by God
00:24:20.39\00:24:24.69
He goes on to say in
verse 2 though, he's writing now
00:24:24.73\00:24:28.53
he's writing unto the church
of God which is at Corinth
00:24:28.56\00:24:31.70
To them that are sanctified in
Christ Jesus called to be saints
00:24:31.73\00:24:37.11
Now, so we see that not
only was Paul himself called
00:24:38.87\00:24:45.31
but in speaking to the church
at Corinth, he also felt that
00:24:45.35\00:24:50.59
they were called. And
they weren't just called to any
00:24:50.62\00:24:53.25
calling. He goes on to say that
they were called to be saints.
00:24:53.29\00:24:56.93
How many saints do
we have here tonight?
00:24:56.96\00:24:59.53
Well I don't know, that's
a tough question isn't it?
00:25:00.56\00:25:02.86
It's hard to raise your
hand when you know that there's
00:25:02.90\00:25:05.73
things in your life and in your
world that you struggle with
00:25:05.77\00:25:08.57
that would leave you a little
less saintly on some days and
00:25:08.60\00:25:12.71
a little more than less
than saintly on other days.
00:25:12.74\00:25:15.74
Well he goes on to say here,
not only does he talk about
00:25:16.78\00:25:21.12
church in Corinth but he
goes on to indicate here, says
00:25:21.15\00:25:24.99
with all that in every place
call upon the name of Jesus
00:25:25.02\00:25:29.56
Christ our Lord, both theirs
and ours. Now if you want the
00:25:29.59\00:25:34.10
Steve Dickman interpretation
of that, Paul has just said
00:25:34.13\00:25:37.33
I got called, the church in
Corinth got called with all the
00:25:37.37\00:25:41.07
saints there and anybody
who calls on the name of Jesus
00:25:41.10\00:25:44.91
is also called.
00:25:44.94\00:25:47.78
If you're here tonight,
I'm making an assumption
00:25:49.24\00:25:53.15
that you call on
the name of Jesus.
00:25:53.68\00:25:55.92
And Phoenix has a place in
this as well because he says
00:25:57.79\00:26:00.52
that in every place with all
that in every place that call
00:26:00.56\00:26:05.46
upon the name of Jesus Christ
our Lord both theirs and ours
00:26:05.49\00:26:09.96
an interesting way to say that
I think that everyone is called
00:26:10.00\00:26:14.14
And that's the idea I
get from this section in
00:26:15.17\00:26:18.94
1 Corinthians here that Paul
says I was called, the church
00:26:18.97\00:26:22.74
is called, the saints are
called and everyone who calls on
00:26:22.78\00:26:26.72
the name of Jesus is
called. Are you called tonight?
00:26:26.75\00:26:29.52
Are you called tonight? I
believe that each one of us
00:26:30.52\00:26:34.66
has been called. But it could
be, it could be that some of us
00:26:34.69\00:26:42.46
have not been paying
attention to our calling.
00:26:42.50\00:26:45.53
In fact that's the very
situation that Saul found
00:26:47.90\00:26:52.47
himself in when he was
on the road to Damascus
00:26:52.51\00:26:56.68
We actually find in the Spirit
of Prophecy, some enlightenment
00:26:56.71\00:26:59.85
about this, talking about,
if you read the section there
00:26:59.88\00:27:05.49
in Acts of the Apostles
and other places you find that
00:27:05.52\00:27:09.39
Saul was being bothered. He was
being bothered by the behavior
00:27:10.43\00:27:14.83
that he saw in the life of
Stephen when Stephen was stoned
00:27:14.86\00:27:18.07
Saul was there, he was holding
the coats. He said we've got to
00:27:19.13\00:27:22.40
get rid of this heretic.
But when he participated in that
00:27:22.44\00:27:27.11
event, he looked up and he saw
Stephen looking up as it were
00:27:27.14\00:27:30.45
into heaven and that calm look
on his face, he said there's
00:27:30.48\00:27:34.18
something
different about this man.
00:27:34.22\00:27:36.42
And I think that
was wearing on him.
00:27:37.19\00:27:39.69
And the Holy Spirit was working
on him. But he wasn't paying
00:27:39.72\00:27:44.06
very much attention.
00:27:44.09\00:27:46.49
Somehow God tends
to get our attention.
00:27:48.26\00:27:53.40
Personally, I would like for God
to get my attention in a much
00:27:55.60\00:27:59.87
easier way than it seemed He had
to work with in the case of Saul
00:27:59.91\00:28:04.28
How many of you
would like to be blind?
00:28:06.41\00:28:08.38
Even for just a few moments?
00:28:08.92\00:28:10.55
Yeah, I think so. I think we
would like for God to work with
00:28:12.72\00:28:16.29
us in a different way.
00:28:16.32\00:28:18.83
You know he goes on here
in 1 Corinthians in some very
00:28:20.40\00:28:25.03
very interesting reading here
in this chapter. We're gonna
00:28:25.07\00:28:28.77
explore some of that. In verse
7 it says this and it's talking
00:28:28.80\00:28:32.07
about why, why do we get called?
What is it that God wants to
00:28:32.11\00:28:37.25
do? Why is He calling us? In
verse 7, so that you come behind
00:28:37.28\00:28:42.45
in no gift, waiting for the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
00:28:42.48\00:28:45.82
Paul's interpretation here
evidently was that we're called
00:28:48.46\00:28:52.23
and he says earlier that
grace and peace and all these
00:28:52.66\00:28:55.46
wonderful things be upon
you. But he says we're called
00:28:55.50\00:28:59.73
we've been asked by God to do
a work for Him and God is going
00:28:59.77\00:29:04.41
to empower us to do that work
and He doesn't want us to be
00:29:04.44\00:29:07.41
short on anything we need to
do the work that He has called
00:29:07.44\00:29:10.98
us to do, as we wait for what?
00:29:11.01\00:29:15.68
For the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Are you waiting
00:29:15.72\00:29:19.05
tonight for the coming
of Jesus, raise your hand
00:29:19.09\00:29:21.52
Do you want to
see Him come soon?
00:29:21.56\00:29:24.06
A few months ago
I buried my father.
00:29:25.69\00:29:29.33
I can tell you for sure I want
to see Jesus come very soon.
00:29:29.76\00:29:34.17
I don't wanna hold on
here. What are we waiting for?
00:29:34.20\00:29:36.94
I think we should get
over whatever we're waiting on
00:29:36.97\00:29:40.34
and do whatever God is
asking us to do. I believe Jesus
00:29:40.38\00:29:43.61
Himself is waiting in the
heavenly courts and He wants
00:29:43.65\00:29:46.01
to see the work on
this earth finished soon.
00:29:46.05\00:29:48.38
We're told that the sorrow we
experience here is only a small
00:29:48.42\00:29:52.35
drop or small portion of what
God Himself experiences every
00:29:52.39\00:29:55.49
day when He looks down on
this planet and He sees the
00:29:55.52\00:29:57.99
starving children and He sees
the sin and the death and the
00:29:58.03\00:30:01.90
wars and all of these things
taking place in this planet
00:30:01.93\00:30:05.13
Don't you know that He's
suffering right along with His
00:30:05.17\00:30:08.20
children? I think sometimes
we ignore this and we think He's
00:30:08.24\00:30:11.24
just up there waiting with
His feet propped up, waiting for
00:30:11.27\00:30:13.64
something to happen. I believe
that God is experiencing our
00:30:13.68\00:30:18.61
sorrow times and
infinite number of sorrows.
00:30:18.65\00:30:22.65
And He too would like
to see this work get done.
00:30:22.68\00:30:27.89
Verse 8 goes on to say, Who
shall confirm you unto the end
00:30:32.39\00:30:37.57
that you may be blameless in
the day of our Lord Jesus Christ
00:30:37.60\00:30:43.44
The calling that was received
by Paul, the calling that he was
00:30:44.57\00:30:48.61
talking about to the Corinthian
church, the calling that he was
00:30:48.64\00:30:51.58
talking about to us is a calling
that we should live by the
00:30:51.61\00:30:58.42
power of God in such a way
that the Holy Spirit will be
00:30:58.45\00:31:03.39
able to say of us on that day
You're blameless in the power
00:31:03.43\00:31:08.70
of your Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
God is calling us. He is calling
00:31:08.73\00:31:14.00
us today and in verse 9 Paul
goes on to say, God is faithful
00:31:14.04\00:31:20.28
by whom you were called
into fellowship of His son Jesus
00:31:20.31\00:31:24.08
Christ our Lord. We serve a
faithful God, if He calls us
00:31:24.11\00:31:28.05
He is intentionally preparing
to empower us to do the work
00:31:28.08\00:31:32.55
that He has called us to do.
00:31:32.59\00:31:34.06
I believe there is one thing God
needs more than anything else
00:31:37.16\00:31:41.23
and it's not our abilities. As
much as we would like to believe
00:31:41.26\00:31:46.70
there's something about
our selves that God could just
00:31:46.74\00:31:48.94
reach down and use and
say, Yeah this really is great
00:31:48.97\00:31:52.37
I'm glad this
person can sing so nicely.
00:31:52.41\00:31:54.54
Listen, God needs our
availability not just our
00:31:56.28\00:31:59.28
ability. We can talk about
our ability, we can show off our
00:31:59.31\00:32:03.95
ability with all kinds of things
we can do with our abilities.
00:32:03.99\00:32:07.26
We can post our abilities on
the wall. We can advertise our
00:32:07.29\00:32:10.79
abilities on the
international world-wide-web.
00:32:10.83\00:32:13.36
We can talk about them on
Facebook but what God is looking
00:32:13.40\00:32:16.23
for is a people who will agree
to do what He has asked them
00:32:16.26\00:32:20.74
to do; a people who will agree
to work for Him according to
00:32:20.77\00:32:24.97
His calling, not
according to their own ability.
00:32:25.01\00:32:28.11
We read in our verse tonight
in 1 Corinthians, same chapter
00:32:32.45\00:32:36.92
in verse 26. For ye see your
calling brethren, how that not
00:32:36.95\00:32:42.02
many wise men after the flesh
and not many mighty and not
00:32:42.06\00:32:45.63
many noble are called. God
doesn't need our human wisdom
00:32:45.66\00:32:49.46
God doesn't need our human
nobility. He doesn't need our
00:32:49.50\00:32:52.73
rank, He doesn't need any
of those things. He needs us as
00:32:52.77\00:32:56.24
individuals completely
and totally committed to Him.
00:32:56.27\00:32:58.91
He doesn't even need our money.
He said He owns the cattle
00:33:00.08\00:33:03.68
on a thousand hills. He owns
the world itself. He owns all
00:33:03.71\00:33:07.32
the gold and all the silver.
00:33:07.35\00:33:08.82
You know I want to explore
something here in verse 9
00:33:14.12\00:33:17.16
just a moment. It says God
is faithful and I like that
00:33:17.19\00:33:20.86
because I need a faithful God.
00:33:20.90\00:33:24.13
I need a faithful God.
00:33:24.17\00:33:26.10
But it also says by whom ye
were called into the fellowship
00:33:27.47\00:33:32.24
of His Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord. What does it mean to be
00:33:32.27\00:33:36.08
in fellowship with
Jesus Christ our Lord?
00:33:36.11\00:33:38.71
Philippians chapter 3. Paul
expands on this just a little
00:33:44.09\00:33:50.99
Philippians chapter 3 and I'm
going to read a couple of verses
00:33:51.03\00:33:55.50
here. We're gonna explore
starting in verse 7 here just a
00:33:55.53\00:34:00.54
minute, but what things
were gain to me those I counted
00:34:00.57\00:34:05.97
loss for Christ, yea doubtless
I count all things loss for the
00:34:06.01\00:34:09.18
excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord
00:34:09.21\00:34:11.78
for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things
00:34:11.81\00:34:14.62
and do count them but
dung that I may win Christ
00:34:14.65\00:34:18.95
and be found in Him not having
my own righteousness which is
00:34:18.99\00:34:21.99
of the law but that which
is through faith in Christ, the
00:34:22.02\00:34:24.63
righteousness
which is of God by faith
00:34:24.66\00:34:28.63
that I may know Him and
the power of His resurrection
00:34:30.37\00:34:35.24
and the fellowship of His what?
00:34:35.87\00:34:42.64
sufferings. Being made
conformable unto His death
00:34:43.14\00:34:50.15
if by any means I may
attain unto the resurrection
00:34:50.19\00:34:55.69
of the dead.
00:34:55.72\00:34:59.06
You see the fellowship of Jesus
00:35:01.50\00:35:07.67
is a life that will be
poured out in sacrifice.
00:35:08.34\00:35:13.64
The word, the word there in
Philippians was His sufferings
00:35:15.94\00:35:22.68
Jesus came with a heart that
was overflowing with love for
00:35:26.52\00:35:34.50
mankind. And He poured out
His life, He poured out His life
00:35:34.53\00:35:41.20
the statement in the Spirit
of Prophecy says, He gave all
00:35:41.24\00:35:44.64
and then He gave Himself.
00:35:44.67\00:35:47.74
I've got a
question for you tonight
00:35:50.35\00:35:52.61
If you have been called which
according to what I read here
00:35:52.65\00:35:57.55
every single one of us has been
called, if you have been called
00:35:57.59\00:36:03.76
have you yet given your all?
00:36:03.79\00:36:08.23
Because that's
all that God wants.
00:36:09.36\00:36:11.40
We don't serve a God
who's a 50% kind of God
00:36:12.60\00:36:15.60
We don't serve a God
who is an 80% kind of God
00:36:15.64\00:36:18.67
We don't even serve a
God who is a 99% kind of God
00:36:18.71\00:36:22.01
We serve a God who's asking for
only one thing and that's 100%
00:36:22.04\00:36:26.65
Because that is His
example. That is what He gave.
00:36:27.85\00:36:31.05
He poured out Himself to this
world. He came from the heavenly
00:36:31.09\00:36:34.92
courts where everything is
bright and glorious to this dark
00:36:34.96\00:36:37.26
world where everything is
sin and sorrow and He poured out
00:36:37.29\00:36:40.33
His life here in service,
selfless service to human kind
00:36:40.36\00:36:44.17
He gave us an example to live
by. He showed us how to do it
00:36:44.20\00:36:47.84
He says if you follow the way
I told you to do this, if you
00:36:47.87\00:36:51.41
follow the pattern of my life
you'll be successful in reaching
00:36:51.44\00:36:56.78
others and
bringing them to my kingdom.
00:36:56.81\00:36:59.88
And I don't know recently
if you've read the Gospel but
00:37:01.85\00:37:04.19
Jesus didn't own a car.
00:37:04.22\00:37:07.02
In fact He told someone who
was interested in following Him
00:37:07.56\00:37:10.33
I wanna be one of your disciples
He said it's ok if you wanna be
00:37:10.36\00:37:13.93
my disciple but you need
to understand the terms here
00:37:13.96\00:37:16.36
I don't have a house. In fact
the foxes have holes, but the
00:37:16.40\00:37:21.80
Son of Man has
nowhere to lay His head.
00:37:21.84\00:37:25.34
We've become way too comfortable
with living with who we are
00:37:33.38\00:37:39.05
or who we have become.
00:37:39.09\00:37:42.06
Our society today is fixated,
somehow fixated on the idea
00:37:43.86\00:37:50.67
that if you desire it
then you should have it.
00:37:50.70\00:37:53.54
And not only that but
you should have it quickly.
00:37:55.10\00:37:58.11
And if you have to cheat some
body else to get it, that's ok
00:37:59.37\00:38:02.81
The society is a 'ME'
society if I believe it, it's ok
00:38:04.78\00:38:10.22
If I want it I should have it
00:38:10.25\00:38:12.09
It's just the
society in which we live.
00:38:12.12\00:38:14.72
You know unfortunately, these
ideas have crept in to our own
00:38:16.96\00:38:21.36
ranks and somehow we believe
that we are due something
00:38:21.40\00:38:25.40
I should have a comfortable
life I should have such and such
00:38:25.43\00:38:28.77
What do you mean I shouldn't
think about this and these
00:38:28.80\00:38:33.84
material things
that I'm thinking about?
00:38:33.88\00:38:35.84
For following the example
of Jesus, we will be ready
00:38:39.71\00:38:43.49
and willing to answer His call
00:38:43.52\00:38:45.85
and if necessary even
pour out our life unto death
00:38:45.89\00:38:50.99
Because that is what Jesus did
there's no question in my mind
00:38:52.09\00:38:56.10
when I read the Scriptures, I
see Him coming here. I look at
00:38:56.13\00:38:59.40
His life and it challenges
me I see Him getting up early in
00:38:59.43\00:39:02.14
the morning and going to bed
late at night and all the time
00:39:02.17\00:39:05.41
in between He's serving
other people's needs. It records
00:39:05.44\00:39:08.34
in the Scriptures there were
sometimes He didn't even have
00:39:08.38\00:39:10.28
time to eat. Because He was
so busy serving the needs of
00:39:10.31\00:39:15.25
humanity around Him, He came
He was talking to the woman at
00:39:15.28\00:39:18.85
the well, His disciples went to
get something to eat, they came
00:39:18.89\00:39:21.42
back and they said it's
time to eat, He said don't worry
00:39:21.46\00:39:24.06
He found in His service to
His Father all that He needed.
00:39:27.40\00:39:35.17
I'd like to move down to
verse 17 here just for a minute
00:39:38.64\00:39:42.24
and Paul is talking about
his calling still. And he says,
00:39:42.28\00:39:46.38
for Christ sent me not to
baptize but to preach the Gospel
00:39:46.41\00:39:50.85
Now wait a minute. I
thought the great commission was
00:39:53.76\00:39:57.99
to let's see, go and
teach, teach all nations
00:39:58.03\00:40:03.37
baptizing them in the name
of the Father, the Son and the
00:40:03.40\00:40:06.33
Holy Spirit. Yes,
is that our commission?
00:40:06.37\00:40:08.27
So what is Paul saying here,
Christ sent me not to baptize
00:40:10.14\00:40:13.51
but to preach the Gospel?
00:40:13.54\00:40:16.44
Do you think we ever get
distracted with the idea of
00:40:19.91\00:40:22.25
baptism? When I say that I'm
not talking about baptism in a
00:40:22.28\00:40:25.29
negative way. I'm just talking
about the tally sheet that we
00:40:25.32\00:40:28.29
keep sometimes. 42 and a half
got baptized. I'm not sure what
00:40:28.32\00:40:33.63
the half was but
we almost made it.
00:40:33.66\00:40:36.20
You know I think sometimes we're
a little distracted with this.
00:40:37.20\00:40:40.20
Paul had his calling clear.
He says I was sent to preach the
00:40:40.24\00:40:44.54
Gospel but then he goes on
to say something that challenges
00:40:44.57\00:40:47.11
me as I think about this.
He says not with the wisdom of
00:40:47.14\00:40:50.75
words. How can you
preach without words?
00:40:50.78\00:40:56.18
I could try it here this
evening but I think I would fail
00:40:58.45\00:41:00.69
pretty miserably in doing such
a thing. But that's what it says
00:41:00.72\00:41:05.73
here. He says I was called to
preach the Gospel not with the
00:41:05.76\00:41:10.20
wisdom of words, lest the cross
of Christ should be made of
00:41:10.23\00:41:14.04
none effect. So let's dissect
this statement for just a
00:41:14.07\00:41:18.74
moment. If you're not preaching
with words how are you preaching
00:41:18.77\00:41:22.54
Ok we have sign language.
We could use sign language
00:41:26.75\00:41:29.75
that would be an acceptable
means to preach, right?
00:41:29.78\00:41:32.39
You see I'm not using words.
Well that's a form of words
00:41:32.42\00:41:35.06
isn't it sign language?
I believe that what Paul is
00:41:35.09\00:41:38.39
talking about here is I want
to preach with my life. I want
00:41:38.43\00:41:41.56
people to see the way I live
I want people to see what I'm
00:41:41.60\00:41:44.57
doing as the hands and feet of
Jesus and that's how I want to
00:41:44.60\00:41:48.07
preach the Gospel. That's how I
want others to know who Jesus is
00:41:48.10\00:41:51.67
by the way I live and I
think tonight that's what I need
00:41:51.71\00:41:55.18
personally in my own life.
I need a better representation
00:41:55.21\00:41:58.41
through the way I
live about who Jesus is.
00:41:58.45\00:42:01.22
I need to live a
more self sacrificing life
00:42:01.25\00:42:04.92
I need to live a more committed
life. I need to live a life
00:42:04.95\00:42:08.49
that is poured out as the life
of Jesus was. I want to go home
00:42:08.52\00:42:12.63
I want to see Jesus come.
I don't wanna stay here for
00:42:12.66\00:42:15.46
another 50 years. I don't know
about you. I don't even wanna
00:42:15.50\00:42:18.30
stay here for another 5 years.
00:42:18.33\00:42:19.93
I don't want my grandchildren
to grow up in this world
00:42:19.97\00:42:22.90
The world is sick,
the world is dying.
00:42:25.91\00:42:29.84
I'm sick, I'm dying. You
may not know that everybody here
00:42:29.88\00:42:33.82
is dying. Sorry to tell you
the truth but you're all coming
00:42:33.85\00:42:36.85
to the end of your life.
Some sooner than later. I don't
00:42:36.89\00:42:40.92
know when my time is, you
don't know when your time is
00:42:40.96\00:42:43.09
but I guarantee unless
Jesus comes you're gonna die.
00:42:43.12\00:42:46.19
Paul here lays this challenge
on the table and he says I was
00:42:51.37\00:42:56.40
sent to preach the
gospel but not with words.
00:42:56.44\00:43:00.81
How many of us have a life that
rightly represents the cross
00:43:01.61\00:43:06.38
of Christ. Because he goes
on to say there, lest the cross
00:43:06.41\00:43:11.45
of Christ should be made of
none effect. Have we ever made
00:43:11.49\00:43:16.56
the cross of Christ of
none effect by saying one thing
00:43:16.59\00:43:20.40
and doing another
thing? Preaching one thing
00:43:20.43\00:43:23.57
and living another thing?
00:43:23.60\00:43:28.10
It says this in verse 18,
for the preaching of the cross
00:43:31.44\00:43:35.28
is to them that
perish, foolishness.
00:43:35.31\00:43:38.71
I would suggest to you tonight
that there are many who would
00:43:39.28\00:43:46.35
discourage you from a
complete and total absolute 100%
00:43:46.39\00:43:53.80
commitment to follow
Jesus. They will be your friends
00:43:53.83\00:43:57.03
They might be your family, they
might be your work acquaintances
00:43:57.07\00:44:00.70
who would tell you what
are you doing? This is stupid.
00:44:00.74\00:44:04.31
You're not thinking about
yourself. You're not thinking
00:44:05.71\00:44:09.04
about the future. What are you
gonna do when it comes time to
00:44:09.08\00:44:12.05
retire. What are you gonna
do when it comes time for such
00:44:12.08\00:44:14.45
and such.
00:44:14.48\00:44:17.42
I want to retire in a different
country. It says Abraham was
00:44:19.69\00:44:24.03
looking for that city
whose builder and maker was God.
00:44:24.06\00:44:27.46
That's where I wanna retire.
00:44:27.50\00:44:30.07
You know there's some practical
realities in this world and I
00:44:30.10\00:44:32.63
don't know how to interpret them
I'm not here to give you any
00:44:32.67\00:44:34.70
answers. But I am here
to stir up your thinking.
00:44:34.74\00:44:37.01
What is Jesus calling you
to do tonight? I can't answer
00:44:37.87\00:44:41.44
the question for you. I
can barely answer it for myself
00:44:41.48\00:44:44.45
But I think He's calling me to
do more than I think is possible
00:44:45.88\00:44:49.62
humanly. I believe He's calling
me to do more than what I think
00:44:49.65\00:44:53.19
I should do from
a human standpoint.
00:44:53.22\00:44:55.12
Because when I look at the
cross of Christ, when I look at
00:44:55.56\00:44:59.03
the Gospel that was preached
by Jesus through His life
00:44:59.06\00:45:01.83
when I look at the sacrifice
He made, I realize that I have
00:45:02.76\00:45:06.74
so far done nothing.
00:45:06.77\00:45:08.30
I'm not coming close. I'm
not near the mark. I'm not yet
00:45:10.64\00:45:14.74
approaching what God wants
me to do. Because He's calling
00:45:14.78\00:45:18.88
for that kind of commitment
that is beyond our understanding
00:45:18.91\00:45:21.65
But if you go on in verse
18 it says this, but unto us
00:45:21.68\00:45:25.75
speaking of this preaching
of the cross through our life
00:45:25.79\00:45:29.06
because in verse 17 he just
told you he's not gonna preach
00:45:29.09\00:45:32.56
with words, he's gonna
preach with his life and it says
00:45:32.59\00:45:35.96
for the living, I'm gonna say
it that way, the living of the
00:45:36.00\00:45:40.04
cross is to them that
perish foolishness but if you're
00:45:40.07\00:45:44.04
living the cross you're living
the life that Jesus lived here
00:45:44.07\00:45:48.04
on this earth, it will be unto
us which are saved the power
00:45:48.08\00:45:52.61
of God. You need the
power of God in your life.
00:45:52.65\00:45:56.42
Time's running out
here. I wanna skip down here
00:46:00.82\00:46:05.19
I wanna read a couple
of verses here at the end
00:46:05.23\00:46:07.76
Verse 27. But God has chosen
the foolish things of the world
00:46:09.00\00:46:15.30
to confound the wise.
00:46:15.34\00:46:17.87
And God has chosen the weak
things of the world to confound
00:46:17.91\00:46:21.98
the things which are mighty,
and the base things of the
00:46:22.01\00:46:25.65
world and the things which are
despised God, hath God chosen
00:46:25.68\00:46:29.32
yea and the things which are not
to bring to naught the things
00:46:29.35\00:46:35.56
that are. So God has a totally
and completely different scheme
00:46:35.59\00:46:39.83
of choosing things. I
don't know if you notice that
00:46:39.86\00:46:41.90
So I'm not choosing the wise,
I'm not choosing the wealthy
00:46:41.93\00:46:45.17
I'm not choosing you know,
all these things. Not wise, not
00:46:45.20\00:46:49.84
noble, not mighty. I'm choosing
the foolish things. I'm choosing
00:46:49.87\00:46:53.27
the weak things, I'm choosing
the base things, I'm choosing
00:46:53.31\00:46:56.18
the despised things. I'm
choosing the things that are not
00:46:56.21\00:46:59.45
to even make naught the
things that are. God has a plan
00:46:59.48\00:47:03.05
to take the weak things
and make them His instruments
00:47:03.08\00:47:06.29
and sometimes we
feel weak don't we?
00:47:07.49\00:47:09.39
Sometimes we think it
can't happen, it's not possible.
00:47:11.96\00:47:15.06
John 15:16 says this, You
didn't choose me. You didn't
00:47:16.13\00:47:21.97
me, I chose you.
00:47:22.00\00:47:25.14
And if you read that verse
in a very personal way you will
00:47:25.77\00:47:31.11
discover that God has chosen you
00:47:31.15\00:47:35.75
Yes we are called and yes
we are chosen but there's one
00:47:35.78\00:47:38.95
thing in our theme here
Called, Chosen, Committed
00:47:38.99\00:47:43.49
My Bible says I was called,
my Bible says I have been chosen
00:47:43.53\00:47:47.66
but my Bible does not
say that I have committed
00:47:47.70\00:47:50.67
That's my choice. That's a
decision that I will have to
00:47:50.70\00:47:54.94
make. There's no chance that
I could misinterpret the calling
00:47:54.97\00:48:00.11
of God if I read the Scriptures
There's no chance that I could
00:48:00.14\00:48:03.38
misinterpret that God has
chosen me specifically and
00:48:03.41\00:48:06.88
individually if I
read the Scriptures.
00:48:06.92\00:48:08.58
But the choice is mine and
the choice is yours tonight
00:48:09.75\00:48:12.65
about commitment. What level
of commitment will you make?
00:48:14.26\00:48:19.89
And it's unfortunate
from a human standpoint anyway
00:48:21.06\00:48:25.17
that God has only one
number that He knows about
00:48:25.20\00:48:28.54
and that's the 100% commitment
00:48:29.70\00:48:31.64
With me it's completely
impossible that I should even
00:48:36.85\00:48:40.75
be able to consider a
100% commitment, because I'm a
00:48:40.78\00:48:44.79
selfish human being. I was born
that way. The Bible says I was
00:48:44.82\00:48:49.82
born in sin. I was
born a selfish person.
00:48:49.86\00:48:54.56
I've been trying to
get over it but it's hard.
00:48:55.23\00:48:57.00
How many of you know
that? It's hard. It's hard.
00:48:57.03\00:49:01.84
But I have the promise of
this thing that Paul said in
00:49:03.10\00:49:07.14
Philippians 1:6, Being confident
of this very thing that He
00:49:07.18\00:49:15.32
who has begun a good work in
you will complete it until the
00:49:15.35\00:49:19.85
day of Jesus
Christ. God wants to start,
00:49:19.89\00:49:23.43
I mean He wants to
finish what He starts.
00:49:23.46\00:49:25.79
And He's gonna keep working on
us. He's gonna keep helping us
00:49:27.36\00:49:30.93
And I believe that if we
will commit ourselves under His
00:49:30.97\00:49:36.07
calling and His choosing
that He will do some absolutely
00:49:36.10\00:49:40.38
amazing things with us.
You're here this weekend at ASI.
00:49:40.41\00:49:44.61
You didn't come here by accident
00:49:44.65\00:49:47.02
You're here
because God called you here
00:49:47.58\00:49:50.15
You're gonna go to the exhibit
hall because there's someone
00:49:50.19\00:49:52.62
God wants to connect you
with there. There's ministry
00:49:52.65\00:49:55.16
happening all over the world
that needs people. Jesus Himself
00:49:55.19\00:49:58.43
said, The harvest truly
is great but the laborers are
00:49:58.46\00:50:03.80
few. God is looking for people
He could do it with the angels
00:50:03.83\00:50:07.97
it's true but He's chosen to
do it with people. He's chosen
00:50:08.00\00:50:10.61
to do it with people
like me and people like you.
00:50:10.64\00:50:13.98
Let's simply say, ok He called
some fishermen and it says
00:50:14.51\00:50:19.98
they turned their back on their
nets and they left their nets
00:50:20.02\00:50:22.55
and they went and followed
Jesus. And they left all
00:50:22.58\00:50:25.32
behind and followed Him.
He called the rich young ruler
00:50:25.35\00:50:28.19
The rich young ruler
turned away and Jesus was sad
00:50:28.22\00:50:31.16
when he turned away because
He had given a call to this
00:50:31.19\00:50:33.70
young man. He saw potential
in him, but the young man
00:50:33.73\00:50:36.43
refused to leave behind
things that he was attached to
00:50:36.46\00:50:40.04
Revelation
chapter 17 and verse 14.
00:50:43.41\00:50:48.84
It says this
00:50:54.72\00:50:58.35
Talking about the war
that's going on, the great war
00:51:01.82\00:51:05.03
says these, speaking of
the beast, these shall make war
00:51:05.06\00:51:08.00
with the lamb and the
lamb shall overcome them.
00:51:08.03\00:51:12.67
For He is Lord of Lords
and King of Kings. And they
00:51:12.70\00:51:16.77
that are with Him are
called and chosen and faithful
00:51:16.81\00:51:19.54
God is looking for a generation
that will accept His call
00:51:20.08\00:51:23.65
God is looking for a generation
that will accept His choosing
00:51:23.68\00:51:26.21
God is looking for a generation
who will be faithful to make a
00:51:26.25\00:51:29.68
commitment to Him and tonight
you as a living, breathing
00:51:29.72\00:51:33.96
human being on planet earth
have the opportunity to accept
00:51:33.99\00:51:38.83
that call to make a commitment
to God and to be a part of this
00:51:38.86\00:51:42.53
group. It says the Lamb shall
overcome them for He is Lord
00:51:42.56\00:51:46.20
of Lords and King of
Kings and that's who we serve.
00:51:46.23\00:51:48.40
And all things are
possible through Christ.
00:51:48.44\00:51:52.24
I wanna be in that group.
The war is on, you gotta choose
00:51:53.71\00:52:00.22
your side. I've heard people
say you need to choose your
00:52:00.25\00:52:02.88
battle. I think you
need to choose your side.
00:52:02.92\00:52:05.52
You need to choose your
side and make a 100% commitment.
00:52:07.82\00:52:11.73
That's what I wanna do. May
God grant us mercy here this
00:52:11.76\00:52:15.63
week that we will understand
His calling and realize the
00:52:15.66\00:52:18.30
generation in which we live
and step up to the idea that
00:52:18.33\00:52:21.60
there's some commitments
that we need to make for Him.
00:52:21.64\00:52:23.54
God bless you.
00:52:25.47\00:52:28.74
You know Steve
preached his heart out tonight
00:52:37.59\00:52:40.29
And He's talking about
the desire that God must have
00:52:41.36\00:52:45.83
for us to be committed. And
it's not just Steve but it's
00:52:45.86\00:52:49.06
all of your ASI leadership,
this longing for every one of us
00:52:49.10\00:52:52.70
to be called and
committed to our Lord.
00:52:52.73\00:52:56.17
We have the
privilege of singing a song
00:52:56.20\00:52:58.47
to direct your mind to
the God he was talking about
00:52:58.51\00:53:01.78
to our wonderful
Savior Jesus Christ.
00:53:01.81\00:53:04.01
I feel quite
sure if I did my best
00:53:15.76\00:53:20.53
I could maybe impress you
00:53:21.80\00:53:24.37
With tender words and harmony
00:53:25.40\00:53:29.50
a clever rhyme or two
00:53:30.51\00:53:33.01
But with all I've
done in the time we shared
00:53:34.04\00:53:38.55
is turned your eyes on me
00:53:38.58\00:53:42.42
then I failed at what
I've been called to do
00:53:43.18\00:53:47.56
there's someone
else I want you to see
00:53:47.59\00:53:51.83
Will you love Jesus more
00:53:53.43\00:53:58.33
When we go our different ways
00:53:59.13\00:54:03.64
When this moment is a memory
00:54:03.67\00:54:07.91
Will you remember His face?
00:54:08.51\00:54:13.31
Will you look back and realize
00:54:13.35\00:54:17.49
you sensed His love
more than you did before
00:54:17.52\00:54:23.02
I pray for nothing less
than for you to love Jesus more
00:54:23.83\00:54:32.10
I'd like to keep these memories
00:54:39.27\00:54:44.11
In frames of gold and silver
00:54:44.15\00:54:47.42
And reminisce a year from now
00:54:48.58\00:54:52.89
about the smiles we shared
00:54:53.79\00:54:56.79
But above all else
I hope you will come
00:54:57.73\00:55:02.30
to know the Father's love
00:55:02.33\00:55:06.43
And when you see
the Lord face to face
00:55:07.34\00:55:11.77
you'll hear Him say well done
00:55:11.81\00:55:16.24
Will you love Jesus more
00:55:17.38\00:55:21.42
When we go our different ways
00:55:22.48\00:55:26.92
When this moment is a memory
00:55:27.76\00:55:31.19
Will you remember His face
00:55:32.13\00:55:36.87
Will you look back and realize
00:55:36.90\00:55:40.97
You sensed His love
more than you did before
00:55:41.00\00:55:46.78
I pray for nothing less
than for you to love Jesus more
00:55:47.71\00:55:54.92
Will you love Jesus more
00:55:56.42\00:55:59.85
When we go our different ways
00:56:01.59\00:56:05.96
When this moment is a memory
00:56:06.73\00:56:10.13
Will you remember His face?
00:56:11.27\00:56:15.97
Will you look back and realize
00:56:16.00\00:56:20.28
You sensed His love
more than you did before
00:56:20.31\00:56:26.11
I pray for nothing less
00:56:26.95\00:56:30.29
than for you to love Jesus more
00:56:30.32\00:56:35.09
I pray for nothing less
00:56:36.39\00:56:40.53
than for you to love Jesus more
00:56:40.56\00:56:47.74
Let's bow our heads for prayer
00:56:53.98\00:56:56.54
Father in heaven,
You've blessed us tonight
00:57:01.35\00:57:05.12
Through music,
through the spoken word.
00:57:06.25\00:57:09.22
Our hearts have been
drawn to you as we recognize
00:57:10.03\00:57:14.16
that there was nothing in
us that deserved the great
00:57:14.20\00:57:17.53
sacrifice that
Jesus made on our behalf
00:57:17.57\00:57:19.90
You have called us
and You have chosen us
00:57:20.80\00:57:24.24
It's because of Your
initiative that each one of us
00:57:25.14\00:57:29.04
is alive. And whether
we acknowledge You or not
00:57:29.08\00:57:32.65
all heaven has been
given for each person
00:57:32.68\00:57:38.49
the mercies, the
graces, the gifts that we have
00:57:38.52\00:57:42.49
everything that we are
and everything that we have
00:57:42.52\00:57:45.69
is stamped with the
cross of Jesus Christ
00:57:45.73\00:57:48.73
Father I pray that our
eyes would be drawn to you
00:57:49.66\00:57:52.37
that we will behold You and by
beholding we'll become changed
00:57:52.40\00:57:58.94
and transformed and committed
00:57:58.97\00:58:01.88
We cannot decide in our
own strength to be committed
00:58:02.61\00:58:06.82
Our hearts are selfish but
Father You give us everything
00:58:07.58\00:58:11.05
that we need to be committed
to you. As we continue these
00:58:11.09\00:58:16.39
meetings I just pray that
Your Holy Spirit which has been
00:58:16.42\00:58:19.79
present with us tonight
will continue with each speaker
00:58:19.83\00:58:23.77
and with each meeting, drawing
us closer to You, empowering us
00:58:23.80\00:58:29.30
to greater service.
00:58:29.34\00:58:32.57