This evening I would like to
invite you to kneel as far as
00:00:18.88\00:00:23.65
possible with me. We're
going to invite God's presence
00:00:23.69\00:00:26.22
with us this
weekend as we meet together.
00:00:26.25\00:00:28.19
Father in heaven we're coming
here tonight at the beginning of
00:00:36.43\00:00:39.70
this ASI convention. Our hearts
are stirred with the music
00:00:39.73\00:00:44.47
and our hearts want to be
open to the Holy Spirit tonight
00:00:44.51\00:00:48.78
and not just tonight but through
this entire weekend we're
00:00:48.81\00:00:52.48
inviting Your presence here.
We're just pleading that You
00:00:52.51\00:00:56.45
will send Your Holy
Spirit in a remarkable way
00:00:56.48\00:00:59.82
and we're asking that each one
of us will just open our hearts
00:00:59.85\00:01:02.89
and minds to receive the
influence and the guidance
00:01:02.92\00:01:06.70
and the directing voice of the
Holy Spirit. We believe that the
00:01:06.73\00:01:11.73
ASI family has a special
work to do for You during these
00:01:11.77\00:01:15.00
closing hours and
days of earth's history
00:01:15.04\00:01:18.97
And so we're praying
that You will draw near to us
00:01:19.01\00:01:22.91
and impress us as to what that
work should be, individually
00:01:22.94\00:01:26.92
as well as corporately. Bless
us now this evening in this
00:01:26.98\00:01:31.29
meeting and be with those who
will be testifying as to their
00:01:31.32\00:01:34.76
experiences with You. Be
with our seminar presenters
00:01:34.79\00:01:39.43
be with our exhibiters and
Lord grant mercy to the speakers
00:01:39.46\00:01:44.03
as well. In Jesus'
name we pray, Amen.
00:01:44.10\00:01:48.84
It's a wonderful privilege
that God gives to each one of us
00:01:55.61\00:01:58.68
to be personally involved
in the mission of the Church
00:01:58.71\00:02:01.72
And it's important
that each one of us, pastors
00:02:02.42\00:02:05.52
and lay members alike, work
together in order to accomplish
00:02:05.55\00:02:09.42
our mission.
00:02:09.46\00:02:10.96
Without our lay members being
involved the work can never
00:02:17.03\00:02:20.74
get finished. It's critical that
each one of us takes hold of
00:02:20.80\00:02:25.14
whatever talents God has
given to us. Each one of us has
00:02:25.17\00:02:28.78
spiritual gifts intentionally
designed by God to be used by
00:02:28.81\00:02:32.81
by each one of us to be
coordinated together in the body
00:02:32.85\00:02:36.99
of Christ in order to accomplish
His purpose here in this world
00:02:37.05\00:02:40.62
And so I encourage each one
to take a look at what are the
00:02:40.66\00:02:46.13
gifts that God has given
to you. What are the abilities
00:02:46.16\00:02:49.40
and how can they be used
as a method of reaching people
00:02:49.43\00:02:54.30
with the message of Jesus Christ
00:02:54.34\00:02:56.07
If you were to go out here and
go door to door you would find
00:03:20.80\00:03:23.63
that one in every four people
speaks another language besides
00:03:23.67\00:03:28.14
English. Now of course many of
those are Spanish. But there are
00:03:28.17\00:03:31.94
also thousands who speak
German and Navajo,Talagog
00:03:31.97\00:03:36.08
Vietnamese and a lot more.
They need to hear and know the
00:03:36.11\00:03:40.28
love of Jesus. They need to
recognize what God has done for
00:03:40.32\00:03:43.85
them. It was such a joy for
me on the plane coming today
00:03:43.89\00:03:46.96
to sit and talk with a family
that comes from Palestine and
00:03:47.02\00:03:50.43
Jordan. They are here from
places that are very difficult
00:03:50.49\00:03:53.76
to reach. In just the last
10 to 20 years, 74,000 refugees
00:03:53.80\00:03:59.57
have gotten off the plane,
come down like you did today
00:03:59.60\00:04:03.00
and walk into the city
fleeing war, fleeing persecution
00:04:03.04\00:04:06.88
from countries like Iraq,
Somalia and Bosnia. They need
00:04:06.91\00:04:11.58
the love of Jesus Christ. How
many of them have been unable
00:04:11.61\00:04:14.58
to meet Him. When I think of
the huge diversity in this one
00:04:14.62\00:04:18.99
metropolitan area, I am
reminded of what we saw there in
00:04:19.02\00:04:23.93
Jerusalem on Pentecost where
we read in Acts chapter 2:5
00:04:23.96\00:04:28.23
it says, And there were dwelling
in Jerusalem Jews, devout men
00:04:28.26\00:04:33.44
from every nation under heaven,
sounds like Phoenix doesn't it?
00:04:33.50\00:04:38.04
In verse 8 it says those
people said, how is it that
00:04:38.07\00:04:41.01
we hear each in our own
language in which we were born
00:04:41.04\00:04:44.81
as we are praying for revival,
are we praying for the same
00:04:44.85\00:04:49.18
results? That all these people
will get to hear the good news
00:04:49.22\00:04:52.89
of Jesus in their heart language
But some people are upset
00:04:52.92\00:04:57.33
at the fact that these people
are coming here. Evangelism
00:04:57.39\00:05:00.96
page 570 shows us what God
thinks about this situation
00:05:00.96\00:05:04.90
It says we should be
able to see in the multiplying
00:05:05.37\00:05:09.07
opportunities to reach
many foreigners in America
00:05:09.10\00:05:12.41
a divinely appointed means
of rapidly extending the third
00:05:12.44\00:05:17.68
angel's message into all
the nations of the earth.
00:05:17.71\00:05:21.32
God in His providence has
brought 'em into our very doors
00:05:21.35\00:05:24.62
and thrust them as it were
into our arms that they might
00:05:24.65\00:05:28.56
learn the truth and be qualified
to do a work we could not do
00:05:28.59\00:05:32.56
in getting the light
before men of other tongues.
00:05:32.59\00:05:36.03
So while you're in Arizona
this weekend, watch for people
00:05:36.06\00:05:40.20
pray for them and share.
Together let's reach the world
00:05:40.24\00:05:44.41
next door. Will you pray
with me that God's strategy
00:05:44.44\00:05:47.78
might be fulfilled? Let's pray.
Father in heaven, You see every
00:05:47.81\00:05:53.18
single person of every
nationality, tribe and tongue
00:05:53.21\00:05:56.22
and you love them as if
they were only one. So Lord,
00:05:56.25\00:06:00.69
we want to confess that we
don't love them like You do
00:06:00.72\00:06:03.59
We don't care so much about the
people who are different from us
00:06:03.66\00:06:06.86
So we ask you to fill us
with Your heart, with Your love
00:06:06.93\00:06:10.77
for them and enable us to reach
out. Please be with the church
00:06:10.80\00:06:14.67
members here in Phoenix and
throughout the state of Arizona
00:06:14.70\00:06:17.74
Raise them up to reach out to
these people that in some places
00:06:17.77\00:06:21.61
we can't even get into their
countries are missionaries.
00:06:21.64\00:06:23.95
Use them, use us. Throw us out
into Your mission field that we
00:06:23.98\00:06:28.88
might see Your work
finished and Jesus return.
00:06:28.92\00:06:31.45
We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
00:06:31.49\00:06:34.26
I have three wonderful
ladies that are here with me and
00:06:37.13\00:06:40.00
I don't know if any of you were
standing in the registration
00:06:40.70\00:06:43.00
line yesterday and you may have
heard some music. Did you hear
00:06:43.03\00:06:46.30
some music? You may have heard
a testimony of how God brought
00:06:46.33\00:06:50.67
some very special people here
at ASI and with me on the stage
00:06:50.71\00:06:54.14
I have three wonderful
ladies that came on faith to ASI
00:06:54.18\00:06:59.31
Phoenix. Next to me in Marilyn,
and in the middle we have
00:06:59.35\00:07:03.35
Cookie, yes and then next
to her is Rainie. Sorry got a
00:07:04.75\00:07:09.42
little nervous and I'm so
grateful that you guys came up
00:07:09.46\00:07:12.13
this morning. Now I wanna ask
I'm going to start with Cookie
00:07:12.16\00:07:15.10
that's your nick name and
Cookie, tell us how did God
00:07:15.13\00:07:20.64
bring you to ASI 2016.
Good morning. My real name is
00:07:20.67\00:07:26.71
Margie Guyton from a beautiful
town called Quitman, Georgia
00:07:26.78\00:07:31.31
We wanna uh, two weeks ago
I read about, in the Southern
00:07:32.48\00:07:37.19
Tidings about ASI and I
said Lord I need to go there
00:07:37.22\00:07:42.72
and promote my book and to talk
about the homeless that I feed
00:07:42.76\00:07:46.56
This will make my fifth year.
And I said, Lord I need to go
00:07:46.59\00:07:50.23
How can I get there? And as
I prayed, the Lord said, Cookie
00:07:50.27\00:07:55.24
I want you to go to Winn Dixie,
to your used-to-be manager
00:07:55.27\00:07:58.61
and ask him could you see
we stand and sing to raise the
00:07:58.64\00:08:04.65
money. Well he said yes.
And so we sang about 50 songs
00:08:04.68\00:08:10.75
every day for four days
and we were able to raise $1300
00:08:10.82\00:08:17.69
for registration, car
rental, and hotel and gas fare
00:08:17.73\00:08:24.20
Now I feed the homeless. I have
about 9 locations that I feed in
00:08:24.27\00:08:30.01
and I need a food truck.
And I'm on GoFund.com. Please
00:08:30.04\00:08:36.61
pray for that. I, uh,
I'm driving a '94 van you all
00:08:36.64\00:08:43.42
It's called chug-a-lug. I'm
telling you if you all get in
00:08:43.49\00:08:48.19
you'll see why. It sounds
like a locomotive train. I had
00:08:48.22\00:08:53.33
to go to the dollar store, I
was so embarrassed and get me
00:08:53.40\00:08:55.46
a pair of shades one day, and
I tell you the truth. So I need
00:08:55.50\00:09:00.57
I want to get, another friend
of mine, her name is attorney
00:09:00.60\00:09:05.07
Shelby Sellers. She said, well
Cookie you need a food truck
00:09:05.11\00:09:08.74
so she put me on there. So
you all pray that people will
00:09:08.78\00:09:12.01
respond and I need your prayers
and it's listed under Feedin the
00:09:12.05\00:09:16.58
Homeless, Margie Guyton. Amen.
And I thank God for my cousins
00:09:16.62\00:09:20.69
that are with me. Rainie,
and I've been singing her for 30
00:09:20.72\00:09:24.39
some years. We didn't even
realize we were kin each other
00:09:24.43\00:09:27.76
till uh my uncle's got the
David House and they work at
00:09:27.83\00:09:30.87
White House and he said those
are your cousins and I realized
00:09:30.90\00:09:34.50
that Marilyn is kin too and
we're glad to have her. We're
00:09:34.54\00:09:36.94
gonna add her to our additional
singing. Amen, amen. So Cookie
00:09:37.01\00:09:41.71
you went to Winn Dixie,
which for those who don't know
00:09:41.74\00:09:44.15
that's a grocery store, ok, in
the South and you sang to raise
00:09:44.18\00:09:49.15
your way to ASI. Yes I did.
And the Lord provided, amen!
00:09:49.18\00:09:52.99
Amen. And now
Rainie, what was that like?
00:09:53.02\00:09:56.62
Beautiful you know. Uh
we sang old fashioned gospel
00:09:56.66\00:10:01.43
we sang acapella. They
don't hear that much, especially
00:10:01.46\00:10:05.10
people our age. And one day
we were standin up singing and
00:10:05.13\00:10:08.34
and someone said, well
what church do you all attend?
00:10:08.37\00:10:11.37
And somebody else said, we don't
care what church they attend
00:10:11.41\00:10:14.58
they are bringin joy
to our house. They are
00:10:14.61\00:10:16.91
relieving us our stress
and it's just a blessing.
00:10:16.95\00:10:20.38
Amen. We love it, we love
it and they love it also. Amen.
00:10:20.42\00:10:22.32
And I wrote a children's
book I said Lord I need to hear
00:10:23.12\00:10:26.12
from this tired of
begging and knocking on doors
00:10:26.15\00:10:28.82
How can I do this also? And
He said what's that in your hand
00:10:28.86\00:10:32.63
like He told Moses. And I said
Lord what are you talking about?
00:10:32.66\00:10:36.16
He said remember
your puppy called Teardrop
00:10:36.20\00:10:40.10
that my grandfather gave
me for my fourth birthday
00:10:40.17\00:10:43.20
And so I wrote the
book you all in two days.
00:10:43.24\00:10:46.34
And everybody that has read it
is inspired. It's called Cookie
00:10:46.37\00:10:51.45
and Teardrop gets home.
A lady came up at the store
00:10:51.48\00:10:55.38
and I prayed last week they told
me last Friday that they didn't
00:10:55.42\00:10:59.19
have the funds, the
attorney's office are my friends
00:10:59.22\00:11:02.49
and I said don't worry, God's
gonna make a way. So on Sunday
00:11:02.52\00:11:06.43
Sunday, a lady came out the
store. She said what are you
00:11:06.46\00:11:10.13
all doing? And I shared
with her and she read my story.
00:11:10.17\00:11:13.74
And then she said, are you all
hungry? Y'all want something to
00:11:13.80\00:11:16.17
eat? I said, can you afford it?
And she said, yes. And she went
00:11:16.20\00:11:20.14
across the street to Wendy's
and when she came back she said
00:11:20.18\00:11:23.45
Miss Cookie I want to see that
book published. She handed me
00:11:23.51\00:11:27.65
the $350 that I
needed to get the book done.
00:11:27.68\00:11:31.35
Don't tell me there's nothing
too hard for God. Amen, amen.
00:11:31.39\00:11:35.36
My favorite Scripture is
Genesis 18:14, Is anything
00:11:35.39\00:11:39.06
too hard for God? Amen, Praise
the Lord, Is this the ASI spirit
00:11:39.09\00:11:42.30
Amen. Praise the Lord. This
is really seizing the ASI spirit
00:11:42.33\00:11:45.93
Thank you ladies for coming
on faith to ASI. What would you
00:11:45.97\00:11:49.30
say to someone, who maybe
they have a dream in their heart
00:11:49.34\00:11:51.77
Cookie and you want to encourage
them to follow their dream
00:11:51.81\00:11:55.41
Just step out in faith. Take
God at His word. And as I say
00:11:55.44\00:11:59.51
my favorite Scripture is
Genesis 18:14, Is anything
00:11:59.55\00:12:03.89
too hard for God? We
have not because we don't ask
00:12:03.92\00:12:07.16
If you, I think they
want to hear them sing
00:12:07.19\00:12:11.06
Wait, do you guys
have a number for us? We do
00:12:11.93\00:12:13.53
We do, we do. I think
they prepared something
00:12:13.60\00:12:15.40
Alright. A song from Winn Dixie
00:12:15.43\00:12:18.07
Trials dark on on every
hand and we cannot understand
00:12:26.84\00:12:35.68
All the ways that God will lead
us to that blessed promised land
00:12:35.72\00:12:44.83
But He'll guide us with
His eyes and we'll follow till
00:12:44.86\00:12:52.07
we die, we will
understand it better by and by
00:12:52.10\00:13:00.41
Singing by and by Oh
when the morning comes
00:13:00.48\00:13:09.78
And you know all the saints
of God are together at home
00:13:09.82\00:13:18.66
And we'll tell the
story of how we've overcome
00:13:18.69\00:13:27.64
And we'll
understand it better by and by
00:13:27.67\00:13:36.11
Amen, amen. Marilyn,
Cookie, Rainie God bless you.
00:13:36.14\00:13:40.18
Thank you for being here
00:13:40.22\00:13:41.58
Good evening everyone. Wow
I'm surprised to see how many
00:13:45.45\00:13:50.13
people are here this evening.
I think it's going to prove to
00:13:50.19\00:13:53.16
be a wonderful convention.
Now no doubt you're going to see
00:13:53.19\00:13:58.00
and hear and experience a
lot of wonderful things here
00:13:58.03\00:14:01.47
this weekend. But central
to all of that of course is the
00:14:01.50\00:14:04.81
Word of God and Jesus Christ.
I'm going to invite you to
00:14:04.84\00:14:08.88
turn in your Bibles. This
is for our Scripture Reading
00:14:08.91\00:14:11.45
We're in 1 Corinthians chapter
1 we're going to read one little
00:14:11.48\00:14:17.32
verse, verse 26.
1 Corinthians 1:26
00:14:17.39\00:14:23.93
"For you see your calling
brethren how that not many
00:14:23.96\00:14:28.43
wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble
00:14:28.46\00:14:33.50
are called." I expect that
we're going to hear about that
00:14:33.54\00:14:38.64
in just a few minutes. It's
also my privilege to introduce
00:14:38.67\00:14:43.71
the keynote speaker this
evening. Now there's no doubt
00:14:43.75\00:14:47.75
in my mind that you know him.
Steve Dickman is the President
00:14:47.78\00:14:51.49
of ASI. And now there's
many people in this world that I
00:14:51.52\00:14:55.06
admire, but not so many that
I admire more than Steve Dickman
00:14:55.09\00:14:59.96
I don't know anyone who
surrounds more than he can
00:15:00.06\00:15:03.26
surround. He's the President
of Harbert Hills Academy
00:15:03.30\00:15:06.53
He's the President of Laymen's
Foundation. He's the President
00:15:06.57\00:15:10.71
of ASI. He's the Board Chairman
of OCI. He's the Board Chairman
00:15:10.74\00:15:15.08
of ASI as well. And I think he's
the Board Chairman of something
00:15:15.11\00:15:18.41
else besides. He just surrounds
all of this stuff and yet he
00:15:18.45\00:15:22.72
has time to prepare a sermon
and to present it to us this
00:15:22.75\00:15:27.96
evening and there's no doubt
in my mind that the Lord is
00:15:27.99\00:15:31.13
going to bless us. So I
just pray that while we listen
00:15:31.16\00:15:36.13
to this special music, you
will send a little prayer up
00:15:36.16\00:15:39.23
in your heart to the Lord that
Steve Dickman be blessed by the
00:15:39.27\00:15:43.87
Holy Spirit, that we may be
blessed as well. God bless you
00:15:43.91\00:15:47.44
I lift Him up
00:16:16.17\00:16:19.97
Tis He that bids you
00:16:20.01\00:16:23.21
That the dying look
00:16:24.28\00:16:28.95
and live
00:16:28.98\00:16:32.12
To all weary, thirsty sinners
00:16:32.15\00:16:37.96
living waters will He give
00:16:37.99\00:16:43.93
And though once
00:16:44.77\00:16:47.10
so meek and lowly
00:16:47.14\00:16:50.87
Yet the Prince of Heaven was He
00:16:50.91\00:16:56.51
And the blind
who grope in darkness
00:16:56.54\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\00:17:18.30
Let the multitude behold
00:17:18.33\00:17:23.61
They with willing
hearts shall seek Him
00:17:23.64\00:17:28.78
He will draw them to His fold
00:17:28.81\00:17:34.32
They shall
gather from the wayside
00:17:34.35\00:17:39.69
Hastening on with joyous feet
00:17:39.72\00:17:43.83
They shall bear
the cross of Jesus
00:17:43.86\00:17:48.76
And shall find salvation sweet
00:17:48.80\00:17:53.60
Lift Him up the risen Savior
00:17:53.64\00:17:59.34
High amid the waiting throng
00:17:59.37\00:18:03.68
Lift Him up tis He that speaketh
00:18:03.71\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
00:18:24.07\00:18:29.27
Tis the Son of God on high
00:18:29.30\00:18:34.44
Lift Him up His
love shall draw them
00:18:34.48\00:18:39.95
E'en the
careless shall draw nigh
00:18:40.02\00:18:45.22
Let them hear again the story
00:18:45.25\00:18:50.13
Of the cross, the death of shame
00:18:50.16\00:18:54.96
And from tongue
to tongue repeat it
00:18:55.00\00:19:00.57
Might throngs
will bless His name
00:19:00.60\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
00:19:14.15\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
00:19:28.13\00:19:32.30
And the old their voices raise
00:19:32.33\00:19:37.21
All the dead shall hear hosanna
00:19:37.24\00:19:41.61
And the dumb
shall shout His praise
00:19:41.64\00:19:46.82
Lift Him up the risen Savior
00:19:46.85\00:19:51.05
High amid the waiting throng
00:19:51.69\00:19:55.66
Lift Him up tis He that speaketh
00:19:56.62\00:20:00.80
Now He bids you flee from wrong
00:20:00.83\00:20:05.27
Lift Him up
00:20:05.30\00:20:08.80
the risen Savior
00:20:08.84\00:20:11.84
High amid
00:20:12.44\00:20:15.48
the waiting throng
00:20:15.51\00:20:17.68
Lift Him up
00:20:19.21\00:20:22.02
tis He that speaketh
00:20:22.05\00:20:24.55
Now He bids
00:20:25.25\00:20:28.82
you flee from wrong
00:20:28.86\00:20:32.63
Now He bids
00:20:40.07\00:20:46.91
you flee
00:20:48.08\00:20:50.68
from wrong
00:20:50.71\00:20:56.82
I want to thank our musicians
tonight for that great music
00:21:15.44\00:21:19.41
As we're here tonight,
it certainly is my prayer
00:21:21.08\00:21:25.28
that we will lift up Jesus
00:21:25.31\00:21:27.92
Lift Him up so that the
rest of the world can see
00:21:29.32\00:21:32.42
so that the rest of the world
can know what a Savior we have
00:21:32.45\00:21:36.09
We invite you this evening
before we open the word of God
00:21:36.99\00:21:39.96
to bow your heads with me
00:21:40.00\00:21:42.80
Father in heaven, we come here
tonight and we humble our hearts
00:21:42.83\00:21:47.47
now before You, crying out to
You that You would send us the
00:21:47.50\00:21:51.27
Holy Spirit. For without the
Holy Spirit we cannot understand
00:21:51.31\00:21:55.51
Your word. And tonight,
our desire is to understand
00:21:55.54\00:22:00.82
Your word. In
Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
00:22:00.85\00:22:05.55
Saul was on his way
to the city of Damascus.
00:22:10.53\00:22:15.66
So he was on his
way, he was on a mission
00:22:16.83\00:22:19.00
And he was pretty certain
that he was on a mission for God
00:22:20.14\00:22:23.87
until that blinding light struck
and he was knocked to the ground
00:22:27.34\00:22:34.78
and he ended up blind. Tonight
I want to talk to you just a
00:22:35.95\00:22:42.39
little bit about some of
the experiences that Paul had
00:22:42.42\00:22:46.43
Saul had, Paul had. Saul became
Paul through the calling and
00:22:46.46\00:22:53.27
the empowerment of the
great God that we serve
00:22:53.30\00:22:57.81
through the outpouring of
the Holy Spirit, a man who was a
00:22:57.84\00:23:01.71
persecutor became a preacher.
00:23:01.74\00:23:04.51
A man who was
against the cause of God
00:23:05.15\00:23:08.05
converted sides and
became completely dedicated
00:23:08.95\00:23:12.32
to the cause of God.
00:23:12.35\00:23:15.79
And tonight we're living in the
world in such an age that each
00:23:15.82\00:23:20.20
one of us has a similar decision
to make about on which side
00:23:20.23\00:23:27.04
we will stand. Whose life will
we advance? Will we advance the
00:23:27.10\00:23:32.27
life of God through Jesus? Will
we say as Paul did, I determine
00:23:32.31\00:23:38.08
to know nothing except the cross
of Christ and Him crucified.
00:23:38.11\00:23:42.08
So tonight I'd like to invite
you, if you have your Bibles,
00:23:43.49\00:23:45.99
to turn with me to 1 Corinthians
chapter 1 and we find here
00:23:46.02\00:23:53.56
Paul speaking to the Corinthian
church and this is what he says
00:23:53.60\00:23:58.13
here. Paul, called to be
an apostle of Christ through
00:23:58.17\00:24:03.54
the will of God.
00:24:03.61\00:24:06.44
Paul was called.
Would you agree with that?
00:24:07.31\00:24:09.91
Would you agree that he had a
dramatic and miraculous calling?
00:24:10.88\00:24:15.18
Obviously, getting struck from
his horse and falling to the
00:24:16.18\00:24:20.36
ground blind, it was obviously
a miraculous calling by God
00:24:20.39\00:24:24.66
He goes on to say in
verse 2 though, he's writing now
00:24:24.69\00:24:28.46
he's writing unto the church
of God which is at Corinth
00:24:28.50\00:24:31.63
To them that are sanctified in
Christ Jesus called to be saints
00:24:31.67\00:24:37.07
Now, so we see that not
only was Paul himself called
00:24:38.81\00:24:45.25
but in speaking to the church
at Corinth, he also felt that
00:24:45.28\00:24:50.55
they were called. And
they weren't just called to any
00:24:50.59\00:24:53.19
calling. He goes on to say that
they were called to be saints.
00:24:53.22\00:24:56.89
How many saints do
we have here tonight?
00:24:56.93\00:24:59.46
Well I don't know, that's
a tough question isn't it?
00:25:00.56\00:25:02.83
It's hard to raise your
hand when you know that there's
00:25:02.86\00:25:05.70
things in your life and in your
world that you struggle with
00:25:05.73\00:25:08.54
that would leave you a little
less saintly on some days and
00:25:08.57\00:25:12.67
a little more than less
than saintly on other days.
00:25:12.71\00:25:15.71
Well he goes on to say here,
not only does he talk about
00:25:16.75\00:25:21.08
church in Corinth but he
goes on to indicate here, says
00:25:21.12\00:25:24.95
with all that in every place
call upon the name of Jesus
00:25:24.99\00:25:29.52
Christ our Lord, both theirs
and ours. Now if you want the
00:25:29.56\00:25:34.10
Steve Dickman interpretation
of that, Paul has just said
00:25:34.10\00:25:37.27
I got called, the church in
Corinth got called with all the
00:25:37.33\00:25:41.00
saints there and anybody
who calls on the name of Jesus
00:25:41.04\00:25:44.84
is also called.
00:25:44.87\00:25:47.71
If you're here tonight,
I'm making an assumption
00:25:49.18\00:25:53.08
that you call on
the name of Jesus.
00:25:53.62\00:25:55.85
And Phoenix has a place in
this as well because he says
00:25:57.72\00:26:00.52
that in every place with all
that in every place that call
00:26:00.59\00:26:05.46
upon the name of Jesus Christ
our Lord both theirs and ours
00:26:05.49\00:26:09.93
an interesting way to say that
I think that everyone is called
00:26:09.96\00:26:14.14
And that's the idea I
get from this section in
00:26:15.07\00:26:18.91
1 Corinthians here that Paul
says I was called, the church
00:26:18.94\00:26:22.71
is called, the saints are
called and everyone who calls on
00:26:22.74\00:26:26.72
the name of Jesus is
called. Are you called tonight?
00:26:26.75\00:26:29.48
Are you called tonight? I
believe that each one of us
00:26:30.49\00:26:34.62
has been called. But it could
be, it could be that some of us
00:26:34.66\00:26:42.40
have not been paying
attention to our calling.
00:26:42.43\00:26:45.47
In fact that's the very
situation that Saul found
00:26:47.84\00:26:52.41
himself in when he was
on the road to Damascus
00:26:52.44\00:26:56.61
We actually find in the Spirit
of Prophecy, some enlightenment
00:26:56.64\00:26:59.78
about this, talking about,
if you read the section there
00:26:59.81\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
00:27:10.46\00:27:14.83
that he saw in the life of
Stephen when Stephen was stoned
00:27:14.83\00:27:18.03
Saul was there, he was holding
the coats. He said we've got to
00:27:19.10\00:27:22.37
get rid of this heretic.
But when he participated in that
00:27:22.40\00:27:27.08
event, he looked up and he saw
Stephen looking up as it were
00:27:27.11\00:27:30.45
into heaven and that calm look
on his face, he said there's
00:27:30.48\00:27:34.15
something
different about this man.
00:27:34.22\00:27:36.38
And I think that
was wearing on him.
00:27:37.19\00:27:39.65
And the Holy Spirit was working
on him. But he wasn't paying
00:27:39.69\00:27:44.03
very much attention.
00:27:44.06\00:27:46.46
Somehow God tends
to get our attention.
00:27:48.20\00:27:53.34
Personally, I would like for God
to get my attention in a much
00:27:55.54\00:27:59.81
easier way than it seemed He had
to work with in the case of Saul
00:27:59.84\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
00:28:20.43\00:28:25.00
very interesting reading here
in this chapter. We're gonna
00:28:25.03\00:28:28.74
explore some of that. In verse
7 it says this and it's talking
00:28:28.77\00:28:32.04
about why, why do we get called?
What is it that God wants to
00:28:32.07\00:28:37.25
do? Why is He calling us? In
verse 7, so that you come behind
00:28:37.28\00:28:42.42
in no gift, waiting for the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
00:28:42.45\00:28:45.79
Paul's interpretation here
evidently was that we're called
00:28:48.42\00:28:52.19
and he says earlier that
grace and peace and all these
00:28:52.63\00:28:55.40
wonderful things be upon
you. But he says we're called
00:28:55.43\00:28:59.67
we've been asked by God to do
a work for Him and God is going
00:28:59.70\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\00:29:29.30
I can tell you for sure I want
to see Jesus come very soon.
00:29:29.73\00:29:34.14
I don't wanna hold on
here. What are we waiting for?
00:29:34.17\00:29:36.91
I think we should get
over whatever we're waiting on
00:29:36.94\00:29:40.31
and do whatever God is
asking us to do. I believe Jesus
00:29:40.38\00:29:43.58
Himself is waiting in the
heavenly courts and He wants
00:29:43.65\00:29:45.98
to see the work on
this earth finished soon.
00:29:46.01\00:29:48.35
We're told that the sorrow we
experience here is only a small
00:29:48.38\00:29:52.32
drop or small portion of what
God Himself experiences every
00:29:52.35\00:29:55.46
day when He looks down on
this planet and He sees the
00:29:55.49\00:29:57.96
starving children and He sees
the sin and the death and the
00:29:57.99\00:30:01.83
wars and all of these things
taking place in this planet
00:30:01.86\00:30:05.07
Don't you know that He's
suffering right along with His
00:30:05.10\00:30:08.14
children? I think sometimes
we ignore this and we think He's
00:30:08.17\00:30:11.17
just up there waiting with
His feet propped up, waiting for
00:30:11.21\00:30:13.58
something to happen. I believe
that God is experiencing our
00:30:13.64\00:30:18.55
sorrow times and
infinite number of sorrows.
00:30:18.58\00:30:22.58
And He too would like
to see this work get done.
00:30:22.62\00:30:27.82
Verse 8 goes on to say, Who
shall confirm you unto the end
00:30:32.33\00:30:37.50
that you may be blameless in
the day of our Lord Jesus Christ
00:30:37.53\00:30:43.34
The calling that was received
by Paul, the calling that he was
00:30:44.47\00:30:48.51
talking about to the Corinthian
church, the calling that he was
00:30:48.54\00:30:51.48
talking about to us is a calling
that we should live by the
00:30:51.51\00:30:58.32
power of God in such a way
that the Holy Spirit will be
00:30:58.35\00:31:03.36
able to say of us on that day
You're blameless in the power
00:31:03.43\00:31:08.63
of your Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
God is calling us. He is calling
00:31:08.66\00:31:13.94
us today and in verse 9 Paul
goes on to say, God is faithful
00:31:14.00\00:31:20.24
by whom you were called
into fellowship of His son Jesus
00:31:20.28\00:31:24.01
Christ our Lord. We serve a
faithful God, if He calls us
00:31:24.05\00:31:27.98
He is intentionally preparing
to empower us to do the work
00:31:28.02\00:31:32.49
that He has called us to do.
00:31:32.52\00:31:34.02
I believe there is one thing God
needs more than anything else
00:31:37.09\00:31:41.13
and it's not our abilities. As
much as we would like to believe
00:31:41.16\00:31:46.60
there's something about
our selves that God could just
00:31:46.67\00:31:48.84
reach down and use and
say, Yeah this really is great
00:31:48.87\00:31:52.27
I'm glad this
person can sing so nicely.
00:31:52.31\00:31:54.44
Listen, God needs our
availability not just our
00:31:56.18\00:31:59.18
ability. We can talk about
our ability, we can show off our
00:31:59.21\00:32:03.92
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\00:32:10.76
abilities on the
international world-wide-web.
00:32:10.83\00:32:13.33
We can talk about them on
Facebook but what God is looking
00:32:13.40\00:32:16.16
for is a people who will agree
to do what He has asked them
00:32:16.20\00:32:20.70
to do; a people who will agree
to work for Him according to
00:32:20.74\00:32:24.91
His calling, not
according to their own ability.
00:32:24.94\00:32:28.04
We read in our verse tonight
in 1 Corinthians, same chapter
00:32:32.38\00:32:36.85
in verse 26. For ye see your
calling brethren, how that not
00:32:36.89\00:32:41.96
many wise men after the flesh
and not many mighty and not
00:32:41.99\00:32:45.56
many noble are called. God
doesn't need our human wisdom
00:32:45.59\00:32:49.36
God doesn't need our human
nobility. He doesn't need our
00:32:49.40\00:32:52.63
rank, He doesn't need any
of those things. He needs us as
00:32:52.67\00:32:56.14
individuals completely
and totally committed to Him.
00:32:56.17\00:32:58.81
He doesn't even need our money.
He said He owns the cattle
00:32:59.94\00:33:03.65
on a thousand hills. He owns
the world itself. He owns all
00:33:03.68\00:33:07.32
the gold and all the silver.
00:33:07.35\00:33:08.78
You know I want to explore
something here in verse 9
00:33:14.09\00:33:17.13
just a moment. It says God
is faithful and I like that
00:33:17.16\00:33:20.83
because I need a faithful God.
00:33:20.90\00:33:24.07
I need a faithful God.
00:33:24.13\00:33:26.03
But it also says by whom ye
were called into the fellowship
00:33:27.40\00:33:32.17
of His Son, Jesus Christ our
Lord. What does it mean to be
00:33:32.21\00:33:36.01
in fellowship with
Jesus Christ our Lord?
00:33:36.04\00:33:38.65
Philippians chapter 3. Paul
expands on this just a little
00:33:44.05\00:33:50.93
Philippians chapter 3 and I'm
going to read a couple of verses
00:33:50.96\00:33:55.40
here. We're gonna explore
starting in verse 7 here just a
00:33:55.43\00:34:00.54
minute, but what things
were gain to me those I counted
00:34:00.57\00:34:05.94
loss for Christ, yea doubtless
I count all things loss for the
00:34:05.97\00:34:09.14
excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord
00:34:09.18\00:34:11.75
for whom I have
suffered the loss of all things
00:34:11.78\00:34:14.58
and do count them but
dung that I may win Christ
00:34:14.62\00:34:18.92
and be found in Him not having
my own righteousness which is
00:34:18.95\00:34:21.96
of the law but that which
is through faith in Christ, the
00:34:21.99\00:34:24.59
righteousness
which is of God by faith
00:34:24.63\00:34:28.56
that I may know Him and
the power of His resurrection
00:34:30.33\00:34:35.17
and the fellowship of His what?
00:34:35.80\00:34:42.58
sufferings. Being made
conformable unto His death
00:34:43.08\00:34:50.09
if by any means I may
attain unto the resurrection
00:34:50.15\00:34:55.62
of the dead.
00:34:55.66\00:34:58.99
You see the fellowship of Jesus
00:35:01.46\00:35:07.64
is a life that will be
poured out in sacrifice.
00:35:08.30\00:35:13.61
The word, the word there in
Philippians was His sufferings
00:35:15.91\00:35:22.65
Jesus came with a heart that
was overflowing with love for
00:35:26.49\00:35:34.46
mankind. And He poured out
His life, He poured out His life
00:35:34.46\00:35:41.14
the statement in the Spirit
of Prophecy says, He gave all
00:35:41.17\00:35:44.57
and then He gave Himself.
00:35:44.61\00:35:47.68
I've got a
question for you tonight
00:35:50.31\00:35:52.55
If you have been called which
according to what I read here
00:35:52.58\00:35:57.49
every single one of us has been
called, if you have been called
00:35:57.55\00:36:03.76
have you yet given your all?
00:36:03.79\00:36:08.20
Because that's
all that God wants.
00:36:09.33\00:36:11.37
We don't serve a God
who's a 50% kind of God
00:36:12.57\00:36:15.57
We don't serve a God
who is an 80% kind of God
00:36:15.60\00:36:18.64
We don't even serve a
God who is a 99% kind of God
00:36:18.67\00:36:21.98
We serve a God who's asking for
only one thing and that's 100%
00:36:22.01\00:36:26.61
Because that is His
example. That is what He gave.
00:36:27.82\00:36:31.02
He poured out Himself to this
world. He came from the heavenly
00:36:31.05\00:36:34.89
courts where everything is
bright and glorious to this dark
00:36:34.92\00:36:37.23
world where everything is
sin and sorrow and He poured out
00:36:37.26\00:36:40.30
His life here in service,
selfless service to human kind
00:36:40.33\00:36:44.13
He gave us an example to live
by. He showed us how to do it
00:36:44.17\00:36:47.77
He says if you follow the way
I told you to do this, if you
00:36:47.80\00:36:51.34
follow the pattern of my life
you'll be successful in reaching
00:36:51.37\00:36:56.71
others and
bringing them to my kingdom.
00:36:56.75\00:36:59.81
And I don't know recently
if you've read the Gospel but
00:37:01.85\00:37:04.22
Jesus didn't own a car.
00:37:04.25\00:37:07.02
In fact He told someone who
was interested in following Him
00:37:07.59\00:37:10.36
I wanna be one of your disciples
He said it's ok if you wanna be
00:37:10.39\00:37:13.93
my disciple but you need
to understand the terms here
00:37:13.96\00:37:16.33
I don't have a house. In fact
the foxes have holes, but the
00:37:16.36\00:37:21.77
Son of Man has
nowhere to lay His head.
00:37:21.80\00:37:25.31
We've become way too comfortable
with living with who we are
00:37:33.35\00:37:39.02
or who we have become.
00:37:39.05\00:37:42.02
Our society today is fixated,
somehow fixated on the idea
00:37:43.83\00:37:50.63
that if you desire it
then you should have it.
00:37:50.67\00:37:53.50
And not only that but
you should have it quickly.
00:37:55.04\00:37:58.04
And if you have to cheat some
body else to get it, that's ok
00:37:59.27\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\00:38:21.33
ranks and somehow we believe
that we are due something
00:38:21.36\00:38:25.37
I should have a comfortable
life I should have such and such
00:38:25.40\00:38:28.74
What do you mean I shouldn't
think about this and these
00:38:28.77\00:38:33.81
material things
that I'm thinking about?
00:38:33.88\00:38:35.81
For following the example
of Jesus, we will be ready
00:38:39.68\00:38:43.49
and willing to answer His call
00:38:43.52\00:38:45.82
and if necessary even
pour out our life unto death
00:38:45.85\00:38:50.96
Because that is what Jesus did
there's no question in my mind
00:38:52.06\00:38:56.03
when I read the Scriptures, I
see Him coming here. I look at
00:38:56.06\00:38:59.33
His life and it challenges
me I see Him getting up early in
00:38:59.37\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\00:39:35.14
I'd like to move down to
verse 17 here just for a minute
00:39:38.61\00:39:42.21
and Paul is talking about
his calling still. And he says,
00:39:42.24\00:39:46.35
for Christ sent me not to
baptize but to preach the Gospel
00:39:46.38\00:39:50.82
Now wait a minute. I
thought the great commission was
00:39:53.76\00:39:57.96
to let's see, go and
teach, teach all nations
00:39:57.99\00:40:03.33
baptizing them in the name
of the Father, the Son and the
00:40:03.37\00:40:06.27
Holy Spirit. Yes,
is that our commission?
00:40:06.30\00:40:08.20
So what is Paul saying here,
Christ sent me not to baptize
00:40:10.07\00:40:13.44
but to preach the Gospel?
00:40:13.48\00:40:16.38
Do you think we ever get
distracted with the idea of
00:40:19.85\00:40:22.18
baptism? When I say that I'm
not talking about baptism in a
00:40:22.22\00:40:25.22
negative way. I'm just talking
about the tally sheet that we
00:40:25.25\00:40:28.22
keep sometimes. 42 and a half
got baptized. I'm not sure what
00:40:28.26\00:40:33.56
the half was but
we almost made it.
00:40:33.60\00:40:36.10
You know I think sometimes we're
a little distracted with this.
00:40:37.10\00:40:40.10
Paul had his calling clear.
He says I was sent to preach the
00:40:40.17\00:40:44.44
Gospel but then he goes on
to say something that challenges
00:40:44.47\00:40:47.01
me as I think about this.
He says not with the wisdom of
00:40:47.04\00:40:50.68
words. How can you
preach without words?
00:40:50.71\00:40:56.08
I could try it here this
evening but I think I would fail
00:40:58.35\00:41:00.66
pretty miserably in doing such
a thing. But that's what it says
00:41:00.69\00:41:05.69
here. He says I was called to
preach the Gospel not with the
00:41:05.73\00:41:10.13
wisdom of words, lest the cross
of Christ should be made of
00:41:10.17\00:41:14.00
none effect. So let's dissect
this statement for just a
00:41:14.04\00:41:18.67
moment. If you're not preaching
with words how are you preaching
00:41:18.71\00:41:22.48
Ok we have sign language.
We could use sign language
00:41:26.68\00:41:29.68
that would be an acceptable
means to preach, right?
00:41:29.72\00:41:32.32
You see I'm not using words.
Well that's a form of words
00:41:32.35\00:41:34.99
isn't it sign language?
I believe that what Paul is
00:41:35.02\00:41:38.33
talking about here is I want
to preach with my life. I want
00:41:38.36\00:41:41.46
people to see the way I live
I want people to see what I'm
00:41:41.50\00:41:44.47
doing as the hands and feet of
Jesus and that's how I want to
00:41:44.50\00:41:47.97
preach the Gospel. That's how I
want others to know who Jesus is
00:41:48.00\00:41:51.57
by the way I live and I
think tonight that's what I need
00:41:51.61\00:41:55.08
personally in my own life.
I need a better representation
00:41:55.11\00:41:58.31
through the way I
live about who Jesus is.
00:41:58.35\00:42:01.18
I need to live a
more self sacrificing life
00:42:01.22\00:42:04.89
I need to live a more committed
life. I need to live a life
00:42:04.92\00:42:08.46
that is poured out as the life
of Jesus was. I want to go home
00:42:08.49\00:42:12.59
I want to see Jesus come.
I don't wanna stay here for
00:42:12.63\00:42:15.40
another 50 years. I don't know
about you. I don't even wanna
00:42:15.43\00:42:18.23
stay here for another 5 years.
00:42:18.27\00:42:19.87
I don't want my grandchildren
to grow up in this world
00:42:19.90\00:42:22.84
The world is sick,
the world is dying.
00:42:25.84\00:42:29.78
I'm sick, I'm dying. You
may not know that everybody here
00:42:29.81\00:42:33.78
is dying. Sorry to tell you
the truth but you're all coming
00:42:33.82\00:42:36.79
to the end of your life.
Some sooner than later. I don't
00:42:36.85\00:42:40.86
know when my time is, you
don't know when your time is
00:42:40.92\00:42:43.02
but I guarantee unless
Jesus comes you're gonna die.
00:42:43.06\00:42:46.13
Paul here lays this challenge
on the table and he says I was
00:42:51.27\00:42:56.30
sent to preach the
gospel but not with words.
00:42:56.34\00:43:00.78
How many of us have a life that
rightly represents the cross
00:43:01.58\00:43:06.35
of Christ. Because he goes
on to say there, lest the cross
00:43:06.38\00:43:11.42
of Christ should be made of
none effect. Have we ever made
00:43:11.45\00:43:16.52
the cross of Christ of
none effect by saying one thing
00:43:16.56\00:43:20.40
and doing another
thing? Preaching one thing
00:43:20.43\00:43:23.53
and living another thing?
00:43:23.57\00:43:28.04
It says this in verse 18,
for the preaching of the cross
00:43:31.37\00:43:35.21
is to them that
perish, foolishness.
00:43:35.24\00:43:38.65
I would suggest to you tonight
that there are many who would
00:43:39.21\00:43:46.29
discourage you from a
complete and total absolute 100%
00:43:46.32\00:43:53.76
commitment to follow
Jesus. They will be your friends
00:43:53.80\00:43:56.93
They might be your family, they
might be your work acquaintances
00:43:57.00\00:44:00.67
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
00:44:05.67\00:44:09.01
about the future. What are you
gonna do when it comes time to
00:44:09.04\00:44:12.01
retire. What are you gonna
do when it comes time for such
00:44:12.05\00:44:14.42
and such.
00:44:14.45\00:44:17.39
I want to retire in a different
country. It says Abraham was
00:44:19.65\00:44:24.03
looking for that city
whose builder and maker was God.
00:44:24.06\00:44:27.40
That's where I wanna retire.
00:44:27.50\00:44:30.03
You know there's some practical
realities in this world and I
00:44:30.07\00:44:32.57
don't know how to interpret them
I'm not here to give you any
00:44:32.60\00:44:34.64
answers. But I am here
to stir up your thinking.
00:44:34.67\00:44:36.97
What is Jesus calling you
to do tonight? I can't answer
00:44:37.81\00:44:41.38
the question for you. I
can barely answer it for myself
00:44:41.41\00:44:44.38
But I think He's calling me to
do more than I think is possible
00:44:45.81\00:44:49.55
humanly. I believe He's calling
me to do more than what I think
00:44:49.58\00:44:53.12
I should do from
a human standpoint.
00:44:53.15\00:44:55.06
Because when I look at the
cross of Christ, when I look at
00:44:55.49\00:44:58.96
the Gospel that was preached
by Jesus through His life
00:44:58.99\00:45:01.80
when I look at the sacrifice
He made, I realize that I have
00:45:02.73\00:45:06.74
so far done nothing.
00:45:06.77\00:45:08.27
I'm not coming close. I'm
not near the mark. I'm not yet
00:45:10.61\00:45:14.71
approaching what God wants
me to do. Because He's calling
00:45:14.74\00:45:18.85
for that kind of commitment
that is beyond our understanding
00:45:18.88\00:45:21.62
But if you go on in verse
18 it says this, but unto us
00:45:21.65\00:45:25.72
speaking of this preaching
of the cross through our life
00:45:25.75\00:45:29.02
because in verse 17 he just
told you he's not gonna preach
00:45:29.06\00:45:32.53
with words, he's gonna
preach with his life and it says
00:45:32.56\00:45:35.90
for the living, I'm gonna say
it that way, the living of the
00:45:35.93\00:45:40.00
cross is to them that
perish foolishness but if you're
00:45:40.04\00:45:43.97
living the cross you're living
the life that Jesus lived here
00:45:44.01\00:45:47.98
on this earth, it will be unto
us which are saved the power
00:45:48.01\00:45:52.55
of God. You need the
power of God in your life.
00:45:52.58\00:45:56.35
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
00:46:08.90\00:46:15.27
to confound the wise.
00:46:15.30\00:46:17.84
And God has chosen the weak
things of the world to confound
00:46:17.87\00:46:21.94
the things which are mighty,
and the base things of the
00:46:21.98\00:46:25.61
world and the things which are
despised God, hath God chosen
00:46:25.65\00:46:29.28
yea and the things which are not
to bring to naught the things
00:46:29.32\00:46:35.52
that are. So God has a totally
and completely different scheme
00:46:35.56\00:46:39.79
of choosing things. I
don't know if you notice that
00:46:39.83\00:46:41.83
So I'm not choosing the wise,
I'm not choosing the wealthy
00:46:41.86\00:46:45.10
I'm not choosing you know,
all these things. Not wise, not
00:46:45.13\00:46:49.77
noble, not mighty. I'm choosing
the foolish things. I'm choosing
00:46:49.80\00:46:53.21
the weak things, I'm choosing
the base things, I'm choosing
00:46:53.24\00:46:56.11
the despised things. I'm
choosing the things that are not
00:46:56.14\00:46:59.38
to even make naught the
things that are. God has a plan
00:46:59.41\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\00:47:15.03
John 15:16 says this, You
didn't choose me. You didn't
00:47:16.10\00:47:21.94
me, I chose you.
00:47:21.97\00:47:25.11
And if you read that verse
in a very personal way you will
00:47:25.74\00:47:31.08
discover that God has chosen you
00:47:31.11\00:47:35.72
Yes we are called and yes
we are chosen but there's one
00:47:35.75\00:47:38.92
thing in our theme here
Called, Chosen, Committed
00:47:38.95\00:47:43.46
My Bible says I was called,
my Bible says I have been chosen
00:47:43.53\00:47:47.60
but my Bible does not
say that I have committed
00:47:47.66\00:47:50.63
That's my choice. That's a
decision that I will have to
00:47:50.67\00:47:54.87
make. There's no chance that
I could misinterpret the calling
00:47:54.90\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.
00:48:06.95\00:48:08.58
But the choice is mine and
the choice is yours tonight
00:48:09.72\00:48:12.65
about commitment. What level
of commitment will you make?
00:48:14.29\00:48:19.89
And it's unfortunate
from a human standpoint anyway
00:48:21.03\00:48:25.13
that God has only one
number that He knows about
00:48:25.17\00:48:28.50
and that's the 100% commitment
00:48:29.67\00:48:31.61
With me it's completely
impossible that I should even
00:48:36.85\00:48:40.72
be able to consider a
100% commitment, because I'm a
00:48:40.75\00:48:44.75
selfish human being. I was born
that way. The Bible says I was
00:48:44.79\00:48:49.79
born in sin. I was
born a selfish person.
00:48:49.82\00:48:54.50
I've been trying to
get over it but it's hard.
00:48:55.16\00:48:56.93
How many of you know
that? It's hard. It's hard.
00:48:56.97\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
00:49:07.21\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\00:49:23.46
I mean He wants to
finish what He starts.
00:49:23.49\00:49:25.79
And He's gonna keep working on
us. He's gonna keep helping us
00:49:27.36\00:49:30.90
And I believe that if we
will commit ourselves under His
00:49:30.97\00:49:36.04
calling and His choosing
that He will do some absolutely
00:49:36.07\00:49:40.38
amazing things with us.
You're here this weekend at ASI.
00:49:40.41\00:49:44.58
You didn't come here by accident
00:49:44.61\00:49:47.02
You're here
because God called you here
00:49:47.55\00:49:50.12
You're gonna go to the exhibit
hall because there's someone
00:49:50.19\00:49:52.59
God wants to connect you
with there. There's ministry
00:49:52.62\00:49:55.12
happening all over the world
that needs people. Jesus Himself
00:49:55.16\00:49:58.39
said, The harvest truly
is great but the laborers are
00:49:58.43\00:50:03.73
few. God is looking for people
He could do it with the angels
00:50:03.77\00:50:07.90
it's true but He's chosen to
do it with people. He's chosen
00:50:07.94\00:50:10.57
to do it with people
like me and people like you.
00:50:10.61\00:50:13.94
Let's simply say, ok He called
some fishermen and it says
00:50:14.44\00:50:19.91
they turned their back on their
nets and they left their nets
00:50:19.98\00:50:22.48
and they went and followed
Jesus. And they left all
00:50:22.52\00:50:25.25
behind and followed Him.
He called the rich young ruler
00:50:25.29\00:50:28.12
The rich young ruler
turned away and Jesus was sad
00:50:28.16\00:50:31.09
when he turned away because
He had given a call to this
00:50:31.13\00:50:33.66
young man. He saw potential
in him, but the young man
00:50:33.70\00:50:36.33
refused to leave behind
things that he was attached to
00:50:36.36\00:50:39.97
Revelation
chapter 17 and verse 14.
00:50:43.34\00:50:48.74
It says this
00:50:54.62\00:50:58.25
Talking about the war
that's going on, the great war
00:51:01.79\00:51:04.99
says these, speaking of
the beast, these shall make war
00:51:05.03\00:51:07.96
with the lamb and the
lamb shall overcome them.
00:51:07.96\00:51:12.60
For He is Lord of Lords
and King of Kings. And they
00:51:12.63\00:51:16.71
that are with Him are
called and chosen and faithful
00:51:16.77\00:51:19.47
God is looking for a generation
that will accept His call
00:51:20.04\00:51:23.61
God is looking for a generation
that will accept His choosing
00:51:23.65\00:51:26.15
God is looking for a generation
who will be faithful to make a
00:51:26.18\00:51:29.62
commitment to Him and tonight
you as a living, breathing
00:51:29.65\00:51:33.92
human being on planet earth
have the opportunity to accept
00:51:33.96\00:51:38.76
that call to make a commitment
to God and to be a part of this
00:51:38.79\00:51:42.43
group. It says the Lamb shall
overcome them for He is Lord
00:51:42.46\00:51:46.10
of Lords and King of
Kings and that's who we serve.
00:51:46.13\00:51:48.30
And all things are
possible through Christ.
00:51:48.34\00:51:52.14
I wanna be in that group.
The war is on, you gotta choose
00:51:53.61\00:52:00.22
your side. I've heard people
say you need to choose your
00:52:00.25\00:52:02.85
battle. I think you
need to choose your side.
00:52:02.88\00:52:05.49
You need to choose your
side and make a 100% commitment.
00:52:07.79\00:52:11.69
That's what I wanna do. May
God grant us mercy here this
00:52:11.73\00:52:15.56
week that we will understand
His calling and realize the
00:52:15.60\00:52:18.23
generation in which we live
and step up to the idea that
00:52:18.27\00:52:21.54
there's some commitments
that we need to make for Him.
00:52:21.57\00:52:23.47
God bless you.
00:52:25.41\00:52:28.68
You know Steve
preached his heart out tonight
00:52:37.55\00:52:40.22
And He's talking about
the desire that God must have
00:52:41.29\00:52:45.76
for us to be committed. And
it's not just Steve but it's
00:52:45.79\00:52:48.96
all of your ASI leadership,
this longing for every one of us
00:52:49.00\00:52:52.60
to be called and
committed to our Lord.
00:52:52.63\00:52:56.07
We have the
privilege of singing a song
00:52:56.10\00:52:58.37
to direct your mind to
the God he was talking about
00:52:58.41\00:53:01.74
to our wonderful
Savior Jesus Christ.
00:53:01.78\00:53:03.98
I feel quite
sure if I did my best
00:53:15.72\00:53:20.50
I could maybe impress you
00:53:21.73\00:53:24.30
With tender words and harmony
00:53:25.33\00:53:29.44
a clever rhyme or two
00:53:30.47\00:53:32.94
But with all I've
done in the time we shared
00:53:33.91\00:53:38.48
is turned your eyes on me
00:53:38.51\00:53:42.35
then I failed at what
I've been called to do
00:53:43.12\00:53:47.52
there's someone
else I want you to see
00:53:47.56\00:53:51.76
Will you love Jesus more
00:53:53.36\00:53:58.23
When we go our different ways
00:53:59.03\00:54:03.61
When this moment is a memory
00:54:03.64\00:54:07.88
Will you remember His face?
00:54:08.48\00:54:13.28
Will you look back and realize
00:54:13.31\00:54:17.49
you sensed His love
more than you did before
00:54:17.52\00:54:22.99
I pray for nothing less
than for you to love Jesus more
00:54:23.83\00:54:32.03
I'd like to keep these memories
00:54:39.21\00:54:44.05
In frames of gold and silver
00:54:44.11\00:54:47.38
And reminisce a year from now
00:54:48.52\00:54:52.82
about the smiles we shared
00:54:53.72\00:54:56.73
But above all else
I hope you will come
00:54:57.59\00:55:02.26
to know the Father's love
00:55:02.30\00:55:06.40
And when you see
the Lord face to face
00:55:07.27\00:55:11.74
you'll hear Him say well done
00:55:11.77\00:55:16.21
Will you love Jesus more
00:55:17.35\00:55:21.38
When we go our different ways
00:55:22.45\00:55:26.89
When this moment is a memory
00:55:27.72\00:55:31.16
Will you remember His face
00:55:32.09\00:55:36.83
Will you look back and realize
00:55:36.87\00:55:40.90
You sensed His love
more than you did before
00:55:40.94\00:55:46.74
I pray for nothing less
than for you to love Jesus more
00:55:47.64\00:55:54.85
Will you love Jesus more
00:55:56.35\00:55:59.79
When we go our different ways
00:56:01.59\00:56:05.96
When this moment is a memory
00:56:06.73\00:56:10.10
Will you remember His face?
00:56:11.23\00:56:15.94
Will you look back and realize
00:56:15.97\00:56:20.28
You sensed His love
more than you did before
00:56:20.31\00:56:26.08
I pray for nothing less
00:56:26.92\00:56:30.29
than for you to love Jesus more
00:56:30.32\00:56:35.06
I pray for nothing less
00:56:36.36\00:56:40.50
than for you to love Jesus more
00:56:40.53\00:56:47.67
Let's bow our heads for prayer
00:56:53.94\00:56:56.48
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
00:57:10.06\00:57:14.13
that there was nothing in
us that deserved the great
00:57:14.20\00:57:17.50
sacrifice that
Jesus made on our behalf
00:57:17.57\00:57:19.87
You have called us
and You have chosen us
00:57:20.77\00:57:24.21
It's because of Your
initiative that each one of us
00:57:25.11\00:57:29.01
is alive. And whether
we acknowledge You or not
00:57:29.04\00:57:32.61
all heaven has been
given for each person
00:57:32.65\00:57:38.45
the mercies, the
graces, the gifts that we have
00:57:38.49\00:57:42.46
everything that we are
and everything that we have
00:57:42.49\00:57:45.66
is stamped with the
cross of Jesus Christ
00:57:45.69\00:57:48.66
Father I pray that our
eyes would be drawn to you
00:57:49.60\00:57:52.30
that we will behold You and by
beholding we'll become changed
00:57:52.33\00:57:58.87
and transformed and committed
00:57:58.91\00:58:01.88
We cannot decide in our
own strength to be committed
00:58:02.61\00:58:06.85
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\00:58:29.27
to greater service.
00:58:29.30\00:58:32.54