(MUSIC)
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>>THE FOLLOWING IS A PAID
PRESENTATION BROUGHT TO YOU
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BY AMAZING FACTS, INCORPORATED.
00:00:03.70\00:00:11.93
>>WE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WE
WENT TO CHURCH BECAUSE IT WAS
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SUPPOSED TO BE SOME FORM
OF RESORT FOR THE SAINTS.
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IN MANY RESPECTS IT'S A HOSPITAL
FOR THE SINNERS, ISN'T IT?
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>>FOR OVER 40 YEARS AMAZING
FACTS HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO
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SHARING GOD'S
WORD THROUGH MEDIA.
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THIS PROGRAM FEATURES
HIGHLIGHTS FROM SOME OF OUR BEST
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TELEVISION BROADCASTS.
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WE INVITE YOU TO SIT
BACK AND ENJOY THIS EDITION OF
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AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS.
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>>HI FRIENDS, WELCOME
TO AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS.
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TODAY WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL
PRESENTATION WE'RE EXCITED TO
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BRING TO YOU.
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YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF
PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE LORD -
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THEY ACCEPT JESUS - BUT THEN,
OVER TIME, THEY BEGIN TO DRIFT
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FROM THEIR CHURCH EXPERIENCE.
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MAYBE YOU KNOW
SOMEONE LIKE THAT.
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MAYBE YOU'RE IN THAT CATEGORY.
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THAT'S WHY I THINK YOU'LL
BE BLESSED BY TODAY'S PROGRAM
00:01:04.23\00:01:06.60
CALLED 'WHO NEEDS THE CHURCH?'
>>I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND JUST
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BUYING ANY KIND OF DRUGS
JUST TO DO FOR MYSELF BECAUSE IT
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JUST MADE SENSE TO INVEST IT IN
SOMETHING ELSE AND THEN I COULD
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MAKE ALL THE MONEY BACK
AND HAVE WEED THAT I COULD
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SMOKE FOR FREE.
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I WAS HAVING A LOT OF
FUN - AT LEAST AT FIRST.
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I WAS MAKING MORE MONEY
THAN ANYBODY I - THAT I KNEW.
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I'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, POUNDS AND
POUNDS OF WEED IN THE CLOSET AND
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I'VE GOT ALL THIS MONEY.
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I'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL,
FULLY FURNISHED APARTMENT -
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A CHANDELIER
HANGING IN MY LIVING ROOM.
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I'VE GOT A LUXURY CAR
- ALL LEATHER INTERIOR.
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I'VE GOT THE HOTTEST GIRLFRIEND.
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I HAVE EVERY SINGLE THING THAT
THIS WORLD TELLS ME THAT I NEED.
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AND THAT'S WHEN I
REALIZED HOW EMPTY I REALLY WAS.
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EVENTUALLY, SMOKING
WEED DIDN'T DO IT ANYMORE.
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I STARTED GOING TO DOING A
LOT OF ACID, LSD, AND ECSTASY.
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OF COURSE, OTHER HARD
DRUGS CAME INTO THE PICTURE.
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I FOUND OUT THAT YOU CAN'T RUN
AWAY FROM YOURSELF AND NO MATTER
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WHERE YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE.
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IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO
RECONCILE A FAITH IN GOD AND
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THEN THIS LIFESTYLE
THAT I WAS CHOOSING TO LEAD.
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AND, AT THIS POINT, I HAD
MADE THAT CHOICE TO LEAD THAT
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LIFESTYLE, BUT I
COULDN'T REVERSE IT.
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EVEN THOUGH I WANTED TO
STOP - OR AT LEAST SLOW DOWN -
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I HAD NO POWER.
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I SAID, 'GOD, DO WHATEVER IT IS
YOU'VE GOT TO DO TO CHANGE ME.'
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I GET ARRESTED FOR A DUI.
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I'D BEEN TO JAIL MANY TIMES
BEFORE BUT I USED TO THINK THAT
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THE REASON THAT I WENT TO JAIL
IS BECAUSE GOD WAS SICK OF ME -
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THAT GOD HATED ME.
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THERE I AM IN JAIL AND I'M
STARTING TO SEE THE FACT THAT
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GOD LOVES ME - TO KNOW
THE EMPTINESS OF THIS WORLD -
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TO KNOW THAT THIS LIFE
REALLY STINKS, BUT THERE'S HOPE.
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AND THE HOPE THAT I
FOUND CAN ONLY BE SEEN OR KNOWN
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IN CHRIST JESUS.
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MY NAME IS JUSTIN MONTERO
AND I'VE RECLAIMED MY FAITH.
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>>AMEN.
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YOU KNOW FRIENDS, WE CAN TELL
FROM SOME OF THE TESTIMONIES
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WE'VE ALREADY HEARD DURING THIS
PROGRAM, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
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OUT THERE THAT HAVE BEGUN
A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD,
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BUT THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED.
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MAYBE SOMEBODY HURT THEM OR THEY
GOT DISTRACTED WITH THE BUSYNESS
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OF LIFE, OR MAYBE THEY GREW UP
IN THE CHURCH AND THEY WERE JUST
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CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT'S OUT THERE
IN THE WORLD AND THEY WANTED TO
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GO FIND OUT FOR THEMSELVES
WHAT THEY WERE MISSING, BUT THEY
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DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT WAS
A WHIRLPOOL THAT WAS GOING TO
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CATCH THEM AND HOLD THEM.
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AND WE'RE DOING THIS
PROGRAM ESPECIALLY TO ENCOURAGE
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EVERYBODY TO KNOW -
THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE
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A HISTORY AND A BACKGROUND
WITH JESUS, YOU CAN COME BACK -
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YOU CAN GET A NEW
BEGINNING, BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE
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A DECISION NOT TO JUMP
SHIP - TO STAY WITH THE BOAT.
00:04:04.60\00:04:10.46
IN SPITE OF THE PROBLEMS, IN
SPITE OF THE STORMS, IN SPITE OF
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THE OTHER SAILORS, YOU
HAVE TO STAY ON THE BOAT.
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JESUS WILL NOT FORCE YOU.
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YOU CAN MAKE A DECISION -
IF YOU'RE OUT THERE WHERE THE
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SHARKS ARE - TO
SWIM BACK TO THE BOAT.
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YOU KNOW, THERE'S A STORY IN THE
BIBLE THAT TELLS US THERE IS A
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TIME TO TRUST THE LORD AND HANG
TIGHT IN THE BOAT, EVEN THOUGH
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THERE MAY BE STORMS.
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IF YOU HAVE A BIBLE YOU'LL
FIND THIS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.
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THE BOOK OF ACTS TELLS ABOUT THE
EXCITING WAY THAT GOD HAS LED
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HIS CHURCH.
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AND AT THE END OF THE STORY OF
ACTS, THE BOOK TAKES QUITE A BIT
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OF TIME TO TALK
ABOUT A STORM AT SEA.
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THERE IS A BOATLOAD OF SAILORS
FOR JUDGMENT - THEY'RE ACTUALLY
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PRISONERS ON THEIR WAY TO
ROME TO BE JUDGED BY CAESAR.
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THE APOSTLE PAUL IS ON THE BOAT
AND AFTER THEY LOSE EVERYTHING -
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THEY THROW EVERYTHING OVERBOARD
- THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE
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THEY ARE. THEY'RE LOST.
00:05:11.90\00:05:12.86
THEY'VE LOST THEIR TACKLING
- AND THEY THREW THE FOOD
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OVERBOARD - BUT PAUL PRAYED AND
HE INTERCEDED FOR EVERYBODY ON
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THE BOAT AND THE ANGEL
SAID, 'I'VE HEARD YOUR PRAYER.'
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WELL JUST AS THEY WERE NEARING
LAND, SOME OF THE SAILORS
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THOUGHT, 'YOU KNOW, WE
CAN DO BETTER ON OUR OWN.
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WE'RE GOING TO SNEAK OFF IN
THE LITTLE LIFEBOAT - THE LITTLE
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DINGHY BY OURSELVES.'
AND YOU CAN READ IN ACTS 27,
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VERSE 30 - "AND AS THE SAILORS
WERE SEEKING TO ESCAPE FROM THE
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SHIP AND THEY LET DOWN THE SKIFF
INTO THE SEA UNDER PRETENSE" -
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PRETENDING THAT THEY WERE
PUTTING OUT ANCHORS FROM THE BOW
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- "PAUL SAID TO THE
CENTURION AND THE SOLDIERS,
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'UNLESS THESE MEN STAY IN
THE SHIP, YOU CANNOT BE SAVED.'"
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WOW. WHY?
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PERHAPS GOD'S SENDING A MESSAGE
TO HIS PEOPLE AS WE NEAR SHORE -
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ESPECIALLY DURING THE STORMS OF
THE LAST DAYS - HOW CRUCIAL IT
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IS FOR US TO STICK TOGETHER.
00:06:10.66\00:06:14.93
BECAUSE, UNLESS WE STICK
TOGETHER, WE'RE ALL IN DANGER.
00:06:14.93\00:06:20.06
AND WE NEED TO
ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER.
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I'M NOT ONLY INTERESTED
IN MY SALVATION, I NEED TO BE
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INTERESTED IN YOUR SALVATION
- AND I HOPE YOU'RE INTERESTED
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IN MINE.
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YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU PRAY
THE LORD'S PRAYER IT NEVER SAYS
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'GIVE ME...DELIVER ME...FEED
ME' - IT'S 'LEAD US...DELIVER
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US...FEED US' BECAUSE WE SHOULD
BE CORPORATELY INTERESTED.
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BUT WE'RE LIVING IN THE AGE
OF INDIVIDUALISM AND EVERYBODY'S
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KIND OF OFF
DOING THEIR OWN THING.
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I READ SOME STATISTICS - THE
BARNA RESEARCH GROUP PUT THIS
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OUT THAT "NEARLY THREE OUT
OF EVERY FIVE YOUNG CHRISTIANS -
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APPROXIMATELY 59% - DISCONNECT
FROM THE CHURCH AFTER AGE 15 -
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SOME PERMANENTLY."
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SOME, PRAISE
THE LORD, COME BACK.
00:07:02.40\00:07:05.20
APPROXIMATELY 150,000 PEOPLE
LEAVE THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN
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NORTH AMERICA EVERY WEEK.
00:07:09.33\00:07:12.86
NOW, FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE MANY
COMING IN ALSO, BUT AT LARGE,
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THE BACK DOOR OF THE CHURCH IS
LARGER NOW THAN THE FRONT DOOR.
00:07:17.40\00:07:22.73
NOW, THAT'S NOT TRUE IN ALL
PARTS OF THE WORLD, BUT WE'VE
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GOT A PROBLEM - ESPECIALLY IN
NORTH AMERICA AND OTHER PARTS OF
00:07:24.36\00:07:28.06
THE WORLD - SOME
OF WESTERN EUROPE.
00:07:28.06\00:07:30.63
HEBREWS 10, VERSES 24 AND 25 -
"AND LET US CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER
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IN ORDER TO STIR UP LOVE AND
GOOD WORKS" - STIR EACH OTHER UP
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- "NOT FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLING
OF OURSELVES TOGETHER."
00:07:41.63\00:07:46.06
THAT'S WHAT THE CHURCH IS -
WE ASSEMBLE TOGETHER - "AS THE
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MANNER OF SOME IS" - SOME ARE
DOING THIS - "BUT EXHORTING ONE
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ANOTHER AND SO MUCH THE MORE
AS YOU SEE THE DAY APPROACHING."
00:07:52.46\00:07:58.40
WHAT DAY IS APPROACHING,
FRIENDS? THE DAY OF THE LORD -
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JESUS' COMING.
00:08:01.83\00:08:02.76
AND ALL THE MORE AS WE SEE THE
DAY OF THE LORD IS COMING, WE
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NEED TO ENCOURAGE AND
EXHORT AND STIR EACH OTHER
00:08:06.96\00:08:10.63
TO COME TOGETHER.
00:08:10.63\00:08:13.63
THERE IS REDEMPTIVE
VALUE IN OUR COMING TOGETHER.
00:08:13.63\00:08:17.10
YOU KNOW, ONE REASON WE
NEED THE CHURCH SO MUCH IS
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BECAUSE OF LOVE.
00:08:18.93\00:08:21.50
GREAT COMMANDMENTS - LOVE
THE LORD, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR.
00:08:21.50\00:08:25.26
WE GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE WE
LEARN MORE ABOUT LOVING GOD BY
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LEARNING HOW TO LOVE EACH OTHER.
00:08:29.10\00:08:31.36
AND JOHN TELLS US IF WE CANNOT
LOVE OUR BROTHERS WHO WE DO SEE,
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HOW CAN WE SAY THAT WE
LOVE THE LORD WHO WE DON'T SEE?
00:08:34.56\00:08:37.93
AND WE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT
WE WENT TO CHURCH BECAUSE IT WAS
00:08:37.93\00:08:40.33
SUPPOSED TO BE SOME FORM
OF RESORT FOR THE SAINTS.
00:08:40.33\00:08:44.70
IN MANY RESPECTS IT'S A HOSPITAL
FOR THE SINNERS, ISN'T IT?
00:08:44.70\00:08:49.33
PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH SOMETIMES
AREN'T ALWAYS LOVABLE -
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BUT THAT'S HOW YOU LEARN LOVE
- YOU DON'T LEARN TO LOVE WHEN
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YOU'RE SURROUNDED
ALWAYS WITH LOVABLE PEOPLE.
00:08:55.33\00:08:58.00
YOU ESPECIALLY LEARN TO LOVE -
WHEN YOU PRAY FOR PATIENCE WHAT
00:08:58.00\00:09:01.93
DO YOU THINK
GOD'S GOING TO GIVE YOU?
00:09:01.93\00:09:04.26
HE'LL SEND YOU DELAY
BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU GROW.
00:09:04.26\00:09:07.80
IF YOU PRAY FOR MUSCLES,
WHAT IS GOD GOING TO GIVE YOU?
00:09:07.80\00:09:11.43
HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU WEIGHT TO
CARRY - I DIDN'T MEAN IT THE WAY
00:09:11.43\00:09:14.60
IT FIRST CAME OUT.
00:09:14.60\00:09:16.86
BUT YOU KNOW, YOU
HAVE TO LIFT WEIGHTS.
00:09:16.86\00:09:20.56
AND IF YOU SAY, 'LORD, GIVE ME
LOVE FOR MY NEIGHBOR' HE'S GOING
00:09:20.56\00:09:24.83
TO PUT YOU NEXT TO
AN ORNERY NEIGHBOR.
00:09:24.83\00:09:28.86
AND THAT'S - ISN'T
THAT HOW WE LEARN LOVE?
00:09:28.86\00:09:31.53
AND SO, SOME PEOPLE, THEY EXCUSE
THEMSELVES FROM THE CHURCH AND
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THEY THINK, 'I'M GOING TO
STAY HOME AND I'M GOING TO BE
00:09:34.63\00:09:36.76
ESPECIALLY HOLY' - IT ACTUALLY
HAS THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.
00:09:36.76\00:09:40.76
WE DESPERATELY NEED EACH OTHER.
00:09:40.76\00:09:42.86
WE NEED TO LEARN TO LOVE
EACH OTHER AND STICK TOGETHER
00:09:42.86\00:09:45.83
AS A CHURCH.
00:09:45.83\00:09:47.96
SO WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
00:09:47.96\00:09:49.96
WHEN WE SAY THE WORD CHURCH IT'S
ACTUALLY A SCOTTISH WORD - IT
00:09:49.96\00:09:52.20
COMES FROM THE WORD 'KIRK' AND
YOU MAYBE HAVE HEARD SOME SONGS
00:09:52.20\00:09:55.50
ABOUT THAT - 'THE WEE KIRK IN
THE HEATHER' - AND THAT'S REALLY
00:09:55.50\00:10:00.00
NOT THE WORD.
00:10:00.00\00:10:01.30
IN GREEK IT'S ECCLESIA AND
IT MEANS 'THE GATHERING, THE
00:10:01.30\00:10:06.33
CALLING OUT, THE CONGREGATION,
THE ASSEMBLY' - IT IS A
00:10:06.33\00:10:09.23
COMMUNITY OF FAITH - IT'S NOT
A BUILDING, IT'S A PLACE WHERE
00:10:09.23\00:10:13.80
GOD'S PEOPLE GATHER TO LEARN HIS
WILL AND TO KNOW HOW TO SERVE
00:10:13.80\00:10:17.80
HIM BETTER.
00:10:17.80\00:10:19.03
SO HERE'S THE BIG QUESTION: CAN
YOU BE A CHRISTIAN AND NOT BE
00:10:19.03\00:10:24.90
PARTICIPATING IN CHURCH?
00:10:24.90\00:10:26.36
NOW AGAIN, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
THOSE WHO CAN'T BECAUSE OF A
00:10:26.36\00:10:28.53
MEDICAL PROBLEM OR ISOLATION,
BUT CAN YOU REALLY BE A HEALTHY
00:10:28.53\00:10:33.46
CHRISTIAN AND NOT WANT
TO BE PART OF GOD'S PEOPLE?
00:10:33.46\00:10:37.70
WELL, SURE, IF YOU CAN BE
A HONEYBEE AND NOT BE PART OF
00:10:37.70\00:10:41.23
A HIVE - YOU USUALLY DON'T
MAKE A LOT OF HONEY THAT WAY.
00:10:41.23\00:10:44.76
IF YOU CAN BE A SOLDIER WITHOUT
AN ARMY - YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF
00:10:44.76\00:10:47.43
RAMBO - YOU RUN
AROUND DOING YOUR OWN THING.
00:10:47.43\00:10:51.46
IF YOU CAN BE A
SALESMAN WITH NO CUSTOMERS.
00:10:51.46\00:10:55.53
IF YOU CAN BE A FOOTBALL PLAYER
WITHOUT A TEAM - YOU THROW THE
00:10:55.53\00:10:58.63
BALL THEN YOU RUN AHEAD AND YOU
CATCH IT - AND DO ALL YOUR OWN
00:10:58.63\00:11:01.90
BLOCKING AND TACKLING.
00:11:01.90\00:11:05.06
IF YOU CAN BE A POLITICIAN WHO
IS A HERMIT WELL THEN SURE, YOU
00:11:05.06\00:11:10.03
CAN BE A CHRISTIAN THAT
DOESN'T PARTICIPATE IN CHURCH.
00:11:10.03\00:11:14.36
BUT I REALIZE - I KNOW YOU
REALIZE THAT I'M SAYING THIS
00:11:14.36\00:11:16.43
TONGUE-IN-CHEEK.
00:11:16.43\00:11:18.43
THE BIBLE TELLS US, AND THIS IS
VERY IMPORTANT - ACTS CHAPTER 2,
00:11:18.43\00:11:20.86
VERSE 47, "THE LORD ADDED TO
THE CHURCH DAILY THOSE WHO WERE
00:11:20.86\00:11:26.26
BEING SAVED."
00:11:26.26\00:11:28.73
NOW, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU,
FRIENDS, BUT I WANT TO BE SAVED.
00:11:28.73\00:11:32.26
JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD
TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS -
00:11:32.26\00:11:35.43
AND WHO IS BEING SAVED?
00:11:35.43\00:11:37.43
THE ONES WHO ARE
ADDED TO THE CHURCH.
00:11:37.43\00:11:41.73
SO HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO JESUS
THAT WE ARE PART OF THE CHURCH?
00:11:41.73\00:11:45.63
YOU KNOW, AS YOU READ THE
NEW TESTAMENT, ANY IDEA THAT YOU
00:11:45.63\00:11:50.43
COULD BE SAVED OUTSIDE OF THE
CHURCH IS A FOREIGN CONCEPT TO
00:11:50.43\00:11:54.53
THE BIBLE.
00:11:54.53\00:11:56.20
THE WHOLE NEW TESTAMENT IS
WRITTEN WITH THE IDEA IN MIND
00:11:56.20\00:11:59.66
THAT PEOPLE ARE
SAVED INTO THE CHURCH.
00:11:59.66\00:12:02.06
THEY ARE BROUGHT INTO
CHRIST AND INTO THE CHURCH
00:12:02.06\00:12:04.43
AT THE SAME TIME.
00:12:04.43\00:12:07.00
NOW, I'M SAYING THIS FOR THOSE
WHO ARE OUT THERE THAT SAY,
00:12:07.00\00:12:09.00
'OH YEAH, I'M A CHRISTIAN,
I JUST DON'T GO TO CHURCH.'
00:12:09.00\00:12:12.96
I REMEMBER PICKING UP A
HITCHHIKER ONE TIME - I BEGAN TO
00:12:12.96\00:12:15.06
SHARE MY FAITH WITH HIM AND HE
SAID, 'OH YEAH, I'M A CHRISTIAN,
00:12:15.06\00:12:17.76
I'M JUST NOT A
PRACTICING CHRISTIAN.'
00:12:17.76\00:12:21.73
AND THEN HE COMMENCED TO SHOW
ME THE CROSSES THAT HE WORE.
00:12:21.73\00:12:25.60
AND I STOPPED - I ACTUALLY
STOPPED AND ATE A MEAL WITH HIM
00:12:25.60\00:12:28.36
BECAUSE I WANTED TO TALK TO
HIM A LITTLE FURTHER AND SAID,
00:12:28.36\00:12:32.03
'SO EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT
IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN.
00:12:32.03\00:12:35.30
'WELL, YOU KNOW, JESUS
SAVES YOU FROM YOUR SIN.'
00:12:35.30\00:12:36.70
AND I SAID, 'NOW EXPLAIN WHAT
A NON-PRACTICING CHRISTIAN IS.'
00:12:36.70\00:12:41.23
WE'RE EITHER
FOLLOWING CHRIST OR WE'RE NOT.
00:12:41.23\00:12:44.16
NOW, YOU DON'T SAY, 'WELL I'M
NOT GOING TO GO TO CHURCH UNTIL
00:12:44.16\00:12:46.46
I'M FOLLOWING CHRIST.' OR
'I'M AFRAID IF I GO TO CHURCH
00:12:46.46\00:12:49.43
I'LL BE UNDER CONVICTION.'
WELL THAT'S GOOD - COME ANYWAY
00:12:49.43\00:12:53.56
BECAUSE CONVICTION IS SOMETHING
THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES YOU.
00:12:53.56\00:12:56.83
IT HELPS YOU TO FACILITATE
CHANGE. COME TO CHURCH.
00:12:56.83\00:13:01.93
YOU'VE HEARD IT SAID BEFORE,
THE BIBLE WILL KEEP YOU FROM SIN
00:13:01.93\00:13:04.63
OR SIN WILL KEEP
YOU FROM THE BIBLE.
00:13:04.63\00:13:07.26
SOME PEOPLE THAT GO TO CHURCH
BUT THEY'RE UNDER CONVICTION SO
00:13:07.26\00:13:09.26
THEY SAY, 'I DON'T WANT TO
GO ANY MORE AND BE CONVICTED.'
00:13:09.26\00:13:11.43
SO THEY STAY AWAY.
00:13:11.43\00:13:12.60
IT'S HEALTHY TO
GO AND BE CONVICTED.
00:13:12.60\00:13:15.16
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE GOT SOME
DIRT ON YOUR FACE DON'T HIDE
00:13:15.16\00:13:17.26
FROM MIRRORS.
00:13:17.26\00:13:19.50
IT'S NOT GOING TO
SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM.
00:13:19.50\00:13:21.60
AND SOMETIMES WHEN WE GO TO
CHURCH, WE BECOME AWARE OF THE
00:13:21.60\00:13:24.70
CHANGES WE NEED
- THAT'S HEALTHY.
00:13:24.70\00:13:26.53
YOU GO ANYWAY.
00:13:26.53\00:13:28.56
YOU WANT THE TRUTH DON'T YOU?
00:13:28.56\00:13:30.73
WE WANT TO BE CHANGED.
00:13:30.73\00:13:31.73
WE WANT TO KNOW.
00:13:31.73\00:13:33.26
VERY IMPORTANT - ACTS CHAPTER 4,
VERSE 12 - THE BIBLE SAYS, "NOR
00:13:33.26\00:13:38.66
IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER
FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER
00:13:38.66\00:13:44.36
HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN
WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED."
00:13:44.36\00:13:48.53
THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO BE SAVED
IS THROUGH CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
00:13:48.53\00:13:53.13
IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.
00:13:53.13\00:13:55.20
THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT
- SO CRUCIAL THAT WE ARE
00:13:55.20\00:13:57.23
IN CHRIST.
00:13:57.23\00:13:59.20
1 TIMOTHY 3:15 - HERE THE
APOSTLE SAYS, "I WRITE TO YOU
00:13:59.20\00:14:03.60
THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW HOW YOU
OUGHT TO CONDUCT YOURSELF IN THE
00:14:03.60\00:14:07.00
HOUSE OF GOD, WHICH IS
THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD.
00:14:07.00\00:14:11.06
THE PILLAR AND
THE GROUND OF TRUTH."
00:14:11.06\00:14:15.06
THE CHURCH IS A PLACE WHERE WE
GATHER AND WE OPEN THE WORD AND
00:14:15.06\00:14:18.26
WE LEARN THE TRUTH
FROM GOD'S PERSPECTIVE.
00:14:18.26\00:14:22.23
AND ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS
THINGS IN OUR CULTURE TODAY -
00:14:22.23\00:14:24.90
IT'S A VERY POWERFUL THING - IT
CAN BE POWERFUL FOR GOOD AND IT
00:14:24.90\00:14:28.66
CAN BE DANGEROUS - IS THE MEDIA.
00:14:28.66\00:14:31.36
IF WE ARE NOT COMING TO CHURCH
AND HEARING THE TRUTH FROM THE
00:14:31.36\00:14:35.36
WORD OF GOD ON A REGULAR BASIS,
THEN WHAT MESSAGES ARE GOING TO
00:14:35.36\00:14:39.30
DOMINATE WHO YOU
ARE AND WHAT YOU BECOME?
00:14:39.30\00:14:43.23
WE'RE ALL BEING INFLUENCED BY
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CULTURE
00:14:43.23\00:14:45.60
AROUND US, BUT WE NEED TO BE
INFLUENCED BY THE WORD OF GOD.
00:14:45.60\00:14:48.76
WE NEED TO CARVE OUT THAT
FAITHFUL TIME TO COME TOGETHER
00:14:48.76\00:14:52.06
IN THE CHURCH
AND TO HEAR HIS WORD.
00:14:52.06\00:14:54.40
CAN YOU SAY 'AMEN'?
00:14:54.40\00:14:55.30
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?
00:14:55.30\00:14:56.16
I THOUGHT YOU WERE WITH ME,
I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK.
00:14:56.16\00:15:00.06
FOR SOMEONE TO SAY, 'WELL,
I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN BUT
00:15:00.06\00:15:03.63
I DON'T REALLY
WANT TO GO TO CHURCH.'
00:15:03.63\00:15:05.46
THAT'S LIKE SAYING, 'YOU KNOW,
I WANT TO BE A FISH BUT I DON'T
00:15:05.46\00:15:07.20
WANT TO LIVE IN THE WATER.'
NOW, THERE ARE A FEW RARE
00:15:07.20\00:15:10.73
EXCEPTIONS - YOU MIGHT FIND A
MUDSKIPPER THAT LEAVES THE WATER
00:15:10.73\00:15:13.60
FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT NOT
TOO MANY FISH SURVIVE OUT OF THE
00:15:13.60\00:15:16.86
WATER FOR VERY LONG.
00:15:16.86\00:15:18.70
AND NOT TOO MANY CHRISTIANS
THRIVE AND SURVIVE OUT OF
00:15:18.70\00:15:21.70
THE CHURCH.
00:15:21.70\00:15:23.56
IT'S HARD TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE
IN CHRIST WHEN YOU STAY AWAY
00:15:23.56\00:15:26.20
FROM THE BODY.
00:15:26.20\00:15:28.36
IN JOHN CHAPTER 13 JESUS SAID,
'BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT
00:15:28.36\00:15:32.83
YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES: IF
YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER.'
00:15:32.83\00:15:38.00
AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO
IMPORTANT THAT WE COME TOGETHER.
00:15:38.00\00:15:40.26
NOW, I BELIEVE THAT THE
DEVIL HEARD JESUS SAY THAT.
00:15:40.26\00:15:45.06
I THINK THE DEVIL HEARD JESUS
SAY 'ALL MEN WILL KNOW THAT
00:15:45.06\00:15:47.90
YOU'RE MY DISCIPLES BY
THE WAY YOU LOVE EACH OTHER.
00:15:47.90\00:15:50.83
AND HE THOUGHT, 'WELL, IF
THE WORLD HEARS AND LEARNS ABOUT
00:15:50.83\00:15:54.20
JESUS BY THEIR CORPORATE LOVE
FOR EACH OTHER, THEN IT MUST
00:15:54.20\00:15:57.96
ALSO STAND TO REASON THAT IF
I CAN SCATTER THEM AND FRAGMENT
00:15:57.96\00:16:01.33
THE CHURCH, IT'LL
ADVERTISE AGAINST CHRIST.
00:16:01.33\00:16:06.50
AND SO, IF WE DO OUR BEST
ADVERTISING BY SHOWING OUR UNITY
00:16:06.50\00:16:11.00
- 'BEHOLD HOW THEY LOVE ONE
ANOTHER' - THEN IT WOULD ALSO BE
00:16:11.00\00:16:14.50
TRUE THAT THE HEATHEN MOCK AND
LAUGH AT CHRISTIANS WHEN THEY
00:16:14.50\00:16:17.96
SAY, 'LOOK AT HOW
FRAGMENTED THEY ARE.'
00:16:17.96\00:16:20.53
IS THERE ANY RELIGION IN THE
WORLD THAT HAS MORE SPLINTERS
00:16:20.53\00:16:22.70
AND DENOMINATIONS
THAN CHRISTIANITY?
00:16:22.70\00:16:26.00
BUT, ACTUALLY, THAT'S A
TESTIMONY THAT SHOWS THAT THE
00:16:26.00\00:16:30.56
DEVIL IS MORE THREATENED BY
CHRISTIANITY THAN ANYTHING ELSE
00:16:30.56\00:16:35.96
BECAUSE HE IS SEEKING TO HIDE
THE DIAMOND BY CAMOUFLAGING IT
00:16:35.96\00:16:41.10
WITH A BUNCH OF BROKEN GLASS.
00:16:41.10\00:16:43.23
THERE IS A TRUTH OUT THERE AND
HE'S TRYING TO HIDE IT BY ALL
00:16:43.23\00:16:45.56
THESE FRAGMENTS AND
ALL THESE DIVISIONS.
00:16:45.56\00:16:47.73
THE LORD WANTS US TO PULL
TOGETHER - AND NOT JUST PULL
00:16:47.73\00:16:49.76
TOGETHER FOR THE SAKE OF
BEING TOGETHER - WE NEED TO PULL
00:16:49.76\00:16:52.16
TOGETHER BASED ON TRUTH.
00:16:52.16\00:16:55.33
THE RIGHT REASON TO GO
TO A CHURCH IS BECAUSE THE
00:16:55.33\00:16:56.86
FOUNDATIONAL TEACHINGS OF
THAT CHURCH ARE THE TEACHINGS OF
00:16:56.86\00:16:59.56
JESUS AND IT'S THE TRUTH
AND IT'S HIS BODY AND I'M GOING
00:16:59.56\00:17:05.73
THERE TO WORSHIP HIM
ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES.
00:17:05.73\00:17:09.70
IT MIGHT BE A HAMBURGER
STAND THAT'S BEEN RENOVATED,
00:17:09.70\00:17:12.96
THE SINGING MIGHT BE AWFUL,
THE PEOPLE MIGHT BE CRANKY, YOU
00:17:12.96\00:17:17.56
MIGHT HAVE TO GO 50 MILES TO GET
THERE, THEY MIGHT ALL BE POOR,
00:17:17.56\00:17:24.00
BUT IF THE FOUNDATIONAL
TEACHINGS OF THAT CHURCH ARE THE
00:17:24.00\00:17:26.06
TEACHINGS OF JESUS, THEN THAT'S
HIS BODY AND THAT'S WHERE HE
00:17:26.06\00:17:28.66
WANTS YOU.
00:17:28.66\00:17:30.06
NOW THE REASON I SAID THINGS
THE WAY I DID IS YOU CAN BETTER
00:17:30.06\00:17:33.33
UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS THIS
TERRIBLE PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE
00:17:33.33\00:17:39.23
ARE HEMORRHAGING FROM
THE CHURCHES - ONE OF THE BIG
00:17:39.23\00:17:42.16
REASONS THAT PEOPLE ARE
LEAVING IS BECAUSE THEY JOINED
00:17:42.16\00:17:45.10
FOR THE WRONG REASONS.
00:17:45.10\00:17:47.90
IF WE UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS THAT
WE'RE GOING, WE UNDERSTAND WHY
00:17:47.90\00:17:51.40
IT IS WE'RE STAYING.
00:17:51.40\00:17:54.40
IT'S BECAUSE
CHRIST COMMANDS US TO.
00:17:54.40\00:17:57.66
ONE OF THE IMPORTANT REASONS
THAT WE NEED TO GO TO CHURCH -
00:17:57.66\00:18:01.13
THE LORD WANTS US
TO BE ONE - ONE BODY.
00:18:01.13\00:18:05.03
COLOSSIANS 3:15, "AND LET THE
PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR HEARTS
00:18:05.03\00:18:10.80
TO WHICH ALSO YOU
WERE CALLED IN ONE BODY."
00:18:10.80\00:18:14.30
- HOW MANY BODIES? <<ONE>>
- HE WANTS US TO BE UNITED.
00:18:14.30\00:18:17.50
JOHN 17 - LISTEN TO THE PRAYER
OF JESUS - THE LORD SAYS, "AND
00:18:17.50\00:18:21.26
THE GLORY" - HE'S TALKING TO THE
FATHER - GOD THE SON IS TALKING
00:18:21.26\00:18:24.16
TO GOD THE FATHER - "AND THE
GLORY, WHICH YOU GAVE ME I HAVE
00:18:24.16\00:18:28.10
GIVEN THEM THAT THEY MAY BE ONE"
- NOW LISTEN TO HOW HE WANTS US
00:18:28.10\00:18:31.80
TO BE ONE - JESUS IS
PRAYING THAT THEY MAY BONE -
00:18:31.80\00:18:36.83
"JUST AS WE ARE ONE
THAT THEY MAY BE ONE."
00:18:36.83\00:18:43.10
WOW. HOW ONE IS
THE FATHER AND THE SON?
00:18:43.10\00:18:50.26
IF YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, JESUS
SAID TO PHILLIP, 'IF YOU'VE SEEN
00:18:50.26\00:18:52.40
ME, YOU'VE SEEN THE FATHER.'
TALK ABOUT BEING PERFECTLY ONE -
00:18:52.40\00:18:57.16
THE ONLY WAY WE CAN HAVE
THAT PERFECT ONENESS IS TO BE
00:18:57.16\00:18:59.60
BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
00:18:59.60\00:19:03.40
THE ONLY WAY - IF YOU'VE GOT THE
SPIRIT OF GOD AND I'VE GOT THE
00:19:03.40\00:19:05.56
SPIRIT OF GOD, THAT'S THE ONLY
WAY WE CAN BE ONE THE WAY JESUS
00:19:05.56\00:19:08.66
WANTS US TO BE ONE.
00:19:08.66\00:19:09.60
ISN'T THAT RIGHT?
00:19:09.60\00:19:12.56
BUT IS THAT HIS WILL?
00:19:12.56\00:19:14.70
JESUS - DID HE PRAY FOR THAT
- THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT KIND
00:19:14.70\00:19:16.90
OF ONENESS?
00:19:16.90\00:19:18.73
ISN'T THAT KIND OF IMPOSSIBLE?
00:19:18.73\00:19:21.90
IT IS WITHOUT A MIRACLE.
00:19:21.90\00:19:24.30
WERE THE DISCIPLES
EVER ONE LIKE THAT?
00:19:24.30\00:19:27.76
YOU KNOW THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT
WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST - ACTS
00:19:27.76\00:19:31.16
CHAPTER 2, VERSE 1 "WHEN THE DAY
OF PENTECOST WAS FULLY COME THEY
00:19:31.16\00:19:35.83
WERE ALL OF ONE ACCORD" - THEY
PUT ASIDE ALL THEIR DIFFERENCES.
00:19:35.83\00:19:39.70
DID THE DISCIPLES - DID
THE EARLY CHURCH OF JESUS -
00:19:39.70\00:19:42.60
WAS THERE A LITTLE BIT OF
STRIFE AND DIVISION AMONG THEM?
00:19:42.60\00:19:45.50
BUT BEFORE THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS
POURED OUT, THEY FINALLY GOT TO
00:19:45.50\00:19:48.86
WHERE THEY WERE ONE.
00:19:48.86\00:19:51.16
THEY WERE IN ONE ACCORD
AND THEY WERE IN ONE PLACE.
00:19:51.16\00:19:55.66
SO, DOES IT MATTER THAT WE COME
TOGETHER PHYSICALLY - AS FAR AS
00:19:55.66\00:19:59.36
WE ARE ABLE - INTO ONE PLACE?
00:19:59.36\00:20:01.76
IS THERE SOMETHING THAT
HAPPENS WHEN WE COLLECT AND WE
00:20:01.76\00:20:05.40
GATHER TOGETHER?
00:20:05.40\00:20:07.13
WELL, I THINK IT'S TIME
THAT GOD'S PEOPLE GET TOGETHER.
00:20:07.13\00:20:10.16
AND THAT THOSE WHO ARE OUT THERE
WANDERING - WE NEED TO PULL
00:20:10.16\00:20:12.60
TOGETHER AS A CHURCH FAMILY,
BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE RUNNING
00:20:12.60\00:20:15.53
OUT OF TIME.
00:20:15.53\00:20:16.23
HE WANTS US TO BE ONE.
00:20:16.23\00:20:18.63
THERE'S POWER IN THAT.
00:20:18.63\00:20:21.10
JESUS SAID, WHEN WE
COME TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE -
00:20:21.10\00:20:23.13
HE TELLS US WE'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE ONE BODY.
00:20:23.13\00:20:28.33
NOW, THAT'S ONE OF THE
ILLUSTRATIONS THAT I REALLY
00:20:28.33\00:20:30.73
ENJOY - THAT WE ARE ALL MEMBERS
OF CHRIST'S BODY AND WE ALL
00:20:30.73\00:20:35.20
SERVE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.
00:20:35.20\00:20:37.00
IN YOUR BIBLE, IF YOU READ IN
ROMANS 12 - AND THERE ARE JUST
00:20:37.00\00:20:39.90
SO MANY PLACES I COULD GO TO,
BUT JUST ROMANS 12, VERSES 4 TO
00:20:39.90\00:20:42.30
6 - HE SAYS, "FOR AS WE HAVE
MANY MEMBERS IN ONE BODY, BUT
00:20:42.30\00:20:47.70
ALL THE MEMBERS DO NOT
HAVE THE SAME FUNCTION.
00:20:47.70\00:20:51.66
SO WE, BEING MANY ARE ONE BODY
IN CHRIST" - THAT MEANS THAT
00:20:51.66\00:20:56.36
WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE DIFFERENT
- "AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF ONE
00:20:56.36\00:21:00.66
ANOTHER HAVING THEN GIFTS
DIFFERING ACCORDING TO THAT
00:21:00.66\00:21:04.36
WHICH IS GIVEN
US, LET US USE THEM."
00:21:04.36\00:21:08.66
CAN YOU BE A CHRISTIAN AND
BE SEPARATED FROM THE BODY?
00:21:08.66\00:21:13.06
HOW CAN YOU DO YOUR FUNCTION?
00:21:13.06\00:21:16.50
WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER AND EVERY
PART OF THE BODY NEEDS THE OTHER
00:21:16.50\00:21:18.86
PART OF THE BODY.
00:21:18.86\00:21:20.76
I GREW UP IN THE ERA WHERE
SCIENTISTS THOUGHT THAT PEOPLE
00:21:20.76\00:21:23.33
HAD A LOT OF SPARE PARTS
AND THEY TOOK MY TONSILS.
00:21:23.33\00:21:27.53
YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS HAD A SORE
THROAT AND THEY NEVER DID MAKE A
00:21:27.53\00:21:30.03
CONNECTION BETWEEN ME STARTING
MY DAY WITH HOSTESS TWINKIES FOR
00:21:30.03\00:21:32.80
BREAKFAST AND ALWAYS HAVING A
SORE THROAT AND THEY JUST SAID,
00:21:32.80\00:21:35.60
'OH, BAD TONSILS.
00:21:35.60\00:21:36.56
THEY'RE VESTIGIAL REMNANTS,
YOU DON'T REALLY NEED THEM.
00:21:36.56\00:21:38.53
TAKE THEM OUT.' MY
BROTHER HAD A STOMACH ACHE -
00:21:38.53\00:21:42.16
'MUST BE A BAD APPENDIX -
DON'T NEED IT - SPARE PARTS!
00:21:42.16\00:21:44.86
TAKE 'EM OUT.' YOU
KNOW, THEY HAD THIS IDEA
00:21:44.86\00:21:47.53
THAT EVERYTHING WAS SPARE PARTS.
00:21:47.53\00:21:49.63
WELL, WE KNOW MORE NOW - THAT
THOSE THINGS ALL HAVE A PURPOSE,
00:21:49.63\00:21:52.40
DON'T THEY?
00:21:52.40\00:21:53.83
SOME OF YOU MAYBE FELT LIKE THE
APPENDIX OR THE TONSILS OF THE
00:21:53.83\00:21:56.46
CHURCH - AND YOU THINK,
'THERE'S NO PURPOSE FOR ME.'
00:21:56.46\00:22:01.10
OR MAYBE YOU THOUGHT
SOMEONE ELSE WAS THE APPENDIX -
00:22:01.10\00:22:02.93
THAT'S MORE LIKELY, RIGHT?
00:22:02.93\00:22:07.56
WE ALL ARE NEEDED BY CHRIST.
00:22:07.56\00:22:11.70
AND YOU KNOW, THE LORD PUTS SOME
PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH JUST SO WE
00:22:11.70\00:22:13.80
CAN LEARN LOVE AND
PATIENCE, BUT THEY'RE NEEDED.
00:22:13.80\00:22:17.80
AND WE'RE ALL PART OF HIS BODY
AND WE NEED TO STAY TOGETHER OR
00:22:17.80\00:22:22.70
WE DON'T STAY ALIVE.
00:22:22.70\00:22:26.46
I HEARD A STORY ONE TIME - A
PARABLE - THAT ONE MORNING A MAN
00:22:26.46\00:22:31.16
WOKE UP AND HE REACHED FOR THE
COUNTER BY THE BED AND HE WENT
00:22:31.16\00:22:34.76
TO GRAB HIS GLASSES AND TO PUT
THEM ON AND THE NOSE SHOUTED AT
00:22:34.76\00:22:38.73
THE EYES AND THE NOSE
SAID, 'ENOUGH OF THIS!
00:22:38.73\00:22:43.23
DAY AFTER DAY YOU PLOP
THOSE GLASSES DOWN ON TOP OF ME,
00:22:43.23\00:22:45.80
THEY SLIDE UP AND
DOWN, THEY'RE IRRITATING,
00:22:45.80\00:22:48.30
I FEEL THE PRESSURE - THEY LEAVE
LITTLE RED DOTS ON EITHER SIDE -
00:22:48.30\00:22:51.10
NO MORE GLASSES!' SO THE
MAN HEARD THAT AND HE PUT
00:22:51.10\00:22:55.20
THE GLASSES BACK DOWN.
00:22:55.20\00:22:57.96
HE GOT UP AND ON HIS WAY TO THE
RESTROOM HE RAN INTO THE DOOR
00:22:57.96\00:23:00.66
AND BANGED HIS NOSE.
00:23:00.66\00:23:06.40
EVERYBODY SUFFERS
IF WE ARE NOT TOGETHER.
00:23:06.40\00:23:13.10
WE ALL NEED TO BE TOGETHER
AS PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.
00:23:13.10\00:23:18.23
HOW LONG DO WE
SURVIVE IF WE'RE SEPARATED?
00:23:18.23\00:23:22.73
IT'S ALSO TRUE FOR THOSE THAT
SAY, 'I'M A CHRISTIAN BUT, YOU
00:23:22.73\00:23:26.26
KNOW, I'M GOING TO GO FIND OUT
WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE IN THE
00:23:26.26\00:23:29.46
WORLD' - AND WE PRESUME ON GOD'S
GRACE, YOU REALIZE THAT WE'RE ON
00:23:29.46\00:23:33.96
THE DEVIL'S ENCHANTED
GROUND WHEN WE GET VERY FAR
00:23:33.96\00:23:36.46
FROM THE SHIP.
00:23:36.46\00:23:37.30
AND IT'S ONLY THE GRACE OF
GOD THAT PRESERVES US BUT IT'S A
00:23:37.30\00:23:39.86
SERIOUS THING IF YOU'RE
OUT THERE WANDERING AROUND AND
00:23:39.86\00:23:43.46
YOU'RE PRESUMING THAT GOD'S
GOING TO CONTINUE TO SAVE AND
00:23:43.46\00:23:47.13
PRESERVE AND PROTECT YOU.
00:23:47.13\00:23:48.63
GOD IS GOOD AND GOD IS PATIENT,
BUT IT'S A DANGEROUS WORLD OUT
00:23:48.63\00:23:52.16
THERE, FRIENDS.
00:23:52.16\00:23:53.36
WE SHOULD NOT GAMBLE WITH
THE GIFT OF EVERLASTING LIFE AND
00:23:53.36\00:23:58.26
SAY, 'I WONDER HOW I CAN
DO OUT THERE WITHOUT GOD FOR
00:23:58.26\00:24:02.53
A LITTLE WHILE?
00:24:02.53\00:24:03.56
YOU KNOW, I THINK I
CAN MAKE IT ON MY OWN.'
00:24:03.56\00:24:06.96
WE NEED TO STAY WITH THE
SHIP, FRIENDS, WHAT DO YOU SAY?
00:24:06.96\00:24:10.56
FRIENDS, THERE'S A STORM COMING
AND THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO
00:24:10.56\00:24:14.23
BE ABLE TO SURVIVE THIS STORM
IS WE'VE GOT TO STICK TOGETHER.
00:24:14.23\00:24:18.66
WE NEED TO PRESS TOGETHER,
PRESS TOGETHER, PRESS TOGETHER.
00:24:18.66\00:24:23.76
IT'S THAT TIME AND SOME OF YOU
WHO MAYBE HAVE BEEN OUT THERE
00:24:23.76\00:24:26.70
AND YOU'VE BEEN WANDERING
- FOR WHATEVER REASON -
00:24:26.70\00:24:29.23
AND YOU'RE DRIFTING.
00:24:29.23\00:24:30.60
PERHAPS THIS IS THE CALL THAT
YOU'VE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT -
00:24:30.60\00:24:33.46
WHERE JESUS IS SAYING,
'NOW IT'S TIME TO COME BACK.'
00:24:33.46\00:24:37.46
NOW IT'S TIME TO COME -
YOU'RE NOT COMING TO A BUILDING,
00:24:37.46\00:24:41.50
YOU'RE COMING TO A BODY.
00:24:41.50\00:24:43.63
IT'S NOT A BODY OF PEOPLE
- JESUS SAID IT'S HIS BODY.
00:24:43.63\00:24:48.60
THE CHURCH TODAY IS THE HANDS
AND THE FEET OF JESUS IN THE
00:24:48.60\00:24:51.83
WORLD AND HE WANTS
US TO BE PART OF THAT.
00:24:51.83\00:24:56.26
YEARS AGO I HEARD ABOUT AN OLD
PASTOR THAT WENT TO VISIT ONE OF
00:24:56.26\00:24:59.90
HIS MEMBERS - HE HAPPENED TO BE
A FARMER - A BUSY MAN - WHO HAD
00:24:59.90\00:25:03.33
STOPPED COMING TO CHURCH.
00:25:03.33\00:25:05.66
AND HE WENT TO SEE HIM ONE
EVENING AND HE TALKED TO THE
00:25:05.66\00:25:07.46
FATHER OF THE HOUSE BY HIMSELF
AND THEY SAT BEFORE A FIREPLACE
00:25:07.46\00:25:12.03
THAT WAS THERE AND THE PASTOR
SAID, 'BROTHER, YOU KNOW, WE'VE
00:25:12.03\00:25:16.36
BEEN MISSING YOU AT
CHURCH AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT
00:25:16.36\00:25:19.10
THAT YOU COME.' AND
HE SAID, 'I'M STILL A
00:25:19.10\00:25:20.60
CHRISTIAN, PASTOR, I
DON'T NEED TO GO TO CHURCH.'
00:25:20.60\00:25:22.76
HE SAYS, 'THE LORD KNOWS MY
HEART. THE LORD KNOWS I PRAY.
00:25:22.76\00:25:26.73
I BELIEVE IN HIM.
00:25:26.73\00:25:28.46
WE'VE GOT A RELATIONSHIP
AND I CAN MAKE IT ON MY OWN.'
00:25:28.46\00:25:34.23
AND THE PASTOR WASN'T SURE
EXACTLY WHAT TO SAY AND WITHOUT
00:25:34.23\00:25:36.70
ASKING THE MAN'S PERMISSION,
HE LEANED OVER AND HE TOOK THE
00:25:36.70\00:25:39.90
POKER BY THE FIREPLACE - THE
FIRE WAS GOING RIGHT THERE - ON
00:25:39.90\00:25:42.60
THE HEARTH - HE PULLED ASIDE THE
SCREEN AND THE PASTOR TOOK ONE
00:25:42.60\00:25:46.63
OF THE PROMINENT PIECES OF WOOD
THAT WAS BURNING THERE ON THE
00:25:46.63\00:25:49.00
FIRE AND HE KIND OF FLICKED IT
OFF BY ITSELF IN THE ASHES AND
00:25:49.00\00:25:52.33
HE SAT BACK DOWN.
00:25:52.33\00:25:54.70
AND THE MAN HE WAS VISITING, HE
LOOKED AT THAT AND THE FIRE ON
00:25:54.70\00:25:58.23
THE LOG THERE IT BURNED FOR A
FEW MOMENTS AND SLOWLY THE FIRE
00:25:58.23\00:26:02.63
ON THAT SEPARATED LOG BEGAN
TO FLICKER OUT, BUT THE COALS
00:26:02.63\00:26:07.00
GLOWED FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
00:26:07.00\00:26:09.20
BUT THEN AS IT SAT THERE,
GRADUALLY THE COALS BEGAN TO
00:26:09.20\00:26:12.66
GROW DIM.
00:26:12.66\00:26:15.40
AND ALL THIS TIME THE PASTOR SAT
THERE WITH THE MAN, THEY JUST
00:26:15.40\00:26:17.53
LOOKED AT THE FIRE - YOU
KNOW, FIRE'S KIND OF HYPNOTIC,
00:26:17.53\00:26:20.46
ESPECIALLY ON A COLD NIGHT -
AND HE GOT THE MESSAGE JUST BY
00:26:20.46\00:26:26.50
LOOKING AT THAT.
00:26:26.50\00:26:28.30
HE SAID, 'I UNDERSTAND PASTOR.'
HE SAID, 'I'M GOING TO COME BACK
00:26:28.30\00:26:31.53
TO CHURCH.' WE DO
NOT BURN BY OURSELVES.
00:26:31.53\00:26:37.46
WE DO NOT GLOW BY OURSELVES.
00:26:37.46\00:26:41.00
WE CANNOT PUT OFF THAT HEAT
AND THAT WARMTH BY OURSELVES.
00:26:41.00\00:26:45.80
WE NEED EACH OTHER.
00:26:45.80\00:26:47.76
AND NOT ONLY DO WE NEED
EACH OTHER, WE NEED THE LORD.
00:26:47.76\00:26:51.26
THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO MAKE
IT THROUGH THESE LAST DAYS IS IF
00:26:51.26\00:26:54.36
JESUS TAKES OUR HAND.
00:26:54.36\00:26:57.20
>>STAY TUNED.
00:26:57.20\00:26:57.96
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH
THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL OFFER.
00:26:57.96\00:27:08.63
>>YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE
I KNOW - THEY STOP GOING TO
00:27:08.63\00:27:11.23
CHURCH BECAUSE SOMEBODY
IN THE CHURCH DID SOMETHING
00:27:11.23\00:27:14.36
TO HURT THEM.
00:27:14.36\00:27:17.93
WE'RE PART OF AN ARMY, GOD SAYS,
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW
00:27:17.93\00:27:22.63
WE'VE GOT EACH OTHER'S BACKS.
00:27:22.63\00:27:27.20
AND WHEN WE SLIGHT EACH OTHER,
IT PAINS HIM AND IT HURTS OUR
00:27:27.20\00:27:30.96
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
00:27:30.96\00:27:37.13
>>IF YOU'VE MISSED ANY OF OUR
AMAZING FACTS PROGRAMS, VISIT
00:27:37.13\00:27:39.60
OUR WEBSITE AT
'AMAZINGFACTS.ORG'.
00:27:39.60\00:27:42.03
THERE YOU'LL FIND AN ARCHIVE
OF ALL OUR TELEVISION AND RADIO
00:27:42.03\00:27:44.16
PROGRAMS INCLUDING
AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS.
00:27:44.16\00:27:47.46
ONE LOCATION.
00:27:47.46\00:27:48.30
SO MANY POSSIBILITIES.
00:27:48.30\00:27:49.90
AMAZINGFACTS.ORG.p
>>THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO
00:27:49.90\00:27:56.06
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS
WEEK'S SPECIAL FREE OFFER.
00:27:56.06\00:27:58.93
THERE IS NO COST OR OBLIGATION.
00:27:58.93\00:28:00.86
JUST CALL THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER
ON YOUR SCREEN AND BE SURE TO
00:28:00.86\00:28:04.10
NOTE THE OFFER NUMBER
WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR REQUEST.
00:28:04.10\00:28:19.73
>>THE PRECEDING WAS A PAID
PRESENTATION BROUGHT TO YOU BY
00:28:19.73\00:28:21.66