Participants: Pr. Doug Batchelor
Series Code: AFP
Program Code: AFP100001
|
00:01 >>THIS PRESENTATION IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FRIENDS OF THE
00:03 AMAZING FACTS MINISTRY. 00:11 >> ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WE WENT TO CHURCH BECAUSE IT WAS 00:13 SUPPOSED TO BE SOME FORM OF RESORT FOR THE SAINTS. 00:17 IN MANY RESPECTS IT'S A HOSPITAL FOR THE SINNERS, ISN'T IT? 00:24 >>FOR OVER 40 YEARS AMAZING FACTS HAS BEEN 00:26 DEDICATED TO SHARING GOD'S WORD THROUGH MEDIA. 00:29 THIS PROGRAM FEATURES HIGHLIGHTS FROM SOME OF OUR BEST 00:32 TELEVISION BROADCASTS. 00:34 WE INVITE YOU TO SIT BACK AND ENJOY THIS EDITION 00:37 OF AMAZING FACTS PRESENTS. 00:46 >>I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND JUST BUYING ANY KIND OF DRUGS 00:48 JUST TO DO FOR MYSELF BECAUSE IT JUST MADE SENSE TO INVEST IT 00:52 IN SOMETHING ELSE AND THEN I CAN MAKE ALL THE MONEY BACK AND HAVE 00:56 WEED THAT I COULD SMOKE FOR FREE. 00:59 I WAS HAVING A LOT OF FUN. 01:01 AT LEAST AT FIRST. 01:05 I WAS MAKING MORE MONEY THAN ANYBODY I - THAT I KNEW. 01:08 I'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, POUNDS AND POUNDS OF WEED IN THE CLOSET 01:11 AND I'VE GOT ALL THIS MONEY. 01:12 I'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL FULLY FURNISHED APARTMENT - 01:16 A CHANDELIER HANGING IN MY LIVING ROOM. 01:18 I'VE GOT A LUXURY CAR - ALL-LEATHER INTERIOR. 01:20 I'VE GOT THE HOTTEST GIRLFRIEND. 01:21 I HAVE EVERY SINGLE THING THAT THIS WORLD TELLS ME THAT I NEED. 01:27 AND THAT'S WHEN I REALIZED HOW EMPTY I REALLY WAS. 01:32 EVENTUALLY SMOKING WEED DIDN'T DO IT ANYMORE. 01:35 I STARTED GOING TO DOING A LOT OF ACID - LSD - AND ECSTASY. 01:41 OF COURSE OTHER HARD DRUGS CAME INTO THE PICTURE. 01:44 I FOUND OUT THAT YOU CAN'T RUN AWAY FROM YOURSELF AND NO MATTER 01:48 WHERE YOU GO THERE YOU ARE. 01:50 IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO RECONCILE A FAITH IN GOD AND 01:53 THEN THIS LIFESTYLE THAT I WAS CHOOSING TO LEAD. 01:56 AND AT THIS POINT I HAD MADE THAT CHOICE TO LEAD THAT 01:58 LIFESTYLE BUT I COULDN'T REVERSE IT EVEN THOUGH I WANTED TO STOP 02:03 OR AT LEAST SLOW DOWN, I HAD NO POWER. 02:07 I SAID, 'GOD, DO WHATEVER IT IS YOU'VE GOT TO DO TO CHANGE ME.' 02:10 I GET ARRESTED FOR A DUI. 02:12 I'D BEEN TO JAIL MANY TIMES BEFORE BUT I USED TO THINK THAT 02:15 THE REASON THAT I WENT TO JAIL WAS BECAUSE GOD WAS SICK OF ME - 02:19 THAT GOD HATED ME. 02:20 THERE I AM IN JAIL AND I'M STARTING TO SEE THE FACT THAT 02:24 GOD LOVES ME. 02:25 TO KNOW THE EMPTINESS OF THIS WORLD - TO KNOW THAT THIS LIFE 02:29 REALLY STINKS - BUT THERE'S HOPE. 02:35 AND THE HOPE THAT I FOUND CAN ONLY BE SEEN OR KNOWN 02:41 IN CHRIST JESUS. 02:47 MY NAME IS JUSTIN MONTERO AND I RECLAIMED MY FAITH. 02:54 >>AMEN. 02:57 YOU KNOW, FRIENDS, WE CAN TELL FROM SOME OF THE TESTIMONIES 02:59 WE'VE ALREADY HEARD DURING THIS PROGRAM THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE 03:02 OUT THERE THAT HAVE BEGUN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD BUT 03:07 THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED. 03:09 MAYBE SOMEBODY HURT THEM OR THEY GOT DISTRACTED WITH THE BUSYNESS 03:13 OF LIFE, OR MAYBE THEY GREW UP IN THE CHURCH AND THEY WERE JUST 03:16 CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT'S OUT THERE IN THE WORLD AND THEY WANTED TO 03:19 GO FIND OUT FOR THEMSELVES WHAT THEY'RE MISSING BUT THEY DIDN'T 03:22 REALIZE THAT IT WAS A WHIRLPOOL THAT WAS GOING TO CATCH THEM AND 03:25 HOLD THEM. 03:27 AND WE'RE DOING THIS PROGRAM ESPECIALLY TO ENCOURAGE 03:30 EVERYBODY TO KNOW - THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE A HISTORY AND A 03:33 BACKGROUND WITH JESUS, YOU CAN COME BACK. 03:37 YOU CAN GET A NEW BEGINNING BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION NOT 03:41 TO JUMP SHIP - TO STAY WITH THE BOAT. 03:45 IN SPITE OF THE PROBLEMS, IN SPITE OF THE STORMS, IN SPITE 03:49 OF THE OTHER SAILORS YOU HAVE TO STAY ON THE BOAT. 03:53 JESUS WILL NOT FORCE YOU. 03:55 YOU CAN MAKE A DECISION - IF YOU'RE OUT THERE WHERE THE 03:57 SHARKS ARE - TO SWIM BACK TO THE BOAT. 04:01 YOU KNOW, THERE'S A STORY IN THE BIBLE THAT TELLS US THERE IS A 04:04 TIME TO TRUST THE LORD AND HANG TIGHT IN THE BOAT EVEN THOUGH 04:10 THERE MAY BE STORMS. 04:12 IF YOU HAVE A BIBLE YOU'LL FIND THIS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS. 04:15 THE BOOK OF ACTS TELLS ABOUT THE EXCITING WAY THAT GOD HAS LED 04:19 HIS CHURCH. 04:21 AND AT THE END OF THE STORY OF ACTS, THE BOOK TAKES QUITE A BIT 04:25 OF TIME TO TALK ABOUT A STORM AT SEA. 04:30 THERE IS A BOATLOAD OF SAILORS THAT ARE ON THEIR WAY TO ROME 04:33 FOR JUDGMENT. 04:35 THEY'RE ACTUALLY PRISONERS ON THEIR WAY TO ROME TO BE JUDGED 04:38 BY CAESAR. 04:39 THE APOSTLE PAUL IS ON THE BOAT AND AFTER - 04:43 THEY LOSE EVERYTHING. 04:45 THEY THROW EVERYTHING OVERBOARD. 04:46 THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. 04:47 THEY'RE LOST - THEY'VE LOST THEIR TACKLING AND THEY THREW 04:50 THE FOOD OVERBOARD. 04:52 BUT PAUL PRAYED AND HE INTERCEDED FOR EVERYBODY ON THE 04:55 BOAT AND THE ANGEL SAID, 'I'VE HEARD YOUR PRAYER.' 04:59 WELL, JUST AS THEY WERE NEARING LAND, SOME OF THE SAILORS 05:04 THOUGHT, 'YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO BETTER ON OUR OWN. 05:07 WE'RE GOING TO SNEAK OFF IN THE LITTLE LIFEBOAT - THE LITTLE 05:09 DINGHY - BY OURSELVES. 05:11 AND YOU CAN READ IN ACTS 27, VERSE 30, "AND AS THE SAILORS 05:16 WERE SEEKING TO ESCAPE FROM THE SHIP, AND THEY LET DOWN THE 05:20 SKIFF INTO THE SEA, UNDER PRETENSE" - PRETENDING THAT THEY 05:23 WERE PUTTING OUT ANCHORS FROM THE BOW - "PAUL SAID TO THE 05:26 CENTURION AND THE SOLDIERS, 'UNLESS THESE MEN STAY IN THE 05:31 SHIP, YOU CANNOT BE SAVED.'" WOW. WHY? 05:38 PERHAPS GOD'S SENDING A MESSAGE TO HIS PEOPLE AS WE NEAR SHORE - 05:42 ESPECIALLY DURING THE STORMS OF THE LAST DAYS - HOW CRUCIAL 05:46 IT IS FOR US TO STICK TOGETHER BECAUSE UNLESS WE STICK TOGETHER 05:52 WE'RE ALL IN DANGER. 05:55 AND WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER. 05:58 I'M NOT ONLY INTERESTED IN MY SALVATION, I NEED TO 06:00 BE INTERESTED IN YOUR SALVATION. 06:03 AND I HOPE YOU'RE INTERESTED IN MINE. 06:05 YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU PRAY THE LORD'S PRAYER IT NEVER SAYS 06:07 'GIVE ME - DELIVER ME - FEED ME'. 06:11 IT'S 'LEAD US - DELIVER US - FEED US' BECAUSE WE SHOULD BE 06:15 CORPORATELY INTERESTED. 06:18 BUT WE'RE LIVING IN THE AGE OF INDIVIDUALISM AND EVERYBODY'S 06:21 KIND OF OFF DOING THEIR OWN THING. 06:23 I READ SOME STATISTICS - THE BARNA RESEARCH GROUP PUT THIS 06:26 OUT - THAT NEARLY THREE OUT OF EVERY FIVE YOUNG CHRISTIANS - 06:29 APPROXIMATELY 59% DISCONNECT FROM THE CHURCH AFTER AGE 15. 06:35 SOME PERMANENTLY. 06:37 SOME, PRAISE THE LORD, COME BACK. 06:40 APPROXIMATELY 150,000 PEOPLE LEAVE THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN 06:44 NORTH AMERICA EVERY WEEK. 06:48 NOW, FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE MANY COMING IN ALSO, BUT AT LARGE THE 06:52 BACK DOOR OF THE CHURCH IS LARGER NOW THAN THE FRONT DOOR. 06:57 NOW THAT'S NOT TRUE IN ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD, BUT WE'VE GOT A 07:00 PROBLEM - ESPECIALLY IN NORTH AMERICA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE 07:03 WORLD - SOME OF WESTERN EUROPE. 07:06 HEBREWS 10, VERSES 24 AND 25, "AND LET US CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER 07:11 IN ORDER TO STIR UP LOVE AND GOOD WORKS," - STIR EACH OTHER 07:16 UP - "NOT FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES 07:20 TOGETHER," - THAT'S WHAT THE CHURCH IS - WE ASSEMBLE TOGETHER 07:23 - "AS THE MANNER OF SOME IS," - SOME ARE DOING THIS - 07:27 "BUT EXHORTING ONE ANOTHER, AND SO MUCH THE MORE AS YOU SEE 07:32 THE DAY APPROACHING." 07:33 WHAT DAY IS APPROACHING, FRIENDS? 07:36 THE DAY OF THE LORD - JESUS' COMING - AND ALL THE MORE 07:39 AS WE SEE THE DAY OF THE LORD IS COMING WE NEED TO 07:42 ENCOURAGE AND EXHORT AND STIR EACH OTHER TO COME TOGETHER. 07:49 THERE IS REDEMPTIVE VALUE IN OUR COMING TOGETHER. 07:52 YOU KNOW, ONE REASON WE NEED THE CHURCH SO MUCH 07:54 IS BECAUSE OF LOVE. 07:56 GREAT COMMANDMENTS - LOVE THE LORD, LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR. 08:00 WE GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE WE LEARN MORE ABOUT LOVING GOD BY 08:04 LEARNING HOW TO LOVE EACH OTHER. 08:06 AND JOHN TELLS US IF WE CANNOT LOVE OUR BROTHERS WHO WE DO SEE, 08:10 HOW CAN WE SAY THAT WE LOVE THE LORD WHO WE DON'T SEE? 08:13 AND WE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WE WENT TO CHURCH BECAUSE IT WAS 08:16 SUPPOSED TO BE SOME FORM OF RESORT FOR THE SAINTS. 08:20 IN MANY RESPECTS IT'S A HOSPITAL FOR THE SINNERS, ISN'T IT? 08:24 PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH SOMETIMES AREN'T ALWAYS LOVABLE BUT THAT'S 08:28 HOW YOU LEARN LOVE. 08:29 YOU DON'T LEARN TO LOVE WHEN YOU'RE SURROUNDED ALWAYS WITH 08:31 LOVABLE PEOPLE. 08:33 YOU ESPECIALLY LEARN TO LOVE - WHEN YOU PRAY FOR PATIENCE, 08:37 WHAT DO YOU THINK GOD'S GOING TO GIVE YOU? 08:39 HE'LL SEND YOU DELAY BECAUSE THAT'S HOW YOU GROW. 08:43 IF YOU PRAY FOR MUSCLES WHAT IS GOD GOING TO GIVE YOU? 08:46 HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU WEIGHT TO CARRY - I DIDN'T MEAN IT THE WAY 08:50 IT MAY HAVE FIRST COME OUT - BUT YOU HAVE TO LIFT WEIGHTS. 08:55 AND IF YOU SAY, 'LORD, GIVE ME LOVE FOR MY NEIGHBOR.' 09:00 HE'S GOING TO PUT YOU NEXT TO AN ORNERY NEIGHBOR. 09:03 AND THAT'S - ISN'T THAT HOW WE LEARN LOVE? 09:07 AND SO SOME PEOPLE, THEY EXCUSE THEMSELVES FROM THE CHURCH AND 09:10 THEY THINK, 'I'M GOING TO STAY HOME AND I'M GOING TO BE 09:12 ESPECIALLY HOLY' - IT ACTUALLY HAS THE OPPOSITE EFFECT. 09:16 WE DESPERATELY NEED EACH OTHER. 09:18 WE NEED TO LEARN TO LOVE EACH OTHER AND STICK TOGETHER 09:21 AS A CHURCH. 09:23 SO WHAT IS THE CHURCH? 09:25 WELL, WHEN WE SAY THE WORD 'CHURCH' IT'S ACTUALLY 09:27 A SCOTTISH WORD - IT COMES FROM THE WORD 'KIRK' AND YOU MAYBE 09:30 HAVE HEARD SOME SONGS ABOUT THAT - 'THE WEE KIRK IN THE HEATHER' 09:33 AND THAT'S REALLY NOT THE WORD. 09:36 IN GREEK IT'S 'ECCLESIA' AND IT MEANS THE GATHERING; THE CALLING 09:42 OUT; THE CONGREGATION; THE ASSEMBLY. 09:44 IT IS A COMMUNITY OF FAITH. 09:47 IT'S NOT A BUILDING, IT'S A PLACE WHERE GOD'S PEOPLE GATHER 09:50 TO LEARN HIS WILL AND TO KNOW HOW TO SERVE HIM BETTER. 09:54 SO HERE'S THE BIG QUESTION: CAN YOU BE A CHRISTIAN AND NOT BE 10:00 PARTICIPATING IN CHURCH? 10:01 NOW AGAIN, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THOSE WHO CAN'T BECAUSE OF A 10:04 MEDICAL PROBLEM OR ISOLATION, BUT CAN YOU REALLY BE A HEALTHY 10:08 CHRISTIAN AND NOT WANT TO BE PART OF GOD'S PEOPLE? 10:13 WELL SURE, IF YOU CAN BE A HONEYBEE AND NOT BE PART OF A 10:16 HIVE - YOU USUALLY DON'T MAKE A LOT OF HONEY THAT WAY - IF YOU 10:20 CAN BE A SOLDIER WITHOUT AN ARMY - YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF RAMBO - 10:23 YOU RUN AROUND DOING YOUR OWN THING - IF YOU CAN BE A SALESMAN 10:28 WITH NO CUSTOMERS, IF YOU CAN BE A FOOTBALL PLAYER WITHOUT A TEAM 10:34 - YOU THROW THE BALL THEN YOU RUN AHEAD AND YOU CATCH IT - AND 10:37 DO ALL YOUR OWN BLOCKING AND TACKLING - IF YOU CAN BE A 10:41 POLITICIAN WHO IS A HERMIT, WELL THEN, SURE, YOU CAN BE A 10:45 CHRISTIAN THAT DOESN'T PARTICIPATE IN CHURCH. 10:50 BUT I KNOW YOU REALIZE THAT I'M SAYING THIS TONGUE IN CHEEK. 10:54 THE BIBLE TELLS US - AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT - IN ACTS CHAPTER 10:56 2, VERSE 47, "THE LORD ADDED TO THE CHURCH DAILY THOSE WHO WERE 11:01 BEING SAVED." 11:04 NOW I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, FRIENDS, BUT I WANT TO BE SAVED. 11:07 JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS AND WHO IS 11:11 BEING SAVED? 11:12 THE ONES WHO ARE ADDED TO THE CHURCH. 11:17 SO HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO JESUS THAT WE ARE PART OF THE CHURCH? 11:21 YOU KNOW, AS YOU READ THE NEW TESTAMENT, ANY IDEA THAT YOU CAN 11:25 BE SAVED OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH IS A FOREIGN CONCEPT 11:30 TO THE BIBLE. 11:31 THE WHOLE NEW TESTAMENT IS WRITTEN WITH THE IDEA IN MIND 11:35 THAT PEOPLE ARE SAVED INTO THE CHURCH - THEY ARE BROUGHT INTO 11:38 CHRIST AND INTO THE CHURCH AT THE SAME TIME. 11:42 NOW I'M SAYING THIS FOR THOSE WHO ARE OUT THERE THAT SAY, 11:44 'OH YEAH, I'M A CHRISTIAN, I JUST DON'T GO TO CHURCH.' 11:48 I REMEMBER PICKING UP A HITCHHIKER ONE TIME AND BEGAN TO 11:50 SHARE MY FAITH WITH HIM AND HE SAID, 'OH YEAH, I'M A CHRISTIAN. 11:53 I'M JUST NOT A PRACTICING CHRISTIAN.' 11:57 AND THEN HE COMMENCED TO SHOW ME THE CROSSES THAT HE WORE. 12:01 AND I STOPPED - ACTUALLY STOPPED AND ATE A MEAL WITH HIM BECAUSE 12:04 I WANTED TO TALK TO HIM A LITTLE FURTHER AND I SAID, 'SO EXPLAIN 12:07 TO ME WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN.' 12:10 'JESUS SAVES YOU FROM YOUR SIN.' I SAID, 'NOW EXPLAIN WHAT 12:12 A NON-PRACTICING CHRISTIAN IS.' WE'RE EITHER FOLLOWING CHRIST 12:18 OR WE'RE NOT. 12:19 NOW, YOU DON'T SAY, 'I'M NOT GOING TO GO TO CHURCH UNTIL 12:22 I'M FOLLOWING CHRIST.' OR 'I'M AFRAID IF I GO TO CHURCH 12:25 I'LL BE UNDER CONVICTION.' WELL THAT'S GOOD. 12:27 COME ANYWAY BECAUSE CONVICTION IS SOMETHING THE HOLY SPIRIT 12:31 GIVES YOU. IT HELPS YOU TO FACILITATE CHANGE. 12:35 COME TO CHURCH. 12:37 SEE, YOU'VE HEARD IT SAID BEFORE THE BIBLE WILL KEEP YOU FROM SIN 12:40 OR SIN WILL KEEP YOU FROM THE BIBLE. 12:42 SOME PEOPLE THAT GO TO CHURCH BUT THEY'RE UNDER CONVICTION SO 12:44 THEY SAY, 'I DON'T WANT TO GO ANYMORE AND BE CONVICTED.' 12:46 SO THEY STAY AWAY. 12:48 IT'S HEALTHY TO GO AND BE CONVICTED. 12:50 YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE GOT SOME DIRT ON YOUR FACE DON'T HIDE 12:52 FROM MIRRORS. 12:55 IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEM. 12:57 AND SOMETIMES WHEN WE GO TO CHURCH WE BECOME AWARE OF THE 13:00 CHANGES WE NEED - THAT'S HEALTHY. 13:02 YOU GO ANYWAY. 13:04 YOU WANT THE TRUTH DON'T YOU? 13:06 WE WANT TO BE CHANGED. 13:07 WE WANT TO KNOW. 13:08 VERY IMPORTANT. 13:10 ACTS CHAPTER 4, VERSE 12 - THE BIBLE SAYS - "NOR IS THERE 13:14 SALVATION IN ANY OTHER, FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER 13:19 HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED." 13:23 THE ONLY WAY FOR US TO BE SAVED IS THROUGH CHRIST AND THE CHURCH 13:28 IS THE BODY OF CHRIST. 13:30 THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT - SO CRUCIAL - THAT WE ARE 13:32 IN CHRIST. 13:34 1 TIMOTHY 3:15 - HERE THE APOSTLE SAYS, "I WRITE TO YOU 13:39 THAT YOU MIGHT KNOW HOW YOU OUGHT TO CONDUCT YOURSELF IN THE 13:42 HOUSE OF GOD, WHICH IS THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, THE 13:46 PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH." 13:50 THE CHURCH IS A PLACE WHERE WE GATHER AND WE OPEN THE WORD AND 13:53 WE LEARN THE TRUTH FROM GOD'S PERSPECTIVE. 13:57 AND ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS THINGS IN OUR CULTURE TODAY - 14:01 IT'S A VERY POWERFUL THING - IT CAN BE POWERFUL FOR GOOD AND IT 14:04 CAN BE DANGEROUS - IS THE MEDIA. 14:07 IF WE ARE NOT COMING TO CHURCH AND HEARING THE TRUTH FROM THE 14:10 WORD OF GOD ON A REGULAR BASIS, THEN WHAT MESSAGES ARE GOING TO 14:14 DOMINATE WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU BECOME? 14:18 WE'RE ALL BEING INFLUENCED BY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CULTURE 14:21 AROUND US BUT WE NEED TO BE INFLUENCED BY THE WORD 14:23 OF GOD. 14:24 WE NEED TO CARVE OUT THAT FAITHFUL TIME TO COME TOGETHER 14:27 IN THE CHURCH AND HEAR HIS WORD. 14:29 CAN YOU SAY AMEN? 14:31 DO YOU BELIEVE THAT? 14:32 I THOUGHT YOU WERE WITH ME, I JUST WANTED TO DOUBLE CHECK. 14:36 FOR SOMEONE TO SAY, 'WELL, I WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN BUT 14:39 I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GO TO CHURCH - THAT'S LIKE SAYING, 14:41 'YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE A FISH BUT I DON'T WANT TO LIVE 14:43 IN THE WATER.' NOW, THERE ARE A FEW RARE 14:46 EXCEPTIONS - YOU MIGHT FIND A MUDSKIPPER THAT LEAVES THE WATER 14:49 FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT NOT TOO MANY FISH SURVIVE OUT OF THE 14:52 WATER FOR VERY LONG AND NOT TOO MANY CHRISTIANS THRIVE AND 14:56 SURVIVE OUT OF THE CHURCH. 14:59 IT'S HARD TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE IN CHRIST WHEN YOU STAY AWAY 15:01 FROM THE BODY. 15:04 IN JOHN CHAPTER 13 JESUS SAID, 'BY THIS ALL MEN KNOW THAT YOU 15:08 ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER.' 15:13 AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE COME TOGETHER. 15:15 NOW, I BELIEVE THAT THE DEVIL HEARD JESUS SAY THAT. 15:20 I THINK THAT THE DEVIL HEARD JESUS SAY, 'ALL MEN WILL KNOW 15:23 THAT YOU'RE MY DISCIPLES BY THE WAY YOU LOVE EACH OTHER.' 15:26 AND HE THOUGHT, 'WELL, IF THE WORLD HEARS AND LEARNS ABOUT 15:29 JESUS BY THEIR CORPORATE LOVE FOR EACH OTHER THEN IT MUST ALSO 15:33 STAND TO REASON THAT IF I CAN SCATTER THEM AND FRAGMENT THE 15:37 CHURCH, IT'LL ADVERTISE AGAINST CHRIST.' 15:41 AND SO IF WE DO OUR BEST ADVERTISING BY SHOWING OUR UNITY 15:46 - 'BEHOLD HOW THEY LOVE ONE ANOTHER' - THEN IT WOULD ALSO BE 15:49 TRUE THAT THE HEATHEN MOCK AND LAUGH AT CHRISTIANS WHEN THEY 15:53 SAY, 'LOOK AT HOW FRAGMENTED THEY ARE.' 15:55 IS THERE ANY RELIGION IN THE WORLD THAT HAS MORE SPLINTERS 15:58 AND DENOMINATIONS THAN CHRISTIANITY? 16:02 BUT - ACTUALLY THAT'S A TESTIMONY THAT SHOWS THAT THE 16:06 DEVIL IS MORE THREATENED BY CHRISTIANITY THAN ANYTHING ELSE 16:10 BECAUSE HE IS SEEKING TO HIDE THE DIAMOND BY CAMOUFLAGING IT 16:16 WITH A BUNCH OF BROKEN GLASS. 16:18 THERE IS A TRUTH OUT THERE AND HE'S TRYING TO HIDE IT BY ALL 16:21 THESE FRAGMENTS AND ALL THESE DIVISIONS. 16:23 THE LORD WANTS US TO PULL TOGETHER - AND NOT JUST PULL 16:25 TOGETHER FOR THE SAKE OF BEING TOGETHER - WE NEED TO PULL 16:27 TOGETHER BASED ON TRUTH. 16:30 THE RIGHT REASON TO GO TO A CHURCH IS BECAUSE THE 16:32 FOUNDATIONAL TEACHINGS OF THAT CHURCH ARE THE TEACHINGS 16:35 OF JESUS AND IT'S THE TRUTH AND IT'S HIS 16:39 BODY AND I'M GOING THERE TO WORSHIP HIM ACCORDING TO THE 16:43 SCRIPTURES. 16:45 IT MIGHT BE A HAMBURGER STAND THAT'S BEEN RENOVATED, THE 16:48 SINGING MIGHT BE AWFUL, THE PEOPLE MIGHT BE CRANKY, YOU 16:53 MIGHT HAVE TO GO FIFTY MILES TO GET THERE, THEY MIGHT ALL BE 16:57 POOR - BUT IF THE FOUNDATIONAL TEACHINGS OF THAT CHURCH ARE THE 17:01 TEACHINGS OF JESUS THEN THAT'S HIS BODY AND THAT'S WHERE 17:04 HE WANTS YOU. 17:05 NOW, THE REASON I SAID THINGS THE WAY I DID IS YOU CAN BETTER 17:09 UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS THIS TERRIBLE PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE 17:14 ARE HEMORRHAGING FROM THE CHURCHES. 17:16 ONE OF THE BIG REASONS THAT PEOPLE ARE LEAVING IS BECAUSE 17:19 THEY JOINED FOR THE WRONG REASONS. 17:23 IF WE UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS THAT WE'RE GOING, WE UNDERSTAND WHY 17:26 IT IS WE'RE STAYING. 17:29 IT'S BECAUSE CHRIST COMMANDS US TO. 17:32 ONE OF THE IMPORTANT REASONS THAT WE NEED TO GO TO CHURCH - 17:35 THE LORD WANTS US TO BE ONE - ONE BODY. 17:40 COLOSSIANS 3:15, "AND LET THE PEACE OF GOD RULE IN YOUR 17:45 HEARTS, TO WHICH ALSO YOU WERE CALLED IN ONE BODY;" - 17:49 HOW MANY BODIES? 17:51 HE WANTS US TO BE UNITED. 17:53 JOHN 17 - LISTEN TO THE PRAYER OF JESUS - THE LORD SAYS, 'AND 17:56 THE GLORY' - HE'S TALKING TO THE FATHER - GOD THE SON IS TALKING 17:59 TO GOD THE FATHER - 'AND THE GLORY WHICH YOU GAVE ME I HAVE 18:03 GIVEN THEM THAT THEY MAY BE ONE' - NOW LISTEN TO HOW HE WANTS US 18:07 TO BE ONE. 18:09 JESUS IS PRAYING THAT THEY MAY BE ONE 'JUST AS WE ARE ONE THAT 18:15 THEY MAY BE ONE.' WOW - HOW ONE IS THE FATHER AND 18:23 THE SON? 18:25 THINK ABOUT IT, JESUS SAID TO PHILIP, 'IF YOU'VE SEEN ME, 18:28 YOU'VE SEEN THE FATHER.' TALK ABOUT BEING PERFECTLY ONE - 18:32 THE ONLY WAY WE CAN HAVE THAT PERFECT ONENESS IS TO BE 18:35 BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. 18:38 IF YOU'VE GOT THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND I'VE GOT THE SPIRIT OF GOD, 18:41 THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN BE ONE THE WAY JESUS WANTS US 18:44 TO BE ONE. 18:44 ISN'T THAT RIGHT? 18:47 BUT IS THAT HIS WILL? 18:50 JESUS - DID HE PRAY FOR THAT? 18:51 THAT WE WOULD HAVE THAT KIND OF ONENESS? 18:53 ISN'T THAT KIND OF IMPOSSIBLE? 18:57 IT IS WITHOUT A MIRACLE. 18:59 WERE THE DISCIPLES EVER ONE LIKE THAT? 19:03 YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST - 19:06 ACTS CHAPTER 2, VERSE 1 - "WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS 19:09 FULLY COME THEY WERE ALL OF ONE ACCORD." 19:13 THEY PUT ASIDE ALL THEIR DIFFERENCES. 19:15 DID THE DISCIPLES - DID THE EARLY CHURCH OF JESUS - 19:18 WAS THERE A LITTLE BIT OF STRIFE AND DIVISION AMONG THEM? 19:21 BUT BEFORE THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS POURED OUT THEY FINALLY GOT TO 19:24 WHERE THEY WERE ONE. 19:26 THEY WERE IN ONE ACCORD AND THEY WERE IN ONE PLACE. 19:31 SO DOES IT MATTER THAT WE COME TOGETHER PHYSICALLY AS FAR AS WE 19:34 ARE ABLE INTO ONE PLACE? 19:37 IS THERE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WHEN WE COLLECT AND WE 19:41 GATHER TOGETHER? 19:42 WELL I THINK IT'S TIME THAT GOD'S PEOPLE GET TOGETHER. 19:45 HE TELLS US WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ONE BODY. 19:50 NOW THAT'S ONE OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS I REALLY ENJOY - 19:53 THAT WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF CHRIST'S BODY AND WE ALL SERVE 19:57 DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS. 19:59 IN YOUR BIBLE - IF YOU READ IN ROMANS 12 - NOW THERE ARE SO 20:01 MANY PLACES I COULD GO TO BUT THIS ROMANS 12, VERSES 4 TO 6 - 20:05 HE SAYS, "FOR AS WE HAVE MANY MEMBERS IN ONE BODY, BUT ALL THE 20:11 MEMBERS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME FUNCTION, SO WE, BEING MANY, ARE 20:15 ONE BODY IN CHRIST," - THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE 20:19 DIFFERENT - "AND INDIVIDUALLY MEMBERS OF ONE ANOTHER. 20:23 HAVING THEN GIFTS DIFFERING ACCORDING TO THE GRACE THAT IS 20:26 GIVEN TO US, LET US USE THEM:" CAN YOU BE A CHRISTIAN AND BE 20:32 SEPARATED FROM THE BODY? 20:34 HOW CAN YOU DO YOUR FUNCTION? 20:38 WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER AND EVERY PART OF THE BODY NEEDS THE OTHER 20:40 PART OF THE BODY. 20:42 I GREW UP IN THE ERA WHERE SCIENTISTS THOUGHT THAT PEOPLE 20:45 HAD A LOT OF SPARE PARTS AND THEY TOOK MY TONSILS. 20:49 YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS HAD A SORE THROAT - AND THEY NEVER DID MAKE 20:51 A CONNECTION BETWEEN ME STARTING MY DAY WITH HOSTESS TWINKIES FOR 20:54 BREAKFAST AND ALWAYS HAVING A SORE THROAT - THEY JUST SAID, 20:57 'OH BAD TONSILS. 20:58 THEY'RE VESTIGIAL REMNANTS. 20:59 YOU DON'T REALLY NEED THEM. 21:01 TAKE 'EM OUT!' MY BROTHER HAD A STOMACH ACHE - 21:04 'IT MUST BE A BAD APPENDIX. 21:05 DON'T NEED IT. 21:05 SPARE PARTS. 21:07 TAKE 'EM OUT!' YOU KNOW, THEY HAD THIS IDEA 21:09 EVERYTHING WAS SPARE PARTS. 21:12 WELL, WE KNOW MORE NOW - THAT THOSE THINGS ALL HAVE A PURPOSE, 21:14 DON'T THEY? 21:16 SOME OF YOU MAYBE FELT LIKE THE APPENDIX OR THE TONSILS 21:18 OF THE CHURCH. 21:20 YOU THINK, 'THERE'S NO PURPOSE FOR ME.' 21:23 OR MAYBE YOU THOUGHT SOMEONE ELSE WAS THE APPENDIX - 21:25 THAT'S MORE LIKELY, RIGHT? 21:29 WE ALL ARE NEEDED BY CHRIST. 21:33 AND, YOU KNOW, THE LORD PUTS SOME PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH JUST 21:35 SO WE CAN LEARN LOVE AND PATIENCE - BUT THEY'RE NEEDED 21:39 AND WE'RE ALL PART OF HIS BODY AND WE NEED TO STAY TOGETHER OR 21:44 WE DON'T STAY ALIVE. 21:48 I HEARD A STORY ONE TIME - PARABLE - THAT ONE MORNING A MAN 21:53 WOKE UP AND HE REACHED FOR THE COUNTER BY THE BED AND HE WENT 21:56 TO GRAB HIS GLASSES AND PUT THEM ON AND THE NOSE SHOUTED AT THE 22:00 EYES AND THE NOSE SAID, 'ENOUGH OF THIS! 22:05 DAY AFTER DAY YOU PLOP THOSE GLASSES DOWN ON TOP OF ME - THEY 22:08 SLIDE UP AND DOWN, THEY'RE IRRITATING, I FEEL THE PRESSURE 22:11 - THEY LEAVE LITTLE RED DOTS ON EITHER SIDE. 22:13 NO MORE GLASSES!' SO THE MAN HEARD THAT AND HE PUT 22:17 THE GLASSES BACK DOWN. 22:20 HE GOT UP AND ON HIS WAY TO THE RESTROOM HE RAN INTO THE DOOR 22:22 AND BANGED HIS NOSE. 22:28 EVERYBODY SUFFERS IF WE ARE NOT TOGETHER. 22:35 WE ALL NEED TO BE TOGETHER AS PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST. 22:39 IF YOU'RE OUT THERE WANDERING AROUND AND YOU'RE PRESUMING THAT 22:43 GOD IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO SAVE AND PRESERVE AND PROTECT YOU - 22:47 GOD IS GOOD AND GOD IS PATIENT, BUT IT'S A DANGEROUS WORLD OUT 22:50 THERE, FRIENDS. 22:51 WE SHOULD NOT GAMBLE WITH THE GIFT OF EVERLASTING LIFE AND 22:56 SAY, 'I WONDER HOW I CAN DO OUT THERE WITHOUT GOD - 23:00 FOR A LITTLE WHILE. 23:01 YOU KNOW, I THINK I CAN MAKE IT ON MY OWN.' 23:05 WE NEED TO STAY WITH THE SHIP, FRIENDS. 23:07 WHAT DO YOU SAY? 23:09 FRIENDS, THERE'S A STORM COMING AND THE WAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO 23:12 BE ABLE TO SURVIVE THIS STORM IS WE'VE GOT TO STICK TOGETHER. 23:17 WE NEED TO PRESS TOGETHER, PRESS TOGETHER, PRESS TOGETHER. 23:21 IT'S THAT TIME. 23:23 SOME OF YOU WHO MAYBE HAVE BEEN OUT THERE AND YOU'VE BEEN 23:25 WANDERING FOR WHATEVER REASON AND YOU'RE DRIFTING - PERHAPS 23:29 THIS IS THE CALL THAT YOU'VE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT WHERE JESUS 23:32 IS SAYING, 'NOW IT'S TIME TO COME BACK. 23:35 NOW IT'S TIME TO COME - YOU'RE NOT COMING TO A BUILDING - 23:39 YOU'RE COMING TO A BODY. 23:42 AND IT'S NOT A BODY OF PEOPLE - JESUS SAID IT'S HIS BODY. 23:46 THE CHURCH TODAY IS THE HANDS AND FEET OF JESUS IN THE WORLD 23:51 AND HE WANTS US TO BE PART OF THAT. 23:54 YEARS AGO I HEARD THE STORY OF AN OLD PASTOR THAT WENT TO VISIT 23:58 ONE OF HIS MEMBERS. 23:59 HE HAPPENED TO BE A FARMER - A BUSY MAN WHO HAD STOPPED COMING 24:02 TO CHURCH - AND HE WENT TO SEE HIM ONE EVENING AND HE TALKED TO 24:05 THE FATHER OF THE HOUSE BY HIMSELF AND THEY SAT BEFORE A 24:09 FIREPLACE THAT WAS THERE AND THE PASTOR SAID, 'BROTHER, YOU KNOW 24:14 WE'VE BEEN MISSING YOU AT CHURCH AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT 24:17 THAT YOU COME.' AND HE SAID, 'I'M STILL 24:18 A CHRISTIAN, PASTOR, I DON'T NEED TO GO TO CHURCH. 24:21 THE LORD KNOWS MY HEART. 24:22 THE LORD KNOWS I PRAY. 24:25 I BELIEVE IN HIM. 24:27 WE'VE GOT A RELATIONSHIP AND I CAN MAKE IT ON MY OWN.' 24:32 AND THE PASTOR WASN'T SURE EXACTLY WHAT TO SAY AND WITHOUT 24:35 ASKING THE MAN'S PERMISSION HE LEANED OVER AND HE TOOK THE 24:38 POKER BY THE FIREPLACE - THE FIRE WAS GOING RIGHT THERE IN 24:40 THE HEARTH - HE PULLED ASIDE THE SCREEN - AND THE PASTOR TOOK ONE 24:44 OF THE PROMINENT PIECES OF WOOD THAT WAS BURNING THERE ON THE 24:47 FIRE AND HE KIND OF FLICKED IT OFF BY ITSELF IN THE ASHES AND 24:50 HE SAT BACK DOWN. 24:53 AND THE MAN HE WAS VISITING, HE LOOKED AT THAT FIRE ON THE LOG 24:57 THERE - IT BURNED FOR A FEW MOMENTS AND THEN SLOWLY THE FIRE 25:01 ON THAT SEPARATED LOG BEGAN TO FLICKER OUT BUT THE COALS GLOWED 25:05 FOR A LITTLE WHILE, BUT THEN AS IT SAT THERE THEN GRADUALLY THE 25:09 COALS BEGAN TO GROW DIM. 25:13 AND ALL THIS TIME THE PASTOR SAT THERE WITH THE MAN AND THEY JUST 25:16 LOOKED AT THE FIRE - YOU KNOW FIRE'S KIND OF HYPNOTIC - 25:18 ESPECIALLY ON A COLD NIGHT - AND HE GOT THE MESSAGE 25:23 JUST BY LOOKING AT THAT. 25:26 HE SAID, 'I UNDERSTAND PASTOR.' HE SAID, 'I'M GOING TO 25:29 COME BACK TO CHURCH.' WE DO NOT BURN BY OURSELVES. 25:35 WE DO NOT GLOW BY OURSELVES. 25:39 WE CANNOT PUT OFF THAT HEAT AND THAT WARMTH BY OURSELVES. 25:44 WE NEED EACH OTHER. 25:46 AND NOT ONLY DO WE NEED EACH OTHER, WE NEED THE LORD. 25:49 THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THESE LAST DAYS IS IF 25:52 JESUS TAKES OUR HAND. 25:55 >>STAY TUNED. 25:56 WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL OFFER. 26:06 >>YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE I KNOW - THEY STOP GOING 26:09 TO CHURCH BECAUSE SOMEBODY IN THE CHURCH DID SOMETHING 26:12 TO HURT THEM. 26:16 WE'RE PART OF AN ARMY, GOD SAYS, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW 26:20 WE'VE GOT EACH OTHER'S BACKS. 26:25 AND WHEN WE SLIGHT EACH OTHER IT PAINS HIM AND IT HURTS OUR 26:29 RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. 26:35 >>"LET HIM WHO THIRSTS COME. 26:36 WHOEVER DESIRES LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY." 26:39 REVELATION 22:17. 26:42 IMAGINE, YOU ARE IN A REMOTE VILLAGE IN GUATEMALA AND THERE 26:44 IS NO WATER AVAILABLE FOR COOKING, WASHING, OR DRINKING. 26:48 YOU MUST WALK TWO OR MORE HOURS ONE WAY JUST TO GET WATER FOR 26:51 YOUR FAMILY OR BE FORCED TO DRINK THE STAGNANT WATER IN 26:54 PONDS OR POLLUTED STREAMS - PLACES WE WOULDN'T EVEN 26:56 LET OUR DOGS DRINK. 26:58 IN THESE VILLAGES SMALL CHILDREN SUFFER THE MOST FROM WATER-BORNE 27:01 DISEASES AND MANY INFANTS DIE FROM DYSENTERY. 27:04 AMAZING FACTS AND WATER FOR LIFE HAVE TEAMED UP TO MAKE A MAJOR 27:06 IMPACT IN THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF GUATEMALA. 27:09 USING CHRIST'S METHOD OF REACHING THE HEART, AMAZING 27:11 FACTS WILL WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER WITH WATER FOR LIFE TO DRILL 27:14 WELLS IN VILLAGES, THUS MEETING THEIR DESPERATE NEED FOR FRESH, 27:18 CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND THEN POINTING THEM TO JESUS AS THE 27:21 ULTIMATE FRIEND FOR THEIR THIRSTY SOUL. 27:23 AFTER THE NEW WELL IS FLOWING IN A VILLAGE, AMAZING FACTS WILL 27:26 SEND MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS TO TEACH THEM SIMPLE WAYS THEY CAN CARE 27:29 FOR THEIR BODIES AND LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES. 27:31 THEN WE WILL SEND OUR TRAINED BIBLE WORKERS TO SHARE 27:34 LITERATURE, GIVE BIBLE STUDIES, AND CONDUCT EVANGELISTIC 27:37 MEETINGS. 27:38 AS PEOPLE ARE INTRODUCED TO THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IN BOTH WORD AND 27:41 DEED, AMAZING FACTS WILL BUILD A PLACE OF WORSHIP WHERE THIRSTING 27:44 PEOPLE CAN BE FILLED FOREVER. 27:46 WILL YOU JOIN AMAZING FACTS TO HELP REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST 27:49 IN GUATEMALA? 27:50 YOUR GIFT OF ANY SIZE WILL MAKE AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE. 27:53 THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. 27:54 SEND YOUR DONATION TO AMAZING FACTS, P.O. BOX 1058, 27:57 ROSEVILLE CA 95678 OR CALL 877-232-2871. 28:03 YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE AT 'AMAZINGFACTS.ORG/WATER'. 28:09 >>THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS WEEK'S 28:11 SPECIAL FREE OFFER. 28:12 THERE IS NO COST OR OBLIGATION. 28:14 JUST CALL THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN AND BE SURE TO 28:17 NOTE THE OFFER NUMBER WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR REQUEST. 28:23 >>THIS PRESENTATION IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE FRIENDS OF THE 28:26 AMAZING FACTS MINISTRY. |
Revised 2015-02-06