Welcome to Anchors Of Truth live
from the 3ABN Worship Center.
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Well we just
welcome you to beautiful
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West Frankfort,
Illinois and the home of
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Three Angels
Broadcasting Network.
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We're coming to you
from our Worship Center
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which is located right
at almost the line between
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West Frankfort
and Thompsonville.
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And we are so thankful that you
are able to be with us tonight.
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And those that are here
with us live, we're so thankful
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that you're able
to be here as well.
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We're just talking about
what a cold winter we've had.
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But it's starting to warm up.
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We had some real
nice weather yesterday,
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and not too bad today
considering all things.
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But we are looking forward
to spring time and summer.
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I never thought I would
look forward to summer so much.
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Because last year we kind
of went from winter to summer
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without a spring.
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Maybe this year we
will have a little spring.
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Well we're so happy to
have Pastor Frank Gonzalez
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with us for this very
special Anchors Of Truth.
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Pastor Frank Gonzalez is a man
that I've known for many years.
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In fact, the first time I
ever saw him, he was being
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interviewed on 3ABN.
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He was the member of a
panel, and he had just become
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the speaker for La
Voz de la Esperanza.
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We just call it, La Voz.
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Because I can't get all
those other words in there.
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But he was the speaker/director
for about 17 years.
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And I realized then
that this was just the
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Latino Voice of Prophecy.
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That this was a man
that had very special gifts
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that God had given to him.
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He is currently pastor
of the beautiful and large
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church at Avon Park in Florida.
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We've been there
many times with 3ABN.
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The last time about 2 years ago.
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And they welcomed
us with open arms.
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We say hello again to the
members of the Avon Park church.
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We know that
you're watching tonight.
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And thank you for
sharing your pastor with us.
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We are so happy that
we could have him here.
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Pastor Gonzalez
is summa cum laude
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graduate at Andrews University.
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He has received many,
many awards in preaching
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and oratory, but mostly we're
talking about a man of God.
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I think before the series
is over, he will share with you
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something about
his youth in Cuba,
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something about his
father and the persecution
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that he suffered.
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I'm hoping that he will,
and I believe that he'll share
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some of those things with you.
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And then he
came to this country.
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And he has become
a master of English
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as well as Spanish.
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And he is able to
preach in both languages,
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which not very
many people can do that.
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He's doing a series
for us in Anchors called,
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Seven Words of Hope.
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Tonight's word is, Forgiven.
Tomorrow night, Remembered.
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Friday, Sheltered.
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Sabbath morning,
Delivered and Fulfilled.
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Sabbath pm, Saved and Accepted.
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I'm just looking
forward to every single one
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of these messages.
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And I know that you are as well.
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We appreciate very
much his wife, Evelyn.
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And they have
three adult children;
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Sergio, Benjamin, and Bianca.
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And I am not going to
take too much more of his time.
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Before he comes to speak,
though, we're going to invite
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our pastor here,
Pastor John Lomacang,
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to come and to
sing, Wash Me, Lord.
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I thought I was so clever,
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thought I was so wise;
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surely You could never
see inside this darkness.
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I thought that I had fooled You;
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now I see I was the fool
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thinking that I could
hide this darkness in my heart.
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So wash me, Lord,
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in Your presence.
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Wash me, make me clean.
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There is a stain in my
heart that only You can see.
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Wash me, make me clean.
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I brought You sacrifices,
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my silver and my gold.
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In my selfishness I
tried to buy Your pleasure.
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But Your holiness requires,
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the offering You desire,
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is that I bring to You
my broken humble heart.
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So break me, Lord,
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in Your presence.
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Break me, set me free.
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There is a stain in my
heart that only You can see.
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break me and wash me, Lord,
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in Your presence.
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Wash me, make me clean.
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There is a place in my
heart that only You can see.
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So wash me, make me clean.
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Break me, set me free.
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Lord, wash me and make me clean.
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Heavenly Father, may
the meditation of Your
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servant's heart and the
words of his mouth be acceptable
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unto You and be of
some help to somebody.
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And we'll give You the honor
and we'll give You the praise,
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and the glory.
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And we'll do it in
Jesus' name, amen and amen.
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I want to say
something about my amigo, Jim.
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Because I'm uniquely qualified
to say something about him
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that perhaps
others haven't said.
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I happen to know that
Elder Gilley, I know it with
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scientific certainty,
that Elder Gilley was for 3ABN
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before he was in 3ABN.
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You get my drift?
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Because when we, the
speakers, of the different media
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ministries of the
church at the Media Center,
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when we wanted to
collaborate and work with 3ABN,
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he always had our back.
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And so I want you to know that.
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He always supported us.
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And always was very,
very positive about 3ABN.
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So it doesn't surprise
me that he ended up here.
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And I want to say something
about Brother Danny Shelton.
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When God did a
miracle and this son of a
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political prisoner in
Cuba, who spent 16 years
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in a Cuban
prison, my father did,
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when God worked a miracle...
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And I don't have the time,
because it's not part of the
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message today, to tell you
all the miracles that God did.
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But when He prepared
the way for this son of a
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political prisoner to go
to Cuba and preach the gospel.
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And not only that, but
to do it for the first time
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in revolutionary Cuba at
a public theatre in Havana,
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Teatro Mella; it
hadn't been done before,
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it hasn't been done again since.
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And I needed...
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I had the opening, but
I didn't have the dinero.
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I didn't have the means.
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What am I going to do?
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And in my
desperation, the Lord said,
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"Go talk to
Brother Danny Shelton."
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And I did.
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I thought I was going to
have to talk to him for hours.
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I had prepared long speeches.
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The first 30 seconds,
he said, "Yes, we'll go."
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And we had an amazing event.
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Let me tell you something a
little bit about it just quickly
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just to thrill your heart.
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We had so many people
that had taken Bible studies.
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We had 18,000
individuals who had graduated
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from at least one
of our Bible courses.
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We've got five.
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And some of them
have taken all five.
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And the seating
only allowed for 2700.
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And we figured we've got to
let at least 700 church members
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go every night or
we're going to have a revolt.
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A second revolution.
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And so we set apart
2000 seats every night
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for the Bible students.
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We had to give a one
night attendance ticket
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to these people
because we had 18,000.
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And it was nine
nights. Do the math.
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Do you know, the Lord
gave us within a year or two
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over 7000 souls.
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It wouldn't have
happened without 3ABN
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and without the
generosity of Danny Shelton.
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So when 3ABN
calls, I get a moving.
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I drop everything.
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And it's not
because of television.
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I've been on television.
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It's because I have a great
moral debt with this ministry.
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And I believe with all my heart
that God uses 3ABN powerfully.
00:13:55.52\00:14:00.73
And I can't tell you...
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I just did a little bit,
but that's just one event.
00:14:03.59\00:14:07.65
Imagine 17 years of
that collaboration with 3ABN.
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I can't even count the souls
that the Lord has brought in.
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So, thank you 3ABN.
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God bless you.
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And I hope I can not
disappoint you in these days.
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Now I want to ask you a question
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that you hear all the time.
00:14:33.74\00:14:35.75
But I'm going to ask it
on the serious side of it.
00:14:36.35\00:14:39.06
How are you?
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That's the question.
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How are you?
Really, how are you?
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Is your energy bank full?
00:14:46.80\00:14:49.68
Is your courage up?
00:14:49.71\00:14:51.56
Is your spirit high?
00:14:51.89\00:14:53.77
I hope you are in
that proverbial cloud nine.
00:14:54.30\00:14:58.45
I really do.
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I hope if you're
listening that you're there.
00:15:00.21\00:15:02.68
But if you're not, I understand.
00:15:03.41\00:15:05.59
Life is difficult.
00:15:06.95\00:15:08.31
And to the best of us
and in the best of times,
00:15:09.34\00:15:13.16
well that cloud can
come in for a forced landing.
00:15:14.31\00:15:18.38
Sometimes for a crash landing.
00:15:19.31\00:15:21.71
And it leaves us in sort of
a spiritual and emotional fog.
00:15:22.62\00:15:28.79
It drains us emotionally.
00:15:29.68\00:15:31.67
That's why we need
more than just counsel.
00:15:32.44\00:15:35.61
I don't have counsel for you.
00:15:36.08\00:15:37.79
But that's a good thing.
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Now don't get me wrong.
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Counsel is great if it's good.
00:15:41.50\00:15:45.52
But there's a
problem with counsel.
00:15:49.14\00:15:50.57
Actually, two of
them that I could mention.
00:15:50.60\00:15:52.48
I love to read about
our founding fathers,
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this country.
00:15:59.59\00:16:00.62
And they say that
people wonder why it was
00:16:01.79\00:16:08.62
that Thomas Jefferson
and Benjamin Franklin,
00:16:09.82\00:16:13.49
who were head and
shoulders above everybody
00:16:14.19\00:16:16.95
with the possible exception
of George Washington...
00:16:16.98\00:16:19.40
And I don't mean in size.
00:16:20.49\00:16:22.43
I mean in
intellect, in accomplishment,
00:16:22.46\00:16:26.73
in wisdom.
00:16:27.60\00:16:29.12
...and why it was that whenever
there was a meeting of them,
00:16:29.69\00:16:33.46
whenever they got
together, Thomas Jefferson and
00:16:33.49\00:16:37.34
Benjamin Franklin
didn't say a peep.
00:16:37.37\00:16:40.81
They were quiet.
00:16:41.25\00:16:42.56
Everybody else was
talking, talking, talking,
00:16:43.16\00:16:45.57
and they didn't say anything.
00:16:45.60\00:16:47.72
And finally, somebody inquired.
00:16:48.21\00:16:52.74
And I don't think it was
the two of them, but somebody
00:16:53.24\00:16:55.87
speaking for them
said, "You know why they
00:16:56.62\00:17:00.02
don't give counsel?
00:17:00.05\00:17:01.39
Because the wise don't need it,
and the fools won't take it."
00:17:02.19\00:17:08.49
Now I can tell you from somebody
who's done a little counsel;
00:17:11.56\00:17:14.43
that sounds correct to me.
00:17:17.34\00:17:20.21
But there's another problem,
people, with counseling.
00:17:21.07\00:17:23.35
I call it, the
counsel of paradox.
00:17:24.18\00:17:26.55
And it is this...
00:17:27.53\00:17:28.97
The more you need the
counsel, the good counsel,
00:17:29.81\00:17:32.57
the least prepared you
are to put it into practice.
00:17:34.59\00:17:37.82
Because you find
yourself emotionally drained,
00:17:38.33\00:17:43.28
emotionally wasted.
00:17:43.31\00:17:45.89
So you need
something more than counsel.
00:17:46.42\00:17:49.18
You need counsel, with
the batteries included.
00:17:49.21\00:17:52.56
You need counsel
that is able to accomplish
00:17:54.93\00:18:02.25
what it declares.
00:18:02.57\00:18:04.14
You need something
that has the power in it.
00:18:04.96\00:18:09.18
Well, what I'm
going to share with you
00:18:10.06\00:18:14.95
are the words of Christ Himself.
00:18:15.24\00:18:18.80
And He said about
His words, He said,
00:18:19.07\00:18:23.79
"The words I have
spoken to you, they are spirit
00:18:24.54\00:18:29.25
and they are life," John 6:63.
00:18:29.45\00:18:34.92
You know, Paul, speaking
about the words of Christ,
00:18:36.92\00:18:42.08
he said he preached
Christ and Him crucified.
00:18:42.37\00:18:45.42
Didn't he?
00:18:45.45\00:18:46.48
He said to the Thessalonians...
00:18:48.34\00:18:50.93
They were Bible
students of the day.
00:18:51.27\00:18:54.45
They had taken the Voice of
Prophecy lessons of the time.
00:18:54.91\00:18:59.19
And he said to them,
"I'm so pleased with you."
00:18:59.52\00:19:02.37
In 1 Thessalonians
2:13, he says, "I thank God
00:19:02.40\00:19:06.58
without ceasing
when I think about you.
00:19:06.61\00:19:09.03
Because when you
received the word of God
00:19:09.06\00:19:12.02
which ye heard of
us, ye received it
00:19:12.05\00:19:15.43
not as the word of
men," that's counsel,
00:19:15.63\00:19:18.16
"but as it is in
truth, the word of God,
00:19:19.08\00:19:22.67
which effectually
worketh in them that believe."
00:19:22.97\00:19:28.03
You see, the Word of
God has the power in it.
00:19:28.27\00:19:33.23
The Word of God comes
with the batteries included.
00:19:33.43\00:19:36.29
And the verb there,
"worketh," in the King James,
00:19:36.48\00:19:41.41
in the original do
you know what the word is?
00:19:41.67\00:19:44.02
Ah, you'll get it.
00:19:44.47\00:19:45.61
Normally I don't get
into the Greek too much.
00:19:45.64\00:19:47.53
But you'll like this one.
00:19:47.72\00:19:50.23
You know what the
word is? "Energeo."
00:19:50.26\00:19:52.57
Where we get what?
00:19:53.67\00:19:54.94
"Energy."
00:19:55.63\00:19:56.99
No wonder my favorite
writer, she said, "All of God's
00:19:58.65\00:20:04.60
creative energy is in His word."
00:20:04.63\00:20:07.65
That's why it's silly as
all get out for someone to say,
00:20:09.13\00:20:14.68
"You can't keep the
commandments of God."
00:20:14.71\00:20:16.75
Because the Word of
God, the commandments of God,
00:20:17.67\00:20:21.46
has within it the
energeo, the energy, of God.
00:20:21.49\00:20:26.28
Whatever God
declares, He can accomplish.
00:20:26.45\00:20:28.85
You have to believe it.
00:20:28.88\00:20:30.02
When you believe it,
you unleash the power
00:20:30.67\00:20:35.00
of the energy of God.
00:20:35.03\00:20:36.59
You see that?
00:20:36.62\00:20:37.65
So when you believe in
God's Word; a commandment,
00:20:37.68\00:20:40.33
a this, a promise, a that,
you are hooking up yourself
00:20:40.36\00:20:45.54
to all the energy of God.
00:20:45.57\00:20:47.42
And He brings it about.
00:20:47.45\00:20:49.76
What you've got
to do is believe.
00:20:50.48\00:20:52.15
Enter into it by faith.
00:20:52.44\00:20:54.26
That's why it's the
faith of Jesus that keeps
00:20:55.08\00:20:56.87
the commandments of God.
00:20:56.90\00:20:58.33
Well, of everything that
Jesus said, in my opinion,
00:20:58.61\00:21:03.39
nothing quite has
the power of what He said
00:21:04.24\00:21:08.42
while He was dying
for us on His cross.
00:21:08.45\00:21:14.20
Jesus, essentially,
preached seven short sermons
00:21:14.72\00:21:20.39
from the cross.
00:21:20.42\00:21:22.06
Now we're going to take
the time tonight and in the
00:21:22.19\00:21:26.20
next nights to listen,
00:21:26.23\00:21:32.61
to listen to these
short sermons from the Lord.
00:21:33.93\00:21:38.78
So, this series is not
going to come from this pulpit.
00:21:38.88\00:21:43.08
It's going to come from
the universe's tallest pulpit;
00:21:43.11\00:21:46.55
the cross of Christ.
00:21:46.58\00:21:48.70
And no matter,
dear, whoever you are,
00:21:50.04\00:21:54.34
no matter who is listening...
00:21:54.37\00:21:56.20
Listen, no matter
what your condition,
00:21:59.07\00:22:01.29
like somebody has said,
"No matter what condition
00:22:01.84\00:22:04.13
your condition is
in," I'm telling you...
00:22:04.16\00:22:07.90
I'm not going to
tell you to do anything.
00:22:08.63\00:22:10.15
So relax.
00:22:10.18\00:22:11.79
I'm going to tell you to listen.
00:22:11.82\00:22:13.72
I'm going to tell you
to believe these words.
00:22:14.00\00:22:16.98
And you're going to get the
energy, the all powerful energy,
00:22:17.01\00:22:23.03
of the loving God.
00:22:23.06\00:22:24.86
It is wrapped into His word.
00:22:24.96\00:22:28.66
That's all you have to do.
00:22:28.69\00:22:30.38
Jesus' first sermon
He spoke on the cross
00:22:33.27\00:22:37.70
has startled everybody,
because it was so different
00:22:38.56\00:22:43.15
than what any person
being murdered has ever said.
00:22:43.18\00:22:48.08
It's the point of
greatest amazement
00:22:49.72\00:22:52.09
in all of human history.
00:22:52.12\00:22:54.06
Jesus prayed for the
people who were crucifying Him.
00:22:55.27\00:22:59.14
Can you imagine that?
00:22:59.49\00:23:01.20
This was a total
reversal of normal human nature.
00:23:02.88\00:23:06.46
He prayed, listen
people, at the very moment
00:23:07.21\00:23:11.33
that the soldiers were
nailing His wrist bones and feet
00:23:12.04\00:23:17.25
to the wooden beams, He
said, "Father, forgive them.
00:23:17.28\00:23:21.75
For they know not what they do."
00:23:21.78\00:23:25.65
Luke 23 verse 34.
00:23:25.68\00:23:31.31
You want a practical
definition of Christianity?
00:23:32.20\00:23:34.86
Here it is.
00:23:34.89\00:23:36.26
It is the religion
that forgives enemies.
00:23:37.25\00:23:40.37
Do you want to know if
you're truly Christian?
00:23:41.45\00:23:43.57
Take this practical test.
00:23:44.77\00:23:46.64
Can you forgive the
person who hurt you?
00:23:47.35\00:23:49.86
Your abuser?
00:23:50.59\00:23:51.82
The person who came into your
life with a huge wrecking ball
00:23:52.29\00:23:55.84
and left you in
emotional shambles.
00:23:55.87\00:23:58.79
If you can forgive him
or her, you're a Christian.
00:23:59.68\00:24:04.49
And if you can do that,
you are also superhuman.
00:24:05.36\00:24:08.99
Because that forgiveness
is not of human origin.
00:24:09.70\00:24:15.40
It is not factory installed.
00:24:15.79\00:24:18.40
We do not come
into the world with it.
00:24:19.02\00:24:21.39
We are not hard
wired to produce it.
00:24:22.13\00:24:25.22
It can't be mapped
in our human genome.
00:24:25.43\00:24:29.24
It was manufactured
by Jesus brick by brick
00:24:29.78\00:24:33.50
on the cross of Calvary.
00:24:33.53\00:24:35.50
He is the author
and finisher of it.
00:24:36.87\00:24:39.21
And He is in the business,
thank God, of dispensing it
00:24:39.76\00:24:45.85
over the counter to all of us.
00:24:45.88\00:24:49.39
The Bible says it in Romans 5:5
00:24:50.11\00:24:55.91
that He can pour
it into your heart.
00:24:56.56\00:24:59.45
This agape love of God
can be poured into your heart.
00:24:59.65\00:25:04.79
And let me tell you,
sooner or later, my friend,
00:25:04.82\00:25:08.10
you're going to need it.
00:25:08.13\00:25:09.33
You're going to need it.
00:25:10.91\00:25:12.29
I know I do.
00:25:13.26\00:25:14.36
And you know, it's a
good thing that Christianity
00:25:17.93\00:25:20.94
is in the business
of forgiving enemies.
00:25:20.97\00:25:24.43
Because the Bible says that
all of us were the "enemies"
00:25:24.77\00:25:31.86
for whom Jesus prayed.
00:25:31.96\00:25:33.75
Oh yeah, I can prove it to you.
00:25:34.31\00:25:35.98
Romans 5 verse 10.
00:25:36.01\00:25:38.19
Paul says, "For if
when we were..." What?
00:25:39.45\00:25:43.68
"...enemies, we were
reconciled to God..."
00:25:43.89\00:25:47.46
When were we reconciled to God?
00:25:47.49\00:25:49.84
What does Scripture say?
00:25:49.87\00:25:51.28
When we were what?
00:25:51.31\00:25:52.79
Enemies.
00:25:53.30\00:25:54.59
Oh, I don't remember that.
00:25:55.49\00:25:57.97
I remember other
people there who were enemies,
00:25:58.46\00:26:01.00
but we, Lord? We?
00:26:01.03\00:26:03.57
It's like Peter, you
know. "Me? Is it I, Lord?"
00:26:03.60\00:26:06.72
"For if when we were enemies
we were reconciled to God
00:26:08.07\00:26:11.23
through the death of his
Son, much more, having been
00:26:11.26\00:26:15.52
reconciled, we shall
be saved by his life."
00:26:15.55\00:26:21.55
Praise God.
00:26:21.94\00:26:23.21
This means that when Jesus
prayed that prayer on His cross,
00:26:23.95\00:26:27.42
He was praying for you and me,
00:26:27.52\00:26:29.91
and not just those
pagan Roman soldiers.
00:26:29.94\00:26:33.80
Oh, He was
praying for them as well.
00:26:33.83\00:26:35.73
The entire human race was
involved in the crucifixion
00:26:36.88\00:26:41.42
of the Son of God.
00:26:41.45\00:26:43.05
This is a solemn and sobering
truth, I've got to tell you.
00:26:46.70\00:26:50.13
But we are no
better than those men.
00:26:51.22\00:26:53.05
As Luther, the great
reformer, once put it, he said,
00:26:54.97\00:26:58.01
"We are all made
from the same dough."
00:26:58.04\00:27:00.53
He had a way of saying.
00:27:01.93\00:27:03.72
We were lucky
not to be alive then,
00:27:04.99\00:27:08.08
and to have been in that place.
00:27:09.34\00:27:11.77
Or we might have done
exactly the same thing.
00:27:12.17\00:27:17.20
Because this isn't any
better than there's, you see.
00:27:17.65\00:27:20.81
It's the reason why
Isaiah, speaking prophetically
00:27:22.01\00:27:26.36
about the cross of
Christ, repeatedly uses the
00:27:26.55\00:27:30.50
first person plural, "We."
00:27:30.53\00:27:33.59
Let's go to that.
00:27:34.56\00:27:35.73
Isaiah 53.
00:27:36.02\00:27:37.76
That, "we," includes us.
00:27:39.99\00:27:42.26
In fact, he included himself.
00:27:43.37\00:27:45.47
Verse 3, in the last
part of the verse, it says,
00:27:46.67\00:27:51.28
"And we hid as it
were our faces from him.
00:27:51.31\00:27:55.36
He was despised, and
we did not esteem him."
00:27:55.66\00:28:01.41
And in verse 4, the last part
says, "We esteemed him stricken,
00:28:01.64\00:28:07.36
smitten by God, and afflicted."
00:28:07.39\00:28:09.88
Yes, my friend, we are
all guilty of the crime
00:28:10.48\00:28:17.40
of crucifying our Lord.
00:28:17.66\00:28:20.10
But there's good news.
00:28:20.75\00:28:22.63
We are also the beneficiaries
of what He accomplished today.
00:28:22.94\00:28:27.74
Because in verse 5 it
says, "But he was wounded
00:28:27.90\00:28:32.17
for our
transgressions," you see.
00:28:32.20\00:28:35.33
"He was bruised
for our iniquities.
00:28:35.36\00:28:39.21
The chastisement for
our peace was upon him;
00:28:39.24\00:28:45.17
and by his
stripes we are healed."
00:28:45.41\00:28:50.99
Amen.
00:28:51.02\00:28:52.21
No matter who you
are, yes you were there.
00:28:52.47\00:28:56.14
You know, I am amazed, John, at
the wisdom of these spirituals.
00:28:57.30\00:29:05.70
You know, these African slaves
who embraced Christianity.
00:29:05.90\00:29:12.41
Think about it, think
about how they were treated
00:29:12.44\00:29:15.50
by their Christian masters.
00:29:15.53\00:29:18.97
They should have had nothing
to do with that religion.
00:29:19.20\00:29:22.09
But they
understood what, I think...
00:29:23.24\00:29:28.08
In fact, I have a theory.
00:29:28.11\00:29:29.90
I think that they preserved
Christianity for all of us.
00:29:30.00\00:29:34.36
I think they preserved
the purity of Christianity.
00:29:34.39\00:29:38.99
I'll tell you why.
00:29:39.22\00:29:40.28
Because people
could have dismissed.
00:29:41.35\00:29:45.43
They had every right to say,
"Oh, these are all hypocrites
00:29:45.93\00:29:50.74
and this religion doesn't work.
00:29:50.77\00:29:53.76
And why should we embrace
a religion of our masters?"
00:29:53.79\00:29:57.29
And all of that.
00:29:57.32\00:29:58.35
But they looked at the cross.
00:29:58.38\00:30:00.12
They focused in on the cross.
00:30:00.70\00:30:02.40
That's why there is
this one particular song...
00:30:02.71\00:30:05.20
I should have thought
about asking John to sing it
00:30:07.92\00:30:10.56
right now, I
would have loved it.
00:30:11.36\00:30:14.16
"Were You There"
00:30:15.36\00:30:16.72
Were you there...
00:30:17.85\00:30:19.43
Let's sing it together.
00:30:19.46\00:30:20.56
Were you there when
they crucified my Lord?
00:30:20.59\00:30:25.77
Were you there when
they crucified my Lord?
00:30:26.04\00:30:33.43
Oh, sometimes it causes me
00:30:33.46\00:30:41.48
to tremble, tremble, tremble.
00:30:41.51\00:30:48.30
Were you there when
they crucified my Lord?
00:30:48.33\00:30:58.30
What is the
answer to that question?
00:30:59.03\00:31:01.67
Were we there?
00:31:02.32\00:31:03.62
Yes we were.
00:31:04.09\00:31:05.30
You see, they realized
the collective guilt of
00:31:06.31\00:31:10.61
humanity in this, and their
complicity in the greatest crime
00:31:10.64\00:31:15.37
of human history.
00:31:15.40\00:31:16.78
And therefore, they could
be forgiving of their masters.
00:31:16.97\00:31:21.42
That's my theory.
00:31:21.79\00:31:24.55
But I think that's how they
were able to save Christianity
00:31:24.58\00:31:32.06
and embrace Christianity.
00:31:32.45\00:31:34.54
Yes, we're all
guilty of the crime.
00:31:35.06\00:31:38.38
But we are all recipients
of what happened there.
00:31:38.41\00:31:43.86
Praise the Lord.
00:31:44.79\00:31:46.52
You know, I believe there are
three reasons why Jesus prayed
00:31:47.78\00:31:53.09
this remarkable prayer.
00:31:53.52\00:31:55.75
And the first reason
is going to surprise you.
00:31:56.70\00:31:59.06
And I've got to tell
you, I've never heard
00:31:59.30\00:32:01.81
another preacher in
all my life say this.
00:32:01.84\00:32:04.90
And if I'm
wrong, I will apologize.
00:32:05.50\00:32:11.21
But I don't think so.
00:32:11.24\00:32:12.27
I've thought
about it long and hard.
00:32:12.30\00:32:14.25
I think one of the reasons,
perhaps not the main one,
00:32:15.31\00:32:19.01
but I think one of the reasons
why Jesus prayed this prayer
00:32:19.04\00:32:22.93
was for His own benefit.
00:32:22.96\00:32:26.13
Now let me explain.
00:32:26.16\00:32:27.28
The greatest battle
that has ever been fought
00:32:28.76\00:32:34.27
was fought in the mind of Jesus.
00:32:34.30\00:32:37.27
Would you agree with that?
00:32:37.47\00:32:38.80
It started in Gethsemane.
00:32:39.00\00:32:40.55
Well before
that, but Gethsemane.
00:32:41.11\00:32:42.41
That's when it got really tough.
00:32:42.44\00:32:45.92
And Jesus had to keep
His soul temple clean.
00:32:47.76\00:32:51.03
Because that's where
the victory was being won.
00:32:52.40\00:32:55.16
There could be
no resentment there.
00:32:56.26\00:32:58.62
There could be no
harboring of any ill will.
00:32:59.67\00:33:05.44
Jesus had to cleanse Himself.
00:33:05.96\00:33:09.51
Would you agree with that?
00:33:11.46\00:33:12.76
Now, I brought this other brain.
00:33:12.86\00:33:16.59
Because my wife
says that the one I have
00:33:17.78\00:33:21.24
doesn't work quite right.
00:33:21.27\00:33:23.23
So I have a second one here.
00:33:24.11\00:33:26.42
But actually I want
to show you something.
00:33:27.28\00:33:31.80
I want to show you
a little bit about the
00:33:33.00\00:33:35.99
pathology of forgiveness,
and equally of unforgiveness.
00:33:36.02\00:33:42.40
Why it is, why do you think...
00:33:42.73\00:33:45.39
Listen, is God
trying to torture us?
00:33:46.29\00:33:49.75
Is that what He tries to do?
00:33:49.78\00:33:51.31
No.
00:33:52.06\00:33:53.34
When the Bible is so insistent
that we should forgive...
00:33:53.66\00:33:58.28
It's even in the Lord's prayer.
00:33:58.31\00:33:59.88
Right?
00:34:00.77\00:34:01.80
Again and again, the
Lord calls us to forgiveness.
00:34:02.53\00:34:06.78
Forgiveness seems to be
the cornerstone, the keystone,
00:34:06.81\00:34:16.22
the foundation of Christianity.
00:34:16.25\00:34:19.70
Forgiveness.
00:34:20.40\00:34:21.75
Why does the Lord want
us to forgive our enemies?
00:34:22.14\00:34:27.80
It's not what clinical
psychologists would have you do.
00:34:28.22\00:34:33.18
This is unique to Christianity.
00:34:35.21\00:34:37.27
Why?
00:34:38.51\00:34:39.54
I want to show you something.
00:34:41.37\00:34:42.77
I only need half a
brain to show you this.
00:34:43.54\00:34:45.88
There is a region, this
is called the hypothalamus.
00:34:48.61\00:34:54.25
By the way, people say,
"Well you're not a doctor.
00:34:54.76\00:34:57.76
Why are you talking
about these things?"
00:34:57.79\00:34:59.49
Well you know what?
I got interested in it.
00:35:01.10\00:35:03.28
And I've been
studying it for years.
00:35:03.84\00:35:06.62
I think a Christian ought
to study three disciplines,
00:35:06.65\00:35:09.73
because they never change.
00:35:09.76\00:35:11.16
We ought to study the
things that don't change.
00:35:11.19\00:35:13.26
First is the Word of God.
00:35:13.66\00:35:15.36
The Word of God
is not going to...
00:35:15.39\00:35:17.71
You're not going to get
up one morning and there's
00:35:17.82\00:35:19.46
going to be another book in it.
00:35:19.49\00:35:21.03
Or some word is
going to fly out of it.
00:35:21.24\00:35:24.75
No, you're going
to have the same word.
00:35:24.78\00:35:27.22
You can take it to the bank.
00:35:27.25\00:35:29.11
That Word is
eternal. It's right there.
00:35:29.14\00:35:32.01
You can study it,
you can memorize it.
00:35:32.04\00:35:34.70
Praise God for His Word.
00:35:34.73\00:35:36.95
His Word is eternal.
00:35:37.89\00:35:39.86
There's anything
thing that doesn't change
00:35:41.29\00:35:42.78
that I like to
study, and it's anatomy.
00:35:42.81\00:35:44.95
You're not going to get up
one morning with one extra bone.
00:35:46.04\00:35:48.69
Anatomy is what it is.
00:35:50.68\00:35:52.61
And the other science
I like to study is math.
00:35:53.07\00:35:55.84
Because that's also certain.
00:35:56.86\00:35:58.92
2 + 2 is going to be 4 today,
it's going to be 4 tomorrow,
00:36:00.52\00:36:05.61
and the next day.
00:36:06.17\00:36:07.52
So I like to study
these three sciences.
00:36:08.37\00:36:11.67
Well, let me tell you
what happens in this section
00:36:12.77\00:36:17.32
called the hypothalamus.
00:36:17.35\00:36:19.40
This hypothalamic region of the
brain is where our emotions go.
00:36:20.13\00:36:27.34
In fact, when the
Bible talks about the heart,
00:36:27.81\00:36:30.22
"Love your God
with all the heart,"
00:36:31.07\00:36:32.55
it's really
talking about the brain.
00:36:32.58\00:36:34.41
Because this organ
here has no feelings.
00:36:34.44\00:36:38.24
It doesn't
think, it's just a pump.
00:36:38.27\00:36:40.41
But this is the heart.
00:36:40.96\00:36:44.42
And the heart of the
heart, the heart of the brain,
00:36:44.45\00:36:48.22
is this section here.
00:36:48.25\00:36:50.01
It's inside,
you've got to get in here.
00:36:50.04\00:36:51.86
This is where the emotions go.
00:36:51.89\00:36:54.53
This is the
seat of the emotions.
00:36:55.26\00:36:57.91
So when there is hatred,
when there is unforgiveness,
00:37:01.77\00:37:10.93
when there is anger, when
there is any sort of feelings
00:37:11.35\00:37:20.26
of recrimination and
the like, they go here.
00:37:20.29\00:37:24.58
They go here.
00:37:24.78\00:37:26.05
They either go to the conscious
section or they go to the
00:37:27.14\00:37:30.65
subconscious, and
even the unconscious.
00:37:30.85\00:37:33.52
It's all here.
00:37:33.55\00:37:34.68
This is also the area...
00:37:36.00\00:37:37.99
Listen to this.
00:37:38.02\00:37:39.23
You're going to make this
connection before I tell you.
00:37:39.26\00:37:41.56
This is also the area
where the autonomous central
00:37:42.03\00:37:47.74
nervous system is controlled.
00:37:47.77\00:37:49.82
This is the area
that controls all the
00:37:50.10\00:37:52.69
inner organs of your body.
00:37:52.72\00:37:54.79
This is the area
that tells your heart to
00:37:55.43\00:37:58.08
get to work, to beat.
00:37:59.07\00:38:00.73
And that's why you
don't have to send orders
00:38:00.76\00:38:07.25
to your inner organs to work.
00:38:08.26\00:38:10.27
It's taken care of here.
00:38:10.30\00:38:12.36
This controls sleep.
00:38:12.60\00:38:14.27
This controls
the sexual impulses.
00:38:14.30\00:38:16.98
It's all here.
00:38:17.01\00:38:18.67
Well see, you can see
that if you build this area
00:38:19.35\00:38:26.28
with the toxicity of bad
emotions in the same area
00:38:26.90\00:38:33.03
that controls the
health of your inner organs,
00:38:33.33\00:38:38.42
what's going to happen?
00:38:38.45\00:38:39.51
You tell me.
00:38:39.54\00:38:40.59
That is why one of
our favorite writers
00:38:43.94\00:38:48.26
says that, what is it,
84 or 90% of our diseases
00:38:48.56\00:38:55.49
have a psychosomatic
foundation to them.
00:38:55.52\00:39:02.71
It doesn't mean we make them up.
00:39:02.74\00:39:04.07
No, that's not what it means.
00:39:04.37\00:39:05.55
But it means that if
this area becomes toxic,
00:39:05.58\00:39:12.03
then we are in danger of
doing harm to the inner organs.
00:39:13.03\00:39:19.93
You see that?
00:39:20.65\00:39:21.68
So Jesus had to
keep His heart clean.
00:39:22.23\00:39:29.78
And so when He
forgave, and when you forgive
00:39:30.39\00:39:36.05
that person who has hurt
you, the main beneficiary
00:39:36.08\00:39:41.11
of you forgiving is
not that person, it's you.
00:39:41.14\00:39:45.32
Is that clear?
00:39:48.52\00:39:49.83
Now the second reason
why Jesus prayed this prayer
00:39:52.70\00:39:58.96
was for the benefit of the
soldiers who needed to hear it.
00:39:58.99\00:40:02.48
Can you imagine
living the rest of your life
00:40:02.51\00:40:07.22
with that on your conscience?
00:40:07.66\00:40:10.04
No matter who would come
and talk to you and try to
00:40:11.09\00:40:13.55
counsel you and try to
say, you know, explain it to you
00:40:13.58\00:40:17.54
theologically, it would be hard.
00:40:17.57\00:40:19.46
But they heard it,
they heard it, from Jesus.
00:40:19.49\00:40:22.56
You need to hear it too.
00:40:22.59\00:40:24.40
By the way, Jesus said,
"Thou art clean," or cleansed,
00:40:24.98\00:40:33.02
"by the words that
I've spoken to you."
00:40:33.67\00:40:35.94
And no word cleanses
like the word of forgiveness.
00:40:36.66\00:40:42.44
Do you know that some
people are living in terrible
00:40:45.18\00:40:53.94
shape emotionally, maybe
even physically, because they
00:40:53.97\00:41:00.32
haven't been able
to forgive themselves.
00:41:00.35\00:41:04.44
They haven't been
able to forgive themselves.
00:41:04.47\00:41:06.47
My friend, if that's
your situation, listen,
00:41:06.98\00:41:10.61
you need to hear this.
00:41:10.64\00:41:12.19
You need to hear, it's
for you, Jesus said, "Father,
00:41:12.22\00:41:17.48
forgive them, for they
know not what they do."
00:41:17.51\00:41:21.73
He's saying that to you.
00:41:21.76\00:41:23.42
Tradition says that a number of
those soldiers came to Christ.
00:41:26.33\00:41:31.14
And one of them in
particular, that centurion.
00:41:32.26\00:41:35.18
And it is said that
his name was, Longinus.
00:41:36.39\00:41:40.50
He became a very
strong Christian.
00:41:41.97\00:41:44.41
What would have
happened if they had not heard
00:41:45.05\00:41:47.39
Jesus say,
"Father, forgive them."
00:41:47.73\00:41:50.71
And number three, I
think Jesus prayed this prayer
00:41:51.07\00:41:54.46
for all of us who
are no less guilty.
00:41:55.14\00:41:58.51
You know, there
was a Christian writer.
00:42:00.33\00:42:05.34
And when I was preparing
this, man, I tried to remember
00:42:06.17\00:42:10.80
and I could not
remember the name.
00:42:10.91\00:42:13.12
But there's a Christian
writer, famous one in history,
00:42:13.44\00:42:17.34
a 19th century writer I
think, who tells a story of how
00:42:17.37\00:42:23.00
he was trying to
teach a neighbor this truth;
00:42:23.03\00:42:27.01
the truth that
we are all complicit
00:42:27.33\00:42:29.69
in the death of Christ.
00:42:29.72\00:42:31.38
And on the positive side,
that we are all beneficiaries
00:42:31.41\00:42:35.98
of that death.
00:42:36.01\00:42:38.52
But that we need
to understand that.
00:42:38.89\00:42:42.36
And his neighbor would
have nothing to do with it.
00:42:42.66\00:42:47.68
He just did not believe
that he had anything to do.
00:42:48.23\00:42:52.96
"No, they did it.
00:42:52.99\00:42:54.33
Maybe others, but not me."
00:42:54.53\00:42:57.15
He was kind of
like Peter, you know.
00:42:57.45\00:42:58.78
"Not me, not me."
00:42:58.81\00:43:00.89
Well, the writer
says that his neighbor
00:43:01.94\00:43:05.32
went to bed that
night and had a dream.
00:43:05.72\00:43:08.74
And in the dream, he was
taken to the crucifixion.
00:43:09.58\00:43:12.32
And he is just
horrified by what he is seeing.
00:43:12.94\00:43:19.02
And in his dream
he goes to a soldier,
00:43:19.51\00:43:23.82
the one who is raising
the hammer to hit the nail
00:43:23.85\00:43:27.66
that's going to go through
Jesus' wrist bones and feet.
00:43:27.69\00:43:32.38
And he grabs the guy
from the back, he grabs him,
00:43:33.98\00:43:36.95
shakes him up, "Why
are you doing this?"
00:43:36.98\00:43:38.83
And the soldier turns around.
00:43:39.82\00:43:42.60
And what did he see?
00:43:42.80\00:43:44.18
I think you know
where this is going.
00:43:44.21\00:43:46.45
He saw himself.
00:43:46.76\00:43:48.54
It was himself.
00:43:48.93\00:43:51.24
And the next day he
said to the Christian writer,
00:43:52.65\00:43:55.62
"You're right,
you're right. I was wrong."
00:43:56.03\00:43:58.96
I've got time for a story.
00:44:00.33\00:44:02.02
This lady had
stopped attending church
00:44:05.80\00:44:09.27
for, what I remember,
was like a couple of years.
00:44:11.17\00:44:15.00
Now I've got to
tell you, she had been a
00:44:17.60\00:44:20.92
strong Adventist Christian.
00:44:20.95\00:44:23.97
Because I remember
talking to her afterwards.
00:44:26.12\00:44:28.24
She was a vegan.
00:44:29.16\00:44:30.63
She was into all the
things you would expect
00:44:31.26\00:44:35.81
a strong Adventist to be.
00:44:35.85\00:44:39.61
But life had dealt
her a very hard blow.
00:44:40.10\00:44:44.51
I'm telling you
people, it can happen.
00:44:44.54\00:44:47.11
It can happen.
00:44:47.73\00:44:49.01
Life has a way of
sometimes doing a number on you.
00:44:49.40\00:44:54.01
But she heard that La Voz
de la Esperanza was coming,
00:44:56.03\00:44:59.54
and she had heard the program
since she was a little girl.
00:44:59.57\00:45:02.90
And so she said, "Okay, I'm
not ready to go back to church,
00:45:03.22\00:45:08.56
but I can go
and be at this event
00:45:08.66\00:45:11.32
of La Voz de la Esperanza."
00:45:11.35\00:45:13.01
When she got to the place,
she arrived a little late.
00:45:13.24\00:45:19.15
And her heart sunk
and her shoulders dropped
00:45:19.74\00:45:23.77
when she saw the place
was full to the rafters.
00:45:23.97\00:45:27.99
There didn't seem to be
a single seat available.
00:45:28.02\00:45:33.14
She was about to go home
00:45:33.87\00:45:36.56
when all of a
sudden a good usher...
00:45:38.01\00:45:41.80
If you're going to
usher, be a good one.
00:45:43.54\00:45:45.83
And he had made an
inventory of every seat.
00:45:47.67\00:45:52.54
And he came to her and
he was happy that he could
00:45:53.35\00:45:55.60
report to her and
say, "Oh no, don't go."
00:45:55.63\00:45:58.13
"Don't go." he said.
00:45:58.16\00:45:59.67
"I know where there is
one seat in the whole place.
00:45:59.70\00:46:03.74
There's one seat.
00:46:03.77\00:46:04.80
I can take you right to it."
00:46:05.27\00:46:06.95
She said, "Really?" "Yes."
00:46:07.24\00:46:09.31
And so this good usher
took this lady to this only seat
00:46:09.78\00:46:16.83
available in the whole place.
00:46:16.86\00:46:21.10
Well, she would
soon come to regret it.
00:46:22.11\00:46:25.12
As she took her seat and turned
to greet the person next to her,
00:46:26.91\00:46:32.34
you know, the
common pew courtesy,
00:46:32.66\00:46:36.34
a look of horror and a feeling
of disgust came over her.
00:46:37.88\00:46:43.81
It turns out that the lady
that had "stolen" her husband
00:46:43.84\00:46:50.84
was sitting right there.
00:46:53.12\00:46:54.59
Of all places.
00:46:56.16\00:46:58.08
One seat in the whole
place and it's got to be
00:46:59.03\00:47:02.32
right next to this woman?
00:47:02.35\00:47:04.08
This woman?
00:47:04.76\00:47:06.05
Now, the truth is
that her former husband
00:47:07.82\00:47:11.71
had long moved on to newer
conquest and greener pastures.
00:47:12.07\00:47:16.80
But she still held
this woman as more culpable
00:47:18.00\00:47:21.53
because she "initiated"
him in his womanizing ways.
00:47:22.03\00:47:27.27
That's the way she saw it.
00:47:27.55\00:47:29.23
But, you know, she wanted
the earth to open and just
00:47:30.41\00:47:35.01
swallow her up,
or get up and leave.
00:47:35.04\00:47:37.51
But it would call too
much attention to herself.
00:47:37.54\00:47:42.99
So she decided to stay and give
the lady her coldest shoulder.
00:47:44.13\00:47:53.34
The sermon that day recounted
the story of Mary Magdalene.
00:47:55.17\00:47:59.23
You know, when I stay in
a place any kind of time,
00:47:59.94\00:48:04.26
I like to tell the
story of Mary Magdalene.
00:48:04.46\00:48:07.14
Because Jesus said,
"Wherever you tell My story,
00:48:07.41\00:48:09.76
tell also the story of
what this woman has done."
00:48:10.09\00:48:14.27
Didn't He say that?
00:48:14.30\00:48:15.38
We don't do that too
often, but I like to do that.
00:48:15.49\00:48:18.41
I've got 10 or 15
sermons on Mary Magdalene.
00:48:18.44\00:48:22.06
And the sermon noted how
Mary's encounter with Christ
00:48:24.47\00:48:27.14
had given her the
strength to forgive her abuser.
00:48:27.17\00:48:31.59
Remember that Simon guy?
00:48:31.89\00:48:33.90
The preacher went on to say that
if the victim harbors hatred
00:48:34.86\00:48:38.08
and resentment in their heart...
00:48:38.11\00:48:39.91
Really that
hypothalamic region of the brain
00:48:40.28\00:48:42.99
where the seat of
the emotions is found.
00:48:43.02\00:48:46.23
Where the autonomous
nervous central system is.
00:48:46.43\00:48:50.20
...that such resentment
and bitterness cannot but
00:48:50.64\00:48:53.31
bring injury and disease.
00:48:53.34\00:48:56.69
She didn't need me to
tell her she was a physical
00:48:57.76\00:49:01.60
and emotional basket case.
00:49:01.63\00:49:04.07
And she knew it.
00:49:04.10\00:49:05.25
At the end of the
service, the lady of our story
00:49:09.07\00:49:13.80
would turn to her
former enemy and say,
00:49:14.09\00:49:18.26
"Go in peace, my sister.
00:49:19.03\00:49:21.42
Christ has forgiven us both,
and we should do the same."
00:49:21.95\00:49:29.09
The two women held
each other in a long embrace
00:49:31.51\00:49:36.12
as tears and
grace flowed freely.
00:49:36.50\00:49:41.98
It must have brought a
smile to Jesus Himself.
00:49:42.85\00:49:46.46
There's a wonderful Christian
song that best summarizes
00:49:47.86\00:49:53.60
what we tried to
say, albeit poorly.
00:49:53.63\00:49:56.83
It says, "Those
nails, they were mine;
00:49:57.50\00:50:02.48
those nails were mine.
00:50:03.26\00:50:05.55
By my sins I swung the hammer,
00:50:06.16\00:50:11.62
pierced those
hands of love divine.
00:50:11.65\00:50:15.53
Those nails of
shame, my sins acclaim;
00:50:15.85\00:50:21.10
but by His grace
I have forgiveness.
00:50:21.52\00:50:25.67
Praise His name.
Praise His name."
00:50:25.70\00:50:31.22
Now, I've still got
about seven minutes.
00:50:31.50\00:50:34.45
So I'm going to tell you
about the power of forgiveness.
00:50:34.48\00:50:38.51
When I was doing
auditions for La Voz,
00:50:38.73\00:50:43.77
you know, there were
26 candidates at first
00:50:44.30\00:50:47.38
from the three divisions.
00:50:47.41\00:50:48.85
Because back then the
Media Center was under
00:50:48.88\00:50:51.58
the General Conference.
00:50:51.61\00:50:52.64
And so the three divisions,
each president of the division
00:50:52.67\00:50:55.59
presented eight candidates.
00:50:55.62\00:50:57.03
And I was one of the 26.
00:50:57.06\00:50:58.71
I got a letter
saying, "Congratulations,
00:50:58.74\00:51:00.55
you're one of 26."
00:51:00.58\00:51:02.33
I said, "Whoa, whoop-de-doo."
00:51:02.90\00:51:05.49
But you know, I was
praying, "Lord, take me out
00:51:08.45\00:51:13.93
in the first slice,
the first time they..."
00:51:13.96\00:51:15.86
Because I don't
want to go through that
00:51:15.89\00:51:17.14
whole agony, you know.
00:51:17.17\00:51:18.67
But every time they cut it, I
was still in it, in it, in it.
00:51:18.88\00:51:22.45
And finally, we were five.
00:51:22.48\00:51:24.50
And when we were five, we were
invited to go and do auditions
00:51:24.53\00:51:28.90
and so screen
tests, and all of that.
00:51:28.93\00:51:31.19
Well, the first thing that I had
to read from the teleprompter
00:51:31.48\00:51:36.11
was this sermon called,
"Forgiveness and the Power."
00:51:38.96\00:51:44.64
And it said that, you
know, forgiveness is wonderful
00:51:46.40\00:51:49.69
and it's great.
00:51:49.72\00:51:51.03
But it needs power added to it.
00:51:51.06\00:51:54.63
It's like it doesn't
have the batteries, you know.
00:51:55.42\00:51:57.11
You've got to go
fetch the batteries later.
00:51:57.14\00:52:00.57
And then you've
got the whole package.
00:52:00.60\00:52:03.42
That was the sermon.
00:52:03.45\00:52:04.68
Oh I had to, sort of, bite
my tongue and swallow hard,
00:52:05.83\00:52:10.24
because I didn't believe it.
00:52:10.27\00:52:11.63
I did not believe it.
That's not my theology.
00:52:12.23\00:52:15.04
I don't believe in
forgiveness and the power.
00:52:15.75\00:52:19.24
I believe in the
power of forgiveness.
00:52:19.27\00:52:22.05
And I'll show you in a minute.
00:52:22.08\00:52:23.49
You know, when
Jesus said to that man...
00:52:26.89\00:52:29.27
Remember the story, he
was brought in by friends.
00:52:30.18\00:52:34.58
And they did a hole in
the roof of Peter's house.
00:52:35.74\00:52:40.54
Peter must have been
fuming. You know Peter.
00:52:41.25\00:52:43.52
And they brought
the guy to Jesus.
00:52:44.31\00:52:47.18
Now what they wanted was
the physical healing of the man.
00:52:48.84\00:52:51.61
Right?
00:52:51.64\00:52:52.67
That's what everybody wanted.
00:52:52.70\00:52:54.07
But Jesus didn't go there.
00:52:56.17\00:52:57.66
What did He say?
What did Jesus...
00:52:58.75\00:53:01.56
The man comes in
for physical healing.
00:53:01.59\00:53:04.26
And Jesus says to him what?
00:53:04.29\00:53:06.49
You remember?
00:53:06.79\00:53:07.83
"Son, thy sins
are forgiven thee."
00:53:07.86\00:53:11.67
What?
00:53:12.65\00:53:13.71
Wait a minute.
00:53:13.74\00:53:14.79
"Jesus, wait a minute.
00:53:15.41\00:53:16.44
That's fine and dandy,
that's great stuff, you know.
00:53:16.47\00:53:19.47
But he could have asked
God that in his own home.
00:53:19.50\00:53:22.87
We didn't have to make this
mess and come all the way here
00:53:22.90\00:53:26.01
to do that."
00:53:26.04\00:53:28.38
Now they didn't say it,
but they were thinking it.
00:53:28.41\00:53:30.38
It didn't make anybody happy.
It didn't make anybody happy.
00:53:31.05\00:53:34.07
The religious people said,
"Who does this guy think He is?
00:53:34.10\00:53:38.23
Only God can forgive sins."
00:53:38.26\00:53:40.14
I mean, everybody...
00:53:40.17\00:53:41.37
Have you ever preached
and made everybody angry?
00:53:41.40\00:53:43.57
I hope I didn't do that tonight.
00:53:44.09\00:53:45.64
But it can happen.
00:53:46.90\00:53:48.21
Now, everybody was angry...
00:53:49.28\00:53:52.98
...except for the man.
00:53:53.97\00:53:56.00
If you want to read more,
read a little bit about this,
00:53:57.36\00:54:00.06
read the Desire Of
Ages chapter on this.
00:54:00.09\00:54:02.50
Oh, it tells you he knew
why Jesus said what he said.
00:54:02.53\00:54:08.10
He had been
carrying guilt all his life.
00:54:09.43\00:54:13.83
He need to... It
had sickened him.
00:54:14.43\00:54:17.56
He was paralyzed
because of his emotional
00:54:18.29\00:54:23.76
and spiritual sense of guilt.
00:54:24.22\00:54:26.91
There's nothing heavier,
people, there's nothing heavier,
00:54:27.22\00:54:32.17
my friend, that you can
carry around than guilt.
00:54:32.20\00:54:36.07
And it had crippled him.
00:54:39.00\00:54:40.73
It had him. That bed had him.
00:54:41.06\00:54:44.20
But Jesus said, "What is easier?
00:54:45.69\00:54:47.31
To say, 'Thy sins
are forgiven thee,'
00:54:47.41\00:54:49.57
or to say to this man,
'Rise up, take up your bed,
00:54:49.60\00:54:53.96
and walk.'"
00:54:54.26\00:54:55.72
You see, the bed had him.
00:54:56.70\00:54:59.83
But when Jesus forgave
him, and when he received
00:55:00.04\00:55:04.56
the word of forgiveness,
there was power in that word.
00:55:04.76\00:55:09.78
Because Jesus said,
Jesus only said it twice
00:55:09.99\00:55:12.49
because they didn't get it.
00:55:12.52\00:55:13.85
Jesus meant to say, "By
the forgiving of your sins
00:55:15.22\00:55:20.19
you should be
getting up, my friend."
00:55:20.22\00:55:23.62
So He made it plain.
00:55:24.65\00:55:26.16
But Jesus was clear,
there is power in forgiveness.
00:55:27.06\00:55:33.21
There's power, wonder
working power in the blood.
00:55:33.81\00:55:37.22
Colossians 1:14 says we are
forgiven by the blood of Jesus.
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And let me tell you
why this is so powerful.
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Because the blood is what?
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What does the
Bible say the blood is?
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Life.
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Right? Numbers, Leviticus, etc.
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Life, life is in the
blood. The blood is in the life.
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So here's the thing, my friend.
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When God forgives you, He
gives you the blood of Jesus.
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The blood of Jesus
is the life of Jesus.
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So when you are
forgiven by Jesus, you not only
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get some book in
heaven cleared...
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That's good, that's great.
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I'm glad for that.
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...but you get the very
life of Jesus infused into you.
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He is the Lamb of
God that taketh away
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the sin of the world.
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He takes it away.
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He doesn't just
put a little rag on it,
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a little dressing on it,
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a little lipstick on it.
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He takes it away.
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He can take it away
at this very moment.
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You have been
carrying too long, my friend.
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Way too long.
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This is the time
for you to get up.
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This is the time for you
to receive the forgiveness.
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This is the time for
you to rise up and live up
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to the life and the
destiny that you have in Christ.
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This is the time, this
is your deliverance, today.
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Jesus says, "I forgive you.
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Rise up, take up
your bed, and walk.
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I will make you a productive
human being with the power
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of God in you."
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God bless you.
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