Welcome to Anchors Of Truth,
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live from the
3ABN Worship Center.
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Hello friends, and welcome
to the 3ABN Worship Center
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for this third message
in a series of five messages
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that have been preached and
will continue to be preached
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here at our 3ABN Worship Center
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in Thompsonville/
West Frankfort, Illinois.
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We have been
blessed from night to night.
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Can we all say amen to that?
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The Lord has really cooked
up a meal in the mind and heart
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of His servant,
Pastor Wintley Phipps.
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And we know that tonight
through the message entitled,
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The Bride of Christ,
we will not be underfed.
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We can trust that when
the Lord calls a man to stand
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in behalf of the
kingdom of heaven, that He turns
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on the power of His
Spirit to do exceedingly
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abundantly above all
that we ask or think.
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And tonight I know.
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We have not only
had wonderful messages,
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but I have
enjoyed Wintley's singing.
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Can you say amen to that?
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A man who not only
has been experienced
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in the Word of the
Lord, but he also sings
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the messages that
God has given to him.
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With about 25 recordings...
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And I say recordings because
he began when they were records.
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Now they are CD's.
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He has been so well anointed
of the Lord and decorated
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of heaven that I want
to share with you tonight
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some of his accomplishments,
not to magnify the man,
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but to magnify the Lord.
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For he has talked about...
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There was an album
a number of years ago
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that he produced
entitled, The Power of a Dream.
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And to be able to walk in
the dream that God had for him
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has been nothing short
of a miracle in his life.
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His wife is here tonight; Linda.
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Good to have you here.
Good to see you every evening.
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And they are the
proud parents of three sons.
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They are grown men now.
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They are looking forward to some
daughter-in-laws in the future,
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as God will have
His way in their lives.
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But Pastor Wintley Phipps is
not only a good friend of ours
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here at 3ABN, personal
friends, but a man who knows
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how to walk where God leads.
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He is a world
renowned vocal artist,
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educational
activist, motivational speaker,
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pastor, and CEO and founder
of The U.S. Dream Academy,
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for which he has received
numerous service awards.
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Among them, The Excellence
in Mentoring for Program
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Leadership award from
National Mentoring Partnership.
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He also is friends of
the well known Oprah Winfrey.
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He was blessed of
God to be in her life
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at a very pivotal intersection.
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And that friendship
has blossomed into ministry
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for both of them
through the years.
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He has also
received a number of awards
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because of the gifts he has.
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He has also been
philanthropic through the years;
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The National Center
for Black Philanthropy Inc.
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And he has been able to sing
for more than five, now six,
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Presidents, and also for
some presidential hopefuls,
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being there in the
Washington D.C. area.
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And so tonight we know
that the man that God calls
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is the man that He anoints.
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The man that He anoints
is the man that He appoints.
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And tonight as we
speak of the importance of
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preparing for the coming of
the Lord through the message,
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The Bride of Christ,
tonight, your manservant,
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the one God calls
to preach and to sing,
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is going to anoint
our hearts this evening
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as we go before the Lord.
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But before we call him to
bring what God has given to him,
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let us invite the presence
of the Lord to be with us.
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Let us pray.
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Gracious Father in
heaven, we thank You
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that our hearts are open now
as we sit at the table of grace.
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Lord, You have reminded
us in more than one occasion
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that preparation for the
kingdom of God is more important
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than knowing when the
kingdom of God will be.
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We have been given
insight into the Word of God
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to know that the
times in which we live
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are a harbinger of the
soon coming of our Savior.
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But what a day that
would be if You come and not
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find Your people ready.
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We have thanked You, Lord, and
we continue to give Your name
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the praise it is due, as
Your manservant has reminded us
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that reflecting and showing
Christ's character to the world
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is the most
important gift that we can give
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to this world and this society.
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So bless him again
tonight, Father, as he sings
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and uplifts Your holy
name through the spoken word.
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We pray this in Jesus'
name and for His sake, amen.
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Tonight, let us now
welcome with a hearty amen
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Pastor Wintley Phipps.
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Praise the Lord.
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A number of people have
been calling and asking,
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how do we get the workbook,
Perfecting Me; Becoming the
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Person You Were Created to Be,
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and the book, Your Best Destiny,
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where we talk about growing to
be like the character of Jesus.
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Well you can get it
at goodsamaritanmall.com.
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And they'll put
it up on the screen.
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But we praise the
Lord that you'll be able to
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get this resource.
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Some time ago, I
recorded this song.
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Listen to the message in
it. I hope you're blessed.
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Mine eyes have seen the glory
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of the coming of the Lord;
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He is trampling out the vintage
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where the grapes
of wrath are stored;
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He hath loosed
the fateful lightning
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of His terrible swift sword;
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His truth is marching on.
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Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
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Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
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Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
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His truth is marching on.
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In the beauty of the lilies
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Christ was born across the sea,
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with a glory in His bosom
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that transfigures you and me.
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As He died to make men holy,
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let us live to make men free.
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Our God is marching on.
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Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
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Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
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Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
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His truth is marching on.
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Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
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Oh, glory, glory! Hallelujah!
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Glory, glory! Hallelujah!
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His truth is marching on.
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His truth is marching on.
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Marching on.
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Marching on.
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Let us pray.
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Father, as we
open Your Holy Word,
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I ask that You would cleanse
me of all unrighteousness.
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Fill my life with Your Holy
Spirit's presence and power.
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Speak to me,
through me, and for me.
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And I promise You,
God, I'll always give You
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the honor, the
glory, and the praise.
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In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
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Praise the Lord.
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God is so awesome, amen?
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Tonight we're
going to be talking about
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the character of the bride.
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The character of the bride.
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The patriarch, Abraham, was
nearing the end of a prosperous
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and remarkable life.
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With his footsteps
beginning to falter
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and his eyesight
beginning to fail,
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Abraham prepared his
heart to pass through
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the valley of
the shadow of death.
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But like many parents
today, Abraham was concerned
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that his 40 year old son, Isaac,
was still not yet married.
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As Abraham looked around
the land in which he lived
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and saw the character and
caliber of the young ladies
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Isaac had to choose
from, Abraham was troubled.
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Abraham had seen
many of his own relatives
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from his brother Lot led astray
by their decision to marry
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outside of their faith.
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And Abraham knew that
because Isaac was a gentle soul,
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a giving soul, a loving
young man whose heart was
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tender and affectionate,
Abraham knew that if Isaac
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married the wrong
woman, his desire to please her
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would be so overwhelming that
it would cause him to compromise
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his faith for the sake of
keeping harmony in the home.
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Abraham went to
his son Isaac and said,
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"Son, you know I love you, but
I'm going to choose your wife."
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I believe, brothers and
sisters, if your parents
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are praying people...
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Uh-huh.
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...God may use them to show
you the character of the one
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you intend to marry.
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And no matter how
well intentioned and pure
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a spouses motive
is, history has proven
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that it's easier for a wife
or husband who is an unbeliever
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to pull down a believing spouse
than it is the other way around.
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Maybe it's just the
power of gravity at work
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that it's always
easier to pull someone down
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than it is to pull somebody up.
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For example, have you
ever noticed that when it comes
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to going to church, that
it's easier to stop going
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than it is to start going.
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As a matter of fact, the only
way you can stay married long
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is if you learn to compromise.
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When it is, "My
way or the highway,"
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both of you will
end up in a ditch.
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In a great marriage,
you have to learn to perfect
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the art of
accommodation and concession.
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In a great marriage,
you always have to be ready
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to bless your
partner with copious showers
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of humility and diplomacy.
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You know, when he wants to
watch wrestling on Friday night,
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nothing much you can do.
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You can't make it an issue.
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It's his house too.
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A great marriage is
a constant search for
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harmony and understanding.
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And you will find a good
marriage to be a refining
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and sanctifying
influence in your life.
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And I don't care
how brilliant you are,
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when you marry
outside of the will of God,
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you're taking the
biggest gamble of your life.
00:14:05.07\00:14:08.78
Because Isaac was
confident that the God of heaven
00:14:09.68\00:14:12.55
was guiding his father,
Abraham, he had learned to trust
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and have great
faith in the wisdom
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and judgment of Abraham.
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And back in those days,
remember, the love connection
00:14:21.66\00:14:25.66
was generally made by
believing faithful parents.
00:14:25.69\00:14:30.23
But don't worry, God had
prescribed an ejection clause
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in this agreement,
in this arrangement.
00:14:35.14\00:14:37.74
God had instructed that
no one was to marry someone
00:14:37.77\00:14:42.28
they could not
love in a romantic way.
00:14:42.31\00:14:45.85
Somebody say, "Praise the Lord."
00:14:46.41\00:14:48.75
Because you can love everybody
in a brother/sister way,
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but it's only a select
group of people you can love
00:14:53.22\00:14:56.89
in a romantic way.
00:14:56.93\00:14:58.63
But Isaac was a son who trusted
his father with his life.
00:14:59.03\00:15:02.86
You remember, you know
that he would trust his father
00:15:02.90\00:15:06.94
with the choice of his wife too.
00:15:07.44\00:15:10.31
As he prayed, Abraham
remembered that back in the
00:15:10.97\00:15:13.71
land of his childhood,
there still lived a believing
00:15:13.74\00:15:17.71
people who kept the
commandments of the living God.
00:15:17.75\00:15:21.72
And Abraham believed
that there had to be somewhere
00:15:21.98\00:15:25.42
in Mesopotamia a
young lady of character
00:15:25.45\00:15:29.26
who could make a
good bride for his son.
00:15:29.29\00:15:35.63
A bride who was
willing to follow the leading
00:15:36.10\00:15:40.80
of the Holy Spirit.
00:15:40.84\00:15:42.60
Abraham believed that
somewhere in Mesopotamia
00:15:42.94\00:15:46.11
there was a young lady who, when
convicted by the Holy Spirit,
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would leave her home
and family to unit her life
00:15:51.35\00:15:56.45
in marriage with one
whom she had never seen.
00:15:56.48\00:16:03.53
There was no FaceTime back then.
00:16:04.13\00:16:06.76
Because of his age and
the rigors of such a journey,
00:16:07.96\00:16:11.47
Abraham delegated the
responsibility of choosing
00:16:11.90\00:16:15.37
the young lady to his
eldest servant, Eliezer.
00:16:15.40\00:16:19.84
Before Eliezer left to
carry out the most important
00:16:19.87\00:16:23.14
mission of his life, Abraham
said to him, "The Lord of God
00:16:23.18\00:16:26.98
will be with you, He will
guide you in all your ways.
00:16:27.02\00:16:30.79
He will send an angel to guide
you to the angel who He has
00:16:30.89\00:16:35.52
chosen for my son."
00:16:35.56\00:16:37.69
And so Abraham's
servant made the long journey
00:16:38.26\00:16:40.53
beyond Damascus.
00:16:40.56\00:16:42.23
When he arrived, he
went straightway to the well.
00:16:42.53\00:16:46.47
He sat there patiently, hoping
to find a woman of character.
00:16:47.34\00:16:54.78
As the women came to
draw water for the evening,
00:16:55.34\00:16:58.18
he prayed to the Lord,
"Lord, let it be that whoever
00:16:58.21\00:17:01.82
I ask for a drink, and she says,
'Oh, and let me bring water
00:17:01.85\00:17:06.96
for your camels too,' let
her be the one You have chosen
00:17:06.99\00:17:11.56
for Isaac."
00:17:11.59\00:17:12.93
Eliezer prayed that
God's providence would lead him
00:17:13.19\00:17:17.20
to a woman of character.
00:17:17.23\00:17:19.73
In the book of 2
Peter, God presents to us
00:17:20.20\00:17:23.97
eight key dimensions that
are necessary for people of
00:17:24.21\00:17:30.78
character to have.
00:17:30.81\00:17:32.65
You find it in 2 Peter 1:5.
00:17:33.65\00:17:37.39
Temperance, or self-control.
00:17:48.46\00:17:50.80
Charity, or love.
00:18:00.88\00:18:02.64
But look at what it
says in 2 Peter 1:8.
00:18:02.68\00:18:06.61
That means that a
bride of character would have
00:18:24.73\00:18:30.24
these dimensions of character.
00:18:30.27\00:18:33.17
She would be a woman of faith,
00:18:33.84\00:18:35.91
she would be woman of virtue,
she would be a woman of wisdom,
00:18:37.55\00:18:42.12
a woman of temperance,
a woman of self-control,
00:18:42.48\00:18:46.55
a woman of patience, a
woman of reverence for God,
00:18:46.82\00:18:52.29
a woman of
kindness, and a woman of love.
00:18:52.96\00:18:56.73
"For man looketh on
the outward appearance,
00:18:57.17\00:18:59.70
but God looketh upon the heart."
00:18:59.90\00:19:03.34
No matter how
handsome or how pretty you are
00:19:04.07\00:19:07.34
on the outside, with God it is
character that counts with Him.
00:19:07.38\00:19:14.25
I read about this lady
who was out on a first date,
00:19:14.82\00:19:19.05
and said to the young man,
"What do you love most about me;
00:19:19.45\00:19:24.83
my natural beauty
or my gorgeous figure?"
00:19:25.53\00:19:30.17
Her date quietly replied,
"What I really love about you
00:19:31.33\00:19:35.64
is your sense of humor."
00:19:35.74\00:19:37.81
Too many people today are caught
up with the Hollywood externals
00:19:41.24\00:19:48.22
and they forget that with
God it is character that counts.
00:19:48.62\00:19:54.26
Hollywood has its
standards, but God has His.
00:19:54.29\00:19:57.76
And the difference is,
most people can never measure up
00:19:58.16\00:20:02.80
to Hollywood's standards.
00:20:02.83\00:20:04.33
But God has promised, everyone
that listens to my voice today,
00:20:04.37\00:20:09.54
He has promised you
the power to measure up
00:20:09.57\00:20:12.47
to His standards.
00:20:12.51\00:20:14.18
Eliezer, Abraham's servant, was
looking for a woman of character
00:20:14.54\00:20:18.98
Isaac could love.
00:20:19.01\00:20:20.35
And in Genesis 24:10, the
Bible tells us the servant
00:20:20.88\00:20:26.89
took ten camels of
the camels of his master.
00:20:26.99\00:20:31.69
And verse 11, "He made
his camels to kneel down
00:20:31.73\00:20:35.96
without the city by a well.
00:20:36.00\00:20:37.93
And he said, 'O Lord
God,'" verse 12, "O God of my
00:20:38.13\00:20:41.77
master Abraham,
send me good speed today.
00:20:41.80\00:20:45.21
Send me someone. Show kindness.
00:20:45.24\00:20:48.31
I'm going to stand here.
00:20:48.34\00:20:50.08
Let it come to pass that
this damsel to whom I shall say,
00:20:50.11\00:20:55.25
'Let down thy pitcher, I
pray thee, that I may drink,'
00:20:55.28\00:20:58.15
and she shall say,
'Drink, and I will give your
00:20:58.19\00:21:00.86
camels drink too.'
00:21:00.89\00:21:02.69
And it came to pass," verse
15 of chapter 24 of Genesis,
00:21:02.89\00:21:09.50
"It came to pass, before
he had even done speaking..."
00:21:09.53\00:21:14.90
What a God you serve.
00:21:14.94\00:21:16.27
Before you even
finish your prayer,
00:21:16.30\00:21:18.41
He's answering that prayer.
00:21:19.11\00:21:20.98
"Before he had done
speaking," the Bible says,
00:21:21.24\00:21:24.41
"that behold,
Rebekah came out..."
00:21:24.45\00:21:28.68
Praise the Lord.
00:21:29.08\00:21:30.42
And I like verse 16.
00:21:30.79\00:21:32.39
It starts, "And the damsel
was very fair to look upon..."
00:21:32.42\00:21:38.09
Well, let's get
that out of the way.
00:21:38.59\00:21:40.80
Rebekah was a stunning beauty.
00:21:40.90\00:21:44.43
There are very few women in
the Bible that the word of God
00:21:44.73\00:21:48.74
says that they were
fair, or they were gorgeous.
00:21:48.77\00:21:52.61
Queen Vashti was one.
00:21:52.94\00:21:54.94
Queen Esther was another.
00:21:55.58\00:21:58.38
Rebekah was another.
00:21:58.91\00:22:01.42
Rebekah was so
beautiful that Isaac was scared
00:22:01.98\00:22:07.06
people would
kill him to get her.
00:22:07.09\00:22:09.72
As a matter of fact,
in Genesis 26:7 it says,
00:22:10.83\00:22:14.13
"And the men of the
place asked him of his wife.
00:22:14.16\00:22:16.87
And he said, 'Oh no,
no, she's not my wife.
00:22:17.07\00:22:18.67
She's my sister.'"
00:22:18.70\00:22:20.10
And in Genesis 26:8 it tell
us that the king saw Rebekah
00:22:20.84\00:22:27.78
and Isaac laughing
and playing one day.
00:22:27.81\00:22:32.68
And the king said to
himself, "Whoa, whoa, whoa.
00:22:32.98\00:22:35.68
Wait a minute.
00:22:35.72\00:22:37.05
No brother and
sister play like that."
00:22:37.45\00:22:40.39
"And it came to
pass," chapter 26 verse 8,
00:22:41.66\00:22:44.76
"when he had been
there a long time,
00:22:44.79\00:22:46.90
that the king looked out of the
window and he saw them playing,
00:22:46.93\00:22:49.56
and Abimelech said, 'No,
this can't be your sister.'"
00:22:49.60\00:22:55.94
Externals may be
noticed, but it is character
00:22:57.07\00:23:02.48
that counts with God.
00:23:02.51\00:23:04.28
Remember, God tells us all
that through His Scriptures.
00:23:04.71\00:23:07.85
Proverbs 31:30,
you remember that?
00:23:07.88\00:23:09.75
It says, "Charm is
deceitful, beauty is fleeting;
00:23:09.78\00:23:13.49
but a woman who fears
the Lord is to be praised."
00:23:13.92\00:23:18.76
Proverbs 11:22 tells
us that a beautiful woman
00:23:19.43\00:23:22.23
who lacks character,
who lacks discretion,
00:23:23.37\00:23:26.94
who lacks wisdom, is like
a gold ring in a pigs nose.
00:23:26.97\00:23:32.31
My God.
00:23:32.54\00:23:33.88
Ezekiel 16 warns against God's
people trusting in their beauty.
00:23:34.38\00:23:38.38
And in 1 Peter 3:3-5,
it tells us that beauty
00:23:38.45\00:23:42.35
should come, not from outward
adornment such as jewelry and
00:23:42.38\00:23:46.59
wearing of gold and clothes.
00:23:46.62\00:23:48.12
It should come from
the inner character,
00:23:48.16\00:23:51.23
the sweet gentle quiet spirit.
00:23:51.26\00:23:55.10
So let's look at the
character of Rebekah.
00:23:55.43\00:23:58.83
Genesis 24:16.
00:23:59.97\00:24:02.24
So we got that out of
the way; she was pretty.
00:24:06.34\00:24:09.11
Somebody say amen for pretty.
00:24:09.88\00:24:11.81
And then it also says, not only
was she very fair to look upon,
00:24:12.08\00:24:17.92
it says she was a virgin.
00:24:18.02\00:24:22.62
And it adds and
explains what a virgin is.
00:24:25.49\00:24:29.26
"...neither had
any man known her..."
00:24:29.86\00:24:35.47
She was a woman of character.
00:24:35.90\00:24:38.71
"...she went down to the
well, and filled her pitcher,
00:24:39.01\00:24:40.68
and come up..."
00:24:40.71\00:24:42.04
That means she
was a working woman.
00:24:42.08\00:24:43.95
A woman of character.
00:24:45.48\00:24:46.98
Verse 17...
00:24:47.32\00:24:48.65
That meant to me she
was a woman of kindness.
00:24:58.39\00:25:01.83
And a woman of kindness
is a woman of character.
00:25:02.40\00:25:06.33
"And she hasted and let down
her pitcher upon her hand..."
00:25:06.47\00:25:08.94
"Sir," she said,
"you drink first."
00:25:10.21\00:25:14.58
Well, that meant to me that
she was a woman of patience.
00:25:14.88\00:25:18.05
She was a woman of self-control.
00:25:18.15\00:25:20.62
She didn't drink first.
She said, "You drink first."
00:25:21.28\00:25:23.92
And in verse 19...
00:25:24.12\00:25:25.45
So Rebekah was not a prima donna
00:25:43.71\00:25:47.31
who couldn't
get her hands dirty.
00:25:48.18\00:25:50.48
Oh, somebody say amen.
00:25:51.41\00:25:53.28
Rebekah was a
woman of character.
00:25:54.22\00:25:57.49
Now keep in mind, Eliezer had,
the Bible tells us, ten camels.
00:25:57.52\00:26:02.02
And each camel, after a
long trip, is able of drinking
00:26:02.42\00:26:09.56
25 gallons of water.
00:26:09.60\00:26:12.13
So if you average it out,
00:26:12.37\00:26:14.40
five gallons of
water for each time...
00:26:14.60\00:26:17.74
Believe me, five gallons of
water to carry is pretty heavy.
00:26:17.97\00:26:21.41
Well that's 40 pounds of water.
00:26:22.14\00:26:24.25
And the ten camels
needed 250 gallons.
00:26:24.28\00:26:28.55
That meant that
Rebekah probably took 40 to 50
00:26:28.65\00:26:33.49
trips to the well to get enough
water for all those camels.
00:26:33.82\00:26:39.96
Well, that's a
woman of character.
00:26:40.56\00:26:42.46
You know you wouldn't do it.
00:26:43.93\00:26:45.63
Rebekah was not only beautiful,
she was not only morally pure,
00:26:47.20\00:26:52.27
she's a hard working woman
full of kindness and generosity.
00:26:52.87\00:26:58.51
In other words, Rebekah was
beautiful outside and inside.
00:26:58.55\00:27:02.38
She had an inward moral beauty,
and she was still a virgin,
00:27:02.58\00:27:07.19
the Bible says.
00:27:07.22\00:27:08.56
And today, what
do you call that?
00:27:08.59\00:27:10.13
You call that, a miracle.
00:27:10.16\00:27:12.29
Isn't that the truth?
00:27:14.43\00:27:15.76
A woman of inward moral beauty,
00:27:15.80\00:27:19.47
and a woman who
is still a virgin.
00:27:19.50\00:27:22.80
And Rebekah was God's
perfect match for Isaac.
00:27:23.00\00:27:26.07
God didn't need
eHarmony, or Christian Mingles,
00:27:26.11\00:27:31.25
or Match.com.
00:27:31.45\00:27:32.85
God doesn't need social media
to find you a wife or a husband.
00:27:32.88\00:27:37.99
Amen.
00:27:38.32\00:27:39.65
Have you ever heard of prayer?
00:27:39.79\00:27:41.66
God is able to arrange a
marriage of two praying people
00:27:42.92\00:27:48.66
from hundreds of miles away
without the aid of social media.
00:27:48.86\00:27:53.97
He did it then and He
can still do it today.
00:27:54.30\00:27:57.27
The Bible says, "Trust in
the Lord with all thine heart;
00:27:57.54\00:28:00.14
lean not unto
thine own understanding.
00:28:00.24\00:28:01.94
In all thy ways acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your path."
00:28:01.98\00:28:07.82
Somebody say, "Praise God."
00:28:07.85\00:28:09.58
Rebekah was exactly who
Isaac needed to complete him.
00:28:10.19\00:28:13.59
And after Eliezer
made arrangements with
00:28:13.62\00:28:16.12
Rebekah's family, Rebekah
set out on a journey of faith.
00:28:16.16\00:28:20.40
Rebekah was a woman of faith.
00:28:20.43\00:28:22.93
And a woman of faith
is a woman of character.
00:28:22.96\00:28:27.20
Rebekah was willing to
leave her family, her country,
00:28:27.87\00:28:30.64
400 miles, to marry
somebody she had never met.
00:28:30.74\00:28:36.64
That's faith.
00:28:37.31\00:28:38.65
All because she knew God
was leading her and guiding her.
00:28:39.21\00:28:42.35
I remember while
in my teenage years,
00:28:42.38\00:28:45.89
I began to pray that God would
give me a woman of character.
00:28:45.99\00:28:51.23
And I went down
to Oakwood College,
00:28:51.69\00:28:54.33
and I went there to their well.
00:28:54.36\00:28:56.50
And I sat by the side
of that well, and I prayed,
00:28:57.93\00:29:01.80
"Lord, whoever I
ask for a cup of water,
00:29:01.84\00:29:05.07
let her be the one.
00:29:05.77\00:29:07.44
And if she says, 'Let
me feed your camels too..'"
00:29:07.54\00:29:11.11
And I waited and
waited, and nobody came.
00:29:11.98\00:29:14.48
But one day I was
on campus talking to a
00:29:15.68\00:29:18.12
couple of young ladies.
00:29:18.15\00:29:19.49
But if you hear my
wife tell the story,
00:29:19.52\00:29:21.09
I was with about
twelve young ladies.
00:29:21.12\00:29:23.06
And in the midst
of those young ladies,
00:29:23.09\00:29:25.06
my wife now, Linda,
walked up to me and said,
00:29:25.26\00:29:29.76
"Excuse me,"
tapped me on the shoulder,
00:29:29.80\00:29:32.03
"when you're free, I'd
like to have a word with you."
00:29:32.07\00:29:35.34
Now, you know,
that took courage.
00:29:35.74\00:29:39.14
To walk up with other
young ladies around and
00:29:39.94\00:29:42.81
tap me on the shoulder.
00:29:43.31\00:29:44.88
You know, she braved
all the looks that said,
00:29:45.31\00:29:48.28
"Oh no she didn't!"
00:29:48.32\00:29:50.02
And then she waited for me.
00:29:52.12\00:29:54.16
That meant she had
courage and patience.
00:29:54.59\00:29:57.73
Praise the Lord.
00:29:58.59\00:29:59.93
And she said to me, "My
mama sent me some money,
00:30:00.43\00:30:03.93
and I heard you have a car.
00:30:04.33\00:30:06.43
Would you mind taking
me to pick up the money?"
00:30:06.77\00:30:09.47
Back in the Western
Union days, you know.
00:30:09.50\00:30:11.57
Well not only did she
have courage and patience,
00:30:12.07\00:30:14.91
she also had wisdom.
00:30:15.14\00:30:17.58
She didn't want to
leave her mother's money
00:30:18.08\00:30:20.15
sitting too long at
Western Union drawing interest.
00:30:20.18\00:30:23.49
Amen.
00:30:23.52\00:30:24.85
And then when I got
to know her, I understood
00:30:24.92\00:30:27.12
she was also a
woman of kindness.
00:30:27.16\00:30:29.12
And I now knew why.
00:30:29.16\00:30:30.86
Because my wife had a
sister, a crippled sister,
00:30:30.89\00:30:36.26
who was dropped
when she was a baby.
00:30:36.30\00:30:39.53
And she grew to be
29 years of age with the
00:30:39.57\00:30:44.11
brain of a 5 month old.
00:30:44.14\00:30:45.74
She could not
take care of herself.
00:30:45.77\00:30:50.08
And so, she slept in
my wife's room with her.
00:30:50.11\00:30:55.62
And my wife, Linda, took such
good care of her invalid sister.
00:30:55.65\00:31:01.62
Even if a mosquito landed
on her, Linda was the one there
00:31:01.92\00:31:06.66
to kill it.
00:31:06.86\00:31:08.50
So Linda grew up
cultivating kindness.
00:31:08.83\00:31:13.37
One day at her house,
a man pulled out a gun.
00:31:14.00\00:31:17.24
Started waving it
around to their family.
00:31:18.11\00:31:20.58
She calmly went to
the phone and dialed 911.
00:31:20.78\00:31:24.85
That's a woman of courage.
00:31:25.65\00:31:27.68
Amen.
00:31:28.18\00:31:29.52
And my wife is the most
virtuous woman I've ever known.
00:31:30.29\00:31:33.02
I can't begin to tell you
all the stories that showed me
00:31:33.05\00:31:36.73
the character of my wife Linda.
00:31:36.76\00:31:38.96
But this I know,
when a man wants a bride,
00:31:39.19\00:31:43.57
the most important
thing he wants to find
00:31:43.80\00:31:47.50
is a woman of character.
00:31:47.70\00:31:50.67
Jesus, too, is
looking for a bride.
00:31:51.54\00:31:57.85
His church.
00:31:58.78\00:32:00.32
He is looking for a
bride that has character.
00:32:01.55\00:32:08.39
In the book of
Ephesians 5:25, it says,
00:32:09.42\00:32:11.86
"Husbands, love your
wives, even as Christ
00:32:11.89\00:32:17.67
also loved the church,
and gave Himself for it;
00:32:17.70\00:32:21.74
that He might
sanctify it and cleanse it
00:32:22.40\00:32:26.04
with the washing
of water by the word.
00:32:26.07\00:32:28.41
That He might present it
to Himself a glorious church,
00:32:28.51\00:32:34.02
not having spot, or
wrinkle, or any such thing;
00:32:34.12\00:32:39.25
but that it should be
holy and without blemish."
00:32:39.29\00:32:44.06
Jesus is looking for
a bride of character.
00:32:44.16\00:32:49.13
And He calls this
bride, His church.
00:32:49.66\00:32:53.30
He's looking for a
church that has character
00:32:53.50\00:32:57.67
that resembles His own.
00:32:57.71\00:33:00.01
And what is the church?
00:33:00.51\00:33:01.94
The church is a group of
people God has brought together
00:33:02.58\00:33:06.31
to prepare as a bride
to take to His kingdom.
00:33:06.35\00:33:10.85
Amen.
00:33:11.45\00:33:12.79
What is the church?
00:33:12.89\00:33:14.22
The church is a place
where people are united
00:33:14.26\00:33:17.83
in the holy bonds of fellowship,
and they are all committed,
00:33:17.86\00:33:21.53
they are all committed
to walking in the footsteps
00:33:21.56\00:33:25.60
of Christ and resembling,
reflecting, and revealing
00:33:25.63\00:33:30.84
His character to the world.
00:33:30.87\00:33:33.68
A church that does not
reveal the character of Christ
00:33:34.34\00:33:39.51
to the world cannot
say they are His bride.
00:33:39.71\00:33:44.55
Ooh, my my.
00:33:46.32\00:33:47.66
And I tell people that
Christ has brought us together
00:33:48.19\00:33:50.96
from different backgrounds
and races and different places
00:33:51.19\00:33:55.36
because a fist is
always stronger than a finger.
00:33:55.56\00:34:01.60
He wants us all to be united.
00:34:01.97\00:34:04.41
For as the body is one,
and one body being many a one,
00:34:04.97\00:34:08.54
so also is our Lord Christ.
00:34:08.58\00:34:11.91
So praise the Lord,
our God is looking for
00:34:12.28\00:34:15.92
a bride of character.
00:34:15.95\00:34:18.89
She must first put on the
robe of Christ's righteousness.
00:34:18.92\00:34:22.82
That means she has to
withdraw from all allegiance
00:34:23.19\00:34:27.20
to the world.
00:34:27.23\00:34:28.56
And why should
you join the church?
00:34:30.10\00:34:32.43
The church of
Christ is made of people
00:34:33.10\00:34:37.37
who have made a
commitment to be representatives
00:34:37.87\00:34:42.51
of the character of Christ.
00:34:42.54\00:34:45.08
By beholding the goodness,
the mercy, the justice,
00:34:46.08\00:34:51.12
and the love of God
revealed in the church,
00:34:51.15\00:34:54.32
the world is to
have a representation
00:34:55.09\00:34:58.39
of His character.
00:34:58.79\00:35:00.60
In other words, when the
world looks at the church,
00:35:00.83\00:35:04.70
the world should see
the character of Christ
00:35:04.93\00:35:09.27
being made
manifest in the world.
00:35:09.60\00:35:12.47
Amen.
00:35:13.07\00:35:14.41
In the church here below, God's
children are to be prepared
00:35:14.68\00:35:19.38
for the great
reunion in the church above.
00:35:19.58\00:35:22.85
Yes, there is a church on earth
and there is a church above.
00:35:23.05\00:35:27.49
Those who here live
in harmony with Christ
00:35:27.69\00:35:30.89
may look forward
to an endless life
00:35:30.93\00:35:34.50
in the family of the redeemed.
00:35:34.53\00:35:37.23
Now I want to share with
you some of the most wonderful
00:35:37.90\00:35:40.77
quotes from the spirit of
prophecy I've come across.
00:35:41.20\00:35:44.17
Christ longs to see
true Christian character
00:35:45.01\00:35:50.91
manifested in the
church here below.
00:35:51.15\00:35:55.12
That is why all of us
who are members of the church
00:35:55.88\00:35:59.05
this side of heaven
ought to feel a responsibility
00:35:59.25\00:36:04.39
to overcome our
defects of character.
00:36:04.43\00:36:08.56
We cannot hold on...
00:36:09.33\00:36:11.20
He is looking for a
bride without spot or wrinkle.
00:36:11.23\00:36:15.67
So we cannot hold on to
our defects and still claim
00:36:15.90\00:36:20.41
we are the church.
00:36:20.44\00:36:22.11
We have to encourage others
to overcome while we do our best
00:36:22.78\00:36:28.72
to overcome ourselves.
00:36:28.75\00:36:30.59
Jesus says, "My
bride is My church."
00:36:30.89\00:36:33.36
Jesus wants to know
that He is the Bridegroom.
00:36:33.52\00:36:37.63
He wants us to know
He is the Bridegroom
00:36:37.66\00:36:40.83
and we are His bride.
00:36:41.10\00:36:43.70
In the church, the
servant of God says,
00:36:44.30\00:36:46.63
in the church, Jesus is
making experiments of grace
00:36:46.67\00:36:52.47
on human hearts and is
effecting such a transformation
00:36:52.51\00:36:58.05
of character in the
members of the church
00:36:58.08\00:37:01.42
that angels are amazed,
and they express their joy
00:37:01.45\00:37:06.65
in songs of praise
seeing us transformed
00:37:06.69\00:37:10.89
into the character of Christ.
00:37:10.93\00:37:13.50
Angels rejoice, she
says, to think that sinful
00:37:13.93\00:37:18.93
erring human beings
can be so transformed
00:37:18.97\00:37:23.71
into the likeness of Jesus.
00:37:23.74\00:37:26.07
And though
enfeebled and defective,
00:37:27.04\00:37:29.31
one of my favorite quotes,
even though the church is
00:37:29.34\00:37:31.85
enfeebled, often defective,
needing constantly to be
00:37:31.88\00:37:35.95
warned and
counseled, the church is still
00:37:35.98\00:37:39.99
the object of
Christ's supreme regard.
00:37:40.02\00:37:43.63
He loves us with our wrinkles,
but He does not want us
00:37:43.66\00:37:49.13
to stay wrinkled.
00:37:49.16\00:37:51.00
Oh, you didn't hear what I said.
00:37:52.10\00:37:53.67
He loves us with our wrinkles,
00:37:53.77\00:37:56.71
but He doesn't want us
to remain or to think we can
00:37:56.91\00:38:01.14
go to heaven with our wrinkles.
00:38:01.18\00:38:04.21
The church is God's
fortress in the world.
00:38:04.71\00:38:07.08
It is His city of
refuge which He holds secure
00:38:07.12\00:38:10.92
in a world of sin and rebellion.
00:38:10.95\00:38:12.82
And I love this one...
00:38:13.32\00:38:14.66
"Betrayal of the church
is treachery to Christ..."
00:38:14.69\00:38:19.06
Wow.
00:38:19.59\00:38:20.93
"Through
centuries of persecution,
00:38:21.53\00:38:23.23
conflict, and darkness,
God has sustained His church."
00:38:23.63\00:38:30.47
And no matter how dark,
00:38:31.24\00:38:32.87
no matter how
disheartening the horizon,
00:38:33.64\00:38:36.24
no matter how
threatening the future may seem,
00:38:36.64\00:38:39.65
the church of the
living God will stand secure.
00:38:40.22\00:38:45.12
And those who keep
the commandments of God
00:38:46.12\00:38:48.89
and the faith of
Jesus will stand.
00:38:48.92\00:38:53.06
He is the good Shepherd, we
are the sheep of His pasture.
00:38:53.46\00:38:57.43
And may we never forget
that we belong to the church
00:38:57.47\00:39:01.57
of the living God.
00:39:01.60\00:39:03.27
And that church
belongs to Christ.
00:39:03.54\00:39:06.64
He said, "Upon this
rock I will build my church;
00:39:07.01\00:39:10.91
and the gates of
hell shall never prevail."
00:39:10.95\00:39:14.92
Jesus says, "I have in
the earth children who delight
00:39:15.18\00:39:20.06
to do My will.
00:39:20.09\00:39:21.52
And they are My church.
00:39:22.09\00:39:25.13
In have in the earth children
who wear the righteous robe
00:39:25.46\00:39:29.23
of My character.
00:39:29.26\00:39:30.77
And they are My church.
00:39:31.07\00:39:33.70
They love Me with a love
that is stronger than death.
00:39:33.94\00:39:38.24
They are My church."
00:39:38.54\00:39:40.04
This church, brothers
and sisters, is His church.
00:39:40.21\00:39:44.45
And it will
always be His church.
00:39:45.11\00:39:48.85
I know some people act
like it's their church.
00:39:49.08\00:39:51.82
But it's not their church.
00:39:52.59\00:39:54.66
It is His church.
00:39:54.92\00:39:57.13
We cannot shape its
teachings to our liking.
00:39:57.53\00:40:01.50
It is His church.
00:40:01.90\00:40:03.57
Neither can we do
in it what we please.
00:40:03.67\00:40:06.94
It is His church.
00:40:07.17\00:40:08.84
It is not ours.
00:40:09.04\00:40:10.37
He is the master Architect.
00:40:10.41\00:40:12.47
And it is our privilege
to be co-laborers with Him.
00:40:12.51\00:40:15.81
He said, "Upon this rock
we will build His church."
00:40:16.04\00:40:20.98
No, "Upon this rock," He
said, "I will build My church."
00:40:21.02\00:40:27.26
And in this hour of
fear and uncertainty,
00:40:27.66\00:40:30.53
we find comfort
in this sure word;
00:40:30.56\00:40:33.83
that Christ is
still today, even today,
00:40:34.00\00:40:38.27
still building His church.
00:40:38.30\00:40:41.30
And nothing shall
prevail against it.
00:40:41.80\00:40:44.37
Systems of
religion have come and gone.
00:40:44.47\00:40:48.51
Philosophies have burst upon
the scene only to pass away.
00:40:49.21\00:40:54.12
And yet the church of Christ,
00:40:54.38\00:40:56.95
the bride of
Christ, still stands.
00:40:56.99\00:40:59.92
It has survived, it has survived
the villainy of its enemies
00:41:00.02\00:41:05.76
and the
treachery of its friends.
00:41:06.09\00:41:09.00
The church of God still stands.
00:41:09.10\00:41:12.73
We are troubled on every
side, says the Scriptures,
00:41:12.77\00:41:15.67
yet not distressed.
00:41:15.70\00:41:18.01
We are perplexed,
but not in despair.
00:41:18.04\00:41:21.08
We are
persecuted, but not forsaken.
00:41:21.11\00:41:24.48
Cast down, but not destroyed.
00:41:24.51\00:41:27.62
The church of God
will never know defeat.
00:41:27.65\00:41:32.65
When America is no more...
00:41:34.59\00:41:37.19
...when America is no more...
00:41:39.39\00:41:42.06
...the church of
God will still stand.
00:41:43.06\00:41:47.07
No power in earth or
hell will ever bring the
00:41:47.97\00:41:51.91
church of God to nothing.
00:41:51.94\00:41:54.08
The church of God
has been marched against
00:41:54.18\00:41:58.31
by the might of
the Roman empire;
00:41:58.35\00:42:00.95
and it still stands.
00:42:00.98\00:42:02.78
It has been
persecuted by the Caesars,
00:42:03.02\00:42:05.95
and yet it still stands.
00:42:05.99\00:42:08.82
Like the desert flame that Moses
saw, the church still burns
00:42:08.86\00:42:14.53
without being consumed.
00:42:14.63\00:42:17.17
Storms have beat against it,
00:42:17.47\00:42:19.77
floods have
sought to overflow it,
00:42:19.93\00:42:22.47
empires have risen against it,
00:42:22.97\00:42:25.84
thrones and kingdoms
have sought to conquer it,
00:42:25.94\00:42:29.24
yet the church still stands.
00:42:29.28\00:42:33.01
She has survived
scoffers and schisms,
00:42:33.21\00:42:37.75
she has outlived the poisoned
words of skeptics and infidels;
00:42:37.95\00:42:44.73
the church of God still stands.
00:42:44.99\00:42:48.40
Entire civilizations
have come and gone,
00:42:48.60\00:42:52.90
traditions and
customs have faded away;
00:42:53.17\00:42:56.14
still, the church of God stands.
00:42:56.17\00:42:59.57
The church of God will always
stand, because it is built
00:42:59.77\00:43:04.68
on the irresistible purpose,
power, and presence of Jesus.
00:43:04.98\00:43:10.72
The Bridegroom is the
Lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:43:11.35\00:43:15.06
The wedding is the
marriage of the Lamb
00:43:15.26\00:43:18.19
to His bride, the church.
00:43:18.23\00:43:19.79
And Jesus says,
"I love My church."
00:43:21.16\00:43:25.57
And He's looking for a church
that is without spot or wrinkle.
00:43:27.80\00:43:34.78
A church that is
holy, without blemish.
00:43:35.74\00:43:39.95
The bride of the Lamb, the
faithful saints of all ages;
00:43:41.35\00:43:44.49
this bride is
clothed, the Scripture say,
00:43:45.05\00:43:48.59
in fine white clean linen.
00:43:48.62\00:43:51.46
The white linen is the
righteousness of the saints.
00:43:51.49\00:43:54.93
And the righteous robe
they wear is not a real robe,
00:43:55.03\00:43:58.93
it is the robe of character;
the robe of righteousness.
00:43:58.97\00:44:04.21
And she's arrayed in fine linen
that is provided by the Lamb.
00:44:04.84\00:44:08.61
And she's ready
for her marriage.
00:44:08.64\00:44:10.91
Amen.
00:44:11.38\00:44:12.71
I once read a story
about a handsome prince,
00:44:13.35\00:44:16.79
stately royal prince,
00:44:17.59\00:44:20.02
who fell in love
with a peasant girl.
00:44:20.69\00:44:24.56
She wasn't much.
00:44:25.33\00:44:26.66
As a matter of
fact, folks were amazed
00:44:26.70\00:44:30.17
that this prince would even be
interested in this peasant girl.
00:44:30.43\00:44:35.94
This peasant girl had a
lot of growing to do, however,
00:44:37.11\00:44:41.44
in her character.
00:44:41.84\00:44:43.21
And there were times
when she was irritable,
00:44:43.88\00:44:47.22
short tempered, times that
she would stumble and fall.
00:44:48.28\00:44:52.95
No one knew what
that prince saw in her.
00:44:53.92\00:44:59.33
What they could not do
was see that peasant girl
00:45:00.00\00:45:06.07
through the eyes of the prince.
00:45:06.40\00:45:09.54
But that prince decided that
he couldn't live without her.
00:45:10.61\00:45:17.58
And so he asked
her to be his bride.
00:45:18.41\00:45:21.92
The angels in heaven listened
as she accepted his proposal.
00:45:22.52\00:45:26.72
The prince promised his bride
that he was going to prepare
00:45:27.56\00:45:32.13
the home they
would live in together,
00:45:32.23\00:45:34.66
and he would come
back for her very soon.
00:45:35.36\00:45:38.97
The peasant girl,
now a princess betrothed,
00:45:39.67\00:45:43.71
pledged that she would be
faithful and await his return.
00:45:44.17\00:45:50.08
After a while though,
the story tells us that the
00:45:51.11\00:45:54.15
bride to be stopped living
in anticipation and preparation
00:45:54.18\00:46:01.82
for the return of her prince.
00:46:02.29\00:46:04.86
Sometimes the way she
lived, you wouldn't even know
00:46:05.86\00:46:10.50
that she was to be
the bride of a prince.
00:46:10.53\00:46:16.24
There were times when
that princess could be seen
00:46:16.74\00:46:22.31
flirting with the
other men of the village.
00:46:22.54\00:46:26.48
And you would have
expected a blessing like that,
00:46:27.55\00:46:31.55
a gift like that,
that she would be faithful.
00:46:31.59\00:46:36.73
You would expect her
to be filled with wonder
00:46:37.06\00:46:40.50
that she was so fortunate.
00:46:41.16\00:46:43.26
Fortunate to be
loved by such a prince.
00:46:44.10\00:46:48.24
You would think that she
would be careful to remain pure
00:46:48.44\00:46:54.81
in anticipation of the
return of her royal groom.
00:46:55.64\00:47:01.32
But she forgot about her prince.
00:47:02.58\00:47:06.59
Brothers and
sisters, we cannot forget
00:47:07.69\00:47:12.49
that we have been
betrothed to a royal Groom
00:47:13.36\00:47:20.94
who loves us, who
is coming back for us.
00:47:22.24\00:47:27.91
Coming to take
us to His kingdom.
00:47:28.91\00:47:32.68
Revelation 19:7 says,
"Let us be glad and rejoice,
00:47:33.65\00:47:38.29
and give honor to him:
00:47:38.32\00:47:39.99
for the marriage
of the Lamb is come,
00:47:40.66\00:47:42.52
and his wife hath
made herself ready.
00:47:42.56\00:47:45.86
And to her was granted
that she should be arrayed
00:47:46.49\00:47:49.10
in fine linen, clean..."
00:47:49.13\00:47:53.13
The church of
Christ should be clean.
00:47:53.54\00:47:56.71
"...for the fine linen is the
righteousness of the saints."
00:47:58.14\00:48:02.54
His bride should be
righteous and clean.
00:48:03.51\00:48:08.05
Are we living everyday in
preparation for the return
00:48:08.95\00:48:11.99
of our Groom?
00:48:12.02\00:48:13.42
You know, just when it seems
like the engine of the church
00:48:14.49\00:48:18.26
is sputtering, I want you
to know, God still has a people
00:48:18.29\00:48:24.57
even when those around
us, you have wheat and tares
00:48:25.33\00:48:31.84
growing together.
00:48:31.87\00:48:33.38
Just when it seems
like the church is faltering
00:48:33.41\00:48:36.31
and it might fail, I want
you to know, there's a scripture
00:48:36.34\00:48:39.81
I keep in my heart, 1 John 5:4,
00:48:39.85\00:48:42.62
"For whatsoever is born
of God overcometh the world.
00:48:42.65\00:48:48.92
And this is the victory
that overcometh the world,
00:48:49.32\00:48:52.09
even our faith."
00:48:52.13\00:48:53.60
We may not be sure about
the outcome of many things,
00:48:53.63\00:48:58.53
but this we do
know; that in the end,
00:48:58.57\00:49:03.94
this church is going to win.
00:49:04.54\00:49:07.21
Amen.
00:49:08.54\00:49:09.88
And when this warfare
against darkness is over,
00:49:10.05\00:49:14.38
because of Jesus
the church will triumph.
00:49:14.82\00:49:19.69
Praise God.
00:49:20.79\00:49:22.39
Because of Jesus, we who
sow in tears will reap in joy.
00:49:22.69\00:49:28.30
Because of Jesus, His church
will march on through the flood
00:49:28.73\00:49:33.40
and the flames, waving
palm branches of victory
00:49:33.44\00:49:37.47
in our hands.
00:49:37.51\00:49:38.84
Because of Jesus, we who
are the church shall come up
00:49:38.87\00:49:43.55
from every side,
from the north and south,
00:49:43.58\00:49:46.78
from east and west.
00:49:46.88\00:49:48.45
We're going to come
up carrying our crosses.
00:49:48.48\00:49:51.49
Going home as a bride
prepared for her Husband.
00:49:51.52\00:49:55.49
Going home to a land
where flowers never fade
00:49:55.69\00:50:00.13
and the day never dies.
00:50:00.16\00:50:02.63
This is the heritage of all who
belong to the church of Christ.
00:50:02.86\00:50:09.37
And it is not
enough to be in the church.
00:50:10.17\00:50:14.24
We must be the church.
00:50:15.14\00:50:18.15
But to be the
church, the bride of Christ,
00:50:19.35\00:50:23.99
we must have the
character of Christ.
00:50:24.72\00:50:29.06
There are many who
are undermining the bride
00:50:30.33\00:50:32.56
that Christ is
in love with today.
00:50:32.59\00:50:34.70
They are sowing seeds of discord
and disunity in the church.
00:50:35.26\00:50:40.24
They're calling the
bride all kinds of names.
00:50:40.27\00:50:42.54
But I want you to know,
let me read you something
00:50:42.74\00:50:45.07
before I close.
00:50:45.11\00:50:46.44
The servant of God says, and
you may look at it as we read...
00:50:46.47\00:50:48.71
In other words, anybody
who tells you that this church
00:51:13.57\00:51:16.71
is Babylon and you need to leave
it, they are doing the work
00:51:16.74\00:51:20.91
of the enemy of our souls.
00:51:20.94\00:51:23.55
Amen.
00:51:23.95\00:51:25.28
Even if this church
stumbles, is weak, defective,
00:51:27.12\00:51:32.25
it is still His church.
00:51:33.05\00:51:36.32
And He loves it
with an amazing love.
00:51:37.13\00:51:39.76
Listen to the
message in the song tonight.
00:51:40.50\00:51:43.73
Amazing love, how can it be
00:51:58.55\00:52:05.02
You broke the
chains and set me free?
00:52:05.25\00:52:11.73
You fill my
life with joy untold,
00:52:12.09\00:52:19.10
You right my
spirit, You feed my soul.
00:52:19.13\00:52:25.71
Now I want to let
the whole world know
00:52:25.81\00:52:32.98
of all You've done for me.
00:52:33.01\00:52:38.95
I want to praise Your name.
00:52:38.99\00:52:48.93
Amazing love, how can it be
00:52:49.86\00:52:55.87
You would give Your life for me?
00:52:56.64\00:53:02.98
You bring such
comfort to my soul,
00:53:03.08\00:53:09.78
You raise me up
and make me whole.
00:53:10.09\00:53:17.19
Now I want to let
the whole world know
00:53:17.23\00:53:24.50
of all You've done for me.
00:53:24.53\00:53:30.17
I want to praise Your name.
00:53:30.37\00:53:40.35
Amazing love, amazing love.
00:53:43.49\00:53:53.50
Amazing, amazing love.
00:53:56.97\00:54:06.64
Amazing love, how can it be
00:54:08.68\00:54:15.02
You would give Your life for me?
00:54:15.52\00:54:21.62
You took the blame,
00:54:21.66\00:54:25.26
carried my shame
all the way to Cavalry.
00:54:25.39\00:54:35.37
When I thought I
was forever lost,
00:54:35.90\00:54:42.91
You caught my falling soul.
00:54:42.94\00:54:49.85
I don't think I could ever,
00:54:49.88\00:54:57.03
ever love You more.
00:54:57.06\00:55:02.30
Amazing love.
00:55:02.33\00:55:08.27
Amazing love.
00:55:09.17\00:55:16.48
Amazing love, how can it be?
00:55:18.75\00:55:24.15
Now I'll live eternally.
00:55:24.35\00:55:30.13
I once was lost,
but now I'm found;
00:55:30.16\00:55:37.87
I was blind, but now I see.
00:55:37.97\00:55:44.84
And now I am forever Yours.
00:55:44.87\00:55:51.91
Soon I'll see Your face.
00:55:51.95\00:55:57.59
And I will love You more.
00:55:57.69\00:56:07.36
Amazing love.
00:56:08.13\00:56:15.10
Amazing love.
00:56:15.57\00:56:22.04
Amazing love.
00:56:22.44\00:56:30.62
Amazing love.
00:56:31.12\00:56:41.10
Father, we thank
You that You love us
00:56:44.53\00:56:49.50
with an amazing love.
00:56:50.51\00:56:52.47
You love Your
church, and You've blessed us
00:56:54.21\00:56:58.95
with the blessing and
the privilege of being part
00:56:59.25\00:57:03.22
of Your church;
00:57:03.25\00:57:05.09
the bride that You are
coming to take with You
00:57:05.82\00:57:10.16
to Your kingdom.
00:57:10.36\00:57:12.03
May we, dear God, so live
that we will, in our character,
00:57:12.46\00:57:18.23
be clothed with the
righteousness of Christ.
00:57:18.83\00:57:22.00
May Your bride be
a bride of character.
00:57:22.70\00:57:27.11
Amen and amen.
00:57:27.98\00:57:31.25