Participants: Carlton P. Byrd
Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000131
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00:01 ♪ (Theme) ♪ ♪ Jesus is worthy ♪
00:11 ♪ oh yes, he's worthy ♪ ♪ worthy of all... ♪ 00:18 ♪ all the praise... ♪ Pastor Byrd: You need to thank 00:22 God for the time when you hit rock bottom. 00:24 You have to learn how to thank God. 00:26 Because how would you ever come to know God like you know him 00:29 had you not hit rock bottom? 00:31 How would you know that God could pay your rents if you 00:35 never had rent due? 00:36 How could you come to know that God can heal your body if you've 00:40 never been sick? 00:41 How would you know if God is a Friend above all friends 00:44 if all your friends had never walked out on you? 00:47 Somebody today ought to thank God for the time you 00:51 were in the belly of the fish. 00:52 Aud: (applause) PB: Lord, I thank you 00:55 for that experience, because now I know who you 00:57 really are. 00:58 God, I thank you for those friends that ran out on me, 01:01 because now I know who my real friends are. 01:03 Lord, I thank you that you're a healer, 01:05 I think you that you're a provider, 01:08 I thank you that you're a way-maker, 01:10 I thank you that you're a shelter, I thank you 01:13 for your mercy, I thank you for your loving kindness, 01:16 I thank you for waking me up and starting me on my way, 01:19 I thank you for food and clothing, 01:21 shelter above my head. 01:23 God, I thank you. 01:25 Lord, I thank you, because you're on my side. 01:29 Because if it had not been for the Lord on my side, 01:32 where would I be? 01:33 God put Jonah in a place where Jonah couldn't do anything 01:37 but pray. 01:39 Anybody ever been there? 01:41 Where you couldn't do anything but pray? 01:45 Anybody know what I'm talking about? 01:48 Oh, keep living, sometimes God will put you on your back where 01:50 all you can do is look up and pray. 01:53 God will put you in situations where you can't do anything else 01:56 but call his name. 01:57 God says, I'll fix it so you won't have anyone calling you. 02:00 I'll fix it that your best friends walk out on you. 02:02 I will navigate your circumstances to a point where 02:05 you can't see anything but me. 02:07 You can't hear anything but me. 02:09 As a matter of fact, God says, I'll you so deep down into 02:12 the belly of a fish that you'll realize that you can't survive 02:16 without me. 02:17 If you're going to eat, I've gotta feed you. 02:21 If you're going to drink, I've gotta give you some water. 02:24 God says, if you're going to have clothes, 02:25 you'll learn that I have to clothe you. 02:28 God will put you in the belly of a fish, 02:30 and then God will say, now I've got your attention. 02:34 You see, when you're lying on your back and you have to call 02:39 on the name of the Lord in prayer, let me tell you 02:41 something: you'll learn something. 02:43 Growing up as a child, there's always been some God. 02:46 For all of us growing up, we've heard about God. 02:50 Whether we wanted to believe in God or not, we have heard 02:53 all of us about God. 02:54 But when you got a little older, you wanted to live like you 02:57 wanted to live. 02:58 You wanted to have a good time, you wanted to "experience life." 03:01 You're good ol' Adventist, you feel you've been sheltered 03:05 all your life. 03:06 You wanted to experience some things. 03:08 But God says, I'll take you to a place where you'll 03:09 have to remember. 03:10 I'll take you to a place where you'll have to remember what 03:12 your mama taught you, remember what your daddy taught you, 03:14 remember what Grandma taught you, remember what you learned 03:16 in Sabbath School. 03:18 You'll have to remember from whence cometh your health. 03:20 You can act a fool all you want, but God says, I'll show you 03:23 you have to remember. 03:26 Let's be real. 03:28 I got my suit on, it's tailored, got my shirt on, my bowtie, 03:30 clean-cut. 03:32 All of us looking good on a Sabbath day, praise be to God. 03:36 But the reality is that some of us have forgotten 03:39 where we come from. 03:41 We haven't always lived where we now live. 03:45 We haven't always driven what we now drive. 03:48 We haven't always been able to shop how we now shop. 03:51 Some of us, if we're real, used to have 03:53 just one Sabbath suit. 03:56 One Sabbath dress. 03:58 We had shoes that were our Sabbath shoes, they were shiny 04:02 on the top but had holes on the bottom. 04:05 Some of us remember the days when we didn't have a car, 04:09 but we walked. 04:10 It trips me out how these young people today say, I don't want 04:13 to walk from Harland Hall to the BT Building. 04:16 When I was at Oakwood, all we could do was walk. 04:18 Some of us remember when there was no air-conditioning. 04:21 You all know what I'm talking about? 04:25 I love these students. 04:26 You know, I look at them today, I see, they don't realize, 04:29 I'm old. 04:30 I was at AY last night, church packed full of young people, 04:32 I said, praise God. 04:33 They don't realize, 24 years ago we used to be in Mirren Hall 04:36 with no air-conditioning. 04:37 Packed. 04:41 Still no air-conditioning. 04:43 Aud: (laughs) PB: Packed, but we were just 04:47 as fine, we were having ourselves a good ol' 04:50 time, singing God is, and I shall wear a crown, 04:55 but I'm so glad that it's 24 years later. 04:57 Come on, say Amen. 04:58 God heard my cry, and he opened up the windows of heaven, poured 05:04 us out a blessing, and now there's not room enough 05:06 to receive it. 05:07 And when you really understand prayer, it doesn't make 05:09 a difference what situation you find yourself in. 05:11 Because when you really, sincerely pray to God, 05:15 your prayer will reach God. 05:17 And let me throw this in quickly. 05:20 Prayer cannot change things if prayer doesn't change you. 05:26 Aud: (applause) PB: Because of prayer 05:30 changes things, and you go back doing the same things, 05:36 you're going to mess the things up that prayer just changed. 05:42 Don't unearth what's already been buried. 05:45 Don't dig up what's already been done. 05:49 Some folk try to dig up stuff on other folk. 05:52 I got something on her, I got something on him, he dumped 05:55 me 20 years ago. 05:56 Let it go. 05:57 Aud: (unintelligible) PB: He dumped me 10 years 05:59 ago, she told me you were this, he told me you were that. 06:04 If it's dead and buried, let it go, earth to earth, ashes 06:10 to ashes, dust to dust. 06:11 Do I have a witness in this place? 06:13 Let me go on and finish this. 06:14 In Jonah, chapter 1, Jonah runs from God. 06:18 In Jonah, chapter 2, finds himself in the belly of a fish. 06:22 But then toward the end of the chapter, the Bible says 06:23 he has a change of heart. 06:26 He says, Enough is enough. 06:30 He says, I'm tired of running, I'm tired of doing it my way, 06:36 and it's gotten me nowhere. 06:37 I'm going to do it now God's way. 06:40 Now, Jonah 2:9 says, "But I will sacrifice unto thee 06:42 with the voice of Thanksgiving." 06:43 The Word of God says that Jonah says, "I will pay 06:48 that that I have vowed; salvation is of the Lord." 06:52 In other words, Jonah says, I will pay 06:55 what I said I will pay. 06:58 Lord, I will do what I said I'm gonna do. 07:02 Don't you know, friends of mine, there's a danger of making a vow 07:06 to God and not keeping it. 07:07 Don't play with God. 07:09 I said, don't play God. 07:10 The very thing you said you were going to do, you better do it. 07:13 God is tired of inconsistent Christians making promises they 07:15 can't keep and they don't want to keep. 07:18 Here we go: Lord, I lost my job. 07:21 I need employment. 07:22 I don't know, God, what I'm going to do, but I know that, 07:26 God, you own the cattle on a thousand hills. 07:29 Hallelujah, God. 07:31 And God, I worship you. 07:32 So God, if you just get me this job, God, I promise 07:38 I'll serve you. 07:39 And just as soon as aou get a new job, 07:42 you're too busy for God. 07:43 Lord, I'm tired of being in the world. 07:46 I'm tired of all the drama in the world, I'm tired 07:49 of people breaking my heart. 07:50 I'm ready to give my life to you, God. 07:52 Jesus, I don't want a man. 07:53 Jesus, I don't want a woman. 07:54 Jesus, I just want you. 07:55 And two weeks later, you meet somebody else and you're gone. 08:00 Lord, if you just help me pass this test. 08:06 Aud: (unintelligible) PB: I know I didn't study. 08:15 Aud: (laughter) PB: But this is what I like. 08:21 God, if you will direct my pencil to circle 08:23 the right answer. 08:26 Aud: (cheers, applause) PB: I promise you, 08:30 God, I won't miss church anymore. 08:36 And the moment you pass the test, hallelujah, thank God. 08:42 And you're nowhere to be found on Sabbath morning. 08:45 Amen, somebody. 08:48 Lord, I've got cancer. 08:51 But if you just heal my body this one time, I promise you, 08:55 God, I'll serve you till I die. 08:59 But the moment that cancer goes in remission, your service 09:02 to God goes into remission too. 09:08 Don't play with God. 09:13 Prayer is not for emergency use only, just like heaven is not 09:17 a fire escape from hell. 09:21 God needs committed Christians, not inconsistent opportunists. 09:27 Let me tell you something. 09:30 Some of us have been out there doing some foolishness. 09:33 Some of us have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. 09:37 But today you can come into the house of God and say, 09:43 God healed me. 09:44 God saved me. 09:46 God rescued me. 09:48 Somebody ought to thank God, because today you would not be 09:52 here if it were not for God. 09:55 Aud: Amen. 09:56 PB: Oh, yes, somebody ought to testify 09:59 of the goodness of God. 10:00 God, I wouldn't have the job if it weren't for you. 10:03 Some of you know God, I wouldn't have a degree if it weren't 10:06 for you. 10:07 I wouldn't have this car if it weren't for you. 10:10 God, we wouldn't have this church 10:12 if it weren't for you. 10:13 God, I wouldn't be back 10:15 in school, if it weren't for you. 10:20 My marriage wouldn't be together if it weren't for you. 10:22 My tumor wouldn't be benign if it weren't for you. 10:25 God, I wouldn't have anything if it weren't for you. 10:29 If it had not been for the Lord on my side. 10:32 That's why on Sabbath morning I enter into his gates 10:35 with thanksgiving. 10:36 I enter his courts with praise. 10:38 I'm thankful until him. 10:39 I don't have to wait on the praise team. 10:41 I don't have to wait on the choir. 10:43 I don't have to wait on the elders and the pastors 10:45 and the musicians. 10:46 But I will bless the Lord at all times, and His praise shall 10:51 continually be in my mouth. 10:53 But then the Bible says in Jonah, chapter 2, verse 10, 10:56 "And the Lord spake unto the fish." 11:01 Let's try that again. 11:06 Verse 10 of chapter 2: "And the Lord spake 11:10 until the fish," comma. You know, 11:17 when you come to Oakwood, you have to learn how to read 11:19 the bulletins. 11:20 You've got to know when the commas are there 11:23 and the periods are there. 11:24 "And the Lord spake to the fish," comma. 11:28 You mean to tell me the Lord had a conversation with a fish? 11:31 Picture that. 11:33 God talking to a fish. 11:38 But notice, if you look at the text carefully, 11:41 this is why you've got to really look 11:42 at the Word of God. 11:43 Notice, we don't know what God told the fish. 11:47 The only thing the Bible says is, "God spoke to the" what, 11:52 everybody? 11:53 It does not say what God told the fish. 12:00 The spiritual lesson for us today here is that God 12:03 is speaking to your situation. 12:07 And you don't even know it. 12:10 God will speak to your boss, God will speak to your 12:13 professor, God will speak to your credits, 12:17 God will speak to your landlord, God will speak to your student 12:21 accounts, God will speak to your situation. 12:26 And while you're trying to figure it out: God, what did 12:29 you say to my boss? 12:30 God says, don't worry about it. 12:33 God, you're in the registration line, you're working about how 12:37 it's going to work out. 12:38 God, what did you say to student accounts? 12:41 God says, don't worry about it, just be glad you got in school. 12:44 God, what did you say to my husband to make him so kind? 12:46 Don't worry about it, just be glad he's nice now. 12:48 Do I have a witness in this place? 12:51 Aud: [laughter] PB: God, what did you say 12:53 to the car salesman? 12:55 Don't worry about it. 12:56 Just rejoice in your blessing. 13:00 Quit trying to figure it out and just rejoice. 13:06 The Lord spake to the fish, comma, and the fish vomited 13:12 Jonah upon dry land. 13:16 The fish vomited Jonah on dry land. 13:23 Think about it. 13:26 When Jonah was swallowed up, Jonah was in the middle 13:30 of the sea. 13:31 But the closer Jonah got to God, the closer the fish got 13:37 to the bank. 13:38 Oh, you all don't get that. 13:42 The closer Jonah got to God, the closer the fish 13:51 got to the bank. 13:53 You see, if the fish had vomited Jonah up back in the middle 13:57 of the sea, Jonah would have still been swimming. 14:01 Jonah would probably have drowned. 14:04 But when God was dealing with brother Jonah in the belly 14:07 of the fish, the fish was all the time moving to the bank. 14:12 What am I trying to say? 14:14 God will let you out at the right place 14:16 at the right time. 14:17 Aud: (applause) PB: That's why I like God. 14:19 You see, friends of mine, you can't see it, but God, 14:24 thank you, Holy Ghost, God is moving you, 14:29 God is turning that thing around for you. 14:32 You can't see it, but God is moving you, 14:35 so when you finally do come out, you're going to be 14:37 in the right place. 14:41 Last thing. 14:43 Jonah 3:1: "And the Word of the Lord came unto Jonah 14:52 a second time." 14:56 Hallelujah, somebody. 14:58 "And the Word of the Lord came unto Jonah a second time. 15:05 Arise, get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach 15:14 unto it the preaching that I bid thee." 15:21 Praise God for a second chance. 15:23 The Bible says the Word of the Lord came to Jonah 15:30 a second time. 15:32 Whenever God repeats himself, you are a recipient of God's 15:37 grace and God's mercy. 15:41 Don't you know that God could have cut Jonah off. 15:46 Jonah could have died and drowned in his rebellion. 15:50 But God gave Jonah a second chance. 15:56 If you don't get anything from this message today, 15:59 get this: God uses broken people. 16:03 Aud: Amen. 16:04 PB: People who are messed up by sin, God will give them 16:09 a second chance. 16:11 In fact, if you read all the stories in the Bible, 16:14 you will find one consistent thing. 16:15 There is a thread of grace and thread of mercy that runs 16:19 through Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Peter 16:23 and Paul. 16:25 Think about it. 16:26 Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, but God covered him. 16:29 Noah got drunk, but God sobered him. 16:34 Jacob tricked his father, but God forgave him. 16:39 Moses murdered a man, but God called him. 16:43 Elijah quit and complained but God recommissioned him. 16:48 David slept with a woman who wasn't his wife, but God 16:52 pardoned him. 16:53 Peter denied the Lord not once, not twice, but three times, 16:57 but God used him. 16:59 Paul was persecuting Christians, but God blinded and saved him. 17:04 Jonah ran from God, but God redeemed him. 17:08 God uses broken people. 17:10 God uses the least, the lost, the last, the unlucky 17:14 and the left-out, which means God can use you. 17:18 Aud: Amen. 17:19 PB: That God can use me. 17:22 That God can use us. 17:24 We always think that God is looking for perfect people. 17:28 But God uses broken people. 17:30 At the end of the day, we're all like Jonah. 17:33 God gets the most out of us only after we've been broken. 17:36 After we've been broken and stripped of our pride 17:39 and left with the message he's given us, 17:40 the message of grace. 17:41 Let me tell you something; I've learned this over 17:43 my experience. 17:43 The best preachers are the ones who've been through something. 17:47 Aud: (applause) PB: The best singers, 17:52 people come up in Oakwood and they all sing, but you can 17:53 tell the difference between the singers. 17:55 The best singers are those who have been through something. 17:59 You see, they don't preach like others. 18:02 They don't sing like others. 18:05 They don't testify like others. 18:08 But there's an anointing that runs through their body. 18:12 People don't understand their worship, they don't understand 18:16 their praise, they don't understand their tears, 18:20 they don't understand when they just sit there 18:21 and they're silent. 18:22 But if you know and knew what I now know, you'd understand why 18:27 sometimes they act like they act, because sometimes things 18:31 are better the second time around. 18:35 God's desire was for Jonah to go the first time. 18:43 But Jonah was actually a better messenger the second time. 18:50 Some things are better the second time around. 18:56 I'm from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 19:02 I'm a Southern boy. 19:04 I learned that some things are better the second time around. 19:12 Anybody will tell you black-eyed peas taste better the second 19:20 time around. 19:22 Aud: Amen. 19:24 PB: Chili tastes better the second time around. 19:33 If you like salsa, let it sit one day, because it's always 19:40 better the second time around. 19:45 Somebody said love is better the second time around. 19:53 When Jonah went to Nineveh, it was better the second time 20:02 around. 20:03 Jonah didn't walk into Nineveh the second time as the great 20:06 prophet of God, but Jonah walked into Nineveh the second time as 20:09 a humble example of God's grace. 20:13 And just like Jonah, God is calling you. 20:17 The devil wants to shame you into thinking that you're too 20:20 messed up, you're too broken up, you're not good enough. 20:23 If you failed God, Satan wants you to wallow in defeat. 20:26 Satan wants you to have a pity party. 20:28 But God says, Get up, arise. 20:33 The message is still the same. 20:35 The duty is still the same. 20:39 Get up from here and start now, because God says I'm the God of 20:44 a second chance. 20:45 You see, friends of mine, as I get ready to take my seat, 20:48 we need to learn how to thank God for a second chance. 20:53 You see, if there's anything that everybody in the place, 20:55 that we all have in common, it is that we have all been the 20:59 recipients of a second chance. 21:02 And that's why I praise God. 21:04 That's why I get excited when I worship God. 21:07 That's why my eyes get big and my cheeks bulge out 21:10 when we sing "Lift up the trumpet, loud let it ring, 21:13 Jesus is coming again." 21:15 It's because I recognize that God has given me a second 21:18 chance, that I've messed up. 21:21 Somebody knows, you know my testimony, I shouldn't be here 21:24 today. 21:25 But God has given me a second chance. 21:27 Is there anybody grateful that God has given them a second 21:29 chance? 21:30 Aud: (applause) PB: You ought to give God praise, you ought to 21:33 thank God for when you messed up, he gave you a second chance. 21:36 When you made a promise and you didn't keep it, he gave you a 21:39 second chance. 21:40 When you said you would, but you didn't, he gave you a second 21:45 chance. 21:47 When you should have been dead, buried in your grave, but he 21:52 gave you a second chance. 21:56 I'm so glad that he's given me a second chance. 22:02 (piano) Speaking of a second time around, the first time 22:07 Jesus came he came as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 22:13 lying in a manger. 22:15 The first time he came, he walked the dusty roads of Judea 22:22 and Nazareth. 22:24 The first time he came, he came to save his people. 22:32 But the second time, the second time he comes, he's coming 22:40 to get his people. 22:43 The second time he comes, he's coming as a conquering king. 22:49 The second time he comes, we're going to say, ride on, King 22:55 Jesus. 22:57 No man can hinder thee. 23:01 Ride on, King Jesus. 23:04 I want to go to heaven in the morning. 23:09 Listen to me carefully. 23:10 The second time around, lessons from the Jonah story. 23:14 Number one, whenever you run from God, whenever you run from 23:19 him, young people, senior people, whenever you run from 23:23 God, you're going down. 23:27 Understand that whenever you run from God, you're going to always 23:32 find a ship. 23:33 You will always find a willing vessel that's trying to pull you 23:38 from God. 23:39 When you run from God, it's going to cost you something. 23:42 When you run from God, you're going to always face a storm. 23:47 But God will put you in a place, he will put you in a place that 23:53 he has to get your attention, for all you can do is pray. 23:58 God will speak to your situation, he will speak to your 24:02 mountains and say, be thou removed, 24:06 and you won't even know it. 24:08 And God will allow you a way of escape. 24:13 And when he does, he'll put you right where you need to be. 24:18 He's the God of the second chance. 24:23 I'm glad he's given me a second chance. 24:32 Another chance to love. 24:33 I'm glad he's given me another chance to live, another chance 24:40 to worship him. 24:41 Maybe a year ago, 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 24:44 I didn't do it right. 24:45 But I got it right now. 24:47 Someone, he's spared your life from cancer, 24:50 he's spared your life. 24:51 I know he spared me from a horrible car accident 24:53 He's given me another chance Don't mess it up this time 25:03 Don't mess it up this time Somebody, you've had breast 25:09 cancer, It's gone into remission again. 25:13 He's given you a second chance Don't mess it up this time 25:20 some of you have heart conditions 25:23 I've visited you in the hospital but god spared you, 25:29 you thought it was a stint you thought it was open heart 25:33 surgery, but it was GOD He's given you a second chance 25:43 somebody, your marriage failed maybe he's allowed you to 25:50 remarry or you've learn to love him just being single 25:52 He's given you a second chance. 25:57 The Breath of Life gift offer this week is "Surprised by 25:59 Love," by pastor and international speaker Elizabeth 26:02 Viera Talbot. 26:04 Find out how people in the Bible were surprised by God's love. 26:06 Adam and Eve were surprised. 26:08 The deceitful serpent and the Pharisees were surprised. 26:11 It surprised the disciples and even the heavenly angels. 26:14 And God's surprises of love continue all around us today. 26:17 Join with Elizabeth as you get a fresh view of the greatest 26:21 story ever told. 26:22 From the kidnapping of God's children to the rescue, from the 26:24 ransom to the reunion. 26:27 "Surprised by Love" is yours for a gift of $5 or more. 26:30 Please call our toll free number 877-BOL-OFFER. 26:34 That's 877-265-6333. 26:38 Please have your credit card ready when you call. 26:40 Or you may write us to request your copy. 26:43 Please send your check to Breath of Life, P.O. Box 340, 26:46 Newbury Park, California 91319. 26:49 Get your copy of "Surprised by Love" today. 26:52 Be encouraged and touch by the unexpected rescue of God's 26:55 children. 26:56 PB: Are you hearing what I'm saying? 26:59 >: To order a DVD or CD copy of this Breath of Life broadcast 27:01 with Carlton Byrd, just call our toll-free number, 877-BOL-OFFER. 27:08 That's 877-265-6333. 27:11 Please visit us online at breathoflife.tv, where you can 27:15 see our broadcast schedule, send us your prayer requests, sign up 27:19 for our newsletter, and make a donation. 27:22 Thank you for watching and supporting Breath of Life. 27:25 God bless you. 27:28 PB: We want you to know that any and all donations, small or 27:30 great, they are sincerely welcomed and appreciated. 27:34 To contact us or to make your donation, please feel free to 27:38 give us a call at 877-BOL-OFFER. 27:43 That's 877-BOL-OFFER. 27:49 Or you may write to us at Breath of Life, 27:51 P O Box 340, Newbury Park, CA 91319. 27:59 P O Box 340, Newbury Park, CA 91319. 28:04 or log on to our web site www,breathoflife.TV 28:10 Because of prayer changes things, and you go back doing 28:16 the same things, you are going to mess the things up that 28:20 prayer just changed. 28:23 oh keep living, sometimes God will put you 28:25 on your back, where all you can do is look up and pray. |
Revised 2015-02-06