Participants: Walter Pearson
Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000210
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00:01 SO, WHEN YOU GET CLOSE
00:02 TO THE LORD, SOMEBODY 00:04 OUGHT TO GET RATTLED. 00:06 YOU OUGHT TO MAKE A WAVE SOMEWHERE. 00:08 YOU OUGHT TO APPEAR ON 00:09 SOMEBODY'S RADAR SCREEN, 00:11 SOMEBODY OUGHT TO FROWN 00:13 WHEN YOU COME AROUND IF 00:14 YOU'RE LIKE JESUS. 00:15 ♪ PRAISE THE LORD, LET'S JUST PRAISE THE LORD. ♪ 00:22 Announcer: THIS IS THE BREATH OF LIFE TELEVISION BROADCAST WITH PASTOR WALTER L. PEARSON, JR. 00:26 WHEN GOD GETS READY HE CAN DELIVER YOU, IF YOU CALL ON HIM, IF YOU TRUST IN HIM. 00:31 ♪ HE'S WORTHY OF THE PRAISE, JESUS IS WORTHY. ♪ 00:40 YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOWN FLAT ON YOUR FACE, BUT THE POWER OF GOD WILL LIFT YOU UP. 00:44 ♪ WORTHY OF ALL, ALL THE PRAISE. ♪ 00:50 I'M READING TONIGHT FROM I KINGS CHAPTER 18. 00:55 THERE IS ONLY ONE VERSE 00:57 THAT WE ACTUALLY REQUIRE 00:59 TO GET US TO THE POINT OF 01:01 THE SERMON FOR THIS OCCASION, 01:04 AND THAT ONE WILL BE VERSE 21. 01:09 HERE'S WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS: 01:33 I'VE ENTITLED OUR STUDY FOR THIS OCCASION, "DECISIONS". 01:37 "DECISIONS." 01:38 LET'S BOW TOGETHER AS WE PRAY. 01:41 FATHER IN HEAVEN, 01:43 WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE TRUTH THAT IS IN THE WORD OF GOD. 01:46 NOW, AS WE OPEN THY WORD WE PRAY FOR POWER THAT IS BEYOND OURSELVES; 01:52 FOR THESE ARE TROUBLED TIMES, 01:55 AND IN TIMES LIKE THESE, WE NEED TO HEAR THE VOICE OF OUR GOD. 02:00 SO, WE HAVE NOT COME TO HEAR OPINIONS FROM HUMANKIND, 02:06 WE'VE COME NOW TO HEAR TRUTH FROM HEAVEN. 02:09 GIVE IT TO US FATHER, AND OUR SOULS SHALL BE SATISFIED. 02:14 THIS IS OUR PRAYER IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AMEN. 02:18 WE COME TO THIS DISCUSSION BECAUSE OF OUR THEME, 02:25 "IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US ?" 02:31 I WILL TELL YOU THAT I BELIEVE FROM THE VERY FIBER OF MY BEING, 02:36 FROM THE CORE OF WHO I AM THAT IF YOU ARE ON GOD'S SIDE, 02:43 AND IF GOD IS ON YOUR SIDE, THERE IS NO POWER 02:47 ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH THAT CAN OVERCOME YOU. 02:52 AND TONIGHT, AS WE LOOK IN THIS EXPERIENCE, 02:55 YOU WILL SEE ONE MAN STANDING IN THE POWER OF GOD, 03:00 AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT CAN BE ARRAYED AGAINST HIM, 03:04 AND HE WILL MAKE IT BECAUSE GOD IS WITH HIM. 03:10 IN TIMES LIKE THESE WE MUST UNDERSTAND 03:12 BECAUSE THERE SEEM TO BE POWERS ARRAYED AGAINST US. 03:18 EVERY DEMOGRAPHIC IN SOCIETY CAN CLAIM IT. 03:21 THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE YOU, 03:23 THERE ARE SYSTEMS THAT SEEM TO BE CANTED AGAINST YOU, 03:27 THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT RISE UP TO FACE YOU 03:31 AND EVERYBODY SEEMS TO HAVE SOME CHALLENGE THAT IS UNANSWERABLE. 03:37 BUT THE FACT IS, THAT EVEN NOW, GOD IS ABLE 03:42 AND IF YOU ARE ON GOD'S SIDE, GOD ON YOUR SIDE, 03:47 THERE IS NO PROBLEM THAT CAN OVERCOME YOU. 03:51 WATCH AS ELIJAH SHOWS YOU THAT IF YOU'VE GOT FAITH IN GOD, 03:56 THEN GOD WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN. 03:59 THE FACT IS THAT WARNINGS HAD ALREADY GONE TO THE HOUSE OF AHAB. 04:05 AHAB'S WIFE IS JEZEBEL. 04:08 I DO NOT INTEND TO SEEM SEXIST WHEN I SAY THAT JEZEBEL'S NAME GIVES ME SHIVERS, 04:16 BECAUSE THE FACT IS THAT JEZEBEL IS MARRIED TO AHAB AND SOMETHING HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET MARRIED. 04:23 IF YOU ARE NOT ALIKE WHEN YOU GET MARRIED, 04:25 YOU WILL BE ALIKE PRETTY SOON. 04:29 THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU GET MARRIED. 04:33 JEZEBEL'S NAME HAS "THE RING." 04:37 BUT AHAB IS EVIDENTLY TOO WEAK, 04:40 OR HE PERHAPS IS THE SAME AS SHE IS, 04:44 SO THAT THIS FAMILY THAT SHOULD BE STANDING FOR GOD, 04:48 IS INSTEAD ENCOURAGING WORSHIP OF BAAL. 04:53 THOSE VERY LEADERS WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAYING, 04:56 "STAND FOR GOD JEHOVAH" 04:58 ARE INSTEAD BRINGING THE PRIESTS OF BAAL, 450; 05:03 THE PROPHETS OF BAAL, 450; AND THE PRIESTS OF BAAL, 400 TAKING CARE OF THEM. 05:10 SO THAT THE NATION IS NOT ENCOURAGED NOW TO STAND FOR GOD, 05:15 THE NATION IS PUSHED TOWARDS IDOLATRY. 05:19 AND THE QUESTION COMES, "HOW WILL YOU DECIDE ?" 05:23 "WHERE WILL YOU BE ?" 05:25 "WHICH SIDE WILL YOU BE ON ?" 05:27 SOME OF THEM, SAY THE SCHOLARS, WERE INCLINED TO STRADDLE THE FENCE. 05:34 NOW, THAT'S NOT NEW. 05:36 THERE ARE ALWAYS PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE ON BOTH SIDES. 05:40 THEY WANT TO BE ON GOD'S SIDE, JUST IN CASE; 05:45 AND THEY WANT TO BE WITH EVERYBODY ELSE, JUST IN CASE. 05:49 SO, THEY EITHER GO FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER, 05:53 OR THEY HIDE ONE SIDE WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE AND HIDE THE OTHER. 05:58 BUT THE FACT IS THAT AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE, 06:02 YOU'VE GOT TO COME TO THE DECISION THAT YOU'RE EITHER FOR GOD OR AGAINST HIM. 06:07 GOD DOES NOT SHARE WELL. 06:10 IF YOUR HEART BELONGS TO GOD, 06:13 HE IS NOT INCLINED TO SHARE YOUR HEART. 06:17 HE WANTS ALL OF IT BECAUSE HE GIVES YOU ALL OF HIM. 06:21 AND SO, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PLAYED BACK AND FORTH, 06:25 JUST AS SOME OF THESE FOLK DID. 06:27 THE SETTING IS INTERESTING. 06:30 IN THE NATURAL WORLD THERE WERE SOME EVENTS THAT MADE PEOPLE PERHAPS WANT TO GO FOR BAAL. 06:38 SOME OF THE HISTORIANS SAY THAT BAAL, 06:42 ONE OF THE MOST INTIMATE GODS OF CANAANITE SOCIETY, 06:47 WAS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT RAIN. 06:50 BAAL WAS ALLEGEDLY, ACCORDING TO THE MYTHOLOGY, 06:54 KILLED BY HIS ENEMY, BUT THEN WHEN HE WAS RESURRECTED 06:59 IN THE SPRING, OR PERHAPS THE FALL, THE RAINS WOULD COME. 07:04 SO THE FOLK WOULD PRAY TO BAAL FOR THE RAIN TO COME. 07:08 NOW THE FACT IS, THAT GOD IS THE ONE WHO GIVES RAIN. 07:14 BUT THERE IS A SLIGHT CONTROVERSY POSSIBLE. 07:17 IF YOU STUDY THE BIBLE, YOU WILL DISCOVER IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER TWO AND VERSE TWO, 07:23 THAT GOD HAS GIVEN SATAN A LIMITED POWER OVER THE ELEMENTS. 07:29 "THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR" HE'S CALLED. 07:34 NOW, WHEN I AM FLYING, I REHEARSE THAT TEXT TO MYSELF. 07:42 AND I ALSO REHEARSE ANOTHER TEXT. 07:46 PSALM 24 SAYS, "THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S AND THE FULLNESS THEREOF." 07:54 SO EVIDENTLY THIS POWER THAT SATAN HAS AS THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR 07:58 IS NOT A PERMANENT, EXCLUSIVE POWER. 08:02 IT'S LIMITED AND TEMPORARY. 08:04 SO, WHEN I'M FLYING I'M ALWAYS TALKING TO GOD SAYING, 08:07 "LORD, LET HIM HAVE ALL THAT OTHER SPACE, 08:11 BUT THE SPACE THAT I'M FLYING IN WOULD YOU TAKE IT OVER PLEASE ?" 08:16 THE FACT IS THAT WHILE THE DEVIL MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH 08:21 THROUGH BAAL SOME KIND OF RAIN THAT CAME AT SEASONS; 08:26 GOD IN FACT HAS THE POWER AND THE CONTROL OF THE EARTH 08:31 AND ONLY GIVES A LITTLE AWAY, TEMPORARILY. 08:36 IN FACT, IF YOU WOULD READ IN MATTHEW, YOU WILL DISCOVER, IN CHAPTER 5 AND VERSE 45, 08:42 THAT GOD ALLOWS THE RAIN TO FALL ON THE JUST AND THE UNJUST. 08:46 THAT DOESN'T EVEN SOUND LIKE THE DEVIL. 08:49 SO GOD DOES IN FACT TAKE BACK CONTROL OF THE RAIN. 08:54 BUT ALL THROUGH DEUTERONOMY, 08:57 INTERESTING THAT IT'S BACK THERE, 08:59 DEUTERONOMY WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE THAT WHEN GOD 09:03 GETS DISTURBED AT PEOPLE AND THEIR DISOBEDIENCE, 09:08 THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GOD CAN DO IS TO HOLD BACK THE RAIN. 09:14 DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 28 AND VERSE 23 GOD SAYS, 09:18 "IF YOU DISOBEY ME, I'LL MAKE THE SKY LIKE BRASS AND THE GROUND LIKE IRON." 09:25 THAT MEANS NOTHING WILL GET THROUGH. 09:28 THE RAIN FALLS FROM THE TOP; THE DEW RISES FROM THE BOTTOM, 09:32 BUT IF YOU DISOBEY ME, I'LL CUT THEM BOTH OFF; 09:36 AND THERE'LL BE NOTHING. 09:38 THEN YOU READ IN DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 11 AND VERSE 16 THAT GOD CAN SHUT UP HEAVEN. 09:43 SO WATCH WHAT GOD DOES. 09:47 GOD SAYS, "OH, YOU THINK IT'S BAAL WHO BRINGS RAIN ? 09:51 WELL, THEN I'LL TURN IT OFF, AND SEE IF YOU CAN GET BAAL TO TURN IT BACK ON." 10:02 AND SO, BECAUSE OF THE RECALCITRANCE OF THE HOUSE OF AHAB, 10:07 GOD CALLS THIS ELIJAH FROM HIS MOUNTAIN RETREAT AND SAYS, 10:12 "GO NOW, TRAVEL DOWN TO THE PALACE OF AHAB, 10:15 AND WHEN YOU GET THERE TELL HIM THAT IT WON'T RAIN FOR THREE YEARS." 10:23 NOW, LET ME EXPLAIN SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT GOD DOES WHEN HE COMMANDS THINGS. 10:30 GOD SOMETIMES COMMANDS THINGS THAT DON'T MAKE SENSE--TO YOU. 10:44 GOD DOESN'T HAVE TO MAKE SENSE, BECAUSE GOD MADE SENSE. 10:50 (applause) 10:56 GOD DOESN'T HAVE TO BE LOGICAL, GOD MADE LOGIC. 11:02 IF HE CHOOSES, HE CAN GO BEYOND WHAT IS LOGICAL. 11:07 HE CAN DO THINGS THAT ARE ILLOGICAL. 11:10 HE CAN MAKE THINGS HEAVY LIGHT, OR THINGS LIGHT HEAVY; 11:15 MAKE FEATHERS FALL AND ELEPHANTS FLOAT IF IT SERVES HIS PURPOSES. 11:22 SO GOD TELLS A PROPHET, TRAVEL THROUGH THE WELL-WATERED LANDS INTO SAMARIA. 11:31 WHILE ELIJAH IS TRAVELING, HE'S LOOKING AT THE BROOKS RUNNING OVER, GURGLING WITH WATER. 11:37 HE'S LOOKING AT THE TREES, THAT ARE FILLED WITH LEAVES. 11:41 HE'S LOOKING AT PLANTS THAT ARE FLOURISHING. 11:43 HE SEES NO SIGN AT ALL THAT THERE WILL BE A DROUGHT. 11:48 BUT GOD TOLD HIM TO GO DELIVER A MESSAGE, 11:51 AND HE WALKS PAST THE PLANTS THAT ARE WELL WATERED, 11:55 GOING TO TELL THE KING THAT THERE'LL BE NO MORE RAIN. 11:59 SEE, WHEN GOD TELLS YOU TO DO SOMETHING, DON'T WAIT UNTIL IT GETS LOGICAL. 12:07 JUST DO IT. 12:09 JUST DO WHAT GOD SAYS. 12:11 SO NOW HE PASSES, GETS SOMEHOW INTO THE PALACE OF AHAB 12:17 PAST THE GUARDS THAT MUST HAVE BEEN THERE. 12:20 HE DID NOT STOP FOR "STATE CRAFT"--DID NOT HAVE ANY INTRODUCTION THAT WE CAN READ. 12:26 EVIDENTLY WAS NOT SUMMONED, DID NOT WRITE LETTERS, 12:29 THERE WAS NOTHING EXCHANGED ON THE LEVEL YOU WOULD EXPECT 12:32 IT TO BE 'CAUSE WHEN GOD MAKES AN APPOINTMENT, ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS KEEP IT. 12:38 SO NOW HE'S THERE, HE APPEARS IN THE PALACE AND SAYS TO AHAB, 12:44 "IT WILL NOT RAIN FOR THREE YEARS." 12:47 AND BEFORE AHAB CAN THINK TO REACT, THE PROPHET IS GONE. 12:52 AFTER YOU'VE DONE WHAT GOD SAYS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HANG AROUND FOR SOCIALIZING. 12:58 THE JOB IS DONE. 13:00 AND NOW THIS MAN FINDS HIMSELF HATED FOR TELLING THE TRUTH. 13:09 OH, YOU MEAN THAT WAS HAPPENING WAY BACK THEN ? 13:16 THE BIBLE SAYS, "THEY THAT LIVE GODLY SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION." 13:23 SOME FOLK THINK THAT WHEN YOU GET RIGHT, EVERYTHING GETS RIGHT. 13:27 WELL, BECAUSE SATAN HAS THAT LIMITED CONTROL, 13:32 THEN SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE LIVING CLOSEST TO GOD, 13:36 YOU HAVE THE MOST PROBLEMS IN YOUR EXPERIENCE. 13:41 BEWARE WHEN ALL MEN SPEAK WELL. 13:46 BEWARE WHEN THINGS ARE GOING TOO WELL BECAUSE IF YOU REPRESENT JESUS, 13:50 THE PEOPLE WHO HATE JESUS WILL HATE YOU. 13:55 IF THE PEOPLE WHO HATE JESUS LOVE YOU, 13:59 SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE. 14:03 SO, WHEN YOU GET CLOSE TO THE LORD, SOMEBODY OUGHT TO GET RATTLED. 14:10 YOU OUGHT TO MAKE A WAVE SOMEWHERE. 14:12 YOU OUGHT TO APPEAR ON SOMEBODY'S RADAR SCREEN, 14:15 SOMEBODY OUGHT TO FROWN WHEN YOU COME AROUND IF YOU LIKE JESUS. 14:20 BECAUSE YOU CAN READ IT IF YOU WANT TO -- SOME OF US READ SELECTIVELY IN THE 14:23 BIBLE AND WE WANT TO THINK THAT WHEREVER JESUS WAS, 14:25 IT WAS PEACEFUL AND HE MEANDERED OVER THE UNDULATING HILLS AND MEADOWS. 14:34 BUT IF YOU KEEP ON READING YOU WILL FIND JESUS COMING TO 14:37 SITUATIONS THAT ARE CHARGED WITH HATRED. 14:42 BECAUSE IF YOU STAND FOR SOMETHING, SOMEBODY WILL DISLIKE YOU. 14:47 SO NOW THE MAN OF GOD HAS DONE WHAT GOD TOLD HIM AND NOW EVERYBODY GETS ANGRY. 14:53 THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. 14:56 WHEN THE SIN OF A NATION RISES TO THE LEVEL THAT IT CAUSES GOD TO TURN THE WATER OFF, 15:05 SHOULD YOU GET MAD AT THE ONE WHO CAME TO ANNOUNCE IT 15:09 OR SHOULD YOU BE DISTURBED AT THE SIN THAT CAUSED IT ? 15:15 THE FACT IS THAT THESE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT SOME TRIALS COME TO WAKE YOU UP; 15:23 SOME PROBLEMS COME TO GIVE YOU A WAKE UP CALL; 15:26 SOME THINGS HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE. 15:29 GOD ALLOWS THEM SO THAT YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF. 15:32 TRIALS ARE NOT TO TELL GOD ABOUT YOU, GOD ALREADY KNOWS ABOUT YOU. 15:38 TRIALS ARE TO TELL YOU ABOUT YOU. 15:43 BUT INSTEAD OF GETTING ANGRY AT THE SIN AND THE SINNERS, 15:47 INSTEAD OF TURNING TO GOD AND CALLING ON HIM FOR MERCY, 15:52 THEY TURN INSTEAD ON THE MAN WHO CAME AND MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT 15:56 AND THEY BEGIN TO SEARCH FOR HIM AND TRY TO FIND HIM 15:59 SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE HIS LIFE, AS THOUGH TAKING HIS LIFE WOULD CHANGE WHAT GOD DECIDED. 16:09 IT'S RIDICULOUS. 16:11 YOU CAN KILL ALL THE PREACHERS, AND GOD WILL STILL BE GOD. 16:18 IN FACT, THE ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK IS THAT THE BOOK DOES NOT CARE WHO READS IT. 16:25 THE BIBLE SAYS THE SAME THING TO THE HIGH AND TO THE LOW; 16:29 IF YOU'VE GOT EVERY CREDIT CARD AVAILABLE, 16:31 IT SAYS THE SAME THING TO YOU. 16:33 IF YOU COULDN'T GET A CREDIT CARD ON YOUR BEST DAY, 16:36 IT SAYS THE SAME THING TO YOU. 16:41 IF YOU DRIVE A USED CAR THAT'S SO OLD THE NAME HAS DROPPED OFF, 16:45 IT SAYS THE SAME THING TO YOU. 16:47 OR IF YOU DRIVE A CAR THAT'S RECOGNIZABLE ANYWHERE, 16:50 IT SAYS THE SAME THING. 16:51 THE BIBLE DOES NOT CHANGE BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE; 16:54 IT DOES NOT CUT CORNERS BECAUSE OF YOUR SOCIO- ECONOMIC CONDITION. 16:59 IT'S PLAIN. 17:01 SO TRUTH DOES NOT CHANGE BECAUSE YOU GET ANGRY AT THE BEARER OF TRUTH. 17:06 THE BIBLE DOESN'T CHANGE; 17:08 GOD DOES NOT CHANGE BECAUSE YOU GET ANGRY AT SOME PREACHER. 17:11 IN FACT, I'VE KIND OF MADE IT MY RULE, IF I DON'T' GET SOMEBODY UPSET, 17:16 WHAT'S THE USE IN PREACHING ? 17:20 YOU OUGHT TO CAUSE A LITTLE RIPPLE. 17:23 SOMETHING OUGHT TO HAPPEN. 17:24 I DO NOT PREACH TO DISTURB FOLK. 17:28 BUT IF YOU TELL IT LIKE IT IS, 17:29 SOMEBODY OUGHT TO GET A LITTLE WORRIED. 17:32 IT JUST OUGHT TO BE. 17:34 SO NOW THEY ARE ANGRY AT ELIJAH. 17:38 NOW THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE RESPONSE. 17:42 IN FACT I CHALLENGE YOU, THERE'S A TEXT THAT WE READ ALL THE TIME 17:46 IN SECOND CHRONICLES, CHAPTER 7, AND THAT SHOULD BE YOUR RESPONSE. 17:52 NOW MOST OF US DON'T READ VERSE 13. 17:55 WE READ VERSE 14. 17:57 AND IN FACT LET ME READ VERSE 14 'CAUSE YOU'LL LOVE IT. 18:00 YOU KNOW IT, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE ABLE TO SAY IT WITH ME. 18:19 YOU KNOW THAT ONE, LOOK AT VERSE 13. 18:22 IT'S AMAZING. 18:33 PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT LEADS TO REPENTANCE, GOD SAYS, 18:38 "IF YOU GO AGAINST MY WILL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE 18:42 AN OPTION TO DO, IS TO SHUT UP THE RAIN." 18:46 TURN IT OFF. 18:48 TURN IT OFF. 18:50 AND IF YOU COME TO ME WITH A HUMBLE HEART, 18:55 AND IF YOU CONFESS YOUR SIN, THEN I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND I'LL HEAL YOUR LAND. 19:02 SO WHAT ISRAEL SHOULD HAVE DONE WAS TO PRAY. 19:06 BUT INSTEAD, AHAB SAID, "THE PROBLEM IS THAT PREACHER. 19:14 WHERE IS HE ?" 19:16 HE HAD PEOPLE OUT LOOKING FOR THE PREACHER. 19:19 IF YOU WANT TO HIDE, LET GOD HIDE YOU. 19:25 GOD MADE A LITTLE PLACE FOR ELIJAH DOWN BY THE BROOK CHERITH, 19:30 AND FED HIM THERE BY RAVEN. 19:34 NOW YOU KNOW THAT'S INTERESTING. 19:36 SOMEBODY'S IN HERE TONIGHT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE 19:38 YOU'RE BREAKFAST IS GONNA COME FROM. 19:41 TRYIN' TO KNOW HOW YOU'RE GONNA EAT, 19:44 HOW YOU'RE GONNA MAKE A WAY FOR YOURSELF. 19:46 GOD CAN MAKE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY. 19:50 I AM NOT CERTAIN THAT I WOULD CHOOSE TO BE FED BY A BIRD, 19:53 BUT IF I GOT HUNGRY ENOUGH, I'D TAKE IT FROM A BIRD. 20:01 I READ A STORY THE OTHER DAY ABOUT A MAN WHO GOT HUNGRY 20:04 AND A CAT BROUGHT HIM BREAD. 20:06 NOW, I THINK I'D HAVE TO BE PRETTY HARD PRESSED TO EAT BREAD DELIVERED BY A CAT. 20:12 THE ONLY WAY THE CAT CAN DELIVER THE BREAD IS IN THE CAT'S MOUTH, 20:16 AND IF I HAD TO PICK UP THE BREAD WITH THE LITTLE TEETH MARKS IN IT, 20:20 I'D HAVE TO THINK A LONG TIME BUT HUNGER WOULD EVENTUALLY 20:23 OVERCOME MY PREDILECTION FOR FOOD THAT HAD NOT BEEN OFFERED TO CATS. 20:30 AND I WOULD BE EXCITED TO GET THE BREAD. 20:33 WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS THAT GOD CAN MAKE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY. 20:37 IF GOD BE FOR YA' WHO CAN BE AGAINST YA ? 20:43 DO YOU SEE IT ? 20:44 THEN WHEN THE BROOK DRIED UP, 20:47 'CAUSE REMEMBER GOD SAID I'M GONNA TURN OFF THE RAIN 20:50 AND WHEN THE RAIN GETS TURNED OFF, EVENTUALLY EVERYTHING DRIES UP. 20:53 THEN GOD SENT HIM OVER TO THE COAST OF PHOENICIA 20:58 AND THERE HE CAME TO THE WIDOW OF ZERIPATH. 21:01 I LOVE THE STORY. 21:03 THE WIDOW WAS OUT IN THIS DROUGHT, FEEDING HER CHILD 21:06 AND GATHERING UP STICKS TO MAKE THE LAST CAKE OF BREAD. 21:12 IN FACT, THE CAKE OF BREAD SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING WE 21:14 USED TO EAT IN THE HOUSING PROJECT WHERE I GREW UP. 21:18 SOME OF YOU FOLK ARE TOO WEALTHY TO UNDERSTAND THIS BUT LET ME, LET ME ACCULTURATE YOU. 21:24 THERE WAS A TIME LONG AGO BEFORE MICROWAVE COOKING 21:31 WHEN THINGS GOT HARD, WHEN THINGS GOT TOUGH. 21:37 YOU COULD GET A LITTLE MEAL, A LITTLE OIL, 21:40 AND ONE OF THOSE BIG, UGLY FRYING PANS. 21:46 YOU KNOW, BIG, BLACK FRYING PAN AND PUT THAT THING IN THERE, 21:52 AND LET IT SIZZLE A LITTLE BIT, AND YOU KNOW WHEN YOU GET DOWN 21:55 THAT FAR, IT DOESN'T TAKE THAT MUCH TO GET YOU EXCITED. 22:01 I CAN REMEMBER WHEN MY MOTHER WOULD DO THAT AND I KNEW TIMES 22:04 WERE ROUGH BUT WE'D STAND AROUND AND WATCH THAT THING. 22:12 "MOM, IS THAT READY YET ?" 22:18 THE LADY GOT HER LAST LITTLE CAKE, HER LITTLE BOY, THE STICKS GATHERED AND SHE SAYS, 22:25 "WE'RE GONNA EAT ONE MORE MEAL AND WE'RE DEAD." 22:28 AND THE PREACHER SHOWS UP--COME ON NOW; LET'S GET REAL HERE. 22:38 AND THE PREACHER SHOWS UP AND SAYS, "IF YOU GIVE ME THE LAST CAKE, 22:44 THEN THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY FOR YOU." 22:50 (applause and laughter) 22:58 NOW YOU KNOW YOU TALK ABOUT US PREACHERS ALL THE TIME ABOUT THAT KIND OF THING. 23:03 "IF YOU LET ME RIDE, THE LORD WILL LET YOU RIDE. 23:08 IF YOU TAKE CARE OF ME FIRST, THE LORD WILL THEN TAKE CARE OF YOU." 23:12 AND FOLK TALK ABOUT THAT ALL OVER THE PLACE. 23:13 WHAT IN THE WORLD IS WRONG WITH THESE PREACHERS, 23:15 THEY THINK WE'RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE CARE OF THEM FIRST. 23:17 WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT NOW, BUT THIS IS IN THE BIBLE FOLKS. 23:21 I DON'T KNOW, YOU FIGURE IT OUT FOR YOURSELF. 23:25 BUT THE MAN OF GOD COMES AND SAYS, "LOOK, YOU 23:27 GIVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT THE LORD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU." 23:29 NOW, THE LADY MUST HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO GOD BECAUSE ONLY GOD--LISTEN--THE QUESTION IS, 23:38 "WILL YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILD ?" 23:40 GOD REQUIRES THAT YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILD, 23:43 BUT NOW GOD REQUIRES A NEW PRIORITY. 23:46 I BELIEVE THAT WHEN GOD TALKS TO YOUR HEART 23:51 THERE ARE TIMES WHEN GOD WILL REQUIRE OF YOU SOMETHING THAT IS NOT TRADITIONAL. 24:01 ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS MAKE SURE IT WAS GOD. 24:05 (applause) 24:12 I DON'T' KNOW, WE READ NOTHING ABOUT WHAT THE LITTLE BOY SAYS. 24:16 I REMEMBER ONE TIME A PREACHER CAME TO OUR HOME, 24:19 AND MY BROTHER AND I WE WERE ABOUT TO EAT SOME ICE CREAM. 24:25 AND THIS PREACHER HAD READ SOMETHING RECENTLY THAT 24:29 SAID THAT THERE WAS A CERTAIN ELEMENT IN ICE CREAM THAT WAS UNHEALTHY. 24:34 AND HE AND MY FATHER HAD A LONG DISCUSSION. 24:37 AND HE SAID THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT WHETHER IT'S IN THE ICE CREAM OR NOT IS TO MELT IT. 24:44 (laughter) 24:51 IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, ONCE ICE CREAM HAS BEEN MELTED, IT IS NO LONGER ICE CREAM. 24:57 IT'S SOMETHING DISGUSTING. 25:00 MY BROTHER AND I LOOKED AT EACH OTHER WITHOUT A WORD. 25:03 BUT OUR HOPE WAS THAT OUR FATHER WOULD SAY, "NO." 25:07 OUR FATHER SAID "YES." 25:10 WE SAT THERE AND WATCHED OUR ICE CREAM MELTING BECAUSE OF A PREACHER. 25:19 CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WE THOUGHT OF THAT PREACHER ? 25:23 I'LL NEVER TELL. 25:24 (laughter) 25:28 BUT HERE, WHAT DID THAT LITTLE BOY THINK ? 25:31 WE NEVER READ THAT HE OBJECTED. 25:33 EVIDENTLY THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOME TRAINING THAT OCCURRED 25:35 BEFORE THIS EVENT BECAUSE THE LITTLE BOY NEVER SAYS, 25:38 "MOM, WHAT ? 25:42 YOU GIVE HIM YOUR HALF. 25:47 LET ME AND THE PREACHER EAT. 25:49 YOU HAVE FAITH." 25:51 THIS CHILD MUST HAVE BEEN TRAINED. 25:54 AMEN ? 25:56 THE WOMAN SAYS, "TAKE IT." 25:57 AND YOU'VE READ IT, AFTER THAT, EVERY TIME THE LADY WOULD GO BACK, 26:04 SHE'D FIND A LITTLE MORE MEAL IN THE MEAL CONTAINER AND A LITTLE MORE OIL IN THE OIL CONTAINER. 26:11 I LIKE THE WAY GOD DID THAT. 26:14 SEE, SOME OF US WANT A FULL SUPPLY. 26:21 WHEN GOD GIVES ME SOMETHING, GIVE IT ALL. 26:23 GOD, IF YOU CAN'T GIVE ME A LEXUS, GIVE ME NOTHING. 26:29 THERE ARE TIMES IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE ALL SUFFER PAIN OR GRIEF, 26:33 WHEN THIS HAPPENS, YOUR FAITH IN GOD CAN GET WOUNDED. 26:37 YOU MAY WONDER WHY GOD IS ALLOWING YOU TO HURT. 26:39 DURING THESE TIMES, YOU MAY EVEN QUESTION YOUR OWN TRUST IN GOD. 26:43 WELL, I HAVE A FREE BOOK I'D LIKE TO SEND YOU CALLED 26:46 'HOW TO BELIEVE WHEN YOU HURT.' 26:48 WRITTEN BY CHARLES SCRIVEN, HOW TO BELIEVE WHEN YOU'RE HURT 26:51 TEACHES US HOW TO BECOME WOUNDED HEALERS. 26:53 FINDING CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS TO COPE, IT GIVES US CONFIDENCE THAT WE ARE NOT ABANDONED. 26:58 THAT GOD SHARES OUR PAIN WHEN WE SUFFER. 27:02 GOD IS PREPARING A PLACE FOR YOU AFTER THIS LIFE 27:04 WHERE PAIN AND GRIEF WILL NO LONGER EXIST. 27:07 IN LUKE 6:21 JESUS SAID, 'BLESSED ARE YOU THAT WEEP NOW, FOR YOU WILL LAUGH.' 27:13 SO LET YOURSELF SMILE, KNOWING THAT JOY IS YET TO COME. 27:17 JUST CALL THIS TOLL FREE NUMBER 877-BOL-OFFER 27:22 AND ASK FOR A FREE COPY OF 'HOW TO BELIEVE WHEN YOU HURT'. 27:29 ♪ PRAISE THE LORD, LET'S JUST PRAISE THE LORD. ♪ 27:35 Announcer: IF YOU'D LIKE AN AUDIOCASSETTE COPY OF TODAY'S PROGRAM, 27:37 CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN, OR WRITE: 27:39 WALTER PEARSON, P.O. BOX 97192, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20077. 27:45 FOR YOUR LOVE GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT, WE'LL SEND OUT YOUR COPY RIGHT AWAY. 27:48 AND IF YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST, WRITE US. 27:51 WALTER PEARSON WANTS THIS MINISTRY TO BE A BLESSING IN YOUR LIFE. 27:54 WALTER PEARSON BELIEVES THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE ANSWER TO EVERY PROBLEM YOU FACE. 28:00 ♪ HE'S WORTHY OF THE PRAISE. ♪ 28:06 ♪ JESUS IS WORTHY, OF ALL THE GLORY. ♪ 28:16 ♪ OH YES HE'S WORTHY. ♪ 28:23 ♪ JESUS IS WORTHY OF ALL, ALL THE PRAISE. ♪ |
Revised 2015-02-06