Participants: Walter Pearson
Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000212A
|
00:01 IF YOU THINK THAT ONE PERSON
00:02 DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, 00:03 THINK AGAIN. 00:05 WHEN GOD CHANGES ONE PERSON 00:07 THERE ARE RIPPLES THAT GO OUT 00:10 LIKE DROPPING A PEBBLE IN A 00:11 STREAM ON PLACID WATER. 00:14 WHEN GOD CHANGES ONE, OTHERS 00:17 ARE CHANGED BY THAT EVENT. 00:19 ♪ PRAISE THE LORD, LET'S JUST PRAISE THE LORD. ♪ 00:26 Announcer: THIS IS THE BREATH OF LIFE TELEVISION BROADCAST WITH PASTOR WALTER L. PEARSON, JR. 00:30 WHEN GOD GETS READY HE CAN DELIVER YOU, IF YOU CALL ON HIM, IF YOU TRUST IN HIM. 00:36 ♪ HE'S WORTHY OF THE PRAISE, JESUS IS WORTHY. ♪ 00:43 YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOWN FLAT ON YOUR FACE, BUT THE POWER OF GOD WILL LIFT YOU UP. 00:48 ♪ WORTHY OF ALL, ALL THE PRAISE. ♪ 00:54 TONIGHT WE TURN OUR ATTENTION -- WE'RE LOOKING AT ACTS, CHAPTER 12. 01:02 AND IN ACTS CHAPTER 12, I WILL BEGIN WITH VERSE 5. 01:06 HERE IS WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS, 01:50 I'VE ENTITLED OUR STUDY FOR THIS OCCASION, "SPECIAL DELIVERY." 01:55 "SPECIAL DELIVERY." 01:57 LET'S BOW TOGETHER AS WE PRAY. 01:59 FATHER IN HEAVEN, 02:01 WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE TRUTH THAT COMES FROM THE WORD OF GOD. 02:04 GRATEFUL, BECAUSE IN A DAY WHEN TRUTH IS HARD TO FIND, 02:10 EVERY WORD BETWEEN THESE COVERS IS TRUTH. 02:15 GRATEFUL BECAUSE WHEN IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS NO HOPE, 02:20 WHEN IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS NONE TO WHOM WE CAN TURN, 02:23 WE CAN TURN TO GOD AND TO HIS WORD. 02:27 AND IN HIS WORD THERE IS POWER; 02:30 AND IN HIM THERE IS SOLUTION FOR EVERY PROBLEM. 02:34 NOW, AS WE OPEN THY WORD, LET THY POWER COME AND BE WITH US 02:38 SO THAT WE MIGHT UNDERSTAND THY WORD AND BE CHANGED BY IT. 02:43 IN THE NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY, AMEN. 02:47 WE LOOK AT A SITUATION THAT PROBABLY HAS COME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE CONVERSION OF SAUL. 02:59 WHEN THAT GREAT MAN, THAT STUDENT OF GAMELIO WAS CONVERTED, 03:05 YOU MUST KNOW THAT IT MADE A DIFFERENCE ALL AROUND THE 03:10 PLACES THAT WE READ ABOUT IN THE BIBLE. 03:13 WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, SAUL WAS ONE WHO PERSECUTED ON 03:18 BEHALF OF THOSE WHO CALLED THEMSELVES GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE. 03:23 BUT WHEN CHRIST CAME AND THERE 03:26 DEVELOPED A GROUP GATHERED 03:27 AROUND HIM, JESUS WAS NOT ACCEPTED. 03:31 AND SO, SAUL TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF ESPECIALLY TO GO OUT AND PERSECUTE CHRISTIANS. 03:39 BUT WHEN THAT STRANGE EVENT OCCURRED ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS, 03:46 WHEN THAT LIGHT SHOWN DOWN AND WHEN HE FELL FROM HIS HORSE 03:50 AND THERE SAW IN THAT LIGHT JESUS. 03:55 AND WHEN HE WENT FROM THAT PLACE BLIND IN TERMS OF HIS PHYSICAL EYES 04:00 BUT ABLE TO SEE IN TERMS OF HIS SPIRITUAL EYES; 04:04 HE BECAME A NEW CREATURE BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF JESUS. 04:10 NOW YOU KNOW THAT HE WAS AWAY FOR A WHILE 04:12 BUT THE WORD GOT AROUND THAT THERE IS A CHANGE IN SAUL. 04:18 IN FACT HE COMES BACK WITH A NEW NAME. 04:20 HE IS NO LONGER SAUL, BUT PAUL. 04:24 AND FOR THE LONGEST TIME, THOSE PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKED TO HAVE CONTINUED PERSECUTION 04:31 WERE SHOCKED BY THE CHANGE IN ONE MAN. 04:36 IF YOU THINK THAT ONE PERSON DOES NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THINK AGAIN. 04:41 WHEN GOD CHANGES ONE PERSON THERE ARE RIPPLES THAT GO OUT 04:46 LIKE DROPPING A PEBBLE IN A STREAM ON PLACID WATER. 04:50 WHEN GOD CHANGES ONE, OTHERS ARE CHANGED BY THAT EVENT. 04:56 NOW THIS GREAT SCHOLAR, SAUL, THIS PERSECUTOR OF CHRISTIANS, 05:02 TURNS AND BECOMES AN ADVOCATE FOR JESUS. 05:06 SO, FOR A LONG TIME, PERSECUTION ALMOST WAS TOO MUCH FOR THE POPULATION. 05:14 EVEN THOSE WHO THOUGHT THEMSELVES GREAT ADVOCATES OF JUDAISM 05:19 ALMOST FROZE IN THEIR TRACKS BECAUSE OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED WHEN SAUL BECAME PAUL. 05:27 BUT, IT WEARS OFF. 05:30 EVIL FOLKS WILL NOT REFRAIN FROM EVIL FOR LONG. 05:36 OH, I THOUGHT WE'D GET MORE RESPONSE ON THAT TRUTH. 05:40 THE FACT IS THAT IF YOUR HEART IS INCLINED TOWARDS EVIL, 05:44 THEN FOR A SEASON YOU MAY BE PUSHED ASIDE FROM IT. 05:49 BUT IF EVIL IS YOUR CENTER OF GRAVITY, YOU WILL RETURN TO IT. 05:54 SO NOW THE PEOPLE BEGIN TO WONDER, 05:57 "WHEN ARE WE GOING TO START DOING SOME MORE OF THOSE THINGS LIKE WE USED TO DO 06:01 AGAINST THESE FOLKS WHO ARE CALLED CHRISTIANS ?" 06:04 AND NOW THE PERSECUTION IS NOT COMING SO MUCH FROM THOSE 06:09 WHO ARE PART AND PARCEL OF THE JEWISH CHURCH, 06:12 BUT NOW IT COMES FROM AN OFFICIAL END. 06:16 HEROD AGRIPPA THE FIRST, IS HEROD NOW, THE TETRARCH OF 06:20 GALILEE AND IS GIVEN BY THE EMPEROR CLAUDIUS POWER OVER JUDEA. 06:26 NOW THIS MAN IS STRANGE. 06:29 HE IS SUSPECTED TO HAVE BEEN AN EDOMITE BY BIRTH. 06:34 BUT BECAUSE HE WENT INTO SCRIPTURE, 06:37 THEY WOULD HAVE CALLED IT THEN THE JEWISH SCRIPTURE, 06:40 AND READ IN DEUTERONOMY 17:15 THAT YOU OUGHT NOT PUT 06:44 ANYBODY OVER YOU WHO IS NOT YOUR BROTHER. 06:48 CAN YOU IMAGINE READING THAT BIT OF KNOWLEDGE ? 06:52 THESE PEOPLE NOW, WHO HAVE ALL OF THESE STRANGE TRADITIONS 06:56 HAVE IN THEIR SCRIPTURE, "DON'T PUT ANYBODY OVER YOU WHO IS NOT YOUR BROTHER." 07:01 NOW I'M NOT SURE WHICH CAUSED WHAT, 07:04 BUT THE FACT IS THAT HE WANTED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE LEADER OVER THESE JEWISH PEOPLE, 07:10 AND SO AT LEAST HE CLAIMED THAT HE WAS A PROSELYTE TO JUDAISM. 07:16 ONE SCHOLAR HAS IT THIS WAY, 07:18 "THAT WHEN THE WORDS OF THIS SCRIPTURE WERE READ TO HIM, 07:23 THAT HE FELL AND BOWED HIS HEAD BEFORE AN AUDIENCE. 07:29 BUT THEN, THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO CAME FORTH AND SAID, 07:32 'OH, BUT HEROD, THE FACT IS THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN BORN ONE OF US, 07:38 BUT YOU HAVE ACCEPTED OUR RELIGION, SO OUR BROTHER, THOU ART.' 07:43 AND HEROD LIFTED HIS HEAD AND FEIGNED A SMILE 07:47 AND ACTED AS THOUGH HE HAD FOUND A NEW FAMILY." 07:51 YOU MUST BE CAREFUL ABOUT NEW FAMILY MEMBERS. 07:58 EVERYBODY WHO CLAIMS TO BE IN THE FAMILY IS NOT NECESSARILY IN THE FAMILY. 08:04 IT WAS TO HIS ADVANTAGE TO BE CONNECTED WITH THE CHURCH. 08:10 AND SO NOW HE IS ENSCONCED IN THE WARMTH OF FAMILY AFFILIATION 08:17 AND HE BEGINS TO WONDER, 'WHAT WILL MAKE MY NEW FAMILY HAPPY ?" 08:21 IT TURNS OUT THAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE, 08:24 WHO HAD BEEN KIND OF PUSHED BACK BY THE CHANGE OF SAUL TO PAUL, 08:31 WERE NOW REGAINING THEIR STRENGTH AND THEY THOUGHT AND PERHAPS EXPRESSED, 08:37 "IT WOULD BE GOOD AGAIN TO TEACH THESE CHRISTIANS A LESSON." 08:43 SO, THIS HEROD AGRIPPA, SON OF ARISTOPOLUS AND BERETUS; 08:49 GRANDSON OF HEROD THE GREAT, THINKS TO HIMSELF, 08:52 "HOW MAY I INGRATIATE MYSELF WITH THE PEOPLE OVER WHOM I RULE ?" 08:57 AND HE THOUGHT, "WELL, I'LL SEE IF I CAN'T PERSECUTE CHRISTIANS 09:01 AND MAKE THEM GET THEIR SPIRIT BACK." 09:05 AND HE BEGAN TO SEND OUT HIS OFFICIALS AND HE TOLD THEM, 09:09 "GO AND DESTABILIZE THEIR HOMES; 09:11 PUT A FEW OF THEM IN SOME SITUATIONS THAT ARE EMBARRASSING; 09:15 TAKE THEIR POSSESSIONS FROM THEM; 09:17 MAKE THEM HAVE A HARD TIME IN PRIVATE BUT CERTAINLY IN PUBLIC. 09:22 LET IT BE SEEN THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION IS ON THE SIDE OF THE JEWISH CHURCH. 09:29 AND HE BEGAN TO DO THAT AND THE REACTION WAS POSITIVE. 09:34 NOW I'M HAPPY THAT THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT. 09:39 SOMEBODY OUGHT TO SAY AMEN. 09:42 BUT THERE IS A NEW KIND OF POLITICIAN; 09:46 THE POLITICIAN WHO GOVERNS NOT BY CONVICTION, 09:50 BUT BY OPINION POLL. 09:55 YOU KNOW, SEE WHICH WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING; 09:59 PUT OUT A TRIAL BALLOON; 10:02 LET AN ARTICLE LEAK INTO THE PAPER AND LET'S SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY. 10:09 AND IF THEY ARE FOR IT, THEN I'LL STAND FOR IT. 10:12 BUT IF THEY ARE AGAINST IT, I WON'T EVER MENTION IT. 10:15 SO YOU LET A LITTLE LEAK GO OUT AND FOLKS SAY, 10:17 "YEAH, THAT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA." 10:18 AND THEN SOME LITTLE PETTY POLITICIAN GRABS SOME SOAP BOX 10:22 AND STANDS UP IN FRONT OF SOME CAMERA AND SAYS, 10:25 "YOU KNOW, I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WHAT IS RIGHT FOR US IS TO DO THIS OR THAT." 10:31 BUT IT'S NOT BASED ON THE HEART; 10:33 IT'S BASED ON THE NUMBERS. 10:36 EVIDENTLY THESE NEW POLITICIANS ARE NOT NEW AT ALL, 10:40 BECAUSE HEROD AGRIPPA THE FIRST WANTED TO SEE HOW THE PEOPLE WOULD RESPOND. 10:44 AND THEY ENJOYED IT. 10:47 SO NOW HE TAKES JOHN, JOHN WHO WAS ONE OF THE SONS OF THUNDER; 10:53 JOHN WHO WAS ONE OF THE SONS OF ZEBEDEE; 10:56 JOHN WHO WAS ONE OF THOSE WHO SAID TO JESUS, 10:59 "LET ME SERVE AT YOUR SIDE." 11:02 JESUS REMARKED IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 20 AND VERSE 23, 11:05 "IF YOU TAKE THAT POSITION, IF YOU SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND OR AT MY LEFT, 11:11 THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO DRINK THE CUP OF SORROW WITH ME." 11:14 I OUGHT TO PAUSE TO SAY THAT SOME FOLK WANT TO BE CLOSE TO JESUS, 11:19 BUT PRECIOUS FEW UNDERSTAND THAT IT PAYS TO SERVE JESUS 11:23 BUT IT ALSO COSTS. 11:27 NOTHING IS FREE. 11:30 NOW IN MY LIFETIME, AND IT IS NOW A SUBSTANTIAL LIFETIME, 11:34 THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT COME WITH AGE. 11:37 YOU CAN SPEAK WITH A LITTLE MORE AUTHORITY AND I WILL. 11:40 I HAVE LEARNED THAT WHILE IT COSTS TO BE ON GOD'S SIDE, 11:45 IT PAYS MUCH MORE THAN IT COSTS. 11:49 AND THERE ARE SOME WHO WILL NOT LIKE YOU IF YOU SERVE JESUS, 11:54 BUT WHEN THERE IS NOBODY ELSE UPON WHOM YOU CAN CALL, 11:58 YOU CAN GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES AND HAVE A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS, 12:02 AND HE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 12:05 THE PRAYER IS THERE; THE PRAYER VIGIL IS AWAKE AND ALIVE. 12:09 THE SITUATION THAT WE FACE NOW IN THIS BIBLE TEXT 12:15 IS WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE BEING PERSECUTED AGAIN, 12:18 AND ONCE THIS JOHN IS PUT IN PRISON, 12:21 THIS JOHN WHO WANTED TO SUFFER BUT WHO DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE COMPLETE DIMENSIONS OF IT. 12:26 JESUS SAYS, "YOU'LL SUFFER WITH ME." 12:28 BUT JOHN SAYS, "YEAH, I STILL WANT TO BE ON YOUR RIGHT OR LEFT SIDE." 12:31 JESUS SAID, "YOU'LL DRINK FROM THE CUP." 12:33 HE SAID, "BUT I STILL WANT TO BE THERE." 12:35 NOW HE'S PUT IN PRISON AND WHAT JESUS SAYS OCCURS. 12:40 HE IS PUT TO DEATH WITH THE SWORD. 12:44 I DID SOME CHECKING ON THAT. 12:46 WHY IS IT MENTIONED--THE SWORD ? 12:49 IN THOSE DAYS, IT WAS THOUGHT RATHER CRUDE TO BEHEAD WITH A SWORD. 12:54 THEY WOULD NORMALLY DO IT WITH AN AX. 12:57 NOW LET ME BE VERY CLEAR, 13:00 IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE MY HEAD OFF, I HAVE NO PREFERENCE. 13:04 I SIMPLY WANT IT QUICK. 13:08 BUT IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THE AX WAS MORE HUMANE, BECAUSE IT WAS QUICK. 13:17 THE SWORD MIGHT NOT MOVE SO QUICKLY OR CUT SO WELL. 13:23 AND WHEN THIS IS MENTIONED, THIS MEANS THAT IT WAS SECRET AND DONE PERHAPS ON A WHIM. 13:30 HEROD AGRIPPA THE FIRST SAYS, 13:31 "WELL, IF THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT PERSECUTION, 13:34 I'LL TAKE ONE AND KILL HIM AND THEN LET THE NEWS KIND OF 13:38 MEANDER THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS." 13:42 AND WHEN THE PEOPLE HEARD IT THEY THOUGHT "I'M GLAD THAT IT HAPPENED." 13:48 LET ME POINT SOMETHING OUT TO YOU. 13:52 YOUR REACTION TO EVIL IS POWERFUL. 14:00 WHEN SOMEBODY DOES SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES OR THAT MERITS SHAME, 14:08 AND YOU REACT BY APPLAUDING, 14:12 YOU GIVE THEM STRENGTH TO DO WHAT THEY OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT CONTINUE. 14:21 THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU AT LEAST OWE IT TO A SITUATION TO SAY, "SHAME ON YOU." 14:30 BUT INSTEAD OF SAYING "SHAME" THESE FOLKS SAID, 14:33 "WELL, I'M KIND OF GLAD THAT HAPPENED. 14:36 YOU KNOW, PERSECUTION IS WARMING UP AGAIN." 14:39 SO NOW THIS HEROD AGRIPPA, WHO SOME WOULD CALL A "PEOPLE PLEASER" SAYS, 14:44 "WELL, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. 14:46 IN FACT, THE NEXT TIME I DO IT, I WILL NOT ONLY TAKE ONE WHO IS WELL KNOWN, 14:52 BUT I WILL NOT KILL THIS PERSON IN SECRET, I'LL DO IT IN PUBLIC." 14:58 SO NOW HE TAKES ONE OF THE MOST LOQUACIOUS OF THE APOSTLES, PETER. 15:04 YOU READ THE NEW TESTAMENT, YOU CAN'T GET AWAY FROM PETER. 15:07 HE'S ALWAYS TALKING. 15:09 SOMETIMES WHAT HE SAYS IS NOT COMPLETELY APPROPRIATE, BUT HE TALKS ANYHOW. 15:14 SAY YOU KNOW, IF I WERE GONNA CHOOSE AN APOSTLE TO TAKE OUT 15:17 OF THE WAY SO THAT EVERYBODY WOULD NOTICE IT, 15:20 LET IT BE PETER BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD THAT PETER CAN DISAPPEAR AND FOLKS SAY, 15:25 "WELL, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T MISS HIM." 15:27 YOU WILL CERTAINLY MISS PETER BECAUSE HE'S ALWAYS TALKING. 15:31 SO, HE PUTS PETER IN PRISON AND ANNOUNCES THAT AFTER THE PASSOVER, 15:38 THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT AFTER EASTER, 15:40 AND THAT'S REALLY NOT ACCORDING TO THEIR TRADITION 15:43 IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY TRIED TO USE TO EXPLAIN; 15:46 BUT AFTER PASSOVER, I'M GONNA KILL HIM IN PUBLIC. 15:51 AFTER PASSOVER I TRIED TO DO ALL THE CHECKING I COULD, 15:54 AND DISCOVERED THAT MAYBE WHILE THE CROWDS WERE THERE FOR PASSOVER, 16:00 THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME SYMPATHIZERS FOR PETER 16:03 AND THERE WAS ALSO A TRADITION IF YOU REMEMBER, 16:06 THAT THEY WOULD SET A NOTABLE PRISONER FREE AT PASSOVER. 16:11 SO, HEROD SAYS, "I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, LET'S NOT HAVE ANY MORE OF THAT HAPPEN." 16:15 YOU REMEMBER THAT DIDN'T WORK TOO WELL WITH JESUS AND BARABBAS. 16:20 SO, I'LL WAIT UNTIL AFTER PASSOVER AND AFTER THE CROWDS HAVE LEFT THE VICINITY, 16:26 THEN WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO ENTERTAIN THEM 16:29 I WILL BRING PETER OUT AND I WILL TAKE HIS LIFE IN PUBLIC. 16:34 AND WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED IT, THE CHURCH BEGAN TO PRAY. 16:41 I BELIEVE IN PRAYER. 16:45 I HAVE FOLK TELL ME ALL THE TIME THAT YOU CANNOT BE TRULY 16:48 INTELLIGENT AND BELIEVE IN PRAYER. 16:52 THEY SAY THAT WHEN YOU PRAY AND SOMETHING SEEMS TO HAPPEN, 16:55 IT'S ONLY AN ACCIDENT; 16:58 IT'S ONLY WHAT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED ANYWAY, 17:01 IT'S JUST THAT YOU GIVE GOD CREDIT 17:03 FOR WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE SEQUENCE OF TIME. 17:07 I DARE TO DEFY. 17:11 I HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE NOBODY COULD HELP ME BUT GOD. 17:17 AND THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GET ON MY KNEES, 17:22 BUT I HAD A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS, 17:24 SOMETIMES DRIVING WITH MY EYES OPEN 17:27 AND I'VE SEEN GOD STEP IN ON TIME. 17:31 THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN NOBODY WAS THERE WITH THE 17:33 RESOURCES TO COME TO MY AID, BUT I'VE DISCOVERED THAT 17:36 HEAVEN IS SO POWERFUL THAT EVEN WHEN NOBODY ELSE IS THERE 17:40 TO HELP A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 17:45 IN FACT, YOU HAVE DEPRIVED YOURSELF CULTURALLY IF YOU'VE NEVER TRIED IT. 17:51 IN FACT, HOW CAN YOU KNOCK IT IF YOU DON'T TRY IT ? 17:56 THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN GOVERNMENT, 17:58 WELL YOU KNOW, THESE DAYS I COULD KIND OF UNDERSTAND THAT. 18:02 THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN THIS OR THAT, 18:05 BUT THE FACT IS THAT IF YOU'VE NEVER TRIED PRAYER, 18:09 IF YOU'VE NEVER REACHED OUT THE HAND OF FAITH INTO THE THIN 18:15 UNKNOWN TRUSTING THAT THERE IS A GOD WHO IS THERE TO BE IN TOUCH. 18:22 IF YOU'VE NEVER CONJURED UP ALL OF THE BELIEF THAT YOU HAVE; 18:26 IF YOU'VE NEVER TRUSTED ENOUGH TO WHISPER UP A PRAYER AND LET GOD HAVE IT 18:32 YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT POWER IS AVAILABLE TO YOU. 18:35 BUT THE CHURCH KNEW, SO THEY BEGAN TO PRAY. 18:39 AND AS THEY PRAYED AND PRAYED AND PRAYED, 18:42 SOME FOLK MIGHT HAVE GIVEN UP 18:44 BECAUSE, YOU KNOW SOME OF US WANT OUR PRAYERS TO BE ANSWERED IN A CERTAIN WAY. 18:49 WE'VE WATCHED TOO MANY MOTION PICTURES; 18:52 WE WANT A "SPIELBERG MOMENT". 18:56 YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A TABLE MOVE OR A SOUND OF WIND 19:03 OR SOME MUSICAL BACKGROUND. 19:06 WE WANT GOD TO ANSWER IN A DRAMATIC FASHION. 19:10 I'M GLAD THAT GOD ANSWERS THE WAY HE WANTS TO. 19:14 GOD DOES NOT HAVE TO COME THROUGH LIKE I CHOOSE, 19:16 IN FACT I'VE LEARNED SOMETHING; 19:18 THAT IF YOU LET GOD ANSWER THE PRAYER LIKE HE CHOOSES, 19:21 THERE ARE TIMES WHEN HE WILL GIVE YOU SOMETHING THAT YOU COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED TO ASK. 19:25 THE BIBLE SAYS SO, THAT HE'LL GIVE YOU MORE THAN YOU COULD ASK OR IMAGINE. 19:31 SO I DON'T TRY TO PIN GOD DOWN AND SAY, 19:33 "LORD, HERE'S HOW I WANT IT, HERE'S HOW IT OUGHT TO COME." 19:36 IN FACT, THERE'S SOME FOLK IN TROUBLE RIGHT NOW 19:39 BECAUSE THEY GOT ON THEIR KNEES AND TOLD GOD WHAT TO DO. 19:43 IF YOU'RE GONNA TELL GOD WHAT TO DO, WHY DO YOU PRAY ? 19:46 GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES AND SAY, 19:50 "LORD, I WANT A MAN. 19:51 LET HIM BE TALL, DARK, AND HANDSOME." 19:56 THE LORD MAY SEND YOU ONE THAT'S SHORT, LIGHT, AND RATHER ODD LOOKING. 20:02 BUT IF HE LOVES GOD AND BELIEVES IN THE WORD, MAYBE YOU CAN PUT UP WITH HIM ANYHOW. 20:09 THERE ARE SOME BRETHREN WHO'VE TOLD GOD WHAT THE WOMAN OUGHT TO LOOK LIKE. 20:14 I'VE HAD SOME OF THE FOLK COME BACK TO ME, 20:16 SOME OF THE GENTLEMEN WHO'VE FOUND THE WOMAN OF THEIR DREAMS. 20:20 A MAN SAID TO ME ONE TIME, A MAN WHO WAS MARRIED TO A VERY ATTRACTIVE WOMAN. 20:23 IN FACT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN THAT CHURCH AT THE TIME 20:26 WOULD ALWAYS GO TO GREET THEM BOTH, BUT THE BRETHREN WEREN'T LOOKING AT HIM, 20:31 THEY WERE LOOKING AT HER AND THEY WOULD SAY TO HIM VERY DISCREETLY, 20:35 "MAN, YOU'RE MARRIED TO A NICE LADY." 20:37 ONE DAY HE CAME INTO MY OFFICE AND SAID, 20:40 "PASTOR THERE ARE MORNINGS WHEN I WAKE UP AND THE SUN LANDS ON HER FACE . . ." 20:44 (laughter) 20:48 YOU'RE WAY AHEAD OF ME AREN'T YOU ? 20:50 AND HE SAID, "I SAY TO GOD, HOW DID I FORCE YOU TO GIVE ME THIS 20:56 WOMAN WHO LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL BUT WHO IS SO MEAN INSIDE ?" 21:03 I BELIEVE THAT IT COUNTS MORE WHAT'S HERE THAN WHAT'S HERE. 21:09 ALL OF THIS WILL FALL. 21:15 THE RELENTLESS PULL OF GRAVITY WILL ONE DAY TAKE IT AWAY. 21:20 YOU MUST LOOK BROTHER, YOU MUST SEARCH SISTER, 21:25 FOR SOMETHING THAT GRAVITY CANNOT EFFECT. 21:28 FOR I TELL YOU THAT GRAVITY WILL AFFECT ALL OF THESE THINGS. 21:32 THAT MAN WHO WALKS RAM ROD STRAIGHT NOW, GRAVITY WILL ONE DAY GET HIM. 21:36 (laughter) 21:40 YOU SEE HIM, AMEN ? 21:43 YOU GO TO THE HOSPITALS YOU SEE THE BRETHREN WHO USED TO BE TALL -- SLIDING ALONG. 21:48 BUT IF THEY GOT A GOOD HEART, IT'S A GOOD MAN SLIDING. 21:53 WE CANNOT TELL GOD HOW TO DO WHAT GOD KNOWS TO DO. 22:00 SO, NOW THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH PRAY AND THE TIME PASSES. 22:06 AND NOW WE ARE AT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE EXECUTION. 22:15 IT'S AMAZING WHAT PETER DOES. 22:19 ON THE NIGHT BEFORE THE EXECUTION, 22:23 AND I CAN PROVE TO YOU THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT GOD WAS GONNA DELIVER HIM; 22:27 NOW YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT THIS. 22:29 SOME OF US, YOU KNOW WE GOT THESE NEW CHRISTIANS WHO CAN'T TAKE ANY TROUBLE. 22:36 LITTLE OL' NAMBY-PAMBY CHRISTIANS. 22:41 IF EVERYTHING IS NOT RIGHT, THEY START WHIMPERING. 22:44 "OH I CAN'T TAKE IT, GOD DOESN'T LOVE ME." 22:48 YOU KNOW, IF THEY GO INTO A CHURCH AND THE COLORS DON'T MATCH. 22:52 "OH, THIS IS TERRIBLE." 22:55 YOU OUGHT TO THANK GOD THAT YOU GOT IN. 22:58 THANK GOD THAT YOUR SINS ARE NOT WRITTEN ON THE CARPET, 23:03 NO MATTER HOW FUNNY A COLOR IT MAY BE. 23:05 BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO'VE GOT TO HAVE EVERYTHING JUST RIGHT. 23:09 "I WENT IN AND THEY LOOKED AT ME FUNNY." 23:12 WELL, LOOK IN THE MIRROR; 23:14 MAYBE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKED AT FUNNY. 23:16 (laughter) 23:19 BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY EVERYTHING MUST BE CORRECT, 23:22 EVERYTHING MUST BE PERFECT. 23:24 FOLKS, LET ME TELL YOU, WHEN YOU SERVE JESUS, IT'S NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN EASY ROAD. 23:29 GOD DID NOT PROMISE THAT THE ROAD WOULD BE EASY. 23:32 HE JUST SAID, "I'LL NEVER LEAVE YOU, I'LL NEVER LEAVE YOU. 23:37 I'LL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE." 23:41 THE ROAD MAY GET ROCKY, THE ROAD MAY NOT BE EASY, 23:45 IT MAY TWIST AND TURN, BUT IF JESUS GOES WITH ME, I'LL GO. 23:52 SO, IT'S NOT HAPPENING RIGHT. 23:54 "YOU KNOW, HERE WE ARE THE NIGHT BEFORE AND I THINK 23:57 WE OUGHT TO JUST CALL OFF THE PRAYER MEETING." 24:00 BUT PETER IS IN THE PRISON THINKING GOD'S NOT GONNA 24:04 DELIVER SO THEY'RE GONNA KILL ME IN THE MORNING. 24:07 THE MAN GOES TO SLEEP. 24:13 NOW, I'LL BE TRUTHFUL WITH YOU. 24:16 I'M NOT GOING TO PUT YOU IN A CATEGORY OUTSIDE OF WHERE I AM. 24:20 I WOULD HAVE STAYED UP TO GET EVERYTHING RIGHT WITH THE LORD. 24:27 "LORD, NOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT I CAN'T REMEMBER . . ." 24:30 I PRAY THAT PRAYER SOMETIMES ON AIRPLANES WHEN IT GETS KIND OF ROUGH UP THERE; 24:34 "LORD, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU AND I NEED TO TALK ABOUT ? 24:37 CAUSE IF THIS THING IS GOING DOWN, I SURE WOULD LIKE TO GO IN YOUR ARMS, 24:42 I SURE WOULD LIKE TO BE READY TO MEET YOU IF I MUST DIE 24:47 AND WAKE IN THE RESURRECTION LET ME DIE IN PEACE." 24:50 I HAVE THAT TALK. 24:51 I'M NOT CERTAIN THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN ASLEEP WITH PETER. 24:55 I THINK I'D HAVE BEEN UP, "LORD, NOW IS EVERYTHING OK ? 24:57 'CAUSE I'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE HOURS HERE. 24:59 IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE I COULD GET IT STRAIGHT. 25:03 BUT PETER MUST HAVE THIS THING DONE. 25:06 HE'S ASLEEP. 25:08 THEY HAVE FOUR QUATERNIONS OF SOLDIERS, SIXTEEN SOLDIERS, FOUR AT A TIME WATCHING HIM. 25:15 THE REASON WHY THEY GOT SO MANY SOLDIERS IS 'CAUSE IF YOU READ IN ACTS CHAPTER 5:18,19,20 25:20 YOU DISCOVER THAT THIS BROTHER GOT OUT OF PRISON ONCE BEFORE. 25:26 SO BROTHER HEROD AGRIPPA THE FIRST IS NOT TAKING ANY CHANCES. 25:29 HE SAID, "LOOK, LOCK HIM IN, PUT HIM IN THE INNER PRISON." 25:32 THE HISTORIANS SAY THAT HE WAS NOT IN THE OUTER PRISON, BUT IN THE INNER PRISON. 25:37 HE WAS THERE CHAINED TO TWO SOLDIERS, AND THEY HAD TWO MORE WATCHING THE GATE. 25:43 SO NOTHING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. 25:45 MY MAN PETER, GOT THE CHAINS ON HIM, "YOU BRETHREN OK ?" 25:50 HEY MAN, THE QUESTION IS, 25:52 "ARE YOU OK ?" 25:53 "I'M FINE." 25:54 "BUT YOU'RE GOIN' DOWN IN THE MORNING." 25:55 "WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE MORNING . . . GOOD NIGHT." 26:00 THAT'S SOME FAITH FOLKS. 26:05 Announcer: WHEN GOD MAKES A PROMISE, YOU CAN REST ASSURED HE'LL KEEP THAT PROMISE. 26:09 FOR OUR OFFER TO YOU THIS WEEK, WE GIVE YOU A CHOICE: 26:12 "GOD'S PROMISES FOR MEN" OR "GOD'S PROMISES FOR WOMEN." 26:16 MEN WILL DISCOVER THAT GOD GIVES A MAN STRENGTH WHEN HE IS ANGRY AND NEEDS PEACE. 26:20 AND GOD LISTENS TO A MAN'S PRAYER 26:22 WHEN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF LIFE OVERWHELM HIM. 26:25 THERE IS ALSO A SECTION ON GODLY MEN OF THE BIBLE--LIKE ABRAHAM, DAVID AND PAUL. 26:30 WOMEN WILL DISCOVER THAT GOD WALKS WITH WOMEN THROUGH DISAPPOINTMENT. 26:34 AND GOD GIVES FREELY TO WOMEN, POWER TO DEFEAT FEAR. 26:38 THERE IS ALSO A SECTION ON GODLY WOMEN OF THE BIBLE LIKE SARAH, 26:41 RUTH AND ELIZABETH--THE MOTHER OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. 26:45 WHETHER YOU'RE A MAN OR A WOMEN, 26:47 IN TIMES OF NEED AND TROUBLE, 26:48 IN TIMES OF HEARTACHE AND PAIN, 26:50 GOD IS THERE FOR YOU WITH HIS PROMISE. 26:53 DISCOVER HIS PROMISES TODAY BY CALLING 26:55 OUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER 877-BOL-OFFER. 26:58 THAT'S 877-265-6333. 27:03 ASK FOR "GOD'S PROMISES FOR MEN" 27:05 OR "GOD'S PROMISES FOR WOMEN." 27:07 EITHER BOOK IS YOURS FOR A GIFT OF FIVE DOLLARS OR MORE. 27:10 OR YOU MAY WRITE AND ASK FOR THE BOOK. 27:11 JUST WRITE TO: 27:13 BREATH OF LIFE P.O. BOX 97192 WASHINGTON, D.C. 20077 27:22 REMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR GIFT OF FIVE DOLLARS OR MORE. 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, 27:38 CALL THE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN, OR WRITE 27:39 WALTER PEARSON, P.O.BOX 97192, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20077. 27:46 FOR YOUR LOVE GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT, WE'LL SEND OUT YOUR COPY RIGHT AWAY. 27:49 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. 28:01 ♪ HE'S WORTHY OF THE PRAISE. ♪ 28:06 ♪ JESUS IS WORTHY. ♪ 28:11 ♪ OF ALL THE GLORY. ♪ 28:17 ♪ OH YES, HE'S WORTHY. ♪ 28:23 ♪ JESUS IS WORTHY OF ALL ALL THE PRAISE. ♪ |
Revised 2016-08-31