Participants: Pr. Walter Pearson
Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000301
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00:04 PRESENTS--RELENTLESS PURSUITS WITH PASTOR WALTER
00:09 L. PEARSON, JR. 00:12 (theme music) Walter Pearson: I'M GOING 00:24 TO ASK THAT WE TURN TO THE BOOK OF JUDGES. 00:27 THE BOOK OF JUDGES, CHAPTER 4. 00:30 IT IS A JOY TO BE AT MY ALMA MATER, TO BE AT OAKWOOD COLLEGE, 00:37 THE PLACE THAT HELPED TO MAKE ME WHATEVER GOOD I AM. 00:42 AND I THANK THE PRESIDENT OF THIS INSTITUTION AND THE 00:45 CHAPLAINCY DEPARTMENT AND DR. BLUE AND ALL OF 00:49 THOSE WHO WERE SO KIND. 00:51 I THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME BACK HOME. 00:54 IT IS MY JOY TO BE HERE. 00:56 JUDGES, CHAPTER 4, I ONLY NEED ONE VERSE, WHICH WILL INTRODUCE 01:00 OUR SUBJECT FOR TONIGHT, OUR "TITLE" FOR TONIGHT. 01:05 JUDGES, CHAPTER 4 AND I'M GOING TO READ AND YOU'RE HEARING VERSE 01:09 21: "THEN YAEL, HEBER'S WIFE, TOOK A NAIL OF THE TENT AND TOOK 01:19 A HAMMER IN HER HAND AND WENT SOFTLY UNTO HIM AND SMOTE THE 01:26 NAIL INTO HIS TEMPLES, AND FASTENED IT TO THE GROUND, FOR 01:32 HE WAS FAST ASLEEP AND WEARY." 01:35 SO HE DIED. 01:38 I'VE ENTITLED MY SERMON FOR TONIGHT BE CAREFUL 01:40 WHERE YOU SLEEP. 01:47 WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME ? 01:49 FATHER IN HEAVEN ALL THAT I HAVE AND ALL THAT I AM I 01:51 PLACE AGAIN INTO YOUR HANDS. 01:54 I ASK ONLY THAT WHEN I GET TOO FAR YOU'LL PULL ME BACK; 01:58 WHEN I DON'T RUN FAST ENOUGH, YOU'LL PUSH ME ALONG, FOR 02:03 MY ONLY DESIRE IN THIS PLACE IS TO PLEASE GOD. 02:09 LET JESUS COME AND SPEAK. 02:11 LET MY VOICE BE MUFFLED SO THAT HIS MIGHT BE HEARD. 02:16 EMPOWER ME WITH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND I PRAY THAT THE 02:21 WORDS THAT ARE TRANSMITTED-I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALLOW ME TO 02:26 USE MY PERSONALITY, BUT DON'T LET IT GET IN YOUR WAY, AND 02:30 SPEAK TO OUR HEARTS TONIGHT. 02:32 IN THE NAME OF JESUS, LET EVERYONE SAY--AMEN. 02:37 THE BIBLE SAYS THERE CAME A TIME WHEN ISRAEL, HAVING 02:42 OCCUPIED THE LAND OF PROMISE. 02:46 WE SAY IT SO BLITHELY--PROMISED LAND--THAT WE FORGET THAT GOD 02:52 PROMISED ABRAHAM, ISAAC AND JACOB, "I WILL GIVE YOU A LAND 02:58 THAT FLOWS WITH MILK AND HONEY." 03:01 THESE DAYS THE HEALTH PEOPLE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT BOTH MILK 03:04 AND HONEY MAY BE PROBLEMS FOR US, BUT WE KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. 03:09 IT WAS A RICH LAND, SO RICH, SAYS ONE SCHOLAR THAT IF 03:14 YOU DROPPED A SEED ON THE GROUND WITHOUT TILLING IT, 03:18 YOU WOULD COME BACK AND FIND SOMETHING GROWING. 03:21 GOD GAVE THAT LAND TO HIS PEOPLE. 03:23 THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN HAVING A GIFT THAT CANNOT BE 03:28 ALL THAT IT'S INTENDED TO BE. 03:31 SO THE CHILDREN OF GOD ARE IN CANAAN, BUT NOW THERE IS A KING 03:36 OF CANAAN, WHO HAD REPRESENTED THE PEOPLE CONQUERED BY THE 03:42 PREDECESSORS OF GOD'S CHILDREN AND YET TREATED, PERHAPS, TOO 03:47 KINDLY BY THEIR FORBEARERS, SO NOW SOMEBODY WHO SHOULD HAVE 03:52 BEEN CONQUERED RISES UP AGAIN TO TROUBLE ISRAEL IN THE VERY LAND 03:58 THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO THEM. 04:00 IT'S A TERRIBLE SITUATION. 04:04 SO THE PEOPLE GO TO GET WATER, AND THEN THOSE PLACES WHERE THEY 04:07 WENT TO GET WATER, SOMEBODY WOULD COME AND PERHAPS SOMEONE 04:10 WOULD BE KILLED, THEY WOULD BE TROUBLED, THEIR POSSESSIONS 04:13 TAKEN FROM THEM; IT WAS A TERRIBLE SITUATION. 04:17 PEOPLE HAD TO LEAVE THE POPULUS PLACES, THOSE PLACES WHERE THEY 04:21 WOULD ORDINARILY GO, THEY COULD NOT GO BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE 04:25 UNDER THE INSTRUCTION OF YABIN 04:29 AND HIS GENERAL, SISSERA, WOULD FIND SOLDIERS COMING 04:34 TO GIVE THEM TROUBLE. 04:36 THEY HAD TO GO TO TINY PLACES; THEY HAD TO GO TO THE WALLED 04:39 CITIES; THEY COULD NOT ENJOY THE VERY LAND THAT WAS THEIR GIFT; 04:43 THAT WAS THEIR BIRTHRIGHT. 04:45 SOMETHING HAD TO HAPPEN. 04:48 I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I'VE DISCOVERED THAT GOD 04:50 MAY NOT BE ON MY TIME SCHEDULE, BUT HE COMES ON TIME. 04:56 IF YOU EVER FIND SOMEBODY DOUBTING THAT GOD WILL MOVE, 05:00 YOU MUST REMIND THEM THAT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS BOOK 05:04 THERE ARE SO MANY OCCASIONS WHERE PEOPLE SAID--HE'S 05:07 NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING; HE'S NOT GOING TO HELP US. 05:10 I'VE DISCOVERED THAT GOD SHOWS WHO HE IS BY STEPPING 05:14 IN WHEN YOU THINK HE WON'T. 05:17 IN FACT WHEN YOU SAY THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE A 05:20 CHANGE, THAT'S WHEN GOD PROVES HIS DIVINITY, BECAUSE HE 05:24 ACCOMPLISHES THE IMPOSSIBLE. 05:28 SO WHEN ALL OF THE PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN UP, IN FACT WHEN THE MEN 05:31 OF THE LAND--BRETHREN, I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS, BUT IT'S IN 05:34 THE WORD--WHEN THE MEN OF THE LAND HAD GIVEN UP, AND I'LL 05:40 TELL YOU WHY THEY'D GIVEN UP. 05:41 I WANT TO BE FAIR TO THE MEN. 05:44 THE MEN HAD NO WEAPONS. 05:47 WHEN YOU SEARCHED AMONG THEM, ONE SCHOLAR SUGGESTS THAT THERE 05:51 WERE 40,000 OF THEM, BUT NOT ONE SWORD OR SPEAR AMONG THEM. 05:58 AND THEY KNEW THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE, THIS YABIN AND 06:03 HIS GENERAL, SISSERA, HAD 900 IRON CHARIOTS. 06:10 THESE IRON CHARIOTS WERE NOT ORDINARY. 06:13 THEY HAD APPENDED TO THEIR AXLES SLITHE-LIKE SWORDS THAT 06:20 TURNED WITH THE AXLES. 06:23 WHAT THOSE SOLDIERS WOULD DO IS THAT THEY WOULD GET INTO THEIR 06:26 IRON CHARIOTS AND PLOW THROUGH FOOTMEN THAT CAME TO FIGHT THEM. 06:32 AND WHEN THEY WENT THROUGH, THOSE SWORDS WOULD CUT PEOPLE 06:37 DOWN AND KILL THEM WITHOUT ANY EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE 06:41 ONE WHO DROVE THE CHARIOT. 06:44 SO THINK ABOUT IT. 06:45 HERE ARE GOD'S CHILDREN IN THEIR OWN LAND, BUT NOW THEY'VE GOT A 06:49 GENERAL AND THIS GENERAL HAS 900 IRON CHARIOTS WITH SWORDS ON THE 06:55 AXLES AND THEY KNOW WE CAN'T GO UP AGAINST THEM BECAUSE THEY 07:00 HAVE MORE POWER THAN WE DO, SO THE MEN GOT QUIET. 07:04 THE MEN CEASED TO MAKE ANY NOISE. 07:07 I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THAT IS NOT A SITUATION THAT 07:10 IS COMFORTABLE FOR ME. 07:12 I BELIEVE THAT MEN OUGHT TO MAKE MAN NOISES. 07:19 NOT EVERY COMMUNITY IS THE SAME, BUT MASCULINITY HAS 07:23 A WAY OF EVINCING ITSELF. 07:26 THERE'S A WAY A MAN WALKS; IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE SAME, BUT 07:31 IT SAYS THE SAME THING. 07:35 MAN OUGHT TO WALK IN A CERTAIN WAY. 07:39 WHEN HE TALKS THERE OUGHT TO BE A LITTLE RUMBLE IN HIS VOICE. 07:42 IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A LOW VOICE, BUT THERE OUGHT TO BE 07:45 SOME TESTOSTERONE DOWN THERE SOMEWHERE--THAT MAKES IT RUMBLE. 07:51 THE MEN OF ISRAEL HAD STARTED TO TALK IN HIGH-PITCHED 07:54 VOICES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE DISCERNED. 08:01 THEY THOUGHT ABOUT THE IRON CHARIOTS AND SAID, 08:04 "HEY HOW YOU DOIN' ?" 08:06 I UNDERSTAND THEM, DON'T YOU ? 08:09 WELL JUST WHEN THEY THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS NO HELP, GOD CHOSE 08:13 A LEADER WHO WAS NOT TYPICAL. 08:17 IT WAS NOT A MAN, BECAUSE THE MAN WAS ONE WHO MIGHT 08:20 BE IN TROUBLE, SO GOD SAID, "LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING 08:24 THAT I CAN DO." 08:25 HE CHOSE A WOMAN TO STAND IN THE GAP. 08:29 THIS WOMAN'S NAME WAS DEBORAH. 08:31 SHE BECAME THE JUDGE FOR THAT MOMENT. 08:35 SHE WAS NOT A JUDGE IN SO MUCH AS SHE WAS ALWAYS SETTLING 08:39 DISPUTES, BUT WHEN THE PEOPLE WOULD COME TO MEET WITH DEBORAH, 08:43 SHE WOULD REMIND THEM OF HOW POWERFUL THEIR GOD WAS. 08:47 IN FACT WHEN THE MEN CAME, I'M SURE THEY HAD SOME ISSUES 08:50 FOR A MOMENT ABOUT GENDER BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY WE ARE, 08:54 BUT IF GOD IS WITH SOMEBODY, IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE 08:57 WHETHER THEY ARE MALE OR FEMALE; IT'S WHETHER THEY'VE 09:00 GOT GOD WITH THEM. 09:01 SO, FINALLY THE MEN ROSE UP AND SAID, "LET'S GO DOWN 09:04 AND MEET WITH DEBORAH." 09:06 SHE HAD HER OFFICE EITHER IN A HOUSE, THE SCHOLARS ARE LED TO 09:09 BELIEVE, THAT WAS UNDER A PALM TREE, OR MAYBE SHE WAS OUT IN 09:13 THE OPEN PLACES WITH A PALM TREE, BUT WHEN YOU WENT DOWN TO 09:16 SIT WITH DEBORAH, IF YOU WERE A MAN, SHE WOULD START TALKING 09:20 SOMETHING IN YOUR PRESENCE. 09:22 SHE'D SAY, "WHAT'S GOING ON ?" 09:27 "WELL, JUDGE DEBORAH, YOU--I DON'T KNOW WHO'S LISTENING." 09:34 "NO, NO, DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHO'S LISTENING--WHAT'S GOING ON ? 09:37 IS THERE ANYTHING HAPPENING ? 09:38 IS THERE SOMETHING PLANNED ?" 09:42 "WELL, YOU MAY NOT UNDERSTAND, DEBORAH, BECAUSE YOU'RE A WOMAN, 09:48 AND YOU KNOW, THEY MAY NOT ATTACK YOU LIKE THEY'LL ATTACK 09:52 US, BUT WE'VE GOT TO REMEMBER THOSE IRON CHARIOTS." 09:56 SHE SAID, "SIR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER 10:00 THAT YOU'VE GOT A GOD WHO'S MORE POWERFUL THAN ANYBODYS 10:07 IRON CHARIOTS." 10:08 "YEAH, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAY, IN THEORY. 10:16 BUT YOU KNOW, SISSERA WILL ROLL UP HERE WITH THOSE IRON 10:19 CHARIOTS AND IT'LL BE SOMETHING ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT, I MEAN, 10:22 THEY MAY LET YOU GO, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO GET US." 10:25 "BUT DO YOU REMEMBER THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SITUATIONS 10:27 LIKE THAT ALL THE WAY THROUGH OUR HISTORY ? 10:30 DO YOU REMEMBER THAT IT IS THAT GOD WHO GAVE US THIS LAND ? 10:32 DO YOU THINK HE GAVE IT TO US TO HAVE US PERSECUTED IN IT ? 10:37 IT'S TIME THAT THE BRETHREN GET TOGETHER. 10:40 I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO, I KNOW THAT'S A TENDER 10:42 ISSUE, BUT GET THE BRETHREN TOGETHER, HAVE A LITTLE 10:45 SMALL GROUP MEET. 10:48 SOMEBODY OUGHT TO TALK ABOUT HOW POWERFUL GOD IS, BECAUSE I 10:52 DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I BELIEVE GOD CAN HANDLE SISSERA. 10:56 I BELIEVE GOD CAN HANDLE YABIN. 10:59 GOD TOOK HIM OUT ONE TIME, AND HIS PEOPLE, HE CAN 11:01 TAKE HIM OUT AGAIN. 11:03 GOD CAN DO ANYTHING !" 11:07 FINALLY THEY RAN INTO A BROTHER WHO WAS NOT TYPICAL. 11:12 HIS NAME WAS BARAK. 11:15 I DO NOT WANT TO--WELL, LET ME MAKE A DISCLAIMER. 11:18 I BELIEVE THAT WHEN YOU FIND A MAN WHO HAS COURAGE, 11:22 IT SHOWS SOMEWHERE. 11:25 I DON'T WANT TO SAY THAT EVERY MAN WITH COURAGE, WELL--BECAUSE 11:32 SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE DIFFERENT AND SOME OF YOU WILL GO OUT AND 11:35 GET HURT BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEEN ANYBODY WALKING LIKE THIS. 11:40 YOU'LL THINK YOU'RE SAFE. 11:41 NOT EVERY MAN WITH COURAGE WALKS LIKE THAT, BUT IN THE PLACE 11:44 WHERE I WAS BORN, A MAN HAD A LITTLE RHYTHM WHEN HAD COURAGE. 11:50 HE WAS NOT WALKING IN AN ORDINARY WAY. 11:52 SO FORGIVE ME IF I BELIEVE THAT WHEN I SEE BARAK, 11:55 HE'S NOT COWERING. 11:59 WHEN YOU SEE BARAK--HOW YOU DOING ? 12:04 "BARAK, YOU HEARD ABOUT THE SITUATION WITH THE 12:06 IRON CHARIOTS ?" 12:07 "HEARD ABOUT IT." 12:11 "WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT ?" 12:12 "DON'T WANT TO DISCUSS IT." 12:16 "WELL, I HEARD YOU AIN'T ALL THAT UPSET ABOUT 12:18 THE IRON CHARIOTS." 12:19 "NOT UPSET; DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE 12:23 ABOUT ACTION, YOU DON'T NEED TO BE ABOUT TOO MANY WORDS." 12:31 DOWN UNDER DEBORAH'S PALM TREE GOD BEGAN TO SPEAK. 12:37 GOD SAID, "DEBORAH, CALL BARAK. 12:41 TELL HIM THAT I WANT HIM TO ASSEMBLE AN ARMY." 12:45 THINK ABOUT IT--LET'S HAVE A REALITY CHECK--NO WEAPONS, 12:50 NO SWORDS, NO SPEARS, BUT IF GOD SAYS YOU CAN BE AN 12:55 ARMY; YOU CAN BE AN ARMY. 12:58 YOU MAY HAVE NOTHING BUT FAITH, BUT I TELL YOU 13:01 THAT FAITH IS A WEAPON. 13:04 OBEDIENCE IS A WEAPON. 13:06 "CALL BARAK, AND TELL HIM WHEN HE GETS HERE--WHEN BARAK SHOWS 13:10 UP WITH HIS LITTLE WALK, TELL HIM THAT I TOLD YOU TO TELL HIM, 13:16 "LET'S GET AN ARMY TOGETHER. 13:17 GIVE ME TEN THOUSAND, THAT'S ALL I NEED." 13:21 "YEAH, BUT MOST PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE NINE HUNDRED IRON CHARIOTS 13:26 HAVE MORE MEN WITH THEM." 13:27 WELL, GOD DOES NOT NEED TO EQUAL NUMBERS. 13:33 ONE PLUS GOD IS A MAJORITY. 13:44 I COULD TELL YOU STORIES IF WE HAD TIME. 13:46 THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL COME AGAINST YOU NOT 13:48 UNDERSTANDING THAT IF GOD BE FOR YOU, WHO CAN BE AGAINST YOU ? 13:55 AND SO DEBORAH CALLS BARAK AND SAYS, "I WANT YOU TO GET YOUR 13:59 TRIBE AND WITH ONLY THOSE TWO LITTLE TRIBES, NAPHTALI AND 14:03 ZEBULUN, GET TEN THOUSAND MEN AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT TO DO." 14:08 HE SAID, "WAIT A MINUTE. 14:09 BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR WITH THIS, LET'S NOT 14:11 WASTE EACH OTHER'S TIME. 14:12 I DO, FROM TIME TO TIME, FIND THE WAY TO GO AND 14:16 ACCOMPLISH CERTAIN THINGS WITH A SMALL GROUP OF DEDICATED 14:20 BELIEVERS, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING 14:23 ON A LARGER SCALE, NOW. 14:25 IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT, THEN WHAT I NEED FROM YOU, 14:28 DEBORAH, IS TO REPRESENT A CALL FROM GOD TO ACTION. 14:32 I DON'T HAVE THAT. 14:34 I AM A SOLDIER, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE IMPREMATA THAT YOU HAVE. 14:38 I DON'T CARRY WITH ME THE POWER OF GOD IN MY SIGNATURE, BUT YOU, 14:43 DEBORAH, REPRESENT GOD, SO IF YOU SAY THAT I CAN CALL TEN 14:48 THOUSAND MEN, THEN I WILL CALL THEM BECAUSE YOU SAID 14:52 GOD COMMANDED IT, AND GOD'S COMMAND WILL BE ENOUGH." 14:56 SHE SAID, "THEN LET IT BE DONE." 15:00 HE SAID, "WELL, YOU JUST SAID A WORD. 15:04 OKAY, NOW WHAT DO WE DO AFTER THAT ?" 15:07 SHE SAID, "I'M GOING TO TALK TO GOD"--AND YOU'VE GOT TO 15:10 LISTEN TO THIS BECAUSE THERE'S SOMEBODY HERE RIGHT NOW WORRIED 15:13 ABOUT AN ENEMY OF YOURS. 15:15 YOU'VE BEEN MAKING TOO MANY PHONE CALLS, HAVING TOO MANY 15:18 DISCUSSIONS TRYING TO DISCOVER HOW TO OVERCOME YOUR ENEMY, 15:23 WHEN THE FACT IS THAT IF YOU HAVE AN ENEMY AND YOU ARE 15:26 ON GOD'S SIDE, THEN YOUR ENEMY IS GOD'S ENEMY, AND 15:31 GOD SAYS, "VENGEANCE IS MINE. 15:37 "SO YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE ON GOD'S SIDE, YOU CAN STOP ALL 15:40 THAT STRATEGIC PLANNING ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE 15:45 GOD'S ENEMIES, HE'S GOT A PLAN AND IT'S ALWAYS STRATEGIC. 15:52 SO HE SAID, "HOW DO WE DO IT ?" 15:53 SHE SAID, "WELL, GOD IS GOING TO BRING YOUR ENEMY TO YOU." 16:01 "WELL, YOU FOLKS ARE SLOW; BECAUSE WHAT I JUST SAID 16:06 IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO FIND YOUR ENEMIES. 16:11 GOD WILL PUT YOU IN A SUPERIOR POSITION AND THEN 16:17 BRING YOUR ENEMIES TO YOU." 16:21 HE SAID, "WELL, HOW DOES THAT WORK ?" 16:23 AND SHE SAID, "WELL, HERE'S HOW IT'S GOING TO GO. 16:24 YOU TAKE THE TEN THOUSAND MEN TO MT. TABOR. 16:28 YOU WILL HAVE AN ELEVATED POSITION SO THAT YOU WILL 16:30 LOOK DOWN ON YOUR ENEMIES." 16:33 "DEBORAH, THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THAT I DON'T KNOW ANY GENERAL 16:36 WHO WOULD BRING HIS ARMY INTO THAT INFERIOR POSITION." 16:41 "WELL, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW GOD. 16:44 BECAUSE GOD CAN MAKE YOUR ENEMIES COME TO A SERVILE 16:48 POSITION IN RELATIONSHIP TO WHERE YOU ARE. 16:51 THAT'S WHAT GOD DOES. 16:53 SO TAKE THEM TO MT. TABOR, AND WHEN YOU GET THERE, YOU DON'T 16:57 HAVE TO WORRY BECAUSE WILL CAUSE YEBIN AND SISSERA TO BRING THEIR 17:04 WHOLE ARMY UNDERNEATH YOU AT THE BASE OF THE MOUNT. 17:11 HERE'S THE THING--ARE YOU READY TO DO IT ?" 17:13 HE SAID, "WELL, DEBORAH, I'M READY TO DO IT, BUT 17:16 I CAN'T GO WITHOUT YOU." 17:18 THIS IS A GOOD SPOT IN THIS SERMON, BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO 17:23 MANY PLACES, EVEN IN CHURCHES, WHERE MEN AND WOMEN DON'T 17:26 UNDERSTAND HOW TO WORK TOGETHER. 17:29 THERE ARE TOO MANY MEN WORRIED ABOUT WOMEN TAKING OVER; TOO 17:34 MANY MEN WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN; TOO MUCH 17:38 TENSION BETWEEN THE GENDERS. 17:42 IF GOD IS IN THERE SOMEWHERE, THEN REGARDLESS OF THE AGENDA, 17:48 IF YOU ARE CONNECTED WITH HIM, GOD MAKES YOU A PLACE. 17:51 I DID A STUDY FOR A SERMON LONG AGO AND I DISCOVERED THAT THE 17:55 MAGNETIC POWER OF THE SUN KEEPS EVERY OTHER CELESTIAL 18:00 BODY IN THE RIGHT PLACE. 18:04 SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYBODY TAKING YOUR PLACE IN 18:07 CHRIST, IF THE S-U-N, WHICH HAS LESS POWER THAN THE S-O-N, IF 18:15 THE SON PUTS YOU IN YOUR PLACE, NOBODY CAN TAKE YOUR PLACE. 18:22 THE GRAVITATIONAL FORCE OF THE S-U-N PUTS ALL OF THOSE 18:27 CELESTIAL BODIES IN THEIR PLACE, AND LOCKS THEM THERE. 18:31 THEY MAY ORBIT, BUT THEY ORBIT WHERE THE SUN SAYS ORBIT. 18:35 AND I TELL YOU THAT IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST, YOU MAY MOVE AROUND, 18:38 BUT YOU'LL MOVE WHERE JESUS SAYS MOVE, AND THERE ARE 18:41 NO COLLISIONS IN CHRIST. 18:46 THE ONLY CELESTIAL BODIES THAT SHOOT AROUND MESSING UP ARE 18:49 SHOOTING STARS THAT MAY BURN OUT IN THEIR OWN HEAT, SO IF 18:52 SOMEBODY KEEPS BOUNCING IN YOUR FACE, OUT OF PLACE, JUST LET 18:56 THEM KEEP ON BURNING AND THEY'LL BURN THEMSELVES OUT. 19:05 SO BARAK DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT ALL THAT STUFF--"LET ME JUST TELL 19:09 YOU WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO DO, BUT IF YOU NEED ME TO COME, YOU WILL 19:13 ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOAL, BUT YOU WON'T GET CREDIT FOR IT. 19:18 THE CREDIT WILL GO TO A WOMAN." 19:19 LET'S PAUSE HERE A MOMENT--IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER REALITY CHECK. 19:23 THE REASON WHY CHURCHES CAN'T GET THINGS DONE IS 19:27 BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS WORRIED ABOUT CREDIT. 19:30 WHO'S GOING TO GET THE PLAQUE ? 19:33 WHO'S GOING TO GET THE FLOWERS ? 19:35 WHO'S GOING TO GET THE RECOGNITION ? 19:38 I WISH WE COULD STOP FOR 10 MINUTES WORRYING ABOUT 19:40 WHO'S GOING TO GET THE CREDIT, AND GET SOMETHING 19:42 DONE IN THE NAME OF JESUS. 19:45 BARAK SAYS, "I DON'T CARE WHO GETS THE CREDIT--WHAT I NEED 19:48 YOU FOR, DEBORAH, I NEED YOU TO REPRESENT JESUS; I NEED 19:52 YOU TO REPRESENT THE HEAD." 19:54 BROTHERS YOU GOT TO LISTEN--MAY HURT YOU, BUT YOU NEED TO HEAR 19:56 IT--"YOU, DEBORAH, WILL BE THE HEAD; I'M GOING TO BE THE HAND." 20:07 SOME BROTHER HAS ALREADY KICKED IN HIS TELEVISION SET. 20:11 HE WILL NOT SEE THE END OF MY SERMON. 20:15 BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS--IF GOD DESIGNATES A WOMAN TO 20:19 BE HEAD; LET HER BE HEAD. 20:23 IF GOD DESIGNATES A BROTHER TO BE HAND; LET HIM BE HAND. 20:28 IF GOD SAYS IT, IT'LL FLY. 20:31 SO BARAK SAYS, "SO YOU COME GO WITH ME." 20:35 AND SHE SAYS, "WELL, I WILL." 20:36 NOW THINK ABOUT IT. 20:37 A WOMAN HAS NO PLACE IN BATTLE, BUT NO, LISTEN TO ME, PASTORS, 20:42 NO RELIGIOUS LEADER SHOULD SEND ANYONE TO A PLACE THAT THEY ARE 20:47 NOT WILLING TO GO THEMSELVES. 20:51 WHY, I EVEN GOT QUIET IN THE ROOM ON THAT. 20:56 SHE SAYS, "LET'S GO." 20:58 SHE SAYS, "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE CREDIT." 21:00 HE SAYS, "I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT CREDIT, LET'S GET IT DONE." 21:03 NOW DEBORAH, WITH BARAK AND TEN THOUSAND SOLDIERS BEGAN 21:09 TO MARCH TO MT. TABOR. 21:11 AS MARCHING TO MT. TABOR, THEY PASS BY A PLACE 21:14 INHABITED BY THE KINITES. 21:18 KINITES ARE SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE. 21:21 THEY ARE DESCENDANTS OF JETHRO, THE FATHER-IN-LAW OF MOSES. 21:25 PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE TRUE GOD, BUT THEY ARE ALSO IN A FRIENDLY 21:31 RELATIONSHIP WITH YABIN. 21:35 SO THEY HAVE A DIPLOMATIC RELATIONSHIP THAT WE COULD 21:39 DESCRIBE AS DETENTE. 21:42 SO THE KINITES LOVE THE TRUE GOD, BUT THEY GET ALONG 21:46 WITH THESE CANAANITES. 21:50 AND AS BARAK AND DEBORAH MARCH TO MT. TABOR, THERE IS A KINITE 21:56 WHO SEES WHAT'S GOING ON--HEBA. 22:01 AND I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY THERE WAS GOSSIP BACK IN THERE; 22:04 I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY THAT, BUT I'LL BREAK IT DOWN FOR 22:07 YOU--HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED. 22:10 WHEN HEBA SAW DEBORAH AND BARAK WITH TEN THOUSAND SOLDIERS, HE 22:18 SAID, "YOU KNOW I WONDER IF SISSERA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ?" 22:25 SO HE JUST HAPPENED TO BE NEAR SISSERA. 22:29 "SISSERA, I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY WANT YOU TO REMEMBER WHO TOLD 22:34 YOU THIS, BUT THE OTHER DAY I SAW SOMETHING REAL STRANGE. 22:42 YOU KNOW, NORMALLY, SINCE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN KIND 22:44 OF OPPRESSING EVERYBODY, YOU CAN HARDLY FIND 22:47 ISRAELITES IN PUBLIC. 22:49 WELL GUESS WHAT I SAW THE OTHER DAY ? 22:51 I SAW TEN THOUSAND ISRAELITES MARCHING UP TO THE 22:56 TOP OF MT. TABOR. 23:00 I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER WHAT I SAID, BUT DON'T TELL 23:02 ANYBODY WHO TOLD YOU." 23:04 HE SAID, "ARE YOU SURE YOU SAW THAT ?" 23:06 "I SAW IT WITH THESE EYES. 23:11 I DON'T KNOW IF IT MEANS ANYTHING TO YOU, BUT I JUST 23:14 THOUGHT I WOULD PASS IT ALONG FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH." 23:18 WELL, SISSERA SAYS, "OKAY, THEN. 23:20 SO THESE GUYS HAVE DEVELOPED A BACKBONE; THEY'RE GOING TO 23:24 GO AND MARCH SOMEWHERE. 23:26 SO I TELL YOU WHAT LET'S DO. 23:27 IT'S TIME TO ROLL OUT THE IRON CHARIOTS, SO GO AND GET THEM 23:32 GLISTENING AS MUCH AS IRON CAN." 23:35 THEY PULLED TOGETHER ALL OF THEIR ARMAMENTS.& 23:38 THEY PULLED TOGETHER THEIR MEN AND MATERIAL AND HE SAID, "IF 23:41 THEY CAN MARCH TO MT. TABOR, THEN WE WILL GO TO ACCOMPANY 23:45 THEM, FOR THEY MUST BE UP TO SOME MISCHIEF." 23:49 AND THESE SOLDIERS WITH THEIR POWERFUL CHARIOTS ROLLED ON 23:54 THE SAME ON THE SAME PATH AND END UP AT THE BASE OF BASE OF 23:57 MT. TABOR, AND I'M TELLING YOU NOW, YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS 24:01 BECAUSE IF GOD IS IN YOUR LIFE, IF YOU HAVE A CONNECTION WITH 24:05 GOD, YOU WILL HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN FOR YOU. 24:11 SO NOW DEBORAH AND BARAK, WITH TEN THOUSAND SOLDIERS, 24:15 LOOKED DOWN AT THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAIN AND BARAK SAYS 24:20 TO DEBORAH, "YOU SAID IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, DIDN'T YOU. 24:24 I'M NOT SAYING I DIDN'T BELIEVE YOU, BUT I'M GOING 24:26 TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. 24:28 THAT'S SOME HARD STUFF TO BELIEVE. 24:31 WE'RE UP HERE AND THEY'RE DOWN THERE. 24:34 I THOUGHT WE COULD NEVER BEAT THEM. 24:36 HERE WE ARE HIGH AND THEY ARE LOW. 24:39 THIS IS AMAZING. 24:41 WHAT DO YOU THINK WE OUGHT TO DO NEXT ?" 24:43 SHE SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'WHAT DO WE DO NEXT ?' 24:46 WE'RE GOING DOWN THIS MOUNTAIN AND TAKE OUT OUR ENEMY. 24:50 GOD WILL BE FOR US." 24:53 IN FACT THERE CAME A MOMENT JOSEPHUS SAID, WHEN FEAR WENT 24:59 THROUGH THE TEN THOUSAND; WHEN FEAR EVEN TUGGED AT BARAK, AND 25:07 HE STARTED TO THINK--MAYBE I SHOULD GO AND FIND A 25:09 HIDING PLACE UP HERE. 25:12 BUT DEBORAH SAID TO HIM, "HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY--KNOW 25:16 WHO'S WITH US ? 25:18 DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO GO TO THE MOUNTAIN AND WE'RE UP HERE ? 25:20 "YEAH." 25:21 "DIDN'T I TELL YOU I WAS GOING TO DRAW BY GOD'S 25:24 POWER OUR ENEMY TO US ?" 25:26 "YEAH." 25:27 "DIDN'T IT HAPPEN JUST LIKE GOD PROMISED ?" 25:29 "YEAH." 25:30 "WELL, THAT SAME GOD WHO DREW THEM TO US SAYS 25:32 GO DOWN AND GET 'EM." 25:36 INCIDENTALLY, THERE ARE SOME TIMES IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU 25:38 JUST GOT TO TRUST GOD. 25:40 YOU JUST GOT TO DO WHAT HE SAYS. 25:42 AND SO BARAK PULLS TOGETHER HIS COURAGE AND HE MAKES THE 25:47 COMMAND AND THEY BEGIN TO MARCH WITH NO WEAPONS DOWN 25:52 TO FACE THE IRON CHARIOTS. . ." 25:56 Announcer: JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN PASTOR PEARSON'S 25:58 MESSAGE CONTINUES. 26:04 Announcer: WE'D ALL LIKE TO LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES, BUT 26:06 DOING SO AND MAINTAINING IT AREN'T ALWAYS SO EASY. 26:08 IT'S HARD WHEN THE FOODS WE LOVE ARE ALSO THE FOODS THAT 26:11 CAN HURT US THE MOST, AND WHEN IT'S EASIER TO WATCH TV 26:13 THAN IT IS TO EXERCISE. 26:15 WHAT WE NEED ARE STRAIGHT ANSWERS AND SOME ENCOURAGEMENT. 26:17 THE BREATH OF LIFE GIFT OFFER THIS WEEK IS DR. 26:19 ARNOTT'S 24 REALISTIC WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH. 26:23 FIND OUT HOW TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT WAY, HOW WATER CAN HELP 26:25 YOUR HEART, AND WHY EATING NUTS AND SEEDS DAILY IS SO IMPORTANT. 26:29 DISCOVER HOW TO LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE, REDUCE YOUR 26:31 RISK OF CANCER, AND ABOUT LIFESTYLE CHANGES THAT LAST. 26:35 DR. ARNOTT IS A NO-NONSENSE, TELL-IT-LIKE-IT-IS DOCTOR WHO 26:38 TALKS TO YOU AS IF YOU'RE HEARING FROM A GOOD FRIEND. 26:42 JUST CALL OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER: 877-BOL-OFFER. 26:44 THAT'S 877-265-6333, AND ASK FOR YOUR COPY 26:49 OF 24 REALISTIC WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH. 26:52 THE BOOK IS YOURS FOR A GIFT OF $5.00 OR MORE, 26:54 OR YOU MAY WRITE TO: BREATH OF LIFE, 26:56 P.O. BOX 97192, WASHINGTON, DC, 20077. 27:03 Announcer: THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THE BREATH OF LIFE. 27:05 PASTOR WALTER PEARSON HOPES TODAY'S PROGRAM HAS BEEN 27:07 A REAL BLESSING TO YOU. 27:09 TO ORDER CD OR AUDIOCASSETTE COPY OF THIS BROADCAST, JUST 27:11 CALL OUR TOLL-FREENUMBER, 877-BOL-OFFER. 27:15 THAT'S 877-265-6333, OR YOU MAY WRITE TO: 27:20 BREATH OF LIFE, P.O. BOX 97192, 27:24 WASHINGTON, DC, 20077. 27:27 THE CD OR AUDIOCASSETTE IS YOURS FOR A GIFT OF $5.00 OR MORE. 27:31 IF YOU'D LIKE TO PURCHASE A DVD OR VHS, JUST LET US KNOW 27:35 AND WE'LL SEND YOU AN ORDER FORM WITH A LIST OF ALL THE 27:37 BREATH OF LIFE PROGRAMS. 27:38 AGAIN, OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER IS 877-BOL-OFFER, 27:43 877-265-6333. 27:47 OUR ADDRESS IS: BREATH OF LIFE 27:49 P.O. BOX 97192, WASHINGTON, DC, 20077. 27:54 BE SURE TO TELL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS ABOUT THE BREATH 27:57 OF LIFE TELEVISION MINISTRY. 27:58 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND GOD BLESS.STOR PEARS 28:02 MESSAGE CONTINUES. 28:03 (theme music) |
Revised 2015-02-06