Participants: Pr. Walter Pearson
Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000305
|
00:02 Announcer: BREATH OF LIFE PRESENTS RELENTLESS PURSUIT WITH
00:08 PASTOR WALTER L. PEARSON, JR. 00:11 (theme music) WP: WE'RE LOOKING AT FIRST 00:24 SAMUEL, CHAPTER 2, AND IF YOU WOULD BEGIN WITH ME AT VERSE 22. 00:31 AND HERE'S WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS: "NOW, ELI WAS VERY OLD AND HEARD 00:36 THAT ALL THAT HIS SONS DID UNTO ALL ISRAEL, AND HOW THEY LAY 00:41 WITH THE WOMEN THAT ASSEMBLED AT THE DOOR OF THE TABERNACLE 00:46 OF THE CONGREGATION. 00:48 AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, 'WHY DO YE SUCH THINGS ? 00:52 FOR I HEAR OF YOUR EVIL DEALINGS BY ALL THIS PEOPLE. 00:58 NAY, MY SONS, FOR IT IS NO GOOD REPORT THAT I HEAR, YE MAKE THE 01:03 LORD'S PEOPLE TO TRANSGRESS.'" 01:07 I'VE ENTITLED OUR STUDY FOR THIS MOMENT BAD BOYS. 01:13 WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME ? 01:15 FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE OPEN THE SCRIPTURES WITHOUT ANY 01:21 DOUBT THAT IF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WITH US THAT THERE 01:26 SHALL BE BLESSING FOR US. 01:29 IN FACT, IN FAITH WE SYMBOLICALLY HOLD UP OUR 01:32 CUPS EMPTY SO THEY MAY BE FILLED BY THY SPIRIT. 01:38 FATHER, COME TO US AND SPEAK TO OUR HEARTS AND LET US 01:42 LEAVE THIS PLACE DIFFERENT THAN WHEN WE CAME. 01:45 IN THE NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY, AMEN. 01:50 BAD BOYS. 01:53 THERE ARE SOME YOUNG LADIES WHO TEND, IT APPEARS, 01:57 TO LIKE BAD BOYS. 02:03 THEY SAY THEY WANT A GOOD MAN, BUT WHEN THEY MAKE THEIR 02:08 CHOICES THEY WANT SOMEBODY WITH A LITTLE FLAVOR AND SPICE, 02:16 SO I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WHILE ELI'S SONS, THE BIBLE SAYS 02:21 THEY ARE SONS OF BELIAL. 02:24 IT MEANS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, SONS WITHOUT WORTH, 02:28 WORTHLESS BOY. 02:32 THE SAD THING IS, AND YOU MUST UNDERSTAND I'M NOT GOING 02:35 TO BE UNKIND TO PREACHERS' KIDS, BECAUSE I'M A PREACHER. 02:43 BUT THESE TWO PKS WERE WAY BEYOND WHAT YOU MIGHT IMAGINE. 02:48 I PREACHED A LOT OF SERMONS ABOUT THEM BEFORE I UNDERSTOOD 02:51 WHO THEY REALLY WERE. 02:53 I THOUGHT THEY WERE MISCHIEVOUS. 02:55 I THOUGHT THEY HAD A LITTLE BIT OF DEVILMENT IN THEM. 02:58 I THOUGHT THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN KIDS WHO WERE SO 03:01 INTELLIGENT--YOU KNOW HOW IT IS WITH FOLK WHO ARE TOO 03:05 INTELLIGENT FOR THE ROOM AND THEY NEED SOMETHING TO ENGAGE 03:09 THEIR MINDS SO THEY GET INVOLVED IN THINGS THAT ARE SUPERFLUOUS. 03:13 THAT'S NOT THE CASE HERE. 03:15 FIRST OF ALL, LET'S UNDERSTAND THAT ELI, WHILE HE WAS A 03:19 JUDGE AND A HIGH PRIEST, WAS NOT A GOOD FATHER. 03:24 HE LET HIS SONS TAKE THE REINS OF RULERSHIP, AND YOU 03:31 KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT MY WIFE AND 03:35 I ARE TECHNICALLY OUT OF THE PARENTING BUSINESS. 03:38 WHATEVER OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BECOME, THEY 03:41 HAVE JUST ABOUT DONE IT, SO WHETHER YOU LIKE THEM OR 03:44 NOT THAT'S YOUR OPINION. 03:46 WE KNOW ENOUGH, HOWEVER, ABOUT PARENTING THAT WE HAVE COME 03:51 TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE ARE NO PERFECT PARENTS. 03:55 BUT YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO GET CHARGE 03:58 OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. 04:00 I DON'T WANT TO BE CRITICAL OF PARENTS BECAUSE I KNOW 04:02 HOW DIFFICULT IT IS, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT ME 04:05 THAT DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THIS NEW PARENTING METHOD. 04:12 I AM NOT AMUSED WITH THE "TIME OUT" KIDS. 04:20 I GO TO GROCERY STORES AND THEY ARE PULLING DOWN CANS. 04:24 I SIT ON AIRPLANES--IN FACT, MY WIFE AND I MADE A TRIP 04:27 ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, AND THERE WAS A CHILD WHOSE PARENTS 04:32 FORGOT HE WAS THERE. 04:34 AND HE LEANED OVER A SEAT AND LOOKED AT ME AND GOT ENGAGED 04:39 WITH WHATEVER I LOOKED LIKE TO HIM, AND THOUGHT HE WOULD 04:42 MAKE NOISES TO ME ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. 04:47 I DID THE RIGHT THING--I TOUCHED HIS FATHER; I SAID, "SIR." 04:52 AND HE SAID, "WHAT ?" 04:53 I SAID, "COULD YOU JUST TAKE HIM OVER THERE WITH YOU ?" 04:58 AND HE ACTED LIKE HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND AND FOR THE NEXT 05:01 100,000 MILES, IT FELT LIKE, THAT CHILD WAS THERE. 05:04 AND WHAT DO YOU DO? 05:06 MY BELT UNDERSTOOD. 05:07 IT ALMOST CAME OUT OF THE LOOPS ! 05:14 BUT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT CANNOT BE DONE ANYMORE. 05:18 IT IS CONTRAINDICATED. 05:20 I HAD TO PRAY, "LORD, DO SOMETHING TO THIS CHILD. 05:23 DON'T LET ME TOUCH THIS CHILD." 05:24 I BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT WHERE I COULD TOUCH THE BABY 05:27 WITHOUT LEAVING A BRUISE. 05:32 AND WHILE YOU ARE NOT PARENT YET, MOST OF YOU, LET ME 05:36 BEG OF YOU, IF YOU BECOME A PARENT, PLEASE DON'T GET ALL 05:40 CAUGHT UP IN WHAT YOUR CHILD DOES THAT'S DISOBEDIENT. 05:44 YOU TELL YOUR CHILD TO DO SOMETHING AND THEY SAY, "NO." 05:47 I'VE BEEN IN SOME HOUSES WHERE CHILDREN SAY SOME 05:50 STUFF THAT MAKES ME WONDER WHO'S IN CHARGE HERE. 05:54 AND THE PARENTS THINK IT'S CUTE, AND THEY SAY, "AW, DID 05:56 YOU HEAR WHAT HE SAID ?" 05:57 "YES, I DID. 06:01 HE TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP, AND HE'S STILL STANDING THERE." 06:08 IN DAYS OF YORE, MY MOTHER WAS A WONDERFUL LADY-KIND, 06:14 COURTEOUS, JUST GODLY, BUT THERE WERE THINGS THAT MY 06:19 BROTHER AND I COULD SAY THAT WOULD LAND US ON THE FLOOR. 06:24 I KNOW YOU CAN'T DO THAT NOW, BUT WOULD YOU GET CREATIVE ? 06:28 THINK OF SOMETHING THAT WILL LET YOUR CHILDREN KNOW WHO'S IN 06:31 CHARGE, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, IF WHAT YOU WANT IS TO BE THE 06:35 FRIEND OF YOUR CHILD-YOU KNOW, LET'S JUST ALL BE TOGETHER; 06:40 WE'RE ALL JUST FRIENDS. 06:44 IF YOUR CHILDREN EVER GET THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU ARE ALL JUST 06:47 FRIENDS, YOUR LIFE WILL BE OKAY FOR A FEW YEARS, BUT ONE DAY YOU 06:53 WILL SPEND A LOT OF TIME AT PRISONS, AND YOU'LL SPEND A 06:58 LOT OF MONEY WITH LAWYERS. 07:01 I TALKED TO A LADY-YOU KNOW, EVERY NOW AND THEN I GET 07:03 BUMPED UP TO FIRST CLASS-IT'S A WONDERFUL THING. 07:06 IF YOU'VE EVER FLOWN FIRST CLASS, NOTHING ELSE WILL 07:08 REALLY DO, AND WHEN YOU GET BUMPED UP, YOU'VE GOT TO 07:11 ACT LIKE IT'S NORMAL. 07:12 DON'T GO UP THERE ACTING ALL EXCITED. 07:16 THEY'LL KNOW YOU'VE NEVER BEEN THERE BEFORE. 07:18 IF YOU WANT TO ACT LIKE YOU'RE WEALTHY, ACT BORED. 07:22 AND I'M TALKING TO THIS LADY. 07:24 SHE WAS TALKING TO ME, "WELL DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN ?" 07:26 "YES, WE DO." 07:27 YOU KNOW HOW PARENTS ARE-I STARTED TELLING WHAT MY KIDS 07:30 WERE DOING, AND THEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT WHAT MY WIFE 07:33 AND I HAD SPENT ON TUITION. 07:36 SHE SAID, "SIR, IF YOU WANT PITY OUT OF ME, YOU'RE 07:39 IN THE WRONG PLACE." 07:41 SHE SAID, "I'LL WAGER YOU I HAVE SPENT MORE ON RETAINERS 07:44 FOR LAWYERS THAN YOU HAVE ON TUITION, AND YOU GOT 07:48 SOMETHING FOR YOUR TUITION. 07:50 I GOT NOTHING FOR MINE. 07:52 MY KIDS ARE IN JAIL." 07:55 AND I SHUT UP COMPLAINING. 07:57 IT'S A WONDERFUL THING WHEN YOU HAVE TRAINED CHILDREN, 08:01 EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE BEEN IMPERFECT, LET THEM KNOW 08:04 THAT YOU ARE IN CHARGE. 08:06 ELI, WITH ALL OF HIS GODLINESS LET HIS CHILDREN FIND OUT 08:11 THAT THEY WERE IN CONTROL. 08:15 AND I DON'T CARE HOW PRETTY YOUR KIDS ARE; TAKE IT FROM 08:18 ME, THEY'RE TESTING YOU. 08:20 TINY LITTLE CHILDREN; LITTLE BABIES WITH PACIFIERS IN THEIR 08:24 MOUTHS ARE CHECKING TO SEE IF THEY CAN RUN THE HOUSE. 08:32 AND THE MOMENT THEY DISCOVER THAT YOU CAN'T HANG, 08:36 YOU'VE HAD IT. 08:37 THEY'LL TAKE CHARGE. 08:39 I'M IN THE GROCERY STORE WITH CHILDREN WHO SELECT 08:42 WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BUY. 08:43 THEY'VE GOT A FULL GROCERY CART AND THE PARENT HASN'T 08:46 EVEN MADE A CHOICE YET. 08:48 SOMETHING HAS GONE WRONG WITH THIS PROCESS. 08:51 I DO NOT BELIEVE IN CHILD ABUSE, I REALLY DON'T. 08:55 IN FACT, LET ME READ YOU THE PARALLEL OF WHAT SOME OF THESE 08:58 TEXTS SAY THAT WE USED TO USE. 09:01 PROVERBS 13:24 SAYS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT IN A PARALLEL 09:05 VERSION, IF YOU DON'T DISCIPLINE YOUR SON IT SHOWS 09:08 YOU DON'T LOVE HIM. 09:10 IF YOU LOVE YOUR CHILD, YOU WILL PATIENTLY DISCIPLINE HIM. 09:14 EPHESIANS 6:4 SAYS TO LOVE YOUR CHILDREN AS PART OF 09:17 GOD'S FAMILY; DON'T MISTREAT THEM OR ANGER THEM. 09:20 AND YET YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING. 09:23 YOU CANNOT MAKE THE MISTAKE OF ELI. 09:26 THE BOYS CHECKED HIM OUT, AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT DAD IS WEAK. 09:35 SO DAD WOULD SAY, "ARE YOU GOING TO GO AND DO WHAT I TOLD YOU ?" 09:39 "UH-UH, NOT GOING TO DO IT." 09:43 BUT YOU KNOW-LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. 09:46 IF YOU HAVE NOT TRAINED YOUR CHILDREN AT HOME, DON'T DO 09:48 THAT STUFF IN PUBLIC. 09:53 YOU CAN'T FAKE IT IN PUBLIC. 09:55 IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE THEM OBEY IN PRIVATE, JUST LEAVE THEM 09:58 ALONE IN PUBLIC; LET THEM GO. 10:00 YOU'LL BE LESS EMBARRASSED THAT WAY, BECAUSE IF YOU COME OUT 10:03 AND TRY TO GET ALL BIG AND BAD, FOR ONCE, YOU KNOW, "DIDN'T 10:07 I TELL YOU WHAT TO DO ?" 10:08 AND THEY'LL SAY, "YES, YOU TOLD ME, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO DO IT." 10:13 THEN WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ? 10:15 WELL, HERE'S A JUDGE AND A HIGH PRIEST WHOSE CHILDREN 10:20 KNOW THAT THEY'VE GOT THE REINS OF CONTROL. 10:25 THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT THERE CAME A TIME WHEN 10:30 THEY WERE AT THE AGE OF EMPLOYMENT WHEN THERE WERE 10:33 NOT MANY JOBS AVAILABLE. 10:36 SO WHAT DOES ANY GOOD FATHER DO? 10:39 IF HE HAS JOBS AVAILABLE, HE MAKES THEM AVAILABLE 10:43 TO HIS OWN CHILDREN. 10:46 AND ELI EMPLOYED HIS WORTHLESS SONS IN THE TEMPLE 10:54 OF GOD AS PRIESTS. 10:58 I'VE GOT A LONG SERMON ABOUT PEOPLE WHO OUGHT NOT 11:00 BE PREACHERS, BUT I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT. 11:04 SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT IF GOD HAS NOT CALLED YOU TO 11:07 THE MINISTRY; DON'T ANSWER. 11:13 THIS JOB LOOKS MIGHTY GOOD ON OCCASIONS LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW. 11:18 I THINK I'D LIKE TO DO THAT. 11:20 WELL, I'VE GOT SOME BAD NEWS FOR YOU-THIS ISN'T THE ONLY 11:22 PART OF THE JOB. 11:24 IT CHANGES VERY QUICKLY IN THE CLEAR LIGHT OF DAY. 11:27 THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL GIVE YOU TROUBLE JUST 11:30 BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT GOD. 11:32 SO DON'T EVER SLIDE INTO THIS JOB THINKING THAT 11:35 IT'S SO ATTRACTIVE. 11:38 DON'T LET PREACHERS FOOL YOU. 11:39 WE'VE LEARNED HOW TO BUY USED CARS AND WASH THEM 11:42 SO THEY LOOK NEW. 11:47 WE'VE LEARNED HOW TO GO TO THE RIGHT PLACES AND GET SUITS 11:49 OF A FRACTION OF THE RIGHT PRICE AND THEN WHEN WE PUT THEM 11:53 ON IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE REALLY WELL-DRESSED, BUT IF YOU CHECK 11:57 CLOSELY YOU'LL DISCOVER THAT WE DRESS ON A BUDGET. 12:02 EVERY NOW AND THEN WE MAKE A DISCOVERY OF A HOUSE. 12:06 AND YOU THINK, "LOOK HOW THOSE PREACHERS LIVE !" 12:10 BUT YOU CAN'T BE FOOLED BY WHAT SEEMS TO BE PROSPERITY; 12:14 THIS JOB ISN'T THAT EASY. 12:16 ELI BRINGS THOSE SORRY BOYS AND PUTS THEM TO WORK IN THE TEMPLE, 12:23 THINKING THAT, "NOW, PERHAPS IF I BRING THEM AMONG GODLY 12:27 THINGS, THEY'LL CHANGE." 12:30 SOME OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN TO CHURCH ALL OF YOUR LIFE 12:33 KNOWING THAT BEING AMONG GODLY THINGS DOESN'T CHANGE YOU. 12:36 SOME OF THE BIGGEST DEVILS I KNOW WERE IN CHURCH ALL THE 12:39 TIME, PARENTS WATCHING THEM. 12:43 THAT'S NOT WHAT CHANGES. 12:46 IT IS THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKING FROM 12:49 INSIDE THAT CHANGES. 12:51 TO BE SURE PARENTS ARE BLESSED IF THEY EXPOSE THEIR CHILDREN TO 12:56 JESUS CHRIST, BUT IT DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL BE SO. 13:00 IN FACT, THESE YOUNG MEN WERE SO EVIL THAT THE BIBLE SAYS 13:06 THEY BEGAN TO MISUSE THE JOB. 13:10 THEY HAD FOUND OUT THEIR FATHER WAS WEAK AND THOUGHT 13:13 TO THEMSELVES-IF THAT'S WHAT GOD DOES TO YOU, THEN HE'S 13:18 NOT WHAT HE SEEMS TO BE. 13:20 THEN WHEN HE BROUGHT THEM AROUND THE SACRED THINGS OF 13:23 THE TEMPLE, AND I'M SURE THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME WHEN THEY 13:26 WENT IN AND SAW WHAT WAS THERE, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN 13:30 SOME NOVELTY, BUT EVENTUALLY, IF YOU ARE BAD INSIDE HOLY 13:35 THINGS DON'T BOTHER YOU, YOU KNOW, "HEY, MAN, C'MON IN. 13:40 OH, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS? 13:42 WE GOT LOTS OF STUFF LIKE THAT. 13:45 DON'T LET IT BOTHER YOU, IT'S JUST THE STUFF WE'VE 13:47 GOT HERE WHERE WE WORK." 13:49 SO, ELI'S HOPES WERE DASHED, AND THEN HE DISCOVERED THAT 13:54 THESE YOUNG MEN COMMITTED VILE ACTS DAILY. 14:00 I DIDN'T KNOW THAT, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BEING NAUGHTY. 14:06 IT WAS NOT. 14:07 THEY WERE CRIMINALS. 14:09 IN FACT, WHEN YOUNG LADIES WOULD COME TO THE TEMPLE TO LET GOD 14:14 MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES, THEY ENCOUNTERED THEM. 14:20 "HOW YOU DOIN', GIRL ? 14:23 YOU'RE DOWN HERE TRYING TO GET HOLY, EH ? 14:27 WELL, YOU KNOW I WORK HERE, AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING I CAN 14:31 DO, JUST TALK TO ME, BECAUSE I WILL HELP YOU TO GET HOLY. 14:38 WHY DON'T YOU COME ON BACK ON THE SIDE BACK THERE ? 14:40 WE'VE GOT A LITTLE SPECIAL CLASS, AND IF YOU WANT 14:43 TO COME BACK THERE." 14:44 FOLKS YOU CAN'T TRUST EVERYBODY WHO WORKS IN THE TEMPLE. 14:50 ELI BEGAN TO HEAR, BUT INSTEAD OF DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, 14:54 HE JUST HAD TALKS WITH THEM, AND BY NOW THEY HAD BECOME 14:57 ACCUSTOMED TO THE WEAK VOICE. 14:59 THEY KNEW THERE WAS NOTHING BEHIND IT. 15:02 I DON'T THINK YOU OUGHT TO HURT YOUR CHILDREN PHYSICALLY, BUT 15:07 YOU'VE GOT TO PUNCTUATE WHAT YOU SAY TO THEM IN SOME FASHION, 15:10 AND I KNOW EVERYBODY NOW IS SAYING, "NO, THAT 15:13 TEACHES THEM VIOLENCE." 15:16 I THINK IF A CHILD FIGURES OUT THAT THERE'S NO PUNISHMENT FOR 15:20 ANYTHING THE CHILD DOES, THAT TOO WILL TEACH THEM VIOLENCE. 15:24 IF THEY FIND OUT THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING--SO 15:28 MAKE UP A WAY. 15:29 MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT TO EVER SPANK THEM; THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM, 15:32 BUT YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING. 15:33 YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A PUNISHMENT; YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING. 15:36 ELI JUST LET THEM GO. 15:39 AND HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS. 15:41 ONCE THE CHILDREN FIGURED OUT THEY HAD IT, THEN 15:44 DAD WAS MARGINALIZED. 15:47 SO HE WAS BIG TIME OUT IN THE STREET, BUT WHEN HE CAME HOME, 15:52 "HEY, DAD, HOW YOU DOIN' ? 15:54 YOU ALL RIGHT ? 15:55 OKAY. 15:57 YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT US TO DO, DO YOU, 16:00 BECAUSE WE'RE BUSY. 16:01 JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOU GOT IN. 16:04 SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU WANT DONE, WHY DON'T YOU GO 16:07 AHEAD AND DO IT, DAD, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT THINGS TO DO." 16:10 AND WHEN YOU GET TO THAT POINT, PARENT, YOU HAVE-LISTEN, 16:14 I HAD A CALL LATE ONE NIGHT. 16:16 A PARENT CALLED ME AND SAID, "PASTOR, I NEED YOU 16:18 TO COME QUICKLY." 16:19 "I SAID, "WHAT IS IT ?" 16:20 "THE POLICE PROBABLY NEED TO COME, BUT I THOUGHT YOU 16:24 COULD HANDLE THIS." 16:25 "I SAID, "WELL, WHAT'S GOING ON ?" 16:26 "UM, MY SON HAS A GUN AND HE'S THREATENING ME WITH IT." 16:29 "HOW OLD IS YOUR SON ?" 16:31 "OH, YOU KNOW, HE'S 18." 16:32 "AND HE'S THREATENING YOU WITH THE GUN AND YOU DON'T 16:36 WANT TO CALL THE POLICE, YOU WANT TO CALL ME ?" 16:42 I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, BUT ONE OF THE GREATEST GIFTS THAT 16:46 GOD GAVE A PREACHER IS A BRAIN. 16:50 I SAID, "SISTER, WOULD YOU LIKE FOR ME TO DIAL 16:52 911, OR SHALL YOU ?" 16:56 IT'S TOO LATE, THEN, IF YOU HAVE PATTED YOU LITTLE 16:59 CHILD ON THE HEAD WHILE THEY WERE TINY, AND LET THEM GET 17:03 AWAY WITH EVERYTHING, THEN DON'T BE SURPRISED AT WHAT 17:05 THEY WILL DO LATER. 17:06 THE FACT IS THAT THESE YOUNG MEN WENT OUT OF THEIR MINDS. 17:11 NOTHING WAS HOLY TO THEM. 17:15 THEY WERE WORTHLESS, BUT MORE THAN WORTHLESS, THEY BEGAN 17:20 TO TURN WORSHIPERS AGAINST THE WORSHIP PLACE. 17:26 THEY ANNOYED PEOPLE. 17:27 THEY DISTURBED PEOPLE. 17:30 YOU WOULD COME WITH A PRAYER ON YOUR LIPS-IN FACT, IT 17:33 GOT SO BAD THAT EVEN ELI IS APPARENTLY AFFECTED BY 17:37 THE ATTITUDE OF HIS SONS. 17:39 YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER WHEN HANNAH CAME TO PRAY FOR A CHILD, 17:43 WHEN SHE WAS BARREN, WHEN SHE WAS BEING TEASED BY TANINA AND 17:47 HER HUSBAND SEEMED TO FAVOR THE OTHER WIFE, SHE CAME TO 17:51 THE TEMPLE AND WAS PRAYING WITH SUCH POVERTY OF SPIRIT 17:55 THAT ONLY HER LIPS MOVED. 17:57 ELI CAME AND LOOKED AT THE WOMAN WHOSE LIPS MOVED BUT 18:00 NO SOUND CAME OUT AND SAID, "YOU MUST BE DRUNK." 18:05 THAT'S NOT THE RESPONSE OF A PRIEST. 18:09 THAT'S A MAN WHO'S BEEN INFLUENCED BY HIS THUG KIDS. 18:15 SO HE'S BEEN WATCHING HIS KIDS SO LONG UNTIL HE SAYS, 18:18 "YOU KNOW PEOPLE COME TO THE CHURCH DRUNK." 18:21 AND HERE'S A WOMAN WITH THE PRAYER THAT IS THE UTMOST 18:25 DESIRE OF HER HEART, AND HE SAYS TO THE WOMAN WHO HAS COME 18:28 FOR AN ANSWER, WHO'S COME TO GET A SON OF THE LORD, HE SAYS, 18:33 "YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE DRUNK," AND THE WOMAN HAS TO SAY, "NO, 18:36 NO, SIR, I WAS JUST PRAYING SO FERVENTLY THAT MY LIPS WERE 18:42 MOVING AND NOTHING CAME OUT." 18:44 AND SO HE SAYS TO HER, AND YOU MUST IMAGINE HOW IT CAME OUT OF 18:46 HIS MOUTH NOW-"WELL, GOD WILL ANSWER YOUR PRAYER, AND YOU GO 18:50 AND YOU WILL GET THE ANSWER." 18:51 IT'S A SHAME WHEN A FATHER, A PARENT, IS CHANGED BY BAD 18:56 CHILDREN INSTEAD OF THE OTHER WAY AROUND. 19:00 BUT THESE GET WORSE. 19:02 THERE WAS AN OFFERING THAT I HAD TO STUDY VERY CAREFULLY. 19:06 THERE WAS AN OFFERING THAT THE PEOPLE WOULD BRING AND IT WAS A 19:10 WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THE WAY GOD WANTS US TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY. 19:17 IT WAS CALLED THE PEACE OFFERING. 19:20 AND THE PEACE OFFERING WENT LIKE THIS--YOU WOULD BRING AN ANIMAL 19:25 AND IT WOULD BE SACRIFICED TO THE LORD AS A PEACE OFFERING, 19:30 BUT THEN THE ANIMAL WOULD BE SEIZED, BOILED--FLESH OF THE 19:34 ANIMAL BOILED SO THAT THE FAT COULD BE SEVERED FROM THE REST. 19:42 AND THE COMMAND OF GOD, THINK ABOUT THIS NOW IN TERMS OF 19:44 WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT HEALTH. 19:46 GOD SAID, "GIVE ME ALL THE FAT. 19:48 CUT OFF THE FAT; DON'T YOU EAT IT. 19:51 SACRIFICE IT TO ME AND HAVE THE PRIEST BURN IT FOR MY GLORY." 19:56 SO EVEN IN GOD'S SPIRITUAL COMMANDS, THERE ARE 20:00 HEALTHY OVERTONES. 20:02 THEN THE PRIEST WAS ALLOWED TO PUT IN A LITTLE SKEWER AND PULL 20:09 OUT SOMETHING FOR THE PRIEST. 20:11 AND LET ME PAUSE THERE A MOMENT, BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE OUGHT 20:15 TO BE MORE AWARE OF GIVING SOMETHING TO THE PRIEST. 20:19 ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT I SAY SO? 20:23 THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNAWARE OF THE NEEDS OF 20:26 THOSE WHO DO THE WORK OF GOD. 20:29 THIS OFFERING HAD AN ELEMENT IN IT THAT GAVE TO THE PRIEST. 20:33 THEN MOST OF THE OFFERING WAS GIVEN BACK TO THE FAMILY AND 20:37 THEY WOULD TAKE IT BACK WITH THEIR FAMILY AND CALLED IN 20:40 FRIENDS AND THEY WOULD SHARE THIS MEAL, WHICH WAS ALL THE WAY 20:45 THROUGH TO THE GLORY OF GOD. 20:46 IT WAS AN OFFERING TO GOD THAT BLESSED GOD, THAT BLESSED THE 20:50 PRIEST, THAT BLESSED THE FAMILY, THAT BLESSED FRIENDS-IT PULLED 20:54 EVERYONE TOGETHER. 20:57 IT WAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL EMBLEM SACRIFICING TO GOD. 21:03 HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS DID NOT LIKE BOILED MEAT. 21:09 I HAD TO DIGNIFY THAT ONE. 21:12 THEY LIKED THEIR MEAT ROASTED-IF YOU WILL, BARBECUED. 21:22 SO WHEN THE PEOPLE WOULD COME WITH THIS OFFERING, THEY WOULD 21:25 CATCH THEM ON THE WAY TO BOIL, SEETHE WAS THE WORD THEY USED 21:30 THEN-SEETHE THE MEAT. 21:33 AND THEY SAID, "HEY, WHERE ARE YOU GOING WITH THAT ?" 21:36 "WELL, SIR, WE'VE COME TO SACRIFICE TO THE LORD. 21:39 AS YOU KNOW, IT'S THE PEACE OFFERING." 21:43 "AH, WE'D LIKE TO GET SOME OF THAT NOW." 21:46 "WELL, SIR, AH, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, THIS GOES TO GOD FIRST. 21:54 NOW WHAT WE WANT TO DO, ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS, 21:57 WE WANT TO CUT THE FAT AND TAKE IT TO GIVE IT TO GOD, 22:01 BECAUSE HE DEMANDS IT AND WE WANT TO HOLD HIM AS HIGH AS 22:05 HE DESERVES TO BE HELD." 22:08 "SILAH, MAYBE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M SAYING. 22:12 NOW WE KNOW ABOUT ALL THESE LITTLE RULES AND STUFF, BUT WHAT 22:16 MY BROTHER AND I ARE TELLING IS WE WANT THE MEAT NOW. 22:19 AND IF YOU DON'T GIVE IT UP, WE WILL TAKE IT FROM YOU." 22:23 NOW FOLK LISTEN TO ME. 22:25 I DON'T CARE IF YOU DID COME TO GET YOUR SINS FORGIVEN; THERE IS 22:28 SOMETHING ABOUT BEING DONE IN BY SOME LITTLE SORRY YOUTHFUL 22:33 PRIEST THAT CAN MESS UP YOUR RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. 22:38 YOU KNOW, YOU CAME TO CHURCH TRYING TO BE ALL 22:40 RIGHT AND EVERYTHING. 22:41 YOU CAME TO GET RIGHT WITH GOD. 22:43 YOU'RE HAPPY THAT THIS OFFERING GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO GIVE 22:46 SOMETHING TO THE PRIEST, GIVING FIRST TO GOD, THEN SHARING IT 22:50 WITH YOUR FAMILY, BUT SOME LITTLE OLD SORRY PRIEST LOOKING 22:53 FUNNY IN HIS ROBE-BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. 22:56 YOU CAN PUT ON SACRED STUFF ALL DAY LONG, BUT IF YOUR 22:59 HEART IS NOT RIGHT WITH GOD, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG 23:03 WITH YOUR BODY LANGUAGE. 23:06 YOU CAN'T GET HOLY BY DRESSING. 23:10 DO I NEED TO SAY THAT AGAIN ? 23:12 THERE ARE SOME FOLK WHO THINK YOU CAN PUT ON CERTAIN 23:14 STUFF AND LOOK HOLY. 23:17 HOLINESS DOES NOT COME FROM THE OUTSIDE IN. 23:21 I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU WEAR, IF YOUR HEART IS NOT RIGHT 23:24 WITH GOD, YOU DON'T MOVE RIGHT IN THE CLOTHING. 23:27 THESE GUYS ARE DRESSED LIKE PRIESTS, BUT ANYBODY WHO LOOKS 23:30 AT THEM-"IS THAT THE PRIEST ?" 23:34 SOME WIFE ASKS HER HUSBAND, "ARE THOSE THE TWO GUYS WE'VE 23:38 BEEN HEARING ABOUT ?" 23:40 HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS-IN FACT, LET ME PAUSE A MOMENT. 23:43 YOU KNOW PEOPLE GET IN THESE BOOKS AND NAME THEIR CHILDREN 23:45 ALL KINDS OF STRANGE THINGS. 23:47 I DON'T CARE WHAT BOOK YOU GET, IF IT SAYS NAME YOUR SON HOPHNI 23:56 OR PHINEHAS, RESIST THAT. 24:00 THERE ARE TOO MANY OTHER NAMES TO PUT ON YOUR CHILD 24:03 THAN ONE OF THESE. 24:04 CAN I HEAR SOMEBODY SAY AMEN ? 24:06 I DON'T CARE WHERE THE NAME CAME FROM; DON'T PUT IT 24:09 ON YOUR CHILD. 24:10 IT'S TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN TO CARRY. 24:11 BUT HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS ARE THERE AND WHEN THEY 24:14 WATCH THEM, IT CHANGES THE ATTITUDE, SO PEOPLE STOPPED 24:17 COMING TO THE TEMPLE-"WE'RE NOT GOING DOWN THERE." 24:21 NOW LET ME ASK YOU THIS-DO YOU THINK THAT GOD IS GOING 24:25 TO LET THIS GO ON ? 24:28 LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. 24:29 THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT I BELIEVE THE BIBLE WILL 24:32 SHOW YOU TONIGHT: NUMBER ONE, THAT THERE ARE 24:35 PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE THINGS THAT ARE WORSE THAN YOU 24:38 HAVE DONE, WHO GOD STILL LOVES, AND THAT GOD DOES 24:44 NOT LET ANYTHING CONTINUE TO GO ON IN A WICKED FASHION. 24:48 GOD WILL STEP IN AT SOME POINT. 24:52 ARE WE TOGETHER ? 24:54 SO WATCH THIS. 24:56 THE PEOPLE START TALKING AND THERE IS A FACT; I HAVE READ 25:00 THIS BOTH IN SACRED AND SECULAR LITERATURE, THAT WHEN THE GOOD 25:05 PEOPLE GO BAD, IT SETS EVERYONE ELSE FREE TO DO ANYTHING. 25:11 NOW THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW, BECAUSE IF THE FOLK AT THE 25:15 CHURCH START LOSING IT, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FOLK WHO NEVER 25:19 COME TO CHURCH ARE GOING-OF COURSE, I KNOW YOU DON'T 25:21 THINK THEY KNOW, DO YOU ? 25:24 LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, THEY'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER. 25:27 THERE ARE FOLK WHO YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW, BUT 25:29 THEY'RE WATCHING YOU. 25:31 "IS THAT MY MAN GOING DOWN THERE ?" 25:34 "MR. HOLY, WHERE IS THAT HE'S COMING OUT OF ?" 25:39 AND YOU THINK YOU HAVE GONE TO THE NO-TELL MOTEL. 25:47 BUT THERE ARE FOLK WHO KNOW WHERE YOU OUGHT TO BE AND 25:51 WHERE YOU OUGHT NOT TO BE. 25:53 YOU THINK THEY DON'T KNOW YOU, BUT ONE DAY IT'LL POP UP. 25:56 DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, YOU'LL BE AT WORK AROUND SIPPING A LITTLE 25:59 SOMETHING WITH ALL THE REST OF YOUR COHORTS, AND SOMEBODY WILL 26:02 SAY, "HEY, DIDN'T I SEE YOU THE OTHER DAY DOWN THERE BY, AH, WHO 26:05 KNOW WHAT I MEAN ? 26:06 OH, I'M SORRY, MY BAD. 26:10 WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT LATER." 26:14 THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE UP TO, AND 26:16 WHEN YOU LOSE IT, IT SLACKENS OFF FOR EVERYONE. 26:21 BUT THIS SITUATION WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STAND... 26:25 Announcer: JOIN US NEXT TIME FOR MORE OF PASTOR PEARSON'S 26:27 MESSAGE ENTITLED BAD BOYS. 27:33 Announcer: TO ORDER CD OR AUDIOCASSETTE COPY OF THIS 27:35 BREATH OF LIFE BROADCAST, JUST CALL OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER, 27:38 877-BOL-OFFER. 27:40 THAT'S 877-265-6333, OR YOU MAY WRITE TO: 27:45 BREATH OF LIFE, P.O. BOX 97192, 27:48 WASHINGTON, DC, 20077. 27:51 THE CD OR AUDIOCASSETTE IS YOURS FOR A GIFT OF $5.00 OR MORE. 27:55 IF YOU'D LIKE TO PURCHASE A DVD OR VHS COPY, JUST LET US. 27:58 THANKYOU FOR WATCHING AND SUPPORTING BREATH OF LIFE. 28:05 (theme music) |
Revised 2015-02-05