Participants: Pr. Walter Pearson
Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000313
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00:02 Announcer: BREATH OF LIFE PRESENTS RELENTLESS PURSUIT WITH
00:08 PASTOR WALTER L. PEARSON, JR. 00:11 (theme music) WP: THE BOOK OF REVELATION, 00:25 CHAPTER THREE, IN FACT ON THIS PARTICULAR OCCASION, I WILL READ 00:31 FROM A PARALLEL OF THE BIBLE. 00:34 REVELATION, CHAPTER THREE, VERSES TWENTY AND TWENTY-ONE: 00:41 I AM STANDING AT YOUR HEART'S DOOR KNOCKING. 00:46 ANYONE WHO HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR WILL BE GLAD, 00:52 FOR I WILL COME IN AND EAT WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME. 00:57 HE WHO OVERCOMES WILL RECEIVES THE RIGHT TO SIT 01:01 WITH ME ON MY THRONE, JUST AS I OVERCAME AND SAT DOWN 01:06 WITH MY FATHER ON HIS THRONE. 01:10 I'VE ENTITLED OUR STUDY FOR THIS OCCASION "HOUSE CALLS." 01:14 WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME ? 01:17 FATHER IN HEAVEN WE ARE GRATEFUL ONCE AGAIN FOR THE OPPORTUNITY 01:21 TO OPEN THE WORD. 01:23 THERE ARE SOME WHO DON'T HAVE THIS PRIVILEGE AND 01:26 THEY LONG FOR IT. 01:29 BUT TODAY, BECAUSE IT IS OURS, WE ARE GRATEFUL. 01:32 OUR HEARTS ARE GLAD AND WE DARE NOT SIT IN SILENCE WHEN 01:38 THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVES THROUGH THIS PLACE. 01:42 I ONLY ASK, FATHER, IN PUBLIC WHAT I HAVE ASKED IN PRIVATE, 01:47 THAT ALL THAT I HAVE AND ALL THAT I AM MAY BE CONVERTED 01:50 TO THY USE AND I PRAY THAT WE SHALL HEAR ON THIS DAY 01:55 A WORD FROM THE LORD. 01:57 THIS IS OUR PRAYER IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. 02:02 I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT. 02:07 I'M SURE EVERYBODY HAS READ THIS TEXT BEFORE AND SOMEHOW 02:11 WE REDUCE THE BIBLE; WE BRING IT DOWN TO OUR OWN SIZE. 02:18 BUT THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JESUS, IN FACT JESUS DECLARES 02:22 OF HIMSELF, "I STAND AT THE DOOR OF YOUR HEART AND I 02:28 STAND HERE KNOCKING." 02:30 THE SCHOLARS MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THIS IS NOT THE DOOR 02:34 OF PROFFERED OPPORTUNITY. 02:36 THIS IS NOT THE DOOR OF SALVATION. 02:38 MAN DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER OVER THOSE DOORS. 02:42 BUT THERE IS A DOOR THAT GOD WILL NOT CONTROL, AND THAT'S 02:47 THE DOOR OF MY HEART. 02:49 WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, AS THE CREATOR, HE COULD 02:52 KNOCK DOWN THE DOOR. 02:55 HE COULD FORCE HIS WAY INTO YOUR LIFE, BUT JESUS STANDS 02:59 AT THE DOOR OF MY HEART, POWERLESS, BECAUSE HE HAS 03:03 LIMITED HIMSELF AND WILL NOT FORCE ME TO LET HIM IN. 03:08 HE GIVES ME THE RIGHT TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED. 03:12 AND I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT SOME PEOPLE DO. 03:15 JESUS COMES TO THE HEART AND YOU CAN PUT IT IN 03:19 REVELATION SYMBOLISM IF YOU WANT TO, BUT THIS IS REAL. 03:23 THIS IS THE SON OF GOD, HAVING ALREADY DIED ON CALVARY, AND 03:28 THAT PUNCTUATES IT FOR ME. 03:30 HOW IN THE WORLD, AFTER JESUS HAS GIVEN EVERYTHING, AFTER 03:35 HE GAVE UP HEAVEN AND CAME AND PITCHED HIS TENT NEXT TO 03:39 MINE, AND THEN GAVE HIS LIFE IN THAT HORRIBLE DEATH, WHAT 03:44 IN THE WORLD IS HE DOING NOW KNOCKING AT MY DOOR ? 03:50 I TELL YOU THIS IS A REVELATION OF HIS LOVE FOR US. 03:55 HE LOVES US ENOUGH THAT HE DIED FOR US, AND TO BE HONEST 03:58 WITH YOU, THAT SHOULD BE ENOUGH. 04:01 AFTER THE DEATH OF JESUS ON CALVARY, WE OUGHT TO 04:04 BE KNOCKING AT HIS DOOR. 04:07 WE OUGHT TO BE TRYING TO FIND HIM. 04:10 THE WORLD SHOULD BEAT A PATH TO WHEREVER JESUS IS, BUT INSTEAD, 04:13 SOME OF US ARE RELUCTANT. 04:16 SOME OF US, EVEN AFTER HEARING THE STORY, THE PAIN 04:20 AND SUFFERING HE WENT THROUGH, WE ARE STILL RELUCTANT AND 04:24 SO WE STAY IN OUR OWN HOMES. 04:28 WE WILL NOT VENTURE OUT AND SINCE WE WON'T COME, I DON'T 04:32 KNOW, I CAN'T PUT MYSELF IN THE PLACE OF JESUS, BUT IF I 04:37 TRY TO IMAGINE IT, I CAN'T IMAGINE MYSELF COMING TO YOUR 04:41 DOOR AFTER SUCH A SACRIFICE. 04:44 I'D WONDER WHAT WAS WRONG WITH YOU. 04:48 I'D WONDER WHETHER YOU KNEW WHAT I'D JUST DONE FOR YOU. 04:51 I'D WONDER WHETHER YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU 04:54 WERE LOST UNTIL I CAME AND DIED IN YOUR PLACE. 04:58 I'D WONDER WHETHER YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT WITHOUT MY 05:01 LIVING A PERFECT LIFE, NOT ONE OF YOU WOULD HAVE AN 05:04 OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN HEAVEN, FOR ALL OF OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS 05:08 SAYS ARE LIKE FILTHY RAGS; EVERY GOOD THING WE'VE DONE. 05:14 JESUS DID WHAT WE COULD NOT DO--PUT HIMSELF IN OUR PLACES, 05:20 SO THAT HE COULD PUT US IN HIS PLACE, AND YET THERE ARE SOME 05:24 WHO DON'T FEEL ANY INCLINATION TO MOVE TOWARDS JESUS. 05:30 SO WHAT DOES JESUS DO ? 05:31 DOES HE SIT DOWN AND SAY FORGET ABOUT THEM ? 05:35 I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE 05:38 IF JESUS SAID, "THAT'S IT. 05:40 IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH I CAN'T DO ANY MORE." 05:43 I THINK EVERYONE WOULD SAY THAT'S JUSTIFIED. 05:47 BUT LOVE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE IN A NORMAL FASHION. 05:52 LOVE NEVER STOPS GIVING. 05:54 LOVE NEVER STOPS REACHING, AND UNTIL WE REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT 06:00 THE LOVE OF JESUS IS LIKE, WE CANNOT COMPREHEND AT ALL. 06:03 BUT I TELL YOU THIS, IF JESUS DID ALL HE DID AND THEN COMES 06:07 TO MY DOOR, I GET ANOTHER PICTURE OF WHO JESUS IS. 06:12 I'LL TELL YOU THAT I THINK I HAVE AN INSIGHT INTO WHAT JESUS 06:19 GOES THROUGH KNOCKING ON DOORS. 06:22 I SERVED, WHILE I WAS A STUDENT AT THIS VERY INSTITUTION, I 06:26 WAS WHAT THEY CALLED THEN A LITERATURE EVANGELIST. 06:33 LET ME BREAK THAT DOWN. 06:35 THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING WHO WILL NOT 06:37 UNDERSTAND THE EUPHEMISM. 06:39 WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT YOU ARE SELLING BOOKS AND 06:42 PERIODICALS DOOR TO DOOR. 06:45 IT'S CALLED A COLD CALL. 06:50 IT'S THE HARDEST THING A SALESMAN HAS TO DO--TO KNOCK 06:55 ON A DOOR NEVER HAVING MET THE PEOPLE BEFORE. 07:00 IT TAKES EVERYTHING IN YOU TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. 07:03 EVEN GREAT SALES PEOPLE ARE RELUCTANT TO TRY IT. 07:06 IN FACT, THESE DAYS IT ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS. 07:10 SINCE 9/11, PEOPLE DON'T OPEN THEIR DOORS SO QUICKLY. 07:14 AND SO MOST COMPANIES HAVE GIVEN UP ON COLD CALLS. 07:18 THERE ARE A FEW STILL OUT THERE. 07:20 IN FACT, I DON'T WANT TO SOUND BRAGGADOCIOS, BUT I 07:24 THINK I STILL HAVE ENOUGH LEFT OVER THAT I MIGHT BE ABLE 07:27 TO GET IN A DOOR OR TWO. 07:29 MY FATHER TAUGHT ME SOME SECRETS. 07:31 HE SAID, "WHEN YOU GO TO THE DOOR," THIS IS FROM 07:34 ANOTHER ERA OF COURSE. 07:36 HE SAID, "WHEN YOU GO TO THE DOOR, KNOCK ON IT AND 07:38 THEN STEP BACK, SO THAT WHEN THEY COME TO THE DOOR AND 07:42 LOOK THROUGH THE PEEP HOLE, THEY CAN SEE ALL OF YOU. 07:45 THEY CAN SEE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A HIDDEN WEAPON. 07:48 THEY CAN SEE THAT YOU ARE A REGULARLY FORMED HUMAN BEING. 07:52 THEY CAN SEE YOUR SMILE. 07:54 THEY CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT. 07:56 THEY CAN DETERMINE FROM YOUR BODY LANGUAGE THAT YOU ARE NOT 07:58 HARMFUL, AND SO WHEN THEY OPEN THE DOOR AFTER YOU'VE STEPPED 08:02 BACK, THEN MOVE AS THOUGH YOU'RE GOING TO COME IN WHETHER 08:06 THEY INVITE YOU OR NOT." 08:11 BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IN THE OLD DAYS, THAT USED TO WORK. 08:14 MANY A TIME I HAD A BIG TOWERING FIGURE OF A MAN 08:18 JUST OPEN HIS DOOR BECAUSE I WAS COMING ANYWAY. 08:22 I MOVED LIKE THE DOOR WASN'T THERE, AND HE'D STEP BACK 08:25 AND LET ME IN. 08:26 AND WHEN I GOT IN HE LOOKED SURPRISED THAT HE HAD DONE THAT. 08:32 IT WAS PART OF MY METHOD. 08:34 BUT THESE DAYS UNLESS YOU JUST WANT TO GIVE YOURSELF 08:39 UP TO PUNISHMENT, UNLESS YOU LOVE REJECTION, 08:45 NOBODY DOES COLD CALLS. 08:49 BUT HERE IS JESUS DOING THE THING THAT MAKES YOU MOST 08:55 VULNERABLE TO THE REJECTION OF THOSE WHOM YOU LOVE. 08:59 HE COMES AND KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. 09:01 IN FACT, I READ JUST LAST NIGHT ANOTHER VERSION FROM A SCHOLAR 09:06 WHO HAD STUDIED THE TEXT AND HE SAYS THAT JESUS NOT ONLY STANDS 09:10 THERE AND KNOCKS, BUT HE WILL NOT RELENT IN HIS KNOCKING. 09:15 IN FACT, THIS WRITER SAID JESUS IS WILLING TO LET 09:21 THE DEW WET HIS HAIR. 09:23 IN OTHER WORDS HE'S WILLING TO KNOCK UNTIL NIGHTFALL. 09:27 HE DOESN'T JUST KNOCK. 09:29 HE CALLS YOUR NAME AT YOUR DOOR, AND HE DOES IT BECAUSE 09:33 THERE IS NO PRIDE IN HIM THAT IS GREATER THAN HIS LOVE FOR YOU. 09:39 SO WITH HIS EVERYTHING EXPOSED, JESUS KNOCKS ON DOORS, AND YOU 09:46 CAN LISTEN TO THIS AS IF IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU WANT TO, 09:50 BUT THE FACT IS THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL UNDER THE SOUND OF MY 09:53 VOICE HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE JESUS KNOCK AT YOUR DOOR. 09:58 HE KNOCKS ON THESE WORSHIP OCCASIONS. 10:03 HE KNOCKS WHILE YOU'RE SITTING THERE NONCHALANTLY. 10:07 HE KNOCKS WHILE YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER 10:09 YOUR CLOTHES MATCH. 10:11 HE KNOCKS WHILE YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT WHO IS 10:14 SITTING NEXT TO YOU. 10:15 HE KNOCKS WHILE YOU'RE NOT EVEN COMPREHENDING THE DYNAMICS 10:20 OF WORSHIP IN GOD'S HOUSE. 10:22 HE KNOCKS NOT BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT; HE KNOCKS 10:27 BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU. 10:29 AND HIS LOVE WILL NOT LET YOU GO. 10:33 FORGIVE ME IF I AM SHOCKED BY IT. 10:36 I KNOW ME PRETTY WELL. 10:37 THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS ME BETTER THAN I DO IS GOD. 10:41 BUT IF I KNEW ABOUT ME, WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ME, I 10:47 WOULDN'T KNOCK AT MY DOOR. 10:50 I'M NOT THE ONE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR TO MAKE UP A PERFECT 10:52 KINGDOM, BUT JESUS, KNOWING OUR IMPERFECTIONS, UNDERSTANDING 10:59 OUR WEAKNESSES STILL LOVES US ENOUGH TO EXPOSE HIMSELF TO 11:05 REJECTIONS, AND HE DOES IT BECAUSE HE LOVES US. 11:09 HE IS IN FACT A SALESMAN. 11:13 I WANT TO GET TO THAT, BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT 11:16 JESUS WANTS TO DO THAT IS NOT ORDINARY FOR A SALESPERSON. 11:22 THE BIBLE SAYS JESUS OFFERS TO COME INTO YOUR HOUSE, 11:26 BUT HE KIND OF WANTS TO GET TO KNOW YOU. 11:30 HE WANTS TO SHARE TIME WITH YOU. 11:33 AND I'M SURE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS YOU'D 11:35 HAVE TO PUT AWAY IF JESUS KNOCKED AT THE DOOR. 11:40 IN FACT, MAYBE THAT'S WHY HE'S KNOCKING SO LONG. 11:44 MAYBE HE HEARS THE SOUNDS OF REARRANGED FURNITURE. 11:50 MAYBE HE KNOWS THAT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT CAN'T 11:52 STAY OUT IN THE OPEN IF YOU'RE GOING TO LET HIM IN, 11:56 BUT HE'S KNOCKING ANYWAY. 11:58 HE UNDERSTANDS THAT YOU MAY BE TRYING TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, BUT 12:02 HIS LOVE DOES NOT FOCUS ON WHAT YOU'VE GOT ON YOUR COFFEE TABLE. 12:08 HIS LOVE FOCUSES ON YOU AND HOW VALUABLE YOU ARE TO HIM. 12:13 SO IT'S NOT THE THINGS THAT SURROUND YOU. 12:17 IN FACT, HE ALREADY KNOWS THOSE THINGS. 12:20 HE'S NOT COME TO YOUR HOUSE BECAUSE IT'S AN 12:22 EXAMPLE OF PERFECT LIVING. 12:25 HE'S COME TO YOUR HOUSE BECAUSE HIS LOVE WILL NOT 12:28 LET HIM LEAVE YOU ALONE. 12:31 AND HE KNOCKS, AND HE SAYS, "HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO DO. 12:34 I'M NOT LIKE A REGULAR SALESMAN." 12:36 I DON'T WANT TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE, BUT WHEN YOU ARE AT THE 12:40 MALL AND THE SALESPERSON IS ACTING LIKE YOU ARE THE ONLY 12:43 HUMAN BEING IN THE UNIVERSE, AND THEY DO THAT FOR A WHILE. 12:49 ANY GOOD SALESPERSON WILL FOCUS ON YOU. 12:52 THEY WILL CLOSE OUT THE WORLD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU ARE 12:56 THE ONLY PERSON WHO EXISTS. 12:58 AT LEAST THAT'S THE WAY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO FEEL 13:01 IF IT'S A GOOD SALESPERSON. 13:03 AND FOR A MOMENT YOU SAY, "OH, ISN'T THIS WONDERFUL." 13:06 YOU ARE TRANSPORTED INTO ANOTHER EXISTENCE. 13:10 YOU'RE IN A PARALLEL UNIVERSE. 13:12 AND ALL THEY THINK ABOUT IS YOU. 13:14 "OH, LOOK, THIS MATCHES YOUR CLOTHING. 13:18 HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT ? 13:20 LET'S PUT IT UP NEXT TO YOU. 13:21 ISN'T THAT SOMETHING ?" 13:22 AND PEOPLE ARE ALL AROUND YOU, BUT THEY DON'T SEE 13:25 THEM; THEY ONLY SEE YOU. 13:26 I HATE TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE, BUT THEY REALLY DON'T 13:28 CARE ABOUT YOU. 13:31 IT'S THE SALE. 13:33 THE ONLY REASON THEY'RE FOCUSED ON YOU IS BECAUSE 13:35 YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY. 13:38 IF THEY THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY, YOU WOULD 13:40 BLEND INTO THE CROWD. 13:42 TRUST ME. 13:44 IN FACT, WHEN THEY THINK YOU HAVE THE MONEY AND THEY THINK 13:47 A CONTRACT IS ABOUT TO BE SIGNED, THEN ALL THE FOCUS 13:51 IS THERE, BUT AS SOON AS THE SALE IS CONSUMMATED, 13:56 YOU WILL DRIFT BACK INTO THE GRAY OF ANONYMITY. 14:01 YOU DON'T MATTER, BECAUSE ALL THEY WERE ABOUT WAS THE SALE. 14:05 NOW I HATE TO SAY THAT ABOUT EVERYBODY. 14:07 THERE MAY BE SOME SALESPERSON WHO REALLY LIKES YOU, 14:10 BUT I DOUBT IT. 14:13 JESUS IS NOT AN ORDINARY SALESPERSON. 14:17 HE'S MAKING COLD CALLS, BUT HE SAYS, "I DON'T WANT TO JUST GET 14:21 IN YOUR HOUSE AND SELL SOMETHING AND GET TO THE NEXT DOOR; I WANT 14:24 TO COME IN AND GET TO KNOW YOU." 14:26 HOW IN THE WORLD, KNOWING AS MUCH AS HE ALREADY KNOWS ABOUT 14:31 ME, HOW IN THE WORLD CAN HE WANT TO GET TO KNOW ME BETTER ? 14:35 WHAT IS ABOUT ME THAT WOULD INTEREST JESUS ? 14:40 AND THE ANSWER IS STRANGE--HE IS INCLINED TO US. 14:46 THERE IS SOMETHING THAT DRAWS HIM TO US. 14:50 IT'S NOT WHAT WE HAVE DONE. 14:53 IT'S NOT WHAT WE POSSESS. 14:56 IT'S NOT OUR STATUS. 14:58 IT'S NOT ANY OF THE THINGS THAT ARE NORMAL. 15:01 IT'S JUST THAT WE ARE PRECIOUS TO HIM, SO HE IS INCLINED TO 15:06 US NOT BECAUSE OF US, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE. 15:10 AND HE SAYS, "I WANT TO COME IN; I WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU." 15:13 NOW THIS NEXT PART IS NOT GOING TO APPLY TO EVERYBODY. 15:17 HE SAYS, "I WANT TO EAT WITH YOU." 15:20 THERE ARE CULTURES WHERE WE KNOW THAT MEALTIME IS NOT 15:25 ONLY ABOUT NUTRITION. 15:28 IN FACT, THE STRUGGLE THAT I'VE HAD ALL MY LIFE WITH WEIGHT HAS 15:33 MUCH TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT EATING IS NOT ONLY ABOUT JUST 15:39 KEEPING BODY AND SOUL ALIVE. 15:42 EATING IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE I GREW UP MEANT 15:45 WAY MORE THAN THAT. 15:48 IT WAS A SOCIAL EVENT. 15:50 MY GRANDFATHER COULD COOK. 15:53 MY GRANDMOTHER COULD COOK. 15:55 MY GRANDMOTHER MADE CORNBREAD THAT SHE PUT IN AN IRON 16:00 CONTAINER THAT LOOKED LIKE EARS OF CORN. 16:04 SHE WOULD POUR CORNMEAL LOVINGLY INTO EACH LITTLE PLACE AND WHEN 16:08 IT POPPED OUT IT LOOKED LIKE CORNBREAD SHAPED LIKE CORN. 16:13 MY BROTHER AND I WERE AMAZED AT HER LOVE. 16:16 IN FACT, THERE WERE TIMES WHEN WE WOULD JUST SIT 16:18 THERE AND WATCH HER COOK. 16:20 I KNOW YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. 16:22 IT'S SOMETHING FROM DAYS GONE BY. 16:24 THERE'S NOTHING THAT INTERESTING ABOUT A MICROWAVE 16:27 AND A CAN OPENER. 16:33 BUT FOOD PROCESSORS NOTWITHSTANDING, I USED 16:37 TO WATCH MY FATHER, MY MOTHER, MY GRANDFATHER AND 16:42 MY GRANDMOTHER PREPARE FOOD WITH PERSONAL TOUCH. 16:49 THERE WAS LOVE IN THE PROCESS. 16:51 MY GRANDMOTHER MADE SOME COOKIES THAT TASTED LIKE 16:54 ANGELS HAD BAKED THEM. 16:56 THE ONLY REASON I DIDN'T THINK THEY DID IS BECAUSE 16:58 I SAW GRANDMOTHER DO IT. 16:59 MY BROTHER AND I WOULD SIT THERE AND SHE'D SAY, 17:02 "GO OUT AND PLAY." 17:03 WE SAID, "NO." 17:06 SHE'D SAY, "BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE READY." 17:08 "WE'LL STAY." 17:10 SHE'D GET THROUGH MIXING THE BATTER AND WE'D SAY, 17:13 "GRANDMOTHER, CAN I HAVE IT THIS TIME ?" 17:18 AW, SOMEBODY KNOWS. 17:26 MY BROTHER AND I WOULD FIGHT OVER THE TURNS. 17:29 WE'D SAY, "MY TURN ! 17:30 LEAVE ME SOME." 17:31 "YEAH, OKAY." 17:33 I'LL LEAVE YOU SOME ALL RIGHT. 17:35 WE'D WATCH AND SOMETIMES I'D SIT THERE AND WATCH MY MOTHER 17:38 AS I NOW WATCH MY WIFE. 17:41 YOU KNOW I HATE IT WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT SOMEONE IS A GOOD 17:44 COOK, AND THEY GLOSS OVER IT. 17:47 IN ORDER TO BE A GOOD COOK, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO THINK 17:50 THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS HOW MUCH YOU LOVE SOMEBODY, BECAUSE 17:54 THERE'S NO JOY IN THIS. 18:01 I'VE SEEN MY WIFE DO THAT LITTLE THING WHERE YOU HOLD 18:03 IT LIKE THAT--PUT THAT KNIFE IN FRONT OF IT. 18:06 AND I'M SITTING THERE SAYING, "LORD, PLEASE DON'T LET HER 18:08 CUT HER FINGERS OFF." 18:10 AND WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT IS THAT SHE MUST REALLY 18:13 LOVE US TO GO THROUGH THIS REPETITIVE, BORING PROCESS. 18:19 YOU'VE GOT TO BE THINKING NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT 18:22 NOW; YOU'VE GOT TO BE THINKING ABOUT THE FINISHED PRODUCT. 18:26 YOU'VE GOT TO BE IMAGINING WHAT THE AROMA WILL BE LIKE WHEN ALL 18:29 OF THOSE THINGS COME TOGETHER AND WHEN A PERSON IS A GOOD 18:33 COOK, THEY KNOW HOW TO LOVE. 18:37 YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE PEOPLE TO COOK WELL BECAUSE ONLY LOVE CAN 18:41 DRIVE YOU TO DO THOSE THINGS. 18:43 I'VE SEEN THEM. 18:45 IN FACT, A COUPLE OF TIMES I TRIED. 18:47 SOMEHOW MY LOVE GOT LOST IN THE PROCESS. 18:53 BUT COOKING MEANS LOVE. 18:55 CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT JESUS, IN HIS CULTURE, UNDERSTANDS 19:01 THAT ONE OF THE MOST INTIMATE THINGS THAT YOU CAN SHARE 19:05 WITH A FRIEND IS A MEAL ? 19:08 NOW IF YOU'RE NOT PART OF ONE OF THOSE CULTURES, 19:11 JUST HOLD ON A MINUTE. 19:12 GO AND DO SOMETHING FOR ABOUT FIVE OR TEN MINUTES, THEN COME 19:15 BACK AND BE WITH US BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE NEVER 19:18 UNDERSTOOD THIS AND NEVER WILL. 19:20 THE UPSIDE FOR YOU IS THAT YOU PROBABLY DON'T STRUGGLE 19:23 WITH YOUR WEIGHT. 19:24 WE WHO KNOW THAT THERE IS SOMETHING MORE IN FOOD 19:27 THAN NUTRITION KIND OF WORK WITH THAT, BECAUSE 19:30 THERE ARE TIMES THAT YOU EAT WHEN YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY. 19:33 YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY PHYSICALLY, BUT YOU'RE HUNGRY EMOTIONALLY. 19:38 YOU'RE HUNGRY SOCIALLY. 19:40 YOU WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING. 19:41 I HAVE SHARED FOOD WITH PEOPLE. 19:43 MY BROTHER IS THE ONE WHO DID IT MOST BECAUSE WE WERE ALWAYS 19:47 TOGETHER--WE'RE NOT FAR APART IN OUR BIRTH DATES, AND SO 19:50 WE'D EAT THINGS AND NOT HAVE TO USE WORDS. 19:54 WE'D BE EATING SOME SWEET POTATO PIE--OH, I HOPE YOU 19:59 KNOW WHAT IT TASTES LIKE ! 20:00 IF YOU DON'T YOU CAN GO TO YOUR GROCERY STORE AND FIND 20:04 SOMETHING THAT REMINDS YOU OF SWEET POTATO PIE. 20:09 IT IS NOT THE GENUINE ARTICLE, BUT MY BROTHER AND I WOULD 20:12 GET SOME SWEET POTATO PIE AND SIT AT THE TABLE AND 20:15 LOOK AT EACH OTHER. 20:21 WE'D JUST SAY, "UM !" 20:24 AND THAT HAD A WHOLE PARAGRAPH IN IT. 20:28 THERE WAS CONNECTION. 20:30 MY MOM WOULD PUT TOGETHER BEANS AND RICE. 20:36 NOW I KNOW YOU THINK THAT'S POOR PEOPLE FOOD. 20:39 SO I GUESS I AM STILL VERY POOR, BECAUSE WHEN MY WIFE PUTS HER 20:44 HAND TO IT--AND THEN LET'S NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT GREENS. 20:49 SOME OF YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WITH--YOU 20:51 THINK I'M TALKING ABOUT SALAD. 20:56 I'M TALKING ABOUT KALE AND TURNIPS AND COLLARDS AND--UH ! 21:06 ERE ARE WAYS YOU CAN INTERMINGLE THEM AND PUT THEM 21:09 AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE WITH JUST ENOUGH MOISTURE AND AFTER 21:13 A WHILE THEY'LL BEGIN TO DRIVE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND. 21:17 THEY'LL SEEP ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE HOUSE. 21:19 IN FACT, IF YOU GO TO A PLACE WHERE A COOK HAS BEEN 21:22 AT WORK, THE AROMA IS NOT ONLY IN THE KITCHEN IT'S 21:25 IN THE LIVING ROOM DRAPES. 21:30 IT'S IN THE SOFA. 21:32 IT'S IN THE CARPET. 21:34 AND WHEN YOU COME IN THE HOUSE THEY DON'T HAVE TO 21:35 SAY, "ARE YOU HUNGRY ?" 21:36 YOU MAY NOT HAVE BEEN HUNGRY WHEN YOU CAME IN, BUT SOMETHING 21:39 HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET IN THERE. 21:43 AND HERE'S WHAT JESUS IS SAYING! 21:46 "I WANT TO SHARE THAT PHENOMENON WITH YOU." 21:50 YOU GO LOOK IT UP IF YOU THINK I'M ADDING SOMETHING 21:53 THAT'S NOT THERE. 21:54 JESUS IS SAYING, "I DON'T WANT TO JUST PASS THROUGH 21:57 YOUR HOUSE LIKE AN ORDINARY SALESMAN, I WANT TO SHARE 22:00 SOMETHING INTIMATE WITH YOU ! 22:03 AND INCIDENTALLY, IF YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH IN YOUR HOUSE TO 22:05 SHARE, IT JUST SO HAPPENS THAT JESUS HAS BEEN PROVEN 22:10 TO BE ABLE TO MULTIPLY WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO EAT. 22:14 MATTHEW, CHAPTER 14, STARTING ABOUT VERSE 14 OR 15, YOU 22:18 REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS A CROWD GATHERED LISTENING TO HIM 22:21 PREACH, AND THE DISCIPLES CAME AND SAID, "LET THEM GO BECAUSE 22:24 THEY'RE GETTING HUNGRY; THEY'RE GOING TO TURN UGLY ON US." 22:28 JESUS SAID, "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT; JUST TELL THEM TO SIT 22:30 DOWN IN ORGANIZED FASHION. 22:33 HAVE WE GOT ANYTHING ?" 22:34 THEY SAID, "ALL WE'VE GOT, JESUS, IS A LITTLE 22:36 BOY WITH A LUNCH. 22:37 HE'S GOT BARLEY LOAVES AND FISH SPREAD." 22:40 AND HE SAID, "JUST BRING THAT TO ME AND I'LL THANK 22:43 GOD BEFORE WE BEGIN." 22:44 THEY SAID, "WE ARE IN TROUBLE." 22:47 THEY DID WHISPER TO THEMSELVES AND SAY, 22:49 "THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG. 22:50 HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THE DISASTER THAT IS UPON US." 22:53 AND WHAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WAS THAT JESUS HAD ALREADY THANKED 22:56 HIS FATHER FOR MULTIPLYING A LITTLE BOY'S LUNCH. 23:00 I WISH I HAD BEEN THERE; I WISH I COULD HAVE SAT THERE AND 23:03 WATCHED HIS HANDS AS HE BROKE THOSE BARLEY LOAVES AND SAID, 23:07 "BRING ME ANOTHER BASKET." 23:09 AND HE KEPT BREAKING--"BRING ME ANOTHER BASKET," UNTIL ALL OF 23:13 THOSE MEN AND THEIR WIVES AND THEIR CHILDREN, SOME ESTIMATE 23:17 TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND HUMAN BEINGS, ALL OF THEM HAD BEEN 23:21 FILLED AND THERE WERE BASKETS FULL LEFT OVER, SO IF YOU INVITE 23:26 JESUS TO YOUR HOUSE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY WHETHER YOU'RE 23:29 GOING TO RUN OUT OF FOOD. 23:29 ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SAY, "JESUS, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH." 23:32 LET HIM BREAK UP A FEW THINGS. 23:37 YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY THAT YOUR SKILL IN THE 23:40 KITCHEN IS NOT ENOUGH. 23:42 YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT THE DISCIPLES CAME BACK FROM FISHING 23:45 ONE DAY, LOOKED AT THE SHORE AND SAW FOOD THAT WAS ALREADY 23:55 COOKED, A FIRE THAT WAS LIT, AND THERE WAS A MEAL THAT 24:01 WAS READY TO BE EATEN. 24:02 AND WHEN THEY LOOKED AROUND TO SEE WHO MIGHT HAVE COOKED IT, 24:06 THE ONLY ONE THERE WAS JESUS. 24:08 SO IF YOU CAN'T COOK, BRING HIM IN THE KITCHEN. 24:14 IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE SKILL, HE CAN HELP YOU THERE. 24:18 IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE QUANTITY, HE CAN HELP YOU THERE. 24:21 BUT WHAT JESUS SAYS IS, "FORGET ABOUT THE PROCESS; LET'S ENJOY 24:25 TOGETHER AS MEALTIME COMES." 24:31 THE SCHOLARS SAY HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT SOME SNACK. 24:35 HE WANTS TO COME AT THE EVENING MEAL. 24:38 HE WANTS THE CHIEF MEAL AND HE WANTS TO SIT THERE. 24:41 WHAT MUST IT BE LIKE TO LOOK ACROSS A TABLE INTO THE 24:44 EYES OF JESUS AND WATCH HIM TASTE SOMETHING AND NOD 24:49 HIS HEAD APPROVINGLY ? 24:52 WOULDN'T THAT MAKE IT TASTE A LOT BETTER ? 24:55 NOW, YOU THINK I'M MAKING TOO MUCH OF IT ? 24:57 I AM NOT. 24:59 WHAT JESUS WANTS WITH US, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU WITH ALL 25:03 OF YOUR FLAWS; YOU WITH ALL OF YOUR HIDDEN WEAKNESSES. 25:09 WE TRY TO HIDE FROM CHRIST THAT WHICH HE SEES SO EASILY. 25:14 AND ALL HE ASKS IS THAT YOU LET HIM IN, AND HE CAN MAKE 25:19 UP FOR THE DIFFERENCE. 25:21 THE MEAL WILL BE THE BEST THAT YOU'VE EVER TASTED IF YOU LET 25:23 HIM GET INVOLVED, AND THEN YOU'LL SIT THERE TOGETHER AND 25:28 THE INTIMACY OF A MEAL WILL DRAW YOU TOGETHER WITH JESUS. 25:32 IT'S NOT WHAT YOU HAVE REQUESTED; IT'S WHAT 25:36 JESUS WANTS. 25:38 NOW WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT COLD 25:45 CALL SALES ARE STILL DIFFICULT. 25:47 IN FACT, THIS IS WHAT AMAZES ME WHEN I LOOK AT THE STORY. 25:54 JESUS COULD HAVE GONE ANYWHERE TO SHOW THAT HE KNOCKS ON DOORS. 25:59 WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR PASSAGE, YOU 26:02 DISCOVER THAT HE HAS COME TO A CITY CALLED LAODICEA. 26:08 LAODICEA IS NOT THE TOWN YOU WANT TO VISIT. 26:14 Announcer: JOIN US NEXT TIME ON BREATH OF LIFE FOR MORE 26:17 OF PASTOR PEARSON'S MESSAGE ENTITLED HOUSE CALLS. 26:26 TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO, JESUS DID SOMETHING 26:28 ESPECIALLY FOR YOU. 26:29 HE GOT UP ON A CROSS AT CALVARY, AND DIED. 26:32 THAT DAY, YOU WERE ON HIS MIND. 26:35 OUR OFFER THIS WEEK, IS MAX LUCADO'S, 26:37 "HE DID THIS JUST FOR YOU." 26:39 THIS EASY TO READ, ENTERTAINING AND INSPIRING 26:41 BOOK, REVEALS WHAT GOD DID TO WIN YOUR HEART. 26:44 LET MAX LUCADO BEAUTIFULLY LAY OUT THE WAY HOME 26:48 TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, 26:50 OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. 26:52 CALL TODAY AND ASK FOR "HE DID THIS JUST FOR YOU." 26:54 IT'S YOURS FOR A GIFT OF FIVE DOLLARS OR MORE. 26:57 THE TOLL FREE NUMBER IS: 877 BOL OFFER 27:00 THAT'S: 877 265 6333 OR YOU MAY ASK FOR 27:05 THE BOOK BY WRITING TO: BREATH OF LIFE TO: 27:07 POST OFFICE BOX 97192, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20077. 27:11 REMEMBER TO INCLUDE YOUR GIFT OF 27:13 FIVE DOLLARS OR MORE. 27:16 COME UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH THE PASSION 27:18 AND PROMISE OF GOD ALMIGHTY, IN "HE DID THIS JUST FOR YOU." 27:25 Announcer: TO ORDER CD OR AUDIOCASSETTE COPY OF THIS 27:27 BREATH OF LIFE BROADCAST, JUST CALL OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER, 27:30 877-BOL-OFFER. 27:32 THAT'S 877-265-6333, OR YOU MAY WRITE TO: 27:37 BREATH OF LIFE, P.O. BOX 97192, 27:40 WASHINGTON, DC, 20077. 27:44 THE CD OR AUDIOCASSETTE IS YOURS FOR A GIFT OF $5.00 OR MORE. 27:48 IF YOU'D LIKE TO PURCHASE A DVD OR VHS COPY, JUST LET US. 27:50 THANKYOU FOR WATCHING AND SUPPORTING BREATH OF LIFE. 27:56 (theme music) |
Revised 2015-02-05