Participants: Pr. Walter Pearson
Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000314
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00:02 Announcer: BREATH OF LIFE PRESENTS RELENTLESS PURSUIT WITH
00:08 PASTOR WALTER L. PEARSON, JR. 00:10 JOIN US NOW AS PASTOR PEARSON CONTINUES HIS MESSAGE ABOUT 00:14 JESUS ENTITLED HOUSE CALLS. 00:18 (theme music) WP: JESUS COULD HAVE 00:24 GONE ANYWHERE TO SHOW THAT HE KNOCKS ON DOORS. 00:28 WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR PASSAGE, YOU 00:31 DISCOVER THAT HE HAS COME TO A CITY CALLED LAODICEA. 00:39 LAODICEA IS NOT THE TOWN YOU WANT TO VISIT. 00:45 LAODICEA IS NOT THE STATE OF THE CHURCH AT ITS BEST. 00:51 IN FACT, THERE ARE SEVEN CHURCHES IN REVELATION. 00:54 THEY ARE SO CLOSE TO THIS PASSAGE THAT ANYONE WILL 00:57 BE ABLE TO FIND IT: EPHESUS, SMYRNA, PERGAMUM, THYATIRA, 01:02 SARDIS, PHILADELPHIA, LAODICEA. 01:07 AND THERE ARE SOME OF THESE TIMES, BECAUSE EVERY NAME OF 01:11 A CHURCH REPRESENTS A TIME DURING THE HISTORY OF THE 01:15 CHURCH, ALL THE WAY FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE VERY END. 01:20 AND IF JESUS WANTED TO GO TO THE BEST PLACE WITH THE 01:24 GREATEST POSSIBILITIES, HE WOULD NOT HAVE STARTED KNOCKING ON 01:28 DOORS IN THE CITY OF LAODICEA. 01:31 AND INCIDENTALLY, THERE WAS, IN FACT, A CITY, A VERY REAL 01:36 CITY, NAMED LAODICEA. 01:39 ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT WAS KNOWN FOR WAS ITS EYE SALVE; 01:42 I'LL COME BACK TO THAT. 01:44 IT WAS A PLACE WHERE ITS MAIN PRODUCT WAS BLACK WOOL. 01:50 YOU KNOW I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE, 01:52 BUT I WILL PASS IT BY. 01:54 WHEN ANYTHING BLACK POPS UP, I WANT TO GET IN THERE AND 01:58 CONNECT WITH IT, BUT I'VE GOT TO MOVE, SO HERE I GO. 02:01 YOU JUST REMEMBER WHAT I MIGHT HAVE SAID. 02:06 IN LAODICEA THEY BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A VAST WALL 02:09 AND A MARBLE THEATER. 02:12 IN FACT, IT WAS PROBABLY BUILT ON SEVEN HILLS, LIKE ROME WAS. 02:17 IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT CITY, BUT IT WAS NOT KNOWN FOR BEING 02:21 A GREAT TIME IN HISTORY. 02:26 LAODICEANS HAD ONE ATTRIBUTE THAT MADE JESUS HAVE A HARD 02:32 TIME DEALING WITH THEM. 02:34 JESUS SAID TO LAODICEA, "YOU ARE LUKEWARM." 02:41 I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I GREW UP IN A HOUSE THAT DID NOT 02:43 HAVE FULL MEDICAL COVERAGE. 02:49 I'M GIVING YOU A MINUTE TO CATCH ME. 02:53 YOU KNOW THERE ARE HOUSES NOW WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY; 02:55 YOU'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF COVERAGE AND IF SOMETHING 02:58 HAPPENS YOU JUST DIAL A NUMBER OR YOU RUSH SOMEBODY 03:01 OFF TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM. 03:03 YOUR HMO OR WHOEVER IT IS WILL MAKE SURE THAT 03:06 YOU ARE TAKEN CARE OF. 03:09 WE WERE UNDER THE GRACE PLAN. 03:15 I REMEMBER WHEN MY BROTHER AND I WOULD GET HURT AND 03:20 HAVE DISEASES, AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT SOMEBODY WOULD 03:23 CALL THE HOSPITAL, BUT NOBODY HAD ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE 03:26 BILL, SO MY MOM AND DAD WOULD COME UP WITH REMEDIES. 03:32 SOMETIMES I WAS SHOCKED; SOMETIMES I PRAYED, "LORD, HELP 03:36 US, THIS DOES NOT SEEM, EVEN TO ME, TO BE AN ADEQUATE REMEDY." 03:44 BUT IF GOD KNOWS YOU DON'T HAVE IT, GOD STEPS IN AND 03:48 MAKES UP FOR IT. 03:50 THERE WERE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN MY PARENTS' HOME 03:53 REMEDIES WORKED ! 03:55 I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF SCARS THAT I WOULD NOT ORDINARILY HAVE 03:58 BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PLASTIC SURGERY AFTER THE WOUND, BUT 04:02 I'M STILL ALIVE AND I'M STILL FUNCTIONING BECAUSE GOD 04:05 WAS IN THAT PROCESS. 04:08 THE FACT IS THAT WHEN YOU ARE UNDER THIS COVERAGE WITH JESUS, 04:14 AND YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT CHRIST CAN MAKE UP FOR IT. 04:20 THAT I'M LOOKING NOW AT FAMILIES WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT 04:26 JESUS WOULD COME IN EVEN TO LAODICEANS, WHO WERE LUKEWARM. 04:32 THERE WERE TIMES WHEN WE GOT SICK AND MY MOM KNEW HOW 04:34 TO--LET ME PUT THIS IN A PRETTY WAY--KNEW HOW TO HELP 04:40 US EXPECTORATE THE POISONOUS SUBSTANCE. 04:44 IS THAT PRETTY ENOUGH ? 04:47 MAY HAVE TO NUDGE SOMEBODY AND TELL THEM WHAT 04:48 I'M TALKING ABOUT. 04:50 SO, SHE WOULD SAY, "DRINK THIS WATER..." 04:55 SHE SAID "THAT WATER WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM." 04:59 IT WOULD BE LUKEWARM WATER. 05:01 IT MAKES YOU SICK AT THE STOMACH. 05:04 JESUS SAID, "LAODICEA, THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT 05:07 YOU THAT I DON'T LIKE. 05:09 YOU'RE NOT COLD; YOU'RE NOT HOT. 05:13 INCIDENTALLY, THE CHURCH OF LAODICEA IS NOW. 05:18 SO IF YOU WANT TO GET ANGRY WITH ME, THIS IS THE MOMENT. 05:21 I AM NOW PREACHING SOMETHING THAT YOU PROBABLY WON'T LIKE 05:24 BECAUSE IT IS ADDRESSED TO US ! 05:27 I WISH THAT I WERE NOT IN THE PERIOD OF LAODICEA. 05:31 I WISH I WEREN'T IN THIS TIME PERIOD THAT'S REPRESENTED BY 05:35 LUKEWARMNESS, BUT I AM. 05:38 I'M A PREACHER TO THE CHURCH OF LAODICEA; I'M A MEMBER 05:44 OF THE LAODICEAN CHURCH. 05:45 I DON'T LIKE IT, BUT YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF IT. 05:48 IT'S NOT A PLACE YOU CAN LEAVE. 05:50 IF I WERE TO MOVE I'D SAY, "SEND ME TO PHILADELPHIA." 05:53 PHILADELPHIA'S CHURCH WAS BEAUTIFUL. 05:56 THERE WAS NOTHING AT ALL SAID THAT WAS NEGATIVE ABOUT IT. 05:59 EVERYTHING WAS WRONG WITH LAODICEA. 06:02 NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH PHILADELPHIA. 06:04 AND SO IF I COULD MOVE FROM ONE CHURCH TO ANOTHER, 06:07 IF I COULD PULL MYSELF OUT OF TIME AND PUT MYSELF SOMEWHERE 06:11 ELSE, I'D PUT MYSELF IN THE PERIOD OF PHILADELPHIA. 06:15 IN FACT, IF I WERE JESUS AND I WANTED TO KNOCK ON DOORS, 06:19 I'D GO TO PHILADELPHIA AND KNOCK ON DOORS, BECAUSE YOU 06:22 KNOCK ON DOORS IN PHILADELPHIA, YOU'RE LIABLE TO GET A 06:25 WONDERFUL RESPONSE. 06:27 SOMEBODY IS LIABLE TO COME TO THE DOOR AND SAY, "OH, 06:29 JESUS, WHY DID YOU KNOCK ? 06:31 WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST LET US KNOW WHEN YOU WERE COMING; WE'D HAVE 06:33 HAD THE DOOR OPEN ALREADY. 06:35 COME ON IN. 06:36 COME, WE'LL HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME TOGETHER." 06:39 THAT'S PHILADELPHIA. 06:41 BUT LAODICEA IS NOT ONLY LUKEWARM; INCIDENTALLY, WHAT IT 06:43 MEANS IS THAT YOU'RE NOT COLD, WHICH MEANS THAT YOU HAVEN'T 06:47 TURNED AWAY FROM RELIGION, AND YOU'RE NOT HOT--I WISH 06:52 I HAD TIME TO TALK ABOUT HOT ! 06:55 I GO TO PREACH IN PLACES WHERE THE FOLKS ARE HOT, AND ALL 06:59 YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT AND THEY SHOUT. 07:05 I PASTORED A CHURCH LIKE THAT ONE TIME; IT WAS SHEER JOY. 07:10 I WOULD GET UP AND SAY, "WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PRAYER MEETING 07:13 THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT." 07:14 AND THEY SAY, "YES, HALLELUJAH!" 07:18 I TOLD MY WIFE, "I HOPE THEY NEVER MOVE US FROM HERE. 07:21 I LOVE THIS CHURCH ! 07:23 THESE FOLK ARE EXCITED. 07:24 I'D WATCH THEM AS THEY WERE ON THE WAY TO WORSHIP, AND 07:27 SOMETIMES I'D HAVE A C-CLASS SERMON READY TO PREACH, BUT 07:31 AS I WATCHED THEM GOING ON THE WAY TO CHURCH AND LOOKED AT 07:34 THE EXCITEMENT IN THEIR EYES AND THE EXPECTATION IN THEIR 07:37 BODY LANGUAGE, I'D GO TO MY STUDY AND UP-GRADE MY SERMON 07:40 BEFORE I GOT TO THE PULPIT, BECAUSE I KNEW THEY DESERVED 07:44 BETTER THAN I HAD BROUGHT. 07:46 THEY WERE HOT ! 07:48 THEY LOVED JESUS AND WERE NOT ASHAMED TO LET THE WORLD KNOW. 07:53 WELL, WHAT THE LORD SAYS ABOUT LAODICEA IS, "YOU'RE 07:56 NOT HOT; YOU'RE NOT COLD; YOU'RE SOMEWHERE IN 08:01 THE MEDIOCRE MIDDLE." 08:03 YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU THINK IT'S TO YOUR ADVANTAGE, 08:07 YOU SOUND HOT; MOST OF THE TIME YOU SOUND COLD. 08:11 BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE NEITHER HOT NOR COLD, AND THESE ARE 08:15 JESUS' WORDS, "I'LL SPEW YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH. 08:21 I DON'T WANT TO BE CONNECTED WITH YOU." 08:23 MY FRIENDS, THERE IS NOTHING WORSE THAN A NEIGHBORHOOD 08:26 IN LAODICEA. 08:27 LET ME TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT LAODICEA BECAUSE I'VE BEEN 08:29 TO TOWNS THAT WERE LIKE THIS. 08:32 LAODICEA WAS POOR, WRETCHED, BLIND AND NAKED, BUT THEIR 08:40 PERCEPTION OF THEMSELVES WAS THE OPPOSITE. 08:44 THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE RICH AND INCREASED WITH GOODS 08:49 AND IN NEED OF NOTHING. 08:51 CAN YOU IMAGINE A WORSE SITUATION ? 08:54 I MET A MAN ONE TIME WHO HAD LIVED IN A TOWN, WHICH SHALL 08:56 BE NAMELESS, AND HE SAID, "PASTOR, IF YOU EVER NEED 08:59 ANYTHING IN THIS CITY, DON'T EVER ASK THE PEOPLE WHO SEEM 09:03 TO HAVE ANYTHING, BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY FACADE." 09:09 I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN ?" 09:11 HE SAID, "YOU SEE THOSE BMW'S THEY DRIVE ? 09:15 THEY CAN'T AFFORD THEM." 09:16 HE SAID, "IN FACT, IF THEY WERE TO TRY TO LOAN YOU TEN 09:20 DOLLARS, IT WOULD TAKE THEIR BUDGET OUT OF WHACK." 09:25 HE SAID, "THEY'VE GOT BIG HOUSES, BUT NOTHING'S IN THEM. 09:27 THEY'VE GOT ON CLOTHES THAT LOOK GOOD, BUT THEIR CREDIT CARDS 09:32 ARE OVERCHARGED TO GET THEM." 09:35 AND WHEN YOU GET IN A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THAT, 09:37 YOU HAVE FOUND YOURSELF IN HORRIBLE TERRITORY. 09:42 SO WHEN YOU GO TO THE DOOR IN ONE OF THOSE HOUSES, 09:44 THEY'RE ALREADY MAD BECAUSE THEY CAN'T PAY THEIR BILLS. 09:48 YOU KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND THEY SAY, "WHO IS THAT OUT THERE ? 09:50 SOMEBODY SELLING SOMETHING." 09:54 AND YOU CAN SEE THE LIGHT CHANGE IN THE PEEPHOLE. 09:58 YOU KNOW SOMEBODY'S ON THE OTHER SIDE; YOU JUST CAN'T SEE THEM. 10:00 YOU SEE THE BLINDS MOVE JUST A LITTLE BIT. 10:07 SO YOU KNOW THEY'RE LOOKING AT YOU. 10:09 YOU STEP BACK, TRY MY DADDY'S MOVE; IT DOESN'T WORK. 10:12 IF YOU WOULD HAVE STEPPED BACK TO THE CURB, THEY 10:15 STILL WOULDN'T LET YOU IN. 10:16 THEY CAN'T AFFORD ANYTHING YOU'VE GOT, I DON'T CARE 10:18 WHAT IT IS, IF YOU'RE SELLING TEN DOLLAR CADILLACS, 10:21 THEY CAN'T AFFORD ONE. 10:23 SO THEY DON'T WANT YOU IN THERE. 10:25 IF YOU GO TO A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE THAT YOU ARE IN TROUBLE, AND YET 10:30 WHAT I HAVE TO TELL YOU TODAY IS THAT JESUS DID NOT CHOOSE 10:36 THE CHURCH AT ITS BEST TIME TO COME KNOCKING ON DOORS. 10:43 IF I HAD CHOSEN I'D HAVE GONE TO SMYRNA, PREFERABLY 10:49 TO PHILADELPHIA, BUT NEVER TO LAODICEA. 10:55 AND YET IT IS IN OUR TIME ! 10:59 AND LET'S FACE IT; WE ARE EXACTLY WHAT THE 11:03 BIBLE SAYS WE ARE LIKE. 11:05 WE HATE TO ADMIT IT; WE ALWAYS WANT TO SAY, "LOOK AT ALL 11:08 THESE LAODICEANS AROUND ME." 11:12 WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF YOU HAD A MIRROR WITH YOU, SO YOU COULD 11:15 LOOK AT ANOTHER LAODICEAN ? 11:20 WE KNOW THAT SPIRITUALLY WE ARE BLIND, BECAUSE IF 11:25 WE WEREN'T BLIND, WE'D SEE OURSELVES AS WE ARE. 11:27 MAYBE THE LORD GIVES US THE LUXURY OF NOT SEEING EVERYTHING 11:33 ABOUT OURSELVES AT ONE TIME. 11:36 WE MIGHT BE TOO DEPRESSED TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT WE ARE 11:40 CERTAINLY NOT ABLE TO SEE. 11:42 SO, THE BIBLE SAYS WHEN YOU GO TO LAODICEA, BUY THAT EYE 11:46 SALVE THAT THEY HAVE; THEY SPECIALIZE IN IT, GET THAT. 11:51 JESUS SAYS, "WHEN I COME INTO YOUR HOUSE I KNOW 11:53 WHAT YOUR PROBLEMS ARE. 11:55 YOU'RE POOR BUT YOU DON'T KNOW IT." 11:57 THERE'S NOBODY SO EXASPERATING AS SOMEBODY WHO'S BROKE, 12:03 BUT THEY WON'T ADMIT IT. 12:05 YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE BROKE, YOU OUGHT TO JUST GO AHEAD 12:07 AND CLAIM IT; EMBRACE IT. 12:13 RETURN A FAITHFUL TITHE AND SEE WHAT GOD CAN DO ABOUT IT, BUT 12:16 DON'T GO AROUND PRETENDING THAT YOU'RE WEALTHY; IT'S TOO MUCH OF 12:20 A STRAIN ON YOUR PERSONALITY. 12:22 YOU GO TO PLACES WITH FOLK AND YOU'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE 12:25 WHO'S GOING TO PAY THE BILL. 12:27 YOU CAN BARELY EAT; YOU ALMOST GET INDIGESTION BECAUSE YOU'RE 12:30 TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO'S GOING TO PICK UP THE TAB. 12:34 I KNOW, MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN TO PLACES LIKE THAT 12:37 WHERE THE MENU WAS COVERED IN PEWTER AND WE KNEW WE 12:39 SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE. 12:41 IF THERE IS SOMEBODY THERE ALIVE PLAYING A ANO, YOU KNOW YOU'RE 12:44 NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. 12:49 I'VE NUDGED MY WIFE MANY A TIME AND SAID, "BABY, WHAT 12:51 ARE WE GOING TO EAT ?" 12:53 SHE SAYS, "TELL YOU WHAT, LET'S SAY WE'RE NOT HUNGRY 12:55 AND GET SOME SALAD." 12:58 "THINK I'VE GOT ENOUGH TO DO THE SALAD." 13:03 SO WHEN THEY COME TO ASK, "WHAT WILL YOU HAVE ?" 13:06 "AH, I'M NOT THAT HUNGRY; HOW ABOUT A SALAD." 13:10 "WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DRINK ?" 13:11 "AH, WATER WITH LEMON." 13:18 IT'S A STRAIN TO ACT LIKE SOMETHING YOU'RE NOT ! 13:23 IN FACT, I REMEMBER ONE TIME GOING OUT WITH A COUPLE THAT WAS 13:25 DOING QUITE WELL, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WOULD PAY THE 13:28 BILL OR NOT, SO WE GOT SALAD AND WATER WITH LEMON, AND THEN WE 13:31 GOT ALL THE WAY TO THE END AND THEY SAID, "OH, I FORGOT TO TELL 13:37 YOU, WE'RE PICKING UP THE TAB." 13:41 WHAT I WANTED TO DO WAS TO REWIND; GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING 13:47 SO I COULD EAT SOME OF THOSE WONDERFUL THINGS THAT 13:51 I SAW ON THE MENU. 13:53 IT'S A STRAIN ACTING LIKE WHAT YOU'RE NOT. 13:57 BUT WE, LAODICEA, ACT LIKE WHAT WE'RE NOT. 14:03 WE'RE ALWAYS AROUND SMILING, STYLING AND PROFILING. 14:11 EVEN ON SABBATH WE HAVE OUR SABBATH MODULE PLUGGED IN. 14:16 WE DRIVE UP WITH THE CAR JUST WASHED. 14:20 WE GET OUT OF IT AND IF IT'S STILL LOOKING FAIRLY GOOD, 14:23 WE MAKE SURE SOMEBODY SEES US--OPEN THE DOOR A COUPLE OF 14:27 TIMES AND SLAM IT AGAIN. 14:33 "OH, YOU'VE GOT A NEW CAR !" 14:34 "OH, JUST NOTHING; SOMETHING TO GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B. 14:42 AND YOU'VE GOT ON YOUR BEST, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO REPEAT 14:45 TOO MANY TIMES, SO MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO GO HERE THIS WEEKEND 14:49 AND THERE NEXT WEEKEND AND THERE NEXT WEEKEND AND 14:52 HOPE NOBODY FOLLOWS YOU SO THEY'LL NEVER KNOW 14:55 YOU'VE GOT ON THE SAME SUIT. 14:58 BUT IT WEIGHS DOWN ON YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE TRYING TO BE 15:01 SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE NOT. 15:03 AND HERE IS WHAT JESUS SAYS, "IF YOU LET ME IN YOUR HOUSE, 15:10 I KNOW WHAT YOU NEED. 15:12 YOU'RE BROKE ! 15:14 I WILL GIVE YOU GOLD THAT'S TRIED INTO FIRE. 15:19 THAT'S WHAT I'VE COME TO PROFER; THAT'S WHAT I'VE 15:22 COME TO OFFER TO YOU." 15:24 AND WHAT THAT GOLD REPRESENTS IS THE FAITH THAT WORKS BY LOVE. 15:30 JESUS, ONCE HE'S IN YOUR HOUSE, ONCE YOU'VE HAD 15:33 THE MEAL, HE SAYS, "I WANT TO OFFER YOU SOME THINGS. 15:36 I WANT TO GIVE YOU GOLD THAT'S TRIED." 15:39 FIRED IN THE FIRE IS HOW IT LITERALLY READS. 15:43 "I WANT TO GIVE YOU A GARMENT THAT YOU COULD NEVER AFFORD. 15:46 IN YOUR TOWN ALMOST EVERYTHING YOU CAN BUY IS MADE OF BLACK 15:50 WOOL BECAUSE THAT IS THE PRIME PRODUCT OF YOUR COMMUNITY. 15:55 AND SO I WILL NOT GIVE YOU WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE WEARS." 15:58 AND TRUST ME, THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF DIFFERENCE IN COLOR; 16:02 IT'S DIFFERENCE IN THE MAKER. 16:04 JESUS SAYS, "I DO NOT OFFER YOU CLOTHES THAT ARE 16:06 MADE IN YOUR TOWN. 16:09 I OFFER YOU CLOTHES THAT WERE MADE ON THE LOOM OF HEAVEN. 16:13 I OFFER YOU SOMETHING THAT MONEY CAN'T BUY. 16:16 I'VE COME TO BRING YOU SOMETHING TO COVER YOUR 16:19 SPIRITUAL NAKEDNESS. 16:21 I'VE COME TO GIVE YOU EYE SALVE; YOU CAN'T SEE WHERE YOU ARE !" 16:26 IN FACT, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY JESUS IS KNOCKING ON THE 16:29 DOOR OF YOUR HEART AND MINE, TODAY, BECAUSE HE SEES IN US 16:35 FLAWS THAT WILL DISQUALIFY US TO LIVE IN HEAVEN. 16:39 AND HE WANTS TO CORRECT THEM BEFORE GOD HAS TO REJECT US. 16:44 HE PRESSES TO GET INTO THE HOUSE. 16:47 HE SAYS, "I'LL GIVE YOU GOLD THAT'S FIRED IN THE FIRE. 16:51 I'LL GIVE YOU GARMENTS THAT ARE NOT MADE IN THIS 16:55 TOWN; NOT MADE ON THIS EARTH; NOT MADE IN THIS UNIVERSE. 17:01 I'LL GIVE YOU CLOTHING THAT WAS MADE FOR YOU BY DIVINE POWER. 17:07 "I'LL GIVE YOU EYE SALVE SO THAT YOU CAN SEE. 17:12 I WANT TO MAKE A PERFECT PRODUCT OF IT, AND WHEN I LEAVE I DON'T 17:17 WANT ANY OF THE DEFICIENCIES THAT YOU HAD THAT WOULD 17:21 DISQUALIFY YOU FOR HEAVEN TO STILL BE HERE. 17:25 "SO HERE'S WHAT I WANT. 17:26 LET'S TALK FOR A WHILE. 17:29 LET'S EAT." 17:31 I FORGOT TO PUT IN SWISS CHARD. 17:35 A FEW OF US HAVE KIND OF CAUGHT ON TO THAT. 17:38 HE SAID, "WASN'T THAT GOOD ? 17:40 I LIKE THAT MIXTURE WITH THE SWISS CHARD MIXED IN. 17:44 IT WAS A WONDERFUL MEAL, BUT NOW THERE'S SOMETHING I'VE 17:47 GOT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT. 17:50 I LOVE YOU, BUT YOU'RE POOR. 17:54 I LOVE YOU, BUT YOU'RE NAKED. 17:58 I LOVE YOU, BUT YOU'RE BLIND. 18:01 AND I DIDN'T COME TO CRITICIZE YOU. 18:04 LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT I BROUGHT. 18:08 HERE IS A BAR OF GOLD. 18:11 IT'S FIRED IN THE FIRE. 18:13 IT'S PURE. 18:15 I CAN LEAVE THIS WITH YOU. 18:18 I'VE GOT A GARMENT; I DON'T THINK YOU'VE EVER SEEN 18:20 ANYTHING LIKE IT. 18:21 IN FACT, I BROUGHT SOMETHING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. 18:23 COULD I SHOW THEM TO YOU ? 18:24 AND HE PULLS THEM OUT AND SAYS, "HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT. 18:27 IT'S YOUR SIZE. 18:28 WE ALREADY DID OUR INVESTIGATIONS AND OUR RESEARCH. 18:32 IT'S JUST PERFECT FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. 18:35 I'VE GOT EYE SALVE; IN FACT YOU COULD USE SOME NOW. 18:38 TRY IT. 18:39 YOU PUT IT IN YOUR EYES RIGHT NOW AND JUST A LITTLE TINY 18:43 MASSAGE, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE, YOU'LL SEE 18:48 THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE. 18:50 YOU'LL NOTICE THAT YOU'RE NAKED, BUT AS SOON AS YOU DO, YOU CAN 18:54 GRAB THE GARMENT THAT I BROUGHT THAT IS JUST YOUR SIZE. 18:59 "GO IN YOUR BEDROOM AND PUT IT ON, AND COME BACK OUT AND 19:03 LET'S SEE WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE. 19:05 YOU'RE WHOLE PROBLEM HAS BEEN THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO 19:08 MAKE YOU FEEL SECURE, BUT MY GOLD, FIRED IN THE FIRE, WILL 19:14 TAKE AWAY YOUR POVERTY, AND I HAVE COME TO BRING THAT FOR YOU. 19:19 SO I NOT ONLY CAME TO KNOW YOU AND LET YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU. 19:24 I NOT ONLY CAME TO BE INTIMATE WITH YOU WITH A MEAL, BUT I 19:28 CAME TO SOLVE EVERY SPIRITUAL DILEMMA YOU HAVE." 19:34 WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO YOU TODAY IS THAT WHILE YOU THOUGHT THAT 19:38 CHRISTIANITY WAS ABOUT GOING OUT AND CHANGING YOURSELF. 19:43 YOU THOUGHT THAT SOME BOOK AT AMAZON.COM WOULD CHANGE 19:47 YOUR OUTLOOK ON LIFE. 19:49 I'M NOT ANGRY WITH READING SELF-HELP BOOKS, BUT NOBODY 19:55 CAN CHANGE HIMSELF OR HERSELF. 19:59 NOTHING OUTSIDE OF YOU CAN MAKE YOU WHAT JESUS WANTS YOU TO BE 20:05 UNTIL JESUS KNOCKS AT YOUR DOOR. 20:08 AND WHEN KNOCKS HE COMES IN, HE PUTS YOU AT EASE; 20:15 HE SHARES INTIMACY AND THEN HE GETS DOWN TO THE 20:19 REAL THINGS THAT YOU COULD NEVER PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF. 20:24 HE BROUGHT YOU GOLD. 20:26 HE BROUGHT YOU CLOTHES. 20:28 HE BROUGHT YOU EYE SALVE. 20:30 HE BROUGHT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BE READY TO GO TO HEAVEN. 20:36 AND HE WANTS TO MAKE THE CHANGE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. 20:39 IF YOU SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, CAN I HEAR YOU SAY AMEN ? 20:42 (audience: amen) SO INSTEAD OF YOU CHASING 20:47 HIM, FOLKS, IF THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO WENT TO HEAVEN 20:51 WERE PEOPLE WHO CHASED JESUS, HEAVEN WOULD HAVE ECHOES. 20:57 HOW MANY OF US REALLY CHASE JESUS ? 21:02 MOST OF US DETERMINED TO FIND JESUS WHEN WE GOT INTO 21:05 SOME TROUBLE THAT WE COULD NOT EXTRICATE OURSELVES FROM. 21:10 WHEN NOBODY WAS THERE TO HELP, WHEN YOU COULDN'T AFFORD THE 21:12 LAWYER, WHEN NOBODY COULD HANDLE YOUR CASE, WHEN ALL OF YOUR 21:15 FAMILY HAD TURNED AGAINST YOU, WHEN YOUR FRIENDS HAD PUT YOU 21:19 DOWN, WHEN YOUR CREDIT UNION FORGOT WHO YOU WERE--WHEN NOBODY 21:24 CARED ABOUT YOU, WHEN YOU FOUND YOURSELF IN A STRANGE 21:28 NEIGHBORHOOD WITH PEOPLE WHO HAD NOTHING BUT ACTED 21:32 LIKE THEY HAD EVERYTHING--A HYPOCRITICAL COMMUNITY. 21:37 BUT THEN JESUS BROKE EVERY STEREOTYPE AND CAME WALKING DOWN 21:42 YOUR STREET ONE DAY AND CAME TO YOUR DOOR AND KNOCKED AND SAID, 21:50 "MAY I COME IN ?" 21:52 AND I'LL TELL YOU THIS. 21:53 IF YOU LET JESUS COME INTO YOUR HOUSE, BEFORE HE LEAVES, 21:57 IT'LL ALL BE RIGHT. 21:59 IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION IN YOUR MIND. 22:03 AND THE QUESTION IS THIS: IF I AM POOR AND BLIND AND WRETCHED 22:09 AND NAKED, HOW DO I BUY WHAT I NEED FROM THIS SALESMAN ? 22:18 ISAIAH FIFTY-FIVE, IF YOU START RIGHT AT VERSE ONE, 22:20 IT SAYS YOU CAN BUY IMPORTANT THINGS WITHOUT MONEY. 22:25 BUT IN THIS CASE, ONE OF MY FAVORITE WRITERS MAKES 22:28 IT EXTREMELY CLEAR: THE PRICE THAT YOU PAY FOR GETTING WHAT 22:34 JESUS HAS BROUGHT FOR SALE IS TO TURN AWAY FROM EVERYTHING THAT 22:42 YOU THOUGHT PRECIOUS TO YOU. 22:45 TURN AWAY FROM YOUR OWN SELF-SUFFICIENCY. 22:49 AND IF I WERE TO DESCRIBE IN LAODICEA IN SIMPLE TERMS, I 22:54 WOULD SAY THAT WHAT WE ARE ABOUT IS SELF-SUFFICIENCY. 22:57 TOO MANY OF US THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT TO 22:59 HEAVEN ON WHAT WE'VE GOT. 23:02 WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER. 23:04 I SEE PEOPLE; I CAN READ IT IN THEIR EYES. 23:07 THEY THINK THAT IF THEY DO CERTAIN THINGS, THAT THEY DOT 23:10 CERTAIN "I'S" AND CROSS CERTAIN "T'S," THEY BELIEVE THAT IF THEY 23:14 THINK POSITIVELY, IF THEY GET BETTER FROM DAY TO DAY, THAT 23:20 SOMEHOW, MIRACULOUSLY, THEY'LL BE PREPARED TO GO TO HEAVEN 23:24 BASED ON WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. 23:26 SELF-SUFFICIENCY WILL NEVER WORK. 23:30 JESUS HAS THE ONLY LIFE THAT CAN GET YOU THERE, AND I'M 23:36 HAPPY TO TELL YOU--I'M SWITCHING METAPHORS NOW, BUT TRY THIS ONE 23:40 ON FOR SIZE: WHAT JESUS IS ABLE TO DO IS TO GO INTO YOUR FILE 23:47 AND HIGHLIGHT YOUR WHOLE LIFE. 23:52 HE GETS IT ALL OUT THERE. 23:54 AND WHEN HE HAS GOTTEN YOUR LIFE FROM BEGINNING TO END WITH 23:57 ALL OF YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESSES IN IT, HE HITS ONE BUTTON AND 24:03 IT ALL GOES AWAY--DELETE. 24:08 SAY, "WELL, PREACHER, WHAT DOES THAT LEAVE ME WITH ? 24:11 THAT MEANS I'M LEFT WITH AN EMPTY FILE." 24:13 WELL, FOR A MOMENT YOU ARE, BUT I'M HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT 24:17 JESUS CAN LEAVE YOUR FILE AND GO OVER TO HIS FILE AND START 24:22 COPYING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. 24:27 WHEN HE GETS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HIS PERFECT LIFE ON 24:31 EARTH, THE WHOLE THING, THEN HE HITS ANOTHER BUTTON 24:35 AND YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS. 24:37 WHAT IS IT ? 24:41 HE COPIES YOUR FILE, AND HE TAKES WHAT'S IN HIS FILE 24:48 AND GOES OVER TO YOURS AND HITS THE "PASTE" BUTTON, 24:53 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR LIFE IS NO LONGER EMPTY. 24:57 YOU HAVE THE LIFE OF CHRIST IN PLACE OF YOURS. 25:00 AND I PROMISE YOU SOMETHING. 25:01 THE ONLY LIFE THAT CAN GET US INTO HEAVEN IS THE LIFE 25:04 OF JESUS CHRIST. 25:07 HE GIVES US THE POWER TO LIVE, AND SO TODAY I AM HAPPY 25:12 TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO PURSUE JESUS TO 25:18 HAVE HIM IN OUR LIVES. 25:19 IN FACT, THE CONVERSE IS TRUE--JESUS PURSUES US. 25:25 HE WILL COME TO YOUR HOUSE. 25:27 YOU SAY, "WELL ALL I'VE GOT IS AN APARTMENT." 25:29 HE WILL COME TO YOUR APARTMENT. 25:31 "ALL I'VE GOT IS A RENTED ROOM." 25:32 HE'LL COME TO YOUR RENTED ROOM. 25:34 "ALL I'VE GOT IS A HOTEL." 25:36 HE'LL COME TO YOUR EXTENDED STAY HOTEL. 25:40 HE KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE. 25:42 IF YOU LIVE ON THE STREETS, IF YOU LIVE UNDER A CARDBOARD 25:47 BOX THAT'S PUT ON TOP OF A GRATE SO THAT HEAT COMES UP AND 25:51 KEEPS YOU FROM FREEZING. 25:53 HE KNOWS WHERE YOUR BOX IS. 25:58 AND HE'LL KNOCK UNTIL YOU LET HIM IN. 26:01 AND BY THE TIME HE LEAVES, YOU'LL HAVE GOLD, YOU'LL HAVE 26:05 GARMENTS, YOU'LL HAVE EYE SALVE. 26:09 YOU'LL HAVE EVERYTHING IT TAKES TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. 26:14 AND ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS LET HIM IN. 26:18 Announcer: JOIN US NEXT TIME FOR MORE BREATH OF LIFE WITH 26:21 PASTOR WALTER L. PEARSON. 26:25 (theme music) 26:30 Announcer: LIFE IS FULL OF QUESTIONS. 26:32 SOMETIMES WE DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO OR WHERE TO TURN. 26:34 WE HAVE DOUBTS AND FEARS AND WE WONDER WHAT IT ALL MEANS. 26:38 BUT THERE ARE ANSWERS, AND THERE IS HOPE WAITING FOR YOU IN GOD'S 26:41 WORD, THE BIBLE, AND THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO START EXPLORING 26:45 THE PLANS HE HAS FOR YOU THAN IN THE DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDES. 26:48 IT'S THE BREATH OF LIFE GIFT OFFER THIS WEEK, AND YOUR 26:51 TICKET TO THE HEART AND SOUL OF GOD'S WORD. 26:54 THESE EASY-TO-READ AND ILLUSTRATED BIBLE STUDIES 26:56 GET TO WHAT'S ON GOD'S MIND FOR YOU, QUICKLY AND CLEARLY. 27:00 YOU'LL BE ENLIGHTENED BY STUDIES SUCH AS "IS GOD FAIR ?" 27:03 "WHEN JESUS COMES FOR YOU." 27:05 "THE SECRET OF ANSWERED PRAYER," AND "BRIDGE TO A 27:08 SATISFYING LIFE." 27:10 JUST CALL OUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER AT 1-877-BOL-OFFER. 27:14 THAT'S 1-877-265-6333, AND ASK FOR YOUR COPY OF 27:19 THE DISCOVER BIBLE GUIDES, OR YOU MAY WRITE TO: 27:22 BREATH OF LIFE, P.O. BOX 97192, 27:25 WASHINGTON D.C., 20077. 27:30 Announcer: TO ORDER CD OR AUDIOCASSETTE COPY OF THIS 27:32 BREATH OF LIFE BROADCAST, JUST CALL OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER, 27:34 877-BOL-OFFER. 27:37 THAT'S 877-265-6333, OR YOU MAY WRITE TO: 27:41 BREATH OF LIFE, P.O. BOX 97192, 27:44 WASHINGTON, DC, 20077. 27:48 THE CD OR AUDIOCASSETTE IS YOURS FOR A GIFT OF $5.00 OR MORE. 27:52 IF YOU'D LIKE TO PURCHASE A DVD OR VHS COPY, JUST LET US. 27:55 THANKYOU FOR WATCHING AND SUPPORTING BREATH OF LIFE. 28:00 (theme music) |
Revised 2015-02-05