Hello and welcome to
"Behold the Lamb Presents."
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I'm Chris Shelton your host
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and I want to
welcome you to our program.
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Today we're going to
look back into the life of
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one of the greatest reformers
in history, Martin Luther.
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Martin Luther was
born November 10, 1483
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in a Saxon mining
town of Eisleben, Germany
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and died on February 18, 1546.
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It is written of him on page 120
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in the book "The
Great Controversy"
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that "Foremost among those
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who were called
to lead the church
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from the darkness of popery
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into the light of a purer
faith, stood Martin Luther.
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Zealous, ardent, and devoted,
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knowing no fear
but the fear of God,
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and acknowledging no
foundation for religious faith
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but the Holy Scriptures,
Luther was the man for his time,
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through him God accomplished
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a great work for the
reformation of the church
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and for the
enlightenment of the world."
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What a powerful
description of one man.
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A man who was so
filled with the Spirit of God,
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there is no doubt.
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But our study of Martin Luther
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is not to focus
just upon his work
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during the time
period of his life
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but rather to compare his stance
and fortitude of character
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to that of
God's last day church,
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to that of
God's last day people.
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Luther was labeled a heretic
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for the wonderful
truths that he was learning
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and publishing
from the Scriptures
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and the Scriptures alone.
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He was asked to
recant all the writings
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he had published before
being issued the papal bull
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"Exsurge Domine"
in 1520 by Pope Leo X.
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Knowing that his
position in the church
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and even his life was at stake,
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Luther concluded
much of the debate
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with this repine, listen.
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"Unless I am convinced by
the proofs from Scriptures
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or by plain and clear
reasons and arguments,
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I can't and will not retract
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for it is neither safe nor wise
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to do anything
against conscience.
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Here I stand, I can do no other,
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God help me. Amen."
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Thus is the title
of the two messages
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in this series, "Here I stand."
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All that all of
God's remnant people
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would bet now
exhibit such faith,
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trust and fortitude
towards Him and His word.
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But before we begin to
listen to Pastor Kenny's
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God given message today,
we are blessed to first visit
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the 3ABN worship center
and listen to a song entitled
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"Ivory Palaces" as
sung by Steve Darmody.
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My Lord has
garments so wondrous fine
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And myrrh their texture fills
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Its fragrance reached
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to this heart of mine
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With joy my being thrills
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Out of the ivory palaces
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Into a world of woe
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Only His great eternal love
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Made my Savior go
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His life had
also its sorrows sore
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For aloes had a part
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And when I think of the cross
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He bore
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My eyes with teardrops start
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Out of the ivory palaces
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Into a world of woe
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Only His great eternal love
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Made my Savior go
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In garments glorious
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He will come
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To open wide the door
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And I shall enter
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My heavenly home
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To dwell forevermore
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Out of the ivory palaces
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Into a world of woe
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Only His great eternal love
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Made my Savior
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Made my Savior go
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Thanks for joining us.
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Praise God we
have the opportunity
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to study the word one more time.
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And as you heard our subject
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for today is "Here I stand."
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What does that mean?
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Of course, my wife
mentioned to you here
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we're gonna be discussing
the life of Martin Luther.
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Now somebody will say, I've
read all those things before--
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but look, have you really made
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parallels to Martin
Luther, what he went through
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and what God's last day
people will be going through?
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It's remarkable if you
have not studied these things,
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so it behooves us to
really pay attention.
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This is a two part series.
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So we're gonna be setting
a foundation and get into--
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let me say, a
little meat of the word
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but, boy, that second part,
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it's not for the
weak and faint of heart.
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So praise God we
have that opportunity
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and privilege to study
His word one more time.
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Always before we
get into our study,
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before we read the
pages of God's Holy word,
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we always pray.
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And before we pray I
just want to thank you
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for the comments and your cards
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and your letters and, you know,
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just the
encouragement that you give,
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we praise God for that,
we know it's the Holy Spirit.
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Continue,
continue to pray for us
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that the Holy Spirit
will lead, guide and direct,
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and give meat in due season.
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Why don't you--
where it's possible,
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why don't you just kneel with me
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and let's ask God's
blessing upon this message?
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Let's pray, shall we?
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Merciful Father in heaven,
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we do thank you for
the privilege of prayer.
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Now we pray in a
very, very humble attitude.
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Lord, we realize
we have nothing good
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which to give thy
people but You have everything.
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So we come to
You on bended knee,
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we come to You
asking for forgiveness
00:10:08.87\00:10:11.09
of anything in
our hearts and lives
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that need not be there.
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Lord, we need to hear from You.
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We need to have a
message given to us from heaven
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that concerns
your last day people.
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Open our hearts, open our minds
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of each and everyone who views,
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everyone who hears the message,
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may we once again be converted,
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may we be strengthened,
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may we realize the
hour in which we live.
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Lord, bless us now
with thy sweet presence.
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Thank you for
those who are out there
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listening and watching
and passing on this word,
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in Jesus name, we pray.
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Amen.
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Again the
message that we've been
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talking about "Here I Stand."
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I like that statement.
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I believe God's last
day people are going to come
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right to that very point
that they're going to say,
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you know, when the
pressure is applied,
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they're going to
say, "Here I Stand,
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I can't do anything else."
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It's way past
time that God's people
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had that thought in their mind
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because we are too wishy-washy,
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we're sprayed over
here and over there
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by every wind of doctrine.
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God help us as we see this
study and the importance of it.
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As we study this about
in Martin Luther's life,
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I think we will see
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that how the
spirit of the living God
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is working, worked with Luther
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and how He's working
with His last day people.
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Who's His last day people?
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Anybody that wants to be,
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willing to be
obedient to His commandments.
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The truths that he proclaimed
is awesomely close to the what?
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The truths that God's last
day people will be proclaiming.
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The Philippians
2:15, the Bible it says,
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let me just read it to you.
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Again you need
to have your Bible
00:11:40.90\00:11:42.27
and check these things out.
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It says "That ye may
be blameless and harmless,
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the sons of God, without rebuke,
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in the midst of a
crooked and perverse nation,
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among whom ye shine
as lights in the world."
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How interesting that
is, that's what it say
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where the truth
needs to be proclaimed
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but we're proclaiming
truths but in a very dark world,
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it's crooked, it's perverse,
00:12:05.89\00:12:07.53
it doesn't want the
light of God's word.
00:12:07.56\00:12:10.69
Did they want the
light in Luther's day?
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In the reformer's
day? Absolutely not.
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The enemy is constantly
fighting against the truth.
00:12:16.35\00:12:20.06
God help us as we see
the importance of truth
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and be able to take a
stand on these things.
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We find Luther as he
began to study the Scriptures.
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Here is the really the key.
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There was a change that took
place in his heart and his life.
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There was a longing that he had
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as he began to get
into the word of God
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and really begin
to study and to read
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the Holy Scriptures
that he found some truths
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that were so good that he
had begun to read and say,
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oh, look, it shook him up.
00:12:44.82\00:12:47.25
See, God's
people need to shook up
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and realize that
we've become stale,
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we've been in that same place,
we've been in a rut for so long.
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But as this man of God,
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as he began to study
these beautiful truths,
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it did something in
his heart and in his life.
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Now remember, he
was a very active man
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during the time
of the reformation.
00:13:06.42\00:13:08.08
There is no doubt.
00:13:08.11\00:13:09.57
God used him in a marvelous way.
00:13:09.60\00:13:11.64
He was God's man of the hour
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like many, many others
down through the history
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and even time to come.
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When God calls,
we must be obedient.
00:13:17.30\00:13:20.22
But why Luther?
Why of all people?
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Why Luther? Why did
God choose him? Why?
00:13:22.88\00:13:26.67
Maybe well, God
choose you or choose me
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to do a specific work
before He comes again.
00:13:28.98\00:13:32.11
And then why did Luther accept?
00:13:32.14\00:13:34.75
May I say a challenge
that was given to him by God
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to go against as it
were, the church of the day.
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Are you willing?
You love Jesus enough?
00:13:42.37\00:13:45.40
You read this truth,
are you so excited about him
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that you're
willing to stand and say,
00:13:47.52\00:13:48.92
"Here I stand, I'm
not gonna back now."
00:13:48.95\00:13:51.62
Let's look at
four quick areas here
00:13:51.65\00:13:54.27
that I believe
as we look at them
00:13:54.30\00:13:55.97
that qualified him
and that will qualify you
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and qualify me to be used by God
00:14:00.05\00:14:02.94
to accomplish a work for Him.
00:14:02.97\00:14:05.55
Number one, Luther was
a very zealous individual.
00:14:05.58\00:14:10.45
Now, you know, we
need that zealous--
00:14:10.48\00:14:11.85
what does that really mean?
00:14:11.88\00:14:13.25
To be zealous, it has a
meaning of he was enthusiastic,
00:14:13.28\00:14:17.49
he was very enthusiastic.
00:14:17.52\00:14:19.55
Well, he read Scriptures,
he got excited about them,
00:14:19.58\00:14:22.29
he loved it and all of a sudden,
00:14:22.32\00:14:24.34
Luther is saying look here
00:14:24.37\00:14:25.74
and wherever he
went what happened?
00:14:25.77\00:14:27.52
People got excited too
because he was excited,
00:14:27.55\00:14:30.12
we're not talking
about a false excitement,
00:14:30.15\00:14:31.63
we're talking about a true,
the touch of the Holy Spirit
00:14:31.66\00:14:34.64
that set him on
fire, so he was zealous.
00:14:34.67\00:14:37.08
God is looking for men and women
00:14:37.11\00:14:39.09
today to be
zealous in His calls.
00:14:39.12\00:14:41.27
What? Enthusiastic.
00:14:41.30\00:14:43.48
It also means
passionate. It also means eager.
00:14:43.51\00:14:47.53
It means intense and not
afraid of tackling the job.
00:14:47.56\00:14:53.47
There's too many
Christians today,
00:14:53.50\00:14:55.11
they're afraid
of tackling a job.
00:14:55.14\00:14:57.17
They have grown
spiritually lazy.
00:14:57.20\00:14:59.56
And you know what?
00:14:59.59\00:15:00.96
He wasn't afraid to tackle a
job that required much labor.
00:15:00.99\00:15:04.55
My, how opposite
of that is of many
00:15:04.58\00:15:06.34
so called Christians today,
00:15:06.37\00:15:08.39
lukewarm, not
wanting to do anything,
00:15:08.42\00:15:10.20
not getting involved, anything
with any kind of exertion to it,
00:15:10.23\00:15:14.34
"Oh, we don't want anything to,"
00:15:14.37\00:15:15.79
Listen, this was one
of the characteristics
00:15:15.82\00:15:18.46
that he possessed by
the spirit of the living God
00:15:18.49\00:15:20.88
and one of the reasons
God said, "This is the man."
00:15:20.91\00:15:23.94
Are you the man,
are you the woman
00:15:23.97\00:15:25.34
today that has this
enthusiasm about you.
00:15:25.37\00:15:29.35
You're zealous in
the cause of Christ?
00:15:29.38\00:15:31.56
Number two, he was ardent.
00:15:31.59\00:15:33.89
What does that mean?
00:15:33.92\00:15:35.29
Here was a man
that said he was ardent
00:15:35.32\00:15:36.91
that simply means
he was passionate.
00:15:36.94\00:15:39.47
He was very
passionate about what he did.
00:15:39.50\00:15:42.51
That means he was eager.
00:15:42.54\00:15:43.91
That means he was intense.
00:15:43.94\00:15:45.70
Do you ever meet people
that are intense about things,
00:15:45.73\00:15:48.27
really get into it?
00:15:48.30\00:15:49.75
He was a man that
when he got into something,
00:15:49.78\00:15:51.42
we'd say, "Man,
he's really into that."
00:15:51.45\00:15:53.95
And again he was not
afraid of tackling anything.
00:15:53.98\00:15:57.03
If he thought it was
truth, he thought it was right,
00:15:57.06\00:15:59.04
he just said then
this is what I want to do.
00:15:59.07\00:16:00.96
He is ardent.
00:16:00.99\00:16:02.36
Third characteristic,
pray that we have these,
00:16:02.39\00:16:04.96
he was devoted.
00:16:04.99\00:16:06.55
What does that
really mean to be devoted?
00:16:06.58\00:16:09.45
It's very, very
important in the cause of Christ
00:16:09.48\00:16:11.19
that we're devoted to Him,
00:16:11.22\00:16:12.98
to the message that
He's asked us to give.
00:16:13.01\00:16:15.87
Devoted means what?
00:16:15.90\00:16:17.27
He was dedicated.
He was consecrated.
00:16:17.30\00:16:19.86
He had given all
to the cause of God.
00:16:19.89\00:16:21.54
He was loyal and faithful.
00:16:21.57\00:16:23.29
You know, my
question always goes back,
00:16:23.32\00:16:24.91
I'm saying this,
who is loyal today?
00:16:24.94\00:16:27.96
Who's faithful
to the cause of God?
00:16:27.99\00:16:31.11
Who's really ready
and willing to deny self
00:16:31.14\00:16:34.12
and take up the
cross and to follow Jesus?
00:16:34.15\00:16:37.06
We hear these truths.
00:16:37.09\00:16:38.46
I hear people
every day, "Oh, I'm--
00:16:38.49\00:16:39.97
well, that seems right and
I guess it's right and oh--
00:16:40.00\00:16:42.40
it would demand a
lifestyle change and oh,
00:16:42.43\00:16:44.52
I don't want
anything to change and--"
00:16:44.55\00:16:45.92
friend, if things
are going to change,
00:16:45.95\00:16:48.31
you have the opportunity
to know what truth is
00:16:48.34\00:16:51.11
and you turn that truth down,
00:16:51.14\00:16:53.05
dear friends, your
life is going to change.
00:16:53.08\00:16:54.89
I've met too many
people in ministry.
00:16:54.92\00:16:57.35
Too many people in
everyday, we say, ordinary life
00:16:57.38\00:17:01.21
that's had an
opportunity to learn,
00:17:01.24\00:17:03.26
to comprehend the
truths that God has for today,
00:17:03.29\00:17:05.69
they turned them down
00:17:05.72\00:17:07.09
and I'll tell
you it was a matter
00:17:07.12\00:17:08.49
of short time their
life went to pieces.
00:17:08.52\00:17:11.41
We got to be
willing to accept the truth
00:17:11.44\00:17:12.93
as it is in God,
devoted, faithful.
00:17:12.96\00:17:16.95
He was a man of deep
affection not only for God
00:17:16.98\00:17:21.07
but to his fellow men.
00:17:21.10\00:17:23.36
God and men, devoted.
00:17:23.39\00:17:25.11
Four, very
interesting, always brought up
00:17:25.14\00:17:27.80
and talked about by my
wife there that he was--
00:17:27.83\00:17:30.09
he had a religious faith.
00:17:30.12\00:17:33.03
Think about when you
think religious faith.
00:17:33.06\00:17:35.03
What does that really mean?
00:17:35.06\00:17:37.99
Religious faith,
that means that he, what?
00:17:38.02\00:17:40.27
Everything that he talked,
everything that he wrote out,
00:17:40.30\00:17:45.78
everything that he
talked about to his fellow men,
00:17:45.81\00:17:48.11
you know, what, they were
based upon Holy Scripture.
00:17:48.14\00:17:51.31
It was not what someone thought,
00:17:51.34\00:17:52.76
what someone
taught in the school,
00:17:52.79\00:17:54.46
it was what based
upon Holy Scripture.
00:17:54.49\00:17:56.76
See, he understood and I believe
00:17:56.79\00:17:58.87
we need to understand
today, the Psalm 119:105.
00:17:58.90\00:18:03.42
The Bible says "Thy
word is a--" what? Good.
00:18:03.45\00:18:06.17
"A lamp unto my
feet, and a--" what?
00:18:06.20\00:18:08.92
"and a light unto my path."
00:18:08.95\00:18:11.19
Is the word of God
really what the Scriptures say?
00:18:11.22\00:18:13.98
Is the word of
God really a lamp?
00:18:14.01\00:18:15.68
That means a lamp
that's gonna light the pathway,
00:18:15.71\00:18:17.74
so you don't
trip over the things
00:18:17.77\00:18:19.14
of today or tomorrow.
00:18:19.17\00:18:22.33
It's a lamp, it's
a light to my pathway
00:18:22.36\00:18:25.93
and I also believe
this-- Luther understood this.
00:18:25.96\00:18:28.63
Not only him, but you
need to understand this
00:18:28.66\00:18:30.46
and I do today, Psalms 119:116.
00:18:30.49\00:18:34.56
It says "Uphold me
according unto thy word,
00:18:34.59\00:18:38.28
that I may live, and let
me not be ashamed of my hope."
00:18:38.31\00:18:43.89
Friend, are you ashamed of
the gospel of Jesus Christ?
00:18:43.92\00:18:46.54
Do you have any
hope in you today?
00:18:46.57\00:18:50.05
Well, some people
call themselves Christians,
00:18:50.08\00:18:51.45
they seem like
they have no hope.
00:18:51.48\00:18:53.51
They go there just
down and they're just out
00:18:53.54\00:18:55.47
and they're just like, you know,
00:18:55.50\00:18:56.87
nothing right is
happening in their life,
00:18:56.90\00:18:58.93
yet we have to know.
00:18:58.96\00:19:00.71
Prayed here, they'd pray,
00:19:00.74\00:19:02.11
"God, uphold me in according
to thy word that I may live."
00:19:02.14\00:19:06.71
You want to
live, you want to have
00:19:06.74\00:19:08.11
the fulfilled
life even on earth?
00:19:08.14\00:19:11.11
If you do then you have
to ask God to uphold you.
00:19:11.14\00:19:13.35
We need to living by His word
00:19:13.38\00:19:15.43
and not ashamed of Jehovah.
00:19:15.46\00:19:16.83
I'm not ashamed of
Jesus Christ, how about you?
00:19:16.86\00:19:19.45
Luther was not
ashamed of Jesus Christ,
00:19:19.48\00:19:21.27
he was getting
acquainted with Him.
00:19:21.30\00:19:23.27
But it was interesting
there when he said, my hope.
00:19:23.30\00:19:26.60
What was his hope?
What your hope today.
00:19:26.63\00:19:30.69
Psalms 146:5
makes it very clear.
00:19:30.72\00:19:33.18
It says "Happy is he that hath
the God of Jacob for his help,
00:19:33.21\00:19:38.52
whose hope is in
the Lord his God."
00:19:38.55\00:19:43.11
The Lord his God,
where is our hope today?
00:19:43.14\00:19:45.34
It's based, you
know, in the Lord thy God.
00:19:45.37\00:19:48.25
Luther came along and
he began to build a faith
00:19:48.28\00:19:50.78
based upon his hope
of the Lord his God.
00:19:50.81\00:19:54.15
He made a personal
relationship with Him.
00:19:54.18\00:19:56.90
Wherever Luther
went, let me tell you,
00:19:56.93\00:19:58.63
he was shaking up the people.
00:19:58.66\00:20:00.82
Wow, how about that today?
00:20:00.85\00:20:03.48
Wherever we as Christians go,
00:20:03.51\00:20:05.19
should we not be
shaking up the people?
00:20:05.22\00:20:07.86
Should we not be giving
them something different
00:20:07.89\00:20:09.58
than they hear all the time?
00:20:09.61\00:20:11.84
We have a
different message to give.
00:20:11.87\00:20:14.98
What might be the problem here?
00:20:15.01\00:20:17.14
Everything that he
wrote, his teachings,
00:20:17.17\00:20:18.89
his doctrines were shaking
men to the very foundation.
00:20:18.92\00:20:25.56
You know, about the time Luther
was really being effective,
00:20:25.59\00:20:27.84
and the eyes were
turned on him from the church
00:20:27.87\00:20:30.47
and the institutions and so on,
00:20:30.50\00:20:32.66
we realize at that time,
00:20:32.69\00:20:34.06
Charles V had just ascended
to the throne and--in Germany.
00:20:34.09\00:20:38.95
And then we find out here
00:20:38.98\00:20:40.35
that there's a chance for
the Roman Catholic Church,
00:20:40.38\00:20:43.62
you see, to go and say,
00:20:43.65\00:20:45.07
"Congratulations
now that you are,
00:20:45.10\00:20:47.01
you know, you're
the head right now
00:20:47.04\00:20:49.42
and we want to talk to
you a little bit about Luther.
00:20:49.45\00:20:53.59
We want to talk to you a little
00:20:53.62\00:20:54.99
about the
reformation that's going on."
00:20:55.02\00:20:56.39
So they used his
ascension as a time
00:20:56.42\00:20:58.90
in which they could try
to put down the reformation.
00:20:58.93\00:21:02.50
They were going
to get gradulations
00:21:02.53\00:21:03.97
and the power of the church
00:21:04.00\00:21:05.37
but we need to put
down this reformation
00:21:05.40\00:21:06.96
is changing things up.
00:21:06.99\00:21:09.51
Now think about
after all, Luther was this,
00:21:09.54\00:21:12.81
2 Timothy 1:6 tells us
00:21:12.84\00:21:15.36
he was stirring
up the gift of God.
00:21:15.39\00:21:19.65
See, I believe in
stirring up the gift of God.
00:21:19.68\00:21:22.86
Now some of you get
this, maybe some of you won't.
00:21:22.89\00:21:24.70
But, you know, I think about--
00:21:24.73\00:21:26.10
sometime you
have a can of paint.
00:21:26.13\00:21:27.50
Oh, somebody pray for me.
00:21:27.53\00:21:29.02
You have a can of paint
00:21:29.05\00:21:30.44
and you let set
for a couple of years
00:21:30.47\00:21:32.01
and you open it up.
00:21:32.04\00:21:33.71
And let's say some
kind of oil based paint and,
00:21:33.74\00:21:36.96
you know, you look at it
00:21:36.99\00:21:38.36
and the oil all
comes up to the top.
00:21:38.39\00:21:42.24
You have all of the mixtures,
00:21:42.27\00:21:44.19
you know what you
have, you have the base
00:21:44.22\00:21:45.59
and you have all
the tints and all that
00:21:45.62\00:21:47.43
but it's all settled down here
00:21:47.46\00:21:49.10
but the oil is in the top.
00:21:49.13\00:21:50.50
So what? If you're not
stirring it up, what happens?
00:21:50.53\00:21:53.12
There's a
separation, there is a death
00:21:53.15\00:21:55.55
because that paint is
not any good without the oil.
00:21:55.58\00:21:58.62
You are no good and I'm no good
00:21:58.65\00:22:00.40
without the Holy
Spirit represented by the oil.
00:22:00.43\00:22:02.74
You see what I'm talking about?
00:22:02.77\00:22:04.14
Take a stick and stir it all up
00:22:04.17\00:22:06.21
and then you have
the mixture of humanity,
00:22:06.24\00:22:08.30
right, and
divinity working together.
00:22:08.33\00:22:11.48
It needs to be stirred up.
00:22:11.51\00:22:13.73
The cause of Christ
needs to be stirred up.
00:22:13.76\00:22:15.63
Luther was
stirring it up, under what?
00:22:15.66\00:22:17.90
Divine direction of God.
00:22:17.93\00:22:20.73
Everywhere he went
they talked about Luther.
00:22:20.76\00:22:24.95
They're talking
about his teachings.
00:22:24.98\00:22:28.32
They want to know
what was going on,
00:22:28.35\00:22:29.90
what were-- it was some little--
00:22:29.93\00:22:31.87
we call them in Luther's
day there's little cottages,
00:22:31.90\00:22:34.03
there was little,
there were convents,
00:22:34.06\00:22:36.24
there was castles,
there was universities,
00:22:36.27\00:22:38.70
there was palaces, you know,
00:22:38.73\00:22:41.28
everybody was
spreading the word about Luther.
00:22:41.31\00:22:44.79
And something was going on.
00:22:44.82\00:22:46.19
He had teachings
that was different
00:22:46.22\00:22:47.59
from the rest of the world,
or from the mother church.
00:22:47.62\00:22:50.10
Interesting.
00:22:50.13\00:22:53.22
Remember, again
it was not Luther
00:22:53.25\00:22:55.30
that was stirring things up.
00:22:55.33\00:22:56.70
See, even in today's society,
00:22:56.73\00:22:58.14
we say, "Well,
brothers so and so, and sisters,
00:22:58.17\00:23:00.34
they're just
stirring up things--"
00:23:00.37\00:23:01.76
but listen, if
there's a good stirring up,
00:23:01.79\00:23:04.11
it is through the direction,
00:23:04.14\00:23:05.65
to the power of the Holy Spirit,
00:23:05.68\00:23:07.66
the Holy Spirit
does the stirring up.
00:23:07.69\00:23:09.96
God chose Luther
to stir things up.
00:23:09.99\00:23:13.08
It was the spirit
of God inside him.
00:23:13.11\00:23:16.17
Book of Haggai 1:14 tells us,
00:23:16.20\00:23:18.81
and it-- notice, it says,
00:23:18.84\00:23:20.21
"And the Lord
stirred up the spirit,"
00:23:20.24\00:23:23.42
now going on it says here,
00:23:23.45\00:23:24.82
"he stirred up Zerubbabel,
00:23:24.85\00:23:26.54
he stirred up
Joshua and he stirred up
00:23:26.57\00:23:29.38
all the remnant people."
00:23:29.41\00:23:31.06
So it was very clear
in Scripture who does--
00:23:31.09\00:23:33.57
is supposed to be
doing the stirring.
00:23:33.60\00:23:35.26
Man tries it sometime--
00:23:35.29\00:23:36.66
you end up with a
mess until you spill it.
00:23:36.69\00:23:38.87
Luther felt the
conviction of the Holy Spirit.
00:23:38.90\00:23:42.02
Deep man of God
searching for what is truth,
00:23:42.05\00:23:44.41
going to give his life
for it as he read the Bible
00:23:44.44\00:23:48.09
and as he begin to compare
what he read with Scripture--
00:23:48.12\00:23:50.89
how many of you are doing this?
00:23:50.92\00:23:52.46
Reading the Bible and
then he began to compare them
00:23:52.49\00:23:55.48
with the teachings
of the Roman church.
00:23:55.51\00:23:58.67
This was his desire
to be part of that--
00:23:58.70\00:24:00.17
you know, the Roman
church to be priest, to be monk,
00:24:00.20\00:24:03.13
you know, be a
leader in the Roman church.
00:24:03.16\00:24:05.66
But as he had the Bible
and he began to turn the pages
00:24:05.69\00:24:07.95
and read right here, we can say,
00:24:07.98\00:24:09.47
"Well, wait a minute,
00:24:09.50\00:24:10.87
here's what the
Roman church has said."
00:24:10.90\00:24:12.71
Very interesting.
00:24:12.74\00:24:14.67
While he was still a
supporter of the Roman church,
00:24:14.70\00:24:18.37
he made this statement.
00:24:18.40\00:24:19.90
Now this is from the book
in the history of the church
00:24:19.93\00:24:23.91
reformation from the
D'Aubigne, book 5, Chapter 1,
00:24:23.94\00:24:28.33
let me just read what it says.
00:24:28.36\00:24:29.84
It says, "I am reading
the decrees of the pontiffs."
00:24:29.87\00:24:34.27
So as Luther sat down, he
begin to read the decrees,
00:24:34.30\00:24:36.87
the laws, the
rules of the pontiffs.
00:24:36.90\00:24:40.64
He said, "I do not know
00:24:40.67\00:24:42.80
whether the pope
is antichrist himself,
00:24:42.83\00:24:45.91
or his apostle, so greatly--"
00:24:45.94\00:24:48.87
Here's the key,
"so greatly is Christ
00:24:48.90\00:24:51.42
misrepresented and
crucified in them."
00:24:51.45\00:24:54.07
In what? In the
teachings of Rome.
00:24:54.10\00:24:56.42
He read the Bible,
he see a loving Savior,
00:24:56.45\00:24:58.43
a loving God in heaven,
one who wanted to save him,
00:24:58.46\00:25:01.20
a free gift of salvation.
00:25:01.23\00:25:03.96
And he said this is not
what the Catholic Church
00:25:03.99\00:25:05.71
has been-- is teaching.
00:25:05.74\00:25:08.00
He said as I read these things,
00:25:08.03\00:25:09.40
I don't know if the pope
is the antichrist himself
00:25:09.43\00:25:11.13
or his apostle but
God is misrepresented.
00:25:11.16\00:25:14.52
You realize God is
being misrepresented
00:25:14.55\00:25:16.61
in many Christian churches today
00:25:16.64\00:25:18.63
as they talk about God being one
00:25:18.66\00:25:20.62
who causes disaster and death
and disease and destruction.
00:25:20.65\00:25:24.03
God's blamed for
everything that the devil does.
00:25:24.06\00:25:27.70
God's being misrepresented.
00:25:27.73\00:25:30.64
Now this is very interesting
00:25:30.67\00:25:33.09
because as Luther
read these things,
00:25:33.12\00:25:35.56
he would not, listen, he
would not take the pontiffs
00:25:35.59\00:25:38.57
word over the
evidence of Scripture.
00:25:38.60\00:25:41.90
See, how many of you today
you take the preacher's word
00:25:41.93\00:25:44.65
or you take your church's
beliefs or your doctrines
00:25:44.68\00:25:48.46
and you read them,
you read in Scripture,
00:25:48.49\00:25:50.49
it sounds different.
00:25:50.52\00:25:51.96
It seems like it's different
but the church you go to
00:25:51.99\00:25:54.81
has been
teaching this over here.
00:25:54.84\00:25:56.40
And so you let the
Scriptures go and you say,
00:25:56.43\00:25:58.03
"Well, I've to
stand with my church."
00:25:58.06\00:25:59.53
No, you stand with God.
00:25:59.56\00:26:00.95
You stand with Scripture though
they say the heavens fall.
00:26:00.98\00:26:03.82
You stay with Scripture.
00:26:03.85\00:26:05.22
Not necessary what the
church as it were is teaching,
00:26:05.25\00:26:07.46
what denomination is teaching,
you stand with Scripture.
00:26:07.49\00:26:10.63
This was Luther under the
direction of God Almighty.
00:26:10.66\00:26:14.33
The Review and Herald,
00:26:14.36\00:26:15.73
article 7, 1909,
this was written.
00:26:15.76\00:26:18.60
Please pay attention.
00:26:18.63\00:26:20.87
It says, "Every individual soul
00:26:20.90\00:26:23.26
has a
responsibility before God."
00:26:23.29\00:26:25.18
Do you believe that?
00:26:25.21\00:26:26.64
Every individual has
a responsibility to God.
00:26:26.67\00:26:30.56
Think about that.
00:26:30.59\00:26:31.99
God's calling
you as responsible.
00:26:32.02\00:26:33.91
Are you a responsible Christian?
00:26:33.94\00:26:36.14
I have a responsibility to God.
00:26:36.17\00:26:37.97
Now notice, "And it is not to
be arbitrarily instructed by men
00:26:38.00\00:26:43.90
as what he should
do, what he should say,
00:26:43.93\00:26:47.32
and where he should go."
00:26:47.35\00:26:49.49
Did you get it?
00:26:49.52\00:26:50.89
Arbitrarily, let's just--
00:26:50.92\00:26:52.29
some people will
try to take this right,
00:26:52.32\00:26:53.69
quick, and they're
gonna tryto make it
00:26:53.72\00:26:55.09
something and that it's not.
00:26:55.12\00:26:56.49
Please pay attention to it.
00:26:56.52\00:26:58.85
Remember, it's not arbitrarily
instructed as man begins--
00:26:58.88\00:27:02.42
sometime man will
try to tell you what?
00:27:02.45\00:27:04.17
What you should do,
what you need to say,
00:27:04.20\00:27:06.26
and where you are to go.
00:27:06.29\00:27:08.01
Now notice the
article continues,
00:27:08.04\00:27:09.80
"We are not--" What?
00:27:09.83\00:27:11.65
"We are not to
put our confidence
00:27:11.68\00:27:13.26
in the counsel of men or
assent to all that they say."
00:27:13.29\00:27:20.15
Listen, next word is unless.
00:27:20.18\00:27:22.79
See some of you want to
stop and put a period there,
00:27:22.82\00:27:25.12
do not do that
because you need counsel
00:27:25.15\00:27:26.94
as well as I need counsel.
00:27:26.97\00:27:28.53
We need to be
going to Scripture.
00:27:28.56\00:27:29.93
We need to be
talking about things.
00:27:29.96\00:27:31.33
You need not get
in some little group
00:27:31.36\00:27:32.77
by yourself in
there and just say,
00:27:32.80\00:27:34.37
"Well, this is
what the Scriptures say.
00:27:34.40\00:27:35.77
This is the way I
feel, this is the way it--"
00:27:35.80\00:27:37.17
Why not get
together, are you afraid?
00:27:37.20\00:27:38.83
Get together
and counsel together
00:27:38.86\00:27:41.02
but we are not to be, what?
00:27:41.05\00:27:42.42
Though it's
called-- somebody says,
00:27:42.45\00:27:43.82
well, you do this, you do that,
00:27:43.85\00:27:45.22
you stay here, you
go here, you go do that.
00:27:45.25\00:27:46.63
Now, we need to
question that to make sure,
00:27:46.66\00:27:49.11
the article says,
"Unless we have evidence
00:27:49.14\00:27:52.76
that they are under
00:27:52.79\00:27:54.16
the influence of
the Spirit of God."
00:27:54.19\00:27:57.58
So are we to take counsel? Yes.
00:27:57.61\00:28:00.33
See, if we feel and understand
00:28:00.36\00:28:03.07
and we see through their life
00:28:03.10\00:28:04.47
that they're
under this influence
00:28:04.50\00:28:06.51
of the Holy Spirit of
God, we are to listen to them.
00:28:06.54\00:28:10.18
But if we don't believe
they're under the leading
00:28:10.21\00:28:12.13
of the Spirit of the living God,
00:28:12.16\00:28:13.55
they're teaching something
different than in here,
00:28:13.58\00:28:15.82
we need not follow
what they're saying.
00:28:15.85\00:28:17.65
Now that's pretty heavy duty.
00:28:17.68\00:28:19.05
See, Martin Luther
came up against this.
00:28:19.08\00:28:21.14
This is a challenge.
This is not popular thinking.
00:28:21.17\00:28:23.84
This is not popular teaching.
00:28:23.87\00:28:27.13
But oh, how we need to be under
00:28:27.16\00:28:28.53
the influence of the
Spirit of the living God.
00:28:28.56\00:28:31.75
Be careful, my
brothers and sisters,
00:28:31.78\00:28:33.37
how we-- please,
how we balance this.
00:28:33.40\00:28:36.23
Not just taking a line
here and then putting periods
00:28:36.26\00:28:38.74
where you want to and commas.
00:28:38.77\00:28:40.14
We need--what?
00:28:40.17\00:28:41.54
We need counsel,
don't we? That's right.
00:28:41.57\00:28:42.94
We need to know that those
00:28:42.97\00:28:44.34
who are giving
the counsel are under
00:28:44.37\00:28:45.74
the influence of the
Spirit of the living God.
00:28:45.77\00:28:47.18
They're saying-- what?
00:28:47.21\00:28:48.58
What the Spirit of
God is saying to them.
00:28:48.61\00:28:50.59
Just probably we need
to listen to these people.
00:28:50.62\00:28:52.65
Be careful, balance it out.
00:28:52.68\00:28:54.55
We should, just
like Psalms 55:14 says.
00:28:54.58\00:28:58.97
It says we took--
listen what Bible said,
00:28:59.00\00:29:01.11
we took sweet counsel together.
00:29:01.14\00:29:04.39
Wow, you know
what that means there
00:29:04.42\00:29:06.84
in the original language?
00:29:06.87\00:29:09.06
We had a session together.
00:29:09.09\00:29:11.43
We had a company of
persons come together.
00:29:11.46\00:29:14.84
We had a consultation together.
00:29:14.87\00:29:18.32
And after we had that,
00:29:18.35\00:29:19.81
we walked into the
house of God in company.
00:29:19.84\00:29:25.87
Isaiah 1:18, the Bible says,
"Come now and let us--" what?
00:29:25.90\00:29:29.97
Come on, come on,
00:29:30.00\00:29:31.37
"Let us reason
together, saith the Lord."
00:29:31.40\00:29:34.34
Now remember, come--
reason means come together
00:29:34.37\00:29:36.82
let us decide, let
plead we want to know
00:29:36.85\00:29:40.96
what truth is, come together,
00:29:40.99\00:29:42.69
let us reason together.
00:29:42.72\00:29:44.53
New Testament books,
book of Acts 18:4 it says
00:29:44.56\00:29:48.85
and he reason, and who?
00:29:48.88\00:29:50.41
He--Jesus reasoned in
the Synagogue every Sabbath.
00:29:50.44\00:29:54.20
He reasoned.
00:29:54.23\00:29:55.60
He spoke is what it
means here. He discussed.
00:29:55.63\00:29:59.40
He brought the message,
counsel, studying together.
00:29:59.43\00:30:06.91
See, we must be
willing to counsel.
00:30:06.94\00:30:09.90
We must be willing
to reason together.
00:30:09.93\00:30:14.21
Little book that I
love is going to be,
00:30:14.24\00:30:15.81
you know, great comfort
and direction in time of need,
00:30:15.84\00:30:19.63
a little book called
"Testimonies to Ministries,"
00:30:19.66\00:30:21.35
page 502, and this
is what it says here.
00:30:21.38\00:30:24.51
"Safety and peace
and calm assurance."
00:30:24.54\00:30:27.92
Oh, how we all want that.
00:30:27.95\00:30:31.11
I want safety and I want peace
00:30:31.14\00:30:33.69
and I want calm assurance.
00:30:33.72\00:30:35.40
Notice what it says,
"They are to be found only--
00:30:35.43\00:30:39.44
they are to be found only--"
00:30:39.47\00:30:41.49
Somebody repeat
it, I can't hear you.
00:30:41.52\00:30:43.49
Notice what it says,
"They are to be found
00:30:43.52\00:30:45.50
only by following the
counsel of the greatest Teacher
00:30:45.53\00:30:49.56
that ever lived in the world.
00:30:49.59\00:30:51.85
Let us not turn away
from this unerring counsel."
00:30:51.88\00:30:56.85
Well, how plain that is.
00:30:56.88\00:30:59.39
"The counsel with the greatest
Teacher that ever lived."
00:30:59.42\00:31:03.81
My friends, please remember
00:31:03.84\00:31:05.21
there are our
feelings and our impressions,
00:31:05.24\00:31:07.71
which many people go
rather than thus saith the Lord,
00:31:07.74\00:31:11.34
are not always safe to follow.
00:31:11.37\00:31:13.08
They're not always safe.
00:31:13.11\00:31:15.01
Because here we have this
thing called human reasoning.
00:31:15.04\00:31:18.72
We might believe--
and I hear people say,
00:31:18.75\00:31:20.22
"I'm doing this because I know
00:31:20.25\00:31:22.09
that is from God
who's guiding me."
00:31:22.12\00:31:24.29
I know God is
guiding me in this thing
00:31:24.32\00:31:26.66
when we are
following our own inclinations.
00:31:26.69\00:31:29.07
We are following our own way.
00:31:29.10\00:31:32.32
The only way you
can tell a difference--
00:31:32.35\00:31:33.72
and I can is do what?
00:31:33.75\00:31:35.51
By listening to
the counselor here.
00:31:35.54\00:31:37.67
We're talking about the greatest
Teacher that ever lived.
00:31:37.70\00:31:41.32
In the Bible,
the counsel is given.
00:31:41.35\00:31:44.02
The Bible says we can
know if we watch unto prayer,
00:31:44.05\00:31:48.57
watch unto prayer,
counsel with our brother
00:31:48.60\00:31:51.74
and we will understand.
00:31:51.77\00:31:54.40
What are we going to understand?
00:31:54.43\00:31:55.83
Why, we're going to understand
the precious promises.
00:31:55.86\00:31:58.74
In Psalms 25:9 the Bible says
00:31:58.77\00:32:01.05
"The meek he will
guide in judgment,
00:32:01.08\00:32:04.96
the meek he will teach his way."
00:32:04.99\00:32:08.93
The meek here means the humble.
00:32:08.96\00:32:11.48
Oh, friend, he's
going to teach the humble.
00:32:11.51\00:32:14.67
Are you humble?
00:32:14.70\00:32:16.07
Or is your opinion the
only opinion out there.
00:32:16.10\00:32:18.80
Some people think that,
"Well, that's my opinion."
00:32:18.83\00:32:20.99
Remember, your
opinion doesn't mean anything.
00:32:21.02\00:32:23.60
My opinion
doesn't mean anything.
00:32:23.63\00:32:25.83
It must be what?
00:32:25.86\00:32:27.23
A conclusion must be
based upon the word of God,
00:32:27.26\00:32:30.40
the weight of evidence.
00:32:30.43\00:32:31.80
We've got to lay it out there.
00:32:31.83\00:32:33.25
Some of you've been taking
just that one line Scripture,
00:32:33.28\00:32:35.37
you make it whole
teaching doctrine.
00:32:35.40\00:32:36.77
No, that's just wrong.
00:32:36.80\00:32:38.46
Bible says you have
to do line upon line--
00:32:38.49\00:32:39.86
we'll talk about
that more little--
00:32:39.89\00:32:41.26
that's what Luther was doing.
00:32:41.29\00:32:42.90
The meek, the humble, the lowly,
00:32:42.93\00:32:45.65
the teachable is what meek is.
00:32:45.68\00:32:47.45
Are you lowly at heart?
00:32:47.48\00:32:49.34
You don't think you
have to be in the high place.
00:32:49.37\00:32:50.74
You don't have to think
00:32:50.77\00:32:52.14
you're the best
thing to go on into world.
00:32:52.17\00:32:53.54
You're-- oh, be careful, Kenny,
00:32:53.57\00:32:54.94
God's gift to humanity.
00:32:54.97\00:32:58.11
Oh, humble, lonely, teachable,
00:32:58.14\00:33:02.43
if we are, the Bible says
God will teach us His way.
00:33:02.46\00:33:07.55
Now listen, while we're touching
a little bit on this subject,
00:33:07.58\00:33:11.06
there are those who say,
00:33:11.09\00:33:12.46
"Well, I have a
work to do for God."
00:33:12.49\00:33:14.58
Well, okay, good.
00:33:14.61\00:33:16.58
And I'm gonna have to
answer to God for my work.
00:33:16.61\00:33:18.85
Oh, that very well may be.
00:33:18.88\00:33:21.17
God's given us all a
work in which we are to do
00:33:21.20\00:33:23.59
but I want you to remember this.
00:33:23.62\00:33:25.91
In the little book
"Testimonies to Ministries,"
00:33:25.94\00:33:28.09
page 503, it says,
00:33:28.12\00:33:31.99
"Though we have
an individual work
00:33:32.02\00:33:35.87
and an individual
responsibility to God,
00:33:35.90\00:33:40.68
we are not to
follow our own judgment,"
00:33:40.71\00:33:44.09
somebody listen,
"We are not to follow
00:33:44.12\00:33:46.22
our own judgment
regardless of the opinions
00:33:46.25\00:33:51.12
and feelings of our brethren,
for the course would lead
00:33:51.15\00:33:55.35
to disorder in the church."
00:33:55.38\00:33:58.25
So we're not to just, what?
00:33:58.28\00:33:59.65
Follow our own judgment
00:33:59.68\00:34:01.66
regardless of the
counsel that we get.
00:34:01.69\00:34:04.15
So that we simply
we have to be what?
00:34:04.18\00:34:05.65
Open and we have to what?
00:34:05.68\00:34:07.05
Be willing to listen to
it and then we compare it
00:34:07.08\00:34:09.54
to the word of God.
00:34:09.57\00:34:10.94
Not how what the
church might think
00:34:10.97\00:34:12.69
or what the people might
think or somebody's feelings
00:34:12.72\00:34:15.24
or how
somebody's going to take it,
00:34:15.27\00:34:17.94
but what does God's word say.
00:34:17.97\00:34:20.15
These are things
just going over in my--
00:34:20.18\00:34:21.74
these are things
that plead Luther.
00:34:21.77\00:34:25.50
These are things that
probably go, bless your heart,
00:34:25.53\00:34:27.77
over in your
mind from time to time
00:34:27.80\00:34:29.24
just like that do me.
00:34:29.27\00:34:31.07
Because many of your
stances are not popular,
00:34:31.10\00:34:33.43
people don't like and
they don't want to hear
00:34:33.46\00:34:35.93
even though there's a
clear cut thus saith the Lord,
00:34:35.96\00:34:38.66
they still don't want to do it.
00:34:38.69\00:34:41.51
Could be very disheartening.
00:34:41.54\00:34:44.20
God said, he's going to
leave, he's going to die
00:34:44.23\00:34:46.74
but I don't want
you to miss this,
00:34:46.77\00:34:48.14
well, what talking about this.
00:34:48.17\00:34:50.08
So remember, our
duty then is to what?
00:34:50.11\00:34:52.65
Is to respect the
judgment of our brethren.
00:34:52.68\00:34:56.34
Now I know some of you
don't want the judgment
00:34:56.37\00:34:58.08
of the brethren, you say
well, they're not my brethren.
00:34:58.11\00:35:00.46
Or you can find
all kind of ways out
00:35:00.49\00:35:01.91
if you want to do it.
00:35:01.94\00:35:03.33
Counsel, we need to do.
00:35:03.36\00:35:04.80
But remember, we're trying
to balance something here.
00:35:04.83\00:35:07.99
Luther had to balance
things that were going on,
00:35:08.02\00:35:11.06
things that was
being told by superiors,
00:35:11.09\00:35:13.40
things that the
church was telling him,
00:35:13.43\00:35:15.12
things he was reading in
Scripture and people telling,
00:35:15.15\00:35:17.32
he should do this
and he shouldn't do that.
00:35:17.35\00:35:19.04
He should go
here, he shouldn't here.
00:35:19.07\00:35:20.55
He was balancing it out. We
need to balance it out today.
00:35:20.58\00:35:25.67
It's our duty to respect
the judgment of our brethren.
00:35:25.70\00:35:28.99
At least listen to
what they have to say,
00:35:29.02\00:35:31.16
have respect for the
relationship with them
00:35:31.19\00:35:34.77
as well as the
doctrines that they teach.
00:35:34.80\00:35:38.14
Now pay attention,
it doesn't end here,
00:35:38.17\00:35:41.57
some of you would like
that, oh, now see, no, no.
00:35:41.60\00:35:44.30
With all this said, we still,
00:35:44.33\00:35:47.07
still after all that's
said, we come together,
00:35:47.10\00:35:49.87
we sit, we talk, we
discuss the counsel together,
00:35:49.90\00:35:52.95
but we still do what?
00:35:52.98\00:35:54.46
We bring everything
into the test of to--
00:35:54.49\00:35:58.29
just don't say Scripture,
I'm gonna get heavy with you,
00:35:58.32\00:36:00.15
listen, to the law
and to the testimony.
00:36:00.18\00:36:03.05
Do you remember
reading that in Isaiah 28,
00:36:03.08\00:36:04.93
do you remember that?
00:36:04.96\00:36:06.33
Or 8:20, Isaiah 8:20?
00:36:06.36\00:36:07.84
"To the law, to the testimony."
00:36:07.87\00:36:09.32
It says that they
speak not according to this,
00:36:09.35\00:36:11.94
it is because there
is no light in them.
00:36:11.97\00:36:15.52
You know how
clear cut that verse is?
00:36:15.55\00:36:17.77
You realize how clear that is?
00:36:17.80\00:36:19.75
And we make
excuses all the time.
00:36:19.78\00:36:21.83
Well, so and so
said, well, so and so--
00:36:21.86\00:36:24.73
listen, to the law
and to the testimony,
00:36:24.76\00:36:27.29
if they speak not
according to this,
00:36:27.32\00:36:29.09
if there is no light in them.
00:36:29.12\00:36:30.81
Please do not say, "Well, most--
00:36:30.84\00:36:33.37
there's a lot of light in them."
00:36:33.40\00:36:34.77
No, it doesn't work.
00:36:34.80\00:36:36.27
The Bible says no,
it's not me said, no,
00:36:36.30\00:36:38.27
that's what the Bible says.
00:36:38.30\00:36:40.02
Luther had to weigh
those things out in his heart
00:36:40.05\00:36:42.14
and his mind and God's last day
00:36:42.17\00:36:44.09
people must do
the very same thing.
00:36:44.12\00:36:47.64
It's very, very clear,
"If our hearts are teachable."
00:36:47.67\00:36:52.22
This is heavy.
00:36:52.25\00:36:53.62
"If our hearts are teachable,
00:36:53.65\00:36:56.33
there will be no
divisions among us."
00:36:56.36\00:37:01.74
So since there's
a lot of division,
00:37:01.77\00:37:05.53
who's not
teachable? Is it you? Is it me?
00:37:05.56\00:37:09.16
Is this certain group?
00:37:09.19\00:37:11.70
We know there's
gonna have to be unity here
00:37:11.73\00:37:13.23
in these last days,
there's no doubt about it.
00:37:13.26\00:37:15.21
Jesus prayed for it.
00:37:15.24\00:37:16.61
He said it's going to happen.
00:37:16.64\00:37:18.12
But why are we-- why
do we have that unity?
00:37:18.15\00:37:21.03
Because listen-- oh, listen,
00:37:21.06\00:37:23.16
we're so hard headed.
00:37:23.19\00:37:25.04
We think we're so spiritual
that we're right on everything
00:37:25.07\00:37:28.08
that we come up
with and that we do.
00:37:28.11\00:37:29.82
We just might be surprised
00:37:29.85\00:37:31.22
if we compare
to the word of God,
00:37:31.25\00:37:32.62
so what God's
word have to say on it.
00:37:32.65\00:37:35.82
This is the counsel.
This is what we're up against.
00:37:35.85\00:37:38.50
The choices are gonna be many.
00:37:38.53\00:37:41.52
And you're gonna have
to make a whole lot more
00:37:41.55\00:37:42.92
before Jesus
comes and this is what
00:37:42.95\00:37:44.52
we're weighing this an
we're looking at, his--
00:37:44.55\00:37:46.61
Martin Luther's life
and God's last day people.
00:37:46.64\00:37:48.96
They're going to be up
against similar circumstances
00:37:48.99\00:37:52.30
that he went
through and we read that,
00:37:52.33\00:37:54.21
we say, "Oh, bless his heart.
00:37:54.24\00:37:57.00
How did he make it through?"
00:37:57.03\00:37:58.92
You're gonna
have to know your God.
00:37:58.95\00:38:00.32
I'm gonna have to know my God.
00:38:00.35\00:38:04.00
Don't miss this.
Bring everything, what?
00:38:04.03\00:38:08.06
Once again, to the test
of the law and the testimony.
00:38:08.09\00:38:13.17
This is very interesting.
Luther never thought.
00:38:13.20\00:38:16.74
When he began, as the
God began to call him to do
00:38:16.77\00:38:18.97
this special work of
reformation to bring us
00:38:19.00\00:38:21.30
out of the darkness
of the Roman church,
00:38:21.33\00:38:24.93
bring us into light
the gospel of truth.
00:38:24.96\00:38:27.20
Luther never
thought for one moment
00:38:27.23\00:38:29.11
when he began
following Jesus Christ
00:38:29.14\00:38:31.64
that he'd ever have
to leave his church.
00:38:31.67\00:38:35.22
He never thought that he would.
00:38:35.25\00:38:39.26
He never thought he'd
have to separate for something
00:38:39.29\00:38:41.10
that he truly loved.
00:38:41.13\00:38:42.58
But, boy, he's coming up
00:38:42.61\00:38:44.12
and weighing some
evidence and he's saying,
00:38:44.15\00:38:45.52
"What I'm gonna do?"
00:38:45.55\00:38:48.67
Do you realize that
Jesus understands this, too?
00:38:48.70\00:38:52.17
Do you remember
what happened to Jesus?
00:38:52.20\00:38:53.57
The Bible tells us.
00:38:53.60\00:38:55.52
We'll read that
passage, I'm gonna first read
00:38:55.55\00:38:57.07
Acts the Apostle, page 145,
00:38:57.10\00:39:00.07
it said, "Christ, near the
close of His earthly ministry,
00:39:00.10\00:39:03.77
looked for the last time upon
the interior of the temple,"
00:39:03.80\00:39:10.58
In Matthew
23:38, the Bible said--
00:39:10.61\00:39:14.21
Jesus said, "Behold, your
house is left unto you--" What?
00:39:14.24\00:39:18.33
"Desolate."
00:39:18.36\00:39:21.77
Jesus no longer
was in the place.
00:39:21.80\00:39:25.36
He said your
house is left desolate.
00:39:25.39\00:39:27.55
Some people think
because you have a certain name
00:39:27.58\00:39:29.72
or certain this or doing things,
00:39:29.75\00:39:31.86
that man this is God's presence
is here because we have a name.
00:39:31.89\00:39:38.58
Jesus said right here when He
left, you know, more attended,
00:39:38.61\00:39:41.78
He said your house is
left-- they rejected Jesus.
00:39:41.81\00:39:45.97
They rejected the God of heaven.
00:39:46.00\00:39:48.32
He said your
church is left desolate.
00:39:48.35\00:39:51.27
Interesting, you say,
well, he always feel that way?
00:39:51.30\00:39:53.69
No, before that he said what?
00:39:53.72\00:39:55.75
Jesus said--He called the
temple His father's house.
00:39:55.78\00:39:58.63
You remember.
00:39:58.66\00:40:00.03
He says this is
my father's house.
00:40:00.06\00:40:01.86
So when Jesus left,
God's presence left forever.
00:40:01.89\00:40:06.65
And we say, "Well, yeah,
we kind of a special people,
00:40:09.33\00:40:11.39
you know, I don't know."
00:40:11.42\00:40:14.04
Listen, Luther understood
this. He understood this.
00:40:14.07\00:40:18.05
Please, I want you
to understand this.
00:40:18.08\00:40:22.10
It takes-now,
listen, I somebody-you know,
00:40:22.13\00:40:25.03
some people is
not gonna like this,
00:40:25.06\00:40:26.48
but look, this is in fact.
00:40:26.51\00:40:28.36
Let's face the
facts. Let's weigh it out.
00:40:28.39\00:40:32.49
See, see, where we
can-- where we can disagree
00:40:32.52\00:40:34.81
and then let me know if you can.
00:40:34.84\00:40:38.23
It takes the presence
of Christ to make a church.
00:40:38.26\00:40:44.68
Luther realized
where he was going,
00:40:44.71\00:40:46.25
the presence of Christ,
the Holy Spirit wasn't there
00:40:46.28\00:40:47.97
because there's teaching err.
00:40:48.00\00:40:51.68
And he desired the presence
of Christ more than anything,
00:40:51.71\00:40:54.73
how about you?
00:40:54.76\00:40:56.13
It takes the presence
of Christ to make a church.
00:40:56.16\00:41:00.11
And say, well, boy,
that's kind of heavy duty.
00:41:00.14\00:41:01.86
"The Upward Look," page
315, many of you read this,
00:41:01.89\00:41:04.33
many of you
never heard about it.
00:41:04.36\00:41:05.73
But, listen, it makes sense.
00:41:05.76\00:41:08.04
"Where Christ is
even among the humble few,
00:41:08.07\00:41:13.30
this is Christ's church,
for the presence of the High
00:41:13.33\00:41:17.49
and the Holy one
who inhabiteth eternity
00:41:17.52\00:41:20.82
can alone constitute a church."
00:41:20.85\00:41:24.36
I think most of all will agree
that the church--a building,
00:41:24.39\00:41:28.24
it's just a building but
if God's presence is there,
00:41:28.27\00:41:30.67
that's His church.
00:41:30.70\00:41:32.69
Without His
presence, there is no church.
00:41:32.72\00:41:38.39
Is it possibly he ever leave?
00:41:38.42\00:41:40.87
Yeah, well, he left the
earthly temple, didn't He?
00:41:40.90\00:41:45.11
And when He did, the presence
of the Holy Spirit, oh, left,
00:41:45.14\00:41:50.06
because they
weren't teaching truth,
00:41:50.09\00:41:51.69
they weren't living the truth.
00:41:51.72\00:41:55.20
Ephesians 1:22, the Bible says,
00:41:55.23\00:41:57.99
"And he hath all
things put under his feet--"
00:41:58.02\00:42:00.91
talking about
Christ, "He gave him
00:42:00.94\00:42:03.31
to be the head over
all things to the church."
00:42:03.34\00:42:09.90
Put all things under His
feet, Christ is then what?
00:42:09.93\00:42:13.28
The head of the church and
it takes his presence there
00:42:13.31\00:42:15.94
to constitute
to make the church.
00:42:15.97\00:42:18.95
Luther was grasping this.
God's people must grasp this.
00:42:18.98\00:42:24.52
He wanted his life
to be one with Christ.
00:42:24.55\00:42:28.92
How many of us
have that- you know,
00:42:28.95\00:42:31.06
we study and we
read the word of God,
00:42:31.09\00:42:33.38
how many really
have a longing for that?
00:42:33.41\00:42:36.64
As Luther did, "Oh, I want my
life to be one with you Christ."
00:42:36.67\00:42:41.24
He came to the point,
"Lord, I want to gain victory.
00:42:41.27\00:42:45.01
I want to gain
victory over myself.
00:42:45.04\00:42:47.13
I want to gain
victory over every sin."
00:42:47.16\00:42:51.35
Luther said I want to
be spotless before God.
00:42:51.38\00:42:54.48
Huh, why?
00:42:54.51\00:42:56.70
Because so the
heaven can accept me
00:42:56.73\00:42:59.44
and accept the work
that you're asking me to do.
00:42:59.47\00:43:02.34
Look, look, shouldn't we
also, God's last day people,
00:43:02.37\00:43:06.41
desire the same thing that
went through Luther's mind?
00:43:06.44\00:43:11.16
We call it like this
today, shouldn't we be desiring
00:43:11.19\00:43:13.66
and praying and asking
God for strength and help.
00:43:13.69\00:43:15.83
Oh, Lord, give me
complete victory over sin,
00:43:15.86\00:43:19.27
over self, through Jesus Christ.
00:43:19.30\00:43:23.34
You see, that's part
of our last day message
00:43:23.37\00:43:25.50
to give to the world, isn't it?
00:43:25.53\00:43:29.33
Righteousness of Christ.
00:43:29.36\00:43:32.28
Friend, this is a must--
complete victory in our life.
00:43:32.31\00:43:36.34
"Review and Herald,"
1231, 1901, this is written,
00:43:36.37\00:43:39.70
listen, how it
pertains to us today,
00:43:39.73\00:43:41.88
"Unless the people of God--"
00:43:41.91\00:43:43.38
Look, who are-- are
you people of God today?
00:43:43.41\00:43:45.40
Are you the ones, you
say, I'm part of God's family.
00:43:45.43\00:43:48.93
Then I'm talking to
you, I'm talking to myself.
00:43:48.96\00:43:52.04
"Unless the people of
God wage a valiant warfare
00:43:52.07\00:43:56.27
against every species
of sin," how many? A few?
00:43:56.30\00:44:01.66
"Every species of
sin, they will never pass
00:44:01.69\00:44:04.79
through the
portals of the holy city.
00:44:04.82\00:44:08.21
And we shall have
no second chance."
00:44:08.24\00:44:11.88
Oh, I don't even
want to repeat it.
00:44:11.91\00:44:13.69
But I'm gonna repeat it because
some of you didn't get it.
00:44:13.72\00:44:17.06
Unless the people of
God- that's us-God, help us,
00:44:17.09\00:44:20.52
unless we are
waging a valiant warfare
00:44:20.55\00:44:23.13
against every
species of sin and we know
00:44:23.16\00:44:25.47
it's through power of the
Holy Spirit of the living God.
00:44:25.50\00:44:28.43
We will never pass
through the portals of glory.
00:44:28.46\00:44:30.77
And somebody may say, we
don't have to gain victory.
00:44:30.80\00:44:33.19
You say you're
gonna make it to heaven.
00:44:33.22\00:44:34.63
Well, some of your sins,
no, it's not gonna happen.
00:44:34.66\00:44:37.57
It can't happen.
00:44:37.60\00:44:39.87
A warfare, we have to fight,
we have to get on our knees,
00:44:39.90\00:44:42.65
right, and claim the
blood of Jesus Christ.
00:44:42.68\00:44:44.84
There is no second trial.
00:44:44.87\00:44:48.13
Luther was--bless his heart,
was engaged in this warfare.
00:44:48.16\00:44:50.88
Today's Christians
are engaged in a warfare
00:44:50.91\00:44:54.25
and we have to fight
every step of the way.
00:44:54.28\00:44:58.80
But you know what,
too bad so many times
00:44:58.83\00:45:01.56
that the fight we have
is with our own people.
00:45:01.59\00:45:04.65
We have more to fear from within
00:45:04.68\00:45:06.21
than we do with out at
this point. That's sad.
00:45:06.24\00:45:10.78
Devil's keeping us all
confused, keeping us all,
00:45:10.81\00:45:12.71
you know, working
against each other.
00:45:12.74\00:45:15.46
Get, get, get the word of God.
00:45:15.49\00:45:16.86
2 Corinthians
10:4, the Bible says,
00:45:16.89\00:45:19.12
"For the
weapons of our warfare,"
00:45:19.15\00:45:21.62
what is the
weapons of your warfare?
00:45:21.65\00:45:25.13
"The weapons of our warfare,"
00:45:25.16\00:45:26.71
that means to contend
with our carnal inclinations.
00:45:26.74\00:45:30.19
Are we really
contending with our carnal heart
00:45:30.22\00:45:32.62
and our mind, the flesh,
our duties, our functions?
00:45:32.65\00:45:37.78
As a Christian it is not to be
carnal, but they're to be what?
00:45:37.81\00:45:41.75
"Mighty through God in the
pulling down of strong holds."
00:45:41.78\00:45:45.72
Are we really the
weapons of our warfare?
00:45:45.75\00:45:48.60
If we use the weapons of our
warfare that God has given us,
00:45:48.63\00:45:51.28
we're gonna pull down the strong
holds that the devil has set up.
00:45:51.31\00:45:56.03
Things that seem to
be impossible to man,
00:45:56.06\00:45:57.61
God makes them possible.
00:45:57.64\00:46:01.37
See, this passage fits perfectly
with the life of Luther,
00:46:01.40\00:46:05.15
the life of Paul, many
others, God's last day people.
00:46:05.18\00:46:10.95
For each one of
these individuals
00:46:10.98\00:46:13.12
and many of you and
it's not still, yet,
00:46:13.15\00:46:15.31
will be placed in seemingly--
00:46:15.34\00:46:17.33
we're talking about
what, impossible situations.
00:46:17.36\00:46:21.70
There seems to be no way out.
00:46:21.73\00:46:26.12
But yet, we're
put in these positions
00:46:26.15\00:46:27.86
and in these places
to where God expects us,
00:46:27.89\00:46:31.00
to preach the gospel, to
proclaim the gospel. Huh.
00:46:31.03\00:46:36.84
Do you realize that
when God allows us to go
00:46:36.87\00:46:39.33
in these impossible situations
that He's going to be with us,
00:46:39.36\00:46:42.04
He's going to encourage us?
00:46:42.07\00:46:44.80
And there in these conditions,
God uses you, He uses me,
00:46:44.83\00:46:49.61
by the grace of God to pull down
the strong holds of the devil.
00:46:49.64\00:46:53.48
People's going to hear
and they're going to receive
00:46:53.51\00:46:55.67
the word of God.
00:46:55.70\00:46:57.66
Paul said it in
Philippians 1:12.
00:46:57.69\00:46:59.80
He said "I would that ye
should understand, brethren,"
00:46:59.83\00:47:02.75
listen, "that the things
which happened unto me--"
00:47:02.78\00:47:05.79
Paul said "All these
things that happened unto me,
00:47:05.82\00:47:08.57
they have fallen
out rather than unto
00:47:08.60\00:47:10.75
the furtherance of the gospel."
00:47:10.78\00:47:13.53
So the things
that are happening,
00:47:13.56\00:47:14.93
he said all the bad
things but, boy, it's what?
00:47:14.96\00:47:16.92
The gospel, the
cause of the gospel,
00:47:16.95\00:47:18.53
the furtherance of the gospel.
00:47:18.56\00:47:19.93
When he was whipped,
beaten, and in prison,
00:47:19.96\00:47:24.45
it was for the
furtherance of the gospel.
00:47:24.48\00:47:25.85
It didn't seem
like it at the time.
00:47:25.88\00:47:28.50
Some of the things, we're
studying here in our study
00:47:28.53\00:47:30.78
here is gonna be
about God's last day people.
00:47:30.81\00:47:33.44
Where you're going to end up?
00:47:33.47\00:47:34.84
In the bad situations and
places you don't want to be
00:47:34.87\00:47:37.32
but God's gonna use
you in a marvelous way
00:47:37.35\00:47:40.29
to get the gospel to
preach to those who may not
00:47:40.32\00:47:42.11
have the
opportunity any other way. Wow.
00:47:42.14\00:47:47.45
Luther, he begins to say, what?
00:47:47.48\00:47:50.46
The pressure was
beginning to be put on him.
00:47:50.49\00:47:53.38
What was he going to do?
How was he going to stand by,
00:47:53.41\00:47:55.21
what? By the Roman
church, by his own, huh.
00:47:55.24\00:48:01.24
But notice what happened.
00:48:01.27\00:48:02.90
Because the pressure was
put on him by his church,
00:48:02.93\00:48:07.07
more people learned what
he was preaching and teaching.
00:48:07.10\00:48:11.63
If there had been no
pressure, maybe they wouldn't--
00:48:11.66\00:48:13.66
many would not have
heard, there are many times,
00:48:13.69\00:48:15.58
when somebody says
you need to keep quiet,
00:48:15.61\00:48:17.90
people say, well, why
do they need to keep quiet?
00:48:17.93\00:48:20.78
Oh, tell me what they're saying.
00:48:20.81\00:48:22.39
Well, we want to know.
00:48:22.42\00:48:25.21
And so let's say
Luther, you need to keep quiet.
00:48:25.24\00:48:26.96
People say well, why?
00:48:26.99\00:48:31.19
Remember, Paul, one time he
was in prison for two years.
00:48:31.22\00:48:36.67
It seemed like those two years
00:48:36.70\00:48:38.07
that he was going to be
useless in the cause of Christ.
00:48:38.10\00:48:42.06
It looked like it was
an end, his followers said
00:48:42.09\00:48:43.82
this is an end
of Paul, he's done,
00:48:43.85\00:48:45.32
he's in prison, you
know, of all appearances.
00:48:45.35\00:48:50.15
But, my friend, my brothers
and sisters, it was then,
00:48:50.18\00:48:52.93
it was then that
Paul by the grace of God
00:48:52.96\00:48:55.69
began to gather souls in even
in the prison in Christ's field.
00:48:55.72\00:48:59.85
The prisons are Christ field.
00:48:59.88\00:49:01.72
There's people there
that need to be touched.
00:49:01.75\00:49:04.61
It seemed
impossible any good thing
00:49:04.64\00:49:06.38
could come about
but, boy, it did.
00:49:06.41\00:49:08.37
No, there's no other
way and you know what?
00:49:08.40\00:49:10.58
When he went into that prison,
00:49:10.61\00:49:12.41
devil said I've
got the strong hold,
00:49:12.44\00:49:14.04
I've got the
bad people in here--
00:49:14.07\00:49:15.44
the strong holds of
Satan was ripped down.
00:49:15.47\00:49:19.26
Maybe--you may be
one that may end up there
00:49:19.29\00:49:22.50
I may be one to--realize
if you are in the hand of God,
00:49:22.53\00:49:25.79
there's a reason
why you're gonna end up,
00:49:25.82\00:49:27.39
where you're gonna end up
if you're follower of Him.
00:49:27.42\00:49:31.26
Oh, two years, strong holds.
00:49:31.29\00:49:36.82
I think we need
to remember this.
00:49:36.85\00:49:41.07
It's not freedom from trial.
00:49:41.10\00:49:45.17
Many people say, "well,
I have freedom from trial."
00:49:45.20\00:49:46.58
Not freedom from trial
but it's in the midst of it
00:49:46.61\00:49:52.11
that the Christian
character is developed.
00:49:52.14\00:49:56.02
Did you get that?
It's not freedom from it.
00:49:56.05\00:49:59.91
But it's in the very midst of it
00:49:59.94\00:50:01.82
that your
character is developed.
00:50:01.85\00:50:05.21
Victory of the Christian
faith-- listen carefully,
00:50:05.24\00:50:09.01
it enables us to
suffer and yet be strong.
00:50:09.04\00:50:14.04
Did you get that point?
00:50:14.07\00:50:16.00
The Christian faith--
victory of the Christian faith
00:50:16.03\00:50:18.42
enables me, enables you,
00:50:18.45\00:50:21.64
as when we're suffering
we can still be strong,
00:50:21.67\00:50:24.72
when we submit and yet
we're still a conqueror.
00:50:24.75\00:50:27.79
You realize that can't happen
except in the cause of Christ?
00:50:27.82\00:50:30.47
To be killed but yet to live.
00:50:30.50\00:50:32.99
To build a cross, yet
to win a crown of glory.
00:50:33.02\00:50:39.01
Only in the Christian
life, what an awesome thought.
00:50:39.04\00:50:46.68
Say God was just about to
bring about even some more
00:50:46.71\00:50:51.24
severe tests to
Luther than he had before,
00:50:51.27\00:50:53.84
they were
really gonna be severe.
00:50:53.87\00:50:55.83
And these pertain to us today.
00:50:55.86\00:50:59.07
I'm talking about it
gets heavy, second part,
00:50:59.10\00:51:01.43
some of you--I don't know
if you gonna want it or not.
00:51:01.46\00:51:04.97
Then I wonder when I read it
sometime, I say God, help me,
00:51:05.00\00:51:08.87
this is the fate of your
people, I cannot do it alone.
00:51:08.90\00:51:13.61
And you'll say, "I cannot do
it alone, oh, God, I need you."
00:51:13.64\00:51:16.09
That's the purpose in it.
00:51:16.12\00:51:18.14
God has a purpose
in all these things.
00:51:18.17\00:51:20.05
He had a purpose for
Luther and a purpose now was
00:51:20.08\00:51:22.34
that he'd be an example
for us here in these last days.
00:51:22.37\00:51:25.65
To say it happened before
and it's going to happen again.
00:51:25.68\00:51:27.76
History has a way of repeating
itself as these severe tests
00:51:27.79\00:51:33.54
were about to be thrown even
more upon Luther as well as us.
00:51:33.57\00:51:39.93
We need to be glad.
00:51:39.96\00:51:41.95
We need to be glad that
this-- we call it the axe,
00:51:41.98\00:51:45.28
we call the hammer and
the chisel of test and trial,
00:51:45.31\00:51:51.82
is in the hands of a
God-- one who is skilled,
00:51:51.85\00:51:56.03
one who is trying to
save us not to destroy us.
00:51:56.06\00:52:00.52
I praise God for that.
00:52:00.55\00:52:03.43
But He's trying to help us
00:52:03.46\00:52:04.83
to work out the
perfection of the soul.
00:52:04.86\00:52:08.62
He's cutting,
chiseling, shaping, molding
00:52:08.65\00:52:13.54
and it's not without pain,
it's not without self denial.
00:52:13.57\00:52:18.82
You see, Roman--Rome was
determined to kill Luther,
00:52:18.85\00:52:21.92
just have few
minutes left, listen,
00:52:21.95\00:52:23.36
Rome was
determined to kill Luther
00:52:23.39\00:52:25.20
just like the Bible predicts
in the last days of those
00:52:25.23\00:52:27.61
who keep the commandments.
00:52:27.64\00:52:29.66
After all he
just posted his things
00:52:29.69\00:52:31.23
as you remember
on the church door.
00:52:31.26\00:52:34.16
And so he brought
the battle to the church.
00:52:34.19\00:52:37.45
And the church didn't want it.
00:52:37.48\00:52:41.53
And many, many after reading,
00:52:41.56\00:52:43.39
hearing him
speak, you know what?
00:52:43.42\00:52:46.15
They didn't attend
services anymore there.
00:52:46.18\00:52:49.58
They didn't attend
the festivals anymore.
00:52:49.61\00:52:52.33
Luther's church begin to see--
00:52:52.36\00:52:53.93
less and less people
were coming to services.
00:52:53.96\00:52:56.41
There's less and
less tithes and offerings.
00:52:56.44\00:52:58.34
They were going
down. They were red flags.
00:52:58.37\00:53:00.37
And they're gonna
challenge this man.
00:53:00.40\00:53:05.39
It might sound familiar.
00:53:05.42\00:53:09.76
Because of beautiful teachings
that God was giving Luther,
00:53:09.79\00:53:13.57
there was many
then who wanted to come
00:53:13.60\00:53:15.17
to church to hear the truth.
00:53:15.20\00:53:17.13
They wanted to
hear the word of God.
00:53:17.16\00:53:21.06
They now wanted to go to
school to be taught about God,
00:53:21.09\00:53:24.81
to learn these beautiful truths
00:53:24.84\00:53:29.47
which so fit for
God's last day people.
00:53:29.50\00:53:34.41
Friend, we need to pray about
this before we close today.
00:53:34.44\00:53:37.39
And this is the first
part, second part is--
00:53:37.42\00:53:39.15
oh, it's heavy, God help us.
00:53:39.18\00:53:42.61
We'll see how really it pointed
the God's last day people,
00:53:42.64\00:53:45.75
we're gonna pray
that God gives us to say,
00:53:45.78\00:53:48.15
"Here I stand, I
can't do anything else."
00:53:48.18\00:53:50.72
Yet, you may be
faced with Christ,
00:53:50.75\00:53:52.53
as you may be
faced with situation
00:53:52.56\00:53:53.93
that you need to give
your heat to Jesus, why not?
00:53:53.96\00:53:57.10
You know it's the
truth, just stand for it.
00:53:57.13\00:53:58.87
Let's pray about it
right now. Shall we?
00:53:58.90\00:54:00.83
That you give your life to Him
and you'll be able to stand for
00:54:00.86\00:54:03.01
what you know is truth,
even though it all maybe
00:54:03.04\00:54:04.98
different than the
world but how about kneeling
00:54:05.01\00:54:06.49
with him where you
can, let's pray together.
00:54:06.52\00:54:08.72
Merciful Father in Heaven,
00:54:08.75\00:54:10.12
we thank You for
Your precious word.
00:54:10.15\00:54:12.37
We thank You for the examples
that You've given to us,
00:54:12.40\00:54:14.20
help us to follow them.
00:54:14.23\00:54:15.70
Oh, Lord, we pray as we
just grasp all these truths
00:54:15.73\00:54:19.20
and we just chew them
up and we swallow them,
00:54:19.23\00:54:20.93
they become part of
us, we can just simply say,
00:54:20.96\00:54:22.76
Lord, Here I Stand, I
can't do anything else.
00:54:22.79\00:54:25.02
I want to follow you
regardless of the cost.
00:54:25.05\00:54:27.60
Bless now, I
pray, those who've made
00:54:27.63\00:54:29.00
that decision for You right now.
00:54:29.03\00:54:30.40
In Jesus name, we pray
and for His sake. Amen.
00:54:30.43\00:54:35.62
No one said it's
going to be easy.
00:54:35.65\00:54:38.31
No one's gonna tell
you oh, that's going-
00:54:38.34\00:54:40.15
oh,
everything's gonna be simple.
00:54:40.18\00:54:42.69
But you know, we're all
going to be tested in trial,
00:54:42.72\00:54:44.87
we're all going to be see, what
we're--what we're made out of.
00:54:44.90\00:54:47.25
We love Jesus with all our
heart, our soul, and our mind.
00:54:47.28\00:54:50.64
Are we willing to stand
for truth or we gonna fall
00:54:50.67\00:54:53.68
because our friends
and because of the world
00:54:53.71\00:54:55.82
is crowding in
around us and through us
00:54:55.85\00:54:57.34
and we just don't-we'd rather
have the love of the world
00:54:57.37\00:54:59.46
than we have the
love of the Master?
00:54:59.49\00:55:03.38
Are you willing
to give your life
00:55:03.41\00:55:04.78
for the truth of God's word?
00:55:04.81\00:55:06.76
Friend, I pray
that you do today.
00:55:06.79\00:55:08.21
I want to just tell
you quickly as we close,
00:55:08.24\00:55:10.20
you know, we love you and
we love coming into your home
00:55:10.23\00:55:12.56
and dare to
dream in 3ABN channels
00:55:12.59\00:55:16.18
and radio and
so on and so forth.
00:55:16.21\00:55:17.72
But you know, the
only way we can continue
00:55:17.75\00:55:20.16
to do that is
through your love offering,
00:55:20.19\00:55:21.96
so continue to send those
to us and your prayer requests,
00:55:21.99\00:55:24.93
we look forward
seeing you next time.
00:55:24.96\00:55:30.58
Welcome back, friends.
00:55:30.61\00:55:32.62
It has often been
said we had nothing to fear
00:55:32.65\00:55:36.03
the future unless we forget
how God has led us in the past.
00:55:36.06\00:55:40.81
How true this statement
is when applied to the life
00:55:40.84\00:55:43.95
in troublest times
in Martin Luther's day
00:55:43.98\00:55:46.91
and as compared to our
time and prophetic future.
00:55:46.94\00:55:50.88
To hold on to moral absolutes
as shown by the mass media,
00:55:50.91\00:55:55.67
especially as talked
through the Scriptures,
00:55:55.70\00:55:58.07
right has become wrong and wrong
00:55:58.10\00:56:00.49
has become right
in the hearts of many.
00:56:00.52\00:56:03.07
It is easy to become discourage
and to feel there is no hope.
00:56:03.10\00:56:06.95
But always, always go back
to God's word and remember,
00:56:06.98\00:56:11.08
He said He will have the
people who will stand firm
00:56:11.11\00:56:15.25
through all the winds of strife
00:56:15.28\00:56:17.40
and spiritual confusion
just as did Martin Luther.
00:56:17.43\00:56:22.34
Therefore, friends,
you have a choice to make.
00:56:22.37\00:56:25.46
Do you follow the sway
of popularity in this world
00:56:25.49\00:56:29.10
or do you say to God, to your
friends and to your loved ones,
00:56:29.13\00:56:33.39
Here I Stand, I
can do no other than
00:56:33.42\00:56:36.37
to follow the
teachings of God's holy word.
00:56:36.40\00:56:39.48
God, help me.
00:56:39.51\00:56:41.37
We pray that this as
well as the second message
00:56:41.40\00:56:44.54
in this series will
be blessed in heaven
00:56:44.57\00:56:47.20
to enable you to make
that decision for Christ.
00:56:47.23\00:56:50.45
It may be a
decision that you've been
00:56:50.48\00:56:52.34
hesitating to
make perhaps for years.
00:56:52.37\00:56:55.15
But, friend, remember that
today is the day of salvation.
00:56:55.18\00:56:59.11
Don't put off
what the Holy Spirit
00:56:59.14\00:57:01.28
is impressing
upon your heart today.
00:57:01.31\00:57:04.62
Make a total and
complete surrender to God
00:57:04.65\00:57:07.62
to follow Him through
His word for tomorrow,
00:57:07.65\00:57:10.96
listen, for
tomorrow may never come.
00:57:10.99\00:57:15.25
And to continue to
strengthen you in this decision,
00:57:15.28\00:57:18.49
we are offering this
two part series entitled
00:57:18.52\00:57:21.46
"Here I Stand" for a
love gift at just $15 or more.
00:57:21.49\00:57:26.71
All you need to do is to call
us here in the United States
00:57:26.74\00:57:30.58
at area code 618-942-5044.
00:57:30.61\00:57:35.75
That's Central Standard Time
00:57:35.78\00:57:37.54
or write us here at
Behold the Lamb Ministries,
00:57:37.57\00:57:40.55
PO Box 2030,
Herrin, Illinois, 62948.
00:57:40.58\00:57:45.77
You may email us at behold-
thelambministries@yahoo.com
00:57:45.80\00:57:50.35
or visit our website at
beholdthelambministries.com
00:57:50.38\00:57:55.58
Until next time, friends,
00:57:55.61\00:57:57.19
may our precious Lord continue
to richly bless you and yours.
00:57:57.22\00:58:02.52