Hello and welcome once again
to Behold the Lamb Presents.
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I'm Chris Shelton, your host.
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I want to thank you
for joining us again today.
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Today's message is
entitled Unfit For Service.
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How we often forget
that the God of heaven,
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the creator of the universe,
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the savior of our
souls is a sin-hating God,
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a God who
exercises divine justice,
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and calls upon all to repent
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and to turn away
from their evil ways.
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Yet many of us have
sadly turned a deaf ear
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from God's solemn
warnings of reproof.
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We sadly failed to realize
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the importance of
raising our children
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in the admonition of the
Lord even at a very young age,
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and perhaps even worse,
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overlook their sins
and allow them to lead out
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in responsible
positions in the church
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without trying to help them
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correct the
errors of their ways.
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Just as in the
days of priestly lie,
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the blessing and
protection of the Lord
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was sadly taken away,
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as symbolized by the Philistines
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taking the Ark of the
Covenant out of Shiloh
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while leaving death and
destruction in their path.
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Thus Shiloh was left
desolate from the grace,
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the honor, and the protection
of the Lord that they once had.
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Unless we learn
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from the mistakes
of others in the past,
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we will repeat the same
events in our lives today,
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for God is the same
yesterday, today, and forever.
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So please join
Pastor Kenny Shelton
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as he shares
this God-given message
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Unfit For Service.
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But first, let's listen
to Sister Yvonne Shelton
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as she sings Solid
Rock from the 3ABN studio.
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On Christ the solid Rock
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I stand
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All other ground
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Is sinking sand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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My hope is built on nothing less
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Than Jesus' blood
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And righteousness
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I dare not trust
the sweetest frame
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But wholly lean on Jesus' name
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On Christ the solid Rock I stand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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When darkness
veils His lovely face
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I rest on His unchanging
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Grace
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In every high and stormy gale
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My anchor holds within the veil
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On Christ the solid Rock I stand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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His oath, His
covenant, His blood,
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His blood
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Heals me
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He then is all my hope and stay
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When He shall come
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With trumpet sound
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Oh, may I then in Him be found
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Rest in His righteousness alone
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Faultless to stand
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before His throne
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All other ground is sinking sand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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On Christ the solid Rock I stand
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On Christ the solid Rock I stand
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All other ground is sinking sand
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On Christ the solid Rock
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I stand
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Thank you for
joining us once again here
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at Behold the Lamb Ministries.
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Again, our heartfelt thanks
for each and every one of you
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who view the programs who have,
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you know, comments and questions
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and you send
for things and books
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and so on and prayer requests.
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And thank you for your
support of the ministry
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that helps get this
message around the world.
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Couldn't do it
without you, thank you.
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Now we realize the Holy Spirit's
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behind all of it,
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but thank you that
you're willing to be used
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of God.
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And again, if you have things
that we can help you with,
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you know, feel free to
call the ministry at any time.
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We will do what we can do,
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to make sure
that you are equipped
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to go into all the world
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and to preach the
gospel in your own way.
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Thank you again.
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Today's message is
going to be one that
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I think there's a
lot of information
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we want to cover
as quickly as we can.
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I invite you to get your
Bible or even pencil and paper
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and things out so
that you can jot them down.
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I would love to spend
time reading every passage,
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you know, but sometimes
you just can hardly do that
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because of the time issue.
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And so jot them down
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because I want
you because the Bible,
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you know, the Bible
said we need to study
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to show ourselves approved
unto God, isn't that right?
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And so we need
to try the spirits
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to see whether
these things be so
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because many who
are in the pulpits today
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should find
themself another job.
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Is that okay to say that?
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They shouldn't be in the pulpit.
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They shouldn't be
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because they're not preaching
the truth of God's Word.
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If it's not the
truth of God's Word,
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it's a lie of the devil.
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I just have to
get that off my chest.
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I hope it's all right with you.
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We're going to talk
about Unfit For Service today.
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We've already agreed that
we want to be fit for service.
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And I'm going to pray
right now before we start
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because I think
this is so important.
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It has to do with our home,
it has to do with the decisions
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that we make and our influence.
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So by the grace of God,
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we want to have
the right influence,
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we want to have the right...
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Be able to contact people and be
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what God would have us to be.
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So would you just,
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where you can
maybe you just want to,
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you can just close your
eyes or you can pray with me
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or maybe you're driving
down the road right now,
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you're listening to a
CD or home DVD, whatever.
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You can't do it, but
I'm going to kneel up here
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and just have a prayer.
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Let's pray.
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Loving Father in
heaven, we thank You
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for the promise of
sending the Holy Spirit.
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Lord, we are in need today.
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We know we can't even
focus on the Scripture.
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We can't understand Scripture
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unless we ask for the
abidance of the Holy Spirit.
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Abide in our hearts
and our minds right now.
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Open them up we
pray, take all the junk
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that so easily beset us
this week, throw it outside,
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and may we just concentrate
upon heaven and heavenly things
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and how we may be
better witnesses for thee
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and that we might
be fit for service
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instead of unfit,
in Jesus' name, amen.
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You have your
Bible, turn with me.
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We want to read our scripture
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which is found in
1 Samuel Chapter 3,
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there's about four verses
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I think that are
just really heavy-duty,
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and please hang
on to every word.
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It's very important that
we look at all these words
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because some of these things
that we will read right here
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really deal with us today.
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Starting with verse 11, 1
Samuel 3:11, the Bible says,
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"And the Lord said to Samuel,
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Behold, I will
do a thing," where?
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"In Israel concerning," what?
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"His house."
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Notice this, "When I
begin, I will also make an end."
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Listen, when God says
he's going to begin something
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and he says, I'm
going to make an end,
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we better pay attention.
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There's something here,
it's very interesting here.
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Now notice what
he says, "In that day
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that I will perform
against Eli," verse 12,
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"all things which I have
spoken of concerning his house."
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Again, when I
begin, I will make what?
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An end.
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We're talking about in verse 11,
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talking about the
ears tingling, praise God.
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Our ears need to
tingle today, do they not?
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Absolutely, verse
13, "For I have told him
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that I will
judge the house forever
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for the iniquity
which he knoweth,"
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keep that in mind,
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"because his sons made
them serve," what's it?
00:10:03.30\00:10:06.40
"Themselves vile, and
he restrained them not."
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Therefore, I have
sworn into the house of Eli,
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that the iniquity of Eli's house
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shall not be
purged with sacrifice
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nor offering forever."
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Eli was a high
priest, was he not?
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And usually, when
something went wrong
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the high priests could,
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you know, could
ask that God's blessing
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and forgiveness
would accompany a sacrifice
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and things would be forgiven.
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But because Eli
knew what was going on,
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because he
should have done things
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a little different
made different decisions.
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God said, not
even the high priest
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is going to be able
to make a sacrifice here
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or an offering because
God would not hear Him.
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Today, God's
people's ears need to tingle,
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and that verse 11 talks about,
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because he said, I'm
going to do that thing.
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What is that thing?
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Because I want you to
think with me for a moment.
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Have you ever wondered
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how important that
your influence is to others
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and maybe just one decision
that you made the impact
00:11:08.00\00:11:12.30
that it could have on
countless other people.
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This is heavy-duty
because we are Christians
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and Christian
means you're Christ-like.
00:11:18.44\00:11:20.61
We are to represent Him
in all that we say and do.
00:11:20.64\00:11:26.01
A high priest
became unfit for service.
00:11:26.05\00:11:30.52
I don't know what
you could go any higher
00:11:30.55\00:11:32.32
as it were in Israel
than the high priest.
00:11:32.35\00:11:35.92
And when those at
the top are unfit,
00:11:35.96\00:11:38.69
the people become unfit.
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The children become
unfit, our family becomes unfit.
00:11:41.73\00:11:46.60
Because of this, I'm
gonna say one decision.
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Look what it cost.
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In one day,
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because of this
one man's decision...
00:11:56.18\00:11:58.11
30,000 people were killed.
00:12:02.85\00:12:07.22
In our area in
Carbondale is what?
00:12:07.26\00:12:08.89
Twenty five thousand,
twenty six thousand people
00:12:08.92\00:12:11.03
more than the
people in Carbondale alone.
00:12:11.06\00:12:15.23
What caused the Holy
Spirit to be withdrawn
00:12:15.26\00:12:19.33
from the sanctuary
service or the church service?
00:12:19.37\00:12:23.17
If you knew the Holy
Spirit is not present here,
00:12:23.20\00:12:25.27
why would you come?
00:12:25.31\00:12:27.51
Why would you want to come?
00:12:27.54\00:12:29.74
But because of one man
and decision that he made,
00:12:29.78\00:12:33.58
30,000 were killed,
00:12:33.62\00:12:34.95
the Holy Spirit was withdrawn,
00:12:34.98\00:12:38.09
and God no longer talked to him.
00:12:38.12\00:12:40.26
So what really caused
the death of the high priest
00:12:45.03\00:12:48.36
and two of the priests
00:12:48.40\00:12:51.10
that were doing
service every day?
00:12:51.13\00:12:55.00
Because of this
man's influence, and his,
00:12:55.04\00:12:58.24
we call it sin,
his decision, the ark,
00:12:58.27\00:13:02.38
which contained
the Ten Commandments
00:13:02.41\00:13:04.05
of God, right?
00:13:04.08\00:13:05.41
Which was in its
place for over 300 years,
00:13:05.45\00:13:07.62
God allowed it to be
taken by the Philistines.
00:13:07.65\00:13:12.65
That broke many hearts.
00:13:12.69\00:13:14.46
What caused God
to be dishonored?
00:13:17.49\00:13:19.53
He was dishonored
00:13:19.56\00:13:20.90
because this man
made one wrong decision
00:13:20.93\00:13:23.13
and we'll just leave it
at that, one wrong decision.
00:13:23.16\00:13:27.34
What stopped many people
00:13:27.37\00:13:28.74
from going to
religious services,
00:13:28.77\00:13:31.24
because of the
choice that he made,
00:13:31.27\00:13:32.94
they stopped going to church.
00:13:32.97\00:13:34.74
There's a lot people
stopped going to church today
00:13:34.78\00:13:36.31
because they don't
like somebody there
00:13:36.34\00:13:37.71
or they're having
difficulties with it,
00:13:37.75\00:13:39.41
or they don't like the pastor,
00:13:39.45\00:13:40.78
they don't like the
messages, whatever it might be.
00:13:40.82\00:13:43.75
But here people
stopped going to church
00:13:43.79\00:13:45.35
because they found no confidence
00:13:45.39\00:13:48.62
in the sanctuary services
and those who were leading out.
00:13:48.66\00:13:53.40
The truth was
brought under reproach.
00:13:53.43\00:13:57.03
We're talking about
because the man-made,
00:13:57.07\00:13:58.80
we talk about
one wrong decision.
00:13:58.83\00:14:02.54
There were
thousands that were influenced
00:14:02.57\00:14:05.34
to do wrong by a
decision that he made,
00:14:05.37\00:14:09.24
literally
thousands maybe not so,
00:14:09.28\00:14:11.75
maybe with you, but maybe so.
00:14:11.78\00:14:14.35
But I know those in leadership,
00:14:14.38\00:14:15.72
oh, my, they're
more responsible to God.
00:14:15.75\00:14:18.72
They're more accountable to God.
00:14:18.75\00:14:21.42
The Lord said to Samuel,
00:14:21.46\00:14:23.83
I'm going to do
a thing in Israel.
00:14:23.86\00:14:27.23
We know Eli was a high priest,
he was a judge of Israel.
00:14:27.26\00:14:31.07
We know that he was
a man chosen of God.
00:14:31.10\00:14:33.23
So why did it end
up the way it ended up?
00:14:33.27\00:14:36.57
He was to perform sacred duties.
00:14:36.60\00:14:39.97
Remember, God chose him.
00:14:40.01\00:14:42.11
He was to be an example.
00:14:42.14\00:14:43.91
He was to be a good
influence on the tribe of Israel
00:14:43.95\00:14:47.68
and all the surrounding nations.
00:14:47.72\00:14:51.32
But something fell apart.
00:14:51.35\00:14:55.09
What made this man of God unfit?
00:14:55.12\00:15:01.10
Of course, his two
sons unfit for service.
00:15:01.13\00:15:05.23
Again, Eli was appointed
00:15:05.27\00:15:06.90
to govern the
people to lead them.
00:15:06.94\00:15:10.71
But interesting, how
could he rule a nation?
00:15:10.74\00:15:14.44
How could he rule a
people and govern Israel,
00:15:14.48\00:15:17.81
and yet did not rule
his own household well?
00:15:17.85\00:15:22.85
Interesting.
00:15:22.88\00:15:24.22
Bible says that
he's talking about
00:15:24.25\00:15:25.65
the duties of deacons
or elders in the church.
00:15:25.69\00:15:29.69
1 Timothy 3:4 brings this out.
00:15:29.72\00:15:32.59
"One that ruleth his own house,
00:15:32.63\00:15:36.26
having his
children in subjection
00:15:36.30\00:15:39.63
with all gravity,"
or honorable children,
00:15:39.67\00:15:45.24
honest children.
00:15:45.27\00:15:47.68
So if you can't rule as it were
00:15:47.71\00:15:50.38
your own personal house,
00:15:50.41\00:15:51.91
how are you going to rule
or govern the house of God?
00:15:51.95\00:15:56.02
And sometimes we
never look at that
00:15:56.05\00:15:57.42
when we are in,
00:15:57.45\00:15:58.79
you know, calling for while
00:15:58.82\00:16:00.16
we're going to elect
officers for the year,
00:16:00.19\00:16:01.72
we just appoint somebody
00:16:01.76\00:16:03.09
because we can't
get maybe somebody
00:16:03.12\00:16:04.76
and we just
choose anyone to do it.
00:16:04.79\00:16:07.00
Regardless, should we
not look at the Word of God?
00:16:07.03\00:16:10.17
I think we should.
00:16:10.20\00:16:12.57
Here's a man that knew
00:16:12.60\00:16:13.94
how to raise his children.
00:16:13.97\00:16:19.27
He knew what he should be
doing in the service of God.
00:16:19.31\00:16:23.75
What happened?
00:16:23.78\00:16:25.35
Well, Eli was
like many of us today.
00:16:25.38\00:16:28.68
My brother said many
years ago, the older I get,
00:16:28.72\00:16:30.69
he said, I just
like peace and quiet.
00:16:30.72\00:16:35.09
We live in a world
00:16:35.12\00:16:36.46
where that's kind
of difficult, isn't it?
00:16:36.49\00:16:37.83
We just like peace and quiet.
00:16:37.86\00:16:39.49
Eli, the high priest
liked peace and quiet.
00:16:39.53\00:16:42.80
He didn't like trouble.
00:16:42.83\00:16:44.53
He didn't like
confrontation, he wanted ease.
00:16:44.57\00:16:48.64
And therefore, he
would not try to correct
00:16:48.67\00:16:52.07
the evil that was around him.
00:16:52.11\00:16:55.04
Why would God choose him?
00:16:55.08\00:16:58.25
God must have seen something
that maybe we are not seeing,
00:16:58.28\00:17:02.78
but he didn't want
to correct the evil.
00:17:02.82\00:17:06.82
He realized that
if he told his sons,
00:17:06.86\00:17:09.72
for instance, something
that he wanted them to do
00:17:09.76\00:17:11.73
if they didn't want to do it,
00:17:11.76\00:17:13.09
they would cause trouble.
00:17:13.13\00:17:14.46
And he may have to correct them,
00:17:14.50\00:17:15.83
they're gonna rebel.
00:17:15.86\00:17:17.27
And he would
have to punish them.
00:17:17.30\00:17:19.23
He didn't want to.
00:17:19.27\00:17:21.87
And so he decided to
most generally to give them
00:17:21.90\00:17:24.57
whatever they wanted.
00:17:24.61\00:17:28.48
Patriarchs and
Prophets, page 575 says this,
00:17:28.51\00:17:32.38
"Eli shrank from his duty
00:17:32.41\00:17:34.35
because it involved
crossing the will of his sons,
00:17:34.38\00:17:38.25
and would make it necessary
to punish and deny them."
00:17:38.29\00:17:41.52
So what did he do?
00:17:41.56\00:17:42.96
He just let them go.
00:17:42.99\00:17:44.69
Trying to push out of
his mind the consequences
00:17:44.73\00:17:47.40
that would fall.
00:17:47.43\00:17:48.76
We mentioned some
of the consequences,
00:17:48.80\00:17:50.17
did we not at
the beginning here?
00:17:50.20\00:17:52.33
Because Eli didn't do it.
00:17:52.37\00:17:53.70
We can't just say,
oh, we blame the children.
00:17:53.74\00:17:55.74
Children are
really not to blame.
00:17:55.77\00:17:57.11
It's us as mom and dad.
00:17:57.14\00:18:00.01
Eli knew there
would be consequences
00:18:03.61\00:18:06.05
if he didn't raise them in
the admonition of the Lord,
00:18:06.08\00:18:08.42
but yet he didn't want
to be bothered with them,
00:18:08.45\00:18:10.89
he didn't want
to have to correct.
00:18:10.92\00:18:13.25
And so Eli then
allowed his children
00:18:13.29\00:18:15.59
to control him.
00:18:15.62\00:18:17.39
Remember, we're not
talking about the children
00:18:17.43\00:18:18.76
and they're at fault.
00:18:18.79\00:18:20.13
We as adults are at fault.
00:18:20.16\00:18:23.97
Eli was at fault,
00:18:24.00\00:18:25.50
the children, right,
they were controlling him.
00:18:25.53\00:18:28.20
Dad became
subject to the children.
00:18:28.24\00:18:31.81
Have you ever heard that?
00:18:31.84\00:18:33.17
Have you ever seen that?
00:18:33.21\00:18:34.54
You see it in
public an awful lot.
00:18:34.58\00:18:35.91
The children tell
parents what they're to do
00:18:35.94\00:18:37.71
and when they're to do it.
00:18:37.75\00:18:39.48
They get ready to go, and
say, I'm ready to go, Mom,
00:18:39.51\00:18:41.42
we don't care where
you are now, let's go.
00:18:41.45\00:18:45.45
But along with
transgression comes a curse.
00:18:45.49\00:18:48.82
Now, remember, let's
apply this to ourselves.
00:18:48.86\00:18:51.29
When we
transgress we know better
00:18:51.33\00:18:53.53
and we go ahead
and do something.
00:18:53.56\00:18:55.26
There's a curse
that follows along
00:18:55.30\00:18:58.80
every time.
00:18:58.83\00:19:01.57
Now you say, well,
how do we know that?
00:19:01.60\00:19:03.71
All you have to do is
follow in the Word of God
00:19:03.74\00:19:06.17
the lives of these two sons.
00:19:06.21\00:19:09.34
And you'll see
how many bad decisions
00:19:09.38\00:19:11.78
they made.
00:19:11.81\00:19:13.15
Their evil choices,
how they hurt other people,
00:19:13.18\00:19:17.62
how they took advantage
of the office of priest.
00:19:17.65\00:19:21.49
Four Testimonies,
651 said Eli was cursed.
00:19:21.52\00:19:26.23
The high priest was what?
00:19:26.26\00:19:28.03
"He was cursed by God."
00:19:28.06\00:19:29.50
Notice this,
"Because he did not promptly
00:19:29.53\00:19:32.03
and decidedly
restrain his wicked sons."
00:19:32.07\00:19:37.24
Interesting. Now,
you don't want that.
00:19:37.27\00:19:38.81
I don't want that.
00:19:38.84\00:19:40.44
But God is the same yesterday,
today, and forever, is He not?
00:19:40.48\00:19:43.24
And that will happen today.
00:19:43.28\00:19:46.15
There'll be a
curse that we're resting
00:19:46.18\00:19:47.68
upon the parents who does not,
00:19:47.72\00:19:49.55
notice this, promptly
and decidedly restrain
00:19:49.58\00:19:53.46
that which is wrong.
00:19:53.49\00:19:56.22
You might like easy
times, the Bible said
00:19:56.26\00:20:00.60
there in Amos
6:1 is interesting.
00:20:00.63\00:20:02.70
It says, "Woe to them
that are at ease in Zion."
00:20:02.73\00:20:07.37
Woe to them that what?
00:20:07.40\00:20:08.80
I kind of like to ease
myself, I don't like trouble,
00:20:08.84\00:20:10.87
and I don't like confrontation.
00:20:10.91\00:20:14.08
I don't like to
back away from it either.
00:20:14.11\00:20:17.85
It's going to
come but notice to them
00:20:17.88\00:20:19.88
that there's a
woe for those who,
00:20:19.91\00:20:21.82
you notice that,
that are at ease in Zion.
00:20:21.85\00:20:24.22
Ease here, means that
someone who's in the state
00:20:24.25\00:20:27.66
of self-indulgence
00:20:27.69\00:20:32.23
or basically don't
worry about anything.
00:20:32.26\00:20:33.93
It's all okay.
00:20:33.96\00:20:35.30
We're not gonna
try to change anything.
00:20:35.33\00:20:36.97
It's a dangerous
condition to be in.
00:20:37.00\00:20:40.30
Very dangerous.
00:20:40.34\00:20:41.67
Now, remember, dangerous why?
00:20:41.70\00:20:43.24
Do you remember
what we just said?
00:20:43.27\00:20:44.61
Because Eli didn't do
his job, 30,000 people,
00:20:44.64\00:20:47.78
just talking
about one battle here,
00:20:47.81\00:20:49.38
30,000 lives were lost
right then that one day.
00:20:49.41\00:20:54.52
And we go deeper
with not only that,
00:20:54.55\00:20:56.15
but the priest Eli
died, and his two sons died.
00:20:56.18\00:21:00.86
I think was
Phineas, his daughter,
00:21:00.89\00:21:03.36
when he heard
news about the battle
00:21:03.39\00:21:04.73
and the ark was
taken away, right?
00:21:04.76\00:21:06.73
She was pregnant,
giving birth to a son,
00:21:06.76\00:21:08.66
and she died.
00:21:08.70\00:21:11.23
And the son's name was Ichabod,
00:21:11.27\00:21:12.70
the glory of the
Lord has departed.
00:21:12.73\00:21:14.97
We don't want the
glory of the Lord to depart
00:21:15.00\00:21:16.87
from this group
or any other group.
00:21:16.91\00:21:20.58
This is
something we should fear.
00:21:20.61\00:21:23.61
What was it that really
what the Bible says here
00:21:23.65\00:21:26.21
in case we don't have time
to go through all of it here,
00:21:26.25\00:21:28.38
that let's per Se,
Phineas' wife, why she died?
00:21:28.42\00:21:32.45
First of all, he
said, when she heard...
00:21:32.49\00:21:35.02
Now she already heard
that her husband had died.
00:21:35.06\00:21:37.36
She had already heard that
00:21:37.39\00:21:38.73
her father-in-law had just died.
00:21:38.76\00:21:41.96
But she, the Bible says
00:21:42.00\00:21:43.33
when she heard that the
ark was taken, she died.
00:21:43.37\00:21:48.90
When Eli, the high priest,
00:21:48.94\00:21:51.64
he knew his two
sons were going to die.
00:21:51.67\00:21:54.68
Because he was told and
warned in advance by God,
00:21:54.71\00:21:57.81
if you don't straighten
it up, you're going to die.
00:21:57.85\00:22:01.02
They're going to die.
00:22:01.05\00:22:02.72
He would not listen
00:22:02.75\00:22:04.09
God gave him
years to get it right.
00:22:04.12\00:22:08.52
But when Eli heard it,
00:22:08.56\00:22:09.89
he heard these
two sons that died,
00:22:09.92\00:22:11.26
he was still okay.
00:22:11.29\00:22:12.63
But when he heard that the ark
00:22:12.66\00:22:14.00
had been taken
by the Philistines,
00:22:14.03\00:22:15.36
what happened?
00:22:15.40\00:22:16.73
He fell over, he
broke his neck and he died.
00:22:16.77\00:22:19.63
Interesting, the
people were so concerned
00:22:19.67\00:22:22.24
about the ark or the
Ten Commandments of God,
00:22:22.27\00:22:24.81
which most people today
are not concerned about.
00:22:24.84\00:22:27.41
Well, they're done away with,
00:22:27.44\00:22:28.78
you don't have
to worry about it.
00:22:28.81\00:22:30.15
Really?
00:22:30.18\00:22:32.28
Eli and his sons had
a greater responsibility
00:22:32.31\00:22:36.18
than we call the average Joe.
00:22:36.22\00:22:38.69
Why?
00:22:38.72\00:22:40.06
Because they knew.
00:22:40.09\00:22:41.66
Interesting.
00:22:41.69\00:22:43.02
What does the Bible
tell us in James 4:17?
00:22:43.06\00:22:45.69
Think with me for a moment.
00:22:45.73\00:22:47.06
The Bible says, "To him that
00:22:47.10\00:22:49.56
knoweth to do
good and doeth it not,
00:22:49.60\00:22:53.57
to him it is sin.
00:22:53.60\00:22:56.44
We don't look
around, say what do you know?
00:22:56.47\00:22:58.17
And what does he
know whether if you know
00:22:58.21\00:23:02.18
to him that know of to do
good, and you don't do it?
00:23:02.21\00:23:05.41
To Him it is sin.
00:23:05.45\00:23:09.32
They lacked good,
moral, spiritual conduct.
00:23:09.35\00:23:14.06
They had wrong beliefs
00:23:14.09\00:23:15.59
because they were not corrected,
00:23:15.62\00:23:17.56
and it costs Israel, many died.
00:23:17.59\00:23:22.06
And the Holy
Spirit of the living God
00:23:22.10\00:23:23.67
was withdrawn.
00:23:23.70\00:23:25.03
And listen, God still
operates the same today.
00:23:25.07\00:23:29.60
God doesn't cover
up sin in the church,
00:23:29.64\00:23:32.04
He holds the church
responsible for open sin.
00:23:32.07\00:23:35.64
You know that, I know that.
00:23:35.68\00:23:37.51
God frowns upon it.
00:23:37.55\00:23:39.81
He can't bless, He can't do
00:23:39.85\00:23:41.48
what He wants to
do for the people.
00:23:41.52\00:23:43.92
We need the
Spirit of the Living God.
00:23:43.95\00:23:48.82
We can find this out.
00:23:48.86\00:23:50.19
We find one wrong
course in one generation.
00:23:50.23\00:23:54.16
Take one
generation, one wrong course
00:23:54.20\00:23:56.63
becomes an acceptable
standard for the next.
00:23:56.67\00:24:01.14
What does that mean?
00:24:01.17\00:24:04.17
If we're not
living up to the light
00:24:04.21\00:24:06.07
that God has given to us,
00:24:06.11\00:24:07.68
is that right y'all, the
next generation sees that,
00:24:07.71\00:24:10.35
your children see
how you're living.
00:24:10.38\00:24:12.65
And they always
will never try to match
00:24:12.68\00:24:15.38
most generally never match
00:24:15.42\00:24:16.85
what by the grace of
God where you have climbed,
00:24:16.89\00:24:18.92
they want a little bit
lower, and it gets lower.
00:24:18.95\00:24:24.49
So the generation did what?
00:24:24.53\00:24:25.86
Mom and dad look and they become
00:24:25.89\00:24:27.23
acceptable standards
for the next and usually,
00:24:27.26\00:24:29.70
it goes down, they fail
to live up to the light.
00:24:29.73\00:24:34.64
Only worse.
00:24:34.67\00:24:38.37
God has commanded us
to listen to His Word.
00:24:38.41\00:24:42.14
If not, the Bible is very plain,
00:24:42.18\00:24:44.88
He's going to
hold us accountable.
00:24:44.91\00:24:47.32
He's going to hold those
00:24:47.35\00:24:48.68
who are in responsible positions
00:24:48.72\00:24:50.29
accountable.
00:24:50.32\00:24:53.72
God charged Eli,
think about this.
00:24:53.76\00:24:57.09
God charged Eli
00:24:57.13\00:24:59.29
with honoring
hymns his sons above him.
00:24:59.33\00:25:02.76
What does the
Bible say about that?
00:25:02.80\00:25:04.13
In Exodus 20:3...
00:25:04.17\00:25:05.50
"Thou shalt have no
other gods before Me?"
00:25:08.60\00:25:12.41
And He looked at
Eli, He said Eli,
00:25:12.44\00:25:13.78
you know, he's a high priest,
00:25:13.81\00:25:15.14
you know what
you should be doing?
00:25:15.18\00:25:18.11
And you're not doing it.
00:25:18.15\00:25:19.71
Therefore you honor your
sons more than you honor Me.
00:25:19.75\00:25:22.75
Now, is God gonna keep silent?
00:25:22.78\00:25:24.95
Maybe we're doing that
today, maybe you're doing it.
00:25:24.99\00:25:27.92
Maybe I'm doing it,
00:25:27.96\00:25:30.53
that we're honoring
our children or our family
00:25:30.56\00:25:33.60
or we hold them in higher esteem
00:25:33.63\00:25:36.83
than we do God.
00:25:36.87\00:25:39.53
God is
eventually going to step in,
00:25:39.57\00:25:42.17
and He's going to change things.
00:25:42.20\00:25:43.87
It might take a long time.
00:25:43.91\00:25:45.61
See, somebody saying, well,
00:25:45.64\00:25:46.98
why didn't God
step in and stop things
00:25:47.01\00:25:48.34
when He sees this bad?
00:25:48.38\00:25:49.71
He usually gives us
some time as you will know.
00:25:49.74\00:25:53.01
Thou shalt have no
other gods before Me.
00:25:53.05\00:25:55.52
That means
anything, isn't that right?
00:25:55.55\00:25:57.72
Anything that we put before God,
00:25:57.75\00:25:59.59
it can be
anything before God is sin.
00:25:59.62\00:26:03.36
What is sin?
00:26:03.39\00:26:05.09
Bible says, 1
John 3:4, sin is the,
00:26:05.13\00:26:08.73
come on, transgression of what?
00:26:08.76\00:26:10.77
Of God's law.
00:26:10.80\00:26:12.13
Interesting.
00:26:12.17\00:26:13.50
Very few pastors will
quote that, 1 John 3:4,
00:26:13.54\00:26:16.74
"Sin is the
transgression of God's law,"
00:26:16.77\00:26:18.47
because they get up
in the pulpit and say
00:26:18.51\00:26:19.84
God's law is done away with.
00:26:19.87\00:26:21.88
So it's very
difficult to say it's done away,
00:26:21.91\00:26:23.55
witness and say,
oh, what is sins.
00:26:23.58\00:26:24.98
Oh, the only
biblical definition of sin,
00:26:25.01\00:26:27.62
the transgression of God's law.
00:26:27.65\00:26:30.45
Pretty simple, I
think, don't you believe?
00:26:30.49\00:26:34.19
God gave us the Ten Commandments
00:26:34.22\00:26:36.32
to be a wall of
protection around us, right?
00:26:36.36\00:26:40.80
To help us.
00:26:40.83\00:26:42.16
The children of
Israel, remember,
00:26:42.20\00:26:43.53
they had the little ribbon
of blue around their garment,
00:26:43.57\00:26:45.73
you remember that?
00:26:45.77\00:26:47.20
That blue
symbolized the law of God,
00:26:47.24\00:26:49.60
that we every day
every step we take,
00:26:49.64\00:26:51.57
were to walk in the law of God.
00:26:51.61\00:26:54.44
That's a reminder
maybe we need to sew
00:26:54.48\00:26:56.31
something like
that on our garments
00:26:56.34\00:26:58.88
so that we don't
forget who we belong to.
00:26:58.91\00:27:02.68
God gave us a law as principles.
00:27:02.72\00:27:06.25
Principles of
expressing mercy, and goodness,
00:27:06.29\00:27:09.42
and love to one another.
00:27:09.46\00:27:13.06
It presents the character of God
00:27:13.09\00:27:14.66
which we
desperately need to understand.
00:27:14.70\00:27:17.03
And you know what that law
explains the whole duty of man.
00:27:17.07\00:27:21.37
How do we know that?
00:27:21.40\00:27:23.44
We always say because
the Bible says so that's why.
00:27:23.47\00:27:25.41
What is the whole duty of man?
00:27:25.44\00:27:26.84
People will give you
00:27:26.88\00:27:28.21
all this run-around
business all the time,
00:27:28.24\00:27:30.01
but the whole duty of man,
00:27:30.05\00:27:31.65
the Bible tells
you exactly what it is
00:27:31.68\00:27:33.78
in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14,
00:27:33.82\00:27:37.69
which we can't
get away from this.
00:27:37.72\00:27:40.19
Notice
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says,
00:27:40.22\00:27:44.03
what it does, it
sums up this wise man,
00:27:44.06\00:27:47.76
his life, it
tells how he searched.
00:27:47.80\00:27:50.97
You see, some of you
may be going through that
00:27:51.00\00:27:52.47
you're searching for happiness.
00:27:52.50\00:27:54.87
You're searching
for something out there
00:27:54.90\00:27:56.64
in the world.
00:27:56.67\00:27:59.87
You're looking for
something you don't,
00:27:59.91\00:28:01.24
you don't know
if it exists or not,
00:28:01.28\00:28:02.61
but every desire you want,
you want it to be fulfilled.
00:28:02.64\00:28:06.35
Anything, everything
that was available to man,
00:28:06.38\00:28:08.32
this man experienced.
00:28:08.35\00:28:09.72
And he said, let's
hear the whole conclusion.
00:28:12.85\00:28:15.62
I kind of like that.
00:28:15.66\00:28:16.99
I like somebody who
gives me the bottom line,
00:28:17.03\00:28:18.43
how about you?
00:28:18.46\00:28:19.79
Yeah, they'll
runaround just a bit,
00:28:19.83\00:28:21.86
the whole duty of
man, here's the conclusion.
00:28:21.90\00:28:24.30
He says, "Let us
hear the conclusion
00:28:24.33\00:28:26.33
of the whole matter.
00:28:26.37\00:28:28.24
Fear God and do what?
00:28:28.27\00:28:30.67
Keep His commandments:
00:28:30.71\00:28:32.21
for this is the
whole duty of man.
00:28:32.24\00:28:35.14
Now, how can you
add anything to that
00:28:35.18\00:28:36.85
or how can you diminish anything
00:28:36.88\00:28:38.38
from the whole duty of man?
00:28:38.41\00:28:40.12
You can't, you wouldn't want to,
00:28:41.98\00:28:43.52
that's a conclusion of it.
00:28:43.55\00:28:46.76
But then he goes on and
notice in the next verse,
00:28:46.79\00:28:50.46
and he says
something like this, he says,
00:28:50.49\00:28:52.23
"For God shall bring
every work into judgment,
00:28:52.26\00:28:56.06
with every secret thing,
00:28:56.10\00:28:57.50
whether it be good
or whether it be evil."
00:28:57.53\00:29:01.50
We're going to have to meet,
00:29:01.54\00:29:02.87
aren't we, our Creator.
00:29:02.90\00:29:05.54
Every good thing
or every evil thing,
00:29:05.57\00:29:07.68
every secret thing,
whether it be good or evil.
00:29:07.71\00:29:11.51
And then notice,
here we have a man
00:29:11.55\00:29:14.28
when you read about
him, you think, wow.
00:29:14.32\00:29:16.52
Solomon what a man of God.
00:29:16.55\00:29:18.72
But look at
Solomon after he searched,
00:29:18.75\00:29:21.56
and he looked as
it were in the world
00:29:21.59\00:29:23.16
and for worldly things,
00:29:23.19\00:29:24.86
that it shattered his mind.
00:29:24.89\00:29:27.90
He was not the man
that he started out to be.
00:29:27.93\00:29:31.07
Because he put his mind
on other things than God.
00:29:31.10\00:29:33.67
Remember that?
00:29:33.70\00:29:36.17
He ended up with
a shattered body,
00:29:36.20\00:29:38.87
shattered nerves.
00:29:38.91\00:29:40.94
Everything went completely
00:29:40.98\00:29:44.45
because he
turned his back on God.
00:29:44.48\00:29:46.82
It was the result of sin.
00:29:46.85\00:29:49.85
You'll say well, how
do you know the body?
00:29:49.88\00:29:51.25
How do you know?
00:29:51.29\00:29:52.69
You can tell many times
not trying to be judgmental.
00:29:52.72\00:29:55.09
I mean, you can tell sometimes
00:29:55.12\00:29:56.83
some people have
lived a hard life.
00:29:56.86\00:30:00.90
Are you with me?
00:30:00.93\00:30:03.20
Some things they've taken
into their body and stuff,
00:30:03.23\00:30:04.90
you know what I'm talking?
00:30:04.93\00:30:06.27
It shows some
time on, not every time
00:30:06.30\00:30:08.04
but it shows that their
lives been very difficult
00:30:08.07\00:30:11.84
and with Solomon,
00:30:11.87\00:30:13.21
it showed on his face,
00:30:13.24\00:30:15.71
that he had
violated nature's laws,
00:30:15.74\00:30:17.85
God's laws.
00:30:17.88\00:30:20.48
And he lost that
chase for happiness.
00:30:20.52\00:30:25.22
And at the end of his life,
00:30:25.25\00:30:26.59
in case any of you are
still looking for all this,
00:30:26.62\00:30:28.56
there's happiness
out here in the world,
00:30:28.59\00:30:29.99
happiness apart from
God, there cannot be.
00:30:30.03\00:30:34.00
There is no peace,
00:30:34.03\00:30:35.36
the Bible says, My God, to what?
00:30:35.40\00:30:37.20
The wicked, there's no peace.
00:30:37.23\00:30:42.40
And the very end,
here's this wise man,
00:30:42.44\00:30:44.47
here's the
wisest man right there
00:30:44.51\00:30:46.81
in the whole world.
00:30:46.84\00:30:48.18
He seemed to know everything.
00:30:48.21\00:30:49.68
He had everything.
00:30:49.71\00:30:51.05
And yet he wails,
00:30:53.95\00:30:55.78
he cries out as the end results,
00:30:55.82\00:30:59.15
Ecclesiastes 10:16-19.
00:30:59.19\00:31:02.49
He simply says all is
vanity and vexation of what?
00:31:02.52\00:31:05.96
Of their spirit.
00:31:05.99\00:31:07.33
All is vanity and vexation,
00:31:07.36\00:31:08.70
you think you've
got this in the world,
00:31:08.73\00:31:10.07
you've got a bank account,
00:31:10.10\00:31:11.43
you've got
this, you've got that,
00:31:11.47\00:31:12.80
all is vanity and vexation
of the Spirit without Christ.
00:31:12.83\00:31:18.31
Why has God
given us these rules?
00:31:21.34\00:31:23.51
Why did He give Eli these rules,
00:31:23.55\00:31:25.51
and high priest, he
knew all of these things,
00:31:25.55\00:31:27.68
and yet he
refused to follow them.
00:31:27.72\00:31:29.35
And they're sure results.
00:31:29.38\00:31:30.85
It may not happen today,
may not happen next week,
00:31:30.89\00:31:33.49
but it might happen 2, 3,
4, 5, 6, 8 years down the line,
00:31:33.52\00:31:38.06
10 years, 20
years, God only knows.
00:31:38.09\00:31:41.26
Manuscript 58, 1897 says,
00:31:41.30\00:31:44.27
"God has given His
law for the regulation
00:31:44.30\00:31:47.40
of the conduct of nations,
00:31:47.44\00:31:49.80
of families and individuals."
00:31:49.84\00:31:53.04
So notice how different maybe
if we would abide by God's law,
00:31:53.07\00:31:58.21
for the conduct of our nations.
00:31:58.25\00:32:01.18
What if every
nation of the world realize
00:32:01.22\00:32:03.79
the binding this of
God's Ten Commandment law
00:32:03.82\00:32:06.15
and we abide by
it, by His grace?
00:32:06.19\00:32:08.22
What a different world,
00:32:08.26\00:32:09.59
it'd be almost like a
bit of heaven, would it not?
00:32:09.62\00:32:11.63
What if every family
accepted that into the home?
00:32:11.66\00:32:15.56
A little bit of heaven on earth,
00:32:15.60\00:32:17.07
would it not be?
00:32:17.10\00:32:18.53
Individually we
would accept that.
00:32:18.57\00:32:20.60
Our duty to God, our
duty to our fellow man,
00:32:20.64\00:32:22.54
everybody would get
along peace and harmony.
00:32:22.57\00:32:27.31
The law that people
talks about had to exist
00:32:27.34\00:32:30.15
before the creation of man
00:32:30.18\00:32:31.51
or else how
could Adam have sinned?
00:32:31.55\00:32:34.88
Please think along that
with me for just a few moments.
00:32:34.92\00:32:38.35
Don't spend too
much time on that.
00:32:38.39\00:32:40.56
But remember when sin came in,
the Bible said in Genesis 2:17,
00:32:40.59\00:32:44.36
it says there, "In the day
00:32:44.39\00:32:45.73
that thou eatest
you shall surely," what?
00:32:45.76\00:32:48.00
"Die."
00:32:48.03\00:32:50.37
That was the test.
00:32:50.40\00:32:51.73
God means business.
00:32:51.77\00:32:54.44
But He said the
day you eat of that,
00:32:54.47\00:32:55.97
you shall surely die.
00:32:56.00\00:32:57.34
Well, Adam and Eve
didn't die that day, did they?
00:32:57.37\00:33:00.74
Why didn't they die that day?
00:33:00.78\00:33:02.11
That seems to be
what was going on here.
00:33:02.14\00:33:05.75
Praise God.
00:33:05.78\00:33:07.12
Before the foundation of
the world, God had a plan.
00:33:07.15\00:33:10.35
Ain't that right?
He knew man would sin.
00:33:10.39\00:33:13.05
He knew man needed help.
00:33:13.09\00:33:16.73
And therefore He put
together, listen carefully,
00:33:16.76\00:33:18.66
the sanctuary,
the sanctuary message
00:33:18.69\00:33:21.46
where there would
be an animal sacrifice
00:33:21.50\00:33:23.57
until Jesus would come.
00:33:23.60\00:33:26.07
And as soon as
man sinned, right,
00:33:26.10\00:33:28.10
we substituted with
the animal sacrifice,
00:33:28.14\00:33:30.61
was one day be
substituted by Jesus
00:33:30.64\00:33:33.41
dying on the cross.
00:33:33.44\00:33:34.78
Without shedding of
blood is no remission of sin,
00:33:34.81\00:33:37.65
Jesus, the Lamb of God.
00:33:37.68\00:33:41.28
Hopefully, you're
counting on that today.
00:33:41.32\00:33:44.95
Hebrews 9:12 says,
00:33:44.99\00:33:47.29
"It's neither by the
blood of the goats or calves,
00:33:47.32\00:33:49.86
but by his own blood."
00:33:49.89\00:33:51.46
Don't you like that?
00:33:51.49\00:33:52.83
"He entered in once
into the holy place,
00:33:52.86\00:33:55.03
having obtained
eternal redemption for us."
00:33:55.06\00:33:58.73
Man, you've got
good news here today.
00:33:58.77\00:34:00.87
I've got good news
based on the Word of God,
00:34:00.90\00:34:03.24
being in the mess
that we are and the world
00:34:03.27\00:34:05.07
is crumbling around us
00:34:05.11\00:34:06.54
as we're talking today.
00:34:06.57\00:34:08.71
It could change
just like that overnight,
00:34:08.74\00:34:10.75
as it were in the
next minute, we don't know.
00:34:10.78\00:34:14.62
Freedoms, everything is taken
00:34:14.65\00:34:16.05
and going more
and more and more laws
00:34:16.08\00:34:18.35
are passed is going against man
00:34:18.39\00:34:19.72
because we see
where it's headed.
00:34:19.75\00:34:23.36
But no, you know,
we have good news.
00:34:23.39\00:34:26.53
Christ died for us
00:34:26.56\00:34:27.90
and obtained
eternal redemption for us.
00:34:27.93\00:34:32.27
That's good news.
00:34:32.30\00:34:34.60
Little article Signs
of the Time said this,
00:34:34.64\00:34:36.71
4-15.
00:34:36.74\00:34:38.07
This is written in 1886.
00:34:38.11\00:34:39.44
Listen carefully.
00:34:39.47\00:34:40.81
"After the fall," notice this,
00:34:40.84\00:34:42.28
"the principle of
righteousness were unchanged.
00:34:42.31\00:34:46.08
Nothing was taken from the law,
00:34:46.11\00:34:48.62
not one of his holy
precepts could be improved.
00:34:48.65\00:34:53.69
And as it existed
from the beginning
00:34:53.72\00:34:55.79
and so it will continue to exist
00:34:55.82\00:34:57.69
throughout the ceaseless," what?
00:34:57.73\00:34:59.46
"Ages of eternity."
00:34:59.49\00:35:03.03
For those who speak a
little bit bitter words
00:35:03.06\00:35:06.50
against the law of God
and the testimony of God,
00:35:06.53\00:35:09.10
and so on, so forth.
00:35:09.14\00:35:11.51
Allow me to read a
couple of passages of scripture
00:35:11.54\00:35:13.48
pretty quick and
you jot them down
00:35:13.51\00:35:15.84
if you'd like because I'm
gonna go quickly with them.
00:35:15.88\00:35:17.61
Psalms 119:152, the Bible said,
"Concerning thy testimonies,
00:35:17.65\00:35:23.39
I have known of old
00:35:23.42\00:35:24.85
that thou hast
founded them forever."
00:35:24.89\00:35:27.86
Right?
00:35:27.89\00:35:29.22
We're about
testimonies, the law of God.
00:35:29.26\00:35:30.59
He said, I knew that
they were founded forever
00:35:30.63\00:35:32.89
from the very
beginning, they were there.
00:35:32.93\00:35:35.86
It seemed like
that would help us
00:35:35.90\00:35:37.47
to help you
know, future decisions.
00:35:37.50\00:35:41.37
2 Timothy, in the
New Testament, 2:19
00:35:41.40\00:35:43.74
says, "The foundation
of God standeth sure."
00:35:43.77\00:35:47.51
So what kind of foundation
are you building on today?
00:35:47.54\00:35:50.55
And remember, heaven's
going to be your home or hell.
00:35:50.58\00:35:52.51
Heaven or hell,
may want a sermon title
00:35:52.55\00:35:55.35
if you think
about heaven or hell,
00:35:55.38\00:35:57.65
where are you going to end up
or has your life been like Eli,
00:35:57.69\00:36:02.46
and maybe your
influence and your example,
00:36:02.49\00:36:05.09
which we know not
maybe until eternity,
00:36:05.13\00:36:07.70
how the people that
have been influenced for evil
00:36:07.73\00:36:09.86
because of things
that we said or done?
00:36:09.90\00:36:13.17
Somehow, God's going to take
all those things into account.
00:36:13.20\00:36:18.24
We need to make
sure by the grace of God
00:36:18.27\00:36:20.28
that we've got our
account settled in heaven.
00:36:20.31\00:36:23.31
It's very important,
you realize you're thinking,
00:36:23.35\00:36:25.31
oh, well, 30,000
died, the ark was taken,
00:36:25.35\00:36:27.65
the Holy Spirit withdrawn.
00:36:27.68\00:36:29.18
You know, God didn't
speak to his high priest
00:36:29.22\00:36:32.49
or his prophets during
the time of right of Samuel.
00:36:32.52\00:36:36.56
He bypassed Eli
00:36:36.59\00:36:37.93
and He talked to
the child, Samuel.
00:36:37.96\00:36:39.89
He talked to a 12-year-old.
00:36:39.93\00:36:41.43
Think about it.
00:36:44.90\00:36:47.10
Why wouldn't He talk to Eli?
00:36:47.14\00:36:48.94
Why wouldn't He
talk to the high priest,
00:36:48.97\00:36:50.31
a man of experience and so on?
00:36:50.34\00:36:51.81
A man that He called
00:36:51.84\00:36:53.38
is because he didn't do
what God asked him to do.
00:36:53.41\00:36:57.11
And He'll do the same
to you and the same for me
00:36:57.15\00:36:59.65
because He's the same.
00:36:59.68\00:37:01.42
We may not see it,
but sometimes we wonder
00:37:01.45\00:37:03.62
can I be just
really blatant here.
00:37:03.65\00:37:06.09
We wonder sometimes
00:37:06.12\00:37:07.46
why maybe our children
turn out the way they do.
00:37:07.49\00:37:10.46
I can't blame them. We
have to blame ourselves.
00:37:10.49\00:37:13.50
I know they get
older and of age,
00:37:13.53\00:37:15.20
they make their own
choices and decisions.
00:37:15.23\00:37:18.93
But if Eli had bent the
twig while he could have
00:37:18.97\00:37:22.44
things would have been
different, did you get it?
00:37:22.47\00:37:24.24
Psalms 11:3 says,
00:37:27.44\00:37:29.74
"If that
foundation be destroyed,
00:37:29.78\00:37:33.18
what can the righteous do?"
00:37:33.21\00:37:37.02
How many of us really
have a good solid foundation?
00:37:37.05\00:37:41.06
Oh, it's easy to say, oh, yeah,
00:37:41.09\00:37:42.42
we'll have a
good solid foundation.
00:37:42.46\00:37:43.79
Really?
00:37:43.83\00:37:45.79
Maybe we should
question ourselves
00:37:45.83\00:37:47.53
more often.
00:37:47.56\00:37:49.30
So what must we do?
00:37:49.33\00:37:52.73
1 Timothy 6:19 that says,
00:37:52.77\00:37:54.84
"Laying up in store
for them a good foundation
00:37:54.87\00:37:58.44
against the time to come."
00:37:58.47\00:38:01.61
I pray that you're
laying a good foundation,
00:38:01.64\00:38:03.95
that you're digging it deep
00:38:03.98\00:38:05.31
in the Word of
God like never before.
00:38:05.35\00:38:09.38
Get it below the frost line.
00:38:09.42\00:38:10.75
Is somebody's still with me?
00:38:10.79\00:38:12.45
Get it deep enough
that the storm comes,
00:38:12.49\00:38:14.82
it's not going to crack up
and crack the whole foundation
00:38:14.86\00:38:17.39
and the whole house falls down
00:38:17.43\00:38:20.70
or when things
don't go your way.
00:38:20.73\00:38:22.16
It doesn't,
everything fall apart.
00:38:22.20\00:38:24.07
We spend more time
telling you the bad things
00:38:27.07\00:38:29.90
that are happening rather
than counting our blessings.
00:38:29.94\00:38:33.01
You know that song
says count your blessings
00:38:33.04\00:38:34.74
name them one by one.
00:38:34.78\00:38:36.21
If I spent more time
counting my blessings
00:38:36.24\00:38:38.38
that God gives me
00:38:38.41\00:38:39.75
rather than to
search real things
00:38:39.78\00:38:41.12
is not going my way.
00:38:41.15\00:38:42.48
How things would
change in our life.
00:38:42.52\00:38:45.12
Praise Him in the good time,
praise Him in the bad times.
00:38:45.15\00:38:49.62
He inhabits our praises.
00:38:49.66\00:38:52.29
Psalms 119:138.
00:38:52.33\00:38:54.13
He says, "Thy testimonies
that thou has commanded
00:38:54.16\00:38:57.27
are righteous
and very faithful."
00:38:57.30\00:39:01.14
These are being read
because people are what?
00:39:01.17\00:39:02.97
Discrediting the
testimonies of God,
00:39:03.00\00:39:07.04
they're disparaging saying,
00:39:07.08\00:39:08.41
oh, the law of God is
done away with, right here
00:39:08.44\00:39:10.08
He says they're good.
00:39:10.11\00:39:12.71
They're
righteous, they're faithful.
00:39:12.75\00:39:16.45
Psalms 119:160,
00:39:16.48\00:39:18.05
"The word is true
from the beginning,
00:39:18.09\00:39:20.06
every one of thy
righteous judgments
00:39:20.09\00:39:22.56
endureth forever."
00:39:22.59\00:39:24.49
Wow.
00:39:24.53\00:39:25.86
Hang on to those things
00:39:25.89\00:39:27.23
when you're in the
midst of the storm.
00:39:27.26\00:39:28.60
There'll become a
time that you will wish
00:39:28.63\00:39:30.20
and I will wish we had
memorized all of these.
00:39:30.23\00:39:33.74
The Word of God will be
taken as it were from you.
00:39:33.77\00:39:36.77
But you know, the
devil can't take it.
00:39:36.81\00:39:38.31
Well, you got it
memorized up here.
00:39:38.34\00:39:40.48
No, we spent too much
time watching soap operas.
00:39:40.51\00:39:43.04
We spent too much
time fooling around.
00:39:43.08\00:39:45.18
We're too much time partying,
00:39:45.21\00:39:47.35
been too much time
worrying about holidays
00:39:47.38\00:39:49.28
rather than what?
00:39:49.32\00:39:50.65
Then God wants us to
put His Word in our heart.
00:39:50.69\00:39:53.02
Hide the Word
of God in our heart
00:39:53.05\00:39:54.39
that we might not what?
00:39:54.42\00:39:55.86
Sin against thee.
00:39:55.89\00:39:58.43
Hide the Word of God.
00:39:58.46\00:39:59.96
Spend time.
00:40:00.00\00:40:03.16
We've got to work at it.
00:40:03.20\00:40:05.63
We've got to put
some effort into it.
00:40:05.67\00:40:07.87
We can't be like a
friend of mine many years ago
00:40:07.90\00:40:09.90
that said he
wanted to play the piano.
00:40:09.94\00:40:13.04
And he said, I
believe I have faith
00:40:13.07\00:40:14.54
to believe that
God will hear me,
00:40:14.58\00:40:16.34
I'm going to pray that
God will just do a miracle.
00:40:16.38\00:40:20.45
And every day when
I come down the steps,
00:40:20.48\00:40:24.02
I go sit at that piano,
00:40:24.05\00:40:25.85
I better not go
there and sit down.
00:40:25.89\00:40:27.92
He said I'll just
start blowing the keys
00:40:27.96\00:40:29.52
right off of that thing.
00:40:29.56\00:40:31.69
I said, don't you think
00:40:31.73\00:40:33.06
maybe you should
practice a little bit
00:40:33.09\00:40:34.43
or try to work
at it a little bit?
00:40:34.46\00:40:35.80
No, God's going
to do it all for me.
00:40:35.83\00:40:38.10
That's what the world
says today about the work
00:40:38.13\00:40:39.90
that God's going to do at all.
00:40:39.93\00:40:42.40
There's got to be an effort.
00:40:42.44\00:40:43.77
This man prayed
for about 20 years.
00:40:43.81\00:40:45.87
He said every morning,
he come down the steps,
00:40:45.91\00:40:47.48
sat down at the
piano and he looked at it.
00:40:47.51\00:40:51.08
Okay, well, pray
a little bit more,
00:40:51.11\00:40:52.65
my faith must be weak.
00:40:52.68\00:40:54.08
He died
00:40:54.12\00:40:55.98
and he never
learned to play the piano,
00:40:56.02\00:40:57.79
because he would not practice,
he would not work at it.
00:40:57.82\00:41:02.29
And God cannot recall
00:41:02.32\00:41:03.66
by bringing
anything to your remembrance
00:41:03.69\00:41:05.29
that you haven't put in there.
00:41:05.33\00:41:06.96
Are you with me?
00:41:07.00\00:41:08.33
Oh, come on.
00:41:08.36\00:41:09.70
What good is a
computer, Brother Mark?
00:41:09.73\00:41:11.23
What good is a computer
00:41:11.27\00:41:12.60
if it didn't have
information in there to answer
00:41:12.63\00:41:14.14
what you've asked?
00:41:14.17\00:41:15.50
Okay.
00:41:15.54\00:41:17.37
Somebody has
programmed it, ain't that right?
00:41:17.41\00:41:21.54
You've got to work at it,
00:41:21.58\00:41:23.24
put forth an
efforts what God says,
00:41:23.28\00:41:24.85
then He'll bless your socks off.
00:41:24.88\00:41:28.22
Thy word is true
from the beginning.
00:41:28.25\00:41:31.02
Isn't that right?
00:41:31.05\00:41:32.59
When somebody
challenges it's not true.
00:41:32.62\00:41:34.39
It's true. The Bible says what?
00:41:34.42\00:41:36.36
From the
beginning, doesn't matter
00:41:36.39\00:41:37.93
what some professor might say.
00:41:37.96\00:41:41.06
Somebody with, you know,
00:41:41.10\00:41:42.43
all kinds of stuff
by their name on that.
00:41:42.46\00:41:43.80
The Bible says, this
is what's so important.
00:41:43.83\00:41:46.70
Thy word is true
from the beginning.
00:41:46.74\00:41:49.14
And all thy
righteous judgment says
00:41:49.17\00:41:50.91
endureth forever.
00:41:50.94\00:41:52.34
The Psalmist said
thy testimonies have I,
00:41:56.18\00:41:58.41
he's talking about
I kept thy testimonies
00:41:58.45\00:42:01.18
and I love them exceedingly.
00:42:01.22\00:42:02.68
I wonder how
many of us have said
00:42:02.72\00:42:04.05
we'd read the Word of
God or the law of God,
00:42:04.09\00:42:05.62
we say we love
those exceedingly.
00:42:05.65\00:42:07.56
I meditate on
those day and night.
00:42:07.59\00:42:10.46
My tongue is going to
speak of these things,
00:42:10.49\00:42:13.56
for all thy
commandments are righteousness,
00:42:13.60\00:42:15.70
the Bible says.
00:42:15.73\00:42:17.43
How many of us really
thank God for these truths.
00:42:17.47\00:42:20.74
Psalms 122:1, it
says, notice this,
00:42:20.77\00:42:23.04
"I was glad when I came
into the house of the Lord."
00:42:23.07\00:42:27.08
You know how
many of us were glad
00:42:27.11\00:42:29.54
that we came in the
house of the Lord today?
00:42:29.58\00:42:32.25
How many really
thought about it,
00:42:32.28\00:42:34.58
we in one Sabbath,
and oh, some will say oh,
00:42:34.62\00:42:37.49
its Friday already
and tomorrow is a Sabbath.
00:42:37.52\00:42:39.59
Man, start preparing right now,
00:42:39.62\00:42:43.02
preparing your
heart and your soul.
00:42:43.06\00:42:45.03
You want to bless people.
00:42:45.06\00:42:46.56
You want to bless the church,
00:42:46.59\00:42:47.93
you want to bless
the cause of Christ.
00:42:47.96\00:42:49.66
Prepare all week
long for coming here.
00:42:49.70\00:42:52.53
And the preparation,
00:42:52.57\00:42:53.90
my brother and sister
is spending time with God.
00:42:53.94\00:42:56.60
Getting rid of
things out of your life
00:42:56.64\00:42:58.01
that maybe needs not be
there, confessing my sins.
00:42:58.04\00:43:02.14
I like to have prayer up
here again to confess my sins
00:43:02.18\00:43:04.81
before God so He
might use me in the pulpit.
00:43:04.85\00:43:09.38
It's sin.
00:43:09.42\00:43:11.65
Sin was found in Eli
and God rejected him.
00:43:11.69\00:43:17.66
He withdrew His
presence, how sad.
00:43:17.69\00:43:21.90
Let me encourage you,
00:43:21.93\00:43:23.26
those of you who
are going through
00:43:23.30\00:43:24.63
maybe heavy
trials and tribulations.
00:43:24.67\00:43:27.74
God gives us His law.
00:43:27.77\00:43:29.10
He gives us His precepts.
00:43:29.14\00:43:31.71
It's for our good.
00:43:31.74\00:43:34.04
It's for our well-being.
00:43:34.08\00:43:36.31
Its love and its mercy,
00:43:36.34\00:43:38.18
it's not a bunch
of dos and don'ts.
00:43:38.21\00:43:39.95
Its love and mercy
He gives us and power,
00:43:39.98\00:43:44.69
and if they are
obeyed, then we find peace,
00:43:44.72\00:43:47.99
then we find happiness.
00:43:48.02\00:43:50.19
Then we find
salvation that comes
00:43:50.23\00:43:52.99
from knowledge of serving God
00:43:53.03\00:43:55.16
and doing all
that we know to do.
00:43:55.20\00:43:57.50
You realize that that's gonna
be qualification for heaven,
00:43:57.53\00:44:00.64
that you and I must
live up to all the light
00:44:00.67\00:44:03.77
that God has given me.
00:44:03.81\00:44:05.14
I cannot sidestep anything
that I don't want to deal with.
00:44:05.17\00:44:09.88
Does that make sense?
00:44:09.91\00:44:11.25
God is so good
to me, Brother Mark.
00:44:11.28\00:44:12.61
He's so good to me that
when I tried to sidestep
00:44:12.65\00:44:15.28
some guys a little
bit more difficult,
00:44:15.32\00:44:16.82
I walk a few more steps
and he puts it right there
00:44:16.85\00:44:19.15
before me again.
00:44:19.19\00:44:20.52
Why? To be aggravating?
00:44:20.56\00:44:22.29
No, because He
loves me and He knows
00:44:22.32\00:44:24.59
that heaven
will never be my home
00:44:24.63\00:44:26.39
until victory is gained,
00:44:26.43\00:44:27.76
till I can hurdle that
thing by the grace of God.
00:44:27.80\00:44:30.80
Isn't God good?
00:44:30.83\00:44:32.43
So sometimes you wonder
00:44:32.47\00:44:33.80
why you go through
some of the same things
00:44:33.84\00:44:35.17
all the time.
00:44:35.20\00:44:36.54
Now, you know,
because God wants it
00:44:36.57\00:44:38.97
may be out of
your life for good,
00:44:39.01\00:44:41.11
so that He can
spend eternity with you.
00:44:41.14\00:44:44.05
Why?
00:44:44.08\00:44:45.41
Because God is
a personal friend,
00:44:45.45\00:44:47.05
God is a personal helper.
00:44:47.08\00:44:50.12
And in the heat, my
brothers and sisters,
00:44:50.15\00:44:51.65
in the heat of conflict,
00:44:51.69\00:44:53.69
you can be sure God says
the Lord God is your shade.
00:44:53.72\00:44:58.16
I like that.
00:44:58.19\00:44:59.53
Man, when the
sun's beating down,
00:44:59.56\00:45:01.40
and the rains coming or
snow, whatever it might be.
00:45:01.43\00:45:03.43
God said I'm your shade.
00:45:03.47\00:45:05.03
In other words, I'm
going to be over you,
00:45:05.07\00:45:06.40
I'm going to take care of you.
00:45:06.43\00:45:08.80
I'm going to be your right hand.
00:45:08.84\00:45:12.17
He stands close to us,
00:45:12.21\00:45:15.78
so that all of our
needs may be met in Him.
00:45:15.81\00:45:20.88
You know what assurance
we have today of Christ?
00:45:20.92\00:45:23.82
Do you have that
assurance in your life?
00:45:23.85\00:45:26.99
We need that.
00:45:27.02\00:45:29.52
Because of his two sons,
00:45:29.56\00:45:32.33
Hophni and Phineas,
00:45:32.36\00:45:35.93
Eli.
00:45:35.96\00:45:38.27
1 Samuel 3:1 say,
00:45:38.30\00:45:39.90
"The word of the
Lord was precious."
00:45:39.93\00:45:42.30
We alluded to
that. You remember?
00:45:42.34\00:45:44.11
"The word of the Lord
was precious in those days,
00:45:44.14\00:45:47.14
there was no open vision."
00:45:47.18\00:45:49.04
Why?
00:45:49.08\00:45:50.55
Because sin had
separated him from God,
00:45:50.58\00:45:53.82
did you get it?
00:45:53.85\00:45:55.18
In the days there
should have been visioned,
00:45:55.22\00:45:57.55
Eli should have been there,
Eli had been there before.
00:45:57.59\00:46:01.19
And now he was
doing that which he,
00:46:01.22\00:46:03.53
you know, wasn't doing
what God had asked him to do.
00:46:03.56\00:46:05.79
And so sin separated from God,
00:46:05.83\00:46:07.60
there was no open
vision in those days,
00:46:07.63\00:46:09.96
because of Eli sin.
00:46:10.00\00:46:12.47
But he continued, notice this
as his sons grew to manhood.
00:46:12.50\00:46:17.04
He let them continue to
officiate in the sanctuary.
00:46:17.07\00:46:22.68
He knew what they were doing.
00:46:22.71\00:46:24.21
He knew the lives
that they were living,
00:46:24.25\00:46:25.98
but he would not stop them.
00:46:26.01\00:46:27.35
To stop them mean, he
had to correct them first.
00:46:27.38\00:46:29.88
And because they
were the priests,
00:46:29.92\00:46:31.72
because they were opening sin,
00:46:31.75\00:46:33.59
they had to be put to death.
00:46:33.62\00:46:37.69
As a parent, you
don't want to see that.
00:46:37.73\00:46:40.03
Yet he knew God had already
prophesied through a man,
00:46:40.06\00:46:43.23
the Bible doesn't say who,
00:46:43.26\00:46:44.60
which man, a
prophet came to him and say,
00:46:44.63\00:46:46.17
if you don't
change this to begin,
00:46:46.20\00:46:47.67
this is what's going to happen.
00:46:47.70\00:46:49.67
But you need to
make sure it's changed.
00:46:49.70\00:46:51.17
He wouldn't do it.
00:46:51.21\00:46:52.54
He knew that the sons
were going to be killed.
00:46:52.57\00:46:56.31
He knew that the ark
was going to be taken.
00:46:56.34\00:46:58.51
He knew that these
things were going to happen,
00:46:58.55\00:47:00.55
but he continued
down the same path.
00:47:00.58\00:47:02.48
You know what the end results?
00:47:02.52\00:47:04.39
Sin is the
transgression of the law,
00:47:04.42\00:47:06.02
the penalty is death.
00:47:06.05\00:47:08.36
There's no doubt about it.
00:47:08.39\00:47:12.33
Eli chose, listen
carefully, Eli chose family
00:47:12.36\00:47:17.57
over his responsibility to God
00:47:17.60\00:47:21.47
and the people.
00:47:21.50\00:47:24.77
Read that about the
warning in 1 Samuel 2:27,
00:47:24.81\00:47:28.18
when it says
there came a man of God.
00:47:28.21\00:47:32.21
What would happen if
the changes are not made?
00:47:32.25\00:47:37.19
How about you
today? How about me?
00:47:37.22\00:47:38.65
We need to take
this very personal.
00:47:38.69\00:47:41.19
Maybe you've
already raised them.
00:47:41.22\00:47:42.56
Maybe they're already gone.
00:47:42.59\00:47:43.93
Maybe they're adults
and are grown-ups right now.
00:47:43.96\00:47:45.46
But where we
realize we have done wrong,
00:47:45.49\00:47:47.46
we can ask for forgiveness.
00:47:47.50\00:47:49.50
We can redeem the time.
00:47:49.53\00:47:51.63
Because most of us will
always look back and say,
00:47:51.67\00:47:53.90
I wish I'd done a different.
00:47:53.94\00:47:56.30
I guess I'm the only one.
00:47:56.34\00:48:00.24
I wished I had
done it different.
00:48:00.28\00:48:01.61
And maybe it was not because
we did not know like Eli.
00:48:01.64\00:48:06.85
But because we just didn't do it
00:48:06.88\00:48:08.22
because it was not tasteful.
00:48:08.25\00:48:10.59
We didn't like conflict,
we didn't like to correct.
00:48:10.62\00:48:14.36
God says those that
honor Me, I will honor.
00:48:14.39\00:48:18.16
I think we can find that
00:48:21.96\00:48:23.30
in Patriarchs and
Prophets 581 says,
00:48:23.33\00:48:25.43
"God no longer communicated
with Eli and his two sons."
00:48:25.47\00:48:30.54
May I ask you a
question here quickly?
00:48:30.57\00:48:31.91
Don't have much
time left, but notice.
00:48:31.94\00:48:35.34
If God's word lays
down certain principles
00:48:35.38\00:48:40.08
for the conduct of
his work and the leaders,
00:48:40.12\00:48:44.85
you know, not
only but the leaders,
00:48:44.89\00:48:46.92
but the people, we fail
to follow these instructions
00:48:46.96\00:48:51.19
and so we become
guilty of open misconduct.
00:48:51.23\00:48:55.63
Why doesn't God just right then
00:48:55.66\00:48:57.57
and there remove
them out of the way?
00:48:57.60\00:49:00.64
Most of us will say,
"Well, I'm glad he didn't."
00:49:00.67\00:49:04.67
Maybe you've been in
that position before.
00:49:04.71\00:49:08.44
Why didn't God just
take him out of office?
00:49:08.48\00:49:10.05
Because you say, well,
some people are still there
00:49:10.08\00:49:11.48
but didn't seem like
things are wrong, wrong, wrong.
00:49:11.51\00:49:14.38
Why doesn't God?
00:49:14.42\00:49:15.75
Because most of us know
seeds that are planted one day
00:49:15.78\00:49:19.02
doesn't produce a
harvest the next day.
00:49:19.05\00:49:22.06
Does that make sense?
00:49:22.09\00:49:24.73
He doesn't always just
take them out of the way
00:49:24.76\00:49:26.70
right then and right there.
00:49:26.73\00:49:28.06
He gives them time,
00:49:28.10\00:49:31.30
time for the seed to mature.
00:49:31.33\00:49:34.00
Example, how about Satan?
00:49:34.04\00:49:35.60
We don't know how
long but what was it?
00:49:35.64\00:49:39.07
After sin right
developed in there,
00:49:39.11\00:49:41.08
God gave him a lot of time
00:49:41.11\00:49:43.81
before He finally
cast him out of heaven
00:49:43.85\00:49:45.41
because He want him,
may I say it this way,
00:49:45.45\00:49:47.12
come to his senses.
00:49:47.15\00:49:48.48
Come on church,
you're in this position too,
00:49:48.52\00:49:50.29
I'm in this position too.
00:49:50.32\00:49:51.99
You say, well, I've
heard it many times before,
00:49:52.02\00:49:53.56
well that's too bad.
00:49:53.59\00:49:54.92
If we haven't
done anything about it,
00:49:54.96\00:49:56.29
we need to start
doing something about it
00:49:56.32\00:49:58.46
because there's maybe
thousands that are dying today
00:49:58.49\00:50:00.50
because of our
influence and decisions
00:50:00.53\00:50:02.66
that we have made or not made.
00:50:02.70\00:50:06.13
Think about it.
00:50:06.17\00:50:07.67
It requires time.
00:50:07.70\00:50:10.01
Judas, for instance,
didn't Jesus choose Judas?
00:50:10.04\00:50:12.91
Did He know he
was going to stab?
00:50:12.94\00:50:14.28
Absolutely, He knew.
00:50:14.31\00:50:15.68
But Judas chose his own way.
00:50:15.71\00:50:18.81
Though he was warned,
he still chose his own way.
00:50:18.85\00:50:21.62
How about Saul?
Remember King Saul?
00:50:21.65\00:50:23.85
Oh, wow.
00:50:23.89\00:50:25.25
He failed.
00:50:25.29\00:50:26.62
But he was not immediately
replaced right then and there.
00:50:26.65\00:50:29.99
In fact, it was years
before he was replaced.
00:50:30.03\00:50:32.79
And one good thing maybe it was
00:50:32.83\00:50:34.40
is because the one
that was to follow him,
00:50:34.43\00:50:36.46
David needed more
time to ripen to be used.
00:50:36.50\00:50:41.17
God knows, doesn't He?
00:50:41.20\00:50:42.67
Sometimes He
leaves people in office
00:50:42.70\00:50:44.07
that shouldn't be in office
for a long period of time,
00:50:44.11\00:50:47.14
and we can't
quite all figure it out.
00:50:47.18\00:50:49.84
But God has it.
00:50:49.88\00:50:51.61
He has it down path.
00:50:51.65\00:50:52.98
He knows exactly why?
00:50:53.01\00:50:55.58
We're looking for peace
and righteousness today.
00:50:55.62\00:51:00.46
Where did Eli go wrong?
00:51:00.49\00:51:01.82
Quickly, last
four or five minutes?
00:51:01.86\00:51:03.19
How did Eli,
where did he go wrong?
00:51:03.22\00:51:05.53
It cost Israel as we will
know right thousands of life.
00:51:05.56\00:51:08.96
It cost many a defeat in battle.
00:51:09.00\00:51:11.07
The ark was
taken we talked about.
00:51:11.10\00:51:12.90
Eli's life, his two sons
bought a disgrace upon Israel.
00:51:12.93\00:51:18.51
The truth was
brought into reproach.
00:51:18.54\00:51:21.11
Many lost respect
for religious services.
00:51:21.14\00:51:24.31
First, notice this,
first what should happen?
00:51:24.35\00:51:26.51
Remember it all
spring back to this?
00:51:26.55\00:51:29.68
This is where it all
took place right here,
00:51:29.72\00:51:31.12
first of all, is that Eli
should have attempted what?
00:51:31.15\00:51:35.36
He should have
attempted when his sons,
00:51:35.39\00:51:37.23
right, were little, you
know, try to change them.
00:51:37.26\00:51:40.80
He should have tried
mild measures with them.
00:51:40.83\00:51:44.47
Notice this,
00:51:44.50\00:51:45.83
if the mild
measures did not work
00:51:45.87\00:51:48.00
according to
Patriarchs and Prophets 578,
00:51:48.04\00:51:51.54
listen carefully,
00:51:51.57\00:51:52.91
he should have
subdued the wrongs
00:51:52.94\00:51:54.98
by the severest means.
00:51:55.01\00:51:57.65
See, nobody wants to go there.
00:51:57.68\00:51:59.31
We don't want
to do what God said
00:51:59.35\00:52:00.92
spare the rod spoil the child.
00:52:00.95\00:52:02.32
We don't want to
go there. Why not?
00:52:02.35\00:52:03.82
The Bible says it.
00:52:03.85\00:52:05.19
But man's combined
pass rules and regulations,
00:52:05.22\00:52:06.79
you can't do that
because of abuse of man.
00:52:06.82\00:52:09.59
Following what
the Word of God says.
00:52:09.62\00:52:11.06
Notice it, Mildly you
try to get him to change.
00:52:11.09\00:52:14.06
If it doesn't, it says
here Patriarchs and Prophets,
00:52:14.10\00:52:16.40
it said subdued the
wrong by severest means.
00:52:16.43\00:52:21.07
We're held accountable
for putting forth an effort.
00:52:21.10\00:52:23.47
Patriarchs and
Prophets 578 says this,
00:52:23.51\00:52:26.01
"Those who have
too little courage
00:52:26.04\00:52:27.64
to reprove
wrong, listen carefully,
00:52:27.68\00:52:30.05
or who through indolence
00:52:30.08\00:52:32.31
or lack of
interest make no eternal,
00:52:32.35\00:52:35.28
earnest effort to
purify, listen to this,
00:52:35.32\00:52:38.15
the family or
the church of God."
00:52:38.19\00:52:41.59
Leadership of the
church has responsibility,
00:52:41.62\00:52:43.99
in the family you
have responsibility.
00:52:44.03\00:52:46.49
Notice, "Are held
accountable for the evil
00:52:46.53\00:52:48.83
that may result from
their neglect of duty."
00:52:48.86\00:52:51.90
Listen carefully.
00:52:51.93\00:52:53.27
"We are just as
responsible for evils
00:52:53.30\00:52:56.00
that we might
have checked in others
00:52:56.04\00:53:00.08
by exercise of
parental or pastoral authority,
00:53:00.11\00:53:04.11
as if we had done them ourself."
00:53:04.15\00:53:06.85
Did you get it?
00:53:06.88\00:53:08.22
You are held accountable
00:53:08.25\00:53:09.58
and I'm held
accountable those things
00:53:09.62\00:53:10.95
that we know that's
wrong, that we don't correct
00:53:10.99\00:53:13.12
because we just
don't have the courage,
00:53:13.15\00:53:16.42
be the backbone in
which to bring somebody.
00:53:16.46\00:53:20.50
You know that responsibility,
bearing responsibility.
00:53:20.53\00:53:23.73
We don't want that.
00:53:23.77\00:53:26.67
We want to be
where God can use us.
00:53:26.70\00:53:28.57
We want to be
where God can use us
00:53:28.60\00:53:30.61
that we might be
work for service.
00:53:30.64\00:53:34.04
Many pastors and
teachers and leaders and,
00:53:34.08\00:53:37.91
you know, in the truth,
00:53:37.95\00:53:40.62
we've made the
same mistakes, no doubt.
00:53:40.65\00:53:44.32
But we've heard it
say it over and over.
00:53:44.35\00:53:45.72
I heard this excuses.
00:53:45.75\00:53:47.39
We think we have a
better plan than God.
00:53:47.42\00:53:50.19
We read God's plan
00:53:50.23\00:53:51.56
but we've got a
better plan than God.
00:53:51.59\00:53:52.93
We know better.
00:53:52.96\00:53:54.30
Well, they're too young
to try to correct the wrong.
00:53:54.33\00:53:58.17
Let's wait till they get
a little bit older, wrong,
00:53:58.20\00:54:01.00
twig's hard to bend.
00:54:01.04\00:54:03.57
Every act of
disobedience left uncorrected
00:54:03.61\00:54:06.37
will become the
stronger of the nature.
00:54:06.41\00:54:09.88
Friend, we have
responsibility to God,
00:54:09.91\00:54:11.55
we want to be usable material.
00:54:11.58\00:54:14.68
We don't want to be
unfit but fit service for God.
00:54:14.72\00:54:17.92
But in these things sometime
00:54:17.95\00:54:19.85
that kind of go
against our grain,
00:54:19.89\00:54:21.72
we want to be
pleasing in God's sight.
00:54:21.76\00:54:24.89
Just as
accountable is anything else
00:54:24.93\00:54:26.59
that we talk about
here right and wrongs.
00:54:26.63\00:54:29.60
May God help us
to see the importance
00:54:29.63\00:54:32.83
of being fit vessels,
00:54:32.87\00:54:34.80
that the Spirit of God
00:54:34.84\00:54:36.17
can continue to
work in this church,
00:54:36.20\00:54:37.74
in every other church
00:54:37.77\00:54:39.11
who holds the
standard of righteousness.
00:54:39.14\00:54:41.64
We live in a time
00:54:41.68\00:54:43.08
where we need the Spirit of God.
00:54:43.11\00:54:44.45
We do not want the
Spirit of God to leave.
00:54:44.48\00:54:47.52
We want to follow God's plan
00:54:47.55\00:54:49.18
and God's plan
is always the best.
00:54:49.22\00:54:51.65
What's wrong with society today?
00:54:51.69\00:54:53.15
I can tell you,
00:54:53.19\00:54:54.52
its influence of an
ill-regulated family,
00:54:54.56\00:54:58.56
which affects
families, and governments,
00:54:58.59\00:55:01.46
and communities.
00:55:01.50\00:55:03.30
If the home was
where God wanted it to be,
00:55:03.33\00:55:05.43
what a different
world that we would live in?
00:55:05.47\00:55:07.47
May God help us
today to see the importance
00:55:07.50\00:55:10.71
of following His plan
00:55:10.74\00:55:12.07
that we might be fit vessels,
00:55:12.11\00:55:14.08
and that we might not be
unfit but fit for His service.
00:55:14.11\00:55:17.15
Let's pray, shall we?
00:55:17.18\00:55:19.61
Loving Father in heaven,
thank You for Your mercy.
00:55:19.65\00:55:22.02
Thank You for Your
warning that You give us.
00:55:22.05\00:55:24.65
Many of us can't
go back and change
00:55:24.69\00:55:26.12
that which has been done
00:55:26.15\00:55:27.49
but, Lord, we can
ask for divine grace,
00:55:27.52\00:55:30.06
that we may go
forward and we may present
00:55:30.09\00:55:31.93
that which is be
pleasing in Thy sight
00:55:31.96\00:55:33.60
that Your Spirit
may be poured out
00:55:33.63\00:55:34.96
in abundance upon Your children.
00:55:35.00\00:55:37.23
Lord, we need that
outpouring of the Spirit,
00:55:37.27\00:55:39.17
we need to be ready for
the latter rain experience.
00:55:39.20\00:55:41.14
We need sin
gone from our hearts,
00:55:41.17\00:55:42.67
into our lives,
00:55:42.70\00:55:44.04
and that we may
fully rely upon You
00:55:44.07\00:55:45.67
and Your grace and Your mercy.
00:55:45.71\00:55:47.04
Bless us we pray to this end.
00:55:47.08\00:55:48.41
Thank You, Lord,
that each one of us here
00:55:48.44\00:55:50.35
I know right now is
so altering our life
00:55:50.38\00:55:52.31
that we may be presentable
candidates for heaven.
00:55:52.35\00:55:55.72
We thank you in
Jesus' name, amen.
00:55:55.75\00:55:59.29
Hello, friends,
and welcome back.
00:55:59.32\00:56:01.49
As Christians and
a Christian parent,
00:56:01.52\00:56:04.36
we are to correct iniquity
00:56:04.39\00:56:06.26
in our children
through the grace of God,
00:56:06.29\00:56:08.80
and to help lead
others and our children
00:56:08.83\00:56:10.87
in the ways of righteousness.
00:56:10.90\00:56:12.70
I want to encourage you
to study the ways of Christ,
00:56:12.73\00:56:15.80
follow in His example.
00:56:15.84\00:56:17.84
Our goal must
always be to win a soul
00:56:17.87\00:56:21.31
for the kingdom of heaven.
00:56:21.34\00:56:22.88
And this message
has truly emphasized
00:56:22.91\00:56:25.61
how important it
is to stand for truth,
00:56:25.65\00:56:28.42
to live out the
truth in our lives
00:56:28.45\00:56:30.45
and in our homes.
00:56:30.49\00:56:31.82
And to share this
truth from God's Word
00:56:31.85\00:56:35.02
with others as God Himself
00:56:35.06\00:56:37.09
opens the doors for us to do so.
00:56:37.13\00:56:39.66
We do not want
to be one of those
00:56:39.69\00:56:42.23
who will be found
unfit for service.
00:56:42.26\00:56:45.23
And unfit for service,
00:56:45.27\00:56:47.07
again, is the title
of our message for today.
00:56:47.10\00:56:50.04
And if you would
like to order a copy
00:56:50.07\00:56:51.84
of this message,
00:56:51.87\00:56:53.21
we would be more than
happy to provide it for you.
00:56:53.24\00:56:55.91
It is available on
DVD or CD for a love gift
00:56:55.94\00:56:59.21
of just $8 or
more, that's $8 or more.
00:56:59.25\00:57:03.72
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00:57:03.75\00:57:05.09
here in the United
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00:57:05.12\00:57:09.66
that's Central Tim
00:57:09.69\00:57:11.03
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00:57:11.06\00:57:13.36
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00:57:13.40\00:57:15.10
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00:57:15.13\00:57:20.60
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00:57:20.64\00:57:22.64
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00:57:22.67\00:57:25.97
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00:57:26.01\00:57:30.61
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00:57:43.69\00:57:45.56
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00:57:45.59\00:57:48.60
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00:57:48.63\00:57:50.33
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00:57:50.37\00:57:52.43
may our precious Lord continue
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00:57:52.47\00:57:58.21