From Arcadia, California,
The Carter Report presents,
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"The Living
Word" around the world.
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This is a special
message for special friends
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in the great land of
Australia, also in New Zealand.
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I'm coming to Australia
for the Avondale Homecoming,
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the last Sabbath of
August this year, 2010.
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I want to see you there.
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We're going to
have a tremendous time.
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I'll be there
preaching the word of God
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in the College
Church the last Sabbath,
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Sabbath morning, the
last Sabbath of August 2010.
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It's a homecoming.
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People are coming
from all over Australia,
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all over New Zealand,
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in fact, my
friend, all over the world.
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I haven't seen some
of you for 30 or 40,
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dare I say, 50 years.
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I want to see you this
year at the Avondale Homecoming.
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It is the last
Sabbath of August 2010.
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I'll be preaching the word
of God in the College Church
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and I want to see you there.
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Then that same day,
during the afternoon,
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right on 4 o'clock at
the Peace Memorial Church,
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that is the great Village Church
at the gates of the College,
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we're going to have a
great evangelism rally
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and we want to see
you come there, too.
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I'm going to be showing you
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pictures of God's
mighty works of grace in China,
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in Russia, in India
and around the world.
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That is at the
Peace Memorial Church,
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the Avondale Village Church,
the last Sabbath of August 2010,
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and the time is 4
o'clock in the afternoon.
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I'm looking forward to seeing
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all of my Aussie
friends, everybody.
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See me there and God bless you.
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This is the third part in
the series "This I Believe."
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Today, I'm going to talk about
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I believe in the true gospel.
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But firstly, would you please
welcome my wife Beverley Carter.
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On my recent visit to Australia,
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I called dozens of our
friends in that fair land.
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Now as I spoke to
these dear people,
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I was greatly blessed to hear
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how their trust in
God keeps them firm
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in their faith and their hope.
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Now for those
watching down under,
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I, with John and all
of the church family here,
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want to send you our
very warmest greetings
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and our best wishes.
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As most of you know,
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the Carter Report
majors in evangelism,
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in taking the gospel to
those who've never heard.
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But my visit to
Australia made me realize
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just how important ministries
like ours are to those
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who live in restricted
situations. Let me explain.
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Many of the people I spoke to,
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live in small or not
so small country towns
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with a handful
of church members,
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one church. And
they have a minister
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who visits them
once or twice a month.
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Now those of us
who live in the city
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and who are surrounded
by a host of other churches
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and who have a regular minister,
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may find it hard to comprehend
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what it is like not
to have this privilege.
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These dear people living
in isolated areas, tell me
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how they thank
God for ministries
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like ours, 3ABN,
Hope, and others.
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I spoke to one
lady living in a town
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with only two
families who are Adventists.
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They meet each
Sabbath in her home
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and they watch
the sermons on 3ABN.
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So even though these
two families are restricted
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by their isolation
from other churches,
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they are using Christian
broadcasting for encouragement
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and also to reach out to others.
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Another person I spoke to,
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was a very colorful
gentleman from Lightning Ridge,
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an isolated part
of New South Wales
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and which is
famous for its opals.
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And, Len, I know you're watching
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and John and I also want to
send you our very best regards.
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Over the years, Len has
given out thousands of the book
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"Your Bible and
You," mainly to tourists
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that visit that
well known city or town.
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Now Len with many
others could just sit down
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feel sorry for themselves
and, you know, do nothing.
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But their Christianity is
not based on circumstances,
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but rather on a
close walk with God.
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Then there are those who
are restricted physically.
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Because of some serious illness,
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they are unable
to attend church.
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And they too, are
thankful for churches
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like ours who
telecast their services
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and some of those who can
get DVDs of these messages
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and hand them out
to their neighbors.
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After hearing all
these testimonies,
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two words kept ringing
in my ears, "Amazing Grace."
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And that's what John
is preaching about today.
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Let's remember after Jesus,
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the apostle Paul was
the greatest preacher
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and teacher of the gospel.
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But will you also remember
that he was put in jail.
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He had many restrictions
in his lifetime actually,
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put in jail, under house arrest.
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But during these times,
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he wrote some of the
greatest truths ever written.
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And so instead of
focusing on our restriction,
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be it a health
problem, marriage, family,
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work, or even a
sleepy church one,
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and a couple of
folk had that one,
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you know. Whatever it is,
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let us focus
instead on opportunities
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of witnessing for our Lord.
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In the words of
Paul, "Without Him,
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we can't do
anything, but with Him,
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we can do all things." Amen.
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Get this subject right and
you'll get everything right.
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So let me come over
here to the blackboard
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as I start today the third
part of the series "I Believe."
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I believe in the true
gospel and yet, my friend,
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there are many gospels.
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If you read the
Book of Galatians,
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it says, there
are other gospels.
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In fact, there are many gospels,
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but only...
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only one true Holy Gospel.
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Many gospels. It's
a new gospel today.
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It's the big--well,
it's the government gospel.
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The government will save you.
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So if there's ever
a problem in America,
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we look to the government.
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The President is
gonna come on his horse,
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riding along and
he's going to save us.
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That's what lot
of people believe.
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They have a
gospel, the good news
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of the government.
Uncle Sam will save us.
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There are many
gospels, but only one.
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Remember this. This is
tremendously important.
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Get this right
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and you'll be right.
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Get this wrong
and you'll be wrong
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and everything will be wrong.
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And so today, we're going
to talk by the grace of God,
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about the one true Holy Gospel.
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And today we
have a special guest.
00:09:05.57\00:09:08.82
And I want you to welcome our
special guest Mr. Jack Canas.
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Can we please
welcome Jack today?
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Now, Jack, you're
gonna read us a text, please.
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And we're going to get
the people here to turn
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to John Chapter 3:16 and
17, and Jack is gonna read it.
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"For God so loved the world
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that he gave His
one and only Son,
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that whoever believes in Him
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shall not perish
but have eternal life.
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For God did not send His Son
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into the world to
condemn the world,
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but to save the
world through Him."
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Very good, Jack.
Shall we thank Jack today?
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Thank you, Jack. Good. Good.
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That's the theme
text, John Chapter 3.
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"For God so loved the
world that He gave His only Son,
00:10:00.86\00:10:04.83
so that whoever believes in Him
00:10:04.86\00:10:07.00
shall not perish but
have everlasting life."
00:10:07.03\00:10:10.25
Listen to this story.
00:10:10.28\00:10:12.55
I was told this story years ago.
00:10:12.58\00:10:14.82
It is a true story.
00:10:14.85\00:10:16.92
There was a father
who took his son to work.
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Kids love to go to
work with their fathers,
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particularly, if
their fathers work
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around locomotives and trains.
00:10:23.69\00:10:26.59
The father worked up in
the sky in the control box.
00:10:26.62\00:10:30.47
He had a special job.
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He worked the big levers
that switched the tracks.
00:10:32.43\00:10:39.16
You know how they do it?
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At least that's
how they used to do it.
00:10:40.59\00:10:42.31
Guy up in the control
tower, he would pull the levers,
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great big things and
that would switch the tracks.
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He took his little boy to work.
00:10:50.61\00:10:52.38
He said to his little boy,
"Don't get out of my sight,"
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but he was--the
father was tremendously busy.
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Then his little boy, his
name was David, was missing.
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The train was
coming through any moment.
00:11:04.15\00:11:06.65
He could hear the
whistle of the train,
00:11:06.68\00:11:09.02
that great big steam
engine rolling down the track
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and pulling all those carriages
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with hundreds and
hundreds of people.
00:11:15.30\00:11:17.29
And the train was
doing about 70 miles an hour
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and it was
rumbling down the track.
00:11:20.16\00:11:23.08
And the father
looked out of the window,
00:11:23.11\00:11:25.99
down at the railway lines.
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He saw that the train
was going straight ahead.
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It was going
straight into a dead end,
00:11:31.50\00:11:33.86
but before it got there,
00:11:33.89\00:11:35.83
he was going to
switch the tracks.
00:11:35.86\00:11:37.49
So the train was going
to come along like this
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and then switch
on to the other track
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and goes thundering
down the correct track.
00:11:41.19\00:11:43.76
And when he
looked out of the window,
00:11:43.79\00:11:45.30
there was his little boy David,
00:11:45.33\00:11:47.85
not playing on
the dead-end track,
00:11:47.88\00:11:49.92
but playing where the
train was going to come.
00:11:49.95\00:11:54.75
He had his life, the life
of his little boy in his hands.
00:11:54.78\00:12:02.27
And he also had in his
hands the lives of hundreds
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and hundreds of people
sitting there in that train
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as it came roaring and
rumbling down the track.
00:12:10.47\00:12:14.21
What would you've
done? He's your little boy.
00:12:14.24\00:12:18.11
He looked at his little boy.
00:12:18.14\00:12:20.08
His little boy had his
daddy's heart in his hands.
00:12:20.11\00:12:25.18
What would you've done?
00:12:25.21\00:12:27.12
There's a train,
think about it for a moment,
00:12:27.15\00:12:29.07
please, think about it.
00:12:29.10\00:12:30.47
Here's the train and
it's coming down the track.
00:12:30.50\00:12:33.05
And you can send
it straight ahead
00:12:33.08\00:12:34.96
or you can send it
over your little boy.
00:12:34.99\00:12:36.76
What are you gonna do?
00:12:36.79\00:12:40.70
Well, the father did his duty,
00:12:40.73\00:12:44.54
with a prayer for his
boy after crying out "David,
00:12:44.57\00:12:47.88
get off the
track." He couldn't--
00:12:47.91\00:12:49.37
the little boy
couldn't hear his daddy's voice
00:12:49.40\00:12:52.40
because of the roar of
that great steam engine.
00:12:52.43\00:12:55.60
You know what the father did?
00:12:55.63\00:12:57.88
He took the levers in his hands
00:12:57.91\00:13:01.96
and he switched the tracks
00:13:01.99\00:13:04.72
and the train going this way
00:13:04.75\00:13:06.65
went where it's supposed
to go, right over his son.
00:13:06.68\00:13:12.00
I want you to think about that.
00:13:12.03\00:13:15.50
Because if you get the Gospel,
00:13:15.53\00:13:17.54
the true gospel
right, you'll be right.
00:13:17.57\00:13:20.24
You want to really know
00:13:20.27\00:13:21.64
why so many people have
got their lives messed up?
00:13:21.67\00:13:25.66
You really want to know why?
00:13:25.69\00:13:27.26
You want to know why some people
just are unstable, unhappy,
00:13:27.29\00:13:34.72
they can't be depended on,
00:13:34.75\00:13:37.58
everything they do,
they seem to mess it up?
00:13:37.61\00:13:41.78
You want to
know the real reason?
00:13:41.81\00:13:43.32
You want to know why this world
00:13:43.35\00:13:45.43
seems to be
getting worse and worse?
00:13:45.46\00:13:47.97
As my boy David used to say
00:13:48.00\00:13:50.26
when he was a little
boy, "worser and worser?"
00:13:50.29\00:13:54.85
Why is the world
getting worser and worser?
00:13:54.88\00:13:58.51
Because there are many gospels
and they've got the wrong one.
00:13:58.54\00:14:04.70
That's the reason why.
00:14:04.73\00:14:06.87
But if you get this
right, you'll be right.
00:14:06.90\00:14:09.27
But if you don't get it
right, you won't be right.
00:14:09.30\00:14:14.68
Jesus talking to the
religious leaders of His day
00:14:14.71\00:14:19.84
said something that for a
long time I couldn't quite get.
00:14:19.87\00:14:23.37
Jesus said, "Be
careful about your eye."
00:14:23.40\00:14:27.34
He said, "If your eye is bad,
00:14:27.37\00:14:30.84
your whole body is
going to be full of darkness."
00:14:30.87\00:14:34.36
And He said, "If
your eye is good,
00:14:34.39\00:14:36.96
your whole body is
going to be full of light."
00:14:36.99\00:14:39.50
The reason, my friend,
00:14:39.53\00:14:40.90
many people--maybe some
of you sitting here today--
00:14:40.93\00:14:43.38
the reason your
lives are full of darkness
00:14:43.41\00:14:46.34
is because you got a bad eye.
00:14:46.37\00:14:50.21
Is He talking about this eye?
00:14:50.24\00:14:52.61
No, He's talking
about the spiritual eye.
00:14:52.64\00:14:57.06
And Paul says that you
cannot understand the gospel
00:14:57.09\00:15:02.19
unless God by the Holy Spirit
comes and reveals it to you.
00:15:02.22\00:15:10.19
And so we need to pray,
00:15:10.22\00:15:12.24
"God, save me from the
awful sin of playing church
00:15:12.27\00:15:18.17
and help me to see today.
00:15:18.20\00:15:25.24
Because if I get it right,
everything will be right."
00:15:25.27\00:15:29.99
The whole world needs saving
because we're all sinners.
00:15:30.02\00:15:35.28
Come over here to Romans 5:12,
00:15:35.31\00:15:38.34
Romans, in the New Testament
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.
00:15:38.37\00:15:41.81
Romans Chapter
5, turn to the text
00:15:41.84\00:15:45.27
and don't think you know it,
00:15:45.30\00:15:46.81
because you
probably don't understand it.
00:15:46.84\00:15:49.01
Romans 5:12, "Therefore,
00:15:49.04\00:15:52.14
just as sin entered
the world through one man,
00:15:52.17\00:15:54.90
and death through
sin, and in this way
00:15:54.93\00:15:57.55
death came to all
men, because all sinned."
00:15:57.58\00:16:02.57
Every one of us has sinned.
00:16:02.60\00:16:05.19
We've all broken the holy
law of God a million times.
00:16:05.22\00:16:08.75
We've sinned even when we
didn't know we were sinning.
00:16:08.78\00:16:14.77
The whole world
is guilty before God.
00:16:14.80\00:16:18.71
Romans 3:9 says, "What
shall we conclude then?
00:16:18.74\00:16:23.41
Are we any better? Not at all.
00:16:23.44\00:16:25.29
We have already made the charge
00:16:25.32\00:16:27.19
that Jews and Gentiles
alike are all under sin.
00:16:27.22\00:16:32.87
There is no one
righteous, not even one."
00:16:32.90\00:16:36.87
Verse 23 says,
"for all have sinned"
00:16:36.90\00:16:40.57
past tense "and fall
short" present tense--
00:16:40.60\00:16:44.41
present continuous "and
fall short of the glory of God."
00:16:44.44\00:16:49.58
Listen to me, my friends,
00:16:49.61\00:16:51.54
let this saying
sink down into your ears.
00:16:51.57\00:16:57.27
It is a mystery to
me why religious people,
00:16:57.30\00:17:00.87
Christian people think that
the government is the savior.
00:17:00.90\00:17:06.88
You know why?
00:17:06.91\00:17:08.28
Because they
haven't got it right.
00:17:08.31\00:17:10.35
They haven't got
the gospel right.
00:17:10.38\00:17:11.95
They're walking in darkness.
00:17:11.98\00:17:13.77
Our problem is not fundamentally
political or social.
00:17:13.80\00:17:21.73
Now I say to my
American friends, the Americans,
00:17:21.76\00:17:27.16
we all cheer when we
get our new president.
00:17:27.19\00:17:29.52
12 months later we
want him out of office.
00:17:29.55\00:17:32.54
And we do it year
after year after year
00:17:32.57\00:17:37.11
because of
unrealistic expectations.
00:17:37.14\00:17:43.00
He's a sinner the same
as you are, same as I am.
00:17:43.03\00:17:46.73
Our problem is not
fundamentally political,
00:17:46.76\00:17:49.91
social, economic,
psychological, but spiritual.
00:17:49.94\00:17:56.25
And unless you can deal
with yourself spiritually,
00:17:56.28\00:17:59.74
you won't get it right.
00:17:59.77\00:18:01.45
A spiritual problem
needs a spiritual solution.
00:18:01.48\00:18:06.49
There is a terrible disease
that has infected every person
00:18:06.52\00:18:11.48
on the planet,
in the White House,
00:18:11.51\00:18:13.76
in the congress,
everywhere, in this church.
00:18:13.79\00:18:17.40
You've got it and I've got it.
00:18:17.43\00:18:21.54
It's the virus of
sin. We were born with it
00:18:21.57\00:18:26.26
and the evidence
of sin is everywhere.
00:18:26.29\00:18:29.61
Hate. I read where people
were trying to kill a senator.
00:18:29.64\00:18:35.18
He's passed away now.
00:18:35.21\00:18:37.01
But his life was
filled with insecurity
00:18:37.04\00:18:39.75
because people
wanted to kill him,
00:18:39.78\00:18:42.48
because of hate.
How sad. How evil.
00:18:42.51\00:18:46.49
Hate, lying, stealing,
00:18:46.52\00:18:51.93
racism, white racism,
00:18:51.96\00:18:55.39
black racism, brown racism,
impurity, cruelty, gossiping,
00:18:55.42\00:19:02.48
Sabbath breaking, idolatry.
00:19:02.51\00:19:06.75
You know the story of the man
00:19:06.78\00:19:08.54
who used to work
in a big factory?
00:19:08.57\00:19:11.70
And every night he'd
walk out at the same time
00:19:11.73\00:19:14.53
pushing a wheelbarrow
00:19:14.56\00:19:17.64
and they would
search him, search his body,
00:19:17.67\00:19:20.86
and they would
look at the wheelbarrow.
00:19:20.89\00:19:23.05
They even would
take the wheel off.
00:19:23.08\00:19:25.10
Sometimes they disassemble
the whole wheelbarrow
00:19:25.13\00:19:29.62
before they put it
back together again
00:19:29.65\00:19:31.79
and send him on his way.
00:19:31.82\00:19:33.39
But for week after
week, month after month,
00:19:33.42\00:19:36.23
he came through the
door with a wheelbarrow.
00:19:36.26\00:19:39.92
It wasn't until
years later they discovered
00:19:42.16\00:19:44.61
he was stealing wheelbarrows.
00:19:44.64\00:19:48.97
Now your sin and my
sin may not be evident,
00:19:49.00\00:19:54.61
but we're all sinners
and that train is coming.
00:19:57.76\00:20:03.30
It's rumbling down the track.
00:20:03.33\00:20:06.67
We all need
salvation and redemption.
00:20:06.70\00:20:10.60
Jesus, God's own
son became a man,
00:20:10.63\00:20:13.88
lived a perfect
life and paid for my sins
00:20:13.91\00:20:17.46
with His own blood on the cross.
00:20:17.49\00:20:19.43
We Adventist
Christians do not believe
00:20:19.46\00:20:23.16
in the moral
influence theory, even though
00:20:23.19\00:20:26.20
it may be in our midst.
00:20:26.23\00:20:28.74
We believe in
the blood atonement
00:20:28.77\00:20:33.85
of our Savior on the cross.
00:20:33.88\00:20:36.91
Let everybody hear this. Amen.
00:20:36.94\00:20:39.60
And I'm talking here
in Southern California
00:20:39.63\00:20:42.20
where the moral
influence is like a cancer.
00:20:42.23\00:20:46.80
Look at Romans 3:23 and onwards,
00:20:46.83\00:20:50.47
"for all have sinned--"
Romans 3:23 and onwards,
00:20:50.50\00:20:53.51
"all have sinned and fall
short of the glory of God,
00:20:53.54\00:20:57.52
and are justified
declared righteous
00:20:57.55\00:21:00.78
freely by his grace
through the redemption
00:21:00.81\00:21:03.32
that came by Christ Jesus.
00:21:03.35\00:21:05.33
God presented Him as a
sacrifice of atonement."
00:21:05.36\00:21:09.17
The margin says, "as
the one who would turn aside
00:21:09.20\00:21:14.10
his wrath taking away sin."
00:21:14.13\00:21:18.91
God turned aside the
father's wrath from us.
00:21:18.94\00:21:25.34
"A sacrifice of atonement,
through faith in his blood.
00:21:25.37\00:21:28.31
He did this to
demonstrate his justice,
00:21:28.34\00:21:32.13
because in his
forbearance he had left the sins
00:21:32.16\00:21:35.51
committed beforehand unpunished.
00:21:35.54\00:21:39.03
He did it to
demonstrate his justice,"
00:21:39.06\00:21:43.23
God must be just
"at the present time,
00:21:43.26\00:21:46.85
so as to be just and
the one who justifies those
00:21:46.88\00:21:52.40
who have faith in Jesus."
00:21:52.43\00:21:56.12
Listen to me.
00:21:56.15\00:21:59.14
A train came
rumbling down the track
00:21:59.17\00:22:03.83
and that train
bore the wrath of God.
00:22:03.86\00:22:07.88
You say, God doesn't have wrath.
00:22:07.91\00:22:09.39
Don't you read your Bible?
00:22:09.42\00:22:12.12
The Bible is full
of the wrath of God,
00:22:12.15\00:22:15.86
especially the Book of Romans.
00:22:15.89\00:22:17.82
The wrath of God is
revealed, it says in Romans 1.
00:22:17.85\00:22:22.74
That train came
thundering down the track.
00:22:22.77\00:22:27.01
On his side was the law
of God, the wrath of God.
00:22:27.04\00:22:34.98
And because we had
broken the law of God
00:22:35.01\00:22:39.50
and because Jesus came
and stood in our place,
00:22:39.53\00:22:45.93
the train came rumbling
over him and took his life.
00:22:45.96\00:22:51.27
Either you or him. Get
this right, you'll be right.
00:22:51.30\00:22:57.28
You don't get it right,
nothing's gonna be right.
00:22:57.31\00:22:59.89
Your church is
not gonna be right.
00:22:59.92\00:23:02.28
Your business is
not gonna be right.
00:23:02.31\00:23:04.24
You mind is not gonna be right.
00:23:04.27\00:23:06.16
In the garden of Gethsemane,
they came seeking Jesus.
00:23:10.33\00:23:15.27
You know the story.
00:23:15.30\00:23:17.24
In the garden of Gethsemane,
they came seeking Jesus.
00:23:17.27\00:23:21.21
The soldiers came
and they came with swords
00:23:21.24\00:23:26.61
and they came with torches.
00:23:26.64\00:23:29.22
You know what that represents?
00:23:29.25\00:23:32.12
The law, the law
came after him. Why?
00:23:32.15\00:23:37.25
Because He had assumed my sin
00:23:37.28\00:23:41.03
and my guilt
because He loves us.
00:23:41.06\00:23:46.25
And then He turned
and He said to them,
00:23:46.28\00:23:49.13
"Who do you seek?" They
said, "Jesus of Nazareth."
00:23:49.16\00:23:51.66
He said, "That's me.
00:23:51.69\00:23:54.16
If you want me, let
these go their way."
00:23:54.19\00:23:57.13
That's the gospel.
00:23:57.16\00:23:59.39
Take me, let these go their way.
00:23:59.42\00:24:03.71
Don't think that
forgiveness is cheap.
00:24:03.74\00:24:09.69
The train came
rumbling down the track
00:24:09.72\00:24:12.19
and the Father up in
heaven pulled the levers
00:24:12.22\00:24:17.00
and sent the train or the
wrath of God over his son.
00:24:17.03\00:24:22.10
Don't tell me it's cheap.
00:24:22.13\00:24:23.63
It costs the
life of God's own son.
00:24:27.62\00:24:31.51
Pastor J.B. Keith
was a great missionary.
00:24:31.54\00:24:33.82
I knew him well.
00:24:33.85\00:24:36.91
He became a leader of the
church in the South Pacific.
00:24:36.94\00:24:40.21
He had worked in
Papua, New Guinea.
00:24:40.24\00:24:43.53
He went into areas
00:24:43.56\00:24:45.00
where there were
headhunters and cannibals.
00:24:45.03\00:24:51.42
He went into an area that
had never ever seen a white man.
00:24:51.45\00:24:57.86
He took with him a
translator, two or three others
00:24:57.89\00:25:01.33
because nobody
was prepared to go.
00:25:01.36\00:25:06.01
He told me, as he came
over the brow of the hill,
00:25:06.04\00:25:10.86
there, stretched out
right across the valley
00:25:10.89\00:25:14.61
were thousands of
warriors with spears
00:25:14.64\00:25:20.40
and with bows and
arrows twanging the string.
00:25:20.43\00:25:26.22
He probably had
5 minutes to live.
00:25:26.25\00:25:30.00
Swords up, spears
ready to go, everything.
00:25:30.03\00:25:35.55
The man was going
down, one would think.
00:25:35.58\00:25:39.96
Then Pastor Keith did
something, which is wonderful.
00:25:39.99\00:25:44.02
He took out his Bible
and he told those headhunters
00:25:44.05\00:25:48.59
the story of Christ.
00:25:48.62\00:25:50.97
Started to tell how God, the
big fella long top, came down.
00:25:51.00\00:25:55.63
How the big fella came
down and how the big fella
00:25:55.66\00:25:59.57
died for our sins on the cross.
00:25:59.60\00:26:01.57
These people did
not even have the word
00:26:01.60\00:26:04.34
"love" in their language.
00:26:04.37\00:26:09.13
And then all of a
sudden this huge man
00:26:09.16\00:26:12.00
who is the chief ran
and seized Pastor Keith
00:26:12.03\00:26:16.23
and held him and
ran off with him.
00:26:16.26\00:26:22.13
And the spears were up
again and the bows are twanging.
00:26:22.16\00:26:26.77
He thought, "I'm a dead man."
00:26:26.80\00:26:28.58
And in the end,
the chief put him down.
00:26:31.68\00:26:33.84
And the translator
who'd been left behind,
00:26:33.87\00:26:36.10
caught up and the chief said,
"I'm not going to let you go."
00:26:36.13\00:26:42.65
He said, "When you told
the story of how the big fella
00:26:42.68\00:26:46.44
long top God came down, he
said, "It touched me here."
00:26:46.47\00:26:53.86
Has it touched you there?
00:26:53.89\00:26:55.26
Or have you got less
appreciation of the gospel
00:26:58.25\00:27:02.17
than a savage in the
highlands of New Guinea
00:27:02.20\00:27:04.79
who's a
headhunter and a cannibal?
00:27:04.82\00:27:09.44
That whole area today,
where it once was filled
00:27:09.47\00:27:13.12
with fighting and
killing and murders
00:27:13.15\00:27:15.81
and filth and cannibalism
00:27:15.84\00:27:18.40
is filled with
churches, our churches. Amen.
00:27:18.43\00:27:23.99
As the poet said, "only a
sense of sin-bought pardon
00:27:24.02\00:27:30.93
can melt a heart of stone."
00:27:30.96\00:27:36.45
How long is God
going to spend on you?
00:27:36.48\00:27:41.59
How many more
opportunities, my friend,
00:27:41.62\00:27:43.60
is he going to give you and me?
00:27:43.63\00:27:49.20
He's given us more opportunities
00:27:49.23\00:27:51.48
possibly than
anybody else in the world.
00:27:51.51\00:27:56.87
And we look upon church
as something to be enjoyed
00:27:56.90\00:28:00.89
or perhaps endured
until we can get outside
00:28:00.92\00:28:04.98
and fill our
bellies until we're busting.
00:28:05.01\00:28:09.08
Get this right
and you'll be right.
00:28:15.56\00:28:19.32
Get it wrong,
everything will be wrong.
00:28:19.35\00:28:22.69
Your family will be wrong.
00:28:22.72\00:28:24.26
Your children will be wrong.
00:28:24.29\00:28:26.65
All of your
relationships will be wrong.
00:28:26.68\00:28:28.93
Your business will be bad.
00:28:28.96\00:28:31.77
But a sense of
blood-bought pardon
00:28:36.04\00:28:40.42
can melt a heart of stone.
00:28:40.45\00:28:43.60
We're very pleased
to have in our church
00:28:43.63\00:28:46.63
a brother from a Jewish
background Blake Wexler.
00:28:46.66\00:28:50.50
Would you please
welcome Blake Wexler.
00:28:50.53\00:28:53.32
Welcome here today, Blake.
00:28:58.59\00:28:59.96
We're delighted to have
you as a member of our church.
00:28:59.99\00:29:02.25
We're proud of you.
00:29:02.28\00:29:04.23
We know that you come
from a Jewish background
00:29:04.26\00:29:06.96
and that will
always remain with you.
00:29:06.99\00:29:10.85
But today you have some
comments and a question.
00:29:10.88\00:29:13.55
Thank you, pastor.
00:29:13.58\00:29:14.95
Yeah, you know, I
always have this on my mind.
00:29:14.98\00:29:18.31
Orthodox Judaism believes
00:29:18.34\00:29:20.67
in keeping the law,
the Torah perfectly.
00:29:20.70\00:29:24.27
Yes. And I wonder if God
requires 100% perfection,
00:29:24.30\00:29:29.93
what hope do I have?
00:29:29.96\00:29:33.52
If God requires that
Blake Wexler in himself
00:29:33.55\00:29:37.20
be 100% perfect,
you like John Carter
00:29:37.23\00:29:42.12
have got no hope at all.
00:29:42.15\00:29:44.44
But I want you to read a text.
00:29:44.47\00:29:46.02
I want you to come
with us, Blake, over here.
00:29:46.05\00:29:48.26
I want you to read the text.
00:29:48.29\00:29:50.02
The congregation is going
to turn to Romans 3:21 and 22
00:29:50.05\00:29:56.51
and we're going to
concentrate on this
00:29:56.54\00:29:58.31
and gonna think about it.
00:29:58.34\00:29:59.93
Romans 3:21-22,
Blake, thank you.
00:29:59.96\00:30:04.14
"But now a
righteousness from God
00:30:04.17\00:30:06.27
apart from the law
has been made known,
00:30:06.30\00:30:09.70
to which the law and
the prophets testify.
00:30:09.73\00:30:13.03
This righteousness
from God comes through faith
00:30:13.06\00:30:15.77
in Jesus Christ
to all who believe.
00:30:15.80\00:30:18.90
There is no difference".
00:30:18.93\00:30:22.80
A Jewish man
wrote that, of course,
00:30:22.83\00:30:25.16
and he was a Pharisee.
00:30:25.19\00:30:26.75
He was versed in the Torah.
00:30:26.78\00:30:29.06
But He says, "We are saved by
00:30:29.09\00:30:32.74
righteousness
apart from the law."
00:30:32.77\00:30:36.90
And so the text tells me, Blake,
and this is an amazing text,
00:30:36.93\00:30:42.04
it doesn't
depend upon my goodness,
00:30:42.07\00:30:46.17
it depends upon His goodness.
00:30:46.20\00:30:50.83
There was a famous
man in church history,
00:30:50.86\00:30:53.03
you've heard us talk
about him on many occasions.
00:30:53.06\00:30:56.47
There would have been no
America without this man.
00:30:56.50\00:30:59.32
No Australia, no freedom,
no democracy in the world.
00:30:59.35\00:31:03.83
His name was Martin Luther.
00:31:03.86\00:31:07.24
Martin Luther had a
strong Roman Catholic background
00:31:07.27\00:31:10.43
and Luther was taught Blake,
that justification is a process
00:31:10.46\00:31:15.86
whereby we get
better and better and better
00:31:15.89\00:31:19.06
until at last we're 100%
perfect in keeping the law.
00:31:19.09\00:31:24.40
He was in darkness.
He was in depression.
00:31:24.43\00:31:27.24
But the day came when
Luther was found kneeling
00:31:27.27\00:31:30.41
before a crucifix and
sobbing, "For me, for me."
00:31:30.44\00:31:36.93
And so whether this
is for a Jewish person
00:31:36.96\00:31:40.78
or a Gentile
person, an Australian,
00:31:40.81\00:31:44.20
an American, whoever it
is, righteousness comes to us
00:31:44.23\00:31:49.11
not because of our
success in keeping the law
00:31:49.14\00:31:52.40
but because if His
success in keeping the law
00:31:52.43\00:31:55.77
and because He
died for our sins.
00:31:55.80\00:31:57.96
That is the true gospel.
00:31:57.99\00:31:59.91
And we're proud of
you, Blake, thank you.
00:31:59.94\00:32:01.70
Thank you, Pastor.
Thank you. Thank you.
00:32:01.73\00:32:03.90
Another person in
this church whom we love
00:32:10.21\00:32:13.02
and hold in the
highest esteem is Cindy Ciulla.
00:32:13.05\00:32:18.46
Would you please
welcome our friend Cindy Ciulla?
00:32:18.49\00:32:23.02
Cindy, glad to
see you, here today.
00:32:23.05\00:32:26.86
Pastor Carter, my
ancestors came from Holland
00:32:26.89\00:32:30.18
that witnessed the
great Protestant reformation
00:32:30.21\00:32:33.70
and out of that arose
many other great movements
00:32:33.73\00:32:35.72
for Christianity and Christ.
00:32:35.75\00:32:37.29
My question is, if
Christ died on the cross for us
00:32:37.32\00:32:40.42
why does the world
seem to be getting worse
00:32:40.45\00:32:42.79
and worse? If
He died to save us,
00:32:42.82\00:32:45.10
why does the world seem to
be getting worse and worse?
00:32:45.13\00:32:47.42
Your observation
Cindy is absolutely correct.
00:32:47.45\00:32:51.24
The world is
getting worse and worse.
00:32:51.27\00:32:55.36
As we gaze around America today,
00:32:55.39\00:32:58.10
we can see a
tremendous deterioration
00:32:58.13\00:33:02.70
in what America once was.
00:33:02.73\00:33:05.77
Many people across this
country are amazed and dazed.
00:33:05.80\00:33:10.21
They say, "Why are
things getting so bad?"
00:33:10.24\00:33:13.63
This is true around the world.
Now take a place like India.
00:33:13.66\00:33:17.94
Now Jesus said, "He was
the Light of the world."
00:33:17.97\00:33:20.73
He said, "He is the
way, the truth and the life."
00:33:20.76\00:33:24.40
He is the light of the world,
00:33:24.43\00:33:26.20
where Jesus is
not you got darkness.
00:33:26.23\00:33:30.37
And as David told us some
time back when he visited India
00:33:30.40\00:33:34.43
and saw the caste
system, and saw the dung ladies
00:33:34.46\00:33:38.00
who work for $2 a
month or something.
00:33:38.03\00:33:40.71
They carry dung on their heads.
00:33:40.74\00:33:43.05
Men, whose only job
is to work in the sewers
00:33:43.08\00:33:45.52
because of their
religion, they are lower
00:33:45.55\00:33:48.40
they are considered
to be worst than vermin.
00:33:48.43\00:33:51.25
This is because the
light of Christ is not there.
00:33:51.28\00:33:54.54
Where Christ goes,
where the Bible goes
00:33:54.57\00:33:56.91
you have the
elevation of society.
00:33:56.94\00:33:59.67
The happiest people in the world
00:33:59.70\00:34:01.92
are the people who have a Bible,
00:34:01.95\00:34:03.72
who read it and
who believe in Christ.
00:34:03.75\00:34:06.67
But there's a second reason
00:34:06.70\00:34:08.34
and I want you to take
you Bible, Cindy, please.
00:34:08.37\00:34:11.30
And read us a
text, 2 Peter 2:19-22.
00:34:11.33\00:34:16.05
2 Peter 2:19-22. You
need glasses? Yes, I do.
00:34:16.08\00:34:21.98
I would never thought, you know.
00:34:22.01\00:34:23.92
Yeah, I've never seen
you in glasses before.
00:34:23.95\00:34:26.37
You've done very
well, haven't you, Cindy?
00:34:26.40\00:34:29.49
I could try but there
might be sme words missing.
00:34:29.52\00:34:30.89
I know, I know, I know. We
may get the wrong book, too.
00:34:30.92\00:34:33.02
2 Peter 2:19 and onwards.
00:34:33.05\00:34:37.74
Let's read the
text to the people.
00:34:37.77\00:34:40.06
"They promise them
freedom, while they themselves
00:34:40.09\00:34:42.73
are slaves of
depravity. For a man is slave
00:34:42.76\00:34:46.23
to whatever has mastered him.
00:34:46.26\00:34:48.31
If they have escaped
the corruption of the world
00:34:48.34\00:34:50.92
by knowing our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ
00:34:50.95\00:34:53.54
and are again entangled
in it and are overcome,
00:34:53.57\00:34:56.83
they are worse off at the end
than they were at the beginning.
00:34:56.86\00:35:01.48
It would have been better
for them not to have known
00:35:01.51\00:35:04.68
the way of righteousness,
than to have known it
00:35:04.71\00:35:06.78
and then to turn their
backs on the sacred command
00:35:06.81\00:35:09.43
that was passed on to them.
00:35:09.46\00:35:11.95
Of them the proverbs are true:
"'A dog returns to its vomit,
00:35:11.98\00:35:16.52
and a sow that
is washed goes back
00:35:16.55\00:35:18.64
to her wallowing in the mud.'"
00:35:18.67\00:35:21.26
Wow, that's a
pretty strong passage.
00:35:21.29\00:35:24.83
"Dog goes back to its vomit"
that's talking about a person
00:35:24.86\00:35:27.98
who known the truth and
goes back to the old way.
00:35:28.01\00:35:30.88
And a sow that
was washed, a pig,
00:35:30.91\00:35:32.99
goes back to
wallowing in the mire.
00:35:33.02\00:35:36.69
Cindy, look at me.
00:35:36.72\00:35:39.39
There is no darkness
so dark as light rejected.
00:35:42.44\00:35:49.45
There are some countries
that have had amazing light.
00:35:49.48\00:35:55.69
United States of America,
00:35:55.72\00:35:57.17
I think the most blessed
of all countries with light.
00:35:57.20\00:36:00.43
This place was
founded by godly people
00:36:00.46\00:36:03.84
who believed in the Bible,
00:36:03.87\00:36:05.77
who believed in
the supremacy of Christ
00:36:05.80\00:36:08.51
and who believed
in the commandments.
00:36:08.54\00:36:11.19
Other countries
have had great light,
00:36:11.22\00:36:13.07
Great Britain, Germany,
Australia, marvelous light.
00:36:13.10\00:36:19.36
But today, Cindy, there is an
active war in our universities,
00:36:19.39\00:36:26.98
even in some of our churches
against Christ and the Bible.
00:36:27.01\00:36:33.31
There's a war against everything
that this book stands for.
00:36:33.34\00:36:39.64
And thus, as the Bible and
the true gospel are rejected,
00:36:39.67\00:36:46.69
so terrible darkness
takes over the people.
00:36:46.72\00:36:49.43
You have crime.
00:36:49.46\00:36:51.42
You've every
awful, terrible sin.
00:36:51.45\00:36:55.30
People become mentally
and emotionally unstable.
00:36:55.33\00:37:00.57
You can't depend upon them.
00:37:00.60\00:37:01.97
They'll tell you one thing
but you know, yes means no.
00:37:02.00\00:37:05.82
No means yes, you
can't depend on them.
00:37:05.85\00:37:08.15
It is a deterioration
of the whole person
00:37:08.18\00:37:11.39
as the truth of God is rejected.
00:37:11.42\00:37:14.91
Our only safety is in
walking according to the truth
00:37:14.94\00:37:18.60
that God has given us and
by reading our Bibles everyday.
00:37:18.63\00:37:23.23
Cindy, in the Book of
Revelation there's a picture
00:37:23.26\00:37:25.55
of the white
horse that goes forth.
00:37:25.58\00:37:29.27
But straight after the white
horse, there comes a red horse.
00:37:29.30\00:37:32.30
The white horse represents
the preaching of the gospel.
00:37:32.33\00:37:35.34
Whenever the gospel is preached,
the red horse is close at hand.
00:37:35.37\00:37:40.84
Therefore, if we get this
right, everything will be right.
00:37:40.87\00:37:46.80
But if we get this
wrong, everything will be wrong.
00:37:46.83\00:37:51.98
And you are a
blessing in our church.
00:37:52.01\00:37:54.19
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
00:37:54.22\00:37:57.30
Another very wonderful person
00:38:02.46\00:38:04.44
whom we love in this
church is Marcy Rood.
00:38:04.47\00:38:08.77
Would you please welcome Marcy.
00:38:08.80\00:38:11.82
Marcy, you look so nice today
00:38:14.26\00:38:17.07
and it's always a pleasure
to have you here with us.
00:38:17.10\00:38:19.95
Thank you, Pastor.
00:38:19.98\00:38:21.58
Pastor, I am a Vice President
00:38:21.61\00:38:23.92
of a large bank
here in Los Angeles.
00:38:23.95\00:38:26.36
That's why I'm
always so nice to you.
00:38:26.39\00:38:28.40
But today there is a lot
of uncertainty in this world.
00:38:30.50\00:38:36.27
Pastor, how can I be
certain of my salvation?
00:38:36.30\00:38:40.86
Marcy, this is
the great question.
00:38:40.89\00:38:45.80
We can only be
certain of our salvation
00:38:45.83\00:38:48.79
if we're certain of the gospel.
00:38:48.82\00:38:51.88
If we get this right,
everything is gonna be right.
00:38:51.91\00:38:55.01
Marcy, would you
please read a text to us?
00:38:55.04\00:38:57.81
The text is John
10:27 and onwards.
00:38:57.84\00:39:02.94
John 10 and verse 11
00:39:02.97\00:39:08.40
John 10:11 and then
verse 27 and onwards.
00:39:08.43\00:39:12.65
And it answers your
very good question, Marcy.
00:39:12.68\00:39:15.29
Thank you. "I am
the good shepherd.
00:39:15.32\00:39:18.89
The good shepherd lays
down his life for the sheep.
00:39:18.92\00:39:23.94
My sheep listen to my voice.
00:39:23.97\00:39:26.32
I know them, and they follow me.
00:39:26.35\00:39:29.43
I give them eternal life,
and they shall never perish.
00:39:29.46\00:39:34.70
No one can snatch
them out of my hand.
00:39:34.73\00:39:37.82
My Father, who
has given them to me,
00:39:37.85\00:39:40.72
is greater than all
and no one can snatch them
00:39:40.75\00:39:45.08
out of my Father's hand."
00:39:45.11\00:39:47.91
Marcy, the amazing news is this,
00:39:47.94\00:39:49.70
that if you are
in the Father's hand,
00:39:49.73\00:39:51.29
you're perfectly safe.
00:39:51.32\00:39:53.52
Once you come to
Christ and hold on to Him,
00:39:53.55\00:39:57.34
He will hold on to you.
00:39:57.37\00:39:59.31
There was a little plaque in
Dr. Moody's office that said,
00:39:59.34\00:40:03.14
"Holding, I am
held." God holds on to us.
00:40:03.17\00:40:06.88
We all know about
Mother Teresa, don't we?
00:40:06.91\00:40:09.50
Famous woman, she did so
much for the lepers in India,
00:40:09.53\00:40:13.41
Kolkata and other places.
00:40:13.44\00:40:15.93
But when she died her
letters were published.
00:40:15.96\00:40:18.02
It was discovered
and the world was shocked
00:40:18.05\00:40:20.84
that Mother Teresa
never had a day of peace.
00:40:20.87\00:40:23.91
She was continually depressed.
00:40:23.94\00:40:25.98
There were times when she
wanted to become an atheist.
00:40:26.01\00:40:29.16
You know why? Get this right
and everything will be right,
00:40:29.19\00:40:32.41
get this wrong and
everything will be wrong.
00:40:32.44\00:40:34.71
Mother Teresa
was taught a theology
00:40:34.74\00:40:38.58
by the great organization
called the Jesuits that taught
00:40:38.61\00:40:42.34
that
justification was a process.
00:40:42.37\00:40:44.57
Now the Bible says,
00:40:44.60\00:40:46.11
"Being justified by
faith we have peace with God."
00:40:46.14\00:40:48.85
They believe the justification
is not instantaneous
00:40:48.88\00:40:52.05
on the merits of Christ's
death but it is a process
00:40:52.08\00:40:55.88
that is done in their
hearts by the Holy Spirit.
00:40:55.91\00:40:58.62
And it takes forever
and ever. In another words,
00:40:58.65\00:41:01.45
they confuse sanctification
and justification.
00:41:01.48\00:41:04.95
And therefore, when she
died, she died with fear.
00:41:04.98\00:41:11.29
As must every
person who believes
00:41:11.32\00:41:13.95
this terrible
Anti-Christian theology.
00:41:13.98\00:41:17.59
As a pastor I've met with
many, many people who believe
00:41:17.62\00:41:20.57
that theology, even
in our own churches.
00:41:20.60\00:41:23.77
They believe,
they're not good enough.
00:41:23.80\00:41:25.63
But the good news is we
don't do good to be saved.
00:41:25.66\00:41:31.46
You got to be saved to do good.
00:41:31.49\00:41:34.56
And when Jesus comes into
your heart, Jesus changes you.
00:41:34.59\00:41:39.13
That's after you're justified.
He changes you inside.
00:41:39.16\00:41:44.92
And you become a new person.
00:41:44.95\00:41:47.02
And so, Marcy, when we
have Christ and Christ has us,
00:41:47.05\00:41:50.93
and when we
believe in the true gospel
00:41:50.96\00:41:53.09
we need never be afraid again.
00:41:53.12\00:41:56.76
Amen. And you're
a blessing, Marcy.
00:41:56.79\00:41:58.77
Thank you, pastor.
Thank you. Thank you.
00:41:58.80\00:42:03.68
Marcy is just a
very, very special person.
00:42:03.71\00:42:07.34
And there's something
else you got to realize, too.
00:42:07.37\00:42:10.14
Want you to think about this?
00:42:10.17\00:42:12.25
Some people are scared to death
00:42:12.28\00:42:13.65
because their church
says if I ex-communicate you,
00:42:13.68\00:42:16.74
you're going to hell.
Have you heard this taught?
00:42:16.77\00:42:19.93
Well, I want you
to know something,
00:42:19.96\00:42:21.81
the church
doesn't keep the books.
00:42:21.84\00:42:25.10
God keeps the
books. God keeps the books.
00:42:25.13\00:42:28.78
If you're right with God,
the church can kick you out,
00:42:28.81\00:42:32.55
the church can defame you,
00:42:32.58\00:42:34.44
the church can do lots
of awful things to you,
00:42:34.47\00:42:37.62
but nothing can change
your relationship to God.
00:42:37.65\00:42:41.82
So remember if you get
this right, what about it?
00:42:41.85\00:42:45.55
Every things gonna be right.
00:42:45.58\00:42:47.47
Ron Barclay is an
elder in our church.
00:42:47.50\00:42:49.70
Person we love and appreciate.
00:42:49.73\00:42:51.96
And he's been in our
church for a long time now.
00:42:51.99\00:42:54.85
And we want to welcome today,
00:42:54.88\00:42:56.25
would you please
welcome Ron Barclay.
00:42:56.28\00:43:01.96
Ron, what's your question?
00:43:01.99\00:43:05.45
- I have a lot questions.
00:43:05.48\00:43:07.57
Pastor Carter, I came
to this church originally
00:43:07.60\00:43:11.67
because I had a lot of curiosity
about what was going on here.
00:43:11.70\00:43:15.45
And quite frankly, there were
some of the sermons I heard,
00:43:15.48\00:43:18.36
I didn't like, simply because
00:43:18.39\00:43:20.30
they were
contrary to my theology,
00:43:20.33\00:43:22.34
my understanding at
that time of my life.
00:43:22.37\00:43:24.72
But we have a wonderful God.
00:43:24.75\00:43:26.74
He's brought me a long way
00:43:26.77\00:43:28.21
and I now have a much deeper
understanding of the gospel
00:43:28.24\00:43:30.82
than I ever had before.
00:43:30.85\00:43:32.81
But in my Christian walk,
I've encountered individuals
00:43:32.84\00:43:36.24
in my own church that
base their salvation on their
00:43:36.27\00:43:41.61
perfect keeping of the
law of God, perfectionists.
00:43:41.64\00:43:46.30
At the same
time, I've encountered
00:43:46.33\00:43:48.45
other groups
that are so liberal.
00:43:48.48\00:43:52.67
They claim the law of
God has been done away with.
00:43:52.70\00:43:55.44
We're not under
the law, anymore.
00:43:55.47\00:43:58.29
Pastor Carter, what does
the Bible say about these things
00:43:58.32\00:44:01.90
that are such an
enemy of the true gospel?
00:44:01.93\00:44:06.32
Great question. Let's
turn, Ron, please in your Bible
00:44:06.35\00:44:09.64
and the congregation do the same
00:44:09.67\00:44:11.04
Romans 3:28 and then verse 31.
00:44:11.07\00:44:15.94
Romans Chapter Three.
00:44:15.97\00:44:19.76
Everybody turn to the text
please, Romans 3:28 and then 31.
00:44:19.79\00:44:25.44
This gives us a
balance. Thanks, Ron.
00:44:25.47\00:44:29.67
"Therefore we conclude
that a man is justified by faith
00:44:29.70\00:44:33.37
apart from the deeds of the law.
00:44:33.40\00:44:36.84
Do we then make void the law
through faith? Certainly not.
00:44:36.87\00:44:40.45
On the contrary,
we establish the law."
00:44:40.48\00:44:44.95
You got two texts there.
00:44:44.98\00:44:47.11
Martin Luther told the
story of the drunken German.
00:44:47.14\00:44:50.39
He said, "If he didn't
fall off the left side,
00:44:50.42\00:44:53.21
he fell off the right side."
00:44:53.24\00:44:54.70
That's like most folks when
they get on the gospel horse.
00:44:54.73\00:44:57.75
If they didn't
fall off the left side,
00:44:57.78\00:44:59.27
they fell off the right side.
00:44:59.30\00:45:01.18
Paul says "We affirm, we declare
00:45:01.21\00:45:05.44
that a man is justified by faith
without the deeds of the law.
00:45:05.47\00:45:08.83
Therefore, I come to
Christ with all my sins,
00:45:08.86\00:45:12.25
with all my faults and I accept
what Christ has done for me.
00:45:12.28\00:45:17.65
And I am justified. I
come as a penitent sinner."
00:45:17.68\00:45:21.90
But then verse 31 says
00:45:21.93\00:45:23.66
"Does this faith do
away with the law of God?"
00:45:23.69\00:45:26.46
No, this faith
establishes the law of God.
00:45:26.49\00:45:31.08
So when a person-- so
there are two heresies.
00:45:31.11\00:45:33.24
The heresies of
anti-nominalism, that says
00:45:33.27\00:45:37.07
that the law is abolished
and you can do what you like.
00:45:37.10\00:45:40.42
And the second
Heresies is legalism.
00:45:40.45\00:45:44.72
That's Pharisaism, that says
00:45:44.75\00:45:47.52
that I must be
saved by climbing up
00:45:47.55\00:45:50.43
the quaking
sides of Mount Sinai.
00:45:50.46\00:45:53.69
And when I'm good
enough God's gonna say
00:45:53.72\00:45:56.22
"Well done, you
can come in now."
00:45:56.25\00:45:59.57
But the gospel tells
me, Christ is my Savior
00:45:59.60\00:46:04.08
and I'm saved
through Him, not through me.
00:46:04.11\00:46:08.38
But because I'm
saved through Him,
00:46:08.41\00:46:11.11
because I love Him,
00:46:11.14\00:46:13.07
I will want to
obey Him and serve Him.
00:46:13.10\00:46:15.89
Amen. God bless you, Ron.
00:46:15.92\00:46:17.84
Thank you. We
love you. Thank you.
00:46:17.87\00:46:21.42
Love and
appreciate all these people.
00:46:21.45\00:46:26.24
Now it's a very
special person in this church
00:46:26.27\00:46:28.32
whom we all love and
admire is Alma Dixon.
00:46:28.35\00:46:33.17
Would you please
welcome my sister Alma Doxion.
00:46:33.20\00:46:37.37
Alma, mighty glad today
to see you here in church.
00:46:41.12\00:46:44.17
- I'm so happy to
see you, Pastor Carter.
00:46:44.20\00:46:47.86
Alma, you've got something,
you're gonna to say today?
00:46:47.89\00:46:50.43
Yes, you know, Pastor Carter,
00:46:50.46\00:46:51.99
my ancestors come from
Africa and I got to tell you--
00:46:52.02\00:46:54.54
You're kidding? Yeah.
You're putting me on, Alma.
00:46:54.57\00:46:58.24
I can believe that of
Cindy. No, but anyhow--
00:46:58.27\00:47:01.06
Actually some
are darker than me.
00:47:01.09\00:47:04.57
And you know I was
really glad to hear
00:47:04.60\00:47:06.50
that this year
you're going to Africa
00:47:06.53\00:47:07.97
to preach the true gospel.
00:47:08.00\00:47:09.76
Because here in
the United States
00:47:09.79\00:47:11.54
the prosperity gospel
is continually preached.
00:47:11.57\00:47:15.05
And unfortunately, the
prosperity gospel is begin
00:47:15.08\00:47:17.75
to be preached in Africa also
where there is such poverty.
00:47:17.78\00:47:20.62
Now my question to
you, Pastor Carter,
00:47:20.65\00:47:22.32
why is the prosperity
gospel such a great fake?
00:47:22.35\00:47:26.36
And Alma, you call it a fake.
00:47:26.39\00:47:29.24
It's a fake
because it is a fake.
00:47:29.27\00:47:32.40
I want you to
read this text please
00:47:32.43\00:47:34.60
to the good
folks here, John 16:33.
00:47:34.63\00:47:38.36
These are the words
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:47:38.39\00:47:41.99
John 16:33.
00:47:42.02\00:47:47.51
Alma dear,
you're ready to read it?
00:47:47.54\00:47:49.25
Yes, "I have
told you these things,
00:47:49.28\00:47:52.69
so that in me
you may have peace.
00:47:52.72\00:47:55.75
In this world you
will have trouble.
00:47:55.78\00:47:58.27
But take heart! I
have overcome the world."
00:47:58.30\00:48:01.71
In this world,
what does it say, Alma?
00:48:01.74\00:48:04.74
"In this world,
you will have trouble."
00:48:04.77\00:48:07.47
So you gonna have trouble.
00:48:07.50\00:48:08.87
The prosperity gospel
say "Give your life to Jesus
00:48:08.90\00:48:11.48
and everything is a
bed of roses," you say.
00:48:11.51\00:48:14.32
But Jesus said, "In this
world you gonna have trouble."
00:48:14.35\00:48:18.88
You don't find that God
has called us to prosperity.
00:48:18.91\00:48:22.74
He has called us to
faithfulness and to obedience.
00:48:22.77\00:48:27.31
I believe that
if we obey His word,
00:48:27.34\00:48:29.42
we're going to have
a great degree, Alma,
00:48:29.45\00:48:31.87
of prosperity.
God is gonna bless us.
00:48:31.90\00:48:35.35
But I have a
prosperity gospel I preach.
00:48:35.38\00:48:38.82
Yes? Jesus is coming.
00:48:38.85\00:48:42.56
And when Jesus
comes it's gonna be
00:48:42.59\00:48:44.88
a new heaven and a new earth.
00:48:44.91\00:48:46.84
Can you visualize it?
00:48:46.87\00:48:48.43
The beautiful city,
the streets of gold.
00:48:48.46\00:48:51.98
We're gonna have mansions.
00:48:52.01\00:48:54.05
I wonder if you're
gonna look like me,
00:48:54.08\00:48:55.57
if I'm gonna look like you.
00:48:55.60\00:48:57.89
I think you'll be a
little bit taller and darker.
00:48:57.92\00:49:00.16
Oh, well, that sort of tells me,
00:49:00.19\00:49:02.48
but let's get back to the--
00:49:02.51\00:49:04.39
back this little
vision we're talking about.
00:49:04.42\00:49:06.34
Can't you see it? The
New Jerusalem, the gold.
00:49:06.37\00:49:10.40
You're gonna have a mansion
and I'm gonna have a mansion.
00:49:10.43\00:49:12.94
Maybe we'll be neighbors.
00:49:12.97\00:49:14.90
I think so, Pastor Carter.
Maybe we'll do garden together.
00:49:14.93\00:49:19.12
That-- I hadn't
thought about that, Alma.
00:49:19.15\00:49:21.01
But anyhow that just may be so,
00:49:21.04\00:49:22.71
as long as you don't grow
broccoli or any of that stuff.
00:49:22.74\00:49:26.80
One day we're going to have
00:49:26.83\00:49:29.54
because of the gospel a
wonderful, wonderful home.
00:49:29.57\00:49:33.59
We're proud to you,
Alma. God bless you. Thank you.
00:49:33.62\00:49:36.33
I want to tell you a story.
00:49:43.34\00:49:45.39
I can never get
it out of my soul.
00:49:45.42\00:49:48.11
I was running a
big series of meetings
00:49:48.14\00:49:49.81
in the Dallas
Brooks, in Melbourne.
00:49:49.84\00:49:52.15
Want to say hello to
my friends in Melbourne.
00:49:52.18\00:49:54.13
I just love the
city of Melbourne.
00:49:54.16\00:49:57.13
There's a big theater downtown
00:49:57.16\00:49:58.65
called the
Dallas Brooks Theater.
00:49:58.68\00:50:01.51
And after a while after you've
been running the meetings,
00:50:01.54\00:50:03.91
you know, week
after week after week.
00:50:03.94\00:50:06.18
Even you got thousands coming.
00:50:06.21\00:50:07.58
You start to recognize
people in the audience,
00:50:07.61\00:50:10.13
just like I
recognize Sylvia there before.
00:50:10.16\00:50:13.21
You sure know, you
know. You get to know people.
00:50:13.24\00:50:15.93
They get close to you.
00:50:15.96\00:50:17.36
There was a beautiful girl
00:50:17.39\00:50:18.76
who used to come
in night after night
00:50:18.79\00:50:20.16
with her husband
and two little kids.
00:50:20.19\00:50:22.89
He continued to come
but she stopped coming.
00:50:22.92\00:50:25.44
Now if you're
running a series of meetings,
00:50:25.47\00:50:28.24
you wonder why
people stop coming.
00:50:28.27\00:50:30.62
People stop coming
for all sorts of reasons.
00:50:30.65\00:50:32.74
Often it is
because the spirit of God
00:50:32.77\00:50:34.62
is getting to their hearts.
00:50:34.65\00:50:36.04
They don't like
hearing what they're hearing.
00:50:36.07\00:50:38.22
So I would go off and I'd visit.
00:50:38.25\00:50:40.31
And so, I went often
and visited these folks.
00:50:40.34\00:50:44.04
He took me into their bedroom
with the two little kids.
00:50:44.07\00:50:48.55
She was lying
propped up with the pillows,
00:50:48.58\00:50:50.77
all the beautiful hair was gone.
00:50:50.80\00:50:52.98
She was dying of
cancer. I will never forget her.
00:50:53.01\00:50:57.47
I sat down at the bed side with
her husband and the two kids.
00:50:57.50\00:51:01.76
And she said this to me,
because up to this point of time
00:51:01.79\00:51:05.05
she was not a Christian.
00:51:05.08\00:51:06.45
She said, "I'm going to
die and I'm scared to death."
00:51:06.48\00:51:10.55
If you don't have
Christ, you got reason to,
00:51:10.58\00:51:13.61
because the
train is coming, folks.
00:51:13.64\00:51:15.77
That big old train is
coming down the track.
00:51:15.80\00:51:19.16
If you don't let
Jesus take your place,
00:51:19.19\00:51:22.08
you're gonna stand alone.
00:51:22.11\00:51:24.95
But I told her
the story of gospel.
00:51:24.98\00:51:26.81
I read to her the
promises of the Bible.
00:51:26.84\00:51:29.51
I read to her
about the earth made new.
00:51:29.54\00:51:31.38
She said, "I just had hoped
I can see my children grow up."
00:51:31.41\00:51:35.59
I said, "It doesn't look
like this is gonna happen
00:51:35.62\00:51:38.24
but one day you gonna
have something better.
00:51:38.27\00:51:40.38
You can see them in glory."
00:51:40.41\00:51:44.46
And as I talked to her,
it was sort of wonderful,
00:51:44.49\00:51:50.33
because the fear went out
of her eyes. She got teary.
00:51:50.36\00:51:58.33
I led her to Christ, told
her the steps to go through.
00:51:58.36\00:52:03.53
And I told her because of Jesus
you are now, right with God.
00:52:03.56\00:52:10.48
Right with God, right now.
00:52:10.51\00:52:15.41
She got all right.
00:52:15.44\00:52:18.86
Consequently,
everything will be right.
00:52:18.89\00:52:25.47
I say to you today,
believe in the gospel.
00:52:25.50\00:52:31.70
I believe in the gospel.
00:52:31.73\00:52:36.65
This I believe. Amen.
00:52:36.68\00:52:43.95
Let us kneel.
00:52:43.98\00:52:45.76
Our father, we thank you
00:52:59.43\00:53:06.39
that because
you love us so much,
00:53:06.42\00:53:10.32
you gave your son
to be our substitute
00:53:10.35\00:53:15.87
and he was on the
railway tracks of justice.
00:53:15.90\00:53:18.79
When the wrath of God
came thundering through,
00:53:22.15\00:53:25.62
we think of the
words of Galatians
00:53:25.65\00:53:27.53
that we spoke about last week,
00:53:27.56\00:53:31.06
"Christ hath redeemed us
from the curse of the law
00:53:31.09\00:53:35.93
by becoming a curse for us.
00:53:35.96\00:53:39.24
Cursed is everyone
who was hung on a tree."
00:53:39.27\00:53:45.74
We thank you that this
is not good advice today,
00:53:45.77\00:53:50.42
but it's the good news
00:53:50.45\00:53:51.82
of what has been
done by somebody for us.
00:53:51.85\00:53:58.84
And we know today
if we get this wrong,
00:53:58.87\00:54:03.89
everything is gonna be wrong.
00:54:03.92\00:54:06.76
We pray that
you'll give us good eyes
00:54:06.79\00:54:11.04
so we can see so
that our whole body
00:54:11.07\00:54:15.17
will be full of light and glory.
00:54:15.20\00:54:19.77
We thank you today,
for the story of a God
00:54:19.80\00:54:23.88
who loved us so much
that he gave his only son
00:54:23.91\00:54:27.98
so that who ever
believes in him shall not perish
00:54:28.01\00:54:32.73
but have everlasting life.
00:54:32.76\00:54:35.57
And Father, with that
consciousness awakened
00:54:35.60\00:54:41.49
by the promptings
of the spirit of God,
00:54:41.52\00:54:44.40
we would come to you.
00:54:44.43\00:54:48.09
We would come not
as righteous people
00:54:48.12\00:54:51.36
but as sinners, all of us.
00:54:51.39\00:54:53.74
Some religious
and some irreligious
00:54:53.77\00:54:57.30
but we come as penitent sinners.
00:54:57.33\00:55:02.18
As we're praying in our church
today with every head bowed,
00:55:02.21\00:55:06.39
every eye closed,
all of us on their knees
00:55:06.42\00:55:11.63
recognizing that
we are great sinners,
00:55:11.66\00:55:16.54
how many will raise a
hand and say I now believe,
00:55:16.57\00:55:23.56
I do believe that
Jesus died for me?
00:55:23.59\00:55:28.47
Raise your hand if
that is your prayer.
00:55:28.50\00:55:31.52
I now believe, I do believe
00:55:31.55\00:55:37.02
that Jesus died for me.
00:55:37.05\00:55:41.59
I believe that He went
through the agony of the cross
00:55:41.62\00:55:47.32
to save me from agony.
00:55:47.35\00:55:51.63
I believe today that he
suffered the wrath of God,
00:55:51.66\00:55:58.18
so that I could have
and can have peace with God.
00:55:58.21\00:56:03.61
And today we raise
our hands and our hearts
00:56:03.64\00:56:08.35
and we thank you for the gospel.
00:56:08.38\00:56:14.06
Bless these dear
people here today.
00:56:14.09\00:56:17.63
Anoint our eyes with
eye salve, that we may see.
00:56:17.66\00:56:23.87
Clothe us with a
robe of righteousness
00:56:23.90\00:56:28.12
so that we will not be naked.
00:56:28.15\00:56:31.83
Forgive us our
transgression and grant us
00:56:31.86\00:56:36.23
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
00:56:36.26\00:56:40.17
Peace with God because of
the forgiveness of our sins.
00:56:40.20\00:56:46.71
We worship you. We
thank you. We bless you.
00:56:46.74\00:56:54.02
We love you. In
Jesus name. Amen.
00:56:54.05\00:57:00.70
Amen. Amen.
00:57:00.73\00:57:02.99