From Arcadia, California,
the Carter Report presents,
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"The Living Word
around the world."
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Hello, friend, I am John Carter.
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The Carter Report team is going
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to the Solomon
Islands to preach Christ.
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We're going this September 2011.
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We've just purchased
10,000 of these Bibles
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here in the United States.
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We're shipping them
out to the Solomon Islands.
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We are taking the
entire Carter Report team.
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We are hiring an
outdoor stadium they say,
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thousands maybe tens
of thousands of people
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are going to come every
night to hear the Word of God.
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The need is desperate
in the Solomon Islands.
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I need your
prayers, I need your support,
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I need your partnership as
we go to the Solomon Islands.
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Many, many years ago
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when I was
growing up in Australia,
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I met a man from
the Solomon Islands,
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his name was
Pastor Kata Rangaso.
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He told me the
stories of the headhunters,
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the cannibals and the
coming of the missionaries
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who came to preach the
Word of the Living God.
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That is why we are
going to the Solomon Islands
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to finish the work that
God has called us to do.
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I want you to be my
partner in this tremendous work.
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I want you to
come as a volunteer,
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I need your support.
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I need to hear from you today.
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Please write to me John Carter,
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PO Box 1900,
Thousand Oaks, California.
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Write to me please in Terrigal,
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New South Wales, Australia.
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The hour is late.
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Jesus said,
"Work while it is day,
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the night is coming
when no man can work."
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Join me please in
the Solomon Islands.
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I want to give
you just the warmest
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welcome today to
the Carter Report.
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Our topic today
is "The Old Violin"
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have we got a meeting for you?
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But first today,
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I'm delighted to
have a special guest,
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she sung for me
around the world.
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I love her lot,
baptized her in the Philippines,
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Sharon Verde, would
you please welcome today
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to the Carter
Report, Sharon Verde.
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His love
reached from the heavens
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To the far ends of the earth
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To give you life forever
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He left no stone unturned
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And before the break of dawn
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Jesus had you on His mind
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So you never need
to question His concern
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So what can separate you
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From the precious love of God?
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Who could ever come against
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His strong and perfect love?
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So when you're in the valley
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And your nights
are cold and lonely
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The darkest hour is
just before the dawn
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Remember
nothing can separate you
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From God's love.
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He numbered each and every star
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And calls them all by name
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He counts them one by one
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And sees that
they are still in place
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If He cares for every star
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Then He sees right where you are
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You can trust
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You'll never
fall from His embrace.
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So what can separate you
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From the precious love of God?
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Who could ever come against
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His strong and perfect love?
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So when you're in the valley
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And your nights
are cold and lonely
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The darkest hour is
just before the dawn
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Remember nothing
can separate you from
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Neither pain nor sorrow
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Not today and not tomorrow
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Nothing past or nothing present
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Nothing future, nothing ever.
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Remember
nothing can separate you
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From the precious love of God
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Remember nothing
could ever come against
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His strong and perfect love
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So when you're in the valley
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And your nights
are cold and lonely
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The darkest hour is
just before the dawn
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Remember nothing,
absolutely nothing
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Hope remember nothing
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Can separate you
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From God's love.
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Our topic today
is "The Old Violin."
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Now today we have
somebody who plays the violin,
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not the old violin but who
plays the violin beautifully.
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Her name is Grace Oh,
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and she's going to
play for us a wonderful song
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that's you all
love, "Amazing Grace."
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Would you please
welcome, Grace, today?
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Amazing grace can change lives
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and amazing grace changes lives.
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And that's what
we're talking about today.
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The topic is "The Old Violin."
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One of my favorite
bits of poetry is this.
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It was battered and scarred.
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Battered and
scarred, like some of us
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and the auctioneer thought
of scarcity worth his while
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to waste much
time on the old violin,
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but held it up with a smile.
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One of my bidden
good folks, she cried,
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who'll start the bidding for me?
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A dollar, a dollar then
two, only two, three dollars,
00:12:34.47\00:12:41.61
two dollars,
we'll make it three?
00:12:41.64\00:12:45.11
Three dollars once,
three dollars twice,
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going for three.
00:12:49.85\00:12:53.73
But no, from the room far back,
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grey head man came
forward and picked up the bow.
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Wiping the dust
from the old violin
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and tightening
the loose strings.
00:13:07.77\00:13:10.21
He played a
melody pure and sweet
00:13:10.24\00:13:12.60
as sweet as an angel sings.
00:13:12.63\00:13:18.38
Music seize to me,
auctioneer with a voice
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that was soft and low said,
00:13:21.44\00:13:26.35
"What am I bid
for the old violin?"
00:13:26.38\00:13:28.99
And he held it up with the bow.
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$1000, who'll make it two,
2000 and who'll make it three,
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3000 once, 3000 twice
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and going and gone said he.
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The people cheered,
but some of them cried.
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We do not quite understand,
what changed its worth?
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Swift came the reply,
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the touch of a master's hand.
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Many a men with life out of tune
00:14:06.92\00:14:09.66
and battered and
scarred with sin.
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Is auction cheap to
the thoughtless crowd
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much like the old violin.
00:14:16.18\00:14:18.80
A mess of
pottage, a glass of wine,
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a game and he travels on,
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he's going once,
he's going twice,
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he's going and almost gone.
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But the master comes
and the foolish crowd
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can never quite understand
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the change that's brought
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by the touch of
the master's hand.
00:14:47.34\00:14:53.01
So today we're talking
about changing old violins,
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there's something like
you heard this morning,
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when Grace, played
for us, Amazing Grace.
00:15:02.90\00:15:08.61
It's a wonderful thing.
00:15:08.64\00:15:10.81
A foolish crowd can
never quite understand
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the worth of the
soul and the change
00:15:15.51\00:15:17.91
that's brought by the
touch of the master's hand.
00:15:17.94\00:15:23.73
The theme today is changing
an old violin into a new violin.
00:15:23.76\00:15:31.28
Lotus, whom I baptized
a year or two year ago.
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After her baptism
gave me this old violin.
00:15:35.78\00:15:39.97
I took it because
I thought, you know,
00:15:43.80\00:15:47.13
I study this thing and
may be it's a Stradivarius.
00:15:47.16\00:15:50.72
I won't tell her,
maybe it's worth 20 million.
00:15:50.75\00:15:54.61
All right, it wasn't, Lotus.
00:15:54.64\00:15:59.12
But there's something beautiful,
it's an old battered violin.
00:15:59.15\00:16:04.48
Don't know how you feel,
but the truth of the matter is
00:16:07.49\00:16:11.03
we're all a lot
like that old violin.
00:16:11.06\00:16:16.17
David said, "I was born in sin
00:16:16.20\00:16:18.68
and in sin did my
mother conceive me."
00:16:18.71\00:16:21.57
We've all been battered by sin
00:16:21.60\00:16:25.01
and some times we
make discordant noises.
00:16:25.04\00:16:30.91
There's nothing more beautiful
than a violin well played
00:16:30.94\00:16:33.90
and there's nothing worst
than a violin badly played.
00:16:33.93\00:16:38.18
We've heard it beautifully
played today by Grace
00:16:38.21\00:16:41.01
when she played Amazing Grace.
00:16:41.04\00:16:42.64
But this old violin
00:16:46.69\00:16:49.26
is a symbol today
of what we become.
00:16:49.29\00:16:55.41
Now most of us have
still got some strings
00:16:55.44\00:16:58.09
because we make a lot of noise.
00:16:58.12\00:17:01.71
But this one
hasn't got any strings
00:17:01.74\00:17:03.63
and you can't even
tighten up the strings,
00:17:03.66\00:17:05.89
because there's nothing there
00:17:05.92\00:17:07.39
and there's no
section into the centre.
00:17:07.42\00:17:11.76
But it's very much
like the human race.
00:17:11.79\00:17:17.39
I don't know about you, folks,
00:17:17.42\00:17:19.25
but more and more it
comes into my consciousness
00:17:19.28\00:17:24.00
that the human
race is running down.
00:17:24.03\00:17:28.39
You turn on television,
its one scandal after another.
00:17:28.42\00:17:33.71
It's a good thing today
to stay away from television,
00:17:33.74\00:17:37.50
because the news on
the economy is not good.
00:17:37.53\00:17:40.86
The news on global
warming is not good.
00:17:40.89\00:17:45.06
And then the news on
the greenhouse effect
00:17:45.09\00:17:47.70
all of those
things, then the carbons
00:17:47.73\00:17:50.06
you know, I'm not a scientist.
00:17:50.09\00:17:52.68
But I do know
that the human race
00:17:52.71\00:17:55.96
is in need of the
touch of the Master's hand.
00:17:55.99\00:18:00.30
There's no doubt about it,
we all need a transformation.
00:18:00.33\00:18:05.70
But the good news,
my friends, it says,
00:18:05.73\00:18:07.92
that God is in the
business of transforming lives.
00:18:07.95\00:18:14.27
And you may feel today
it's useless as this old violin
00:18:14.30\00:18:20.06
that's so battered
and scarred by sin,
00:18:20.09\00:18:22.75
you may feel as useless as that.
00:18:22.78\00:18:25.72
But I want you to know today,
00:18:25.75\00:18:27.64
it doesn't matter
where you're watching,
00:18:27.67\00:18:29.04
you maybe watching today in Iraq
00:18:29.07\00:18:30.98
and we have
folks who watch in Iraq
00:18:31.01\00:18:33.55
and Saudi
Arabia, around the world.
00:18:33.58\00:18:36.60
But I want you to know this that
God is in the miracle working
00:18:36.63\00:18:42.16
business of transforming lives.
00:18:42.19\00:18:46.01
I want you to
come to our theme text.
00:18:46.04\00:18:47.98
2 Corinthians 3:17 and onwards.
00:18:48.01\00:18:51.93
2 Corinthians 3 and
most of us in this church
00:18:51.96\00:18:57.05
use the New
International Version.
00:18:57.08\00:18:59.72
2 Corinthians 3, but you follow
with the version that you have.
00:18:59.75\00:19:04.22
2 Corinthians 3:17-18.
00:19:04.25\00:19:08.30
And as you read
it in your Bible,
00:19:08.33\00:19:10.10
the NIV today in this church.
00:19:10.13\00:19:12.51
I'm going to read it to you
00:19:12.54\00:19:14.34
in my beautiful
Old King James Version.
00:19:14.37\00:19:19.44
17 and 18, "Now the
Lord is that Spirit,
00:19:19.47\00:19:24.29
and where the
Spirit of the Lord is--"
00:19:24.32\00:19:27.09
There is what?
"There is liberty."
00:19:27.12\00:19:29.98
I want to say to
the person today,
00:19:30.01\00:19:33.65
who is tied up with drugs.
00:19:33.68\00:19:37.35
You don't have
liberty until you have Christ.
00:19:37.38\00:19:42.00
Sin takes from us our liberty.
00:19:42.03\00:19:46.01
Many people think somehow that
sin is a liberating influence.
00:19:46.04\00:19:52.58
But the Bible tells me
00:19:52.61\00:19:54.69
that there's no
liberty without Christ.
00:19:54.72\00:19:58.62
So the Bible says,
00:19:58.65\00:20:01.54
"Where the Spirit of the
Lord is, there is liberty.
00:20:01.57\00:20:05.33
But we all, with open
face, all with open face
00:20:05.36\00:20:11.67
beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord,
00:20:11.70\00:20:16.61
are changed into
the same image--"
00:20:16.64\00:20:18.90
What does that say?
00:20:18.93\00:20:20.30
"From glory to glory,
00:20:20.33\00:20:23.46
even as by the
Spirit of the Lord."
00:20:23.49\00:20:28.10
The good news is this.
I want you to hear this.
00:20:28.13\00:20:34.06
It doesn't matter
how bad or how battered
00:20:34.09\00:20:38.60
or how bruised a person is.
00:20:38.63\00:20:43.58
God is in the
business of transforming lives.
00:20:43.61\00:20:47.48
He can take an old violin
and make it into a new violin,
00:20:47.51\00:20:53.26
that plays "Amazing Grace."
00:20:53.29\00:20:57.24
And sacred history is filled
00:20:57.27\00:20:59.48
with the
stories of men and women
00:20:59.51\00:21:03.57
who've been changed by the
touch of the Master's hand.
00:21:03.60\00:21:08.76
And today, we're going to talk
00:21:08.79\00:21:10.22
just for a little while--
just about a few of them.
00:21:10.25\00:21:13.64
And then I'm going
to invite some guests
00:21:13.67\00:21:15.76
from the audience to come
and share a message with you.
00:21:15.79\00:21:20.58
But the first Bible character
00:21:20.61\00:21:22.66
that comes to mind
today is Paul, the Pharisee
00:21:22.69\00:21:27.30
who was touched
by the Master's hand.
00:21:27.33\00:21:29.79
He was a battered
old violin, was Paul.
00:21:29.82\00:21:32.30
Would you come over
here to Philippians 3,
00:21:32.33\00:21:35.51
Galatians, Ephesians,
00:21:35.54\00:21:37.61
Philippians 3:5-6
in the Holy Bible.
00:21:37.64\00:21:44.98
Philippians 3:5-6.
00:21:45.01\00:21:47.31
Paul here gives
his testimony, he says,
00:21:47.34\00:21:50.52
"Circumcised on the eight
day, of the people of Israel,
00:21:50.55\00:21:56.68
of the tribe of
Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews,
00:21:56.71\00:22:01.53
in regard to the law,
a Pharisee, as for zeal,
00:22:01.56\00:22:06.68
persecuting the church,
00:22:06.71\00:22:08.60
as for legalistic
righteousness, faultless."
00:22:08.63\00:22:12.60
The hardest person to change
00:22:17.13\00:22:19.20
I think is a
super religious person.
00:22:19.23\00:22:24.69
And Paul was a super,
super religious person.
00:22:24.72\00:22:29.23
The Bible says, he was a
Pharisee of the Pharisees.
00:22:29.26\00:22:33.63
You know who the Pharisees were.
00:22:33.66\00:22:36.59
They were tremendously important
sect among the Jewish nation.
00:22:36.62\00:22:43.36
They were the most legalistic
00:22:43.39\00:22:45.16
and the most
sincere devote people
00:22:45.19\00:22:48.41
that you would meet
anywhere in the world.
00:22:48.44\00:22:51.99
And Paul was filled with
his own self righteousness
00:22:52.02\00:22:56.59
and he had a zeal for God
00:22:56.62\00:22:58.46
and a zeal for
persecuting the church.
00:22:58.49\00:23:01.91
If you come over
here to the Book of Acts,
00:23:01.94\00:23:04.05
what could God
do with such a man?
00:23:04.08\00:23:06.86
Acts 9:1-3, it
describes his course in Israel.
00:23:06.89\00:23:14.86
Acts 9:1-4, we'll notice it.
00:23:14.89\00:23:19.49
"Meanwhile, Saul
was still breathing out
00:23:19.52\00:23:22.23
murderous threats
against the Lord's disciples.
00:23:22.26\00:23:26.06
He went to the high priest
00:23:26.09\00:23:27.47
and asked for letters to
the synagogue in Damascus,
00:23:27.50\00:23:31.59
so that if he found any
there who belonged to the Way,
00:23:31.62\00:23:35.25
whether men or women,
00:23:35.28\00:23:36.88
he might take them as
prisoners to Jerusalem.
00:23:36.91\00:23:40.97
As he neared
Damascus on his journey,
00:23:41.00\00:23:43.63
suddenly a light from
heaven flashed around him,
00:23:43.66\00:23:46.13
he fell to the ground
and heard a voice say to him,
00:23:46.16\00:23:49.11
'Saul, Saul, why
do you persecute Me?'"
00:23:49.14\00:23:53.03
He said, who is that?
The voice said, "I'm Jesus."
00:23:53.06\00:23:58.33
He was a man who
was a religious bigot,
00:23:58.36\00:24:03.26
full of self righteousness,
filled up to the top of his head
00:24:03.29\00:24:08.25
with all the
teachings of the Lord,
00:24:08.28\00:24:11.15
persecuting the church.
00:24:11.18\00:24:15.72
And Jesus touched him,
and when Jesus touched him,
00:24:15.75\00:24:21.22
Jesus transformed
him from glory to glory.
00:24:21.25\00:24:27.79
I want you to know, no
person is too hard for Jesus.
00:24:27.82\00:24:33.33
From the Apostle Paul,
we have the Book of Romans,
00:24:33.36\00:24:38.20
the greatest book on the gospel
on justification by faith.
00:24:38.23\00:24:43.41
We've 1 and 2 Corinthians.
00:24:43.44\00:24:46.10
We've 1 Corinthians 13
that talks about the love of God
00:24:46.13\00:24:50.11
if I speak with
the tongues of men
00:24:50.14\00:24:51.93
and of angels that came
from Paul and have not love.
00:24:51.96\00:24:57.01
We have all of
these marvelous books
00:24:57.04\00:24:59.27
like Galatians, Ephesians,
Philippians came from this man.
00:24:59.30\00:25:05.31
Paul's life is a testimony
00:25:05.34\00:25:07.83
to the power of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ,
00:25:07.86\00:25:12.66
because God is in the
business of transforming lives.
00:25:12.69\00:25:19.18
Another great
example is John the Apostle.
00:25:19.21\00:25:23.12
Would you come over here
with me please to Mark 3:17.
00:25:23.15\00:25:28.42
Matthew, Mark 3:17.
00:25:28.45\00:25:34.22
That talks about this
hot head whose name was John.
00:25:34.25\00:25:38.70
Mark 3:17, the Bible says,
00:25:38.73\00:25:45.71
and if you look at verse 13,
00:25:45.74\00:25:47.11
"Jesus went up on a mountain
00:25:47.14\00:25:48.86
and called to Him those he
wanted, and they came to Him.
00:25:48.89\00:25:52.47
He appointed twelve--
designating them apostles--"
00:25:52.50\00:25:57.76
and then you come to verse 17,
00:25:57.79\00:25:59.78
"James, son of Zebedee
and his brother John to them
00:25:59.81\00:26:04.50
he gave the name Boanerges,
00:26:04.53\00:26:07.46
which means Sons of Thunder."
00:26:07.49\00:26:12.52
Anybody here with a bad temper?
00:26:12.55\00:26:16.95
Well, John had a bad temper.
00:26:16.98\00:26:19.22
He was a little pot soon hot.
00:26:19.25\00:26:25.54
And so he was a
man who was flamed up
00:26:25.57\00:26:28.35
with all the
passions of a sinful nature.
00:26:28.38\00:26:34.21
And God took this
man and touched him
00:26:34.24\00:26:38.10
and changed him by grace divine.
00:26:38.13\00:26:42.72
And from John, we
have the Gospel of John.
00:26:42.75\00:26:46.49
The theologians say,
it's the most profound
00:26:46.52\00:26:50.40
and the most
spiritual book ever written
00:26:50.43\00:26:53.48
in the history
of the human race.
00:26:53.51\00:26:56.42
And then he gave
us the apocalypse,
00:26:56.45\00:26:58.54
oh, the Book of Revelation.
00:26:58.57\00:27:00.78
From a fisherman,
00:27:00.81\00:27:04.00
a battered old violin
00:27:04.03\00:27:07.67
and God changed his life
and gave him a song to sing.
00:27:07.70\00:27:12.86
God is in the
business of changing lives.
00:27:12.89\00:27:16.00
It doesn't matter who you
are or what your problem is,
00:27:16.03\00:27:20.05
don't despair, because God can
change you and God can use you.
00:27:20.08\00:27:26.27
Now, I think of
another great character
00:27:26.30\00:27:28.79
that is mentioned in the Bible
00:27:28.82\00:27:30.19
and that is
Matthew from the IRS.
00:27:30.22\00:27:33.38
Would you come
over here to Matthew 9:9
00:27:33.41\00:27:36.69
and we all love the IRS.
00:27:36.72\00:27:40.42
Matthew 9:9.
00:27:40.45\00:27:44.39
Matthew the tax collector.
00:27:44.42\00:27:48.19
Matthew 9:9.
00:27:48.22\00:27:49.59
"As Jesus went on from there,
00:27:49.62\00:27:51.34
he saw a man named Matthew
00:27:51.37\00:27:54.81
sitting at the
tax collector's booth.
00:27:54.84\00:27:58.56
'Follow me,' he told him,
00:27:58.59\00:28:00.20
and Matthew got
up and followed him."
00:28:00.23\00:28:03.37
Now, back in those days,
00:28:03.40\00:28:08.13
people hated tax collectors.
00:28:08.16\00:28:13.74
Here is a Jewish tax collector
00:28:13.77\00:28:18.47
and he is collecting
taxes not for the Jewish nation,
00:28:18.50\00:28:23.85
but for the Romans.
00:28:23.88\00:28:28.72
And more than this,
he collected for himself.
00:28:28.75\00:28:34.04
And so he was
collecting for the Romans
00:28:34.07\00:28:37.47
and collecting for Matthew.
00:28:37.50\00:28:42.49
He was about as
popular as Wall Street bankers
00:28:42.52\00:28:49.33
who brought about the collapse
of economies around the world
00:28:49.36\00:28:53.12
and then rewarded
themselves with great bonuses.
00:28:53.15\00:28:58.14
Can you believe it?
00:28:58.17\00:29:00.23
Well, people by the
millions were losing their homes
00:29:00.26\00:29:04.00
and children were
dying of starvation,
00:29:04.03\00:29:07.59
they rewarded themselves.
00:29:07.62\00:29:09.81
And we're not here
to talk about them.
00:29:09.84\00:29:11.73
But those people are
not popular in America,
00:29:11.76\00:29:15.77
not popular
anywhere in the world.
00:29:15.80\00:29:21.36
And Matthew was like
a Wall Street banker.
00:29:21.39\00:29:25.11
But Jesus is in the business
00:29:30.87\00:29:35.20
of transforming lives.
00:29:35.23\00:29:39.91
And God reached down
and took this tax collector
00:29:39.94\00:29:43.49
working for the Roman IRS
00:29:43.52\00:29:48.96
and made him Saint Matthew.
00:29:48.99\00:29:51.47
And He gave us the
gospel according to Matthew.
00:29:51.50\00:29:54.33
When you read your Bible there
you have the Gospel of Matthew.
00:29:54.36\00:29:58.38
A couple of weeks ago,
we spoke on the great sermon
00:29:58.41\00:30:02.18
that is recorded there,
the Sermon on the Mount,
00:30:02.21\00:30:05.00
all written down with the hand,
00:30:05.03\00:30:07.58
with the pen of
Matthew the Saint.
00:30:07.61\00:30:13.55
So the Bible would
have us to understand this.
00:30:13.58\00:30:17.48
It is not the sin question,
it is the son question.
00:30:17.51\00:30:23.34
If you turn to the Son, He
will save you from your sin.
00:30:23.37\00:30:29.59
And God is in the
wonderful business
00:30:29.62\00:30:32.89
of changing lives
by His divine grace.
00:30:32.92\00:30:39.25
What we all need
today, my friend,
00:30:39.28\00:30:42.46
is the touch of
the Master's hand.
00:30:42.49\00:30:48.00
There may be somebody
watching the telecast today
00:30:48.03\00:30:50.77
I don't know, but I get, we get
letters from around the world.
00:30:50.80\00:30:55.75
And you feel that life is so bad
00:30:55.78\00:30:58.68
and you feel that you are
so bad and you can't go on.
00:30:58.71\00:31:02.32
I want you to know nobody is
too bad for the grace of God.
00:31:02.35\00:31:08.11
The grace of God is
greater than all of our sins.
00:31:08.14\00:31:15.62
You may feel like an old violin,
00:31:15.65\00:31:20.00
but I want to tell
you, folks, something,
00:31:20.03\00:31:22.08
God can take an old violin
00:31:22.11\00:31:24.40
and God can do
something wonderful with it.
00:31:24.43\00:31:28.26
Now we have a
number of guests here today
00:31:28.29\00:31:31.34
and a person who's
been coming to our church,
00:31:31.37\00:31:33.75
a very beautiful, wonderful
lady is Dr. Rema Johnson.
00:31:33.78\00:31:39.31
And I'm going to ask
Dr. Johnson now to come out
00:31:39.34\00:31:42.58
and we're going to have a
little chat for a minute or two.
00:31:42.61\00:31:47.52
Could you please
come, Dr. Johnson?
00:31:47.55\00:31:50.43
This lady is a
distinguished lady.
00:31:50.46\00:31:54.62
You like to
come over close to me
00:31:54.65\00:31:57.54
and then we're just
gonna have a little talk,
00:31:57.57\00:32:01.10
just this way a
little, thank you.
00:32:01.13\00:32:03.49
I'm going to ask you a
little bit about yourself.
00:32:03.52\00:32:05.71
Where did you
come from originally?
00:32:05.74\00:32:07.82
I was born in the
Northern Coast of Jamaica,
00:32:07.85\00:32:12.64
a little village
called Port Maria.
00:32:12.67\00:32:15.07
I've been to Jamaica.
00:32:15.10\00:32:17.05
I went to Kingston, Jamaica,
00:32:17.08\00:32:18.89
and ran some meetings
there and I love the people.
00:32:18.92\00:32:22.46
Then after some period of time,
00:32:22.49\00:32:26.86
you became involved with
the army, tell us about that?
00:32:26.89\00:32:30.91
I was in middle age, but
I was a very qualified nurse
00:32:30.94\00:32:36.28
and at that time,
they said they would take
00:32:36.31\00:32:38.72
any nurse with any
qualification, so I got in.
00:32:38.75\00:32:41.93
And I stayed in for 23 years
00:32:41.96\00:32:44.48
and retired as a
Lieutenant Colonel.
00:32:44.51\00:32:49.02
It's marvelous.
00:32:49.05\00:32:50.42
It's great to have a
Colonel in the church.
00:32:50.45\00:32:53.54
And also you have a doctorate.
00:32:53.57\00:32:55.90
Now today we're talking
about the old violin, doctor.
00:32:55.93\00:33:01.67
And we're talking about
God's transforming grace.
00:33:01.70\00:33:04.45
Can you tell us a little
bit from your own experience,
00:33:04.48\00:33:07.70
what you've seen about
00:33:07.73\00:33:09.10
the transforming
grace of our great God?
00:33:09.13\00:33:12.64
In my personal life, I
can testify to the fact
00:33:12.67\00:33:16.91
that I was brought
up in an atmosphere
00:33:16.94\00:33:19.47
where there was a lot
of belief about ghosts
00:33:19.50\00:33:22.39
and about how
Satan and the devil
00:33:22.42\00:33:25.28
and things like
that very fearful.
00:33:25.31\00:33:27.80
But somehow the
Spirit of God was with me
00:33:27.83\00:33:31.20
and brought me up to the point
00:33:31.23\00:33:33.03
where I was exposed to the
Seventh-day Adventist message.
00:33:33.06\00:33:38.00
What about Christ in the gospel?
00:33:38.03\00:33:40.01
How did Christ
reached down and touched you?
00:33:40.04\00:33:44.08
Christ reached down and touched
me very early in my life.
00:33:44.11\00:33:48.43
It wasn't through the
Seventh-day Adventist Ministry,
00:33:48.46\00:33:51.20
it was through
the Anglican ministry,
00:33:51.23\00:33:53.55
where I had to
learn the catechism,
00:33:53.58\00:33:57.50
repeat the Psalms and
much of the birth of Christ
00:33:57.53\00:34:02.00
as recorded in
the Old Testament,
00:34:02.03\00:34:03.95
in the New Testament.
00:34:03.98\00:34:05.74
And from then,
from an early age,
00:34:05.77\00:34:08.80
I felt that God's spirit was
always with me, always with me.
00:34:08.83\00:34:14.35
And when I talked to
you, when I've met you,
00:34:14.38\00:34:15.97
I can see that the
Spirit of God is with you.
00:34:16.00\00:34:18.64
You told me that the
soldiers as they came in,
00:34:18.67\00:34:21.65
some of them are
watching our telecast,
00:34:21.68\00:34:23.59
I never knew that before.
00:34:23.62\00:34:25.56
Well, this was very, it
was God's providential hand.
00:34:25.59\00:34:30.19
When I got to Germany,
00:34:30.22\00:34:31.92
because of my background I
was put in-charge of a unit
00:34:31.95\00:34:35.34
that was sending our
soldiers down to Iraq,
00:34:35.37\00:34:39.07
getting ready for the first war.
00:34:39.10\00:34:41.47
And as a senior
nurse, I could not go,
00:34:41.50\00:34:44.11
but I would send
members of my unit.
00:34:44.14\00:34:46.27
While they went down there,
they were able to watch the 3ABN
00:34:46.30\00:34:50.21
and most of the
time, they were very happy
00:34:50.24\00:34:53.64
about watching
The Carter Report.
00:34:53.67\00:34:56.32
And while they were there,
00:34:56.35\00:34:57.74
they would get Bible
lesson from the chaplain
00:34:57.77\00:35:00.82
and many of them
came back to Germany
00:35:00.85\00:35:02.87
to my unit to be baptized.
00:35:02.90\00:35:05.11
And with the help of
Pastor Gremelin from Australia,
00:35:05.14\00:35:09.49
we were able to
baptize a variety of young men
00:35:09.52\00:35:12.39
before they went
back to the battlefield.
00:35:12.42\00:35:15.90
Your life has been rich and full
00:35:15.93\00:35:18.69
and you've seen the hand of God.
00:35:18.72\00:35:21.18
You've seen the transforming
grace of God at work
00:35:21.21\00:35:24.34
and He can take battered
people and bruised people
00:35:24.37\00:35:28.12
and He can touch them and
change them for His glory.
00:35:28.15\00:35:30.98
And we thank God for you
00:35:31.01\00:35:32.70
and we pray that
God will continue
00:35:32.73\00:35:34.90
to bless you in your ministry.
00:35:34.93\00:35:36.30
Thank you so much.
00:35:36.33\00:35:37.70
Thank you. Thank you, doctor.
00:35:37.73\00:35:39.10
Now that is my friend, an
amazing and wonderful story.
00:35:46.03\00:35:51.79
You see God is in the business
00:35:51.82\00:35:53.90
of transforming
lives not by force.
00:35:53.93\00:35:59.42
You can't legislate morality.
00:35:59.45\00:36:02.41
I heard a famous
American speaker,
00:36:02.44\00:36:05.47
in fact, he's in the Congress
and he said something very good.
00:36:05.50\00:36:10.35
He said we don't want
a theocracy in America,
00:36:10.38\00:36:13.01
some people want a theocracy.
00:36:13.04\00:36:15.51
They want church and
state to be together,
00:36:15.54\00:36:17.70
because then we can
force people to be good.
00:36:17.73\00:36:21.36
But he said, you can
never, never legislate morality,
00:36:21.39\00:36:27.36
you can't make people good.
00:36:27.39\00:36:29.69
That is why America needs
and that is why the world needs
00:36:29.72\00:36:33.72
the Christian church
preaching the gospel of Jesus.
00:36:33.75\00:36:38.36
So God doesn't use,
God doesn't use force
00:36:38.39\00:36:42.20
to get people to do His will.
00:36:42.23\00:36:45.64
Well, He does use force, that
is a different sort of force,
00:36:45.67\00:36:50.21
it is the force, it's
the power of His love.
00:36:50.24\00:36:55.08
And I want you to come over
now to 2 Corinthians 5:14, 15.
00:36:55.11\00:37:01.30
2 Corinthians 5:14, 15.
00:37:01.33\00:37:09.30
2 Corinthians 5:14, 15.
00:37:09.33\00:37:15.08
God was in the business
00:37:15.11\00:37:16.48
of transforming lives
by the power of His love.
00:37:16.51\00:37:20.51
You got it?
00:37:20.54\00:37:21.91
Chapter 5:14, 15.
00:37:21.94\00:37:24.24
"For Christ's love compels us,
00:37:24.27\00:37:27.98
because we are
convinced that one died for all,
00:37:28.01\00:37:32.00
and therefore all died.
00:37:32.03\00:37:34.23
And he died for all,
00:37:34.26\00:37:35.63
that they who live should
no longer live for themselves
00:37:35.66\00:37:39.21
but for him who died for
them and was raised again."
00:37:39.24\00:37:42.97
It is the power of the love
of God that changes our lives.
00:37:43.00\00:37:47.60
And if you come to verse 21.
00:37:47.63\00:37:49.35
"God made him, Christ, who
had no sin to be sin for us,
00:37:49.38\00:37:54.12
so that in Him we might become
the righteousness of God."
00:37:54.15\00:38:00.64
What is God like, friend?
00:38:00.67\00:38:03.90
I want to talk to
the television audience,
00:38:03.93\00:38:06.02
there maybe
somebody saying there today,
00:38:06.05\00:38:08.51
I've been brought up to
believe that God is harsh.
00:38:08.54\00:38:12.50
I know many, many folks
00:38:12.53\00:38:13.90
who've been brought
up in legalistic homes
00:38:13.93\00:38:16.11
and they were brought up
with a terrible fear of God
00:38:16.14\00:38:19.27
that He is harsh and He is
waiting to knock them down.
00:38:19.30\00:38:23.07
Some of you here know
what I'm talking about.
00:38:23.10\00:38:25.07
It's true, Ron, isn't it?
00:38:25.10\00:38:26.67
The God is terrible
God, He's a fearful God.
00:38:26.70\00:38:31.88
On one of occasions,
Jesus said these words.
00:38:31.91\00:38:35.80
"He who has seen me
has seen the Father."
00:38:35.83\00:38:41.19
You want to know
what God is like,
00:38:41.22\00:38:42.72
God the Father, He's like Jesus.
00:38:42.75\00:38:46.04
What is Jesus like?
00:38:46.07\00:38:48.27
Well, Jesus is loving,
00:38:48.30\00:38:49.93
see Him with the
woman caught in adultery,
00:38:49.96\00:38:53.00
He delivered her
and He saved her soul.
00:38:53.03\00:38:55.76
See Jesus with
the little children,
00:38:55.79\00:38:57.89
allow the little children to
come unto me, what is He like?
00:38:57.92\00:39:02.26
See Jesus on the cross
that is what the Father is like.
00:39:02.29\00:39:06.11
See Jesus going through hell,
00:39:06.14\00:39:08.75
bearing our sins
because He loves us.
00:39:08.78\00:39:13.36
The greatest truth in the Bible
is the truth of the love of God.
00:39:13.39\00:39:17.55
Some of you've heard this story,
00:39:20.73\00:39:22.14
but when I was a
boy going to college,
00:39:22.17\00:39:25.10
I was only 17 years of age,
00:39:25.13\00:39:27.36
so it's quite a while
ago, I did not know Christ.
00:39:27.39\00:39:33.81
But I went to Avondale College
00:39:33.84\00:39:36.18
and I heard some tremendous
preaching on the love of God.
00:39:36.21\00:39:40.60
And a senior student whom I
love to this date Tom Ludovice.
00:39:40.63\00:39:44.46
Dr. Tom
Ludovice, how do you, Tom?
00:39:44.49\00:39:47.59
Still think of
you, Tom, pray for you,
00:39:47.62\00:39:50.35
love you, Tom, I
appreciate you, Tom.
00:39:50.38\00:39:52.93
Tom took me aside every night
under the trees of Avondale
00:39:52.96\00:39:56.71
and he talked to me
about the love of God.
00:39:56.74\00:40:00.44
I'd never heard
anything like this.
00:40:00.47\00:40:02.59
I've been brought
up in a Christian home.
00:40:02.62\00:40:07.07
I had religion knocked into me.
00:40:07.10\00:40:11.39
I was beaten up with religion.
00:40:11.42\00:40:15.76
But when I heard
that God loved me
00:40:15.79\00:40:19.17
and He cared for me
and Christ had died for me,
00:40:19.20\00:40:22.73
I wondered around
for days at Avondale
00:40:22.76\00:40:25.59
as though I was in a stupor.
00:40:25.62\00:40:28.43
As though I was-- I
was just dazed and amazed
00:40:28.46\00:40:32.01
by the fact that He loves me.
00:40:32.04\00:40:35.71
And I want you to
know this, whatever you do,
00:40:35.74\00:40:39.35
you can be as bad as you like,
00:40:39.38\00:40:41.18
you can do evil things,
you cannot stop God loving you.
00:40:41.21\00:40:45.34
He will keep loving
you, because God is love
00:40:45.37\00:40:49.56
and God is in the business
00:40:49.59\00:40:50.96
of transforming
lives by His love.
00:40:50.99\00:40:54.12
I want every person today
00:40:54.15\00:40:56.00
who's watching the
telecast to know God loves you.
00:40:56.03\00:40:59.83
Jesus cares for you, He
died for you on the cross.
00:40:59.86\00:41:05.69
A very beautiful
lady in this church
00:41:05.72\00:41:07.88
who's been coming to this church
00:41:07.91\00:41:09.28
for some time
now is Silvia Licon.
00:41:09.31\00:41:14.29
And I believe that she
has an experience with God
00:41:14.32\00:41:17.33
and I'm going to ask
Silvia to come forth now.
00:41:17.36\00:41:20.16
Come up here on the stage
00:41:20.19\00:41:21.98
and we're just going to
have a little chat together.
00:41:22.01\00:41:25.24
Would you please
welcome Silvia Licon.
00:41:25.27\00:41:31.96
Silvia, you look so nice
and I'm so glad to see you.
00:41:31.99\00:41:35.48
You're a wonderful
member of this church
00:41:35.51\00:41:38.25
and in this church,
we don't just love you,
00:41:38.28\00:41:41.86
we like you. Thank you.
00:41:41.89\00:41:45.07
How have you seen
00:41:45.10\00:41:46.47
the transforming
power of God at work?
00:41:46.50\00:41:50.16
Pastor, I grew up
in a different church.
00:41:50.19\00:41:52.67
I used to go to mass
00:41:52.70\00:41:54.07
every morning
before going to school.
00:41:54.10\00:41:56.60
And they have
different idols there
00:41:56.63\00:41:59.36
and one of them
was Jesus on the cross.
00:41:59.39\00:42:02.74
And I will--
after the mass was over
00:42:02.77\00:42:04.71
I will go and say hi to
Him and I will say I'm sorry
00:42:04.74\00:42:07.79
that You were put to
death by mean powerful people
00:42:07.82\00:42:13.36
and that nobody helped You.
00:42:13.39\00:42:15.32
But that was the
knowledge I had of Him.
00:42:15.35\00:42:18.54
After, a pastor
offered me bible study
00:42:18.57\00:42:21.95
and gave me a Bible.
00:42:21.98\00:42:23.63
I learned that
Jesus chose to die
00:42:23.66\00:42:29.35
that He knew that I was a sinner
00:42:29.38\00:42:31.72
and that He didn't
offer Himself for me,
00:42:31.75\00:42:35.54
I wouldn't be able to
with Him forever in heaven.
00:42:35.57\00:42:39.76
So I learned
something wonderful.
00:42:39.79\00:42:42.07
He died for me, He resurrected,
00:42:42.10\00:42:44.65
He went to heaven, He
prepared a place for me,
00:42:44.68\00:42:47.95
and not only
that He is my friend,
00:42:47.98\00:42:51.12
we have a wonderful
relationship every day.
00:42:51.15\00:42:54.06
We have a wonderful
relationship everyday. Yes.
00:42:54.09\00:42:57.90
He's my friend, I'm never alone.
00:42:57.93\00:43:01.19
I go through
hardships but not by myself,
00:43:01.22\00:43:04.05
He's with me and I'm so thankful
00:43:04.08\00:43:07.41
and I wish
everybody will know Him,
00:43:07.44\00:43:09.71
because His love
is great and He's--
00:43:09.74\00:43:14.38
the hope that He
gives us is wonderful.
00:43:14.41\00:43:17.58
Silvia, you're the product
00:43:17.61\00:43:19.93
of the touch of
the Master's hand.
00:43:19.96\00:43:23.64
You're a beautiful
person and we love you
00:43:23.67\00:43:26.55
and thank you so much
today. I love you too.
00:43:26.58\00:43:28.35
Thank you. Thank you, Silvia.
00:43:28.38\00:43:30.05
Transformed by grace
divine through the love of God,
00:43:37.59\00:43:43.08
by the power of the word,
00:43:43.11\00:43:44.95
I said God changes
people by the power of the word.
00:43:44.98\00:43:48.98
I want you to
take your Bibles please
00:43:49.01\00:43:50.67
and turn over here to
the Book of Hebrews 4:12-13.
00:43:50.70\00:43:55.97
Hebrews 4:12-13.
00:43:56.00\00:44:01.53
My dear friends,
Hebrews 4: 12-13.
00:44:01.56\00:44:08.37
The Bible says, "For the Word
of God is living and active.
00:44:08.40\00:44:14.11
Sharper than any
double-edged sword,
00:44:14.14\00:44:16.92
it penetrates
even to dividing soul
00:44:16.95\00:44:19.77
and spirit, joints and marrow,
00:44:19.80\00:44:22.70
it judges the thoughts
and attitudes of the heart.
00:44:22.73\00:44:27.67
Nothing in all creation
is hidden from God's sight.
00:44:27.70\00:44:30.73
Everything is
uncovered and laid bare
00:44:30.76\00:44:33.11
before the eyes of him to
whom we must give account."
00:44:33.14\00:44:37.58
Listen, the Word of
God is mighty and powerful.
00:44:37.61\00:44:43.00
I know it is true.
00:44:43.03\00:44:47.37
If you allow the Word of
God to speak to your heart,
00:44:47.40\00:44:51.80
if you'll start to
read the Word of God,
00:44:51.83\00:44:54.84
a miracle is going
to happen in your life.
00:44:54.87\00:44:58.50
You know what,
the devil is afraid
00:44:58.53\00:45:00.04
of more than
anything else, my friend,
00:45:00.07\00:45:02.61
that you and I will read
and believe the Word of God.
00:45:02.64\00:45:07.28
How do you explain this?
00:45:07.31\00:45:09.78
At 5 o'clock in
Russia, we've 10,000 atheists,
00:45:09.81\00:45:15.12
they won't even
lift up their eyes to,
00:45:15.15\00:45:18.90
look at me,
they're so distrustful
00:45:18.93\00:45:23.21
and the Word of God is preached
00:45:23.24\00:45:25.60
with the
anointing of the Holy Spirit
00:45:25.63\00:45:28.22
and an hour later,
we have 10,000 Russians
00:45:28.25\00:45:32.30
with their hands raised up
crying for the mercy of God
00:45:32.33\00:45:36.45
and coming to Christ.
00:45:36.48\00:45:38.05
Explain it to me,
00:45:38.08\00:45:40.96
it is the power
of the Word of God.
00:45:40.99\00:45:45.57
This is the power
that is found in the Bible.
00:45:45.60\00:45:49.00
This is the power that
made the stars, think of it.
00:45:49.03\00:45:53.44
The power that made a
billion blazing worlds,
00:45:53.47\00:45:56.75
it is the power of God.
00:45:56.78\00:46:01.00
So, God, can take an old violin
00:46:01.03\00:46:05.22
that's battered and bruised
00:46:05.25\00:46:07.40
and by the grace of
God, He can change it
00:46:07.43\00:46:10.53
and this is a
wonderful amazing thing.
00:46:10.56\00:46:14.71
Another member of our
church is Esther Mauries.
00:46:14.74\00:46:18.27
She's a beautiful person.
00:46:18.30\00:46:19.67
I'm going to ask
Esther to come now.
00:46:19.70\00:46:22.20
We're going to have a
little chat for just a moment.
00:46:22.23\00:46:24.97
Would you
please welcome, Esther.
00:46:25.00\00:46:28.25
Let her feel at home here today.
00:46:28.28\00:46:30.98
Esther, in this church,
00:46:31.01\00:46:34.82
you're appreciated
and you're respected,
00:46:34.85\00:46:36.77
you're an elder of this church.
00:46:36.80\00:46:39.04
How have you seen this
00:46:39.07\00:46:40.44
transforming
grace of God at work?
00:46:40.47\00:46:43.57
I was brought up
in a Christian home
00:46:43.60\00:46:47.11
and gone to church
for many, many years.
00:46:47.14\00:46:50.75
But I always
lived my life in fear,
00:46:50.78\00:46:54.60
very legalistic, very fearful
00:46:54.63\00:46:57.19
that if I was
caught in the moment
00:46:57.22\00:46:59.49
of doing something
I shouldn't have done
00:46:59.52\00:47:01.69
and I die that moment,
00:47:01.72\00:47:03.22
I wasn't going to
make it to heaven.
00:47:03.25\00:47:05.85
But on a Wednesday
night at this church,
00:47:05.88\00:47:09.56
while we were studying
the big issues of the gospel,
00:47:09.59\00:47:13.87
God touched my
heart. Amazing, wonderful.
00:47:13.90\00:47:17.77
And I understood what
salvation was all about
00:47:17.80\00:47:22.77
and I understood His
love and His grace for me
00:47:22.80\00:47:27.32
and how much He loved me
00:47:27.35\00:47:29.38
that it just
transformed my life totally.
00:47:29.41\00:47:32.45
And I no longer live in fear,
00:47:32.48\00:47:33.92
but in love and with the
good relationship with my God.
00:47:33.95\00:47:37.09
We say praise the
Lord and hallelujah.
00:47:37.12\00:47:39.71
God Bless you, Esther.
00:47:39.74\00:47:41.11
Thank you. Thank you.
00:47:41.14\00:47:42.51
What a story,
what a wonderful story.
00:47:42.54\00:47:48.65
Transformed by the
influence of the Holy Spirit.
00:47:48.68\00:47:52.94
Please take your Bibles,
come over here to John 16.
00:47:52.97\00:47:56.34
Notice the words of Jesus.
00:47:56.37\00:47:58.97
John 16, where Jesus our Lord
talks about the Holy Spirit.
00:47:59.00\00:48:06.61
John 16 and we're
going to start at verse,
00:48:06.64\00:48:10.89
let me see now,
let's start at verse 7,
00:48:10.92\00:48:14.17
"But I tell you the truth.
00:48:14.20\00:48:16.05
It is for your good
that I am going away.
00:48:16.08\00:48:18.21
Unless I go away, the
Counselor will not come to you,
00:48:18.24\00:48:21.72
but if I go, I
will send him to you.
00:48:21.75\00:48:24.04
When he comes, he will
convict the world of guilt
00:48:24.07\00:48:26.64
in regard to sin and
righteousness and judgment
00:48:26.67\00:48:30.32
in regard to sin,
00:48:30.35\00:48:31.72
because men do
not believe in me,
00:48:31.75\00:48:33.84
in regard to righteousness,
00:48:33.87\00:48:35.61
because I am
going to the Father,
00:48:35.64\00:48:37.70
where you can see me no longer
00:48:37.73\00:48:40.03
and in regard to judgment,
00:48:40.06\00:48:41.75
because the prince of this
world now stands condemned."
00:48:41.78\00:48:47.06
Look at me, the Spirit of God
00:48:47.09\00:48:51.70
is the third
person of the Godhead.
00:48:51.73\00:48:56.46
He is alive and
well on planet earth.
00:48:56.49\00:49:00.74
And when we open up our hearts,
00:49:00.77\00:49:03.34
the Spirit of God comes to
us and He burns in our souls
00:49:03.37\00:49:09.09
and He convicts us
of sin and righteousness
00:49:09.12\00:49:13.51
and judgment to come.
00:49:13.54\00:49:15.30
I ask you have you ever
felt the burning influence
00:49:15.33\00:49:18.37
in the Spirit of the God?
00:49:18.40\00:49:21.80
The very fact that
you're here in church
00:49:21.83\00:49:24.07
on the Lord's Day is an evidence
00:49:24.10\00:49:26.48
that the Spirit of God
is talking to your heart.
00:49:26.51\00:49:30.32
The Holy Spirit
is the active agent
00:49:30.35\00:49:33.52
in the redemption of the soul.
00:49:33.55\00:49:35.77
Come over here to
1 Thessalonians 5:19.
00:49:35.80\00:49:41.11
Dear friends, 1
Thessalonians 5:19.
00:49:41.14\00:49:45.38
Paul says, "Do not put
out the Spirit's fire."
00:49:45.41\00:49:49.74
He burns in our hearts.
00:49:49.77\00:49:52.49
I'm here today to
give a testimony to you
00:49:52.52\00:49:55.67
and here's my testimony.
00:49:55.70\00:49:59.59
I have felt the
fire, I have seen the fire.
00:49:59.62\00:50:04.56
I've seen the fire in India,
00:50:04.59\00:50:06.81
Africa, Russia,
Ukraine, the Philippines,
00:50:06.84\00:50:09.92
I've seen the
fire. I've felt the fire.
00:50:09.95\00:50:14.80
I've seen the fire move
upon millions of hearts.
00:50:14.83\00:50:20.66
I've seen the Spirit of God
moving hearts in this church.
00:50:20.69\00:50:27.85
It is the work
of the Holy Spirit
00:50:27.88\00:50:30.28
to change us
from glory to glory.
00:50:30.31\00:50:36.36
Phil Battle, he is
a member this church,
00:50:36.39\00:50:39.80
and is also an elder of
this church teaches the Bible,
00:50:39.83\00:50:42.99
I want Phil to come
00:50:43.02\00:50:45.03
and so that Phil is
going to feel at home.
00:50:45.06\00:50:47.49
I want you to
welcome him today, please.
00:50:47.52\00:50:54.21
Welcome to
Church, Phil. Welcome.
00:50:54.24\00:50:56.03
Come over a little
closer, my brother.
00:50:56.06\00:50:58.06
Glad to see you.
00:50:58.09\00:51:00.22
Can you give a testimony today
00:51:00.25\00:51:02.20
to the
transforming power of God?
00:51:02.23\00:51:05.38
Yes, I can. Tell me.
00:51:05.41\00:51:08.01
So it was 21 years ago I
was living in utter darkness.
00:51:08.04\00:51:12.12
I was drinking
everyday, smoking grass
00:51:12.15\00:51:14.89
and doing
whatever you can think of.
00:51:14.92\00:51:17.74
And I was riding my bicycle,
00:51:17.77\00:51:19.23
I used to race 10-speed
bicycles on Lincoln Boulevard,
00:51:19.26\00:51:22.86
and I looked over my shoulder
and a car was going to hit me.
00:51:22.89\00:51:26.42
The car hit me I bounced
off the hood 15 feet in the air
00:51:26.45\00:51:29.46
and I looked down
00:51:29.49\00:51:30.86
and saw cars
going both directions,
00:51:30.89\00:51:33.29
I knew there was a
possibility I would die.
00:51:33.32\00:51:36.59
I shouted out
Lord, save me I'm lost
00:51:36.62\00:51:39.14
like He didn't know it.
00:51:39.17\00:51:40.88
But I knew I wasn't going to die
00:51:40.91\00:51:43.04
and so two weeks after
that I gave my life to the Lord,
00:51:43.07\00:51:46.52
I've been walking now
21 years and 5 months.
00:51:46.55\00:51:50.40
And I've been changing
to good from glory to glory.
00:51:50.43\00:51:54.95
So it is possible just pray
for your brothers and sisters
00:51:54.98\00:51:58.26
and family members,
like they were doing for me
00:51:58.29\00:52:01.91
and I'm here,
isn't that wonderful?
00:52:01.94\00:52:04.64
Praise God, Phil. Amen. Yeah.
00:52:04.67\00:52:06.04
Thank you, thank you. Wonderful.
00:52:06.07\00:52:08.75
I'm gonna read
you the poem again.
00:52:15.39\00:52:18.55
I want you to think about it
00:52:18.58\00:52:20.45
because you just may be feeling
like this old battered violin,
00:52:20.48\00:52:25.79
but don't give up.
00:52:25.82\00:52:27.48
God is in the
business of changing
00:52:27.51\00:52:29.96
old battered violins.
00:52:29.99\00:52:33.22
Listen to the poem
and think about it.
00:52:33.25\00:52:36.76
It was battered and
scarred, you feel like that?
00:52:36.79\00:52:41.15
And the auctioneer thought
of scarcity worth his while.
00:52:41.18\00:52:43.53
Do you think it worth a nothing?
00:52:43.56\00:52:46.64
To waste much
time on the old violin
00:52:46.67\00:52:49.11
but held it up with a smile.
00:52:49.14\00:52:51.54
One of my bidden good folks,
00:52:51.57\00:52:53.07
he cried, who will
start the bidding for me,
00:52:53.10\00:52:55.43
a dollar, dollar, then
two, only two, two dollars,
00:52:55.46\00:52:59.17
we'll make it three.
00:52:59.20\00:53:01.78
Three dollars once,
three dollars twice,
00:53:01.81\00:53:03.96
going for three.
00:53:03.99\00:53:07.11
But no, from the room far back
a grey head man came forward
00:53:07.14\00:53:11.77
and picked up the bow,
00:53:11.80\00:53:13.77
then wiping the
dust from the old violin
00:53:13.80\00:53:16.87
and tightening
the loose strings.
00:53:16.90\00:53:19.97
He played a
melody pure and sweet,
00:53:20.00\00:53:23.94
a sweeter than Angel sings.
00:53:23.97\00:53:28.77
The music ceased,
so the auctioneer,
00:53:28.80\00:53:32.26
for the voice that
was soft and low said,
00:53:32.29\00:53:37.75
"What am I bid
for the old violin?"
00:53:37.78\00:53:40.25
And he held it up with the bow.
00:53:40.28\00:53:43.41
$1000, who make it 2, 2000?
00:53:43.44\00:53:47.09
And who'll make it three?
00:53:47.12\00:53:49.05
3000 once, 3000 twice
and going and gone said he.
00:53:49.08\00:53:56.80
People cheered,
but some of them cried.
00:53:56.83\00:53:58.74
We do not quite understand
what changed the worth?
00:53:58.77\00:54:02.97
The man replied,
00:54:03.00\00:54:06.53
the touch of a master's hand.
00:54:06.56\00:54:11.99
Many a man with life out of tune
00:54:12.02\00:54:14.81
and battered and
scarred with sin.
00:54:14.84\00:54:20.10
Is auction cheap to
the thoughtless crowd
00:54:20.13\00:54:23.55
much like the old violin?
00:54:23.58\00:54:27.50
A mess of
pottage, a glass of wine,
00:54:27.53\00:54:30.67
a game and he travels on.
00:54:30.70\00:54:34.50
He's going once,
he's going twice,
00:54:34.53\00:54:37.06
he's going and almost gone.
00:54:37.09\00:54:42.55
But the master comes
and the foolish crowd
00:54:42.58\00:54:47.73
could never quite
understand the worth of a soul
00:54:47.76\00:54:53.97
and the change that's brought...
00:54:54.00\00:55:00.49
by the touch of
the master's hand.
00:55:00.52\00:55:05.13
Amen.
00:55:08.61\00:55:12.46
There are two things
that a pastor shouldn't do.
00:55:12.49\00:55:16.07
He shouldn't tell lies
and he shouldn't retire.
00:55:16.10\00:55:20.92
That's why I planned to keep on,
00:55:20.95\00:55:23.04
keeping on while
God can still use me.
00:55:23.07\00:55:26.36
While these lungs are working,
while this mouth is talking
00:55:26.39\00:55:30.06
and while Jesus is still
alive and I am still alive.
00:55:30.09\00:55:34.08
I planned to keep on preaching
the everlasting gospel.
00:55:34.11\00:55:37.72
Will you pray for me?
00:55:37.75\00:55:39.12
Will you support
us in this great work?
00:55:39.15\00:55:41.70
Listen, we have
received an urgent invitation
00:55:41.73\00:55:45.51
from the church in India,
00:55:45.54\00:55:47.33
they are saying
come over and help us.
00:55:47.36\00:55:50.63
What a challenge, my friend.
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Do you know how many people
live in the land of India?
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More than a
thousand million people
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and the place is full
of demons and evil spirits.
00:55:58.95\00:56:03.20
They don't want this
campaign, those evil spirits.
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But I want you to know,
00:56:06.11\00:56:07.56
Jesus is stronger
than the evil spirits.
00:56:07.59\00:56:11.15
Last time we went to India,
we had tremendous opposition.
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Our lives were threatened,
00:56:14.58\00:56:15.97
but by the grace of God
we are going to go back,
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because Jesus
has called us to go.
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When we went there last time
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we saw thousand of
people coming to Christ,
00:56:23.26\00:56:25.90
one night 30,000
people came to Christ,
00:56:25.93\00:56:28.72
Hindus and Muslims.
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We are praying
Jesus do it again,
00:56:31.15\00:56:34.52
please support us.
00:56:34.55\00:56:35.92
Please write to me
John Carter PO Box. 1900,
00:56:35.95\00:56:39.96
Thousand Oaks,
California, 91358.
00:56:39.99\00:56:43.67
In Australia, write to me
please at beautiful Terrigal.
00:56:43.70\00:56:48.75
The address is
right there on the screen.
00:56:48.78\00:56:51.16
Listen, my friend,
I need your prayers,
00:56:51.19\00:56:54.54
I need your support.
00:56:54.57\00:56:56.26
Please pray for us, I
will be praying for you.
00:56:56.29\00:56:59.03
Write today and God bless you.
00:56:59.06\00:57:02.06
Of a greater thirst
this world can't satisfy
00:57:12.87\00:57:20.87
What if trials of this life
00:57:20.90\00:57:25.32
The rain, the
storms, the hardest nights
00:57:25.35\00:57:29.69
Are your mercies in disguise?
00:57:29.72\00:57:35.66
It's not our home
00:57:41.03\00:57:43.93