From Arcadia, California,
the Carter report presents
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"The Living
Word" around the world.
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I want to give you a tremendous
welcome to this program today
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because this is a great program.
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On occasions I get letters
from people who're incarcerated.
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This letter today is from
a man--I'm going to deal with
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a letter today from a man who
was incarcerated for his faith.
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So I want you to
hear this because
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this is going to
bless you-- thrown through.
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But firstly, would
you please welcome today
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George Sampson from Riverside.
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He is going to come.
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He is going to sing for us.
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We're going to get blessed.
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I want to welcome you
today my brother, thank you.
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Great is Thy faithfulness
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O God my Father
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There is no shadow
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of turning with Thee
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Thou changest not
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Thy compassions, they fail not
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As Thou hast been Thou
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forever wilt be
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Great is Thy faithfulness
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Great is Thy faithfulness
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Morning by morning
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New mercies I see
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All I have needed
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Thy hand hath provided
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Great is Thy faithfulness
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Lord, unto me
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Pardon for sin
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And a peace that endureth
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Thine own dear presence
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To cheer and to guide
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Strength for today
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And bright hope for tomorrow
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Blessings all mine
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With ten thousand beside
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Great is Thy faithfulness
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Great is Thy faithfulness
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Morning by morning
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New mercies I see
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All I have needed
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Thy hand hath provided
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Great is Thy faithfulness
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Lord, unto me
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Great is Thy faithfulness
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Great is Thy faithfulness
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Morning by morning
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New mercies I see
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And all I have needed
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Thy hand hath provided
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Great is Thy faithfulness
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Great is Thy faithfulness
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Great is Thy faithfulness
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O Lord, unto me
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I'm going to share with
you a letter from prison,
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written by a Jewish man
who is also a Roman citizen.
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He was imprisoned
because of his faith,
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because of his
teaching and his preaching,
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he was considered to
be a dangerous character.
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You know, that's
going to happen again.
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Did you know that?
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The day is going to
come when the government
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is going to put
people in prison,
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they're going to be
called terrorists because
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they caused terror
through the preaching
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of the truths of the Bible.
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This man was
imprisoned we believe
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in the city of
Rome over here in Italy.
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He was awaiting trial before
one of the great emperors, Nero.
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One of the most profligate
waiters the world has ever seen.
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And he wrote a letter over, over
here to a little church that God
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had raised up
through his ministry
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and that was the
church in Philippi.
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There you've got
Greece and Turkey, Jerusalem,
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the Mediterranean
Sea, the Black Sea.
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And then you come
down and there was a colony
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it was a famous influential
center, the city of Philippi.
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And sometime before
Paul had come there because
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he'd a vision from
God and he saw a man
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saying come over and help us.
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That was the man from Macedonia.
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And Philippi was
a city in Macedonia.
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And when he went over there,
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he preached the gospel
and there was a slave girl
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who was possessed
by an evil spirit.
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And he called out the
evil spirit and because
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this slave girl was no
longer a source of wealth
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for certain profligates,
he was thrown in prison.
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And that was the place where
there was the greater earthquake
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and the jailor came in the
prison in Philippi and said,
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"What must I do to be saved."
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And Paul said, "Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ
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and you will be saved."
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That was in Philippi.
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So that's how the church
was started with an earthquake
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and through the
preaching of the gospel.
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I want you to take
your Bibles and turn with me
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to the letter
written from prison.
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The Book of Philippians 1.
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We're going to
show you what Paul
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has to say not only
to the people of his day
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but to the people of
our day to you and to me.
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"Paul and Timothy,
servants of Christ Jesus."
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Are minister like
every other Christian
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is called not to be a Lord but
to be a servant of Christ Jesus.
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"To all this saints in
Christ Jesus at Phillippi."
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The saints, the
people called out
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of the world
called to be saints.
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"Together with
all the overseers."
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Or the bishops or the elders.
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"And the deacons."
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It says, "Grace and peace
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to you from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ."
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Never forget it my friend,
there is no peace without grace.
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And the reason the Middle East
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is in such a
terrible mess today between
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the Palestinians and
Israelites is because
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they've no idea
of the grace of God.
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And you can't have
peace in your heart,
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you can't have
peace in your home unless
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you've got the grace of God.
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Verses 3 to 5, "I
think my God every time
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I remember you.
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In all my
prayers for all of you,
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I always pray with joy."
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Pray with joy my friend.
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"Because of your
partnership in the gospel
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from the first day until
now, being confident of this,
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that he who began a good work
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in you will carry
it on to completion
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until the day of Jesus Christ."
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When you pray,
you ought to thank God
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and you ought to pray with joy.
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That's what the Bible says.
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Prayer ought to
be a joyful thing.
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And the greater Apostle Paul,
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this man who
made more influence.
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Who was the greatest
influence in a history
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of the last 2,000
years after Christ.
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That's Paul, the greatest
man with the greatest influence.
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Saint Paul, he tells
us here that when God
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starts a work in you,
God will finish that work.
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And if you come to Christ
and if you believe in Christ,
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you need not be fearful
that you are going to be lost.
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Because the Bible says,
he who started a good work
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in you is going
to finish that work
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and the
congregation said "Hallelujah."
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Now verses, we're
going to come down
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a little bit,
down to verse 12-14.
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"Now I want you to
know brothers and sisters
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that what has happened
to me has really served
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to advance the gospel.
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As a result, it has
become clear throughout
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the whole palace guard."
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This is in Caesar's palace.
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"And to everyone else
that I'm in chains for Christ.
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Because of my
chains, most of the brothers
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in the Lord have been encouraged
to speak the word of God
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more
courageously and fearlessly."
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I want you to know today
what Paul is saying here,
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has a reference to us because
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Paul tells us that
God works in adversity.
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Can you hear
what I'm saying? Amen.
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Paul says even his
chains were for the glory of God
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because Romans 8:28 is
always relevant, always true.
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All things, in all things
God works for the good of those
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who'd love Him,
who believe in Him,
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who trust in Him,
who've been called according
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to His purpose even his
chains before the glory of God.
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And people in Caesar's household
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became believers in
Christ because of his chains.
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Think of the
penetrating power of the gospel,
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you can't keep it down.
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Now verses 15 and onwards.
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"It is true that some preach
Christ out of envy and rivalry,"
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That's always been true.
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"But others out of goodwill.
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The latter do so in love,
knowing that I am put here
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for the defense of the gospel.
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The former preach
Christ out of selfish ambition,
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not sincerely,
supposing that they can stir up
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trouble for me
while I am in chains.
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But what does it matter?
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The important thing
is that in every way,
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whether from false motives
or true, Christ is preached.
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And because of
this I rejoice..."
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Now listen, the
most important thing,
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the one thing that a
minister of the gospel
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ought to do is not
to preach some policy,
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not to preach some
church program but a minister,
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listen to me, a minister
is called to preach Christ.
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Amen. Christ
first and last and best
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in everything, preaching Christ.
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Paul was called to
preach Christ and he did it.
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We're called to preach
Christ is for His existence,
00:12:57.97\00:13:01.56
His incarnation, His
sinless life, His divinity,
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His love, His atoning
sacrifice, His resurrection,
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His intercession,
His glorious return.
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Recently I went to a
great church in Australia
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and they said to me.
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Are you going to tell
us what you did in Honiara?
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I said, I haven't come
here to give a report about
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what I have done, I have
come here to preach Christ.
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And so Paul
said, whatever happens
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if Christ is
preached, that is what matters.
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We don't preach ourselves.
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Come down to verse
21, I love this verse.
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"For to me, to live is
Christ and to die is gain."
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Do you, do you have any idea,
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what Paul is
talking about my friends?
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To live is Christ.
00:13:53.92\00:13:57.20
The Christ is a very center
of my life that the reason
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I live is because of Christ.
00:14:02.43\00:14:07.53
Christ was not
just somebody for Paul,
00:14:07.56\00:14:12.55
Christ was everything for Paul.
00:14:12.58\00:14:17.02
God said through Moses
you got to love me first
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and foremost to live as Christ.
00:14:23.95\00:14:28.93
Christ is my focus said Paul,
my passion, my life, my hope.
00:14:28.96\00:14:35.95
I am driven on Paul
said because of Christ.
00:14:35.98\00:14:41.70
Verse 22 and onwards,
00:14:41.73\00:14:43.98
"If I'm to go on
living in the body,
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this will mean
fruitful labor for me.
00:14:47.69\00:14:51.20
Yet what shall I choose?
00:14:51.23\00:14:53.20
I do not know I'm
torn between the two.
00:14:53.23\00:14:56.65
I desire to depart
and be with Christ,
00:14:56.68\00:15:01.94
which is better by far,
but it is more necessary
00:15:01.97\00:15:06.68
for you that I
remain in the body."
00:15:06.71\00:15:11.46
Paul said, "He
had a desire to depart
00:15:11.49\00:15:16.37
and to be with Christ." Do you?
00:15:16.40\00:15:23.42
He said life is so hard,
the difficulties are so great.
00:15:23.45\00:15:30.99
Attitude in
gratitude is so overwhelming,
00:15:31.02\00:15:35.23
he said "I have a desire to
depart and to be with Christ."
00:15:35.26\00:15:40.17
Let me tell you something.
00:15:40.20\00:15:42.21
The worst thing that
can happen to a child of God
00:15:42.24\00:15:47.72
is that he has a little sleep.
00:15:47.75\00:15:50.56
Do you know what
I'm talking about
00:15:50.59\00:15:52.85
because when a
person dies in Christ,
00:15:52.88\00:15:56.70
he falls asleep in Christ
and he knows nothing at all?
00:15:56.73\00:16:02.93
And when a person
falls asleep in Christ,
00:16:02.96\00:16:06.57
he enters into eternity.
00:16:06.60\00:16:09.93
And the next thing he will
know will be the face of Christ.
00:16:09.96\00:16:15.47
Amen. Therefore Paul
00:16:15.50\00:16:18.29
looking forward to
the resurrection said
00:16:18.32\00:16:21.63
"I have a desire to
depart and to be with Christ."
00:16:21.66\00:16:27.10
One day if you
and I follow Christ
00:16:27.13\00:16:32.25
as Paul followed Christ,
00:16:32.28\00:16:34.62
we will be with
Christ in paradise.
00:16:34.65\00:16:40.81
What a glorious
promise to know that one day
00:16:40.84\00:16:44.83
we're going to
depart and be with Christ.
00:16:44.86\00:16:49.87
Look at verse 29 he says,
00:16:49.90\00:16:53.67
"For it has been granted
to you on behalf of Christ
00:16:53.70\00:16:59.35
not only to believe on him,
but also to suffer for him..."
00:16:59.38\00:17:06.98
Now I want you to know this.
00:17:07.01\00:17:09.04
If you and I are true to God,
00:17:09.07\00:17:13.14
we're going to
suffer for Christ.
00:17:13.17\00:17:17.18
The poet said
"Shall I be carried
00:17:17.21\00:17:19.96
to the skies on
flowery beds of ease."
00:17:19.99\00:17:26.72
While others
fought to win the prize
00:17:26.75\00:17:29.85
and sail through bloody seas.
00:17:29.88\00:17:33.08
There is no
crown without a cross.
00:17:33.11\00:17:37.93
What people want
today in this land,
00:17:37.96\00:17:41.98
they want the crown but
they don't want the cross.
00:17:42.01\00:17:48.30
But there is no
crown without suffering.
00:17:48.33\00:17:56.24
And one day the Apostle Paul
is going to wakeup in glory.
00:17:56.27\00:18:03.32
When we were over
in the Solomon Islands
00:18:03.35\00:18:05.81
a young woman, a
beautiful young woman
00:18:05.84\00:18:08.40
of 18 or 19 years of
age came to us and she said,
00:18:08.43\00:18:12.01
I want to be baptized
but my father has told me
00:18:12.04\00:18:16.29
if I'm baptized
this coming Sabbath
00:18:16.32\00:18:20.02
in a crocodile infested
river, where we had the baptism.
00:18:20.05\00:18:25.14
She said, "My father
is going to beat me."
00:18:25.17\00:18:29.39
And that he is going to
throw me out of my home.
00:18:29.42\00:18:32.76
Does anybody
anything about that?
00:18:32.79\00:18:35.34
If you take a stand for Christ,
00:18:35.37\00:18:38.21
it is going to
cost you something.
00:18:38.24\00:18:41.41
It is going to
cost you your life.
00:18:41.44\00:18:44.02
Paul said, "It is my privilege
00:18:44.05\00:18:46.50
he said to suffer for Christ
00:18:46.53\00:18:50.68
because there is no
crown without cross."
00:18:50.71\00:18:56.13
Chapter 2:1-4, "If
you have any encouragement
00:18:56.16\00:19:00.40
from being united with Christ,
if any comfort from his Spirit,
00:19:00.43\00:19:05.07
if any
fellowship with the Spirit,
00:19:05.10\00:19:06.95
if any
tenderness and compassion,
00:19:06.98\00:19:09.44
then make my joy
complete by being like-minded,
00:19:09.47\00:19:13.97
having the same love,
being one in spirit and purpose.
00:19:14.00\00:19:17.39
Do nothing out of selfish
ambition or vain conceit,
00:19:17.42\00:19:22.18
but in humility consider
others better than yourselves.
00:19:22.21\00:19:26.29
Each of you should look
not only to his own interests,
00:19:26.32\00:19:29.56
but also to the
interest of others."
00:19:29.59\00:19:32.41
He is talking here about
unity but not uniformity.
00:19:32.44\00:19:39.30
He is talking about
selfish ambition in the church.
00:19:39.33\00:19:43.96
How I have seen it
down through the years?
00:19:43.99\00:19:46.69
How people become
so pity and they fight
00:19:46.72\00:19:49.93
to become head elder.
00:19:49.96\00:19:52.23
You've never seen it.
00:19:52.26\00:19:53.29
Thank God,
we've got a head elder
00:19:53.32\00:19:55.27
who is a servant of God.
00:19:55.30\00:19:57.68
He serves God.
00:19:57.71\00:19:59.40
He is a head elder
because he is the best man
00:19:59.43\00:20:02.63
in this church for
the job, I tell you.
00:20:02.66\00:20:06.40
But I have been in churches,
00:20:06.43\00:20:07.76
large churches
and small churches,
00:20:07.79\00:20:09.94
and the time of the
nominating committee
00:20:09.97\00:20:12.94
is and it happens at
every ashman in the church,
00:20:12.97\00:20:16.55
where people fight to
get a position in the church.
00:20:16.58\00:20:20.60
I say they have
their reward because
00:20:20.63\00:20:25.72
they will
certainly not go to heaven,
00:20:25.75\00:20:30.41
if they are
controlled by selfish ambition.
00:20:30.44\00:20:35.83
We're called to be
the servants of Christ,
00:20:35.86\00:20:37.87
not the servants of man.
00:20:37.90\00:20:40.79
Please now, verses 5 and onwards
00:20:40.82\00:20:45.46
and I believe this
is quite appropriate
00:20:45.49\00:20:48.40
that I'm asking my
friend Blake Wexler,
00:20:48.43\00:20:53.88
he comes with all the traditions
00:20:53.91\00:20:57.20
of the Jewish nation
and the Jewish people.
00:20:57.23\00:21:01.73
He came to this
church as an unbeliever
00:21:01.76\00:21:04.86
but today he rejoices in Christ,
00:21:04.89\00:21:08.99
the Messiah, Jesus the Messiah.
00:21:09.02\00:21:13.86
Who, being in very nature
God, did not consider equality
00:21:13.89\00:21:17.80
with God something to be grasped
00:21:17.83\00:21:20.26
but made himself
nothing, taking the very nature
00:21:20.29\00:21:23.09
of a servant, being
made in human likeness.
00:21:23.12\00:21:26.55
And being found in
appearance as a man,
00:21:26.58\00:21:28.52
he humbled himself and
became obedient to death,
00:21:28.55\00:21:32.56
even death on a cross.
00:21:32.59\00:21:34.66
Therefore God exalted
him to the highest place
00:21:34.69\00:21:38.60
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
00:21:38.63\00:21:41.80
that is the name of Jesus
every knee should bow in heaven,
00:21:41.83\00:21:45.73
and in on earth,
and under the earth.
00:21:45.76\00:21:48.40
And every tongue should confess
00:21:48.43\00:21:49.83
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
00:21:49.86\00:21:54.65
Amen. Amen,
thank you, thank you.
00:21:54.68\00:22:01.27
Here was a man who like
Blake did not believed in Jesus.
00:22:01.30\00:22:07.13
No body should ever say that
our faith is against the Jews.
00:22:07.16\00:22:14.94
Christians have done
terrible things to the Jews
00:22:14.97\00:22:20.98
but we should not never forget
00:22:21.01\00:22:22.32
the great truth that
Jesus, our Lord was a Jew.
00:22:22.35\00:22:27.55
And Saint Paul was a Jew
00:22:27.58\00:22:30.60
and the Bible is a Jewish book.
00:22:30.63\00:22:37.71
But here Paul, the Jew
00:22:37.74\00:22:41.06
talks about Christ Jesus.
00:22:41.09\00:22:46.87
He talks about how
the self existent God
00:22:46.90\00:22:51.28
emptied Himself
and went to the cross
00:22:51.31\00:22:57.03
to redeem us from
all our unrighteousness
00:22:57.06\00:23:01.56
and to save us for all eternity.
00:23:01.59\00:23:04.06
How great must be
His love Paul writes.
00:23:04.09\00:23:09.00
Verses 14-16, he
describes true Christianity.
00:23:09.03\00:23:13.23
"Do everything without
complaining or arguing."
00:23:13.26\00:23:17.54
Don't be a mourner,
don't be a complainer.
00:23:17.57\00:23:21.86
"So that you
may become blameless
00:23:21.89\00:23:23.68
and pure children of God
without fault in a crooked
00:23:23.71\00:23:27.57
and depraved generation,
in which you shine like stars
00:23:27.60\00:23:33.62
in the universe as you
hold out the word of life..."
00:23:33.65\00:23:41.47
And he goes on.
00:23:41.50\00:23:44.61
Apostle Paul who lived in one
of the most depraved societies,
00:23:44.64\00:23:49.14
the Roman society
says that a Christian
00:23:49.17\00:23:52.89
was called to be a
light in the world.
00:23:52.92\00:23:57.68
That a Christian
was called to shine.
00:23:57.71\00:24:01.85
A Christian was
not called to blend in.
00:24:01.88\00:24:06.83
A Christian was not called
to be a superficial comedian
00:24:06.86\00:24:12.83
but a strong
person and in the midst
00:24:12.86\00:24:18.30
of a depraved and
paganized and evil society,
00:24:18.33\00:24:23.20
a Christian was
to shine as a light.
00:24:23.23\00:24:27.51
Like the stars and
hold out the Word of God.
00:24:27.54\00:24:33.92
You say that
this is extraordinary.
00:24:33.95\00:24:38.27
Most Christians are
the same as the world
00:24:38.30\00:24:40.69
that is because most who
profess the name of Christ
00:24:40.72\00:24:44.90
are not Christians even
though they go to church.
00:24:44.93\00:24:48.13
Thus we think of the
words soldiers of Christ arise.
00:24:48.16\00:24:53.22
Verse 17-18.
"But even if I'm being
00:24:53.25\00:24:57.54
poured out like a drink
offering on the sacrifice
00:24:57.57\00:25:00.06
and service
coming from your faith,
00:25:00.09\00:25:02.52
I am glad and
rejoice with all of you.
00:25:02.55\00:25:06.17
So you too should be
glad and rejoice with me."
00:25:06.20\00:25:10.33
A Christian is called to
be a joyful person my friend.
00:25:10.36\00:25:16.92
We're called to
smile through the tears.
00:25:16.95\00:25:21.42
Christianity I would
remind you is a grandeur thing.
00:25:21.45\00:25:26.21
A Christianity
is a grand upbeat,
00:25:26.24\00:25:29.73
hopeful, positive,
enduring, triumphant enterprise,
00:25:29.76\00:25:34.87
thus we're called to rejoice.
00:25:34.90\00:25:39.18
And if you live in a
home where everything
00:25:39.21\00:25:42.93
is black and
darkness and where people
00:25:42.96\00:25:45.97
are full of negative ideas.
00:25:46.00\00:25:49.01
You're called to rejoice and to
shine like a light in the world.
00:25:49.04\00:25:53.50
And when you
come to this church,
00:25:53.53\00:25:55.21
you should come and
meet a group of people
00:25:55.24\00:25:58.66
who are a rejoicing
happy smiling people.
00:25:58.69\00:26:06.32
Because the gospel takes
away the negative attitude
00:26:06.35\00:26:12.53
and transforms the
life, we're called to rejoice.
00:26:12.56\00:26:16.80
Look at verse 19-22
"I hope in the Lord Jesus
00:26:16.83\00:26:20.31
to send Timothy to you soon,
00:26:20.34\00:26:22.27
so that where I
also may be cheered
00:26:22.30\00:26:24.93
when I receive news about you.
00:26:24.96\00:26:26.95
I have no one else like him,
00:26:26.98\00:26:28.70
who takes a genuine
interest in your welfare.
00:26:28.73\00:26:32.51
For everyone looks
out for his own interests,
00:26:32.54\00:26:36.31
what has changed, not
those of Jesus Christ.
00:26:36.34\00:26:40.00
But you know that
Timothy has proved himself,
00:26:40.03\00:26:42.96
because as a son with
his father he has served
00:26:42.99\00:26:46.39
with me in the
work of the gospel
00:26:46.42\00:26:49.07
won of the bright lights."
00:26:49.10\00:26:52.10
In the life of this
man in a prison in Rome
00:26:52.13\00:26:56.35
was this young man
who was like a son to him
00:26:56.38\00:27:01.39
because he was
consistent and he was loyal.
00:27:01.42\00:27:06.08
He was tried and he
was true like Epaphroditus.
00:27:06.11\00:27:11.02
Verses 25-27. "But I think
00:27:11.05\00:27:17.23
it is necessary to send
back to you Epaphroditus,
00:27:17.26\00:27:20.43
my brother, fellow
worker and fellow soldier,
00:27:20.46\00:27:25.47
who is also your messenger,
00:27:25.50\00:27:27.59
whom you sent to
take care of my needs.
00:27:27.62\00:27:31.49
For he longs for all of
you and is distressed because
00:27:31.52\00:27:35.23
you heard he was ill, indeed
he was ill, and almost died.
00:27:35.26\00:27:39.95
But God had mercy on
him, and not on him only
00:27:39.98\00:27:43.53
but also on me, to
spare me sorrow upon sorrow."
00:27:43.56\00:27:47.44
I thought...I thought that
Christians didn't get sick.
00:27:47.47\00:27:54.62
If I turn on television here
in the United States of America,
00:27:54.65\00:27:59.00
there is program after program
where the preacher tells people,
00:27:59.03\00:28:03.43
if they're sick, if they sin,
00:28:03.46\00:28:06.64
and it is always the
will of God to heal the sick.
00:28:06.67\00:28:10.70
It is not true.
00:28:10.73\00:28:12.92
The saints too get sick.
00:28:12.95\00:28:16.55
And Epaphroditus got so
sick and why didn't Paul
00:28:16.58\00:28:21.29
the prince of the apostles
healed him on that occasion
00:28:21.32\00:28:25.85
because God doesn't
always call the preacher
00:28:25.88\00:28:28.43
to heal the sick that is why.
00:28:28.46\00:28:30.73
And sickness may
be the result of sin.
00:28:30.76\00:28:34.19
And I'm telling
about sin we belong
00:28:34.22\00:28:37.66
to a sinful human race.
00:28:37.69\00:28:40.23
But you should be
comforted to know today that God
00:28:40.26\00:28:44.06
does not always heal the sick.
00:28:44.09\00:28:48.66
But on this occasion
probably it's through
00:28:48.69\00:28:51.12
natural remedies
Epaphroditus got well again.
00:28:51.15\00:28:56.68
He'd been send from
this church to help Paul
00:28:56.71\00:29:00.17
when he was in prison.
00:29:00.20\00:29:02.32
Chapter 3:1,
Chapter 3:1 and I'm going
00:29:02.35\00:29:10.06
to call my dear
friend Blake Wexler
00:29:10.09\00:29:14.06
and he's going to
read a great passage
00:29:14.09\00:29:16.10
where Paul discusses
his Jewish credentials.
00:29:16.13\00:29:21.13
And please notice it as
Blake reads it. Chapter 3:1-11.
00:29:21.16\00:29:28.71
"Finally, my
brothers, rejoice in the Lord.
00:29:28.74\00:29:31.70
It is no trouble for me to write
the same things to you again,
00:29:31.73\00:29:35.62
and it is a safeguard for you.
00:29:35.65\00:29:37.97
Watch out for those
dogs, those men who do evil,
00:29:38.00\00:29:41.23
those mutilators of the flesh.
00:29:41.26\00:29:43.44
For it is we who
are the circumcision,
00:29:43.47\00:29:46.19
we who worship by
the Spirit of God,
00:29:46.22\00:29:48.95
who glory in Christ
Jesus, and who put no confidence
00:29:48.98\00:29:52.34
in the flesh,
though I myself have
00:29:52.37\00:29:54.76
reasons for such confidence.
00:29:54.79\00:29:56.98
If anyone else thinks to
put confidence in the flesh,
00:29:57.01\00:30:00.74
I have more,
circumcised on the eighth day,
00:30:00.77\00:30:04.34
of the people of Israel,
of the tribe of Benjamin,
00:30:04.37\00:30:07.45
a Hebrew of Hebrews;
in regard to the law,
00:30:07.48\00:30:10.62
a Pharisee, as for
zeal, persecuting the church,
00:30:10.65\00:30:14.70
as for legalistic
righteousness, faultless.
00:30:14.73\00:30:18.29
But whatever was to my profit
00:30:18.32\00:30:20.22
I now consider loss
for the sake of Christ.
00:30:20.25\00:30:22.96
What is more, I consider
everything a loss compared
00:30:22.99\00:30:26.45
to the surpassing greatness
of knowing Christ Jesus
00:30:26.48\00:30:29.16
my Lord, for whose
sake I have lost all things.
00:30:29.19\00:30:32.57
I consider them
rubbish, that I may gain Christ
00:30:32.60\00:30:35.87
and be found in him,
not having a righteousness
00:30:35.90\00:30:39.00
of my own that
comes from the law,
00:30:39.03\00:30:41.03
but that which is
through faith in Christ,
00:30:41.06\00:30:43.61
the righteousness that
comes from God and is by faith.
00:30:43.64\00:30:47.14
I want to know
Christ and the power
00:30:47.17\00:30:49.78
of his resurrection and
the fellowship of sharing
00:30:49.81\00:30:52.41
in his sufferings,
becoming like him in his death,
00:30:52.44\00:30:55.51
and so, somehow, to attain
00:30:55.54\00:30:57.99
to the
resurrection from the dead."
00:30:58.02\00:31:00.50
Amen, amen. So
here you got Paul,
00:31:00.53\00:31:06.17
he was a
Pharisee of the Pharisees,
00:31:06.20\00:31:09.19
a Jew of the Jews.
00:31:09.22\00:31:11.62
He'd been brought up
00:31:11.65\00:31:12.69
in the most
legalistic environment.
00:31:12.72\00:31:17.37
He was brought up to
believe that a person
00:31:17.40\00:31:19.56
was made right by doing right.
00:31:19.59\00:31:22.68
He was brought up to
believe that righteousness
00:31:22.71\00:31:24.82
came by a person's attainment
but not through atonement.
00:31:24.85\00:31:30.30
And so Paul even though he
was filled with religion up
00:31:30.33\00:31:34.20
to the top of his
head, did not have
00:31:34.23\00:31:36.74
the love of God in his soul.
00:31:36.77\00:31:40.34
And Paul went out to
persecute the Christians
00:31:40.37\00:31:43.65
and he hated the
Christians and he hated
00:31:43.68\00:31:46.54
their Lord Jesus Christ.
00:31:46.57\00:31:48.75
He did not believe
that Jesus was the Messiah.
00:31:48.78\00:31:51.95
And as he goes along
the road to Damascus,
00:31:51.98\00:31:56.30
he has a divine encounter
and Christ says to him,
00:31:56.33\00:32:01.26
"Saul, Saul why are
you persecuting Me."
00:32:01.29\00:32:05.84
It is hard for you
kick against the goads."
00:32:05.87\00:32:09.86
And Paul finds Christ and he
becomes the greatest Christians
00:32:09.89\00:32:14.98
perhaps that we've seen
since the days of Jesus.
00:32:15.01\00:32:21.00
And Paul gives his testimony.
00:32:21.03\00:32:22.81
He said once I believe
00:32:22.84\00:32:26.29
that I could be
saved by keeping the law.
00:32:26.32\00:32:31.22
But he said now I
have a new experience
00:32:31.25\00:32:34.34
and he calls it
the righteousness
00:32:34.37\00:32:36.61
that comes through faith.
00:32:36.64\00:32:39.06
And this gives us the
doctrine of righteousness
00:32:39.09\00:32:42.43
by faith or
righteousness through faith
00:32:42.46\00:32:45.39
that I come as a sinner
to the foot of the cross
00:32:45.42\00:32:49.71
and I confess my sins
and as I accept Christ,
00:32:49.74\00:32:53.96
he gives me as a gift His
own perfect righteousness.
00:32:53.99\00:32:59.69
And I stand in
the side of a holy God
00:32:59.72\00:33:02.46
as though I'd never sinned.
00:33:02.49\00:33:04.59
And Paul says,
"It is because of this
00:33:04.62\00:33:08.78
that I look forward to
the resurrection of the dead."
00:33:08.81\00:33:12.91
Do you think of this?
00:33:12.94\00:33:15.78
That one day this
man who is beheaded
00:33:15.81\00:33:18.08
for his faith in
Christ is going to hear
00:33:18.11\00:33:21.16
the voice of the Son of God.
00:33:21.19\00:33:23.24
And he is going to
walk out of his tomb
00:33:23.27\00:33:26.39
and he is going to live
for ever and be with Christ.
00:33:26.42\00:33:30.96
I want to show
it to every person,
00:33:30.99\00:33:34.09
who is watching the
telecast, I want to say to you,
00:33:34.12\00:33:37.36
righteousness is a gift.
00:33:37.39\00:33:40.67
It is not by
attainment, it is by atonement.
00:33:40.70\00:33:46.64
We're saved byworks, it is true.
00:33:46.67\00:33:49.99
But not our works
but by Christ's works.
00:33:50.02\00:33:55.35
And if I come today just as
00:33:55.38\00:33:58.71
I'm a sinner with all my faults
00:33:58.74\00:34:04.05
and if I come to Christ
and truly believe in Him,
00:34:04.08\00:34:07.57
I receive in that moment
the gift of everlasting life
00:34:07.60\00:34:12.36
that is why a
Christian is joyful and glad.
00:34:12.39\00:34:16.84
And a Christian then becomes by
the grace of God a new person.
00:34:16.87\00:34:22.59
And what drives a Christian on?
00:34:22.62\00:34:25.15
I want you to hear this.
00:34:25.18\00:34:26.60
What drives a
Christianon? It is gratitude.
00:34:26.63\00:34:31.22
When you know how
much God has loved you
00:34:31.25\00:34:34.27
and how Christ has died for you.
00:34:34.30\00:34:36.64
You'll not be a clock watcher
but you'll want to serve God
00:34:36.67\00:34:40.49
with all your
heart and all your soul.
00:34:40.52\00:34:44.09
I know that there are
people who come to church
00:34:44.12\00:34:46.26
here and you come to
church reluctantly, I know this.
00:34:46.29\00:34:50.50
And you look upon
church as an insurance policy.
00:34:50.53\00:34:54.56
You believe that if
you join the church,
00:34:54.59\00:34:57.05
the insurance policy
would be fire insurance
00:34:57.08\00:35:00.61
and it'll save you from the hell
of judgment at the last days.
00:35:00.64\00:35:05.09
But when you know
Christ, you'll serve Christ
00:35:05.12\00:35:09.62
not because you have a fearing.
00:35:09.65\00:35:11.91
I have got to do this.
00:35:11.94\00:35:13.45
You'll serve Christ
because you love Him
00:35:13.48\00:35:16.70
and you have a
sense of gratitude.
00:35:16.73\00:35:19.02
When I was a boy of
17, I discovered Christ
00:35:19.05\00:35:24.64
or better Christ discovered me.
00:35:24.67\00:35:30.45
And I'd been brought up in
strict Seventh-day Adventist
00:35:30.48\00:35:34.60
legalistic home
where all I heard was do,
00:35:34.63\00:35:38.15
do, do, do, do,
cocka-doodle-doo.
00:35:38.18\00:35:42.01
And I hated it like many do.
00:35:42.04\00:35:45.74
And when I
discovered that Christ loved me,
00:35:45.77\00:35:49.08
really loved me
and He died for me.
00:35:49.11\00:35:52.93
I was overcome and
dazed by amazement.
00:35:52.96\00:35:58.85
And gratitude filled
my soul from the top down
00:35:58.88\00:36:03.85
to the bottom of my feet,
I was filled with gratitude.
00:36:03.88\00:36:07.67
I'd been actively
involved in preaching
00:36:07.70\00:36:12.16
the gospel for 50 years.
00:36:12.19\00:36:14.35
People say but you retired from
the conference seven years ago.
00:36:14.38\00:36:18.09
Why aren't you
sitting on the beach?
00:36:18.12\00:36:20.23
It is because of the man hanging
on the cross, that is why.
00:36:20.26\00:36:23.44
Amen. I cannot understand
00:36:23.47\00:36:26.50
how people can call
themselves ministers
00:36:26.53\00:36:30.14
and retire and walk
away from it as though
00:36:30.17\00:36:32.83
they've never been called,
perhaps they hadn't been.
00:36:32.86\00:36:39.49
But gratitude drives us on.
00:36:39.52\00:36:44.35
And you don't do
it because you've to.
00:36:44.38\00:36:46.77
You do it because you want to.
00:36:46.80\00:36:51.70
He said He lost everything
but He gained everything.
00:36:51.73\00:36:56.12
Look at verse
12, "Not that I have
00:36:56.15\00:37:00.17
already obtained all this
00:37:00.20\00:37:02.41
or have already
been made perfect."
00:37:02.44\00:37:04.87
My friend, He did not
claimed to be sinless, did He?
00:37:04.90\00:37:08.99
"But I press on
to take hold of that
00:37:09.02\00:37:11.23
for which Christ
Jesus took hold of me.
00:37:11.26\00:37:13.96
Brothers, I do not consider
00:37:13.99\00:37:15.85
myself yet to
have taken hold of it.
00:37:15.88\00:37:18.44
But one thing I do, forgetting
00:37:18.47\00:37:20.78
what is behind and
straining towards what is ahead,
00:37:20.81\00:37:23.91
I press on toward the goal
to win the prize for which God
00:37:23.94\00:37:28.89
has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus."
00:37:28.92\00:37:31.29
He said, I'm
not a sinless person
00:37:31.32\00:37:34.90
but I'm covered
by the blood of Jesus
00:37:34.93\00:37:38.86
and I'm forgetting the
things which are behind
00:37:38.89\00:37:42.82
and he said I'm
pressing on for the goal.
00:37:42.85\00:37:47.95
So if you feel
you're not good enough
00:37:47.98\00:37:50.23
to be saved, you're right.
00:37:50.26\00:37:53.70
You're not good enough to
be saved but we're not saved
00:37:53.73\00:37:57.10
because we're good
enough, we're saved because
00:37:57.13\00:38:00.30
Christ is good enough. Amen.
00:38:00.33\00:38:02.33
That is the good
news of the gospel.
00:38:02.36\00:38:05.06
Here we're
talking about perfection
00:38:05.09\00:38:07.41
but we're not
talking about legalism.
00:38:07.44\00:38:09.45
We're talking about
Christian perfection.
00:38:09.48\00:38:13.19
Look at verse 15,
"All of us who are mature."
00:38:13.22\00:38:17.34
The King James Version
says all of us who are perfect.
00:38:17.37\00:38:22.37
He says, I'm not
perfect but then he says
00:38:22.40\00:38:24.35
"All of us who are perfect
all of us who are mature."
00:38:24.38\00:38:29.37
Christian perfection
is Christian maturity.
00:38:29.40\00:38:35.18
"Should take
such a view of things.
00:38:35.21\00:38:38.52
And if on some point
you think differently,
00:38:38.55\00:38:41.39
that too God will
make clear to you.
00:38:41.42\00:38:43.40
Only let us live up to
what we have already attained."
00:38:43.43\00:38:51.32
If you understand this,
it will be a comfort to you.
00:38:51.35\00:38:56.51
There are no sinless people.
00:38:56.54\00:38:58.83
I remember I preached
00:38:58.86\00:39:00.49
at the Minneapolis
Conference in 1988.
00:39:00.52\00:39:03.42
There were two men
standing out on the snow
00:39:03.45\00:39:06.50
with a big fire
going, passing out pamphlets.
00:39:06.53\00:39:09.85
And they said to me, "Are
you the man who tells people,
00:39:09.88\00:39:12.82
they are no perfect people."
00:39:12.85\00:39:14.39
I said, "Yes." They
said, "Well, you're wrong."
00:39:14.42\00:39:17.82
I said, "Why?" They
said, "We're--that we've never,
00:39:17.85\00:39:21.46
we don't sin any
more, we're perfect and--"
00:39:21.49\00:39:27.47
They are completely deluded."
00:39:27.50\00:39:32.33
But the Bible talks
about Christian perfection,
00:39:32.36\00:39:34.74
that means Christian maturity.
00:39:34.77\00:39:38.72
By nature we're sinful.
00:39:38.75\00:39:41.00
But God would
have us, to be become
00:39:41.03\00:39:44.56
emotionally and
spiritually stable.
00:39:44.59\00:39:47.74
I went back to a little church
00:39:47.77\00:39:49.51
where I'd been the
pastor 40 years ago.
00:39:49.54\00:39:54.00
How would I find those
people- they were all there.
00:39:54.03\00:39:58.68
Faithful, some have
died but the rest faithful,
00:39:58.71\00:40:02.73
consistent, caring,
reliable, hospitable, loving,
00:40:02.76\00:40:07.12
they were people
my friend who were
00:40:07.15\00:40:09.30
mature people,
they were not flakes.
00:40:09.33\00:40:13.13
They were not emotionally
00:40:13.16\00:40:14.87
spiritually
intellectually immature.
00:40:14.90\00:40:18.60
They were mature people.
00:40:18.63\00:40:22.79
That's what God
demands of every person.
00:40:22.82\00:40:26.83
And if you're looking for
a husband ladies don't marry
00:40:26.86\00:40:30.32
an immature
person and vice versa.
00:40:30.35\00:40:34.85
Marry somebody who is mature.
00:40:34.88\00:40:39.61
Verse 17 and
onwards, "Join with others
00:40:39.64\00:40:42.13
in following my
example, brothers,
00:40:42.16\00:40:44.93
and take care of
those who live according
00:40:44.96\00:40:47.16
to the pattern we told you.
00:40:47.19\00:40:49.14
For, as I have
often told you before
00:40:49.17\00:40:51.79
and now I say
again even with tears,
00:40:51.82\00:40:54.05
many live as enemies
of the cross of Christ."
00:40:54.08\00:40:59.27
Goodness. Can you believe this?
00:40:59.30\00:41:02.68
"Enemies of the cross of Christ.
00:41:02.71\00:41:04.46
There destiny is destruction,
their God is their stomach,
00:41:04.49\00:41:10.24
and their glory
is in their shame.
00:41:10.27\00:41:12.92
Their mind is on earthly things.
00:41:12.95\00:41:16.26
But our
citizenship is in heaven.
00:41:16.29\00:41:18.73
And we eagerly
await a Savior from there,
00:41:18.76\00:41:21.28
the Lord Jesus, who, by
the power that enables him
00:41:21.31\00:41:24.47
to bring
everything under his control,
00:41:24.50\00:41:27.15
will transform our lowly bodies
00:41:27.18\00:41:30.48
so that they will be
made like his glorious body."
00:41:30.51\00:41:36.48
Paul here has a little aside.
00:41:36.51\00:41:39.47
And these words are appropriate
00:41:39.50\00:41:42.60
for our generation as
they where in the days
00:41:42.63\00:41:45.92
of that degenerate
society, the Roman society.
00:41:45.95\00:41:50.17
He talks about people who are
controlled by their stomachs.
00:41:50.20\00:41:55.41
He says they need to
find salvation because
00:41:55.44\00:42:00.43
no person who is
controlled by his stomach
00:42:00.46\00:42:03.33
can be a disciple of Christ.
00:42:03.36\00:42:06.94
You say but this is too strong.
00:42:06.97\00:42:08.99
It is the Word of God.
00:42:09.02\00:42:14.00
One man has rightly
observed that great eaters
00:42:14.03\00:42:17.90
and great drinkers are
seldom great at anything else.
00:42:17.93\00:42:24.96
Gluttony is one of
the seven deadly sins.
00:42:24.99\00:42:31.22
And when Christ comes
into a man or a woman's life,
00:42:31.25\00:42:38.10
there is a mighty infusion
00:42:38.13\00:42:43.39
of divine grace.
00:42:43.42\00:42:48.56
And the person is saved
00:42:48.59\00:42:53.35
to live a holy life.
00:42:53.38\00:42:59.36
And then he says,
"One day we're going
00:42:59.39\00:43:02.08
to get new
bodies for ever young,
00:43:02.11\00:43:06.15
no disease, no death,
no funerals, and no tears."
00:43:06.18\00:43:13.51
We're talking
here today not about
00:43:13.54\00:43:17.47
popular Christianity
which is damming millions
00:43:17.50\00:43:22.98
of people in this
country and around the world
00:43:23.01\00:43:26.26
but we're talking
about apostolic Christianity.
00:43:26.29\00:43:32.33
We're talking about the
Christianity of the Bible.
00:43:32.36\00:43:38.13
And that Christianity comes
from a relationship with Christ.
00:43:38.16\00:43:42.85
Chapter 4:1,
"Therefore, my brothers,
00:43:42.88\00:43:50.25
you whom I live and
long for, my joy and crown,
00:43:50.28\00:43:56.11
that is how you should
stand firm in the Lord,
00:43:56.14\00:44:00.10
dear friends!"
He says "Stand firm.
00:44:00.13\00:44:05.06
Don't look back. Don't give up."
00:44:05.09\00:44:10.26
Years ago I had man
working with me and for me.
00:44:10.29\00:44:16.66
And he had a reputation
from going from one church
00:44:16.69\00:44:19.84
to another and
from one job to another.
00:44:19.87\00:44:23.06
I said, "Why do you
move around so much."
00:44:23.09\00:44:26.17
He said, "I
stay while it's fun."
00:44:26.20\00:44:31.45
That's how some people
stay in their marriages.
00:44:31.48\00:44:35.68
They stay while it's fun.
00:44:35.71\00:44:42.56
That's how some people stay
in their relationship with God.
00:44:42.59\00:44:46.52
They stay until it gets hard.
00:44:46.55\00:44:51.62
But Paul says "stand firm."
00:44:51.65\00:44:55.54
If you believe you're right,
00:44:55.57\00:44:58.18
don't let
anybody push you around.
00:44:58.21\00:45:02.11
If you believe
you're right don't move,
00:45:02.14\00:45:05.18
don't bend, don't bow,
00:45:05.21\00:45:08.39
don't budge and you won't burn.
00:45:08.42\00:45:12.28
Stand firm, have some gumption.
00:45:12.31\00:45:17.77
Have some backbone.
00:45:17.80\00:45:19.90
Verse 2, "I plead with Euodia
00:45:19.93\00:45:22.37
and I plead with
Syntyche to agree
00:45:22.40\00:45:25.55
with each other in the Lord.
00:45:25.58\00:45:29.18
Yes, and I ask
you, loyal yokefellow,
00:45:29.21\00:45:31.83
help these women
who have contended
00:45:31.86\00:45:35.38
at my side in the
cause of the gospel,
00:45:35.41\00:45:39.31
along with Clement and
the rest of my fellow workers,
00:45:39.34\00:45:43.30
whose names are
in the book of life."
00:45:43.33\00:45:47.64
Here he is talking about
unity without uniformity.
00:45:47.67\00:45:52.02
These people were-- they
were frail sinful people.
00:45:52.05\00:45:58.01
They weren't' perfect people.
00:45:58.04\00:45:59.36
They had
disagreements, that's okay.
00:45:59.39\00:46:02.65
But just make it right.
00:46:02.68\00:46:04.11
Then he talks
about the faithful women.
00:46:04.14\00:46:08.39
The New Testament is
full of faithful women.
00:46:08.42\00:46:13.73
There is no record
in the New Testament
00:46:13.76\00:46:16.52
of a woman ever doing
an evil deed to Christ.
00:46:16.55\00:46:21.19
You can't say
that about the men.
00:46:21.22\00:46:24.29
You got the
women Mary, the mother,
00:46:24.32\00:46:28.78
Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna.
00:46:28.81\00:46:31.93
You can read
about them in the Bible.
00:46:31.96\00:46:34.33
If you read Romans 16 not today
00:46:34.36\00:46:37.05
but the last chapter--
Paul is all of his friends
00:46:37.08\00:46:41.69
and so many of
them are Godly women.
00:46:41.72\00:46:47.44
Women have been
called in a special way
00:46:47.47\00:46:52.49
to be the disciples of Christ.
00:46:52.52\00:46:56.94
Then he says those verse 3,
00:46:56.97\00:46:59.98
"Those whose names
are in the book of Life."
00:47:00.01\00:47:03.36
You know folks what I
want more than anything else
00:47:03.39\00:47:08.06
is to get my name written
down in the book of Life.
00:47:08.09\00:47:11.93
Amen. Verses 4-7,
00:47:11.96\00:47:14.09
listen to these words.
00:47:14.12\00:47:15.37
Rejoice in the Lord always,
00:47:15.40\00:47:18.64
even when you lose your home,
00:47:18.67\00:47:23.30
even when you lose your job.
00:47:23.33\00:47:26.01
"Rejoice in the Lord always.
00:47:26.04\00:47:28.44
I will say it again, Rejoice!"
00:47:28.47\00:47:32.56
When you meet a Christian,
00:47:32.59\00:47:34.01
you ought to meet a
sunny happy rejoicing person.
00:47:34.04\00:47:40.42
"Let you
gentleness be evident to all.
00:47:40.45\00:47:43.58
The Lord is near.
00:47:43.61\00:47:44.99
Do not be
anxious about anything.
00:47:45.02\00:47:47.54
Don't worry he
says but in everything,
00:47:47.57\00:47:50.91
by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving."
00:47:50.94\00:47:54.14
Be thankful.
"Present your requests to God.
00:47:54.17\00:47:58.50
And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding,
00:47:58.53\00:48:01.83
will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus."
00:48:01.86\00:48:05.70
He says be gentle.
00:48:05.73\00:48:08.46
Be not anxious.
00:48:08.49\00:48:10.21
Pray with thanks giving.
00:48:10.24\00:48:12.13
Have God's peace.
00:48:12.16\00:48:14.87
These are some of the
benefits of being a Christian.
00:48:14.90\00:48:18.17
Verse 8, "Finally
brothers, whatever is true,
00:48:18.20\00:48:22.14
whatever is
noble, whatever is right,
00:48:22.17\00:48:25.32
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely
00:48:25.35\00:48:28.09
whatever is admirable--
if anything is excellent
00:48:28.12\00:48:31.56
or praiseworthy--
think about such things."
00:48:31.59\00:48:36.90
A Christian ought to be
the most positive person.
00:48:36.93\00:48:42.13
Sometimes I meet
people now, none of you folks
00:48:42.16\00:48:45.75
but sometimes when a person
comes to see me, I brace myself.
00:48:45.78\00:48:52.57
Because after ten
minutes with that person
00:48:52.60\00:48:55.85
I feel I need to lie down
for 2 or 3 hours and recover.
00:48:55.88\00:49:00.31
Some people are so negative,
00:49:00.34\00:49:03.41
if they suck the
marrow out of your bones.
00:49:03.44\00:49:07.53
They don't know Christ.
00:49:07.56\00:49:10.44
A Christian ought to be a person
00:49:10.47\00:49:12.54
with whom you
can spend some time
00:49:12.57\00:49:14.94
and after you've spend time with
that person you're charged up.
00:49:14.97\00:49:19.81
And you feel taller
and stronger and better
00:49:19.84\00:49:24.34
and you feel you can go on.
00:49:24.37\00:49:29.33
A Christian is called
to think happy thoughts.
00:49:29.36\00:49:35.41
We're going to come to
verse skip down a little,
00:49:35.44\00:49:38.37
come to verse 11 and 12.
00:49:38.40\00:49:40.57
"I'm not saying
this because I'm in need,
00:49:40.60\00:49:43.41
for I have learned to be content
whatever the circumstances."
00:49:43.44\00:49:47.13
Christian is not
always rushing around to buy
00:49:47.16\00:49:49.98
something so you'll feel better.
00:49:50.01\00:49:51.94
"I know what it
is to be in need,
00:49:51.97\00:49:54.30
and I know what it
is to have plenty,"
00:49:54.33\00:49:56.27
I can say amen to that.
00:49:56.30\00:49:58.10
"I have learned the
secret of being content
00:49:58.13\00:50:00.79
in any and every situation,
00:50:00.82\00:50:05.08
whether well fed of hungry,
00:50:05.11\00:50:07.31
whether living in
plenty or in want."
00:50:07.34\00:50:10.18
My friend when you know Christ,
00:50:10.21\00:50:12.52
you will be content.
00:50:12.55\00:50:15.54
Do you hear what
I'm saying? Verse 13.
00:50:15.57\00:50:18.85
"I can do everything through
him who gives me strength,"
00:50:18.88\00:50:22.46
Whatever, God calls you to do,
00:50:22.49\00:50:26.66
you can do it through Christ.
00:50:26.69\00:50:29.57
I can testify to that.
00:50:29.60\00:50:32.93
If God calls you to do
something, you can do it.
00:50:32.96\00:50:36.03
The will of God
will never take you
00:50:36.06\00:50:39.69
where the grace of
God cannot keep you.
00:50:39.72\00:50:42.65
Therefore, keep on keeping on.
00:50:42.68\00:50:45.93
I can do all
things through Christ.
00:50:45.96\00:50:49.13
Now, I want you to come
down a little bit further.
00:50:49.16\00:50:51.61
We're going to come to verse 19.
00:50:51.64\00:50:54.72
"But my God will meet
all your needs according
00:50:54.75\00:50:59.78
to his glorious
riches in Christ Jesus."
00:50:59.81\00:51:03.72
Please look at me.
00:51:03.75\00:51:06.28
I want to
testify about something.
00:51:06.31\00:51:09.60
I know that some
folks who got faith,
00:51:09.63\00:51:12.90
other folks only
talk about faith.
00:51:12.93\00:51:16.46
But I want to
tell you something.
00:51:16.49\00:51:19.24
If you do the will of God,
God will supply your needs.
00:51:19.27\00:51:24.25
We've received a phone call
00:51:24.28\00:51:26.81
asking us to run a
huge campaign in China,
00:51:26.84\00:51:30.13
can you believe this.
00:51:30.16\00:51:31.25
I have no idea.
00:51:31.28\00:51:32.70
I'm afraid even to think of it.
00:51:32.73\00:51:35.15
I'm serious it costs millions.
00:51:35.18\00:51:37.22
It would be a training skill
00:51:37.25\00:51:38.74
for all the
Christian leaders in China.
00:51:38.77\00:51:42.61
I've had people said to me,
00:51:42.64\00:51:43.77
"You don't have a
lot faith apparent."
00:51:43.80\00:51:45.40
I said, "You're
right, I don't have a lot."
00:51:45.43\00:51:47.30
But apparently you
don't have any at all
00:51:47.33\00:51:50.36
or else you would be doing it.
00:51:50.39\00:51:52.75
When people say, "Why
don't you do so and so,
00:51:52.78\00:51:54.86
don't you have any faith."
00:51:54.89\00:51:55.92
I say, "Why
aren't you doing it."
00:51:55.95\00:51:58.30
Ah, but I can testify
today and raise my right hand
00:51:58.33\00:52:03.87
that after preaching
this gospel for 50 years
00:52:03.90\00:52:07.49
I have never, didn't want.
00:52:07.52\00:52:10.99
God is always and
continues to supply my needs.
00:52:11.02\00:52:18.15
I want you to have a
partnership with Christ.
00:52:18.18\00:52:20.77
There are some folks
who don't have enough faith
00:52:20.80\00:52:23.54
even to pay their tithe.
00:52:23.57\00:52:26.47
They say, I got faith
and well you pay tithe?
00:52:26.50\00:52:29.02
No, I don't pay tithe.
00:52:29.05\00:52:30.25
Well you know why don't you,
you don't have enough faith.
00:52:30.28\00:52:34.56
Bible talks about
tithes and offerings.
00:52:34.59\00:52:38.95
I know people who pay two tithes
and three tithes and four tithes
00:52:38.98\00:52:44.62
and they don't know what
to do with all their money.
00:52:44.65\00:52:47.65
God pours them out
but you got to have faith.
00:52:47.68\00:52:51.95
And some of you are not mature
00:52:51.98\00:52:56.42
but as you become mature
and as you know Christ more,
00:52:56.45\00:53:01.32
your faith is going to go grow.
00:53:01.35\00:53:03.78
And you're going to step
out of the--out of the dark,
00:53:03.81\00:53:06.71
some of you are
walking in the darkness.
00:53:06.74\00:53:09.25
Some of you
don't-- haven't got a clue
00:53:09.28\00:53:10.87
what I'm talking about.
00:53:10.90\00:53:12.07
You're a full of
religiosity and it's not worth.
00:53:12.10\00:53:17.33
A hell being its worth nothing.
00:53:17.36\00:53:21.07
So when a person
steps out of the darkness,
00:53:21.10\00:53:24.91
starts to walk with Jesus,
00:53:24.94\00:53:29.44
then he has got a lot
of cause for rejoicing.
00:53:29.47\00:53:34.45
And I want you to know
00:53:34.48\00:53:36.61
you can't keep this
gospel of Saint Paul's down.
00:53:36.64\00:53:42.31
I want you to
look at verse 21:22,
00:53:42.34\00:53:45.40
"Greet all the
saints in Christ Jesus.
00:53:45.43\00:53:48.77
The brothers who are
with me send greetings.
00:53:48.80\00:53:51.81
All the saints
send you greetings,
00:53:51.84\00:53:54.28
especially those who
belong to Caesar's household."
00:53:54.31\00:54:00.01
Caesar hated Christ.
00:54:00.04\00:54:02.09
Caesar hated the gospel.
00:54:02.12\00:54:05.60
But the people who
are working for Caesar
00:54:05.63\00:54:09.26
where becoming Christians.
00:54:09.29\00:54:13.49
You can't keep it down.
00:54:13.52\00:54:16.71
You can't keep the man down,
00:54:16.74\00:54:18.79
the man Christ
Jesus because he is alive.
00:54:18.82\00:54:23.16
And even if you and I apostatize
00:54:23.19\00:54:27.03
and we give up and we say,
00:54:27.06\00:54:29.49
"This is not for me.
00:54:29.52\00:54:31.23
I don't want, I can't."
00:54:31.26\00:54:34.67
With all these excuses.
00:54:34.70\00:54:37.49
God is going to
have a multitudes
00:54:37.52\00:54:40.63
saved in the kingdom and
some out of Caesar's household.
00:54:40.66\00:54:47.67
Verse 23; thank you Paul,
00:54:47.70\00:54:51.79
"The grace of
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:54:51.82\00:54:56.43
be with your spirit. Amen."
00:54:56.46\00:55:03.16
The Carter report is a
self supporting ministry
00:55:06.85\00:55:10.05
with a global mission.
00:55:10.08\00:55:11.65
We believe that the
most important thing
00:55:11.68\00:55:13.81
that we can do in
this tremendous hour
00:55:13.84\00:55:16.60
is to tell people
about the Lord Jesus Christ
00:55:16.63\00:55:19.88
because Jesus
said, "I am the way,
00:55:19.91\00:55:22.60
the truth and the life."
00:55:22.63\00:55:24.32
We do not believe that
this is business as usual.
00:55:24.35\00:55:28.18
We believe that we are
living in the closing hours
00:55:28.21\00:55:31.75
in the history of this world.
00:55:31.78\00:55:33.48
Bless your heart friend.
00:55:33.51\00:55:34.86
Look at the signs that are being
00:55:34.89\00:55:36.50
fulfilled almost every day.
00:55:36.53\00:55:38.66
The signs of the
times are shouting at us
00:55:38.69\00:55:41.73
and they are saying
Jesus is coming soon.
00:55:41.76\00:55:45.27
I want you to be my
partner in global mission.
00:55:45.30\00:55:48.70
I want you to be my partner
in helping to tell the world
00:55:48.73\00:55:52.26
about the coming of Jesus.
00:55:52.29\00:55:54.43
I want you to be my
partner in the preaching
00:55:54.46\00:55:57.21
of the distinctive truths
of the Three Angels' Messages.
00:55:57.24\00:56:02.28
Please check us out
at the new Carter Report
00:56:02.31\00:56:06.28
website, cartereport.org.
00:56:06.31\00:56:09.37
We have a special section
whereby you can ask questions
00:56:09.40\00:56:14.00
and I will give you the
answers from the living Word
00:56:14.03\00:56:18.16
of the living God,
that is the cartereport.org.
00:56:18.19\00:56:24.23
My friend, we want you
to join us in the mission
00:56:24.26\00:56:28.23
to preach the gospel in
China, in India, in Australia,
00:56:28.26\00:56:34.33
in Africa, in
United States of America
00:56:34.36\00:56:37.71
wherever people are
lost and wherever people need
00:56:37.74\00:56:41.22
to hear the good
news that Jesus saves.
00:56:41.25\00:56:45.76
Please check us out,
the new Carter Report
00:56:45.79\00:56:48.73
website, cartereport.org.
00:56:48.76\00:56:52.13
I want to hear from you today.
00:56:52.16\00:56:55.04
All the battles I would face
00:57:07.76\00:57:12.81
Forever running
00:57:16.19\00:57:20.18
but losing the race
00:57:20.21\00:57:24.28
Were it not for grace
00:57:24.31\00:57:28.55
Forever running
00:57:31.16\00:57:34.78
but losing the race
00:57:34.81\00:57:39.57
Were it not for grace
00:57:39.60\00:57:45.34