Hello and I am Hal
Steenson and I invite
00:00:31.86\00:00:33.82
you to join us today
on Faith Chapel as we
00:00:33.83\00:00:36.80
study God's word together.
00:00:36.81\00:00:39.19
I encourage you to get
your Bibles and join us
00:00:39.53\00:00:41.21
as we look at the
word of God and try to
00:00:41.22\00:00:43.88
understand from
God's heart and God's point
00:00:44.10\00:00:46.35
of view what he's
speaking to our hearts
00:00:46.36\00:00:48.39
here today. But
before we do that let's pray.
00:00:48.40\00:00:50.74
Okay. Father, we thank
you for the opportunity
00:00:50.92\00:00:53.62
today to share your word. Lord,
00:00:53.63\00:00:56.28
we thank you for
the opportunity to share
00:00:56.29\00:00:58.45
Jesus because when
we share your word,
00:00:58.46\00:01:00.14
it is sharing
Jesus. And Father, we ask
00:01:00.15\00:01:02.58
today that we just be
Lord able to communicate
00:01:02.59\00:01:05.83
and minister not only
to Your heart which is
00:01:05.96\00:01:08.43
first and foremost.
But by touching Your people
00:01:08.44\00:01:11.73
we'll also know that we
are touching You. And we
00:01:11.74\00:01:14.58
give You praise for
it in Jesus name. Amen.
00:01:14.59\00:01:19.22
You know I like to
set goals in my life.
00:01:19.99\00:01:22.12
I set short term
goals, I set long term goals.
00:01:22.29\00:01:24.69
And I have kind of a
melancholic personality
00:01:24.70\00:01:27.05
to where I make a
list of things do through
00:01:27.06\00:01:28.98
the day. And if I
don't make and I start over
00:01:28.99\00:01:30.46
my list tomorrow and everything,
00:01:30.47\00:01:31.64
but there is one
thing that I know I don't
00:01:31.65\00:01:33.90
have to make a list
for and that's heading
00:01:33.91\00:01:37.36
toward home. I
believe that heaven was not
00:01:37.37\00:01:40.73
only or is not only
my destination but it was
00:01:40.74\00:01:43.41
my origin from the
heart of God that I would
00:01:43.42\00:01:45.74
be with the Lord
some day. And that as I
00:01:45.75\00:01:48.47
continue to do God's
word and do God's will
00:01:48.48\00:01:51.04
then I am accomplishing
the title of this message
00:01:51.62\00:01:54.01
today which is
Pressing Toward The Mark.
00:01:54.02\00:01:56.62
I want you to get
your Bible if you will turn
00:01:57.28\00:01:59.06
with me in Philippians
the third chapter we're
00:01:59.07\00:02:00.93
gonna look at the
13th through the 15th verse
00:02:00.94\00:02:03.76
as our foundation of scriptures,
00:02:03.91\00:02:05.44
set up their foundation
and we'll build on it is
00:02:05.75\00:02:08.08
God so desires,
okay. Philippians 3:13,
00:02:08.09\00:02:11.96
says, "Brethren, I
count not myself to have
00:02:11.97\00:02:14.33
apprehended: but
this one thing I do,
00:02:14.34\00:02:16.90
forgetting those
things which are behind,
00:02:16.91\00:02:18.58
and reaching forth
unto those things which are
00:02:18.59\00:02:20.37
before, I press
toward the mark for the prize
00:02:20.38\00:02:23.20
of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus.
00:02:23.21\00:02:25.20
Let us therefore,
as many as be perfect,
00:02:25.82\00:02:27.79
be thus minded: and if
any thing ye be otherwise
00:02:27.92\00:02:32.95
minded, God shall
reveal even this unto you.
00:02:32.96\00:02:36.89
Now, it is amazing
that so many of us think
00:02:37.66\00:02:39.71
what Paul is saying,
oh forget all those bad
00:02:39.72\00:02:42.28
things that
happened to you and get your
00:02:42.29\00:02:44.33
new vision, new
sight. This is not exactly
00:02:44.34\00:02:46.53
what he is saying,
Paul wrote most of the
00:02:46.54\00:02:50.42
New Testimony. Also man of God,
00:02:50.43\00:02:52.53
we know Paul got
in a lot of realizing,
00:02:52.54\00:02:54.34
he's the only one
didn't have any rocks,
00:02:54.54\00:02:55.79
he lived through
it, he got through it,
00:02:55.80\00:02:57.05
awesome man of God.
Paul accomplished so much
00:02:57.23\00:02:59.87
and did so many
things what he is saying here
00:02:59.88\00:03:02.31
don't just forget the
things that were bad in
00:03:02.32\00:03:04.49
your past. But don't
look back to the things
00:03:04.50\00:03:07.19
that were good and
hang all your hopes on the
00:03:07.20\00:03:09.72
things of the past.
When I first got born
00:03:09.85\00:03:12.39
again I went to a
little prayer meeting,
00:03:12.40\00:03:13.80
I'll never forget
it, awesome, awesome
00:03:13.81\00:03:15.40
conversion when I
first came into the kingdom
00:03:15.41\00:03:17.10
of God. Molly tells
people I came in on the high
00:03:17.11\00:03:19.47
side of Christianity. I
came into as, at a prayer
00:03:19.48\00:03:23.28
meeting and people
were there when we were
00:03:23.29\00:03:25.36
praying and then the
God that was in charge
00:03:25.37\00:03:27.17
of it said okay we
gonna have a time of sharing.
00:03:27.18\00:03:28.88
And we're gonna
share a Testimony,
00:03:29.38\00:03:31.11
anybody got a
Testimony and thought oh I am
00:03:31.38\00:03:32.77
ready for this, yes,
yes, yes. And He said;
00:03:32.78\00:03:34.80
now if your Testimony
is over a week old you
00:03:34.81\00:03:36.37
can't share it. And
God did a pre training on
00:03:36.38\00:03:40.05
me, He did a
little pruning on me.
00:03:40.06\00:03:42.15
We should have a new
testimony every day not
00:03:42.35\00:03:44.88
about the good
things that happened nor the
00:03:44.89\00:03:46.35
bad things that
happened but this is the
00:03:46.36\00:03:48.02
day that the Lord has
made and I'll rejoice and
00:03:48.03\00:03:50.40
be glad in it. Now
if we gonna Press Toward
00:03:50.41\00:03:52.58
The Mark of the prize of
high calling Christ Jesus,
00:03:52.59\00:03:55.57
then let's look at
some principles which would
00:03:55.74\00:03:57.44
help us get over the
past live for today with
00:03:57.45\00:04:00.93
hope for the
future. First, number 1,
00:04:00.94\00:04:03.94
live for the future
realizing God has the
00:04:04.44\00:04:06.69
power to change it
alone. Be futuristic,
00:04:06.73\00:04:11.31
remember
Christians are eternal beings.
00:04:11.68\00:04:14.81
I'd like to
amplify this, John 16:13,
00:04:15.14\00:04:18.78
it says, "But when
He, the Spirit of truth,
00:04:18.79\00:04:21.03
the truth giving spirit comes,
00:04:21.18\00:04:23.62
He will guide you into
all truth, the whole truth,
00:04:24.05\00:04:26.42
full truths for He will
not speak his own message;
00:04:26.43\00:04:29.59
on His authority. But
He will tell whatever He
00:04:30.19\00:04:33.25
hears from the Father,
He will give the message
00:04:33.26\00:04:35.72
that has been given to
Him. And He will announce
00:04:35.73\00:04:37.89
and declare to you the
things that are to come
00:04:37.90\00:04:41.54
that will happen in
the future. Now I'd like to
00:04:42.05\00:04:44.24
amplified Bible, some
people don't realize it
00:04:44.25\00:04:45.89
but the amplified is a
literal translation of the
00:04:46.00\00:04:49.55
word of God with
amplification is a little
00:04:49.56\00:04:51.98
wordy sometimes it but
I like it because it helps
00:04:51.99\00:04:54.70
me understand a lot
of what's being said.
00:04:54.71\00:04:57.42
We got to live our
lives totally and completely
00:04:57.77\00:05:00.51
without thought for
ourselves in the sense,
00:05:01.09\00:05:03.24
of this what, give
me that and give me this
00:05:03.25\00:05:05.29
on my never
ending shopping list,
00:05:05.30\00:05:06.83
that's not the
way it works with God.
00:05:06.84\00:05:08.30
And here's a
beautiful illustration of this.
00:05:08.77\00:05:11.30
In 1904, William
Borden heir to the Borden
00:05:12.02\00:05:14.61
Dairy estate, wealthy estate.
00:05:14.62\00:05:17.09
Graduated from the
Chicago high school a
00:05:17.50\00:05:19.47
millionaire when he graduated.
00:05:19.48\00:05:21.47
His parents gave him
a trip around the world
00:05:21.85\00:05:24.43
traveling through
Asia, and through the Middle
00:05:24.44\00:05:27.68
East and Europe. And
gave Borden a burden,
00:05:27.69\00:05:30.40
how like that gave
Borden a burden for the world's
00:05:30.58\00:05:33.00
hurting people,
riding home he said,
00:05:33.01\00:05:34.89
I am going to give my
life to prepare for the
00:05:35.16\00:05:37.24
mission field. When
he made this decision,
00:05:37.25\00:05:40.43
he wrote in the back
of his Bible two words,
00:05:40.44\00:05:43.32
no reserves.
Turning down the high paying
00:05:44.45\00:05:47.35
job offers after
graduating from Yale
00:05:47.36\00:05:49.23
University, he
entered two more words in his
00:05:49.24\00:05:51.85
Bible, no retreats.
Completing studies at
00:05:51.86\00:05:57.10
Princeton Seminary.
Borden sailed for China
00:05:57.31\00:06:00.14
to work with the
Muslim stopping first at Egypt
00:06:00.51\00:06:02.78
for some
preparations, while there he was
00:06:03.34\00:06:08.00
stricken with
cerebral meningitis and died
00:06:08.12\00:06:10.03
within a month, a waste you say,
00:06:10.04\00:06:13.07
not in God's plan. In
his Bible underneath the
00:06:13.94\00:06:16.75
words no
reserves and no retreats,
00:06:16.76\00:06:19.83
Borden had written
the words, no regrets.
00:06:20.64\00:06:25.19
What we have to do is
burn all of our plows,
00:06:25.87\00:06:28.23
I call it the Elisha
principle, when Elijah
00:06:28.65\00:06:30.67
called Elisha he
said wait, I'll go burn my
00:06:30.68\00:06:32.74
plows and follow you.
He got rid of his past,
00:06:32.75\00:06:35.55
there was no going
back, there was no retreat,
00:06:35.56\00:06:38.11
he wasn't gonna be
able to do anything
00:06:38.62\00:06:40.42
that he did before;
this is burning your plows
00:06:40.43\00:06:42.67
for Jesus. Listen
to this scripture,
00:06:42.68\00:06:45.71
read it with me.
Luke 9:62, it says,
00:06:45.89\00:06:49.25
"And Jesus said
unto him, No man,
00:06:49.42\00:06:51.30
having put his hand
to the plow and looking
00:06:51.32\00:06:54.03
back is fit for
the kingdom of God."
00:06:54.04\00:06:57.85
Now once again
let me reiterate that,
00:06:58.71\00:07:00.74
that doesn't mean
just for the things that
00:07:00.75\00:07:02.41
you have done wrong
or the failures but you
00:07:02.42\00:07:05.22
can't build the rest
of your life on the things
00:07:05.23\00:07:07.44
that you did that
were tremendous in the
00:07:07.45\00:07:09.67
kingdom of God if they
really and truly belonged
00:07:09.68\00:07:12.10
to God. And if you
given God the praise for Him.
00:07:12.11\00:07:14.84
Let me share this
statement with you.
00:07:15.88\00:07:17.39
Living for the future
involves spiritual vision
00:07:18.06\00:07:20.62
and wisdom that
causes us not to dwell in
00:07:20.78\00:07:24.24
the now circumstances
if they are not joyous.
00:07:24.25\00:07:28.50
Future vision means that men,
00:07:29.45\00:07:31.15
I am looking out
here because I know the
00:07:31.38\00:07:33.74
right now that my
life is a vapor but I know
00:07:33.75\00:07:36.22
that heaven is my
home. And that I will be
00:07:36.23\00:07:39.56
with Him eternally.
Future vision will also
00:07:39.64\00:07:43.58
allow us overcome
what I referred to as the
00:07:44.14\00:07:46.94
death of the vision.
Now this is important
00:07:47.00\00:07:49.29
because I am, I
believe that I am speaking
00:07:49.30\00:07:50.65
to lot of hearts right
here, right here today,
00:07:50.66\00:07:52.68
that there are so
many of you right here
00:07:53.18\00:07:54.61
that really truly
God has given you a
00:07:54.62\00:07:56.97
futuristic vision. MGM studio,
00:07:56.98\00:07:59.33
Paramount Pictures,
they did not produce
00:07:59.34\00:08:01.70
this for you,
God gave this to you.
00:08:01.71\00:08:03.82
And yet it has
not taken place yet.
00:08:04.11\00:08:06.75
And it's not come to
full fruition and as matter
00:08:07.43\00:08:09.48
of fact it looks as
if that vision is dead.
00:08:09.49\00:08:12.63
Stop and think
about this for a minute,
00:08:13.66\00:08:15.10
your vision, your personal life,
00:08:15.24\00:08:17.17
your personal vow.
Right now you maybe in
00:08:17.18\00:08:20.08
the death of a
vision but I am telling you,
00:08:20.09\00:08:22.37
you are right where
every saint of God that
00:08:22.95\00:08:25.62
has ever done great
things for God has been.
00:08:25.63\00:08:28.17
Abraham when he
put Isaac on the altar.
00:08:29.39\00:08:32.32
God said Abraham;
your seed is going to be as
00:08:34.69\00:08:36.74
the sands of the sea
and the stars of the sky.
00:08:36.75\00:08:39.05
And he was about to
put a dagger through
00:08:39.30\00:08:41.39
Isaac's heart. That's
the death of the vision
00:08:41.58\00:08:44.07
until the God
provided the ram in the bush.
00:08:44.08\00:08:46.25
Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego in the fiery
00:08:46.77\00:08:50.08
furnace, that was the
death of the vision until
00:08:50.09\00:08:52.54
the fourth man
came into the fire,
00:08:52.55\00:08:54.36
Joseph who was
thrown in the pit.
00:08:55.12\00:08:57.31
And then he went
to Potiphar's house,
00:08:57.91\00:08:59.97
went to prison and
he went to the palace.
00:09:00.18\00:09:03.24
When he had a
promise that his brothers
00:09:03.51\00:09:05.74
and sisters in palace
gonna bow down to him.
00:09:05.75\00:09:08.66
And twenty two years
later that promise was
00:09:09.41\00:09:12.90
fulfilled. And what I
am telling you if you don't
00:09:12.91\00:09:15.22
really think, else
here's I say hear it today.
00:09:15.23\00:09:16.95
You might be
sitting down on your couch,
00:09:17.26\00:09:18.73
you might be leaning
back in it a little easy
00:09:18.74\00:09:20.60
chair. And you feel
like now it's all washed up,
00:09:20.61\00:09:23.02
it's all gone, our
vision is dead, and dried up.
00:09:23.03\00:09:26.01
I am telling you before
a vision can come to pass.
00:09:26.02\00:09:29.80
Paul and Silas has to
be in jail with no hope of
00:09:30.33\00:09:33.00
escape, when the
earthquake comes.
00:09:33.01\00:09:35.37
When the
earthquake comes and sets them
00:09:35.59\00:09:37.54
free Jesus on the cross.
00:09:37.55\00:09:39.17
When God
resurrects Him from the dead,
00:09:39.30\00:09:41.93
what appears to be
the death of the vision is
00:09:42.16\00:09:45.21
actually God
allowing you to see, hey son,
00:09:45.22\00:09:49.61
hey daughter, I just
want you to know this
00:09:49.66\00:09:52.18
is my vision and
without me you can't do it
00:09:52.19\00:09:54.92
and you've been
trying to do it on your own.
00:09:55.08\00:09:56.62
Now allow me to
do it through you,
00:09:57.31\00:09:59.16
do you hear what I
said, do you hear what?
00:09:59.17\00:10:00.21
I feel that the
spirit of the God just spoke
00:10:00.22\00:10:01.55
to you there. In
the movie The Lion King,
00:10:01.56\00:10:05.45
is a greatest example
of getting over our past
00:10:07.38\00:10:09.55
that I have ever
really seen in something that
00:10:09.56\00:10:12.25
would be, I guess
called a movie a Disney Movie.
00:10:12.26\00:10:15.07
But The Lion King felt
like he was instrumental
00:10:16.10\00:10:18.66
in his father, the King
of the beast being killed.
00:10:18.67\00:10:20.68
And he was telling
the monkey, he said,
00:10:21.34\00:10:22.81
I just can't do it, I
can't get over my past.
00:10:23.43\00:10:25.97
It's like everything
just weighs over me in
00:10:26.73\00:10:28.44
the past. And the monkey said,
00:10:28.45\00:10:30.00
oh you can't go
over your past hey.
00:10:30.01\00:10:31.65
And then he took his
stick and he swung at
00:10:31.94\00:10:33.93
him and he hit him in the head,
00:10:33.94\00:10:34.99
he almost
knocked him off his feet.
00:10:35.00\00:10:36.81
And the young lion cub said,
00:10:37.08\00:10:38.31
hey what did you do to that?
00:10:38.32\00:10:40.45
And the monkey
said, what difference does
00:10:41.26\00:10:43.52
it make, it's in
the past. You can't do
00:10:43.53\00:10:46.40
anything about it.
And then the monkey took
00:10:46.41\00:10:49.32
the stick and swung
it at again and this time
00:10:49.33\00:10:51.82
the young lion cub ducked down.
00:10:52.10\00:10:54.06
And the monkey said see,
00:10:54.65\00:10:55.90
you might not be able
to change the past but
00:10:57.03\00:11:00.06
you can learn from
it. How was a Disney
00:11:00.07\00:11:04.04
cartoon could be?
Remember, live for the
00:11:04.05\00:11:06.77
future and learn from the past.
00:11:06.78\00:11:09.38
The second step toward
the high calling is never
00:11:09.91\00:11:14.27
mark anything
rush in pursuit of God.
00:11:14.28\00:11:16.42
Always listen before you leave,
00:11:16.43\00:11:19.09
now who are we gonna listen to?
00:11:19.10\00:11:20.35
Well we need to get
some wise counsel on this;
00:11:20.83\00:11:22.49
we need to get
people who has done this.
00:11:22.50\00:11:23.72
No, first thing you
do as you listen to God.
00:11:23.73\00:11:25.74
According to the word of God,
00:11:26.06\00:11:27.33
in Matthew 15 verse 22 and 23,
00:11:27.66\00:11:30.67
read this with me as I
share it with you okay.
00:11:31.02\00:11:33.16
"And, behold, a
woman of Canaan came out
00:11:33.70\00:11:36.07
of the same coast,
and cried unto him saying,
00:11:36.08\00:11:38.01
Have mercy on me, O
Lord, thou son of David;
00:11:38.85\00:11:41.12
my daughter is
grievously vexed with a devil.
00:11:41.38\00:11:43.46
But he answered her,
what? He answered her,
00:11:44.24\00:11:47.04
not a word. And
his disciples came and
00:11:47.68\00:11:51.09
besought him,
saying, Send her away;
00:11:51.10\00:11:52.74
for she crieth after
us." You know what the
00:11:52.99\00:11:56.20
beautiful part of
this is? He didn't answered
00:11:56.21\00:11:58.88
her, He was ignoring
her. Some people come
00:11:58.89\00:12:01.84
to us and bow we
got this ready answer,
00:12:01.85\00:12:04.26
we got this, I mean
this little cookie cutter
00:12:04.86\00:12:07.89
answer that we use
for every little question
00:12:07.90\00:12:09.69
that comes instead
of realizing that every
00:12:09.70\00:12:11.69
person that comes
to us might ask us the
00:12:11.70\00:12:13.53
same question we need
to answer in a different
00:12:13.54\00:12:15.57
way, the different
attitude and a different
00:12:15.58\00:12:17.40
heart. You know
what he was doing?
00:12:17.41\00:12:18.52
He was waiting on an
in, what I would call the
00:12:19.04\00:12:23.90
silence of love, God.
Can you imagine the Son
00:12:23.91\00:12:27.75
of God? God
what do I say to her,
00:12:27.76\00:12:30.01
Lord give me
wisdom in what to say?
00:12:30.23\00:12:32.24
You know the word
of God says Jesus grew
00:12:32.81\00:12:34.06
and waxed in wisdom,
he was a man just like
00:12:34.07\00:12:36.89
us, and what he did
was he waited on the
00:12:36.90\00:12:41.17
mountain of God.
And what we are to do,
00:12:41.18\00:12:42.80
is we to have the
mount of Christ and the word
00:12:42.81\00:12:45.13
of God says that we
have the mind of Christ.
00:12:45.14\00:12:46.93
Well, if we have
the mind of Christ,
00:12:48.27\00:12:49.58
I would challenge
you, why don't we use it
00:12:50.16\00:12:52.26
according to John 8
chapter and the 4th, 5th,
00:12:52.47\00:12:55.41
and 6th verses it
says, they say unto him,
00:12:55.42\00:12:57.36
master, this woman
was taken in adultery in
00:12:57.37\00:12:59.75
the very act, it wasn't heresay.
00:12:59.76\00:13:02.11
And now Moses now
in the law command said
00:13:02.86\00:13:04.50
that she should be
stoned but what's sayest
00:13:04.51\00:13:06.01
thou? This they said unto him,
00:13:06.02\00:13:08.05
tempting him that they
might have to accuse him.
00:13:08.40\00:13:13.26
But Jesus stooped
down, and with his finger
00:13:13.55\00:13:15.66
wrote on the
ground, as though he heard
00:13:16.09\00:13:18.94
them not. I have heard
a lot of sermons as well
00:13:18.95\00:13:21.96
where Jesus probably
wrote their sins in the
00:13:21.97\00:13:23.58
ground. And Jesus all
the stuff that he wrote.
00:13:23.59\00:13:26.11
I don't know what he
wrote but I know this
00:13:27.74\00:13:31.21
He was sitting there
getting the mind of God.
00:13:32.61\00:13:35.43
And then He looked
up and he said woman
00:13:36.92\00:13:39.35
where are your
accusers? And He let her go.
00:13:39.36\00:13:44.15
And I believe that
we as Christians men and
00:13:45.99\00:13:48.05
women of God, leaders
and layette that if we
00:13:48.06\00:13:50.62
would get the mind of Christ.
00:13:50.63\00:13:52.31
And I am not
talking about the brains,
00:13:52.32\00:13:54.18
now the brains. And
sometimes we fail to
00:13:54.19\00:13:57.54
understand it and if I
say it, it might offend
00:13:57.80\00:13:59.88
somebody but the
brains of Jesus and the
00:13:59.89\00:14:01.74
mind of Christ were
two different things.
00:14:01.75\00:14:04.29
What we need to do
is get out of our brains
00:14:06.08\00:14:08.13
and get into our
heart and get into our mind
00:14:08.14\00:14:10.13
of Christ, is where
it is, we renew our mind
00:14:10.14\00:14:12.43
according to the word of God.
00:14:12.44\00:14:13.41
And get the heart of
God on the matter and
00:14:13.48\00:14:15.49
then only and only
then will things happen and
00:14:15.50\00:14:17.86
we'll be able to get
over the past by hearing
00:14:17.87\00:14:19.85
from God about what
to do concerning the
00:14:19.86\00:14:22.12
future. Let the
Holy Spirit be your guide
00:14:22.13\00:14:25.78
and allow Him to
prompt you in whatever
00:14:26.05\00:14:28.64
manner He so
desires. A powerful scripture
00:14:28.65\00:14:31.41
here, powerful
scripture, listen to this, okay,
00:14:31.42\00:14:34.59
now our statements
that I've got here not
00:14:34.60\00:14:36.39
for scripture. I have
got four statements here
00:14:36.40\00:14:38.23
that I want to share
with you and want them
00:14:38.52\00:14:39.95
on the screen and
where you can see them.
00:14:39.96\00:14:41.70
Here's how we get
the mount of Christ,
00:14:41.88\00:14:43.58
here how we get the word of God,
00:14:43.66\00:14:45.08
here's how we
hear the word of God.
00:14:45.09\00:14:46.70
Number one, God
speaks through his word,
00:14:46.84\00:14:50.92
creating an inward witness.
00:14:51.50\00:14:53.54
In other words it
seems good to you through
00:14:53.75\00:14:56.23
the word of God. Now
number one through the
00:14:56.24\00:14:57.95
word of God. He's
not going to ride on the
00:14:57.96\00:14:59.97
heaven on a white
horse non roll a scroll,
00:14:59.98\00:15:01.85
number one. Number
two, God speaks to the
00:15:01.91\00:15:04.66
voice of your spirit,
two then agree as touching
00:15:04.67\00:15:08.03
anything on earth. He
speaks to your inward man,
00:15:08.04\00:15:11.41
the hidden man of the heart.
00:15:11.42\00:15:12.74
Number three, By supernatural,
00:15:13.72\00:15:15.92
signs wonders,
appearances- prophesy,
00:15:16.07\00:15:18.27
word of knowledge and
gifts of the Holy Spirit.
00:15:18.56\00:15:20.50
These do not happen
as frequently as number
00:15:20.57\00:15:23.67
one. And number
four, the last thing is the
00:15:23.68\00:15:26.89
audible voice of God.
I would not doubt saints
00:15:26.90\00:15:30.64
of God, those of
you that are watching,
00:15:30.65\00:15:32.05
I would not doubt for
one movement that there
00:15:32.31\00:15:34.33
are not some of you
out there or possibly many
00:15:34.34\00:15:36.78
of you out there that
have heard the audible
00:15:36.79\00:15:40.53
voice of God. But the
vast majority of us on
00:15:40.54\00:15:44.10
hearing the voice of
God and getting the mind
00:15:44.11\00:15:46.25
to Christ comes
through studying His word.
00:15:46.26\00:15:49.41
Something that might
not been a great deal to
00:15:50.31\00:15:52.30
you before all of a
sudden when you get the
00:15:52.31\00:15:54.30
mind of Christ. You get
into His word a scripture
00:15:54.31\00:15:56.89
that might not mean
anything before you read
00:15:56.90\00:15:58.88
this all of a
sudden it comes alive,
00:15:58.89\00:16:00.74
it jumps of the
page, it grabs your heart.
00:16:00.75\00:16:03.84
And you hold on to that word.
00:16:05.56\00:16:07.15
Thank God for signs and wonders.
00:16:07.98\00:16:09.46
Thank God for the
voice speaking through our
00:16:09.51\00:16:11.81
spirit, we don't just
need the mighty wind of the
00:16:11.82\00:16:13.62
Holy Spirit.
Sometimes we need the general
00:16:13.63\00:16:15.38
bread and cheeses,
thank God for all that we
00:16:15.39\00:16:17.21
bore for God. But
that's not the majority of the
00:16:17.22\00:16:19.97
way it happens. And
see when I say and others
00:16:19.98\00:16:23.19
say, and some
people have a tough time
00:16:23.20\00:16:24.62
understanding it, is
when I say that God speaks
00:16:24.63\00:16:26.90
to me. I am not saying
God spoke to me audibly,
00:16:26.91\00:16:29.25
God didn't appear to
me but God words speaks.
00:16:29.26\00:16:33.56
God word, you know the
blood of evil cries out
00:16:34.41\00:16:37.02
for vengeance but the
blood of Jesus cries out
00:16:37.03\00:16:39.44
it speaks. It cries
out for mercy, so when
00:16:39.45\00:16:42.21
I say that God to
spoke to me or the word
00:16:42.49\00:16:45.34
spoke to me. It
means that it spoke to my
00:16:45.35\00:16:47.93
inward witness I
just knew that I knew.
00:16:47.97\00:16:50.89
Remember this,
common old saying,
00:16:51.68\00:16:55.14
Fools rush in where a
wise man fear to tread.
00:16:55.97\00:17:01.01
The third thing is to
recognize your mistakes
00:17:01.62\00:17:04.26
and rise above them.
Recognize your mistakes
00:17:04.27\00:17:07.97
and rise above them.
Peter missed it as is big
00:17:08.46\00:17:11.44
as Texas but he got
over it. In Mark 14:72,
00:17:11.45\00:17:15.81
he says, "And the
second time the cock crew.
00:17:15.82\00:17:17.58
And Peter called to
mind the word that Jesus
00:17:17.80\00:17:19.60
said unto him, Before
the cock crowed thrice,
00:17:19.61\00:17:22.13
thou shalt deny me
twice, thou shalt deny me
00:17:22.36\00:17:26.06
thrice. I always
get them mixed up,
00:17:26.07\00:17:27.30
four goes two times,
you gonna drive me three
00:17:27.45\00:17:29.44
time. And when
he thought thereon,
00:17:29.45\00:17:31.87
he wept. Most of
our mistakes are made
00:17:31.88\00:17:35.46
when we give our
priorities out of order.
00:17:35.47\00:17:37.99
Word of God tells
us and you know in
00:17:38.75\00:17:40.19
Matthew 6:33 says,
seek first the kingdom of
00:17:40.20\00:17:42.55
God and that all
these things would be added
00:17:42.56\00:17:45.00
unto you. Okay so
you have made a mistake.
00:17:45.01\00:17:47.53
God's not gonna crash you.
00:17:48.67\00:17:50.19
God is not gonna
kick you out of the family
00:17:50.61\00:17:52.82
because you made so mistake.
00:17:53.10\00:17:54.47
What you need to do,
is you need to repent,
00:17:54.48\00:17:56.78
not just ask for
forgiveness and forgiveness
00:17:57.06\00:17:58.78
and repentance is
just different things.
00:17:58.79\00:18:00.11
When you ask
forgiveness, God forgives
00:18:00.54\00:18:02.81
you and cleanse you
from all unrighteousness.
00:18:02.82\00:18:04.64
And then when you
repent, you turn around
00:18:04.65\00:18:06.22
and do it anymore.
And there's a key to it,
00:18:06.23\00:18:09.24
sometimes we make mistakes,
00:18:10.75\00:18:12.00
oh we think we
made a mistake we have
00:18:12.50\00:18:13.71
actually done the
right thing. If we hear the
00:18:13.72\00:18:16.27
man to God on it,
let's listen to this.
00:18:16.28\00:18:18.34
There is well
know brand of soap,
00:18:19.07\00:18:20.79
I won't call its name
but you gonna know who
00:18:20.84\00:18:22.39
it is? That has
two uncommon qualities,
00:18:22.40\00:18:25.40
it's known as
the soap that floats.
00:18:25.93\00:18:28.53
And it's the oldest of
the best sellers but it
00:18:28.97\00:18:31.72
wasn't always that
way. Years ago this soap
00:18:31.73\00:18:35.76
was just another
brand among many.
00:18:35.77\00:18:37.33
Then a factory
foreman blunder by leaving a
00:18:37.34\00:18:39.72
batch of new soaped
unwatched in a cooking
00:18:39.73\00:18:42.43
vat during the
lunch hour. His lunch was
00:18:42.44\00:18:45.54
delayed and the soap overcooked,
00:18:45.55\00:18:47.40
rather than report the
mistake and run the risk
00:18:47.77\00:18:50.00
of dismissal, the
foreman decided to make the
00:18:50.01\00:18:52.26
best of it. He shifted
out this new batch anyway,
00:18:52.27\00:18:55.67
it seems to clean just
as well although it was
00:18:55.97\00:18:59.05
now much lighter. The
result surprised every one,
00:18:59.06\00:19:02.66
rather than complaints
the company was deluged
00:19:03.27\00:19:06.35
with orders for
this floating soap.
00:19:06.36\00:19:09.13
The foremen was not
fired but was promoted
00:19:09.96\00:19:12.21
when he cooperated
with the company chemists
00:19:12.22\00:19:14.24
to revise and modify
the old formula for the soap
00:19:14.25\00:19:17.78
that floats.
Blessing sometimes come from
00:19:18.69\00:19:21.60
blunders, it's often
possible to make something
00:19:21.80\00:19:24.22
better out of something
bad, that's the way God
00:19:24.23\00:19:26.91
works with us. We don't
often do right the first
00:19:26.92\00:19:29.41
time but He is
always ready to salvage the
00:19:29.42\00:19:32.06
situation no
matter how bad we make it.
00:19:32.07\00:19:36.71
we just say hey God, I
messed up and He'll say
00:19:37.65\00:19:41.22
come on, come here,
let me put my arms around
00:19:41.85\00:19:43.65
you, let me love on
you, let me let you know that
00:19:43.66\00:19:47.32
according to my word,
all things work together
00:19:47.33\00:19:50.49
for the good of
those that love God to them
00:19:50.50\00:19:52.58
that are called
according to His purpose.
00:19:52.59\00:19:55.72
Remember, if you're
gonna fail, fail forward.
00:19:56.29\00:19:59.41
If the enemy throws
you lemons make lemonade.
00:20:00.13\00:20:03.21
If he throws you a
monkey wrench use it to
00:20:04.75\00:20:06.58
tighten some loose
nuts and bolts in your life.
00:20:06.59\00:20:08.92
The thing next, fourth
thing is realize God has
00:20:09.60\00:20:11.70
already forgiven you
through the Cross and
00:20:11.71\00:20:14.04
should you sin, you ask
Him and He'll forgive and
00:20:14.05\00:20:16.95
cleanse you from all
of your unrighteousness
00:20:17.13\00:20:19.89
not just some of
your unrighteousness.
00:20:20.23\00:20:23.00
Now I hear and see it
quite often and through
00:20:24.41\00:20:27.01
the years, well I am
just a sinner saved by grace.
00:20:27.02\00:20:29.93
I don't want to offend
anyone but I was a sinner
00:20:29.94\00:20:33.72
and then I was saved
by grace through faith.
00:20:34.30\00:20:37.31
And now I am the
unrighteousness of God in
00:20:38.07\00:20:39.87
Christ Jesus, you
think you're holy,
00:20:39.88\00:20:43.24
that's not what I am
saying, righteousness
00:20:43.25\00:20:45.73
simply means to be in
right standing with God.
00:20:45.74\00:20:50.28
And if we confess our
sins His faith and just to
00:20:51.11\00:20:53.27
forgive our sins
and cleanse us from all
00:20:53.28\00:20:55.05
unrighteousness. So
if we are forgiven of all
00:20:55.06\00:20:57.37
unrighteousness that
means we are righteous
00:20:57.38\00:20:59.26
and that simply means
in right standing with God.
00:20:59.27\00:21:02.29
If our sin I
don't need a new savior,
00:21:03.06\00:21:06.53
already have one that
He shed His blood for me.
00:21:06.54\00:21:08.46
I just need to
recognize that, that blood will
00:21:08.90\00:21:11.81
continue to cleanse
me. When we consider
00:21:11.82\00:21:14.34
the fact that Jesus
not only died for the sins
00:21:14.35\00:21:16.81
of those before He
went to the Cross the sins
00:21:16.82\00:21:19.92
of those. When he
went to the Cross,
00:21:19.93\00:21:22.22
not only just for the
sins before when we were
00:21:22.81\00:21:24.45
born again but every
sin that you or I will ever
00:21:24.46\00:21:30.72
commit it. Then we are
getting to the magnitude
00:21:30.73\00:21:33.92
of it. He who no
knew sin became sin,
00:21:33.93\00:21:37.87
He became sin, he
didn't even take it on,
00:21:38.65\00:21:40.14
He became sin that
we might be made the
00:21:40.15\00:21:42.09
righteousness of
God. Mark the 16th chapter
00:21:42.10\00:21:45.77
starting with the
first verse, this section of
00:21:45.78\00:21:48.54
scripture is a very
powerful scripture that
00:21:48.55\00:21:50.60
changed this old
country boy's life.
00:21:50.61\00:21:52.90
And first verse
says when the Sabbath was
00:21:53.94\00:21:55.74
passed, Mary
Magdalene and Mary the mother
00:21:55.75\00:21:57.92
of James in Salome
had brought sweet spices
00:21:57.93\00:22:00.73
that they might
come and anoint Him,
00:22:00.74\00:22:02.14
the body of Jesus.
And very early in the
00:22:02.15\00:22:04.33
morning the
first day of the week,
00:22:04.34\00:22:05.36
they came unto the
sepulcher at the rising
00:22:05.48\00:22:06.96
of the sun and they
said among themselves,
00:22:06.97\00:22:08.83
who shall roll away
the stones from the door
00:22:08.84\00:22:10.91
of the sepulcher.
And when they looked they
00:22:10.92\00:22:14.63
saw that the stone
was rolled away for it was
00:22:14.64\00:22:17.78
very great. And
entering into the sepulcher they
00:22:17.79\00:22:21.07
saw a young man
sitting on the right side
00:22:21.08\00:22:23.96
clothed in a long
white garments and they were
00:22:24.26\00:22:26.77
afraid. You know, I
love the people when
00:22:26.78\00:22:28.20
they tell me, oh,
pastor Hal I see angels,
00:22:28.21\00:22:30.73
I say, were you scared? Well no.
00:22:30.89\00:22:32.48
On every occasion,
every angel that appeared
00:22:33.64\00:22:35.44
to somebody said be not afraid.
00:22:35.45\00:22:37.49
If I saw an angel I
would have probably on my
00:22:38.02\00:22:39.52
knees and probably be knocking.
00:22:39.53\00:22:40.80
And he said under them
be not afraid it you seek
00:22:41.00\00:22:43.54
Jesus of Nazareth
which was crucified,
00:22:43.55\00:22:46.66
He is risen, He's not
here, behold the place
00:22:47.03\00:22:50.28
where they have laid them.
00:22:50.29\00:22:51.63
Now I want you to read
this scripture right here
00:22:51.89\00:22:53.72
with me because this
is the power of this verse
00:22:53.73\00:22:56.53
in the love and the
mercy of Christ to get us
00:22:56.56\00:22:59.25
over the things that
we have done wrong and
00:22:59.26\00:23:01.03
the mistakes we have made.
00:23:01.04\00:23:02.15
Mark 16:7, read it with me here.
00:23:02.49\00:23:04.45
"But go your way,
tell his disciples,
00:23:05.07\00:23:08.90
if you are in the Bible
underline this, and Peter,
00:23:08.91\00:23:12.19
and Peter, and
Peter, go your way and tell
00:23:12.38\00:23:15.43
your disciples and
Peter that he goeth before
00:23:15.44\00:23:17.67
you into Galilee and
there shall ye see him,
00:23:17.68\00:23:20.61
as he said unto
you." How do you picture
00:23:21.03\00:23:25.22
that, oh, I was
thinking if I am not,
00:23:25.23\00:23:29.06
If I am not wrong
then wasn't Peter one of
00:23:29.55\00:23:31.69
His disciples? So
why would Jesus tell,
00:23:31.70\00:23:35.05
these ladies go tell
these disciples and Peter.
00:23:35.89\00:23:39.14
Because Peter had
stood in the crowd where
00:23:39.77\00:23:41.60
others had fled
when he was being flogged
00:23:41.61\00:23:43.45
when he was being
beaten, the strip flesh
00:23:43.46\00:23:46.57
from his bone,
Peter had stood there and
00:23:46.58\00:23:48.62
denied him and denied
him, and then he cursed
00:23:48.63\00:23:51.69
and denied Him. And
Peter was feeling like
00:23:52.05\00:23:55.27
punch come, how
could, how could this happen?
00:23:55.28\00:23:58.27
How could I have
done this? And the love of
00:23:58.28\00:24:01.08
Jesus says hey, sure,
he or she's made a mistake
00:24:01.09\00:24:07.82
but you go tell
John, you go tell Susanne,
00:24:08.76\00:24:13.67
you go tell Bill,
you go tell Deedee,
00:24:14.23\00:24:17.93
whoever it is,
okay, you missed it, yes,
00:24:17.94\00:24:20.29
come on, tell them
all but sure, make sure
00:24:20.60\00:24:24.06
you tell Peter. And
that's what God is saying
00:24:24.58\00:24:27.64
to you today, hey
you might have missed it,
00:24:27.65\00:24:29.50
as big as Texas like
Peter did, but God is
00:24:29.74\00:24:32.09
waiting there to pour
in His love and to pour
00:24:32.10\00:24:34.45
in His spirit into
your life. Remember, God
00:24:34.46\00:24:39.56
has forgiven you,
maybe all you need to do
00:24:39.57\00:24:43.62
is just forgive yourself.
Be proud of your heritage.
00:24:44.84\00:24:51.65
My daddy always
told me mom, this mom and
00:24:52.62\00:24:54.53
dad always told her the
only thing that you have
00:24:54.54\00:24:56.62
got son, the only
thing that you really have
00:24:56.63\00:24:58.36
in this life outside
of Jesus Christ is a good
00:24:58.37\00:25:00.84
name. Well, our name
in the Lord is a powerful
00:25:00.85\00:25:06.55
heritage too. I had
a lot of trouble when I
00:25:06.67\00:25:10.15
first started reading
the New Testament because
00:25:10.16\00:25:12.87
they told me to
start out with Matthew.
00:25:12.88\00:25:14.11
And I started out
with Matthew and I got into
00:25:14.12\00:25:16.44
the he begot, he begot
this and begot that and
00:25:16.45\00:25:19.83
everything that I
forgot what he begot and
00:25:19.84\00:25:21.48
I forgot what she
begot and they begot.
00:25:21.49\00:25:23.17
And it really got
confusing to me until something
00:25:23.98\00:25:25.98
happened, something
dropped down into my
00:25:25.99\00:25:29.04
heart and said, you
know it's not so much
00:25:29.05\00:25:32.74
that if you
pronounce these things with the
00:25:32.75\00:25:35.54
right
enunciation, pronunciation,
00:25:35.55\00:25:37.80
the right manner
or whatever it is.
00:25:38.31\00:25:40.00
As much as it is that
you realize that this is
00:25:40.50\00:25:44.16
your lineage,
this is your heritage,
00:25:44.17\00:25:46.42
Hal, this is
where you came from.
00:25:47.76\00:25:49.28
That you are out of
the loins of the men and
00:25:51.07\00:25:53.95
the women in the
heritage of God almighty
00:25:53.96\00:25:55.90
in Jesus Christ.
And then I found 2
00:25:55.91\00:26:00.63
Corinthians 5:17 says
therefore if any man be
00:26:00.64\00:26:04.12
in Christ he's a new
creature old things are
00:26:04.13\00:26:05.90
passed away and
behold all things have become
00:26:05.91\00:26:07.90
new. Now, this might
shock some of you but
00:26:07.91\00:26:13.03
for those of you that
didn't know it before I
00:26:13.54\00:26:14.98
got born again, before
I made Jesus Christ Lord
00:26:14.99\00:26:16.87
of my life, I was 6
foot 6, blond headed and
00:26:16.88\00:26:18.86
blue eye,
that's absurd isn't it?
00:26:18.87\00:26:21.98
See it wasn't my
body that became a new
00:26:23.12\00:26:24.74
creature before I
got born again I had the
00:26:24.75\00:26:28.91
IQ of Albert Einstein
when we all know that's
00:26:28.92\00:26:33.24
not so, and the
reason why because it
00:26:33.25\00:26:36.49
wasn't my man
that got born again.
00:26:36.50\00:26:38.14
The Paul said the
I pray that you be
00:26:40.41\00:26:41.99
preserve blameless
body, soul and spirit.
00:26:42.00\00:26:43.93
This is according to
the seventh fundamental
00:26:43.94\00:26:46.84
of our denomination
about mind, body and
00:26:47.25\00:26:49.82
spirit, that God
comes in and joins Himself
00:26:49.83\00:26:53.24
according to the
First Corinthians 6:17,
00:26:53.25\00:26:55.20
He that is joined to
the Lord is one spirit, one
00:26:55.58\00:26:57.97
spirit with God is
what one literal translation
00:26:57.98\00:27:01.17
says, I joined
myself to the Lord,
00:27:01.18\00:27:03.74
I am not somebody
because of what I am,
00:27:05.40\00:27:07.76
I am somebody
because of whose I am.
00:27:08.01\00:27:10.67
The last thing is
there that nothing that can
00:27:11.60\00:27:13.16
happen in the future
that love will not be able
00:27:13.17\00:27:16.17
to cover, or be able to conquer,
00:27:16.18\00:27:18.54
we know that we
passed from death to life
00:27:18.87\00:27:21.38
because we love the brethren.
00:27:22.77\00:27:25.52
Do you love the brethren?
00:27:25.69\00:27:26.66
Are you living in the past?
00:27:27.14\00:27:28.11
Trust God in this upcoming near,
00:27:28.17\00:27:29.68
stop living in the
past, don't die on the
00:27:30.30\00:27:32.18
operating table,
understand that God loves
00:27:32.19\00:27:34.00
you. And He will get
you through this year.
00:27:34.01\00:27:36.34
He's waiting there
at home and you might be
00:27:36.80\00:27:38.90
around at second
base or the third base but
00:27:38.91\00:27:40.48
He is saying come on
son, come on daughter,
00:27:40.49\00:27:42.77
you can make it, run,
I'll be there with you,
00:27:42.97\00:27:45.56
I am waiting
with arms wide open.
00:27:45.57\00:27:47.34
Don't be discouraged,
don't down that operating
00:27:47.77\00:27:50.00
table. Forget the
past, live for the future and
00:27:50.01\00:27:53.85
live it for our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.
00:27:53.86\00:27:56.19