You're watching
"Foundation of Our Faith."
00:00:18.11\00:00:21.02
My name is CA Murray,
and it is my privilege
00:00:21.05\00:00:23.75
and pleasure to welcome
you to session number three,
00:00:23.79\00:00:27.22
in a four part series
presented by our speaker,
00:00:27.26\00:00:30.53
Pastor Edward Bryan.
00:00:30.56\00:00:31.89
And we know God
has being blessing
00:00:31.93\00:00:33.53
as he has
preached the word of God,
00:00:33.56\00:00:35.96
under the anointing of God,
00:00:36.00\00:00:37.33
with the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:00:37.37\00:00:38.90
We heard "Burn Baby Burn,"
followed by the "Golden Touch,"
00:00:38.93\00:00:42.70
and this presentation
is entitled, "Oh, Brother."
00:00:42.74\00:00:46.68
And we can not wait to
hear what God is going to say to
00:00:46.71\00:00:49.44
and through the man of God.
00:00:49.48\00:00:52.11
God has been
good to our speaker.
00:00:52.15\00:00:54.28
He's a young man still
and we can call him that.
00:00:54.32\00:00:58.09
Pastor,
evangelism, with a passion
00:00:58.12\00:00:59.99
for youth ministry
00:01:00.02\00:01:01.49
and God needs
consecrated leaders
00:01:01.52\00:01:03.73
to lead our young people.
00:01:03.76\00:01:05.39
He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia,
00:01:05.43\00:01:07.56
but turned his back
on his Christian roots
00:01:07.60\00:01:10.17
and followed the
way of crime and vice.
00:01:10.20\00:01:13.13
But you know,
God has the ability
00:01:13.17\00:01:15.00
to pull you back from the edge,
00:01:15.04\00:01:17.14
to pull you back from the course
00:01:17.17\00:01:18.74
that you set out for yourself
and put you on a new course,
00:01:18.77\00:01:21.48
and that is precisely
00:01:21.51\00:01:22.84
what he did in the
life of our Pastor,
00:01:22.88\00:01:25.71
Pastor Edward Bryan.
00:01:25.75\00:01:27.52
He now works with his wife
00:01:27.55\00:01:29.72
and two daughters
to serve the Lord.
00:01:29.75\00:01:32.45
He is a pastor in the
Northern New England Conference
00:01:32.49\00:01:35.82
of Seventh Day Adventist.
00:01:35.86\00:01:37.23
He passes a
Three Church District,
00:01:37.26\00:01:39.53
there in Northern New England,
00:01:39.56\00:01:41.86
where it gets
very cold in the winter
00:01:41.90\00:01:44.00
and but God keeps him warm
00:01:44.03\00:01:45.63
through the fires
of the Holy Spirit.
00:01:45.67\00:01:48.10
He wants to serve the Lord.
00:01:48.14\00:01:49.47
He wants to see young
people come to the Lord.
00:01:49.50\00:01:51.17
He wants to see young
people serve the Lord,
00:01:51.21\00:01:53.21
and he dedicated his ministry
00:01:53.24\00:01:55.48
to lifting up the name of Jesus,
00:01:55.51\00:01:57.88
the Three
Angeles Messages of Jesus
00:01:57.91\00:01:59.81
and bringing young people
00:01:59.85\00:02:01.38
into a loving
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:02:01.42\00:02:04.19
And we know God
has a great message
00:02:04.22\00:02:06.25
to give to you,
from him, this very day.
00:02:06.29\00:02:09.92
And so we ask that you
listen closely and attentively
00:02:09.96\00:02:13.29
because God has a
message just for you.
00:02:13.33\00:02:16.33
Our music minister for today
00:02:16.36\00:02:19.70
is someone that
I've known a long time.
00:02:19.73\00:02:21.40
In fact, I've known
his family a long time.
00:02:21.44\00:02:23.51
I used to pastor his family.
00:02:23.54\00:02:25.27
His mom and family
there in Amityville, New York,
00:02:25.31\00:02:28.94
at the Bethesda
Seventh Day Adventist Church
00:02:28.98\00:02:30.85
there on Long Island.
00:02:30.88\00:02:32.58
And God has given Mark Prentice
00:02:32.61\00:02:36.42
an unusual gift of playing,
00:02:36.45\00:02:40.79
writing music, singing music.
00:02:40.82\00:02:43.39
He has got a range that
is really fairly impressive.
00:02:43.43\00:02:46.63
He can go from
baritone almost up to soprano.
00:02:46.66\00:02:49.13
God has given him a
great gift, which he has chosen
00:02:49.16\00:02:52.87
to give back to God in service.
00:02:52.90\00:02:55.40
He has two projects
out and one on the way.
00:02:55.44\00:02:58.77
My Testimony is
his first recording,
00:02:58.81\00:03:01.08
followed by "Refashioned Hymns,"
00:03:01.11\00:03:03.35
a reworking of some
of the classic hymns
00:03:03.38\00:03:06.01
that we know in love,
00:03:06.05\00:03:07.45
in Adventism and
across Christianity.
00:03:07.48\00:03:09.65
And I'm told the new one is
going to be out soon called,
00:03:09.68\00:03:12.75
"Way Out of No Way."
00:03:12.79\00:03:14.62
God has blessed Mark
with a beautiful voice
00:03:14.66\00:03:17.19
and a beautiful spirit.
00:03:17.23\00:03:18.63
And I know his mom
and know his family
00:03:18.66\00:03:20.80
and they are
beautiful Christian people.
00:03:20.83\00:03:22.23
So we're gonna have a
good time in the Lord today.
00:03:22.26\00:03:24.07
God is going to
bless our sitting
00:03:24.10\00:03:26.00
as Christ is lifted
up in music, in song,
00:03:26.03\00:03:29.20
and in the preached word.
00:03:29.24\00:03:30.91
So we ask you to stay by
and listen with stilted ear,
00:03:30.94\00:03:34.98
because God has much to say
to you through his man servant.
00:03:35.01\00:03:37.81
We're going to pray
then we're going to ask
00:03:37.85\00:03:39.41
Mark to come out.
00:03:39.45\00:03:40.78
After he shall have
sung, the next voice
00:03:40.82\00:03:42.48
you will hear will
be that of our friend,
00:03:42.52\00:03:44.69
our pastor and
he has a great word
00:03:44.72\00:03:47.66
from the Lord,
Pastor Edward Bryan.
00:03:47.69\00:03:49.92
Shall we pray?
00:03:49.96\00:03:51.29
Father God, we praise You now
00:03:51.33\00:03:54.10
as we turn ourselves
to You for a blessing.
00:03:54.13\00:03:59.37
We know that there
is power in the word
00:03:59.40\00:04:01.70
and we ask that as
the word is preached,
00:04:01.74\00:04:04.64
Your power may be
given to the speaker
00:04:04.67\00:04:07.94
and then through the
speaker to our hearts.
00:04:07.98\00:04:11.41
Bless the music
that shall be sung,
00:04:11.45\00:04:13.35
as it lifts our
hearts towards Jesus
00:04:13.38\00:04:16.08
and sits us in heavenly places.
00:04:16.12\00:04:18.69
We dedicate all that we
are and all that we have to You
00:04:18.72\00:04:22.26
and ask that Christ alone
will be seen and glorified.
00:04:22.29\00:04:26.73
And we thank You
for your promise to hear
00:04:26.76\00:04:29.60
and answer the prayer of faith
in Jesus name, Amen and Amen.
00:04:29.63\00:04:35.80
Just now, Mark Prentice
00:04:35.84\00:04:38.27
followed by Pastor Edward Bryan.
00:04:38.31\00:04:41.01
Jesus alone
00:04:55.32\00:05:02.26
I must tell Jesus
00:05:02.30\00:05:06.90
All of my trials
00:05:06.94\00:05:12.31
I cannot bear
00:05:12.34\00:05:15.58
These burdens alone
00:05:15.61\00:05:22.05
In my distress
00:05:22.08\00:05:25.89
He kindly will help me
00:05:25.92\00:05:32.39
He ever loves
00:05:32.43\00:05:35.90
And cares for His own
00:05:35.93\00:05:42.17
I must tell Jesus!
00:05:42.20\00:05:47.41
I must tell Jesus
00:05:47.44\00:05:52.51
I cannot bear
00:05:52.55\00:05:56.62
These burdens alone
00:05:56.65\00:06:02.59
I must tell Jesus!
00:06:02.62\00:06:07.73
I must tell Jesus
00:06:07.76\00:06:12.83
Jesus can help me
00:06:12.87\00:06:17.77
Jesus alone
00:06:17.81\00:06:22.94
I must tell Jesus
00:06:22.98\00:06:27.62
All of my troubles
00:06:27.65\00:06:32.99
He is a kind
00:06:33.02\00:06:36.36
Compassionate Friend
00:06:36.39\00:06:42.93
If we but ask Him
00:06:42.96\00:06:48.00
He will deliver
00:06:48.04\00:06:53.21
Make of my troubles
00:06:53.24\00:06:58.08
Quickly an end
00:06:58.11\00:07:03.12
I must tell Jesus!
00:07:03.15\00:07:08.19
I must tell Jesus
00:07:08.22\00:07:13.26
I cannot bear
00:07:13.29\00:07:17.20
These burdens alone
00:07:17.23\00:07:23.64
I must tell Jesus!
00:07:23.67\00:07:28.44
I must tell Jesus
00:07:28.48\00:07:33.52
Jesus can help me
00:07:33.55\00:07:38.52
Jesus alone
00:07:38.55\00:07:44.13
Jesus can help me
00:07:51.17\00:07:54.64
Oh, yes
00:07:54.67\00:07:56.04
Oh, yes, He can
00:07:56.07\00:08:00.41
Oh, how the world to
00:08:00.44\00:08:03.91
Oh, how the world to
00:08:03.95\00:08:05.58
He loves me
00:08:05.61\00:08:10.52
Oh, how my heart
00:08:10.55\00:08:14.16
Is tempted to sin?
00:08:14.19\00:08:20.50
I must tell Jesus
00:08:20.53\00:08:25.63
And He will, He will help me
00:08:25.67\00:08:30.57
Over the world
00:08:30.61\00:08:35.34
The victory to win
00:08:35.38\00:08:39.45
Yes, I must tell Jesus!
00:08:39.48\00:08:44.35
I must tell
Jesus I must tell Jesus
00:08:44.39\00:08:49.39
I must tell Jesus
00:08:49.42\00:08:51.16
I cannot bear
00:08:51.19\00:08:54.53
These burdens alone
00:08:54.56\00:08:59.30
Oh, no, no, no, no
00:08:59.33\00:09:01.14
I must tell Jesus
00:09:01.17\00:09:04.61
I must tell
Jesus I must tell Jesus
00:09:04.64\00:09:11.38
Jesus can help
00:09:11.41\00:09:13.45
Oh, yes, He can
00:09:13.48\00:09:16.22
Jesus can help
00:09:16.25\00:09:18.25
Lord, we need You,
we need You, we need You
00:09:18.29\00:09:21.29
Jesus can help
00:09:21.32\00:09:23.16
Only You can help me
00:09:23.19\00:09:26.13
Jesus, You alone
00:09:26.16\00:09:31.33
I must tell Jesus! Tell Jesus
00:09:31.37\00:09:36.37
I must tell Jesus
00:09:36.40\00:09:41.48
I cannot bear
00:09:41.51\00:09:45.15
These burdens alone
00:09:45.18\00:09:51.82
I must tell Jesus!
00:09:51.85\00:09:58.99
Oh, I must tell Jesus
00:10:01.10\00:10:08.10
I know You can help me
00:10:09.44\00:10:17.38
Dear Jesus
00:10:20.42\00:10:27.76
You alone
00:10:27.79\00:10:32.56
Amen.
00:10:35.50\00:10:37.13
Praise the
Lord. Praise the Lord.
00:10:41.80\00:10:43.84
Praise the Lord that we can take
00:10:43.87\00:10:45.21
all of our burdens to Jesus.
00:10:45.24\00:10:49.01
I feel so privileged to
be able to minister alongside
00:10:49.04\00:10:53.11
Brother Mark Prentice.
00:10:53.15\00:10:55.82
A man of God and
meeting his family,
00:10:55.85\00:11:00.59
well, last couple of
days has been a true pleasure.
00:11:00.62\00:11:03.69
And I pray that
I'd have this privilege
00:11:03.73\00:11:07.53
again in the future.
00:11:07.56\00:11:10.97
How many of you
like family reunions?
00:11:11.00\00:11:14.04
How many of you
like family reunions?
00:11:14.07\00:11:16.27
I enjoy family reunions.
00:11:16.30\00:11:17.64
I come from a big family
that likes to get together
00:11:17.67\00:11:22.08
and congregate as
frequently as possible.
00:11:22.11\00:11:23.91
Now, unfortunately
now being a pastor,
00:11:23.95\00:11:28.48
being almost more
than a thousand miles
00:11:28.52\00:11:30.79
away from home,
00:11:30.82\00:11:32.15
I don't get that
opportunity very frequently.
00:11:32.19\00:11:33.52
So when I do, I
try to advantage of it
00:11:33.56\00:11:36.93
and I
appreciate it all the more.
00:11:36.96\00:11:38.29
I grew up in one
of those families
00:11:38.33\00:11:40.53
that would get
together every holiday.
00:11:40.56\00:11:45.07
Maybe 20 people in a small house
00:11:45.10\00:11:47.54
or a tiny apartment.
00:11:47.57\00:11:49.00
Ten cousins sprawled out
on the living room floor.
00:11:49.04\00:11:51.91
You had to step over bodies
00:11:51.94\00:11:53.27
in order to get to the restroom,
00:11:53.31\00:11:54.84
aunts and uncles fussing
and fighting in the kitchen
00:11:54.88\00:11:59.95
to the late hours of the
night or early into the morning.
00:11:59.98\00:12:05.35
Sure, there was disagreements
and there was drama,
00:12:05.39\00:12:07.79
but eventually things
seem to sort themselves out.
00:12:07.82\00:12:10.53
Time could heal every wound.
00:12:10.56\00:12:15.20
I love my family.
00:12:15.23\00:12:17.60
I love family reunions.
00:12:17.63\00:12:18.97
And did you know that heaven
00:12:19.00\00:12:21.57
is going to be a
giant family reunion?
00:12:21.60\00:12:26.91
Now some of you say,
amen, and others keep your peace
00:12:26.94\00:12:31.35
because maybe you
came up in a toxic family.
00:12:31.38\00:12:34.32
And you say, man,
00:12:34.35\00:12:35.68
if it was going
to be family reunion,
00:12:35.72\00:12:37.05
I might need to
rethink this thing.
00:12:37.09\00:12:39.09
But now, don't
get discouraged now.
00:12:39.12\00:12:41.96
There's going to
be some difference.
00:12:41.99\00:12:45.66
There will be a little
bit of difference there.
00:12:45.69\00:12:49.26
It'll be a
bigger type of family,
00:12:49.30\00:12:50.77
but a different
type of structure.
00:12:50.80\00:12:52.43
Sure, there'll be some
overlap between the two.
00:12:52.47\00:12:55.94
But the point is, it's
going to be a big family reunion
00:12:55.97\00:12:59.41
and I'm looking
forward to that day,
00:12:59.44\00:13:00.88
I don't know about you.
00:13:00.91\00:13:02.24
Now, Jesus is coming soon.
00:13:04.91\00:13:08.08
And in order to be ready
to go to that family reunion,
00:13:08.12\00:13:11.59
we got some preparation
that has to take place.
00:13:11.62\00:13:14.26
And I think
sometimes we must understand
00:13:14.29\00:13:15.72
what that
preparation necessarily is.
00:13:15.76\00:13:21.00
You know, I like to preach...
I like to preach doctrine.
00:13:21.03\00:13:24.83
I like to preach solid
doctrine from the Bible,
00:13:24.87\00:13:26.90
'cause I think
the Lord has given us
00:13:26.94\00:13:28.37
sufficient information here
00:13:28.40\00:13:29.87
to answer all the
big questions in life,
00:13:29.90\00:13:32.71
the B-I-B-L-E,
00:13:32.74\00:13:34.24
basic instructions
before leaving earth.
00:13:34.28\00:13:39.38
And I like to
preach prophecy as well.
00:13:39.41\00:13:42.72
I'm still learning it,
00:13:42.75\00:13:44.09
but the more I
have to delve into it
00:13:44.12\00:13:45.45
and study in order to teach it,
00:13:45.49\00:13:46.82
I feel like I
greatly benefit from it.
00:13:46.86\00:13:48.29
But I've realized that
00:13:48.32\00:13:49.66
sometimes when
I preach in States
00:13:49.69\00:13:51.03
and sometimes when I share it,
00:13:51.06\00:13:52.86
it almost becomes like
a rally where everybody...
00:13:52.89\00:13:57.73
when I'm sharing
these truths is excited.
00:13:57.77\00:14:02.24
But, I've come
to realize at times
00:14:02.27\00:14:04.21
that it can almost
serve as a smoke screen
00:14:04.24\00:14:08.51
to not address
some of the issues
00:14:08.54\00:14:13.11
and serious defects
going on in our character
00:14:13.15\00:14:16.65
and in our hearts.
00:14:16.69\00:14:20.72
Because God's word is true
00:14:20.76\00:14:22.86
and it's
beautiful in everything,
00:14:22.89\00:14:24.23
all the gems in it,
00:14:24.26\00:14:25.59
how precious and
should be shared.
00:14:25.63\00:14:26.96
But, sometimes we
allow the head knowledge
00:14:27.00\00:14:31.93
to take
priority to the hard work
00:14:31.97\00:14:35.30
that God's trying to do.
00:14:35.34\00:14:36.97
And there's a lot of people
acquainted with God's word
00:14:37.01\00:14:39.51
who will not be
ready when Jesus Christ
00:14:39.54\00:14:40.88
comes in the clouds
00:14:40.91\00:14:42.24
and they're
going to miss heaven,
00:14:42.28\00:14:43.61
they going to barely miss it,
00:14:43.65\00:14:44.98
they are going to
miss it by 18 inches,
00:14:45.01\00:14:46.35
the distance between
the head and the heart.
00:14:46.38\00:14:49.25
So today, I'm going to
invite you to stick around
00:14:49.28\00:14:53.66
and to let God
speak to your heart
00:14:53.69\00:14:55.66
and figure out how to
make this message practical,
00:14:55.69\00:14:57.43
'cause I know that we will all
be challenged by what we hear.
00:14:57.46\00:15:03.80
But before we start,
I want to go to the Lord
00:15:03.83\00:15:05.83
with the word of prayer.
00:15:05.87\00:15:07.20
As Pastor Murray
mentioned today's title is
00:15:07.24\00:15:10.47
"Oh, Brother. Oh, Brother."
00:15:10.51\00:15:12.61
Now don't bow your
eyes by your heads.
00:15:12.64\00:15:15.01
I'll kneel. I'll
go to Lord in prayer.
00:15:15.04\00:15:18.55
Dear Heavenly Father,
Lord, we have nothing to gain
00:15:18.58\00:15:24.65
from sitting in your
house and opening your word,
00:15:24.69\00:15:27.66
if your spirit is not putting
an impression on our hearts.
00:15:27.69\00:15:31.59
Lord, so I pray that You
will speak to us at this time.
00:15:31.63\00:15:35.46
And that this will
not simply be information,
00:15:35.50\00:15:38.43
but that we would
experience transformation
00:15:38.47\00:15:39.80
in Jesus' name amen.
00:15:39.83\00:15:44.01
I invite you to join
me in Genesis Chapter 4.
00:15:44.04\00:15:47.28
We're starting our
study in Genesis Chapter 4.
00:15:47.31\00:15:49.11
A story you've
probably heard before.
00:15:49.14\00:15:51.45
I'm going to begin
reading at verse 1,
00:15:51.48\00:15:52.81
and I'm reading from
the New King James version.
00:15:52.85\00:15:54.62
It says, "Now Adam
knew Eve, his wife,
00:15:54.65\00:15:58.69
she conceived and bore Cain,"
00:15:58.72\00:16:00.62
and said, "I have
acquired a man from the Lord."
00:16:00.66\00:16:06.86
Let me set up a little
context about the story
00:16:06.90\00:16:08.23
we're about to look at.
00:16:08.26\00:16:09.60
As we just heard, mentioned
the name of Adam and Eve.
00:16:09.63\00:16:13.74
Now, this is in Chapter 4.
00:16:13.77\00:16:15.10
This is after the fall,
after they had committed sin.
00:16:15.14\00:16:19.17
So now this is the
fall in human race.
00:16:19.21\00:16:21.71
That sets up, the act of
sin, it sets up the context
00:16:21.74\00:16:25.25
for every other
story we read in the Bible
00:16:25.28\00:16:28.98
and every event you
see in our earth's history,
00:16:29.02\00:16:32.92
the devolution of man.
00:16:32.95\00:16:35.82
Notice, I said devolution,
00:16:35.86\00:16:37.19
because in school
we teach evolution,
00:16:37.23\00:16:39.23
but in reality we
have been devolving
00:16:39.26\00:16:41.70
for the last 6,000 plus years.
00:16:41.73\00:16:46.00
And if you don't believe
it, you just turn on the news,
00:16:46.03\00:16:47.37
you see.
00:16:47.40\00:16:48.74
Just don't watch too long
00:16:48.77\00:16:50.11
because you might
expedite the process.
00:16:50.14\00:16:54.04
Verse 2, "Then she bore again,
this time his brother Abel,
00:16:54.08\00:16:59.71
now Abel was a keeper of sheep,
00:16:59.75\00:17:02.12
but Cain was a
tiller of the ground."
00:17:02.15\00:17:04.32
Abel was a what?
00:17:04.35\00:17:05.99
Keeper of sheep,
he was a shepherd.
00:17:06.02\00:17:07.82
Cain was a tiller of the ground.
00:17:07.86\00:17:10.69
He was a farmer, two
sons, very different.
00:17:10.73\00:17:16.63
Let's read verse 3 and 4.
00:17:16.67\00:17:19.53
"And in the process
of time it came to pass
00:17:19.57\00:17:23.77
that Cain brought an offering
00:17:23.81\00:17:26.64
of the fruit of the
ground to the Lord."
00:17:26.68\00:17:30.11
What did Cain bring?
00:17:30.15\00:17:31.48
Cain brought the natural choice,
00:17:31.51\00:17:34.95
pun intended.
00:17:34.98\00:17:37.05
He brought what was
readily available to him,
00:17:37.09\00:17:39.65
what was convenient for
him, because he was a farmer
00:17:39.69\00:17:42.59
and he brought produce.
00:17:42.62\00:17:45.83
Verse 4.
00:17:45.86\00:17:47.20
"Abel also brought of
the firstborn of his flock
00:17:47.23\00:17:51.27
and of their fat.
00:17:51.30\00:17:52.67
And the Lord
respected Abel's offering."
00:17:52.70\00:17:55.24
As you see, Abel also brought
00:17:55.27\00:17:57.94
what was readily
accessible to him,
00:17:57.97\00:18:00.78
what was seemingly convenient.
00:18:00.81\00:18:03.38
I say seemingly convenient.
00:18:03.41\00:18:06.21
He bought a lamb.
00:18:06.25\00:18:08.65
Now, why did Abel offer up
00:18:08.68\00:18:10.75
the first born of
his flock, a lamb?
00:18:10.79\00:18:14.52
What was it representative of?
00:18:14.56\00:18:16.96
You guys already know. It
was representative of Jesus.
00:18:16.99\00:18:20.83
We read about
that in many places.
00:18:20.86\00:18:24.63
Isaiah Chapter
53, John Chapter 1:29.
00:18:24.67\00:18:27.60
When John the
Baptist sees Jesus and says,
00:18:27.64\00:18:29.47
"Behold the Lamb of God
00:18:29.50\00:18:30.84
who takes away
the sin of the world."
00:18:30.87\00:18:32.21
Revelation, Chapter
13:8, "Jesus the Lamb slain
00:18:32.24\00:18:35.61
from the
foundation of the world."
00:18:35.64\00:18:38.58
Even referred
to as the firstborn
00:18:38.61\00:18:40.55
of creation in
Colossians Chapter 1:15.
00:18:40.58\00:18:46.72
Abel's offering
represented Jesus.
00:18:46.76\00:18:49.06
Now, but how did
the first family know?
00:18:49.09\00:18:50.93
I mean, how
did... How would he know?
00:18:50.96\00:18:53.46
How would they
know which offering
00:18:53.50\00:18:55.10
was supposed to be
presented on the altar?
00:18:55.13\00:18:58.57
Well, in Genesis Chapter 3:21.
00:18:58.60\00:19:02.30
Just one chapter earlier,
a strong case can be made
00:19:02.34\00:19:07.28
for when Jesus provided
00:19:07.31\00:19:09.11
the tunics of
skin to Adam and Eve
00:19:09.14\00:19:12.11
after the fall to replace
those pathetic fig leaves.
00:19:12.15\00:19:17.79
He must have gotten
that skin from somewhere.
00:19:17.82\00:19:21.39
And the case is made in the book
00:19:21.42\00:19:24.26
"Patriarchs and Prophets,"
00:19:24.29\00:19:26.33
specifically,
let's see, page 47.
00:19:26.36\00:19:29.50
That God had made the
first offering of a lamb,
00:19:29.53\00:19:34.24
showed them the high price
00:19:34.27\00:19:35.67
that was gonna
have to be paid for sin,
00:19:35.70\00:19:37.41
representative of Jesus Christ,
the lamb, that would be slain.
00:19:37.44\00:19:43.68
So therefore we see
00:19:43.71\00:19:45.61
God is not merely
favoring Abel's gift.
00:19:45.65\00:19:49.42
Abel actually brought
what the Lord was requiring
00:19:49.45\00:19:53.92
on behalf of his sin.
00:19:53.96\00:19:56.52
Let's read verse 5.
00:19:56.56\00:19:59.83
It says, "But He did not..."
00:19:59.86\00:20:01.70
Talking about God,
00:20:01.73\00:20:03.06
"Did not respect
Cain and his offering.
00:20:03.10\00:20:05.83
And Cain was very angry,
and his countenance fell."
00:20:05.87\00:20:09.37
Cain was very angry
and his countenance fell.
00:20:14.44\00:20:16.44
Have you ever seen
00:20:16.48\00:20:17.81
somebody change
in a split second?
00:20:17.85\00:20:20.62
Have you ever seen them happy
and joyful and all of sudden,
00:20:20.65\00:20:25.32
the countenance just falls,
the spirit in the room changes?
00:20:25.35\00:20:29.96
It's as though,
they're not, them anymore?
00:20:29.99\00:20:32.59
This was the moment
that Cain was having.
00:20:32.63\00:20:34.60
God rejected
Cain's offering, why?
00:20:34.63\00:20:36.53
We just said it,
because he brought
00:20:36.56\00:20:37.97
what God was not asking for.
00:20:38.00\00:20:39.83
1 Samuel Chapter
15:22 tells us that,
00:20:39.87\00:20:42.44
"To obey is better
than to give sacrifice."
00:20:42.47\00:20:44.81
The following verse,
verse 23 tells us that,
00:20:44.84\00:20:46.68
"Stubbornness is like idolatry."
00:20:46.71\00:20:50.65
We got to realize
that Cain was a sinner
00:20:50.68\00:20:53.42
just like you and I,
just like all of mankind.
00:20:53.45\00:20:56.42
He needed to bring
an offering to the Lord.
00:20:56.45\00:20:58.99
But can you really bring
a... Can you bring somebody...
00:20:59.02\00:21:02.19
Do you take somebody a gift
that feels appropriate to you,
00:21:02.22\00:21:05.49
or do you take them
what they are desiring?
00:21:05.53\00:21:08.40
You would take them
something that they would want.
00:21:08.43\00:21:09.76
God had instructed
what they would bring.
00:21:09.80\00:21:11.67
Cain brought what
he wanted to bring.
00:21:11.70\00:21:14.67
That stubbornness in
his heart was like...
00:21:14.70\00:21:17.44
It was like idolatry.
He was being his own God.
00:21:17.47\00:21:20.84
Psalms 51:17.
00:21:20.88\00:21:22.44
I would like us to
read that one together.
00:21:22.48\00:21:23.98
Psalms 51:17 says,
"The sacrifices of God
00:21:24.01\00:21:27.42
are a broken spirit: a
broken and a contrite heart,
00:21:27.45\00:21:32.35
these, O God, you
will not despise."
00:21:32.39\00:21:37.23
God wants a broken spirit.
00:21:37.26\00:21:38.59
See, it's not
about the sacrifice
00:21:38.63\00:21:41.00
as much it is about the spirit,
00:21:41.03\00:21:42.46
that the sacrifice
is being brought in.
00:21:42.50\00:21:45.73
Also see, God
wasn't just rejecting Cain.
00:21:45.77\00:21:47.54
He wasn't just
rejecting Cain's gift,
00:21:47.57\00:21:50.01
He despised the attitude
with which Cain was bringing in.
00:21:50.04\00:21:55.34
And in Hosea
Chapter 6:6, we're told,
00:21:55.38\00:22:00.22
"For I desired
mercy, and not sacrifice;
00:22:00.25\00:22:04.12
and the knowledge of God
more than burnt offering."
00:22:04.15\00:22:08.42
God wants the sacrifice
to be brought in His spirit,
00:22:08.46\00:22:12.23
a sacrificial spirit,
merciful, graceful spirit.
00:22:12.26\00:22:19.20
We'll see just how off,
00:22:19.23\00:22:20.74
Cain's offering
was in just a moment.
00:22:20.77\00:22:23.20
But before that
we're going to verse...
00:22:23.24\00:22:25.51
Going back to Genesis 4,
we're gonna read verse 6 and 7.
00:22:25.54\00:22:27.48
It says, "So the
Lord said to Cain,
00:22:27.51\00:22:29.78
'Why are you angry?
00:22:29.81\00:22:31.31
And why has your
countenance fallen?
00:22:31.35\00:22:33.78
If you do well,
will you not be accepted?
00:22:33.82\00:22:36.62
And if you do not do
well, sin lies at the door
00:22:36.65\00:22:39.85
and it's desire is for you,
but you should rule over it."
00:22:39.89\00:22:44.39
God is talking to Cain.
00:22:49.26\00:22:50.60
Now, have you
ever asked yourself,
00:22:50.63\00:22:51.97
how is it that God
was talking to Cain?
00:22:52.00\00:22:53.94
How is it that God was
communicating with Cain?
00:22:53.97\00:22:56.94
How did God used to
talk to his parents?
00:22:56.97\00:22:59.71
And I said, used to
talk to his parents in Eden.
00:22:59.74\00:23:03.28
We're told... He used to talk...
00:23:03.31\00:23:05.11
God used to talk to them
face-to-face in the Garden,
00:23:05.15\00:23:06.95
before sin when
they were able to stand
00:23:06.98\00:23:08.68
in the presence of a Holy
God and speak face-to-face,
00:23:08.72\00:23:10.99
I believe through God
the Son, Jesus Christ.
00:23:11.02\00:23:15.06
But then they lost
that privilege at sin.
00:23:15.09\00:23:18.13
So I would contend
that God is talking to Cain
00:23:18.16\00:23:21.10
in the same way
that he talks to us
00:23:21.13\00:23:22.86
through the Holy
Spirit, through the impression
00:23:22.90\00:23:26.03
of the Holy Spirit in his heart.
00:23:26.07\00:23:27.40
Now somebody out
there might be saying,
00:23:27.44\00:23:28.77
"Oh, I don't know anything about
00:23:28.80\00:23:30.14
the Holy Spirit in
the Old Testament though."
00:23:30.17\00:23:31.94
All right,
well, its right there,
00:23:31.97\00:23:33.74
Genesis Chapter 1:26, and
then again in Genesis 3:22.
00:23:33.78\00:23:38.75
When God says, "Let
us make man in our old...
00:23:38.78\00:23:41.18
In our, in our likeness, us.
00:23:41.22\00:23:44.92
He's talking in
the third person,
00:23:44.95\00:23:46.35
both literally and spiritually,
00:23:46.39\00:23:47.89
father, Son, and
Holy Spirit, third person.
00:23:47.92\00:23:51.89
And God's pleading with Cain
00:23:51.93\00:23:53.26
and see, well, He pleads with us
00:23:53.29\00:23:54.63
through His Holy Spirit
00:23:54.66\00:23:56.00
to relinquish His diabolic anger
00:23:56.03\00:23:58.30
and that grudge
that He's holding in
00:23:58.33\00:23:59.97
and that bitterness that
He's allowing to consume Him.
00:24:00.00\00:24:05.24
But like many
of us, Cain decides
00:24:05.27\00:24:08.84
that he would not respond.
00:24:08.88\00:24:10.98
That he did not want to
respond to the pleadings
00:24:11.01\00:24:12.61
and the promptings
00:24:12.65\00:24:13.98
of the Holy Spirit on his heart.
00:24:14.02\00:24:16.95
He lets his heart harden.
00:24:16.99\00:24:19.45
And he begins the
ascent down the path of what,
00:24:19.49\00:24:23.19
we know is the unpardonable sin
00:24:23.22\00:24:25.53
which occurs as a result
of rejecting the impressions
00:24:25.56\00:24:27.73
that God is trying
to put in our hearts.
00:24:27.76\00:24:31.10
Now, you know, we read this book
00:24:31.13\00:24:32.47
sometimes like a history book,
00:24:32.50\00:24:33.84
but in reality
it's more than that.
00:24:33.87\00:24:35.20
God is trying to bring
us examples of situations
00:24:35.24\00:24:37.87
that we find ourselves in.
00:24:37.91\00:24:39.94
Have you ever felt it
was the right thing to do...
00:24:39.97\00:24:42.14
Have you ever felt
like God was impressing you
00:24:42.18\00:24:44.01
to do a particular thing,
to let a certain grudge go,
00:24:44.05\00:24:47.78
to mend a broken relationship,
00:24:47.82\00:24:49.58
to get something
right with somebody,
00:24:49.62\00:24:52.55
and just pushed it aside?
00:24:52.59\00:24:54.59
You could pray all you want,
00:24:54.62\00:24:56.99
and you could
preach all you want,
00:24:57.03\00:24:58.36
and you could read
the Bible all you want,
00:24:58.39\00:25:00.20
but something is not right
00:25:00.23\00:25:01.56
until that
relationship is repaired.
00:25:01.60\00:25:03.97
This was the
experience that Cain was having.
00:25:04.00\00:25:05.33
God was saying, "This is
going to lead to something bad.
00:25:05.37\00:25:07.54
You either listen to My spirit
or you're going to be persuaded
00:25:07.57\00:25:11.57
by a counterfeit spirit."
00:25:11.61\00:25:13.74
Let's read verse 8.
00:25:13.78\00:25:15.88
"Now Cain talked
with Abel, his brother"
00:25:15.91\00:25:20.25
You know, that's always
a dangerous thing, right?
00:25:20.28\00:25:23.69
You got a problem with somebody,
00:25:23.72\00:25:25.22
the Holy Spirit is
trying to talk to you,
00:25:25.25\00:25:26.59
you won't talk to God,
you won't fall on your knees
00:25:26.62\00:25:27.96
and talk to God,
but you got to hurry up
00:25:27.99\00:25:29.52
and go catch that
brother and talk to him.
00:25:29.56\00:25:34.43
I remember a sermon
that Henry Wright once had.
00:25:34.46\00:25:37.90
He said "You ought not go
see the elders about Lord,"
00:25:37.93\00:25:41.10
and that's very true.
00:25:41.14\00:25:42.47
We got to talk to God
first. So we're told in verse 8.
00:25:42.50\00:25:44.61
"Now Cain talked
to Abel his brother,
00:25:44.64\00:25:46.91
and he came to pass
when they were in the field
00:25:46.94\00:25:49.44
that Cain rose up against Able,
his brother and killed them."
00:25:49.48\00:25:55.32
Tragic.
00:25:55.35\00:25:56.89
Can you picture anything
worse, killing your own brother,
00:25:56.92\00:26:01.09
killing your
own flesh and blood?
00:26:01.12\00:26:04.03
Now, if that
seems bad in our day,
00:26:04.06\00:26:05.96
just picture their day.
00:26:05.99\00:26:08.80
Mind you, they
have, they had never seen
00:26:08.83\00:26:11.13
another human being
die, much less be murdered.
00:26:11.17\00:26:16.17
I said a moment
ago that it seemed like
00:26:16.20\00:26:20.28
Cain brought the gift offering
that was convenient to him
00:26:20.31\00:26:24.45
and Abel brought what
was convenient to him.
00:26:24.48\00:26:27.15
Do you think there
was anything convenient
00:26:27.18\00:26:28.58
about killing a lamb?
00:26:28.62\00:26:32.29
Nothing can be convenient
about taking a life, see,
00:26:32.32\00:26:36.32
taking a knife, taking
it to the throat of a lamb,
00:26:36.36\00:26:41.00
nothing convenient about it.
00:26:41.03\00:26:42.40
We're told that they
were so sensitive to death
00:26:42.43\00:26:45.47
that his
parents Adam, after sin,
00:26:45.50\00:26:47.80
when he saw the first leaf die.
00:26:47.84\00:26:52.91
We saw the first,
first leaf die on a tree,
00:26:52.94\00:26:55.11
we're told them in the
book "Patriarchs and Prophets,"
00:26:55.14\00:26:57.05
fall to the ground.
00:26:57.08\00:26:59.08
He wept bitterly.
00:26:59.11\00:27:00.95
He wept more
bitterly we're told,
00:27:00.98\00:27:02.75
than human beings do now
at a loss of a loved one,
00:27:02.78\00:27:09.02
just so that we can
understand how dramatic,
00:27:09.06\00:27:12.09
how devastating this act of Cain
00:27:12.13\00:27:15.13
was in killing his brother.
00:27:15.16\00:27:17.27
Now, I realize that
this sounds really extreme.
00:27:17.30\00:27:19.33
I know none of you
could ever be accused of a sin
00:27:19.37\00:27:22.97
so heinous on this level, right?
00:27:23.00\00:27:27.34
I'm letting Jesus call you out.
00:27:27.38\00:27:29.71
Matthew Chapter 5:21,
00:27:29.74\00:27:31.18
we're gonna go to
Matthew Chapter 5:21
00:27:31.21\00:27:33.25
and we'll read
four verses there.
00:27:33.28\00:27:37.15
It says, "You have
heard that it was said
00:27:37.19\00:27:41.99
to those of old,
'You shall not murder,
00:27:42.02\00:27:45.06
and whoever murders will
be in danger of the judgment.'
00:27:45.09\00:27:48.30
But I say to you
that whoever is angry
00:27:48.33\00:27:51.43
with his
brother without reason,"
00:27:51.47\00:27:53.87
I'm sorry, "without cause
00:27:53.90\00:27:55.24
shall be in
danger of the judgment.
00:27:55.27\00:27:57.24
And whoever says to
his brother, 'Raca!'
00:27:57.27\00:27:59.97
shall be in
danger of the council.
00:28:00.01\00:28:02.34
But whoever says, 'You fool!'
00:28:02.38\00:28:03.95
shall be in danger of hell fire.
00:28:03.98\00:28:07.35
Therefore, if you
bring your gift to the altar,
00:28:07.38\00:28:10.19
and they
remember that your brother
00:28:10.22\00:28:11.72
has something against
you, leave your gift...
00:28:11.75\00:28:17.69
Leave your gift there
00:28:17.73\00:28:20.06
before the
altar, and go your way.
00:28:20.10\00:28:22.46
First be
reconciled to your brother,
00:28:22.50\00:28:24.70
and then come
and offer your gift."
00:28:24.73\00:28:31.21
These are few
things worth noting there.
00:28:31.24\00:28:34.11
God says, you know what,
00:28:34.14\00:28:38.01
before you get old, all pious,
00:28:38.05\00:28:43.45
before you get too holy,
00:28:43.49\00:28:47.26
before you drop to your knees,
00:28:47.29\00:28:48.89
before you start
giving Bible studies,
00:28:48.92\00:28:50.69
before you start witnessing
to everybody out there,
00:28:50.73\00:28:52.76
you don't have a person,
you got some problems with?
00:28:52.79\00:28:55.80
Go find them and make it right.
00:28:55.83\00:28:58.40
Because when you
harbor bitterness
00:28:58.43\00:29:01.57
and hatred in your
heart for an individual,
00:29:01.60\00:29:04.91
you're not just
keeping them out of your life,
00:29:04.94\00:29:06.37
you are crowding the Holy Spirit
00:29:06.41\00:29:08.58
out of your life.
00:29:08.61\00:29:10.38
God said, "How can you
love Me who you have not seen
00:29:10.41\00:29:13.45
and not love your
brother you have?"
00:29:13.48\00:29:16.45
Now, you may be
saying, well, it says,
00:29:16.48\00:29:20.42
it says there
that whoever is angry
00:29:20.46\00:29:22.96
with his brother without cause.
00:29:22.99\00:29:24.86
But I got good reason.
00:29:24.89\00:29:26.23
I got cause to
be angry with them.
00:29:26.26\00:29:28.36
This person did this,
he did this and did that.
00:29:28.40\00:29:31.33
But let me ask you something,
disciples of God, Christians,
00:29:31.37\00:29:34.87
because this is
what I consider myself.
00:29:34.90\00:29:38.71
I'm to follow in
the steps of Christ
00:29:38.74\00:29:41.34
and sometimes I
think I have good reason
00:29:41.38\00:29:43.41
to cut people off
in my life completely.
00:29:43.45\00:29:47.62
But when I look at
the life of Christ,
00:29:47.65\00:29:50.02
an individual, who
for me was spit upon,
00:29:50.05\00:29:55.82
was hit, had his back lacerated,
00:29:55.86\00:29:59.16
was marked, had a crown
of thorns put on his head
00:29:59.19\00:30:01.70
and hung on a cross naked.
00:30:01.73\00:30:05.50
Only to stand there,
look over the very people
00:30:05.53\00:30:07.87
who did it and
who were mocking them
00:30:07.90\00:30:09.24
and say, "Lord forgive them
00:30:09.27\00:30:10.61
for they know not what they do."
00:30:10.64\00:30:13.01
What cause can I possibly
have for harboring such vitriol
00:30:13.04\00:30:17.98
and hatred to not be willing
to forgive somebody else?
00:30:18.01\00:30:24.92
When Jesus taught us
to pray, he said, Lord,
00:30:24.95\00:30:26.45
forgive us as we forgive
00:30:26.49\00:30:28.52
those who have
transgressed against us.
00:30:28.56\00:30:32.69
By the same measure in
which we judge, we will what?
00:30:32.73\00:30:35.63
Be judged.
00:30:35.66\00:30:38.63
Therefore we got to think
about the way that we justify,
00:30:38.67\00:30:45.57
kind of people out of our lives
00:30:45.61\00:30:47.74
and harboring
bitterness towards them.
00:30:47.78\00:30:50.38
You know this
word Raca that he said?
00:30:50.41\00:30:53.65
That whoever says Raca
00:30:53.68\00:30:55.05
shall be in
danger of the council.
00:30:55.08\00:30:56.42
That is a Jewish
term of disrespect
00:30:56.45\00:30:58.25
that means
somebody is worthless.
00:30:58.29\00:31:01.26
It is the ultimate
term of vilification.
00:31:01.29\00:31:05.63
Now, I know we don't walk
around vilifying everybody.
00:31:05.66\00:31:11.10
But we're told, we
don't have a good enough
00:31:11.13\00:31:14.67
excuse to gossip and slander
00:31:14.70\00:31:19.87
and tell upon our
brothers and sisters.
00:31:19.91\00:31:22.64
The Bible does not condemn it.
00:31:22.68\00:31:24.01
I mean, does not condone
it. Jesus does not condone it.
00:31:24.05\00:31:26.18
He says, "You are not
to vilify your brother."
00:31:26.21\00:31:30.62
And you've
probably heard it said,
00:31:30.65\00:31:31.99
"When you point at someone,
00:31:32.02\00:31:33.76
what do you got
pointing back at you,
00:31:33.79\00:31:36.56
three times as many fingers.
00:31:36.59\00:31:41.53
God says, "You know, what?
00:31:41.56\00:31:43.06
I want you to come to Me,
00:31:43.10\00:31:44.43
I want you to come
to Me boldly and freely.
00:31:44.47\00:31:45.80
But, you know, what?
00:31:45.83\00:31:47.17
I want you to
stop to pump the brakes
00:31:47.20\00:31:48.54
and to make things
right with your brother
00:31:48.57\00:31:49.90
before you come."
00:31:49.94\00:31:53.38
After all they
are His children too.
00:31:53.41\00:31:56.98
This is something we
don't realize sometimes.
00:31:57.01\00:31:59.58
You know, if I
was to think about,
00:31:59.61\00:32:02.25
if somebody was to
approach me and want to be kind
00:32:02.28\00:32:05.05
and affectionate with
me and friendly with me
00:32:05.09\00:32:08.72
and wants to be at my table,
and wants to come in my home,
00:32:08.76\00:32:11.06
but they have
utter hatred and distain
00:32:11.09\00:32:14.80
with my daughter
00:32:14.83\00:32:16.16
or they are not on talking terms
00:32:16.20\00:32:17.63
with one of my daughters.
00:32:17.67\00:32:21.44
How open do you think my
door is gonna be to them?
00:32:21.47\00:32:25.74
Well, you got to realize
that, that person that you have
00:32:25.77\00:32:27.94
problems with,
that's God's child too.
00:32:27.98\00:32:31.95
Matthew Chapter 12.
00:32:31.98\00:32:35.28
But who is my
brother? But who is my brother?
00:32:35.32\00:32:37.89
Matthew Chapter 12:46.
00:32:37.92\00:32:42.36
And we'll read,
yeah, we'll read verse 46.
00:32:42.39\00:32:45.59
Well, oh, let me
set up the context.
00:32:45.63\00:32:47.73
Jesus is doing
what He always does,
00:32:47.76\00:32:49.10
He's preaching.
00:32:49.13\00:32:50.47
Well, often he was healing,
more often he was healing.
00:32:50.50\00:32:52.87
But, Jesus is
preaching in a home
00:32:52.90\00:32:55.07
and it's a pact
house like it always is,
00:32:55.10\00:32:57.17
all sorts of
curious people there.
00:32:57.21\00:33:00.94
And all of a
sudden, somebody spots
00:33:00.98\00:33:02.64
somebody very
important in the back,
00:33:02.68\00:33:04.35
very important, VIP.
00:33:04.38\00:33:05.71
Look what it says in verse 46.
00:33:05.75\00:33:08.52
"While He was still
talking to the multitudes,
00:33:08.55\00:33:10.55
behold, His mother and
brothers stood outside,
00:33:10.59\00:33:14.52
seeking to speak with Him.
00:33:14.56\00:33:16.62
Then one said to
Him, 'Look, Your mother
00:33:16.66\00:33:19.49
and Your brothers
are standing outside,
00:33:19.53\00:33:21.50
seeking to speak with You.'"
00:33:21.53\00:33:22.86
He stopped everything.
00:33:22.90\00:33:24.23
He said, oh, Jesus,
hold on, hold on, hold on.
00:33:24.27\00:33:25.60
I know we've got
a packed house here,
00:33:25.63\00:33:26.97
but guess who is outside?
00:33:27.00\00:33:28.34
We got somebody, VIP outside.
00:33:28.37\00:33:29.70
We got somebody who is
actually important, your family.
00:33:29.74\00:33:32.37
Your mother, your
brothers are there
00:33:32.41\00:33:33.74
and you don't really
pop up very frequently,
00:33:33.78\00:33:35.11
you don't hear about them
00:33:35.14\00:33:36.48
popping up very
frequently in Jesus ministry.
00:33:36.51\00:33:37.91
So it was expected
that, that would take priority
00:33:37.95\00:33:43.05
to everybody else to
what Jesus was doing there.
00:33:43.08\00:33:46.22
They probably were with me.
00:33:46.25\00:33:48.36
If my family
showed up in my church,
00:33:48.39\00:33:50.06
I say, look,
look, you guys are cool,
00:33:50.09\00:33:52.06
but they are important.
00:33:52.09\00:33:54.90
But look at Jesus response.
00:33:54.93\00:33:56.26
It's very
interesting, in verse 48.
00:33:56.30\00:33:59.47
"But He answered
and said to them,
00:33:59.50\00:34:02.17
to the one who told Him,
00:34:02.20\00:34:04.04
"Who is My mother
and who are My brothers?"
00:34:04.07\00:34:07.51
Interesting
question, Jesus is saying,
00:34:07.54\00:34:08.88
they are schooling
them, dropping gems on them.
00:34:08.91\00:34:12.35
And he doesn't
even know who his mother
00:34:12.38\00:34:13.82
and his brothers are.
00:34:13.85\00:34:15.25
Now that was a
rhetorical question,
00:34:15.28\00:34:17.55
because the
gentlemen didn't respond.
00:34:17.59\00:34:19.39
Jesus' just
tells him in verse 49.
00:34:19.42\00:34:21.62
And He stretched out His hand
toward His disciples and said,
00:34:21.66\00:34:24.73
"Here are My
mother and My brothers!
00:34:24.76\00:34:27.40
Whoever does the
will of My Father
00:34:27.43\00:34:28.76
who is in heaven is My
mother, sister and brother."
00:34:28.80\00:34:32.50
He's explaining to the gentleman
00:34:37.11\00:34:39.24
who wanted to stop everything.
00:34:39.27\00:34:40.61
He says, yes,
they're very important.
00:34:40.64\00:34:42.14
But you see these
people right out here,
00:34:42.18\00:34:44.11
they're very
important to me too.
00:34:44.15\00:34:47.62
But, blood is
thicker than water.
00:34:47.65\00:34:50.42
Maybe, but, you know, what?
00:34:50.45\00:34:52.95
Jesus says,
"These are my brothers
00:34:52.99\00:34:56.19
and these are my
sisters as well, why?
00:34:56.22\00:34:58.29
Because we have
the same Father."
00:34:58.33\00:35:01.86
They're not less
important to me than others.
00:35:01.90\00:35:06.07
This is an important point,
think about it, think about it.
00:35:06.10\00:35:09.77
When we have family members,
like, me and my brothers
00:35:09.80\00:35:11.87
we're at odd sometimes.
00:35:11.91\00:35:13.31
We go at each
other's... Well, not anymore.
00:35:13.34\00:35:15.81
We used to go at each
others stories at time
00:35:15.84\00:35:17.18
and, I mean we used to literally
00:35:17.21\00:35:18.55
get into fisticuffs.
00:35:18.58\00:35:21.18
And by the end of the
day, we worked it out.
00:35:21.22\00:35:25.99
Now, that you all do, Hey,
if you have a disagreement,
00:35:26.02\00:35:28.79
it may last, you may not
talk for a couple of days,
00:35:28.82\00:35:31.46
worse a couple weeks,
00:35:31.49\00:35:32.83
but it's gonna
get worked out, right?
00:35:32.86\00:35:34.53
But some of you come out...
00:35:34.56\00:35:36.73
I said you, don't feel bad.
00:35:36.77\00:35:38.43
Some of us come out
00:35:38.47\00:35:41.80
and we can sit
in the same church,
00:35:41.84\00:35:45.41
live on the same
street with somebody
00:35:45.44\00:35:48.64
who professes to
follow the same Father
00:35:48.68\00:35:52.08
and not talk for
days, weeks, months, years
00:35:52.11\00:35:56.45
and we will carry a
grudge to our grave.
00:35:56.48\00:36:00.36
Now, is that how
you treat family?
00:36:00.39\00:36:04.96
Because Jesus
said they are family.
00:36:04.99\00:36:08.46
And I don't think He's
just using a figure of speech.
00:36:08.50\00:36:10.13
We just use figure of speech
when we say, brother, sister.
00:36:10.17\00:36:13.64
We're just talking sometimes.
00:36:13.67\00:36:15.40
We think it's just
religious slang and lingo.
00:36:15.44\00:36:17.54
Jesus started that
because it was real to Him.
00:36:17.57\00:36:21.78
We had no
inclination that he stopped
00:36:21.81\00:36:23.35
what he was
doing and ran outside.
00:36:23.38\00:36:24.85
He was like, man,
this is all my family.
00:36:24.88\00:36:27.12
You know, and it troubles me.
00:36:27.15\00:36:28.48
I remember doing
homeless ministry for some time
00:36:28.52\00:36:30.35
and it troubled me
because I had some individuals
00:36:30.39\00:36:35.89
that would come out to church
00:36:35.92\00:36:37.26
and one of them
wanting to get baptized.
00:36:37.29\00:36:40.56
And that night,
everybody was saying,
00:36:40.60\00:36:43.16
"Oh, welcome to the family,
00:36:43.20\00:36:44.53
it's so good to
see you, brother."
00:36:44.57\00:36:45.90
And then they all kind
of send him on his way.
00:36:45.93\00:36:47.27
Nobody...
00:36:47.30\00:36:48.64
Everybody knew he was
homeless, but nobody asked him
00:36:48.67\00:36:50.01
where he was going that night.
00:36:50.04\00:36:53.68
And as he got in my car,
and I started driving him back.
00:36:53.71\00:37:00.08
I say, "how am I gonna
go and leave this individual
00:37:00.12\00:37:03.25
under a bridge?
00:37:03.28\00:37:05.85
And they have the
nerve to call him brother."
00:37:05.89\00:37:09.89
If he was my actual brother,
00:37:09.92\00:37:12.36
would he be sleeping
out in the cold tonight,
00:37:12.39\00:37:15.36
and sleeping wet
because he just got baptized?
00:37:15.40\00:37:19.13
That brother had to
come to my house that night
00:37:19.17\00:37:22.10
and we had to
figure that situation out.
00:37:22.14\00:37:25.37
But, you know, what?
00:37:25.41\00:37:26.74
I've realized that oftentimes
00:37:26.78\00:37:28.11
we'll call somebody our brother,
00:37:28.14\00:37:29.48
we'll call somebody our sister
00:37:29.51\00:37:31.68
and we know
nothing about their lives,
00:37:31.71\00:37:34.02
we don't get to know
them, they join in our churches,
00:37:34.05\00:37:38.15
they're returning to church,
00:37:38.19\00:37:39.75
they in our ranks,
and we hardly know them.
00:37:39.79\00:37:43.53
We won't invite them
to the house for a meal,
00:37:43.56\00:37:45.29
they may be hungry.
00:37:45.33\00:37:48.50
We are grudges
built up against them,
00:37:48.53\00:37:50.33
we're not even worried
about reconciling them.
00:37:50.37\00:37:52.10
And God says,
"Hey, this is family."
00:37:52.13\00:37:54.27
And I know you're
probably also thinking
00:37:59.44\00:38:01.14
because the verse,
00:38:01.18\00:38:02.51
when we looked at that
verse a second ago, it said,
00:38:02.54\00:38:05.48
"Whoever does the will
my Father who in Heaven
00:38:05.51\00:38:08.18
is my brother and
sister and mother."
00:38:08.22\00:38:11.92
And you might be thinking well,
00:38:11.95\00:38:13.36
that person
ain't doing God's will,
00:38:13.39\00:38:14.72
well, that's the difference.
00:38:14.76\00:38:16.09
They ain't the child to God,
that's the child of the devil."
00:38:16.12\00:38:18.79
They ain't doing God's will.
00:38:18.83\00:38:20.33
How do you know?
00:38:20.36\00:38:22.43
Brothers and
sisters, how do we know?
00:38:22.46\00:38:25.63
But a word in the testimony,
yeah, let me tell you somebody
00:38:25.67\00:38:27.90
who knew the Bible
better than you and I ever will.
00:38:27.94\00:38:31.34
His name was Saul.
00:38:31.37\00:38:34.04
This man knew the
Bible. He spoke the languages.
00:38:34.08\00:38:37.11
He spoke the language that
the Old Testament was written
00:38:37.15\00:38:39.35
and plus many others.
00:38:39.38\00:38:41.18
He was more of a
scholar than we could ever be.
00:38:41.22\00:38:44.65
As far as righteousness,
he can hit the checklists
00:38:44.69\00:38:47.62
a thousand times better than us.
00:38:47.66\00:38:49.59
He knew what he was doing.
00:38:49.62\00:38:50.96
He was
righteous in his own eyes.
00:38:50.99\00:38:52.89
He was fervent for the
Lord. He had a zeal for the law.
00:38:52.93\00:38:55.66
But, you know,
what he didn't realize?
00:38:55.70\00:38:57.63
That he was actually persecuting
00:38:57.67\00:38:59.90
those who were following
God with all their heart.
00:38:59.93\00:39:03.20
And he was doing
it in the name of God.
00:39:03.24\00:39:06.07
And I think we fall into
this danger sometimes that,
00:39:06.11\00:39:08.11
we think, we're
doing the Lord's bidding,
00:39:08.14\00:39:11.11
and in actuality, we're
persecuting his children.
00:39:11.15\00:39:13.75
Paul did this.
00:39:19.19\00:39:20.52
He carried this out until he had
00:39:20.56\00:39:22.29
an experience with the Lord,
00:39:22.32\00:39:23.66
a personal experience
with the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:39:23.69\00:39:26.63
He had this conversion moment.
00:39:26.66\00:39:28.20
You know,
there's some of us that,
00:39:28.23\00:39:29.86
we may have church
offices or some of us that,
00:39:29.90\00:39:32.10
we might well
acquainted with adoption,
00:39:32.13\00:39:33.47
we might even understand
prophecy inside and up,
00:39:33.50\00:39:35.30
but I have yet to have
the personal experience
00:39:35.34\00:39:37.07
with Jesus Christ
00:39:37.11\00:39:38.57
and it's reflected in our
relationships with others.
00:39:38.61\00:39:43.71
And there's others of us
who maybe have at some point,
00:39:43.75\00:39:49.45
but we've fallen away.
00:39:49.48\00:39:55.32
You know, when Paul
on the road to Damascus
00:39:55.36\00:39:57.19
had a personal
encounter with Jesus Christ,
00:39:57.23\00:39:59.06
his name was Saul, His
name was changed to Paul.
00:39:59.09\00:40:03.60
But, brother let
me assure you that,
00:40:03.63\00:40:04.97
if the enemy is utilizing us
00:40:05.00\00:40:07.94
to persecute our
brothers and our sisters,
00:40:07.97\00:40:11.21
then we are harming our hearts
to the Lord just like Cain was.
00:40:11.24\00:40:15.54
I tell you something, at least,
Cain we were told in that,
00:40:15.58\00:40:17.88
in Genesis Chapter 4:8.
00:40:17.91\00:40:19.75
At least he spoke to Abel.
00:40:19.78\00:40:21.12
Some of us won't even speak
to our brothers and sisters.
00:40:21.15\00:40:25.55
And not just in the
church, some of us have
00:40:25.59\00:40:27.09
broken
relationship with neighbors,
00:40:27.12\00:40:28.46
some of us have
broken relationships
00:40:28.49\00:40:29.82
with family members
00:40:29.86\00:40:31.19
who we have not
spoke to for a long time.
00:40:31.23\00:40:32.56
How do I look as a
Christian, as a follower
00:40:32.59\00:40:35.00
of the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:40:35.03\00:40:36.60
not being willing to
talk and share and check up
00:40:36.63\00:40:41.54
on somebody who is
my flesh and blood?
00:40:41.57\00:40:45.27
How am I ever gonna
bring them in to a fold,
00:40:45.31\00:40:48.11
get them to accept Jesus Christ
00:40:48.14\00:40:50.81
if they cannot see
Jesus Christ reflected in me.
00:40:50.85\00:40:53.65
1 John Chapter 4:20
and 21 tells us that,
00:40:59.39\00:41:03.86
"If you've done it
the least of these,
00:41:03.89\00:41:05.23
you've done it to
Me," and that's one of...
00:41:05.26\00:41:06.59
That's the major point,
is that, you know, what?
00:41:06.63\00:41:09.06
We want a good
relationship with the Lord.
00:41:09.10\00:41:12.00
But that's one of the goal
Lord needs us to get it right
00:41:12.03\00:41:14.40
with our brothers and
sisters because He says,
00:41:14.44\00:41:15.77
"Hey, if you're
doing it to one of them..."
00:41:15.80\00:41:17.74
He says, "If you did to me."
00:41:17.77\00:41:19.11
I tell you what, if you're
gonna break somebody's arm,
00:41:19.14\00:41:20.81
I'd rather have
somebody break my arm
00:41:20.84\00:41:22.18
than break my daughter's arm,
00:41:22.21\00:41:23.55
because it hurts more
to see my daughter in pain,
00:41:23.58\00:41:27.12
than
experiencing the pain myself.
00:41:27.15\00:41:31.49
You know, a Christian is
known by the way that he treats
00:41:31.52\00:41:36.32
the most vulnerable among them.
00:41:36.36\00:41:40.30
And my heart breaks sometimes
for some of our new members,
00:41:40.33\00:41:44.83
for some of our kids and youth,
00:41:44.87\00:41:47.17
for some of those were
turning into the faith.
00:41:47.20\00:41:49.17
For some of those who have been
in the church their whole life,
00:41:49.20\00:41:51.47
but are going
through hardships and pain
00:41:51.51\00:41:52.97
and are just holding
on, barely holding on
00:41:53.01\00:41:56.38
and the way that we
treat them at times.
00:41:56.41\00:42:01.45
You know...
00:42:01.48\00:42:04.52
Quick story about my family
like I said, I love my family
00:42:04.55\00:42:07.49
and we just sit around
before I was converted.
00:42:07.52\00:42:09.12
We'd sit around and drinking,
00:42:09.16\00:42:10.49
unfortunately I have
a big drinking family
00:42:10.53\00:42:12.53
and we'd sit around drinking
00:42:12.56\00:42:13.90
and you had to
have the quick way,
00:42:13.93\00:42:15.26
because whenever
you walk in the room,
00:42:15.30\00:42:16.67
they get the roast
and everybody inside.
00:42:16.70\00:42:19.80
Nobody gets a pass.
00:42:19.83\00:42:22.74
Some of you all come
from those kind of families.
00:42:22.77\00:42:25.14
And who gets it the
worst? The most vulnerable.
00:42:25.17\00:42:27.54
So we had a uncle
and I love him to death.
00:42:27.58\00:42:30.25
I love him.
00:42:30.28\00:42:32.41
But we had an
uncle who was crippled,
00:42:32.45\00:42:34.28
he was half paralyzed.
00:42:34.32\00:42:36.95
And he'd come
walking up stumbling in
00:42:36.99\00:42:40.16
and everybody will
get to roast at him.
00:42:40.19\00:42:42.89
It's not right.
00:42:42.92\00:42:44.26
I don't condone it now,
but this is what we used to do.
00:42:44.29\00:42:46.90
I used to think
it was all right.
00:42:46.93\00:42:48.26
I was... You know
I wasn't converted.
00:42:48.30\00:42:50.67
So I remember one day I
was on a neighborhood in Miami.
00:42:50.70\00:42:52.80
I had moved back to...
00:42:52.83\00:42:54.17
I've lived in Miami, Florida
as a kid and I had moved back
00:42:54.20\00:42:55.70
and I was on the block
00:42:55.74\00:42:58.77
consuming
substances with friends.
00:42:58.81\00:43:03.28
And my uncle, who
everybody knew in a neighborhood
00:43:03.31\00:43:05.45
and everybody knew in town,
00:43:05.48\00:43:07.78
he just came
stumbling up the block, walking.
00:43:07.82\00:43:09.98
They all loved him
00:43:10.02\00:43:11.35
and they all
have respect for him.
00:43:11.39\00:43:12.72
And I remember
when he walked up,
00:43:12.75\00:43:14.46
I just had to let him have it.
00:43:14.49\00:43:15.86
I just got to roast at
him. I just got to roast at him.
00:43:15.89\00:43:17.53
Because I felt like, hey,
this is what we do at home.
00:43:17.56\00:43:21.70
This is what I'm
going to do out here.
00:43:21.73\00:43:24.30
So I just got to roast at him
and just giving him a hard time
00:43:24.33\00:43:26.84
and I looked back
expecting everybody
00:43:26.87\00:43:28.67
to be laughing and
getting a kick out of it,
00:43:28.70\00:43:30.67
and there wasn't,
they were shocked.
00:43:30.71\00:43:32.67
There was uphold
that I would treat
00:43:32.71\00:43:34.28
a family member in such a way.
00:43:34.31\00:43:37.31
And I remember
feeling embarrassed
00:43:37.35\00:43:39.75
about my actions.
00:43:39.78\00:43:46.52
Friends, you know what?
00:43:46.55\00:43:48.62
It's like that
sometimes in the church.
00:43:48.66\00:43:51.73
It's like that
sometimes in the church.
00:43:51.76\00:43:53.16
Sometimes those who are
most vulnerable among us,
00:43:53.19\00:43:56.67
who come in, who should
expect the most sympathy,
00:43:56.70\00:43:59.37
the most love,
the most compassion,
00:43:59.40\00:44:01.20
who when they fall,
should expect somebody
00:44:01.24\00:44:02.57
to come up and help them up,
00:44:02.60\00:44:03.94
get the harshest treatment
upon God's professed people.
00:44:03.97\00:44:08.01
And then they leave the
church and find more compassion
00:44:08.04\00:44:11.41
and they do a God's
house, and it should not be.
00:44:11.45\00:44:14.55
Then they do among
those who call them
00:44:14.58\00:44:17.75
brother and sister
and it should not be.
00:44:17.79\00:44:21.16
We supposed... We supposed...
00:44:21.19\00:44:22.52
We're supposed to be
characterized by love,
00:44:22.56\00:44:23.93
1 Corinthians Chapter
13:1-3. Let me read this.
00:44:23.96\00:44:27.86
This is a verse
that changed my life,
00:44:27.90\00:44:29.76
because when I got converted,
I got zealous for the Lord,
00:44:29.80\00:44:32.80
and I got jumping in His
word and He changed my life
00:44:32.83\00:44:34.87
and He freed me
from so many addictions
00:44:34.90\00:44:36.47
and He fixed my
family and He did it all.
00:44:36.50\00:44:39.07
But as I got to
jump in God's word,
00:44:39.11\00:44:40.98
you know, what,
00:44:41.01\00:44:42.34
I started feeling self
righteous after a while.
00:44:42.38\00:44:47.08
And I started looking down
and every time I took a step,
00:44:47.12\00:44:49.62
I wanted everybody else to
come and take the step with me.
00:44:49.65\00:44:52.19
And if they
didn't, I got to criticize.
00:44:52.22\00:44:53.59
And when I
walked around the church
00:44:53.62\00:44:54.96
and I saw things wrong,
I wanted to point fingers
00:44:54.99\00:44:56.52
to start calling
everybody an apostate.
00:44:56.56\00:45:00.83
But, you know, what?
00:45:00.86\00:45:03.26
When my Christian
experience was turning better,
00:45:03.30\00:45:05.43
I found myself at a bible
study and they presented this
00:45:05.47\00:45:10.04
and it was the first
time I'd read something
00:45:10.07\00:45:11.67
in a Bible study
that brought me to tears
00:45:11.71\00:45:13.34
because that I
realized this was what,
00:45:13.38\00:45:14.91
was missing in my
Christian experience.
00:45:14.94\00:45:16.58
1 Corinthians Chapter 13:1-3.
00:45:16.61\00:45:21.28
It says, "Though I
speak with the tongues of men
00:45:21.32\00:45:23.62
and of angels,
but have not love,
00:45:23.65\00:45:26.55
I have become
like sounding brass
00:45:26.59\00:45:28.16
or a clanging cymbal.
00:45:28.19\00:45:29.76
And though I have
the gift of prophecy,
00:45:29.79\00:45:32.06
and understand all
mysteries and all knowledge,
00:45:32.09\00:45:34.93
and though I have all faith,
00:45:34.96\00:45:36.73
so that I could
remove mountains,
00:45:36.77\00:45:38.93
but have not love, I am nothing.
00:45:38.97\00:45:42.04
And though I bestow all
my goods to feed the poor,
00:45:42.07\00:45:45.14
and though I give
my body to be burned,
00:45:45.17\00:45:47.78
but have not love,
it profits me nothing."
00:45:47.81\00:45:52.31
Jesus says, all
the good you think
00:45:52.35\00:45:55.45
you could do is worthless
if you don't have love.
00:45:55.48\00:45:59.65
All your understanding
of God's word is worthless,
00:45:59.69\00:46:02.62
if you don't have love.
00:46:02.66\00:46:03.99
And I was
realizing, you know, what?
00:46:04.03\00:46:05.36
I'm quickly
understanding God's word.
00:46:05.39\00:46:07.43
I'm quickly
picking up on prophecy.
00:46:07.46\00:46:09.76
I'm quickly fixing up my life
and becoming a better person
00:46:09.80\00:46:12.37
or God's fixing my life
to become a better person.
00:46:12.40\00:46:14.84
But then I start
feeling miserable
00:46:14.87\00:46:16.20
and I realized why,
00:46:16.24\00:46:17.57
because I was missing
the secret ingredient, like,
00:46:17.61\00:46:20.24
you know, like mom's cooking.
00:46:20.28\00:46:22.08
I was missing
the secret ingredient
00:46:22.11\00:46:24.15
to a Christian life, love.
00:46:24.18\00:46:27.98
Let me read a
statement here from
00:46:28.02\00:46:29.92
"The Acts of the
Apostles" page 318.
00:46:29.95\00:46:33.66
"No matter how
high the profession,
00:46:33.69\00:46:36.56
he whose heart is not
filled with love for God
00:46:36.59\00:46:39.59
and his fellow men..."
00:46:39.63\00:46:41.26
Notice that, and his fellow men.
00:46:41.30\00:46:43.40
"Is not a true
disciple of Christ.
00:46:43.43\00:46:45.60
Though he should
possess great faith
00:46:45.63\00:46:47.80
and have power
even to work miracles,
00:46:47.84\00:46:50.37
yet without love his
faith would be worthless.
00:46:50.41\00:46:54.58
He might display
great liberality;
00:46:54.61\00:46:56.88
but should he,
00:46:56.91\00:46:58.61
from some other
motive than genuine love,
00:46:58.65\00:47:01.18
bestow all his
goods to feed the poor,
00:47:01.22\00:47:03.35
the act would not
commend him to the favor of God.
00:47:03.39\00:47:07.66
In his zeal he might
even meet a martyr's death,
00:47:07.69\00:47:13.06
yet if not actuated by love,
00:47:13.09\00:47:15.20
he would be regarded by God
00:47:15.23\00:47:16.63
as a deluded enthusiast or
as an ambitious hypocrite."
00:47:16.67\00:47:22.47
Mercy, I heard
that and it was actually
00:47:22.50\00:47:25.24
somebody who has preached here
00:47:25.27\00:47:26.61
foundation of
faith by Dwayne Lemon.
00:47:26.64\00:47:29.54
I heard that and
it brought me to tears
00:47:29.58\00:47:31.55
because I realized that I
had gone from being converted
00:47:31.58\00:47:34.75
and becoming a Christian,
to becoming a hypocrite.
00:47:34.78\00:47:38.65
And God told me, you
know, what, you love Me,
00:47:38.69\00:47:41.39
you need to love My
children or You don't love me.
00:47:41.42\00:47:46.33
John Chapter 13:35 says,
00:47:46.36\00:47:49.66
"By this shall all men know that
00:47:49.70\00:47:51.53
you are My
disciples, if you," what?
00:47:51.57\00:47:55.04
"have love for one another."
00:47:55.07\00:47:56.77
He says the test of a disciple
isn't your head knowledge,
00:47:56.81\00:47:59.84
it isn't how much you
want to do for the Lord.
00:47:59.87\00:48:01.98
It's your love.
00:48:02.01\00:48:03.41
It's how much you
reflect the character of Christ.
00:48:03.45\00:48:08.82
So returning to
Genesis, we're wrapping up,
00:48:08.85\00:48:11.15
returning to
Genesis Chapter 4:9.
00:48:11.19\00:48:16.36
"Then the Lord said to Cain,
"Where is your brother Abel?"
00:48:16.39\00:48:22.43
He said, "I don't know.
Am I my brother's keeper?"
00:48:22.46\00:48:27.07
Well, the fact that
God asked the question
00:48:30.41\00:48:32.47
that He already know this,
the answer to implies that,
00:48:32.51\00:48:35.14
yes, you are
your brother's keeper.
00:48:35.18\00:48:39.71
But his response, I don't know.
00:48:39.75\00:48:43.95
It's not my problem.
00:48:43.99\00:48:46.12
But, friends, it is our problem,
00:48:46.15\00:48:48.99
it is our problem.
00:48:49.02\00:48:50.36
God is asking you today,
where is brother so and so?
00:48:50.39\00:48:55.86
Where is sister so and so?
00:48:55.90\00:48:57.73
I know you had it
falling out, where are they?
00:48:57.77\00:49:02.14
Brother so and so,
last time you heard from him
00:49:02.17\00:49:04.14
was that time you
had just this rift.
00:49:04.17\00:49:06.61
Where is he? Have
you checked up on him?
00:49:06.64\00:49:08.34
How is he doing?
00:49:08.38\00:49:10.68
Where is that neighbor
that you had a fall out with?
00:49:10.71\00:49:13.75
Where is that co-worker
that you had a fall out with?
00:49:13.78\00:49:16.45
Where is that family
member that you have not called?
00:49:16.48\00:49:20.46
That, either does he
come to the family reunion
00:49:20.49\00:49:22.36
or you won't go to the family,
the family reunion to avoid.
00:49:22.39\00:49:25.99
Where are they? It
does matter to God.
00:49:26.03\00:49:29.80
It does affect
your Christianity.
00:49:29.83\00:49:33.00
And I can't cover that
up with all of my knowledge
00:49:33.03\00:49:35.80
and insight about the Bible.
00:49:35.84\00:49:38.77
You know, if you
look around this,
00:49:38.81\00:49:40.38
this church right now,
there's a lot of empty seats.
00:49:40.41\00:49:45.48
Well, never in 3ABN, right?
00:49:45.51\00:49:48.52
But in our local churches,
there's always empty seats
00:49:48.55\00:49:51.59
and what do we love to say?
00:49:51.62\00:49:54.36
They're filled by the angels.
00:49:54.39\00:49:57.63
There's not an
empty seat in here,
00:49:57.66\00:49:58.99
because the angles are there.
00:49:59.03\00:50:00.36
You know what?
00:50:00.40\00:50:01.73
The angels could
deal with the heat outside
00:50:01.76\00:50:03.10
and with the cold
outside much better than we can.
00:50:03.13\00:50:05.27
They don't mind
having to stand up and hover,
00:50:05.30\00:50:06.90
as if they just
fly hover over us.
00:50:06.94\00:50:11.17
God is concerned with
filling the church with angels,
00:50:11.21\00:50:15.48
He wants his children there.
00:50:15.51\00:50:17.21
And when you look
around those empty seats,
00:50:17.25\00:50:18.58
there's somebody
who used to sit there.
00:50:18.61\00:50:21.38
There's somebody
who used to sit there
00:50:21.42\00:50:23.89
who has a broken relationship
that was never mended.
00:50:23.92\00:50:29.66
And their brothers and sisters
should be hunting them down
00:50:29.69\00:50:32.16
just like you would
hunt down the person missing
00:50:32.19\00:50:35.33
at the
Thanksgiving dinner table.
00:50:35.36\00:50:40.44
As a matter of fact,
there will be a whole
00:50:40.47\00:50:41.80
lot of more
angels in the church.
00:50:41.84\00:50:44.21
It was God and angels accompany
00:50:44.24\00:50:47.74
those who they were
protecting back into God's fold.
00:50:47.78\00:50:50.71
God is asking
you today, friends.
00:50:50.75\00:50:52.25
Where is that person who
used to sit on your right?
00:50:52.28\00:50:54.62
Where is that person who
used to sit on your left?
00:50:54.65\00:50:57.12
Give him a call. You
see how are they doing?
00:50:57.15\00:50:59.95
Let them know you love
them, that the Lord loves them.
00:50:59.99\00:51:03.63
That whatever you had
in your heart against them,
00:51:03.66\00:51:05.73
that you put it away,
00:51:05.76\00:51:07.40
that you put it
aside, that you forgot.
00:51:07.43\00:51:08.76
Remember, what we read.
00:51:08.80\00:51:10.13
I should emphasize
on it when you're ready.
00:51:10.17\00:51:11.50
It says, "If your brother
has an offense against you,"
00:51:11.53\00:51:14.40
It did not even say,
00:51:14.44\00:51:15.77
if you have an
offense against your brother,
00:51:15.80\00:51:17.14
because sometimes we say well,
00:51:17.17\00:51:18.51
I don't got no
problem with them.
00:51:18.54\00:51:19.87
So that's their deal.
00:51:19.91\00:51:21.24
No, the Bible
says, if your brother
00:51:21.28\00:51:22.61
has offense against you,
00:51:22.64\00:51:23.98
think about it right
now just for a movement.
00:51:24.01\00:51:27.42
Who is it that you did not see,
00:51:27.45\00:51:30.19
either I would that
you had a fight with?
00:51:30.22\00:51:33.09
Who is it that
you have not talked to
00:51:33.12\00:51:36.02
that you know, you need
to make things right with?
00:51:36.06\00:51:41.16
This is why the Lord
is sending this message,
00:51:41.20\00:51:44.07
because we got phone
calls we need to make.
00:51:44.10\00:51:45.67
We got visits that we need to do
00:51:45.70\00:51:47.47
and get things
right with the Lord.
00:51:47.50\00:51:51.77
Now don't misunderstand me.
00:51:51.81\00:51:53.17
I'm not saying that
you need to let people
00:51:53.21\00:51:54.61
walk all over you.
00:51:54.64\00:51:56.24
The Bible says, "To
be wise as serpents,
00:51:56.28\00:51:59.41
but harmless as doves."
00:51:59.45\00:52:01.52
That means we need to
wise enough to realize
00:52:01.55\00:52:04.85
when the devil's sending
somebody our way and avoid it.
00:52:04.89\00:52:09.76
However, we don't need to be...
00:52:09.79\00:52:11.59
It don't say be
wise as the serpent
00:52:11.63\00:52:13.13
and then attack like a serpent.
00:52:13.16\00:52:15.50
We don't needed to go
off and on, two for two.
00:52:15.53\00:52:17.73
No, we need to
wise enough to catch it,
00:52:17.77\00:52:19.37
but then be harmless as a
dove, be led by the Holy Spirit.
00:52:19.40\00:52:23.77
Avoid that situation,
00:52:23.81\00:52:25.14
but don't harbor
bitterness in your heart.
00:52:25.17\00:52:30.91
God wants us to be
accountable, friends,
00:52:30.95\00:52:32.41
for our brothers and sisters.
00:52:32.45\00:52:33.78
John Chapter 1 John 3:1
says, "We are all His children."
00:52:33.82\00:52:38.89
I said heaven is going
to be a big family reunion.
00:52:42.02\00:52:48.66
I believe it with all my heart.
00:52:48.70\00:52:50.17
I believe it with all my heart.
00:52:51.37\00:52:53.07
John Chapter 14:2 tells us,
00:52:53.10\00:52:57.51
"In my Father's
house" Jesus tells us,
00:52:57.54\00:52:59.11
"In my Father's
house are many mansions,
00:52:59.14\00:53:01.14
if it were not so,
I would have told you.
00:53:01.18\00:53:05.01
I go to prepare
a place for you."
00:53:05.05\00:53:09.28
Now, I know we
like to think of heaven
00:53:09.32\00:53:11.29
and talk about the mansions
and the streets of gold.
00:53:11.32\00:53:13.36
Do you realize that's
going to be the last thing
00:53:13.39\00:53:14.76
on our minds
when we get to heaven?
00:53:14.79\00:53:17.13
All we go and wanna
do is be around Jesus
00:53:17.16\00:53:19.76
and be around
those that we love.
00:53:19.79\00:53:22.73
That's going to
be the main concern.
00:53:22.76\00:53:24.63
When somebody we
love passes away,
00:53:24.67\00:53:27.10
we're not thinking
about mansions, right?
00:53:27.14\00:53:28.70
We're thinking
about that reunion.
00:53:28.74\00:53:30.84
But check this out.
00:53:30.87\00:53:32.21
That word for mansions,
translated as mansions.
00:53:32.24\00:53:36.28
In the Greek is monay, monay.
00:53:39.31\00:53:44.42
It actually means dwellings.
00:53:44.45\00:53:48.59
So think about that.
00:53:48.62\00:53:50.49
The way that it's
actually written is to say,
00:53:50.53\00:53:52.43
and I'm not trying to kill,
00:53:52.46\00:53:53.80
you're loosing
about the mansions now.
00:53:53.83\00:53:55.46
You can keep
dreaming about the mansions,
00:53:55.50\00:53:58.10
but what God's
expression is that,
00:53:58.13\00:54:00.34
in my Father's
house are many dwellings,
00:54:00.37\00:54:02.60
there's enough room
in my Father's house
00:54:02.64\00:54:03.97
for everybody.
00:54:04.01\00:54:06.27
There's enough
room for everybody.
00:54:06.31\00:54:08.04
But, what happens if you show up
00:54:08.08\00:54:10.38
and you're not willing
to co-exist with somebody?
00:54:10.41\00:54:13.98
If you can't co-exist
with somebody on this earth,
00:54:14.02\00:54:17.59
well, you know, do we
get there to have him?
00:54:17.62\00:54:20.42
When God brings you in?
00:54:20.46\00:54:21.79
All right, Lord, but
where is sister so and so?
00:54:21.82\00:54:23.16
Because if she's on
the left, in the east wing,
00:54:23.19\00:54:24.53
I need to go to the right wing.
00:54:24.56\00:54:27.93
Oh, if she over there?
00:54:27.96\00:54:29.36
Okay, just let
me know she's coming
00:54:29.40\00:54:31.03
because, I know this is heaven,
00:54:31.07\00:54:32.77
but if I come across her
it's gonna be the opposite.
00:54:32.80\00:54:36.40
No. It won't work like that.
00:54:36.44\00:54:39.84
It's just like, if I was to
go to my mother's house right,
00:54:39.87\00:54:41.74
for Thanksgiving.
00:54:41.78\00:54:43.11
I had a problem with my brother.
00:54:43.14\00:54:45.31
And I say, Mom, he
better not be there.
00:54:45.35\00:54:47.08
I'm just letting you know
now, he better not be there.
00:54:47.12\00:54:50.09
What's my mother gonna tell me?
00:54:50.12\00:54:53.49
Now, if you ain't
coming here to get along,
00:54:53.52\00:54:56.36
you better not be there.
00:54:56.39\00:54:58.99
Right? We're both invited.
00:54:59.03\00:55:03.23
We're both
invited as long as we both
00:55:03.26\00:55:05.30
willing to come in
there and be amicable.
00:55:05.33\00:55:07.90
We got to be willing to
be sit at the same table.
00:55:07.94\00:55:12.01
You know, praise the Lord,
00:55:12.04\00:55:13.48
he's gonna have a
big banquet table.
00:55:13.51\00:55:14.84
I know some of you
all love Thanksgiving.
00:55:14.88\00:55:17.81
God's gonna have
a big banquet table
00:55:17.85\00:55:19.55
and we're gonna be
there with all our loved ones.
00:55:19.58\00:55:21.78
But if you
can't sit at the table
00:55:21.82\00:55:23.49
with one of your
brothers and sisters now,
00:55:23.52\00:55:26.59
if you can't sit
at the potluck table
00:55:26.62\00:55:28.49
with some of your
brothers and sisters
00:55:28.52\00:55:29.86
from the church now,
00:55:29.89\00:55:31.43
oh, man, you're gonna
miss out on the feast,
00:55:31.46\00:55:35.56
because everybody is invited
00:55:35.60\00:55:36.93
and God's coming to
take all His children back.
00:55:36.97\00:55:40.74
But these things that
we got to work out now,
00:55:40.77\00:55:44.87
because God's
coming to take us back,
00:55:44.91\00:55:46.24
but you know, what?
00:55:46.27\00:55:47.61
That flight has
no baggage check.
00:55:47.64\00:55:51.31
It's only carry on,
00:55:51.35\00:55:53.62
because you can only
take one thing to heaven.
00:55:53.65\00:55:55.85
What's that? Your character.
00:55:55.88\00:55:58.15
So if your character is
not resembled that of Christ,
00:55:58.19\00:56:00.42
you can't go,
because some of us got
00:56:00.46\00:56:01.79
a whole lot of baggage
00:56:01.82\00:56:03.16
and we're carrying that
thing around through life.
00:56:03.19\00:56:04.53
Oh, everything that ever
happened to you as a kid,
00:56:04.56\00:56:07.33
every argument about
debate, or debate about
00:56:07.36\00:56:12.57
theology or
politics or whatever,
00:56:12.60\00:56:14.80
we're carrying
that baggage around.
00:56:14.84\00:56:16.77
You know, you can't
take that to heaven.
00:56:16.81\00:56:18.14
There's no way to check that.
You got to check that here.
00:56:18.17\00:56:19.87
You got to handle that here.
00:56:19.91\00:56:22.51
Because the only
thing you gonna take
00:56:22.54\00:56:23.98
is your
character, that carry on.
00:56:24.01\00:56:26.51
So brothers and sisters,
I haven't given you enough.
00:56:26.55\00:56:30.89
I'm sorry.
00:56:30.92\00:56:32.25
I know I walk around
beating everybody in the head.
00:56:32.29\00:56:33.92
But, you know,
what I'm really doing?
00:56:33.96\00:56:37.73
I'm reminding myself
that they don't do me no good
00:56:37.76\00:56:41.30
to stay here and preach
00:56:41.33\00:56:43.40
and read God's word and to pray,
00:56:43.43\00:56:44.87
if I'm not applying this,
00:56:44.90\00:56:46.23
if I'm not get in
relationships right in my life,
00:56:46.27\00:56:49.44
if I'm not fixing
what needs to reconciled.
00:56:49.47\00:56:51.27
I promise you I would
not be so presumptuous
00:56:51.31\00:56:52.67
as to come up here
00:56:52.71\00:56:55.51
and share a
message of this nature.
00:56:55.54\00:56:58.35
Well, I'll first make,
trying to make things right
00:56:58.38\00:57:00.92
and making those phone calls,
00:57:00.95\00:57:02.28
but now this is
my appeal to you.
00:57:02.32\00:57:05.29
There's somebody you
need to call tonight or today.
00:57:05.32\00:57:10.73
There's somebody you might
need a call as soon as you get,
00:57:10.76\00:57:13.80
as soon as this
message wraps up.
00:57:13.83\00:57:16.83
There's somebody
you need to visit
00:57:16.87\00:57:19.17
and make right,
and make things right.
00:57:19.20\00:57:23.61
Not make him right,
because someone else
00:57:23.64\00:57:24.97
want to make everybody right.
00:57:25.01\00:57:26.34
I pray that you would do that,
00:57:26.37\00:57:27.78
that you would take
the time to do that.
00:57:27.81\00:57:29.78
Don't let the sun
go down on your wrath,
00:57:29.81\00:57:31.51
like Ephesians
Chapter 4:26 says.
00:57:31.55\00:57:34.02
Make things right
with your neighbor.
00:57:34.05\00:57:36.18