Well, the Lord himself
shall descend from heaven
00:00:03.65\00:00:06.05
with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel,
00:00:06.08\00:00:08.41
and with the trumpet of God.
00:00:08.44\00:00:09.47
And the dead in
Christ shall rise first.
00:00:09.50\00:00:12.57
Then we who are alive
and remain shall be caught up
00:00:12.60\00:00:15.13
together to meet
them in the clouds
00:00:15.16\00:00:16.90
and so shall we
ever be with the Lord."
00:00:16.93\00:00:20.04
Those words that come
from 1 Thessalonians 4:16
00:00:20.07\00:00:23.58
are very, very important.
00:00:23.61\00:00:25.18
I have been
spending some time here
00:00:25.21\00:00:27.76
behind the penitentiary
here at Michigan City.
00:00:27.79\00:00:31.36
These graves are the
final resting place for men
00:00:31.39\00:00:35.36
who are
unclaimed when they died.
00:00:35.39\00:00:37.98
No one came to
look after the body,
00:00:38.01\00:00:40.18
no one claimed to take it home.
00:00:40.21\00:00:42.48
So they were simply
cremated and then planted here.
00:00:42.51\00:00:47.27
Their names like Guthrie here
00:00:47.30\00:00:50.24
have been long
since forgotten about.
00:00:50.27\00:00:52.10
But they are not
forgotten about by God.
00:00:52.13\00:00:53.97
Each grave is marked and
on that day when Christ comes,
00:00:54.00\00:00:57.82
Solomon says each man
will receive his reward,
00:00:57.85\00:01:01.76
be it for good or for ill.
00:01:01.79\00:01:04.43
Christ one day will
give to each their reward.
00:01:04.46\00:01:08.19
Our job is to make sure that
00:01:08.22\00:01:10.28
as many as possible
know of his sacrifice,
00:01:10.31\00:01:13.46
are given a chance to
accept that sacrifice.
00:01:13.49\00:01:16.02
So that day can
be a day of rejoicing
00:01:16.05\00:01:18.50
for men and women
all over the world.
00:01:18.53\00:01:21.69
I'm free indeed.
00:01:34.04\00:01:38.44
Father God, we come to You,
in the precious name of Jesus.
00:01:38.47\00:01:41.63
Thanking You Lord
for this opportunity
00:01:41.66\00:01:43.82
to see a need for a Savior.
00:01:43.85\00:01:46.43
I plead to blood of Jesus
00:01:46.46\00:01:47.57
over every spirit,
soul and body here.
00:01:47.60\00:01:50.48
And I ask You Lord to
give each soul rest here
00:01:50.51\00:01:54.45
from their habits
of sin including mine.
00:01:54.48\00:01:57.89
I ask You Lord to
pullout Your mercy, Your grace,
00:01:57.92\00:02:01.04
Your power, Your
might and Your spirit
00:02:01.07\00:02:03.89
and to impart it to each
and every soul in this room.
00:02:03.92\00:02:07.58
That you Father God
would allow us to be able to do
00:02:07.61\00:02:11.12
Your good purpose and
Your will and in Jesus name,
00:02:11.15\00:02:15.01
I ask You Lord to illuminate
our minds to see the truth
00:02:15.04\00:02:18.45
and give us the strength to
follow it, in Jesus' name, amen.
00:02:18.48\00:02:22.92
Lord Jesus, I'd
like to ask You to bless
00:02:26.02\00:02:28.69
everybody's families
tonight and make sure
00:02:28.72\00:02:31.40
they stay safe and
unharmed from many other people
00:02:31.43\00:02:35.15
out there who
wants to hurt them.
00:02:35.18\00:02:36.98
And do any other kind of
crimes towards anybody's family,
00:02:37.01\00:02:40.94
just because they're locked up
and can't do nothing about it.
00:02:40.97\00:02:44.32
Until they get out to make sure
that they can take care of them.
00:02:44.35\00:02:48.30
And I say that
because my wife is out there
00:02:48.33\00:02:51.05
and I can't do none about it.
00:02:51.08\00:02:53.29
And I felt like I
needed to come up here
00:02:53.32\00:02:54.71
and speak on
everybody's behalf on that.
00:02:54.74\00:02:57.21
So Jesus please make sure
everybody's families are okay
00:02:57.24\00:03:00.48
because I hope mines.
00:03:00.51\00:03:02.89
I don't believe in excuses,
00:03:02.92\00:03:06.07
however I
believe in understanding.
00:03:06.10\00:03:09.97
I was raised in a
holiness home. Amen.
00:03:10.00\00:03:14.73
Both of my parents are ministers
00:03:14.76\00:03:17.68
and they raised me
in the love of Christ.
00:03:17.71\00:03:21.39
And I had some bad
experiences in church though.
00:03:21.42\00:03:25.06
Church member
molested me, I was violated.
00:03:25.09\00:03:30.36
So my view of God was distorted.
00:03:30.39\00:03:34.63
When he told me
about the bus driver
00:03:34.66\00:03:37.39
at my church molested him.
00:03:37.42\00:03:40.94
I said John, if you'd
told me at 10-20 years ago,
00:03:40.97\00:03:45.87
if you'd told me you'd been
coming to prison to visit me.
00:03:45.90\00:03:51.37
So I see God's mercy
that dad is not in jail
00:03:51.40\00:03:56.31
for killing this
rascal that I trusted.
00:03:56.34\00:04:01.96
See and so he did something
for me by not self disclosing
00:04:01.99\00:04:09.36
and shame that he
battled with came out
00:04:09.39\00:04:14.50
with misplaced aggression
in all the battles he fought.
00:04:14.53\00:04:21.79
He was frightened inside that
he couldn't share with nobody.
00:04:21.82\00:04:25.56
So he turned to drugs and things
00:04:25.59\00:04:29.48
that keep you in
attained in another sphere.
00:04:29.51\00:04:35.70
And that's where he
went, that's the way he went
00:04:35.73\00:04:38.75
and that's where a
lot of young people go.
00:04:38.78\00:04:42.34
It killed my spirit and I
began to not have any love
00:04:42.37\00:04:49.01
for myself, I
had low self esteem.
00:04:49.04\00:04:51.92
And I had problems
with authority immediately.
00:04:51.95\00:04:55.50
I couldn't trust nobody.
00:04:55.53\00:04:57.17
I couldn't
understand the emotions
00:04:57.20\00:05:00.70
would have been
abused like that.
00:05:00.73\00:05:03.82
And you know, so I grew up
00:05:03.85\00:05:05.93
full of rage and
anger for many years.
00:05:05.96\00:05:09.85
You see, that I was bound
by rage, I was bound by lust
00:05:09.88\00:05:14.32
because that experience
produced a lust in me, man,
00:05:14.35\00:05:18.74
that was so fire. Amen.
00:05:18.77\00:05:21.05
And I started
manipulating women,
00:05:21.08\00:05:23.83
I start running
gang, playing myself.
00:05:23.86\00:05:27.38
You know, I got
addicted to drugs, alcohol
00:05:27.41\00:05:31.27
and those things
were my god. I feel you.
00:05:31.30\00:05:34.44
My pistols, my
Hennessey, my drink, my drugs,
00:05:34.47\00:05:40.19
the women, those were my
god. Jesus wasn't my God.
00:05:40.22\00:05:45.18
And I was raised
that Jesus is God.
00:05:45.21\00:05:48.46
He ain't part God, He all God.
00:05:48.49\00:05:51.01
My anger was towards
Christians whoever, man.
00:05:51.04\00:05:56.43
I had no peace in me.
00:05:56.46\00:05:59.61
I had no sense
of calmness in me.
00:05:59.64\00:06:04.79
But keep in mind I
had loving parents.
00:06:04.82\00:06:07.72
So I've
witnessed many good moments
00:06:07.75\00:06:11.86
with having six
sisters and three brothers.
00:06:11.89\00:06:14.60
And you know, I
saw a lot of love.
00:06:14.63\00:06:17.61
I saw a lot of good times but
only inside it was just chaos.
00:06:17.64\00:06:23.85
He was locked in
a way he was going.
00:06:23.88\00:06:28.81
And it almost look like
he wasn't going to change.
00:06:28.84\00:06:33.63
But prayer, how many
know prayer changes things.
00:06:33.66\00:06:37.23
Prayer changes things.
Brother, my testimony is this.
00:06:37.26\00:06:41.10
I shot a Christian in the head.
00:06:41.13\00:06:45.82
The Christian lived
and said I'll forgive you.
00:06:45.85\00:06:50.29
I was so against God,
brother. It was powerful.
00:06:50.32\00:06:53.29
We were
devastated, we never had anyone
00:06:53.32\00:06:57.88
in our family in
prison before or in jail
00:06:57.91\00:07:01.31
or in that type
of trouble before.
00:07:01.34\00:07:03.96
So we were totally--
even though we're Christians
00:07:03.99\00:07:06.43
we were devastated.
Didn't know how to handle that.
00:07:06.46\00:07:10.96
So filled and bound
with rage, man, anger.
00:07:10.99\00:07:15.69
You see, God
allowed, He didn't do it.
00:07:15.72\00:07:18.97
But He allowed me to
make those bad choices, man,
00:07:19.00\00:07:23.80
because He created
us with freewill. Amen.
00:07:23.83\00:07:27.38
I felt like a failure,
00:07:27.41\00:07:30.78
I felt like somewhere I failed.
00:07:30.81\00:07:37.69
I didn't know where it was
00:07:37.72\00:07:41.26
but I just felt
like I had failed my son.
00:07:41.29\00:07:46.87
And then I was afraid
00:07:46.90\00:07:49.91
and then the
police came to our home.
00:07:49.94\00:07:55.17
And they want to know
if I knew where he was.
00:07:55.20\00:07:59.08
And I told them yes,
I think he's gone back
00:07:59.11\00:08:01.41
to West Virginia
where his grandmother lived.
00:08:01.44\00:08:04.82
And I was praying Lord, please
don't let them hurt my son.
00:08:04.85\00:08:10.19
And he made it to West Virginia
00:08:10.22\00:08:13.27
and he was just
where I told him he was.
00:08:13.30\00:08:16.18
You know, what they did,
they had like a SWAT team
00:08:16.21\00:08:19.94
and they were ready for him.
00:08:19.97\00:08:22.24
But God didn't
let them hurt him.
00:08:22.27\00:08:25.26
So they bought
them back to Indiana
00:08:25.29\00:08:27.14
and it was quite a while before
we saw him, quite a while.
00:08:27.17\00:08:32.19
But the good part,
that's the sad part,
00:08:32.22\00:08:36.00
that's the tear jerking
part but the good part is that
00:08:36.03\00:08:41.18
he began to change in prison.
00:08:41.21\00:08:43.17
See so the thing is
I made choices, man,
00:08:43.20\00:08:46.55
that I live with
regret to this day.
00:08:46.58\00:08:49.17
It took me five
years to forgive myself
00:08:49.20\00:08:51.27
by God's grace. Amen.
00:08:51.30\00:08:52.82
But I want you
to know that victim
00:08:52.85\00:08:54.58
that Christian said
to me, I'll forgive you.
00:08:54.61\00:08:58.10
Amen. Praise God.
The light came on.
00:08:58.13\00:09:00.50
For real. The light came on.
00:09:00.53\00:09:02.85
When you get broken,
your ears come open for help.
00:09:02.88\00:09:07.24
And you can hear the
still small voice of God.
00:09:07.27\00:09:11.17
When I was told I
forgive you, man, it broke me.
00:09:11.20\00:09:17.30
Amen. I realized
I deserve hell, man.
00:09:17.33\00:09:21.51
I deserve hell. Jesus want me.
00:09:21.54\00:09:25.95
Jesus want to forgive me. Amen.
00:09:25.98\00:09:28.56
You know I
couldn't understand that.
00:09:28.59\00:09:31.25
But I got on this with
myself in the county jail.
00:09:31.28\00:09:34.88
I said I can't blame my parents.
00:09:34.91\00:09:37.25
I can't blame
people that abused me
00:09:37.28\00:09:40.58
when I was seven years old.
00:09:40.61\00:09:42.65
I can't blame
anyone, man. It's me.
00:09:42.68\00:09:46.39
It's my fault
and when I did that,
00:09:46.42\00:09:49.47
God began to mature me.
00:09:49.50\00:09:51.57
You know, God began to show
me more about His love for me.
00:09:51.60\00:09:56.42
And you see I want to
encourage people to believe
00:09:56.45\00:09:59.55
beyond your feelings. Amen.
00:09:59.58\00:10:01.71
See I want to, I
want to encourage people
00:10:01.74\00:10:04.14
to confess beyond your feelings.
00:10:04.17\00:10:06.20
We walk by faith, not by sight.
00:10:06.23\00:10:07.81
Thank you, brother. Amen.
00:10:07.84\00:10:08.87
Because I'm gonna
tell you something,
00:10:08.90\00:10:09.93
if I walk by
feelings, I won't be here.
00:10:09.96\00:10:13.13
When I didn't see
the best in myself.
00:10:13.16\00:10:17.03
When I couldn't
see, when I was blind,
00:10:17.06\00:10:20.90
Jesus always saw my potential.
00:10:20.93\00:10:24.49
He always saw me
on the mountain top.
00:10:24.52\00:10:29.15
He always saw me in victory.
All though I was in the valley.
00:10:29.18\00:10:34.83
All though I was a lost
soul, I was living in sin.
00:10:34.86\00:10:39.34
He saw me better than that.
And I thank Him for that, man.
00:10:39.37\00:10:43.90
I thank Him because
even when I didn't see Him
00:10:43.93\00:10:49.21
through the
years He gave me hints
00:10:49.24\00:10:52.61
that you're better than this,
00:10:52.64\00:10:56.34
even though I
didn't come out of it.
00:10:56.37\00:10:57.78
There was times
I was drunk, man,
00:10:57.81\00:11:00.28
and I would just start crying,
00:11:00.31\00:11:03.66
crying and
crying and crying, man,
00:11:03.69\00:11:06.95
knowing that I needed Jesus.
00:11:06.98\00:11:09.91
But I can't talk
about this shame.
00:11:09.94\00:11:13.63
I can't talk about this
secret. He saw the best in me.
00:11:13.66\00:11:19.67
My son sings a song
entitled, He saw the best in me,
00:11:19.70\00:11:27.16
when others saw the worst in me.
00:11:27.19\00:11:29.76
Anyone that feels
like they're damaged goods,
00:11:29.79\00:11:33.77
like nobody cares
I've ruined my life,
00:11:33.80\00:11:37.13
I have been told that
I'm no good, I'm stupid,
00:11:37.16\00:11:39.85
you can't do anything right.
That Jesus sees the best in you.
00:11:39.88\00:11:45.98
That's why He created you.
You're worth something to Him.
00:11:46.01\00:11:51.50
You're worthsomething
to Him. Hallelujah.
00:11:51.53\00:11:52.99
How many believe that
God saw the best in you
00:11:53.02\00:11:55.91
while you was in your sin? Amen.
00:11:55.94\00:11:59.36
Hallelujah Jesus. Hallelujah.
00:11:59.39\00:12:01.08
I get stirred up
about that. Yeah.
00:12:01.11\00:12:03.60
Hallelujah because I
know what he has done for me.
00:12:03.63\00:12:06.31
Hallelujah,
hallelujah, my soul buzz out.
00:12:06.34\00:12:12.57
Hallelujah.
Hallelujah. Thank You Jesus.
00:12:12.60\00:12:17.23
He saw the best in me
00:12:17.26\00:12:23.19
When everyone else around
00:12:23.22\00:12:28.37
Could only see the
worst in me Say it.
00:12:28.40\00:12:34.50
Come on John, take
your time, take your time.
00:12:34.53\00:12:35.97
Oh Lord, my Lord,
00:12:36.00\00:12:40.41
He saw the best
in me. Yes, He did.
00:12:40.44\00:12:45.27
Hallelujah. Yes, He did.
00:12:45.30\00:12:47.57
When everyone else around
00:12:47.60\00:12:52.06
Could only see the worst in me
00:12:52.09\00:12:58.51
Oh, my Jesus,
00:12:58.54\00:13:03.74
He saw the best in
me. Yeah, hallelujah.
00:13:03.77\00:13:10.43
When everyone else around
00:13:10.46\00:13:14.49
Could only see the worst in me
00:13:14.52\00:13:20.60
Oh, help me
seeing What did he see?
00:13:20.63\00:13:25.43
He saw the best in me
00:13:25.46\00:13:29.17
When everyone else around
00:13:29.20\00:13:31.63
Everyone else around
Oh my, my, my, my, my God
00:13:31.66\00:13:35.41
Could only see the worst in me
00:13:35.44\00:13:39.53
Oh, Jesus saw the
best in us Oh, yeah
00:13:39.56\00:13:45.37
He saw the best in me
00:13:45.40\00:13:48.70
When everyone else around
00:13:48.73\00:13:51.48
Everyone else
around Oh my, my, my Lord.
00:13:51.51\00:13:55.29
See the worst in me
00:13:55.32\00:13:58.64
See He's mine, and I am His
00:14:06.87\00:14:12.34
It doesn't matter what I did
00:14:12.37\00:14:16.95
He only sees me for who I am
00:14:16.98\00:14:22.78
Oh, my Jesus
00:14:22.81\00:14:26.50
See He's mine and I am His
00:14:26.53\00:14:31.89
It doesn't matter what I did
00:14:31.92\00:14:36.86
He only sees me for who I am
00:14:36.89\00:14:42.07
Oh, let me sing
00:14:42.10\00:14:46.41
He's mine I'm His
00:14:46.44\00:14:50.40
It doesn't matter what I did
00:14:50.43\00:14:55.02
He only sees me for who I am
00:14:55.05\00:15:03.00
He's mine, I'm
His It doesn't matter
00:15:03.03\00:15:10.23
It doesn't matter what I did
00:15:10.26\00:15:12.94
He only sees
00:15:12.97\00:15:14.79
He only sees me for who I am
00:15:14.82\00:15:21.38
He's mine all
mine My Lord, my Savior
00:15:21.41\00:15:28.67
It doesn't matter what I did
00:15:28.70\00:15:31.24
He only sees me for who I am
00:15:31.27\00:15:35.77
Oh my Lord Oh
00:15:35.80\00:15:40.23
He's mine I'm His
00:15:40.26\00:15:46.63
It doesn't matter what I did
00:15:46.66\00:15:48.94
He only sees me for who I am
00:15:48.97\00:15:56.65
He saw the best in me
00:15:56.68\00:16:01.44
When everyone else
Everyone else around
00:16:01.47\00:16:07.08
Could only see the worst in me
00:16:07.11\00:16:09.83
You see my
elementary teacher told me
00:16:09.86\00:16:11.82
that I'm gonna be nothing.
00:16:11.85\00:16:13.84
She told me that
ain't no hope for me
00:16:13.87\00:16:16.29
But Jesus saw. Hallelujah.
He saw the best in me
00:16:16.32\00:16:19.97
What I didn't see,
Jesus saw. Hallelujah.
00:16:20.00\00:16:22.92
Everyone else around
00:16:22.95\00:16:25.63
Could only see the worst in me
00:16:25.66\00:16:28.56
I thank You, Lord. Hallelujah.
00:16:28.59\00:16:31.54
I thank You, Lord.
I praise You, Lord.
00:16:31.57\00:16:33.92
You're worthy to be praised.
00:16:33.95\00:16:35.33
He saw the best
Hallelujah, Jesus
00:16:35.36\00:16:40.56
The best, the
best Hallelujah, Jesus
00:16:40.59\00:16:44.24
What did He see? The best
00:16:44.27\00:16:46.19
In the midst of
the storm? The best
00:16:46.22\00:16:48.40
In the midst of
your pain? The best
00:16:48.43\00:16:50.65
In the midst of
you sin? The best
00:16:50.68\00:16:52.90
In the midst of
your sin? The best
00:16:52.93\00:16:54.92
What did he see? The best
00:16:54.95\00:16:56.83
What did he see? The best
00:16:56.86\00:16:59.30
What did he see? The best
00:16:59.33\00:17:01.26
What did he see? The best
00:17:01.29\00:17:03.79
What did he see?
The best, the best
00:17:03.82\00:17:09.34
Oh, my Lord He
saw the best in me
00:17:09.37\00:17:14.21
When everyone else around
00:17:14.24\00:17:16.79
Everyone else around
00:17:16.82\00:17:19.88
Could only see the worst
00:17:19.91\00:17:23.32
Amen. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
00:17:23.35\00:17:25.43
I give God much
praise, much glory and honor
00:17:25.46\00:17:29.85
for taking my son,
turning him around,
00:17:29.88\00:17:34.52
give him a heart that's
full of love for Jesus Christ
00:17:34.55\00:17:38.73
and caused him
to care for others.
00:17:38.76\00:17:42.34
And it's just marvelous,
00:17:42.37\00:17:43.76
it's just we've
visited him last Sunday
00:17:43.79\00:17:46.45
and as we were
sitting there talking to him,
00:17:46.48\00:17:49.05
I didn't feel like
I was in the prison.
00:17:49.08\00:17:52.03
Just talking to
him, he is so upbeat,
00:17:52.06\00:17:54.96
he is so excited
and just talking to him.
00:17:54.99\00:17:59.23
And it just seems like
the prison walls melted away.
00:17:59.26\00:18:02.64
And we were just having,
just a family discussion.
00:18:02.67\00:18:06.36
And I give God praise for that.
00:18:06.39\00:18:08.59
It's been 12 years that
John has been incarcerated.
00:18:08.62\00:18:13.94
But I'm believing God
to work a miracle for him
00:18:13.97\00:18:16.96
that he can get out while
dad and I are still alive.
00:18:16.99\00:18:20.19
I'm 67 years old and I'm just
believing God to work a miracle.
00:18:20.22\00:18:26.27
And I'm proud of him.
I'm always just grateful.
00:18:26.30\00:18:31.99
It took this,
he told his mother.
00:18:32.02\00:18:34.67
It took this to get
him on the right track
00:18:34.70\00:18:37.45
and it's keeping
in him in his lane.
00:18:37.48\00:18:40.86
So you can get in
trouble if you get out of,
00:18:40.89\00:18:44.82
if you get out of your
lane. But he is in his lane,
00:18:44.85\00:18:49.13
and Jesus is helping
him to stay in his lane.
00:18:49.16\00:18:53.08
And so I'm proud
of it, God bless.
00:18:53.11\00:18:55.56
We want to get
you out and downstairs
00:19:00.75\00:19:02.66
and get your bags and it tell us
00:19:02.69\00:19:03.91
our time has
really, really gone,
00:19:03.94\00:19:05.34
in fact I am looking at
zeros all the way across me.
00:19:05.37\00:19:08.40
Technically I have no time.
00:19:08.43\00:19:10.31
But a preacher and a microphone
are dangerous combination.
00:19:10.34\00:19:13.71
So for what I'm about
to do to you, I apologize.
00:19:13.74\00:19:16.47
We're gonna do it
in just two minutes.
00:19:16.50\00:19:17.53
I'm gonna bring you a
message from the graveyard.
00:19:17.56\00:19:19.91
It won't be long, it
comes from 2 Kings 13:20-21.
00:19:19.94\00:19:27.09
The Bible says, "Then Elisha
died, and they buried him.
00:19:27.12\00:19:31.44
And the raiding
bands of Moab invaded
00:19:31.47\00:19:34.45
the land in the
spring of the year.
00:19:34.48\00:19:37.10
So it was, as they
were burying a man,
00:19:37.13\00:19:39.68
that suddenly they spied
a band of Moabite raiders
00:19:39.71\00:19:43.44
and they put the man
in the tomb of Elisha.
00:19:43.47\00:19:46.61
And when the man was let down
and touched the bones of Elisha,
00:19:46.64\00:19:49.38
he revived and
stood on his feet."
00:19:49.41\00:19:51.02
I want you to get the picture.
00:19:51.05\00:19:53.96
Spring was a time of
year when the Moabites
00:19:53.99\00:19:58.89
who were first
cousins to the Israelites
00:19:58.92\00:20:01.01
always invaded the land.
00:20:01.04\00:20:03.88
Every spring like clockwork
they were coming and invading.
00:20:03.91\00:20:07.37
So you're always on the
look out for Moabite raiders.
00:20:07.40\00:20:11.53
Evidently there is a funeral.
00:20:11.56\00:20:13.79
Now the great
Prophet Elisha had just died.
00:20:13.82\00:20:18.23
They hadn't had a
chance to close the tomb in
00:20:18.26\00:20:21.62
so you still got this open hole.
It's a sad funeral procession.
00:20:21.65\00:20:26.77
Spring, flowers, sunny skies
00:20:26.80\00:20:29.82
but nobody is paying attention
to that because it's a funeral.
00:20:29.85\00:20:34.70
So as they move
along of in the distance
00:20:34.73\00:20:38.36
they spy a band
of Moabite raiders.
00:20:38.39\00:20:40.84
I want you to get the picture.
00:20:40.87\00:20:42.36
These guys are coming to
kill, the swords are flashing,
00:20:42.39\00:20:45.18
they've shields,
they've got spears
00:20:45.21\00:20:47.43
and so the funeral train
is thrown into this frenzy.
00:20:47.46\00:20:52.71
We got to run for our life.
00:20:52.74\00:20:53.86
So what do we do with this
body? Well, here is a hole.
00:20:53.89\00:20:57.94
Let's throw him in a
hole and run for our lives.
00:20:57.97\00:21:01.64
And that's
precisely what they do.
00:21:01.67\00:21:03.98
But the Bible
says when they throw
00:21:04.01\00:21:05.92
this dead body into the hole
00:21:05.95\00:21:08.70
and his body
touches the body of Elisha,
00:21:08.73\00:21:14.08
he revives and
stands on his feet.
00:21:14.11\00:21:19.50
Now you got to get the picture.
00:21:19.53\00:21:21.65
Because they just
threw a dead body in a hole.
00:21:21.68\00:21:27.30
I have done 117
funerals at my last church.
00:21:27.33\00:21:30.72
My last church was 2,142
members in Manhattan, New York.
00:21:30.75\00:21:35.58
I did a 117 funerals.
00:21:35.61\00:21:40.09
And everyone adults people
that I put down in a ground
00:21:40.12\00:21:44.04
is still in the ground. Amen.
00:21:44.07\00:21:48.32
That's the way
it's supposed to be
00:21:48.35\00:21:50.63
until Jesus comes
back and resurrects.
00:21:50.66\00:21:52.97
It is supposed to
if you get put down,
00:21:53.00\00:21:55.16
you're supposed
to stay down. Amen.
00:21:55.19\00:21:58.83
Amen. Amen.
00:21:58.86\00:22:02.03
Amen. Amen.
00:22:02.06\00:22:05.30
But the Bible
says when this fellow
00:22:05.33\00:22:08.10
got put in the
hole he jumped back up.
00:22:08.13\00:22:11.63
Now can you imagine the visual?
That's like a sci-fi movie.
00:22:11.66\00:22:18.11
You got a band of Moabite
raiders rushing into attack
00:22:18.14\00:22:23.01
a band of
Israelites rushing away
00:22:23.04\00:22:26.17
and this guy jumps up
out of the hole, "war over."
00:22:26.20\00:22:33.38
Amen Amen.
00:22:33.41\00:22:35.65
You know, when God got
to raise up dead people
00:22:35.68\00:22:38.92
to fight against you,
it's time to stop fighting,
00:22:38.95\00:22:40.57
don't you think? Amen.
00:22:40.60\00:22:42.26
But the message
from the graveyard
00:22:42.29\00:22:44.30
really is this
because my time is gone.
00:22:44.33\00:22:47.41
You're never too dead
00:22:47.44\00:22:51.76
to be revived by Jesus.
00:22:51.79\00:22:56.81
You may look at your life and
say my rap sheet is pretty long.
00:22:56.84\00:23:04.53
I have sinned, you
know, you ever do stuff,
00:23:04.56\00:23:09.11
you get on your own
nerves. Come on tell the truth.
00:23:09.14\00:23:12.73
You know, sometimes you
do stuff, you're so "What?
00:23:12.76\00:23:15.15
You know what was I thinking."
00:23:18.81\00:23:23.92
Can I spell stupid
that I'm that stupid?
00:23:23.95\00:23:29.05
Ah, you just you know
you make yourself sick.
00:23:29.08\00:23:34.47
How could I be so dumb?
00:23:34.50\00:23:38.22
You know, the Bible says
in one of my favorite texts
00:23:38.25\00:23:40.40
Romans 8:1 "There is therefore,
00:23:40.43\00:23:45.65
now no condemnation to
those who were in Christ Jesus."
00:23:45.68\00:23:51.82
Even though you're
pointing your finger at yourself
00:23:51.85\00:23:55.53
when you come to Jesus, he says
00:23:55.56\00:23:58.58
"Finger pointing is
done, no condemnation."
00:23:58.61\00:24:04.16
You can't be too
dead for Jesus. Amen.
00:24:04.19\00:24:09.98
He can revive the deadest soul.
00:24:10.01\00:24:13.77
He says, "He that cometh unto to
me, I will in no wise cast out."
00:24:13.80\00:24:21.54
Basically, Christ says,
"If you've got enough sense,
00:24:21.57\00:24:24.57
if you've got
enough sense to call,
00:24:24.60\00:24:28.32
I have got
enough love to answer."
00:24:28.35\00:24:30.93
Amen. Amen.
00:24:30.96\00:24:33.10
So free yourself, free
yourself from your own guilt.
00:24:33.13\00:24:35.59
Free yourself from your own past
00:24:35.62\00:24:37.51
because in Jesus
you've only got a future.
00:24:37.54\00:24:40.80
Amen. Amen.
00:24:40.83\00:24:42.71
And you're never too far
gone. You're never too dead.
00:24:42.74\00:24:45.20
You're never gone too
far. You've not done too much.
00:24:45.23\00:24:47.70
He don't care where you've been,
00:24:47.73\00:24:49.36
what's you've done, how
many times you've done it.
00:24:49.39\00:24:51.63
He says, I love you
with an everlasting love.
00:24:51.66\00:24:58.33
And He didn't wait for you
to get straight to come to Him.
00:24:58.36\00:25:01.93
He went looking for you.
00:25:01.96\00:25:03.59
Amen. Amen.
00:25:03.62\00:25:05.46
So give it to
Jesus. Whatever it is,
00:25:05.49\00:25:07.58
give it all to
Jesus, He can carry it.
00:25:07.61\00:25:10.65
And if
necessary He can carry you
00:25:10.68\00:25:13.22
even if you're
carrying a few extra pounds,
00:25:13.25\00:25:15.73
He can carry
you. I guarantee you.
00:25:15.76\00:25:20.62
How long you've been in
this maximum security prison?
00:25:23.96\00:25:27.16
Twelve. So you've been locked up
00:25:27.19\00:25:28.64
in here for 12 years? Correct.
00:25:28.67\00:25:30.78
In the street, did you
ever find any true freedom?
00:25:30.81\00:25:34.12
No, in the street the only thing
00:25:34.15\00:25:35.25
I find was myself
being absent from the Lord.
00:25:35.28\00:25:38.26
Being detained
really locked up still.
00:25:38.29\00:25:41.25
So you were free by
society standards but you were
00:25:41.28\00:25:43.86
in bondage out there. Right.
00:25:43.89\00:25:45.54
And how is it that you can come
to a maximum security prison
00:25:45.57\00:25:48.38
locked down,
locked up behind a wall
00:25:48.41\00:25:51.04
and now today you've got some,
00:25:51.07\00:25:52.80
you're able to be free
indeed. That's pretty easy.
00:25:52.83\00:25:56.38
You know, you
try to do everything
00:25:56.41\00:25:57.64
that you want to
do on your terms.
00:25:57.67\00:25:59.61
You try to wake up
in the morning saying
00:25:59.64\00:26:01.12
I'm going to do this, it fails.
00:26:01.15\00:26:02.97
So the next day you
wake up in the morning
00:26:03.00\00:26:04.62
and you'll be like, okay,
I'm gonna do this different.
00:26:04.65\00:26:06.57
Then there's road blocked there.
00:26:06.60\00:26:08.22
So the next day you wake
up and try and do this again.
00:26:08.25\00:26:10.74
You're like hold up, man,
I did everything else my way,
00:26:10.77\00:26:14.07
let me try God's
way now. God's way.
00:26:14.10\00:26:16.68
What would you say
to people in the world?
00:26:16.71\00:26:18.58
They are out there
free by society standards,
00:26:18.61\00:26:20.56
but what do they got to
do find to be free indeed?
00:26:20.59\00:26:24.29
You got to sit
down, open your eyes,
00:26:24.32\00:26:27.60
its really just
catch your own breath.
00:26:27.63\00:26:30.30
Don't worry about what
the next person is doing.
00:26:30.33\00:26:32.17
Don't look in
the mirror and say,
00:26:32.20\00:26:33.33
well, I want this what they get.
00:26:33.36\00:26:34.86
Well, I want what this
person or the other person get.
00:26:34.89\00:26:37.08
You got to figure
out what you want to do
00:26:37.11\00:26:38.47
with your own self
when you pass away,
00:26:38.50\00:26:40.50
you go unto the heavenly gates.
00:26:40.53\00:26:42.20
And the Bible
says, "To seek first
00:26:42.23\00:26:44.76
the kingdom of God
in his righteousness."
00:26:44.79\00:26:46.16
Amen. Correct.
00:26:46.19\00:26:47.22
And, bro, you've
made a commitment
00:26:47.25\00:26:48.86
to put God first
in your life. Amen.
00:26:48.89\00:26:50.95
And you made a
commitment to die to self
00:26:50.98\00:26:53.60
as a symbolism
of dying with Christ
00:26:53.63\00:26:57.22
in the baptism of waters to be
raised anew and everlasting bro.
00:26:57.25\00:27:00.87
He is going to empower
you unto the gates of heaven
00:27:00.90\00:27:03.58
as long as we
stay true and faithful.
00:27:03.61\00:27:05.01
Thank you very, very much. Amen.
00:27:05.04\00:27:06.48
God bless you.
00:27:06.51\00:27:07.80