Good evening and welcome to 00:00:19.57\00:00:21.61 Thompsonville, Illinois, 00:00:21.71\00:00:23.53 home of 3ABN. 00:00:23.73\00:00:26.07 And right here from the Worship Center at 3ABN 00:00:26.27\00:00:29.32 we're bringing you Give Me The Bible 00:00:29.52\00:00:32.17 with Pastor Kenneth Cox. 00:00:32.37\00:00:34.46 We've been enjoying this series 00:00:34.49\00:00:36.41 five nights every single month - one weekend - 00:00:36.61\00:00:40.81 we have been presenting a different subject. 00:00:41.02\00:00:43.62 Pastor Cox has been after one subject and then another. 00:00:43.82\00:00:47.43 This particular weekend we're talking about the Bible... 00:00:47.63\00:00:50.49 how you got the Bible. 00:00:50.69\00:00:51.98 Tonight's subject is: What Can The Bible Do For You? 00:00:52.29\00:00:56.16 And all of these series are available on DVD. 00:00:56.36\00:01:00.51 And you can secure them by calling the 800 number 00:01:00.71\00:01:04.30 that is going to appear on your screen 00:01:04.50\00:01:06.49 right at this particular time. 00:01:06.69\00:01:08.31 So whatever you do, 00:01:08.51\00:01:10.32 get these particular series. 00:01:10.52\00:01:12.42 Now, one of the most popular ones has been Five Have Fallen. 00:01:12.63\00:01:17.15 This was on prophecy. 00:01:17.35\00:01:18.63 And there are several other of these series 00:01:18.83\00:01:22.86 that are on prophecy. So if you 00:01:23.06\00:01:25.93 have not received those 00:01:26.13\00:01:27.58 or you missed those, 00:01:27.78\00:01:28.87 you may want to call and secure 00:01:29.07\00:01:31.59 these DVD series on prophecy. 00:01:31.79\00:01:34.86 A lot of people have been getting the entire set. 00:01:35.06\00:01:37.54 They've ordered for 12 months. 00:01:37.74\00:01:39.99 They've ordered each of the ones. 00:01:40.19\00:01:41.62 We've only done... is it nine so far? 00:01:41.82\00:01:44.65 But they've ordered them in advance 00:01:44.85\00:01:46.78 so that they can receive all 12 of these editions. 00:01:46.98\00:01:51.13 So you may want to do that. Share them with your friends. 00:01:51.33\00:01:53.74 Bring people in, show them to them. 00:01:53.94\00:01:55.70 Look at them again yourself, 00:01:55.91\00:01:57.05 and study the Bible along with the word. 00:01:57.25\00:02:00.48 And as you do so, I know that God is going to bless you. 00:02:00.68\00:02:03.82 Tonight we have a very special treat. 00:02:04.02\00:02:06.55 We have a group called In Spirit with us, 00:02:06.76\00:02:09.97 and Gerald Peel is the director. 00:02:10.17\00:02:12.52 And, Gerald, we're happy to have you with us. 00:02:12.73\00:02:14.57 Tell us about In Spirit. 00:02:14.77\00:02:16.14 About six years ago a friend of mine called me 00:02:16.34\00:02:19.32 and asked me to put together 00:02:19.52\00:02:21.11 a group of men to sing for a service that would highlight 00:02:21.31\00:02:25.48 the role of men in family and in church. 00:02:25.68\00:02:29.83 And... called a bunch of friends and we got together 00:02:30.03\00:02:33.92 and we sang. And it seemed to work well, 00:02:34.12\00:02:37.01 and some of them said: "You know what? 00:02:37.21\00:02:39.42 We ought to just keep doing this. " 00:02:39.62\00:02:41.25 We're from Chattanooga, Tennessee, 00:02:41.45\00:02:43.41 and proud to be up here singing for the Ken Cox 00:02:43.61\00:02:48.93 program tonight. And we're a diverse group... 00:02:49.13\00:02:52.48 diverse in occupation and age and even denomination. 00:02:52.58\00:02:56.96 We enjoy input from singers from all over the southeast 00:02:57.16\00:03:03.03 Tennessee, north Georgia area. 00:03:03.06\00:03:05.23 And we're happy to be here. 00:03:05.43\00:03:06.76 We're just happy that you are with us. 00:03:06.96\00:03:09.09 And we're going to enjoy a song by In Spirit. 00:03:09.29\00:03:13.46 And this is a song entitled Grace. 00:03:13.66\00:03:17.67 And my friend, we do need grace, don't we? 00:03:17.87\00:03:20.34 In this world in which we live we are saved by grace, 00:03:20.54\00:03:24.30 and this song beautifully displays that. 00:03:24.50\00:03:28.56 Amazing grace 00:03:42.25\00:03:48.20 how sweet the sound 00:03:48.78\00:03:54.73 that saved a wretch 00:03:55.57\00:04:01.55 a wretch like me. 00:04:01.93\00:04:07.88 I once was lost 00:04:08.18\00:04:14.15 but now am found. 00:04:14.55\00:04:20.29 I once was blind 00:04:21.17\00:04:27.07 but now I see. 00:04:28.02\00:04:33.97 Twas grace that taught 00:04:41.27\00:04:47.22 my heart to sing. 00:04:47.72\00:04:52.00 And that same grace 00:04:54.54\00:05:00.45 my fears relieved. 00:05:00.86\00:05:04.04 How precious did 00:05:06.62\00:05:12.52 that grace appear 00:05:12.92\00:05:18.36 the hour when 00:05:19.10\00:05:25.08 I first believed. 00:05:25.48\00:05:31.41 Through many dangers, 00:05:38.79\00:05:44.74 toils and snares 00:05:45.12\00:05:49.77 I have 00:05:50.17\00:05:51.87 already 00:05:51.98\00:05:56.76 safely come. 00:05:56.96\00:06:01.93 Tis grace that brought 00:06:02.23\00:06:08.15 me safe thus far. 00:06:08.35\00:06:14.04 And surely 00:06:14.44\00:06:19.63 grace will lead me home. 00:06:19.79\00:06:25.82 I shall go home. 00:06:27.09\00:06:32.55 When we've been there 00:06:44.60\00:06:50.58 ten thousand years, 00:06:50.98\00:06:55.98 Bright shining as 00:06:56.48\00:07:01.87 the glorious sun, 00:07:02.17\00:07:07.83 We've no less days 00:07:08.23\00:07:14.22 to sing God's praise 00:07:14.52\00:07:20.48 than since the day 00:07:20.82\00:07:26.76 we first begun. 00:07:27.16\00:07:33.16 than since the day 00:07:38.24\00:07:44.19 we first 00:07:45.89\00:07:49.02 begun. 00:07:49.12\00:07:55.05 Amen! 00:08:07.30\00:08:09.17 Well we would like to say thank you to the men's chorus 00:08:11.22\00:08:15.36 from Southern Adventist University. 00:08:15.56\00:08:18.93 Very thankful that you're here. 00:08:19.13\00:08:20.93 God bless you. 00:08:21.23\00:08:22.33 I know that all of us were blessed 00:08:22.53\00:08:24.20 in a very, very definite way. 00:08:24.40\00:08:26.73 And we want to say welcome 00:08:26.93\00:08:28.46 to all of you that are here tonight. 00:08:28.76\00:08:30.63 Appreciate you being here. 00:08:30.83\00:08:32.22 Those of you that are watching by television 00:08:32.42\00:08:35.87 or you're listening by radio, we welcome you again tonight. 00:08:36.07\00:08:39.73 We hope this series that we've been doing on Your Bible and You 00:08:39.93\00:08:44.33 has been a blessing to each of you. 00:08:44.53\00:08:46.90 And we hope that you're taking God's Word, 00:08:47.10\00:08:49.79 picking it up and reading it 00:08:49.99\00:08:51.31 and finding more and more about God's Word. 00:08:51.51\00:08:54.94 As that little poem that we've mentioned from night to night: 00:08:55.14\00:08:58.36 What says the Bible, the blessed Bible? 00:08:58.57\00:09:01.05 This my only question be. 00:09:01.25\00:09:04.77 The teachings of men so often mislead us. 00:09:05.07\00:09:08.33 What says the Bible to me? 00:09:08.54\00:09:10.91 That's what we want to find out. 00:09:11.11\00:09:12.32 And so we're going to be looking at God's Word 00:09:12.42\00:09:14.81 and finding out exactly what it has to say 00:09:15.01\00:09:17.69 about what the Bible can do for you. 00:09:17.89\00:09:21.74 What can the Word of God do for you? 00:09:21.94\00:09:25.62 Why should I read it? 00:09:25.82\00:09:26.88 Why should I spend time in the Word of God? 00:09:27.08\00:09:29.79 That's what our subject is tonight. 00:09:30.09\00:09:31.61 We hope it'll help you understand what God 00:09:31.81\00:09:35.14 wants to do for you personally. 00:09:35.34\00:09:37.94 Our next presentation is the last one in this series 00:09:39.30\00:09:43.27 on Your Bible and You. 00:09:43.47\00:09:44.83 And it is simply entitled How to Study Your Bible. 00:09:45.03\00:09:48.60 How can you read your Bible, 00:09:50.42\00:09:52.40 study it, and get the most out of it? 00:09:52.60\00:09:54.95 What's there? And so that's what we're going to take a look at. 00:09:55.15\00:09:58.38 We hope that it'll help you spend more time 00:09:58.58\00:10:02.25 with the Word of God. 00:10:02.46\00:10:04.19 And I think you'll find that as you do 00:10:04.49\00:10:06.41 many, many different things will happen in your life. 00:10:06.61\00:10:09.56 Tonight, as I mentioned, it's on: 00:10:09.86\00:10:12.17 And what you need to watch for and look for 00:10:14.06\00:10:16.65 are the things that the Word, the Bible tells you 00:10:16.86\00:10:20.74 that it will do for you if you'll spend time in it. 00:10:20.77\00:10:25.07 And there are some marvelous things that take place 00:10:25.37\00:10:28.35 and transpire in our lives when we have the Word of God 00:10:28.55\00:10:32.24 in our lives and working in our lives. 00:10:32.44\00:10:35.41 So we hope that as we go into this subject tonight 00:10:35.71\00:10:38.47 you'll be able to follow and understand what God is willing 00:10:38.67\00:10:41.90 to do for you and for me. 00:10:42.10\00:10:43.71 Well I know you enjoyed the chorus, the men's chorus. 00:10:44.01\00:10:46.99 We've been very, very thankful this week to have with us 00:10:47.30\00:10:51.12 Joe Pearles. Always a great blessing 00:10:51.22\00:10:53.70 to each one of us. He's going to sing a song for you tonight 00:10:53.90\00:10:57.11 entitled Leavin' On My Mind. 00:10:57.31\00:11:00.45 This old house 00:11:12.39\00:11:15.32 I'm living in 00:11:15.52\00:11:17.84 is needing repair. 00:11:19.01\00:11:24.99 The windows and the shutters 00:11:25.29\00:11:31.18 lettin' in cold, cold air. 00:11:32.14\00:11:38.06 I say to myself 00:11:38.71\00:11:41.36 "I'm gonna fix 'em, " 00:11:41.56\00:11:43.27 when I can find the time. 00:11:44.52\00:11:49.89 But all I'm gettin' lately 00:11:51.23\00:11:56.21 is leavin' on my mind. 00:11:57.42\00:12:02.95 Lately all I've got is leavin' 00:12:03.25\00:12:09.10 on my mind. 00:12:09.40\00:12:13.09 Seems that's all I'm thinkin' about 00:12:17.24\00:12:22.16 most all the time. 00:12:24.74\00:12:29.42 But soon, yes very soon, I'll 00:12:29.72\00:12:34.22 leave my troubles all behind. 00:12:34.42\00:12:40.36 Lately I've got leavin'... 00:12:42.37\00:12:46.93 leavin' on my mind. 00:12:48.57\00:12:54.37 Some folks say 00:13:07.67\00:13:09.63 I should be lookin' 00:13:09.93\00:13:12.11 for a better place to live. 00:13:13.49\00:13:18.39 But I just can't seem to get excited 00:13:19.98\00:13:24.64 'bout this world and all it might give. 00:13:25.69\00:13:31.63 I couldn't care less 00:13:32.91\00:13:35.32 if I could buy it all 00:13:35.52\00:13:38.39 with a solitary dime. 00:13:38.59\00:13:43.67 For what good would a world do me 00:13:45.46\00:13:51.29 with leavin' on my mind? 00:13:51.49\00:13:57.03 Lately all I've got is leavin' 00:13:57.93\00:14:03.26 on my mind. 00:14:03.29\00:14:07.25 Seems that's all I'm thinkin' about 00:14:10.87\00:14:16.31 most all the time. 00:14:19.03\00:14:22.80 But soon, yes very soon, I'll 00:14:23.61\00:14:28.34 leave my troubles all behind. 00:14:28.64\00:14:34.60 Lately I've got leavin'... 00:14:36.45\00:14:41.04 leavin' on my mind. 00:14:42.96\00:14:48.89 Lately I've got leavin'... 00:14:52.26\00:14:57.00 leavin' on 00:14:58.77\00:15:01.25 my mind. 00:15:01.55\00:15:06.86 Gracious Lord, 00:15:27.46\00:15:28.62 Tonight we come to You as Your children 00:15:29.02\00:15:34.38 sitting at Your table, 00:15:34.78\00:15:38.28 asking that You will bless. 00:15:38.68\00:15:43.14 May we take the time to eat 00:15:43.45\00:15:47.88 and to be filled with Your Word. 00:15:48.08\00:15:52.37 We ask that our hearts may be open. 00:15:53.53\00:15:56.42 That the Holy Spirit may dwell with us 00:15:56.72\00:16:00.71 and give us understanding as we look at Your Word tonight. 00:16:00.91\00:16:05.42 We pray in Christ's name, Amen. 00:16:05.72\00:16:10.13 When someone picks up 00:16:15.39\00:16:17.66 the Word of God 00:16:17.87\00:16:20.13 and begins to read 00:16:20.43\00:16:23.07 what's recorded in this book, 00:16:23.27\00:16:25.55 things begin to happen that are not human. 00:16:25.73\00:16:31.61 Things begin to take place that are totally different. 00:16:32.86\00:16:36.59 And that's what we're going to look at tonight 00:16:36.89\00:16:39.53 is what happens when I open up God's Word 00:16:39.73\00:16:42.87 and begin to look at it. 00:16:42.97\00:16:44.00 And the reason that it does this, folks, 00:16:44.21\00:16:46.98 is because what we read the other night 00:16:47.18\00:16:49.43 in one of our presentations where it simply says that 00:16:49.63\00:16:52.71 Now that's a tremendous statement: 00:16:57.57\00:17:00.27 that the Word of God can change my life... 00:17:00.47\00:17:03.89 make it different. And the reason it makes a difference 00:17:04.20\00:17:07.28 is because it says here: 00:17:07.48\00:17:08.88 And since the Word is there and it's not of human origin, 00:17:16.93\00:17:21.92 it is of divine. Therefore, when I begin to read it 00:17:22.12\00:17:25.99 it comes into my life and begins to make definite changes 00:17:26.19\00:17:30.29 in my life. 00:17:30.39\00:17:31.45 Because it tells us: 00:17:31.48\00:17:34.03 So Jesus Christ came. He is the embodiment of the Word. 00:17:45.27\00:17:50.90 And if I read the Word, then His life, 00:17:51.11\00:17:55.41 His character, the things that He taught, 00:17:55.61\00:17:57.82 begins to fill my life and make me different. 00:17:58.02\00:18:01.38 This is what the disciples were talking about 00:18:01.58\00:18:03.28 when they said here: 00:18:03.38\00:18:04.43 What was from the beginning? 00:18:06.54\00:18:07.99 The Word. "In the beginning was the Word. " 00:18:08.02\00:18:09.89 They were there. They saw it, they touched it, 00:18:23.46\00:18:26.06 they felt it, they spoke it, they saw it. 00:18:26.26\00:18:28.36 And it says it filled their lives and made those poor 00:18:28.56\00:18:34.54 fishermen - uneducated, uncouth - it turned them into 00:18:34.75\00:18:40.44 twelve of the greatest men that have ever lived. 00:18:40.64\00:18:42.57 That's what the Word of God did in their lives... 00:18:42.77\00:18:46.98 what it can do for you and for me. 00:18:47.18\00:18:49.80 And it says here: 00:18:50.00\00:18:51.41 Do you understand that when it says corruptible seed? 00:18:55.88\00:18:59.10 That means of flesh is what it's saying: not of human. 00:18:59.30\00:19:02.88 How? 00:19:06.05\00:19:07.56 So this change that must take place in my life 00:19:11.90\00:19:15.74 takes place through the Word of God. 00:19:15.94\00:19:19.46 That's how it happens; that's how it takes place. 00:19:19.66\00:19:22.26 And Peter goes on and talks about it. It says here: 00:19:22.46\00:19:25.70 That's what this is: 00:19:34.60\00:19:36.67 exceeding great and precious promise. 00:19:36.70\00:19:39.95 See? Different. Totally changed by the Word of God. 00:19:46.38\00:19:51.28 That is what we're looking at tonight. 00:19:51.48\00:19:54.29 And that's what this book will do for you. 00:19:54.49\00:19:58.92 But you have to spend time with it, folks. 00:19:59.12\00:20:03.06 And you have to open up your heart. 00:20:03.26\00:20:07.00 You can't close your heart and do it. 00:20:07.20\00:20:10.81 Head knowledge won't do you any good. 00:20:10.91\00:20:12.86 Bible in your head won't do you any good. 00:20:13.06\00:20:15.94 The Bible in your pocket won't do you any good. 00:20:16.14\00:20:19.22 The Bible in your hand won't do you any good. 00:20:19.42\00:20:22.08 The Bible on the shelf won't do you any good. 00:20:22.28\00:20:24.72 It's the Bible in the heart... 00:20:24.92\00:20:27.32 that's what makes the change, that's what brings about 00:20:27.52\00:20:32.63 the difference in a person's life. 00:20:32.83\00:20:34.66 So the Word of God, we find that scripture tells us, 00:20:34.86\00:20:38.34 is what gives to you and me faith. 00:20:38.54\00:20:42.04 I have people say: "Well I don't have much faith. " 00:20:42.25\00:20:45.42 Well then you're not reading the Bible enough. 00:20:45.62\00:20:48.11 That simple, because this is what it says: 00:20:48.31\00:20:50.77 So if I spend time in this book, 00:20:56.34\00:20:59.73 it will give me faith. 00:20:59.93\00:21:01.89 Help me to step out in faith. 00:21:02.19\00:21:05.28 And let me just share with you what happens when a person 00:21:05.48\00:21:09.69 walks by faith. Have you ever considered that? 00:21:09.79\00:21:12.52 When a person walks by faith, this is what happens: 00:21:12.92\00:21:17.37 Now listen... 00:21:30.46\00:21:31.70 This is what these people accomplished through faith. 00:22:00.47\00:22:04.57 So the Word of God gives me faith. 00:22:05.52\00:22:11.12 I can read it. I can read in this book 00:22:11.32\00:22:14.31 about other people who stepped out in faith and how - 00:22:14.52\00:22:18.07 because of their faith - God rewarded that 00:22:18.27\00:22:20.76 and done wonderful things in their lives. 00:22:20.96\00:22:23.28 The children of Israel had not followed what God 00:22:25.46\00:22:30.71 wanted them to do. 00:22:30.92\00:22:32.25 And because of that 00:22:32.46\00:22:35.04 different tribes and so forth 00:22:35.24\00:22:37.84 came down and ran over Israel 00:22:38.05\00:22:39.88 and put them into bondage 00:22:40.08\00:22:41.78 numbers of time. 00:22:41.98\00:22:43.33 And among those were the Philistines. 00:22:43.53\00:22:46.14 They were probably one of the worst that did that. 00:22:46.34\00:22:48.75 And the children of Israel, I guess thinking that they 00:22:48.95\00:22:53.02 could solve their problems, decided they wanted a king. 00:22:53.22\00:22:57.43 And so they said: "We want a king. " 00:22:57.63\00:23:00.30 And God in His mercy, and in His kindness, His love 00:23:00.50\00:23:03.75 granted them a king. And that first king was king Saul. 00:23:03.95\00:23:08.16 And so when Saul came as king 00:23:08.36\00:23:11.13 one of the first things he wanted to do 00:23:11.33\00:23:13.52 is get rid of all these people that were persecuting them 00:23:13.72\00:23:17.00 and giving them a hard time... which were the Philistines. 00:23:17.20\00:23:19.61 And they were fighting against them, and I want you to 00:23:19.81\00:23:22.45 look at a story in the Bible about his son Jonathan 00:23:22.65\00:23:26.93 because there's a story of great, great faith there 00:23:27.13\00:23:31.33 with Jonathan. Listen to this: 00:23:31.53\00:23:34.16 Fantastic statement. 00:23:56.10\00:23:58.18 I mean, it's just him and his armor bearer, 00:23:58.38\00:24:01.42 and they're going up to face these Philistines 00:24:01.62\00:24:04.91 which are not two... there's hundreds of them. 00:24:04.94\00:24:08.85 That's what they're faced with. 00:24:09.05\00:24:11.22 And he said: "Well, the Lord doesn't need many. 00:24:11.43\00:24:14.10 He can save by many or by few. " 00:24:14.30\00:24:16.44 OK? 00:24:16.65\00:24:18.11 He said: "I'll go with you. Go. " 00:24:26.11\00:24:28.13 He said: "Let's walk over here and show ourselves to these 00:24:38.53\00:24:42.58 Philistines" - who, by the way, are interested in killing them. 00:24:42.78\00:24:47.21 They're not interested in treating them well. 00:24:47.41\00:24:49.64 OK. He said: "Let us show ourselves to them. " 00:24:49.84\00:24:52.12 Said: "Now if these Philistines say just stay where you are, 00:25:05.72\00:25:08.66 we'll come over to where you are, " 00:25:08.87\00:25:10.39 he said: "we'll know that we should stay right here 00:25:10.59\00:25:13.85 and not go anywhere. " 00:25:13.99\00:25:15.38 So here they are down in this kind of valley 00:25:26.08\00:25:29.55 and these Philistines are all up on this knoll there. 00:25:29.66\00:25:33.56 And he said: "If they say come on up here where we are, " 00:25:33.76\00:25:36.86 he said: "that will be a sign that God is going to 00:25:37.06\00:25:38.74 deliver them into our hands. " 00:25:38.84\00:25:40.28 Now folks, there's just two of them. 00:25:40.48\00:25:42.65 That's all. 00:25:42.95\00:25:45.11 And here they're going to face these... 00:25:45.32\00:25:47.69 and what they do I still don't understand. 00:25:47.89\00:25:52.25 Because I don't know a great lot about fighting, 00:25:52.45\00:25:56.00 but how they're fighting I don't understand. 00:25:56.20\00:25:58.71 Said: "Oh, they're coming out of their holes; 00:26:11.31\00:26:13.07 they've been hiding. " 00:26:13.27\00:26:14.34 You know, they're saying: "Come on up here, 00:26:25.76\00:26:28.39 we'll show you something. 00:26:28.59\00:26:30.19 Just come up. " 00:26:30.39\00:26:31.68 He said: "Follow me. The Lord's delivered these 00:26:41.03\00:26:43.99 into our hands. " Now, they're going up this knoll 00:26:44.19\00:26:46.91 or this mountain - whatever you want to call it. 00:26:47.11\00:26:48.95 It's not just a simple little gradual grade, folks. 00:26:49.15\00:26:53.60 They're not... they're not walking up there. 00:26:53.80\00:26:56.60 This is what they're doing. And you think that they're fighting 00:26:56.80\00:26:59.46 over 100 men there, and this is what they're having to do. 00:26:59.66\00:27:03.15 I mean, they're going up this thing and he's crawling 00:27:09.90\00:27:14.00 on his hands and knees with his armor bearer after him. 00:27:14.10\00:27:17.82 Fantastic. I mean, there they are 00:27:21.25\00:27:25.84 going up on their hands and knees, and these Philistines 00:27:26.04\00:27:28.51 are falling before him, and as he came up after him 00:27:28.61\00:27:31.94 his armor bearer killed them. 00:27:32.14\00:27:33.98 So much so that Saul, who was over in another place, 00:27:34.28\00:27:40.21 observed that all of a sudden these Philistines were fleeing. 00:27:40.41\00:27:44.22 Two men. Two men. 00:27:44.42\00:27:47.52 But I'm talking about what God can do if you and I 00:27:47.72\00:27:52.09 are just willing to step out in faith. 00:27:52.29\00:27:54.94 Let me tell you something, folks. 00:27:55.14\00:27:57.96 There's many a person whose entire life 00:27:58.16\00:28:03.61 would be different if they had just taken a step in faith. 00:28:04.60\00:28:10.58 I have seen that over and over throughout the years. 00:28:10.88\00:28:15.12 That God has brought them to a place where they have to 00:28:15.33\00:28:19.65 step out in faith and they refuse to take that step. 00:28:19.75\00:28:23.75 Where if they just would have taken it 00:28:23.95\00:28:26.49 their whole life would have been different. 00:28:26.52\00:28:29.36 With me, God brought me to the place 00:28:31.69\00:28:36.04 where I had to make a decision 00:28:36.25\00:28:39.07 of whether I was going to go away to school. 00:28:39.27\00:28:42.66 My father had almost forbidden it. 00:28:42.86\00:28:47.01 My mother didn't want me to go. 00:28:47.21\00:28:49.16 I had no physical support financially at all. 00:28:49.36\00:28:53.73 In fact, I ran off from home and went to school. 00:28:53.93\00:28:58.43 Left home with 22 cents in my pocket. 00:28:58.63\00:29:01.78 That's what I had. 00:29:01.98\00:29:03.59 Walked into school and just simply told them 00:29:03.79\00:29:06.15 "I've come to go to school. " 00:29:06.35\00:29:07.64 That... that simple. 00:29:07.84\00:29:09.31 But if I had not taken that step in faith 00:29:09.51\00:29:12.83 oh what difference it would have been. 00:29:13.03\00:29:16.01 See? So, you and I... the Bible simply tells us 00:29:16.21\00:29:21.12 that we need to walk by faith. 00:29:21.33\00:29:23.85 That's one thing the scripture will do for you. 00:29:24.05\00:29:26.01 And if you don't do that, 00:29:26.21\00:29:27.86 then He can't bless like He would like to bless. 00:29:28.06\00:29:31.93 Also, the Word of God will give you power. 00:29:32.13\00:29:35.97 Promises that. 00:29:37.62\00:29:39.20 Not only does He tell you "walk by faith, " but He said 00:29:39.40\00:29:42.18 "in turn, I'll give you power. I'll help you and all. " 00:29:42.38\00:29:46.52 The Word of God is powerful! 00:29:53.40\00:29:55.73 I can trust it, and God will give to you and to me 00:29:55.93\00:30:00.45 the power to do the things that we need to do. 00:30:00.65\00:30:03.21 Listen to this carefully. 00:30:06.58\00:30:07.67 Let me tell you how powerful it is. 00:30:19.82\00:30:22.59 I was holding a meeting. 00:30:22.79\00:30:24.73 This man came to me after we had been going for about 00:30:24.93\00:30:28.52 oh, a week and a half of the meetings. 00:30:28.72\00:30:31.48 Came to me and he said: 00:30:31.68\00:30:34.12 "I've never been to meetings 00:30:34.32\00:30:35.65 like this before. " 00:30:35.75\00:30:37.42 Said: "I've never been to religious meetings. " 00:30:37.62\00:30:40.16 Said: "But I've been coming every night. " 00:30:40.36\00:30:43.40 He said: "I understand it. " 00:30:43.60\00:30:47.85 He said: "I've given my heart to Christ. " 00:30:48.05\00:30:50.83 But he said: "I'm under conviction. 00:30:51.03\00:30:54.80 I'm under conviction concerning something. " 00:30:55.00\00:30:58.71 And I said: "What are you under conviction about? " 00:30:58.91\00:31:01.82 He said: "I teach ballet 00:31:02.12\00:31:05.77 for the National Ballet Company. " 00:31:05.97\00:31:08.48 And he said: "I've been gay 00:31:08.68\00:31:12.34 all my life. " 00:31:12.54\00:31:15.40 Said: "I can't remember a time when I wasn't gay. " 00:31:15.60\00:31:18.97 And he said: "I'm under conviction that that's not 00:31:19.17\00:31:23.44 what I should be. 00:31:23.64\00:31:24.94 I'm under conviction that God doesn't want me to be that 00:31:25.14\00:31:28.10 but I don't know what to do. " 00:31:28.30\00:31:30.02 We talked... prayed together. 00:31:30.22\00:31:36.12 And I told him the Bible is very, very clear 00:31:36.32\00:31:41.09 that you need to change your lifestyle. 00:31:41.29\00:31:43.73 You're going to have to change your lifestyle... 00:31:43.93\00:31:45.96 that's what the Lord's asking you to do. 00:31:46.16\00:31:48.26 But not only is He asking you to do that 00:31:48.46\00:31:50.64 He'll provide you the power to do that. 00:31:50.84\00:31:54.01 I watched that man over the next few weeks 00:31:55.25\00:31:58.03 surrender his heart to Christ, and I saw the change 00:31:58.23\00:32:02.86 that took place in his life. 00:32:03.07\00:32:05.03 By the power of God, saw that happen. 00:32:05.23\00:32:08.25 Today he's married, has a family - two children. 00:32:08.45\00:32:11.16 One of the leaders in the church. 00:32:11.36\00:32:13.55 But the power of God can change a person. 00:32:15.08\00:32:18.49 That's available to you through the Word. 00:32:18.79\00:32:21.52 See, that's where it's at... it's in God's Word. 00:32:21.72\00:32:24.74 It can change your life... make a difference. 00:32:24.94\00:32:27.79 Let me just throw something in right here rather quickly. 00:32:34.71\00:32:37.66 Read that text carefully, folks, 00:32:37.86\00:32:40.13 because that text holds the secret for overcoming 00:32:40.33\00:32:44.69 to any sin lies in that text. 00:32:44.89\00:32:48.23 But thanks be to God who gives us what? 00:32:48.26\00:32:51.18 The victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:32:51.22\00:32:54.10 In other words, it says that God GIVES you the victory. 00:32:54.24\00:32:58.09 It's not something that you and I have to work at. 00:32:58.39\00:33:02.22 All I have to do is accept the victory. 00:33:02.42\00:33:05.32 I'm willing to accept the victory; He gives it to me. 00:33:05.52\00:33:09.59 And that is the secret in overcoming any sin. 00:33:09.79\00:33:13.59 If I am willing to accept the victory that Christ gives, 00:33:13.80\00:33:17.80 I can be victorious over that. 00:33:18.00\00:33:21.10 Works in anybody's life. 00:33:22.33\00:33:24.57 If you spend time in the book it will help you. 00:33:29.34\00:33:33.30 It will keep you from sinning if you'll spend time in it. 00:33:33.50\00:33:36.23 We have excellent examples of this. 00:33:36.53\00:33:40.03 As I pick up the Word of God and I read it 00:33:46.52\00:33:49.88 and I take it into my life, 00:33:50.08\00:33:52.35 it begins to build in my life 00:33:52.55\00:33:55.59 power and strength and faith. 00:33:55.79\00:33:57.79 And those are the things that keep me from sinning. 00:33:57.99\00:34:01.88 Jesus taught us very clearly how to do that 00:34:04.12\00:34:08.05 because it says He went out into the wilderness 00:34:08.25\00:34:11.83 where He fasted for 40 days. 00:34:12.03\00:34:15.78 And then the devil came. 00:34:15.98\00:34:19.06 Lucifer began to tempt Him. 00:34:19.26\00:34:22.06 Without a doubt. 00:34:35.39\00:34:36.79 He said: "If you're the Son of God, 00:34:45.53\00:34:48.35 turn those stones into bread. " 00:34:48.55\00:34:52.44 Could He have turned those stones into bread? 00:34:52.64\00:34:54.86 Absolutely. 00:34:55.06\00:34:57.08 Without... just a word He could have turned them to bread. 00:34:57.28\00:35:00.10 And Lucifer understood that. 00:35:00.40\00:35:03.30 He knew that. 00:35:03.50\00:35:04.51 Jesus said: 00:35:06.98\00:35:09.32 You know what Jesus is doing here? 00:35:16.39\00:35:18.69 He's quoting... He's quoting Deuteronomy the 8th chapter 00:35:18.89\00:35:24.80 verse 3. 00:35:24.90\00:35:25.91 That's what He's quoting. 00:35:26.11\00:35:27.40 "Man shall not live by bread alone. " 00:35:27.60\00:35:29.93 In other words, He had hidden God's Word in His heart 00:35:30.13\00:35:33.62 so when the tempter came and tempted Him 00:35:33.82\00:35:36.91 He could respond and say "No! 00:35:37.12\00:35:39.67 Can't do this. " 00:35:39.87\00:35:41.98 The devil said: "OK, You want to quote scripture? 00:35:59.68\00:36:02.47 I'll quote scripture to You. 00:36:02.67\00:36:05.39 The Bible says He'll give His angels charge over thee 00:36:05.60\00:36:08.16 lest you dash your foot against a stone. 00:36:08.26\00:36:10.14 Come on... jump off! 00:36:10.34\00:36:12.43 Let's see if they will. " 00:36:12.63\00:36:14.31 Know what He's doing here? 00:36:22.55\00:36:24.10 He's quoting scripture. 00:36:24.30\00:36:26.80 Deuteronomy the 8th chapter verse 16. 00:36:27.00\00:36:31.81 That's what He's quoting: "You shall not tempt 00:36:33.39\00:36:35.00 the Lord your God. " 00:36:35.10\00:36:36.18 What I'm trying to get across to you, folks, 00:36:36.38\00:36:38.35 is this is where the secret of overcoming lies 00:36:38.38\00:36:42.72 is trusting in the Word of God. 00:36:42.82\00:36:44.95 And when you read it and you know what it says 00:36:45.05\00:36:47.90 fall back on it; trust it; it won't fail. 00:36:48.10\00:36:51.31 The devil wasn't satisfied with that. 00:36:51.51\00:36:53.72 I mean, took Him there and showed Him all the kingdoms... 00:37:02.72\00:37:06.50 all their glory. 00:37:06.70\00:37:07.76 Said: "Just fall down and worship me 00:37:14.50\00:37:16.40 and I'll... I'll give all this to You. " 00:37:16.50\00:37:18.50 Deuteronomy the 8th chapter verse 13. 00:37:31.54\00:37:35.18 All those were quotes that Jesus made from the Word of God. 00:37:35.39\00:37:40.82 So when it says that you and I are to hide the Word of God 00:37:41.02\00:37:45.36 in our hearts, that will help us keep from sinning. 00:37:45.46\00:37:50.03 Meet the devil with the Word of God. 00:37:50.24\00:37:53.21 If temptation comes, there's your safety, folks. 00:37:53.41\00:37:57.68 So it tells us that you and I can draw close to the Lord 00:37:57.88\00:38:01.80 and He'll care for us. 00:38:01.90\00:38:03.19 Which is what? It's a warfare. 00:38:07.75\00:38:12.04 You need to understand that: it's a warfare. 00:38:12.24\00:38:15.16 It's not something that's just easy; it's a warfare, 00:38:15.36\00:38:18.43 and you have to put on the armor of God. 00:38:18.63\00:38:21.11 What is the armor of God? 00:38:21.51\00:38:23.60 The helmet of salvation; the breastplate of righteousness. 00:38:23.90\00:38:27.55 What is this? Huh? 00:38:27.75\00:38:31.00 This is the sword of the Spirit, folks. That's what this is. 00:38:31.20\00:38:34.39 Referring to Jesus Christ, and it says 00:38:46.41\00:38:48.63 "out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword... " 00:38:48.83\00:38:51.77 referring to the Word of God. 00:38:51.97\00:38:55.50 This is the sword of the Spirit. 00:38:55.70\00:38:58.07 Don't, DON'T go into battle without it... 00:38:58.27\00:39:03.89 because if you do, you're going to be overcome. 00:39:05.22\00:39:08.99 You have to take the Word of God with you. 00:39:09.19\00:39:12.78 That is your defense. 00:39:12.98\00:39:14.69 Not... not your ability to argue. 00:39:14.89\00:39:18.90 Not your ability to reason. 00:39:19.10\00:39:21.48 But to use the Word of God 00:39:21.78\00:39:26.52 as your defense for what you believe. 00:39:26.72\00:39:29.15 That's what the Bible will do for you. 00:39:29.35\00:39:31.22 What it's done for you and me. 00:39:31.43\00:39:33.90 They were strong. What did he mean when they were strong? 00:39:45.44\00:39:48.87 Well he meant they were strong in the Word of God. 00:39:49.07\00:39:54.94 That's what it meant. 00:39:55.04\00:39:56.13 They were strong in faith. 00:39:56.33\00:39:57.57 They were strong in what they believed. 00:39:57.77\00:39:59.63 And so you and I must be strong in what we believe. 00:39:59.83\00:40:05.03 Only then will you be able to day by day overcome. 00:40:05.23\00:40:10.82 The Bible is given to you for growth, 00:40:11.03\00:40:14.02 given to you for defense. 00:40:14.22\00:40:16.51 It's given to change your life 00:40:16.71\00:40:20.10 and make it different. 00:40:20.30\00:40:22.37 God wants to do that for you. 00:40:22.57\00:40:24.63 Also it says that: 00:40:24.83\00:40:27.30 Know that? Listen. 00:40:29.68\00:40:33.99 You see, if you spend time in the word of God, 00:40:45.20\00:40:51.15 you'll sing in the shower. 00:40:52.34\00:40:54.99 Absolutely, folks. It will not fail. 00:40:56.23\00:40:59.00 You spend time in the Word of God 00:40:59.20\00:41:01.22 it will give you joy in your heart. 00:41:01.25\00:41:04.00 I do not know people who spend time in the Word of God... 00:41:04.21\00:41:09.53 I mean spend time and they read the promises of God 00:41:09.73\00:41:13.25 and they claim those... 00:41:13.45\00:41:14.77 I don't know people like that that are depressed. 00:41:14.97\00:41:18.27 No. Because the Word of God gives you joy. 00:41:18.47\00:41:24.18 Gives you happiness. 00:41:24.38\00:41:25.75 Didn't... didn't know it until I came to the Lord. 00:41:25.95\00:41:30.06 Then I began to understand what it... He does for us 00:41:30.26\00:41:33.89 and how He changes our lives and makes us so much different. 00:41:33.99\00:41:36.93 It should make you happy. 00:41:37.13\00:41:39.16 You know, I run onto these Christians that 00:41:39.36\00:41:42.14 walk around they have faces like donkeys. 00:41:42.35\00:41:44.95 You know? And I wonder what's wrong with them... 00:41:45.15\00:41:47.95 because it should give you happiness. 00:41:48.15\00:41:51.78 It should give you joy. 00:41:51.88\00:41:52.96 It should make a happy Christian out of you. 00:41:53.06\00:41:55.45 That's what it's to do. 00:41:55.65\00:41:57.55 And God desires for you and I to be happy. 00:41:57.75\00:42:01.84 To enjoy life. 00:42:02.04\00:42:03.72 This thing of being sad and - you know - unhappy all the time. 00:42:03.92\00:42:09.37 No... that's not what God wants you to be. 00:42:09.57\00:42:12.92 He wants you to enjoy life, be happy. 00:42:13.13\00:42:15.78 Comes into our lives. 00:42:30.33\00:42:33.53 Gives us joy, happiness. 00:42:33.73\00:42:37.10 All that comes about because of the scripture 00:42:37.30\00:42:40.89 and what happens there. 00:42:41.09\00:42:42.74 And dear friends, I have seen it happen over and over and over 00:42:42.94\00:42:47.53 again. I hope you can remember. 00:42:47.73\00:42:49.49 Have you ever stopped to think back 00:42:49.79\00:42:52.36 when you first came to Christ? 00:42:52.56\00:42:55.74 And the joy and the happiness that you experienced 00:42:55.94\00:42:59.62 when you accepted Christ and all. 00:42:59.82\00:43:02.14 You know, you aren't supposed to lose that. 00:43:02.34\00:43:04.43 Supposed to be able to keep that. 00:43:04.63\00:43:06.76 Supposed to be there in your heart. 00:43:06.96\00:43:08.92 Something that Christ does for us and gives us day by day. 00:43:09.12\00:43:13.02 And only as you understand. I don't know about you, 00:43:13.23\00:43:16.86 but man, when I understood my sins were forgiven, 00:43:17.06\00:43:20.71 I was ready to shout. 00:43:20.91\00:43:22.49 See? Because that's what has to happen. 00:43:22.69\00:43:25.72 When I understand what Christ has done in my life - 00:43:25.92\00:43:29.06 my sins are forgiven - it brings peace, happiness, and joy 00:43:29.27\00:43:33.19 to an individual like nothing else. 00:43:33.40\00:43:35.71 This is what the Word of God will do for you. 00:43:35.74\00:43:40.58 Change your life and make you different. 00:43:40.78\00:43:43.71 But the Word of God also is what sanctifies us. 00:43:43.91\00:43:49.54 What it says. 00:43:49.74\00:43:52.16 "Sanctify them by Your truth. " 00:43:58.34\00:44:02.00 Now let me just take a little time here and talk to you 00:44:02.20\00:44:05.21 about this sanctified business. 00:44:05.41\00:44:07.35 Because it say: "Sanctify them by Your truth. " 00:44:07.38\00:44:12.04 Folks, when I spend time in the Word of God, 00:44:12.24\00:44:15.80 it is the Word of God and the working of God's Spirit 00:44:16.00\00:44:20.60 in my heart that brings about conviction 00:44:20.80\00:44:24.44 and brings about change. 00:44:24.64\00:44:26.71 Are you understanding what I'm saying? 00:44:26.91\00:44:29.25 When I spend time in the Word of God 00:44:29.45\00:44:32.33 then as I read it the Holy Spirit works on my heart, 00:44:32.53\00:44:36.59 brings about conviction. And those things bring about 00:44:36.79\00:44:40.11 a change in my life... a desire to change, you know. 00:44:40.21\00:44:44.79 Had a fellow one time and we were talking 00:44:44.99\00:44:50.04 and he said: "I want to accept Christ. 00:44:50.24\00:44:53.87 But, " he said, " I'm not sure I want to change. " 00:44:54.07\00:44:57.38 And I said: "Well, you're getting the cart 00:44:57.58\00:45:00.29 before the horse. 00:45:00.49\00:45:01.62 That isn't what it says. " 00:45:01.82\00:45:03.87 I said: "Accept Christ and He'll bring about the change. 00:45:04.07\00:45:08.57 What you've got to do is give Him your heart 00:45:08.77\00:45:11.90 and He'll bring about the change. " 00:45:12.10\00:45:13.96 "Well, " he said, "OK. " 00:45:14.16\00:45:16.05 And so we talked about accepting Christ and what was involved, 00:45:16.25\00:45:19.26 and he accepted Christ. 00:45:19.46\00:45:21.43 And I don't know, I didn't see him for... several months later 00:45:21.64\00:45:26.67 and I asked him how it was going. 00:45:26.81\00:45:28.55 He said: "You know, a strange thing happened. " 00:45:28.65\00:45:30.96 He said: "I... I was home one night, " 00:45:31.16\00:45:35.59 and he said, "I just felt like I wanted to go to a party. " 00:45:35.79\00:45:39.34 And so he said: "I thought about it and I said well, 00:45:39.54\00:45:43.10 OK Christ, let's go to a party. " 00:45:43.30\00:45:45.79 And so he said: "The Lord and I went to this party. " 00:45:45.99\00:45:49.89 Said: "Got there and stayed there for a little while. " 00:45:50.10\00:45:54.43 He said: "Lord, we're not having a very good time. 00:45:54.63\00:45:58.80 Just not having a very good time. " 00:45:59.00\00:46:02.81 And so he said: "We left the party and came back. " 00:46:03.01\00:46:06.90 This is what happens, folks. 00:46:07.10\00:46:09.00 It takes the work of God's Spirit in your life 00:46:09.20\00:46:12.25 to bring about change. 00:46:12.45\00:46:14.25 If you think that this thing takes place by you changing, 00:46:14.46\00:46:19.11 let me tell you something. All you're going to do 00:46:19.21\00:46:20.78 is make yourself miserable. 00:46:20.98\00:46:22.93 That doesn't change you. 00:46:23.13\00:46:26.28 You can't just of your own self say: 00:46:26.48\00:46:32.04 "I'm going to change. " 00:46:32.14\00:46:33.37 It takes the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, 00:46:33.57\00:46:37.08 and it's the Word of God that brings that about. 00:46:37.28\00:46:40.92 As you read the Word of God 00:46:41.12\00:46:43.57 and as you understand it, 00:46:43.77\00:46:45.23 you begin to see things and you begin to understand. 00:46:45.43\00:46:48.04 Folks, in my own life 00:46:48.07\00:46:50.30 there's things that God would convict me of 00:46:50.50\00:46:54.37 that I'm sure He would never probably convict you of 00:46:54.57\00:46:58.51 that He convicts me of. 00:46:58.71\00:47:02.60 Or He convicts you of things He would never convict me of. 00:47:02.80\00:47:05.69 But those are changes that need to take place in my life. 00:47:05.89\00:47:09.36 And God brings about that conviction, and I must walk 00:47:09.56\00:47:13.20 by faith as He brings about that conviction. 00:47:13.40\00:47:16.48 And He'll give me the power; 00:47:16.68\00:47:18.24 the Holy Spirit will come into my life and it will change me 00:47:18.44\00:47:23.67 and make me a different person. 00:47:23.87\00:47:26.27 You know? 00:47:27.77\00:47:29.45 I don't know, have you ever done something you shouldn't do? 00:47:29.65\00:47:31.66 Huh? 00:47:31.86\00:47:33.97 You know, I... You know, do something 00:47:34.97\00:47:37.39 I really basically knew I shouldn't do it. 00:47:37.59\00:47:42.37 And I did it. And then after I had done it... 00:47:42.57\00:47:47.38 oh, the terrible conviction that came. 00:47:47.58\00:47:50.82 You know, you've done something you shouldn't have done 00:47:51.03\00:47:53.98 and all. And I'm not happy until I make it right. 00:47:54.18\00:47:58.61 Got to go and settle that thing and make it right. 00:47:58.81\00:48:02.11 Confess it and get it off me. 00:48:02.31\00:48:03.98 That's what takes the monkey off your back. 00:48:04.18\00:48:07.44 See? Because if you don't do that, 00:48:07.64\00:48:11.42 then you carry around this weight that you don't need. 00:48:11.62\00:48:14.58 When I confess it and get it off my back and all 00:48:14.79\00:48:19.59 it brings conviction. 00:48:19.79\00:48:21.31 Brings a change that takes place in my life. 00:48:21.51\00:48:24.30 That's what God wants to do for you and for me. 00:48:24.50\00:48:28.62 Change us; make us different. 00:48:28.82\00:48:30.77 Now it says the scripture - the Word... 00:48:30.97\00:48:35.42 OK, "the seed is the Word of God. " 00:48:39.48\00:48:41.59 So, sows it... sows the seed. 00:48:41.79\00:48:46.11 I'm going to ask you this evening, 00:48:46.31\00:48:47.47 what kind of soil are you? 00:48:49.24\00:48:51.50 When the seed falls in your heart 00:48:53.44\00:48:57.02 what kind of soil is there? 00:48:57.22\00:49:00.01 Is it rocky ground? 00:49:00.21\00:49:02.12 Is it fertile? 00:49:02.43\00:49:04.67 Most important, are there weeds there? 00:49:04.87\00:49:09.39 You know what the weeds are, don't you? 00:49:09.59\00:49:10.89 Huh? 00:49:11.17\00:49:12.75 The weeds are the cares of this life. 00:49:12.95\00:49:15.26 That's what the scripture says. 00:49:15.46\00:49:16.50 They're the cares of this life. 00:49:16.60\00:49:18.06 And so my heart's so filled with the cares of this life 00:49:18.26\00:49:23.74 that it chokes the plant? 00:49:23.95\00:49:27.11 Chokes it out? 00:49:27.32\00:49:28.43 Can't live? 00:49:28.63\00:49:29.69 What kind of soil is in my heart 00:49:29.72\00:49:33.29 so that the Word of God can germinate, sprout. 00:49:33.49\00:49:37.01 bring forth a response. It says: 00:49:37.21\00:49:40.44 See? The Word of God falls in their heart. 00:50:00.79\00:50:04.20 I've seen it so many times. 00:50:04.40\00:50:07.06 So many evangelistic meetings - 00:50:07.26\00:50:11.13 Jim, I'm sure you have too - 00:50:11.33\00:50:14.37 where you sow the seed and preach the Word. 00:50:14.57\00:50:18.74 Sow the seed and you watch it fall. 00:50:18.94\00:50:22.92 And some seed falls on rocky ground. 00:50:23.95\00:50:29.91 And it says "the birds come and eat it. " 00:50:30.21\00:50:33.42 And other seed fell on ground where there were weeds, 00:50:35.58\00:50:40.82 and the weeds choked it out. 00:50:41.02\00:50:43.02 Have to be careful. It says some of it fell in soil 00:50:44.35\00:50:47.80 and sprouted and came up. 00:50:48.00\00:50:50.38 And then it says that it died. You know why? 00:50:50.58\00:50:55.24 'Cause there wasn't enough soil. 00:50:55.44\00:50:59.09 You see, you know what that means? 00:50:59.29\00:51:01.60 That person wasn't spending any time here. 00:51:01.80\00:51:05.31 That's what takes to give the seed 00:51:05.51\00:51:09.98 some depth and all. And so you've got to spend time 00:51:10.18\00:51:14.20 in the Word of God to bring about 00:51:14.40\00:51:16.03 what needs to happen there. 00:51:16.23\00:51:18.57 And then, of course, it says that some seed fell on 00:51:18.77\00:51:21.17 good grounds. And oh, dear friend, 00:51:21.37\00:51:23.88 what a joy, what a marvelous thing 00:51:24.08\00:51:26.27 when the seed falls on good ground and it sprouts. 00:51:26.47\00:51:30.23 You know what it does? 00:51:30.43\00:51:31.98 Hmmm? 00:51:33.38\00:51:34.49 Listen: 00:51:34.69\00:51:35.87 That seed falls on good ground 00:51:54.28\00:51:56.91 and oh the transformation that takes place. 00:51:57.11\00:52:00.23 You want to be more loving tonight? 00:52:00.43\00:52:03.55 Huh? 00:52:03.75\00:52:04.91 You know how you do that? 00:52:05.11\00:52:07.30 By saying "Oh, I'm going to be more loving? " 00:52:08.67\00:52:10.61 Huh? 00:52:10.81\00:52:12.55 No. If I want to be more loving, 00:52:12.75\00:52:16.08 I have to spend more time here, folks. 00:52:16.28\00:52:19.43 I've got to let the Holy Spirit do that in my life. 00:52:19.63\00:52:23.67 He's the one that brings about that change. 00:52:23.87\00:52:26.51 He's the one that will make you kind, make you gentle. 00:52:26.71\00:52:30.34 Make you loving, longsuffering. 00:52:30.54\00:52:34.17 All those great qualities He'll bring about in your life 00:52:34.37\00:52:38.57 and He will make you 00:52:38.77\00:52:41.02 more like your Master. 00:52:41.22\00:52:45.73 This is what the Bible does for you and does for me. 00:52:45.93\00:52:51.35 If we'll just spend time with the Word of God, 00:52:51.55\00:52:55.48 He'll bless you in a special way. 00:52:55.68\00:52:58.34 Give me the Bible, 00:53:00.44\00:53:04.39 star of gladness gleaming 00:53:04.59\00:53:08.13 to cheer the wanderer 00:53:08.23\00:53:12.23 lone and tempest tossed. 00:53:12.43\00:53:16.30 No storm can hide that 00:53:16.96\00:53:20.61 peaceful radiance beaming 00:53:20.81\00:53:24.34 since Jesus came 00:53:24.64\00:53:27.73 to seek and save the lost. 00:53:27.94\00:53:33.22 Give me the Bible, 00:53:33.90\00:53:38.05 holy message shining. 00:53:38.35\00:53:42.01 Thy light shall guide me 00:53:42.32\00:53:46.41 in the narrow way. 00:53:46.71\00:53:50.58 Precept and promise, 00:53:50.88\00:53:55.01 law and love combining. 00:53:55.31\00:53:59.60 Till night shall vanish 00:53:59.90\00:54:04.16 in eternal 00:54:04.46\00:54:07.79 day. 00:54:07.99\00:54:11.13 Do you need your life changed? 00:54:11.43\00:54:13.54 Do you need to be made into His image? 00:54:15.18\00:54:19.16 Are you finding it hard to be kind? 00:54:21.56\00:54:26.43 To be loving? Do you need to have your life made over? 00:54:26.63\00:54:32.25 Then dear friend tonight 00:54:32.55\00:54:35.04 I'd like to invite you: 00:54:35.24\00:54:36.96 open up your heart. 00:54:37.17\00:54:38.95 Remember, it's the Word in the 00:54:39.15\00:54:41.30 heart that makes the difference. 00:54:41.40\00:54:43.38 Open up your heart; invite Jesus into your life. 00:54:43.58\00:54:47.08 And then take the time to spend in God's Word 00:54:47.93\00:54:52.68 Read it; spend time with Him. 00:54:52.88\00:54:55.12 And He will bring about this change that needs to take place 00:54:55.32\00:55:00.18 in your life and in mine. 00:55:00.38\00:55:02.23 This is how we grow. 00:55:02.43\00:55:04.33 This is how we become all that God wants us to be. 00:55:04.53\00:55:08.56 Let us pray. 00:55:08.76\00:55:10.01 Heavenly Father, 00:55:10.31\00:55:11.73 we ask that this evening 00:55:12.95\00:55:15.00 that our hearts may be fertile ground. 00:55:15.20\00:55:19.68 That the seed may germinate; that it may sprout. 00:55:20.77\00:55:26.27 That it will bring about the fruits of the Spirit 00:55:26.58\00:55:29.92 in our lives that we might show forth 00:55:30.02\00:55:34.22 the works and the praises of Him who has loved us 00:55:35.20\00:55:39.85 and died for us and given His life that we 00:55:40.05\00:55:43.92 might have life eternal. 00:55:44.12\00:55:46.41 For this we thank you in Christ's name, Amen. 00:55:46.61\00:55:51.30 Well our next presentation is 00:55:51.60\00:55:55.03 on How to Study Your Bible. 00:55:55.23\00:55:57.26 How should I spend time with it? 00:55:57.46\00:56:00.06 So we hope you'll each be back with us. 00:56:00.09\00:56:01.91 Good night; God bless you. 00:56:02.11\00:56:03.73 Water can be both inspiring and awesome. 00:56:05.39\00:56:09.65 As it flows from the hills and the mountains 00:56:09.85\00:56:12.24 water changes the destiny of every living creature 00:56:12.44\00:56:16.66 it comes in contact with. 00:56:16.86\00:56:18.76 Not a single living thing 00:56:18.96\00:56:20.76 can survive without water for long. 00:56:20.96\00:56:23.50 But despite its beauty 00:56:23.70\00:56:25.44 the power of water can cut channels through rocks 00:56:25.64\00:56:28.70 and change the landscape forever. 00:56:28.90\00:56:31.81 In John chapter 7 00:56:32.11\00:56:33.94 Jesus stood and cried out saying: 00:56:34.14\00:56:36.71 "If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink. 00:56:36.91\00:56:40.37 He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, 00:56:40.57\00:56:43.95 out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. " 00:56:44.15\00:56:47.68 As He did so many times, 00:56:47.88\00:56:50.34 Jesus explained the spiritual things of God 00:56:50.54\00:56:53.61 through nature... like flowing water. 00:56:53.81\00:56:56.20 This living water is a life-changing source. 00:56:56.40\00:57:00.52 It can change the landscape of our lives 00:57:00.72\00:57:03.38 and flow through us to change the lives of others. 00:57:03.58\00:57:07.74 Folks, we all need water to live... 00:57:08.68\00:57:13.17 but we also need living water. 00:57:13.37\00:57:16.33 Jesus is that living water, 00:57:16.53\00:57:18.79 and through His Spirit we can bring life to those around us. 00:57:18.99\00:57:22.91 The only goal we have at this ministry 00:57:23.11\00:57:25.97 is to offer living water to all mankind. 00:57:26.17\00:57:29.75 There are thousands - no millions - 00:57:29.95\00:57:33.48 who still long for this water: the living water of life. 00:57:33.68\00:57:37.97 Won't you help us quench their thirst? 00:57:38.17\00:57:41.23 Please consider what you can do 00:57:41.43\00:57:42.90 for those who still don't know about Jesus. 00:57:43.10\00:57:45.50 As the Holy Spirit impresses, 00:57:45.70\00:57:47.34 please send your tax-deductible gifts to: 00:57:47.54\00:57:49.64 Thank you for helping us spread the light of God's Word 00:58:01.60\00:58:04.11 through television and radio. 00:58:04.31\00:58:05.98 Your gifts help bring the blessed hope of salvation 00:58:06.18\00:58:08.31 to millions around the world. 00:58:08.51\00:58:10.74