Hello and welcome again to the
00:00:19.24\00:00:21.40
Give Me The Bible series
00:00:21.60\00:00:22.99
with Pastor Kenneth Cox
00:00:23.19\00:00:24.84
and the Kenneth Cox Ministries.
00:00:25.04\00:00:26.48
We are coming to you live
00:00:26.68\00:00:28.22
from 3ABN Worship Center,
00:00:28.25\00:00:30.26
and we're so
grateful that you've joined us
00:00:30.46\00:00:32.48
from wherever you
are around the world.
00:00:32.68\00:00:35.18
And so thankful for everyone
who is here this morning.
00:00:35.38\00:00:38.85
It's a beautiful Sabbath
day here in southern Illinois.
00:00:39.05\00:00:41.73
And we are having an
exciting time, aren't we?
00:00:41.94\00:00:45.08
The series this month
is The Elijah Message.
00:00:45.28\00:00:50.33
And we are on our
third presentation today.
00:00:50.53\00:00:54.06
We've already heard
about the coming of Elijah
00:00:54.27\00:00:56.79
and how he's going to
turn the hearts of the fathers
00:00:56.89\00:00:59.80
to their children and
the hearts of the children
00:01:00.00\00:01:01.83
to their fathers. And
then last night we heard
00:01:02.03\00:01:04.72
about Abraham's altar.
00:01:04.92\00:01:06.64
And the practice of Abraham
00:01:06.84\00:01:08.58
was to have
morning and evening worship
00:01:08.78\00:01:11.60
with his family and
all of his household.
00:01:11.80\00:01:14.46
And that was very instrumental
in the salvation of his family,
00:01:14.66\00:01:18.60
was it not? Today
we're going to hear
00:01:18.81\00:01:21.63
a wonderful message
about the absolutely
00:01:21.83\00:01:27.13
unconditional love of God
00:01:27.23\00:01:29.02
but the
conditions of His promises.
00:01:29.22\00:01:31.17
And it's called
Bless This House.
00:01:31.37\00:01:33.32
Before Kenneth
comes to speak to us
00:01:33.52\00:01:36.01
we're going to have
a song by Dona Klein
00:01:36.21\00:01:39.16
who's been with the Kenneth Cox
Ministries for nearly 24 years.
00:01:39.36\00:01:42.55
And she is going to play
on the organ Bless This House.
00:01:42.75\00:01:45.65
But she said to me: "You
know, it's just not right
00:01:45.85\00:01:48.85
that the people
can't hear the words.
00:01:49.05\00:01:50.70
So let me share the words
of this, so that as she plays
00:01:50.90\00:01:53.89
you will know what this
song's message is all about.
00:01:54.09\00:01:57.10
It says:
00:01:57.40\00:01:58.72
Bless this
house, oh Lord, we pray.
00:01:58.92\00:02:01.09
Make it safe by night and day.
00:02:01.29\00:02:04.19
Bless these walls,
so firm and stout...
00:02:04.39\00:02:07.47
keeping want and trouble out.
00:02:07.68\00:02:10.57
Bless the roof and chimney tall,
00:02:10.87\00:02:13.67
let Thy peace be over all.
00:02:13.87\00:02:16.18
Bless this door
that it may prove
00:02:16.48\00:02:18.88
ever open to joy and love.
00:02:19.08\00:02:21.84
Bless these
windows, shining bright,
00:02:22.14\00:02:24.71
letting in God's heavenly light.
00:02:25.01\00:02:27.55
Bless the hearth ablazing there
00:02:27.86\00:02:30.47
with smoke
ascending like a prayer.
00:02:30.67\00:02:33.45
Bless the folk who dwell within.
00:02:33.76\00:02:36.67
Keep them pure
and free from sin.
00:02:36.97\00:02:40.11
Bless us all that we may be
00:02:40.41\00:02:43.70
fit, oh Lord,
to dwell with Thee.
00:02:43.80\00:02:46.41
Bless us all that one day we
00:02:46.71\00:02:49.43
may dwell, oh Lord, with Thee.
00:02:49.53\00:02:52.54
Thank you Dona Klein.
00:05:33.66\00:05:35.60
Did you enjoy that?
00:05:35.80\00:05:37.14
Bless This House.
00:05:37.34\00:05:38.85
Well, welcome. Glad to
welcome each of you today.
00:05:39.05\00:05:42.70
Appreciate you being here.
00:05:42.91\00:05:44.69
Those of you that are
joining us by television
00:05:44.89\00:05:47.71
or listening to it on the radio,
00:05:47.91\00:05:50.13
we welcome you.
00:05:50.33\00:05:51.51
This series that we're doing
00:05:51.71\00:05:54.10
is on The Elijah Message.
00:05:54.30\00:05:55.81
What says the Bible,
00:05:56.01\00:05:57.71
the blessed Bible?
00:05:57.91\00:05:59.32
This my only question be.
00:05:59.62\00:06:02.57
The Elijah Message
will give us guidance.
00:06:02.87\00:06:05.89
What says the book of God to me?
00:06:06.19\00:06:08.90
That's what we want to find out.
00:06:09.00\00:06:10.33
And we started off
the first presentation
00:06:10.53\00:06:14.42
talking about The Elijah Message
and what was involved in it.
00:06:14.62\00:06:18.00
And we found out that
it had to do with the home.
00:06:18.21\00:06:20.78
God is talking about how it
would turn the hearts of the
00:06:20.98\00:06:24.51
fathers to the children and
the children to their fathers.
00:06:24.71\00:06:27.33
And we took a look
at husbands, fathers,
00:06:27.53\00:06:30.90
and their responsibility in
what God was wanting them to do:
00:06:31.10\00:06:35.36
step up to the plate and be
what God had called them to be.
00:06:35.56\00:06:39.84
And then our next
presentation was entitled
00:06:40.04\00:06:43.11
Abraham's Altar
00:06:43.31\00:06:44.63
and we dealt with the
question of family worship
00:06:44.83\00:06:47.66
and how important it is for
the salvation of your children
00:06:47.86\00:06:52.97
to have family worship.
00:06:53.17\00:06:55.56
We dealt with that
and talked about it.
00:06:55.76\00:06:57.99
But we found out that when you
bring your life and your home
00:06:58.19\00:07:03.12
into the will of God,
then the blessings of God
00:07:03.32\00:07:08.95
begin to be poured out
upon your home like morning dew.
00:07:09.15\00:07:12.96
That's what we're talking
about in this presentation
00:07:13.16\00:07:16.24
is Bless This House.
00:07:16.44\00:07:18.20
The blessings of God, and
we'll take a look at those.
00:07:18.40\00:07:21.25
The Bible tells us that Elijah
00:07:21.55\00:07:24.69
was taken to
heaven in a fiery chariot
00:07:24.89\00:07:28.05
and that is his home. And so
our next presentation is titled
00:07:28.25\00:07:33.70
entitled Heaven Is My Home.
00:07:33.91\00:07:36.11
And in reality, this
old earth is not our home.
00:07:36.31\00:07:41.39
As the song says: This
earth is not my home...
00:07:41.59\00:07:45.33
I'm just a passin' through.
00:07:45.53\00:07:47.21
And that's basically
true: HEAVEN is our home.
00:07:47.41\00:07:51.22
And oh how glad I'll
be when that day comes.
00:07:51.32\00:07:54.72
And that's what
we're going to look at
00:07:54.92\00:07:56.18
in the next presentation
is Heaven Is My Home.
00:07:56.38\00:08:00.17
And then the final
presentation is entitled
00:08:00.20\00:08:03.13
The Great and
Dreadful Day of the Lord.
00:08:03.33\00:08:06.78
We're going to talk about...
It says the Elijah message
00:08:06.98\00:08:10.27
was to be proclaimed
until the great and dreadful day
00:08:10.47\00:08:14.12
of the Lord. So that'll
be our final presentation
00:08:14.22\00:08:17.27
in this series on
The Elijah Message.
00:08:17.48\00:08:19.95
And we appreciate you being here
00:08:20.15\00:08:21.95
and following it as we
study God's Word together.
00:08:22.15\00:08:25.71
We have enjoyed so much having
the Micheff sisters with us
00:08:25.91\00:08:30.50
in this series
and singing for us.
00:08:30.70\00:08:33.30
And Linda, Brenda,
Cinda are going to sing for us
00:08:33.50\00:08:38.06
a song entitled Without Him.
00:08:38.26\00:08:40.29
Without Him
00:08:53.01\00:08:55.39
I could do nothing,
00:08:55.59\00:09:00.51
Without Him
00:09:01.50\00:09:03.98
I'd surely fail;
00:09:04.08\00:09:08.98
Without Him
00:09:09.55\00:09:12.35
I would be drifting
00:09:12.55\00:09:17.67
like a ship
00:09:17.87\00:09:19.59
without a sail.
00:09:19.99\00:09:25.94
Jesus,
00:09:27.59\00:09:30.30
O Jesus!
00:09:30.93\00:09:34.47
Do you know Him today?
00:09:34.67\00:09:39.23
You can't turn Him away;
00:09:39.44\00:09:43.01
O Jesus,
00:09:43.21\00:09:47.49
my Jesus!
00:09:47.79\00:09:52.05
Without Him
00:09:52.35\00:09:54.61
how lost I would be.
00:09:54.81\00:09:59.52
Without Him
00:10:01.21\00:10:03.47
I would be dying,
00:10:03.77\00:10:08.57
Without Him
00:10:09.66\00:10:12.09
I'd be enslaved;
00:10:12.39\00:10:17.33
Without Him
00:10:17.63\00:10:20.32
life would be hopeless...
00:10:20.62\00:10:25.83
But with Jesus,
00:10:26.23\00:10:28.23
thank God, I'm saved.
00:10:28.53\00:10:34.08
Jesus,
00:10:35.35\00:10:38.22
O Jesus!
00:10:38.52\00:10:42.51
Do you know Him today?
00:10:43.01\00:10:47.17
You can't turn Him away;
00:10:47.47\00:10:51.23
O Jesus,
00:10:51.43\00:10:55.40
my Jesus!
00:10:55.80\00:11:00.24
Without Him
00:11:00.34\00:11:02.57
how lost I would be.
00:11:02.87\00:11:08.30
Jesus,
00:11:09.21\00:11:12.41
my Jesus!
00:11:12.82\00:11:18.72
Without Him
00:11:19.02\00:11:21.99
how lost I would be.
00:11:22.29\00:11:28.27
Our Heavenly Father,
00:11:47.21\00:11:48.83
Thank you, Lord, for loving us.
00:11:50.19\00:11:52.87
Thank you, Lord, for all
the blessings that You give us.
00:11:54.00\00:11:59.02
Help us Lord that we might each
00:12:00.49\00:12:03.24
understand Your will.
00:12:03.54\00:12:06.09
That we might bring
our lives into conformity
00:12:06.39\00:12:10.32
to Your desire and Your will.
00:12:10.62\00:12:13.14
We pray that we might stand firm
00:12:14.32\00:12:18.25
for what Your Word says
00:12:19.45\00:12:21.59
and to follow it and walk
with You in all that we do.
00:12:21.89\00:12:25.22
Bless us today as we take a look
00:12:25.52\00:12:28.75
at what it says
about the promises of God
00:12:29.06\00:12:32.32
and that our hearts
and our minds may be open
00:12:32.52\00:12:36.06
to Your blessing. We
pray in Christ's name, Amen.
00:12:36.37\00:12:41.02
God desires... God wants to
00:12:47.73\00:12:52.56
bless you.
00:12:52.87\00:12:54.33
There is no question
00:12:54.63\00:12:57.34
that God wants to
give you a blessing.
00:12:57.54\00:13:03.12
In fact, it says this:
00:13:03.32\00:13:04.86
He wants to give you a blessing.
00:13:15.32\00:13:16.97
So God says clearly
He wants to bless us.
00:13:23.77\00:13:27.45
There is nothing in this book
00:13:27.75\00:13:30.33
that God has
promised to you and to me
00:13:31.71\00:13:36.96
that will not be fulfilled
if we will do what He asks.
00:13:37.26\00:13:42.99
There's no blessing that He's
promised that won't be fulfilled
00:13:43.29\00:13:48.60
if we will just do what He asks.
00:13:48.81\00:13:51.27
The children of
Israel have left Egypt.
00:13:51.47\00:13:54.55
They've spent 40
years in the wilderness.
00:13:54.75\00:13:57.65
They have moved
into the land of Canaan.
00:13:57.85\00:14:00.56
They've been there for
quite a number of years now...
00:14:00.76\00:14:04.65
long enough that
Joshua has grown old
00:14:04.85\00:14:08.99
and he realizes that
his days are numbered
00:14:09.19\00:14:12.38
and he's now talking
to the children of Israel.
00:14:12.58\00:14:15.45
Listen to what he says to them:
00:14:15.65\00:14:17.51
He said: "The time's come.
00:14:21.79\00:14:24.94
I'm going to pass away. "
00:14:25.14\00:14:26.74
Not one thing has failed...
00:14:38.95\00:14:42.27
He said: "All the
things that God promised you...
00:14:47.73\00:14:52.08
every one of those
have been fulfilled;
00:14:52.28\00:14:55.78
not one has failed. "
00:14:55.98\00:14:58.07
And Nehemiah as he was talking
to the children of Israel
00:14:58.27\00:15:03.43
he called back...
called them back to the time
00:15:03.63\00:15:06.63
that they spent in the
wilderness - the 40 years there.
00:15:06.84\00:15:09.52
And he said this to them:
00:15:09.55\00:15:11.11
Now that's quite a statement!
00:15:16.90\00:15:18.76
Here they are out in the desert
00:15:18.96\00:15:21.07
and he said they lacked nothing.
00:15:21.27\00:15:23.28
I don't know that you
ladies would like that.
00:15:26.73\00:15:29.34
But here they spent 40
years in the wilderness.
00:15:33.83\00:15:36.97
Clothes didn't wear
out, their feet didn't swell.
00:15:37.17\00:15:39.77
God cared for them in
a very, very special way.
00:15:39.97\00:15:45.12
Enough so that when Solomon
00:15:45.52\00:15:49.67
was dedicating the temple to God
00:15:49.87\00:15:53.10
he had this to say:
00:15:53.40\00:15:54.75
Here they are in
the land of Canaan.
00:15:59.29\00:16:01.10
God has poured out blessing
upon blessing upon blessing
00:16:01.30\00:16:05.23
on them until it says
that silver is like stones
00:16:05.43\00:16:10.34
in the land of Israel.
00:16:10.54\00:16:12.12
OK?
00:16:12.32\00:16:13.99
He said: "Here you
are in the land of Israel.
00:16:23.41\00:16:25.63
God has carried out
everything that He said. "
00:16:25.83\00:16:30.75
Now what I'm trying to
get across to you today
00:16:30.95\00:16:33.96
is He'll do that for you.
00:16:34.16\00:16:36.57
He'll do that
for you and for me.
00:16:37.97\00:16:40.93
Not one thing will fail.
00:16:41.23\00:16:44.40
This is what it
says here in Hebrews:
00:16:44.70\00:16:47.58
"Impossible for God to lie. "
00:17:07.08\00:17:09.64
If He promises, He will perform.
00:17:09.84\00:17:13.38
No question about that.
00:17:13.68\00:17:15.44
So God promises...
He says it will happen,
00:17:22.93\00:17:26.66
it will take place.
00:17:26.97\00:17:28.06
And as Jesus
spoke to the disciples
00:17:28.36\00:17:31.90
He said - they had just come
back from a missionary journey,
00:17:32.00\00:17:35.19
they had been out preaching -
00:17:35.39\00:17:37.19
So God is more than capable
00:17:48.18\00:17:52.65
of taking care
of each one of us.
00:17:52.95\00:17:55.97
We... we don't need to
be concerned about that.
00:17:56.28\00:18:00.44
But, the blessings
of God are special.
00:18:00.74\00:18:04.78
They carry a
special blessing with them.
00:18:04.99\00:18:07.54
A pastor was visiting
one of his parishioners.
00:18:07.84\00:18:11.74
And as he was sitting
there in her home visiting her
00:18:12.04\00:18:15.85
he happened to look on the
stand beside the chair there
00:18:16.06\00:18:19.01
and there was her Bible.
00:18:19.21\00:18:20.47
And he picked up her Bible
00:18:20.67\00:18:22.79
and just simply
began to page through it.
00:18:23.00\00:18:26.15
And as he paged through it
00:18:26.45\00:18:28.30
he had come across
texts that were highlighted.
00:18:28.51\00:18:31.40
And as he looked at them closely
00:18:31.70\00:18:33.74
he noticed there
was the letter T and P
00:18:33.94\00:18:36.14
under some of those texts.
00:18:36.35\00:18:38.82
Looked through it and
he said to her... he said:
00:18:39.12\00:18:41.39
"what are these
scriptures that you've got
00:18:41.59\00:18:43.96
T and P written under? "
00:18:44.16\00:18:46.35
She said: "Oh, that just
means tried and proven. " See?
00:18:46.65\00:18:50.65
And that it's
true... very, very true.
00:18:50.95\00:18:53.62
You see, all the promises of
God - every last one of them -
00:18:53.82\00:18:58.65
are based on conditions.
00:18:58.86\00:19:02.33
Not... there's
not one that isn't.
00:19:08.45\00:19:10.11
They're based on conditions.
00:19:10.31\00:19:12.48
If you and I
fulfill the conditions,
00:19:12.68\00:19:15.57
I guarantee you God
will fulfill His part.
00:19:15.77\00:19:20.03
OK? You and I
fulfill the conditions.
00:19:21.26\00:19:24.74
So He just simply says this:
00:19:24.94\00:19:27.33
OK. The promises of
God - the blessings...
00:19:34.68\00:19:38.17
there's a
blessing, there's a curse.
00:19:38.38\00:19:40.87
See what it goes on and says:
00:19:41.07\00:19:42.85
He says: "You want the
blessing, what do you do? "
00:19:50.37\00:19:53.24
You do the things that God said.
00:19:54.50\00:19:56.89
Said: "Do this;
I will bless you. "
00:19:57.19\00:20:00.84
Said: "If you don't
obey the commandments,
00:20:07.25\00:20:10.25
then the curse will be there. "
00:20:10.45\00:20:11.94
So it's just that simple, folks.
00:20:12.14\00:20:14.26
Not difficult. If
you want God's blessing,
00:20:14.56\00:20:17.95
do what He says.
00:20:18.15\00:20:21.68
Very, very simple.
00:20:21.98\00:20:23.46
And you'll find as you
go through the blessings
00:20:23.66\00:20:25.78
they're all based on condition
00:20:25.98\00:20:30.03
that you and I
fulfill the condition.
00:20:30.23\00:20:32.80
Let's take a look at
some of the blessings
00:20:33.10\00:20:36.21
that God has
promised to all of us.
00:20:36.31\00:20:39.07
Does He promise forgiveness?
00:20:41.71\00:20:44.16
Absolutely! And
by the way, folks,
00:20:44.46\00:20:47.07
there may be
promises that God says
00:20:47.27\00:20:49.35
"Do this, I'll do this. "
00:20:49.55\00:20:51.10
And sometimes it may take time
for that to happen, but that
00:20:51.30\00:20:56.62
never, never, never happens
when it comes to forgiveness.
00:20:56.82\00:21:01.22
When you ask for forgiveness,
it's given to you immediately.
00:21:01.52\00:21:06.90
OK? So let's look at...
let's look at the conditions.
00:21:07.20\00:21:11.32
This is the condition:
00:21:12.59\00:21:13.86
You want to be forgiven?
00:21:18.11\00:21:19.96
What's the condition?
00:21:20.16\00:21:21.63
You've got to confess your sin.
00:21:21.83\00:21:24.34
What is the promise?
00:21:24.54\00:21:26.18
"If we confess our sins... "
00:21:26.48\00:21:29.42
That's the promise.
00:21:35.67\00:21:36.73
God said: "OK, the condition
is you confess your sins" -
00:21:36.93\00:21:40.05
PROMISE - "I will
forgive you of your sins. "
00:21:40.25\00:21:44.96
That's the promise.
00:21:45.06\00:21:46.12
You see, they're
based on simple conditions.
00:21:46.22\00:21:48.85
It's the same
thing... based on...
00:21:51.24\00:21:53.08
Salvation... the
condition is simply this:
00:21:53.28\00:21:58.23
That's the condition.
00:22:04.69\00:22:06.20
You want to be saved?
Then what do you need to do?
00:22:06.41\00:22:10.46
Call on the name of the Lord.
00:22:11.61\00:22:13.12
You need to go to
Him and call on Him.
00:22:13.32\00:22:15.52
Call on the name of the
Lord... that's the condition.
00:22:15.83\00:22:17.90
What's the promise?
00:22:18.10\00:22:19.56
Can you complete the text?
00:22:19.76\00:22:21.58
That's the promise.
00:22:29.39\00:22:30.40
See? Very, very simple:
you've got the condition...
00:22:30.61\00:22:34.03
If I fulfill it, God
will honor the promise.
00:22:34.23\00:22:38.03
Same thing.
00:22:40.25\00:22:41.33
That's the condition.
00:22:45.46\00:22:46.75
Finish the text.
00:22:46.95\00:22:48.25
See? That's the promise.
00:22:51.12\00:22:53.22
So God simply puts them
there. Tells us if we do this,
00:22:53.52\00:22:57.08
He will bless us
and we will be saved.
00:22:57.11\00:23:01.30
What about daily needs?
00:23:01.60\00:23:04.53
Do you think
that enters into it?
00:23:05.58\00:23:07.18
What about such things as food?
00:23:07.38\00:23:10.10
Does that have anything
to do with my everyday life?
00:23:10.30\00:23:15.39
That I can come
to the Lord and ask
00:23:15.59\00:23:18.44
and He promises that He
will provide such things?
00:23:18.64\00:23:22.17
What about shelter?
00:23:22.37\00:23:24.99
House. What about clothing?
00:23:25.19\00:23:29.43
Well, I want to share with
you one of the promises of God
00:23:32.30\00:23:36.95
that I consider probably
the greatest one of all of them.
00:23:37.15\00:23:41.14
And that simply says this...
00:23:41.54\00:23:44.69
This is the
condition if you want food,
00:23:44.89\00:23:47.94
if you want shelter,
00:23:48.14\00:23:50.53
if you want clothing...
00:23:50.73\00:23:52.59
By the way, it's not
based... now listen to me...
00:23:52.79\00:23:56.51
It's not based on
whether you have a job.
00:23:56.71\00:23:59.52
Let me come back to that.
00:24:02.18\00:24:04.08
Whether you have food
or whether you have shelter
00:24:04.28\00:24:08.30
or whether you have clothing
00:24:08.50\00:24:11.31
is not based on
whether you have a job.
00:24:11.52\00:24:15.77
It's based on this:
00:24:17.18\00:24:18.78
That's the condition.
00:24:25.23\00:24:26.89
You want food on your table?
00:24:27.19\00:24:29.13
You want clothes on your back?
00:24:29.43\00:24:31.82
You want a house to live in?
00:24:32.22\00:24:34.42
"Seek first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness... "
00:24:35.72\00:24:40.27
What's the promise?
00:24:40.57\00:24:41.88
"All these things
shall be added unto you. "
00:24:48.43\00:24:51.82
Not based on
whether you have a job
00:24:52.02\00:24:53.99
but based on the fact that you
seek first the kingdom of God
00:24:54.19\00:24:58.40
and His righteousness.
00:24:58.60\00:24:59.71
And you say: "Oh, Brother Cox,
00:24:59.91\00:25:01.30
that's not talking about whether
you have food on your table
00:25:01.51\00:25:04.62
or whether you have clothing.
00:25:04.72\00:25:06.50
That's not talking about that.
00:25:06.70\00:25:07.87
That's talking about God
spiritually blessing you. "
00:25:08.07\00:25:10.23
No it's not.
00:25:10.43\00:25:11.54
It's actually talking about
00:25:12.52\00:25:14.22
whether you have
food on the table.
00:25:14.42\00:25:16.17
How do I know that?
00:25:16.27\00:25:17.33
Well that's found
in Matthew 6 where?
00:25:17.53\00:25:19.92
Matthew 6:31.
00:25:20.12\00:25:23.40
Look at this:
00:25:23.60\00:25:25.44
Matthew 6:31, OK?
00:25:26.87\00:25:31.03
This is what it says:
00:25:31.23\00:25:32.36
I don't have a job.
00:25:37.30\00:25:38.84
"But seek ye first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness.
00:25:43.35\00:25:48.62
All these things
shall be added unto you. "
00:25:48.92\00:25:53.32
OK? So you see, it makes
a great, great difference.
00:25:53.62\00:25:58.24
If I put things in
their right priority
00:25:58.44\00:26:02.35
and I seek God first,
00:26:02.45\00:26:04.11
He says "then I'll add
all these things to you.
00:26:04.31\00:26:07.17
You'll have them. "
00:26:07.37\00:26:09.46
God wants to bless you.
00:26:09.66\00:26:13.08
He definitely does.
00:26:13.28\00:26:15.35
What about children?
00:26:16.26\00:26:17.93
Does that enter
into it? Sure it does.
00:26:19.44\00:26:21.80
God says to seek Him.
00:26:22.00\00:26:24.72
Do you remember the
case in scripture of Hannah?
00:26:24.92\00:26:27.31
Remember she
didn't have any children?
00:26:28.82\00:26:31.42
Remember she was so
distraught she went down to the
00:26:32.39\00:26:35.89
tabernacle there and was
praying and Eli thought she was
00:26:36.09\00:26:41.64
drunk.
00:26:41.84\00:26:43.29
And he rebuked her for drinking.
00:26:43.49\00:26:47.87
And she said:
"No, I'm not drunk. "
00:26:48.08\00:26:50.45
She said: "I'm distraught. "
00:26:50.75\00:26:52.94
And she told him, and
he said: "Go back home;
00:26:53.14\00:26:57.92
God will give you a child. "
00:26:58.12\00:27:00.64
And you remember?
She gave birth to Samuel.
00:27:00.84\00:27:04.77
And she said this about it:
00:27:05.07\00:27:06.73
God gave her a child.
00:27:15.73\00:27:18.03
So what I'm
trying to say, folks, is
00:27:18.23\00:27:22.18
we look too
often for human means
00:27:22.28\00:27:26.62
to solve our situation
00:27:26.83\00:27:29.11
rather than going
to God and asking Him
00:27:29.31\00:27:32.62
to show us and to
bring our lives into His will
00:27:32.82\00:27:37.53
and His desire. And He
said "If you'll do this,
00:27:37.73\00:27:40.64
I will bless you.
" God loves to bless!
00:27:40.84\00:27:44.74
That's what He wants to do.
00:27:45.04\00:27:47.16
He's waiting for you and for me
00:27:47.46\00:27:50.88
to bring our lives
into conformity to His will.
00:27:51.08\00:27:54.93
Well, longevity.
00:27:55.23\00:27:58.08
Young people, you
want to live a long life?
00:27:58.48\00:28:04.04
You know, what could
you ask for more than this
00:28:05.23\00:28:08.98
than to live a long
life and to be blessed of God
00:28:09.18\00:28:13.74
all your life?
00:28:13.94\00:28:15.25
Huh?
00:28:15.55\00:28:17.06
But He says this, promises us:
00:28:17.26\00:28:19.33
That is the condition: if
you want to live a long life,
00:28:27.22\00:28:31.24
you want to blessed of God,
00:28:31.45\00:28:33.29
then honor your parents.
00:28:33.49\00:28:35.35
That's a promise.
00:28:35.65\00:28:37.11
What is the
promise that He gives us?
00:28:37.41\00:28:39.87
He says: "If
you'll honor your parents,
00:28:52.06\00:28:54.49
then your life will be
long and I will bless you. "
00:28:54.52\00:28:59.98
So think about it.
00:29:00.98\00:29:03.02
Think about it very carefully
00:29:03.32\00:29:05.79
when you may be tempted
not to honor your parents
00:29:06.09\00:29:12.00
because it makes a
great, great difference.
00:29:12.31\00:29:16.62
Well, let's talk
about financial help.
00:29:16.92\00:29:20.79
We live in an age - a time -
00:29:21.09\00:29:24.12
where right now that
is very, very critical.
00:29:24.33\00:29:27.29
And I just got through
telling you the blessing of God
00:29:27.60\00:29:30.81
is not dependent on
whether you have a job.
00:29:31.01\00:29:33.11
The blessing of God is dependent
on you and I doing His will
00:29:35.25\00:29:41.18
in what we do.
00:29:41.38\00:29:42.85
But what about financial help?
00:29:42.95\00:29:44.55
Well, to begin with
God will not bless you
00:29:44.75\00:29:49.44
unless...
00:29:49.74\00:29:55.10
God will not bless you
00:29:55.40\00:29:58.83
unless - and I'm
talking about financially...
00:29:59.13\00:30:02.56
unless you are willing to give.
00:30:02.86\00:30:07.12
Now don't think for a moment
00:30:07.52\00:30:10.46
that God is going to bless
you and give you financial help
00:30:10.66\00:30:14.77
and all this for you to hoard it
00:30:15.07\00:30:17.49
and to spend it on yourself
00:30:17.79\00:30:20.41
and to spend it
on selfish reasons.
00:30:20.71\00:30:22.82
God is not going to do that.
00:30:23.02\00:30:25.14
God will bless you if you give.
00:30:26.26\00:30:30.87
And... and maybe that's
hard for you to understand,
00:30:32.77\00:30:35.21
but that's what
the scripture says.
00:30:35.41\00:30:36.70
Let's look at the condition.
00:30:36.80\00:30:38.11
That's the condition.
00:30:44.49\00:30:46.13
If you want to get
along well financially,
00:30:46.43\00:30:49.88
then dear friend,
my advice to you is
00:30:50.08\00:30:52.98
give. Be generous.
00:30:53.18\00:30:56.06
Don't be stingy.
00:30:56.36\00:30:58.80
You can't be
selfish and God bless you.
00:30:59.11\00:31:02.88
That won't work.
00:31:03.08\00:31:04.47
All right. Let's look
at what the promise is.
00:31:04.77\00:31:06.91
How much will He
bless you if you give?
00:31:07.11\00:31:09.17
Simple! If you want
to be blessed of God,
00:31:27.93\00:31:32.61
then dear friend...
Not long till Thanksgiving.
00:31:33.93\00:31:39.09
Instead of
inviting all the family in,
00:31:41.24\00:31:43.44
you might ought to
invite some people in
00:31:44.77\00:31:46.62
that don't have anything to eat.
00:31:46.82\00:31:48.59
Hmmm?
00:31:52.90\00:31:54.27
You might just ought
to be willing to give.
00:31:55.57\00:32:00.58
Because the Lord Himself said
if you invite your friends in
00:32:01.90\00:32:06.52
and you invite your family in,
00:32:06.72\00:32:08.80
you've been thanked.
You don't need anything.
00:32:09.00\00:32:12.97
But He said if you invite
the people that don't have
00:32:13.27\00:32:17.80
anything in,
they can't repay you.
00:32:18.00\00:32:21.33
Therefore, your Father
in Heaven will repay you.
00:32:21.63\00:32:25.55
See?
00:32:25.85\00:32:27.26
So be willing to
share. You've got to give.
00:32:27.56\00:32:31.01
If you want God to
bless you, absolutely vital
00:32:31.22\00:32:36.86
to receive the blessing of God.
00:32:37.16\00:32:38.73
Well, what other
things do I need to do
00:32:39.03\00:32:43.05
if I want to be
blessed financially?
00:32:43.15\00:32:45.18
Well, the other
thing you need to do is
00:32:45.38\00:32:47.86
keep the Sabbath.
00:32:48.06\00:32:49.26
I run on lots of people
who say: "Oh, Brother Cox,
00:32:52.16\00:32:54.61
I can't keep the Sabbath.
00:32:54.81\00:32:56.62
Why if I was to keep the
Sabbath I'd lose my job. "
00:32:56.82\00:33:00.78
You might!
00:33:01.08\00:33:03.35
Like I told you, it's
not dependent on whether
00:33:03.65\00:33:06.84
you have a job.
00:33:06.94\00:33:08.24
God's not dependent on
whether you have a job!
00:33:08.54\00:33:11.18
He said: "I'll give
you food for your table.
00:33:11.48\00:33:13.53
I'll put clothes on your back.
00:33:13.63\00:33:14.82
I'll give you shelter to live in
00:33:15.02\00:33:16.35
if you seek first
the kingdom of God. "
00:33:16.65\00:33:19.63
So it's not dependent on work.
00:33:19.93\00:33:24.04
It's dependent
on doing God's will.
00:33:24.34\00:33:28.13
And when it comes to the Sabbath
00:33:28.43\00:33:30.81
what does He
promise to you and me?
00:33:31.01\00:33:32.80
What are the conditions?
00:33:33.00\00:33:34.95
Well, this is the condition:
00:33:35.25\00:33:36.55
That's simply saying
that if you and I do not
00:34:01.31\00:34:04.66
tread on the Sabbath -
that means not keep it,
00:34:04.86\00:34:08.15
doing our own thing,
going about our own pleasures,
00:34:08.35\00:34:11.18
speaking our own words -
00:34:11.38\00:34:12.59
doing all these things
that are not in accordance
00:34:12.69\00:34:15.55
with the will of God.
00:34:15.75\00:34:17.38
And dear friend, I
want to emphasize that.
00:34:17.58\00:34:20.59
We need to STOP the
things that we're doing
00:34:20.79\00:34:24.94
on God's Sabbath.
00:34:24.97\00:34:27.05
We need to stop treating it
like any other day of the week.
00:34:28.15\00:34:33.35
We need to do what He says here.
00:34:33.65\00:34:37.14
We need to honor it,
00:34:37.44\00:34:38.98
and we need to keep it
as He expects us to keep it.
00:34:39.28\00:34:42.79
And you're not... I just want
to tell you right up front...
00:34:42.99\00:34:46.80
you're not going to
receive the blessing of God
00:34:47.00\00:34:50.77
if you don't.
00:34:50.97\00:34:52.22
So, you know, stop treating
it just as any other day.
00:34:54.86\00:35:00.50
We are to keep the
Sabbath; it is holy, special.
00:35:00.80\00:35:05.16
If you and I will
obey the conditions,
00:35:05.46\00:35:10.42
what's the promise?
00:35:10.62\00:35:11.86
Then, if you do these things:
00:35:12.16\00:35:15.56
There's nothing any
clearer in God's Word than that.
00:35:32.83\00:35:36.66
Says: "If you do these
things that I have told you,
00:35:36.97\00:35:41.47
I will bless you.
00:35:41.77\00:35:43.27
I'll cause you to ride on
the high hills of the earth.
00:35:43.47\00:35:46.74
Feed you with the
heritage of Jacob your father.
00:35:47.04\00:35:50.21
For the mouth of
the Lord has spoken. "
00:35:50.51\00:35:53.87
See, it doesn't have anything
to do with the fact that
00:35:55.69\00:36:01.63
you might be fired
if you keep the Sabbath.
00:36:02.95\00:36:06.70
That... God didn't say that.
00:36:07.00\00:36:10.14
God said: "Keep it.
00:36:10.45\00:36:13.04
And if you do, I
will bless you. "
00:36:13.44\00:36:17.16
And folks, like
I've said before,
00:36:17.26\00:36:19.99
there's not very many things
that I would recommend to you
00:36:20.30\00:36:24.86
about old age.
00:36:25.16\00:36:26.83
See?
00:36:27.23\00:36:29.25
But one thing old age does:
00:36:29.85\00:36:32.77
it gives you the
ability to look back
00:36:33.07\00:36:36.09
and you can see
what God has done.
00:36:36.39\00:36:40.56
And I can look back and
see case after case after case
00:36:40.86\00:36:45.90
of people who were
struggling, having a hard time,
00:36:47.14\00:36:52.63
that even under adverse
circumstances and a hard time
00:36:52.83\00:36:57.28
stepped out by
faith and kept the Sabbath
00:36:57.38\00:37:00.93
and even lost their job.
00:37:01.23\00:37:03.20
Those same families
today have been blessed by God
00:37:05.87\00:37:11.40
unbelievable.
00:37:11.70\00:37:13.20
And at the same time I can
look back and see those families
00:37:14.74\00:37:18.02
that they stood there
and they struggled about
00:37:18.33\00:37:20.51
over the Sabbath, and they
were unwilling to take the step
00:37:20.61\00:37:23.92
and they continued to break
the Sabbath and didn't keep it
00:37:24.12\00:37:27.76
and today they're still
having the same struggles
00:37:27.96\00:37:31.73
they had back then.
00:37:31.93\00:37:33.48
No, dear friend. If you
want to be blessed by God,
00:37:33.78\00:37:38.50
then follow
Him. Do what He says.
00:37:38.90\00:37:42.50
He'll bless you
wonderfully if you'll do it.
00:37:42.70\00:37:46.19
My own life... I look back
00:37:46.49\00:37:50.27
I can see how God has
so wonderfully blessed
00:37:50.47\00:37:56.17
where individuals I grew up with
00:37:57.56\00:38:02.02
have never taken
God into their life
00:38:02.22\00:38:04.94
and they have
had terrible lives.
00:38:05.24\00:38:08.42
And some of them
- when I say that -
00:38:08.72\00:38:11.71
have done OK financially
but they still have had
00:38:12.01\00:38:15.21
horrible lives.
00:38:15.41\00:38:16.54
Dear friend, you and
I have the opportunity
00:38:16.84\00:38:21.71
of having the blessing of God
00:38:22.01\00:38:24.83
if we're willing
to walk with Him.
00:38:25.13\00:38:28.63
You see, it says
clearly in God's Word...
00:38:28.93\00:38:34.78
it says that you
"are His people. "
00:38:34.99\00:38:38.75
And He said: "I
will be your God. "
00:38:39.05\00:38:44.20
Do you understand
the implications of that
00:38:44.50\00:38:47.11
when He says: "I'll be
your God, you're My people? "
00:38:47.41\00:38:50.57
If He can say "Well
these are My people, "
00:38:50.87\00:38:53.75
then what's He going to do?
00:38:54.05\00:38:56.29
He's going to bless you.
00:38:56.59\00:38:58.55
He's going to say:
"These are My people.
00:38:58.85\00:39:01.06
I care for them. "
00:39:01.36\00:39:02.45
He blesses you;
He'll give you all kinds...
00:39:02.55\00:39:04.72
He says: "It
will be well with you"
00:39:04.92\00:39:07.35
because you are His people.
00:39:07.65\00:39:11.55
Promises that...
that He'll bless us
00:39:11.65\00:39:14.83
if we just are
willing to follow Him.
00:39:15.03\00:39:19.20
Well... so if you want
to get along financially,
00:39:19.50\00:39:22.84
then keep the Sabbath.
00:39:23.14\00:39:25.74
Very, very vital that you do.
00:39:26.04\00:39:30.64
Thirdly is your tithe.
00:39:30.94\00:39:34.73
If you want to be
blessed financially,
00:39:35.03\00:39:39.11
return the tithe to the Lord.
00:39:39.31\00:39:43.36
Don't... don't - how
should I say? - begrudge it.
00:39:44.81\00:39:50.78
Give it willingly. In
fact, give it joyfully...
00:39:51.08\00:39:55.10
because He will
bless you if you do.
00:39:55.40\00:39:59.25
Let's look at it.
00:40:00.53\00:40:01.59
Here's the condition:
00:40:01.89\00:40:03.03
Folks, I mean, not only is
He saying this is the condition,
00:40:12.40\00:40:16.10
He said: "Well, just try it. "
00:40:16.30\00:40:17.76
OK?
00:40:17.96\00:40:19.04
"Try Me now in this,
says the Lord of Hosts. "
00:40:19.14\00:40:22.30
Now, what is the promise?
00:40:22.50\00:40:25.03
Here's the promise:
00:40:25.23\00:40:26.43
He said: "If you just do this,
00:40:35.35\00:40:37.45
I'll pour out on you a blessing
00:40:37.65\00:40:40.37
that there won't be
room enough to receive it. "
00:40:40.57\00:40:43.07
What are you asking for?
00:40:44.60\00:40:46.65
You know? You come down
to the point where you say:
00:40:46.95\00:40:51.48
"OK, if I pay the tithe,
00:40:51.68\00:40:55.30
I don't have anything left.
00:40:55.50\00:40:58.28
Don't have anything
left if I pay tithe. "
00:41:01.67\00:41:04.80
What are you going to do?
00:41:05.00\00:41:06.59
Say "Well, I'll just keep it? "
00:41:06.89\00:41:11.96
Now you can make that decision:
00:41:16.57\00:41:18.98
"I'll just keep it. "
00:41:19.18\00:41:20.29
But let me tell you
something, that's all you got.
00:41:20.49\00:41:25.10
I would much rather say:
"Well, I'll give my tithe
00:41:26.74\00:41:32.10
and then I have
the Lord's blessing
00:41:32.30\00:41:37.12
to the place that there won't
be room enough to receive it.
00:41:37.32\00:41:41.17
That's a great,
great difference.
00:41:41.57\00:41:43.65
I don't know about you
but I can tell you right now
00:41:43.85\00:41:46.31
the odds are much better over
here than they are over there.
00:41:46.51\00:41:49.52
See? I would
rather walk with the Lord
00:41:49.73\00:41:54.81
and do what He says
than to not turn my tithe in.
00:41:55.01\00:42:00.20
The tithe is
just simply a tenth.
00:42:00.40\00:42:05.82
That simply means
if I make a dollar
00:42:06.03\00:42:11.13
the tithe on it is 10 cents.
00:42:11.33\00:42:13.99
If I make ten
dollars, tithe is a dollar.
00:42:14.19\00:42:17.93
If I make a hundred
dollars, tithe is ten dollars.
00:42:18.23\00:42:21.70
That's simply what it is.
00:42:21.90\00:42:24.13
And it just simply says
that I am to return this
00:42:24.33\00:42:28.18
to the Lord and He will bless.
00:42:28.38\00:42:32.22
Now folks, that text
said two definite things.
00:42:44.74\00:42:47.54
It said "it is the Lord's. "
00:42:47.74\00:42:51.02
So, I mean, there's
no ifs, buts about it.
00:42:51.22\00:42:56.53
It's NOT YOUR'S.
00:42:56.73\00:42:58.52
It's the Lord's.
00:42:58.72\00:43:01.12
OK? It is HOLY to the Lord.
00:43:01.32\00:43:05.87
So that means that
you and I cannot keep it.
00:43:06.07\00:43:11.00
It doesn't belong to us.
00:43:11.20\00:43:12.55
To be real honest about it,
00:43:12.95\00:43:15.73
you don't really GIVE
tithe... you RETURN it
00:43:15.93\00:43:20.26
because it's the
Lord's... belongs to Him.
00:43:20.46\00:43:23.37
I have a friend that
was preaching on this.
00:43:23.57\00:43:25.80
When he got through this fellow
came up to him after the sermon
00:43:27.00\00:43:30.31
and said to him, said:
00:43:30.51\00:43:31.70
"You don't have to
give tithe to be saved. "
00:43:31.90\00:43:35.36
And my friend said: "How
did you arrive at that? "
00:43:36.72\00:43:40.58
He said: "Well the thief on
the cross never gave any tithe
00:43:40.78\00:43:44.23
and he'll be saved. "
00:43:44.43\00:43:46.05
And my friend said:
"Well, you're right. "
00:43:46.45\00:43:49.39
He said: "There's just
one difference between you
00:43:49.59\00:43:51.88
and the thief on the cross:
00:43:52.08\00:43:53.44
he was a dying thief
and you're a living one. "
00:43:53.64\00:43:56.31
See? There's considerable
difference there, you see.
00:43:56.52\00:44:00.00
That I am NOT to
take from the Lord.
00:44:00.20\00:44:04.35
That's His... holy to the Lord.
00:44:04.55\00:44:07.93
But let me assure
you that if you and I
00:44:08.13\00:44:11.34
will do what God asks us to do
He will bless in a special way.
00:44:11.54\00:44:17.12
You remember Jacob?
00:44:17.32\00:44:18.64
You remember he was
fleeing from his brother Esau
00:44:18.67\00:44:21.44
and got out in the
plains of Bethel and I guess
00:44:21.64\00:44:24.92
he was... gave
out. He had run all day.
00:44:25.12\00:44:27.17
And he laid down
there and went to sleep.
00:44:27.37\00:44:29.67
Took a rock for a pillow -
I've never understood that -
00:44:29.87\00:44:32.61
and went to sleep.
00:44:32.81\00:44:34.85
Anyhow, during the night he
saw this... he had this dream
00:44:35.06\00:44:37.85
where these angels were coming
up and down the staircase.
00:44:38.05\00:44:40.52
Next morning he
woke up and said:
00:44:40.72\00:44:42.63
"This is the house of God. "
00:44:42.83\00:44:44.74
And he said: "Lord, if
You'll just bless me. "
00:44:44.94\00:44:49.23
And he made a
commitment to God right there
00:44:49.43\00:44:52.04
and he said to Him:
00:44:52.24\00:44:53.31
He said: "Now,
whatever You give me
00:45:06.46\00:45:09.74
I'll give a tenth to You. "
00:45:09.84\00:45:11.19
Well you remember he
went on down to Laban's house.
00:45:11.39\00:45:15.18
And you remember
Laban had two daughters:
00:45:15.38\00:45:18.03
Rachel and Leah.
00:45:18.23\00:45:20.19
And the Bible says that Rachel
was beautiful and Leah was ugly,
00:45:20.39\00:45:24.66
and it says that he
fell in love with Rachel.
00:45:24.86\00:45:29.76
Anyhow, he married Rachel
00:45:29.96\00:45:33.48
and he... well, he
went to Laban and said:
00:45:33.68\00:45:39.27
"I want to
marry your daughter. "
00:45:39.48\00:45:41.08
Said: "What have I got
to do? " And he said: "Well,
00:45:41.28\00:45:43.08
work for me for seven years. "
00:45:43.28\00:45:45.67
Said: "OK. "
00:45:47.93\00:45:49.56
Now you've got to
think about this, folks.
00:45:49.76\00:45:51.98
He's going to work for
seven years and his only pay
00:45:52.18\00:45:54.14
is going to be
this one woman. See?
00:45:54.34\00:45:57.27
And you remember
when he had done that
00:45:57.47\00:45:59.73
well then they had the
wedding and he got her home...
00:45:59.93\00:46:03.14
and, of course, over
there they wear veils.
00:46:03.34\00:46:05.07
Took the veil off and
lo and behold he had Leah -
00:46:05.28\00:46:09.06
not Rachel - as
you remember the story.
00:46:09.26\00:46:10.83
And he got her by the arm
and took her back to her father
00:46:11.03\00:46:14.03
and he said: "What
have you done to me? "
00:46:14.23\00:46:15.53
Said: "I worked
seven years for Rachel. "
00:46:15.73\00:46:17.25
Said: "Oh, I'm sorry. It's
a custom here in the country
00:46:17.45\00:46:19.48
the oldest daughter
has to marry first. "
00:46:19.58\00:46:21.14
He said: "I'll tell you what.
Work for me for seven more years
00:46:21.34\00:46:24.53
and I'll give you Rachel also. "
00:46:24.73\00:46:25.92
Which Jacob agreed to.
00:46:26.12\00:46:28.35
I don't know that was a bargain.
00:46:28.55\00:46:30.05
I mean, fourteen
years for two women?
00:46:30.25\00:46:32.76
That... anyhow, he worked
for him for fourteen years.
00:46:32.97\00:46:37.60
His only wage
has been two wives.
00:46:37.80\00:46:40.15
And then Laban
called him in and said:
00:46:40.35\00:46:42.50
"I guess if
you're going to stay here
00:46:42.71\00:46:44.12
I need to pay you something. "
00:46:44.32\00:46:46.36
Said: "OK. "
00:46:46.39\00:46:48.00
He said: "I'll tell
you what, " he said,
00:46:48.20\00:46:50.40
I'll give you all the spotted
calves. I'll give you all
00:46:50.61\00:46:54.23
the spotted sheep. I'll
give you all the spotted goats.
00:46:54.43\00:46:57.07
I'll give you
anything that's spotted. "
00:46:57.27\00:46:59.06
Now that was
really generous of Laban
00:46:59.26\00:47:00.98
since everything he
had was black Angus.
00:47:01.18\00:47:03.14
He didn't have a
spotted one in the bunch.
00:47:04.94\00:47:06.74
But anyhow, God
said: "OK, Jacob. "
00:47:06.94\00:47:10.60
Said: "Whatever place these
cows and sheep and all drink
00:47:10.80\00:47:15.57
I want you to go out
there and cut down the cane
00:47:15.77\00:47:18.48
and you lay it in the
pond and in the troughs
00:47:18.68\00:47:22.56
and in the creek
and in the river.
00:47:22.77\00:47:24.34
Every place they
drink lay it in there
00:47:24.54\00:47:26.76
and lay it crosswise. "
00:47:26.96\00:47:28.68
He went out and did it.
00:47:28.88\00:47:30.71
That spring when they
started calving, having...
00:47:30.91\00:47:34.60
they were spotted.
00:47:34.80\00:47:36.24
All of them were spotted.
00:47:36.44\00:47:37.90
Laban said:
"What's going on here? "
00:47:38.10\00:47:40.23
"What's happening here? "
00:47:40.43\00:47:41.90
Dear friend, the
scripture says that Laban
00:47:42.10\00:47:44.76
changed his wages ten times.
00:47:44.96\00:47:49.52
And he wasn't raising
them... he was lowering them.
00:47:49.72\00:47:51.68
And when Jacob left there he
was an extremely wealthy man.
00:47:51.88\00:47:56.52
Why? Because God blessed him.
00:47:56.72\00:48:00.04
God gave those things to him,
blessed him in a special way.
00:48:00.24\00:48:05.00
Just simply tells you and I
that we are to return to Him
00:48:05.20\00:48:10.68
the tithe. Jesus said:
00:48:10.89\00:48:13.08
He tells us that we
are to be responsible;
00:48:29.71\00:48:32.44
we are to return
the tithe to the Lord.
00:48:32.64\00:48:35.70
Now if you return the tithe
and you don't have any mercy
00:48:35.90\00:48:39.94
and you don't have any
faith and you're unjust,
00:48:40.14\00:48:42.82
won't do you any good.
00:48:43.02\00:48:44.57
OK?
00:48:44.77\00:48:46.80
But He said we ought to do both:
00:48:47.00\00:48:49.26
we ought to return the tithe
and we ought to be merciful
00:48:49.46\00:48:52.45
in what we do. Very important.
00:48:52.65\00:48:55.97
Said: "All these
blessings will come upon you
00:49:06.91\00:49:09.75
if you just obey the
voice of the Lord your God. "
00:49:09.95\00:49:13.57
Folks, I'm
talking about the home.
00:49:13.77\00:49:15.67
I'm talking about what
God wants your home to be.
00:49:15.87\00:49:18.87
Don't be weak in faith.
00:49:19.07\00:49:22.60
Take God for what He says.
00:49:22.80\00:49:25.52
Believe Him.
00:49:25.72\00:49:27.28
And He says: "I
will bless you. "
00:49:27.58\00:49:30.43
When you're going through school
00:49:32.11\00:49:36.05
you... it's
pretty rough some times.
00:49:36.26\00:49:40.23
If you're working your
way through like I was,
00:49:43.47\00:49:45.88
was married...
00:49:48.75\00:49:51.78
we were as poor as church mice.
00:49:51.81\00:49:55.26
I mean, we didn't
have a nickel to our name.
00:49:55.46\00:50:00.74
But we were going to school.
00:50:00.94\00:50:03.28
I was at the Seminary.
00:50:03.48\00:50:06.58
I had sold books all summer,
00:50:06.78\00:50:11.57
and I had made enough
money to pay for my education.
00:50:11.77\00:50:16.84
I had made
enough... scholarship.
00:50:17.04\00:50:19.62
I had enough money
to pay for my education.
00:50:19.82\00:50:22.30
My wife... she was going to work
00:50:22.50\00:50:27.36
and make enough to
pay for our house -
00:50:27.56\00:50:32.20
our apartment that we lived in -
00:50:32.40\00:50:34.08
and provide the food
for us to eat and so forth.
00:50:34.28\00:50:37.19
We had been assigned a church
00:50:37.40\00:50:41.29
in Annapolis, Maryland, to help.
00:50:41.49\00:50:44.98
And at Christmas
time they would go out
00:50:45.18\00:50:48.65
and they would sing
carols in the community.
00:50:48.85\00:50:51.34
And we went out and
sang carols with them.
00:50:51.64\00:50:55.35
And the next
morning when my wife got up
00:50:55.55\00:50:59.19
she had a sore throat.
00:50:59.39\00:51:00.76
The sore throat got worse.
00:51:01.06\00:51:04.00
And I took her to the
doctor and he treated her.
00:51:04.20\00:51:08.25
Sent her back home, but
her sore throat just continued
00:51:08.45\00:51:11.43
to get worse. She
became ill... more and more.
00:51:11.63\00:51:16.79
And I took her back to the
doctor and they examined her
00:51:17.00\00:51:19.37
and they said: "Your
wife has rheumatic fever. "
00:51:19.47\00:51:22.34
Said: "We're going to have
to put her in the hospital. "
00:51:22.54\00:51:26.32
Said: "She'll be in
the hospital for six weeks,
00:51:26.52\00:51:29.64
then you're going to
take her home and she'll be
00:51:29.84\00:51:32.01
flat on her
back for six weeks. "
00:51:32.21\00:51:34.00
Her parents came
and got their daughter.
00:51:34.30\00:51:38.51
Took her home with them.
00:51:38.72\00:51:40.80
And I went in and sat
down on her bed and said:
00:51:41.00\00:51:44.65
"Honey, I think I'd
better drop out of school
00:51:44.85\00:51:48.00
and get myself a
job and work at it
00:51:48.20\00:51:51.11
until you get your health back
00:51:51.31\00:51:53.25
and then I'll go
back to school. "
00:51:53.45\00:51:55.62
And she said to me, she said:
00:51:55.82\00:51:58.56
"Why don't you just
take God for what He says? "
00:51:58.76\00:52:02.06
I said: "I don't know
what you're talking about. "
00:52:03.96\00:52:07.48
She said:
"We've been faithful. "
00:52:07.68\00:52:11.06
She said: "We've
tried to serve the Lord.
00:52:11.26\00:52:14.18
We've paid our tithe. "
00:52:14.38\00:52:16.07
She said: "Why don't
you just step out in faith
00:52:16.17\00:52:17.88
and take Him for what He says? "
00:52:18.08\00:52:19.67
I said: "Well that's
very difficult for me. "
00:52:21.53\00:52:23.86
She said: "Well try it. "
00:52:24.06\00:52:25.93
I said: "OK, I'll go
home and sell the car"
00:52:26.03\00:52:29.73
and I said: "I'll walk
to the Seminary and back. "
00:52:29.93\00:52:33.28
And I did... but we
didn't have much of a car.
00:52:33.48\00:52:35.27
It was gone very quickly.
00:52:35.47\00:52:37.34
Then something began to happen -
00:52:37.54\00:52:40.86
something I still have
trouble with to this day -
00:52:41.16\00:52:44.34
because I'd go
down to the mailbox
00:52:45.75\00:52:48.04
and here'd be an
envelope - no letter in it,
00:52:48.24\00:52:52.10
nothing else - but $20 in it.
00:52:52.30\00:52:54.97
And there'd be another envelope,
and it'd have $25 in it.
00:52:55.95\00:53:01.45
And these letters
were postmarked, folks,
00:53:01.65\00:53:06.79
from all over the United States.
00:53:07.00\00:53:08.85
And day after day I'd
go down there and here'd be
00:53:09.05\00:53:13.08
letters with
money in it like that.
00:53:13.28\00:53:15.22
That went on the
whole time we were there
00:53:15.42\00:53:19.05
so that I graduated
from the Seminary...
00:53:19.25\00:53:22.30
I didn't owe a doctor bill.
00:53:22.50\00:53:24.33
I didn't owe the
hospital anything.
00:53:24.43\00:53:25.99
I owed nothing... God
had completely cared for us.
00:53:26.20\00:53:30.07
You know, it
just... God promises
00:53:30.27\00:53:34.27
He will not fail if you and I
00:53:34.48\00:53:38.03
will just do
what He asks us to do.
00:53:38.23\00:53:40.88
As it simply says:
00:53:41.08\00:53:43.19
These are
people that He blessed.
00:53:50.11\00:53:52.74
God wants to bless you.
00:53:58.70\00:54:02.20
Wants to pour out His blessings.
00:54:02.50\00:54:05.26
Dear friend, won't you and I
just simply open up our hearts
00:54:05.46\00:54:10.74
and say: "Yes, Lord? "
Walk with Him and follow Him?
00:54:10.94\00:54:15.14
Let's pray.
00:54:15.34\00:54:16.86
Father in Heaven,
00:54:17.16\00:54:19.11
we ask that You will
help us, Lord, that we might
00:54:19.31\00:54:23.91
not be weak in faith.
00:54:24.11\00:54:25.78
That we will follow You...
00:54:25.98\00:54:29.26
do Your will in all that we do.
00:54:29.46\00:54:32.03
We thank you for the
promises of Your Word...
00:54:32.23\00:54:36.40
for the assurance
that You're coming back.
00:54:36.60\00:54:40.53
We pray that all of us may
have a place in Your kingdom.
00:54:40.83\00:54:43.94
For this we ask in
Christ's name, Amen.
00:54:44.14\00:54:47.88
Well our next presentation
00:54:48.18\00:54:51.48
is entitled Heaven Is My Home.
00:54:51.68\00:54:55.97
I hope you're
planning on going there.
00:54:56.27\00:54:58.64
I... don't get so
settled in this old earth
00:54:58.84\00:55:04.76
that you miss heaven.
00:55:04.96\00:55:06.45
So we look forward to
all of you being with us
00:55:06.65\00:55:08.97
as we talk about
Heaven Is My Home.
00:55:09.17\00:55:11.30
God bless you.
00:55:11.48\00:55:13.33
Although they're small
and seemingly insignificant,
00:55:13.88\00:55:17.31
soybean pods fill the farm
fields of the United States.
00:55:17.51\00:55:21.50
What a treasure they are
for the farmer at harvest time.
00:55:21.80\00:55:25.56
Nearly all
soybeans in this country
00:55:25.86\00:55:28.23
are processed for their
oil which is then refined for
00:55:28.43\00:55:32.07
cooking or sold for
biodiesel production
00:55:32.17\00:55:35.13
as well as for many
other industrial uses.
00:55:35.33\00:55:38.15
Because of the high
demand for soybeans,
00:55:38.45\00:55:41.22
a farmer must be able
to harvest large quantities
00:55:41.42\00:55:44.45
in the most efficient
and cost-effective manner.
00:55:44.65\00:55:47.85
One of the best ways to do this
00:55:48.05\00:55:49.84
is to use a combine harvester.
00:55:50.04\00:55:52.80
These massive
machines give the farmer
00:55:53.10\00:55:55.44
the ability to
quickly harvest and haul
00:55:55.64\00:55:58.23
the beans at an incredible rate.
00:55:58.43\00:56:01.08
Have you ever considered
what one farmer can do today
00:56:01.38\00:56:04.26
with the help of modern tools?
00:56:04.46\00:56:06.46
The farmer of the past
could hardly imagine it.
00:56:06.76\00:56:09.41
Within hours, one man
and a machine can harvest
00:56:09.71\00:56:13.27
and deliver untold bushels
of soybeans to the market.
00:56:13.47\00:56:17.14
His goal is to obtain
the largest yield possible
00:56:17.44\00:56:20.61
at harvest time.
00:56:20.81\00:56:22.37
Like the farmer
today, we must do the same.
00:56:22.57\00:56:25.95
In Luke 10 and verse 2
00:56:26.25\00:56:28.05
Jesus said: "The
harvest truly is great
00:56:28.25\00:56:30.88
but the laborers are few. "
00:56:31.08\00:56:33.03
And in John 4:35 He
looked over the wheat fields
00:56:33.33\00:56:36.70
and said to His disciples:
00:56:36.80\00:56:38.45
"Lift up your eyes
and look at the fields
00:56:38.65\00:56:41.27
for they are
already white for harvest. "
00:56:41.47\00:56:44.33
In both passages, Jesus
referred to men and women
00:56:44.63\00:56:47.92
of this world as He proclaimed
that the harvest is here
00:56:48.02\00:56:51.33
and the work must be done.
00:56:51.53\00:56:53.92
When I was a boy,
00:56:54.22\00:56:55.51
the corn harvest
was all done by hand.
00:56:55.71\00:56:58.68
We literally had
a horse-drawn wagon,
00:56:58.98\00:57:01.28
and we would walk along
beside it and pull the corn
00:57:01.48\00:57:04.34
off the stalk and
throw it onto the wagon.
00:57:04.54\00:57:06.97
But folks, the time is short,
00:57:07.27\00:57:09.93
so the Lord has provided
the most marvelous technology
00:57:10.23\00:57:13.41
to enable us to harvest
more souls through television,
00:57:13.61\00:57:17.48
radio, and other media.
00:57:17.51\00:57:19.56
Today we can take the message
00:57:19.76\00:57:21.38
to the multitudes around
the world at the speed of light.
00:57:21.58\00:57:25.21
Such ability was far
beyond the imagination
00:57:25.51\00:57:29.11
of the evangelists of the past.
00:57:29.31\00:57:31.18
The harvest is here, but
we can't do it without you.
00:57:32.78\00:57:37.63
Won't you help us?
00:57:37.82\00:57:39.05
Please consider what you can do
00:57:39.15\00:57:40.72
for those who still
don't know about Jesus.
00:57:40.82\00:57:43.33
As the Holy Spirit impresses,
00:57:43.53\00:57:45.09
please send your
tax-deductible gifts to:
00:57:45.29\00:57:47.28
Thank you for helping us
spread the light of God's Word
00:57:59.35\00:58:01.80
through television and radio.
00:58:02.00\00:58:03.44
Your gifts help bring
the blessed hope of salvation
00:58:03.64\00:58:06.05
to millions around the world.
00:58:06.15\00:58:08.47