Good evening and
welcome to Give Me The Bible.
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This series by
Pastor Kenneth Cox has been
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one of the most popular series
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that we've had in recent years
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on 3ABN.
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And we're just
privileged to bring Pastor Cox
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back again this
weekend for the series entitled
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The Apple of God's Eye.
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And I'm looking forward to
every one of these five subjects
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that he'll be presenting on
this very important subject,
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but tonight he is going to
be speaking on Why The Church.
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You know, a lot of
people wonder about that.
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We have all kinds of different
denominations and so forth,
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but why does God
really want a church?
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What's the
effectiveness of a church?
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I talked with a man just
this week, and he said to me:
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"I'm really not
into denominations;
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I'm really not into churches. "
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And, but he says,
"I love the Lord. "
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What about that?
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Is it right for people
just to simply love the Lord?
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Yes, of course. But is
there a place for God's church?
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We're going to look at that
subject in a very detailed way
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this weekend, and I'm looking
forward to Pastor Kenneth Cox's
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presentations... and
I know that you are too.
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We have had so many
people calling and saying
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"When are we going to have
more of these great subjects? "
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And tonight is one of
those that we're going to enjoy.
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But before Pastor Cox comes,
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Dona Klein is going to
play for us a song that I love:
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Just Inside the Eastern Gate.
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Thank you!
Thank you, Dona Klein.
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Well good evening.
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Very happy to welcome
all of you back again tonight
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to a series entitled
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The Apple of God's Eye.
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Those of you that are joining us
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by television or
you're listening by radio
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or maybe even
tuning in on the Internet,
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we're glad to welcome you.
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Glad that each of
you are tuning in.
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We hope that as we
go through this series
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it will bless you
in a very special way.
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The Apple of God's Eye.
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Going to deal with the church.
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And our subject
tonight is entitled
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Why does God have a church?
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What does the scripture
have to say about that?
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And then we're
going to take a look at
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two subjects that I
find very misunderstood
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concerning the church.
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And our next presentation after
this one tonight is entitled
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The Front Door of the Church.
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Very, very important...
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the front door.
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And the front door is not
what most people think it is.
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And so we'll take a look at
that in our next presentation.
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And then out next presentation
after that one is entitled
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The Back Door of the Church.
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So we're going to take a look
at the front door of the church.
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We're going to take a look
at the back door of the church.
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And it, again, is not
what most people think it is.
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So we'll take a look at that.
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And then our next
presentation will be
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The Church, God's Storehouse.
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What the scripture has to
say about supporting the church.
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And then our final
presentation in this series
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entitled The Church Victorious.
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So we want you to look at that.
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What says the
Bible, the blessed Bible?
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This my only question be.
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Will the church
of God be victorious?
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What says the Word of God to me?
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That's what we're
going to be looking at
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as we go through this series.
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And so we're
glad that you're here
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as we take a
look at Why a Church?
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And I hope it will
help your understanding
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of what God has to
say about the church
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and what it means
to each one of us.
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So we're glad that you're here.
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Glad to welcome you back
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as we go through each
evening in these presentations.
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You know, there's
nothing quite as comforting
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as to know that you're
in the hands of the Lord.
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I can remember when David
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said: "Let's fall
on the mercy of God. "
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To know that Christ
has us in His hands.
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He says: "there's
nothing that can pluck you
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out of His hands. "
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And so just to be
in the hands of God...
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how wonderful that is!
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And Dona's going to sing
for us tonight a beautiful song
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entitled In His Hands.
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There are times I'm overwhelmed
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by the onset of trials.
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And this burden that I carry...
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it seems I've
carried it for miles.
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That's when I realize
that in my own strength
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I cannot stand.
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Then I know the time has come
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when I must put
it in God's hands.
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In His hands
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the mountain looks
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much smaller.
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In His hands
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the valley's not
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so low.
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When I've carried
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my burden
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as far as I can.
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Help me remember, Lord,
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to put it in Your hands.
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I read where God's mighty hand
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had parted the sea.
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And when His
children were safe across
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He turned and
drowned their enemies.
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So when the waters are rising
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and the river
seems too wide to span,
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then I fall down on my knees...
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that's when I
put it in His hands.
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In His hands
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the mountain looks
00:10:03.55\00:10:06.58
much smaller.
00:10:06.78\00:10:10.74
In His hands
00:10:11.52\00:10:15.27
the valley's not
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so low.
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When I've carried
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my burden
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as far as I can,
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help me remember, Lord,
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to put it in Your hands.
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So when I've carried
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this burden
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as far as I can,
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help me remember, Lord,
00:11:06.63\00:11:11.60
to put it in
00:11:12.44\00:11:14.37
Your hands.
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Heavenly Father,
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we would ask tonight
that You would help us
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that we would
be sure to remember
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to put it in Your hands.
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To not to try to control
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the circumstances, but
to commit our lives to You.
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We ask, Lord, that
tonight You will bless.
00:12:00.96\00:12:04.50
Give us understanding.
00:12:04.80\00:12:07.40
May our hearts be open.
00:12:07.70\00:12:10.06
May we get a sense
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of what You're doing in
Your leading and guiding.
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May we decide to
walk with You by faith
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in all that we do.
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For this we ask in
Christ's name, Amen.
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Many times
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when we're holding
evangelistic meetings
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and we come down to the end
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and there's people that...
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planning on being baptized,
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and it seems that you
run onto some people who say:
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"Oh, Brother Cox, I've
accepted Christ as my Savior.
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I want to be baptized,
00:13:00.84\00:13:03.24
but I don't want
to belong to a church.
00:13:03.44\00:13:06.33
I... I just do not
want to put my name
00:13:06.63\00:13:10.67
on a church book.
00:13:10.87\00:13:12.94
I don't want to
belong to a church. "
00:13:13.24\00:13:15.43
Well, the question we
need to ask ourselves tonight
00:13:16.59\00:13:20.90
is: Does God have a church?
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We need to settle that question.
00:13:25.60\00:13:27.76
Does God have a church?
00:13:28.07\00:13:29.80
And then once we
settle that question
00:13:30.10\00:13:32.43
then I think we can take a look
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at what the
scripture has to say.
00:13:34.62\00:13:36.45
So we read here in
God's Word, and it says:
00:13:36.75\00:13:39.28
Now He didn't
say build A church.
00:13:47.67\00:13:50.54
He said: "on this rock
I will build My church. "
00:13:50.74\00:13:55.08
So God's very clear.
00:13:58.32\00:14:00.22
He says: "Yes, I have a church.
00:14:01.10\00:14:03.51
On this I will
build My church. "
00:14:03.81\00:14:07.47
Now when Christ said
this to the disciples
00:14:07.77\00:14:12.63
they were over in
an area called, uh...
00:14:12.83\00:14:16.53
Caesarea.
00:14:16.73\00:14:18.19
And Christ did
ask them a question.
00:14:18.49\00:14:21.58
And He had said this, and
just a couple verses before this
00:14:21.88\00:14:25.09
when He said to them:
00:14:25.29\00:14:26.52
"Who do you say that I am? "
00:14:26.72\00:14:29.12
And they said: "Well
some say that You are Elijah.
00:14:29.42\00:14:32.95
Some say that
You're a prophet. "
00:14:33.25\00:14:35.96
He said: "But who
do you say that I am? "
00:14:36.26\00:14:38.27
And Peter
answered with these words:
00:14:38.48\00:14:40.78
Now he made that
just as clear as could be.
00:14:46.39\00:14:50.33
He said: "Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the Living God. "
00:14:50.64\00:14:52.55
And Jesus said to him:
00:14:52.85\00:14:54.86
"Flesh and blood has
not revealed this to you
00:14:55.06\00:14:57.28
but My Father
which is in heaven. "
00:14:57.58\00:14:59.71
Now there was no doubt, folks,
00:15:00.01\00:15:03.51
in Peter's mind
- none whatsoever -
00:15:03.71\00:15:07.74
as to who the rock was.
00:15:08.07\00:15:11.02
When Christ said: "Upon this
rock I will build My church, "
00:15:12.34\00:15:17.43
no doubt in Peter's
mind who the rock was.
00:15:17.73\00:15:20.86
I want you to
listen to Peter's words.
00:15:21.06\00:15:22.97
I Peter the
second chapter verse 6:
00:15:23.27\00:15:26.57
Now that cornerstone
he understood clearly
00:15:40.52\00:15:44.34
to be Jesus Christ.
00:15:44.54\00:15:46.45
He understood that... Peter did.
00:15:47.50\00:15:48.88
Listen as he goes on:
00:15:49.18\00:15:50.20
He said: "Those
of you who believe,
00:15:55.35\00:15:57.07
speaking of
Christ, HE is precious. "
00:15:57.10\00:15:59.75
So he said: "To you who believe,
then Christ is precious.
00:16:15.16\00:16:20.01
But to those who do not believe
00:16:20.31\00:16:22.73
He's a rock of
stumbling, a rock of offense. "
00:16:22.93\00:16:25.95
And Paul went on and
made it crystal clear
00:16:27.23\00:16:32.21
as to who the rock
was because Paul said:
00:16:32.41\00:16:34.94
So no question in their minds
00:16:45.75\00:16:48.70
as to who the Rock was.
00:16:48.90\00:16:50.22
So when... we read
here where it says:
00:16:50.42\00:16:53.68
what was Jesus saying?
00:17:04.86\00:17:06.65
Well He was saying to Peter
00:17:08.04\00:17:09.79
"On the
confession that you have made
00:17:09.99\00:17:13.87
that 'Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the Living God, '
00:17:14.07\00:17:16.66
on that confession I
am building My church. "
00:17:16.86\00:17:21.35
That's what's
being said there, folks.
00:17:21.65\00:17:23.63
Not being said that
"Peter, you're the church. "
00:17:23.93\00:17:26.95
He's saying: "Upon
this confession, Peter,
00:17:27.25\00:17:29.56
that you have made
that I am the Christ...
00:17:29.76\00:17:33.65
on that confession I
will build My church. "
00:17:33.85\00:17:37.56
And dear friends, let
me tell you something:
00:17:37.77\00:17:39.53
that confession
has held the church
00:17:39.73\00:17:41.73
down through the centuries
because it has been built
00:17:41.93\00:17:45.38
on Jesus Christ.
00:17:45.58\00:17:47.47
And that's what it
must always be built on
00:17:47.78\00:17:50.36
is on Jesus
Christ... no one else.
00:17:50.66\00:17:53.33
So, when Jesus said:
"I will build My church, "
00:17:53.63\00:17:57.77
He said, "I'm going to build
the church on the confession
00:17:57.97\00:18:01.13
that I am the Christ,
the Son of the Living God. "
00:18:01.33\00:18:05.51
Now, He has a church.
00:18:05.81\00:18:08.00
He does not
say... He does not say
00:18:08.30\00:18:13.61
that He has many churches.
00:18:13.81\00:18:16.50
Now folks, this idea
that I hear some people
00:18:17.87\00:18:21.18
put out when they say: "Well,
the churches are like roads...
00:18:21.38\00:18:25.26
all leading to the same place. "
00:18:25.46\00:18:26.98
That is not true.
00:18:27.28\00:18:28.83
If all of them were roads
leading to the same place,
00:18:29.13\00:18:32.31
then you and I could
believe anything we wanted to.
00:18:32.61\00:18:35.98
Well you listen to what
it says here in John 10:14.
00:18:36.38\00:18:40.98
Jesus is speaking... He said:
00:18:41.18\00:18:42.42
So Christ said: "I
am the Good Shepherd.
00:18:49.29\00:18:51.66
I know My" what? "Sheep. "
00:18:51.96\00:18:56.39
You see, some people need
to take a good look at that
00:18:56.49\00:19:00.34
because Jesus has
sheep, folks, of all shades.
00:19:01.40\00:19:07.33
You see, not all of
God's sheep are white.
00:19:09.59\00:19:13.18
He has sheep of all shades.
00:19:15.61\00:19:18.60
Brown, black...
How does the song go?
00:19:18.90\00:19:24.17
Red or yellow, black or white...
00:19:24.47\00:19:25.88
all are precious in His sight.
00:19:26.18\00:19:28.91
He has sheep of all
shades. And by the way,
00:19:29.21\00:19:32.26
He even has some
that are old butting rams
00:19:32.46\00:19:36.35
and some ornery ewes.
00:19:36.55\00:19:38.39
See? But
they're all God's sheep.
00:19:38.69\00:19:42.40
We need to make that...
need to be very clear on that:
00:19:42.70\00:19:45.35
that that makes up His sheep.
00:19:45.65\00:19:48.27
Now watch as He continues
00:19:48.47\00:19:49.62
because it
becomes very, very clear:
00:19:49.82\00:19:52.34
I'm sorry, but
sometimes people get it in mind
00:20:04.63\00:20:07.07
that the only ones
that are saved are those
00:20:07.27\00:20:11.55
that are in their fold.
00:20:11.75\00:20:13.76
Uh, no.
00:20:14.75\00:20:16.05
God has sheep in all churches.
00:20:17.08\00:20:20.90
Has sheep in all churches.
00:20:21.20\00:20:24.92
What you and I must
get clear in our mind
00:20:25.22\00:20:27.91
is there are not many folds.
00:20:28.11\00:20:31.63
There's only one fold.
00:20:32.77\00:20:34.67
That we need to understand.
00:20:34.97\00:20:37.27
Not many folds, one fold.
00:20:37.57\00:20:40.39
He said: "Other sheep I have
which are not of this fold: "
00:20:40.69\00:20:45.70
So God is making it clear
that there's not many folds
00:20:54.19\00:20:57.62
or there's not many flocks.
00:20:57.82\00:20:59.16
There is one fold,
one flock, one Shepherd.
00:20:59.46\00:21:03.17
But, He said: "I've got sheep
in all these other places. "
00:21:03.47\00:21:07.44
But He makes a
statement about them.
00:21:08.75\00:21:10.93
He says: "Them I
must also bring. "
00:21:11.23\00:21:16.64
OK? My sheep what?
00:21:16.94\00:21:21.77
You see, I don't
care where the person is.
00:21:27.54\00:21:31.19
I don't care what
church they're attending.
00:21:31.49\00:21:34.67
If that person's heart is right
00:21:34.97\00:21:38.39
and if they are
surrendered to Jesus Christ,
00:21:38.70\00:21:42.07
when they pick up
God's Word and they read it
00:21:42.37\00:21:46.52
and they understand
what God's Word says,
00:21:46.82\00:21:50.87
then dear friend, if that
persons' heart was right...
00:21:51.17\00:21:53.92
is right with the
Lord Jesus Christ,
00:21:54.12\00:21:55.58
they're going to follow him.
00:21:55.88\00:21:57.38
That has to be.
00:21:57.68\00:22:00.01
If I am His disciple,
00:22:00.31\00:22:03.10
if I am His child,
00:22:03.40\00:22:05.18
then I must follow Him
00:22:05.38\00:22:07.62
as He leads me.
00:22:07.82\00:22:10.19
Can't go the other way.
00:22:11.07\00:22:12.81
And that's why He's saying here
00:22:13.02\00:22:14.41
"These - my sheep -
they will hear My voice
00:22:14.61\00:22:17.49
and they will follow
Me. " That He promises.
00:22:17.69\00:22:21.69
Now, we need to understand
certain things about church.
00:22:21.99\00:22:27.38
First thing about church, folks,
00:22:27.68\00:22:30.81
is you do not... put it down...
00:22:31.01\00:22:34.87
you do not find
truth by a church.
00:22:35.17\00:22:39.55
Let me say that again.
00:22:42.59\00:22:44.39
You do not find
truth by a church...
00:22:45.44\00:22:50.06
I don't care what church it is.
00:22:50.36\00:22:53.57
You don't find
truth by the Baptists.
00:22:53.88\00:22:57.17
You don't find
truth by the Methodists.
00:22:57.48\00:22:59.69
You don't find it
by the Episcopalians.
00:23:00.00\00:23:02.24
You don't find it
by the Pentecostals.
00:23:02.44\00:23:04.39
You don't find it
by the Roman Catholics.
00:23:04.59\00:23:06.79
You don't find it by
the Seventh-day Adventists.
00:23:07.09\00:23:09.51
You do not find
truth by a church.
00:23:09.81\00:23:14.78
You find truth
by the Word of God.
00:23:14.98\00:23:18.12
That's where you find
truth is by the Word of God.
00:23:18.52\00:23:23.73
But the reverse of what
I have just said is true.
00:23:26.10\00:23:30.87
You do not find
truth by a church,
00:23:32.04\00:23:37.38
but you find the
church by the truth.
00:23:37.69\00:23:41.11
See? I've got to
get into the Word.
00:23:41.41\00:23:45.62
I have to study it. I have
to see what it's talking about.
00:23:45.92\00:23:49.01
I have to understand
it. And as I understand
00:23:49.21\00:23:52.12
what the scripture
says, then I must follow.
00:23:52.32\00:23:55.96
I must walk
with Him as He leads.
00:23:56.26\00:23:58.82
That's what has to
take place in my life.
00:23:59.12\00:24:02.17
And if I'm willing to do that,
He'll lead me step by step.
00:24:02.37\00:24:06.11
Listen to this verse:
00:24:06.41\00:24:07.66
In other words, I find
the church by the truth.
00:24:29.15\00:24:33.58
So I pick up the Word of
God and I begin to study it.
00:24:33.78\00:24:37.15
And as I learn what
the Word of God says
00:24:37.35\00:24:41.02
I accept that.
00:24:41.32\00:24:42.94
Then I begin to
find... look for a church
00:24:43.24\00:24:48.30
that is in harmony with
what the scripture says.
00:24:48.50\00:24:51.57
That's how I find a church.
00:24:51.87\00:24:54.51
I was holding a meeting,
00:24:54.81\00:24:56.88
and this young man
showed up for the meeting
00:24:57.08\00:24:59.91
named Max Murphy.
00:25:01.52\00:25:03.67
Max had felt a real desire
00:25:03.97\00:25:08.55
to follow the Lord, and he had
talked to a Methodist minister.
00:25:08.75\00:25:13.94
And this Methodist
minister had explained to Max
00:25:15.66\00:25:21.58
how to accept
Christ as your Savior.
00:25:21.78\00:25:24.73
And Max had given
his heart to the Lord...
00:25:25.03\00:25:28.16
accepted Him as his Savior.
00:25:28.47\00:25:30.35
And about a week
after that had happened
00:25:30.66\00:25:34.94
Max received in the mail a
brochure about our meetings.
00:25:35.24\00:25:40.46
Having just given
his heart to the Lord
00:25:40.76\00:25:43.63
and wanting to know more
about what the scripture taught,
00:25:43.94\00:25:46.87
he thought this would be a
good chance for him to learn
00:25:47.07\00:25:49.76
and so he came to our meetings.
00:25:50.06\00:25:51.95
And came every night.
00:25:52.05\00:25:55.55
And after we had gone
about a week or ten days,
00:25:55.85\00:25:58.69
I... I spoke on baptism.
00:25:58.89\00:26:01.35
And a few nights
later he came back...
00:26:01.65\00:26:06.46
Max came back to the meeting
00:26:06.76\00:26:07.99
and he came up to me
and he said: "Guess what? "
00:26:08.19\00:26:09.93
And I said: "What's that? "
00:26:10.24\00:26:12.36
He said: "I'm going to be
baptized this next weekend. "
00:26:12.66\00:26:15.73
Well I guess I didn't
turn cartwheels over that.
00:26:16.03\00:26:19.98
Anyhow... and he said:
"That bothers you, doesn't it? "
00:26:20.28\00:26:22.84
I said: "Yeah, it does. "
00:26:23.14\00:26:24.33
He said: "You think I'm going
to be sprinkled, don't you? "
00:26:24.63\00:26:28.01
And I said: "That's
what's going through my mind. "
00:26:28.31\00:26:30.60
And he said: "No, no. "
00:26:30.90\00:26:32.13
He said: "I explained to my
minister that I'm going to be
00:26:32.33\00:26:34.95
immersed like
the Bible teaches. "
00:26:35.15\00:26:36.90
And I said:
"Well that's good, Max.
00:26:37.20\00:26:39.26
I'm glad you're
going to be baptized. "
00:26:39.46\00:26:41.73
I said: "Have you
learned anything on these nights
00:26:41.94\00:26:46.03
you've been
coming? "Oh, " he said,
00:26:46.23\00:26:47.39
"more than I've ever
learned in my life. "
00:26:47.59\00:26:49.38
I said: "Well that's great. "
00:26:49.58\00:26:51.65
I said: "If you've learned
that much in the few nights
00:26:51.85\00:26:54.53
you've come, you know
you might learn some more
00:26:54.73\00:26:59.30
and you might ought to
have your baptism at the end
00:26:59.50\00:27:01.88
rather than now. "
00:27:02.08\00:27:03.46
He said: "Yeah, I
think you're right. "
00:27:03.86\00:27:06.04
He said: "I'll tell my pastor
we'll have it at the end. "
00:27:06.24\00:27:08.82
I said: "That's fine. "
00:27:09.12\00:27:10.61
And Max kept coming each night
00:27:10.91\00:27:12.80
and, oh, I guess
another week passed.
00:27:13.00\00:27:15.95
He came up to me and
he said: "You know, "
00:27:16.25\00:27:18.59
he said, "I think
I'm going to be baptized
00:27:18.80\00:27:20.96
in the baptism here when
everybody else is baptized. "
00:27:21.17\00:27:25.49
And I said: "That's fine, Max.
00:27:25.79\00:27:27.26
We'll be happy to
have you baptized here. "
00:27:27.46\00:27:29.51
And he said: "Am I
going to have to be a
00:27:29.71\00:27:31.67
Seventh-day Adventist? "
00:27:31.87\00:27:33.51
And I said: "Max,
all you've got to do
00:27:35.46\00:27:38.37
is follow the scripture. "
00:27:38.57\00:27:40.19
He said: "Fair enough. "
00:27:40.29\00:27:42.01
I... I'm sure it
was every other night
00:27:42.31\00:27:45.94
he'd come up to me
when the meeting was over
00:27:46.14\00:27:48.77
and said: "I'm really looking
forward to being baptized.
00:27:48.97\00:27:51.89
Am I going to have to be
a Seventh-day Adventist? "
00:27:52.19\00:27:54.82
And I'd say: "Max, all
you've got to do is follow
00:27:55.12\00:27:57.62
the scripture. " "OK. "
00:27:57.82\00:27:59.67
I mean, it went like that all
the way through the meetings.
00:27:59.97\00:28:02.61
We got down to the
end of the meetings -
00:28:02.81\00:28:04.34
in fact, Friday night before
the baptism was to take place
00:28:04.44\00:28:07.04
the next day. And he came
up to me that Friday night
00:28:07.24\00:28:10.40
and he said: "I'm
really looking forward to being
00:28:10.60\00:28:12.87
baptized tomorrow. "
00:28:13.07\00:28:14.38
I said: "That's great, Max. "
00:28:14.58\00:28:16.00
He said: "Am I going to have
to be a Seventh-day Adventist? "
00:28:16.20\00:28:18.54
And I said: "Max, let
me ask you something. "
00:28:19.95\00:28:22.03
I said: "Have you given
your heart to the Lord? "
00:28:22.33\00:28:24.84
"Oh, " he said, "yes. "
00:28:25.05\00:28:26.52
Said: "I've given
my heart to Christ. "
00:28:26.82\00:28:28.71
I said: "Well that's good. "
00:28:29.01\00:28:30.89
I said: "You want to be
baptized by immersion? "
00:28:31.19\00:28:35.01
He said: "Yeah,
that's what I believe. "
00:28:35.31\00:28:38.43
I said: "Max, how do you
feel about the Sabbath? "
00:28:38.73\00:28:41.89
"Oh, " he said, "I'm
clear on the Sabbath. "
00:28:42.19\00:28:44.77
He said: "I
understand what it says. "
00:28:45.07\00:28:47.15
He said: "I don't have
any trouble with that...
00:28:47.35\00:28:48.58
going to church
on the Sabbath. "
00:28:48.78\00:28:49.86
I said: "You don't
have any problem with this
00:28:50.06\00:28:52.03
working on the Sabbath? "
00:28:52.23\00:28:53.20
And he said: "No, " he
said, "I don't have any problem
00:28:53.23\00:28:54.67
that way. " I said:
"That's fine, Max. "
00:28:54.77\00:28:57.13
I said: "Do you understand,
Max, that when a person
00:28:57.40\00:29:02.10
dies the scripture doesn't
teach that he goes to heaven
00:29:02.30\00:29:06.28
or he goes to hell? Do
you understand that when he
00:29:06.58\00:29:08.66
dies the Bible says
that person is asleep
00:29:08.86\00:29:11.45
and will be that
way until Jesus comes? "
00:29:11.56\00:29:13.81
"Oh, " he said,
"yes, I understand that. "
00:29:14.01\00:29:15.45
I said: "Do you
understand the Bible teaches
00:29:15.75\00:29:19.78
that your body is God's temple?
00:29:19.98\00:29:22.02
And that you and I are to
care for it very carefully
00:29:22.22\00:29:26.07
and we aren't to put
things in it that hurt it
00:29:26.27\00:29:28.11
or defile it? We aren't
to use tobacco or alcohol
00:29:28.31\00:29:32.22
or even what the scripture
classifies as unclean meat? "
00:29:32.42\00:29:35.24
He said: "Oh, yes,
I understand that. "
00:29:35.27\00:29:37.15
He said: "In fact, my wife
and I cleaned the refrigerator
00:29:37.35\00:29:40.63
last week. " He said:
"Don't have anything there
00:29:40.73\00:29:42.84
that's contrary to scripture. "
00:29:43.04\00:29:44.82
And I said: "Well
that's great, Max. "
00:29:45.13\00:29:46.62
I said: "Do you understand
that Jesus is coming back?
00:29:46.82\00:29:51.79
That the Bible teaches
that it will be a coming
00:29:52.09\00:29:54.87
that you and I will be
able to see and to hear
00:29:55.07\00:29:57.55
the great event?
" He said: "Oh, yes,
00:29:57.85\00:30:00.68
I understand that. " And I said:
00:30:00.88\00:30:02.43
"Do you understand
that when the wicked die
00:30:02.63\00:30:04.91
they aren't going to burn in
the fires of hell for eternity?
00:30:05.12\00:30:10.25
The Bible doesn't teach that. "
00:30:10.55\00:30:12.24
He said: "Best
news I ever heard. "
00:30:12.44\00:30:14.29
He said: "I don't have any
problem with that at all. "
00:30:14.60\00:30:17.09
I said: "Well Max, if you're
clear on all those things,
00:30:17.29\00:30:20.03
you're clear
enough to be baptized. "
00:30:20.23\00:30:22.33
And he said: "Yeah, and I'm
a Seventh-day Adventist too,
00:30:22.63\00:30:24.97
aren't I? " Now you see, folks,
00:30:25.17\00:30:28.92
I'm a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:30:29.23\00:30:32.27
But I am not a
Seventh-day Adventist because
00:30:33.54\00:30:36.86
there's a
Seventh-day Adventist church.
00:30:37.06\00:30:39.09
I'm a Seventh-day Adventist
00:30:39.69\00:30:42.08
because that's
what this book teaches.
00:30:42.28\00:30:44.94
And I will always be that
00:30:45.24\00:30:47.42
because that's
what the book teaches.
00:30:47.62\00:30:49.89
And that's what God
expects you and I to do
00:30:50.19\00:30:53.03
is to follow the
book... what it says.
00:30:53.33\00:30:56.72
That's how I know
what the church is.
00:30:56.92\00:31:00.61
That's why the
scripture says here:
00:31:00.91\00:31:03.64
The church is the
apple of God's eye.
00:31:15.02\00:31:18.98
She's precious to Him,
00:31:19.28\00:31:20.97
and He cares for her in
a very, very definite way.
00:31:21.27\00:31:25.16
And you and I are to
be part of His church.
00:31:25.36\00:31:29.11
"My church, " He says.
00:31:29.14\00:31:30.75
He talks about it
even as His bride.
00:31:30.95\00:31:33.43
The church is very special.
00:31:41.75\00:31:43.72
In fact, it even
uses this comparison:
00:31:43.92\00:31:46.54
So this is the
church. Now, the truth, folks.
00:31:53.36\00:31:57.85
There have been
people that followed the Lord
00:31:57.88\00:32:00.57
and walked with the Lord
of every nation, every tribe,
00:32:00.77\00:32:05.65
every race all the
way down through time.
00:32:05.85\00:32:09.85
And on that
great and glorious day
00:32:10.15\00:32:14.00
when the
resurrection takes place
00:32:14.20\00:32:16.61
and all of God's
children are gathered together
00:32:16.81\00:32:19.76
that have followed
the Lord down through time
00:32:19.97\00:32:22.73
it pictures them
there in the New Jerusalem
00:32:22.93\00:32:25.57
and it pictures
that city as the bride
00:32:25.87\00:32:29.07
because it's gathering all of
God's children into that city.
00:32:29.37\00:32:34.08
Understand that.
00:32:34.68\00:32:36.19
But when you pick up the
Bible and you read in Acts
00:32:36.49\00:32:40.99
and other places
about the church,
00:32:41.19\00:32:43.18
it's talking about a local
church in a particular town
00:32:43.38\00:32:47.48
and city. It is not
talking about the great
00:32:47.68\00:32:51.81
ethereal body of Christ.
00:32:52.01\00:32:54.52
And I want you to
look at some texts with me
00:32:54.73\00:32:56.88
that makes that
very, very clear.
00:32:57.08\00:32:59.19
That doesn't say one
church; that says the churches.
00:33:05.66\00:33:09.26
These were different churches
in different towns and cities
00:33:09.46\00:33:12.86
across Asia Minor, and it
says they increased in number.
00:33:13.06\00:33:16.67
This was the churches.
00:33:16.97\00:33:18.81
These were God's churches.
00:33:19.01\00:33:20.77
That's a church in
a particular location.
00:33:20.97\00:33:23.30
She was a member in a
particular local church.
00:33:31.08\00:33:35.04
What I'm trying to get
across to you is that you and I
00:33:35.24\00:33:38.74
are to belong to a
church in a particular location.
00:33:38.94\00:33:44.16
This does not teach us
that we have the right to belong
00:33:44.46\00:33:47.85
to some great
ethereal body of Christ
00:33:48.05\00:33:50.40
where we have no responsibility.
00:33:50.60\00:33:52.98
Doesn't teach that.
00:33:53.28\00:33:54.84
A church is not a building.
00:34:05.78\00:34:10.48
OK?
00:34:12.07\00:34:14.80
A church is not a building.
00:34:14.90\00:34:17.21
A church is a group of people
00:34:17.52\00:34:21.03
that believe
what the book teaches.
00:34:21.23\00:34:24.22
That's a church.
00:34:24.42\00:34:25.59
And I don't care whether
they're meeting in a barn
00:34:25.79\00:34:28.74
or whether they're meeting
in a house. Wherever that
00:34:29.04\00:34:32.40
group is meeting,
that is God's church.
00:34:32.60\00:34:35.70
Aquila and Priscilla had these
people meeting in their home.
00:34:36.00\00:34:40.26
That was God's church
in that particular place.
00:34:40.46\00:34:43.65
You and I as individuals
are to be part of that church.
00:34:45.17\00:34:51.15
Paul and Silas, it says:
00:34:51.45\00:34:53.79
That's all the people.
00:34:56.22\00:34:58.00
They preached there;
they made many disciples.
00:35:12.16\00:35:14.60
They went back to these
cities where they had preached
00:35:31.18\00:35:34.86
the message - the
gospel - and these people had
00:35:35.06\00:35:37.58
accepted Christ,
they had become disciples,
00:35:37.78\00:35:39.94
and they became a church.
00:35:40.14\00:35:41.82
And they went back
and strengthened them.
00:35:42.02\00:35:44.08
That's what it's talking about.
00:35:44.28\00:35:45.90
They went back to those cities.
00:35:59.56\00:36:01.64
They helped
organize those churches.
00:36:01.84\00:36:03.92
They elected
elders in the church.
00:36:04.13\00:36:06.35
Folks, this is organization.
00:36:06.65\00:36:08.78
I run onto
people who want to say
00:36:09.08\00:36:11.66
"Oh, I don't want to
belong to an organization. "
00:36:11.86\00:36:14.35
I'm sorry... the
scripture doesn't teach that.
00:36:14.65\00:36:17.14
It teaches that there
is to be organization.
00:36:17.44\00:36:21.01
And they ordained elders
and they set up each church
00:36:21.31\00:36:24.66
and they ministered
to the people there.
00:36:24.96\00:36:26.99
That's what God
says we're to do.
00:36:27.29\00:36:29.23
Added to the church daily
00:36:43.80\00:36:46.88
those who were being saved.
00:36:47.09\00:36:50.26
Very, very important.
00:36:50.36\00:36:52.64
When I give my
heart to Jesus Christ
00:36:52.84\00:36:55.56
and I accept Him as my Savior,
00:36:55.86\00:36:58.54
then dear friend my
responsibility is to be part
00:36:58.84\00:37:03.60
of His church...
00:37:03.80\00:37:05.80
have responsibility in it.
00:37:06.10\00:37:09.49
This is a great,
great text, folks.
00:37:17.68\00:37:19.70
the next few that I read.
00:37:20.00\00:37:21.86
And it tells you and I exactly
what we are supposed to do.
00:37:22.06\00:37:27.51
I mean, clear as can be.
00:37:27.91\00:37:30.54
So here it says that
they preached the Word of God
00:37:30.84\00:37:34.03
and it says that the Word of God
which you heard from us, listen:
00:37:34.24\00:37:37.92
They preached to
them the Word of God.
00:37:43.47\00:37:45.77
And as they read the
Word of God, they accepted it
00:37:46.28\00:37:50.47
not as the word of men
00:37:50.67\00:37:53.36
but as it is truth.
00:37:53.66\00:37:56.86
See, they opened up the
scripture. They read it.
00:37:57.16\00:37:59.96
They understood what it said,
and they accepted the truth.
00:38:00.16\00:38:02.96
of God's Word.
00:38:03.16\00:38:04.67
Now let's see what happens.
00:38:11.61\00:38:13.69
You can change that
word imitators to members
00:38:22.10\00:38:25.74
or disciples.
00:38:26.05\00:38:28.19
"You brethren became
members of the churches of God
00:38:28.50\00:38:32.17
which are in
Judea in Christ Jesus. "
00:38:32.47\00:38:34.70
That's what it's saying.
00:38:34.90\00:38:35.94
In other words, they
got into the Word of God.
00:38:36.24\00:38:38.92
They studied it. They listened
to the preaching of Paul
00:38:40.46\00:38:43.72
and Silas and they
checked it with the Word of God.
00:38:43.92\00:38:46.84
They found it to be truth.
00:38:47.04\00:38:49.02
And when they
found it to be truth,
00:38:49.22\00:38:50.72
they became members
of the churches of God.
00:38:50.92\00:38:53.77
That's what it's saying.
00:38:54.07\00:38:55.82
And that's what you and
I as individuals are to do.
00:38:56.12\00:39:00.13
That's what God calls us to do.
00:39:00.34\00:39:02.96
Now this idea that
the church is to be -
00:39:03.26\00:39:07.19
how should I say this? -
00:39:07.39\00:39:09.52
I run onto this idea
where they want to take and...
00:39:09.82\00:39:12.96
they want to just take the
00:39:13.16\00:39:15.49
church over here and just be
00:39:15.52\00:39:16.73
one little church over here
00:39:16.93\00:39:18.74
by itself. Have no connection
00:39:18.94\00:39:20.70
with anybody. No, the scripture
00:39:20.90\00:39:23.03
doesn't teach that.
00:39:23.23\00:39:24.76
Not what the scripture says.
00:39:25.06\00:39:26.56
Now here all the
churches - not one church...
00:39:38.05\00:39:42.72
all the churches got together
00:39:42.92\00:39:44.97
and they're sending this brother
00:39:45.17\00:39:47.41
with Paul and with Silas.
00:39:47.61\00:39:50.60
They're sending...
Watch as it goes on:
00:39:50.80\00:39:53.11
Now they said well
Paul and Silas need help.
00:40:02.46\00:40:04.89
Let's send this
brother with them.
00:40:05.19\00:40:08.98
OK? They were taking a gift.
00:40:09.28\00:40:11.91
They're taking a gift...
and by the way, back then
00:40:12.11\00:40:14.84
a gift, folks, were
not something you can carry
00:40:15.04\00:40:17.89
in your pocket. They send
produce and stuff with them.
00:40:18.09\00:40:23.17
So this is...
takes a lot of help.
00:40:23.47\00:40:26.11
All right. And it says:
00:40:26.41\00:40:27.92
And they said: "We're
sending this brother with us
00:40:38.05\00:40:40.92
to help us. He was
chosen by the churches. "
00:40:40.95\00:40:43.74
So what I'm trying to say
00:40:43.84\00:40:47.79
is this is organization...
this is churches cooperating.
00:40:47.99\00:40:51.84
Church has no right to
go over here just by itself
00:40:52.15\00:40:55.08
and say "I'm not going to
associate with anybody else...
00:40:55.28\00:40:57.24
not have anything to
do with anybody else. "
00:40:57.44\00:40:59.42
No! We're to work together.
00:40:59.72\00:41:01.88
That's what God
chose the churches to do
00:41:02.08\00:41:05.18
is to work together.
00:41:05.38\00:41:06.47
So God has a church.
00:41:06.77\00:41:09.29
So God has given us commission,
00:41:25.37\00:41:27.27
and the churches' responsibility
is to take the gospel
00:41:27.47\00:41:30.91
to the world.
00:41:31.12\00:41:32.78
We're to share it,
and dear friends...
00:41:33.08\00:41:35.12
we're to cooperate in that.
00:41:35.32\00:41:37.39
It's not something
that one person should do
00:41:37.59\00:41:39.51
but the church
has the responsibility
00:41:39.71\00:41:42.19
of taking the
gospel to the whole world.
00:41:42.39\00:41:45.17
That's what God called it to do.
00:41:45.37\00:41:47.87
There's was church - a
very, very wealthy church.
00:41:50.33\00:41:56.23
Really it didn't do anything...
didn't do anything for anybody.
00:41:56.53\00:42:02.19
It spent all of
its money on itself.
00:42:02.39\00:42:04.37
And it was a very,
very beautiful church.
00:42:04.67\00:42:08.51
A gorgeous church and all.
00:42:08.81\00:42:11.65
But they really had more money
than they knew what to do with.
00:42:11.95\00:42:15.43
And so one of the committees
got together and they decided
00:42:15.73\00:42:20.30
that they ought to
have a picture painted
00:42:20.50\00:42:24.84
that they could hang up
in the hall of the church.
00:42:25.04\00:42:27.85
And they wanted a picture
painted of a dying church.
00:42:28.05\00:42:31.93
And they said: "We can
hang it up there in the hall
00:42:32.23\00:42:35.25
and that way when
the members look at it
00:42:35.45\00:42:37.69
they'll know that our church
should never get that way.
00:42:37.89\00:42:41.08
It'll be a reminder to
them to never let our church
00:42:41.38\00:42:44.29
get like that church. "
00:42:44.49\00:42:45.46
And so they hired an artist.
00:42:45.59\00:42:49.67
They told him what they wanted
00:42:49.87\00:42:51.64
and commissioned him
to paint the painting.
00:42:51.94\00:42:54.87
He painted the
painting and called them up
00:42:55.17\00:42:58.35
and told them on a certain
day they could see the painting.
00:42:58.55\00:43:02.24
And so they had a
great big service.
00:43:02.54\00:43:05.39
Going to have the
unveiling of this painting
00:43:05.59\00:43:08.49
this artist had
done of a dying church.
00:43:08.69\00:43:10.62
They all got together,
and the time the artist
00:43:10.72\00:43:15.40
unveiled this
picture of a dying church.
00:43:15.60\00:43:18.73
Beautiful church. Gorgeous.
00:43:19.03\00:43:23.56
They looked at it, and I
mean everything was in place.
00:43:23.86\00:43:29.05
There wasn't any signs
of windows being broken
00:43:29.35\00:43:34.25
and the doors hanging
sideways on the hinges...
00:43:34.45\00:43:36.64
which is what they
expected. That wasn't anywhere,
00:43:36.94\00:43:40.29
and they couldn't see
where the church was dying.
00:43:40.60\00:43:44.25
And as they got close and
they looked very, very carefully
00:43:44.55\00:43:49.12
over in the corner
was an offering box.
00:43:49.32\00:43:54.41
And on the offering
box it said missions.
00:43:54.61\00:44:00.10
A spider had
come... woven its web
00:44:00.40\00:44:03.86
over where they
dropped their offering.
00:44:04.06\00:44:06.70
That's all it takes
for a church to die.
00:44:07.01\00:44:10.32
When the church no
longer has a vision
00:44:10.62\00:44:14.22
of taking the
gospel to the world,
00:44:14.42\00:44:16.50
then, dear friends,
that church is dying.
00:44:16.80\00:44:21.08
I will never forget
when I was at the seminary
00:44:21.38\00:44:25.63
professor told us to go
downtown Washington, D.C.
00:44:27.40\00:44:30.98
and to visit five churches.
00:44:31.28\00:44:34.07
And then to pick one of
those churches that we visited
00:44:34.37\00:44:38.12
and write him a
paper on that church.
00:44:38.32\00:44:41.05
He said: "I want you to
tell me when the church started.
00:44:41.35\00:44:43.76
I want you to tell me
where... the different buildings
00:44:44.06\00:44:47.55
its been in over the years.
00:44:47.65\00:44:49.47
I want you to tell me
about its mission work.
00:44:49.68\00:44:52.14
What influence it's had. "
He said: "I want you to write me
00:44:52.34\00:44:54.32
a paper on this church. "
00:44:54.52\00:44:56.29
Well I went to these 5 churches.
00:44:56.59\00:44:58.71
And I picked one church,
folks. A beautiful church.
00:44:59.01\00:45:03.20
I mean this is a
church when you walked in
00:45:03.50\00:45:06.10
the stained-glass windows
and the inside of the church
00:45:06.30\00:45:09.81
just gave you a feeling
of - you know - really being
00:45:10.01\00:45:14.52
in a church. And
when I went to the service
00:45:14.72\00:45:18.49
I mean the organist...
music was just fabulous.
00:45:18.69\00:45:23.56
This was a church that
when you went to the church
00:45:23.86\00:45:26.94
you were met at
the door by a deacon.
00:45:27.14\00:45:30.36
And that deacon ushered you
down the aisle and seated you.
00:45:30.66\00:45:36.09
Handed you a
bulletin. I mean, it was just...
00:45:36.40\00:45:40.48
everything was just top-notch.
00:45:40.68\00:45:42.56
The choir was
absolutely fantastic,
00:45:42.66\00:45:45.84
and the minister
preached great sermons.
00:45:46.14\00:45:49.56
And I wrote my paper on this,
00:45:49.86\00:45:52.74
but when I got
through with the paper
00:45:52.85\00:45:54.80
I just didn't feel
quite happy with it.
00:45:55.00\00:45:58.03
And I went back down
and went to the church.
00:45:58.33\00:46:01.49
And after it was over I stepped
to the side and stood there
00:46:01.70\00:46:05.72
in the foyer. And one of the
deacons came up to me and said:
00:46:05.92\00:46:08.65
"Can I help you? "
And I said: "Yes. "
00:46:08.85\00:46:10.20
And I told him I was
a seminary student...
00:46:10.40\00:46:12.05
what I was doing and all.
00:46:12.25\00:46:13.75
And I said: "I've
just got one question. "
00:46:14.05\00:46:15.76
I said: "I've written
this paper about your church.
00:46:15.96\00:46:19.36
But, " I said, "I don't
have much information about the
00:46:19.56\00:46:22.21
last ten years. "
00:46:22.42\00:46:24.10
I said: "Tell me, how many
people have been brought to
00:46:24.30\00:46:27.63
Christ by this church
in the last ten years? "
00:46:27.73\00:46:30.85
And I'll never forget...
He hung his head and he said:
00:46:31.15\00:46:34.58
"Not one. "
00:46:34.78\00:46:36.28
"Not one. "
00:46:36.58\00:46:38.76
See you can have the
prettiest church in the world
00:46:39.06\00:46:41.83
and a fantastic choir,
but if it's lost its mission
00:46:42.03\00:46:46.10
it doesn't have
a reason to exist.
00:46:46.30\00:46:48.30
Listen: "And He... "
that's referring to Jesus Christ
00:46:48.60\00:46:53.21
So it tells us
clearly in God's Word
00:47:02.38\00:47:04.53
that Jesus is the
head of the church.
00:47:04.73\00:47:07.45
Now it says the
church is the body...
00:47:07.75\00:47:09.66
So Christ is the head,
the church is the body.
00:47:18.12\00:47:21.43
And it has many members.
00:47:21.64\00:47:23.29
All right.
00:47:29.18\00:47:30.20
So it says that
the church is the body.
00:48:01.34\00:48:04.52
It says we are
members of the body.
00:48:04.62\00:48:06.97
Bothers me the way I see
members treating one another.
00:48:07.27\00:48:11.49
You see, if I...
I get a toothache
00:48:11.79\00:48:15.16
and my tooth is hurting me.
00:48:15.36\00:48:19.19
And I get up at 2
o'clock in the morning
00:48:19.39\00:48:21.96
and I go into the bathroom and
see if I can find something to
00:48:22.16\00:48:24.54
deaden the pain,
00:48:24.74\00:48:26.34
and when I get in the bathroom
00:48:26.54\00:48:28.44
my hands won't move.
00:48:28.74\00:48:30.88
They just won't move.
00:48:31.18\00:48:32.68
And I'm standing there trying to
00:48:32.88\00:48:34.52
do something for my tooth
00:48:34.72\00:48:36.57
and my hands say:
"Good enough for you.
00:48:36.77\00:48:40.14
Shouldn't have
eaten so much sugar.
00:48:40.24\00:48:42.83
Next time you'll know better
than to eat all those sweets. "
00:48:43.13\00:48:45.83
Is that the way my
hands treat my tooth?
00:48:46.13\00:48:49.40
No, my hand
sympathizes with my tooth.
00:48:49.70\00:48:52.71
You know, we have a song we sing
00:48:52.92\00:48:55.74
You may notice that we say
brother and sister around here?
00:48:55.94\00:48:58.78
It's because we are a family
00:48:59.08\00:49:02.28
and these folks are so dear.
00:49:02.49\00:49:04.45
If one has a heartache,
00:49:04.65\00:49:06.49
we all shed the tear.
00:49:06.79\00:49:09.01
And rejoice in each victory
00:49:09.32\00:49:12.07
in this family so dear.
00:49:12.37\00:49:13.98
This is what
the church is to be.
00:49:14.28\00:49:16.20
To be a place where
we fellowship together.
00:49:16.40\00:49:19.12
You and I are to be members.
00:49:32.26\00:49:34.10
Some are the
hands, some are the feet.
00:49:34.41\00:49:36.09
Some are the
eyes, some are the ears.
00:49:36.29\00:49:37.74
But we all have a
responsibility in God's church.
00:49:38.04\00:49:42.11
All of us do.
00:49:42.41\00:49:43.83
Now we're down to the end.
00:49:44.13\00:49:46.37
The woman being the church.
00:49:49.40\00:49:52.13
That's the last part...
00:49:55.82\00:49:57.32
So it says the devil is
going to be angry at the church
00:50:02.47\00:50:05.98
right down at the end of time.
00:50:06.28\00:50:10.53
"Which keep the
commandments of God and have the
00:50:10.83\00:50:12.92
testimony of Jesus
Christ. " In other words,
00:50:13.12\00:50:14.67
what it's saying,
folks, is His church
00:50:14.88\00:50:17.82
follows the Word of God.
00:50:18.12\00:50:21.99
They walk in
accordance with God's Word,
00:50:22.29\00:50:25.70
and because of that
the devil is angry at them.
00:50:25.90\00:50:31.21
Very much so.
00:50:31.41\00:50:32.85
That it says will be the
condition at the end of time.
00:50:33.15\00:50:37.54
And I'll assure you, the devil
will do everything to keep you
00:50:37.74\00:50:40.78
from following God's Word.
00:50:40.98\00:50:42.91
Just outside of London, England,
00:50:43.21\00:50:46.49
there is this church.
00:50:46.69\00:50:49.67
This church was built by a
young man named Robert Shirley.
00:50:49.97\00:50:55.16
Robert Shirley built this church
00:50:55.46\00:51:00.12
and all the people
in the community came
00:51:00.22\00:51:03.09
and worshiped there.
00:51:03.29\00:51:04.73
But the king of England decided
there should be only one church.
00:51:06.37\00:51:10.96
And he sent out orders
00:51:11.26\00:51:14.13
that all the other churches
00:51:14.33\00:51:16.19
other than the state church
00:51:16.39\00:51:17.92
were to be shut up.
00:51:18.12\00:51:19.62
Closed.
00:51:19.82\00:51:21.14
And they came to
Robert Shirley's church here
00:51:21.45\00:51:23.94
and they
dismissed all the members.
00:51:24.14\00:51:27.30
They boarded up the doors
00:51:27.60\00:51:29.90
and they forbade
them to worship there.
00:51:30.20\00:51:32.70
Robert Shirley took
that for a number of years.
00:51:33.00\00:51:38.82
But in his heart, he
just... it bothered him.
00:51:39.32\00:51:45.31
It just seemed to be something
that was constantly there
00:51:45.51\00:51:48.69
nagging at him. And finally
he could take it no longer
00:51:48.89\00:51:52.45
and he went out and
he opened the church up.
00:51:52.65\00:51:56.96
Repaired it. Cleaned it up,
00:51:57.26\00:52:01.40
and went out into the community
and invited people to come
00:52:01.71\00:52:05.12
and to worship.
00:52:05.42\00:52:06.85
And they came and they started
worshiping in the church.
00:52:07.15\00:52:10.66
The king heard about it.
00:52:12.55\00:52:14.32
Sent soldiers.
00:52:14.62\00:52:16.98
They came down and
dismissed the people.
00:52:17.19\00:52:19.96
Boarded up the church and
forbade the people to worship,
00:52:20.26\00:52:24.04
and they
arrested Robert Shirley.
00:52:24.24\00:52:26.98
They took him and put
him in the tower in London.
00:52:27.28\00:52:33.06
I've been there.
00:52:33.36\00:52:34.97
I've looked at the record
of those that were in the tower
00:52:35.28\00:52:39.13
of London, and there
Robert Shirley's name is.
00:52:39.23\00:52:41.94
A young man, and he
was there all of his life
00:52:42.14\00:52:46.58
until he died.
00:52:46.78\00:52:48.95
That little church still stands.
00:52:49.25\00:52:51.52
And when you go there, on
the front door is a plaque.
00:52:51.82\00:52:56.02
And the plaque simply says this:
00:52:56.32\00:52:59.23
In the year of 1651 AD
00:52:59.43\00:53:02.45
when everything throughout
the land was either demolished
00:53:02.65\00:53:07.47
or profaned, I -
Sir Robert Shirley -
00:53:07.67\00:53:13.24
do dedicate this church to God
00:53:13.27\00:53:16.07
whose singular praise it
is to have done the best thing
00:53:16.28\00:53:21.11
in the worst times.
00:53:21.31\00:53:22.89
May God grant to you and I
00:53:23.19\00:53:26.49
that we could stand and
say "I did the best thing
00:53:26.80\00:53:32.54
even in the worst times. "
00:53:32.75\00:53:35.59
Let us pray.
00:53:35.89\00:53:37.03
Heavenly Father,
00:53:37.33\00:53:39.05
we thank you for Your Word.
00:53:39.35\00:53:42.74
That by it we can know truth
00:53:43.04\00:53:46.61
and we can stand on Your Word
00:53:46.92\00:53:50.46
and know that it will
guide and lead us and direct us
00:53:50.76\00:53:55.23
and be a light unto our path.
00:53:55.34\00:53:58.07
May each one of us
walk with You, Lord.
00:53:58.37\00:54:02.21
May we follow in Your Word
as You direct us and lead us.
00:54:02.42\00:54:06.30
May our lives be surrendered
00:54:06.60\00:54:10.14
as we walk in Your church.
00:54:10.44\00:54:13.12
We pray in Christ's name, Amen.
00:54:13.42\00:54:16.71
Remember our next presentation:
00:54:17.01\00:54:19.90
The Front Door of the Church.
00:54:20.10\00:54:22.87
Hope it will be
a blessing to you.
00:54:23.17\00:54:25.21
Good night. God
bless each one of you.
00:54:25.51\00:54:27.65
There's a popular movie
that depicts the complete
00:54:30.48\00:54:34.15
annihilation of the
world through earthquakes,
00:54:34.35\00:54:37.04
fires, tsunamis, and floods
00:54:37.24\00:54:39.54
in the year 2012 AD.
00:54:39.74\00:54:42.07
Jesus warns us against
setting dates in Matthew 24:36.
00:54:42.37\00:54:47.04
"But of that day and
hour, no one knows...
00:54:47.34\00:54:50.13
not even the angels of heaven
00:54:50.43\00:54:52.36
but My Father only. "
00:54:52.56\00:54:53.95
While this film
may be entertaining,
00:54:54.15\00:54:56.54
it has done nothing
but heighten the fear
00:54:56.74\00:54:58.98
of the people of this world.
00:54:59.18\00:55:01.13
For many years now, we
have seen the signs of a world
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in a state of collapse.
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And even unbelievers are
increasingly uncomfortable
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with the way things are going.
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Truly we stand on the very edge
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of earth's
history. And believe me,
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the $250,000,000 spent on
special effects for this film
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don't even come close
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to what is about to be
unleashed upon mankind.
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The Bible warns of wars,
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famines,
pestilence, and earthquakes
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culminating in the
most spectacular upheaval
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this world has ever seen.
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Just listen to this description
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found in
Revelation the sixth chapter.
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"And behold, there
was a great earthquake
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and the sun became
black as the sackcloth of hair
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and the moon became like blood.
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And the stars of the
heaven fell to the earth
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as a fig tree
drops its late figs
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when it is
shaken by a mighty wind.
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Then the sky receded as a
scroll when it is rolled up
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and every mountain and island
were moved out of its place. "
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Friends, this will
not be a Hollywood movie.
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These events will
surely take place,
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and we must warn the
world as quickly as possible.
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You see, there will
be no secret rapture.
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Every human being alive
at the time will be affected
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whether they are
wicked or righteous.
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But while the fear that has
gripped the hearts of the wicked
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will cause them to beg
for rocks to fall on them,
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those who are righteous
will welcome these events
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as signs of Christ's coming.
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They will say:
"Behold! This is our God.
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We have waited for
Him, and He will save us. "
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Listen to these glorious words
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from I Thessalonians 4:
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"For the Lord Himself will
descend from heaven with a shout
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with the voice of the archangel
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and with the trumpet of God,
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and the dead in
Christ will rise first.
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Then we who are alive and remain
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shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds
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to meet the Lord in the air.
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And thus we shall
always be with the Lord.
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Wherefore, comfort one
another with these words. "
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Oh friends, our burden
is to share this good news.
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To bring comfort to
those who are living in fear.
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That's why we continue to
preach the gospel of salvation
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through Jesus Christ
to anyone who will listen.
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To see a soul come to Jesus
and be saved is worth any cost
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and all efforts. That's
why this ministry exists.
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Won't you help us?
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Please consider what you can do
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for those who still
don't know about Jesus.
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As the Holy Spirit impresses,
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please send your
tax-deductible gifts to:
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Thank you for helping us
spread the light of God's Word
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through television and radio.
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Your gifts help bring
the blessed hope of salvation
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to millions around the world.
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