The title of our
message tonight is
00:00:24.28\00:00:27.42
To Be Announced.
00:00:27.53\00:00:29.04
And as we have said before,
00:00:29.34\00:00:32.26
that is not what's going
to happen, that is the title.
00:00:32.46\00:00:36.22
The title is To Be Announced.
00:00:36.52\00:00:38.09
There were those who thought
that we didn't have a title
00:00:38.39\00:00:40.93
till I explained to them
that the title was indeed
00:00:41.23\00:00:43.65
To Be Announced.
00:00:43.85\00:00:45.21
Earlier today we had a baptism.
00:00:46.49\00:00:50.73
Um, we are happy that there
are a number of people here
00:00:51.96\00:00:55.34
in Chicago who have made
their stand or taken their stand
00:00:55.54\00:01:01.08
to serve the Lord.
00:01:01.28\00:01:02.64
Some of them were not
quite ready for baptism today.
00:01:02.94\00:01:06.43
They are in
classes; they are studying...
00:01:06.74\00:01:09.78
but they have taken their
stand during these meetings.
00:01:09.98\00:01:12.09
As I have said before,
only the last couple of nights
00:01:12.29\00:01:14.92
we've had seven here.
But we had two young people
00:01:15.12\00:01:18.50
who wanted to be baptized today.
00:01:18.70\00:01:21.04
They wanted to give
their life to the Lord
00:01:21.24\00:01:23.43
and let the world know
that today was their birthday
00:01:23.63\00:01:28.11
as it were...
their new birthday.
00:01:28.31\00:01:30.28
They wanted to be
baptized during the meetings.
00:01:30.48\00:01:32.87
They wanted to do it today,
and so we accommodated them
00:01:33.07\00:01:35.70
just a couple of hours ago.
Pastor Famous Murray brought
00:01:35.90\00:01:39.17
two of his young people
over who wanted to be baptized.
00:01:39.37\00:01:41.82
And we taped that, and
we'd like you to take a look at
00:01:42.02\00:01:43.98
that just now.
00:01:44.18\00:01:45.72
It is my pleasure to be
standing in the baptismal pool
00:02:00.44\00:02:04.61
with Pastor Famous Murray.
Pastor, good to have you here.
00:02:04.81\00:02:06.92
Good to be here. The
Shiloh Church has been
00:02:07.12\00:02:09.83
downlinking our
meetings right across town
00:02:10.03\00:02:13.06
and has had good
attendance each night.
00:02:13.36\00:02:15.76
And we have some young
people who have chosen,
00:02:16.06\00:02:20.17
Pastor, to give
their heart to the Lord
00:02:20.28\00:02:21.25
and seal that with
baptism today. Yes.
00:02:21.28\00:02:24.23
As a matter of fact they are two
young persons from our school.
00:02:24.43\00:02:28.08
This is their first year
attending the Chicago-area
00:02:28.28\00:02:31.91
school. And as a result of their
attending school and church
00:02:32.11\00:02:36.12
they are here for
baptism. Praise the Lord!
00:02:36.32\00:02:38.01
We are happy that this
meeting helped encourage them.
00:02:38.21\00:02:41.43
By the look of them, they
were about the age that I was
00:02:41.53\00:02:43.59
Pastor when I joined the church.
00:02:43.79\00:02:45.50
I got baptized at nine
and have not regretted it.
00:02:45.70\00:02:49.59
You know we are happy because
during the last couple of days
00:02:49.79\00:02:52.80
we have had seven individuals
00:02:53.00\00:02:56.77
give their hearts to the
Lord and are now preparing
00:02:56.98\00:02:59.73
for baptism. We are
really, really excited because
00:02:59.76\00:03:02.32
God gave us a perfect number.
We have four on last evening
00:03:02.52\00:03:05.57
and another three this morning
in this morning's meeting.
00:03:05.78\00:03:07.68
So we know we have seven
souls from this very church
00:03:07.88\00:03:10.52
that will be giving
their hearts to the Lord
00:03:10.72\00:03:11.93
and in the
baptismal pool very soon.
00:03:12.13\00:03:13.71
Isn't that beautiful?
00:03:13.91\00:03:15.19
As a matter of
fact, we have several more
00:03:15.49\00:03:17.63
who are prepared for
baptism. As a matter of fact,
00:03:17.83\00:03:21.29
the mother who is sitting
out there with us tonight
00:03:21.49\00:03:24.23
of these young people...
she is preparing for baptism
00:03:24.43\00:03:27.73
and others who we could
not get ready for tonight.
00:03:27.93\00:03:30.36
We're excited because young
people kind of lead the way
00:03:30.56\00:03:33.54
sometimes, you know.
And these two young people
00:03:33.74\00:03:36.59
really wanted to this... to make
their statement for the world
00:03:36.79\00:03:39.96
that they are giving
their lives to Jesus.
00:03:40.16\00:03:42.08
So it's a very
exciting thing, Pastor Murray.
00:03:42.28\00:03:43.35
I'm good to be in
the water with you...
00:03:43.55\00:03:44.85
good to be in the
water with you. Great!
00:03:45.05\00:03:47.17
Let's have a word of prayer.
00:03:47.37\00:03:48.42
If you would just lead
out in prayer. Let us pray.
00:03:48.62\00:03:50.57
Father in Heaven, we
will ourselves anew to You
00:03:50.77\00:03:54.00
at this moment. We place this
pool, this baptismal service,
00:03:54.20\00:03:59.06
in Your hands, asking that
Your Holy Spirit will anoint
00:03:59.26\00:04:02.72
the waters, this service,
and especially these two
00:04:02.92\00:04:06.30
young people who shall be
buried in the watery grave
00:04:06.50\00:04:10.72
of baptism tonight.
And, Lord, there are others
00:04:10.92\00:04:13.50
in other churches,
other areas, other countries,
00:04:13.70\00:04:15.95
other cites, other states,
who are planning to do likewise.
00:04:16.15\00:04:19.38
We pray Your
blessings upon them.
00:04:19.58\00:04:21.86
Seal that
decision until Jesus comes.
00:04:22.06\00:04:24.97
This is our prayer
in Christ's name, Amen.
00:04:25.17\00:04:27.81
Amen. You know, while
you were mentioning...
00:04:27.92\00:04:29.87
or while you were
praying, rather, you mentioned
00:04:30.08\00:04:31.26
other countries. It reminded
me, we got a very nice letter
00:04:31.46\00:04:34.00
from the Philippines. There
are a fairly large group of
00:04:34.20\00:04:36.99
young people also
there in the Philippines
00:04:37.19\00:04:39.09
who have given
their hearts to the Lord
00:04:39.29\00:04:40.87
and any day now will be
joining the family of God
00:04:41.07\00:04:45.61
in baptism. And so we
are excited about that.
00:04:45.81\00:04:47.62
All around the world, young
people are standing up for Jesus
00:04:47.82\00:04:50.89
and making this
commitment to Him.
00:04:51.09\00:04:53.21
Pastor C.A., this
is what it's all about.
00:04:53.41\00:04:55.01
You haven't been preaching
out here for the past 15 nights
00:04:55.21\00:04:58.91
just to sweat!
00:04:59.11\00:05:00.20
But you're trying to bring
men, women, boys, and girls
00:05:00.40\00:05:04.09
into a living
relationship with Jesus Christ
00:05:04.29\00:05:06.78
because we know
that He's soon to come.
00:05:07.09\00:05:09.07
Amen. And we all want to
be ready to meet Him in peace
00:05:09.37\00:05:11.94
and we want to help
others to get ready to meet Him.
00:05:11.97\00:05:14.44
You've got a couple
preachers in the baptismal pool,
00:05:15.16\00:05:17.51
so you have to forgive us
00:05:17.71\00:05:18.75
because any preacher will tell
you that baptizing is the most
00:05:18.95\00:05:23.02
fun part, I can
say, of ministry:
00:05:23.22\00:05:26.09
seeing young and
old, rich and poor,
00:05:26.29\00:05:28.61
give their hearts to the
Lord and seal that with baptism.
00:05:28.81\00:05:31.74
Yeah. That's beautiful,
beautiful. All right, praise
00:05:31.94\00:05:33.41
God, praise God! Who do we have?
00:05:33.61\00:05:34.75
All right... Jasmine.
00:05:38.68\00:05:39.93
Now, Jasmine,
before you... before we
00:06:16.14\00:06:18.59
do this great thing, is
there anything you want to say?
00:06:18.62\00:06:20.44
You want to talk in the
microphone? Just say anything?
00:06:20.64\00:06:22.22
Nah... We kind of
put you on the spot?
00:06:22.52\00:06:25.67
That's all right
because she's made her decision.
00:06:27.78\00:06:29.78
She said all the right
things so we're happy for her.
00:06:30.08\00:06:33.11
And so, Jasmine,
because you love Jesus
00:06:45.84\00:06:48.90
you decided in your young years
00:06:49.20\00:06:52.76
to give your life,
your heart, your soul to Him
00:06:52.96\00:06:57.32
it gives us GREAT pleasure
00:06:57.62\00:07:00.01
to baptize you in
the name of the Father,
00:07:00.21\00:07:02.78
and in the name of the Son,
00:07:02.99\00:07:04.78
and in the name
of the Holy Ghost.
00:07:04.99\00:07:07.60
Be faithful unto
death, and Jesus will give you
00:07:07.80\00:07:10.97
a crown of life.
00:07:11.17\00:07:12.91
Amen!
00:07:13.11\00:07:14.42
This water is
worrying him just a little bit.
00:07:58.28\00:08:00.49
And the Pastor is assuring him
that I've got good hold of you,
00:08:00.79\00:08:03.70
I'll take care of you.
00:08:03.90\00:08:09.49
Xavius, because of
your love for Jesus
00:08:37.36\00:08:41.29
and your commitment to
do His will as a young boy
00:08:41.49\00:08:46.39
I can assure you
that you will be blessed;
00:08:46.69\00:08:50.22
your family will be blessed;
00:08:50.53\00:08:52.27
the community will be blessed;
your church will be blessed
00:08:52.47\00:08:56.48
to have you as a fine
young man serving the Lord.
00:08:56.68\00:09:00.54
Growing up in your
community, in your home,
00:09:00.74\00:09:03.54
in your church,
and in your school.
00:09:03.74\00:09:06.36
Because of your love for Jesus
00:09:06.56\00:09:08.60
we baptize you in
the name of the Father,
00:09:08.80\00:09:12.09
and of His Son,
00:09:12.29\00:09:14.21
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
00:09:14.42\00:09:17.06
Praise God... he's
a little worked up.
00:09:36.55\00:09:38.55
Very exciting day.
00:09:38.85\00:09:39.85
It is a most exciting day
00:09:40.05\00:09:41.58
when you give
your heart to the Lord.
00:09:41.78\00:09:43.39
I can remember my first
baptism so many, many years ago.
00:09:43.59\00:09:46.99
It's something you don't
forget; something you treasure
00:09:47.19\00:09:49.98
because it is the start of
a walk that will lead to glory
00:09:50.18\00:09:54.14
as long as we keep our
hand in the hand of Jesus.
00:09:54.34\00:09:57.05
And I'm happy that
two young people led out.
00:09:57.35\00:09:59.46
The Bible says that "a
child shall lead them. "
00:09:59.76\00:10:02.72
Many times it is young
people who lead the way.
00:10:03.02\00:10:05.05
We are happy for
the seven individuals
00:10:05.35\00:10:07.54
who have taken their
stand here. And as Pastor said,
00:10:07.74\00:10:10.94
there are several
more at his church
00:10:11.14\00:10:12.83
and we know several
more around the world.
00:10:13.03\00:10:16.20
And so these two precious
young people join literally
00:10:16.40\00:10:19.66
thousands of others who
have sealed their determination
00:10:19.86\00:10:22.99
and their faith and
have said to the world
00:10:23.19\00:10:25.89
and to our God above
"I will walk with You
00:10:26.10\00:10:29.13
starting this day
throughout all eternity. "
00:10:29.16\00:10:32.13
Want you to keep them in prayer
00:10:32.44\00:10:33.95
and those who
have taken their stand
00:10:34.15\00:10:35.82
who have stood up for Jesus here
over the last couple of days.
00:10:36.02\00:10:39.09
We want to remember
them in prayer also.
00:10:39.29\00:10:41.35
And certainly the members
at Shiloh will be remembering
00:10:41.55\00:10:44.36
those individuals who also have
given their hearts to the Lord
00:10:44.56\00:10:47.88
at the Shiloh Church.
00:10:48.08\00:10:49.12
Pray for those around the world
00:10:49.42\00:10:51.13
who are in the
valley of decision.
00:10:51.33\00:10:52.39
You know, when you want
to give your heart to Jesus
00:10:52.59\00:10:54.32
there's always an enemy
who wants to distract you
00:10:54.52\00:10:58.01
or discourage you or in
some way turn you around.
00:10:58.22\00:11:01.90
But let us pray that what
has begun here will continue.
00:11:02.20\00:11:05.64
That Christ will keep that
which we now commit to His hands
00:11:05.84\00:11:09.09
until the day that
Jesus comes to take us home.
00:11:09.29\00:11:11.64
We have a promise that
we are on the winning team,
00:11:11.94\00:11:14.92
the victorious side. We
know who's going to win.
00:11:15.12\00:11:18.67
We know heaven is coming.
00:11:18.87\00:11:21.00
The only question left
in the whole universe is:
00:11:21.20\00:11:23.98
how shall you
stand in that great day?
00:11:24.08\00:11:27.22
It is my prayer
that each of us here
00:11:27.53\00:11:29.38
along with all of you who
are watching across the world
00:11:29.58\00:11:32.54
will be watching to see
Christ coming in the clouds
00:11:32.74\00:11:35.85
on that great day.
Because the promise IS
00:11:36.06\00:11:38.61
that day is not
far in the future.
00:11:38.81\00:11:41.17
"Be ye also ready. "
00:11:41.47\00:11:44.21
God bless you.
00:11:44.51\00:11:45.94
Amen.
00:11:46.24\00:11:47.52
Amen. Wasn't that precious?
00:11:52.01\00:11:53.79
Amen. That young man
really wanted to get baptized.
00:11:54.09\00:11:58.36
I don't recall ever seeing
00:11:58.57\00:12:00.78
a response like that. He was
00:12:00.99\00:12:02.01
crying and smiling at the
00:12:02.21\00:12:03.32
same time. And when his foot
00:12:03.52\00:12:05.70
hit that water, he said:
00:12:05.91\00:12:07.45
"I don't know. I want to go
00:12:07.65\00:12:09.32
but this water's
a little chilly. "
00:12:09.52\00:12:11.10
But his heart was
right, and he was happy that
00:12:11.30\00:12:14.09
he made a stand for the Lord.
00:12:14.30\00:12:16.91
So keep them in your prayers.
00:12:17.11\00:12:18.69
The subject: To Be Announced.
00:12:20.12\00:12:22.05
Our text to begin:
John chapter 14 verses 1-3.
00:12:22.08\00:12:27.73
I am quite sure
you know this by heart.
00:12:28.03\00:12:30.88
But I want you to turn
to the Word of God with me.
00:12:31.18\00:12:33.29
Let's read the
Word of God together
00:12:33.49\00:12:35.33
after we talk to
the Lord in prayer.
00:12:35.53\00:12:36.96
Father God, we take
now the time allotted to us
00:12:37.16\00:12:40.65
to talk about Jesus
00:12:40.95\00:12:42.98
and what He has prepared for us,
00:12:43.28\00:12:45.70
where we are going,
00:12:46.49\00:12:48.01
and where it will all
end if we are faithful.
00:12:48.22\00:12:51.65
So again this night we
ask for you to be our teacher,
00:12:51.95\00:12:56.01
our guide, and to
show us marvelous things
00:12:56.31\00:13:00.17
of the world to come.
00:13:00.37\00:13:01.35
And we thank you in
advance for Your presence
00:13:01.65\00:13:04.96
and Your power.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
00:13:05.17\00:13:08.92
To Be Announced. I'm
sure we will not have gone far
00:13:09.22\00:13:12.55
before you become aware
of what we are talking about.
00:13:12.75\00:13:16.19
The book is John.
What book did I say?
00:13:16.49\00:13:18.94
I'm in John the 14th
chapter and we will read
00:13:19.24\00:13:23.48
verses 1 through 3.
00:13:23.68\00:13:25.07
The Word of God says in John 14:
00:13:25.37\00:13:27.42
"Let not your heart be troubled.
00:14:00.83\00:14:05.13
Don't fear; don't be afraid.
00:14:05.43\00:14:08.88
Don't get weak in the knee
00:14:09.18\00:14:12.09
because something is coming
00:14:12.29\00:14:15.56
and it's going to be
worth the wait, " Jesus said.
00:14:15.86\00:14:19.54
I want you to do me a favor.
I want you to close your eyes
00:14:19.84\00:14:23.25
and think about heaven...
00:14:23.45\00:14:25.75
just for 10 seconds.
00:14:26.05\00:14:28.24
Think about heaven.
Now open them again.
00:14:28.54\00:14:32.07
It occurs to me that
that is a difficult request,
00:14:32.37\00:14:37.59
isn't it? It really is.
00:14:37.89\00:14:39.83
To try to think about a place
that you've never been to...
00:14:40.14\00:14:44.23
particularly in the light
of I Corinthians chapter 2
00:14:44.53\00:14:48.54
and verse 9.
What book did I say?
00:14:48.74\00:14:50.22
I Corinthians
chapter 2 and verse 9.
00:14:50.52\00:14:53.35
Let's read from the Word of God:
00:14:53.65\00:14:54.85
In other words, when somebody
asks you to think about heaven
00:15:10.13\00:15:14.32
it's a very difficult request
00:15:14.42\00:15:16.83
because the Bible itself says
00:15:17.13\00:15:19.34
we can't even imagine what
heaven is going to be like.
00:15:19.64\00:15:24.04
We can't even
conjecture in our minds.
00:15:24.34\00:15:27.86
In our wildest
imaginations we cannot really
00:15:28.16\00:15:32.27
grasp what heaven
is going to be like.
00:15:32.47\00:15:35.73
So then, we are
much more comfortable
00:15:36.13\00:15:39.97
thinking about
heaven in terms of
00:15:40.27\00:15:43.96
what will NOT be there because
we have no measuring stick.
00:15:44.26\00:15:48.61
We have no way to evaluate
or assess or envision heaven
00:15:49.01\00:15:53.73
because there's
nothing down here like heaven.
00:15:54.03\00:15:57.34
You take your best
day... that's not heaven.
00:15:57.64\00:16:02.04
You take the best
time you've had...
00:16:02.34\00:16:06.05
that's not heaven.
00:16:06.35\00:16:07.50
You take the most expensive
house you've ever been in...
00:16:07.80\00:16:11.55
that's not heaven.
00:16:11.85\00:16:13.36
God is saying:
"Your best thoughts,
00:16:13.67\00:16:17.14
your wildest dreams
00:16:17.44\00:16:19.67
fall short of what
heaven will be like. "
00:16:19.98\00:16:23.30
That is why when
we discuss heaven
00:16:23.60\00:16:26.23
we tend to be far more
comfortable in discussing heaven
00:16:26.53\00:16:30.11
in terms of what won't be there.
00:16:30.31\00:16:33.30
What will NOT be there.
00:16:33.60\00:16:35.81
We feel a little
better doing it that way
00:16:36.11\00:16:38.56
because we just are not
sure what WILL be there.
00:16:38.86\00:16:42.30
In heaven I won't have a barber
00:16:43.98\00:16:47.92
but I will have hair.
00:16:48.22\00:16:50.10
Amen!
00:16:50.40\00:16:51.97
In heaven I won't
have contact lenses
00:16:53.81\00:16:56.72
but I will have sight.
00:16:56.82\00:16:58.49
In heaven I won't have
frowns but I will have smiles.
00:16:58.79\00:17:03.24
In heaven I won't have
war but I will have peace.
00:17:03.54\00:17:07.02
In heaven I won't have
anger but I will have laughter.
00:17:07.42\00:17:11.28
In heaven I won't be a subject
00:17:11.68\00:17:14.70
but I will have a King.
00:17:15.00\00:17:16.29
In heaven I won't get sunburned
00:17:16.59\00:17:19.37
but I will have sun.
00:17:19.67\00:17:20.99
In heaven I won't
have an electrical bill
00:17:21.29\00:17:24.20
but I will have light.
00:17:24.50\00:17:26.08
In heaven I won't take vitamins
00:17:26.38\00:17:28.92
but I'll never get tired.
00:17:29.22\00:17:30.91
In heaven I won't eat meat
00:17:31.22\00:17:33.51
but I will have food. Amen!
00:17:38.13\00:17:40.74
In heaven I won't have a job
00:17:40.97\00:17:43.29
but I will work.
00:17:43.60\00:17:45.04
In heaven I
won't have a mortgage
00:17:45.34\00:17:47.89
but I will have a home. Amen!
00:17:48.19\00:17:50.34
In heaven I won't be a slave
00:17:50.48\00:17:52.50
but I will have a Master.
00:17:52.80\00:17:54.20
In heaven I won't burn
gas but I will have fuel.
00:17:54.50\00:17:58.23
In heaven I won't have a
farm but I will have a garden.
00:17:58.54\00:18:02.05
In heaven I
won't have any enemies
00:18:02.35\00:18:05.50
but I will have friends.
00:18:05.80\00:18:07.39
In heaven there will be no hate
00:18:07.69\00:18:10.67
but I will have love.
00:18:10.97\00:18:12.42
In heaven there'll be no
devil but we will have Jesus.
00:18:12.72\00:18:16.65
No more death!
00:18:17.64\00:18:19.44
No more pain!
00:18:20.22\00:18:22.41
No more dying!
00:18:22.72\00:18:24.49
No more sorrow!
00:18:24.79\00:18:26.46
No more arthritis.
00:18:26.76\00:18:28.92
No more heart disease.
00:18:29.22\00:18:31.25
No more eyeglasses.
00:18:31.55\00:18:33.45
No more war.
00:18:33.76\00:18:35.48
No more guns.
00:18:35.58\00:18:37.38
No more suicide bombers.
00:18:37.68\00:18:39.91
No more drive-by shootings.
00:18:40.21\00:18:42.67
No more burglar alarms.
00:18:42.97\00:18:45.19
No more IRS.
00:18:47.87\00:18:50.29
Amen!
00:18:50.60\00:18:53.03
No more INS.
00:18:53.33\00:18:56.10
No more STD.
00:18:56.40\00:18:58.99
No more PCB.
00:18:59.29\00:19:01.31
No more DDT.
00:19:01.61\00:19:03.56
No more TNT.
00:19:03.86\00:19:06.16
No more RPG.
00:19:06.46\00:19:08.13
No more GNP.
00:19:08.43\00:19:10.60
No more GBB, no more PVC.
00:19:10.90\00:19:15.91
No more terrorism.
00:19:16.21\00:19:17.86
No more taxes.
00:19:18.16\00:19:19.67
No more car notes,
no more locked doors.
00:19:19.97\00:19:23.46
No more adultery.
00:19:23.76\00:19:25.22
No more divorce.
00:19:25.52\00:19:26.92
No more trains, planes,
unmanned missions to Mars.
00:19:27.22\00:19:31.61
No more nightly
news or TV views.
00:19:31.91\00:19:34.85
No Dancing With the Stars.
00:19:35.15\00:19:36.80
No more busses, trucks, or cars.
00:19:37.21\00:19:40.78
No more New York, Los
Angeles, or Las Vegas,
00:19:41.08\00:19:44.48
or gambling on sports.
00:19:44.68\00:19:46.36
No more Coors, Bud
Light, Dos Equis, alcohol,
00:19:46.66\00:19:50.18
responsible drinking,
or anything of that sort.
00:19:50.48\00:19:53.01
No more racists.
No more arsonists.
00:19:54.61\00:19:57.57
No more extortionists.
No more contortionists.
00:19:57.87\00:20:00.34
No rap, no rock, no
reggae, no rhythm and blues,
00:20:00.64\00:20:04.01
and no country!
00:20:04.21\00:20:06.56
Um-hmm.
00:20:06.86\00:20:07.96
No more
shooters. No more Hooters.
00:20:08.26\00:20:10.51
No more looters.
No more scooters.
00:20:10.61\00:20:12.58
No more tooters.
00:20:12.88\00:20:15.69
No more
headache. No more backache.
00:20:17.67\00:20:20.67
No more
toothache. No more heartache.
00:20:20.97\00:20:23.25
No more
loneliness. No more vileness.
00:20:23.55\00:20:26.24
No more pettiness.
No more childishness.
00:20:26.54\00:20:29.14
No more meanness.
No more slothfulness.
00:20:29.44\00:20:31.94
No more rudeness.
No more vindictiveness.
00:20:32.24\00:20:34.40
No more callousness.
No more ruthlessness.
00:20:34.70\00:20:37.04
No more evilness.
No more heartlessness.
00:20:37.34\00:20:39.75
No more deceptiveness.
00:20:40.05\00:20:41.20
No vanity, no insanity,
00:20:41.50\00:20:43.67
no pornography, no profanity.
00:20:43.97\00:20:45.89
No insincerity. No insecurity.
00:20:46.19\00:20:48.49
No lack of
integrity. No insensitivity.
00:20:48.79\00:20:51.14
No incongruity.
00:20:51.44\00:20:52.97
Amen!
00:20:53.27\00:20:55.06
The truth is: most of
that which is in this world
00:20:56.55\00:21:01.41
won't be in heaven.
00:21:01.71\00:21:03.79
Amen!
00:21:03.99\00:21:05.01
That's why when you
say "think of heaven, "
00:21:05.21\00:21:07.43
we can't really do it
00:21:07.74\00:21:10.49
because we just don't
know what will be there
00:21:10.80\00:21:14.23
but we've kinda got a
good idea what won't be there.
00:21:14.53\00:21:17.84
Can you say Amen? Amen!
00:21:18.14\00:21:19.64
Most of the things
that are very common to us
00:21:21.05\00:21:23.89
won't be in heaven.
00:21:24.19\00:21:26.63
No more talk shows.
00:21:26.93\00:21:30.01
No more TV.
00:21:32.88\00:21:34.42
Praise the Lord!
00:21:35.99\00:21:38.32
Except for 3ABN, of course.
00:21:38.62\00:21:40.33
You will know heaven
by the love and trust
00:21:44.44\00:21:50.40
and peace under
the government of God.
00:21:50.60\00:21:55.09
By the way, no
more election campaigns.
00:21:56.52\00:22:01.91
We've got one King...
we won't need another.
00:22:03.81\00:22:07.78
Let's go to the book of
Hebrews. What book did I say?
00:22:09.21\00:22:11.62
Hebrews chapter 11 verse 16.
00:22:11.72\00:22:13.97
I'll turn to it with you.
00:22:14.17\00:22:16.53
Hebrews 11:16.
00:22:16.83\00:22:19.39
The Word of God
says... Hebrews 11:16:
00:22:19.69\00:22:22.46
Can you say Amen?
00:22:37.55\00:22:38.85
Our God is making a home for us.
00:22:39.15\00:22:41.61
It is a real
city... not an illusion.
00:22:41.81\00:22:44.96
There are some
theologians who try to teach us
00:22:45.26\00:22:47.19
that heaven is a state of mind.
00:22:47.40\00:22:49.98
I read something the
other day... they're saying:
00:22:50.18\00:22:51.62
"All the heaven you're
going to get you've got now...
00:22:51.82\00:22:54.94
so you'd better
think positive. "
00:22:55.14\00:22:56.54
God says: "Oh, no. "
God is building a real city
00:22:56.74\00:23:00.57
for real people.
Can you say Amen?
00:23:00.77\00:23:02.53
And it's coming real, real soon.
00:23:02.83\00:23:04.73
Well... where is heaven?
00:23:04.94\00:23:07.48
Where is it now? Let's go
to the book of Revelation.
00:23:07.78\00:23:10.18
What book did I say?
00:23:10.38\00:23:11.41
Revelation chapter 21.
Going to do a little Bible
00:23:11.61\00:23:13.81
hopping tonight.
Revelation chapter 21
00:23:14.01\00:23:16.09
and look at verse
2. Revelation 21:2:
00:23:16.29\00:23:18.95
And so our dwelling place
will be the New Jerusalem.
00:23:32.42\00:23:36.45
Where is it now? In heaven.
00:23:36.75\00:23:38.61
Where's it gonna
be? Down here on earth.
00:23:38.91\00:23:40.97
We will inherit the earth.
00:23:41.27\00:23:43.31
Let's go back to the Old
Testament for just a moment.
00:23:43.51\00:23:45.05
I'm in the book of I
Kings. What book did I say?
00:23:45.25\00:23:46.95
You're all the way from
Revelation back to I Kings.
00:23:47.25\00:23:50.28
Solomon is doing something here.
00:23:51.67\00:23:54.13
He is blessing the
temple at its inauguration.
00:23:54.43\00:23:57.02
I Kings chapter 8, picking
up the story at verse 28.
00:23:57.32\00:24:02.52
This is a marvelous prayer.
This is a sermon in itself.
00:24:47.39\00:24:49.74
Solomon at the beginning
of the temple said: "Lord,
00:24:50.04\00:24:52.12
I want You to make me a promise.
00:24:53.04\00:24:54.46
I want you to
make it from heaven
00:24:54.77\00:24:56.20
that whenever someone
comes to this place to pray
00:24:56.50\00:24:59.60
I want you to guarantee
me that You will hear. "
00:24:59.90\00:25:03.03
Solomon asked that of
the Lord; the Lord said: "OK.
00:25:03.33\00:25:05.94
Anybody prays from
this place I'll hear it. "
00:25:06.24\00:25:08.11
Then he even said:
"Lord, I want You to promise
00:25:08.41\00:25:11.09
that even if they can't get here
and they think about this place
00:25:11.50\00:25:17.45
You'll answer their prayer. "
00:25:17.55\00:25:19.51
The Lord said: "OK. "
00:25:19.81\00:25:22.36
"Lord, if something is wrong,
00:25:22.66\00:25:25.92
if they just turn in the
direction of this place...
00:25:26.22\00:25:28.99
just face towards the place...
00:25:29.19\00:25:31.48
I want you to guarantee
me that You will hear. "
00:25:31.78\00:25:34.15
The Lord said: "OK.
00:25:34.45\00:25:35.73
I love you that much;
I'll make that guarantee.
00:25:36.03\00:25:38.53
I'll hear from heaven
and grant it on earth. "
00:25:38.83\00:25:42.46
So God is in heaven.
00:25:42.76\00:25:46.09
The city is in heaven but
one day it's going to be here.
00:25:46.39\00:25:50.83
Now let's talk
about the dimensions.
00:25:51.03\00:25:52.24
Let's see if it's a real town.
00:25:52.44\00:25:53.59
I'm in Revelation 21 verse 16.
00:25:53.79\00:25:55.93
Revelation 21 verse
16: let's prove our point.
00:25:56.23\00:25:59.02
Did a little math earlier on.
00:26:20.29\00:26:23.00
A cubit is roughly 18 inches.
00:26:28.55\00:26:31.51
There were
different kinds of cubits.
00:26:31.71\00:26:32.90
The Hebrews had
cubits, Greeks had cubits.
00:26:33.10\00:26:35.65
Roughly the length
from the tip of your finger
00:26:35.95\00:26:38.03
down to your elbow is a cubit.
00:26:38.23\00:26:39.44
About 18 inches for
the average-sized man.
00:26:39.64\00:26:42.14
For some, a little bit longer.
00:26:42.34\00:26:43.89
But the text tells
us it's 12,000 furlongs.
00:26:44.82\00:26:48.63
1,500 miles... approximately
375 miles on each side.
00:26:49.42\00:26:55.36
Big town, isn't it?
00:26:55.67\00:26:57.27
You there?
00:26:57.57\00:27:00.71
You're just
shocked... I know what that is.
00:27:01.01\00:27:03.02
375 miles on a side.
00:27:03.32\00:27:06.41
That's roughly the distance
from New York City to Buffalo.
00:27:06.72\00:27:10.13
The state of New York and
about half of Pennsylvania.
00:27:10.43\00:27:12.56
That's a big town. I think it
would be able to hold everybody
00:27:12.76\00:27:15.69
don't you think?
00:27:15.89\00:27:16.90
375 miles on a side and
big and tall and square.
00:27:17.20\00:27:22.29
It's a wonderful city
that God has prepared.
00:27:22.59\00:27:25.85
When we read
Revelation 21 verse 2
00:27:26.06\00:27:28.86
we see something else.
00:27:29.07\00:27:30.27
Um, John again gives
us the understanding that
00:27:30.57\00:27:34.35
it's a real city.
00:27:34.55\00:27:35.61
Now let's look at
the walls of the city.
00:27:35.81\00:27:37.90
I'm in Revelation 21 verse 18.
00:27:38.22\00:27:40.42
When I read that, I
have a hard time imagining
00:27:51.60\00:27:55.71
what that is.
00:27:55.91\00:27:57.87
Pure gold... like glass.
00:27:58.37\00:28:01.79
Now I've seen gold
and I've seen glass,
00:28:02.09\00:28:07.02
but I haven't seen
golden glass or glassy gold.
00:28:07.32\00:28:12.45
And the Bible says
it's pure gold like glass.
00:28:12.75\00:28:17.93
So it must be transparent gold,
00:28:18.23\00:28:21.46
and I've never
seen transparent gold.
00:28:21.76\00:28:24.04
But I want to... how about you?
00:28:24.34\00:28:26.30
216 feet high
walls... 144 cubits.
00:28:27.74\00:28:33.13
An incredibly large city.
00:28:33.63\00:28:36.23
An incredibly wonderful city.
00:28:36.53\00:28:38.44
An incredible gift for
God's people who love Him.
00:28:38.74\00:28:41.76
I'm in Revelation
21... you're still there...
00:28:42.06\00:28:43.94
verses 12 and 13.
Let's look a little bit more:
00:28:44.24\00:28:46.84
Twelve gates... so there's
not going to be any traffic jam
00:29:10.44\00:29:13.70
going in and out like there
are going in and out of Chicago.
00:29:13.90\00:29:17.28
Can you say Amen? Amen!
00:29:17.58\00:29:19.63
Three gates on each side.
00:29:20.13\00:29:21.75
Names of the twelve
tribes on the gates.
00:29:22.05\00:29:24.34
And someone said to
me... I haven't really
00:29:24.54\00:29:26.04
searched this out...
someone said that each of us
00:29:26.14\00:29:28.91
has a lineage or a
linkage to a particular tribe.
00:29:29.11\00:29:31.95
And we're going to go in
through that particular gate
00:29:32.26\00:29:35.49
under the banner of
that particular tribe.
00:29:35.69\00:29:39.09
Now I don't know
if that's true or not,
00:29:39.29\00:29:40.49
but I sure would like
to do it. How about you?
00:29:40.69\00:29:43.24
And the thing about heaven is
00:29:43.54\00:29:45.32
if you don't get to
go in the East gate,
00:29:45.52\00:29:47.50
you won't mind
going in the West gate.
00:29:47.70\00:29:49.69
And if you get to
go in the North gate,
00:29:49.99\00:29:51.76
you won't mind
getting in the South gate.
00:29:52.06\00:29:53.71
You're just going to be
so glad that you got in!
00:29:54.01\00:29:56.92
Amen? Amen.
00:29:57.02\00:29:59.14
You're not going to
mind going in the other gate.
00:29:59.44\00:30:01.35
It's like now you go to potluck
00:30:01.65\00:30:03.74
and you're looking
on somebody else's plate
00:30:03.84\00:30:05.05
to see if they
got more than you.
00:30:05.26\00:30:06.33
Not going to happen in heaven...
00:30:06.53\00:30:07.79
'cause you'll be
so glad you got in
00:30:08.09\00:30:09.77
you won't care. You're just
praising God that you're in!
00:30:10.07\00:30:12.21
Amen? And Amen.
00:30:12.51\00:30:14.07
The city has twelve
complete foundations.
00:30:14.37\00:30:16.29
Revelation 21:21.
Let's go to Revelation 21:21.
00:30:16.59\00:30:20.64
Now that's... that's... I don't
even know how to imagine that:
00:30:27.38\00:30:29.73
a whole gate of pearl.
00:30:30.03\00:30:31.84
Doesn't that just
tickle your fancy?
00:30:37.39\00:30:39.16
Transparent gold...
and you're walking on it.
00:30:40.44\00:30:42.86
You know when we go home
00:30:43.16\00:30:44.95
we take off our shoes 'cause
we've got light-colored carpet
00:30:45.15\00:30:47.55
and we don't want
to get dirt on it.
00:30:47.75\00:30:49.03
But transparent gold
that's used for paving stones.
00:30:49.33\00:30:53.45
Incredible! God's going to pave
the city with transparent gold!
00:30:53.75\00:30:57.96
I can't wait to get
there. What about you?
00:30:58.27\00:31:00.10
Praise God for a wonderful city.
00:31:00.40\00:31:02.84
For a wonderful, wonderful city.
00:31:03.14\00:31:05.70
I'm in Matthew 5:5.
00:31:06.00\00:31:07.49
Matthew 5:5.
00:31:07.80\00:31:10.44
You see, when we read
Revelation chapter 20 we find
00:31:19.20\00:31:21.98
that we're not just going to
stay up there in the ethereal
00:31:22.18\00:31:27.36
forever... but this
city is coming back down here
00:31:27.66\00:31:31.09
to planet earth. We're
going to inherit the earth.
00:31:31.39\00:31:34.92
And that's a whole sermon in
itself how it's going to happen.
00:31:35.22\00:31:37.75
But praise God
it's going to happen.
00:31:37.99\00:31:39.43
Eventually we're going
to be right back down here
00:31:39.64\00:31:42.61
where it all started.
00:31:42.81\00:31:43.91
But it's not going to be
the same earth that you see
00:31:44.11\00:31:46.36
when you look out your
windows in the morning.
00:31:46.56\00:31:48.35
Amen? Going to
be a brand new earth
00:31:48.65\00:31:51.02
because we're going
to be brand new people!
00:31:51.22\00:31:53.55
Can you say Amen? Amen!
00:31:53.75\00:31:55.21
You know, we have
some scholarship that says
00:31:55.42\00:31:57.92
Adam and Eve, before sin...
00:31:58.13\00:32:01.48
they estimate - the
scholars and theologians - that
00:32:01.68\00:32:03.86
Adam was about 16 ft. tall,
00:32:04.06\00:32:07.04
about 2,000 pounds.
00:32:07.24\00:32:09.23
That's a big guy!
00:32:09.33\00:32:11.31
And Eve? A little bit
shorter... maybe about 10-12 ft.
00:32:11.61\00:32:15.44
Little bit
lighter... maybe 800-900 pounds.
00:32:15.64\00:32:18.53
And perfect in symmetry.
00:32:18.83\00:32:21.17
Amen? I can't wait to
get 16 ft. 2,000 pounds.
00:32:21.48\00:32:25.15
That's about 10
ft. more than I am now
00:32:27.10\00:32:29.84
and about 10 times the weight.
00:32:30.14\00:32:32.05
But I can't wait.
00:32:32.25\00:32:33.30
I'm 2,000 pounds, 16 ft.
00:32:33.50\00:32:36.00
Little Irma just barely 5 ft.
00:32:36.20\00:32:38.30
and I'm not going to
say the weight because
00:32:38.60\00:32:40.18
I'm not going to do that.
00:32:40.38\00:32:41.43
But she's going to
be 10 ft., 11 ft. -
00:32:43.39\00:32:46.48
1,000 pounds, BooBoo...
and that'll be all right.
00:32:46.78\00:32:49.55
Amen. Praise the Lord!
00:32:49.85\00:32:51.18
Can't wait. It tickles the
fancy just to think about it,
00:32:53.25\00:32:56.34
doesn't it? The idea
that there's no more pain,
00:32:56.54\00:32:59.76
no more ache, no more
sorrow, no more sadness.
00:33:00.07\00:33:02.85
No more
tiredness; no more fatigue!
00:33:03.15\00:33:05.19
We're going to be strong.
Eternally young and healthy
00:33:05.49\00:33:08.58
and vibrant and joyous
in the city called heaven.
00:33:08.78\00:33:12.84
Proverbs chapter 11 verse 31.
00:33:13.04\00:33:14.43
I'm in the book of
Proverbs chapter 11
00:33:14.63\00:33:16.24
and verse 31. Let's
read a little bit more:
00:33:16.44\00:33:18.28
So judgment is going
to take place down here
00:33:27.89\00:33:30.49
and the righteous will get
their reward ultimately where?
00:33:30.69\00:33:34.37
Right here on the earth.
00:33:34.67\00:33:36.54
This earth was made
for man's habitation.
00:33:36.84\00:33:39.31
And though we've
destroyed it, we've polluted it,
00:33:39.61\00:33:42.06
we've torn it apart,
ultimately God is going to
00:33:42.36\00:33:44.96
refurbish it and give it
right back to righteous man.
00:33:45.16\00:33:48.51
Can you say
Amen? Amen! All right,
00:33:48.71\00:33:50.15
let's go to Malachi. The
book is Malachi chapter 4
00:33:50.45\00:33:52.36
and verse 1. I'm in
Malachi chapter 4 and verse 1:
00:33:52.56\00:33:55.86
Now this text
serves two purposes.
00:34:14.51\00:34:16.19
One: it puts a pin in
the mistaken idea that
00:34:16.39\00:34:20.08
mankind will burn forever
00:34:20.28\00:34:21.62
because the Bible says
they're going to be burned up
00:34:21.93\00:34:25.11
leaving them
neither root nor branch.
00:34:25.31\00:34:27.75
But also it says that God is
going to go... take this earth
00:34:27.85\00:34:31.50
through a cleansing process
00:34:31.70\00:34:33.74
to make it fit
habitation for brand new people
00:34:34.04\00:34:37.70
and a brand new
city. Can you say Amen?
00:34:37.90\00:34:40.10
God is going to do
something spectacular
00:34:40.30\00:34:43.06
to clean this earth up
and make it fit habitation
00:34:43.37\00:34:47.37
for His saints for all eternity.
00:34:47.57\00:34:50.58
Revelation chapter 20 verse 9.
00:34:51.34\00:34:52.94
We're doing a lot of
hopping. Revelation 20 verse 9.
00:34:53.14\00:34:55.74
You were in the last
book of the Old Testament;
00:34:56.05\00:34:57.90
now you're in the
last book of the Bible.
00:34:58.10\00:34:59.29
I'm in Revelation
chapter 20 and verse 9.
00:34:59.49\00:35:01.71
Let's read the Word of God:
00:35:01.91\00:35:03.14
And so the city is coming down
00:35:12.47\00:35:14.64
and God is going to destroy
the wicked once and for all.
00:35:14.94\00:35:19.74
Because God is not
going to allow pollution
00:35:19.94\00:35:22.20
to come back a second time.
00:35:22.40\00:35:24.40
And I'm so glad that when
I make it through this time
00:35:24.70\00:35:28.20
I'll never have to
worry about it again,
00:35:28.50\00:35:31.82
ladies and
gentlemen. Once we get over,
00:35:32.02\00:35:34.32
once Christ
comes to take us home,
00:35:34.63\00:35:36.32
iniquity, pollution, sin
will not rise a second time.
00:35:36.63\00:35:41.52
This is it for sin!
00:35:41.82\00:35:44.42
Amen!
00:35:44.72\00:35:45.98
And all we have to do is hold on
to the unchanging hand of Jesus.
00:35:46.29\00:35:50.12
In a little while
it will all be over
00:35:50.33\00:35:54.76
and we'll be with Jesus
forever. Can you say Amen?
00:35:55.06\00:35:58.65
Amen! Let's go to II
Peter chapter 3 verse 10.
00:35:58.96\00:36:02.39
II Peter chapter 3 verse 10.
00:36:02.69\00:36:05.90
God is going to
clean this old earth away.
00:36:22.34\00:36:25.03
Now this text
establishes a number of things.
00:36:25.33\00:36:27.18
The Bible says Jesus' coming
is like a thief in the night.
00:36:27.48\00:36:33.15
There are some who think
that means Jesus is going to
00:36:33.45\00:36:37.42
sneak in here.
00:36:37.62\00:36:39.05
No! No! The Bible
says there's going to be
00:36:39.25\00:36:42.11
a great noise.
00:36:42.31\00:36:44.62
Not going to sneak in.
00:36:46.50\00:36:48.16
You see, most thieves don't
announce their coming, do they?
00:36:48.46\00:36:52.65
No! You don't have a fellow
walking down the street with a
00:36:52.95\00:36:56.32
bullhorn saying "I'm going to
break into your house tonight. "
00:36:56.52\00:36:59.93
So what the text is saying
00:37:01.09\00:37:02.97
is that Christ's coming
is going to be sudden...
00:37:03.28\00:37:06.57
not silent. Amen?
00:37:06.87\00:37:08.93
It's going to be sudden.
00:37:09.23\00:37:10.53
Men are going to be
going about their lives
00:37:10.84\00:37:12.77
doing what they always
do and... Jesus is here!
00:37:12.97\00:37:15.99
So it's not going to slip in...
He's giving us a lot of warning
00:37:16.49\00:37:20.16
and He will come
with a trumpet sound.
00:37:20.37\00:37:22.08
But we've got to be ready
00:37:22.29\00:37:23.89
because we just
don't know the day.
00:37:24.09\00:37:26.80
But it is coming
and it is coming soon.
00:37:27.10\00:37:29.64
And soon thereafter God is
going to clean up this earth
00:37:29.94\00:37:33.50
and make it fit
habitation for His saints.
00:37:33.70\00:37:37.42
Isaiah chapter 40 verse 31.
00:37:39.60\00:37:41.96
Isaiah 40 verse 31.
00:37:42.46\00:37:45.17
This text I put in
simply because I love this text.
00:37:45.47\00:37:51.40
I just love this text.
00:37:51.70\00:37:53.53
So God is saying
once you hold onto Him,
00:38:08.29\00:38:11.13
once you stand by Him,
00:38:11.43\00:38:13.06
once you clasp hands with Him,
00:38:13.36\00:38:14.91
you'll be able to run this
race to heaven with patience.
00:38:15.21\00:38:18.13
You don't have to fatigue.
00:38:18.43\00:38:19.60
You don't have to
fall by the wayside.
00:38:19.80\00:38:21.49
You won't have to
drop out of the race
00:38:21.69\00:38:23.28
but God will give you
the strength to run the race
00:38:23.49\00:38:26.60
unto completion.
Can you say Amen?
00:38:26.80\00:38:28.92
And you don't have to run much
longer, ladies and gentlemen,
00:38:29.22\00:38:31.48
because Jesus is coming soon.
00:38:31.78\00:38:35.48
We know where it
is. We know what it is.
00:38:37.35\00:38:40.59
We know who's building it.
00:38:40.89\00:38:42.79
The only question left is:
00:38:43.09\00:38:46.17
how do I get real estate there?
00:38:46.37\00:38:49.09
Amen?
00:38:49.39\00:38:51.15
How do I get a
passport? How do I get my visa?
00:38:51.25\00:38:54.95
How do I get in?
00:38:55.25\00:38:57.47
I Corinthians chapter 15
00:38:57.77\00:39:01.48
and verse 50.
00:39:01.68\00:39:03.48
I Corinthians 15:50.
00:39:03.78\00:39:07.79
Now flesh and blood He
means those who are living
00:39:18.22\00:39:21.12
in the flesh can't get in.
00:39:21.32\00:39:23.51
If you want to get
a passport to heaven,
00:39:23.81\00:39:27.01
all you've got to do
is ask Jesus for faith,
00:39:27.31\00:39:31.69
exercise that faith, and
your passport is in the mail.
00:39:31.99\00:39:36.52
Can you say Amen? Amen.
00:39:36.72\00:39:38.31
In fact, the Holy Spirit
was delivered to your home
00:39:38.41\00:39:40.06
and your heart personally.
00:39:40.26\00:39:41.52
Praise God!
00:39:41.82\00:39:43.02
II Corinthians
chapter 10 verses 3-5.
00:39:44.19\00:39:46.99
II Corinthians 10:3-5.
00:39:47.59\00:39:49.85
God a lot of texts, a
lot of things to get through.
00:39:50.05\00:39:51.78
So how do we get
in? We fight our way in.
00:40:16.03\00:40:18.32
But we don't use guns or
knives or carnal weapons.
00:40:18.62\00:40:22.06
Our weapon is the Holy Spirit.
00:40:22.36\00:40:24.77
Our weapon is the Word of God.
00:40:25.08\00:40:27.92
Our weapon is a
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:40:28.22\00:40:31.02
Remember I said the other
night there's nothing about you
00:40:31.12\00:40:33.12
that the devil fears.
He doesn't fear your name.
00:40:33.32\00:40:36.40
He doesn't fear
your bank account.
00:40:36.60\00:40:37.82
He doesn't fear your strength.
00:40:38.12\00:40:39.56
He doesn't fear your ability.
00:40:39.86\00:40:40.92
He doesn't fear
your ability to talk.
00:40:41.12\00:40:42.90
There's nothing about
you that the devil fears.
00:40:43.20\00:40:45.46
The devil fears but one thing...
00:40:45.66\00:40:47.54
he fears your
Boss... your Employer.
00:40:47.74\00:40:51.39
So when the devil comes,
you don't try to shadow box
00:40:51.69\00:40:55.64
the devil. You say:
00:40:55.75\00:40:57.15
"Wait a minute, I'm
going to get Jesus. "
00:40:57.45\00:40:59.89
Amen? Yeah. when I
was in the 6th grade
00:41:00.19\00:41:02.67
Francine Craig
gave me a good whooping.
00:41:02.87\00:41:05.58
She was bigger than I was.
00:41:06.08\00:41:07.51
I was a little fellow
till I got about 8th grade
00:41:07.71\00:41:09.72
and Francine Craig... she
pounded me something fierce.
00:41:09.82\00:41:12.11
And I went home with my
shirt torn and my lip bloody.
00:41:12.61\00:41:16.58
And my sister was 18
months older than me.
00:41:16.88\00:41:19.85
And she said:
"What happened to you? "
00:41:20.15\00:41:22.08
I said: "Francine
Craig beat me up. "
00:41:22.38\00:41:23.88
She said: "Come with me. "
00:41:25.09\00:41:26.75
So we went back to school
00:41:27.25\00:41:29.62
and my sister said: "Did
you beat up my brother? "
00:41:29.92\00:41:31.72
And she said: "Yeah. "
00:41:32.02\00:41:34.50
Said: "Beat him up now.
00:41:34.80\00:41:37.24
With me standing
here... beat him up. "
00:41:37.54\00:41:39.55
She said: Nah,
I don't want to. "
00:41:39.85\00:41:41.75
She said: "No, hit him! "
00:41:42.05\00:41:43.51
Said: "No, I don't think...
I don't want to do that. "
00:41:43.81\00:41:45.59
That's the way with Jesus.
00:41:47.11\00:41:49.35
Why stand there and
get pummeled by the devil?
00:41:49.65\00:41:52.56
Huh? When the devil
comes, tell the devil
00:41:52.86\00:41:56.40
"Give me one second, "
00:41:56.70\00:41:58.43
and then you run and get Jesus.
00:41:58.73\00:42:00.63
Huh? And then say to the devil:
00:42:00.93\00:42:03.41
"Hit me now with
Jesus standing right here. "
00:42:03.71\00:42:07.73
The Bible says: "Resist
the devil and he will...? "
00:42:08.23\00:42:12.10
But the only way you can
resist the devil is by having
00:42:12.40\00:42:15.22
a relationship
with Jesus Christ.
00:42:15.32\00:42:16.86
Christ says: "Abide
in me and I in you. "
00:42:17.06\00:42:19.90
So as long as you've got
Jesus you've got protection
00:42:20.20\00:42:23.31
from the enemy.
Can you say Amen?
00:42:23.61\00:42:24.86
And the devil can't touch you
00:42:25.16\00:42:26.77
as long as you are
hid in Christ Jesus.
00:42:26.97\00:42:29.28
Romans chapter 8 verses 1-8.
00:42:29.48\00:42:31.52
This is a long one.
This is also one that I love.
00:42:31.72\00:42:33.55
Romans 8:1-8.
00:42:33.85\00:42:35.80
Let's read the Word of God:
00:42:36.10\00:42:37.51
Praise God!
00:42:48.11\00:42:49.16
Can't do it in your flesh.
00:43:00.35\00:43:01.56
Praise God!
00:43:06.11\00:43:07.13
And so the Bible
is saying plainly here
00:43:09.09\00:43:12.07
"There's no condemnation
once you're in Christ Jesus. "
00:43:12.27\00:43:14.70
The devil can't
point his finger at you
00:43:14.90\00:43:16.50
while you're in Christ Jesus.
00:43:16.70\00:43:18.16
Uh, let me finish:
00:43:18.46\00:43:19.87
So if you want to
fight a successful battle,
00:44:01.47\00:44:05.78
the first thing you've got
to do is step out of your flesh
00:44:06.08\00:44:09.29
and step into Jesus.
00:44:09.59\00:44:11.09
Is to let your heart open up
and be filled with the Spirit
00:44:11.39\00:44:16.08
of God, and the Spirit
of God will fight for you
00:44:16.38\00:44:20.92
and through you -
Can you say Amen? -
00:44:21.22\00:44:23.84
and you will be victorious.
00:44:24.14\00:44:26.91
Amen and Amen. I
Corinthians chapter 6.
00:44:27.21\00:44:30.08
I Corinthians chapter 6:9-11.
00:44:30.38\00:44:34.00
Real fast:
00:44:34.30\00:44:35.42
We used to be like that.
00:44:55.18\00:44:56.65
"But... " praise
God for the but...
00:44:56.95\00:44:59.63
Hey, that is the
salvation experience!
00:45:08.25\00:45:10.50
God is saying it doesn't
matter what we used to be.
00:45:10.80\00:45:14.12
Who cares what you used to be?
00:45:14.42\00:45:16.55
You know, listen. I
say this all the time.
00:45:16.85\00:45:19.20
I got stuff... you got stuff...
00:45:20.45\00:45:24.09
all God's children got stuff.
00:45:24.59\00:45:28.19
Amen? I've got some
things I'm proud to talk about.
00:45:28.49\00:45:32.36
I've got some things in my life
I'm not proud to talk about.
00:45:32.67\00:45:36.05
Now we could come to
church and I pull out my stuff
00:45:36.35\00:45:39.40
and you pull out your stuff
00:45:39.70\00:45:41.95
and we could sit around and
discuss each other's stuff...
00:45:42.25\00:45:45.00
and then get depressed because I
can't help you with your stuff.
00:45:45.30\00:45:49.27
You can't help me with my stuff.
00:45:49.57\00:45:51.51
I'm too busy
dealing with my stuff
00:45:51.81\00:45:54.05
to deal with your stuff.
00:45:54.25\00:45:55.52
So we need to all
take our stuff to Jesus
00:45:55.82\00:45:59.08
who is the answer
to all of our stuff.
00:45:59.38\00:46:01.52
Amen? It doesn't
matter what you've got.
00:46:01.82\00:46:05.33
Doesn't matter what you've done.
00:46:05.63\00:46:07.01
Doesn't matter
where you came from.
00:46:07.21\00:46:08.73
Doesn't matter what
mess you've come out of.
00:46:09.03\00:46:12.01
The Bible says you were
washed, you were justified,
00:46:12.31\00:46:17.00
you are sanctified... so
that old stuff doesn't matter.
00:46:17.30\00:46:21.44
Like my roommate used to say:
00:46:21.54\00:46:23.78
"Forget that stuff! "
00:46:24.08\00:46:25.39
Your mind is now on Jesus
00:46:25.70\00:46:28.42
and your heart is now in heaven,
00:46:28.62\00:46:30.70
and your soul is
locked in with Christ.
00:46:30.90\00:46:33.11
So don't worry about your
stuff, just worry about God.
00:46:33.41\00:46:36.92
Amen! And keep your
hand in the hand of the Lord.
00:46:37.22\00:46:41.18
Amen and Amen.
00:46:41.48\00:46:43.65
I Corinthians 13:12.
00:46:43.95\00:46:45.55
I Corinthians 13:12.
00:46:45.85\00:46:47.79
Here we go. The
Word of God says:
00:46:48.29\00:46:50.29
You see, we don't know it now
00:47:03.94\00:47:06.09
but it's to be announced.
00:47:06.19\00:47:07.66
We're going to know it one
day soon. Can you say Amen?
00:47:07.86\00:47:10.02
Doesn't matter what
we've done, who we are,
00:47:10.32\00:47:12.92
what we've gone through.
00:47:13.22\00:47:14.43
It's not our past that
counts with the Lord...
00:47:14.73\00:47:17.42
it's all about our
future. Can you say Amen?
00:47:17.72\00:47:20.11
And we've got a
bright and glorious future
00:47:20.41\00:47:22.67
through Jesus Christ. Let's
go back to the Old Testament.
00:47:22.87\00:47:25.05
I know we're doing a
lot of Bible hopping.
00:47:25.25\00:47:26.59
Isaiah chapter
65 verses 21 and 22.
00:47:26.89\00:47:29.09
Isaiah 65:21
and 22. I like this!
00:47:29.42\00:47:33.87
Isn't that a nice text?
00:47:57.91\00:47:59.09
That says to me: when I
build it it's going to be mine.
00:47:59.39\00:48:04.68
Amen!
00:48:04.98\00:48:06.48
You see you can
live in a house now
00:48:06.78\00:48:08.87
and forget to pay taxes...
00:48:09.17\00:48:11.36
and the government says:
"That's not your house any more.
00:48:11.66\00:48:14.52
That's our house. "
00:48:14.83\00:48:16.37
Told you the other
day about a church I know
00:48:16.67\00:48:18.89
that forgot to pay
something to the city,
00:48:19.09\00:48:21.24
and the city put a
whole church up for auction.
00:48:21.44\00:48:23.13
And a lady walked in and bought
a whole church for $25,000
00:48:23.43\00:48:26.03
and changed the locks. So
when the congregation came
00:48:26.33\00:48:28.40
the next day, couldn't
get in their own church...
00:48:28.60\00:48:30.41
because they forgot to pay.
They forgot to sign a little
00:48:30.61\00:48:32.87
thing with the government
00:48:33.07\00:48:34.17
and the government put
their church up on auction.
00:48:34.37\00:48:36.50
The Bible says when you
build your house in heaven
00:48:36.80\00:48:39.45
it's going to be your house.
00:48:39.48\00:48:40.71
Amen? Nobody's going to
come and take it away from you.
00:48:41.01\00:48:43.50
Nobody's going to
sell it for taxes.
00:48:43.80\00:48:45.77
Praise God! When you
build it, gonna be yours!
00:48:46.07\00:48:49.34
And you don't have to
put locks on your doors.
00:48:49.64\00:48:52.19
Now we live way
out in the country
00:48:52.49\00:48:54.19
and people keep telling
me: "Why do you lock your door?
00:48:54.49\00:48:57.23
No one's going to bother you.
" But I've been in New York City
00:48:57.43\00:48:59.25
thirty years. I lock my,
I double lock, I triple...
00:48:59.45\00:49:02.67
I lock my doors all the time.
00:49:02.87\00:49:05.05
When we left to come up here,
00:49:05.35\00:49:06.68
the first thing I said:
"Irma, did you lock the door? "
00:49:06.98\00:49:09.81
You know, we lock the back
door. We lock the front door.
00:49:10.11\00:49:12.53
We push the windows down.
00:49:12.73\00:49:13.84
We put the locks
on them... you know.
00:49:14.14\00:49:15.50
And the truth is, if somebody
really wanted to get in our
00:49:15.80\00:49:17.36
house, they could get in.
00:49:17.56\00:49:18.81
Amen? They could.
00:49:19.01\00:49:20.32
Houses are not
that tough to get into.
00:49:20.52\00:49:21.65
Anything with glass, you can get
00:49:21.86\00:49:22.86
into. But it's just in my
00:49:22.96\00:49:24.04
mindset: lock your doors.
00:49:24.24\00:49:26.33
And I told you, I've had one,
00:49:26.57\00:49:28.28
two, three, four cars stolen
00:49:28.48\00:49:31.43
in the thirty
years in New York City.
00:49:31.73\00:49:33.53
Alarms, clubs, foot
locks, kill switches.
00:49:33.83\00:49:38.00
If they want it,
they're going to get it.
00:49:38.30\00:49:40.15
Amen? Or get part of it.
00:49:40.45\00:49:42.46
President of our
conference, bless his heart,
00:49:42.76\00:49:44.63
bought a brand new Oldsmobile.
00:49:44.83\00:49:45.86
Went upstairs.
Parked it one night.
00:49:46.06\00:49:47.54
Came down. All four
doors gone off the car.
00:49:47.84\00:49:49.89
Somebody needed doors...
they came and took his doors.
00:49:50.09\00:49:51.60
He went upstairs and began
to play "Oh, How I Love Jesus"
00:49:52.80\00:49:55.13
on the piano.
00:49:55.33\00:49:57.34
The Bible says you
ought to wear this earth
00:49:59.79\00:50:02.39
like a loose garment...
because if they want it
00:50:02.59\00:50:04.96
they're going to get it.
00:50:05.16\00:50:06.27
You can lock it
up, bolt it down,
00:50:06.57\00:50:08.29
tie it down,
stand guard over it...
00:50:08.49\00:50:11.19
and if they want it,
they are going to get it.
00:50:11.29\00:50:14.66
You can't take it
with you, so don't fret.
00:50:16.59\00:50:19.46
The only thing you
really need is Jesus.
00:50:19.80\00:50:22.71
Amen? And Jesus...
they can't take away.
00:50:23.01\00:50:26.10
The Bible says
nobody can take you
00:50:26.40\00:50:28.72
out of the hands of the Lord.
00:50:28.92\00:50:30.07
When you're in you're in
as long as you want to be in
00:50:30.27\00:50:33.24
and no one can
pluck you from His hands.
00:50:33.44\00:50:35.00
Everything
else... it comes and goes.
00:50:35.30\00:50:37.46
It comes and
goes; it comes and goes;
00:50:37.76\00:50:39.70
it comes and goes.
00:50:40.00\00:50:41.17
Revelation 21 verse 1.
00:50:41.47\00:50:44.09
Revelation 21 verse 1.
00:50:45.57\00:50:48.65
A brand new earth is
coming ladies and gentlemen,
00:51:05.20\00:51:07.58
and aren't you glad
that it's not much longer?
00:51:07.88\00:51:10.43
My final text. This is a text
I didn't get a chance to use
00:51:10.73\00:51:13.86
the other night
but it is a great text.
00:51:14.06\00:51:16.47
It is
Revelation 22 and verse 12.
00:51:16.77\00:51:19.32
Revelation 22 and verse 12.
00:51:19.62\00:51:23.19
I want to read it
from the Word of God.
00:51:23.49\00:51:25.60
Jesus says:
00:51:25.90\00:51:27.16
Solomon, the
wisest man who ever lived,
00:51:41.06\00:51:43.68
at the end of
Ecclesiastes said this:
00:51:43.98\00:51:45.80
"Fear God and
keep His commandments.
00:51:46.10\00:51:51.74
This is the whole duty of man. "
00:51:52.04\00:51:56.82
And Christ ends
His words by saying:
00:51:57.13\00:52:00.10
"I'm coming quickly and
I'm bringing My reward. "
00:52:00.41\00:52:04.53
Ladies and
gentlemen, how sad it would be
00:52:05.97\00:52:07.85
to feel what you felt
these past several nights -
00:52:09.40\00:52:12.23
to come to church and
feel the Spirit of God
00:52:12.53\00:52:15.96
tugging at the
strings of your heart -
00:52:16.16\00:52:17.79
to go through
life living your life
00:52:19.33\00:52:23.46
and get down to Judgment Day
00:52:23.76\00:52:26.42
and have Jesus
say: "Depart from Me...
00:52:26.73\00:52:30.29
I know you not. "
00:52:30.39\00:52:32.38
And you say: "Lord, I
spent so much time in church.
00:52:32.68\00:52:35.75
I gave so much
money. I did so many things.
00:52:35.96\00:52:38.11
I denied myself things, "
00:52:38.31\00:52:39.95
and have Christ say: "Yeah,
but you never really knew Me. "
00:52:40.15\00:52:44.36
And somewhere along
the path you determined
00:52:44.86\00:52:48.86
"I'm going to go
this far and no further.
00:52:49.06\00:52:51.87
And I kept on walking, and
we lost sight of each other. "
00:52:52.18\00:52:57.95
How sad that would be.
00:52:58.25\00:53:01.57
Wouldn't that be sad?
00:53:01.87\00:53:03.35
Doesn't have to be.
00:53:03.65\00:53:06.16
My old professor in
college said: "You know,
00:53:06.46\00:53:08.75
this coming of the Lord
is a great and awful day. "
00:53:09.05\00:53:13.19
It can be an awfully great day
00:53:13.49\00:53:16.53
or a great and awful day.
00:53:16.83\00:53:18.68
It all depends on you.
00:53:18.98\00:53:21.69
The race has been run.
The victory has been won.
00:53:21.99\00:53:27.36
And all you've got to do is
take hold of the hand of Jesus
00:53:27.56\00:53:31.50
and He will walk you through
the gates and into that city.
00:53:31.80\00:53:37.63
How many want to be there?
00:53:38.03\00:53:39.67
Bow your heads
with me if you will.
00:53:40.65\00:53:41.83
Father God, Lord
Jesus we want to go home.
00:53:42.03\00:53:46.09
We look at this tired,
crowded, sin-sick world.
00:53:46.39\00:53:51.82
There's no one we can trust.
00:53:52.22\00:53:54.36
We're not safe...
even in our own homes.
00:53:54.66\00:53:57.30
We know the only thing
that's keeping us alive
00:53:57.60\00:54:02.39
is the power of the Living God.
00:54:02.69\00:54:05.63
We dare not turn
our backs on You.
00:54:05.93\00:54:09.29
We dare not turn aside
from walking in Your footsteps.
00:54:09.59\00:54:13.33
We ask only, dear Jesus,
00:54:13.63\00:54:16.78
that you will keep us in
the way that we're going.
00:54:17.08\00:54:20.32
Don't let us turn to
the right or to the left.
00:54:20.62\00:54:25.41
Help us, God, to
set our sights on heaven
00:54:25.71\00:54:30.15
and determine in our
hearts, in our minds,
00:54:31.76\00:54:34.94
though 10,000 fall at our right
00:54:35.04\00:54:37.82
and 1,000 at our left
00:54:38.12\00:54:39.70
we will walk with Jesus.
00:54:40.00\00:54:43.75
Give us Your
power, give us Your mercy,
00:54:44.05\00:54:47.64
give us Your grace,
give us Your Holy Spirit.
00:54:47.94\00:54:52.52