Are you experiencing hard times?
00:00:01.98\00:00:03.14
Do you know anyone who is?
Our country is experiencing
00:00:03.87\00:00:08.42
problems that we have never
seen before in our lifetime.
00:00:09.29\00:00:12.09
But I'd like to have you
meet a guest and I would like
00:00:12.98\00:00:17.33
to have you hear a
story from Indian Creek,
00:00:17.36\00:00:19.39
Tennessee that will
bring you great hope.
00:00:19.42\00:00:21.95
We will be right back.
00:00:22.50\00:00:23.47
Welcome to Issues and Answers.
00:00:47.84\00:00:49.57
Before we go
back to Indian Creek,
00:00:51.04\00:00:53.91
before we talk
about the hard times.
00:00:54.49\00:00:56.06
I would like to have us
look at something that can
00:00:56.74\00:00:59.47
give us hope. There is
light at the end of the tunnel
00:00:59.50\00:01:02.71
because of who we
know. It's not who you are,
00:01:03.53\00:01:07.78
but whose you are,
who do you belong to.
00:01:08.60\00:01:11.90
And here is a wonderful
promise. The New King James
00:01:13.27\00:01:16.94
version in chapter 18
of the Book of Psalms.
00:01:16.97\00:01:20.86
The Lord promises for
you will light my lamp,
00:01:22.12\00:01:25.51
do you have a lamp that
is burning a little bit low.
00:01:26.56\00:01:29.31
Do you need little bit light?
Here's where to go for it.
00:01:29.90\00:01:32.55
You will light my lamp;
the Lord my God will enlighten
00:01:33.44\00:01:36.34
my darkness. For by you, I
can run against the troupe.
00:01:36.37\00:01:40.09
By my God I can leap over a
wall. Are you facing a wall?
00:01:41.43\00:01:45.61
He says I'll give you
strength to leap over that wall.
00:01:47.30\00:01:50.62
And then in Verse 32, it
says it is God who arms you
00:01:52.08\00:01:56.47
with you strength and
makes your way perfect,
00:01:56.50\00:01:59.20
and then he says he will
make you feet like the feet
00:02:00.21\00:02:02.54
of deer. So yes, we
are in difficult times,
00:02:02.61\00:02:07.78
but we have a God who
is so great and who knows
00:02:08.41\00:02:12.15
the end from the beginning,
and he says I'll walk with you
00:02:12.18\00:02:16.27
I'll light your lamp,
I'll make your path clear.
00:02:17.11\00:02:20.05
What a wonderful, wonderful
God. I have a special guest
00:02:20.68\00:02:24.13
with me today and
I am anxious for you
00:02:24.56\00:02:26.55
to meet him.
Pastor Roy Rugless from.
00:02:26.58\00:02:30.47
Nashville,
Tennessee. Nashville, Tennessee.
00:02:31.83\00:02:33.90
Yes mam. Okay, and
Roy you are pastor,
00:02:33.93\00:02:38.27
and you also are
a prayer leader for.
00:02:38.30\00:02:42.78
South Central Conference.
How many states is that?
00:02:43.57\00:02:45.36
Five states. Ah,
tell us where they are?
00:02:45.88\00:02:48.37
At Alabama, Mississippi,
Tennessee, Kentucky,
00:02:48.40\00:02:53.11
and Northwest part of
Florida, and I also pastor
00:02:53.82\00:02:57.09
in Athens, Alabama.
So, I have two jobs Ruthie.
00:02:57.12\00:03:00.86
I know. I am a
pastor full-time and I am a
00:03:00.93\00:03:03.77
full-time Director
of prayer ministries,
00:03:03.80\00:03:06.30
which stretches me out.
That's good for you, isn't it.
00:03:06.37\00:03:10.23
But it's good for the
Lord, this is his work.
00:03:10.26\00:03:11.67
Absolutely. Yes.
And doesn't he make your
00:03:12.13\00:03:14.71
work a joy? It's a pleasure,
00:03:14.74\00:03:17.25
anytime we do ministry,
it's not a job. That's right.
00:03:17.74\00:03:22.02
It's, its, it's a joy.
That's right, I can't think of
00:03:22.05\00:03:24.53
doing anything else
except working for the Lord,
00:03:24.56\00:03:26.41
its joy so irrespective of
all the pressures that come
00:03:26.44\00:03:31.17
knowing that you
are in the will of God,
00:03:31.73\00:03:33.10
and doing what God
would have you to do.
00:03:33.13\00:03:35.05
He lifts your burden. He
does. And that gets back to some
00:03:35.89\00:03:39.71
of what you would
talking about in terms of what
00:03:39.74\00:03:41.77
people should do
in difficult times.
00:03:41.80\00:03:44.32
Do you anybody that's
having a hard time right now?
00:03:45.12\00:03:47.35
I had a visitor
come to my church.
00:03:48.04\00:03:50.27
She is not a
member for my church,
00:03:50.63\00:03:52.33
but we have prayer
meeting and people around my
00:03:52.67\00:03:55.21
community know about prayer.
00:03:55.24\00:03:56.44
She came to my
church. I want to stop you
00:03:57.59\00:04:00.14
though because that I
get excited about that.
00:04:00.19\00:04:03.19
Okay. When I hear
that people who are not
00:04:03.22\00:04:06.70
members of your church, here
that this is a place to come
00:04:06.73\00:04:10.25
for prayer, and
for help, and for hope.
00:04:10.28\00:04:13.12
That's what it's
all about. Yes, yes.
00:04:14.02\00:04:15.98
So, I just have to stop
and say praise the Lord.
00:04:16.01\00:04:18.68
Oh yeah. Because
of what he is doing,
00:04:18.71\00:04:21.35
he is meeting his
people there, and he is showing
00:04:21.38\00:04:24.59
people who don't
know him. This is a place
00:04:25.03\00:04:27.24
to come for help.
Prayer is the key.
00:04:27.27\00:04:30.70
I think Ruthie that,
well, let me back up.
00:04:32.21\00:04:35.82
We are so materialistic
here in United States.
00:04:37.51\00:04:40.23
We are, we are. We
have and part of the reason
00:04:40.99\00:04:44.69
we are in the trouble that
we are in is that we always
00:04:45.39\00:04:47.69
want more than what
we need. We become very
00:04:47.72\00:04:51.01
materialistic; we
become very credit dependent,
00:04:51.04\00:04:54.28
we become dependent upon goods.
00:04:55.28\00:04:57.72
And you know Roy,
the sad thing of it is,
00:04:58.18\00:05:00.87
we try to keep up with
the Joneses, and then we
00:05:00.90\00:05:03.50
discover that Joneses
aren't going anywhere.
00:05:03.53\00:05:05.27
Yes, yes, yes. And that is sad.
00:05:05.30\00:05:07.75
Yes, yes, yes. So we
become dependent upon things,
00:05:07.78\00:05:12.18
and we now are placed in a
position where we no longer
00:05:13.05\00:05:15.91
are able to get those
things, and we overextended
00:05:15.94\00:05:18.94
ourselves. Sometimes,
Ruthie the Lord allows things
00:05:19.42\00:05:22.05
to happen to get our
attention. That's right.
00:05:22.08\00:05:24.83
He doesn't
necessarily do these things,
00:05:25.42\00:05:27.44
but he allows us to
go our own ways into.
00:05:27.47\00:05:30.60
He can use that. And I
think that's what he is doing
00:05:30.63\00:05:33.48
in these
economic times right now.
00:05:33.51\00:05:35.41
I think that he is using
this or has allowed that to
00:05:35.91\00:05:38.67
happen to get our
attention, so that we can depend
00:05:38.70\00:05:41.77
more upon him. And
then, then we can see what we
00:05:42.18\00:05:45.68
really need, not what we
want, but for we the things
00:05:45.71\00:05:50.20
that we want on a
human level materialistic
00:05:50.23\00:05:53.91
things on this planet
are never going to satisfy.
00:05:53.94\00:05:57.19
No, no, no. But what
he has is the real deal.
00:05:57.22\00:06:01.09
Yeah, so that's why
sometimes he has to take
00:06:01.63\00:06:04.28
away those things to
bring our attention to who has
00:06:04.31\00:06:07.84
provided those things
for us, and who will continue
00:06:07.87\00:06:10.67
to provide for us. Let me
just back up just little bit.
00:06:10.70\00:06:13.68
When you go back to
the Book of Genesis,
00:06:14.34\00:06:17.13
and I've always ask myself
the question. Why do we have
00:06:17.65\00:06:22.15
to have food? God could
have made us like automatons
00:06:22.18\00:06:27.09
or robots in a human
form, so that we would not have
00:06:27.12\00:06:31.00
to eat all the time. We have
to eat to refresh ourselves,
00:06:31.03\00:06:34.65
and the thing that came to
my mind Ruthie was the Lord
00:06:34.68\00:06:38.08
made us that way, so
that we would be dependent
00:06:38.11\00:06:40.79
upon him for our provision.
Yes, he could have made us
00:06:41.60\00:06:44.66
and we could gone on
our way and we would never
00:06:44.69\00:06:46.81
have had to have food
to eat or water to drink,
00:06:46.84\00:06:49.17
and things to sustain
us. But he has allowed those
00:06:49.20\00:06:52.68
things to come into
play, so that we would be
00:06:52.71\00:06:56.48
dependent upon him. I
like that, and you know
00:06:56.51\00:06:59.38
with the children of Israel
in the desert for 40 years
00:06:59.72\00:07:03.22
he provided Manah
every single day. Yes, yes.
00:07:04.35\00:07:09.23
It didn't fall on the
Sabbath, but he fed them every
00:07:09.68\00:07:13.63
single day for 40
years. And they realized where
00:07:13.66\00:07:16.81
it came from. That's right.
00:07:16.84\00:07:17.95
This was a
miracle. That's right.
00:07:17.98\00:07:19.42
This was a miracle.
So, here is my point.
00:07:19.45\00:07:21.08
God made us
dependent. When we become
00:07:22.70\00:07:25.72
materialistic, we
become independent.
00:07:25.75\00:07:28.17
It is not to say that
we should not have things
00:07:28.71\00:07:31.21
because God wants
us to have things.
00:07:31.24\00:07:33.01
God says I worship of
all things that you would
00:07:33.59\00:07:35.16
prosper and be health.
He wants us to have things.
00:07:35.19\00:07:37.88
Sure. But he wants us
to recognize from where
00:07:37.91\00:07:39.80
these things come, and
so the problem is Ruthie
00:07:39.83\00:07:44.53
that we have become
so independent because
00:07:45.28\00:07:48.52
we have these things
that we no longer need God.
00:07:48.55\00:07:51.09
But I have a
question for you. Yes mam.
00:07:51.47\00:07:53.09
Are we independent
or do we just think we
00:07:53.64\00:07:57.03
are independent? We
think we are independent.
00:07:57.06\00:08:00.29
See that's phony.
Yes. We are not really
00:08:00.32\00:08:03.28
independent? Yes. We
have to depend on him
00:08:03.31\00:08:05.71
for every breath
we take. Yes, yes.
00:08:05.74\00:08:08.37
So, we are just
fooling ourselves, we are just,
00:08:08.40\00:08:11.59
you know, living in
something that is totally phony.
00:08:12.31\00:08:15.39
Yes, yes. We are
totally dependent on him
00:08:15.86\00:08:18.35
for everything. Let me
take it a step further.
00:08:18.71\00:08:20.53
The Bible says in
Deuteronomy, it is God
00:08:20.56\00:08:24.75
that gives power to get
wealth. Many times Ruthie,
00:08:24.78\00:08:28.71
we think that okay I
got this job on my own based
00:08:28.74\00:08:32.51
on my intellect,
based on my achievements,
00:08:32.54\00:08:35.70
I got this job
on my own. Alright,
00:08:35.73\00:08:37.48
you got on your own.
I'll take away the job
00:08:37.51\00:08:39.73
from you. Now, where are you,
00:08:39.76\00:08:42.18
who provides you a job? Right.
00:08:43.19\00:08:44.85
Now, folks who are
jobless now have to look up.
00:08:45.33\00:08:48.59
That's right. Do
you see what I'm saying.
00:08:49.43\00:08:50.40
Sure. Those
independent individuals now
00:08:50.77\00:08:52.94
become dependent.
That's right and that
00:08:52.97\00:08:56.53
is a beautiful truth.
And I believe the Lord even
00:08:56.56\00:09:01.40
though he doesn't
always take these things
00:09:01.43\00:09:04.44
from us, he can
use every situation
00:09:04.94\00:09:07.25
to get our attention.
Yes. But Roy I want you to
00:09:07.87\00:09:10.29
take you because I
promise before the show
00:09:10.32\00:09:13.16
started. I wanna
take you to an experience,
00:09:13.19\00:09:18.01
I wasn't there. So, I
want to hear this from
00:09:18.04\00:09:21.00
your lips, I have
heard it from others who were
00:09:21.52\00:09:22.71
there, but God did something
very out of the ordinary.
00:09:22.74\00:09:27.14
He did something very
unusual for a group of pastors,
00:09:27.93\00:09:31.46
who were meeting
together at Indian Creek
00:09:32.70\00:09:35.48
in Tennessee.
Right. And yes we are
00:09:36.13\00:09:38.85
experiencing hard
times. Yes, we are coming to a
00:09:38.88\00:09:42.12
place where we
really, really need God,
00:09:42.64\00:09:44.30
but I believe the
Lord is saying. Alright,
00:09:45.15\00:09:48.02
if you are seeking me
in earnest, I have the
00:09:48.05\00:09:52.67
Holy Spirit in great
measure that I want to give
00:09:52.71\00:09:56.26
you for peace and hope
and power and ministry.
00:09:56.29\00:10:00.28
Tell us what
happened there. Okay.
00:10:01.18\00:10:02.39
I love this because I want
to hear this from you because
00:10:02.42\00:10:06.15
you were one of
the leaders who God was
00:10:06.18\00:10:09.35
using to bring
all of this about.
00:10:09.38\00:10:10.95
Before I do that
though I want to finish our
00:10:10.98\00:10:13.51
train afar
relative to difficult times.
00:10:14.03\00:10:17.95
Oh, did I
interrupt you. Well no, no.
00:10:17.98\00:10:20.05
Go ahead. I didn't
wanna leave the people
00:10:20.08\00:10:22.24
out there hanging. Okay.
I want to finish my train
00:10:22.27\00:10:24.73
of thought relative to
the need for us to become
00:10:24.76\00:10:27.47
dependent. Oh good, okay.
And that's why, that's why
00:10:27.50\00:10:30.14
the Lord has allowed
some of these material things
00:10:30.75\00:10:33.76
to come away, so that
we would look to him. Amen.
00:10:34.19\00:10:37.26
The bottom line Ruthie is
This God wants to save us.
00:10:37.29\00:10:42.71
The only way that he
can save us is that we have
00:10:43.87\00:10:46.36
to see our need of
being saved. That's right.
00:10:46.39\00:10:48.29
So many times these
materialistic things get in
00:10:48.32\00:10:51.47
the way of our
vision and our view of God.
00:10:51.92\00:10:54.70
That's right.
And our need for him.
00:10:54.73\00:10:56.67
That's right. We get so
consumed with what we have
00:10:56.70\00:10:59.61
and what we are that we
forget from where it comes,
00:10:59.64\00:11:02.54
so therefore the God.
So, we look inward instead
00:11:03.33\00:11:05.63
of upward. Exactly,
so what God has to do?
00:11:05.66\00:11:07.99
He has to sometimes allow
these things to be removed
00:11:08.70\00:11:11.27
and so we are in a position
where people have no jobs,
00:11:12.08\00:11:14.32
people who have no
homes, people who have
00:11:15.93\00:11:18.71
a difficult time
relative to having food to eat.
00:11:18.74\00:11:22.12
That's right. So,
so where do we go.
00:11:22.15\00:11:24.20
God says okay, now I want
you to direct your attention
00:11:24.72\00:11:26.80
toward me and more
important than anything else.
00:11:26.83\00:11:29.55
Once we begin to see that
we need God then he can put
00:11:30.24\00:11:33.97
us in a saving relationship
with himself and these.
00:11:34.00\00:11:37.43
That comes
first. That comes first,
00:11:37.46\00:11:38.59
and then Ruthie the
overflow, the outflow of that
00:11:38.62\00:11:42.67
is now we begin
to reach out others
00:11:42.70\00:11:44.81
with the same Gospel of
hey look God wants to save us,
00:11:45.21\00:11:48.88
we need him. And so now
he has us in a position,
00:11:49.40\00:11:52.22
where we have no
other choice but to look up.
00:11:52.25\00:11:54.37
So, we have a job to do.
Because he has such a big
00:11:55.64\00:11:58.44
plan and as long as we are
looking in a wrong direction,
00:11:58.47\00:12:01.81
we will never
find it. Right, right.
00:12:02.49\00:12:04.17
And he has the real
happiness, the real joy.
00:12:04.20\00:12:07.17
Yes. And he wants
us to experience that.
00:12:07.82\00:12:10.39
Yes, so the ultimate
objective of God is for him
00:12:11.06\00:12:16.66
to provide all the
homeless with a home.
00:12:17.11\00:12:19.92
Ah that's good. We are homeless.
00:12:20.97\00:12:23.21
That's right. The
reason I say that is that
00:12:23.60\00:12:25.10
we are pilgrims on this
earth, nothing belongs to us.
00:12:25.13\00:12:27.64
All this is going to
be burnt up. I just have
00:12:27.67\00:12:29.97
to stop a bit. Yes ma'm.
I want to say to our viewing
00:12:30.00\00:12:33.29
audience, don't
you like that thought.
00:12:33.40\00:12:35.44
We are all
homeless, we are all homeless,
00:12:36.25\00:12:39.04
we are pilgrims
on this dark planet.
00:12:39.07\00:12:42.30
And it's a little
tiny speck in space
00:12:42.33\00:12:45.47
but God has such a big
plan and he wants to give us
00:12:45.50\00:12:50.30
so much more.
Pastor Roy, I am so glad
00:12:50.33\00:12:54.36
you said that,
because I think that alone
00:12:54.39\00:12:58.06
is such a wonderful thing
for us to focus on, to hold
00:12:58.85\00:13:01.48
on to. It's a big truth,
huge truth. Thank you now.
00:13:01.51\00:13:06.35
So, so he wants to
give us a home with him.
00:13:06.74\00:13:11.15
Yes. His desire is
that we be with him,
00:13:11.35\00:13:13.87
John 14 Verses 1, 2, 3
says 'I want you to be with me.'
00:13:13.90\00:13:18.22
Yeah. We have a responsibility
first for ourselves
00:13:18.25\00:13:22.10
to make sure that we are in
right relationship with him,
00:13:22.13\00:13:24.35
so we could be with him
and also tell others about
00:13:24.38\00:13:28.30
the great plan that he
has for others to be with him,
00:13:28.33\00:13:31.81
that takes power, that
takes something beyond us.
00:13:32.65\00:13:35.61
First of all if we
plan to be with God,
00:13:36.29\00:13:37.97
we have to be like God.
Therefore, we need a power
00:13:38.00\00:13:40.82
outside of ourselves
that will come within us
00:13:40.85\00:13:43.66
and transform us into his image.
00:13:43.69\00:13:45.40
We will never be able to
accomplish that on our own.
00:13:45.84\00:13:48.05
That's where the
Holy Spirit comes in.
00:13:48.41\00:13:49.71
Amen and he knows that.
Yes, yes. He knows that.
00:13:49.74\00:13:52.33
So, we need the Holy Spirit
individually to transform us,
00:13:52.36\00:13:56.04
to change us, to be
like him, so that we can be
00:13:56.07\00:13:59.12
with him, that's number one.
00:13:59.15\00:14:00.51
And you know the
promises for the Holy Spirit
00:14:00.99\00:14:02.99
are so real. He says
ask, ask for the Holy Spirit.
00:14:03.91\00:14:09.12
Yes, yes. Because I
want to give you more.
00:14:09.15\00:14:10.90
Yes, yes. You can't do
that. Yes, yes, and then at the
00:14:10.93\00:14:15.10
same time that we are
asking for the Holy Spirit
00:14:15.13\00:14:17.98
to help us to be like
him and to transform us.
00:14:18.01\00:14:21.03
We also need the Holy
Spirit to go and tell others.
00:14:21.77\00:14:24.51
That's right. You know
it's hard to go and tell others
00:14:24.54\00:14:27.13
without power,
you need some power,
00:14:27.49\00:14:29.38
and so God's plan now is
for his people to have power
00:14:30.02\00:14:33.91
for transformation
within ourselves and for
00:14:34.81\00:14:37.74
transformation
throughout the world.
00:14:37.77\00:14:40.06
I keep interrupting
you. That's alright.
00:14:40.26\00:14:41.84
But you are just
getting me all excited here.
00:14:42.27\00:14:43.64
That's alright. Well, I
like what our friend Sam
00:14:44.19\00:14:46.17
Telemach says about
that. Sam is my friend
00:14:46.20\00:14:49.95
from the Caribbean, and
he says it's like a triangle.
00:14:51.63\00:14:57.13
God is at the top, you
are here, and here is at the
00:14:57.78\00:15:02.62
other apex of the base of
the triangle is someone else
00:15:02.65\00:15:07.73
that you are praying
for, and wanting to reach
00:15:08.31\00:15:10.59
for God. But the Holy
Spirit is already working
00:15:10.62\00:15:13.77
over there
because you are praying.
00:15:13.80\00:15:15.20
So it takes all three,
it takes the Holy Spirit,
00:15:15.99\00:15:19.78
but you are
wanting to join the Lord,
00:15:20.36\00:15:22.49
he is already working. Yes, yes.
00:15:22.52\00:15:24.41
And you need the Holy
Spirit to make that triangle
00:15:24.44\00:15:28.24
complete, you need the power.
00:15:28.44\00:15:29.85
You need the
power. Of the Holy Spirit,
00:15:29.88\00:15:30.85
but he is working. He
is working over there.
00:15:31.32\00:15:33.65
But he wants to work even more,
00:15:33.68\00:15:35.26
he has promised
to work even more.
00:15:35.93\00:15:37.35
I believe that. If you
go back to the Book of Acts,
00:15:37.38\00:15:39.38
you start with
Chapter 2 and onward you begin
00:15:40.19\00:15:42.60
to see that God's plan
in terms of his wanting
00:15:42.63\00:15:45.90
to be with us has
been expanded. Yeah.
00:15:45.93\00:15:48.60
After the day of
Pentecost five thousand,
00:15:48.63\00:15:51.42
three thousand met at a
day, five thousand. One day.
00:15:51.87\00:15:54.58
One day. That's right.
You see how great God is,
00:15:54.61\00:15:56.57
you see how much
he wants to love,
00:15:56.60\00:15:57.71
and Ruthie he wants to
do the same thing today.
00:15:58.13\00:16:00.77
Now, now. Yes. I
believe that. But the problem
00:16:00.80\00:16:03.61
is that we have not
been accessing the power,
00:16:03.64\00:16:08.33
can I just be very
honest with you. We have a,
00:16:08.36\00:16:11.61
we have a limited
perspective of what church is.
00:16:12.40\00:16:17.02
Now, you know getting
back to your original question
00:16:17.74\00:16:20.53
about how we deal
with difficult times,
00:16:20.56\00:16:22.68
the church has been set
up as a citadel for refuge.
00:16:23.39\00:16:27.69
That's right. What has
happened is that we have
00:16:28.30\00:16:32.53
taken the church for
ourselves. We come in,
00:16:32.56\00:16:35.57
get what we need, go
back out and keep it to
00:16:36.54\00:16:38.43
ourselves. It's not
suppose to be that way.
00:16:38.46\00:16:40.31
Oh! Right, we're
supposed to go ahead.
00:16:40.34\00:16:42.39
No, that you are absolutely
right on target with that.
00:16:42.81\00:16:46.04
People it's so easy
to just to come to church
00:16:46.90\00:16:49.58
for a blessing. If I
like what the pastor is saying
00:16:49.61\00:16:53.05
today, then I agree
with him, and I like what
00:16:53.08\00:16:56.03
he is wearing, and
people smile at me, then this is
00:16:56.06\00:16:59.72
the good day, and I can
go home happy and blessed.
00:16:59.75\00:17:02.29
It's all about me, it
isn't. That's right. It isn't.
00:17:02.91\00:17:06.00
That's right.
It's we don't come,
00:17:06.03\00:17:07.59
yes the Lord wants to bless us,
00:17:07.62\00:17:09.32
but he wants us to,
he wants to change us,
00:17:10.05\00:17:12.38
so we can be
useful, it's all about him.
00:17:13.22\00:17:15.37
But on top of that
Ruthie, he wants the whole world
00:17:15.87\00:17:18.10
to be changed. That's right.
00:17:18.13\00:17:19.26
He wants the whole
world to be changed and so
00:17:19.70\00:17:21.37
therefore the church
has a special mission,
00:17:21.40\00:17:24.61
not only to come in to be
changed but also to go out
00:17:25.29\00:17:28.93
and be agents of change
to others. That's right.
00:17:29.33\00:17:31.79
And we've missed it, we
have been all inclusive.
00:17:31.82\00:17:35.85
Preach it, preach it.
You are right on target.
00:17:36.67\00:17:38.28
We've been all
inclusive. That's right.
00:17:38.31\00:17:40.21
We've not been doing
what God wants us to do.
00:17:40.84\00:17:43.01
So, now God is saying
look, I am getting ready to
00:17:43.63\00:17:46.47
come, I still have
a job for you to do.
00:17:47.41\00:17:49.06
I could call angels
to do it if I wanted to,
00:17:49.70\00:17:51.66
but I want you to do
it. So, therefore you are
00:17:52.08\00:17:55.01
now missing what the
ingredient is for us first
00:17:55.51\00:17:58.95
of all to be changed and
also to be an agent of change
00:17:58.98\00:18:02.21
to others. And the
ingredient that we are missing
00:18:02.24\00:18:04.94
is the baptism of the
Holy Spirit. We need the
00:18:05.64\00:18:08.68
Holy Spirit, no
we don't need money,
00:18:08.71\00:18:10.66
no we don't need food,
no we don't need a house.
00:18:11.38\00:18:14.37
What we need is more
of Jesus and when we have
00:18:14.96\00:18:17.53
Jesus in more in our
lives and along with Jesus
00:18:17.86\00:18:21.05
comes the Holy Spirit, the
Lord will do for us exceedingly
00:18:21.08\00:18:25.87
abundantly more than
we can ever ask or think,
00:18:25.90\00:18:29.20
and more than anything
else, he wants us saved.
00:18:29.23\00:18:32.37
He says look it, look
it, look it. That's right.
00:18:32.56\00:18:34.55
When you come
with me, you don't have
00:18:34.83\00:18:36.82
to worry about the
house; I've already built
00:18:36.85\00:18:38.63
the house for you.
When you come with me,
00:18:38.66\00:18:41.23
you don't have to
worry about a grocery bill
00:18:41.26\00:18:44.06
or anything, I've
got food prepared for you
00:18:44.09\00:18:46.44
that you known
that of. That's right.
00:18:46.47\00:18:47.84
When you come to me,
you don't have to worry
00:18:47.87\00:18:49.87
about going to the
hospital or be involved in a
00:18:49.90\00:18:52.86
funeral tree because I am
going to wipe away all tears,
00:18:52.89\00:18:55.30
no more death, no
more pain, no more sorrow,
00:18:56.00\00:18:58.72
just come with me. That's right.
00:18:58.75\00:19:00.99
That's the message
he wants us to give.
00:19:01.02\00:19:02.70
I got it all, I got it
all. That's it, and I want you
00:19:02.90\00:19:05.07
to tell others. Yes.
You don't have to worry
00:19:05.10\00:19:07.46
about the as above stuff
that's going on right now.
00:19:07.49\00:19:10.00
That's right. He
doesn't want us to be satisfied
00:19:10.03\00:19:12.90
with that we see. Exactly.
00:19:12.93\00:19:14.96
He wants us to
walk by faith. Yes.
00:19:15.99\00:19:16.96
And then going back
to this in the Psalms,
00:19:16.97\00:19:19.98
it is God who
arms you with strength,
00:19:20.01\00:19:23.10
we don't have to
depend on our own strength,
00:19:23.70\00:19:25.28
we don't have it,
we don't have. Yes.
00:19:25.31\00:19:27.44
Without him we
can do nothing. Yes.
00:19:27.65\00:19:29.21
But Roy I get so
excited about this,
00:19:29.66\00:19:32.02
but I promise our
audience that we would tell
00:19:32.05\00:19:35.29
them that. I am going there.
00:19:35.32\00:19:36.29
Indian Creek. I am
going there, I am going there.
00:19:36.30\00:19:38.05
Therefore, the
church needs the baptism
00:19:39.31\00:19:42.33
of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. We need the baptism of
00:19:42.36\00:19:44.64
the Holy Spirit,
however, the church follows
00:19:44.67\00:19:47.09
the leader. That's right.
00:19:47.12\00:19:48.38
So, in order for the
church to really receive
00:19:48.83\00:19:51.21
it the leader has
to have the vision.
00:19:51.24\00:19:52.90
That's right. So,
the Lord impressed me,
00:19:53.09\00:19:54.65
my President wanted me to
do a large prayer project.
00:19:54.83\00:19:57.54
And the Lord impressed
me, I said Mr. President
00:19:58.29\00:19:59.96
in order for this thing
to be successful we need
00:20:00.67\00:20:02.24
to bring all of
our pastors on board.
00:20:02.27\00:20:04.22
That's right. They
need to have the experience
00:20:04.84\00:20:07.03
of the baptism,
Ruthie I wanna tell you,
00:20:07.06\00:20:09.26
we had a, we had a
pastors prayer summit the first
00:20:09.68\00:20:12.57
time in the history
of our conference we got.
00:20:12.60\00:20:15.32
Involving all five states.
Yes. How many pastors were
00:20:15.86\00:20:19.07
there? We had
approximately hundred pastors.
00:20:19.10\00:20:21.26
Wonderful. Hundred pastors.
00:20:21.29\00:20:22.92
My President
Elder Benjamin Brown,
00:20:24.15\00:20:25.58
he courageously
put aside his agenda,
00:20:27.07\00:20:29.26
now it wasn't easy
for him because he is an
00:20:29.29\00:20:30.83
administrator and he
had all these things on his
00:20:31.16\00:20:34.01
agenda that he
want to accomplish.
00:20:34.04\00:20:35.59
When the pastors
see the President there,
00:20:35.77\00:20:38.70
they say well
this is important. Yes.
00:20:39.58\00:20:41.72
I better get myself there. Yes.
00:20:41.75\00:20:43.42
And really the
leadership sets the pace.
00:20:44.12\00:20:47.67
It does, and that's my
point. If in fact the church
00:20:47.70\00:20:51.17
is supposed to do what
God has commissioned us
00:20:51.20\00:20:53.38
to do its starts with
the leader. That's right.
00:20:53.41\00:20:55.65
So, the Lord blessed us
Ruthie to get all of the
00:20:55.68\00:20:57.84
leaders together
and I'm gonna tell you,
00:20:57.87\00:21:00.26
we read about
Pentecost in Chapter 2 of Acts.
00:21:01.35\00:21:03.80
Now, you know, now you know.
00:21:04.50\00:21:06.04
The Holy Spirit
came. The same God.
00:21:06.77\00:21:09.15
We talked about the
baptism of the Holy Spirit.
00:21:11.05\00:21:13.84
We pray for the baptism
of the Holy Spirit and God
00:21:14.98\00:21:18.10
came down like we
never experienced him before,
00:21:18.53\00:21:21.68
he broke hearts, the
pastors become transparent,
00:21:23.00\00:21:27.09
we confess one to
another, we forgave one
00:21:28.22\00:21:30.31
and another. We prayed,
and we pleaded, we cried,
00:21:30.75\00:21:33.28
we agonized and the
Holy Spirit fell like
00:21:33.82\00:21:36.99
we've never ever
experienced it before.
00:21:37.41\00:21:40.07
Oh! Ruthie I
can't even describe it.
00:21:40.10\00:21:41.98
I can't even
describe it. But he was there;
00:21:42.69\00:21:44.38
the Lord was there
with you to bring hope
00:21:44.87\00:21:47.13
and healing power. Yes, yes.
00:21:47.81\00:21:49.31
And when your pastors
left, they were totally changed.
00:21:49.95\00:21:53.55
Let me tell you
something, I've had pastors come
00:21:53.58\00:21:56.89
to me and say,
I've been transformed.
00:21:57.97\00:21:59.25
Amen. I've been touched. Amen.
00:22:00.02\00:22:01.84
But it doesn't stop
there; I'm gonna go back
00:22:01.87\00:22:03.37
to the local church now.
Since that experience now
00:22:03.40\00:22:06.87
that we got all of
our pastors on board,
00:22:06.90\00:22:09.12
this thing now has
reverberated throughout the
00:22:09.64\00:22:12.09
conference, and pastors
are now preaching prayer.
00:22:12.52\00:22:16.00
Now, let me tell you, I
just had an experience just
00:22:17.41\00:22:19.40
this past Sabbath, the Riverside
00:22:19.43\00:22:22.00
Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
00:22:22.03\00:22:23.28
Where is that located?
In Nashville, Tennessee.
00:22:23.31\00:22:25.60
That's right.
Pastor Furman Fordham.
00:22:25.63\00:22:28.27
Yes. Watch this
talking about the church,
00:22:28.82\00:22:30.72
talking about hope. Yes, yes.
00:22:30.75\00:22:32.00
He preached a sermon,
and getting ready to give
00:22:32.65\00:22:36.99
a better diction
he made an altar call,
00:22:37.02\00:22:38.84
and there was appropriate
person who is not a member
00:22:39.68\00:22:42.60
of this church,
who came forward.
00:22:42.63\00:22:44.34
And then after he came
forward, he asked if he
00:22:45.71\00:22:50.76
could give a
testimony, this was unusual.
00:22:50.79\00:22:53.07
He asked if he
could give a testimony.
00:22:54.13\00:22:55.15
So the pastor because he
was not a member of the church
00:22:55.78\00:22:57.82
said okay go ahead
and give your testimony.
00:22:57.85\00:23:00.97
He gave a testimony.
Then somebody else got up,
00:23:02.05\00:23:04.96
now this they have
been in church all day.
00:23:04.99\00:23:07.18
Somebody else got up
said Pastor I feel impressed,
00:23:08.53\00:23:10.72
I want to give a
testimony, he gave the testimony
00:23:11.84\00:23:13.50
about somebody who
had, who had problems
00:23:13.53\00:23:15.54
with their brain, he is
getting ready to have brain
00:23:15.57\00:23:17.13
surgery, who stood up
and said the Lord had told me
00:23:17.16\00:23:19.80
you are gonna be healed.
Somebody else got a Pastor,
00:23:20.34\00:23:23.37
and now the Pastor is
standing up there ready
00:23:23.99\00:23:25.32
to give the
benediction, ready to close.
00:23:25.35\00:23:27.14
And the Lord is
saying no you are not ready.
00:23:28.06\00:23:29.48
Ruthie. I want to do
more. This happened last week,
00:23:30.61\00:23:33.14
the Holy Spirit
just came in that place.
00:23:33.62\00:23:35.24
Folks were jumping
up, I got the testimony,
00:23:35.71\00:23:38.21
people were talking
about how their marriages were
00:23:38.36\00:23:40.56
on the rocks, and how
they need to pray and how
00:23:40.59\00:23:43.23
would God had done.
People were talking about
00:23:43.26\00:23:45.51
emotional damage
that has been done.
00:23:45.54\00:23:47.51
They were given
testimonies, praising.
00:23:47.54\00:23:49.35
People were talking about
how they have been healed.
00:23:49.87\00:23:51.41
The Holy Spirit took
over the church service,
00:23:53.31\00:23:55.67
Ruthie let me tell
you something, I know
00:23:56.23\00:23:57.27
we got to go, but
let me tell you this.
00:23:57.72\00:23:58.84
He never said the benediction
until 7 o'clock that night.
00:24:00.86\00:24:06.00
Seven o'clock.
He told the people.
00:24:06.03\00:24:09.28
The Lord had some
works to do first.
00:24:09.31\00:24:10.86
He told the people, he
says I know it's time for us
00:24:11.87\00:24:14.18
to leave, and those
of you who have to leave,
00:24:14.65\00:24:17.12
leave, nobody left. Nobody.
He had about five hundred
00:24:17.15\00:24:20.24
folks there, nobody left.
After two, three more hours
00:24:20.27\00:24:23.25
he says well you
know it's time to go,
00:24:23.28\00:24:26.21
but he did not stop
the meeting, he said may be
00:24:28.11\00:24:29.08
about hundred left,
there was about four hundred
00:24:29.09\00:24:30.52
people left, and he
said the people were hungry,
00:24:30.55\00:24:33.66
they were tired, they
were just there praising,
00:24:35.08\00:24:38.30
it was very evident that
the Holy Spirit was there,
00:24:39.00\00:24:42.63
and he had a work
to do. Power, power.
00:24:43.30\00:24:45.38
And he was breaking
hearts people were weeping
00:24:45.41\00:24:47.27
and crying, and praying.
So, is this already started.
00:24:47.75\00:24:52.96
Yes. And what I
am trying to say.
00:24:53.35\00:24:54.70
God is working. What I
am trying to say is that if
00:24:54.73\00:24:57.15
we can get all of our
churches in that same mode
00:24:57.43\00:25:01.01
knowing that the
church is a citadel of power?
00:25:01.04\00:25:04.18
God is ready. That
whatever you need, it is there.
00:25:04.63\00:25:07.91
All we got to do is pray
for it and God will show up
00:25:08.38\00:25:11.78
and provide for
whatever you need.
00:25:12.73\00:25:15.62
Amen, and you know it
goes back your friend Kelly
00:25:16.03\00:25:19.34
and I were talking about
this. It goes back to the time
00:25:19.37\00:25:23.75
of Solomon when God
says if my people who are
00:25:23.78\00:25:27.79
called by my name will
humble themselves and pray,
00:25:27.82\00:25:31.75
and a little lady told us
this long time ago and I think
00:25:32.52\00:25:37.01
its in the Book of
Early Writings. She said the
00:25:37.04\00:25:41.43
testimony time, the
time of testimony. Powerful.
00:25:41.64\00:25:45.18
Is a precious time
for our church. Powerful.
00:25:45.39\00:25:47.76
And so we need to
go back to scripture,
00:25:47.79\00:25:50.06
we need to go back
to our needs and realize
00:25:50.55\00:25:52.82
what God has in store for us.
00:25:53.59\00:25:54.97
Revelation
Chapter 12 Verse 11 says,
00:25:55.71\00:25:58.15
'And they overcame him
by the blood of the lamb,
00:25:58.18\00:26:01.52
and by the. Word
of their testimony'.
00:26:01.71\00:26:03.80
Powerful. The
word of our testimony.
00:26:03.83\00:26:06.38
Praising God.
That's right, that's right.
00:26:06.41\00:26:08.58
Its praising let me tell
you. Allow him to do it all.
00:26:08.61\00:26:11.34
You asked the question
about how to get in difficult
00:26:11.37\00:26:13.73
times when the people
came to church not focused
00:26:14.39\00:26:17.11
on their issues
or their problems,
00:26:17.14\00:26:19.39
but there focus was on
God and what he could do.
00:26:19.60\00:26:22.43
He praised too. They
started praising him.
00:26:22.63\00:26:24.63
Yes, yes. What you
do in difficult times,
00:26:24.66\00:26:27.10
don't worry
about it, praise him.
00:26:27.13\00:26:29.31
That's right. Give him
praise, give him glory,
00:26:29.76\00:26:32.24
sing and testify
about the goodness of God.
00:26:32.80\00:26:35.24
The Bible says that
God inhabits praise.
00:26:35.68\00:26:37.87
That's the
answer, that's the answer.
00:26:37.90\00:26:40.08
Ruthie, Ruthie when they
started giving testimonies
00:26:40.56\00:26:42.18
about God's power and its
miracle working in their lives
00:26:42.21\00:26:45.70
they started praising him
and singing songs of praise
00:26:45.73\00:26:48.44
and give it. God
couldn't help but come down.
00:26:48.47\00:26:51.38
That's right. He
loves that kind of meeting,
00:26:51.41\00:26:54.23
he loves his children.
And people would touch.
00:26:54.26\00:26:56.55
Worshipping, that's
true. People were healed.
00:26:56.58\00:26:59.59
That's right,
that's right. Emotionally.
00:27:00.43\00:27:02.20
That's right. And physically,
oh it was tremendous.
00:27:02.63\00:27:04.55
And it's the same God.
He is the same yesterday,
00:27:05.13\00:27:08.02
today and forever.
Well, I hope that you are as
00:27:08.30\00:27:12.49
energized and as
excited and is filled with hope
00:27:13.00\00:27:16.05
as we are here today
because God has a plan
00:27:17.03\00:27:21.24
and he has a purpose.
He wants us to look to him
00:27:22.04\00:27:25.01
in the difficult
times and to realize
00:27:25.46\00:27:27.66
I will arm you
with strength, why,
00:27:28.76\00:27:30.84
because I have
something for you to do.
00:27:31.60\00:27:32.97
And he loves as Pastor
Roy said he loves to hear
00:27:34.26\00:27:37.40
the praises of his
people. So, I have a question
00:27:37.43\00:27:40.33
for you. Are you going
through a difficult time,
00:27:40.54\00:27:43.52
that's when God wants
to hear you sing. Yes.
00:27:43.72\00:27:46.81
That's when God wants
to hear you praise him,
00:27:47.01\00:27:49.07
and worship him, and
pray for others. Yes.
00:27:49.65\00:27:51.91
So, thank you so
much for joining us today.
00:27:52.91\00:27:55.83
It's a privilege for
us to come into your home
00:27:56.73\00:27:58.54
and worship with you.
We just look forward to
00:27:59.51\00:28:02.55
meeting with
you again next time,
00:28:03.14\00:28:04.48
but until then
remember God is faithful
00:28:05.26\00:28:07.62
even in the hard
times. Amen. God bless. Amen.
00:28:08.49\00:28:11.27