Eat the bread,
you will have life.
00:00:14.11\00:00:16.54
Eat My flesh,
you will have life.
00:00:16.58\00:00:19.15
Drink My blood,
you will have life.
00:00:19.18\00:00:22.12
The evidence is
our willingness to hear
00:00:22.15\00:00:24.79
and to obey the Word of the God,
00:00:24.82\00:00:26.96
especially since we
realize this is God speaking.
00:00:26.99\00:00:31.03
This is not an ordinary book
00:00:33.03\00:00:35.73
we are talking
about this morning
00:00:35.76\00:00:38.03
this is the word of life.
00:00:38.07\00:00:40.67
This is the Word of God
we have in His presence.
00:00:40.70\00:00:45.21
The Holy Spirit's
ability to inspire.
00:00:47.48\00:00:53.15
Father in
heaven, reveal Yourself
00:00:59.12\00:01:01.06
from the most
powerful Man of this morning.
00:01:01.09\00:01:04.23
You are truly
worthy to be worshiped
00:01:04.26\00:01:06.86
in every respect.
00:01:06.90\00:01:09.10
Make that crystal
clear and give us the freedom
00:01:09.13\00:01:11.77
to praise Your holy name today.
00:01:11.80\00:01:15.07
We ask this in and through
the precious name of Your Son,
00:01:15.10\00:01:18.34
Jesus Christ, amen.
00:01:18.37\00:01:20.84
Amen.
00:01:20.88\00:01:22.81
Revelation Chapter 4,
00:01:22.84\00:01:26.25
Revelation, I finally get into
my favorite Book of Revelation.
00:01:26.28\00:01:31.95
Revelation Chapters 4 and 5
00:01:31.99\00:01:36.52
is a heavenly throne scene.
00:01:36.56\00:01:40.86
So there's three
reasons for praising God
00:01:40.90\00:01:43.80
and they are all in
Revelation Chapters 4 and 5.
00:01:43.83\00:01:47.74
And when these things come
out the four living creatures
00:01:47.77\00:01:50.47
and the 24 elders they
fall down on their faces
00:01:50.51\00:01:55.54
and they cry out
worthy, worthy, worthy,
00:01:55.58\00:02:01.32
worthy out thou to be worshipped
00:02:01.35\00:02:04.55
because of this and this.
00:02:04.59\00:02:08.86
So let's look at the
first of these in verse 8.
00:02:08.89\00:02:15.73
"The four living creatures,
each of them having six wings,
00:02:15.76\00:02:20.50
full of eyes around and within
00:02:20.54\00:02:22.87
and day and night they
do not cease to say," what?
00:02:22.90\00:02:27.04
"Holy, holy, holy is
the Lord God, Almighty
00:02:27.08\00:02:32.88
because
00:02:35.58\00:02:37.92
he is the one
00:02:37.95\00:02:44.69
who was
00:02:44.73\00:02:49.70
and is and is to come."
00:02:49.73\00:02:56.54
The first reason
for the worship of God
00:02:56.57\00:03:02.44
that causes the four
living creatures to shout out
00:03:02.48\00:03:08.12
holy, holy, holy
00:03:08.15\00:03:10.99
is because God is
the one who was and is
00:03:11.02\00:03:15.72
and is to come.
00:03:15.76\00:03:18.79
The eternalness of God,
00:03:18.83\00:03:20.56
I like to call it His
eternal self existence.
00:03:20.60\00:03:25.37
God is the only One who
was and is and is to come.
00:03:25.40\00:03:30.71
It took me many
years of my life to realize
00:03:30.74\00:03:33.68
that God is not limited by
time and space like we are.
00:03:33.71\00:03:37.81
He can actually
see my entire life
00:03:37.85\00:03:41.18
at one glance
because my life in His realm,
00:03:41.22\00:03:44.49
in God's time my
life is still happening.
00:03:44.52\00:03:48.92
Look at the second reason
00:03:48.96\00:03:50.29
for Him being
worshiped in verse 11.
00:03:50.33\00:03:54.70
Notice the word worthy
coming in here in verse 11.
00:03:54.73\00:03:57.83
"Worthy art Thou,
our Lord and our God,
00:03:57.87\00:04:02.40
to receive glory
and honor and power
00:04:02.44\00:04:05.91
because"
00:04:05.94\00:04:07.91
"You created all things."
00:04:07.94\00:04:09.28
"You created all things,"
00:04:09.31\00:04:12.08
God's worthiness is associated
with His creative power.
00:04:12.11\00:04:17.52
He is worthy of worship
not because He is all powerful
00:04:17.55\00:04:22.09
but because He
is the creator God.
00:04:22.12\00:04:24.93
He is author of
all living things.
00:04:24.96\00:04:28.13
Nothing has come
forth apart from Him.
00:04:28.16\00:04:31.30
Amen.
00:04:31.33\00:04:32.67
Finally in chapter 5,
00:04:32.70\00:04:35.94
the third reason
for God being worshiped
00:04:35.97\00:04:38.24
and so worth of
worship is in chapter 5.
00:04:38.27\00:04:43.35
Look at verse 9,
00:04:43.38\00:04:46.55
"They sang a new song"
00:04:46.58\00:04:50.32
wow,
00:04:50.35\00:04:52.05
"They sang a new song, saying,
00:04:52.09\00:04:55.22
'Worthy art
thou to take the book
00:04:55.26\00:04:58.79
and to break its
seals, for thou was slain,
00:04:58.83\00:05:06.37
and has purchased
for God with thy blood
00:05:06.40\00:05:11.51
men from every tribe and
nation and tongue and people
00:05:11.54\00:05:15.68
and has made them into"
00:05:15.71\00:05:17.75
Kings.
00:05:17.78\00:05:19.11
"Kings and priests or
a kingdom of priests."
00:05:19.15\00:05:23.42
Isn't that powerful.
00:05:23.45\00:05:24.79
This is what we have
been talking about this week.
00:05:24.82\00:05:28.36
God is worshiped
because He is the redeemer God.
00:05:28.39\00:05:32.99
Amen.
00:05:33.03\00:05:34.36
He is the redeemer God.
00:05:34.40\00:05:36.26
Of course many
people have noticed here
00:05:40.87\00:05:42.37
that we've got the
Redeemer as Jesus Christ.
00:05:42.40\00:05:46.78
The creative side of
God is the Holy Spirit
00:05:46.81\00:05:50.18
and the one who
sits on the throne
00:05:50.21\00:05:51.88
with all authorities,
00:05:51.91\00:05:53.25
God the father we
have the try in God.
00:05:53.28\00:05:56.08
We also have by the way
00:05:56.12\00:05:57.45
and we can't
develop this this morning,
00:05:57.49\00:05:59.25
we also have the three
sections of the sanctuary here.
00:05:59.29\00:06:02.96
The complete picture
of God coming through
00:06:02.99\00:06:05.99
in the beautiful plan
of redemption and salvation
00:06:06.03\00:06:09.10
and it's all the
reasons for worshiping God.
00:06:09.13\00:06:12.77
If you have seen God
through the sanctuary
00:06:12.80\00:06:15.54
you should fall on your face
00:06:15.57\00:06:18.11
and shout, holy, holy, holy,
00:06:18.14\00:06:21.28
worth are thou to be worshiped
because you stand alone,
00:06:21.31\00:06:27.12
you have all power and authority
00:06:27.15\00:06:30.02
who can be like God.
00:06:30.05\00:06:32.95
He stands alone and
deserved to be worshiped
00:06:32.99\00:06:35.46
because you are the
author of all living things.
00:06:35.49\00:06:38.66
You are the Creator God
00:06:38.69\00:06:41.06
and You stand alone
00:06:41.10\00:06:42.43
because You are
unique in the universe
00:06:42.46\00:06:45.10
because as God You laid down
Your own life in human flesh
00:06:45.13\00:06:50.34
to reconcile Your lost
children back to Yourself.
00:06:50.37\00:06:54.58
You are truly
deserving of worship.
00:06:54.61\00:06:58.01
Amen.
00:06:58.05\00:06:59.38
How is your faith this morning?
00:06:59.41\00:07:00.75
Amen.
00:07:00.78\00:07:02.12
So we would like to hear
some praise this morning.
00:07:02.15\00:07:04.22
Wouldn't we?
00:07:04.25\00:07:05.59
This is very appropriate.
00:07:05.62\00:07:06.99
My good buddy Michael,
00:07:07.02\00:07:08.36
come on out here
this morning please.
00:07:08.39\00:07:11.76
My good buddy Michael
Carducci from Tennessee.
00:07:11.79\00:07:17.10
I call up the
Bronies of Tennessee.
00:07:17.13\00:07:19.27
Michael and I became acquainted
a number of years ago.
00:07:21.40\00:07:25.01
And as he shared
with me his incredible--
00:07:25.04\00:07:27.84
let's get our microphone here.
00:07:27.88\00:07:29.28
Thank you very much
for that. Thank you.
00:07:29.31\00:07:31.31
As Michael shared
his testimony with me
00:07:31.35\00:07:34.88
I began to realize
that this is the testimony
00:07:34.92\00:07:37.75
that needs to be heard.
00:07:37.79\00:07:40.22
So I'm under
conviction this morning
00:07:40.26\00:07:42.09
that he should have a
chance to share this with you
00:07:42.12\00:07:44.69
and of course
it's being televised
00:07:44.73\00:07:46.66
so I promised you
earlier that one of these days
00:07:46.70\00:07:49.03
you are gonna
be on TV, remember.
00:07:49.06\00:07:50.53
Yes, thank you, Bill.
00:07:50.57\00:07:51.90
And this will be seen
around the world on television
00:07:51.93\00:07:54.47
and I believe as you
listen to his testimony
00:07:54.50\00:07:57.31
you will understand the reason
why, because there is an issue
00:07:57.34\00:08:00.78
in our church today
00:08:00.81\00:08:02.14
that raises a lot of
fear and misunderstanding
00:08:02.18\00:08:05.31
in people's
lives and its actually
00:08:05.35\00:08:07.38
prevented us
from offering ministry
00:08:07.42\00:08:10.32
to a whole
segment of the population.
00:08:10.35\00:08:13.56
And Michael said his
testimony, I said wow.
00:08:13.59\00:08:17.29
This has to be brought
00:08:17.33\00:08:18.66
to the knowledge
of God's children.
00:08:18.69\00:08:20.03
So take a moment
here this morning,
00:08:20.06\00:08:22.40
take a moment and just
share with the congregation
00:08:22.43\00:08:25.30
your former
lifestyle and where you were
00:08:25.33\00:08:28.07
before the grace of
God came upon you, Michael.
00:08:28.10\00:08:31.67
All right.
00:08:31.71\00:08:33.31
I guess it started at an age
when I wasn't even conscience
00:08:33.34\00:08:36.51
and my dad was in the military.
00:08:36.54\00:08:38.58
He was a jazz
musician and he would be gone
00:08:38.61\00:08:41.38
three to six months at a time.
00:08:41.42\00:08:43.52
I was the second
of four children,
00:08:43.55\00:08:45.25
I have three sisters
00:08:45.29\00:08:46.62
and so I was along with
my mom and my sisters a lot.
00:08:46.65\00:08:49.89
And during that time
when it was very important
00:08:49.92\00:08:52.69
for a male child to
bond to his male gender
00:08:52.73\00:08:55.53
and gender
identity to be stemmed
00:08:55.56\00:08:58.17
my father was gone.
00:08:58.20\00:08:59.53
And so even though it
was genuine on his part
00:08:59.57\00:09:01.97
he was providing for his family.
00:09:02.00\00:09:04.54
At a very young age
when I wasn't conscience,
00:09:04.57\00:09:06.51
to me that was
interpreted as abandonment.
00:09:06.54\00:09:09.38
And then when my father was home
00:09:09.41\00:09:10.75
he was hot headed
Italian and so things were loud
00:09:10.78\00:09:14.82
and things were somewhat
verbally abusive at that time.
00:09:14.85\00:09:18.09
So at a very young age
when it was important for me
00:09:18.12\00:09:20.52
to make this
transference to my father
00:09:20.56\00:09:23.46
I rejected him in my own defense
00:09:23.49\00:09:25.69
which I call
attach-- defensive detachment.
00:09:25.73\00:09:29.56
So at that age then I grew up
00:09:29.60\00:09:31.93
and I reverted
back to my mother.
00:09:31.97\00:09:33.44
I had three sisters
00:09:33.47\00:09:34.80
so I liked doing the
things that girls like to do.
00:09:34.84\00:09:37.54
And I hardened after my mother
00:09:37.57\00:09:39.47
so my mannerisms
became more feminine
00:09:39.51\00:09:42.81
and I rejected things
like baseball and softball
00:09:42.84\00:09:46.41
and I didn't really
relate to other boys.
00:09:46.45\00:09:48.88
But I knew that
something was wrong.
00:09:48.92\00:09:51.82
And at six-years-old I remember
thinking I'm not other boys.
00:09:51.85\00:09:55.92
And so as I grew up,
00:09:55.96\00:09:58.53
again puberty, as puberty
came the sex that is the mystery
00:09:58.56\00:10:04.90
becomes the
attraction and for me
00:10:04.93\00:10:06.67
I understood women,
00:10:06.70\00:10:08.17
I understood girls
and related to them.
00:10:08.20\00:10:10.61
I didn't
understand to relate to men
00:10:10.64\00:10:12.51
and so it took on a sexual twist
00:10:12.54\00:10:14.88
that I didn't understand,
00:10:14.91\00:10:16.24
that I couldn't
stop, that I couldn't help.
00:10:16.28\00:10:19.11
And so then it started
with fantasy and at 13,
00:10:19.15\00:10:22.98
masturbation and it
became a lifelong process
00:10:23.02\00:10:27.09
and I remember at 17-years-old
00:10:27.12\00:10:30.56
begging God that
He would take my life.
00:10:30.59\00:10:33.03
I knew that,
00:10:33.06\00:10:34.90
that what was coming out as
I couldn't stop these feelings
00:10:34.93\00:10:38.57
and thoughts that
were raging inside of me,
00:10:38.60\00:10:40.54
I couldn't find
realistic help in the church,
00:10:40.57\00:10:43.20
I couldn't fine resources,
00:10:43.24\00:10:44.74
I couldn't find people
that I could related to,
00:10:44.77\00:10:47.08
I couldn't find authenticity
00:10:47.11\00:10:49.14
in the church
that I was going to,
00:10:49.18\00:10:50.88
to really related to
the problem that I had.
00:10:50.91\00:10:53.35
At 20-years-old God
had not answered my prayer,
00:10:53.38\00:10:56.58
in deed I did live.
00:10:56.62\00:10:58.79
I went to a man in church
00:10:58.82\00:11:00.22
and I said
listen, can I talk to you.
00:11:00.26\00:11:02.42
And he said,
sure. What's it about?
00:11:02.46\00:11:03.79
And I said well, it
has to do with women.
00:11:03.83\00:11:05.56
And before I said another word
this person that I respected,
00:11:05.59\00:11:08.23
that I handpicked for months
00:11:08.26\00:11:10.67
said something
derogatory about women
00:11:10.70\00:11:12.57
and I knew that I couldn't
share my secret with him.
00:11:12.60\00:11:15.30
So I turned my back on God.
00:11:15.34\00:11:16.67
I said, Lord, if
this is the best you got
00:11:16.71\00:11:18.21
I'm out of here, I'm done.
00:11:18.24\00:11:20.01
I can't
legitimately go to church
00:11:20.04\00:11:22.44
and on the other hand
00:11:22.48\00:11:23.81
fight these attractions
and feelings that I have
00:11:23.85\00:11:26.45
and You didn't take my life.
00:11:26.48\00:11:28.08
I have no other choice
00:11:28.12\00:11:29.98
and the gay
life they embrace me.
00:11:30.02\00:11:33.02
They accepted me.
00:11:33.05\00:11:34.39
They said, that I
had every right to feel
00:11:34.42\00:11:35.76
what I felt.
00:11:35.79\00:11:37.13
They told me I was born this way
00:11:37.16\00:11:38.49
and that I shouldn't change.
00:11:38.53\00:11:39.89
And so again this
began indoctrination
00:11:39.93\00:11:43.67
if you would into gay culture.
00:11:43.70\00:11:45.77
I was homing for a
monogamous relationship
00:11:45.80\00:11:48.70
that I could atleast fulfill
my desire to be attached to God
00:11:48.74\00:11:54.14
and be connected to Him.
00:11:54.18\00:11:55.58
However what it did do was
it turned into sexual addiction.
00:11:55.61\00:11:59.55
My first lover was
heavy into different things
00:11:59.58\00:12:04.19
that were just so
wild I won't even go into
00:12:04.22\00:12:06.09
but it began this
addictive process for me
00:12:06.12\00:12:09.26
which lasted for over 20 years.
00:12:09.29\00:12:11.66
Excuse me one minute.
Let me just get this clear.
00:12:11.69\00:12:14.43
So for 20 years you were living
the gay lifestyle basically,
00:12:14.46\00:12:17.17
I see?
00:12:17.20\00:12:18.53
Yes. Yeah.
00:12:18.57\00:12:19.90
I embraced it fully.
00:12:19.93\00:12:21.27
Christianity didn't work
and for many of the Christians
00:12:21.30\00:12:23.07
that I was witnessing it
wasn't working for them either.
00:12:23.10\00:12:25.81
They weren't happy,
they weren't joyful,
00:12:25.84\00:12:27.54
they were
miserable and very critical.
00:12:27.58\00:12:30.51
So what age were you by
the end of these 20 years?
00:12:30.55\00:12:33.52
Excuse me, for
asking. That's okay.
00:12:33.55\00:12:35.42
I'm calculating it in my mind.
00:12:35.45\00:12:37.82
You must have been at least 40.
00:12:37.85\00:12:39.19
Yes, 40 years old.
Forty years of age.
00:12:39.22\00:12:41.39
So Michael, I need to
move you now in that direction
00:12:41.42\00:12:44.13
if it's okay.
00:12:44.16\00:12:45.49
Yeah. That's a
little background.
00:12:45.53\00:12:46.86
So you got a man here
00:12:46.90\00:12:48.23
that lived a gay
lifestyle for 20 years
00:12:48.26\00:12:50.97
in a state of
confusion we could say.
00:12:51.00\00:12:54.34
And lack of peace within himself
00:12:54.37\00:12:56.50
and certainly not
at peace with God.
00:12:56.54\00:12:59.44
And that
something must have happened
00:12:59.47\00:13:01.38
then at 40 years of age
00:13:01.41\00:13:03.35
that led you to
reconsider your options.
00:13:03.38\00:13:06.38
Let's put it
that way, okay. Yeah.
00:13:06.41\00:13:08.12
Tell us what happened,
00:13:08.15\00:13:09.62
how God intervened in
your life at 40 years of age?
00:13:09.65\00:13:13.66
Two women had been
praying for me for years
00:13:13.69\00:13:16.89
and they were two of my sisters.
00:13:16.93\00:13:18.73
And my two
sisters have been praying
00:13:18.76\00:13:20.40
and at the time that my sister
00:13:20.43\00:13:23.30
had been divorced by her husband
00:13:23.33\00:13:24.77
who had an internet
affair with an ex-girlfriend.
00:13:24.80\00:13:27.70
They were divorced and I saw
such a transition in my sister
00:13:27.74\00:13:30.94
and then when she told me
00:13:30.97\00:13:32.31
that she was
marrying her ex-husband again
00:13:32.34\00:13:34.68
I thought she was
absolutely ridiculous
00:13:34.71\00:13:36.98
and I went to the wedding.
00:13:37.01\00:13:38.35
And as I sat in church
00:13:38.38\00:13:39.71
which I hadn't
been in for years,
00:13:39.75\00:13:41.42
I watched my brother-in-law
come forward in the baptismal
00:13:41.45\00:13:45.19
and ask the
church for forgiveness
00:13:45.22\00:13:47.32
and thank the church for
taking care of his family
00:13:47.36\00:13:49.62
when he was absent.
00:13:49.66\00:13:51.26
He made an open confession
00:13:51.29\00:13:52.63
and I was
witnessing the Holy Spirit
00:13:52.66\00:13:54.36
through my brother-in-law
00:13:54.40\00:13:55.73
who I thought was a total creep
00:13:55.76\00:13:57.37
and the Holy Spirit
started to move on me.
00:13:57.40\00:14:00.60
And within three months
00:14:00.64\00:14:01.97
my sister in
Florida where I live
00:14:02.00\00:14:03.97
she started inviting
me to evangelistic series
00:14:04.01\00:14:06.71
and I don't
know why I said, yes.
00:14:06.74\00:14:09.04
And as I sat there
this preacher who was,
00:14:09.08\00:14:12.41
who was in a gang
and he had a very--
00:14:12.45\00:14:15.52
a very real gospel that
hit me right between the eyes.
00:14:15.55\00:14:18.75
He is a good friend of mine.
00:14:18.79\00:14:20.12
Yes, okay.
00:14:20.16\00:14:21.62
And while I was
still in a relationship
00:14:21.66\00:14:24.13
with the boyfriend
00:14:24.16\00:14:25.49
and at the top of my game I was,
00:14:25.53\00:14:27.53
I was probably the
foster child for gay life.
00:14:27.56\00:14:30.63
I was an aerobic
instructing hair dresser.
00:14:30.67\00:14:34.20
And at that time the
Lord touched my heart
00:14:34.24\00:14:37.11
and I game my life to the Lord.
00:14:37.14\00:14:38.97
And one of the things
that pastor said that night
00:14:39.01\00:14:41.18
in the last call as he said,
00:14:41.21\00:14:43.04
some of you
tonight will never have
00:14:43.08\00:14:44.95
another opportunity
to accept the gospel.
00:14:44.98\00:14:47.48
And as I sat in that
chair I knew that was me.
00:14:47.52\00:14:49.68
But I knew that I was so wild
in what my lifestyle had become
00:14:49.72\00:14:53.56
that I didn't had the strength
to move forward and I prayed.
00:14:53.59\00:14:56.09
I said, Lord, I
give you my heart
00:14:56.12\00:14:57.93
but I can't go up there.
00:14:57.96\00:14:59.86
And the next
conscience moment that I had,
00:14:59.89\00:15:01.60
I was standing in front
00:15:01.63\00:15:03.16
and my sister was
standing beside me crying
00:15:03.20\00:15:05.97
and I gave my heart to the Lord.
00:15:06.00\00:15:08.07
Well, my sister
asked me in the parking lot
00:15:08.10\00:15:10.07
what are you gonna
do with your boyfriend?
00:15:10.11\00:15:11.71
And again--
00:15:11.74\00:15:13.07
Good question.
00:15:13.11\00:15:14.44
Yes. Yes.
00:15:14.48\00:15:15.81
I remember my
understanding was that,
00:15:15.84\00:15:17.68
you know, I was in
the dark about that.
00:15:17.71\00:15:19.18
I had accepted what the
world said was acceptable
00:15:19.21\00:15:21.88
and what I was born with
00:15:21.92\00:15:23.25
and what was my God given right.
00:15:23.28\00:15:25.05
And so I said to
my sister, I'm gay,
00:15:25.09\00:15:27.52
I was born this
way and I try to change
00:15:27.56\00:15:30.09
God wouldn't change me.
00:15:30.13\00:15:31.46
And I said, but all I know is
00:15:31.49\00:15:32.83
that Jesus
accepts me for who I am.
00:15:32.86\00:15:35.26
And my sister stopped.
00:15:35.30\00:15:36.73
And God began a journey with me
00:15:36.77\00:15:38.53
and He knew it
was gonna take time.
00:15:38.57\00:15:40.57
And He had to address the
wounds that had taken place
00:15:40.60\00:15:43.57
from the time I
wasn't even conscience.
00:15:43.61\00:15:45.94
But even while I wasn't faithful
00:15:45.97\00:15:47.84
and still a sexual
addict and in a relationship
00:15:47.88\00:15:50.71
God began this journey with me
00:15:50.75\00:15:52.51
and He addressed
the issues at a time
00:15:52.55\00:15:54.18
when I could handle them.
00:15:54.22\00:15:55.62
And while I
wasn't faithful to Him,
00:15:55.65\00:15:57.59
1 John 1:9 says
that "He is faithful."
00:15:57.62\00:16:00.72
And He stayed by
me on this journey.
00:16:00.76\00:16:02.89
If I can jump in just again,
I have the gift of jumping in,
00:16:02.92\00:16:06.16
you know that.
00:16:06.19\00:16:08.00
Isn't this exciting?
00:16:08.03\00:16:09.36
Amen.
00:16:09.40\00:16:10.73
I mean 20 years
in the gay lifestyle,
00:16:10.77\00:16:13.20
goes to an evangelistic meeting,
00:16:13.23\00:16:14.94
doesn't want to go forward
and ends up going forward
00:16:14.97\00:16:18.24
and finds himself being accepted
00:16:18.27\00:16:20.61
just as he is by
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:16:20.64\00:16:23.71
Isn't that-- that is
the gospel, isn't it?
00:16:23.75\00:16:25.71
Amen.
00:16:25.75\00:16:27.08
But I told you all repeatedly
00:16:27.12\00:16:28.45
you can come to
God just as you are
00:16:28.48\00:16:30.69
but He does not
leave you as He finds you.
00:16:30.72\00:16:33.39
So Michael,
00:16:33.42\00:16:36.06
boiling this all down
now to the basic issues,
00:16:36.09\00:16:39.36
I'm trying to put
myself in your issues.
00:16:39.39\00:16:41.40
You must have considered
there were at least two options
00:16:41.43\00:16:44.83
and I want you to
address this today
00:16:44.87\00:16:47.10
even just briefly but
never the less address it
00:16:47.14\00:16:50.11
because 20 years
in a gay lifestyle
00:16:50.14\00:16:52.84
believing that you were born gay
00:16:52.87\00:16:54.41
and that was your
divine right to be gay
00:16:54.44\00:16:57.91
you must have on one hand
00:16:57.95\00:16:59.28
thought about the possibility
of becoming heterosexual
00:16:59.31\00:17:02.88
or on the other
hand of becoming celibate
00:17:02.92\00:17:05.89
and having a lifestyle,
00:17:05.92\00:17:07.79
a pure lifestyle that
would bring glory to God.
00:17:07.82\00:17:10.43
How did you deal
with the tension between--
00:17:10.46\00:17:14.33
I ran into both
of these attitudes.
00:17:14.36\00:17:16.16
How do you-- how did you deal
00:17:16.20\00:17:17.70
with the tension
and did those two things
00:17:17.73\00:17:20.47
hit you with a thud?
00:17:20.50\00:17:22.14
Please share that, would you?
00:17:22.17\00:17:24.11
It still bit of an enigma
00:17:24.14\00:17:27.48
I believe for me as well
as for many of my friends
00:17:27.51\00:17:30.08
that have also come
out of the lifestyle.
00:17:30.11\00:17:33.08
There were no resources.
00:17:33.11\00:17:34.45
There was no one that
I could talk to and yet
00:17:34.48\00:17:36.48
God had led me out
of my relationship.
00:17:36.52\00:17:38.29
I prayed and I said,
Lord, how could You make me gay
00:17:38.32\00:17:41.39
and then tell me
I'm in abomination
00:17:41.42\00:17:42.92
as I read the scripture?
00:17:42.96\00:17:44.63
And I said, that's cool
and I remember crying out
00:17:44.66\00:17:48.10
and as I finally
got real with God
00:17:48.13\00:17:50.13
He was able to get real with me
00:17:50.17\00:17:51.97
and He started
putting in my path
00:17:52.00\00:17:53.97
sermons that I could
glean some information out.
00:17:54.00\00:17:56.64
People like Bill Liversidge
00:17:56.67\00:17:58.41
who really got
through to my heart
00:17:58.44\00:18:01.81
and gave me a realistic
gospel with teeth if you could.
00:18:01.84\00:18:04.91
Scriptures that I could
claim and that I realize
00:18:04.95\00:18:07.48
that it wasn't my work,
00:18:07.52\00:18:08.85
it was God
working that through me.
00:18:08.88\00:18:10.62
And so as I started
to get legitimate help
00:18:10.65\00:18:14.32
in overcoming sin in my life
00:18:14.36\00:18:16.99
and the masturbation issue was
a very strong issue in my life
00:18:17.03\00:18:20.03
and the last to go,
00:18:20.06\00:18:21.40
even demonic
dreams and recognizing
00:18:21.43\00:18:23.37
that I was under
demonic influence.
00:18:23.40\00:18:25.27
Once I got the
physical victory over the sin
00:18:25.30\00:18:27.97
I started to
have homoerotic dreams
00:18:28.00\00:18:30.61
through men in my church
00:18:30.64\00:18:32.57
that were guided
by the Holy Spirit.
00:18:32.61\00:18:33.94
They didn't know how
to relate to me anymore
00:18:33.98\00:18:35.61
than I knew how
to relate to them.
00:18:35.64\00:18:37.65
They were led by the Holy Spirit
00:18:37.68\00:18:39.01
and they put
their arms around me.
00:18:39.05\00:18:40.75
They legitimately showed
me what intimacy is with me
00:18:40.78\00:18:44.39
and as I continued this
journey healing did come
00:18:44.42\00:18:47.16
and as something that
had been taken from me
00:18:47.19\00:18:49.12
at a very early age
00:18:49.16\00:18:50.83
what happened is God
was filling that hole.
00:18:50.86\00:18:53.56
And so the desire for same sex
attraction started to go away
00:18:53.60\00:18:57.27
and then what started to awaken
00:18:57.30\00:18:59.33
was a desire for
heterosexual relationships.
00:18:59.37\00:19:03.91
And so--
00:19:03.94\00:19:05.27
Did you hear an
amen then or not?
00:19:05.31\00:19:06.91
One. Oh.
00:19:06.94\00:19:09.31
I got some
antidepressants for you.
00:19:09.34\00:19:11.18
Thank you.
00:19:11.21\00:19:12.55
How they can sit quietly
with a testimony like this
00:19:12.58\00:19:14.68
which boggles my mind but--
00:19:14.72\00:19:16.25
Well, there may be a
little bit of gas I don't know.
00:19:16.28\00:19:18.05
They are
processing, they are processing.
00:19:18.09\00:19:20.12
Okay.
00:19:20.16\00:19:21.49
And so I'm
somewhere in the middle there
00:19:21.52\00:19:23.46
because I also know that
00:19:23.49\00:19:25.19
that the answer to homosexuality
00:19:25.23\00:19:27.00
is not heterosexuality
00:19:27.03\00:19:28.83
and we know that
many men struggle with
00:19:28.86\00:19:30.50
pornography and
masturbation as well
00:19:30.53\00:19:32.93
whether in a marriage or not.
00:19:32.97\00:19:35.50
But the difference for me
00:19:35.54\00:19:37.07
is that the
opposite of homosexuality
00:19:37.11\00:19:39.21
is holiness.
00:19:39.24\00:19:40.61
And as God fills that--
00:19:40.64\00:19:41.98
Amen. Thank you.
00:19:42.01\00:19:43.35
Amen. Isn't that powerful?
00:19:43.38\00:19:45.35
Amen.
00:19:45.38\00:19:46.72
Hang in out I want
you to repeat that again.
00:19:46.75\00:19:48.28
I want the whole world
to hear this statement.
00:19:48.32\00:19:51.25
By the grace of God
00:19:51.29\00:19:52.62
I'm gonna take this you
with me to TBN right and see.
00:19:52.65\00:19:56.29
This needs to be heard.
00:19:56.32\00:19:57.93
Repeat that statement again.
00:19:57.96\00:19:59.29
Would you? Amen.
00:19:59.33\00:20:00.66
And so the
opposite of homosexuality
00:20:00.70\00:20:02.90
is not
heterosexuality but holiness.
00:20:02.93\00:20:06.23
Amen.
00:20:06.27\00:20:07.60
That's one of the
most profound things
00:20:07.64\00:20:09.14
I ever heard on this subject.
00:20:09.17\00:20:11.54
Are you computing
that this morning?
00:20:11.57\00:20:13.98
The opposite of homosexuality
is not heterosexuality.
00:20:14.01\00:20:17.91
If that comes we praise God
00:20:17.95\00:20:20.25
but the opposite
is actually holiness.
00:20:20.28\00:20:22.78
Amen.
00:20:22.82\00:20:24.15
By the way
holiness is applicable
00:20:24.19\00:20:27.06
whether you are
heterosexual or homosexual.
00:20:27.09\00:20:29.72
Amen.
00:20:29.76\00:20:31.09
God's standard is
still holiness, isn't it?
00:20:31.13\00:20:33.53
Amen.
00:20:33.56\00:20:34.90
Hallelujah. They are hearing it.
00:20:34.93\00:20:36.50
It's a miracle. Thank you, Lord.
00:20:36.53\00:20:39.90
So where has this left you?
00:20:39.93\00:20:41.70
Give us the update
now to the current time.
00:20:41.74\00:20:44.47
So I had no idea that God
would give to me a ministry.
00:20:44.51\00:20:48.88
It's a story
that's not easy to tell.
00:20:48.91\00:20:51.61
I've actually started
speaking in academies.
00:20:51.65\00:20:54.62
I have a strong desire to
help educate young people,
00:20:54.65\00:20:58.99
academy age 13 up to,
00:20:59.02\00:21:01.72
to talk about the
dangers of masturbation.
00:21:01.76\00:21:03.76
And while it's a word that
00:21:03.79\00:21:05.16
that shouldn't have ever
been heard in a sanctuary
00:21:05.19\00:21:07.70
I think that its something
that has to be addressed
00:21:07.73\00:21:09.66
because if I
could help young people
00:21:09.70\00:21:12.07
to recognize the
dangers of that at an early age
00:21:12.10\00:21:15.30
my life could have
been much different.
00:21:15.34\00:21:17.44
My first sexual experience
was in academy as a junior
00:21:17.47\00:21:20.91
and that began this
whole road of denial,
00:21:20.94\00:21:24.65
the dean never addressed it
00:21:24.68\00:21:26.08
and so I believe that
God has given me a ministry.
00:21:26.11\00:21:29.62
And I speak in churches, I
speak at pastors conferences,
00:21:29.65\00:21:33.79
I'm involved in
an umbrella ministry
00:21:33.82\00:21:35.39
called "Coming Out Ministries."
00:21:35.42\00:21:37.33
Wayne Blakely in the
back in the purple shirt
00:21:37.36\00:21:39.16
is also one of my
partners in that ministry.
00:21:39.19\00:21:41.90
And what we do is we
go anywhere we are invited
00:21:41.93\00:21:44.70
and all we charge
is whatever it takes
00:21:44.73\00:21:47.30
to bring us to your church
00:21:47.34\00:21:48.67
and we like to do presentations
00:21:48.70\00:21:50.61
to weekend seminars to
just address the issues,
00:21:50.64\00:21:53.94
to answers
questions that you may have to
00:21:53.98\00:21:56.04
lift you up in prayer,
00:21:56.08\00:21:57.41
if you know anyone who is gay.
00:21:57.45\00:21:59.08
And may I ask a question?
00:21:59.11\00:22:01.05
Would you just raise your hand
if you know or you are affected
00:22:01.08\00:22:04.15
by somebody who is
homosexual in your life?
00:22:04.19\00:22:08.16
It's amazing to
see how many people
00:22:08.19\00:22:10.23
and while you may
not struggle with it
00:22:10.26\00:22:12.39
as the body of Christ
isn't it our obligation
00:22:12.43\00:22:15.43
to know how to
minister to these people?
00:22:15.46\00:22:16.97
Amen.
00:22:17.00\00:22:18.33
And so that's
where our desire is,
00:22:18.37\00:22:19.70
is that we can come and educate
and give you tools to know
00:22:19.73\00:22:23.27
how to reach
homosexuals in an authentic way
00:22:23.30\00:22:26.17
and to redeem them out as well.
00:22:26.21\00:22:27.54
Amen.
00:22:27.58\00:22:28.91
Well, talk about
your ministry here
00:22:28.94\00:22:30.28
and contact
information please, Michael.
00:22:30.31\00:22:31.65
Thank you.
00:22:31.68\00:22:33.01
The name of my
ministry is called EXCEED.
00:22:33.05\00:22:35.18
It's an acronym which
stands for Excellence in Christ
00:22:35.22\00:22:39.32
through Evangelism to
the Erotically Defiled.
00:22:39.35\00:22:42.49
I also have a
support group at home
00:22:42.52\00:22:44.33
and the men that
are in the support group
00:22:44.36\00:22:46.23
are heterosexual
00:22:46.26\00:22:47.60
but they struggle with
the same thing that I did
00:22:47.63\00:22:49.56
and while the
sin maybe different
00:22:49.60\00:22:51.47
the struggle is still the same
with pornography, masturbation
00:22:51.50\00:22:55.24
and the men that I talk
with are actually married men.
00:22:55.27\00:22:59.64
But my ministry in particular
00:22:59.67\00:23:02.61
isn't limited to
just homosexuality
00:23:02.64\00:23:05.51
but to also anyone
who is struggling with
00:23:05.55\00:23:08.45
sexual addiction as
well as sexual preference.
00:23:08.48\00:23:12.92
Is this an
exciting testimony or what?
00:23:12.95\00:23:15.36
Amen. Amen.
00:23:15.39\00:23:17.86
Hey, then give her
mike would you because--
00:23:17.89\00:23:20.06
I just wanted to
make sure that your--
00:23:21.43\00:23:25.47
because that all
caps on the EXCEED.
00:23:25.50\00:23:27.54
I don't think it matters.
00:23:27.57\00:23:28.90
Okay.
00:23:28.94\00:23:30.61
I think I want to
give this to myself.
00:23:30.64\00:23:33.61
Thank you very much.
00:23:33.64\00:23:34.98
Okay.
00:23:35.01\00:23:36.34
I hope
00:23:36.38\00:23:37.95
there is a deep level of
appreciation here this morning
00:23:37.98\00:23:42.15
that why I did not hesitate
00:23:42.18\00:23:44.95
to bring Michael
up here this morning
00:23:44.99\00:23:46.76
because I sense
that his ministry
00:23:46.79\00:23:49.82
fits perfectly
into the good news
00:23:49.86\00:23:52.09
that I've been presenting.
00:23:52.13\00:23:53.90
He's got his feet on the ground.
00:23:53.93\00:23:55.46
He is open and honest
isn't he about himself.
00:23:55.50\00:23:57.67
I love that.
00:23:57.70\00:23:59.03
I thought for a minute he
must have been an Australian.
00:23:59.07\00:24:02.20
Can I say one more thing?
00:24:02.24\00:24:03.57
Of course, you can.
00:24:03.61\00:24:04.94
Once God had given me the
victory over the sexual sin
00:24:04.97\00:24:08.14
and the masturbation
00:24:08.18\00:24:10.08
I had wondered if
memory was still intact.
00:24:10.11\00:24:13.85
Because God had
taken away the desire
00:24:13.88\00:24:15.62
for sex completely for me
00:24:15.65\00:24:17.52
and then even walking
as a Seventh-day Adventist,
00:24:17.55\00:24:20.12
I had been a
Christian for a few years
00:24:20.16\00:24:23.19
indeed memory was still intact.
00:24:23.22\00:24:25.39
And as I tempted that faith
it brought back another bout
00:24:25.43\00:24:29.53
if you would the
struggling with sexual sin.
00:24:29.56\00:24:32.23
And again the resources
00:24:32.27\00:24:33.60
that I couldn't
really grasp the hold of
00:24:33.64\00:24:35.60
and get the victory again
00:24:35.64\00:24:37.21
after this door
had been unleashed.
00:24:37.24\00:24:38.94
But when I started attending
Bill Liversidge's conferences
00:24:38.97\00:24:42.21
I recognized this thing
is simple as Philippians 2:5
00:24:42.24\00:24:45.75
which is my anchor.
00:24:45.78\00:24:47.58
It says, "Let
this mind be in you,
00:24:47.62\00:24:49.18
which was also in Christ Jesus."
00:24:49.22\00:24:50.55
And what I recognized
00:24:50.59\00:24:51.92
is the word that
was so important to me
00:24:51.95\00:24:54.06
was just the
first word the "let"
00:24:54.09\00:24:56.36
and as I gave God
permission to let His mind in me
00:24:56.39\00:25:00.70
then what happened is those
thoughts and those feelings
00:25:00.73\00:25:03.87
were not allowed
because the mind of Christ
00:25:03.90\00:25:05.53
would never have those
feelings or those thoughts
00:25:05.57\00:25:08.54
and I started to gain the
victory in a legitimate way
00:25:08.57\00:25:12.04
and for Bill, I'm
grateful and I want to thank.
00:25:12.07\00:25:14.58
Praise the Lord.
00:25:14.61\00:25:15.94
I praise God for you.
Hey, hey, hey, praise God.
00:25:15.98\00:25:17.38
Wow.
00:25:17.41\00:25:19.61
Thank you very much.
00:25:19.65\00:25:20.98
Wow.
00:25:21.02\00:25:22.35
Okay.
00:25:26.76\00:25:28.09
Okay.
00:25:28.12\00:25:29.46
I knew that you would have
a high level of appreciation
00:25:29.49\00:25:31.99
and I'm personally
giving God great glory,
00:25:32.03\00:25:36.50
not only as
Michael, a very able speaker
00:25:36.53\00:25:39.23
and presents things
with absolute clarity
00:25:39.27\00:25:42.67
but this is an issue
00:25:42.70\00:25:44.04
that the church is being
burying its head for too long.
00:25:44.07\00:25:48.21
Amen.
00:25:48.24\00:25:49.68
We have a lot of married people
00:25:49.71\00:25:51.41
that are struggling with
this problem in the church
00:25:51.45\00:25:53.42
but they-- it's
like Michael said
00:25:53.45\00:25:54.95
there is no way to
turn and no way to go.
00:25:54.98\00:25:58.35
You know, what I like about
this the most, his approach?
00:25:58.39\00:26:01.99
Is that its not self
centered, its Christ centered.
00:26:02.02\00:26:06.49
Amen.
00:26:06.53\00:26:07.86
He wants the mind of Christ.
00:26:07.90\00:26:09.26
He wants to become
whatever God wishes him to be
00:26:09.30\00:26:13.74
coming from
where he has come from
00:26:13.77\00:26:15.97
and look where
God is leading him.
00:26:16.00\00:26:18.17
Amen.
00:26:18.21\00:26:19.54
And I know other men who have
come from a similar background
00:26:19.57\00:26:22.78
that are being led to
slightly different way
00:26:22.81\00:26:25.51
and yet they are still
arriving at the same conclusion.
00:26:25.55\00:26:28.62
They are still living a life,
00:26:28.65\00:26:30.35
a holy life to the glory of God.
00:26:30.39\00:26:32.75
Amen. Amen.
00:26:32.79\00:26:34.12
I will never recover
00:26:34.16\00:26:35.49
from hearing that
statement here today
00:26:35.52\00:26:36.86
but the solution to
homosexuality is what?
00:26:36.89\00:26:40.43
Holiness.
00:26:40.46\00:26:41.80
It's a profound, a
really profound statement.
00:26:41.83\00:26:45.87
I'm very interested in praise.
00:26:45.90\00:26:48.74
And we are leaving on a very--
00:26:48.77\00:26:50.37
we are leaving on a very strong,
00:26:50.41\00:26:51.97
positive praising
note here this morning
00:26:52.01\00:26:54.48
and that is to the glory of God.
00:26:54.51\00:26:57.08
Let's stand together as
we conclude today please.
00:26:57.11\00:27:01.25
As we conclude.
00:27:01.28\00:27:02.62
Our loving Father in heaven,
00:27:02.65\00:27:04.22
thank You for
manifesting Yourself
00:27:04.25\00:27:06.25
in the most
powerful manner this week.
00:27:06.29\00:27:09.52
Thank You for the gift
of Your Son, Jesus Christ
00:27:09.56\00:27:13.56
and especially Father,
we offer You our praise
00:27:13.60\00:27:16.06
because you alone are the One
who was and is and is to come.
00:27:16.10\00:27:21.20
You are the Creator
of all living things.
00:27:21.24\00:27:25.01
And may the kingdom of God be
fully established in this place
00:27:25.04\00:27:29.14
in Jesus precious name, amen.
00:27:29.18\00:27:31.21
Amen.
00:27:31.25\00:27:32.58
If you would like more
information about this ministry
00:27:32.61\00:27:35.18
or how you can obtain a
copy of this entire series
00:27:35.22\00:27:37.92
and other resources
by Pastor Bill Liversidge
00:27:37.95\00:27:40.49
please contact us.
00:27:40.52\00:27:42.09
Creative Media Ministries
00:27:42.12\00:27:43.46
proclaims the full ministry
of Jesus through the sanctuary.
00:27:43.49\00:27:46.43
With the growing cost of
TV production and broadcasting
00:27:46.46\00:27:49.60
this dynamic
ministry needs partners
00:27:49.63\00:27:51.80
committed to
spreading the good news
00:27:51.83\00:27:53.34
throughout the entire world.
00:27:53.37\00:27:55.10
You are invited to
prayerfully consider
00:27:55.14\00:27:56.94
making a tax deductible donation
00:27:56.97\00:27:58.74
to Creative Media Ministries.
00:27:58.77\00:28:00.84
Contact us online at
www.creativemediaministries.org
00:28:00.88\00:28:06.35
That's
www.creativemediaministries.org
00:28:06.38\00:28:11.05
By mail at
Creative Media Ministries,
00:28:11.09\00:28:13.62
P.O. Box 1981,
Palm Springs, CA 92263
00:28:13.66\00:28:19.86
or call us at 888-744-0443,
00:28:19.89\00:28:24.73
that's 888-744-0443.
00:28:24.77\00:28:29.17