Hi, my name is Phillip.
I am a student of ARISE.
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And I'm so
thankful to be here today
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to be able to break
the bread of life with you.
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Today's message is
entitled "Church Growth."
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But before we
get into God's word,
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I think it's very important
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that we first open up
with a word of prayer.
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So let's bow our
heads for a word of prayer.
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Father in
heaven, thank You so much
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for this day You've given to us.
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Thank You that we can come here
together and open Your word.
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And Father, I praise as
we open Your word today,
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that You will
speak to our hearts,
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You will speak to our
minds that we will see clearly,
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the messages that
You have given today.
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We thank You for
hearing our prayers
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and answering them
in Jesus name, amen.
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I think before we open the word,
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I like to start off by sharing
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a little bit of my testimony
with you and let you know,
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where I came from and who am I.
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And then you'll understand
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why I'm preaching
the message that I am.
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It started off a long time
ago, I was raised 'a heathen.'
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A heathen meaning that,
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I was-- I'm what they--
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what they termed
today as "unchurched."
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You've heard that word
used quite a bit, unchurched.
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And that simply means
that I was raised without--
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It wasn't in a Christian
home, I was raised in a home
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that we lived for the
God of-- the God of normalcy.
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You know, we have done things
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based on what the
rest of the world does
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and we just kind of want
look normal in everybody's eyes.
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And that's what
how I was brought up.
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In my view of
Christianity as I came up with
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was one of, 'these
people are hypocrites.'
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I had good reasons.
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And most of the
people that I'd run into
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as I was coming up
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they were
claiming to be Christians,
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would say one thing
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and constantly be
doing something else.
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And it was not something
I really wanted in my life.
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I never was
interested in Christianity.
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Until one time, for we
are going to get to now,
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I had graduated at high
school and there was no work,
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and I went away
to go to college,
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and I got a two year
degree in electronics
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and I started
working for this factory.
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And as I worked for
this factory there about,
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for about a year-and-half
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this little girl
got hired on there.
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And I was single
and desperately looking.
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So I noticed her and
just that happened to her,
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second night there on
the job, her machine broke.
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And my job was to go around
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fixing the
machines, when they're broke.
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And so I went up to
her, had to fix her machine
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and I asked her out for a
date, I didn't waste any time.
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And believe or not
she turned me down.
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And by the end of the night
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though I had her
talked into a breakfast date,
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we'd work in the nightshift.
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We went out to eat breakfast
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and one thing I noticed
about this little girl was
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she seemed
different, young girl,
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she is little younger than I am.
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Seemed different not just I
thought she was cute and nice,
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but she seemed
different in the way that,
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something was just
different-- special about her.
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She didn't act like
the rest of the girls
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you go dating and
these kind of things.
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And I was
interested so I asked her,
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if I could take her out on date,
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again the next night after work
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and then the next night
and then the next night--
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it wasn't no time at all
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before she invited me
to go to church with her.
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Yeah, I'll go, but I
kind of knew what to expect,
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I've been to church a few
times growing up and I know--
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my view of what
Christianity was like,
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what church was like?
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Was, you go there and they
would try to get you joined
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what I thought, saw as a club.
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And if I didn't
joined their club,
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they would make me feel guilty
and tell me I was going to burn
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to the ceaseless
ages of eternity.
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That was my vision,
visualization of what happened
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when you went to
church as a Christian.
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And that's what I expected
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when I went to
church with this girl.
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And it does something
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I thought was still
little bit odd as well--
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they went to church on Saturday.
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And so I agreed to go,
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and I knew a little about
what she believed I guess,
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they're going to
church on Saturday
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and few other things.
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The first Saturday I
went to church with her,
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I noticed that the
other people in the church
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that I went to with her,
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seemed to have the same kind
of characteristics that she had.
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They wasn't just saying
one thing and living another,
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they were-- had
this spirit about them,
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something different about
them, that I wanted in my life.
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And so I
started attending church
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without her asking
me to attend church.
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Little time goes by
about six months later
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I decided this is
the girl I want to marry.
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So I hadn't
popped the question yet,
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she didn't know I
wanted to marry her yet.
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She kind of had an idea I think.
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So I got to
talking to her about it
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and I asked her to
marry me and she said, 'Yes.'
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But I wasn't the
member of the church yet,
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and I did understand
that the Bible taught about
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not being 'unequally yoked.'
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And so I started
studying the Bible
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and realized that she wouldn't
really want to marry me,
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unless I became a Christian,
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a Seventh-day Adventist
Christian in particular.
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So I agreed to study the Bible,
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I was interested by the way
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at this point in
actually joining the church,
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just as much I was marrying her.
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I had come to
the point in my life
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when I-- where I realized that
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there was something
special about Christianity,
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those that really followed
the Bible are different,
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than what I saw in the rest
of the world and I wanted that.
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So I started studying.
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The pastor that I was studying
with along with my wife,
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I think he kind
of had his doubts,
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as to whether or not
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I was sincere in
my walk with God,
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or if I was just
wanting to be baptized
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in order to
marry Laura, my wife.
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And he kind of had his doubts.
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Well, I happened to be
working at that job still,
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I was working seven days a week.
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And I've been doing
it for several years.
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My boss is a Hindu fellow,
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and the pastor kind
of knew these things.
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I've been working all this time,
I'd worked Friday nights late,
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come to church Sabbath
with her and then I would,
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I go back to work
on Saturday nights
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and I thought
everything was okay,
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but then we came across
the study of the Sabbath,
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what it really meant to
do, to keep God's holy day.
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And when he showed
it to me in the Bible
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and then he made
his appeal to me,
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basically he says "Look,
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you realize that you
can't keep working on Sabbath,
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if you are going
to become a Christian
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and follow what
the Bible has to say.
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And I was not a Christian yet,
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didn't really trust
in God like I should.
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And, but you know, one
of the things I did know
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was I believed in the God
that that pastor believed in,
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In a God that my
girlfriend believed in,
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that He would do what
they said He could do.
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And so based on their faith,
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I went and done what the
pastor told me I needed to do.
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And I think it's so
interesting and so relevant,
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that he doesn't
make any excuses,
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this pastor
that I was talking to
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didn't say, "Well you know,
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go and see if
your boss can kind of
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work things out
for you a little bit.
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And if he can't,
you just pray about it
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and may be
eventually, he'll work it out,
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so you can be off on Sabbath.
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He didn't say, well,
just like someone else
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that maybe a
habitual liar or thief,
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you wouldn't go to them and say,
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"You know, you can go
ahead and become a Christian,
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but give God time
He will work it out
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where you can over this
habit of stealing and lying."
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It's one of those
things you have to quit doing.
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In order to feel you
are follower of Christ,
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you have to forsake the ways
and the things of the world.
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So he told me I had to go,
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tell him, 'Look, I can't,
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because I believe the
Bible Sabbath is true."
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You need to go and just tell him
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and let God work
things out in your life.
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And I was sweating bullets.
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I said, I had to go
to this Hindu fellow,
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I've been working for seven days
a week for several years now
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and tell him, I can no
longer work on Sabbath,
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and he's got me scheduled
to work that each week.
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I don't know if I can do that,
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but my pastor told me, he said,
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"Look, God is powerful enough,
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He can deliver you and
help you through this."
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So I basically said, "All right,
I'll do based on his faith."
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I didn't really
trust, but he did.
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So I went to my
boss and I went in
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and I explained
the situation to him
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and said, "Look I can't
work on Sabbath any longer."
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and I was ready at this point
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if I had to loose my
job in order to follow God,
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I wanted to do it,
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besides I was
going to get married.
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So I spend a little time there,
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praying and went in
and talked to the boss,
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and he said,
"Fine, we can work it out.
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You are not working on Sabbath."
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Praise the Lord,
I was so excited,
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I went back and told my wife,
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girlfriend at that
time, they worked it out,
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I don't have to work
on Sabbath any longer.
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And it was just
one step after another
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and I was taking
these steps, these stages,
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these commitments to God.
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Each thing that I
realized from the Bible,
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I asked God to help me with it,
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and He was doing it, and
He will do it for any of us.
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Till finally came the big day,
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I got baptized on
Sabbath, and married on Sunday.
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And some of the
saints in the church,
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actually now will even
still admit a little bit,
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that they went
home and kind of had me
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for dinner that
Sabbath afternoon.
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They went home and
said, you know, poor Laura,
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now that he's got
what he's wanted--
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he's got her married,
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he won't be back
to church anymore.
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And they would
say, it scared to death
00:09:04.83\00:09:06.20
I was going to pull
my wife out of church.
00:09:06.23\00:09:07.86
But I knew something
that they didn't know,
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that God had changed my
heart and changed my life.
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And so I started
growing in the Lord
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and my wife was
growing in the Lord too, Laura
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and the reason I
started off with that,
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it will make perfect sense
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as we go along here in
just a little bit further.
00:09:21.98\00:09:23.35
But that was my brief
summary and my testimony
00:09:23.38\00:09:25.43
how I became a Christian
and started following God.
00:09:25.46\00:09:29.06
It wasn't too long
after that I started--
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I became literature
evangelist, a colporteur.
00:09:32.65\00:09:34.47
I would go around selling
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Christian
literature from door to door.
00:09:36.02\00:09:37.39
And things
wasn't going that well
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financially for us at that time.
00:09:38.82\00:09:40.19
But we still, I so followed God
00:09:40.22\00:09:41.59
and I was trusting in Him
and learning as we went long.
00:09:41.62\00:09:45.16
And one Friday
afternoon I got a phone call
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from the pastor and the
head elder of our church
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who was supposed to be preaching
our church on that Sabbath,
00:09:53.47\00:09:56.22
happened to be in a car wreck,
out in California that day.
00:09:56.25\00:09:58.91
And he wasn't going to be
able to make it home to preach
00:09:58.94\00:10:00.87
and he asked if I would
preach for that Sabbath.
00:10:00.90\00:10:03.41
I've never been
upfront hurled it on,
00:10:03.44\00:10:05.04
I was scared to death,
00:10:05.07\00:10:06.44
and I said, "No,
I can't do that."
00:10:06.47\00:10:07.84
Finally by the
end of the phone call
00:10:07.87\00:10:09.24
as those pastors
can often times do,
00:10:09.27\00:10:10.64
they kind of twist your
arm around just a little bit.
00:10:10.67\00:10:12.50
He had me twisted around into
00:10:12.53\00:10:15.81
saying, "Yeah
okay, I'll preach."
00:10:15.84\00:10:17.21
And he said, "Just share stories
about how God's done your life,
00:10:17.24\00:10:19.18
share testimonies its kind of
like what I'm doing right now."
00:10:19.21\00:10:20.82
And I said,
"Okay, I can do that."
00:10:20.85\00:10:22.52
So I did, that
Sabbath I shared my testimony
00:10:22.55\00:10:25.89
and the people in
the congregation said,
00:10:25.92\00:10:27.45
"You know what, we
would like to have you
00:10:27.48\00:10:28.85
preach again some other time."
00:10:28.88\00:10:30.25
As a matter of fact, the
pastor has another church
00:10:30.28\00:10:31.65
in another part of Kentucky.
00:10:31.68\00:10:33.05
He would like for you to
preach down there some time too.
00:10:33.08\00:10:34.89
So I started
preaching at two churches.
00:10:34.92\00:10:37.10
Someone came along
and they heard me preach,
00:10:37.13\00:10:38.96
and they said, "You know, what,
00:10:38.99\00:10:40.36
we like to have you
preach at our church."
00:10:40.39\00:10:41.76
A long story short here I
have eight years after that
00:10:41.79\00:10:45.52
and there is like anyway
from seven to ten churches
00:10:45.55\00:10:48.21
that God provides a
place when you preach at
00:10:48.24\00:10:50.57
on Sabbath through the year.
00:10:50.60\00:10:51.97
And I preached about 25
different Sabbaths a year.
00:10:52.00\00:10:55.01
I'll go different
churches and preach.
00:10:55.04\00:10:56.52
Now for the punch
line, whenever I went out
00:10:56.55\00:11:01.48
and started
preaching at other churches,
00:11:01.51\00:11:03.18
other than my home church,
00:11:03.21\00:11:04.58
who I kind of know
the people and everything.
00:11:04.61\00:11:05.98
I started hearing different
terms using things said it out,
00:11:06.01\00:11:08.59
that really
didn't make sense to me,
00:11:08.62\00:11:09.99
I really didn't understand.
00:11:10.02\00:11:11.61
One of those terms that became--
00:11:11.64\00:11:13.09
it has become real
poplar even in churches today
00:11:13.12\00:11:15.37
is the term
called 'Church growth.'
00:11:15.40\00:11:17.92
You've heard the term
'Church growth' before.
00:11:17.95\00:11:19.66
And it sounds good, it
sounds great on the surface,
00:11:19.69\00:11:23.56
but I've discovered something.
00:11:23.59\00:11:25.47
There is something else that
the Bible refers to more often
00:11:25.50\00:11:28.09
and it's called
'Kingdom growth.'
00:11:28.12\00:11:30.26
And you would think,
well, there is no difference,
00:11:30.29\00:11:31.66
what's the difference between
00:11:31.69\00:11:33.06
church growth
and kingdom growth.
00:11:33.09\00:11:34.46
There should be no
difference, I agree with that.
00:11:34.49\00:11:36.32
But unfortunately, often times
00:11:36.35\00:11:37.72
today there is a difference
00:11:37.75\00:11:39.12
between church
growth and kingdom growth.
00:11:39.15\00:11:41.35
And that difference just
simply is this right here.
00:11:41.38\00:11:43.81
Whenever your focus
is on church growth,
00:11:43.84\00:11:46.64
everything you
want, everything you do,
00:11:46.67\00:11:48.04
everything you
have in your church
00:11:48.07\00:11:49.44
is all about how we can get
more people to come to church.
00:11:49.47\00:11:52.99
But you when you
focus on kingdom growth,
00:11:53.02\00:11:54.96
everything you are
about, everything you do
00:11:54.99\00:11:56.40
is how you can get
people pointed to Jesus Christ
00:11:56.43\00:11:58.25
and to follow in His kingdom.
00:11:58.28\00:12:00.08
Again there is a
difference between the two.
00:12:00.11\00:12:01.75
The major difference between
those two is the fact that,
00:12:01.78\00:12:03.98
if I'm just interested in
getting people to come to church
00:12:04.01\00:12:06.01
and I don't care what it
takes to get them to come there,
00:12:06.04\00:12:08.77
then I'm going
to do whatever I can
00:12:08.80\00:12:10.74
to bring the people in, such as,
00:12:10.77\00:12:13.67
And here are some of the things
I found interesting, 'clowns'.
00:12:13.70\00:12:17.68
You've heard of
Christian ministry with clowns,
00:12:17.71\00:12:19.43
puppets and I got Christian--
00:12:19.46\00:12:22.19
what they call
'Christian magicians.'
00:12:22.22\00:12:25.77
They have things,
'gospel rock music'
00:12:25.80\00:12:28.86
and I saw in most of these
churches that I was going to.
00:12:28.89\00:12:31.66
I'm not going to name any names.
00:12:31.69\00:12:33.32
But they started
bringing in some of these things
00:12:33.35\00:12:35.32
in order to get
people to come to church,
00:12:35.35\00:12:36.92
because their whole
focus was to get people there.
00:12:36.95\00:12:38.77
And then I started
hearing things like this,
00:12:38.80\00:12:40.80
"Well, just as
long as they come,
00:12:40.83\00:12:44.03
then they'll
understand the message
00:12:44.06\00:12:45.61
and they will follow the gospel
and they will hear the message."
00:12:45.64\00:12:47.72
But the problem was, in
order to get them coming,
00:12:47.75\00:12:49.27
we had to make all these changes
in order to bring them in.
00:12:49.30\00:12:53.01
And then, if we ever preached
the straight message to them,
00:12:53.04\00:12:54.61
and they will go back out,
00:12:54.64\00:12:56.01
so we couldn't do
that any longer either.
00:12:56.04\00:12:57.41
These kind of things
started taking place,
00:12:57.44\00:12:58.81
I noticed in the
churches that I was going to.
00:12:58.84\00:13:00.21
Every time I would
go in a mission time,
00:13:00.24\00:13:02.03
many of the churches
I would hear them say,
00:13:02.06\00:13:03.50
"You know what, we got
to get out to the people,
00:13:03.53\00:13:06.19
we got to have church growth."
00:13:06.22\00:13:08.04
I never saw any of
these churches growing though.
00:13:08.07\00:13:10.09
I would go and be
there week after week
00:13:10.12\00:13:12.53
through the year and
come back in a later time
00:13:12.56\00:13:14.40
and the same people
were there all the time.
00:13:14.43\00:13:16.24
And they were
doing a lot of things
00:13:16.27\00:13:17.64
to try to fix that situation.
00:13:17.67\00:13:19.81
But one of the things I
think that there was lacking,
00:13:19.84\00:13:22.40
that the Bible
clearly speaks about
00:13:22.43\00:13:24.15
and what we would look at now,
00:13:24.18\00:13:25.55
is the fact that it's
not important just to grow,
00:13:25.58\00:13:29.11
but it's important
to have kingdom growth,
00:13:29.14\00:13:31.54
it's important to have
people pointed to Jesus Christ.
00:13:31.57\00:13:33.82
And I want to
opening up the Bible now
00:13:33.85\00:13:35.22
to 1 Peter 2, 1 Peter 2.
00:13:35.25\00:13:39.80
And I'll start
reading in verse 1.
00:13:39.83\00:13:41.64
It says, "Wherefore
laying aside all malice,
00:13:41.67\00:13:44.38
and all guile, and hypocrisies,
00:13:44.41\00:13:46.30
and envies, and
all evil speakings,
00:13:46.33\00:13:49.08
and as newborn babes,
00:13:49.11\00:13:51.28
desire the
sincere milk of the word,
00:13:51.31\00:13:54.91
that ye may grow thereby."
00:13:54.94\00:13:58.76
The Bible says, in
order for us to grow,
00:13:58.79\00:14:01.12
He wants us to desire
the sincere milk of the word,
00:14:01.15\00:14:06.01
like a newborn baby.
00:14:06.04\00:14:07.41
Now I don't know how many
of you have had newborn babies.
00:14:07.44\00:14:09.78
I've had two, not actually
I had my wife has had two.
00:14:09.81\00:14:13.48
And I noticed when
my daughter was born,
00:14:13.51\00:14:15.19
especially, I can
specifically remember this.
00:14:15.22\00:14:16.75
When my daughter was born
00:14:16.78\00:14:18.92
and she came out and
there as I'm a brand new daddy
00:14:18.95\00:14:21.70
and I think wow,
00:14:21.73\00:14:23.40
I mean, I'm holding
this baby in my hands
00:14:23.43\00:14:24.80
and it starts squalling.
00:14:24.83\00:14:27.08
And I looked and
everything is okay down there,
00:14:27.11\00:14:29.45
and it's still squalling.
00:14:29.48\00:14:30.98
It's not, doesn't
needed a diaper change
00:14:31.01\00:14:32.38
and you try to put
up on your shoulder
00:14:32.41\00:14:33.78
and pat on and pat on it.
00:14:33.81\00:14:35.18
It doesn't help, it's
still squalling and squalling.
00:14:35.21\00:14:36.58
And then my wife
comes along and she says,
00:14:36.61\00:14:38.54
"It needs to be fed,
she needs to be fed."
00:14:38.57\00:14:41.47
So my wife would
take the baby and Katelyn,
00:14:41.50\00:14:43.24
and she would feed her
and she would calm down
00:14:43.27\00:14:44.64
and get perfectly quiet.
00:14:44.67\00:14:46.43
And then I read
this text it says,
00:14:46.46\00:14:47.83
we're to desire God's word
like a baby desires the milk--
00:14:47.86\00:14:52.84
of a newborn baby
desires the milk of its mother.
00:14:52.87\00:14:56.72
And it makes
perfect sense to me.
00:14:56.75\00:15:00.37
There was nothing I
could do to satisfy the hunger,
00:15:00.40\00:15:03.85
the thirsting that my baby had,
00:15:03.88\00:15:06.57
nothing I could
do to satisfy that
00:15:06.60\00:15:08.24
except to give her the
sincere milk of her mother.
00:15:08.27\00:15:11.08
And as Christians as
we follow the word of God.
00:15:11.11\00:15:14.11
The greatest thing God's--
00:15:14.14\00:15:15.51
that Peter is
trying to tell us here is
00:15:15.54\00:15:16.92
we need to be
following God's word.
00:15:16.95\00:15:18.49
We need to be desiring the
sincere milk of God's word,
00:15:18.52\00:15:20.76
like a baby desires
the milk of its mom.
00:15:20.79\00:15:23.12
Here is something interesting,
I could have took my baby,
00:15:23.15\00:15:27.00
I could have got a
big slice of cheese pizza
00:15:27.03\00:15:28.62
and put it in a blender.
00:15:28.65\00:15:30.87
Blended that pizza all up there
and make it liquefied, right?
00:15:30.90\00:15:34.02
Pour it into bottle,
got my little baby Katelyn
00:15:34.05\00:15:36.28
and stuck the
bottle in her mouth
00:15:36.31\00:15:37.90
and she would
have sucked it down,
00:15:37.93\00:15:39.30
been satisfied, right?
00:15:39.33\00:15:41.42
It wouldn't have
been much time after that
00:15:41.45\00:15:43.08
though my little baby would
have been fat and unhealthy
00:15:43.11\00:15:45.83
and probably
died at an early age.
00:15:45.86\00:15:48.33
Today in our Christian
churches somehow we need--
00:15:48.36\00:15:51.99
the thought is the most
important thing is just growth,
00:15:52.02\00:15:55.05
but it's not, the
most important thing
00:15:55.08\00:15:56.45
is healthy
growth, kingdom growth.
00:15:56.48\00:15:58.03
As we'll be
going to be looking out
00:15:58.06\00:15:59.43
as we go on here
to the rest of this.
00:15:59.46\00:16:00.98
But it's not
important that they just grow,
00:16:01.01\00:16:03.66
it's important to grow healthy.
00:16:03.69\00:16:05.06
She would have been fat, lazy,
00:16:05.09\00:16:06.91
and probably would
have died at an early age.
00:16:06.94\00:16:09.17
Have we not give
her the healthy things,
00:16:09.20\00:16:11.17
the things that she needs.
00:16:11.20\00:16:12.57
I could have took
the things in the world
00:16:12.60\00:16:13.97
like the pizza
and fed it to her.
00:16:14.00\00:16:15.61
But it was no good, she
needed the sincere milk,
00:16:15.64\00:16:17.83
the mother's milk in
order to grow healthy,
00:16:17.86\00:16:20.15
the same way
that the church needs
00:16:20.18\00:16:21.76
the sincere milk of God's word
00:16:21.79\00:16:24.08
in order to have as we see
here that you may grow thereby.
00:16:24.11\00:16:28.34
So thinking about that,
thinking along those lines,
00:16:28.37\00:16:31.14
let me start
thinking little more about
00:16:31.17\00:16:33.05
how do we approach church
growth in our churches today.
00:16:33.08\00:16:37.12
Do we approach it in a way of
00:16:37.15\00:16:38.52
I'm looking for
souls for the kingdom.
00:16:38.55\00:16:40.93
I want to give them the
sincere milk of the word,
00:16:40.96\00:16:42.74
and they decide
to follow, great,
00:16:42.77\00:16:44.30
if they decide not to follow
it, well, that's not so great.
00:16:44.33\00:16:47.93
But I still want them
to have an opportunity
00:16:47.96\00:16:49.77
to get all of the truth,
all the of message of God word.
00:16:49.80\00:16:52.27
And you can't do
that with clowns,
00:16:52.30\00:16:54.25
you can't do
that with rock music,
00:16:54.28\00:16:56.65
you can't do that with magicians
00:16:56.68\00:16:58.26
or puppets or
anything like that.
00:16:58.29\00:16:59.66
If somebody comes to your church
00:16:59.69\00:17:01.06
and they start coming because
they like clown ministry you had
00:17:01.09\00:17:03.12
as soon as the clown
leaves they'll leave.
00:17:03.15\00:17:05.53
But if someone
comes to your church,
00:17:05.56\00:17:06.93
if they come and
become a Christian,
00:17:06.96\00:17:08.33
because they love
the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:17:08.36\00:17:10.10
And they're
gonna follow His word,
00:17:10.13\00:17:11.50
when the clown leaves,
when the puppets leave,
00:17:11.53\00:17:13.26
when the rock
music is not at church,
00:17:13.29\00:17:14.66
when half of the church leaves,
00:17:14.69\00:17:16.06
if they are
grounded in the word of God,
00:17:16.09\00:17:17.82
they will still stay.
00:17:17.85\00:17:20.17
So I want to
take now a little time
00:17:20.20\00:17:22.08
and go to the Book
of Exodus, Exodus 32.
00:17:22.11\00:17:27.12
And look at the example
in the Bible, if someone--
00:17:27.15\00:17:29.96
of an instance a case,
where the leader of the church,
00:17:29.99\00:17:34.53
the leader of God's
people actually said,
00:17:34.56\00:17:36.54
"Well I wanted to do
what the people want to do,
00:17:36.57\00:17:38.09
I want to make them happy."
00:17:38.12\00:17:39.49
And what it cost
him when he'd done that.
00:17:39.52\00:17:41.28
And it's found in Exodus 32,
00:17:41.31\00:17:43.07
I'm going to start
reading in verse 1.
00:17:43.10\00:17:45.34
"And when the
people saw that Moses
00:17:45.37\00:17:46.74
delayed to come
down out of the mount,
00:17:46.77\00:17:49.53
the people gathered
themselves together unto Aaron,
00:17:49.56\00:17:51.71
and said unto
him, 'Up, make us Gods,
00:17:51.74\00:17:55.21
which shall go before
us, for as this Moses,
00:17:55.24\00:17:58.45
the man that brought us
up out of the land of Egypt,
00:17:58.48\00:18:01.40
we don't know what
has become of him.'"
00:18:01.43\00:18:03.16
And Aaron said to them,
00:18:03.19\00:18:04.56
"Okay, Break off
your golden earrings
00:18:04.59\00:18:06.65
which are in the ears of
your wives and of your sons."
00:18:06.68\00:18:09.86
Sounds like today, doesn't it?
00:18:09.89\00:18:11.80
"And of your
daughters, and bring them to me.
00:18:11.83\00:18:14.58
And all the people
brake off the golden earrings
00:18:14.61\00:18:16.49
which were in their ears,
and brought them unto Aaron.
00:18:16.52\00:18:19.18
He received them at their hand,
00:18:19.21\00:18:20.65
and fashioned it
with a graving tool,
00:18:20.68\00:18:24.85
after he had
made the molten calf.
00:18:24.88\00:18:26.99
they said, These
things be thy Gods, O Israel,
00:18:27.02\00:18:30.62
which brought thee up
out of the land of Egypt.
00:18:30.65\00:18:32.59
And when Aaron saw it,
he built an altar before it,
00:18:32.62\00:18:35.30
and Aaron made
proclamation, and said,
00:18:35.33\00:18:37.21
tomorrow is a
feast to the Lord."
00:18:37.24\00:18:39.58
Isn't it interesting?
00:18:39.61\00:18:41.19
They are going to worship
the Lord tomorrow he says.
00:18:41.22\00:18:43.33
But how they are
going to worship Him?
00:18:43.36\00:18:44.73
The way God had just prescribed
earlier in the Book of Exodus?
00:18:44.76\00:18:47.76
Or they had already made up
00:18:47.79\00:18:49.25
a different way of
worshiping the Lord.
00:18:49.28\00:18:50.65
They made a golden calf,
00:18:50.68\00:18:52.05
they made an
image and made an idol
00:18:52.08\00:18:53.45
and they made an
altar before this idol
00:18:53.48\00:18:55.16
and they said, this is
our God, but we are going--
00:18:55.19\00:18:56.77
tomorrow we are
going to have feast,
00:18:56.80\00:18:58.17
as we worship this God,
00:18:58.20\00:18:59.57
we are going to be
worshiping the Lord God.
00:18:59.60\00:19:01.10
God had prescribed the way,
00:19:01.13\00:19:02.50
He wants us to
worship, He wants things done.
00:19:02.53\00:19:03.90
But they decided they wanted
a different way of doing this.
00:19:03.93\00:19:06.53
And so when you look
at here in verse 6 again,
00:19:06.56\00:19:09.10
"They rose up
early on the morning,
00:19:09.13\00:19:10.60
and they
offered burnt offerings,
00:19:10.63\00:19:12.22
and brought peace offerings,
00:19:12.25\00:19:15.68
and the people sat
down to eat and drink,
00:19:15.71\00:19:18.82
and they rose up to play."
00:19:18.85\00:19:21.06
Some kind of party, huh?
00:19:21.09\00:19:22.92
Let's look what it costs
them by doing that in verse 19.
00:19:22.95\00:19:25.68
"And it came to pass,"
Moses is up on the mountain
00:19:25.71\00:19:28.87
in preceding
verses there and God says,
00:19:28.90\00:19:30.75
"Look the people
they've done lost their mind
00:19:30.78\00:19:33.31
and they broke all Ten
Commandments in one wild party,
00:19:33.34\00:19:35.28
you need to get down
there and do something.
00:19:35.31\00:19:36.68
As matter of
fact, don't do that,
00:19:36.71\00:19:38.08
I'm going to
consume them right now,
00:19:38.11\00:19:39.48
I'm gonna destroy them
right now get out of my way,
00:19:39.51\00:19:40.88
Moses says, "No
Lord, You can't do that.
00:19:40.91\00:19:42.28
What will people think of you."
00:19:42.31\00:19:43.68
So in verse 19,
"It came to pass,
00:19:43.71\00:19:45.08
as soon as he
came nigh to the camp,
00:19:45.11\00:19:47.34
and he saw the
calf, and the dancing,
00:19:47.37\00:19:50.30
and Moses' anger was waxed hot,
00:19:50.33\00:19:52.33
and he cast the
tables out of his hands,
00:19:52.36\00:19:54.28
and brake them
beneath the mount.
00:19:54.31\00:19:56.64
And he took the
calf which they had made,
00:19:56.67\00:19:58.66
and he burned it with
fire, and ground it to powder,
00:19:58.69\00:20:00.77
and strawed it upon the waters,
00:20:00.80\00:20:02.17
and the children of
Israel, he made them drink it.
00:20:02.20\00:20:05.07
And Moses said to Aaron,
What did this people do to you,
00:20:05.10\00:20:10.32
that you have brought
so great a sin upon them?"
00:20:10.35\00:20:13.59
Aaron the leader of God's people
00:20:13.62\00:20:15.05
and Moses comes
to Aaron and says,
00:20:15.08\00:20:17.15
"What were you thinking?"
00:20:17.18\00:20:19.22
Why did you let these
people talk you into doing this?
00:20:19.25\00:20:23.73
And Aaron comes
back and he says,
00:20:23.76\00:20:25.61
"Well, let don't be mad at me."
00:20:25.64\00:20:28.74
Verse 22, "You know the people
that they are set on mischief."
00:20:28.77\00:20:33.10
That's what they like to do.
00:20:33.13\00:20:34.95
I was just doing
what they have asked.
00:20:34.98\00:20:36.58
I was doing what
the people wanted.
00:20:36.61\00:20:39.42
"For they said
unto me, make gods,
00:20:39.45\00:20:40.91
which shall go before
us, for as this Moses,
00:20:40.94\00:20:44.21
that brought us out of Egypt,
00:20:44.24\00:20:45.61
we don't know
what's become of him.
00:20:45.64\00:20:47.26
And I said to them,
00:20:47.29\00:20:48.66
whoever has any gold,
let them break it off.
00:20:48.69\00:20:50.21
So that they gave it to me
00:20:50.24\00:20:51.61
and then I cast it into the
fire and out came this calf."
00:20:51.64\00:20:56.21
It is just like it
was some kind of miracle.
00:20:56.24\00:20:58.50
He threw the gold in the
fire and this calf came out.
00:20:58.53\00:21:00.47
Moses, I don't
know what's going on.
00:21:00.50\00:21:01.92
And Moses in verse 25,
00:21:01.95\00:21:03.84
"And when saw that
the people were naked,
00:21:03.87\00:21:06.74
for Aaron had made them naked
00:21:06.77\00:21:08.30
to their shame
among their enemies.
00:21:08.33\00:21:10.07
Moses stood at
the gate of the camp,
00:21:10.10\00:21:11.50
and said, who is
on the Lord's side?
00:21:11.53\00:21:13.38
Let him come over to me.
00:21:13.41\00:21:14.78
And all the sons of Levi
gathered together unto him."
00:21:14.81\00:21:17.23
Verse 28, "And when
the children of Levi
00:21:17.26\00:21:20.32
did according to
the word of Moses"
00:21:20.35\00:21:21.72
Moses said go out and kill
all the people that didn't come.
00:21:21.75\00:21:23.89
"And there fell among
them that day about 3,000 men."
00:21:23.92\00:21:27.37
Three thousand men fell that day
00:21:27.40\00:21:30.90
because the leader
of the God's church
00:21:30.93\00:21:33.84
didn't have enough nerve,
00:21:33.87\00:21:36.61
enough sincere heart for
the God, the things of God,
00:21:36.64\00:21:41.23
he's more afraid of the people
than he was afraid of the God,
00:21:41.26\00:21:43.52
because of that, it cost
3,000 people their lives.
00:21:43.55\00:21:45.87
If Aaron would have
stood up and when he said
00:21:45.90\00:21:47.90
"No, we're going to
continue to serve the Lord,
00:21:47.93\00:21:49.73
we're not going
to serve these gods
00:21:49.76\00:21:51.13
like you served in Egypt."
00:21:51.16\00:21:52.83
Three thousand people wouldn't
have lost their lives that day.
00:21:52.86\00:21:55.56
Verse 35, at the
end of that Chapter said
00:21:55.59\00:21:57.16
"The Lord plagued the people
00:21:57.19\00:21:58.56
because they made the
calf, which Aaron had made."
00:21:58.59\00:22:02.07
It's dangerous for us friends,
00:22:02.10\00:22:04.14
to think that God is not real
particular about how we worship,
00:22:04.17\00:22:08.25
about when we worship,
00:22:08.28\00:22:10.53
about how we treat
the holy things of God.
00:22:10.56\00:22:14.68
Here it only cost
3,000 people their lives.
00:22:14.71\00:22:17.56
The Bible also teaches that
00:22:17.59\00:22:18.96
there's going to be many
people in the very last days
00:22:18.99\00:22:21.36
that they're
going to be worshipping
00:22:21.39\00:22:22.76
not according to what God
has asked them to worship,
00:22:22.79\00:22:24.29
and they are going to lose
their eternal life as well.
00:22:24.32\00:22:27.20
God is particular.
00:22:27.23\00:22:28.77
As a matter of fact, I
want to turn to another story,
00:22:28.80\00:22:30.38
it's even more direct with
this, it's found in 1 Samuel.
00:22:30.41\00:22:33.29
My Bible fell right open to it.
00:22:33.32\00:22:34.69
You want to turn
there to 1 Samuel 15.
00:22:34.72\00:22:37.29
This is even more powerful
illustration this in my view.
00:22:37.32\00:22:42.84
1 Samuel 15, now those of
you that don't know the story,
00:22:42.87\00:22:45.92
God had made Samuel or made
Saul rather, the king of Israel.
00:22:45.95\00:22:49.98
The people said, "We didn't
want Samuel ruling over us
00:22:50.01\00:22:52.81
or his children
ruling over us anymore.
00:22:52.84\00:22:54.37
We want a real king so we can
be like the rest of the world."
00:22:54.40\00:22:57.38
So God says, "Well,
that's what you want.
00:22:57.41\00:22:59.21
You're rejecting Me,
but I'll give you a king."
00:22:59.24\00:23:01.04
And He gave them a
king. He gave people a king.
00:23:01.07\00:23:03.98
But then God started telling
through the Prophet Samuel
00:23:04.01\00:23:07.35
to have Saul do certain things
and Saul just kept messing up.
00:23:07.38\00:23:12.90
God would say do something
00:23:12.93\00:23:14.30
and he wouldn't do it,
he wouldn't do things right.
00:23:14.33\00:23:16.67
By and by here in 1
Samuel 15, starting in verse 1,
00:23:16.70\00:23:20.68
God said to
Samuel to go tell Saul,
00:23:20.71\00:23:23.98
"The Lord sent me to anoint
thee to be king over his people,
00:23:24.01\00:23:26.60
over Israel, now
therefore hearken thou
00:23:26.63\00:23:28.84
unto the voice of
the words of the Lord.
00:23:28.87\00:23:30.77
Thus said the Lord of hosts,
00:23:30.80\00:23:32.62
I remember that
which Amalek did to Israel,
00:23:32.65\00:23:37.77
how he laid wait
for him in the way,
00:23:37.80\00:23:40.21
when he came up from Egypt.
00:23:40.24\00:23:42.02
Now go and smite Amalek,
00:23:42.05\00:23:43.81
and utterly
destroy all that they have,
00:23:43.84\00:23:45.72
spare them not, but
slay both man and woman,
00:23:45.75\00:23:51.57
infant, suckling, ox,
sheep, camel and ass."
00:23:51.60\00:23:56.21
Give it to all of
them. Wipe them all out.
00:23:56.24\00:23:59.39
So Saul says,
Okay, we'll go do that.
00:23:59.42\00:24:02.43
And they went.
00:24:02.46\00:24:03.88
Verse 11, Chapter 15 verse 11,
00:24:03.91\00:24:06.46
God comes and He speaks to Saul
00:24:06.49\00:24:09.15
and he says, "Look--
I'll start in verse 10.
00:24:09.18\00:24:12.06
"Then came the word of
the Lord unto Samuel, saying.
00:24:12.09\00:24:15.53
It repents me that
I've set up Saul to be king
00:24:15.56\00:24:19.85
for he is turned
back from following me,
00:24:19.88\00:24:22.78
and has not
performed my commandments.
00:24:22.81\00:24:24.61
And it grieved Samuel
00:24:24.64\00:24:26.08
and he cried all
night to the Lord.
00:24:26.11\00:24:29.25
Samuel rose up early to
meet Saul in the morning,
00:24:29.28\00:24:33.55
and it was told Samuel,
00:24:33.58\00:24:36.67
saying, Saul came
to Carmel, and, behold,
00:24:36.70\00:24:38.87
he set him up a
place, and is gone about,
00:24:38.90\00:24:42.18
and passed on, and
gone down to Gilgal."
00:24:42.21\00:24:44.58
And Samuel said came to
Saul, Samuel came to Saul.
00:24:44.61\00:24:48.85
You got to pay
attention to the 'me's,
00:24:48.88\00:24:50.33
and 'I's and 'thee's
in this next few verses,
00:24:50.36\00:24:52.50
the I's, they's
and the we's rather.
00:24:52.53\00:24:55.88
"Blessed be though," this
is Saul speaking to Samuel
00:24:55.91\00:24:58.26
"Blessed be thought of Lord
00:24:58.29\00:25:00.07
I have performed the
commandment of the Lord."
00:25:00.10\00:25:07.39
God told Saul to go and
destroy all the Amalekites.
00:25:07.42\00:25:13.51
Saul comes back
and he says to Samuel,
00:25:13.54\00:25:15.26
I've done what God told me.
00:25:15.29\00:25:16.66
I've performed the commandments.
00:25:16.69\00:25:18.62
"Samuel says
then, what's the meaning
00:25:18.65\00:25:20.83
of this bleating of
the sheep I hear in my ears
00:25:20.86\00:25:23.56
and the lowing of
these oxens I hear.
00:25:23.59\00:25:25.37
And Saul said, well,
00:25:25.40\00:25:26.85
they have brought
them from the Amalekites."
00:25:26.88\00:25:30.31
Speaking of the people,
00:25:30.34\00:25:32.11
first of all, when he
first comes back Saul says,
00:25:32.14\00:25:34.52
"Look, I have done
everything God told me to do.
00:25:34.55\00:25:36.30
I have done just like God said.
00:25:36.33\00:25:37.70
And then Samuel
says, wait a minute.
00:25:37.73\00:25:39.10
What about the noise I
hear of these sheep and this ox.
00:25:39.13\00:25:42.46
And Saul said, "Oh,
well the people did that."
00:25:42.49\00:25:44.18
They did it, they brought
them up from the Amalekites
00:25:44.21\00:25:46.99
"For the people spared the
best sheep and of the oxen,
00:25:47.02\00:25:51.17
to sacrifice unto Lord
thy God and the rest did this,
00:25:51.20\00:25:55.10
the rest we utterly destroyed.
00:25:55.13\00:25:58.82
First of all Saul says,
00:25:58.85\00:26:00.79
yeah, I've done
what I'm supposed to do.
00:26:00.82\00:26:02.29
I destroyed it like
God had told me to do.
00:26:02.32\00:26:04.10
And he said, "But
what about the sheep?"
00:26:04.13\00:26:05.50
Well, the people
brought them back.
00:26:05.53\00:26:06.90
But we as in, well he is talking
about himself again said,
00:26:06.93\00:26:09.23
"We've done everything God said,
we destroyed the rest of it."
00:26:09.26\00:26:12.09
Then Samuel said unto Saul,
00:26:12.12\00:26:13.50
stay and I will tell
you what the Lord has said."
00:26:13.53\00:26:15.97
Samuel said in verse 17,
00:26:16.00\00:26:18.55
"When you was
little in thine own sight,
00:26:18.58\00:26:21.64
wast thou not made the
head of the tribes of Israel,
00:26:21.67\00:26:27.39
and the Lord anointed
thee king over Israel?
00:26:27.42\00:26:29.60
And the LORD sent
thee on a journey,
00:26:29.63\00:26:33.12
and said, Go, utterly destroy
the sinners, the Amalekites,
00:26:33.15\00:26:36.20
and fight against them
until they be consumed."
00:26:36.23\00:26:38.46
Destroy them all together.
00:26:38.49\00:26:42.22
Wherefore, he says in verse 19,
00:26:42.25\00:26:44.11
"Did you not obey
the voice of the Lord,"
00:26:44.14\00:26:45.73
why didn't you obey
the voice of the Lord,
00:26:45.76\00:26:47.13
"but you flew, you
grab the hold of the spoil,
00:26:47.16\00:26:50.43
and did evil in
the sight of the Lord?"
00:26:50.46\00:26:52.34
Again Saul is going to
start blaming the people again.
00:26:52.37\00:26:55.80
"Saul said to Samuel, I
obey the voice of the Lord,
00:26:55.83\00:26:58.98
I have gone the way
which the Lord had sent me."
00:26:59.01\00:27:00.58
Verse 20, "I brought Agag,
the king of Amalekites back,
00:27:00.61\00:27:03.48
but I utterly destroyed
the Amalekites but the people,"
00:27:03.51\00:27:08.11
once again, Saul
is blaming the people.
00:27:08.14\00:27:10.38
He says, "But the
people took the spoil,
00:27:10.41\00:27:13.07
the sheep, the oxen,
and the chief of things
00:27:13.10\00:27:15.20
which should have
been utterly destroyed."
00:27:15.23\00:27:17.70
Saul is saying, "I admit,
00:27:17.73\00:27:19.10
they should have
been utterly destroyed.
00:27:19.13\00:27:20.88
They brought it
back to sacrifice
00:27:20.91\00:27:22.28
in the Lord thy God in Gilgal."
00:27:22.31\00:27:23.68
And Samuel said,
00:27:23.71\00:27:25.08
"But has the Lord
such great delight
00:27:25.11\00:27:26.48
in burnt
offerings and sacrifices,
00:27:26.51\00:27:27.88
as in obeying the
voice of the Lord?
00:27:27.91\00:27:31.36
Behold, it's better to
obey than a sacrifice."
00:27:31.39\00:27:36.15
It's better not
to sin to start with
00:27:36.18\00:27:37.90
and then have to ask
for forgiveness for sin.
00:27:37.93\00:27:39.87
Saul, the word of God was clear,
00:27:39.90\00:27:42.14
what you were supposed to
go do and you didn't go do it.
00:27:42.17\00:27:44.21
You have sinned.
00:27:44.24\00:27:48.45
Verse 24, "Saul said
unto Samuel, I have sinned.
00:27:48.48\00:27:52.73
I have transgressed the
commandment of the Lord."
00:27:52.76\00:27:56.43
He needed to stop right
there, that's repentance, right?
00:27:56.46\00:27:59.23
If you stop right there that's
repentance, I have sinned.
00:27:59.26\00:28:00.86
I have transgressed
the commandments of Lord,
00:28:00.89\00:28:02.26
what can I say,
there is no excuses
00:28:02.29\00:28:03.66
but he makes some excuse.
00:28:03.69\00:28:05.06
He says, "Because
I feared the people,
00:28:05.09\00:28:07.13
and obeyed their voice."
00:28:07.16\00:28:10.72
Saul was afraid of
what the people would think.
00:28:10.75\00:28:12.97
He wanted to serve
God, but you know what,
00:28:13.00\00:28:15.66
there was so much peer pressure
00:28:15.69\00:28:17.19
to do what the
world wants to do.
00:28:17.22\00:28:19.29
And I just gave into
it. And it's their fault.
00:28:19.32\00:28:21.06
If they hadn't put
the pressure on me,
00:28:21.09\00:28:22.46
I never would have done that.
00:28:22.49\00:28:23.86
Does that sound familiar?
00:28:23.89\00:28:25.26
Today you go around
00:28:25.29\00:28:27.02
and the leaders
of churches will say,
00:28:27.05\00:28:28.64
"You know what, this
is what the people want."
00:28:28.67\00:28:30.95
The people want the
rock bands in the church.
00:28:30.98\00:28:33.71
They want the things
of the world in a church,
00:28:33.74\00:28:36.37
but my Bible says, friends,
00:28:36.40\00:28:37.77
1 John 2 starting at
15, "Love not the world,
00:28:37.80\00:28:41.30
neither the things
that are in the world.
00:28:41.33\00:28:43.10
For all that is in the world,
00:28:43.13\00:28:44.50
the lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eyes,
00:28:44.53\00:28:46.60
the pride of life
is not of the Father,
00:28:46.63\00:28:48.48
but is of the world."
00:28:48.51\00:28:49.88
And it's passing
away. It's passing away.
00:28:49.91\00:28:53.81
And the lust thereof,
00:28:53.84\00:28:55.21
but he that does the will
of God will abide forever.
00:28:55.24\00:29:00.55
God's calling us not
to be like the world,
00:29:00.58\00:29:02.55
not to do whatever
we can to get the people
00:29:02.58\00:29:04.10
to come into the
church and to fill the pews,
00:29:04.13\00:29:06.42
He is calling us
to go out to the world
00:29:06.45\00:29:07.96
that's dying, that's lost
00:29:07.99\00:29:09.36
because they love
the ways of the world
00:29:09.39\00:29:10.76
and bring them into
the truth of God's word.
00:29:10.79\00:29:12.50
So they can live forever.
00:29:12.53\00:29:14.10
It's not just a temporary thing,
00:29:14.13\00:29:16.89
it's eternal
consequences sitting in balance,
00:29:16.92\00:29:20.00
they're laying in
the balance, eternity.
00:29:20.03\00:29:23.06
But often times we
think we're just okay
00:29:23.09\00:29:25.22
by just doing whatever we can
to get people to come to church.
00:29:25.25\00:29:28.70
We call that "Church growth".
00:29:28.73\00:29:30.60
But God is interested in
something more than that.
00:29:30.63\00:29:32.78
God is interested
in Kingdom growth.
00:29:32.81\00:29:35.17
Having people in the pews
is not what's important to God,
00:29:35.20\00:29:37.48
having people in His kingdom
is what's important to God.
00:29:37.51\00:29:39.69
And He doesn't
want us to sacrifice
00:29:39.72\00:29:41.09
any of the
principles of God's word
00:29:41.12\00:29:42.49
in order to just
get people to come.
00:29:42.52\00:29:43.89
And that's what's
been brought out here.
00:29:43.92\00:29:45.29
If Saul would've just said,
00:29:45.32\00:29:46.84
"Look, I don't care
what the people say,
00:29:46.87\00:29:48.41
I'm going to obey
the voice of Lord."
00:29:48.44\00:29:49.81
He didn't do that, he
said, I obey the voice of--
00:29:49.84\00:29:51.47
"I obey their voice." Verse 24.
00:29:51.50\00:29:53.27
He says, "I obey their voice."
00:29:53.30\00:29:56.67
But he says, "Wait a minute,"
00:29:56.70\00:29:58.30
we're going to find out
00:29:58.33\00:29:59.70
what his underlying
principles was in his life.
00:29:59.73\00:30:01.29
We're going to
look at Saul again,
00:30:01.32\00:30:02.86
because I think that
applies to lot of us today.
00:30:02.89\00:30:05.02
Now therefore I pray thee
pardon my sin and turn again
00:30:05.05\00:30:07.45
with me that I
may worship the Lord."
00:30:07.48\00:30:09.33
Samuel said to Saul verse 26,
00:30:09.36\00:30:11.00
"I will not return with thee
00:30:11.03\00:30:12.44
for you have
rejected the word of the Lord,
00:30:12.47\00:30:15.79
and the Lord has rejected you
from being king over Israel."
00:30:15.82\00:30:19.40
Pretty powerful words
if I had a man of God,
00:30:19.43\00:30:22.55
a Godly man, a
pastor or elder someone
00:30:22.58\00:30:24.92
I highly respected that was--
00:30:24.95\00:30:26.32
this is the prophet of
God talking to Saul here.
00:30:26.35\00:30:28.06
If he would have told me
00:30:28.09\00:30:29.46
"Look God has nothing
to do with you anymore,
00:30:29.49\00:30:32.15
the kingdom is going
to be taken from you."
00:30:32.18\00:30:33.70
I would be terrified.
00:30:33.73\00:30:35.16
The last thing on my
mind right at that moment
00:30:35.19\00:30:37.14
would be trying
to justify myself.
00:30:37.17\00:30:39.60
I would like to think
that would be the case.
00:30:39.63\00:30:41.00
But look what
Saul says verse 27,
00:30:41.03\00:30:44.27
"And as Samuel
turned to go away,
00:30:44.30\00:30:46.01
he laid hold upon a skirt
in his mantle, and it rent.
00:30:46.04\00:30:48.55
And Samuel said unto him,
the Lord's rent to kingdom
00:30:48.58\00:30:50.91
from Israel from you this
day and has given it to your--
00:30:50.94\00:30:54.58
to neighbor of yours
that is better than you.
00:30:54.61\00:30:57.36
And also the strength of
Israel he will not repent,
00:30:57.39\00:31:00.34
lie nor repent
for he is not a man
00:31:00.37\00:31:02.31
that he should repent."
00:31:02.34\00:31:03.98
Then he said, this
is Saul talking again,
00:31:04.01\00:31:06.73
"I have sinned
yet honor me now."
00:31:06.76\00:31:09.34
That's how the text goes.
00:31:09.37\00:31:10.74
"I have sinned yet honor me now
00:31:10.77\00:31:12.80
I pray thee before the elders
00:31:12.83\00:31:14.20
and the people,
and before Israel,
00:31:14.23\00:31:15.76
and turn again with me,
00:31:15.79\00:31:17.16
that I may
worship the Lord thy God."
00:31:17.19\00:31:18.56
In other words, Saul says look,
00:31:18.59\00:31:19.96
I realized yeah, I
have lost the kingdom
00:31:19.99\00:31:21.64
and God is not
going to follow me anymore
00:31:21.67\00:31:23.04
but please, please
the elders the people,
00:31:23.07\00:31:25.68
please have them come,
00:31:25.71\00:31:27.08
please come back
and worship with me so--
00:31:27.11\00:31:28.48
so the people won't
see think bad of me."
00:31:28.51\00:31:30.70
His whole concern
was still not like,
00:31:30.73\00:31:32.33
what he'd done to God,
but again in verse 30 he says,
00:31:32.36\00:31:34.87
"He's concerned what the
elders think and the people."
00:31:34.90\00:31:39.04
So he turned back and Samuel
worship with him as he asked.
00:31:39.07\00:31:43.70
But I love how Samuel
00:31:43.73\00:31:45.10
interrupts
their worship service.
00:31:45.13\00:31:46.90
Samuel says, look I'll
come back and worship with you,
00:31:46.93\00:31:50.46
but I'm going to finished
obeying the word of the Lord.
00:31:50.49\00:31:52.76
God said to do something,
you haven't done it yet.
00:31:52.79\00:31:54.84
The rest of the story
friends, Samuel is true to God,
00:31:54.87\00:31:57.39
he didn't care
what the people thought,
00:31:57.42\00:31:58.79
he didn't care
what Saul thought,
00:31:58.82\00:32:00.19
he didn't care what anybody
else thought at that time,
00:32:00.22\00:32:01.59
he says, bring out
bring out the Amalek,
00:32:01.62\00:32:05.82
the king bring him out
Agag the King bring him out so.
00:32:05.85\00:32:09.38
In verse 32 it
says, "Samuel said,
00:32:09.41\00:32:11.61
I've to bring him
out and Agag came out
00:32:11.64\00:32:13.50
and he walked kind of delicately
00:32:13.53\00:32:14.90
and he was kind
of nervous they said,
00:32:14.93\00:32:16.30
well in his mind
surely the bitterness of
00:32:16.33\00:32:18.45
death is past," in verse 32.
00:32:18.48\00:32:20.37
And Samuel said
to the king Agag.
00:32:20.40\00:32:23.55
He says, "Your sword,
00:32:23.58\00:32:25.99
your sword has
made woman childless,
00:32:26.02\00:32:29.65
and now your mom is
going to be childless."
00:32:29.68\00:32:31.81
And the Bible tells us
that Samuel took the sword
00:32:31.84\00:32:33.66
and hacked Agag up
into little bitty pieces
00:32:33.69\00:32:35.76
and everybody went home.
00:32:35.79\00:32:37.59
The party was over, the
worship service was over.
00:32:37.62\00:32:39.46
Everybody went home.
00:32:39.49\00:32:40.86
They didn't like the
way Samuel had done things,
00:32:40.89\00:32:42.49
but Samuel was
obeying the word of the Lord.
00:32:42.52\00:32:44.64
His focus was not on
what the elders thought
00:32:44.67\00:32:46.66
or what the people thought
00:32:46.69\00:32:48.06
or what anybody
thought other than God
00:32:48.09\00:32:49.61
and God has said to
do this, so he did it.
00:32:49.64\00:32:52.19
How often do we today?
00:32:53.51\00:32:55.44
Just do what God asked
without asking questions,
00:32:55.47\00:32:57.28
without worrying about what
the family's going to think,
00:32:57.31\00:33:00.37
what other
peoples going to think.
00:33:00.40\00:33:01.77
I'll tell you what
friends, since I become
00:33:01.80\00:33:03.17
a Seventh-day
Adventist Christian,
00:33:03.20\00:33:04.57
my family thinks
I have lost my mind.
00:33:04.60\00:33:06.71
They don't know what to think,
00:33:10.64\00:33:12.01
you know, but I know
that I'm pleasing God.
00:33:12.04\00:33:15.30
I know that when I serve God
00:33:16.31\00:33:18.79
that there is one in
heaven that is pleased.
00:33:18.82\00:33:21.66
My family might not be pleased.
00:33:22.68\00:33:24.38
But it's interesting to me also
00:33:24.41\00:33:26.36
as we live our
life for Jesus Christ,
00:33:26.39\00:33:29.27
as we consecrate our life
00:33:29.30\00:33:31.05
and everything we
have to Him, please notice.
00:33:31.08\00:33:34.57
Who do you think my family calls
00:33:35.82\00:33:37.19
whenever things go wrong,
whenever they need prayer,
00:33:37.22\00:33:40.27
whenever they don't
know how to take things,
00:33:40.30\00:33:44.99
whenever we go home for
Thanksgiving or Christmas
00:33:45.02\00:33:47.54
and then they need
somebody to pray over the food.
00:33:47.57\00:33:48.94
Who do you think they ask?
00:33:48.97\00:33:50.34
It is a shame that--
that people that we know,
00:33:52.58\00:33:56.65
our friends and family.
00:33:56.68\00:33:58.05
I heard a guy say one time,
00:33:58.08\00:34:00.72
and I believe it
totally to be true.
00:34:00.75\00:34:02.12
It goes along with the
family or your relatives
00:34:02.15\00:34:04.22
or that this was particular
talking about our workplace.
00:34:04.25\00:34:06.67
He said, if the
people that you work with
00:34:06.70\00:34:08.45
don't know you're
Christian, then you're not.
00:34:08.48\00:34:11.70
If the people you
work with doesn't know
00:34:11.73\00:34:13.24
you're
Christian, then you're not.
00:34:13.27\00:34:14.88
Friends, we are to
live our Christianity
00:34:14.91\00:34:16.29
in front of everybody
00:34:16.32\00:34:17.69
and not worry
about what people think.
00:34:17.72\00:34:19.26
We'll let people know
or we have a relationship
00:34:19.29\00:34:21.36
with the one truly
living God and we trust in Him.
00:34:21.39\00:34:24.58
I wish I had time to
share some testimonies
00:34:24.61\00:34:27.21
and things of what
God's done in my life
00:34:27.24\00:34:28.61
and I'm not going to
have time to do all that today
00:34:28.64\00:34:30.35
because I got a get
to another section here,
00:34:30.38\00:34:33.10
another part and
it's in found John 6.
00:34:33.13\00:34:35.34
I want to ask the
question, question today.
00:34:35.37\00:34:37.50
Did Jesus worry about numbers?
00:34:37.53\00:34:40.61
Was His focus, He's concerned on
00:34:40.64\00:34:42.56
what we think of
today is church growth
00:34:42.59\00:34:44.11
or was He's
concerned on kingdom growth,
00:34:44.14\00:34:46.13
that He differentiate the two.
00:34:46.16\00:34:47.99
As a matter of
fact I believe we have
00:34:48.02\00:34:49.39
strong evidence in
several places in the gospels,
00:34:49.42\00:34:51.82
but one place in
particular is John 6.
00:34:51.85\00:34:54.08
This is one of the
most favorite chapters.
00:34:54.11\00:34:55.48
I kind of just sum it up,
00:34:55.51\00:34:56.88
summarize the
whole thing in this part,
00:34:56.91\00:34:58.28
because it actually
you got to go through
00:34:58.31\00:34:59.68
the whole chapter to
get-- to get the understanding.
00:34:59.71\00:35:01.69
At the beginning
of John Chapter 6
00:35:01.72\00:35:03.20
and read verse 1 and 2 it says,
00:35:03.23\00:35:05.05
"After these things Jesus
went over the sea of Galilee,
00:35:05.08\00:35:07.35
which is the sea of Tiberias.
00:35:07.38\00:35:10.08
And a great
multitude followed him,
00:35:10.11\00:35:11.98
because they saw the miracles
00:35:12.01\00:35:13.39
which he did on
them that were diseased".
00:35:13.42\00:35:14.94
We had a great
multitude following Jesus,
00:35:14.97\00:35:16.85
because they saw miracles
00:35:16.88\00:35:18.58
that He did on those
people that were diseased.
00:35:18.61\00:35:20.46
And then if you read on
and Jesus is standing here
00:35:20.49\00:35:23.51
in John 6 and there is
great multitude comes to Him
00:35:23.54\00:35:27.42
5,000 people,
5,000 men the Bible says,
00:35:27.45\00:35:30.76
maybe they are not
counting the women, children,
00:35:30.79\00:35:32.16
they could have been in as
many as 10,000 people there.
00:35:32.19\00:35:33.96
You can call that the
first recorded mega church,
00:35:33.99\00:35:37.59
that you find-- that you find
00:35:37.62\00:35:40.03
that's the term lot of
people like to use, mega church.
00:35:40.06\00:35:42.32
Now even they got what
they call 'giga churches'
00:35:42.35\00:35:43.72
where they got
like 10,000 people
00:35:43.75\00:35:45.16
were coming out to worship
00:35:45.19\00:35:46.56
and the guy will stand
up in front tell them that,
00:35:46.59\00:35:48.41
they're just all good
people and as along you are
00:35:48.44\00:35:50.00
good to your
neighbors and happy and friendly
00:35:50.03\00:35:51.40
and all this kind of
stuff, Christ loves that
00:35:51.43\00:35:52.98
and He's going to
accept you into His kingdom.
00:35:53.01\00:35:54.64
Is what the gospel,
is that the teaching
00:35:56.34\00:35:57.82
we find in the scriptures
we're going to find out
00:35:57.85\00:35:59.22
what Jesus had to say.
00:35:59.25\00:36:00.62
Jesus says, "Look, look at
these people, out here Phillip.
00:36:00.65\00:36:03.22
He speaks to
Phillip and He says,
00:36:03.25\00:36:04.84
"5,000 of them are out there".
00:36:04.87\00:36:06.24
And He says, "How we're
going to feed all of them?"
00:36:06.27\00:36:08.71
Phillip says, "I don't know."
00:36:08.74\00:36:10.53
In verse 5, He
says, I mean in verse 6,
00:36:10.56\00:36:16.62
verse 5 Jesus
asked, then peter says,
00:36:16.65\00:36:19.46
how we're going
to feed these people?
00:36:19.49\00:36:20.92
And this he said to
prove him for he knew himself
00:36:20.95\00:36:24.12
what he would
do, Phillip answered,
00:36:24.15\00:36:25.52
"Two-hundred penny worth of
bread is not that sufficient
00:36:25.55\00:36:27.72
that every man may
even have a little bit."
00:36:27.75\00:36:30.14
Not even little bit,
but Andrew bring this little
00:36:30.17\00:36:33.62
kid up here with two
fishes and five loaves
00:36:33.65\00:36:35.78
and he says here's two
fishes and five loaves.
00:36:35.81\00:36:37.69
I don't know, if that
will do any good or not.
00:36:37.72\00:36:40.20
Jesus says, "have
all the people sit down."
00:36:40.23\00:36:43.18
Five thousand people all
of them sit down on the grass,
00:36:43.21\00:36:44.87
there is a plenty of grass
there to have them sit down
00:36:44.90\00:36:46.41
in companies and they did
and Jesus fed 5,000 people.
00:36:46.44\00:36:49.86
Fed them so much that there was
00:36:52.66\00:36:54.16
12 baskets full
of bread leftover.
00:36:54.19\00:36:58.39
What a miracle,
powerful miracle.
00:36:58.42\00:37:01.07
And you would
think, well, that's great.
00:37:01.10\00:37:02.47
Now Jesus is going to have a
lot more people following Him,
00:37:02.50\00:37:03.87
as a matter of fact He did.
00:37:03.90\00:37:05.27
And the Bible says, then He went
00:37:05.30\00:37:06.67
across the sea that evening,
00:37:06.70\00:37:08.10
actually the
disciples got a boat,
00:37:08.13\00:37:09.50
went to the other side.
00:37:09.53\00:37:10.90
And Jesus walked
on water that evening
00:37:10.93\00:37:13.11
and followed them
and people noticed it
00:37:13.14\00:37:14.59
that when Jesus--
Jesus stayed on land
00:37:14.62\00:37:16.85
and His disciples got the
boat and went to the other side.
00:37:16.88\00:37:19.04
And then the people
sailed over there also
00:37:19.07\00:37:20.47
and when they got
there the next day
00:37:20.50\00:37:21.87
and noticed that
Jesus was there too
00:37:21.90\00:37:23.27
with the disciples they said,
"Master, how did you get here?"
00:37:23.30\00:37:25.82
How did you get over
here because we know,
00:37:25.85\00:37:27.22
you didn't go
with your disciples.
00:37:27.25\00:37:28.62
Pick it up in verse
22, "The day following,
00:37:28.65\00:37:30.43
when the people which stood
on the other side of the sea
00:37:30.46\00:37:32.69
saw that there was
none other boat there,
00:37:32.72\00:37:34.57
save that one where into
his disciples were entered,
00:37:34.60\00:37:38.54
and that Jesus went not with
his disciples into the boat,
00:37:38.57\00:37:41.09
but that his
disciples were gone away alone.
00:37:41.12\00:37:43.81
Howbe it there came
other boats from Tiberias
00:37:43.84\00:37:46.59
nigh unto the place
where they did eat bread,
00:37:46.62\00:37:50.14
after that the
Lord had given thanks".
00:37:50.17\00:37:51.71
These people as
they goes on to say
00:37:51.74\00:37:53.24
here these
people are following him
00:37:53.27\00:37:54.64
over to the other
side, they all over there now
00:37:54.67\00:37:56.04
and I got 5,000 people on
the other side of the lake.
00:37:56.07\00:37:57.90
And Jesus starts
talking to them, He says this.
00:37:57.93\00:38:00.45
Verse 26,
"Verily I says unto you,
00:38:00.48\00:38:03.18
you don't seek me
because you saw the miracles
00:38:03.21\00:38:05.25
but because you ate loafs
and you got your bellies full."
00:38:05.28\00:38:08.10
You're following
me around because--
00:38:08.13\00:38:09.50
because I fed you and
you got your bellies full.
00:38:09.53\00:38:13.02
I've got a big mega church
here, got people following me,
00:38:13.05\00:38:16.34
everywhere I go
because I fed them.
00:38:16.37\00:38:18.87
Then he goes on verse 27,
00:38:18.90\00:38:20.29
"Don't labor for the
meat it's going to perished,
00:38:20.32\00:38:23.06
but for that meat which
endures unto everlasting life,
00:38:23.09\00:38:25.70
which the Son of
man shall give unto you.
00:38:25.73\00:38:28.71
For him has God
the Father sealed."
00:38:28.74\00:38:31.07
Jesus starts telling people
00:38:31.10\00:38:32.47
now we are going to
go different direction.
00:38:32.50\00:38:33.87
He has the people following Him.
00:38:33.90\00:38:36.10
At the beginning of John 6,
00:38:36.13\00:38:38.48
He has over 5,000
men following Him.
00:38:38.51\00:38:41.35
Midway through John 6,
He starts preaching this
00:38:41.38\00:38:43.13
powerful message about
Him being the bread of life,
00:38:43.16\00:38:45.76
that came down out of heaven.
00:38:45.79\00:38:48.12
He says, "I'm
that bread of life."
00:38:48.15\00:38:49.56
And the people says,
"Uh, that's hard to understand
00:38:49.59\00:38:51.33
we don't-- don't
can't quite get that."
00:38:51.36\00:38:53.99
Pick it up again in verse 47,
00:38:54.02\00:38:56.35
"Verily, verily I say unto you,
00:38:56.38\00:38:58.64
he that believeth on
me has everlasting life.
00:38:58.67\00:39:01.30
I'm that bread of
life, your father's ate
00:39:01.33\00:39:03.30
men in the
wilderness and they are dead."
00:39:03.33\00:39:05.58
This is the bread
which comes down from heaven,
00:39:05.61\00:39:07.24
that a man may eat
thereof, and not die.
00:39:07.27\00:39:09.20
I'm the living bread Jesus says,
00:39:09.23\00:39:10.95
which came down from heaven
00:39:10.98\00:39:12.35
if any man eats this
bread he shall live forever.
00:39:12.38\00:39:15.72
And the bread that I
will give us my flesh
00:39:15.75\00:39:18.14
which I'll give for
the life of the world."
00:39:18.17\00:39:20.46
The Jews therefore
strove among themselves, saying,
00:39:20.49\00:39:22.78
how can this man
give us His flesh to eat?
00:39:22.81\00:39:25.32
Totally confused,
they don't understand
00:39:25.35\00:39:26.72
the spiritual message that
Jesus is trying portray here.
00:39:26.75\00:39:29.83
We know it's a spiritual message
00:39:29.86\00:39:31.23
because he go in
John 6:63, he says,
00:39:31.26\00:39:34.52
"It's the spirit that quickens
the flesh profits nothing,
00:39:34.55\00:39:37.35
the words that I speak unto you,
00:39:37.38\00:39:38.75
they are spirit
and they are life."
00:39:38.78\00:39:41.21
Jesus says, look guys
I'm trying to present you
00:39:41.24\00:39:44.26
something spiritual now
because I fed you physically.
00:39:44.29\00:39:46.38
I've got you here
fed you physically,
00:39:46.41\00:39:47.91
but now you're going to hear
00:39:47.94\00:39:49.31
a straight message
from the word of God.
00:39:49.34\00:39:51.61
He preached the straight
message from the word of God
00:39:51.64\00:39:53.75
and then the people
still miss understood it.
00:39:53.78\00:39:56.65
Because it says in verse
64, but there are some of you
00:39:56.68\00:39:58.81
he says, that believe not,
00:39:58.84\00:40:00.54
some of you stand
here, you don't believe.
00:40:00.57\00:40:02.87
For Jesus knew
from the beginning
00:40:02.90\00:40:05.19
who they were that believe
not and who would betray Him.
00:40:05.22\00:40:08.19
And he said,
therefore said I unto you,
00:40:08.22\00:40:11.51
that no man can come to me,
00:40:11.54\00:40:12.91
except it be from father
and given to him by my father.
00:40:12.94\00:40:16.14
From that time many
other disciples went back
00:40:16.17\00:40:18.79
and followed Him no more.
00:40:18.82\00:40:20.97
Then said Jesus to 12,
"will you also go away."
00:40:21.00\00:40:25.05
It was a tough message.
00:40:28.78\00:40:30.72
The people didn't
really understand it,
00:40:30.75\00:40:32.53
Jesus didn't try
to drag the 5,000 bags
00:40:32.56\00:40:34.55
and now wait a
minute guys, wait a minute,
00:40:34.58\00:40:36.01
I want to make sure you
understand this clearly.
00:40:36.04\00:40:37.41
He just preached the word of God
in truth, in spirit, in truth.
00:40:37.44\00:40:40.26
He says, "These words
that I speak unto you,
00:40:40.29\00:40:41.66
they are spirit, they are life."
00:40:41.69\00:40:44.61
He is the bread of life.
He didn't make no exceptions.
00:40:44.64\00:40:48.05
He made an appeal to the people
00:40:48.08\00:40:49.45
to accept Him as
the bread of life.
00:40:49.48\00:40:50.95
They denied Him, they
didn't want to accept it
00:40:50.98\00:40:52.77
and at the beginning of John 6,
00:40:52.80\00:40:54.93
you got 5,000
people following Him,
00:40:54.96\00:40:58.12
He preaches a
powerful sermon in between
00:40:58.15\00:41:00.26
and in the end of
John 6 it says here,
00:41:00.29\00:41:04.67
"Then Simon Peter said unto
him, Lord, to whom shall we go,
00:41:04.70\00:41:09.66
you have the
words of eternal life.
00:41:09.69\00:41:11.84
And we believe that you're--
00:41:11.87\00:41:13.46
we believe and are sure
that you are the Christ,
00:41:13.49\00:41:15.82
the Son of the living God."
00:41:15.85\00:41:18.85
Jesus answered them and said,
00:41:18.88\00:41:20.25
"Have I not I chosen you
12 and one of you is a devil?
00:41:20.28\00:41:22.65
He's speaking of Judas Iscariot
00:41:22.68\00:41:24.43
for He it was that would
betray him being one of the 12.
00:41:24.46\00:41:29.01
At this time Jesus is
here now with His 12 disciples.
00:41:30.31\00:41:33.78
That's powerful
to me to think that
00:41:36.16\00:41:37.77
at the beginning of John 6,
00:41:37.80\00:41:39.17
He's got 5,000
people following Him,
00:41:39.20\00:41:41.63
midway through
John 6 Jesus says,
00:41:41.66\00:41:43.45
you guys are just
following me around
00:41:43.48\00:41:44.85
'cause you're
getting your belly full
00:41:44.88\00:41:46.25
and because you see
these things that I am doing.
00:41:46.28\00:41:47.85
And he says,
listen and He preached
00:41:47.88\00:41:50.47
this powerful message to them
00:41:50.50\00:41:52.12
about how He is
the bread of life.
00:41:52.15\00:41:53.73
At the end of John 6
there's just 12 left.
00:41:53.76\00:41:55.87
Jesus gave them an opportunity
00:41:57.03\00:41:58.46
to accept or
reject Him as the Savior.
00:41:58.49\00:42:02.12
They had an opportunity
00:42:02.15\00:42:03.59
to accept or
reject Him as the Messiah.
00:42:03.62\00:42:07.37
Five thousand
people rejected Him.
00:42:07.40\00:42:09.39
You think it bothered
Him? Of course it did.
00:42:11.42\00:42:14.07
But Jesus had one
thing above anything else
00:42:15.88\00:42:17.70
and that was the word of God.
00:42:17.73\00:42:19.49
He says, look this is the truth.
00:42:19.52\00:42:20.89
You can accept it
or you can reject it.
00:42:20.92\00:42:23.21
Many chose to reject it.
00:42:23.24\00:42:24.73
We have to do
the same thing today.
00:42:24.76\00:42:26.85
Are you aware that preaching
the truth of God's word
00:42:26.88\00:42:29.02
has never been popular?
00:42:29.05\00:42:30.52
Do you ever wonder why
Jesus says, things like,
00:42:30.55\00:42:33.52
there is a broad wide road
that many there be He goes on...
00:42:33.55\00:42:37.13
at least to destruction.
00:42:37.16\00:42:40.25
And there is
this narrow thin road
00:42:40.28\00:42:41.94
that-that few
there be that go on,
00:42:41.97\00:42:44.93
that leads to eternal life.
00:42:44.96\00:42:46.83
But yet we seem to think that
00:42:48.55\00:42:50.69
if we don't have the multitudes
00:42:50.72\00:42:52.22
and the more multitudes
flocking to our churches
00:42:52.25\00:42:54.65
and filling them up that somehow
00:42:54.68\00:42:56.05
we're not be in the
wrong, Jesus Himself said,
00:42:56.08\00:42:58.12
it was going to be that way.
00:42:58.15\00:42:59.72
In the days of
Noah, eight were saved.
00:42:59.75\00:43:02.28
It's never been
popular following the truth.
00:43:02.31\00:43:04.05
It's never been popular
doing what the word of God say.
00:43:04.08\00:43:07.03
As a matter of fact, you
can find in the Book of Acts.
00:43:07.06\00:43:09.16
If you want to know
how to go to your churches,
00:43:09.19\00:43:11.13
go to the Book of Acts.
00:43:11.16\00:43:12.77
And then go to your
knees and ask God to help you
00:43:12.80\00:43:14.94
to do be like the
people in the Book of Acts.
00:43:14.97\00:43:16.81
You know, I love
the Book of Acts.
00:43:16.84\00:43:18.59
As a matter of facts
starting in Chapter 2
00:43:18.62\00:43:20.17
of the Book of Acts.
00:43:20.20\00:43:21.57
You find Peter standing
up in verse 14, it says,
00:43:21.60\00:43:23.48
Peter stood up with the
eleven, lifted up his voice,
00:43:23.51\00:43:27.01
and said unto
them, Ye men of Judaea,
00:43:27.04\00:43:29.21
and all ye that
dwell at Jerusalem,
00:43:29.24\00:43:30.70
be this known unto you,
and hearken to my words.
00:43:30.73\00:43:32.72
And they begin to
preach the sermon,
00:43:32.75\00:43:34.48
he preaches a sermon
about how Jesus was a Christ,
00:43:34.51\00:43:36.79
the Messiah.
00:43:36.82\00:43:38.28
Jesus was the
Christ, the Messiah.
00:43:38.31\00:43:39.93
He starts to preach a sermon
about how David prophesied
00:43:39.96\00:43:42.32
about seeing
Jesus being resurrected
00:43:42.35\00:43:44.16
and that's
exactly what took place,
00:43:44.19\00:43:45.56
He was resurrected.
00:43:45.59\00:43:46.96
And then He tells
the people in verse 36,
00:43:46.99\00:43:48.47
"Therefore let all
the house of Israel
00:43:48.50\00:43:50.99
know assuredly that this that--
00:43:51.02\00:43:53.71
God has made the same
Jesus whom you have crucified."
00:43:53.74\00:43:58.93
You crucified
Jesus, I crucified Jesus
00:43:58.96\00:44:01.47
before we have
to-- we gonna feel
00:44:01.50\00:44:03.34
good about going to church
00:44:03.37\00:44:04.74
and being around
with another Christians,
00:44:04.77\00:44:06.14
we first had to realize
that I crucified the Savior.
00:44:06.17\00:44:08.74
And then my only hope
is turning back to Him.
00:44:10.38\00:44:12.48
This is what--the
sermon here, Peter preaches.
00:44:12.51\00:44:15.16
He says, "You crucified Him."
00:44:15.19\00:44:17.17
But now He's become
both Lord and Christ.
00:44:17.20\00:44:20.36
Now when they heard this,
00:44:20.39\00:44:21.76
they were
pricked in their hearts.
00:44:21.79\00:44:24.22
And said unto Peter and
to the rest the apostles,
00:44:24.25\00:44:26.06
men and
brethren, what shall we do?
00:44:26.09\00:44:28.29
Of course Peter says, guys,
00:44:29.77\00:44:31.14
that's not really
nothing to worry about,
00:44:31.17\00:44:32.54
just come to my
church and follow me around
00:44:32.57\00:44:34.56
and everything will be great,
is that what he told them?
00:44:34.59\00:44:36.77
Listen what Peter says
to him in the next verse.
00:44:36.80\00:44:39.56
"When they heard this they
were pricked in their heart
00:44:39.59\00:44:42.10
and said what shall we do."
00:44:42.13\00:44:43.50
Verse 38, "Then Peter
said unto them, repent."
00:44:43.53\00:44:46.47
What a powerful
sermon, you don't hear
00:44:48.35\00:44:49.94
a whole lot of that these days.
00:44:49.97\00:44:51.34
"Do you repent,
you're a evil sinner,
00:44:51.37\00:44:53.79
you need to repent."
00:44:53.82\00:44:55.31
Because there's good news
for you, good news for me,
00:44:55.34\00:44:58.01
and we baptized every one of you
00:44:58.04\00:44:59.75
in the name of Jesus Christ
for the remission of sins.
00:44:59.78\00:45:02.29
The remission of sin
means, the forgiveness of sins.
00:45:02.32\00:45:04.24
He will forgive our sins.
00:45:04.27\00:45:05.75
The Bible tells us 1 John 1:9.
00:45:05.78\00:45:07.72
"If we confess, he is
faithful and just to forgive
00:45:07.75\00:45:10.98
and cleanse us from
all unrighteousness."
00:45:11.01\00:45:12.60
If we have done
things that we know
00:45:12.63\00:45:14.00
that God will not approve of,
00:45:14.03\00:45:15.40
in our churches, in
our homes, in our lives.
00:45:15.43\00:45:17.33
If we live the life that maybe,
00:45:17.36\00:45:18.92
maybe brought disrepute upon
God's people, upon God's church
00:45:18.95\00:45:22.93
and upon
Christianity in general he says,
00:45:22.96\00:45:25.04
look, repent and be baptized
for the remission of sins.
00:45:25.07\00:45:30.88
And you will receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost.
00:45:30.91\00:45:32.69
For the promise is unto
you, and to your children,
00:45:32.72\00:45:35.51
and to all that are afar off,
00:45:35.54\00:45:36.91
even as many as the
Lord our God shall call.
00:45:36.94\00:45:38.75
" Verse 40, I love this.
00:45:38.78\00:45:40.15
Often times, people
think, you know what,
00:45:40.18\00:45:42.71
as soon as
somebody just acknowledges,
00:45:42.74\00:45:44.22
they can actually get
enough, ah, air in their lungs--
00:45:44.25\00:45:46.60
and come out of their
mouth and say, "Ah, I...believe.
00:45:46.63\00:45:49.13
Now, oh, that's good
enough, let's baptize him.
00:45:49.16\00:45:50.73
But notice what Peter does here,
00:45:50.76\00:45:52.13
Peter preaches to them a sermon
00:45:52.16\00:45:54.27
about how they
crucified the Messiah.
00:45:54.30\00:45:55.67
It was their sins,
your sins and my sins
00:45:55.70\00:45:57.28
that nailed Him to the cross.
00:45:57.31\00:45:58.68
They realized this and
said, "what shall we do?'
00:45:58.71\00:46:00.12
He says, "You need to repent."
00:46:00.15\00:46:01.97
Repent means
also to 'turn around.'
00:46:02.00\00:46:03.84
You don't keep going in the
same direction you're going,
00:46:03.87\00:46:05.30
you change, your life changes
00:46:05.33\00:46:06.70
because you will
realize what you've done.
00:46:06.73\00:46:08.11
He would say to
repent and believe
00:46:08.14\00:46:09.84
and then he
doesn't baptize them.
00:46:09.87\00:46:11.24
No.
00:46:11.27\00:46:12.64
Verse 40 says this,
"And then with many other
00:46:12.67\00:46:16.37
words did he testified
and exhorted them saying,
00:46:16.40\00:46:19.67
Save yourselves from
this perverse generation.
00:46:19.70\00:46:22.87
Then they that
gladly receive the word,
00:46:22.90\00:46:25.70
they that gladly
receive the word were baptized.
00:46:25.73\00:46:29.06
And the same days they were
00:46:29.09\00:46:30.46
added unto them
about 3,000 souls.
00:46:30.49\00:46:32.17
Then they continued steadfastly
00:46:32.20\00:46:33.61
the apostles'
doctrine and fellowship
00:46:33.64\00:46:35.01
in the breaking of
bread, and in prayers.
00:46:35.04\00:46:36.52
And their king
fear upon every soul
00:46:36.55\00:46:38.32
and many wonders and
signs were done by the apostles.
00:46:38.35\00:46:41.42
And all that
believed were together,
00:46:41.45\00:46:44.12
and had all things in common.
00:46:44.15\00:46:45.56
And they sold their
possessions and goods,
00:46:45.59\00:46:48.00
and they parted them among
men, as every man had need.
00:46:48.03\00:46:52.85
And they, continued daily
with one accord in the temple,
00:46:52.88\00:46:54.72
and breaking a
bread from house to house,
00:46:54.75\00:46:56.12
did eat their meat with gladness
00:46:56.15\00:46:57.52
and singleness of heart.
00:46:57.55\00:46:58.92
Praising God, and
having favor with the people.
00:46:58.95\00:47:02.10
And the Lord added
to the church daily
00:47:02.13\00:47:05.88
such as should be saved."
00:47:05.91\00:47:07.47
It was the Lord that
added to the church daily.
00:47:07.50\00:47:09.62
It wasn't their antics, it
wasn't their great preaching,
00:47:09.65\00:47:13.23
and it wasn't their donuts
and coffee outside the church.
00:47:13.26\00:47:17.52
It wasn't their
clowns or the magicians
00:47:17.55\00:47:20.25
or anything else they had.
00:47:20.28\00:47:21.65
It was the
preaching of the word of God
00:47:21.68\00:47:23.07
and the Lord out
at that church daily,
00:47:23.10\00:47:24.77
such as should be saved.
00:47:24.80\00:47:27.58
How often do we--
00:47:27.61\00:47:29.20
can focus on bringing
people in to be saved.
00:47:29.23\00:47:32.23
Is it more important?
00:47:34.61\00:47:35.98
Is church growth is
important as kingdom growth?
00:47:36.01\00:47:39.43
The church, the people
were added to the church
00:47:39.46\00:47:41.08
in the days of the
apostles were saved.
00:47:41.11\00:47:43.43
You know, people
that were repented
00:47:43.46\00:47:44.83
and they turned to Jesus Christ
and it says they were saved.
00:47:44.86\00:47:47.61
I think that was a
great sermon, think about it.
00:47:50.28\00:47:52.23
God used him to preach a
powerful message like that,
00:47:52.26\00:47:54.50
and they had 3,000
people join the church.
00:47:54.53\00:47:57.34
But, you know what,
it's not always popular
00:47:57.37\00:47:59.60
to preach a message like that.
00:47:59.63\00:48:01.07
As a matter of fact,
the very next chapter
00:48:01.10\00:48:02.82
Acts 3 says "Now Peter and John
00:48:02.85\00:48:05.93
went up together to the temple
00:48:05.96\00:48:07.70
at the hour of
prayer, being the ninth hour.
00:48:07.73\00:48:10.29
And a certain man that was lame
00:48:10.32\00:48:11.92
from his
mother's womb was carried,
00:48:11.95\00:48:14.39
whom they laid at
the gate of the temple
00:48:14.42\00:48:15.86
which is called
Beautiful, to ask alms of them
00:48:15.89\00:48:17.79
that entered into the temple."
00:48:17.82\00:48:19.27
This guy had been there,
00:48:19.30\00:48:20.67
he'd been in this
shape for over 40 years.
00:48:20.70\00:48:22.19
You read him in the Acts 3:22,
00:48:22.22\00:48:23.97
it said this guy
was over 40 years old
00:48:24.00\00:48:25.37
and he had been laying
from his mother's womb,
00:48:25.40\00:48:27.69
sitting there in
front of the gate
00:48:27.72\00:48:29.73
with his legs
crippled asking for money.
00:48:29.76\00:48:32.57
Peter and John
come up to him and say,
00:48:32.60\00:48:34.58
I don't have any
money to give you,
00:48:34.61\00:48:35.98
but what I have, I
am willing to give you.
00:48:36.01\00:48:37.80
And he says, rise up and walk
in the name of Jesus Christ,
00:48:37.83\00:48:39.82
and he rose up and walked.
00:48:39.85\00:48:41.37
He rose up and started walking.
00:48:41.40\00:48:43.57
But they took
advantage of this opportunity.
00:48:43.60\00:48:45.45
They preached
that message again,
00:48:45.48\00:48:46.85
the same message that they
have preached in Chapter 2,
00:48:46.88\00:48:48.25
they had 3,000 souls converted.
00:48:48.28\00:48:49.65
He preached the same
message again in Chapter 3.
00:48:49.68\00:48:51.61
And the result of that message,
00:48:51.64\00:48:53.01
we will look at
in just a second.
00:48:53.04\00:48:54.41
When Peter saw, in verse 4,
00:48:54.44\00:48:55.81
he answered to the people
and said, "You men of Israel,
00:48:55.84\00:48:57.79
why you are marveling
that we have done this?
00:48:57.82\00:48:59.68
Or why do you look
at so earnestly on us,
00:48:59.71\00:49:01.24
as though by our
own power and holiness
00:49:01.27\00:49:03.36
we had made this man to walk?
00:49:03.39\00:49:04.76
The God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac,
00:49:04.79\00:49:07.07
the God of Jacob,
the God of our fathers,
00:49:07.10\00:49:08.86
has glorified his Son
Jesus, whom you delivered up,
00:49:08.89\00:49:12.07
and denied him in
the presence of Pilate,
00:49:12.10\00:49:14.39
when he was
determined to let him go."
00:49:14.42\00:49:16.44
Pilate won't let him go,
but you delivered him up,
00:49:16.47\00:49:18.43
you cause Him to be crucified.
00:49:18.46\00:49:20.13
Same sermon.
00:49:20.16\00:49:22.25
"But you denied the
Holy One and the Just,
00:49:22.28\00:49:24.07
and desired a murderer
to be granted unto you.
00:49:24.10\00:49:28.42
And killed the Prince of life,
00:49:28.45\00:49:30.07
whom God has raised up
from the dead, whereof,
00:49:30.10\00:49:32.36
we are witnesses of this.
00:49:32.39\00:49:33.87
And his name through faith
00:49:36.72\00:49:38.09
in his name has made this
man strong, whom you know.
00:49:38.12\00:49:41.64
ye, the faith which is by him
00:49:41.67\00:49:44.94
has given him
this perfect soundness
00:49:44.97\00:49:46.53
in the presence
in front of you all."
00:49:46.56\00:49:49.82
And now, brother,
00:49:49.85\00:49:51.36
I want that through
ignorance, you did it,"
00:49:51.39\00:49:55.81
Peter here is preaching again.
00:49:55.84\00:49:57.21
He says, you know,
you crucified the Savior.
00:49:57.24\00:49:58.78
I realized it
was out of ignorance.
00:49:58.81\00:50:00.52
You have done it
out of ignorance.
00:50:00.55\00:50:02.13
"As also did your
rulers, but those things,
00:50:03.82\00:50:05.96
which God before had showed
by the mouth of his prophets,
00:50:05.99\00:50:08.70
that Christ should
suffer, he has so fulfilled.
00:50:08.73\00:50:11.75
And listen what he says
in verse 19, once again.
00:50:11.78\00:50:13.80
Like I said, same
message he did in Acts 2,
00:50:13.83\00:50:16.52
we got it here again in
verse 19 of Acts Chapter 3,
00:50:16.55\00:50:19.14
"Repent you
therefore, and be converted,
00:50:19.17\00:50:22.35
that your sins
may be blotted out,
00:50:22.38\00:50:24.12
when the times of
refreshing shall come
00:50:24.15\00:50:25.71
from the presence of the Lord."
00:50:25.74\00:50:27.98
Peter says again,
you need to repent.
00:50:28.01\00:50:30.00
You crucified Him.
00:50:30.03\00:50:31.50
You wanted a
murderer, you wanted a murderer,
00:50:31.53\00:50:35.47
instead of the savior.
00:50:35.50\00:50:37.03
But you can repent,
there is still hope for you.
00:50:37.06\00:50:39.30
Again we go back to 1
John 9, there is hope for us.
00:50:39.33\00:50:42.99
He is willing to forgive us.
00:50:43.02\00:50:44.39
He tells these
guys, look there is hope.
00:50:44.42\00:50:46.72
You have to turn back
from your evil ways though.
00:50:46.75\00:50:48.88
Once again, we may
have made mistakes.
00:50:48.91\00:50:53.35
Peter realized that these
people have made mistakes.
00:50:53.38\00:50:56.10
May be we
haven't been worshipping
00:50:56.13\00:50:57.50
and doing things just exactly
00:50:57.53\00:50:58.90
like God wants it done,
but there is still hope.
00:50:58.93\00:51:00.73
You just need to
turn back from your sin.
00:51:00.76\00:51:02.37
Chapter 4 now, we
are going to find out
00:51:02.40\00:51:03.96
what the result
of this sermon was.
00:51:03.99\00:51:05.48
"And as they spake to
the people, the priests,
00:51:05.51\00:51:07.04
and the captain of the
temple, and the Sadducees,"
00:51:07.07\00:51:09.25
and by the way you
know what Sadducees
00:51:09.28\00:51:10.65
were called 'Sadducees' right.
00:51:10.68\00:51:13.27
They were
Sadducees because they didn't
00:51:13.30\00:51:14.67
believe in resurrection.
00:51:14.70\00:51:16.07
And they were sad, you see.
00:51:16.10\00:51:18.68
And they were upset because,
00:51:18.71\00:51:21.04
in verse 2 says" Being grieved
that they taught the people,
00:51:21.07\00:51:24.71
and preached through Jesus
the resurrection from the dead."
00:51:24.74\00:51:26.74
The Sadducees
were upset with them
00:51:26.77\00:51:28.41
and the leaders of the
church were upset with them
00:51:28.44\00:51:29.81
because they were
preaching about the resurrection
00:51:29.84\00:51:31.25
from the dead and he said,
that goes against our doctrine.
00:51:31.28\00:51:33.80
"And so laid hands on
them, and he took hold of them
00:51:33.83\00:51:36.40
and put them in prison."
00:51:36.43\00:51:38.32
John and Peter now
preaches the same message again,
00:51:40.64\00:51:43.79
this unpopular
message landed them in prison.
00:51:43.82\00:51:45.72
How many of us are willing to
preach the word of God in truth,
00:51:47.46\00:51:51.35
even if it means
being landed up in prison.
00:51:51.38\00:51:52.99
How many of us are willing
to stand on the faith of Christ,
00:51:55.67\00:51:59.44
on the faith of His
word, and trusting in His word
00:51:59.47\00:52:02.80
even it means
being put in prison,
00:52:02.83\00:52:05.40
even if it
means losing your job.
00:52:05.43\00:52:07.24
Because in there friends,
00:52:08.66\00:52:10.03
the Bible is
clear in the last days.
00:52:10.06\00:52:12.43
It's clear in the last
days that we are not going to,
00:52:12.46\00:52:14.77
it's not going to be a
matter of just losing my life,
00:52:14.80\00:52:17.02
I mean losing my job or
may be losing some of my family
00:52:17.05\00:52:20.68
or may be not being popular.
00:52:20.71\00:52:23.26
It's going to be a
matter of losing your life.
00:52:23.29\00:52:25.75
Serving God in the
last day, the Bible is clear
00:52:27.54\00:52:29.84
is going to be a
matter of life and death.
00:52:29.87\00:52:31.95
But I love the Bible.
00:52:33.45\00:52:35.28
Hebrews 11 talks about,
that those that sawn asunder,
00:52:35.31\00:52:39.06
those who had these
things happened to them,
00:52:39.09\00:52:41.79
done it because
they were looking forward
00:52:41.82\00:52:43.72
to a better resurrection,
a better resurrection.
00:52:43.75\00:52:47.18
Verse 12, Peter goes on to say,
00:52:49.79\00:52:52.50
after they let
him out of the prison.
00:52:52.53\00:52:53.90
He is pulled in front of
the council and they say,
00:52:53.93\00:52:57.25
we are going to
examine these guys now.
00:52:57.28\00:52:59.39
And we are going to tell him
00:52:59.42\00:53:00.79
not to go out
and do this anymore.
00:53:00.82\00:53:02.19
Not to be preaching in
this name of Jesus anymore.
00:53:02.22\00:53:04.13
And Peter says this verse 11,
00:53:04.16\00:53:08.34
speaking of Jesus
"This is the stone
00:53:08.37\00:53:09.74
which was set at nothing
of you builders rejected,
00:53:09.77\00:53:12.41
set at nought of you builders,
00:53:12.44\00:53:13.81
which is become
the head of the corner.
00:53:13.84\00:53:15.21
Neither is there
salvation in any other
00:53:15.24\00:53:17.25
for there is none
other name given under heaven
00:53:17.28\00:53:19.45
whereby we must be saved.
00:53:19.48\00:53:21.25
Now when they saw the
boldness of Peter and John,
00:53:21.28\00:53:23.69
and perceived that they were
00:53:23.72\00:53:25.09
unlearned and
ignorant men, they marveled."
00:53:25.12\00:53:28.46
This next part, if
you had nothing else
00:53:30.75\00:53:33.67
you got out of
this message today,
00:53:33.70\00:53:35.46
this next part is a part
00:53:35.49\00:53:36.86
I want you to take
home to concentrate on,
00:53:36.89\00:53:40.26
to meditate on and think about.
00:53:40.29\00:53:44.41
"The leaders of the
people it says here,
00:53:44.44\00:53:46.76
took knowledge of
them," John and Peter,
00:53:46.79\00:53:50.37
"that they had been with Jesus."
00:53:50.40\00:53:55.13
Do people
recognize that in your life?
00:53:55.16\00:53:58.11
What is it that it drives
you, what is that it makes you,
00:53:58.14\00:54:02.80
give you a desire to have
people to come to your church?
00:54:02.83\00:54:05.30
It is just so we
can be happy and say,
00:54:05.33\00:54:07.09
"Look at all the
people coming to my church."
00:54:07.12\00:54:09.37
Or is it because you
have a desire for their soul
00:54:09.40\00:54:11.33
and to see them
in God's kingdom.
00:54:11.36\00:54:13.73
You know you can just
about do anything in church
00:54:13.76\00:54:16.20
in any kind of
building and have a club
00:54:16.23\00:54:18.78
and have people come to it.
00:54:18.81\00:54:20.87
There's a rotary club,
00:54:22.05\00:54:23.42
how do they fill up
all the time, right.
00:54:23.45\00:54:25.63
There is Bingo Halls
they are full all the time.
00:54:25.66\00:54:28.75
But the church of God,
00:54:28.78\00:54:30.56
it needs to have
people coming to it,
00:54:30.59\00:54:32.93
looking for
salvation and because
00:54:32.96\00:54:35.64
they see that the people going
there have been with Jesus.
00:54:35.67\00:54:40.22
So you might ask in closing
up here, "What do we do now?
00:54:40.25\00:54:44.39
We have made
mistakes like this."
00:54:44.42\00:54:46.88
You know, I haven't really been
living like I should for Christ
00:54:46.91\00:54:49.41
and I want to
change, but what do I do?
00:54:49.44\00:54:52.42
As we are finishing
up here, Ephesians 6,
00:54:53.57\00:54:55.87
sorry Ephesians 5, I love
this part of the scripture.
00:54:55.90\00:54:59.48
I took time to actually
to memorize most of this,
00:54:59.51\00:55:02.10
starting in verse 6, he says
00:55:02.13\00:55:03.65
"Let no man
deceive you with vain words
00:55:03.68\00:55:05.05
for because of these things
00:55:05.08\00:55:06.45
comes the wrath of God on
the children of disobedience.
00:55:06.48\00:55:08.36
Be not you
therefore partakers with them.
00:55:08.39\00:55:11.06
For you were sometimes darkness,
00:55:11.09\00:55:12.46
but now are you
light in the Lord
00:55:12.49\00:55:15.52
walk as children of light.
00:55:15.55\00:55:17.14
For the fruit of the
Spirit is in all goodness
00:55:17.17\00:55:18.60
and righteousness and truth,
00:55:18.63\00:55:20.00
proving what is
acceptable unto the Lord.
00:55:20.03\00:55:22.78
Have no fellowship
with the unfruitful
00:55:22.81\00:55:25.57
works of darkness.
00:55:25.60\00:55:28.14
He is talking to
the Christians here.
00:55:28.17\00:55:30.68
He says "Have no fellowship
00:55:30.71\00:55:33.08
with the
unfruitful works of darkness."
00:55:33.11\00:55:35.26
That means
don't bring the things
00:55:37.64\00:55:39.01
of the world into the church.
00:55:39.04\00:55:40.41
Don't have things that are
not part of what Christ has,
00:55:40.44\00:55:43.19
coming in and
infiltrating, He says,
00:55:43.22\00:55:45.59
don't have no
fellowship with them.
00:55:45.62\00:55:46.99
"For it is a shame even to speak
00:55:47.02\00:55:48.39
some of the things
that they do in secret."
00:55:48.42\00:55:50.22
Think about when
he is writing this
00:55:50.25\00:55:51.62
and think about what
things are like today.
00:55:51.65\00:55:53.12
It is a shame of they are
doing in secret in that day.
00:55:53.15\00:55:56.02
Friends they do
those same things,
00:55:56.05\00:55:57.42
that he was talking
about it in open today.
00:55:57.45\00:55:59.26
"But all things
that are reproved
00:55:59.29\00:56:00.66
are made manifest by the light
00:56:00.69\00:56:02.06
for whatever does
make manifest is light.
00:56:02.09\00:56:03.46
Wherefore he saith,
Awake, thou that sleepest,
00:56:03.49\00:56:05.79
arise from the dead, and
Christ will give you light.
00:56:05.82\00:56:09.14
See then that you
walk circumspectly."
00:56:10.31\00:56:13.15
You know what
circumspectly means?
00:56:13.18\00:56:14.66
It means diligent.
00:56:14.69\00:56:16.30
He says, see that
you walk diligently,
00:56:16.33\00:56:18.84
not as fools, but as wise.
00:56:18.87\00:56:22.40
And if you've
messed up, redeem the time,
00:56:24.26\00:56:28.52
because we are
living in evil days.
00:56:28.55\00:56:29.93
Friends if anybody
is even awake today,
00:56:33.50\00:56:37.54
if anybody is
just looking around,
00:56:37.57\00:56:38.98
they have to
realize that this world
00:56:39.01\00:56:40.74
is not going to keep
going on the way it is going on.
00:56:40.77\00:56:43.10
Prophecy is being fulfilled,
things are finishing up.
00:56:43.13\00:56:49.12
We are soon to go home to glory.
00:56:49.15\00:56:51.31
But the question you got to be
00:56:51.34\00:56:52.71
asking yourself this morning,
"Have I been doing things,
00:56:52.74\00:56:55.17
have I been
living life in such a way
00:56:55.20\00:56:56.63
that is pleasing to God?
00:56:56.66\00:56:58.03
Is my focus, in my
ministry, in my life
00:56:58.06\00:57:01.48
to bring people to Jesus
Christ or just to a club?
00:57:01.51\00:57:04.75
My prayer is it
starting this very day
00:57:06.45\00:57:08.57
that will redeem the time.
00:57:08.60\00:57:11.86
Because it is true we are living
in as verse 16 says "evil days."
00:57:11.89\00:57:16.48