Hello friends
and welcome to 3ABN
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Campmeeting Fall
2007. If you are joining us
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from around the
world, we're glad that you
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have taken the
time to tune in because
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we believe that whenever you do,
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God has a
blessing in store for you.
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And we have been
blessed already here,
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can we all say amen.
Amen. Pastor Steven Bohr
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just presented a
wonderful message
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and our hearts
are filled by what we
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have learned, and
also the spirit of
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God is teaching us
even to learn more from
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the word of God.
But stay tuned because
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the message that I'll
be presenting today is
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entitled "Bolgamy",
you'll find out what that
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is in just a few
moments, the message is entitled
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"Bolgamy," the
prophet with two Gods.
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But before we go any further,
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I would like to
invite you to bow your heads
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with me as I invite
the power and presence of
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God to reside over
this message, let us pray.
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Our Heavenly
Father, thank you so much
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that you are the
source of all power,
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all strength, all
wisdom, and all honor.
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Well right now I
beseech that you'll
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come and be the one
that takes this message
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and gives it to your
people the way you'll
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have them to receive
it. May it make sense,
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may it be clear and
may we come with the
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sense of how awesome you are,
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and how much in need
of you everyone of us is.
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So now I pray that
you will be glorified
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and may we leave this place,
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a stronger with the
desire to serve you,
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in Jesus name I pray, amen.
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I know you have
your Bibles if you do go
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with us to the book of Numbers
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what book did I
say? Numbers. Numbers,
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it's on Old Testament book,
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and I was trying to
contemplate and decide
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what sermon to
preach? I went through my
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mental library, my
wife always tells me
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right them down;
give a date to them
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so that you
could remember when you
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preach them.
And whenever I stand
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up here even
though its camp meeting,
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since this is a church I pastor,
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in my mind I
think I'm at church,
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so I'll see when I
did preach that sermon
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but was it that
for camp meeting,
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or was it for
church? And one of the
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cardinal rules of
preaching anything for
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camp meeting is
our leaders and our
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professors say whatever you do,
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present that
which is tried and true,
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try not to do something new.
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And so I'm praying
that this message today
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that God has given
me will come across
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to you in a way that
you'll understand why
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I chose that
particular title Bolgamy.
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Now, I know on
the back of your mind
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you are going
through your roller decks
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what the word Bolgamy may mean?
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But we'll see
clearly in just a few moments
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why that title is so important.
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I believe that
God is the God who
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desires to
always bless His people.
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Amen. But I also
believe at the same
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time Satan is the
one who desires always
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to curse the people of God.
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Some recent
developments in the news,
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my wife and I
watch CNN and NBC CBS,
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we try to keep
our minds up to speed
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on what's happening
in the world because
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we are out here
in this community,
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where we are so
isolated from the world,
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it looks like
everything is fine.
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Thompsonville, small
town, West Frankfort's
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small community, it
looks like the world is a
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great safe place.
But in fact the world
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is falling
apart, and whenever we
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tune in on the
news we'll go to CNN
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and hear it, or
the Fox News and hear,
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ABC, NBC, CBS,
and something that was
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splashed on the
pages may be over
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the last year has
come to fruition not
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too long ago
just as mid September.
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You may have heard
of the man by the name
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of Warren Jeffs, an
admitted polygamist,
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and I try to
figure out that how does
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that fit into the,
into the frame work
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of what's happening in Utah,
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how does the Mormon Church,
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or the Latter-day
Saints fit into the
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Warren Jeffs
scenario, because I believe that
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God has sincere
Christians in every
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denominations and
in every walk of faith.
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Amen. And so I try
to separate the two,
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and I did my
research and came to find out
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that there is a
separation between
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Warren Jeffs who is
labeled as an off shoot,
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and the church
of Jesus Christ of
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Latter-day
Saints. Matter of fact
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Warren Jeffs is
a part of movement
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called the Fundamentalist
Church of Jesus Christ
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of Latter-day
Saints. They are the largest
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fundamentalist denominations,
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the largest
Mormon fundamentalist
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denomination.
They were formed or
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merged together
in 1930s and they are
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still today the
largest denomination
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that still believes
in plural marriages,
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or the phrase or
the word polygamy,
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say that with me, polygamy.
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But the Church of Jesus Christ
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of Latter-day
Saints known as the LDS
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split because they
continually condemned
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the practice of dual marriages,
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plural marriages,
the practice of polygamy.
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So there is no
official I want to say this
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for the record,
there is no official
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connection
between the FLDS Church
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and the LDS
Church; they are distinct
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and separate denominations.
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In other words the
Church of Jesus Christ
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of Latter-day
Saints do not identify
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and support with Warren Jeffs,
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and his followers have done.
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But just recently
September 25th 2007
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Warren Jeffs was
convicted found guilty
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on two counts of
being accomplice to rape.
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But he did not really denounced
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the practice of
polygamy and polygamy
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is having more than one wife.
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Now brethren you
got to be insane to
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have more than one
wife. I mean I think of that I
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do all that I can
to keep my wife happy,
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and I love
keeping my wife happy.
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But as the Bible
says in the New Testament,
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"No man can serve two masters."
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Either you hold the
one and despise the other,
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or you love one
and hate the other.
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God has given us
one wife and ladies
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God had given you one husband,
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can you say amen.
Amen. And so this practice
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of polygamy has given me an idea
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which from which
my sermon title has
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come bolgamy, polygamy, bolgamy.
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See Warren Jeffs is
an admitted polygamist,
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but is it possible
that Peter the apostle
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saw something
that could happen among
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the Christian
church that would closely
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identify with the
people of God desiring
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to have more than one God?
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And I believe he
did, go with me in your
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Bibles to the
second Peter chapter 2,
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and we are gonna 'read together
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verse 15 and 16.
And we gonna see how
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there is a latter-day danger?
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That if the people
of God are not legion
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to one God,
Satan is trying to get
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us to worship other Gods.
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Remember the Commandment,
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"Thou shall have no
other Gods before me."
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so there is and
has always been this
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competition
between the God of Heaven
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and the Gods of this earth,
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the Bible refers to many Gods.
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There is God of
music, the God of education,
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the God of social pressures,
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the God of accomplishments,
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the God of design, the God of
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entertainment, the
God of electronics.
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And so there is a
competition because
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Satan desires our
hearts to be occupied
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with love for any
God other than the Lord
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and Savior Jesus
Christ. And I believe
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that because
we're bordering Canaan
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the heavenly
Promised Land as it was then
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Satan had
employed someone and many
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someone's to try
to get God's people to
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begin to love
another God other than
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the one that wants to save them.
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Listen to the
Apostle Peter who once
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had that problem
himself, listen to what he says,
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2 Peter chapter 2
beginning with verse 15,
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he describes the
heart of such a one
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who desires
worshipping more than one God.
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"They have
forsaken the right way
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and gone astray,
following the way
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of Balaam, the
son of Beor who loved
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the wages of unrighteousness".
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But he was
rebuked for his inequity;
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a dumb donkey
speaking with a man's
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voice restrained the
madness of the prophet.
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Now brethren
when was the last time
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you had
conversation with your dog?
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That alone when
you start talking to
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your animals or
more than that when they
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start talking to you
and you start responding
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to what they say,
you got to stop in
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and check your
pulse, you got to figure
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out whether or not
you are operating in
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the sense of
reality or in the sense of
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its insanity? That shows how far
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you can go away
from God when Balaam
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began to have a conversation
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with the donkey.
He didn't know that
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God was trying to
get his attention,
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I believe that
he was so far gone
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that God had to
use supernatural means
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to regain access to his mind.
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And as we are the
people of God bordering
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the land of Canaan,
I believe that we are
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one camp meeting
closer to the coming
00:10:12.24\00:10:14.56
of our savior
Jesus Christ amen. Amen.
00:10:14.57\00:10:16.17
And I'm excited
about that, I mean,
00:10:16.18\00:10:18.36
I'm looking
forward to getting out
00:10:18.37\00:10:19.36
of this world,
I'm looking forward
00:10:19.37\00:10:20.92
to going home, amen,
but I realize that there
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are many people
that still need to know
00:10:23.34\00:10:25.04
Jesus Christ, so
be patient God is
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getting us
ready. But one thing you
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can learn from the
journey of Israel in
00:10:29.93\00:10:31.99
the Old Testament
is that Satan pursued
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them all through the wilderness;
00:10:35.69\00:10:37.63
you'll wake up in
the morning and feel
00:10:39.15\00:10:40.12
that you are being
pursued by the devil?
00:10:40.13\00:10:42.89
And when you at
the end of day you'll
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say thank God for delivering me.
00:10:44.52\00:10:46.15
Satan pursues the
'people of God with
00:10:46.92\00:10:49.10
an insane
hatred and an intensity
00:10:49.11\00:10:53.06
that is
unmatched by former days.
00:10:53.75\00:10:57.05
You know God is
the same all the time
00:10:57.25\00:10:58.73
but Satan
changes. Matter of fact
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the Bible says,
"He's come down until
00:11:00.35\00:11:02.03
he was having
great raft because he
00:11:02.04\00:11:04.64
knows that he
has but a short time,
00:11:04.65\00:11:07.85
he's like a roaring
lion seeking whom he
00:11:07.86\00:11:11.49
may devour." He
doesn't mind us in
00:11:11.50\00:11:14.33
the journey of the Christian;
00:11:14.34\00:11:15.62
he just wants us not
to make our destination.
00:11:15.63\00:11:18.05
I have read about
the people that have
00:11:18.82\00:11:19.79
traveled long
distances traveling on the road,
00:11:19.80\00:11:21.86
traveling by air,
traveling by land,
00:11:22.23\00:11:24.49
traveling by sea.
And before they make
00:11:24.50\00:11:26.83
their
destinations some unusual event
00:11:26.84\00:11:28.80
occurs just like
recently in the news
00:11:28.81\00:11:31.48
off the coast of
Miami. They have found a boat
00:11:32.20\00:11:35.34
that when it left
it was occupied by
00:11:35.85\00:11:38.24
four crewmen and two passengers,
00:11:38.25\00:11:40.66
they were on
their way to the Bahamas
00:11:40.99\00:11:42.69
or to Bermuda, one of the two,
00:11:42.70\00:11:44.06
I think it was
Bahamas, and they never made
00:11:44.07\00:11:46.79
their
destination. And I believe that
00:11:46.80\00:11:48.73
one day left Satan
had a plan to board
00:11:48.74\00:11:52.41
that boat and take
their lives on the way,
00:11:52.42\00:11:54.86
they are still
trying to figure out
00:11:54.87\00:11:56.03
all the
details, what happened to
00:11:56.04\00:11:57.72
the four crewmen? What happened
00:11:57.73\00:11:59.96
to the people
chartering that boat?
00:11:59.97\00:12:01.71
And then they said
]the two people that
00:12:01.72\00:12:03.29
were chartering
were the only ones
00:12:03.30\00:12:05.17
found safely. And they made up
00:12:05.18\00:12:07.37
some kind of a
story, they are trying to
00:12:07.38\00:12:08.72
figure out
whether they are telling
00:12:08.73\00:12:09.76
the truth or not,
the point is they never
00:12:09.77\00:12:12.09
made their
destination. And Satan's desire
00:12:12.10\00:12:14.82
for God's people
he could care less
00:12:14.83\00:12:17.12
about your journey
as long as you don't
00:12:17.13\00:12:19.51
make your
destination. Amen. Amen.
00:12:19.52\00:12:21.73
But brethren we
got to make up our
00:12:21.74\00:12:23.11
mind that no
matter how bad it gets,
00:12:23.12\00:12:25.31
no matter how
tough the journey gets,
00:12:25.97\00:12:27.62
no matter how
strong the winds blow,
00:12:28.17\00:12:30.04
that we gonna make
up our mind to make
00:12:30.62\00:12:32.11
it all the way in
by God's grace. Amen.
00:12:32.12\00:12:34.51
And you'll find in
the Bible that on 28
00:12:35.41\00:12:38.29
separate occasions
Israel had to battle
00:12:38.30\00:12:42.66
one nation or the
other, there are so many
00:12:42.67\00:12:45.20
battles we'll face
from where God finds us
00:12:45.21\00:12:48.15
to where we make it
to the Promised Land.
00:12:48.47\00:12:50.27
And you know if
you look at our record,
00:12:50.28\00:12:51.47
if you stop for a
brief moment and you begin
00:12:51.48\00:12:54.82
to chronicle your walk with God,
00:12:54.83\00:12:56.59
you'll see that year after year,
00:12:56.80\00:12:58.65
maybe month after
month, maybe week after week,
00:12:58.66\00:13:00.79
there's one battle or the other,
00:13:01.03\00:13:02.81
am I telling the
truth? Amen. Battles
00:13:02.82\00:13:05.00
in your family,
battles in your marriage,
00:13:05.01\00:13:08.02
battles in your
church, battles in your place
00:13:09.81\00:13:12.92
of employment,
there are battles all
00:13:12.93\00:13:16.18
over the place, but brothers and
00:13:16.19\00:13:17.88
sisters don't
forget that the most
00:13:17.89\00:13:20.02
important battle of
all Jesus already won.
00:13:20.03\00:13:23.34
Amen, amen. You'll
find in the book of Numbers
00:13:23.35\00:13:26.00
chapter 21 "That
God is not a God who
00:13:26.01\00:13:30.61
loses battles." Look
briefly there with me,
00:13:30.62\00:13:33.36
and the
Canaanites have to learn that
00:13:34.26\00:13:35.71
the hard way, and the Canaanites
00:13:35.72\00:13:40.00
have to learn that the hard way,
00:13:40.01\00:13:41.55
and Israel had to
learn a lot of lessons
00:13:41.56\00:13:43.53
the hard way too
because they had to
00:13:43.54\00:13:45.00
discover that
there is victory not in
00:13:45.01\00:13:47.45
being an Israelite,
but there is victory
00:13:47.46\00:13:50.19
in following the God of Israel.
00:13:50.20\00:13:52.37
There is victory
in living by the word
00:13:52.89\00:13:54.94
of the God of
Israel. It is not our label
00:13:54.95\00:13:57.80
per say that causes
us to be victorious,
00:13:58.09\00:14:00.79
it is the God that we serve,
00:14:00.80\00:14:03.65
and the message
He has given to us,
00:14:03.66\00:14:06.41
if we follow the God
that we are to serve,
00:14:06.69\00:14:08.78
and live by the
message He has given to us,
00:14:09.09\00:14:11.32
we'll never be
defeated, amen, amen.
00:14:11.33\00:14:13.62
Notice this how
Canaanites had to learn
00:14:13.63\00:14:15.42
the hard way, Number 21 verse 1,
00:14:15.43\00:14:19.00
"And the king of
Arad, the Canaanite who
00:14:19.01\00:14:22.45
dwelled in the south
heard that Israel was
00:14:22.46\00:14:25.55
coming on the road of Atharim.
00:14:25.56\00:14:28.49
Then he fought
against Israel and took
00:14:29.23\00:14:31.04
some of them
prisoners, so Israel made a vow
00:14:31.05\00:14:35.07
to the Lord
brethren, when the battle comes
00:14:35.08\00:14:36.92
your way, you got
to stop and reconfirm
00:14:36.93\00:14:38.99
your vow to God."
You got to say Lord,
00:14:39.00\00:14:41.73
you know have you
ever found sometimes
00:14:41.74\00:14:43.45
reminding God that
he used to be faithful
00:14:43.46\00:14:45.94
that he is
faithful? Here we say,
00:14:45.95\00:14:47.35
Lord remember when
you, and you talk about
00:14:47.36\00:14:50.42
the time God delivered you,
00:14:50.43\00:14:51.71
God hasn't
forgotten but sometimes
00:14:52.29\00:14:54.05
we got to remind
ourselves of how God
00:14:54.56\00:14:58.04
delivered us in the
past, so that we can have
00:14:58.05\00:15:00.56
strength for the
present. They made a vow
00:15:00.57\00:15:04.04
to the Lord, and they said,
00:15:04.05\00:15:06.91
"If you will
indeed deliver this people
00:15:07.78\00:15:10.00
into my hand then
I'll utterly destroy
00:15:10.01\00:15:13.42
their cities".
And the Lord listened
00:15:13.43\00:15:16.63
to the voice of
Israel, aren't you glad that
00:15:16.64\00:15:19.05
the Gord listens
when you pray from
00:15:19.06\00:15:20.23
the sincere heart?
Amen. And the Lord listened
00:15:20.24\00:15:22.51
to the voice of
Israel and delivered up
00:15:22.52\00:15:24.64
the Canaanites, and they utterly
00:15:24.65\00:15:27.70
destroyed them and their cities,
00:15:27.71\00:15:30.65
so the name of
that place was called
00:15:30.86\00:15:33.19
the Hormah, a
place of destruction.
00:15:33.20\00:15:36.68
But you'll find that
every time the battle
00:15:37.79\00:15:40.20
came their way,
the people of God
00:15:40.21\00:15:42.93
remembered to call on God.
00:15:42.94\00:15:44.43
You know what brethren,
it is important to call
00:15:44.44\00:15:46.95
on the God
before the battle comes.
00:15:46.96\00:15:49.52
Amen. It's important
to wake up on a sunny
00:15:49.53\00:15:52.04
bright day when
your bank account is
00:15:52.05\00:15:53.76
full and your
children are behaving,
00:15:53.77\00:15:56.46
and your marriage is strong,
00:15:56.90\00:15:58.50
and there is
food in the cupboard,
00:15:58.51\00:16:00.26
and your lights are all on,
00:16:00.57\00:16:02.23
and there is a full tank of gas,
00:16:02.53\00:16:03.83
it's important on
those kind of days
00:16:03.84\00:16:05.44
to say thank you
Jesus. Amen. Because surely
00:16:05.45\00:16:09.43
enough when the tank is low,
00:16:09.44\00:16:11.61
and the cupboards are bare,
00:16:11.91\00:16:12.99
and the kids are acting up,
00:16:13.30\00:16:14.54
and you cannot
figure what your spouse is
00:16:14.89\00:16:16.85
going to do next,
those are the days
00:16:16.86\00:16:19.10
that God says,
aren't you glad you
00:16:19.11\00:16:21.07
talked to me
yesterday. Amen. Sometimes
00:16:21.08\00:16:24.63
you forget, and so God allows
00:16:24.64\00:16:26.31
this challenges to
come to remind us don't
00:16:26.32\00:16:29.28
just call me when
you need something,
00:16:29.29\00:16:31.90
just call me and
talk to me. Amen.
00:16:32.19\00:16:34.84
My wife and I have cell phones;
00:16:35.69\00:16:37.25
any body has a cell phone?
00:16:37.97\00:16:39.05
This is the
greatest affliction man
00:16:39.06\00:16:40.92
ever made. Amen.
You know you can't
00:16:40.93\00:16:43.88
have a real
vacation any more because a
00:16:43.89\00:16:45.75
vacation nowadays
means all you do is
00:16:45.76\00:16:48.24
turn your cell
phone off that's vacation.
00:16:48.25\00:16:50.10
Turn your computer off,
turn your cell phone off
00:16:50.88\00:16:53.21
and just not
answer it for seven days,
00:16:53.47\00:16:55.33
that's a
vacation. The people of God,
00:16:55.57\00:16:58.08
Satan try the people
of God to go on vacation
00:16:58.09\00:17:01.35
and not to talk to
God, he said, turn off
00:17:01.36\00:17:03.51
your cell
phones, don't talk to God
00:17:03.52\00:17:05.66
and when Israel did
not talk to the God,
00:17:05.67\00:17:07.71
when they did not
stay in touch with the God,
00:17:07.72\00:17:09.57
there was always a problem,
00:17:09.98\00:17:11.61
always a battle.
Patriots and prophets,
00:17:12.63\00:17:15.80
page 439, God's
faithful servant said,
00:17:16.27\00:17:19.95
"God was on their
side and so long as
00:17:20.82\00:17:24.39
they were true to
Him, no adverse power on
00:17:24.40\00:17:28.74
earth or hell could
prevail against them,"
00:17:28.75\00:17:31.46
what do you say?
Amen. As long as we are
00:17:31.47\00:17:34.33
true to God, no power on earth
00:17:34.34\00:17:36.17
or hell can prevail
against God's people.
00:17:36.18\00:17:39.35
There is nothing
that the enemy can do
00:17:40.72\00:17:42.73
that can cause God's
people faith to fail,
00:17:44.01\00:17:46.49
once they are
being faithful to God,
00:17:46.50\00:17:48.42
because God
intends his people to move
00:17:49.03\00:17:51.28
from one victory to the other,
00:17:51.29\00:17:53.40
from one child to the other,
00:17:53.97\00:17:55.53
coming out
scarred. Anybody has a scar
00:17:55.54\00:17:57.94
here that reminds
you of some past event,
00:17:57.95\00:18:00.14
growing up I used
to get in all kinds
00:18:01.13\00:18:02.86
of troubles, I
have scars on my hand,
00:18:02.87\00:18:05.01
I have a scar on my
face, scar on my leg,
00:18:05.02\00:18:07.70
I have broken bones,
I used to say man I'll
00:18:07.71\00:18:10.42
never get a broken
bone. I got my first broken
00:18:10.43\00:18:13.52
bone when I was getting older,
00:18:13.53\00:18:15.10
three of them at one
time. Elbow on the face,
00:18:15.86\00:18:18.69
then two on the nose
all from a non contact
00:18:19.10\00:18:22.22
sport called
basketball. Then the next break
00:18:22.23\00:18:26.39
I got was
playing basketball again,
00:18:26.40\00:18:28.13
you know
sometimes you never learn,
00:18:28.14\00:18:29.65
sometimes the things
you love are teaching
00:18:30.08\00:18:32.29
you a lesson to try
to take up a new sport,
00:18:32.30\00:18:35.06
take up a new
hobby. You know somebody
00:18:35.57\00:18:37.83
said to me man you
want to take up something
00:18:37.84\00:18:39.39
that doesn't
involve another person,
00:18:39.40\00:18:40.99
you'll be safe.
But I've learned from
00:18:41.20\00:18:43.72
those battles that
as someone said to me,
00:18:43.73\00:18:45.59
you may have a scar and a pain,
00:18:46.01\00:18:48.69
but in time the
pain will go and the scar
00:18:49.29\00:18:51.57
will just be a
reminder of the event.
00:18:51.58\00:18:54.51
But also he
reminded that God can take
00:18:55.07\00:18:57.51
away the pain no
matter how intense
00:18:57.52\00:18:59.84
the scar and the
event may have been.
00:18:59.85\00:19:01.91
Amen. And so
brethren we have arrived at
00:19:01.92\00:19:06.25
a place where we
still need to trust God,
00:19:06.26\00:19:09.07
we still need lean on
God, we still need to trust
00:19:09.47\00:19:12.10
in His word, we still need to
00:19:12.11\00:19:13.93
believe that God
removes obstacles,
00:19:13.94\00:19:15.90
we still need to
believe that there is a land
00:19:16.26\00:19:18.32
of eternal rest,
and that we are on
00:19:18.33\00:19:20.52
our way to, amen, amen. So goes,
00:19:20.53\00:19:23.50
go to Numbers
chapter 22 with me:
00:19:23.51\00:19:25.30
"Rest assure as we
draw close to the eternal
00:19:25.89\00:19:27.84
kingdom that the
adversary of God's people
00:19:27.85\00:19:30.31
will employ
whatever means and necessary
00:19:30.32\00:19:32.62
to hamper God's
people." Let's look at this
00:19:33.00\00:19:36.33
narrative in Numbers chapter 22,
00:19:36.34\00:19:38.79
man the clock is
going fast slow it down.
00:19:38.80\00:19:41.75
Numbers chapter 22
verse 1-3, it says:
00:19:43.28\00:19:45.83
"Then the
children of Israel moved
00:19:45.84\00:19:48.48
and camped in the plains of Moab
00:19:48.81\00:19:51.70
on the side of
Jordan across from Jericho.
00:19:52.04\00:19:54.62
Now Balak the son
of Zippor saw that all
00:19:55.39\00:19:58.34
Israel had, saw all that Israel
00:19:58.35\00:20:01.77
had done to the
Amorites and Moab
00:20:01.78\00:20:05.34
was exceedingly
afraid of the people because
00:20:05.35\00:20:08.68
they were many,
and Moab was sick
00:20:08.69\00:20:12.03
with dread because of
the children of Israel."
00:20:12.04\00:20:15.19
You know when I
read that I said,
00:20:15.20\00:20:16.17
thank the Lord that
the enemy is finally
00:20:16.18\00:20:18.05
afraid of the
people of God. Amen.
00:20:18.06\00:20:20.40
Wouldn't it be nice
for the devil to get up
00:20:20.65\00:20:21.83
in the morning and
say, I'm not messing with
00:20:21.84\00:20:23.41
those Christians,
they pray too much.
00:20:23.42\00:20:25.13
Oh they got a
strong, I'm not going to
00:20:26.21\00:20:28.03
Thompsonville; those folks got a
00:20:28.04\00:20:29.38
connection that
I can't mess with.
00:20:29.39\00:20:31.23
Brethren that's
what we ought to do,
00:20:31.63\00:20:32.60
the enemy ought
to get to the place
00:20:32.61\00:20:35.03
where he's afraid to
us; we should never get
00:20:35.04\00:20:37.77
to the place where
we are afraid of him.
00:20:37.78\00:20:39.89
Amen. So they took
note, they said man
00:20:39.90\00:20:42.71
Israel really
did the Amorites in,
00:20:42.72\00:20:44.45
so we got to get another plan.
00:20:44.74\00:20:46.21
The devil is the
master of strategies;
00:20:47.35\00:20:49.89
he tries to come from the front,
00:20:50.52\00:20:52.20
the back, the left,
the right, the center,
00:20:52.21\00:20:54.08
from the top, from down beneath.
00:20:54.09\00:20:55.73
And so he had to
put a plan together.
00:20:56.92\00:20:58.97
Acts of the Apostles page 564,
00:20:59.72\00:21:02.38
paragraph 5 says
this: "There are many who
00:21:02.39\00:21:06.63
through striving to
obey God's commandments
00:21:06.64\00:21:10.93
have little peace and
joy. This lack in their
00:21:10.94\00:21:15.17
experience is the
result of a failure
00:21:15.18\00:21:17.86
to exercise faith,"
say, exercise faith,
00:21:17.87\00:21:22.46
exercise faith.
Now, brother let me
00:21:22.47\00:21:24.59
tell you what that
mean, I'm Mr. Universe
00:21:24.60\00:21:26.67
in progress. I have got all the
00:21:26.68\00:21:32.64
right machines.
Amen. I have got soloflex
00:21:32.65\00:21:36.20
and total gym and free weights,
00:21:36.45\00:21:38.38
but you know what brother,
00:21:38.39\00:21:39.36
I can't find the
time to exercise.
00:21:39.37\00:21:41.79
If I would just stop
and chisel lot of time,
00:21:43.26\00:21:45.42
you'll see me next
year or next camp meeting;
00:21:45.43\00:21:47.65
my suit would have
tight shoulders because
00:21:47.66\00:21:50.95
I would be
increasing in my strength.
00:21:50.96\00:21:52.65
Brethren the people
of God should always
00:21:52.66\00:21:54.72
take time to
exercise their faith.
00:21:54.73\00:21:57.29
Amen. I have
discovered when you pray
00:21:57.30\00:21:58.79
for faith watch
out, when you pray for
00:21:58.80\00:22:02.07
patience watch
out, those are the two
00:22:02.08\00:22:03.80
things you have to
be careful to pray for,
00:22:03.81\00:22:05.81
because if you pray
for faith God is gonna
00:22:06.23\00:22:08.17
take you to the
edge in your finances,
00:22:08.18\00:22:11.69
to the edge in
your relationships,
00:22:12.43\00:22:14.69
so that He
could test your faith.
00:22:14.70\00:22:17.09
Because before we
get to the kingdom,
00:22:19.24\00:22:20.56
we are gonna all
need the faith of Jesus.
00:22:20.57\00:22:23.85
Amen. And you'll
never develop faith unless
00:22:23.86\00:22:26.75
that faith
needs to be exercised.
00:22:26.76\00:22:29.25
You'll never
develop patience here's
00:22:29.26\00:22:31.82
the patience and
the faith of the saints.
00:22:31.83\00:22:33.94
She goes on to say:
"They walk as it were
00:22:36.34\00:22:40.15
in a salt land, a
parched wilderness.
00:22:40.16\00:22:43.25
They claim
little, when they might
00:22:43.59\00:22:45.99
claim much; for
there is no limit
00:22:46.00\00:22:48.87
to the promises of
God." Amen. Amen. God's
00:22:49.18\00:22:52.66
promises have no
limit. You see when you
00:22:52.67\00:22:56.38
read Numbers chapter
22, let's go to verse 4 now
00:22:56.39\00:22:59.06
and see the plan
begin to come together,
00:22:59.07\00:23:01.32
"So Moab said to
the elders of Midian,
00:23:01.88\00:23:05.86
now this company
will lick up everything
00:23:05.87\00:23:09.18
around us, as an ox licks up
00:23:09.19\00:23:12.90
the grass of the
field and Balak the son
00:23:12.91\00:23:16.13
of Zippor was
king of the Moabites
00:23:16.14\00:23:18.87
at the time. You
see he had a plan,
00:23:18.88\00:23:21.46
but his fear was
that you cannot really go
00:23:21.77\00:23:24.64
after Israel
right now because they
00:23:24.65\00:23:26.13
are riding a
wave. Ever had waves in
00:23:26.14\00:23:27.89
your life where
you are at the top,
00:23:27.90\00:23:29.50
and all of a
sudden that wave dies off
00:23:29.51\00:23:32.09
then you are at the bottom,
00:23:32.10\00:23:33.16
so he decides to
employ somebody who
00:23:33.41\00:23:35.93
had a connection
with God's people.
00:23:35.94\00:23:38.37
Now I'm going
to say this slowly.
00:23:38.54\00:23:39.75
There are some
people that have a strong
00:23:42.96\00:23:44.43
connection with the
God, but if they are for
00:23:44.44\00:23:46.70
sale that
connection with God can become
00:23:46.71\00:23:49.99
a curse. Now
follow me carefully,
00:23:50.00\00:23:53.45
there are those
who have a strong
00:23:54.34\00:23:55.81
connection with God,
but if that connection
00:23:55.82\00:23:58.52
is for sale that
connection can become
00:23:58.53\00:24:01.98
a curse. There are
many ministers that
00:24:01.99\00:24:04.16
use the name of
God for financial gain;
00:24:04.17\00:24:06.60
there are many
ministers that use the title
00:24:07.62\00:24:09.86
I'm a preacher
for selfish motives.
00:24:09.87\00:24:13.52
Brethren the
connection we have with God
00:24:14.06\00:24:15.99
should never be for
sale. We should always
00:24:16.00\00:24:19.36
price that as
something of great value and
00:24:19.37\00:24:23.17
never sell it,
amen, amen. But look it
00:24:23.18\00:24:25.36
what happens,
look it how the plot
00:24:25.37\00:24:27.98
comes together. Balak recognizes
00:24:27.99\00:24:29.97
that humanity
cannot fight divinity
00:24:29.98\00:24:31.98
and so he calls and
he seeks for supernatural
00:24:31.99\00:24:34.91
aid to overthrow God's people.
00:24:34.92\00:24:36.86
Look at verse 5:
"Then he said messengers
00:24:36.87\00:24:40.51
to Balaam the son of
Beor, at Pethor which is near
00:24:41.26\00:24:46.12
the river in
the land of the sons
00:24:46.13\00:24:48.68
of his people". To
call him saying look
00:24:48.69\00:24:52.31
people come from
Egypt, see they cover the face
00:24:52.79\00:24:55.89
of the earth, and
are settling next to me.
00:24:55.90\00:24:59.66
Now let me put you
together the story,
00:24:59.67\00:25:00.99
this is an amazing picture,
00:25:01.00\00:25:02.17
you see what by
now, any nation that had
00:25:02.18\00:25:10.15
Israel passed them by,
let me put it this way,
00:25:10.16\00:25:14.08
say for example all
the children of Israel
00:25:14.64\00:25:16.61
are marching from West Frankfort
00:25:16.62\00:25:18.18
to
Thompsonville, and the people on
00:25:18.19\00:25:21.63
the West Frankfort
were just overthrown
00:25:21.64\00:25:23.83
defeated by the
children of Israel,
00:25:23.84\00:25:25.94
and then you
keep going to the west
00:25:26.69\00:25:28.40
and you'll
discover every town that
00:25:28.41\00:25:30.66
Israel pass by, they
left it totally defeated.
00:25:30.67\00:25:34.20
Now all of a sudden
we see this cloud of dust
00:25:34.58\00:25:36.95
of Israelites
marching to Zion coming to the
00:25:36.96\00:25:40.26
town of Thompsonville,
and all of a sudden
00:25:40.27\00:25:42.09
we call for help
because the last town was
00:25:42.10\00:25:44.45
utterly
destroyed by those marching
00:25:44.46\00:25:46.93
with the Lord.
The king now is upset,
00:25:46.94\00:25:50.25
he's fearful
because he said every town
00:25:50.26\00:25:53.34
that they have passed by they
00:25:53.35\00:25:54.77
have destroyed, we need help.
00:25:54.78\00:25:57.44
Look at verse 6,
saying to Balaam:
00:26:00.68\00:26:06.34
"Therefore please come at once,
00:26:06.35\00:26:08.17
curse this people
for me for they are
00:26:09.30\00:26:12.05
too mighty for me.
Perhaps I shall be able
00:26:12.06\00:26:16.62
to defeat them
and drive them out
00:26:16.63\00:26:18.71
of the land, for I know that he
00:26:18.72\00:26:21.77
whom you bless is blessed,
00:26:21.78\00:26:23.88
and he whom you
curse is cursed."
00:26:24.27\00:26:26.28
That was true
to a certain point,
00:26:26.29\00:26:28.47
you see my
brethren there are those
00:26:28.82\00:26:30.25
who have the
ability to bless somebody,
00:26:30.26\00:26:32.35
and when you bless
them they are blessed,
00:26:32.36\00:26:33.82
right? And if God is
working in your life,
00:26:33.83\00:26:36.30
if God says
whomever you curse is curse,
00:26:36.31\00:26:38.12
then that's exactly
is going to be the case.
00:26:38.13\00:26:39.90
But when you turn
your legions to use
00:26:39.91\00:26:42.13
it for the wrong
reasons God removes
00:26:42.14\00:26:44.77
the power that He
once allowed to reside
00:26:44.78\00:26:47.12
in your life, so
Balaam is coming now,
00:26:47.13\00:26:49.44
but by Balak, he's being hired
00:26:49.74\00:26:52.57
to use his God
given powers against the
00:26:52.58\00:26:55.05
people of God.
Brethren God never
00:26:55.06\00:26:57.64
allows His powers
to be used against
00:26:57.65\00:27:01.17
His people, amen.
But look at the story
00:27:01.18\00:27:04.19
how it continues to unfold,
00:27:04.20\00:27:05.63
it's amazing you
see whenever Satan
00:27:05.84\00:27:07.41
seeks aid there is
a price on your head,
00:27:07.42\00:27:09.99
look at the verse 7:
"So the elders of Moab
00:27:10.00\00:27:12.90
and the elders of
Midian departed with the
00:27:13.44\00:27:16.83
diviner's fee in their hand."
00:27:16.84\00:27:19.37
The way Jesus send
diviner's fee in their
00:27:19.70\00:27:22.21
hand and they came
to Balaam and spoke
00:27:22.22\00:27:25.52
to him the words of Balak.
00:27:25.53\00:27:27.58
Brethren sin always
brings with it a price,
00:27:28.82\00:27:33.57
there is always a
wage connected to sin
00:27:34.82\00:27:36.86
they came now to
bring the money to Balaam,
00:27:36.87\00:27:39.87
a diviner's fee,
and look what they
00:27:39.88\00:27:43.42
said in verse 8: "
And he said to them,
00:27:43.43\00:27:49.01
lodge here tonight,
and I will bring back
00:27:50.00\00:27:52.02
word to you, as
the Lord speaks to me,
00:27:52.03\00:27:55.64
so the princes of
Moab stayed with who,
00:27:56.13\00:28:01.17
they stayed with
Balaam." But now I like this
00:28:02.21\00:28:06.44
because the Lord is seeing the
00:28:07.37\00:28:08.93
situation
unfold, God is aware of
00:28:08.94\00:28:11.08
every situation.
God sees everything
00:28:11.09\00:28:13.90
before it happens,
how it's going to happen?
00:28:13.91\00:28:16.29
When is it going to happen?
00:28:16.50\00:28:17.47
And how the end
result is going to
00:28:17.48\00:28:19.39
turn out? Aren't
you glad that God
00:28:19.40\00:28:21.42
doesn't show you
all the trials you
00:28:21.43\00:28:22.91
are going to go
through in January?
00:28:22.92\00:28:24.57
Amen. I mean
here, happy New Year,
00:28:24.58\00:28:27.67
oh don't get too
happy, let me give you a
00:28:27.68\00:28:29.62
glimpse of your
year, and how it's
00:28:29.63\00:28:31.07
gonna unfold. I'm so glad that
00:28:31.08\00:28:33.08
God doesn't do
that because if God
00:28:33.09\00:28:34.95
said to us in January of 2008,
00:28:34.96\00:28:37.16
here's what's
gonna happen next week,
00:28:37.17\00:28:38.92
here's what's
gonna happen next month,
00:28:38.93\00:28:40.56
here's what gonna a week before
00:28:40.57\00:28:42.01
your birthday, here's what gonna
00:28:42.02\00:28:43.70
happen in your
family, your job and your
00:28:43.71\00:28:45.11
finances. I praise God that He
00:28:45.12\00:28:46.68
does not give us a
preview but He goes
00:28:46.69\00:28:48.89
ahead of us and
makes the way clear for us,
00:28:48.90\00:28:51.98
can somebody say
amen? Amen. But Balaam
00:28:51.99\00:28:55.59
who God sees, I can
imagine God send Balaam,
00:28:56.52\00:28:59.14
Balaam don't, don't do that.
00:28:59.15\00:29:01.12
Balaam thinks that
he can use the God's
00:29:03.36\00:29:05.79
given powers to
curse the people of God,
00:29:05.80\00:29:08.71
but look at God's
response in verse 9:
00:29:09.11\00:29:11.26
"Then God came
to Balaam and said,
00:29:13.08\00:29:16.56
let's read that
together, who are these men
00:29:16.57\00:29:19.78
with you." Now brethren Balaam
00:29:19.79\00:29:22.00
should have had
sense because when God is,
00:29:22.01\00:29:24.89
when God says
where you are going,
00:29:24.90\00:29:26.49
He's not asking
for the location,
00:29:26.50\00:29:28.08
when God says,
what are you doing,
00:29:28.09\00:29:29.66
He's not asking for description,
00:29:29.67\00:29:31.13
when God says
what are you wearing,
00:29:31.14\00:29:32.67
He's not asking
for the designers name,
00:29:32.68\00:29:34.78
when God is saying,
what are you buying,
00:29:34.79\00:29:36.25
He's not asking
for the make and model,
00:29:36.26\00:29:37.83
when God said, what did you say,
00:29:37.84\00:29:39.50
He's not asking you
to repeat it, God was,
00:29:39.51\00:29:42.26
He knew the
answer, who are you with.
00:29:42.64\00:29:44.41
He knew exactly
who Balaam was with
00:29:44.42\00:29:46.74
and He asked the question,
00:29:46.75\00:29:48.31
so Balaam could
open his eyes and say,
00:29:48.32\00:29:51.08
you are right whom I am with?
00:29:51.67\00:29:53.04
How did I get
myself hooked up with
00:29:58.91\00:30:01.64
folk like these?
That's why God asked
00:30:01.65\00:30:04.98
Balaam the question.
Now Balaam would say,
00:30:04.99\00:30:07.05
well, God let me
tell you who they are,
00:30:07.06\00:30:08.16
now this guy's name is Jeff,
00:30:08.17\00:30:09.71
this guy's name is
Mike, God wasn't asking
00:30:09.72\00:30:11.79
for names, God was trying to
00:30:11.80\00:30:13.21
get Balaam to
open his eyes to see
00:30:13.22\00:30:15.24
he was in a
predicament. Look at the verse
00:30:15.25\00:30:17.76
10 and 11: "So
Balaam said to the God well,
00:30:17.77\00:30:24.28
I like this when
we try to inform God,
00:30:25.06\00:30:26.65
is that amazing? God let me give
00:30:26.66\00:30:28.37
you the details,
so Balaam said to
00:30:28.38\00:30:32.20
the God well,
Balak the son of Zippor,
00:30:32.21\00:30:34.63
king of Moab, has sent to me,
00:30:34.64\00:30:36.58
saying. look a people
has come out of Egypt,
00:30:36.59\00:30:39.54
and they cover
the face of the earth.
00:30:40.05\00:30:41.46
Come now, curse them for me;
00:30:41.78\00:30:43.28
perhaps I shall
be able to overpower
00:30:43.29\00:30:47.24
them and drive them
out." You see he said,
00:30:47.25\00:30:51.23
Lord this is exactly
what Balaam wants me to,
00:30:51.24\00:30:53.21
this is what
Balak wants me to do?
00:30:53.22\00:30:54.92
He gives God all the
information and instead
00:30:55.27\00:30:58.05
of thinking at
that moment that this is
00:30:58.06\00:31:00.78
not God's will,
he considers whether
00:31:00.79\00:31:04.92
or not he could
really do what Balak
00:31:04.93\00:31:06.63
has hired him
and paid him to do,
00:31:06.64\00:31:09.29
how ridiculous to
think? That the position that
00:31:09.66\00:31:13.26
God puts you in
could all of a sudden now
00:31:13.27\00:31:15.48
become a
position that becomes an
00:31:15.49\00:31:17.32
advantageous move for the enemy.
00:31:17.33\00:31:19.68
But I like the fact
that God continues talking,
00:31:20.32\00:31:22.15
aren't you glad
that God never stops
00:31:22.16\00:31:24.11
telling us what we need to do?
00:31:24.12\00:31:25.25
Here it is God was
his direct as he could
00:31:26.64\00:31:31.18
possibly be
with Balaam verse 12:
00:31:31.19\00:31:34.11
"And God said to
Balaam, you shall not go
00:31:35.61\00:31:39.87
with them, you
shall not curse the
00:31:39.88\00:31:43.24
people for they
are blessed." Amen.
00:31:43.25\00:31:46.86
Aren't you glad
that God is the God
00:31:46.87\00:31:50.36
that knows how to bless?
00:31:50.37\00:31:52.37
You know what the blessing is?
00:31:53.70\00:31:54.67
When April 15th
come and you get money
00:31:55.72\00:31:57.96
back instead I've to
pay, am I right? Amen.
00:31:57.97\00:32:01.90
A blessing is
that instead of a bill
00:32:02.48\00:32:04.42
coming in the mail, a
check comes in the mail.
00:32:04.43\00:32:06.91
A blessing is when
you go to the doctor
00:32:07.90\00:32:09.69
and the prognosis is
there is no more cancer.
00:32:09.94\00:32:14.00
Amen. When you go the doctor
00:32:14.01\00:32:15.39
and he says, well I look for you
00:32:15.40\00:32:17.26
and in the other
year you know when
00:32:17.27\00:32:18.48
men going, I, I'm
getting older now,
00:32:18.49\00:32:20.60
I remember, I'm kind
get a little personal
00:32:20.61\00:32:23.46
here but you
know when men get to
00:32:23.47\00:32:24.81
the certain age,
they got to check
00:32:24.82\00:32:26.07
certain things,
they got to make sure
00:32:26.08\00:32:28.27
that their health is strong.
00:32:28.28\00:32:29.64
But that's something
that kind of men don't
00:32:30.29\00:32:32.12
want to do that,
men like to always
00:32:32.13\00:32:33.18
act like they are strong enough,
00:32:33.19\00:32:34.20
nothing is gonna wrong you know,
00:32:34.21\00:32:35.38
I cut down trees
how can I get sick?
00:32:35.65\00:32:37.69
But as I get
older, you know they get
00:32:38.74\00:32:40.65
this check list,
just like that when
00:32:40.66\00:32:41.89
you get your car,
you have the manual
00:32:41.90\00:32:44.17
at 20,000 miles
check this, at 60,000 miles
00:32:44.18\00:32:47.12
check that, I think
I'm at 200,000 miles,
00:32:47.13\00:32:49.67
now check that, and so we humble
00:32:50.60\00:32:52.66
our self and say,
and you wife says,
00:32:52.67\00:32:54.58
honey would you
like me to go with you
00:32:54.59\00:32:55.60
to doctor, no I
could handle this
00:32:55.61\00:32:56.97
one myself. And you walk in
00:32:56.98\00:32:59.40
and you go from being strong to,
00:32:59.41\00:33:00.74
this is gonna
hurt? I have seen many
00:33:01.71\00:33:07.25
a men that tell me
that they'll faint at
00:33:07.26\00:33:10.39
the sight of the
blood, but outside of that
00:33:10.40\00:33:12.13
they look
strong, but brethren God
00:33:12.14\00:33:14.33
knows where we are strong,
00:33:14.34\00:33:16.06
and God knows where we are weak.
00:33:16.07\00:33:18.14
God knew where He
had made Balaam strong,
00:33:18.15\00:33:20.87
but God also saw
Balaam becoming weak,
00:33:20.88\00:33:24.13
amazing look at the verse 13,
00:33:26.29\00:33:28.56
"God continues
talking but Balaam
00:33:29.48\00:33:34.39
refuses to
listen. "So Balaam rose in
00:33:34.86\00:33:38.93
the morning and said
to the princes of Balak,
00:33:38.94\00:33:40.73
Go back to your
land, for the Lord has
00:33:40.74\00:33:43.43
refused to give me permission to
00:33:43.44\00:33:46.13
go with you." If
he had stuck to his
00:33:46.14\00:33:48.41
decision then
everything would have been
00:33:48.42\00:33:50.93
just fine, he sees it unfolding
00:33:50.94\00:33:55.34
and God gives him
the clear no go signal,
00:33:56.68\00:33:59.14
kind like the story
Paul the apostle when
00:34:00.78\00:34:02.53
he was on his way back to Rome.
00:34:02.54\00:34:04.13
It made be clear
outside the skies may be
00:34:05.10\00:34:07.11
blue the wind may
calm, but don't go.
00:34:07.12\00:34:09.64
When God says don't
go, brethren what should
00:34:10.52\00:34:12.07
we do? Don't go.
Don't go. But when you
00:34:12.08\00:34:18.13
follow the story carefully,
00:34:18.14\00:34:19.35
you'll discover,
it wasn't so much that
00:34:19.36\00:34:22.55
Balaam is saying my
father says don't go,
00:34:22.56\00:34:25.59
he was saying like
a child who had his
00:34:25.60\00:34:27.92
toys taken away,
I really wanna go,
00:34:27.93\00:34:30.35
but God doesn't want me to go,
00:34:30.36\00:34:33.03
so if you can find another way
00:34:33.74\00:34:34.92
for me to go,
may be I'll be more
00:34:34.93\00:34:37.18
open to the alternative method.
00:34:37.19\00:34:40.13
Look at the verses
as they unfold verse 15
00:34:40.81\00:34:44.21
to verse 17, you see the elders
00:34:44.98\00:34:48.10
return to Balaam
or the Balak without
00:34:48.11\00:34:49.90
the Balaam.
Balak figures that if
00:34:49.91\00:34:52.05
he sense more
important people to Balaam
00:34:52.06\00:34:53.69
it would make a
difference so Balak
00:34:53.70\00:34:55.26
sense the big shots of Moab,
00:34:55.27\00:34:57.67
look at the verse
15: Then Balak again
00:34:57.68\00:35:01.58
sent princes, more numerous
00:35:01.59\00:35:04.27
and more honorable than they.
00:35:04.28\00:35:06.91
And they came to
Balaam and said to him,
00:35:07.83\00:35:10.30
"Thus says Balak
the son of Zippor:
00:35:10.31\00:35:13.19
'Please let
nothing hinder you from
00:35:13.54\00:35:16.81
coming to me,
for I will certainly
00:35:16.82\00:35:19.55
honor you greatly,
and I will do whatever
00:35:19.56\00:35:22.33
you say to me.
Therefore please come
00:35:22.34\00:35:25.43
and curse this people for me.
00:35:25.71\00:35:27.43
You know what
happened in the scenario
00:35:27.44\00:35:28.65
right here this
is amazing part of
00:35:28.66\00:35:29.76
the story. The first
time he sent messengers,
00:35:29.77\00:35:33.02
the second time he sent the CEO.
00:35:33.98\00:35:36.08
The first time he
sent broke soldiers,
00:35:37.57\00:35:39.63
the second time he
sent money with great,
00:35:40.21\00:35:41.88
men with great
influence in money.
00:35:41.89\00:35:43.59
Sometimes
brethren you got to be very
00:35:44.28\00:35:45.72
careful because they
are those in the church
00:35:45.73\00:35:47.77
not seen this happen before,
00:35:47.78\00:35:49.06
they wouldn't leave
the church but all of
00:35:50.33\00:35:52.03
a sudden when
somebody comes along with a
00:35:52.04\00:35:53.94
a prize or a
gift that looks to be
00:35:53.95\00:35:55.61
really great,
all of a sudden they
00:35:55.62\00:35:58.18
have a change of
heart. In these last days
00:35:58.19\00:36:01.21
Satan is going to
try to seek any means
00:36:01.56\00:36:03.32
whereby he can,
he's going to up,
00:36:03.33\00:36:05.45
he's going to up
the anti, so there are
00:36:05.46\00:36:07.86
people that have been honoring
00:36:07.87\00:36:09.01
the Sabbath for
years, and all of a sudden
00:36:09.02\00:36:12.29
the devil comes
with a higher price.
00:36:13.28\00:36:15.22
He comes to them
with men that seems
00:36:15.23\00:36:17.59
to be more
honorable, and men that seems to
00:36:17.60\00:36:19.77
have greater clout
and they find a way
00:36:19.78\00:36:22.31
to pull the people of God out.
00:36:22.32\00:36:23.67
And here's my
point no matter who
00:36:23.68\00:36:25.46
comes to you, if they come to
00:36:25.47\00:36:26.63
you with some
thing other than the God
00:36:26.64\00:36:28.09
desires you to
do, let them go back
00:36:28.10\00:36:29.75
by themselves.
Amen. Go back by yourself
00:36:29.76\00:36:34.87
but the problem
here is that Balaam
00:36:39.34\00:36:43.24
was flattered, he
sent you guys to me,
00:36:43.25\00:36:49.24
well I must be
really special to Balak,
00:36:50.50\00:36:52.43
look at the story I
must be really special,
00:36:53.03\00:36:54.97
but he acts like
he is not impressed,
00:36:54.98\00:36:56.82
but as he continues
conversing just like
00:36:56.83\00:36:59.01
Eve at the tree
of the knowledge of
00:36:59.02\00:37:00.53
good and evil.
If he had said God
00:37:00.54\00:37:02.81
said that the day I
eat you should surely
00:37:02.82\00:37:05.38
die and I'm out of
here. She should have run
00:37:05.39\00:37:08.34
for her life
sometimes the only thing
00:37:08.35\00:37:10.50
you can do is run
for your life, amen,
00:37:10.51\00:37:12.01
don't stand up
because we are no match
00:37:12.02\00:37:14.41
for the enemy, we cannot wrestle
00:37:14.42\00:37:16.26
against flesh and
blood, but he has a
00:37:16.27\00:37:20.63
conversation
look at the verse 18,
00:37:20.64\00:37:22.02
this is called
expository verse by verse:
00:37:22.63\00:37:24.73
Then Balaam
answered and said to the
00:37:25.10\00:37:27.17
servants of Balak,
well though Balak were
00:37:27.18\00:37:29.53
to give me his house
full of silver and gold,
00:37:29.54\00:37:31.92
I could not go
beyond the word of
00:37:31.93\00:37:34.28
the Lord my God, to
bless, to do less or more.
00:37:34.29\00:37:39.20
Now therefore,
this is where action
00:37:39.21\00:37:43.59
speak louder than
words, now therefore please,
00:37:43.60\00:37:47.74
you also stay here tonight,
00:37:47.75\00:37:50.07
that I may know
what more the Lord
00:37:50.92\00:37:52.59
will say to me.
Brethren that was the trap,
00:37:52.60\00:37:55.21
did you see it? He says God,
00:37:55.22\00:37:58.84
does not want me to do anything
00:37:59.17\00:38:01.05
that will dishonor His name,
00:38:01.98\00:38:02.95
but stay
overnight maybe God would
00:38:02.96\00:38:04.15
change His mind. The problem is
00:38:04.16\00:38:09.39
sometimes you
don't just meet folk
00:38:09.40\00:38:12.16
but you sit down
and say let's talk
00:38:12.17\00:38:13.53
about it. Now let me see
00:38:13.54\00:38:16.51
your verses that
you found to discredit
00:38:16.52\00:38:18.92
the Sabbath. Let me study those
00:38:18.93\00:38:20.34
verses brethren
there are no verses
00:38:20.35\00:38:22.28
in the scripture to
discredit the Sabbath,
00:38:22.29\00:38:23.76
can you say amen,
amen. But some folk
00:38:23.77\00:38:25.90
they think
theological come up and write
00:38:25.91\00:38:27.82
all these books, you can write
00:38:27.83\00:38:29.09
all the books you
want but I'm sticking
00:38:29.10\00:38:30.60
to this book,
what do you to say?
00:38:30.61\00:38:31.76
Amen. So he said
stay tonight with me
00:38:31.77\00:38:34.34
maybe God will
give me instructions
00:38:34.35\00:38:36.26
in the morning,
but God makes it clear,
00:38:36.27\00:38:38.70
the Lord allows
Balaam watch this,
00:38:39.09\00:38:41.57
the Lord allows
Balaam to set this
00:38:42.01\00:38:44.40
next decision to test
Balaam's heart verse 20,
00:38:44.41\00:38:50.42
"And God came to Balaam at night
00:38:51.65\00:38:53.29
and said to him: If the men come
00:38:53.30\00:38:56.10
to call you,
rise and go with them;
00:38:56.11\00:38:58.78
but only the word which I speak
00:38:59.37\00:39:01.27
to you that you
shall do." Follow verse 21:
00:39:01.28\00:39:07.01
"So Balaam rose in the morning,
00:39:10.17\00:39:11.72
saddled his
donkey, and went with the
00:39:11.73\00:39:14.91
princes of
Moab. Then God's anger
00:39:14.92\00:39:19.14
was aroused because he went,
00:39:19.15\00:39:21.18
you see now brethren
if you follow this very,
00:39:22.12\00:39:24.33
very carefully the Lord says,
00:39:24.34\00:39:26.36
look at the verse 20 again,
00:39:26.90\00:39:27.93
if the men come t
call you rise and go
00:39:27.94\00:39:30.13
with them but
only the words which
00:39:30.14\00:39:31.91
I speak to you
that you shall do.
00:39:31.92\00:39:34.53
The next morning
God did not gave him
00:39:34.54\00:39:36.41
permission to go right away,
00:39:36.42\00:39:37.95
but he figured, okay that's good
00:39:38.33\00:39:39.58
enough for me, so
I'm getting up any way.
00:39:39.59\00:39:41.23
God didn't say,
God said, I could go
00:39:41.24\00:39:43.27
when they come, so
I'm going to decide when,
00:39:43.28\00:39:45.85
now follow this
carefully there is a timetable
00:39:46.15\00:39:48.78
that God has that is
not always our timetable.
00:39:48.79\00:39:51.42
But you got to
follow God's timetable,
00:39:52.76\00:39:54.74
God said when they
come, I'll tell you when
00:39:55.53\00:39:57.07
to go but he went
on his own volition,
00:39:57.08\00:40:00.53
he went on his own decision,
00:40:01.09\00:40:02.99
he got up the
next morning and went.
00:40:03.30\00:40:05.26
Why did he go
because I would suggest
00:40:05.85\00:40:07.40
you that the
price, and the honor,
00:40:07.41\00:40:09.69
and the fame and
the recognition began
00:40:09.70\00:40:11.78
to get into Balaam's skin,
00:40:11.79\00:40:13.85
and he wanted to
impress? As far as God will
00:40:14.57\00:40:17.53
allow him, so we got up that
00:40:17.54\00:40:18.51
morning and he went
and he saddled a donkey.
00:40:18.52\00:40:22.02
And this is where the
story gets ridiculous,
00:40:22.03\00:40:24.11
this is where the
story gets really ridiculous.
00:40:25.23\00:40:26.80
Let's follow this
very carefully because
00:40:26.81\00:40:28.30
my time is coming to close.
00:40:28.31\00:40:30.94
Now the donkey verse
22, then God's anger was
00:40:31.41\00:40:35.46
aroused because
he went and the angel
00:40:35.47\00:40:40.17
of the Lord took
his stand in the way as
00:40:40.18\00:40:43.65
an advisory against
him. And he was riding
00:40:43.66\00:40:47.33
his donkey and his two
servants were with him,
00:40:47.34\00:40:50.44
now the donkey saw
the angel of the Lord
00:40:51.25\00:40:53.66
standing in the way
with his drawn sword
00:40:53.67\00:40:57.26
in his hand and
the donkey turned aside
00:40:57.27\00:40:59.71
out of the way and
went into the field.
00:40:59.72\00:41:02.57
So, Balaam struck
the donkey to turn
00:41:03.09\00:41:05.02
her back into the
road. He doesn't know
00:41:05.03\00:41:07.84
yet what is
happening sometimes God
00:41:07.85\00:41:09.86
intervenes and we
don't understand God's
00:41:09.87\00:41:11.37
hand but what's
happening is just not
00:41:11.38\00:41:13.49
happening the way
we intended to occur.
00:41:13.50\00:41:16.15
And that's what
taking place in this story,
00:41:16.44\00:41:17.84
where is my car
and driving me to
00:41:17.85\00:41:19.57
the movies? Why is
it that I can't find
00:41:19.58\00:41:23.25
her house all of a sudden,
00:41:23.26\00:41:24.45
why is it I can't
find his house all of
00:41:25.75\00:41:27.09
a sudden? When
your car starts turning
00:41:27.10\00:41:29.49
without you turning it brethren,
00:41:29.50\00:41:30.75
you ought to say
somebody is in control
00:41:30.76\00:41:32.86
of the wheel other than me.
00:41:32.87\00:41:34.05
When things begin
happening in your life,
00:41:34.80\00:41:36.31
when you decide to
go against God's word
00:41:36.32\00:41:38.31
you ought to take
that as an indication
00:41:38.32\00:41:40.03
that God is trying
to get a message across.
00:41:40.04\00:41:42.50
He should have put
his donkey in neutral
00:41:43.83\00:41:45.64
or in reverse,
let's go back home
00:41:45.65\00:41:48.82
because all of a
sudden this donkey
00:41:49.47\00:41:50.81
that was always
obedient begins to be
00:41:50.82\00:41:52.59
disobedient. Verse
24: Then the angel of the
00:41:52.60\00:42:03.07
Lord stood in the
narrow path between
00:42:03.08\00:42:05.26
the vineyards venues,
with a wall on this side
00:42:05.27\00:42:09.03
and a wall on that
side. And when the donkey
00:42:09.04\00:42:13.49
saw the angel of
the Lord, she pushed
00:42:13.50\00:42:16.17
herself against the
wall and what did she
00:42:16.18\00:42:18.94
do to Balaam's
foot, she what? Crushed
00:42:18.95\00:42:22.52
Balaam's foot against the wall.
00:42:22.53\00:42:24.92
So he struck her
again. This part of the story
00:42:25.21\00:42:32.60
really humbled me
because you know when
00:42:32.61\00:42:34.14
you can't see God
but your animal could.
00:42:34.15\00:42:36.28
Is that what
happened when the flood
00:42:40.23\00:42:41.27
came the first
time, the animals that we
00:42:41.28\00:42:44.33
call dump all of a
sudden becomes smarter
00:42:44.34\00:42:47.74
even than a
servant of God because
00:42:47.75\00:42:50.14
he wouldn't
listen to God's leading
00:42:50.15\00:42:51.81
and God's
direction. You may be God's
00:42:51.82\00:42:54.25
servant but when
your animal responds
00:42:54.26\00:42:56.66
to God more than you
do, there's something
00:42:56.67\00:42:59.97
that's wrong.
The animal listening
00:43:00.42\00:43:03.97
to the voice of God,
now why did God allow
00:43:03.98\00:43:06.88
the animal to crush
Balaam's foot because
00:43:06.89\00:43:09.08
its better than God
taking Balaam's life.
00:43:09.09\00:43:12.05
But Balaam still doesn't get,
00:43:16.46\00:43:17.43
look at verse 26 and verse 27.
00:43:17.44\00:43:23.38
I was trying to
think of what to entitle
00:43:25.83\00:43:27.29
this sermon and
I was gonna come up
00:43:27.30\00:43:29.15
with the title Dumb and Dumber,
00:43:29.16\00:43:30.71
because we always
call an animal dump
00:43:32.86\00:43:34.52
but in this
case Balaam is dumber
00:43:35.18\00:43:36.56
than the animal.
I was gonna call it
00:43:36.57\00:43:39.34
dump and dumber,
look at verse 26.
00:43:40.01\00:43:42.68
Then the angel of
the Lord went further
00:43:43.61\00:43:48.68
and stood in a
narrow place where there
00:43:49.38\00:43:52.39
was no way to turn
either to the right
00:43:52.40\00:43:54.53
hand or to the
left. And when the donkey
00:43:54.54\00:43:58.04
saw the angel of the Lord,
00:43:58.05\00:44:00.67
she laid down on the Balaam,
00:44:01.19\00:44:02.90
so Balaam's
anger was aroused and
00:44:03.38\00:44:06.45
he struck the
donkey with his step and
00:44:06.46\00:44:09.61
this is where it
goes from sublime
00:44:09.62\00:44:11.55
to the ridiculous.
Then the Lord opened
00:44:11.56\00:44:16.46
the mouth of the
donkey and she said
00:44:16.47\00:44:19.17
to Balaam what have I've done to
00:44:19.18\00:44:21.24
you that you have
struck me with the,
00:44:21.25\00:44:23.57
struck me these
three times. My wife and I,
00:44:24.11\00:44:26.78
we feed Raccoons.
Don't tell me about
00:44:27.43\00:44:30.14
I know they have
rabies and all that,
00:44:30.15\00:44:31.77
but they have
come to know us very
00:44:32.77\00:44:33.75
well they even
eat off our hands.
00:44:33.76\00:44:35.11
We just put our
hand and they eat
00:44:35.12\00:44:36.83
but you know
brother, I had stopped feeding
00:44:36.84\00:44:38.42
them and they
start talking to me.
00:44:38.43\00:44:39.75
I can guarantee you
that; I am not having any
00:44:41.14\00:44:43.51
conversations with Raccoons.
00:44:43.52\00:44:45.22
We feed a Badger,
I call them a beaver
00:44:45.99\00:44:48.66
but they said its
tail is too small a Badger.
00:44:48.67\00:44:50.71
But I'll not feed
him if he starts knocking
00:44:51.32\00:44:53.76
on the window and
saying, you forgot to put
00:44:53.77\00:44:55.37
my food out. I would say you
00:44:55.38\00:44:56.91
will not getting
anything from me,
00:44:56.92\00:44:57.93
can you say
amen. When your animals
00:44:57.94\00:45:00.09
start talking to
you, if we're not on the
00:45:00.10\00:45:01.93
other side of a new creation,
00:45:01.94\00:45:03.24
something is wrong,
but what's ridiculous
00:45:03.25\00:45:06.82
is the next
verse. You see its one
00:45:09.32\00:45:10.29
thing to have your
animal talk to you,
00:45:10.30\00:45:11.27
you're following
me. Let's go and see how
00:45:13.97\00:45:16.03
ridiculous this is. Verse 29 and
00:45:16.04\00:45:19.39
Balaam said to
the donkey because you
00:45:19.40\00:45:22.68
have abused me, boy
that sounds so terrible.
00:45:22.69\00:45:26.99
I wish we there
was a sword in my
00:45:28.01\00:45:30.65
hand for now I
would kill you. You see,
00:45:30.66\00:45:34.20
you know things
are bad when you start
00:45:34.51\00:45:35.84
having
conversations with animals.
00:45:35.85\00:45:37.66
I hear my wife
every now and then
00:45:37.67\00:45:39.12
say come here, come here,
00:45:39.13\00:45:40.28
come here and I
just say who you are
00:45:40.29\00:45:41.57
talking to honey? Oh
the Raccoons come here,
00:45:41.58\00:45:45.31
and then she I hear
her say don't do that,
00:45:45.32\00:45:47.30
and I'm thinking who
is she talking to now?
00:45:47.96\00:45:49.48
And she is
talking to the Raccoons.
00:45:49.94\00:45:51.42
Brethren, I am okay right now
00:45:52.50\00:45:54.07
with her that but I
will really take my wife
00:45:54.08\00:45:56.33
to get some therapy,
if I hear them talking
00:45:56.34\00:45:58.78
back and forth. Honey you found
00:45:58.79\00:46:01.06
a way to do something I've never
00:46:01.07\00:46:02.40
been able to do,
Balaam and his donkey
00:46:02.41\00:46:04.40
is having a back
and forth conversation
00:46:04.41\00:46:07.10
but what he doesn't understand
00:46:07.11\00:46:09.43
is that Balaam did
not realize that he
00:46:10.48\00:46:12.58
owed his life to
his animal because his
00:46:12.59\00:46:15.51
animal was more
obedient than he was to the
00:46:15.52\00:46:18.78
voice of God. Look at how the
00:46:18.79\00:46:20.69
story comes down
as it's winding up
00:46:20.70\00:46:22.49
here look at verse
30. So the donkey said
00:46:22.50\00:46:25.51
to Balaam, am I not your donkey
00:46:25.52\00:46:28.07
on which you have
ridden ever since I
00:46:28.08\00:46:30.66
became yours to this
day. Was I ever disposed
00:46:30.67\00:46:35.05
to do this to you?
He started talking,
00:46:35.06\00:46:38.76
he started
talking and he said no.
00:46:39.99\00:46:41.39
Now at that point
being a Prophet of
00:46:42.00\00:46:43.46
God I would have
said, oh Lord are you trying
00:46:43.47\00:46:45.20
to tell me
something? Let me put this into
00:46:45.21\00:46:48.99
today's language.
God will use whatever
00:46:49.00\00:46:55.92
means it takes,
my brothers and my
00:46:55.93\00:46:57.66
sisters to
remind us that there is
00:46:57.67\00:47:00.70
only one way that
we can be blessed,
00:47:00.71\00:47:03.17
and that is to
stay true to the God
00:47:03.52\00:47:05.73
that we have always served.
00:47:05.74\00:47:07.38
But here is the challenge;
00:47:08.06\00:47:09.63
this former
Prophet of God who is once
00:47:09.92\00:47:13.18
a legion to the God of heaven,
00:47:13.19\00:47:14.76
the God he served for many,
00:47:14.77\00:47:16.22
many years all
of a sudden became
00:47:16.23\00:47:18.12
a legion to another
God. He became a bolygamist.
00:47:18.13\00:47:23.13
He had two Gods in his life,
00:47:23.83\00:47:25.59
and as the
scenario began to unfold
00:47:25.60\00:47:28.41
it was in fact
true. His heart was being
00:47:28.69\00:47:31.25
turned to the
God of materialism,
00:47:31.26\00:47:33.04
the God of honor,
the God of recognition.
00:47:33.05\00:47:35.67
He did this all
for the wrong reasons,
00:47:35.68\00:47:37.46
and he thought he
can maintain his walk
00:47:37.47\00:47:39.55
with God by
listening to the voice of
00:47:39.56\00:47:41.70
another God,
another God took the
00:47:41.71\00:47:43.97
place of the
only God that desired
00:47:43.98\00:47:45.69
to be in his
life. And I want to say
00:47:45.70\00:47:48.78
as is the case,
listen to page Patriarchs
00:47:49.37\00:47:51.65
and Prophets Page
443: Few realize as they
00:47:51.66\00:47:56.45
should and this
is amazing thing,
00:47:56.46\00:47:58.70
and I had to put
this in just for those
00:47:58.71\00:48:00.39
people that like
to abuse animals,
00:48:00.40\00:48:03.44
we don't do that.
Few realize as they
00:48:03.66\00:48:07.85
should and this was in
harmony with the story.
00:48:10.82\00:48:11.79
The sinfulness of
abusing animals are leaving
00:48:12.66\00:48:15.09
them to suffer from neglect,
00:48:15.10\00:48:16.85
but could the eyes
of these men be opened
00:48:17.89\00:48:19.97
as were those of
Balaam, they would see an
00:48:19.98\00:48:22.68
angel of God standing
as a witness to testify
00:48:22.69\00:48:26.27
against them in
the courts above.
00:48:26.28\00:48:29.47
A record goes up
to heaven and a day
00:48:29.93\00:48:32.67
is coming when
judgment will be pronounced
00:48:32.68\00:48:36.03
against those who
abuse God's creatures.
00:48:36.04\00:48:39.09
How many times
have you heard a sermon
00:48:39.95\00:48:41.65
talking about don't
abuse animals brother?
00:48:41.66\00:48:44.01
First of all if we
are true to God we would
00:48:44.55\00:48:46.58
not abuse them.
If we are true to God
00:48:46.59\00:48:49.56
we will never get
to the place where we
00:48:49.57\00:48:50.64
would have to or we
would even desire to,
00:48:50.65\00:48:52.89
but what had happened here is
00:48:53.20\00:48:54.61
Balaam became a sell
out. He sold out to another
00:48:54.62\00:48:57.96
God and brothers
and sisters my greatest
00:48:57.97\00:49:00.47
challenge to you today is this,
00:49:00.48\00:49:02.08
because I know
the Lord is coming
00:49:02.74\00:49:04.03
but if he would come today,
00:49:04.78\00:49:05.86
would you honor
him and cling to him
00:49:06.34\00:49:09.04
and recognize him as your God,
00:49:09.37\00:49:12.39
the one you
love, the one you serve
00:49:12.40\00:49:14.42
or has it possibly
been that along the
00:49:14.66\00:49:18.34
way in your
journey your legions to
00:49:18.35\00:49:20.73
God has been challenged,
00:49:20.74\00:49:22.11
your legions has been warned.
00:49:22.12\00:49:24.39
Your heart that
was once God's heart,
00:49:24.40\00:49:26.34
the place that He
alone lived has become
00:49:26.35\00:49:29.36
the throne of another God,
00:49:29.37\00:49:30.72
and so therefore if
it is money or fame,
00:49:31.14\00:49:33.70
or education, or recognition, or
00:49:33.84\00:49:35.65
popularity
whatever the case may be,
00:49:35.66\00:49:38.57
Satan wants to
defeat us before we get
00:49:38.85\00:49:41.23
to the Promised
Land. And so as I sing the
00:49:41.24\00:49:44.14
song brethren, I am
gonna ask you a question,
00:49:44.15\00:49:46.08
this song is design
to ask you the question
00:49:46.64\00:49:48.56
if the Lord would
to come here today,
00:49:48.85\00:49:50.66
would you be fighting
with Him like Balaam did,
00:49:51.18\00:49:53.95
not seeing that
he is trying to get
00:49:53.96\00:49:55.26
your attention,
or would you know
00:49:55.27\00:49:56.80
imagine your
Lord and Savior listen
00:49:56.81\00:49:58.63
as this song
brings to each of us
00:49:59.30\00:50:01.45
the challenge
simply would you know me.
00:50:02.03\00:50:04.81
Would I know You now
00:50:45.48\00:50:49.75
if You walked into the room
00:50:50.79\00:50:54.33
If you stilled the crowd,
00:50:56.41\00:51:00.79
If You light dispelled the gloom
00:51:01.43\00:51:05.67
And if I saw
Your wounds and touch
00:51:06.19\00:51:11.65
Your thorn pierced brow
00:51:11.66\00:51:16.34
I wonder if I'd know You now
00:51:17.99\00:51:24.27
Would I know You now,
00:51:26.87\00:51:30.62
if You walked into this place
00:51:31.20\00:51:35.28
Would I cause You shame,
00:51:35.86\00:51:39.58
would my games be Your disgrace
00:51:40.04\00:51:44.49
Would I worship You
00:51:44.68\00:51:48.81
and fall down upon my face
00:51:49.55\00:51:54.89
I wonder if I'd know You now
00:51:56.07\00:52:01.99
Or have the images I've painted
00:52:03.97\00:52:07.91
So distorted who You are
00:52:08.10\00:52:11.75
That even if the
world were looking
00:52:11.91\00:52:15.85
They could not
see You, the real You
00:52:15.86\00:52:20.66
Have I changed
the true reflection?
00:52:20.67\00:52:24.32
To fulfill my own design
00:52:24.92\00:52:28.43
Making You what I want
00:52:28.81\00:52:31.64
Not showing You
forth divine, oh divine
00:52:31.65\00:52:43.49
Would I miss You now
00:52:44.93\00:52:49.76
if You left and closed the door
00:52:50.72\00:52:54.84
Would my flesh cry out
00:52:56.36\00:53:00.02
"I don't need You anymore"
00:53:00.55\00:53:04.76
Would I follow You,
00:53:05.32\00:53:09.81
Lord could I be restored
00:53:10.35\00:53:16.18
Lord I wonder, Lord I
00:53:16.60\00:53:21.88
wonder if I'd have learned
00:53:21.89\00:53:26.78
I wonder if I know you now.
00:53:27.54\00:53:47.27
I am so glad
the story didn't end
00:54:01.58\00:54:02.94
with the
conversation to the donkey.
00:54:02.95\00:54:04.58
It ended with good
news. God was able to recover
00:54:06.68\00:54:12.05
his prophet going
away. The verse 31 says
00:54:12.06\00:54:16.39
then the Lord
opened the Balaam's eyes
00:54:16.40\00:54:20.69
and he saw the
angel of the Lord standing
00:54:21.79\00:54:23.95
in the way with his drawn sword
00:54:23.96\00:54:27.15
in his hand, and
he bowed his head
00:54:27.16\00:54:30.68
and felt flat on his face.
00:54:31.32\00:54:33.19
Brother the tragedies
that come to our lives,
00:54:34.59\00:54:38.38
the challenges
that come to our lives,
00:54:38.39\00:54:40.54
the difficulties
that come to our lives,
00:54:41.05\00:54:42.88
when the moment
goes or arrive simply
00:54:43.48\00:54:45.47
say in that
moment, Lord thank you for
00:54:45.48\00:54:48.18
getting my
attention, anybody here glad
00:54:48.19\00:54:50.37
that God got your attention?
00:54:50.38\00:54:51.81
Boy there are so many
instances in our life,
00:54:52.94\00:54:54.67
so many experiences in our life,
00:54:54.68\00:54:56.13
we would say God
thank you for getting
00:54:56.14\00:54:59.57
my attention, thank you for not
00:54:59.58\00:55:01.51
allowing me to go
completely astray,
00:55:01.52\00:55:04.39
amen. Thank you
for blocking every
00:55:04.65\00:55:06.45
channel I've tried to travel,
00:55:06.46\00:55:07.82
every attempt I've
made, thank you for every
00:55:08.24\00:55:10.57
unanswered prayer,
thank you for every
00:55:10.58\00:55:13.13
investment that
did not give a return
00:55:13.14\00:55:15.15
because it was not blessed by
00:55:15.16\00:55:16.46
the hand of God.
And so the people
00:55:16.47\00:55:18.77
of God are gonna
learn before we get
00:55:18.78\00:55:20.03
into the Promised Land there is
00:55:20.04\00:55:21.48
only one Lord, there's only one
00:55:21.49\00:55:23.28
savior and He is
the only one that is
00:55:23.29\00:55:25.67
requiring our
worship. He is the only one
00:55:25.68\00:55:27.86
worthy of our
worship, but brethren do not
00:55:27.87\00:55:30.91
sell out, because
Satan is trying to get us
00:55:30.92\00:55:34.81
to give up and to
sell out before we make
00:55:34.82\00:55:36.57
to the Promised
Land. So today I want to
00:55:36.58\00:55:38.46
pray if there is a
challenge in anybody's
00:55:38.47\00:55:41.37
life here today,
if the legions of God
00:55:41.38\00:55:42.79
is being drawn in
any particular direction,
00:55:42.80\00:55:44.68
I want you to
leave camp meeting with
00:55:44.92\00:55:46.18
this assurance. God can give you
00:55:46.19\00:55:48.96
strength that you can't say no
00:55:48.97\00:55:51.28
in the hour that
God is wrestling with
00:55:51.29\00:55:53.29
you trying to get
you back to the way
00:55:53.30\00:55:55.84
of your blessing.
God did it for Balaam
00:55:55.85\00:55:58.72
and if God can do it for Balaam,
00:55:59.37\00:56:01.54
God can do it
for us, let us pray.
00:56:02.12\00:56:05.44
Our gracious Father in Heaven,
00:56:06.50\00:56:07.51
we thank you so
much that this is an hour
00:56:07.52\00:56:09.45
of challenge, but Father could
00:56:09.46\00:56:11.58
it be that th challenges because
00:56:11.59\00:56:13.19
we are going in the wrong way,
00:56:13.20\00:56:14.62
because we are
listening to the wrong voice,
00:56:15.55\00:56:17.52
because we're
making wrong decisions,
00:56:18.40\00:56:20.31
because we're looking
for self satisfaction,
00:56:20.67\00:56:22.68
self recognition
because self is on the
00:56:23.34\00:56:25.91
throne of our
hearts, and Jesus is no
00:56:25.92\00:56:28.17
longer there. Father I pray that
00:56:28.18\00:56:30.50
your hand will
be upon your people
00:56:30.51\00:56:32.21
that you'll guide
them, and strengthen them
00:56:32.47\00:56:34.46
that when the day
comes, and the angel of the
00:56:34.47\00:56:37.08
Lord finally opens our eyes,
00:56:37.09\00:56:38.94
that we will see that
our God hasn't changed,
00:56:40.19\00:56:42.48
he still wants to
bless us, and to save us,
00:56:42.49\00:56:45.19
and to deliver
us. May we yield in
00:56:45.57\00:56:48.28
this moment of great challenge,
00:56:48.29\00:56:50.04
and choose for
ourselves today whom
00:56:50.58\00:56:52.71
we will serve. But Father I see
00:56:52.72\00:56:54.97
today as for me
and my house we will
00:56:54.98\00:56:57.97
serve the Lord. We thank you
00:56:57.98\00:57:00.02
in Jesus name we pray, amen.
00:57:00.03\00:57:02.74