Hello and welcome
to, Pillars of Faith;
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the series that I like
to call, a word for today
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in today's world.
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My name is C.A. Murray and it
is my privilege and my pleasure
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to welcome you to the first
part of a five part series.
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Our speaker will be
Pastor Donnie Shelton,
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who is the president of,
Touching Hearts Ministries;
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a ministry founded right
here in southern Illinois
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that has extended its
reach around the world
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as he preaches the
gospel of Jesus Christ
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and lifts up the mighty
and matchless name of Jesus.
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He, teamed with
his lovely wife Brenda,
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make a powerful team
for the cause of Christ.
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And so I know God is going
to bless us as we sit through
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five presentations that
will lift up the name of Jesus,
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inspire you, inform you,
and give you the strength
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to take one more
step along that road
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that leads to glory.
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Donnie has preached certainly
over southern Illinois,
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across southern Illinois, he's
been called to other continents.
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He's become quite an
international speaker.
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He is one who loves the
Lord, who loves the Word.
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He preaches with
energy and excitement.
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And you're going to hear that as
he lifts up the name of Jesus.
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I like the title of
today's particular presentation.
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It's called, Faith
Equals Knowledge Times Light.
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Faith Equals
Knowledge Times Light.
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And I'm very, very
excited, as I know you are,
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to hear that message
and to make application
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to my own life.
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In speaking with Donnie
just before we came out,
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this series is going to
center on how faith leads us
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to a closer
relationship with Jesus Christ.
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So we're going to examine
faith from a number of angles
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and how our faith
draws us closer, bonds us,
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binds us, if you will, to our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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And so we know that Donnie
Shelton has a word from the Lord
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for our hearts today.
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I'm going to ask you
to join me now in prayer.
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And having done that, we
will call forth the man of God
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to bring the word from the Lord.
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Pillars of Faith, a word
for today in today's world.
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Shall we pray.
Father God, we do praise You
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and we thank You for
the power of Your word.
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We thank You for the word
preached, and that when the
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word goes forth, it
will accomplish the ends
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to which it is sent.
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I ask, Father, in a very special
way that You will be with
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Pastor Donnie as he speaks
for You and teaches for You,
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and functions under the
anointing of the Holy Spirit.
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May his words be Your words.
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May they be meat in
due season for our hearts,
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may they be water
for our thirsty souls.
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May we be refreshed,
invigorated, and inspired
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as we listen to
the words of Jesus.
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Fill us with Your Spirit.
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And we praise
You and we thank You.
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In Jesus' name, amen and amen.
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And now Donnie Shelton.
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Thank you, Pastor C.A., so much.
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What a privilege it
is to be able to preach
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the unsearchable
riches of Jesus Christ.
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You know, I feel a little
bit like Paul in Ephesians
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the third chapter, he
said, "I cannot believe
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that Jesus Christ called me
to preach Jesus to His people."
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God does not call
us into a ministry...
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Now, the ministry may not
be evangelism or preaching.
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It can be
teaching, it can be music.
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Whatever God calls you
into today, I want you to have
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the faith that no matter
what God has called you into,
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what ministry, that if He's
called you, He will equip you
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with everything that you need.
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The talents, the
funds, whatever it might be.
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You need to put your
faith in Jesus Christ today.
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There's only one God.
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And God said in Isaiah, "Besides
Me, there are no other Gods."
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So I can trust in
Him, I can lean on Him.
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And today we're
going to find out
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just a little bit about faith.
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And throughout this
series this week, hopefully
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you'll be encouraged
to know that Jesus Christ
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is intensely in love with you.
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With all your faults,
with all my shortcomings,
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God still loves me.
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Romans 5:8 said, but God
commendeth his love toward
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Donnie Shelton, in
while Donnie Shelton
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lived in sin, that it
was in that state of being
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that Jesus Christ
came and died for him.
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Not in Donnie Shelton's
perfections, but with all
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of Donnie's imperfections.
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Jesus Christ
still loves you today.
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We need to have the
faith to believe today.
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Here's what it
says in Jeremiah 31:3.
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God says, "I will love
you with an everlasting life."
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Forever and ever and ever
and ever; this love that God has
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for us will last not
only throughout this life,
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but throughout eternity.
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With all of our imperfections,
with all of our shortcomings,
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Jesus Christ is
intensely in love with you.
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Now today's study,
as Pastor C.A. quoted
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a few moments ago, the
title of the sermon is,
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Faith Equals
Knowledge Times Light.
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Now if you'll turn in
your Bibles with me today,
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let's turn to Romans 10:17.
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We're going to break down
today exactly what faith is
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and what faith can do in
your life, and what the power of
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God can do through you if
we just rely and trust in Him.
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Here's what Romans 10:17 says.
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Now read with me.
Get those Bibles out.
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Maybe get you a
little pencil and pad
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and write these scriptures down.
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And after the sermon, I
want you to dig into the Bible
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yourself to find
yourselves approved.
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As we study the Word of God,
as we listen to the Word of God,
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as we praise God, our faith
will be renewed and encouraged,
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and it will grow by hearing
and studying the Word of God.
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Here's what it says
again in Romans 10:17.
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"So then faith cometh
by hearing, and hearing
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by the word of God."
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Now I wrote this
down. Now listen carefully.
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Here's what faith means.
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Faith is confidence and
trust in a person or thing;
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belief in God or
in His teachings.
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Here's what it
says in Hebrews 11:1.
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Now read this with me there.
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Listen carefully.
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"Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for,
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it is the evidence
of things not seen."
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Now let's make this
perfectly clear today,
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that faith and hope
are two different things.
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Faith means, "I know
that God can do anything.
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That my God is capable of
doing any miracle that I ask."
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Hope is that God will do it.
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Faith: "I believe
in God's capabilities."
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And hope is that
when I go to God and plead
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and beg for a prayer
to be answered, that God
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will answer because of
His love, and His grace,
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and His mercy toward me.
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"Faith is the
substance of things hoped for,
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and the evidence
of things not seen."
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Now I wrote this
down really for me.
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Listen, as we study
the written Word of God,
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we find that our life
now in this present body
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and that life in the
future, eternal life,
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all rest upon faith.
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Faith in God, what He
can do, what He will do
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because of His
love, and His compassion,
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and His grace.
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Let's go a bit further here.
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Now, what does faith do?
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"Brother Donnie, do
I really need faith,
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or can maybe I
just go by the works of
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the ten commandment law?"
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Well listen
very, very carefully.
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They sort of work hand in hand.
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Listen carefully.
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Here's what faith does.
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Faith moves the hand of God.
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It moves, it enables the hand
of God to move in your behalf.
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Here's what faith does
even further, as we study today.
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It activates, it causes
the hand of God to move.
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And listen to this. I
love this part, listen.
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It authorizes the hand
of God to move in our favor.
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When I go to God, I
go to God in confidence.
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Not in confidence of me, but
in confidence because He's God.
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God never fails.
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God always stays the same
yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
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If God loved me
yesterday, He loves me today.
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If He loves me today,
He'll love me tomorrow.
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I put my faith in
that truth, that fact.
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Because I stake my
life on Jesus Christ;
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that Jesus Christ
rose from the dead,
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that His blood washed me clean,
and that He sent the Holy Spirit
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to empower me, to give me
the strength, and the courage,
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and the faith that I need to be
the man that God wants me to be.
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It's all about faith.
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Now let's go a bit further here.
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Listen very carefully.
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Here's what it
says in Romans 8:28.
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I love this scripture.
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Memorize this
scripture. Listen carefully.
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Romans 8:28
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"And we know..."
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I love that. What confidence!
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"And we know that all things
work together for the good
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to them that love God,
to them that are called
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according to his purpose."
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Here's what it's saying there.
Let's break that scripture down.
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"And we know..."
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When Paul wrote, "And we know,"
here's what he was saying.
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"We look to the
future with confidence."
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Not necessarily
within ourselves,
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but confidence in God.
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My faith in God.
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My works for God
because of my faith.
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I trust in God because
He never, ever changes.
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Proverbs 3:26 says, "For the
Lord shall be your confidence."
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Have confidence
today if you're struggling
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that when Jesus Christ said,
"Come unto Me all that labor,"
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He said, "Fall down on
your knees and humble yourself
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and I will gladly
accept you and forgive you
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and supply what you need."
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Let's go a bit further here.
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It is in knowledge, listen,
it is in knowledge of Scripture
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that it is God's eternal purpose
that all things contribute
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to the welfare of those
that trust and love Him.
00:12:20.77\00:12:24.84
Here's what the Bible is saying.
00:12:24.87\00:12:26.44
God will take all things in
your life, whether it be good,
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whether it be bad,
whether it be positive,
00:12:33.95\00:12:37.62
whether it be negative,
and He will take all these
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circumstances and all
these events and work them out
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in your behalf.
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Praise God.
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Listen carefully.
00:12:49.06\00:12:50.40
Sufferings, trials,
troubles should not hinder your
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salvation, but strengthen
us, strengthen you and
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strengthen me, by placing
ourselves in the hands of God
00:13:01.41\00:13:06.45
so that God may carry
out His plan for your life.
00:13:06.55\00:13:11.75
Whatever you're
going through today,
00:13:12.09\00:13:13.62
whatever struggles
you might be having...
00:13:13.66\00:13:15.12
Maybe it's financial,
maybe it's a medical procedure,
00:13:15.16\00:13:18.29
that you're struggling with
that you have fears and doubts
00:13:18.33\00:13:21.66
that things aren't
just going to turn out okay.
00:13:21.70\00:13:24.87
Well put your trust,
rely, put your faith in God.
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Again I'll say it one more
time, there's only one God.
00:13:31.44\00:13:34.31
And God created all things.
00:13:34.34\00:13:35.84
And this Creator, this
Savior, our Master, our Teacher,
00:13:35.88\00:13:41.58
is our Best Friend.
00:13:41.62\00:13:42.98
And He wants to work
out everything in your life.
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That the bottom line is,
God desires that no one perish,
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but all live eternally with Him.
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So He sent Jesus Christ.
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Oh what love,
what grace, what mercy!
00:13:58.20\00:14:01.80
And all God is asking
today is that you have faith...
00:14:01.84\00:14:06.11
And we're going to get
into this in just a few moments.
00:14:06.37\00:14:08.28
...the size of a mustard seed.
00:14:08.31\00:14:10.88
Listen, all things
work together to the good.
00:14:11.35\00:14:15.22
It is God who causes all things
to work together in our lives...
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For what? The ultimate good.
00:14:21.26\00:14:23.59
What's the ultimate good?
00:14:23.63\00:14:24.99
Eternal life with Jesus Christ.
00:14:25.03\00:14:27.23
I went a little bit further.
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"...for good..."
00:14:28.86\00:14:30.97
If God allows sufferings...
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Now I want you
to listen to this.
00:14:34.00\00:14:35.74
We're all going through some
trials and tribulations today.
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Listen very carefully.
00:14:38.67\00:14:40.01
If God allows suffering
and perplexity to come upon us
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in our daily walk with Him,
listen, it is not to destroy us,
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but to refine and sanctify us.
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I know this, when I'm
having a rough way to go
00:14:57.29\00:15:01.20
and I'm having some problems
and I'm having some trials,
00:15:02.00\00:15:05.63
the first thing I
do is fall on my knees.
00:15:06.07\00:15:09.34
I go to the only one that
can really, really help me.
00:15:09.37\00:15:14.74
God the Father, through
the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:15:14.78\00:15:19.38
Listen, "...to
them that love God..."
00:15:19.41\00:15:21.45
Oh listen to
this, folks, friends.
00:15:21.48\00:15:23.79
"...to them that love
God," are those that have
00:15:23.82\00:15:28.06
real faith and
trust in God's leading.
00:15:28.09\00:15:33.90
I trust in God's leading.
00:15:33.93\00:15:36.53
Now, if you'll get out
our dictionaries today,
00:15:36.56\00:15:39.97
according to the Webster's
dictionary, the word, "faith,"
00:15:40.30\00:15:43.44
means, "to have trust
and confidence in a person,"
00:15:43.47\00:15:48.01
or as we studied today, to
have trust and confidence in God
00:15:48.21\00:15:52.71
and, and His
teachings, the Word of God.
00:15:52.75\00:15:57.49
Listen very carefully.
00:15:57.52\00:15:58.85
"So Donnie, Brother
Donnie, how does faith happen?"
00:15:58.89\00:16:04.49
This is the question I've
asked myself several times.
00:16:05.13\00:16:08.63
How much faith do I
need to be justified?
00:16:09.00\00:16:12.70
What amount of faith
do I need to be considered
00:16:13.07\00:16:16.47
a child of God?
00:16:16.50\00:16:17.87
Now we find in Romans, listen,
that faith comes by hearing
00:16:18.14\00:16:22.74
the Word of God.
00:16:22.78\00:16:24.81
Faith comes by
hearing the Word of God.
00:16:24.85\00:16:27.38
I'll go a little
bit further with that.
00:16:27.42\00:16:28.78
Faith comes by
preaching the Word of God.
00:16:28.88\00:16:32.39
Faith comes by
praising the Word of God,
00:16:33.09\00:16:37.13
thinking the Word of
God, for the enlightenment
00:16:37.39\00:16:40.76
that we receive as we
study the Word of God.
00:16:40.80\00:16:43.87
As we meditate
upon the Word of God,
00:16:43.90\00:16:46.84
we don't even know
it, we don't realize it,
00:16:47.10\00:16:49.10
but as we
meditate, we sing praises,
00:16:49.14\00:16:52.27
as we study the Word,
our faith is encouraged,
00:16:52.31\00:16:56.21
it is renewed, it is
solidified, and it's fortified.
00:16:56.24\00:17:00.55
Here's what it
says in Psalms 119:105.
00:17:01.92\00:17:05.45
Here's what the Bible says.
00:17:05.82\00:17:07.26
"Thy word is a
lamp unto my feet,
00:17:08.49\00:17:12.56
and a light unto my path."
00:17:12.96\00:17:15.80
Let's break that down.
00:17:15.83\00:17:17.17
Here's what it's
saying in that scripture.
00:17:17.50\00:17:19.33
Thank you, Brother David.
00:17:19.37\00:17:20.70
The Word of God is
a lamp. Yes, indeed.
00:17:20.90\00:17:25.37
A spiritual lamp, if you would.
00:17:25.41\00:17:28.08
The Word of God
illuminates the way so that men
00:17:28.31\00:17:32.38
may walk safely in the spiritual
darkness of this world.
00:17:32.41\00:17:38.19
He has the
light, the Word of God.
00:17:38.92\00:17:42.46
We have the light, the Word
of God, to guide us in this life
00:17:42.56\00:17:47.63
and the plan that God has
laid out for you and I today.
00:17:47.66\00:17:52.03
Now folks, by
studying the Word of God,
00:17:52.33\00:17:56.00
sometimes we get what I call,
a spiritual light bulb moment.
00:17:57.01\00:18:00.34
We come to find, as
we study the Word of God
00:18:00.98\00:18:03.65
and as our faith is increased,
that God has a plan for us,
00:18:03.95\00:18:08.48
God has a ministry for us.
00:18:08.68\00:18:10.79
It may be a phone warrior,
it may be a prayer warrior,
00:18:10.99\00:18:14.12
you might be a teacher,
you might be a musician.
00:18:14.16\00:18:16.73
But God has a plan for
each and every one of us.
00:18:16.76\00:18:20.76
The only way we'll ever discover
what God has in store for us,
00:18:20.96\00:18:26.74
what task that God has for us,
is by studying the Word of God.
00:18:26.77\00:18:31.91
I've come to find
this out in my life.
00:18:31.94\00:18:34.21
There were years that
my wife and I, Brenda,
00:18:35.28\00:18:37.81
sat on the front
pew at our church.
00:18:37.85\00:18:40.62
We sat there for
many, many years.
00:18:41.08\00:18:43.18
And we listened to the word of
God, we listened to the music.
00:18:43.69\00:18:46.72
And then we had a
spiritual light bulb moment.
00:18:47.02\00:18:51.03
It just occurred to us
one day that once we join
00:18:51.56\00:18:55.56
the army of God, once
we accept Jesus Christ
00:18:55.60\00:18:58.90
as our personal
Savior, we have a work to do.
00:18:58.93\00:19:03.67
By faith I realized I
have to get up off that pew
00:19:04.34\00:19:09.31
and I have to
start working for God,
00:19:09.34\00:19:11.75
that God has a task,
God has a plan designed
00:19:11.78\00:19:15.58
for me, for Brenda.
00:19:15.68\00:19:17.72
And everyone that's
watching this program,
00:19:17.75\00:19:19.95
God has a plan for you.
00:19:20.22\00:19:23.09
Oh yes, He wants
you to come unto Him,
00:19:23.12\00:19:26.26
to give your life unto Him,
to ask the indwelling of the
00:19:26.73\00:19:30.17
Holy Spirit to come in
and transform your life.
00:19:30.20\00:19:33.23
Now once these things
happen and you accept Christ
00:19:33.27\00:19:36.10
as your Savior, and you're
wrapped in His righteousness,
00:19:36.14\00:19:39.47
you're filled with
His Spirit, then God says,
00:19:39.51\00:19:42.54
"Now get up off that pew.
00:19:42.58\00:19:44.31
I have a work for you to do.
00:19:44.98\00:19:46.75
And whatever I ask you to
do, I will provide the means
00:19:46.78\00:19:52.69
and the talent to get it done."
00:19:52.72\00:19:54.82
Praise God. Let's
go a bit further here.
00:19:54.86\00:19:56.56
Now, we find that the
Word of God, it illuminates,
00:19:56.59\00:20:02.23
it guides, it plants,
it sows faith with each
00:20:02.56\00:20:07.64
and every one of us that hear,
that read, and study the Bible.
00:20:07.67\00:20:12.94
This is only the
beginning of faith.
00:20:13.24\00:20:18.38
It's just the
beginning of faith.
00:20:20.62\00:20:22.05
When you hear, when you study,
when you read, you find out
00:20:22.08\00:20:26.69
faith happens at
the sound of God's voice
00:20:26.79\00:20:30.53
through the words
engrafted in the Bible.
00:20:30.56\00:20:32.49
We find out that once we receive
Christ as our personal Savior,
00:20:32.59\00:20:37.37
we're going to find out
here in just a few moments
00:20:37.40\00:20:39.20
that we are justified by faith.
00:20:39.23\00:20:42.34
We are made right by faith
00:20:42.44\00:20:44.84
through Jesus
Christ's righteousness,
00:20:44.87\00:20:47.08
through Jesus Christ's grace,
through Jesus Christ's mercy.
00:20:47.51\00:20:51.41
I am made right
through faith in Him.
00:20:51.45\00:20:55.75
Let's go a bit further
here. Let's read Romans 3:28.
00:20:55.78\00:20:58.52
Get your Bibles out, let's
turn those pages with me now.
00:20:59.02\00:21:01.56
Come on, I love ya.
00:21:01.59\00:21:03.22
Let's turn these pages.
00:21:03.26\00:21:04.59
Romans 3:28
00:21:04.63\00:21:05.96
"Therefore we conclude
that a man is justified by faith
00:21:06.16\00:21:13.20
without the deeds of the law."
00:21:13.23\00:21:15.74
What does justified mean?
00:21:16.24\00:21:18.07
To prove to be just.
00:21:18.37\00:21:20.91
I am made just
through the righteousness
00:21:21.54\00:21:25.08
of my blessed
Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
00:21:25.11\00:21:28.72
I have been redeemed.
00:21:28.75\00:21:30.25
I have been washed in His blood.
00:21:30.29\00:21:32.05
My life needs a change,
there needs to be transformation
00:21:32.32\00:21:36.09
once I accept
Christ as my Savior.
00:21:36.12\00:21:38.36
And if I have the faith
in Him, my life will change.
00:21:38.39\00:21:43.30
I call that, transformation.
00:21:43.37\00:21:45.27
Let's go a bit further here.
00:21:45.30\00:21:46.63
Let's read Luke 14:14.
00:21:46.67\00:21:48.47
Now, here's what the Bible says.
00:21:48.50\00:21:51.44
Now you're
listening to the Word of God,
00:21:52.01\00:21:54.08
I want you to read
the Word of God with me.
00:21:54.61\00:21:56.85
"And thou shalt be blessed..."
00:21:56.95\00:21:59.41
Talking about the just.
00:21:59.51\00:22:00.98
"And thou shalt be blessed;
for they cannot recompense thee:
00:22:01.68\00:22:04.75
for thou shalt be recompensed at
the resurrection of the just."
00:22:04.79\00:22:09.49
Listen to what
I wrote down here.
00:22:09.72\00:22:11.06
A humble person,
kind, generous, and just
00:22:11.39\00:22:16.13
shall be recompensed with what?
00:22:16.16\00:22:18.70
Eternal life.
00:22:19.13\00:22:20.57
1 Corinthians the
4th chapter says that
00:22:20.90\00:22:23.51
when the trumpet sounds...
00:22:23.61\00:22:25.54
Now you have to have
the faith to believe this.
00:22:26.11\00:22:29.84
And I do in my Jesus Christ.
00:22:29.88\00:22:31.91
That when the trumpet
sounds at the second coming,
00:22:32.11\00:22:35.55
that the dead in
Christ shall rise first.
00:22:35.58\00:22:39.15
Praise God.
00:22:39.35\00:22:40.69
And we which are alive,
we're going to be caught up
00:22:40.72\00:22:43.99
in the air together.
00:22:44.03\00:22:45.66
And Jesus Christ promised,
and I believe by faith,
00:22:45.69\00:22:49.46
that we will live forever
and ever and ever with Him.
00:22:49.50\00:22:55.67
And praise God.
00:22:55.70\00:22:57.17
Now I have to control myself.
00:22:57.67\00:22:59.21
I get a little excited,
sometimes I want to shout.
00:22:59.24\00:23:01.48
I'll try to keep it down today.
00:23:01.51\00:23:03.28
Praise God. Let's
go a bit further here.
00:23:03.38\00:23:05.35
Now, here's the question
that we're going to talk about.
00:23:05.38\00:23:08.68
We need to talk
about this question today.
00:23:08.72\00:23:10.52
How much faith do I
need to be justified?
00:23:11.02\00:23:18.19
How much faith do I
need to be made right?
00:23:18.76\00:23:22.36
Now that's a
question I've asked myself.
00:23:22.40\00:23:24.73
And now for the
folks that are viewing in,
00:23:25.07\00:23:26.80
my brothers and
sisters and my friends that are
00:23:26.84\00:23:28.64
viewing in today, I know
you've had that same question
00:23:28.67\00:23:31.31
come across your mind.
00:23:31.51\00:23:32.94
How much faith do I
need to be justified anyway?
00:23:33.14\00:23:36.44
Now, in God's eyes
faith is not measured
00:23:36.54\00:23:41.82
in a scale of 1 to 10.
00:23:41.85\00:23:43.95
You know, when you
go to the emergency room
00:23:44.35\00:23:47.12
and you're in pain...
00:23:47.99\00:23:49.32
I went there one
time with a kidney stone.
00:23:49.36\00:23:51.06
And they said,
"Donnie, on a scale of 1 to 10,
00:23:51.73\00:23:55.33
you say you're in
pain, on a scale of 1 to 10
00:23:55.96\00:23:59.60
are you a 1, or 2, or 3?"
00:23:59.63\00:24:01.47
I said, "I'm a ten.
00:24:01.50\00:24:02.84
I'm a ten, I'm in pain."
00:24:03.44\00:24:05.21
Now that's what
you go through when you
00:24:05.24\00:24:06.78
enter the emergency room.
00:24:06.81\00:24:08.14
But you know what?
00:24:08.18\00:24:09.51
In God's eyes faith isn't
measured on a scale of 1 to 10.
00:24:10.21\00:24:16.95
And I praise God for that.
00:24:16.99\00:24:18.72
And we're going
to talk about that.
00:24:19.85\00:24:21.19
Listen very carefully now.
00:24:21.22\00:24:22.62
Matthew 17:20
00:24:22.82\00:24:24.49
Again, here's
what the Bible says.
00:24:24.86\00:24:27.90
Matthew 17:20
00:24:27.93\00:24:29.46
"And Jesus said unto
them, 'Because of your unbelief.
00:24:30.67\00:24:35.20
For verily I say unto you...'"
00:24:35.74\00:24:37.44
Now listen to this.
00:24:38.04\00:24:39.57
"...if ye have the faith as
a grain of a mustard seed..."
00:24:39.97\00:24:46.75
Now this is Jesus talking.
00:24:47.02\00:24:48.82
The Son of God, my
Redeemer, my Best Friend.
00:24:48.92\00:24:51.69
Here's what Jesus said.
00:24:51.79\00:24:53.32
"...if ye have the faith
as a grain of a mustard seed,
00:24:53.76\00:24:57.76
ye shall say unto this mountain,
'Remove hence to yonder place,'
00:24:57.79\00:25:02.80
and it shall be
moved; and nothing shall be
00:25:02.83\00:25:07.67
impossible to you."
00:25:07.70\00:25:09.94
Philippians 4:13,
"I can do all things
00:25:11.54\00:25:14.71
through Jesus Christ."
00:25:15.04\00:25:16.38
Myself, I can do nothing.
00:25:18.38\00:25:20.88
But through Jesus
Christ I can do all things.
00:25:21.12\00:25:24.25
Praise God.
00:25:24.29\00:25:25.62
Now, the faith
of a mustard seed.
00:25:25.65\00:25:27.76
Now exactly what was
Jesus referring to there?
00:25:27.79\00:25:30.73
Now listen.
00:25:30.76\00:25:32.09
Just think, if you have
the faith, if I have the faith
00:25:32.13\00:25:37.37
of a mustard seed,
listen, through that faith,
00:25:37.40\00:25:42.30
through God's grace,
through the Holy Spirit,
00:25:43.04\00:25:46.07
through my faith in God,
I would have the ability,
00:25:46.41\00:25:50.88
through the
Spirit, to heal the sick.
00:25:51.15\00:25:53.38
If I had the faith the
size of a mustard seed.
00:25:53.72\00:25:57.25
Listen to this. A mustard seed.
00:25:57.49\00:25:59.52
Now we need to sort
of break down exactly
00:25:59.55\00:26:01.66
what the size of a
mustard seed is today.
00:26:01.69\00:26:04.19
Listen very carefully.
00:26:04.23\00:26:05.56
A mustard seed is
about the size of a BB.
00:26:05.59\00:26:10.63
A mustard seed is about
1/16 of an inch in diameter.
00:26:12.50\00:26:18.17
Now when Jesus Christ was
talking to these folks here in
00:26:18.87\00:26:22.71
Matthew 17:20, Jesus did
not say, "If you have the faith
00:26:22.74\00:26:28.68
the size of a watermelon."
00:26:28.88\00:26:30.72
This big.
00:26:32.05\00:26:33.39
He said, "If you have the faith
the size of a mustard seed."
00:26:33.92\00:26:38.53
What Jesus was
saying, let me clarify this,
00:26:38.69\00:26:41.10
"If you have
this much faith in Me,
00:26:41.50\00:26:48.37
then I can show
you this much love."
00:26:49.24\00:26:56.31
Are you with me?
00:26:58.35\00:26:59.68
"If you can show
Me this much faith,
00:27:00.88\00:27:04.79
I can show you this much love."
00:27:05.49\00:27:10.36
Now that's my Jesus
I'm talking about today.
00:27:10.39\00:27:13.13
The loving, and
kind, and humble, and meek,
00:27:13.43\00:27:16.73
and loving, and compassionate
God that is intensely
00:27:17.00\00:27:21.00
in love with me and you today.
00:27:21.04\00:27:22.70
He wants what's best for us.
00:27:22.74\00:27:25.24
And all that He's
asking is this much faith
00:27:25.27\00:27:30.85
"that it can authorize
Me to move in your behalf."
00:27:30.88\00:27:36.75
That's not asking
so much is it, folks?
00:27:36.79\00:27:38.72
This much, and God will
give you this much love.
00:27:38.82\00:27:42.76
Oh praise God for
His grace and His mercy,
00:27:42.79\00:27:45.43
His love and His tenderness.
00:27:45.63\00:27:47.20
Mustard seed. Mark 9:23-24.
00:27:47.23\00:27:50.23
Let's go to that
chapter, friends.
00:27:50.43\00:27:52.10
Mark 9:23-24
00:27:52.63\00:27:55.84
Get those Bibles out,
let's open them up today.
00:27:55.87\00:27:58.14
Let's study the Word of
God. Let's increase our faith.
00:27:58.17\00:28:00.61
Let's fortify it, let's
solidify our faith today
00:28:00.64\00:28:03.75
by hearing the Word of God.
00:28:03.78\00:28:06.51
Here's what it
says in Mark 9:23-24.
00:28:06.55\00:28:09.62
"Jesus said unto him,
'If thou canst believe...'"
00:28:10.22\00:28:14.92
He was saying, "If you can
have this much faith in Me."
00:28:15.66\00:28:20.86
"...all things are
possible to him that believeth."
00:28:21.30\00:28:25.53
All things are possible.
00:28:26.80\00:28:28.87
"And straightway the
father of the child cried out
00:28:29.20\00:28:32.77
and said with tears,
'Oh listen, I believe.
00:28:32.81\00:28:36.04
I believe.
00:28:36.81\00:28:38.15
But help my unbelief.'"
00:28:38.35\00:28:40.15
The man was saying, "Jesus..."
00:28:40.18\00:28:41.78
I wrote down what the
man may have been thinking.
00:28:43.18\00:28:45.29
Now this is the
best of my ability.
00:28:45.32\00:28:47.16
I like to think about
what was going through
00:28:47.66\00:28:49.26
the heads of different
folks throughout Scriptures.
00:28:49.29\00:28:51.69
The man was saying to Jesus,
this is the way I took it,
00:28:52.09\00:28:55.93
"To the best of what
I've read, what I have heard,
00:28:56.53\00:29:01.40
what I have experienced, what
I have seen in other Christians,
00:29:01.90\00:29:06.61
I believe in You.
00:29:07.54\00:29:08.88
To the best of what I've
heard, what I've seen in others
00:29:09.24\00:29:13.75
as well, I believe in You."
00:29:13.78\00:29:15.48
But he went on to
say this, friends.
00:29:15.52\00:29:17.42
And I've said it
over and over myself.
00:29:17.45\00:29:19.75
"But oh God, in Your mercy,
if my belief is only the size
00:29:20.06\00:29:26.70
of a mustard seed, magnify
that seed to a level ten."
00:29:26.73\00:29:31.67
And Praise God.
00:29:31.70\00:29:33.03
Oh God, help my unbelief.
00:29:33.37\00:29:35.34
If you said that today to
yourself, "Oh Lord, I believe.
00:29:35.44\00:29:38.51
But Lord, help my unbelief,"
He will do that for you.
00:29:38.54\00:29:41.78
Fall before Him
humbly and meekly.
00:29:42.08\00:29:44.81
James the first chapter
says, if you need something,
00:29:44.85\00:29:47.65
ask for it.
00:29:47.68\00:29:49.22
You need wisdom? Ask for it.
00:29:49.25\00:29:51.22
You need more faith? Ask for it.
00:29:51.25\00:29:52.72
Because I can tell you right
now, the Bible is very specific;
00:29:52.75\00:29:55.49
it says that faith is a gift.
00:29:55.52\00:29:58.09
Knowledge is a gift.
00:29:59.09\00:30:01.33
You know, I'm going
to interject this here.
00:30:01.66\00:30:04.73
Pastor C.A. Murray,
my brother, my friend,
00:30:04.77\00:30:09.24
that introduced me
today, there's not been one time
00:30:09.27\00:30:14.21
that I have not sat in
his service, and he preaching
00:30:15.24\00:30:19.38
the Word of God, I have
sat there on many occasions,
00:30:19.41\00:30:23.72
and every time I
sit there and listen
00:30:24.55\00:30:26.69
I don't find
out how much I know,
00:30:26.89\00:30:29.36
I find out how
much I don't know.
00:30:29.96\00:30:31.89
Not only does this
man possess a high IQ,
00:30:33.09\00:30:36.46
but he possesses knowledge.
00:30:36.97\00:30:39.03
How did he get
all that knowledge?
00:30:39.33\00:30:42.77
By listening to the Word of God,
00:30:42.97\00:30:45.44
by studying the Word of God,
00:30:45.47\00:30:48.01
by meditating
upon the Word of God.
00:30:48.04\00:30:51.61
And then God
says, "I tell you what.
00:30:51.65\00:30:53.18
I've seen you work so hard.
00:30:53.21\00:30:54.68
You want to find out
more and more about Me.
00:30:54.78\00:30:56.62
And the more you find
out about Jesus Christ,
00:30:56.65\00:30:58.69
the more that you love Him.
00:30:58.72\00:31:00.06
I tell you what, C.A. Murray.
00:31:00.09\00:31:01.42
I'm going to bless
you with an extra measure
00:31:01.46\00:31:03.63
of knowledge, with an
extra measure of faith,
00:31:03.66\00:31:06.29
with an extra
measure of the Holy Spirit.
00:31:06.33\00:31:08.36
Because I can see
you're doing all that you can
00:31:08.40\00:31:11.87
to be the man
that I want you to be."
00:31:11.90\00:31:13.84
And praise God for that.
00:31:13.87\00:31:15.34
Now, let's break down
this scripture of Mark 9:23-24.
00:31:15.37\00:31:20.18
Let's break that down
just a little bit more.
00:31:20.28\00:31:22.48
Listen carefully.
00:31:22.78\00:31:24.11
The man was demonstrating faith,
00:31:24.68\00:31:27.85
in that he was
hoping for something.
00:31:28.62\00:31:30.89
Something of great importance.
00:31:31.19\00:31:34.16
Now, he could not see his faith.
00:31:34.49\00:31:37.46
He couldn't touch it, nor could
he measure his amount of faith.
00:31:38.06\00:31:43.67
Listen to this.
00:31:44.43\00:31:46.03
He merely trusted in
whom stood before him:
00:31:46.57\00:31:52.74
Jesus Christ.
00:31:52.94\00:31:54.28
He trusted that there was
enough faith deep in his soul
00:31:54.81\00:31:59.95
that his faith would be
amplified by and through Jesus.
00:32:00.38\00:32:07.76
That through Jesus
the small grain of faith
00:32:08.29\00:32:14.10
that lead to his justification
would grow a mustard seed
00:32:14.13\00:32:19.80
that would be the
size of a watermelon.
00:32:19.83\00:32:22.40
Praise God.
00:32:22.44\00:32:23.77
If you could move a mountain
with faith the size of a
00:32:25.51\00:32:28.41
mustard seed, how much
could you do if it was the
00:32:28.44\00:32:31.18
size of a watermelon?
00:32:31.21\00:32:32.65
Isn't God good?
00:32:33.28\00:32:34.62
I just love my heavenly Father.
00:32:34.65\00:32:36.55
You know, it's amazing
what can be done through faith.
00:32:36.58\00:32:40.32
Again Philippians 4:13
says you can do all things
00:32:41.12\00:32:44.23
through Jesus Christ.
00:32:44.46\00:32:45.79
He's the one that strengthens
you and empowers you.
00:32:45.83\00:32:50.07
He empowers you
through the Holy, Holy Spirit.
00:32:50.10\00:32:55.80
We find as we study the
Bible that the Holy Spirit
00:32:56.00\00:32:59.91
comforts you, the
Holy Spirit guides you,
00:32:59.94\00:33:04.05
the Holy Spirit directs you.
00:33:04.31\00:33:06.92
Now, all those things
are important, yes indeed.
00:33:07.02\00:33:11.22
But the only way
we're going to find out
00:33:11.42\00:33:13.22
all of the different jobs,
all the things the Holy Spirit
00:33:13.25\00:33:17.19
does in your life, is
through the study of God's Word.
00:33:17.23\00:33:20.23
And again, let's
say it one more time,
00:33:20.46\00:33:22.36
the more I study, the
deeper of a relationship
00:33:22.40\00:33:26.07
that I have with
my heavenly Father.
00:33:26.10\00:33:27.70
Because as I study, I
find in the Word of God
00:33:27.74\00:33:30.87
that He says, this
is what the Word says,
00:33:31.07\00:33:33.34
that God is gracious,
that God is long-suffering,
00:33:33.38\00:33:36.28
that God is kind,
that God is patient,
00:33:36.38\00:33:39.18
that God is loving.
00:33:39.21\00:33:40.55
And the more I
study the Word of God
00:33:40.58\00:33:42.92
and I listen to
different speakers,
00:33:42.95\00:33:45.02
and I spend my
time in this Holy Word,
00:33:45.05\00:33:48.02
the more that I
love my God that I serve.
00:33:48.06\00:33:51.56
Now I keep, as a
Seventh-day Adventist,
00:33:51.76\00:33:55.96
I keep the ten commandment law.
00:33:56.63\00:33:58.57
Now, I am not justified by
keeping the ten commandment law.
00:33:59.40\00:34:04.41
I am justified by
my faith in Jesus,
00:34:04.94\00:34:07.94
the one who died for me,
that shed His blood for me,
00:34:07.98\00:34:11.81
that is in heaven at this moment
as my lawyer and my High Priest.
00:34:12.08\00:34:18.12
I love Him.
00:34:18.49\00:34:19.82
I am not justified
by keeping the law.
00:34:20.06\00:34:22.56
But I will say this,
that the ten commandment law
00:34:22.59\00:34:25.73
was not nailed to the cross.
00:34:25.76\00:34:27.66
Only the
sacrificial system, my friend.
00:34:27.70\00:34:29.90
The ten
commandment law is still alive.
00:34:29.93\00:34:32.83
I keep the law
because I love God.
00:34:32.93\00:34:36.74
I want to please Him.
00:34:37.01\00:34:39.17
The law, the ten
commandment law, was put there
00:34:39.74\00:34:42.74
that I could have
something to study
00:34:42.78\00:34:45.28
that would keep me in
the boundaries of God's will.
00:34:45.31\00:34:48.58
That the ten commandment law is
a transcript of God's character.
00:34:48.68\00:34:52.65
I need that ten commandment
law that I can have something
00:34:52.89\00:34:56.29
to look at, to
guide me, to direct me.
00:34:56.39\00:34:59.73
Well for instance,
if you will travel down
00:34:59.76\00:35:03.37
interstate 57 or interstate
70, all along the road
00:35:03.87\00:35:09.24
of that highway you will
see a sign, "Speed Limit 70."
00:35:09.27\00:35:15.04
You drive two or three more
miles you see, "Speed Limit 70."
00:35:15.34\00:35:20.75
Mile after mile,
"Speed Limit 70."
00:35:20.78\00:35:24.65
That law was put
there to keep me safe,
00:35:24.69\00:35:28.12
to keep me in the boundary
of the laws of this government.
00:35:28.42\00:35:31.99
Again, folks, I need to see
that 70 speed limit as I travel.
00:35:32.49\00:35:37.57
If I don't see it for 20 or 30
miles, I find myself going 80.
00:35:37.60\00:35:41.90
And when you go 80, a very kind
police officer pulls you over.
00:35:42.57\00:35:47.48
And for your punishment
he writes you a ticket.
00:35:47.58\00:35:50.25
So, I keep the
ten commandment law.
00:35:51.18\00:35:54.72
I know where I stand with
God as I stand on something firm
00:35:54.92\00:35:59.19
and strong and solid:
God's ten commandment law.
00:35:59.42\00:36:02.56
I keep it, not to be
saved, but because I am saved.
00:36:02.59\00:36:07.60
Because I've been justified
by faith through Jesus Christ.
00:36:07.63\00:36:11.50
And again, let
me say this again.
00:36:11.53\00:36:13.57
Once we accept Christ, it
is His robe of righteousness
00:36:13.94\00:36:18.84
that is wrapped around us.
00:36:18.87\00:36:21.04
We're washed in His blood.
00:36:21.08\00:36:22.88
And if you'll read, if
you'll take out time sometime
00:36:22.91\00:36:25.71
today or tonight, I want
you to turn to Revelation
00:36:25.81\00:36:29.35
the 7th chapter and I
want you to study that chapter.
00:36:29.38\00:36:32.69
Because our brother
John who wrote that on the
00:36:32.95\00:36:35.12
island of Patmos,
here's what he observed.
00:36:35.16\00:36:38.09
That there was a throne of God.
00:36:38.46\00:36:40.56
And around this throne
there are a number of folks,
00:36:41.10\00:36:46.80
a number of people, and
they are wearing white robes.
00:36:47.27\00:36:53.64
They are wrapped in
Christ's righteousness,
00:36:54.68\00:36:57.95
they are wrapped in Christ's
perfection and holiness.
00:36:58.15\00:37:02.38
These are the ones
that bow down before God.
00:37:02.55\00:37:06.19
And through all the trials
of life they remain faithful
00:37:06.22\00:37:10.89
through faith.
00:37:10.99\00:37:14.00
Faith.
00:37:14.76\00:37:16.10
And because they were
faithful through all the trials,
00:37:16.13\00:37:20.60
all the doubts, and
all the fears of life,
00:37:20.64\00:37:24.44
the remain faithful to
God, they trusted in God,
00:37:24.47\00:37:27.58
they relied upon God,
they are seen right there
00:37:27.61\00:37:32.08
in Revelation the
7th chapter praising God
00:37:32.18\00:37:35.65
and worshiping God.
00:37:35.75\00:37:37.35
They were washed
in the blood, folks.
00:37:37.39\00:37:39.05
That's you and I.
00:37:39.09\00:37:40.42
That's you and I.
00:37:41.19\00:37:42.52
When Jesus was on the cross...
00:37:42.86\00:37:44.89
It talks about in
Hebrews, for the joy that was
00:37:45.09\00:37:47.96
set before Christ: the cross.
00:37:48.00\00:37:50.37
It wasn't talking
about the pain, my friends.
00:37:50.40\00:37:52.73
The joy was that God, Jesus,
could look into the 7th chapter
00:37:52.77\00:37:59.51
of Revelation and He could
see the fruits of His labor.
00:37:59.61\00:38:05.15
Those that were faithful.
00:38:05.41\00:38:07.32
Those that believed in Him.
00:38:07.35\00:38:09.52
Those that placed
their faith in Him.
00:38:09.55\00:38:11.75
That's who Jesus
Christ could see.
00:38:11.79\00:38:14.09
And oh what a
blessing that must have been.
00:38:14.12\00:38:16.96
Through God, through faith
in Him and trusting in Him,
00:38:17.16\00:38:24.33
and relying on Him, it says
that through Him and the Spirit
00:38:24.37\00:38:28.50
we can do anything.
00:38:28.54\00:38:29.87
So if you would, let's
turn to Acts the 9th chapter.
00:38:29.90\00:38:33.68
And I want you to read with me.
00:38:34.14\00:38:36.24
Now we're going to
be talking about Peter.
00:38:36.28\00:38:38.15
I love Peter's work and devotion
and dedication and faith in God.
00:38:38.65\00:38:43.22
You'll find that in Acts the 9th
chapter verses 36 through 40.
00:38:43.32\00:38:48.06
Read this with me.
00:38:48.16\00:38:50.13
And listen to what
you're saying, read out loud.
00:38:50.66\00:38:53.90
Listen.
00:38:53.93\00:38:55.26
By faith in the God of Jesus,
00:38:55.36\00:38:58.43
through the power
of the Holy Spirit,
00:38:58.93\00:39:01.27
Peter raised
Tabitha from the dead.
00:39:01.54\00:39:05.14
Did Peter have the
power within himself?
00:39:05.77\00:39:08.18
Absolutely not.
00:39:08.21\00:39:09.54
By faith in God and
Jesus Christ, through the power
00:39:09.58\00:39:12.21
of the Holy Spirit, Tabitha
was raised from the dead.
00:39:12.25\00:39:14.85
And here's what
it says in verse 36.
00:39:14.88\00:39:17.05
Read with me please, verse 36.
00:39:17.09\00:39:19.25
"Now there was at Joppa a
certain disciple named Tabitha,
00:39:19.72\00:39:25.29
which by
interpretation is called Dorcas.
00:39:25.59\00:39:28.30
This woman was
full of good works
00:39:28.66\00:39:32.13
and alms-deeds which she did."
00:39:32.33\00:39:34.50
And she did them
daily, by the way.
00:39:34.74\00:39:36.71
She wasn't in and out.
00:39:37.04\00:39:38.37
She was consistent and
persistent in her walk with God.
00:39:38.41\00:39:41.68
"And it came to pass in
those days that she was sick..."
00:39:42.14\00:39:46.75
And the Bible
says that Tabitha died.
00:39:47.38\00:39:50.85
"...whom when they
had washed, they laid her
00:39:51.29\00:39:53.86
in the upper chamber."
00:39:53.89\00:39:55.22
Here's what verse 38 says.
Now read this with me please.
00:39:55.72\00:39:58.46
"And forasmuch as
Lydda was nigh to Joppa,
00:39:59.49\00:40:02.93
and the disciples had
heard that Peter was there,
00:40:03.13\00:40:06.40
they sent unto him two
men, desiring him that he would
00:40:06.50\00:40:10.17
not delay to come to them."
00:40:10.21\00:40:11.94
Let's go to verse 39.
00:40:11.97\00:40:13.44
Pay attention to
this verse right here.
00:40:14.01\00:40:15.81
Think about this verse.
00:40:15.91\00:40:17.25
Contemplate,
meditate upon this verse.
00:40:17.28\00:40:20.08
"Then Peter arose
and went with them."
00:40:20.62\00:40:25.29
These two men.
00:40:25.62\00:40:26.96
"When he was come, they brought
him into the upper chamber.
00:40:27.12\00:40:31.29
And all the widows stood
by and they were weeping,"
00:40:32.46\00:40:35.86
and they were crying,
"and they showed him the coats
00:40:36.46\00:40:39.93
and garments which Dorcas had
made while she was with them,"
00:40:39.97\00:40:43.57
while she was alive.
00:40:43.61\00:40:45.14
Listen, "But Peter
put them all forth..."
00:40:45.17\00:40:49.18
And it says that he
kneeled down and he prayed,
00:40:50.11\00:40:54.62
turning his body to Tabitha.
00:40:54.65\00:40:57.29
Here's what he
said after the prayer.
00:40:57.75\00:41:00.76
"Tabitha, arise."
00:41:01.02\00:41:02.82
And the Bible says that
because of Peter's faith
00:41:02.86\00:41:07.70
in God, his trust in
God, his reliance in God,
00:41:07.73\00:41:14.60
that Tabitha woke up.
00:41:14.80\00:41:17.61
She woke up from the dead.
00:41:18.57\00:41:20.21
"And she opened her eyes.
00:41:20.58\00:41:22.44
And when she saw
Peter, she sat up."
00:41:23.18\00:41:26.25
I wrote this down, I
didn't want to forget.
00:41:27.05\00:41:28.82
Peter's trust, his
faith, his confidence,
00:41:30.32\00:41:35.69
was in God the Creator.
00:41:36.19\00:41:37.79
God, the
sustainer of all things.
00:41:39.29\00:41:42.56
Because of Peter's
faith, it authorized,
00:41:43.43\00:41:48.80
it enabled the hand
of God to work a miracle
00:41:50.17\00:41:54.38
in behalf of Tabitha.
00:41:54.48\00:41:56.75
And praise God.
00:41:56.78\00:41:58.11
We need to see faith.
00:41:59.38\00:42:01.15
We need to see
faith demonstrated.
00:42:01.25\00:42:03.22
People need to
see faith demonstrated
00:42:03.39\00:42:05.69
in our lives as well.
00:42:05.72\00:42:07.06
I need to see it in
other people's lives as well.
00:42:07.09\00:42:10.33
It encourages, it uplifts.
00:42:10.36\00:42:12.39
Now let's go a little bit
further in our sermon today.
00:42:12.43\00:42:14.86
Light equals faith.
00:42:15.46\00:42:18.73
Turn in your
Bibles, 2 Corinthians 4:6.
00:42:19.67\00:42:23.14
2 Corinthians 4:6
00:42:23.54\00:42:26.01
And again, read with me.
00:42:26.21\00:42:27.91
And read aloud so that
you can hear the Word of God.
00:42:27.94\00:42:30.51
"For God, who commanded the
light to shine out of darkness,
00:42:31.48\00:42:35.55
that very light has
shined in our hearts,
00:42:36.08\00:42:38.99
to give the light of..." What?
00:42:39.09\00:42:41.59
"...knowledge of
the glory of God..."
00:42:41.79\00:42:45.66
When God created the earth...
00:42:45.99\00:42:47.80
Now that was
mentioned in the first chapter
00:42:47.83\00:42:49.96
of Genesis 1 and 2.
00:42:50.00\00:42:51.40
You might want to
read that as well.
00:42:51.43\00:42:52.80
...there was darkness.
00:42:53.47\00:42:54.80
And the Bible says
there was no light.
00:42:55.37\00:42:57.71
Pure darkness.
00:42:58.24\00:43:00.14
Then God said,
"Let there be light."
00:43:00.58\00:43:04.05
And there was light.
00:43:04.08\00:43:05.41
And the light was good.
00:43:05.45\00:43:08.25
Let's go a little bit
further. Let's break that down.
00:43:08.48\00:43:10.49
Before we accepted
the light of this world...
00:43:12.32\00:43:16.22
Who is the light
of this world? Jesus.
00:43:16.26\00:43:18.33
Before we accepted Jesus Christ
our life was void of light.
00:43:18.99\00:43:24.30
For without Jesus
there is no light.
00:43:24.80\00:43:28.77
Revelation 21:23. Light.
00:43:28.97\00:43:32.11
"And the city had no need of
the sun, neither of the moon,
00:43:32.21\00:43:37.65
to shine in it: for the
glory of God did lighten it,
00:43:37.85\00:43:42.48
and the Lamb is
the light thereof."
00:43:43.05\00:43:45.92
"...for the glory
of God did lighten it,
00:43:46.12\00:43:49.12
and the Lamb is
the light thereof."
00:43:49.16\00:43:51.56
Now who's the Lamb?
00:43:51.59\00:43:52.93
Jesus Christ.
00:43:52.96\00:43:54.30
The one that
shines in your heart
00:43:54.53\00:43:56.40
will light up all of heaven.
00:43:56.43\00:43:58.10
The Bible says we
don't need a sun or a moon;
00:43:58.20\00:44:01.40
that the presence of God, and
His Son, and the Holy Spirit,
00:44:01.44\00:44:05.87
will light up heaven.
00:44:05.97\00:44:07.34
Praise God.
00:44:07.61\00:44:08.94
The word, "light," is mentioned
in the Bible over 200 times.
00:44:08.98\00:44:11.81
The word, "light," is mentioned
in over 200 verses in the Bible.
00:44:11.85\00:44:15.35
Light, light, light.
00:44:15.38\00:44:17.79
Here's what 1 John 1:7 says.
00:44:17.89\00:44:19.82
"But if we walk in the light..."
00:44:20.02\00:44:23.22
What that means:
the ways of Christ.
00:44:24.09\00:44:26.76
If we walk in the light, if
we walk in the ways of Christ,
00:44:27.03\00:44:31.13
as Jesus is in the
light, then we have fellowship
00:44:31.23\00:44:36.30
one with another.
00:44:36.34\00:44:37.81
And the blood of Jesus
cleanses us from all sin.
00:44:38.21\00:44:43.01
"And the blood," let's say it
one more time, "of Jesus Christ
00:44:43.11\00:44:48.42
cleanseth us from all sin."
00:44:48.75\00:44:51.35
Light, light, light.
00:44:51.39\00:44:54.49
Now Ephesians 5:14.
00:44:54.52\00:44:56.29
"Wherefore he saith, 'Awake
up, wake up, thou that sleepest,
00:44:56.99\00:45:03.47
and arise from the dead, and
Christ shall give thee light."
00:45:03.50\00:45:08.20
Wake up, you're dead
asleep maybe in the pew today.
00:45:08.94\00:45:12.77
You're out of it.
00:45:13.81\00:45:15.14
You're spiritually dead.
00:45:15.24\00:45:16.64
But God loves you anyway.
00:45:17.11\00:45:18.68
He wants to give you light.
00:45:19.08\00:45:20.98
Listen very, very carefully.
00:45:21.02\00:45:22.65
God wants to give you light.
00:45:22.88\00:45:25.39
"I want to give you Myself.
00:45:25.42\00:45:27.59
I want to give
you the Holy Spirit."
00:45:27.62\00:45:29.72
Light is equal to the
lamp, as mentioned in Psalms.
00:45:29.76\00:45:33.53
Light is equal to
living a righteous life.
00:45:33.56\00:45:37.67
Now, as we receive the
light, here's what happens
00:45:37.77\00:45:42.67
on the inner man.
00:45:42.70\00:45:44.04
2 Corinthians 5:17
says, "Therefore if any man
00:45:44.31\00:45:49.38
be in Christ..." He's what?
00:45:49.41\00:45:51.25
A brand new creature.
00:45:51.58\00:45:52.91
And then it goes on to say that,
"old things are passed away,"
00:45:53.01\00:45:56.38
and praise God,
"all things become new."
00:45:56.42\00:45:59.52
Because you've
received the light.
00:45:59.62\00:46:01.99
You've received Christ.
00:46:02.09\00:46:04.06
You've been
empowered with the Holy Spirit.
00:46:04.23\00:46:06.33
You've been washed
in the blood of Christ.
00:46:06.43\00:46:08.66
You've been wrapped
in His righteousness.
00:46:08.76\00:46:10.93
Let's go a little bit further.
00:46:10.97\00:46:12.30
Through light; the Word
of God, the Lamb of God,
00:46:12.33\00:46:16.37
your faith is fortified.
00:46:16.57\00:46:18.84
"Brother Donnie,
what does fortified mean?"
00:46:19.37\00:46:22.18
To strengthen
mentally and morally.
00:46:22.28\00:46:26.01
Listen, through the
light your faith is fortified.
00:46:27.12\00:46:32.52
Through light your
faith is solidified.
00:46:32.55\00:46:35.82
"What does solidify
mean, Brother Donnie?"
00:46:36.16\00:46:38.29
Firm in the faith.
00:46:38.49\00:46:40.86
Solid and strong, unwavering.
00:46:41.33\00:46:45.17
When you accept the light, Jesus
Christ, through the Word of God,
00:46:45.20\00:46:49.90
you become persistent
and consistent in your
00:46:49.94\00:46:53.68
walk with Jesus.
00:46:53.71\00:46:55.54
And as your walk goes along
that path of righteousness,
00:46:55.91\00:47:00.32
the Bible says that it
is called sanctification,
00:47:00.68\00:47:04.42
that walk with Jesus, and that
the old things in your life,
00:47:04.62\00:47:09.02
the habits, the bad
language, that old character,
00:47:09.06\00:47:13.90
that old man, starts
to fall off behind you.
00:47:14.26\00:47:17.63
And as you move forward
in your walk with Christ
00:47:17.67\00:47:21.14
through studying the
Word of God, and your faith
00:47:21.17\00:47:23.77
is increased, you
become more like Jesus.
00:47:23.81\00:47:26.94
And that's my aim today.
00:47:27.68\00:47:29.74
I pray that's your aim as well.
00:47:29.94\00:47:31.91
To become more like Jesus.
00:47:32.08\00:47:35.52
My Savior and my Redeemer.
00:47:35.82\00:47:38.25
Now listen very carefully.
00:47:38.29\00:47:39.79
Light empowers
you through faith.
00:47:40.12\00:47:45.19
Faith enables
you to trust in God.
00:47:45.63\00:47:49.56
Light empowers your faith.
00:47:50.03\00:47:52.73
It gives you the ability
to do things that you thought
00:47:52.77\00:47:57.84
could not be possible.
00:47:57.87\00:48:00.11
But faith in God opens the
doors of the impossibility.
00:48:00.58\00:48:07.15
Faith in God opens those
doors that seem impossible.
00:48:08.18\00:48:14.19
You know, when God
called me into this ministry,
00:48:14.69\00:48:17.69
all I could do was look
at myself, my shortcomings,
00:48:18.53\00:48:22.13
and my faults, and my
lack of talent, and I thought,
00:48:22.63\00:48:27.74
"God, I'm like Paul
who fell off the horse.
00:48:27.77\00:48:31.61
Are You sure it's
me You're calling?
00:48:32.34\00:48:35.14
Are You sure You've got
the right Donnie Shelton?"
00:48:35.98\00:48:38.71
Not realizing it's not through
my strength, through my talents,
00:48:39.35\00:48:43.75
that I will be able
to accomplish the task
00:48:43.95\00:48:47.02
through this ministry
that God has asked me to do.
00:48:47.46\00:48:50.69
It's through my faith
and my relying upon God
00:48:50.79\00:48:55.80
who's the God of miracles,
who's the God of the impossible,
00:48:56.20\00:49:01.64
that I can do all things.
00:49:01.97\00:49:04.27
Let's say
Philippians 4:13 again.
00:49:04.57\00:49:06.51
I can do all things through
Jesus if I have the faith.
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I can do all things through
Jesus who strengthens me.
00:49:13.15\00:49:15.85
Now the Bible talks
about the Word as being a lamp.
00:49:16.35\00:49:20.86
In Psalms 119:105, it says
right here, read it with me now,
00:49:21.06\00:49:26.09
Psalms 119:105,
here's what the Bible says,
00:49:26.13\00:49:29.30
"Thy word is a lamp unto my
feet, and a light unto my path."
00:49:29.66\00:49:36.00
Now listen, David speaks
of God's ten commandment law,
00:49:36.04\00:49:39.61
God's law, David says,
"O how I love God's law
00:49:40.58\00:49:45.55
and its precepts."
00:49:45.58\00:49:46.92
He goes on to say
God's ten commandment law,
00:49:47.28\00:49:50.39
and the Word of God as well,
"They are a lamp unto my feet,
00:49:50.42\00:49:54.42
that I might see what is right."
00:49:54.46\00:49:56.86
I need to see it.
00:49:58.06\00:49:59.39
What pleases my Lord
even in this darkened world
00:49:59.96\00:50:03.73
is that through the
darkness and the trials
00:50:03.77\00:50:07.44
and the tribulations of this
world, that I will please Him
00:50:07.47\00:50:12.24
by putting my faith in Him.
00:50:12.37\00:50:15.38
Because of God's Holy
Word I can walk with confidence
00:50:15.81\00:50:21.38
the path before me.
00:50:21.42\00:50:23.82
Again, let me reiterate that.
00:50:23.85\00:50:26.09
Not confidence in myself,
but my confidence in God.
00:50:26.19\00:50:31.63
My confidence in God
of who and what He is
00:50:32.13\00:50:37.23
encourages me, and
my faith begins to grow.
00:50:37.27\00:50:42.00
And I want to
study the Word of God.
00:50:42.30\00:50:45.57
I want to know more
about my heavenly Father.
00:50:45.61\00:50:49.21
And I wanted to write
down here too, listen,
00:50:49.48\00:50:52.28
light is equal to this: light
is equal to the Lamb, Jesus,
00:50:52.31\00:50:58.19
as mentioned in Revelation.
00:50:58.22\00:50:59.55
Light is equal to the
lamp, as mentioned in Psalms.
00:50:59.62\00:51:03.93
Light is also equal to
living a righteous life.
00:51:04.06\00:51:09.76
And here's what it
says in 1 Thessalonians 5:5.
00:51:09.80\00:51:12.63
Listen very carefully.
00:51:12.67\00:51:14.00
"Ye all," every last
one of you, "you are all
00:51:14.37\00:51:18.71
the children of light,
and the children of the day."
00:51:18.74\00:51:21.61
Now listen.
00:51:22.38\00:51:23.71
Paul was talking
to God's people here.
00:51:23.75\00:51:25.68
He goes on to say, "We are not
of the night, nor of darkness."
00:51:26.11\00:51:30.49
"But let us who are
of the day be sober,"
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be vigilant, be earnest,
"putting on the breastplate
00:51:35.42\00:51:40.53
of faith..." Our shield.
00:51:40.63\00:51:44.20
"...putting on the
breastplate of faith and love;
00:51:44.40\00:51:47.27
and for an helmet,
the hope of salvation."
00:51:47.30\00:51:50.57
And here's what verse 2
says. Read it with me please.
00:51:50.77\00:51:53.11
Listen, because of the
light, because of the Word,
00:51:53.68\00:51:58.88
because of the Lamb, Paul says,
"For yourselves know perfectly
00:51:59.35\00:52:04.49
that the day of the Lord so
cometh as a thief in the night."
00:52:04.52\00:52:07.56
What he was saying is,
folks, listen carefully,
00:52:07.59\00:52:09.72
that Christ's second
coming is just a breath away.
00:52:09.76\00:52:14.40
A heartbeat away. Listen.
00:52:15.26\00:52:18.63
Because of living in the
light, or a righteous life,
00:52:18.73\00:52:25.34
living for Jesus, following
God's ten commandment law,
00:52:25.64\00:52:30.15
loving others,
respecting others,
00:52:30.18\00:52:33.11
God's people will not know
exactly that day of His coming,
00:52:33.15\00:52:37.45
but will, by the light of
His Word, see that His coming
00:52:37.49\00:52:40.96
is very, very, very, very soon.
00:52:40.99\00:52:45.23
And God's people
will not be found sleeping
00:52:45.33\00:52:49.16
nor drunken at His return.
00:52:49.20\00:52:51.40
Listen what Romans 13:12 says.
00:52:51.43\00:52:53.44
Listen carefully.
00:52:53.67\00:52:55.60
"The night is far spent,
00:52:56.64\00:53:02.08
the day," of God's
soon return, "is at hand."
00:53:03.91\00:53:08.65
And because we know these things
through the study of His Word,
00:53:09.15\00:53:13.86
Paul says, "Let us therefore
cast off the works of darkness,
00:53:14.62\00:53:19.59
and let us put on
the armour of light."
00:53:19.79\00:53:24.20
Of faith, of righteousness.
00:53:24.37\00:53:27.70
God's not asking
that much, is He?
00:53:29.30\00:53:31.14
This much.
00:53:31.71\00:53:33.04
And you might say,
"Well, Donnie, all these things
00:53:33.14\00:53:36.14
you said, they're true because
they come from the Word of God.
00:53:36.18\00:53:39.65
But how can I have faith
in someone I've never met?
00:53:39.85\00:53:43.99
I've never seen God,
I've never touched Him.
00:53:44.95\00:53:48.26
I've never sensed
Him, as a matter of fact.
00:53:49.56\00:53:52.39
How can I, without
meeting Him face to face,
00:53:52.79\00:53:56.67
have faith in Him and
a relationship with Him?"
00:53:57.00\00:54:00.30
Well I'm going to give you
the perfect example of that.
00:54:00.57\00:54:02.60
My wife and I, Brenda, who
is my best friend, by the way...
00:54:03.10\00:54:06.68
Now my wife is my best
friend here on this planet,
00:54:06.71\00:54:09.11
but Jesus Christ is my best
friend throughout the universe.
00:54:09.21\00:54:12.58
But my wife here
is my best friend.
00:54:12.91\00:54:14.88
But we have friends in Missouri.
00:54:15.32\00:54:18.62
Now I won't give their
full names; Gayle and Steve.
00:54:18.95\00:54:21.29
Now they have become
our best, best friends.
00:54:22.06\00:54:26.23
When we have doubts or
fears like everyone else
00:54:26.90\00:54:29.50
and we need prayer, or we're
going through a difficult time,
00:54:29.53\00:54:33.23
my wife and I, we
call Steve and Gayle.
00:54:33.74\00:54:38.54
Because they are
prayer warriors for Jesus.
00:54:38.64\00:54:41.31
God called Gayle to
be a prayer warrior,
00:54:41.94\00:54:43.85
and I trust in her.
00:54:43.88\00:54:45.21
I have faith in her.
00:54:45.25\00:54:46.58
I lean upon her.
00:54:46.61\00:54:48.05
And we call her.
00:54:48.22\00:54:49.58
And this has been going on,
all these phone conversations,
00:54:49.78\00:54:53.96
for nine years.
00:54:54.32\00:54:57.03
I trust her, I love her,
my wife and I rely on her.
00:54:57.33\00:55:02.53
We know that when we
say, "Gayle, we need prayers.
00:55:02.73\00:55:04.57
Steve, we need prayer,"
that they're going to drop
00:55:04.60\00:55:06.40
to their knees and pray.
00:55:06.43\00:55:07.77
We trust them.
00:55:07.80\00:55:09.14
But, we have never
met them face to face.
00:55:09.17\00:55:13.34
We are best friends,
have been for nine years.
00:55:14.34\00:55:17.71
We know about
each other's children,
00:55:17.75\00:55:19.55
all of our grandchildren,
because of the communication
00:55:19.58\00:55:22.82
that we've had.
00:55:22.85\00:55:24.19
The prayer time, the
tear time, the laughing time.
00:55:24.22\00:55:28.52
We have that relationship.
00:55:28.56\00:55:31.03
So, I don't have to see God.
00:55:31.16\00:55:33.86
I can communicate
with God through prayer.
00:55:34.06\00:55:37.10
I can study the Word of
God and find out the lovely
00:55:37.33\00:55:41.04
character of my Jesus.
00:55:41.07\00:55:42.70
I don't need to
meet Him face to face.
00:55:43.07\00:55:45.07
But the Bible promises
if I remain faithful to God,
00:55:45.11\00:55:48.71
that when the trumpet
sounds, if I'm in the ground,
00:55:49.48\00:55:52.58
if I'm in the
ground dead when He comes,
00:55:52.88\00:55:56.48
that Jesus Christ,
the trumpet will sound,
00:55:56.79\00:55:59.52
the voice, and I will wake up.
00:55:59.62\00:56:01.82
And then I will
meet Him face to face.
00:56:01.86\00:56:05.43
And praise God.
00:56:05.46\00:56:06.86
Oh my friends, today, I
pray that through this message
00:56:06.90\00:56:10.30
you have found out
what a loving, and merciful,
00:56:10.33\00:56:13.74
and kind, and long-suffering,
and kind God that we have today.
00:56:14.14\00:56:19.47
And that His sole desire
is that you will come to Him,
00:56:19.84\00:56:24.21
that you will trust in Him, that
you will put your faith in Him.
00:56:24.41\00:56:30.82
That when you come to
Him with a humble, and meek,
00:56:30.92\00:56:33.86
and sorrowful heart.
00:56:34.06\00:56:35.52
That once you fall
before Him and say, "Oh God,
00:56:35.72\00:56:40.66
I've never met You.
00:56:41.36\00:56:42.70
But Your Word says
that if we confess our sins
00:56:43.20\00:56:46.33
You're faithful and
just to forgive us our sins,
00:56:46.37\00:56:48.64
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness.
00:56:48.67\00:56:50.64
And oh God, by faith
I accept that promise.
00:56:50.74\00:56:54.64
Oh God, would You
wash me clean today?
00:56:54.98\00:56:57.01
Wrap me with Your righteousness.
00:56:57.81\00:56:59.58
Fill with me with
Your Spirit today."
00:56:59.61\00:57:02.78
And I promise you,
friend, if you pray that prayer,
00:57:02.92\00:57:06.59
that you will be one
of them that God saw,
00:57:07.12\00:57:09.89
that Jesus saw from the cross,
in Revelation the 7th chapter,
00:57:09.92\00:57:12.93
that you will be wrapped in
the righteousness of Christ,
00:57:13.03\00:57:15.46
and that you will
inherit eternal life
00:57:15.50\00:57:17.50
through Jesus Christ
in whom you put your trust
00:57:17.60\00:57:21.54
and your faith.
00:57:21.64\00:57:24.61