Hello and welcome once
again to, Pillars of Faith.
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I like to call it, a word
for today in today's world.
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And we welcome you
to session number two
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of our sitting with
pastor Donnie Shelton,
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he of Touching Hearts Ministries
here in southern Illinois,
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and really
stretching around the world.
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On yesterday we
heard a powerful message,
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Faith Equals
Knowledge Times Light.
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And I like that idea, that
faith is knowledge times light.
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Donnie, as you well know, is
an energetic and enthusiastic
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preacher of the Word.
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And we like to have men
and women who are passionate
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about the things of God.
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And that certainly
describes Donnie Shelton.
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As he preaches the word of
God you feel that it comes from
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a living
experience with the Lord.
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Just found out backstage that
we are just about the same age.
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Been in the
ministry a good many years,
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and God has
blessed his ministry.
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And his searching in
the Word has brought forth,
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like I said, our meat in due
season for our thirsty souls.
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So we fully expect that
again today as you listen to
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his message, which is entitled,
My Grace is Sufficient for Thee,
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as you hear that word you
will be inspired, informed,
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and given strength to
keep on serving the Lord,
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Jesus Christ.
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God has been so good to Donnie,
he and his lovely wife, Brenda,
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serving the Lord together.
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And we know that God
has many things to give
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to you through him, and
so we ask for you and for him
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God's richest blessings.
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I'm going to ask you now
to bow your heads with me
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as we pray and formerly
ask God to be the center
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and
circumference of this meeting.
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And then we will turn
you over to the man of God,
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Pastor Donnie Shelton of
Touching Hearts Ministries,
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who will deliver the word of
God here on, Pillars of Faith.
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Shall we pray. Father
God, how we praise You
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and thank You for
the power of Your word.
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We thank You, dear Lord,
for the fact that when the word
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is preached, it will
go to its appointed ends
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and do precisely what
You have called it to do.
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That is, touching
hearts, changing lives,
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rearranging
destinies for all eternity.
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I ask You to bless Donnie in
a special way as he preaches.
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Fill him with Your
Spirit so that Spirit can flow
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through him to us as
we listen to his words.
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May they truly be Your words.
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May our lives be
enriched, and may we be given
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courage and strength
to continue to serve You
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until You call us
from labor to reward.
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Bless now the man of
God, bless his words,
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and bless the thousands
upon thousands upon thousands
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who will hear.
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And we thank You, dear Father.
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In Jesus' name, amen and amen.
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And now Pastor Donnie Shelton.
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Thank you, Pastor C.A.
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What a privilege it is to be
in God's house today and have
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the honor of preaching
the lovely Jesus Christ
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to His people.
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We're so glad that
you tuned in today.
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Our message today is
entitled, There is No Elevator.
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I have several titles for today;
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God's Grace is
Sufficient for Thee.
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But where I got this
title, There is No Elevator,
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came from my cousin Danny.
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When we talk about
God's grace, God's grace,
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grace is merely the
fact that everything that
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God does for us, and through
us, and in us, is a gift.
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It's unmerited.
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I did nothing to
earn the privilege today
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of preaching the
lovely Jesus to His people.
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What an honor.
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And you know, I
just feel like this:
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within myself, within my
capabilities, within my talents,
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I don't have the ability,
I do not have the ability,
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to bring this word to you today.
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But through the
power of the Holy Spirit,
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which another gift, God
will provide me the words
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to speak to you, the words
that you need to hear today,
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that no matter what
you're going through today,
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what circumstance, no
matter how dark it is,
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God is able to supply
an avenue to get you out of
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maybe a bad situation.
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Maybe you're in bad
financial straits today,
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maybe you got a bad lab report.
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God is able, through His
power, and through His mercy,
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and through His
grace to deliver you.
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He is able to meet
all of our requests
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and our demands today.
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God's grace is sufficient for
you today, and for me as well.
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But this title that I
threw in today is called,
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There is No Elevator.
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And I'm going to go ahead
and read 2 Corinthians 12:9.
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Listen to this.
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"And he said unto me, 'My
grace is sufficient for thee:
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for my strength is
made perfect in weakness.'"
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You know, when Paul
wrote this, he had just been
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knocked off of a horse.
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He was on his way to Damascus.
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And God saw Paul, and
that he could be an ambassador,
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a minister of the gospel,
that he could take Jesus Christ
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to the Gentiles.
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Now Paul, I'm sure,
on the way to Damascus
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maybe to capture
some more Christians,
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never dreamed that God
was looking down on him
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and God's grace
would shine upon him.
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Did Paul deserve
to be a minister? No.
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And Paul will tell you that.
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But God thought,
"This is the man that I need
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to deliver the message
of My Son, Jesus Christ."
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So God, out of love,
called Paul into the ministry.
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And then God enabled
him, He gave him the talents,
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and the knowledge, and
the faith, and the power
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to be the man that
God wanted him to be.
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If God is calling you
today into a ministry,
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He will enable
you, through His grace,
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through His Spirit, to do
what He is asking you to do.
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We all have a task, number
one priority in everyone's life,
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they should pray, "God, who
can I bring to Jesus for You?"
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Proverbs says we're all
called to be soul winners.
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So ask God today, "Lord,
there's a person out there,
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I pray that You'll use me
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through the power
of the Holy Spirit,
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that You will
enable me through Thy Word,
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to bring them to Jesus Christ."
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Let's go back to
the sermon title today.
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This is the number one part.
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There is No Elevator.
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Many, many years ago,
it's been 12 or 13 years ago,
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my cousin Danny
Shelton and I were just outside
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this worship
center, and we were talking.
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We were talking
about my new ministry,
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Touching Hearts Ministries.
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And of course we
went right back to 3ABN,
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the miracles that God
has done through 3ABN.
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And I said, "Danny,
I want to preach here,
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I want to preach there.
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Danny, I want more faith.
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Danny, I want the Lord to give
me some more words to speak,
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some more messages.
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I need lots of knowledge, Danny.
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I need an extra
measure of the Holy Spirit.
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I want to be what
God wants me to be."
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He said, "Donnie,
Donnie, slow down.
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Let me tell you, when
you start working for Jesus,
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and in His ministries,
there are no elevators.
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You will have to take the
stairs like everybody else."
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Just like Mark Finley,
just like Pastor John Lomacang,
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just like Pastor C.A. Murray,
just like Pastor Hal Steenson.
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"You'll have to take the
stairs like everybody else."
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We grow in Jesus,
not rapidly upward like
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an elevator would take us.
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We have to take
the stairs of life.
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And as we walk and as
we study the Word of God,
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and as we pray and as we
witness, our faith in Christ
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begins to grow.
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And then we gain
these experiences in life.
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As we travel for
Jesus, as we walk for Jesus,
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we gain valuable
experiences that we can put into
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the ministry of
bringing people to Jesus Christ.
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Let's go a
little bit further here.
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Now, walking with Jesus...
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Like Danny said,
there's no elevator.
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You're going to have to take
the stairs like everybody else.
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Walking with Jesus is one
flight of stairs after another.
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Climbing upward, never
staying on the first floor,
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the second floor,
or the third floor.
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We should be continually
growing in Jesus Christ.
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Now let's go a little bit
further with this message.
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Listen very carefully.
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As we walk with Jesus, we
will call that again today,
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the walk of sanctification.
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As I move forward for
Jesus, we must be always moving
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forward for Jesus,
as we gain in faith,
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and strength, and power
through the Holy Spirit,
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and through studying the Bible,
something takes place within us
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called transformation.
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2 Corinthians 5:17
says, "Therefore if any man
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be in Christ, he is
a brand new creature.
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And old things pass
away," and praise God,
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"everything are becomes new."
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It's transformation within you.
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When the Holy Spirit
comes to live within you,
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He produces transformation.
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And transformation,
listen carefully now,
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will produce motivation.
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The Holy Spirit
will produce innovation,
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dedication, and sanctification.
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We need motivation today.
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Motivation is a state or a
condition of being motivated.
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It is desire. It
is an action word.
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Once I accepted
Christ as my personal Savior,
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I said, "Lord," I was like
Paul, "Lord, now that You came
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into my life, now that I've been
washed in the blood of Jesus,
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now that I've been
wrapped in His righteousness
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and filled with the
power of the Holy Spirit,
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oh God, my faith
has been renewed.
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I feel motivated to
do something for Jesus."
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We have different speakers out
there in the Adventist movement
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that are motivators.
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When I think of Mark
Finley, Pastor Mark Finley,
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when he comes on 3ABN
the first thing that my wife
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and I do, we go
get some handkerchiefs
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because his
sermons are tearjerkers.
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You're going to be touched.
00:12:02.28\00:12:03.79
When Doug
Batchelor comes on 3ABN,
00:12:04.05\00:12:07.26
we go get all of
our study guides.
00:12:07.29\00:12:09.72
Are you with me?
00:12:09.92\00:12:11.26
When David
Asscherick comes on 3ABN,
00:12:11.29\00:12:13.80
we go get our dictionaries.
00:12:13.83\00:12:16.10
He uses words about that
long. I need a dictionary.
00:12:16.13\00:12:18.77
Sometimes I even
need an encyclopedia.
00:12:18.80\00:12:20.87
When my cousin
Danny Shelton is on 3ABN,
00:12:20.97\00:12:24.77
we go out, we grab our
suitcases, we get our car keys,
00:12:24.97\00:12:28.64
we put our tennis shoes
on, because he's a motivator.
00:12:28.68\00:12:31.51
We feel like, man, the
blessing is on the, "Go."
00:12:31.55\00:12:33.92
We have to do
something for Jesus.
00:12:33.95\00:12:35.88
We need motivators
that are filled with the
00:12:35.92\00:12:39.79
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:12:39.82\00:12:41.49
And all of this takes place
because of God's amazing grace.
00:12:41.52\00:12:45.89
We don't deserve the
gift of the Holy Spirit.
00:12:46.16\00:12:49.56
We do not deserve
the gift of faith.
00:12:49.86\00:12:52.10
We don't deserve the
gift of love or salvation.
00:12:52.43\00:12:55.70
We don't deserve the
gift of eternal life.
00:12:55.80\00:12:57.87
But God, because of
His great love toward us,
00:12:57.97\00:13:01.34
because of His
compassion toward us,
00:13:02.14\00:13:05.08
His grace, His
unmerited favor shines on us.
00:13:05.61\00:13:10.99
And that should motivate us.
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I call it, the
grace-given, faith-driven.
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3ABN is grace-given.
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Because they're grace-driven,
it causes faith-driven.
00:13:19.93\00:13:25.90
Grace-driven,
faith-driven. Grace-given.
00:13:25.93\00:13:29.30
Are you with me so far?
00:13:29.50\00:13:30.84
Grace and faith
work hand in hand.
00:13:30.87\00:13:34.64
Because of God's unmerited
favor, I have been blessed,
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I have been transformed.
00:13:39.75\00:13:41.55
Not because I deserve it.
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I want to
always go back to that.
00:13:43.22\00:13:44.95
I deserve nothing.
00:13:44.99\00:13:46.32
But God loves me, as
it says in Jeremiah 31:3,
00:13:46.35\00:13:49.36
with an everlasting love.
00:13:49.39\00:13:52.73
Now that I have the faith,
now that I've been motivated
00:13:52.83\00:13:58.37
to move forward, now that
I know that God is calling me
00:13:58.40\00:14:01.74
into ministry, I have to
have the faith and rely on God,
00:14:01.77\00:14:05.94
that God is able
to do what I ask.
00:14:06.04\00:14:09.64
Remember we said in a
sermon not too long ago
00:14:09.68\00:14:12.35
that hope is that God
will answer our prayers.
00:14:12.38\00:14:17.75
Faith is: God is capable;
00:14:17.79\00:14:20.26
I hope He will
answer our prayers.
00:14:20.29\00:14:23.02
But I know that God is able.
00:14:23.06\00:14:26.06
So we're going to go this
morning to Exodus 14:14-16.
00:14:26.09\00:14:34.17
Let's read those together.
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Get your Bibles out.
00:14:35.64\00:14:36.97
Grab you a pencil and paper.
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I want you to write
these scriptures down.
00:14:39.77\00:14:42.74
And when we're
finished with this sermon,
00:14:42.84\00:14:45.11
I want you to go back to
these scriptures and study them
00:14:45.21\00:14:48.28
for yourselves as well.
00:14:48.32\00:14:49.85
God is able.
00:14:49.88\00:14:52.49
Exodus 14:14-16, and
here's what the Bible says.
00:14:53.36\00:14:58.79
"The LORD shall
fight for you," praise God.
00:14:59.59\00:15:02.96
"Hold your peace."
00:15:03.33\00:15:04.73
Verse 13 says,
"Fear not, stand still,
00:15:04.83\00:15:08.90
and see the
salvation of the LORD..."
00:15:08.94\00:15:11.57
"And the LORD
said unto Moses..."
00:15:11.84\00:15:13.94
I love Moses.
00:15:13.98\00:15:15.34
"The LORD said unto Moses,
'Wherefore thou criest unto me?
00:15:15.54\00:15:19.11
Speak unto the
children of Israel,
00:15:19.21\00:15:21.45
that they may go forward.'"
00:15:21.48\00:15:24.09
In your walk with Jesus,
there is no stopping point.
00:15:24.12\00:15:27.82
There is no rest.
00:15:27.86\00:15:29.22
We must be constantly,
consistently, persistently
00:15:29.26\00:15:34.03
moving forward for Jesus Christ.
00:15:34.06\00:15:36.70
"But thou..." Listen
to what God told Moses.
00:15:36.73\00:15:39.87
"But thou lift up thy
rod, and stretch out thine hand
00:15:39.90\00:15:43.57
over the sea, and divide it."
00:15:43.61\00:15:46.34
Now let's break
this scripture down.
00:15:46.71\00:15:48.14
Let me break it
down here for you.
00:15:48.18\00:15:49.61
Here we find
Moses and the Israelites
00:15:49.98\00:15:53.01
who had just been
freed by the power of God
00:15:53.95\00:15:59.05
from the hands of the Egyptians.
00:15:59.25\00:16:01.52
They were trapped
now, they were cornered,
00:16:01.86\00:16:04.69
with seemingly no way out.
00:16:04.73\00:16:07.76
Pharaoh behind them and
the Red Sea before them.
00:16:08.00\00:16:11.30
Here was Moses,
here were God's people.
00:16:11.50\00:16:14.80
They were trapped, it
seemed by all appearances
00:16:14.84\00:16:18.37
there was no way out.
00:16:18.41\00:16:20.04
But God is able to get
you out of that seemingly
00:16:20.24\00:16:24.81
impossible situation.
00:16:24.85\00:16:27.45
All we need is faith
in God that He is able,
00:16:27.68\00:16:33.62
and willing, and
wants to help me.
00:16:33.66\00:16:36.73
Is everybody with me so far?
00:16:37.03\00:16:38.53
Let's go a
little bit further now.
00:16:38.56\00:16:39.89
God...
00:16:40.20\00:16:41.53
Now I want you
to think about this.
00:16:41.56\00:16:42.90
God could have stopped Pharaoh's
army from mounting their horses.
00:16:43.97\00:16:49.27
He could have stopped them
from manning their chariots.
00:16:50.07\00:16:52.94
He could have stopped them from
marching toward their desire
00:16:53.31\00:16:56.91
for vengeance and
slaughter of Moses.
00:16:56.95\00:16:59.85
But God did not.
00:16:59.88\00:17:01.92
Now the question
here, why did God not stop
00:17:01.95\00:17:06.52
Pharaoh and his army?
00:17:06.55\00:17:08.12
Listen very carefully.
00:17:08.16\00:17:09.49
God's people could have
left Egypt, crossed the Red Sea,
00:17:09.79\00:17:14.86
and journeyed
toward the Promise Land
00:17:14.96\00:17:17.07
without any
incidence whatsoever.
00:17:17.10\00:17:19.43
But God... Now
listen to this carefully.
00:17:19.83\00:17:22.70
Listen carefully.
00:17:22.74\00:17:24.07
But God allowed the trial,
00:17:24.27\00:17:28.44
even at the
beginning of their journey.
00:17:28.91\00:17:32.05
We will go through some
fiery trials in this life.
00:17:32.68\00:17:37.12
But these trials are
given to us, they are allowed
00:17:37.52\00:17:41.59
to happen to us,
for our own good.
00:17:41.62\00:17:44.26
Praise God.
00:17:44.29\00:17:45.63
We need refined.
00:17:45.66\00:17:47.00
When I'm in my darkest
hour, that's when I find myself
00:17:47.03\00:17:51.03
on my knees.
00:17:51.07\00:17:52.40
That's when I say, "Oh
God, I'm in trouble this time.
00:17:52.43\00:17:56.20
I need Your help."
00:17:56.30\00:17:57.64
I rely on Him.
00:17:57.67\00:17:59.54
And then God
miraculously answers my prayer.
00:17:59.57\00:18:03.81
And I find out God
is able, God is willing,
00:18:03.85\00:18:07.35
God loves me and He
wants to answer my prayers.
00:18:07.55\00:18:09.95
Praise God.
00:18:09.98\00:18:11.32
There are times we
need trials to refine us.
00:18:11.35\00:18:15.56
God knows where
you stand with Him.
00:18:15.99\00:18:18.06
But maybe there are
folks around you today,
00:18:18.09\00:18:20.73
they need to know, they
need to see that when you go
00:18:20.76\00:18:23.67
through these trials, that
you remain faithful to God,
00:18:23.70\00:18:27.47
because you have
studied the Word of God.
00:18:27.50\00:18:30.17
You've prayed, you've testified,
and you've walked the walk.
00:18:30.54\00:18:35.54
Listen go a
little bit further here.
00:18:35.58\00:18:36.91
Now listen very carefully.
00:18:36.95\00:18:38.28
From the moment we
started our journey for Christ,
00:18:38.31\00:18:41.98
being delivered from a crisis
situation by the hand of God,
00:18:42.55\00:18:47.72
here's what it does.
00:18:47.96\00:18:49.39
It encourages, it builds faith,
00:18:49.59\00:18:53.36
it builds trust in
whom we are following.
00:18:53.46\00:18:57.13
Jesus Christ.
00:18:57.17\00:18:58.53
Every time the Lord
allows me to have victory,
00:18:59.70\00:19:03.84
through the power
of the Holy Spirit,
00:19:04.51\00:19:06.37
I become encouraged.
00:19:06.94\00:19:09.38
My faith is renewed.
00:19:10.18\00:19:12.68
I learn to trust in Him.
00:19:13.18\00:19:16.18
I learn to rely on Him.
00:19:16.22\00:19:19.32
So these trials, and sometimes
they are fiery trials as well,
00:19:19.49\00:19:23.89
they are allowed to
happen for my own good.
00:19:23.93\00:19:28.43
I need to know that
when I'm in trouble,
00:19:28.63\00:19:31.93
there is someone
waiting for me with arms open
00:19:32.03\00:19:35.44
to say, "Donnie, I can help you.
00:19:35.64\00:19:37.14
And Donnie, the only one
that can help you is God."
00:19:37.17\00:19:40.74
Let's go a bit further here.
00:19:40.78\00:19:42.11
Now, is God able to heal?
00:19:42.14\00:19:47.38
There are those
right now that are praying
00:19:48.42\00:19:52.15
for physical healing.
00:19:52.19\00:19:53.96
They are not
healed on some occasions.
00:19:54.62\00:19:58.59
Some occasions they are.
00:19:58.63\00:20:00.26
If they are not
healed, is their faith weak?
00:20:00.46\00:20:04.73
Do they doubt?
00:20:05.53\00:20:06.87
If they are not
healed, is it their fault?
00:20:07.34\00:20:10.61
Let's talk about
that this morning.
00:20:11.14\00:20:12.87
Let's do.
00:20:13.24\00:20:14.58
Is God able to heal?
00:20:14.61\00:20:15.98
Yes, yes, God is able to heal.
00:20:16.18\00:20:19.45
Yes, but of course He's able.
00:20:20.42\00:20:23.65
And at times He honors
our prayers and He does heal.
00:20:23.69\00:20:28.06
Sometimes He does not.
00:20:28.42\00:20:31.23
When God doesn't
heal, is it our fault?
00:20:31.43\00:20:35.93
Are we lacking in faith?
00:20:36.20\00:20:37.73
Let's study that this morning.
00:20:37.97\00:20:39.47
I want you to
get your Bibles out,
00:20:39.57\00:20:41.30
turn to 2 Corinthians with me.
00:20:41.34\00:20:43.54
2 Corinthians the 12th chapter,
00:20:44.91\00:20:47.51
and together
let's read verses 7-9.
00:20:47.88\00:20:51.48
We're going to be
talking about Paul today.
00:20:51.95\00:20:54.78
One of my favorite writers.
00:20:55.98\00:20:57.49
I just love Paul.
00:20:57.52\00:20:59.75
2 Corinthians 12:7-9
00:20:59.79\00:21:04.03
Read this with me.
00:21:04.43\00:21:06.19
"And lest I
should be exalted..."
00:21:06.63\00:21:08.86
Remember, this is Paul speaking.
00:21:08.90\00:21:10.60
"And lest I should
be exalted above measure
00:21:11.23\00:21:14.94
through the
abundance of the revelations,
00:21:15.24\00:21:17.64
there was given unto
me a thorn in the flesh,
00:21:17.97\00:21:21.58
the messenger of
Satan to buffet me,
00:21:22.48\00:21:26.61
lest I should be
exalted above measure.
00:21:26.65\00:21:29.95
For this thing I besought..."
00:21:30.69\00:21:32.65
Paul, this is Paul speaking.
00:21:32.69\00:21:34.86
"For this thing I," Paul,
"besought the Lord three times,
00:21:35.02\00:21:38.83
that it might depart from me.
00:21:39.09\00:21:40.93
And he said unto me,
'Paul, Paul, My grace
00:21:41.56\00:21:46.17
is sufficient for thee:
00:21:46.20\00:21:47.74
for my strength is
made perfect in weakness.'"
00:21:48.10\00:21:52.44
So Paul said, "Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory
00:21:52.84\00:21:57.15
in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ
00:21:57.18\00:22:00.05
might rest upon me."
00:22:00.08\00:22:02.52
Now let's break
this scripture down.
00:22:02.55\00:22:04.15
Listen carefully.
00:22:04.95\00:22:06.29
Paul's conclusion on
the matter of healing was,
00:22:06.96\00:22:11.86
"It would be great
to have this constant
00:22:12.36\00:22:15.76
physical problem removed.
00:22:15.80\00:22:18.47
But if the removal of
this infirmity is going to
00:22:19.13\00:22:24.77
cost me my soul, or make
my calling as a minister void
00:22:24.81\00:22:29.71
in any way, or put a
wall between me and my God,
00:22:29.74\00:22:35.12
then I will glory
in my infirmities.
00:22:35.38\00:22:38.59
I will trust
that these infirmities
00:22:38.62\00:22:41.19
are for my eternal benefit."
00:22:41.22\00:22:44.59
God does not always
heal. Sometimes God does.
00:22:45.46\00:22:48.70
We don't understand.
00:22:49.26\00:22:51.47
God said, "My ways
are above your ways.
00:22:52.03\00:22:54.54
My thoughts are
above your thoughts."
00:22:54.70\00:22:56.74
It's hard to understand God.
00:22:56.77\00:22:59.24
But I will say this to you:
00:22:59.41\00:23:01.64
In faith, that whether
you're healed or not healed,
00:23:02.08\00:23:06.45
God has a plan for you.
00:23:06.55\00:23:08.55
That the trail that
you're going through today
00:23:08.82\00:23:11.45
will allow you to lean upon Him.
00:23:11.79\00:23:16.32
He is only one God,
the Creator of all things.
00:23:16.93\00:23:20.40
Praise God. Let's
go a bit further here.
00:23:20.43\00:23:22.16
Now, listen to what Paul
says in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.
00:23:22.36\00:23:28.97
Here's what Paul says.
00:23:29.07\00:23:30.41
"For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment..."
00:23:31.14\00:23:36.75
Folks, if you live to be a
hundred here on this earth,
00:23:37.65\00:23:40.72
compared to eternity, that's
just a short period of time.
00:23:40.75\00:23:45.12
And no matter what
we go through here,
00:23:45.99\00:23:48.42
compared to the joys of heaven,
00:23:48.82\00:23:51.33
Paul said it's
just a light affliction.
00:23:51.76\00:23:54.16
It's very, very light.
00:23:54.46\00:23:55.86
But listen, let's read it again.
00:23:56.20\00:23:58.03
"For our light affliction,
which is but for just a moment,
00:23:58.33\00:24:02.80
worketh for us a
far more exceeding
00:24:03.20\00:24:06.51
and eternal weight of glory."
00:24:06.54\00:24:08.64
Here's what Paul was saying.
00:24:08.68\00:24:10.05
Sufferings will end,
but the blessings of God
00:24:10.45\00:24:15.82
will endure forever.
00:24:15.85\00:24:17.69
And everybody say amen.
00:24:17.72\00:24:19.75
I mean, compared to
the joys of heaven...
00:24:19.99\00:24:23.53
Eye has not seen,
nor ear has heard,
00:24:23.56\00:24:25.29
nor has entered
into the hearts of men
00:24:25.66\00:24:27.53
what God has got
prepared for us in heaven.
00:24:27.56\00:24:31.10
So no matter what
we're going through today,
00:24:31.37\00:24:34.27
even though it's a heavy
burden, even though we may be
00:24:34.67\00:24:37.97
going through grief or
heartache, compared to the
00:24:38.01\00:24:41.21
glories of heaven, the things
that God has prepared for us
00:24:41.24\00:24:46.15
out of His love, these are
nothing more than irritations.
00:24:46.18\00:24:50.05
They're just light afflictions.
00:24:50.09\00:24:51.65
"So what, Donnie, Brother
Donnie, what are the results
00:24:53.19\00:24:57.73
of afflictions, these light
afflictions that Paul mentioned
00:24:57.76\00:25:00.86
here in 2
Corinthians the 4th chapter?
00:25:00.90\00:25:03.33
What are the results of
the trials, the tribulations,
00:25:03.53\00:25:07.97
and the afflictions that
I'm going through today?"
00:25:08.00\00:25:10.31
Listen, afflictions; it purifies
and refines our character.
00:25:10.34\00:25:17.65
It cultivates trust
and dependence upon God.
00:25:18.45\00:25:23.72
It subdues self
wants and self desires.
00:25:24.59\00:25:29.26
Afflictions, listen, they
bring the will of the believer
00:25:29.89\00:25:34.23
into a more complete
harmony with the will of God.
00:25:34.26\00:25:37.97
No matter what affliction
you're going through today,
00:25:38.90\00:25:41.34
I beg of you, I
plead, lean upon God.
00:25:41.84\00:25:45.01
Trust in God.
00:25:45.04\00:25:48.18
He's the
Deliverer, He's the Savior,
00:25:48.38\00:25:50.75
He's the master Physician.
00:25:50.85\00:25:52.45
And He loves you today.
00:25:52.48\00:25:53.82
Let's go a little bit further.
00:25:53.85\00:25:55.18
Listen, affliction; it
allows the exercise of faith.
00:25:55.22\00:26:01.52
Pillars of Faith.
00:26:02.42\00:26:04.03
It all comes from
what is inside the Book.
00:26:04.23\00:26:08.50
What Book? The
Bible, the Holy Word.
00:26:08.53\00:26:12.47
God's love letter to the world.
00:26:12.50\00:26:14.94
It exercises faith.
00:26:15.24\00:26:17.61
Afflictions, and trials,
and tribulations exercise faith.
00:26:17.67\00:26:23.85
I always fall to my
knees when I'm in need.
00:26:23.95\00:26:28.38
It seems like if everything's
going good and great,
00:26:28.95\00:26:31.62
the wife is fine, the
children, the grandchildren,
00:26:32.15\00:26:35.12
it seems like the funds
are coming in for the ministry,
00:26:35.16\00:26:37.49
it seems like I don't
spend as much time in the Word.
00:26:37.59\00:26:41.33
Are you with me?
00:26:42.03\00:26:43.37
But when the trials
come, the first one I turn to
00:26:43.40\00:26:46.57
is the only one
that can really help me.
00:26:46.60\00:26:48.74
God the Father.
00:26:48.77\00:26:50.11
Listen, listen, affliction
allows us to exercise faith.
00:26:50.14\00:26:56.68
It is in affliction, pain,
grief, sorrow that the things
00:26:57.05\00:27:04.72
of the world seem so important.
00:27:04.75\00:27:08.42
Friends, brothers and sisters,
today, if you're going through
00:27:08.76\00:27:14.30
a dark time today;
it seems like money
00:27:14.66\00:27:19.53
is not a problem anymore,
00:27:19.87\00:27:21.44
those new tires that
you needed for the car
00:27:22.64\00:27:25.17
seem inconsequential.
00:27:25.67\00:27:27.64
Because when we're talking
about our eternal destination,
00:27:28.14\00:27:32.58
the circumstances in life that
will either take us away from
00:27:32.98\00:27:37.92
eternal life or will
bring us to eternal life
00:27:38.29\00:27:41.96
through Jesus
Christ, it just seems like
00:27:41.99\00:27:44.36
when the heavy burdens come
that the things of this world
00:27:44.39\00:27:47.50
don't matter much.
00:27:47.53\00:27:48.86
But when everything
is good, and I feel good,
00:27:48.90\00:27:52.23
and I am healthy, and
the grand kids are behaving,
00:27:52.27\00:27:55.74
it just seem like I just
want to keep digging deeper
00:27:55.77\00:27:58.74
into the cares of the world.
00:27:58.77\00:28:00.14
But I can tell you,
God has allowed a trial
00:28:00.24\00:28:02.61
to come into your life so
that you'll get your thoughts,
00:28:02.64\00:28:05.41
and your mind, and your eyes
off the cares of this world,
00:28:05.51\00:28:08.72
and then turn upward to Him.
00:28:08.75\00:28:10.65
Praise God. And
why does God do that?
00:28:10.85\00:28:12.45
Let's say it one more time.
00:28:12.49\00:28:13.82
Because is
intensely in love with you.
00:28:13.86\00:28:17.96
There are folks out there
that are viewing in today,
00:28:18.06\00:28:21.46
they have a great
knowledge of Scripture.
00:28:22.00\00:28:26.10
When God called
me into the ministry,
00:28:26.74\00:28:29.10
Touching Hearts Ministries,
00:28:29.34\00:28:30.71
He said, "Donnie, I
have a great many people
00:28:31.04\00:28:35.08
with great amount of knowledge.
00:28:35.74\00:28:39.05
They know Me,
they know about Me,
00:28:39.41\00:28:42.58
but they don't have a personal
intimate relationship with Me.
00:28:42.62\00:28:48.02
So, Donnie, I want you to preach
the lovely Jesus to My people.
00:28:48.46\00:28:54.43
I want you to
reintroduce Jesus to My people.
00:28:54.63\00:28:59.03
My people have it here, I
want them to have it here."
00:28:59.07\00:29:03.91
Praise God.
00:29:03.94\00:29:05.27
So knowledge of
Scripture, we must have it.
00:29:05.31\00:29:08.28
Faith; must have it.
00:29:08.98\00:29:10.85
Realizing the grace
of the almighty God,
00:29:11.45\00:29:14.52
we must understand that.
00:29:14.55\00:29:16.12
And also we must understand
that there's a God out there
00:29:16.32\00:29:19.25
who is able to do
anything that we ask.
00:29:19.42\00:29:23.96
Now, we may not
always get what we want.
00:29:23.99\00:29:27.36
But God knows what we need.
00:29:28.16\00:29:31.50
Through the
trials, the tribulations,
00:29:31.77\00:29:33.87
the dark times, God
knows exactly what you need.
00:29:33.97\00:29:36.94
And here's what 1 Peter says.
00:29:36.97\00:29:38.87
My brother, Peter.
00:29:39.51\00:29:40.84
I love him as well.
00:29:40.88\00:29:42.21
In the 4th chapter, 1 Peter
4, let's read this together,
00:29:42.34\00:29:46.51
verses 12 and 13.
00:29:46.55\00:29:48.18
"Beloved, think it not strange
concerning the fiery trial
00:29:48.98\00:29:53.32
which is," listen, "the
fiery trial which is to try you,
00:29:53.62\00:29:59.39
as though some strange
thing had happened to you.
00:30:00.66\00:30:03.57
But rejoice, inasmuch..."
00:30:03.97\00:30:06.63
He said, rejoice.
00:30:06.67\00:30:08.00
"...that ye are partakers
of Christ's sufferings;
00:30:08.47\00:30:11.91
that when his
glory shall be revealed,
00:30:12.01\00:30:15.38
ye may be glad also
with exceeding joy."
00:30:15.41\00:30:19.51
You know, no matter what
you're going through today;
00:30:19.61\00:30:22.28
you may be fighting
drug addiction, alcohol,
00:30:22.85\00:30:26.65
you may be going
through a divorce today,
00:30:27.16\00:30:29.29
you may have lost
everything that you own,
00:30:29.46\00:30:32.09
all of your property today,
00:30:32.13\00:30:33.90
you may have
left the church today,
00:30:34.43\00:30:36.33
you may have
lost your faith today,
00:30:36.90\00:30:38.67
but I will say this: no matter
what you're going through today,
00:30:39.07\00:30:43.61
no matter what
you're going through today,
00:30:46.04\00:30:48.84
no matter how dark it is,
00:30:48.88\00:30:50.65
someone at some
time throughout history
00:30:50.91\00:30:54.32
has gone through the same thing
you're going through today.
00:30:54.65\00:30:57.95
And they got victory, they won
victory through Jesus Christ.
00:30:58.52\00:31:03.86
And James 2 says that God
is no respecter of persons.
00:31:04.79\00:31:09.70
You know what that means?
00:31:09.73\00:31:11.07
That when God looks
down on this planet,
00:31:11.70\00:31:15.47
He sees right now
over six billion babies.
00:31:16.30\00:31:20.94
He's no respecter of persons.
00:31:22.84\00:31:24.35
Black, white, Chinese,
German, whatever it might be,
00:31:24.58\00:31:29.12
they're His babies.
00:31:29.15\00:31:30.59
And He loves each and every one.
00:31:30.62\00:31:32.19
And He will treat
them all exactly the same.
00:31:32.22\00:31:35.46
Is everybody with me so far?
00:31:35.49\00:31:36.83
Praise God that we
serve a God like that.
00:31:36.86\00:31:39.19
Let's go a little bit further.
00:31:39.23\00:31:40.56
So many complaints and
murmurings against God.
00:31:40.60\00:31:45.00
When afflictions and trials
come, just as did the Israelites
00:31:45.60\00:31:50.64
when they followed Moses
through the wilderness...
00:31:50.67\00:31:53.01
Moses was always number one.
00:31:53.48\00:31:55.54
Oh, God was supreme.
00:31:55.74\00:31:57.38
But when the afflictions came
and the trials of their journey
00:31:57.71\00:32:01.68
mounted, the
people turned on Moses
00:32:01.72\00:32:04.55
and rejected God.
00:32:04.59\00:32:06.65
Now I can't point fingers.
00:32:06.99\00:32:08.46
If I'm not careful, I'm
liable to do that as well.
00:32:08.69\00:32:11.49
When everything is
going just perfect,
00:32:11.53\00:32:14.43
if we're not careful we
sort of stray away from God.
00:32:14.46\00:32:17.37
That's why God, let's
say it one more time, folks,
00:32:17.53\00:32:19.77
He allows these
trials and tribulations
00:32:19.97\00:32:22.10
to come into your life.
00:32:22.14\00:32:23.47
To keep you in His will.
00:32:23.51\00:32:25.17
To keep you on the
path of righteousness.
00:32:25.27\00:32:27.84
Let read a
little further here now.
00:32:27.88\00:32:29.81
Is God able to deliver us
from the afflictions? Yes.
00:32:29.91\00:32:34.45
But maybe we
have rooted ourselves
00:32:35.15\00:32:38.45
in the cares of this world.
00:32:38.49\00:32:40.22
Maybe we have
become self-sufficient
00:32:40.66\00:32:43.36
and totally rely on man's
laws and upon medical science.
00:32:43.63\00:32:47.86
Maybe for our own good, for our
growth, we need a fiery trial.
00:32:48.06\00:32:55.20
Let me interject
this while we're here.
00:32:55.90\00:32:58.11
I want to put this
in my sermon today.
00:32:58.14\00:33:00.68
There are folks out there
that it appears to the human eye
00:33:01.41\00:33:06.88
that they have
drifted so far from God,
00:33:07.45\00:33:10.49
that they are so far
into sin, with addictions,
00:33:10.72\00:33:14.76
whether alcohol or
whatever it might be today,
00:33:14.79\00:33:17.49
that there is no hope for them.
00:33:17.69\00:33:19.96
I have news for you today.
00:33:20.80\00:33:22.23
As long as they're breathing,
there's hope for them.
00:33:23.13\00:33:27.00
They may need someone like
you to stand in the gap for them
00:33:27.04\00:33:32.81
through prayer.
00:33:32.84\00:33:34.18
Say, "Oh God, it
appears to my eyes that they're
00:33:34.21\00:33:38.58
so far out there in sin,
they're so far out there in
00:33:38.61\00:33:41.65
in the cares of this
world, that there's no bringing
00:33:41.68\00:33:44.15
them back to You."
00:33:44.19\00:33:45.89
But let me say this, my friend.
00:33:46.19\00:33:47.92
I had the privilege
of traveling a lot of
00:33:48.82\00:33:52.23
miles the last 14 years.
00:33:52.26\00:33:54.06
Been in a lot of
states, and a lot of cities,
00:33:54.26\00:33:56.16
in different countries.
00:33:56.20\00:33:57.53
And just privileged and love
preaching the gospel of Christ.
00:33:57.57\00:34:00.47
And so let me give
you an example of what
00:34:00.97\00:34:03.67
God is able to do through
the power of faith and prayer.
00:34:03.71\00:34:10.75
I was at a meeting, and I won't
tell you what city I was in,
00:34:11.18\00:34:13.82
but I was in Iowa.
00:34:13.85\00:34:15.18
A beautiful church there
with some great loving people.
00:34:15.22\00:34:17.85
As I began the service...
00:34:18.52\00:34:20.32
We had a really
big crowd that morning.
00:34:20.36\00:34:22.72
Praise God.
00:34:22.76\00:34:24.09
...I looked toward
the back of the church
00:34:24.13\00:34:26.09
and there was a
young man sitting there.
00:34:26.53\00:34:28.43
Oh, probably about 35 years old.
00:34:28.46\00:34:30.43
He appeared to
be about 6 foot 4.
00:34:31.13\00:34:34.64
And so my surprise, he had
on one of those muscle shirts.
00:34:35.57\00:34:39.67
Those workout shirts.
00:34:39.77\00:34:41.28
And a pair of jogging
pants and tennis shoes on.
00:34:41.68\00:34:44.41
And as I looked at
him as I was speaking,
00:34:44.91\00:34:46.82
I noticed he had earrings
in and a huge gold necklace.
00:34:46.85\00:34:50.59
And he had large
tattoos all over his body.
00:34:50.79\00:34:54.02
And as you could tell,
he was a workout fiend.
00:34:54.26\00:34:57.66
I mean, he had
big muscles that big.
00:34:57.69\00:34:59.69
The veins in his arms
were bigger than my arms.
00:34:59.73\00:35:02.36
He was just a big man.
00:35:02.40\00:35:03.83
About 6 foot 4, I guess
he weighted about 250 pounds.
00:35:03.97\00:35:06.77
The message that
day was that God will
00:35:07.27\00:35:09.20
take you just as you are.
00:35:09.24\00:35:10.71
As is in that condition.
00:35:10.74\00:35:12.47
Just as you are.
00:35:12.91\00:35:14.44
That no matter what
you've done in the past,
00:35:14.71\00:35:17.35
no matter how far in
sin you may have sank,
00:35:17.61\00:35:20.58
that God loves you
with an everlasting love.
00:35:20.68\00:35:23.08
And that through His
grace, and through His mercy,
00:35:23.18\00:35:26.45
and through His love,
if you will come to Him
00:35:26.69\00:35:29.42
and humbly bow,
He will forgive you.
00:35:29.46\00:35:32.03
And if you remain faithful,
you'll be in the kingdom.
00:35:32.06\00:35:35.33
After the service, I noticed
that here came that large man
00:35:36.06\00:35:41.54
walking right at me.
00:35:41.64\00:35:44.14
Remember this,
he's about 6 foot 4,
00:35:44.24\00:35:46.61
and oh he's about that broad.
00:35:46.64\00:35:48.38
Still had the workout shirt on.
00:35:48.94\00:35:50.68
And he walks up to me
and he looks down at me.
00:35:50.95\00:35:54.48
He said, "Pastor
Donnie, in the message today
00:35:54.85\00:35:58.49
you said that no matter
what I've done in the past,
00:35:59.15\00:36:01.72
no matter what I'm guilty
of, no matter how bad the sin,
00:36:03.53\00:36:09.13
that God will forgive me.
00:36:09.76\00:36:11.23
And then you went on to say
that if we confess our sins,
00:36:12.00\00:36:15.97
that God is faithful and just
00:36:16.34\00:36:17.67
and He will cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
00:36:17.71\00:36:19.07
I said, "Yes I did."
00:36:19.11\00:36:20.48
He said, "I have a few
questions for you, pastor.
00:36:20.78\00:36:22.94
Can I continue to come to this
church dressed just like I am?
00:36:23.61\00:36:28.38
Can I do that?"
00:36:28.88\00:36:30.22
And I said, "Well,
brother," as I looked up at him,
00:36:30.29\00:36:33.22
"as big as you are, you can
do anything that you want to do.
00:36:33.79\00:36:37.03
But I'm asking you this.
00:36:38.53\00:36:40.63
Continue to come to church.
00:36:41.56\00:36:43.40
But as the Holy Spirit
guides you and directs you,
00:36:44.13\00:36:47.37
if you decide to cover up
your body with a nice t-shirt,
00:36:48.00\00:36:53.38
and the Holy Spirit asked you
to do that, would you do that?"
00:36:53.81\00:36:56.04
He said, "I'll do that."
00:36:56.08\00:36:57.41
But he said, "Pastor,
you said that I can come to
00:36:57.45\00:37:00.52
God just as I am today."
00:37:00.55\00:37:01.92
I said, "Yes."
00:37:01.95\00:37:03.28
"So I'm asking you,
pastor, if I bow down right now
00:37:03.32\00:37:06.92
on my knees, would
you bow down with me?
00:37:07.89\00:37:11.56
Would you ask God to save me?
00:37:12.49\00:37:15.46
And if we do, do you promise
me, pastor, that God will
00:37:16.40\00:37:21.20
wash me clean in His blood?
00:37:21.24\00:37:23.20
That He'll fill
me with His Spirit.
00:37:23.57\00:37:25.41
That I might find out today, oh
God, what do you want me to do?"
00:37:25.94\00:37:30.45
I said, "Brother, if
you'll bow down with me
00:37:30.55\00:37:32.78
and surrender your
life and your will to God,
00:37:33.28\00:37:35.75
you will be a
child of the King."
00:37:36.18\00:37:39.29
That big man that in all
appearances had gone too far
00:37:39.32\00:37:44.56
out into the world,
that there was no hope,
00:37:44.89\00:37:47.40
this big man bowed down there
and he gave his life to Christ.
00:37:47.43\00:37:53.84
Praise God.
00:37:53.87\00:37:55.20
We can't go by appearances.
00:37:55.70\00:37:58.57
When the Spirit leads
you, continue to move forward.
00:37:58.77\00:38:02.78
When He talks to
you, move forward.
00:38:03.28\00:38:05.95
The only way we're
going to be able to understand
00:38:06.21\00:38:08.42
God's voice and
recognize God's voice,
00:38:08.45\00:38:10.32
we have to spend
time in His Word.
00:38:10.35\00:38:13.39
Meditating upon His Word.
00:38:13.86\00:38:15.96
Praying and studying and
asking God for an extra measure
00:38:15.99\00:38:21.20
of faith, and power
through the Holy Spirit.
00:38:21.23\00:38:24.17
to become the man or
woman that God wants you to be.
00:38:24.20\00:38:27.94
Praise God.
00:38:28.04\00:38:29.37
So as we go a
little bit further here,
00:38:29.40\00:38:30.87
now if we would have the
opportunity to talk to Moses...
00:38:30.91\00:38:36.14
And we will when we
walk into that New Jerusalem.
00:38:36.64\00:38:40.55
Praise God.
00:38:40.62\00:38:41.95
If we would ask Moses
today, "Is God able to save us,
00:38:41.98\00:38:46.69
to deliver us from every
day trials and tribulations,
00:38:47.39\00:38:51.79
extreme situations that
seem impossible to overcome,"
00:38:52.59\00:38:57.07
you know what he would tell you?
00:38:57.10\00:38:58.53
I'm sure he would say this.
00:38:58.63\00:39:00.24
"How much more extreme a
situation than being trapped
00:39:00.80\00:39:07.74
with no way out, but
God provided a way of escape
00:39:07.78\00:39:14.48
and parted the Red Sea.
00:39:14.52\00:39:16.38
And I walked across
that sea on dry ground
00:39:16.42\00:39:19.95
with one million
people behind me.
00:39:19.99\00:39:23.93
And you ask me,"
Moses says, "is God able?
00:39:23.96\00:39:26.86
Yes, God is able.
00:39:26.90\00:39:29.13
Wow, you know, when God
told Moses to put his hand out
00:39:30.47\00:39:34.94
over that sea, it would divide,
you know, in Moses' mind,
00:39:34.97\00:39:39.64
sure, I know I would,
"How is this going to happen?
00:39:39.67\00:39:43.98
How are we going to
get to the other side?
00:39:44.88\00:39:47.48
You know, God said it's
going to divide, but is there
00:39:47.52\00:39:49.62
going to be a
bridge come across?
00:39:49.65\00:39:51.29
Is God going to build
a bridge across the sea?
00:39:51.32\00:39:53.66
Maybe is there going
to be a big boat come up
00:39:54.06\00:39:56.66
and escort us across the sea?
00:39:56.86\00:39:59.03
How is this going to happen?"
00:39:59.43\00:40:01.16
But Moses, praise God,
when God told him to do it,
00:40:01.20\00:40:04.80
he did it out of faith.
00:40:04.83\00:40:06.90
Because he knew
that God is able.
00:40:06.94\00:40:11.11
Praise God.
Let's go a bit further.
00:40:11.14\00:40:12.81
1 Corinthians 10:13
00:40:12.84\00:40:15.08
Listen to what the
Bible says here today.
00:40:15.11\00:40:17.35
1 Corinthians 10:13
00:40:17.38\00:40:19.28
God is faithful.
00:40:19.68\00:40:22.28
No matter what you're
going through today, brother,
00:40:22.92\00:40:25.25
God is faithful.
00:40:25.35\00:40:26.69
He will not turn
His eyes from you.
00:40:26.72\00:40:29.02
His eyes are focused upon you.
00:40:29.06\00:40:31.43
"God is faithful,
who will not suffer you
00:40:31.89\00:40:34.96
to be tempted
above that ye are able;
00:40:35.00\00:40:38.43
but will with the temptation
also make a way of escape,
00:40:38.63\00:40:43.91
that ye may be able to bear it."
00:40:43.94\00:40:46.27
Now let's go a little
bit further with Moses.
00:40:46.31\00:40:48.28
Surely Moses, when standing
at the shore of the Red Sea
00:40:48.31\00:40:53.28
with the charging
army of the Egyptians
00:40:53.98\00:40:56.45
and the screams of terror from
those freed from Pharaoh's rule,
00:40:56.48\00:41:00.99
surely the temptation was to
throw the staff on the ground
00:41:01.02\00:41:04.69
and say, "I don't know
what we're going to do."
00:41:04.73\00:41:06.63
But really that's not
what he thought at all.
00:41:06.93\00:41:08.86
I'm trying to put
into mind's eye what I
00:41:08.90\00:41:10.67
might have been thinking.
00:41:10.70\00:41:12.03
"Lord, what are
we going to do now?
00:41:12.07\00:41:14.20
How are You going to perform
this incredible miracle?"
00:41:14.40\00:41:18.24
Listen, "And Moses
cried," in verse 4, Exodus 17:4,
00:41:18.27\00:41:23.18
listen to what Moses
said, "And Moses cried
00:41:23.38\00:41:25.41
unto the LORD, saying, 'What
shall I do with these people?
00:41:25.45\00:41:28.45
They're about
ready to stone me.'
00:41:28.65\00:41:30.49
And the LORD said to
Moses, 'Go on before the people,
00:41:30.89\00:41:34.16
and take with thee
the elders of Israel;
00:41:34.19\00:41:36.79
and thy rod, wherefore
thou smotest the river,
00:41:36.83\00:41:40.10
take in thine hand, and go.
00:41:40.13\00:41:42.10
Behold,'" God said...
00:41:42.13\00:41:43.60
Now listen. This God is able.
00:41:43.63\00:41:45.57
"...I will stand
before thee upon the rock...
00:41:45.67\00:41:48.54
...and there shall
come water out of it,
00:41:48.84\00:41:51.21
that the people may drink."
00:41:51.24\00:41:52.91
Now Moses did as he was told.
00:41:53.01\00:41:56.64
When God asks you to do
something today or tomorrow,
00:41:57.08\00:42:01.52
just do what you're told.
00:42:01.55\00:42:03.28
God will supply what
you need. Praise God.
00:42:03.49\00:42:06.02
Moses did as he was instructed.
00:42:06.19\00:42:08.52
Now remember, in this story
here, the people were thirsty.
00:42:08.56\00:42:13.09
The animals were thirsty.
00:42:13.19\00:42:14.76
They were getting desperate.
00:42:14.80\00:42:16.26
Moses did as he was instructed.
00:42:16.40\00:42:18.80
And he struck the rock,
and the water began to flow
00:42:18.83\00:42:23.37
in great abundance.
00:42:23.41\00:42:24.77
Listen, over a
million people received water.
00:42:24.87\00:42:28.98
And also the herds of
the sheep, and the goats,
00:42:29.18\00:42:32.45
and the oxen, and the
horses, and the birds.
00:42:32.48\00:42:35.28
And they all took
baths. Praise God.
00:42:35.32\00:42:38.09
And they cooked their meals.
00:42:38.12\00:42:39.75
And then they
filled their barrels with
00:42:39.79\00:42:41.79
fresh water from the rock.
00:42:41.82\00:42:43.66
And the rock is Jesus
Christ. That's the rock.
00:42:43.69\00:42:48.53
So again today, if
we have the opportunity
00:42:48.56\00:42:53.13
to say, "Moses, is God
able to perform a miracle
00:42:53.74\00:42:57.87
at the midnight
hour, at the darkest
00:42:58.44\00:43:01.68
and most doubtful filled
hearts," his answer would be
00:43:01.71\00:43:05.71
a resounding, "Yes."
00:43:05.75\00:43:08.82
No matter what
you're going through today,
00:43:09.15\00:43:12.09
let me say it one more
time, someone has gone through
00:43:12.12\00:43:16.02
that trial, that tribulation.
00:43:16.06\00:43:18.66
And through faith in God,
they overcame that whatever.
00:43:18.69\00:43:26.33
Affliction, as we
talked about a few moments ago.
00:43:26.37\00:43:28.77
That fiery trial.
00:43:28.80\00:43:30.27
Through their
trust, and their reliance,
00:43:30.31\00:43:33.78
and their faith in God.
00:43:33.98\00:43:35.94
Because as we study
the Scriptures, we find out
00:43:35.98\00:43:40.65
more about God's character.
00:43:40.68\00:43:42.35
We find out He is a loving God,
00:43:43.18\00:43:46.45
that He's a caring God,
00:43:47.36\00:43:48.82
that He's a merciful God,
00:43:49.46\00:43:51.39
that He is a God of compassion.
00:43:51.86\00:43:54.66
And we find out that He cares.
00:43:55.13\00:43:58.47
I think about King Hezekiah.
00:43:58.77\00:44:00.67
He loved God.
00:44:01.17\00:44:02.50
He kept the ten commandment law.
00:44:02.94\00:44:04.84
He did as he was instructed.
00:44:05.77\00:44:07.84
But the time had come that
King Hezekiah was told that
00:44:08.24\00:44:13.15
he was going to die.
00:44:13.18\00:44:14.52
Now he did the first
thing that I would do.
00:44:14.98\00:44:18.09
He started to cry.
00:44:18.65\00:44:20.06
But then he got his composure,
and he went to God in prayer.
00:44:20.96\00:44:26.16
He said, "Lord," this
is King Hezekiah here,
00:44:26.49\00:44:29.80
"I have served
You, I have loved You,
00:44:30.40\00:44:33.84
I have kept Your commandments.
00:44:34.24\00:44:36.54
I have adhered to everything
that You've asked me to do.
00:44:36.94\00:44:40.08
So, oh God, don't forget
Your faithful servant today.
00:44:40.61\00:44:45.11
I'm asking for life.
I don't want to die."
00:44:45.75\00:44:49.92
Now I'm asking You today,
was God able to save his life?
00:44:50.29\00:44:55.42
And the Bible says, if
you'll study, that God gave him
00:44:55.52\00:44:59.49
fifteen more years of life.
00:44:59.53\00:45:01.13
Fifteen more years of life.
00:45:01.73\00:45:04.17
And in those fifteen years,
he remained faithful to God;
00:45:04.40\00:45:08.67
through study, through prayer.
00:45:08.70\00:45:10.94
His faith saved his life.
00:45:11.04\00:45:14.14
Your faith today in God
and His Son Jesus Christ
00:45:14.18\00:45:18.88
will not only
save your life today,
00:45:18.98\00:45:21.72
but your eternal
destination as well.
00:45:22.32\00:45:25.49
Because the
Bible is very explicit.
00:45:25.69\00:45:28.12
If we happen to pass
away, like King Hezekiah did
00:45:28.52\00:45:32.63
fifteen years
later, if we pass away
00:45:32.66\00:45:36.43
and we're in the grave, if
we have remained faithful to God
00:45:36.90\00:45:41.70
since He called us
out of the world of sin,
00:45:41.90\00:45:44.84
and we have remained faithful
through prayer, and study,
00:45:45.31\00:45:49.54
and working for
Him and His kingdom,
00:45:49.58\00:45:52.58
He's promised that when He
comes there will be a trumpet
00:45:52.85\00:45:57.15
that will sound.
00:45:57.19\00:45:58.52
And that the dead in Christ,
those that are in the grave,
00:45:58.55\00:46:03.29
those that are
asleep in Jesus Christ,
00:46:03.56\00:46:05.73
would raise from the grave.
00:46:05.76\00:46:08.13
And if we are alive and
remain at Christ's coming,
00:46:08.16\00:46:12.37
we'll be caught
together and go up in the air
00:46:12.70\00:46:16.30
to be with Jesus
forever and ever.
00:46:16.34\00:46:18.04
But folks, it takes faith.
00:46:18.07\00:46:19.97
It takes dedication.
00:46:20.54\00:46:22.11
It takes
persistence and consistency
00:46:22.21\00:46:24.78
in your walk with
Christ, no matter the trails and
00:46:24.81\00:46:27.78
tribulations that
you're going through.
00:46:27.82\00:46:29.85
Is God able?
00:46:30.05\00:46:31.39
In Paul's letter to
the church of Corinth,
00:46:31.52\00:46:35.29
there was one scripture
that really touched me,
00:46:35.66\00:46:40.06
that encouraged me, that
boosted and increased my faith.
00:46:40.63\00:46:46.90
We need people in
this Adventist movement
00:46:47.40\00:46:51.11
and in our churches
today, we need people
00:46:51.37\00:46:55.14
that promote
faith, that live faith.
00:46:55.18\00:46:58.55
Why? Because it
encourages those around them.
00:46:58.58\00:47:02.18
Paul's life, his
dedication, his consistency
00:47:02.62\00:47:07.86
in the work of Jesus
Christ, his faith encourages me.
00:47:07.89\00:47:11.89
It boosted my
faith in God as well.
00:47:11.93\00:47:15.30
Listen, I'm going
to read this to you.
00:47:15.60\00:47:17.07
Paul said, "We are
troubled on every side."
00:47:18.83\00:47:21.34
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
00:47:21.87\00:47:23.77
"We are troubled," he said, "on
every side, yet not distressed;
00:47:24.17\00:47:29.94
we are perplexed,
but not in despair;
00:47:30.31\00:47:33.82
we are
persecuted, but not forsaken;
00:47:34.12\00:47:37.65
cast down, but not destroyed..."
00:47:37.92\00:47:40.76
Listen, in Paul's letter
to the church in Corinth,
00:47:40.96\00:47:43.93
that one scripture
really touched my heart.
00:47:44.13\00:47:46.90
Listen, it was as
though Paul was looking
00:47:46.93\00:47:50.53
into our present day lives.
00:47:50.57\00:47:52.87
He could see our
world as it is today.
00:47:53.20\00:47:56.24
It was as though he
could see that we were about to
00:47:57.17\00:48:00.04
fear terrorism,
terror on the streets due to
00:48:00.08\00:48:03.75
murder and rape and abductions.
00:48:03.78\00:48:06.55
It was almost like Paul
could see at the end of time.
00:48:06.78\00:48:10.19
That mothers and fathers leaving
and murdering their children.
00:48:10.22\00:48:14.66
Our government
leaders are constantly found
00:48:15.42\00:48:18.59
in unholy circumstances today.
00:48:18.69\00:48:21.36
So many families in
our present day lives
00:48:21.70\00:48:24.90
are without jobs, inflation
is at an all-time high,
00:48:24.93\00:48:28.74
pollution of the
lands and the seas,
00:48:28.77\00:48:31.24
global warming has changed
the weather around the world.
00:48:31.27\00:48:34.68
Listen as Mrs. White said
in the spirit of prophecy.
00:48:34.71\00:48:38.55
Storms, fires, and
catastrophic events
00:48:38.58\00:48:42.38
would dominate at the end of
times, that they would escalate.
00:48:42.42\00:48:46.25
As we see today on the
internet, and the television,
00:48:46.72\00:48:50.76
and the radio, the
threats of nuclear attack;
00:48:50.79\00:48:54.33
all these
things are in our mind.
00:48:54.66\00:48:56.56
You can only smell, sense,
and touch that Jesus Christ
00:48:56.60\00:49:02.77
is about to return.
00:49:02.80\00:49:04.24
And everybody said amen.
00:49:04.27\00:49:06.37
Listen to Daniel 12:1, folks.
00:49:06.47\00:49:09.14
Listen very carefully.
00:49:09.18\00:49:10.51
We are living in the last times.
00:49:10.65\00:49:13.88
We need to get
right with God today.
00:49:14.08\00:49:17.39
We need to be
steadfast and strong.
00:49:17.49\00:49:19.92
Our faith needs to be
fortified and solidified
00:49:19.95\00:49:23.49
by studying the Scriptures.
00:49:23.53\00:49:25.59
If you want to be a
faithful servant of God,
00:49:25.79\00:49:29.00
you must spend time on
your knees and in the Bible.
00:49:29.03\00:49:33.03
Listen to what it
says in Daniel 12:1.
00:49:33.07\00:49:35.44
"And at that time
shall Michael stand up,
00:49:35.80\00:49:39.74
the great prince which standeth
for the children of thy people.
00:49:40.11\00:49:43.91
And there shall be a time
of trouble, such as never was
00:49:44.15\00:49:48.25
since there was a
nation even to that same time.
00:49:48.28\00:49:51.42
And at that time thy
people shall be delivered,
00:49:51.45\00:49:55.72
every one that shall be found
written in the book of life."
00:49:55.76\00:49:59.59
The bottom line is, no matter
what comes in these last days,
00:50:00.10\00:50:05.03
no matter what trials and dark
times come in the last moments
00:50:05.57\00:50:09.60
of time, we folks, a
Pastor John Lomacang said,
00:50:09.64\00:50:14.11
we are about to
step into eternity.
00:50:14.14\00:50:17.18
And if I'm going to step into
eternity, I want to be ready.
00:50:17.51\00:50:21.22
Don't you?
00:50:21.25\00:50:22.58
I want to know that my God is
able to raise me from the dead.
00:50:22.62\00:50:27.06
I want to have a
spiritual, intimate relationship
00:50:27.09\00:50:31.86
with Jesus.
00:50:31.89\00:50:33.29
A one on one
intimate relationship
00:50:33.33\00:50:36.87
with my Lord and Savior.
00:50:36.90\00:50:38.70
Now listen, Paul
states in 2 Corinthians
00:50:38.73\00:50:41.97
that we are
troubled on every side.
00:50:42.07\00:50:45.04
We are surrounded by trouble.
00:50:45.07\00:50:47.41
Yet as Christians we
should not be distressed
00:50:47.51\00:50:51.85
because we have God on our side.
00:50:51.88\00:50:53.78
That no matter what I might
go through in the last moments
00:50:54.12\00:50:58.05
of time before I step into
eternity, if I remain faithful,
00:50:58.09\00:51:03.16
if I remain
persistent, and consistent
00:51:03.89\00:51:06.90
in my walk with God,
no matter the darkness,
00:51:06.93\00:51:10.33
no matter the trials, if
I continue to move forward
00:51:10.37\00:51:13.80
for Jesus, we
will be in the kingdom.
00:51:13.84\00:51:16.54
I'm like Paul; I'm running,
I'm working toward perfection.
00:51:16.94\00:51:21.98
I haven't reached there yet.
00:51:22.51\00:51:24.28
But as I move forward,
if I die before Christ comes
00:51:24.75\00:51:30.59
I must be moving
forward for Jesus.
00:51:30.92\00:51:35.02
There's no stopping point.
00:51:35.26\00:51:37.79
I must be continually,
as Danny Shelton said,
00:51:38.06\00:51:41.63
taking steps up the
stairs, level by level,
00:51:41.96\00:51:46.17
never stopping, never resting,
always moving forward for Jesus.
00:51:46.20\00:51:52.01
And He said, "If
you're faithful..."
00:51:52.17\00:51:54.94
Boy, that's a big word.
00:51:55.64\00:51:57.05
"If you're faithful
and you're moving forward,
00:51:57.55\00:52:00.85
and when you
pass away you love Me,
00:52:01.28\00:52:03.75
and you kept My commandments,
and you've been filled
00:52:03.85\00:52:06.72
with the Spirit, and
you've been washed in the blood
00:52:06.76\00:52:09.26
of Jesus Christ, and you've been
wrapped in His righteousness,
00:52:09.29\00:52:12.63
when I come you
will go to heaven and
00:52:12.66\00:52:15.56
spend eternity with Me."
00:52:15.60\00:52:18.27
Is God willing?
00:52:18.77\00:52:20.10
God is willing.
00:52:21.84\00:52:23.17
Listen, God is able to give
me victory over my slothfulness.
00:52:23.24\00:52:29.91
God is able to give me
the desire to study the Word.
00:52:30.95\00:52:36.02
If you say, "Donnie, I study the
Word, I get nothing out of it,"
00:52:36.05\00:52:38.79
before you study the Word of
God, before you open that Bible,
00:52:38.82\00:52:41.26
fall on your knees and
say, "Oh God, will you send
00:52:41.29\00:52:43.56
the Holy Spirit to help me
interpret what I'm reading?"
00:52:43.59\00:52:46.90
And I always say, if
we ask the Holy Spirit
00:52:47.43\00:52:50.17
to help us interpret,
that we will have spiritual
00:52:50.27\00:52:53.03
light bulb moments, that as
we read the Scripture we'll say,
00:52:53.07\00:52:56.37
"I got it, I got
it. I understand it."
00:52:56.40\00:52:59.34
That can only be done through
the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:52:59.37\00:53:01.71
Let's go a bit further.
00:53:01.74\00:53:03.08
God is able to take
the ambitions of this world
00:53:03.11\00:53:06.92
and turn them...
00:53:07.22\00:53:08.55
Listen, if you are
an ambitious person
00:53:08.58\00:53:11.45
working for material
things in this world,
00:53:11.49\00:53:13.92
say, "Oh God,
deliver me from that."
00:53:14.12\00:53:16.76
God is able to
deliver you today.
00:53:16.79\00:53:18.89
Listen, God is able, through
the power of the Holy Spirit,
00:53:18.93\00:53:23.50
to transform us into soul
winners instead of soul killers.
00:53:23.70\00:53:28.50
God says, "Either you're
for Me or you're against Me."
00:53:28.97\00:53:33.41
There's only two sides.
00:53:34.41\00:53:35.74
"You're for Me or
you're against Me.
00:53:36.41\00:53:38.61
If you're against Me, you're
taking souls to hell with you.
00:53:38.88\00:53:44.85
You're taking them to the death
that there's no return with you.
00:53:45.19\00:53:50.33
But if you're on My side,
you're taking them with you
00:53:50.43\00:53:55.00
to the eternal
destination of eternal life
00:53:55.03\00:53:58.17
and living in
the New Jerusalem."
00:53:58.20\00:54:00.20
You're either with God
or you're against God today.
00:54:00.24\00:54:04.07
Listen, you
might say, "Oh Donnie,
00:54:04.61\00:54:06.78
you don't know the
adversity I'm going through.
00:54:09.18\00:54:11.71
You don't know the
trial that is before me.
00:54:12.51\00:54:15.72
I'm at the point, even
though I have accepted Christ,
00:54:16.28\00:54:19.95
because of all these
trials and tribulations
00:54:20.39\00:54:23.02
I'm about to quit the race.
00:54:23.93\00:54:27.10
I'm so tired.
00:54:27.33\00:54:28.66
I'm so discouraged.
00:54:29.00\00:54:30.83
The road ahead of me,
that's in front of me,
00:54:31.10\00:54:34.47
it just seems like it
gets steeper, and steeper,
00:54:34.50\00:54:37.37
and steeper;
and I am exhausted."
00:54:37.41\00:54:40.24
But friends, if you're
going through that today,
00:54:40.88\00:54:43.24
I want you to
turn to Romans 5:8.
00:54:43.28\00:54:45.48
Turn there with me.
00:54:46.25\00:54:47.58
Let me read what the
Bible says, what Paul said.
00:54:47.62\00:54:51.75
Come to God just as you are.
00:54:52.05\00:54:54.02
Listen carefully.
00:54:54.06\00:54:55.39
"But God commendeth
his love toward us..."
00:54:55.76\00:55:00.36
"God commendeth
his love toward us,
00:55:01.50\00:55:05.37
in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us."
00:55:05.40\00:55:09.30
Let me break that down for you.
00:55:09.57\00:55:11.17
In our carnality,
in our imperfections,
00:55:11.27\00:55:14.84
in our bitterness, in
our defiance towards God,
00:55:15.01\00:55:18.38
it was in this state of
our every being that Jesus,
00:55:18.51\00:55:23.32
in His love and His
mercy, willfully and joyfully
00:55:23.35\00:55:28.06
gave His life for us.
00:55:28.09\00:55:29.42
I always put it this way.
00:55:30.56\00:55:32.13
That's one of my
favorite scriptures, by the way.
00:55:32.49\00:55:34.53
There was a time when I
was living in the world,
00:55:35.00\00:55:37.83
that I was living for self.
00:55:38.33\00:55:40.07
And my parents thought, "Donnie
has gone just too far this time.
00:55:40.80\00:55:45.44
There's no one
that can save him."
00:55:45.64\00:55:47.61
But Jesus Christ went out
in the world and He found me.
00:55:48.18\00:55:55.52
It's not like I woke up one
day and said, "I tell you what,
00:55:55.78\00:55:58.65
I'm going to go
find Jesus today."
00:55:58.69\00:56:00.52
The fact and the truth, that
when Jesus came to this world,
00:56:00.96\00:56:05.13
He came to find you.
00:56:05.43\00:56:07.26
He came to find me.
00:56:07.40\00:56:08.96
And Jesus went out
into the world of sin
00:56:09.00\00:56:11.30
and He found Donnie
in the muck and the mire
00:56:11.33\00:56:14.17
of the sin in this world.
00:56:14.20\00:56:15.74
And Jesus Christ personally
picked me up out of this
00:56:15.97\00:56:19.97
muck and mire and He washed
me clean in His own blood.
00:56:20.01\00:56:23.55
Not because I was perfect,
because I was imperfect.
00:56:23.65\00:56:26.21
I was in sin, but
God loved me anyway.
00:56:26.35\00:56:28.32
Jesus Christ wanted to save me.
00:56:28.35\00:56:30.05
So what He did is,
when He picked me up,
00:56:30.09\00:56:33.39
He did not just wash
me clean in His blood,
00:56:33.42\00:56:36.19
but then He took His
robe, His robe of righteousness,
00:56:36.39\00:56:42.16
that pure and
spotless and wrinkle-free robe,
00:56:42.20\00:56:45.70
and He wrapped it around me.
00:56:45.73\00:56:47.44
And then in His grace and mercy,
He filled me with the power
00:56:47.57\00:56:51.61
of the Holy Spirit.
00:56:51.64\00:56:52.97
And then He said,
"Donnie, pick up that Bible.
00:56:53.04\00:56:55.34
It's the lamp, it's the light.
00:56:55.51\00:56:57.71
You need that to
continue to grow.
00:56:57.75\00:57:00.45
So I praise God today.
00:57:00.72\00:57:02.38
And I want to
tell you today, friend,
00:57:02.75\00:57:04.25
if God can save
someone like me, a sinner...
00:57:04.45\00:57:09.66
I'm saved by grace,
through His mercy and love.
00:57:10.43\00:57:13.80
...then if He can save me,
friends, I know He can save you.
00:57:14.00\00:57:17.67
Give your life to Jesus today.
00:57:18.10\00:57:20.04
No matter where you're at,
no matter how far in the world
00:57:20.07\00:57:22.44
you are today, come
back to Jesus and humbly bow
00:57:22.47\00:57:25.24
before Him and say, "Jesus,
take me into the kingdom."
00:57:25.27\00:57:29.78
Amen.
00:57:29.94\00:57:31.28