And we welcome you once
again to, Pillars of Faith.
00:00:24.29\00:00:28.16
A word for today in
today's work-a-day world.
00:00:28.26\00:00:33.19
My name is C.A. Murray and
it is my privilege, my pleasure,
00:00:33.40\00:00:35.50
to welcome you to session number
four with pastor Donnie Shelton
00:00:35.53\00:00:40.04
of, Touching Hearts Ministries,
who has been going through
00:00:40.07\00:00:43.64
a series, Faith Leading
To A Closer Walk With Jesus.
00:00:43.67\00:00:48.44
And each sermon
has been power packed,
00:00:48.48\00:00:50.58
information
filled, and Spirit filled,
00:00:50.61\00:00:53.35
as the man of God has
lifted up the name of Jesus.
00:00:53.38\00:00:55.88
And we are so happy that
Donnie has taken time from
00:00:55.92\00:00:58.82
his busy schedule to be
in this desk on this day
00:00:58.85\00:01:02.42
to talk to us
about the things of God.
00:01:02.52\00:01:05.59
The first sermon in this series,
00:01:05.63\00:01:07.73
Faith Equals
Knowledge Times Light.
00:01:07.76\00:01:11.20
And I liked that
title when he told me.
00:01:11.23\00:01:13.13
Just a great title.
00:01:13.17\00:01:14.70
Number two, My Grace
Is Sufficient For Thee.
00:01:15.30\00:01:17.77
Certainly a true
statement if ever there was one;
00:01:17.81\00:01:20.94
that the grace of God is
sufficient for each of us
00:01:20.98\00:01:23.85
who walk the road to glory.
00:01:24.08\00:01:25.51
Followed by, The
Gift of Eternal Life.
00:01:25.71\00:01:28.95
A powerful, powerful
thought on yesterday.
00:01:29.38\00:01:32.39
And then today's
message, A Piece of the Puzzle.
00:01:32.42\00:01:36.99
And we are excited to
hear what God has planned
00:01:37.33\00:01:40.40
for us through His
servant this day as he preaches,
00:01:40.43\00:01:43.83
A Piece of the Puzzle.
00:01:43.87\00:01:45.73
I just wanted to mention again
that Donnie is the president of,
00:01:46.37\00:01:49.94
Touching Hearts Ministries;
00:01:50.04\00:01:51.37
ably assisted by
his wife, Brenda.
00:01:51.41\00:01:53.14
And together they make a
powerful team, a powerful duo,
00:01:53.17\00:01:56.38
for the cause of Christ.
00:01:56.41\00:01:57.75
And Donnie preaches
with passion and with power.
00:01:57.78\00:02:00.22
He loves the Lord and
loves the Word of God.
00:02:00.48\00:02:03.08
And when he stands in
the desk, we expect no less
00:02:03.22\00:02:05.55
than a blessing from the Lord.
00:02:05.59\00:02:07.06
So we're going to pray now.
00:02:07.09\00:02:08.42
And then the next voice
you will hear will be that of
00:02:08.46\00:02:10.29
Pastor Donnie Shelton of
Touching Hearts Ministries.
00:02:10.33\00:02:12.46
The message, A
Piece of the Puzzle.
00:02:12.49\00:02:15.23
Shall we pray.
00:02:15.26\00:02:16.60
Father God, how we love You and
praise You for this opportunity
00:02:16.63\00:02:20.17
to hear a word from You.
00:02:20.20\00:02:21.77
We ask that You
would bless Your servant,
00:02:22.30\00:02:24.31
speak to him and
through him so that we may hear
00:02:24.61\00:02:28.61
a word from the Lord.
00:02:28.64\00:02:30.01
We thank You, Father, that
You're always ready to instruct,
00:02:30.31\00:02:33.05
to teach, and we know
that there are those who have
00:02:33.15\00:02:36.28
given their heart to
listening and to following.
00:02:36.32\00:02:38.82
Please, dear Lord, this
day may we hear and may we do.
00:02:39.55\00:02:44.59
And we thank You, dear Father.
00:02:44.63\00:02:46.56
In Jesus' name, amen and amen.
00:02:46.59\00:02:50.10
And now Pastor Donnie Shelton.
00:02:50.13\00:02:52.53
Thank you so much Pastor C.A.
00:02:56.97\00:02:58.64
And again, what an
honor, what a privilege it is
00:02:58.67\00:03:02.18
to be here today on
this wonderful program,
00:03:02.28\00:03:05.31
Pillars of Faith.
00:03:05.35\00:03:06.68
I never want to
skip an opportunity
00:03:07.32\00:03:10.89
to be able to preach the
lovely Jesus to His people.
00:03:10.92\00:03:15.66
I was called 14 years ago
out of the field of radiology,
00:03:16.42\00:03:21.36
which I'd been in
for over 30 years.
00:03:21.40\00:03:23.83
And God called me
in to this ministry,
00:03:24.17\00:03:27.40
Touching Hearts
Ministries, to reintroduce Jesus
00:03:27.44\00:03:32.44
to His people.
00:03:32.47\00:03:33.81
And what an honor and
a privilege it has been.
00:03:33.84\00:03:36.71
I want you today
to get your Bibles out
00:03:37.28\00:03:41.18
and I want you to read
with me in Ephesians 2:20-21.
00:03:41.62\00:03:48.19
Again as Pastor C.A.
said, A Piece of the Puzzle,
00:03:48.69\00:03:53.70
is the message for you today.
00:03:53.73\00:03:56.03
Ephesians 2:20-21, I
want you to read with me.
00:03:56.23\00:04:02.30
"...and are built upon
the foundation of the apostles
00:04:02.74\00:04:06.07
and prophets, Jesus himself
being the chief corner stone;
00:04:06.11\00:04:12.41
in whom all the
building fitly framed together
00:04:12.85\00:04:17.29
groweth unto an
holy temple in the Lord."
00:04:17.49\00:04:21.52
We're talking today about God's
church; Jesus Christ's bride.
00:04:21.62\00:04:28.40
What is the church?
00:04:28.63\00:04:29.96
Everyone that has
accepted the invitation
00:04:30.17\00:04:34.54
to join the church
through Jesus Christ.
00:04:36.20\00:04:41.61
And once we become a
member of God's church,
00:04:41.84\00:04:45.68
we go to work for Jesus.
00:04:45.85\00:04:47.68
Jesus said,
"There's a harvest out there.
00:04:48.15\00:04:51.25
And I need
laborers and I need workers.
00:04:51.75\00:04:54.39
I need as many workers as
possible to bring folks in
00:04:54.69\00:04:59.23
before I come to get My church."
00:04:59.26\00:05:02.30
So we want a big church.
00:05:02.46\00:05:04.17
What is the church?
00:05:04.20\00:05:05.53
Everyone that is born again,
00:05:05.57\00:05:09.00
that's been washed
in the blood of Jesus.
00:05:09.04\00:05:11.94
And as I always say,
wrapped in His righteousness
00:05:12.24\00:05:15.18
and then filled with the
power of the Holy Spirit.
00:05:15.28\00:05:18.48
That is God's church.
00:05:18.51\00:05:20.45
Now listen to this.
00:05:20.65\00:05:21.98
Old Testament prophets,
they laid the foundation
00:05:22.35\00:05:26.65
of the work of Jesus.
00:05:26.69\00:05:28.49
We today as Christians
help make up the foundation
00:05:28.92\00:05:33.90
of the church.
00:05:33.93\00:05:35.26
We are all a part of the
puzzle in laying the foundation
00:05:35.90\00:05:42.00
of the church, but
Jesus is the cornerstone
00:05:42.04\00:05:47.21
of the foundation.
00:05:47.24\00:05:48.68
All of our
messages, pastors out there,
00:05:49.11\00:05:51.61
all of our messages
need to be centered,
00:05:51.65\00:05:55.32
and through, and
in, and around Jesus,
00:05:55.48\00:06:00.16
because He's the
cornerstone of the foundation.
00:06:00.19\00:06:03.63
It is through Jesus Christ
that I will be in the kingdom.
00:06:03.79\00:06:07.90
My faith in Jesus
Christ as the Son of God,
00:06:07.93\00:06:12.53
that's why I will
be in the kingdom.
00:06:12.57\00:06:14.87
Not because of my own merits.
00:06:14.90\00:06:16.50
I can never work
my way into heaven.
00:06:16.54\00:06:19.31
It is a free gift.
00:06:19.34\00:06:20.68
Let's go a
little bit further here.
00:06:20.71\00:06:22.04
But I today want to be
a part of God's church.
00:06:22.08\00:06:25.55
And being a puzzle and
a part of God's church,
00:06:25.78\00:06:29.08
I know that I have a work to do,
00:06:29.12\00:06:31.12
just like the
prophets and disciples did.
00:06:31.15\00:06:34.42
Now, let's go a bit further.
00:06:34.46\00:06:35.79
Christ Himself holds
together the various parts
00:06:36.59\00:06:41.43
of this spiritual house.
00:06:41.46\00:06:43.33
And Jesus unifies the church.
00:06:43.70\00:06:47.34
The church is built upon Jesus.
00:06:47.57\00:06:51.87
No other name but Jesus.
00:06:51.91\00:06:54.74
Let's go a bit further.
00:06:54.78\00:06:56.11
He is the cornerstone.
00:06:56.14\00:06:57.98
What is a cornerstone?
00:06:58.61\00:06:59.95
A stone
representing the starting place
00:07:00.28\00:07:04.55
in the
construction of the building.
00:07:04.59\00:07:07.19
The foundation on
which something is developed.
00:07:07.62\00:07:11.63
Christ was the
beginning of the central point,
00:07:12.26\00:07:18.60
the cornerstone of the church.
00:07:18.97\00:07:21.24
And the church is developed
through our High Priest,
00:07:21.47\00:07:25.21
Jesus Christ.
00:07:25.24\00:07:27.41
We are all a puzzle
that makes up this church.
00:07:27.61\00:07:31.98
And let's talk about that.
00:07:32.01\00:07:33.42
Let's turn to Ephesians 4:16.
00:07:33.65\00:07:36.75
Get those Bibles out.
00:07:37.45\00:07:38.79
Ephesians 4:16
00:07:38.82\00:07:41.62
Here's what the Bible says.
00:07:42.42\00:07:43.76
"From whom the
whole body," the church,
00:07:44.23\00:07:47.90
"fitly joined
together and compacted
00:07:48.06\00:07:51.77
by that which every
joint supplieth, according,"
00:07:52.03\00:07:56.27
now listen, "to the
effectual working in the
00:07:56.30\00:07:59.01
measure of every part..."
00:07:59.04\00:08:01.21
What's every part?
00:08:01.24\00:08:02.58
That's us.
00:08:02.61\00:08:03.95
"...that makes up
and increases the body
00:08:03.98\00:08:06.21
unto the edifying
of itself in love."
00:08:06.25\00:08:09.35
Once we expect...
00:08:09.62\00:08:11.65
Maybe I better put it this way.
00:08:12.79\00:08:14.19
Once we step out for
Christ and accept Him as our
00:08:14.22\00:08:17.73
personal Savior, we
become a part of the church.
00:08:17.76\00:08:21.70
We are a piece of the puzzle.
00:08:21.73\00:08:24.40
And all of these puzzles
fit together with all the
00:08:24.67\00:08:28.00
different talents that
are in the church today.
00:08:28.04\00:08:31.01
The singers, the preachers,
the elders, the deaconesses.
00:08:31.04\00:08:34.41
All these fitted together make
a strong and unified church,
00:08:34.44\00:08:39.41
again, which is
centered around Jesus Christ.
00:08:39.45\00:08:43.25
Now once we step out for
Christ, our life will change.
00:08:43.49\00:08:48.19
When Jesus comes into your
life, there will be a change.
00:08:48.72\00:08:52.79
And once that change takes
place, you will look at Christ
00:08:53.13\00:08:56.56
and say, "Lord,
what would You have me do
00:08:56.60\00:08:59.93
as part of working in, and
through, and in this church?
00:09:00.30\00:09:04.17
What do You want me to do?"
00:09:04.21\00:09:05.71
Now Christ may call
you into a ministry.
00:09:05.74\00:09:09.48
Now when He does, you
may even leave your job
00:09:10.18\00:09:14.28
in radiology like I did.
00:09:14.32\00:09:15.92
I just left my job and
stepped out into this ministry.
00:09:15.95\00:09:18.89
Now I had...
Radiology was my life.
00:09:18.92\00:09:22.76
I'm not like my cousin
Kenny. I never was a carpenter.
00:09:23.06\00:09:25.83
I'm certainly not like
Danny that can sing; a musician.
00:09:25.86\00:09:28.93
So when I left
radiology, I left the only thing
00:09:28.96\00:09:31.43
that I knew how to do.
00:09:31.47\00:09:32.80
But God said, "I want you to
preach the lovely Jesus Christ."
00:09:32.93\00:09:36.07
So I stepped out
into this ministry.
00:09:36.10\00:09:37.74
In other words, I
stepped out of my comfort zone.
00:09:37.77\00:09:41.84
I was comfortable
in radiology because
00:09:42.51\00:09:44.25
I knew what I was doing.
00:09:44.28\00:09:46.18
So I stepped out in faith.
00:09:46.21\00:09:49.72
I didn't know where
God was going to take me.
00:09:50.02\00:09:52.35
I really didn't know exactly the
depths of what I would be doing.
00:09:52.45\00:09:56.36
But I trusted in God.
I put my faith in Him,
00:09:56.42\00:10:00.16
That whatever I
needed He would supply.
00:10:00.20\00:10:03.70
Well let me give you a
"for instance" of that.
00:10:03.80\00:10:05.60
Growing up as child, there
were eight of us in our family.
00:10:06.37\00:10:10.34
And when I was about 8
years old, I guess, maybe 9,
00:10:11.44\00:10:14.48
we moved from town
out into the country.
00:10:14.51\00:10:17.48
And this little red
house that we all moved into,
00:10:17.78\00:10:20.92
it had three acres of grass
that needed to be cared for.
00:10:21.12\00:10:25.25
Now what my dad did is,
he went out and he bought
00:10:25.82\00:10:30.83
a twenty inch push mower.
00:10:30.93\00:10:33.73
A twenty inch push
mower to mow three acres.
00:10:34.73\00:10:38.63
He bought this push
mower and a big can of gas.
00:10:39.00\00:10:42.90
And he would leave
early in the morning,
00:10:43.57\00:10:45.44
and he would say, "Boys,
when I get home I want this
00:10:45.91\00:10:49.08
three acres finished with
this twenty inch power mower."
00:10:49.11\00:10:53.62
Now it looked impossible.
00:10:54.08\00:10:56.35
It looked overwhelming.
00:10:56.72\00:10:58.05
How are we possibly going
to mow three acres of grass
00:10:58.09\00:11:01.96
in eight hours with a
twenty inch push mower?
00:11:02.22\00:11:04.76
So what my brothers
and I did, we formed a line
00:11:04.79\00:11:08.10
and we would take this
push mower and we would run
00:11:08.13\00:11:11.50
around this three
acres as fast as we could.
00:11:11.53\00:11:14.70
When we finished a
lap, the next brother would
00:11:14.90\00:11:17.81
grab the push mower
and then he would push it.
00:11:17.84\00:11:20.31
And that went on and
on and on until all the
00:11:20.34\00:11:22.34
three acres were finished.
00:11:22.38\00:11:23.71
What I'm saying is this.
00:11:23.75\00:11:25.08
It was a job.
00:11:25.98\00:11:27.38
It was uncomfortable.
00:11:27.72\00:11:29.08
It looked
impossible. But we did it.
00:11:29.35\00:11:32.52
My dad supplied this
twenty inch power mower,
00:11:32.55\00:11:35.49
and he knew that's what we
would need to finish the job.
00:11:35.52\00:11:38.83
If we had twenty
acres, maybe he would have
00:11:39.26\00:11:41.43
gotten us a bush
hog, I don't know.
00:11:41.46\00:11:42.96
But I'm saying this,
that three acres to me was a
00:11:43.00\00:11:46.63
ministry that looked like it was
overwhelming, it was impossible,
00:11:46.67\00:11:49.60
I couldn't possibly do it.
00:11:49.64\00:11:51.01
But my dad supplied
exactly what I needed.
00:11:51.04\00:11:53.34
If God is calling you today,
if you've joined the church,
00:11:53.38\00:11:57.61
and you're piece of the puzzle
is calling you into a ministry,
00:11:57.65\00:12:00.72
He will supply
exactly what you need.
00:12:00.75\00:12:04.52
Praise God. Let's
go a bit further here.
00:12:04.55\00:12:06.49
Now, let's put
this together again.
00:12:06.52\00:12:08.89
Each of us has a work to do.
00:12:08.92\00:12:11.79
As we continue to
build on the foundation,
00:12:12.19\00:12:15.46
we all have a work to do.
00:12:15.50\00:12:18.00
We all have a
piece of the puzzle which
00:12:18.20\00:12:21.14
fits into this foundation.
00:12:21.17\00:12:23.10
And I wrote this
here, I didn't want to
00:12:23.37\00:12:24.71
forget this, folks, friends.
00:12:24.74\00:12:26.27
Through Jesus we are
able to work together.
00:12:26.31\00:12:30.65
Every member is a working
member so that the church,
00:12:31.15\00:12:35.52
the finished product of the
puzzle, may continue to grow
00:12:35.55\00:12:39.52
in Christ who
is the cornerstone.
00:12:39.55\00:12:41.96
We are apostles.
00:12:41.99\00:12:45.39
When we accepted Christ
and we joined the church of God
00:12:46.90\00:12:52.83
and became a
piece of the puzzle,
00:12:52.87\00:12:54.94
we became apostles.
00:12:54.97\00:12:57.51
Just like the
apostles in the New Testament.
00:12:57.77\00:13:00.18
Listen, what is an apostle?
00:13:00.21\00:13:02.24
We became an
apostle, which is an advocate,
00:13:02.71\00:13:07.52
a supporter, a
promoter, a backer, a friend,
00:13:08.08\00:13:14.36
a booster, a person who
initiates a great reform.
00:13:14.39\00:13:21.00
"Well, Donnie, what's a reform?"
00:13:21.40\00:13:22.86
Well, improvement or
correction of what is
00:13:23.13\00:13:27.87
corrupt and defective.
00:13:27.90\00:13:30.07
That is why God raised 3ABN.
00:13:30.34\00:13:33.64
Three Angels Broadcasting.
00:13:34.28\00:13:36.81
He raised this television
station to reach the world
00:13:36.85\00:13:40.55
with the undiluted message.
00:13:40.62\00:13:42.85
Not only that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
00:13:43.15\00:13:45.69
but that His Ten
Commandment law is still alive.
00:13:45.72\00:13:50.03
And that fourth
commandment is still in effect.
00:13:50.16\00:13:53.40
He needed someone to push
this message across the world
00:13:53.53\00:13:57.57
before His return.
00:13:57.60\00:13:59.03
And He decided to raise 3ABN.
00:13:59.07\00:14:03.87
Danny Shelton is an
apostle that God chose.
00:14:04.07\00:14:08.44
And through Danny, through
the power of the Holy Spirit
00:14:08.48\00:14:11.58
instilled in Danny, God
is raising this ministry
00:14:11.61\00:14:15.18
to reach the world with truth.
00:14:15.22\00:14:17.39
Praise God.
00:14:17.42\00:14:18.75
Now in this reform, it
means to make things better,
00:14:18.79\00:14:24.29
to improve by
removing the false.
00:14:24.59\00:14:28.90
Through this ministry, God's
message of truth is correct.
00:14:29.60\00:14:35.14
It has rectified, it
has reclaimed the truth,
00:14:35.40\00:14:38.97
it has redeemed the truth.
00:14:39.01\00:14:40.78
And through God, the
truth is cleansed and restored
00:14:40.81\00:14:44.68
in the church.
00:14:44.71\00:14:46.05
And then the church
takes the message of truth
00:14:46.08\00:14:48.95
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
00:14:48.98\00:14:50.75
that the Ten Commandment
law is still in effect.
00:14:50.79\00:14:53.15
And the church will grow.
00:14:53.19\00:14:55.82
It will grow,
but it needs workers.
00:14:56.06\00:14:58.69
It needs laborers
like you and I today.
00:14:58.73\00:15:01.66
Don't you want to
become a part of God's church,
00:15:01.93\00:15:05.73
a piece of the puzzle?
00:15:05.77\00:15:07.10
Let's go a bit further here.
00:15:07.14\00:15:08.47
Now today let's read this.
00:15:08.50\00:15:10.31
"Then the Lord said to Moses,
'Rise early in the morning
00:15:11.34\00:15:15.18
and stand before
Pharaoh, and say to him,
00:15:15.81\00:15:19.08
"Let My people go,
that they may serve Me."'"
00:15:19.35\00:15:25.35
So Moses was an apostle.
00:15:25.45\00:15:27.79
He was part of the puzzle.
00:15:27.82\00:15:30.23
Through Moses, God's
people were delivered
00:15:30.93\00:15:33.76
out of Egypt.
00:15:34.13\00:15:35.46
They were delivered out from
underneath the thumb of Pharaoh.
00:15:35.66\00:15:39.10
So he was a part of the puzzle.
00:15:39.30\00:15:40.80
Daniel was a part of the puzzle.
00:15:40.84\00:15:43.00
Every apostle and disciple
that we read through the whole
00:15:43.04\00:15:48.61
Old Testament and New Testament
were disciples of Jesus Christ.
00:15:48.71\00:15:53.35
Let's go a
little bit further here.
00:15:53.38\00:15:54.72
Here's what I wrote down.
00:15:54.75\00:15:56.08
I wanted to share
this with you today.
00:15:56.12\00:15:57.69
Fourteen years ago the
Lord called Brenda and I
00:15:57.95\00:16:01.09
into this
ministry, Touching Hearts.
00:16:01.12\00:16:03.86
God Himself
gives us the message.
00:16:03.99\00:16:06.73
He gives us His grace.
00:16:07.50\00:16:09.43
He gives us His mercy.
00:16:09.60\00:16:11.23
And then He fills us with the
Spirit to deliver the messages
00:16:11.27\00:16:14.77
that He wants
His people to hear.
00:16:14.80\00:16:16.81
Now you're saying
today, "Well, how much money
00:16:17.04\00:16:20.01
do I need to become a disciple?
00:16:20.04\00:16:22.41
How much fame do I need?
00:16:23.35\00:16:25.28
Do I need a high IQ
to become a disciple?"
00:16:25.31\00:16:28.42
"Listen, what
mountain are we to climb,"
00:16:28.45\00:16:31.39
we might say in our
hearts, minds, and souls.
00:16:31.42\00:16:33.49
"How much wealth must I possess?
00:16:33.66\00:16:36.32
What level of
intelligence must I have
00:16:36.36\00:16:39.16
to become qualified to
become an ambassador of Christ?"
00:16:39.19\00:16:43.47
"What level of spirituality
must I obtain before I can hear
00:16:44.53\00:16:49.47
the voice of God?"
00:16:49.57\00:16:50.91
Let's put it this way.
00:16:51.47\00:16:53.21
Here's what I
wrote down today, listen.
00:16:53.51\00:16:55.38
Now let's think about that one.
00:16:55.61\00:16:57.35
How spiritual was
Saul, later known as Paul,
00:16:57.58\00:17:01.38
as he was on the road to
Damascus with the mission of
00:17:01.58\00:17:05.09
dragging Christians in
chains to the so-called
00:17:05.12\00:17:08.09
spiritual leaders of the day?
00:17:08.12\00:17:09.62
Was he spiritual? No.
00:17:09.66\00:17:11.86
But did God call Him? Yes.
00:17:12.79\00:17:15.03
God had a job, He
had a ministry for Paul.
00:17:15.16\00:17:19.50
And He called Paul.
00:17:19.53\00:17:21.37
And God's mercy and
God's grace shined upon Paul.
00:17:21.40\00:17:25.37
And then as I always
say, then He filled Paul
00:17:25.41\00:17:28.68
with the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:17:28.71\00:17:31.45
And here's what Acts 9:1-2 says.
00:17:31.48\00:17:34.98
Read this with me now.
00:17:35.02\00:17:36.35
Acts 9:1-2
00:17:37.09\00:17:38.92
Here's what the Bible says.
00:17:39.15\00:17:40.56
"And Saul, yet breathing
out threatenings and slaughter
00:17:41.09\00:17:45.26
against the
disciples of the Lord,
00:17:46.70\00:17:48.80
went unto the high priest,
and desired of him letters
00:17:48.83\00:17:52.53
to Damascus to the
synagogues, that if he found any
00:17:52.57\00:17:56.67
on his way, whether
they were men or women,
00:17:56.71\00:17:59.87
that he might bring
them bound unto Jerusalem."
00:17:59.91\00:18:02.41
But here's what
happened on Saul's journey.
00:18:02.44\00:18:05.91
And as Saul journeyed,
a light shined about him
00:18:06.11\00:18:09.82
and he heard a voice say,
00:18:09.85\00:18:11.82
"Saul, Saul why are
you persecuting Me?"
00:18:11.85\00:18:16.83
Christ was saying,
"When you injure My people,
00:18:17.06\00:18:19.93
you're assaulting Me as well."
00:18:19.96\00:18:21.80
Did Jesus speak to Saul? Yes.
00:18:22.13\00:18:25.17
And the first thing he
said was, "Who are You?"
00:18:25.20\00:18:27.94
And He said, "I'm Jesus."
00:18:28.04\00:18:29.37
And then Saul said, "Lord,
what would You have me to do?"
00:18:29.40\00:18:33.04
Praise God. And you know what?
00:18:33.14\00:18:34.71
Maybe that's the first question
00:18:34.74\00:18:36.58
we need to ask Jesus
when we join the church.
00:18:37.18\00:18:40.45
"What would You have me do?"
00:18:40.65\00:18:42.42
Alright, let's go a
little bit further here now.
00:18:42.45\00:18:44.02
So we find that it is not
just the children of the King
00:18:44.05\00:18:47.82
that can hear God's voice.
00:18:47.86\00:18:49.19
God's voice
penetrates into the inner soul
00:18:49.32\00:18:53.19
of the lost and the redeemed.
00:18:53.23\00:18:55.86
What are the redeemed?
00:18:56.46\00:18:57.80
The freed, the
rescued, the recovered property
00:18:58.57\00:19:02.24
by someone paying the
price, the debt that we owed.
00:19:02.50\00:19:06.21
And that was Jesus Christ.
00:19:06.24\00:19:07.71
And here's what I
wrote down here as well.
00:19:07.91\00:19:09.64
Saul, Saul,
listened to the Word of God.
00:19:09.68\00:19:14.78
He obeyed God.
00:19:14.82\00:19:16.48
He became an apostle.
00:19:16.52\00:19:18.19
And therefore, He was
blessed by God's grace.
00:19:18.35\00:19:21.72
He began a ministry.
00:19:21.76\00:19:23.29
Listen, Satan stole the lost.
00:19:23.39\00:19:26.33
Jesus recovered His property
and paid with His own blood
00:19:26.73\00:19:31.10
and with His own
life to save the lost.
00:19:31.33\00:19:34.84
Let's go a little
bit further here now.
00:19:34.87\00:19:36.24
"How many years, Donnie,
of college, how many degrees
00:19:36.34\00:19:42.44
do I need to get
the attention of God,
00:19:42.48\00:19:45.25
that I might become an apostle?
00:19:45.28\00:19:47.78
Must I be an elder
to become an apostle?
00:19:48.02\00:19:50.29
A deacon? A deaconess?
00:19:50.32\00:19:51.92
Or should I give more
than ten percent of what I make
00:19:52.02\00:19:55.99
to become an apostle?"
00:19:56.02\00:19:57.93
Now before we go any further,
00:19:58.43\00:20:00.16
let me make
this perfectly clear.
00:20:00.20\00:20:01.70
One cannot earn or work or buy
the privilege of being called.
00:20:02.90\00:20:08.40
For we are called
by God's loving grace
00:20:08.57\00:20:11.91
to preach, to teach,
and most of all to live
00:20:11.94\00:20:16.81
the life of Jesus Christ.
00:20:16.85\00:20:18.58
Here's what it
says in Romans 1:1-6.
00:20:18.71\00:20:21.62
Open the Bible.
00:20:23.05\00:20:24.39
Write these Scriptures down.
00:20:24.72\00:20:26.19
Listen very carefully.
00:20:26.22\00:20:27.72
Romans 1:1-6
00:20:28.52\00:20:31.49
"Paul, a servant of Jesus
Christ, called to be an apostle,
00:20:31.69\00:20:37.33
separated unto
the gospel of God...
00:20:37.57\00:20:41.07
...among whom ye are
also called of Jesus Christ."
00:20:41.34\00:20:46.01
Who's ye? You.
00:20:46.04\00:20:47.64
Me. I'm called to be an apostle.
00:20:48.61\00:20:51.98
A worker in the church.
00:20:52.21\00:20:53.58
I'm a piece of the puzzle.
00:20:53.62\00:20:54.95
Listen, "...among whom are
ye also called of Jesus Christ.
00:20:55.18\00:21:00.19
To all that be in Rome..."
00:21:00.22\00:21:02.22
Or all that be in the world.
00:21:02.26\00:21:04.39
"...beloved of God, you
are called to be saints."
00:21:04.43\00:21:10.00
Called to be saints;
workers in the church.
00:21:10.17\00:21:14.07
A piece of the puzzle.
00:21:14.10\00:21:16.34
Those that are grace
given and faith driven,
00:21:16.44\00:21:21.18
grace given and faith driven,
00:21:21.78\00:21:25.18
you are asked by the
Lord, not only to become
00:21:25.31\00:21:27.92
a part of the church,
but saying, "You know what?
00:21:27.95\00:21:29.88
I've got a work for you to do.
00:21:29.92\00:21:31.25
Will you to that?
Will you do that for Me?"
00:21:31.29\00:21:33.05
Let's go a
little bit further here.
00:21:33.09\00:21:34.42
Now, we're going to
talk about something.
00:21:34.46\00:21:36.09
We're going to talk
about the gold rush of 1849.
00:21:36.12\00:21:38.73
And you're going to
say, "What in the world
00:21:39.03\00:21:40.93
does the gold rush of 1849
got to do with Scriptures?"
00:21:41.03\00:21:45.23
Well let's talk
about it just a little bit.
00:21:45.37\00:21:47.64
Let me read you a
little bit of history here.
00:21:47.67\00:21:49.47
And the gold rush of 1849
changed the history of America.
00:21:49.67\00:21:54.04
Two men living in California,
they were building a sawmill
00:21:54.28\00:21:59.88
and they discovered
flakes of gold in the water
00:21:59.98\00:22:03.08
that they used to
run their sawmill.
00:22:03.32\00:22:06.09
Every day after that, the
men sifted through the water
00:22:06.29\00:22:10.39
and took the gold, and put the
precious golden flakes in bags.
00:22:10.43\00:22:14.90
And you know what
they did with them?
00:22:15.00\00:22:16.33
You know what
they did with them?
00:22:16.67\00:22:18.00
They hid them.
00:22:18.03\00:22:19.37
They hid this gold.
00:22:20.14\00:22:21.87
They did the best they could
to keep their wealth a secret,
00:22:22.30\00:22:27.31
but somehow some
way the secret got out.
00:22:27.44\00:22:32.41
And at that time in California,
00:22:33.28\00:22:35.32
the population was,
oh, a thousand or so.
00:22:35.35\00:22:38.02
But in one year, at the
discovery of this precious
00:22:38.09\00:22:42.06
treasure, there were over
100,000 people in California
00:22:42.09\00:22:48.56
digging for gold.
00:22:49.43\00:22:51.10
The secret got out.
00:22:51.13\00:22:53.67
"So what are you talking
about, the secret got out?
00:22:54.00\00:22:56.27
Where are you going
with this, brother Donnie?"
00:22:56.37\00:22:58.11
Well let me read you this.
00:22:58.14\00:22:59.61
The Adventist
message, which I love,
00:22:59.97\00:23:04.28
the Adventist message
up until 1984, I feel,
00:23:05.61\00:23:10.89
was the best kept
secret to mankind.
00:23:11.05\00:23:14.76
"How do you know?"
00:23:16.49\00:23:17.83
Well we only had four
million members there in 1984.
00:23:17.86\00:23:21.26
Right around that
four million mark.
00:23:21.30\00:23:22.93
But praise God, in 2014 it
has increased, this message,
00:23:23.26\00:23:29.87
we now have eighteen million.
00:23:29.90\00:23:33.74
The secret got out.
00:23:33.98\00:23:35.58
Praise the Lord,
the truth got out.
00:23:35.61\00:23:37.65
And I believe
this with all my heart,
00:23:37.85\00:23:39.45
I believe that
3ABN, their ministry,
00:23:39.48\00:23:43.82
their grace given and
their faith driven ministry,
00:23:44.12\00:23:47.86
has been an enormous part
of getting the undiluted truth
00:23:47.89\00:23:52.89
out to the world.
00:23:52.93\00:23:54.26
That God has
blessed this ministry.
00:23:54.30\00:23:57.40
And it is taking the truth of
the gospel of God to the world.
00:23:58.13\00:24:04.64
We now have over
eighteen million members
00:24:04.74\00:24:09.94
in this Adventist movement.
00:24:09.98\00:24:12.11
Praise God.
00:24:12.15\00:24:13.48
Let's go back to
this 1849 gold rush.
00:24:13.52\00:24:15.72
Now listen.
00:24:15.75\00:24:17.09
These men that
rushed out to California
00:24:17.29\00:24:21.16
to get all this gold,
they were called rushers.
00:24:21.66\00:24:25.49
They were men from all over
America and other countries.
00:24:26.36\00:24:29.20
And they sold all that they had.
00:24:29.40\00:24:32.33
They mortgaged their
homes, they left their families,
00:24:32.43\00:24:35.70
to seek fame and wealth.
00:24:35.80\00:24:38.97
Now after
arriving in California,
00:24:39.37\00:24:41.81
each man staked out
his own claim of land,
00:24:42.04\00:24:45.51
and he filed a certificate
claim which stamped ownership.
00:24:46.15\00:24:51.02
And that land became his.
00:24:51.32\00:24:53.92
And if there was gold
on that land, it was his.
00:24:53.96\00:24:58.46
And you know what
this reminds me of?
00:24:58.49\00:25:00.20
Go to your Bibles
again to Matthew 13:44.
00:25:01.10\00:25:04.03
This gold rush... Wow!
00:25:05.20\00:25:07.17
Matthew 13:44
00:25:07.50\00:25:09.17
"The kingdom of God,"
the kingdom of heaven,
00:25:10.01\00:25:13.58
the kingdom of my Lord,
"is like unto a treasure
00:25:13.88\00:25:17.61
hid in a field; the which when
a man hath found this treasure
00:25:17.65\00:25:22.62
he hideth it, and for the
joy thereof he goeth and selleth
00:25:22.75\00:25:28.26
all that he hath, that
he might buy that field."
00:25:28.29\00:25:32.19
Listen to this.
00:25:32.23\00:25:33.56
Heaven is offered
unto every man and woman.
00:25:33.60\00:25:37.57
Everyone, the Bible
says, has the opportunity
00:25:37.97\00:25:42.07
to either accept our
Lord's offer or refuse it.
00:25:42.10\00:25:46.74
Our inheritance;
heaven, eternal life,
00:25:47.41\00:25:52.01
was bought with a price.
00:25:52.05\00:25:54.95
A price much more expensive
than the billions of dollars
00:25:55.35\00:25:58.99
exhumed in ounces of gold in
California in the late 1800s.
00:25:59.02\00:26:03.12
Our piece of real estate that
is stamped and sealed is heaven.
00:26:03.16\00:26:10.07
I didn't buy it.
00:26:10.63\00:26:11.97
The life of
Jesus bought it for me.
00:26:12.00\00:26:15.74
Now that being said,
we too, as the rushers,
00:26:15.87\00:26:21.38
must sell all that we
have; our time, our interests,
00:26:21.41\00:26:26.95
our worldly desires,
and give them to Jesus.
00:26:27.22\00:26:31.05
At that moment, our
offering, we become apostles,
00:26:31.25\00:26:36.26
as was spoken in
Romans the first chapter.
00:26:36.29\00:26:40.00
Are you with me so far?
00:26:41.06\00:26:42.56
Let's go a bit further here.
00:26:42.60\00:26:43.93
Oh my, most of us want heaven.
00:26:44.23\00:26:47.40
But we're not willing to
give up the worldly desires
00:26:47.77\00:26:51.57
and wants and pleasures.
00:26:51.61\00:26:53.24
We have to sell
it, get rid of it,
00:26:53.44\00:26:55.94
give it away, throw it away.
00:26:55.98\00:26:58.18
Let's go a bit further.
00:26:58.21\00:26:59.55
Oh, most of us want heaven.
00:26:59.58\00:27:01.18
We want to be apostles.
00:27:01.88\00:27:03.22
But we do not want to
submit and commit to the Lord.
00:27:03.59\00:27:08.09
Because to be an apostle,
it takes effort on our part.
00:27:08.92\00:27:15.26
And it maybe, it might
just cost us a little more
00:27:15.56\00:27:18.80
than what we want to pay.
00:27:18.83\00:27:20.20
Are you with me?
00:27:20.24\00:27:21.57
Again, remember, the
land of the rushers was theirs
00:27:21.60\00:27:25.44
because they claimed the land
with a certificate of ownership.
00:27:25.47\00:27:29.74
It was stamped
and it was sealed,
00:27:29.78\00:27:32.11
and it was shown that
they were the land owners.
00:27:32.21\00:27:36.18
They were sealed.
00:27:36.22\00:27:37.55
They had a certificate.
00:27:37.59\00:27:38.92
"Donnie, where are
you going with this?"
00:27:38.95\00:27:40.46
Listen very carefully.
00:27:40.49\00:27:41.82
Get your Bibles back out.
00:27:42.32\00:27:43.66
If you've closed
them, open them back up.
00:27:43.69\00:27:45.53
In Ephesians,
that parcel of land,
00:27:46.03\00:27:49.06
that is part of my
inheritance in heaven
00:27:49.80\00:27:54.37
which was purchased with
and by the blood of Jesus.
00:27:54.40\00:27:59.24
It has been sealed,
it has been stamped.
00:27:59.57\00:28:03.75
I have ownership of
this piece of property
00:28:03.78\00:28:06.68
in heaven through
Jesus Christ's blood.
00:28:06.72\00:28:09.78
I've been adopted
through Jesus Christ.
00:28:09.82\00:28:12.52
I'm a part of the family.
00:28:12.55\00:28:14.32
I'm a child of the King.
00:28:14.36\00:28:16.26
Now, let's go on with it.
00:28:16.49\00:28:18.59
Listen very carefully.
00:28:18.79\00:28:20.40
Ephesians 1:13-14
00:28:20.56\00:28:24.23
I'm going to wait.
00:28:25.17\00:28:26.50
I want you to read this with me.
00:28:26.53\00:28:27.87
Get ready.
00:28:28.50\00:28:29.84
"...ye were sealed with
that holy Spirit of promise..."
00:28:30.11\00:28:34.84
Did you hear what I just said?
00:28:35.14\00:28:36.48
"...ye were sealed with
that holy Spirit of promise,
00:28:36.64\00:28:40.42
which is," listen, the Holy
Spirit, "which is the earnest
00:28:40.68\00:28:46.19
of our inheritance
until the redemption
00:28:46.22\00:28:49.46
of the purchased possession,
unto the praise of His glory."
00:28:49.49\00:28:53.83
Ephesians 1:13-14
00:28:53.86\00:28:57.40
Read it one more time
just in case it flew by.
00:28:57.67\00:29:00.80
"...ye were sealed with
that holy Spirit of promise,
00:29:01.00\00:29:03.81
which is the
earnest," the down payment,
00:29:03.84\00:29:06.84
"of our inheritance
until the redemption
00:29:06.94\00:29:09.84
of the purchased possession,
unto the praise of His glory."
00:29:09.88\00:29:14.38
Now, let's break that
Scripture down together.
00:29:14.48\00:29:17.75
Once we accept apostleship,
we are sealed, praise God,
00:29:20.06\00:29:28.36
with the Holy
Spirit, which is the earnest,
00:29:29.10\00:29:34.24
the down payment,
of our inheritance.
00:29:34.40\00:29:36.81
Let's read, "earnest," here.
00:29:38.61\00:29:39.94
It's the down payment laid down
that will hold the property,
00:29:40.28\00:29:45.21
the inheritance.
00:29:45.41\00:29:46.85
God's assurance to us
of this promised future
00:29:47.22\00:29:51.82
of eternal life and
the things of heaven
00:29:52.02\00:29:55.06
by sealing us, stamping
us, with the transforming power
00:29:55.09\00:30:01.36
of the Holy Spirit.
00:30:01.40\00:30:02.86
I can tell you because
of experiences in my life.
00:30:03.60\00:30:07.44
Once the power of the
Spirit comes into your life,
00:30:07.47\00:30:12.57
transformation
begins to take place.
00:30:12.61\00:30:16.81
That old character,
that old Donnie Shelton,
00:30:17.25\00:30:20.68
with all of his
faults and his shortcomings,
00:30:20.72\00:30:22.95
they start to die out.
00:30:22.98\00:30:24.79
They go down into the grave and
a brand new Donnie is raised up,
00:30:24.89\00:30:28.69
through the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:30:28.79\00:30:32.86
Once the Holy Spirit
takes control of our life,
00:30:33.93\00:30:38.00
things begin to happen.
00:30:38.20\00:30:39.90
The places we use to go
to, we don't go there anymore.
00:30:40.17\00:30:43.37
That bad language
we had, it's gone.
00:30:43.77\00:30:46.78
Those evil thoughts
begin to dissipate and leave.
00:30:46.81\00:30:50.01
We think good thoughts.
00:30:50.05\00:30:51.38
And for maybe once in our
lives, finally we put somebody
00:30:51.41\00:30:55.55
in front of us and before us.
00:30:55.58\00:30:57.95
We love people.
00:31:00.02\00:31:01.39
Why? Because the
power of the Holy Spirit
00:31:01.49\00:31:04.76
and the power of trans...
00:31:04.79\00:31:06.56
I going to lose it here yet.
00:31:08.76\00:31:10.20
I tell you...
00:31:10.23\00:31:11.57
Our church has
gotten use to this.
00:31:12.23\00:31:14.20
I'll be right in the middle
of a sermon and start to cry.
00:31:14.70\00:31:17.01
I feel so unworthy to
be a part of God's church,
00:31:17.87\00:31:21.81
a piece of the puzzle, to be
able to bring the gospel to you.
00:31:21.84\00:31:26.65
But I'm like you, I had
to let that old life pass,
00:31:27.08\00:31:30.55
and all those guilts and
all that low self-esteem.
00:31:30.59\00:31:33.86
I have to let it go.
00:31:33.89\00:31:35.22
And as I said a few sermons
ago, you can't unscramble eggs.
00:31:35.26\00:31:38.13
And when God takes
your sins and casts them
00:31:38.93\00:31:42.13
into the depths of the
sea, don't become Christian
00:31:42.16\00:31:45.63
sea divers and swim
down and dig them back up.
00:31:45.67\00:31:49.20
God has cast them away from you.
00:31:49.87\00:31:51.84
So sometimes it's
just an overwhelming thing
00:31:52.07\00:31:54.41
that God has allowed me to
preach His love and His grace
00:31:55.38\00:31:59.51
and mercy to you.
00:31:59.55\00:32:01.38
And sometimes I just lose it.
00:32:01.48\00:32:03.12
And I can't apologize.
00:32:03.59\00:32:04.92
Like I said a
couple of sermons ago...
00:32:04.95\00:32:07.49
I love Mollie
Steenson, Pastor Hal's wife.
00:32:07.52\00:32:10.53
What an incredible
person that loves Jesus Christ.
00:32:10.56\00:32:13.13
And I apologized once
in the middle of a sermon.
00:32:13.50\00:32:15.80
I said, "I'm sorry."
00:32:15.83\00:32:17.17
And after the sermon she said,
"Don't you ever, ever, ever
00:32:17.20\00:32:21.70
apologize for
loving Jesus Christ.
00:32:21.74\00:32:24.67
If you want to cry,
you go ahead and cry."
00:32:24.97\00:32:27.48
So praise God. Let's
go a bit further here.
00:32:27.68\00:32:29.84
Wow, listen to this.
00:32:30.95\00:32:32.28
There is a picture
puzzle that must be completed
00:32:32.65\00:32:37.25
before God comes
to claim His own.
00:32:37.29\00:32:39.55
We have to finish this picture.
00:32:39.59\00:32:41.86
As these puzzles fits
together, there's a picture.
00:32:41.96\00:32:44.86
What is it? God's church.
00:32:44.89\00:32:46.96
God's bride.
00:32:47.33\00:32:48.86
So there is a picture
that must be completed
00:32:49.00\00:32:51.63
before God comes
to claim His own.
00:32:51.67\00:32:54.04
Each one of us...
00:32:54.30\00:32:55.64
We're going to go over
this over and over and over
00:32:55.67\00:32:59.04
and over again.
00:32:59.07\00:33:00.58
Each one of us, as
apostles, we have a work to do.
00:33:00.68\00:33:07.45
Either by preaching, teaching.
00:33:08.15\00:33:11.09
But the most significant
is living the life of Christ.
00:33:11.79\00:33:16.66
Each one of us,
let's say it one more time,
00:33:17.16\00:33:19.86
represents a
piece of the puzzle.
00:33:20.16\00:33:22.06
And when all
join hands in unity...
00:33:22.10\00:33:26.53
Hear what I said?
00:33:26.77\00:33:28.10
...and in our efforts to
take the undiluted message
00:33:28.14\00:33:31.07
of our Lord and
Savior to the world,
00:33:31.11\00:33:33.17
that's, listen, when the
picture puzzle will be complete.
00:33:33.21\00:33:38.58
And the picture that
is shown is God's bride.
00:33:38.78\00:33:43.49
The bride of Jesus Christ.
00:33:43.52\00:33:45.39
His church in whom He loves.
00:33:45.59\00:33:48.42
So let me say this to you today.
00:33:48.62\00:33:50.69
Once you've joined God's
church, or you're born again,
00:33:51.96\00:33:55.26
washed in the blood, you
become a part of the church,
00:33:55.36\00:33:58.47
you're a piece of the puzzle.
00:33:58.50\00:33:59.83
Now you may say, "Donnie,
the only thing that bothers me,
00:33:59.87\00:34:03.47
I'm really worried, would
I be able to continue my walk
00:34:03.64\00:34:08.78
through Christ and in
Christ when times get tough?
00:34:08.81\00:34:12.35
Will I be able to do that?"
00:34:12.65\00:34:14.18
Let me calm your nerves.
00:34:14.35\00:34:17.55
Once you accept
Christ, He will deliver you
00:34:18.05\00:34:21.62
through His power,
that no matter the storm,
00:34:21.66\00:34:25.03
you will be
victorious through Jesus Christ.
00:34:25.06\00:34:27.90
Here's what Martin
Luther King, Jr. said.
00:34:28.06\00:34:30.33
Now Martin Luther
King, Jr., I loved him.
00:34:30.37\00:34:33.64
Now he was
assassinated, you know, in 1968.
00:34:33.67\00:34:37.14
But what a man of God.
00:34:37.17\00:34:38.67
He had quotes here and there,
and I loved every one of them.
00:34:39.24\00:34:42.61
Let me read one of
His quotes to you today.
00:34:42.71\00:34:45.58
Martin Luther
King, Jr., a man of God,
00:34:45.61\00:34:49.38
"If you cannot fly, then run.
00:34:50.49\00:34:55.16
If you cannot run, then walk.
00:34:57.43\00:35:00.66
If you cannot walk, then crawl.
00:35:01.46\00:35:05.67
But whatever you do,
keep moving forward."
00:35:06.37\00:35:12.57
Even if it's a slow
pace, keep moving forward
00:35:13.98\00:35:17.75
for Jesus Christ, through
the power of the Holy Spirit.
00:35:17.78\00:35:22.18
I did a sermon,
oh, a few months ago.
00:35:22.48\00:35:24.82
It was called,
Paddling Upstream.
00:35:24.85\00:35:27.46
Once we get in the boat...
00:35:28.12\00:35:29.99
...and we start
paddling for Jesus Christ,
00:35:31.43\00:35:33.90
the boat is the church,
we start paddling for Christ,
00:35:34.90\00:35:39.87
we're usually going upstream.
00:35:40.64\00:35:43.00
We're going against the current
of what the world teaches,
00:35:43.27\00:35:47.88
and we're paddling upstream.
00:35:48.44\00:35:51.11
We have to continue to
fly, to run, to walk, to crawl,
00:35:51.75\00:35:59.15
to keep that paddle
going right on upstream,
00:35:59.19\00:36:02.82
fighting these evil currents.
00:36:03.02\00:36:05.89
Now, as we're going upstream,
00:36:06.26\00:36:09.10
we find that
there's no stopping point.
00:36:09.50\00:36:12.17
You don't stop to rest
as you paddle upstream.
00:36:13.23\00:36:16.47
"Well Donnie, why not?"
00:36:17.21\00:36:18.54
If you ever stop paddling,
you start going back downstream.
00:36:18.87\00:36:23.85
And you may end up
at the starting point.
00:36:24.58\00:36:26.65
I don't want to go back there.
00:36:26.68\00:36:28.15
I don't want to go back
to that old life. Do you?
00:36:28.55\00:36:30.72
So once I grab that
paddle, God's Word, His truth,
00:36:30.75\00:36:35.16
and I paddle
forward and I move forward,
00:36:35.19\00:36:38.59
and no matter how
tough the current becomes,
00:36:38.63\00:36:42.50
I will continue to
paddle forward because there is
00:36:42.60\00:36:46.60
no stopping point for
Jesus, there's no resting point.
00:36:46.63\00:36:50.97
You'll have plenty of time
to rest when you get to heaven.
00:36:51.07\00:36:55.78
Praise God.
00:36:56.41\00:36:57.75
I tell you, it's all I
can do to control myself.
00:36:57.78\00:37:00.92
I'm liable to shout. If
I do, I guess I just will.
00:37:00.95\00:37:03.99
You know, we get so
excited over basketball games,
00:37:04.59\00:37:07.32
and baseball games,
and basketball games,
00:37:07.36\00:37:09.22
and sometimes we
find ourselves shouting.
00:37:09.26\00:37:11.56
But it seems like if we
get excited for Jesus Christ,
00:37:11.66\00:37:14.06
well we might be a
little weird or something.
00:37:14.10\00:37:16.16
But it's okay.
00:37:16.20\00:37:17.53
You can be excited for Jesus.
00:37:17.57\00:37:19.13
You can raise your hand
and say, "Oh thank You, Jesus."
00:37:19.17\00:37:21.37
You can say, "Amen."
You can say, "Praise God."
00:37:21.40\00:37:23.61
I want you to be happy
in serving Jesus Christ.
00:37:23.84\00:37:28.74
Now, Acts 7:54, 58-60.
00:37:28.78\00:37:36.52
Here's what the Bible says.
00:37:36.79\00:37:39.02
"And when they
heard these things,"
00:37:39.52\00:37:41.62
oh my, "they
were cut to the heart,
00:37:41.89\00:37:44.99
and they gnashed on
him with their teeth."
00:37:45.23\00:37:48.26
Verse 58 says, "And they
cast him out of the city,
00:37:48.46\00:37:52.83
and they stoned him."
00:37:52.93\00:37:55.17
We're talking
about Stephen here.
00:37:55.87\00:37:57.34
"And they stoned Stephen,
who was calling upon God,
00:37:57.91\00:38:01.61
and saying, 'Lord,
receive my spirit.'
00:38:01.64\00:38:04.45
And he knelt down, and
he cried with a loud voice,
00:38:05.05\00:38:08.62
'Lord, oh forgiving Lord, lay
not this sin to their charge.'
00:38:08.82\00:38:15.42
And when he had said this,"
00:38:15.46\00:38:16.79
the Bible says
that, "he fell asleep."
00:38:17.76\00:38:20.96
As we see this incredible
showing of faith in God,
00:38:21.86\00:38:27.80
it encourages me as
I read the Scriptures.
00:38:27.84\00:38:31.51
Listen, what encourages
me about this illustration
00:38:31.54\00:38:35.21
in God's Word is the dedication
to the cause of Christ
00:38:35.44\00:38:40.15
even unto death.
00:38:40.18\00:38:42.08
Stephen, even in the
face of evil, going upstream,
00:38:42.12\00:38:47.12
against the world, as it
were, he stood his ground
00:38:47.29\00:38:50.69
and he did not waver.
00:38:50.73\00:38:52.89
Praise God. Faith unwavering.
00:38:52.93\00:38:55.33
He stood his ground.
00:38:55.76\00:38:57.20
He never wavered.
00:38:57.23\00:38:58.57
Even under extreme pressure
from the whole Jewish nation,
00:38:58.60\00:39:02.77
Stephen, while on his
knees, being stoned to death,
00:39:02.80\00:39:05.94
He drew a line in the
sand using his own blood.
00:39:05.97\00:39:11.51
"What do you mean by that,
he drew a line in the sand?"
00:39:12.21\00:39:15.48
He was saying this, "World, I'm
going to draw a line right here.
00:39:16.35\00:39:21.09
Now world, you stay
on that side of the line.
00:39:22.12\00:39:25.89
Don't come over into my
world that I share with Jesus.
00:39:26.70\00:39:30.87
World, you stay over there.
00:39:30.97\00:39:32.97
I will stay over here
on this side of the line
00:39:33.00\00:39:36.07
living and walking
with Jesus Christ."
00:39:36.17\00:39:39.71
Faith unwavering.
00:39:40.34\00:39:42.51
We need to do that
in the world today.
00:39:42.84\00:39:45.48
Let's draw a line and
say, "I'm not going to cross
00:39:45.51\00:39:48.45
this line and go out
into the world ever again.
00:39:48.48\00:39:51.12
I'm staying on this side of
the line where the redeemed live
00:39:51.15\00:39:54.92
over here, through the power
and the blood of Jesus Christ.
00:39:54.96\00:39:58.69
I will not cross that line
and go back into the world.
00:39:58.73\00:40:02.36
You have to make that
determination in your mind
00:40:02.40\00:40:05.30
and say, "Under no circumstances
will I buckle, because Christ
00:40:05.33\00:40:10.77
will hold me up."
00:40:10.81\00:40:12.14
Praise the Lord.
Let's go a bit further here.
00:40:12.17\00:40:13.68
Now, let us not forget
who was watching this event.
00:40:13.71\00:40:19.31
His name at that time was Saul.
00:40:20.22\00:40:22.65
Later known as Paul.
00:40:23.25\00:40:24.59
He witnessed this outrageous
vicious murder of Stephen.
00:40:24.95\00:40:29.76
And I went through my mind, this
is what went through my mind;
00:40:30.29\00:40:32.99
surely and without question
this picture of the execution
00:40:33.19\00:40:38.50
of Stephen must
have crossed Paul's mind,
00:40:38.53\00:40:41.94
I mean, it may have, as
he was cast out of cities,
00:40:42.14\00:40:45.34
as he was thrown into prisons,
as he was cursed and spat upon.
00:40:45.37\00:40:49.81
Thrown out of city
after city after city.
00:40:49.91\00:40:52.55
All because he was preaching
the resurrected Christ.
00:40:52.65\00:40:57.72
Will we ever be
executed like that?
00:40:58.09\00:41:01.36
Well let's talk
about that a little bit.
00:41:01.39\00:41:03.39
Remember, you drew this line.
00:41:03.86\00:41:06.09
That no matter what,
under extreme pressure,
00:41:06.13\00:41:08.96
I will not buckle.
00:41:09.00\00:41:10.33
I will stay on
this side of the line
00:41:10.37\00:41:11.80
in my world where Jesus lives.
00:41:11.83\00:41:13.70
I will not go
back into the world.
00:41:13.74\00:41:16.34
Now, Matthew 10:17.
00:41:16.44\00:41:18.44
"But beware of men, for
they will and they shall,
00:41:18.47\00:41:24.35
deliver you to the councils,
and they will scourge you,"
00:41:24.38\00:41:28.58
they will whip you, they will
beat you, "in their synagogues."
00:41:28.62\00:41:32.35
"And ye shall be hated of
all men for my name's sake.
00:41:32.52\00:41:36.83
But he that endureth to
the end shall be saved."
00:41:36.86\00:41:43.93
That is a promise from
our Lord and Savior Jesus.
00:41:43.97\00:41:48.67
If you'll remain faithful under
extreme duress and pressure,
00:41:49.24\00:41:56.75
and stay faithful on
living on this side of the line
00:41:57.15\00:42:01.45
and not going back into
the world, God promises,
00:42:01.48\00:42:05.05
Jesus Christ promises,
the Holy Spirit promises,
00:42:05.22\00:42:08.39
"If you will remain
faithful, that you will be saved
00:42:08.42\00:42:13.23
when I come to receive
My church unto Myself."
00:42:13.26\00:42:19.40
Now, let's go a
bit further here.
00:42:19.43\00:42:21.97
I'm going to bring my
cousin, Danny Shelton,
00:42:22.90\00:42:24.57
into this a little bit.
00:42:25.04\00:42:26.37
You know, we grew up together,
played hide-n-seek together,
00:42:26.78\00:42:31.05
we played baseball together,
we played and had a great time.
00:42:31.58\00:42:36.58
Now that we've gotten older, we
may not play together anymore,
00:42:37.02\00:42:40.56
but we certainly
pray with one another.
00:42:40.59\00:42:42.22
Praise God for that.
00:42:42.26\00:42:44.29
Let's go a bit further here.
00:42:44.33\00:42:45.66
An allegory to the
experience of Stephen
00:42:45.69\00:42:47.80
is when I was in grade
school and I was involved
00:42:48.00\00:42:52.33
in an
altercation with another boy,
00:42:52.37\00:42:54.40
one of us would take our finger
and bend down in that sand
00:42:54.74\00:42:59.24
and draw a line,
therefore separating us
00:42:59.27\00:43:03.61
in our thoughts, in our ideas.
00:43:03.68\00:43:06.38
The line was a
distinguishing symbol
00:43:07.05\00:43:09.85
of our stance on the issue.
00:43:10.09\00:43:12.32
The ground I stood on was mine.
00:43:12.85\00:43:15.99
The line, again, was
a distinguishing line
00:43:16.36\00:43:19.69
between my thoughts and
the other boys thoughts,
00:43:19.73\00:43:22.76
his motives,
goals, and determination.
00:43:22.80\00:43:25.20
"Now Donnie, where did
you get this story from?"
00:43:25.30\00:43:27.07
I got it from my cousin Danny.
00:43:27.10\00:43:28.47
Oh, it must have been
eight, nine, ten years ago
00:43:29.24\00:43:31.67
when he was speaking right
here in the worship center,
00:43:31.71\00:43:34.14
he bought up this illustration
of drawing that line.
00:43:34.18\00:43:36.64
And I've never,
ever forgotten that.
00:43:36.68\00:43:39.38
Thank you, Danny.
00:43:39.41\00:43:40.75
Now, note here, by
drawing the line in the dirt,
00:43:40.78\00:43:44.32
not only did I let the
other boy see where I stood...
00:43:44.55\00:43:48.59
Now remember,
this is Danny talking.
00:43:48.69\00:43:51.33
Listen.
00:43:52.06\00:43:53.40
...but all those around
me, they knew where I stood.
00:43:53.43\00:43:57.80
When confrontation appears,
confrontation draws crowds.
00:43:58.40\00:44:02.50
The world today needs
to know where you stand
00:44:02.54\00:44:08.18
in your relationship with Jesus.
00:44:08.21\00:44:12.31
If you profess
to be a Christian,
00:44:12.58\00:44:15.35
they will be watching you.
00:44:15.55\00:44:17.25
Believe me, they watch you.
00:44:18.05\00:44:19.59
They want to know
if there's a change.
00:44:19.62\00:44:22.26
They want to know if you waver
in your faith with Jesus Christ.
00:44:22.29\00:44:26.80
So once we say,
"I've accepted Christ,"
00:44:26.83\00:44:28.83
we need to live
the life of Christ,
00:44:28.86\00:44:30.80
through the power
of the Holy Spirit.
00:44:30.83\00:44:34.04
Now here's what Joshua did.
00:44:34.07\00:44:35.67
Joshua 24:14-15
00:44:36.54\00:44:39.27
"Now therefore
serve the LORD..."
00:44:39.97\00:44:43.55
Stay on this side of the line.
00:44:44.51\00:44:46.58
That's what Joshua is saying.
00:44:47.02\00:44:48.42
And he says, "...serve
Him in sincerity and in truth.
00:44:48.88\00:44:53.66
And put away the gods
which your fathers served
00:44:54.02\00:44:57.29
on the other side of
the flood, and in Egypt;
00:44:57.33\00:44:59.89
serve God."
00:44:59.93\00:45:01.66
And here's where what
Joshua did, just like Danny,
00:45:01.70\00:45:04.97
here's where he drew the line.
00:45:05.30\00:45:07.30
And let's read
together what the Bible says.
00:45:07.50\00:45:10.17
Listen carefully.
00:45:10.27\00:45:11.61
Joshua said, "...but
as for me and my house,
00:45:11.77\00:45:15.11
we're going to serve God.
00:45:16.14\00:45:17.51
Whatever the world
is doing out there,
00:45:18.21\00:45:20.82
I guess that's their business.
00:45:21.15\00:45:22.98
But in my home, in
my family, in my life,
00:45:23.62\00:45:28.59
on this side of the line,
we're going to serve God."
00:45:28.62\00:45:32.59
Now Joshua stood not
only before the people,
00:45:32.99\00:45:36.56
but was in the
midst of them as well.
00:45:36.60\00:45:40.24
Joshua drew a line.
00:45:40.74\00:45:43.67
He drew a public line
and he let everybody know;
00:45:44.04\00:45:48.21
the elders, the priests,
and all the families that were
00:45:48.51\00:45:51.71
represented, that he
would not tolerate worldliness
00:45:51.75\00:45:56.65
on his side of the line.
00:45:56.69\00:45:59.69
Are you with me so far?
00:46:01.42\00:46:02.82
If he was on the
north side of the line,
00:46:03.59\00:46:05.76
he wasn't going south.
00:46:06.06\00:46:07.80
He was staying on the
north side of the line.
00:46:07.90\00:46:11.60
Now even as we stand in
the midst of the church today,
00:46:11.67\00:46:14.77
even in the church
if we're not careful,
00:46:15.70\00:46:17.57
the old devil tries to
bring in confrontations.
00:46:17.61\00:46:20.61
And sometimes things become
a little bit uncomfortable.
00:46:20.98\00:46:24.08
The church needs to
band together in unity
00:46:24.31\00:46:28.18
and all to come together
as one, and bow down and say,
00:46:28.48\00:46:33.19
"Oh God, if there's any type
of spirit that doesn't belong
00:46:33.22\00:46:38.29
in this church, as we
continue to build the church,
00:46:38.33\00:46:41.53
then, God, cast it out."
00:46:41.56\00:46:43.53
We all need to be of one spirit.
00:46:43.67\00:46:45.97
What's that? The Spirit of God.
00:46:46.00\00:46:47.70
The spirit of righteousness
in our churches today.
00:46:48.94\00:46:51.77
We need to band and stay strong,
00:46:51.94\00:46:54.38
and move forward
through Jesus Christ.
00:46:54.41\00:46:57.65
Now, we don't want to be
liberal, not conservative;
00:46:57.68\00:47:01.58
you're too tolerant,
you're too comfortable,
00:47:01.78\00:47:04.55
you're narrow in your opinion,
00:47:04.59\00:47:06.59
very generous in
the scope of things.
00:47:06.62\00:47:09.16
Listen, folks, we need to be
a conservative group of folks
00:47:09.26\00:47:13.43
that trust in God, and that
every decision that we make,
00:47:13.70\00:47:18.70
every move that we
make, we fall on our knees
00:47:18.73\00:47:23.47
to the heavenly
Father, and say, "Oh God,
00:47:23.51\00:47:26.64
we need Your
help in this matter."
00:47:26.94\00:47:28.78
Even in the smallest of matters.
00:47:28.88\00:47:30.91
We need God's help in every
decision that we make today.
00:47:31.51\00:47:35.68
Praise God for that.
00:47:35.72\00:47:37.05
Now, right is
right, and wrong is wrong.
00:47:37.09\00:47:43.06
Let's not try to make
wrong right and right wrong.
00:47:44.79\00:47:47.50
Right is right,
and wrong is wrong.
00:47:47.96\00:47:51.90
Listen, we must not be swayed
with just any wind of doctrine.
00:47:51.93\00:47:57.91
Whether a person is
wealthy, or they're prominent,
00:47:58.44\00:48:01.58
they're a businessman,
their dad was a pastor,
00:48:01.88\00:48:05.35
we need to be stable and
solidified in God's Word.
00:48:05.45\00:48:12.85
What does God's Word say about
this matter or that matter?
00:48:12.99\00:48:17.76
And once we read what the
Bible says, and the Bible is
00:48:18.09\00:48:21.63
always right, we
need to adhere to that.
00:48:21.66\00:48:25.13
Don't try to rationalize.
00:48:25.17\00:48:26.90
Take something that's
wrong and make it right,
00:48:27.70\00:48:29.94
or take something
right to make it wrong.
00:48:29.97\00:48:32.01
You do and adhere
to what the Bible says.
00:48:32.11\00:48:36.64
My faith rests in the
one who wrote the Bible,
00:48:38.01\00:48:41.85
through the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
00:48:42.05\00:48:44.75
Now, there are many
people that may be hearing this
00:48:44.89\00:48:49.99
message today,
you don't know Jesus.
00:48:50.03\00:48:53.90
And you're this close
in making that decision.
00:48:54.43\00:48:58.93
Well, my friend, again
let's go back to the Bible.
00:48:59.13\00:49:02.47
The Bible says right now, the
thought has crossed your mind,
00:49:02.50\00:49:09.04
"I want to fall before
Jesus Christ and I want to
00:49:09.38\00:49:12.71
become a member of His
church, a piece of the puzzle,"
00:49:12.75\00:49:15.75
today is the day of salvation.
00:49:15.78\00:49:18.29
If the Holy Spirit is calling
you, even now as we speak
00:49:18.39\00:49:22.12
you fall to your knees and
say, "Oh God, cleanse me from
00:49:22.16\00:49:24.89
all unrighteousness.
00:49:24.93\00:49:26.26
Wrap me in Your righteousness.
00:49:26.29\00:49:27.70
Lord, wash me in Your own blood,
00:49:27.73\00:49:29.56
the blood that
spilled from Calvary.
00:49:29.60\00:49:31.33
And God, fill me
with Your Holy Spirit."
00:49:31.37\00:49:33.13
And God, again as
we've said over and over,
00:49:33.23\00:49:35.20
is no respecter of persons.
00:49:35.24\00:49:37.47
He loves everyone and He
wants you in the kingdom, folks.
00:49:37.51\00:49:39.97
Let's go a bit further here.
00:49:40.01\00:49:41.34
Now listen very, very carefully.
00:49:41.38\00:49:43.24
Matthew 9:37-38, read
this with me in your Bibles.
00:49:43.55\00:49:47.32
Matthew 9:37-38
00:49:47.35\00:49:49.48
"Then saith he
unto his disciples..."
00:49:49.68\00:49:51.32
His apostles, the
chosen, the called.
00:49:51.52\00:49:54.59
Here's what Jesus said.
00:49:54.62\00:49:56.12
"The harvest truly is plenteous,
but the labourers are few."
00:49:56.16\00:50:02.26
Oh Jesus said, "Oh My
friends, pray ye for the
00:50:03.37\00:50:06.77
Lord of the harvest, that
he will send forth labourers
00:50:06.80\00:50:10.84
into the harvest."
00:50:10.87\00:50:13.07
Now let's break
that down a little bit.
00:50:13.31\00:50:14.71
Jesus traveled in His life
here from one city to the next
00:50:14.74\00:50:19.98
preaching and
teaching, healing the sick,
00:50:20.02\00:50:22.42
He cast out demons, and
saved hundreds and thousands
00:50:22.45\00:50:25.79
of lost souls.
00:50:25.82\00:50:27.16
One day, Jesus was
either standing on a hill...
00:50:28.42\00:50:32.79
This just came to my mind.
00:50:33.50\00:50:35.06
He was maybe on a dusty
road, He may have been sitting
00:50:35.60\00:50:39.10
by a slow moving
stream, in any case,
00:50:39.13\00:50:42.14
He looked at His disciples
and He scanned the hundreds
00:50:42.34\00:50:46.11
of tired and weary souls
who seemingly were constantly
00:50:46.14\00:50:50.31
around Him in hopes of
maybe getting some food,
00:50:50.35\00:50:53.68
maybe some healing.
00:50:53.78\00:50:55.12
"There is so much
to be done," He said.
00:50:55.48\00:50:59.02
"So many need
to hear the gospel.
00:50:59.19\00:51:01.36
So many need
touched by the Holy Spirit.
00:51:01.56\00:51:04.13
Yet," He said, "there
are so few who are willing
00:51:04.23\00:51:08.46
to go out into this
vast harvest of people
00:51:08.50\00:51:12.23
and reap the
souls for My Father."
00:51:12.27\00:51:16.14
You hear what He's saying?
00:51:16.17\00:51:17.51
"If you are apostles,
if you've been redeemed,
00:51:17.54\00:51:22.48
if you're living on
this side of the line,
00:51:23.08\00:51:25.81
get out there and
win souls for My Father."
00:51:25.91\00:51:30.35
We will be
equipped by the Spirit.
00:51:30.89\00:51:34.26
He will guide us,
He will direct us.
00:51:34.46\00:51:37.26
But first, we must
spend time in God's Word.
00:51:37.29\00:51:41.93
As we read these
words, these Bible truths,
00:51:42.86\00:51:46.70
our faith is encouraged,
it's fortified, it's solidified.
00:51:46.74\00:51:51.77
And then God says, "Get up
off those pews and go out there.
00:51:51.81\00:51:57.18
The harvest is plenty.
00:51:57.21\00:51:58.65
I want you to reap as
many souls as you can.
00:51:58.68\00:52:01.75
Bring them into the kingdom
00:52:02.05\00:52:03.79
before I come
and get this church."
00:52:03.82\00:52:07.66
Praise God.
Let's go a bit further.
00:52:07.76\00:52:09.42
Now, once we have
accepted our work...
00:52:09.46\00:52:13.46
Let me say that a
little more slower.
00:52:14.83\00:52:17.20
Once we have
accepted apostleship, our work
00:52:17.50\00:52:22.34
has just begun.
00:52:22.37\00:52:23.74
We that have been
saved by God's amazing grace
00:52:24.07\00:52:27.21
can be lost if we don't
that this grace to the world.
00:52:27.24\00:52:31.65
You can't hide it
under a bushel basket.
00:52:31.68\00:52:35.12
Once you've received the
light, don't try to cover it up.
00:52:35.15\00:52:38.49
I can tell you this.
00:52:38.52\00:52:39.85
When I found Jesus, I wanted
to share it with everybody
00:52:39.92\00:52:43.93
that I ran unto.
00:52:43.96\00:52:45.29
I wanted to share it
with enthusiasm and power.
00:52:46.43\00:52:50.70
Because I felt so unworthy.
00:52:50.90\00:52:53.54
I lived in the world of sin.
00:52:53.84\00:52:55.70
And God forgave much.
00:52:55.74\00:52:57.61
A whole bunch of sins.
00:52:59.67\00:53:01.98
I'll say much, it
was a whole bunch.
00:53:02.01\00:53:04.01
And He washed me clean.
00:53:04.35\00:53:06.08
I feel so joyful
that Jesus chose me.
00:53:06.11\00:53:10.72
He went out into
the world and found me.
00:53:10.92\00:53:14.52
I am a piece of the
puzzle now, through His grace.
00:53:14.89\00:53:18.46
Nothing that I did.
I didn't work for it.
00:53:18.66\00:53:20.76
It's a gift.
00:53:20.80\00:53:22.13
I'm a piece of the puzzle.
00:53:22.16\00:53:23.50
I'm an apostle.
00:53:23.53\00:53:24.87
And now I'm a laborer.
00:53:24.90\00:53:26.47
I want to tell
everybody about Jesus Christ.
00:53:26.50\00:53:31.44
And the Bible says this,
once you accept Christ...
00:53:31.47\00:53:34.81
Now listen, "For if they..."
00:53:34.84\00:53:37.95
This is in 2 Peter 2:20-22.
00:53:38.45\00:53:41.68
"For if they have escaped
the pollutions of this world
00:53:42.08\00:53:45.45
through the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus,
00:53:45.49\00:53:48.12
if they are again
entangled," if they backslide,
00:53:48.62\00:53:52.43
if they've overcome,
"the latter end is worse
00:53:52.46\00:53:55.40
than the beginning."
00:53:55.43\00:53:56.77
Once you accept Christ, we
talked about it a while ago,
00:53:56.80\00:54:00.84
continue moving forward.
00:54:00.87\00:54:02.90
Fight those difficulties
with the paddle of God's Word.
00:54:03.20\00:54:07.38
Don't stop as you go upstream.
00:54:07.54\00:54:09.84
You'll start sliding
backwards and going backwards.
00:54:09.88\00:54:12.71
And you'll end up in a
worse state than you were
00:54:12.75\00:54:16.52
before you
accepted Jesus Christ.
00:54:16.55\00:54:18.79
That's what the Bible is saying.
00:54:18.82\00:54:20.89
Listen, is there a cost?
00:54:20.99\00:54:23.76
Is there a cost in
accepting God's invitation?
00:54:25.03\00:54:28.30
Just lay your burdens upon His
shoulders and give Him a chance.
00:54:30.37\00:54:35.70
What do you say?
00:54:35.74\00:54:37.07
Take all of your
burdens, all of your doubts,
00:54:37.11\00:54:41.11
all of your fears, and
put them on God's shoulders.
00:54:41.28\00:54:45.41
He's got some broad shoulders.
00:54:45.45\00:54:47.25
He's holding the whole
universe up on those shoulders.
00:54:47.28\00:54:51.49
You can trust Him.
00:54:51.52\00:54:53.22
He loves you.
00:54:53.32\00:54:54.66
He loves you with
an everlasting love.
00:54:54.72\00:54:56.73
And I always use Jeremiah 31:3.
00:54:56.76\00:54:59.09
That no matter who you
are, where you came from,
00:54:59.13\00:55:02.16
or where you're
going, Jesus Christ loves you
00:55:02.20\00:55:05.00
with an intense love.
00:55:05.03\00:55:07.30
Now let's go a bit further.
00:55:07.34\00:55:08.67
I always like to
end with an alter call.
00:55:10.01\00:55:16.01
You've just
heard the Word of God.
00:55:16.88\00:55:19.61
You have maybe for the first
time in your life have found out
00:55:20.62\00:55:23.79
that there is a God, the only
God, that created this universe.
00:55:24.59\00:55:30.26
The moon, the stars, the
trees, the flowers, the birds,
00:55:30.29\00:55:34.70
the bees, the grass, the fields.
00:55:34.73\00:55:37.40
God created all things.
00:55:37.60\00:55:39.10
And this magnificent God,
who is much higher than we are,
00:55:39.50\00:55:44.71
that this God looks
down upon you today,
00:55:45.51\00:55:48.84
and He loves you.
00:55:49.81\00:55:51.15
"How do you know
that He loves me?"
00:55:51.81\00:55:53.82
Because you are
listening to this message.
00:55:53.85\00:55:56.89
And it is the day of salvation.
00:55:56.92\00:55:59.19
God is giving you a chance right
now, my brother and sister,
00:55:59.29\00:56:03.22
to accept Him,
to join the church,
00:56:03.63\00:56:06.80
to be redeemed, to
be washed in His blood,
00:56:07.00\00:56:09.83
to become a part of the
family, to be part of the bride
00:56:09.96\00:56:14.07
who Jesus
Christ is coming after.
00:56:14.10\00:56:16.24
And very, very soon, by the way.
00:56:16.27\00:56:18.77
So God took the opportunity
to give this message to you.
00:56:19.07\00:56:25.38
It's not just His opportunity,
it's your opportunity today
00:56:26.11\00:56:30.89
that Jesus
Christ, through His...
00:56:31.49\00:56:34.09
Listen.
00:56:34.29\00:56:35.62
Because the Father said, "I
have a world down there, Jesus,
00:56:36.19\00:56:40.10
and they need You.
00:56:40.16\00:56:41.50
I'm taking My
heart out," God said,
00:56:41.60\00:56:44.53
"and giving it to the world."
00:56:44.57\00:56:45.93
What was His heart?
00:56:46.03\00:56:47.37
Jesus Christ.
00:56:47.40\00:56:48.74
He gave Jesus to the
world, that you might be saved
00:56:48.77\00:56:52.61
through Him, through His
blood, through His sacrifice.
00:56:52.71\00:56:56.78
God is intensely
in love with you.
00:56:57.05\00:56:59.08
He wants you to
have eternal life.
00:56:59.58\00:57:01.58
And Jesus wants to
walk with you on the
00:57:01.62\00:57:03.42
streets of gold in heaven.
00:57:03.45\00:57:04.79
So my friend, right
now fall on your knees.
00:57:04.82\00:57:09.22
Be yourself.
00:57:10.49\00:57:11.83
God can see through you anyway.
00:57:11.86\00:57:13.23
Take off that mask.
00:57:13.26\00:57:14.60
And say, "Oh God, I'm
giving my life to You.
00:57:14.83\00:57:17.93
And through faith I'm
praying, through Your blood,
00:57:18.33\00:57:21.64
that You are accepting me today.
00:57:21.80\00:57:23.84
And that when You come,
I will be in the kingdom."
00:57:23.94\00:57:29.31