Whenever we come
to this last lesson
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I always think of
the last words of Peter,
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the last words he
wrote to the church.
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2 Peter 3:18
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"Grow in the
grace and the knowledge
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of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
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To Him be the glory
both now and forever." Amen.
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What a thought,
Christian growth.
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That's what I
want to talk about.
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For the last 24
lessons we have been looking
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at the Book of Revelation.
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Revelation is more than
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just identifying
the beast and the mark.
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Revelation is learning how to
be victorious in Jesus Christ,
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all the way through to the end.
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And the only way to
be victorious is to grow,
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and the only way to grow
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is to grow in the
grace of Jesus Christ.
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I'm thankful for
Christian growth.
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I used to think, I don't
know that I want to go to heaven
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because all they do up
there is float around on clouds
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and play harps and
I'm not into harps.
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But I learned that
it's not gonna be that way.
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We are gonna be
growing even in heaven
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because we will
never fully plumb the deeps
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of the love of God
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and who He is and what He has
done will be learning forever.
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It starts right here,
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"Grow in the
grace and the knowledge
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of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ."
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Grown in His grace.
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Peter didn't say, I want
you to grow into His grace.
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You don't take
a handful of seeds
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and through them on the sidewalk
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waiting for them to
sprout roots and leafs
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and then plant
them in the garden
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there will be nothing for them
to get nourishment from, no.
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You plant the seed in the garden
where it can get the attention,
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the nourishment
that it needs to grow.
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We grow in the
grace of Jesus Christ.
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Some new believers feel like
they have to be fully matured
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and develop before
they are ready for baptism
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but that ignores the
principles of Christian growth.
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Some feel like
they need the whole life
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and be kind a like on
probation for a month or two
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before they are ready,
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that ignores the
fact that we grow
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in the grace of
Jesus Christ not into it.
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Baptism is not the
graduation service.
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Baptism is the enrolment
service for Christian growth.
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It's the beginner's class
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it's where we are learning
to take our first steps.
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Some people they have
been Christians all along
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and they have learned so
many new things all at once.
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They felt like they
needed to be re-baptized
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it doesn't deny of
their past experience.
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It just simply
means that they are taking
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another giant step
in following the Lamb
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and they want to
start with the clean slate
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and that's okay.
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But those who think
that I need to wait,
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I need to grow, I need
to get more experience,
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I need to be more mature
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or ignoring the
principles of Christian growth.
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And don't misunderstand me
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I believe a person
needs to be ready for baptism.
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We need to understand
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that baptism means we
are dying to the old life.
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And we should understand
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what that old life
is that we are dying to.
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We need to understand that
when we are buried in the water,
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we are burying the old man.
He is dead, he is done forever.
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We need to know and
be willing to do that.
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And then we need
to understand that
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when we come out of that water
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we are coming out to live a life
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that will honor,
glorify and praise God.
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And we should
understand what that life is.
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We should be willing to
live our lives that way.
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Yes, we need to understand
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we need to know,
we need to be willing.
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John the Baptist
even wanted to see
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some evidence
produce fruit of repentance
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before the people were baptized.
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But once a person understands,
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once a person is shown they
have turned their life around
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and they are on the right path
that they are following Jesus,
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they are following the Lamb.
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May be not perfectly,
none of us are perfect
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but once we are
willing to do that
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and soon at that
moment it's ready,
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its time to be baptized.
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It is dangerous to put it
off to delay being baptized.
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Being baptized is entry
into the kingdom of God,
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the visible kingdom
of God on this earth
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and that's where
we grow in the grace
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of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
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We must be ready but we
don't need to be mature.
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And then there
are the new members,
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sometimes new
believers just getting baptized
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not understanding the
principles of Christians growth
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and they come out of
that water and you've seen it.
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They come out of
water with such a beautiful
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peaceful
expression on their face
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and it's a good feeling.
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It feels like--a little
lady in Oklahoma City one time,
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she must have been 89 years old.
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Frail and small and
we went in a nice church,
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we were in a
National Guard Armory.
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And they didn't have a
nice comfortable baptistery
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with railings and
steps going into it.
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We had an aluminum tank
sitting up there on the platform
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and they had a
rickety aluminum ladder
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that went up and then
down, no railings on it.
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And this 89 year old lady
comes to me saying pastor,
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will you baptize me?
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And I'll have to confess
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I had difficulty seeing her
climbing up that rickety ladder
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and down into the
water and back up again.
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And I explain that to her.
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I said, are you
sure you want to do that?
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She said I belong to a church
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that doesn't
baptize the right way
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and I have been wanting
for years to be baptized.
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Pastor, won't you baptize
me? Well, what can you say?
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So we had a deacon on each side
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and they helped to go
up that rickety ladder
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and she went
down into the water.
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I'm telling you
when she came out,
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you could have
just turn the lights out
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and the room would have been lit
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with the glow on her face.
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And she said, I feel so good,
I just feel clean all over.
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And it is, it's a
good clean feeling
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when you come out of that water.
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But sooner or
later it's gonna happen
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may take a day,
may take a few hours,
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may take a few minutes
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but this gonna
happen, you are gonna stumble
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and you are gonna
make some mistakes.
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And guess who is right there?
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Now, God is always
there to help you up.
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But guess who else is
right there to give you a kick
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when you are down.
The devil always is there.
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The Bible Revelation says,
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he is the
accuser of the brethren.
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And the moment you make a
mistake he is gonna be there.
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He doesn't mind
kicking when you are down.
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He says, you
see you can't do it.
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The standards are too high.
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You will never be
able to measure up.
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You may as well just
give up and quit now.
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That's what he
is gonna tell you.
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But when you understand
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the principle of
Christian growth,
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it means that we
are still growing.
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And if we are still
growing we are not there yet.
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God isn't
finished with us yet, amen.
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So that means we
are gonna make mistakes.
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So the real Christian
understanding Christian growth
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instead of wallowing
around in an orgy of self pity
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thinking that I will
never be able to measure up.
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Realizes that Jesus has
already measured up for us
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and gets off the ground
and on their knees and says,
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God forgive me and help
me to do better next time.
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I want to do better.
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I hate it when I live this way
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and get up off your knees
rejoicing in the forgiveness
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that God has already given you.
00:09:05.76\00:09:09.38
Christians are to be the
happiest people on earth, amen.
00:09:09.41\00:09:13.23
There is nothing
more abominable to God
00:09:13.26\00:09:15.64
than a bunch of long face,
00:09:15.67\00:09:17.16
sourpuss
Christians walking around,
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looking guilty for the sins
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that Jesus died on the
cross to forgive us for.
00:09:22.22\00:09:28.39
We should be
happiest people on earth
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and we are growing in
the grace of Jesus Christ.
00:09:34.14\00:09:39.25
And then there are new
members that don't understand
00:09:39.28\00:09:41.13
the principle of
Christian growth.
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They look at some of the older,
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that's not the
best way to say it,
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some of the more experienced
members of the church.
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I am getting more and more
sensitive about these things.
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Some of the more
experienced members
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and they see some of
these experience members
00:10:01.24\00:10:04.10
have been in the
church for years and years
00:10:04.13\00:10:06.41
and oh, they have studied their
Sabbath school lessons everyday
00:10:06.44\00:10:10.11
and they know the
Bible backwards and forwards
00:10:10.14\00:10:13.04
and they have been
looking up to these people
00:10:13.07\00:10:15.21
they are, giants, they
may be elders or deacon
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or even pastors in the church
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and they see
them make a mistake.
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They forget
they were all growing
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and if we are growing
we are not growing yet.
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That means we
gonna make mistakes.
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I remember one man was baptized
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he had to
battle with cigarettes.
00:10:37.44\00:10:41.33
He just really fought and fought
00:10:41.36\00:10:44.26
and finally he got the victory.
00:10:44.29\00:10:46.78
He didn't want to get baptized
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and come out of that
water, blowing smoke.
00:10:48.45\00:10:51.32
He wanted to be done
with it before he was baptized
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and I think that's a good thing.
00:10:54.37\00:10:57.86
Got the victory, he is baptized.
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He came out of that water
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energized,
excited, it mean something
00:11:02.69\00:11:05.59
when you had the
really fight for some--
00:11:05.62\00:11:07.48
it means something.
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You know, sometimes God
just takes it away from us.
00:11:09.55\00:11:12.96
And that's good I'm glad He does
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but you lose the
benefit of fighting
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and wrestling and watching
God give you the victory.
00:11:17.68\00:11:20.19
I have something they have to.
00:11:20.22\00:11:24.01
I was so happy and then shortly
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after he was baptized
00:11:25.90\00:11:27.29
he was driving
somewhere, stop at a red light
00:11:27.32\00:11:30.52
and looked at
the car next to him
00:11:30.55\00:11:32.12
and there was one of
the elders of the church
00:11:32.15\00:11:34.26
with a cigarette in his mouth.
00:11:34.29\00:11:38.37
And he was
looking at that elder,
00:11:38.40\00:11:40.18
getting mad and furious.
00:11:40.21\00:11:43.64
Wishing he had a cigarette
that he could smoke too.
00:11:43.67\00:11:45.76
If the elder can, I should
be. Why they make me quit?
00:11:45.79\00:11:51.51
He looked again
and the elder turned
00:11:51.54\00:11:53.81
and saw him and
he said instantly
00:11:53.84\00:11:55.95
that cigarette disappeared.
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He says, I don't
know where it went.
00:11:58.63\00:12:02.87
Well, shame on the elder.
00:12:02.90\00:12:05.21
He shouldn't
have been doing that.
00:12:05.24\00:12:08.46
But folks, we are all growing.
00:12:08.49\00:12:09.85
We all stumble,
we all make mistakes.
00:12:09.88\00:12:13.10
I mean, how
powerful would our witness be
00:12:13.13\00:12:15.30
if we all live
perfectly the way--
00:12:15.33\00:12:19.00
it would be awesome.
00:12:19.03\00:12:20.53
My job would
sure be a lot easier.
00:12:20.56\00:12:23.32
You know, one of the
biggest things I hear
00:12:23.35\00:12:25.39
is that, well, you
are asking me to do that,
00:12:25.42\00:12:27.13
and I look at the members
and they are not doing it.
00:12:27.16\00:12:30.42
That's not easy to deal with
00:12:30.45\00:12:32.71
unless you
understand Christian growth.
00:12:32.74\00:12:35.43
So, yes, we are to be together.
I'm not excusing the elder.
00:12:35.46\00:12:39.38
He shouldn't be
smoking cigarettes
00:12:39.41\00:12:41.67
but we are all
human, we all make mistakes.
00:12:41.70\00:12:45.14
We need to understand
00:12:45.17\00:12:46.22
the principle of
Christian growth.
00:12:46.25\00:12:48.77
Some of you have given up things
00:12:48.80\00:12:50.18
that are dear
and precious to you.
00:12:50.21\00:12:52.27
You changed the way you
eat, you changed what you drink,
00:12:52.30\00:12:55.14
you changed what you watch,
where you go, what you wear
00:12:55.17\00:12:59.33
and you come to church
and you may see people,
00:12:59.36\00:13:01.07
that haven't
made those changes yet
00:13:01.10\00:13:02.47
or they did and they went back.
00:13:02.50\00:13:05.57
You see, you could decide,
well, I'm gonna go back too.
00:13:05.60\00:13:10.00
But people aren't your example.
00:13:10.03\00:13:12.83
I never said that you
should follow the people.
00:13:12.86\00:13:17.47
You follow the Lamb, amen.
00:13:17.50\00:13:20.45
The people are still growing.
The Lamb's done growing.
00:13:20.48\00:13:26.05
While you could get
critical and judgmental
00:13:26.08\00:13:28.81
some do that, oh they
can't wait to get on the phone
00:13:28.84\00:13:32.65
and do you know
what she wore today?
00:13:32.68\00:13:34.88
Do you know where I
saw him going today?
00:13:34.91\00:13:37.31
I saw them in the cafe
00:13:37.34\00:13:38.73
with a cup of
coffee on the table.
00:13:38.76\00:13:42.36
They get judgmental, critical.
00:13:42.39\00:13:46.20
I hope you are not like that.
00:13:46.23\00:13:48.99
I have been to churches,
00:13:49.02\00:13:50.56
they just gossip
and gossip about people
00:13:50.59\00:13:53.37
because they haven't measured
up to the standards yet.
00:13:53.40\00:13:58.70
Well, I want to tell you,
00:13:58.73\00:14:00.27
I would rather have
a church full of people
00:14:00.30\00:14:02.86
that is striving and trying.
00:14:02.89\00:14:04.86
It haven't measured
up yet than a church
00:14:04.89\00:14:07.59
with one person
who gossips about it.
00:14:07.62\00:14:11.10
I don't have a lot of
tolerance for gossipers.
00:14:11.13\00:14:14.74
Pray for me there, I
need to be more patience.
00:14:14.77\00:14:17.74
Or you could do the
third thing and recognize
00:14:23.09\00:14:25.51
we are all growing in the grace,
00:14:25.54\00:14:29.27
in the grace of our
Lord and Savior Jesus.
00:14:29.30\00:14:32.49
And people you see
stumbling and making mistakes
00:14:32.52\00:14:35.61
instead of getting
judgmental and critical.
00:14:35.64\00:14:38.56
If you just knew
how far they have come
00:14:38.59\00:14:40.89
and how fast they made it,
00:14:40.92\00:14:42.59
you would be praising
God instead of criticizing.
00:14:42.62\00:14:47.49
Let's be the family of God.
00:14:47.52\00:14:50.38
You know, I'm convinced that
00:14:50.41\00:14:53.24
the more we conform
to the Bible principles
00:14:53.27\00:14:57.24
the more powerful our witness
and our testimony is gonna be.
00:14:57.27\00:15:01.24
Unity is measured by the degree
00:15:01.27\00:15:04.05
to which we agree
00:15:04.08\00:15:05.87
and bring our lives into
harmony with the word of God.
00:15:05.90\00:15:08.90
But there is a
bigger test of unity
00:15:08.93\00:15:11.20
and that is the degree
to which you love people
00:15:11.23\00:15:14.73
who see things
differently than you do.
00:15:14.76\00:15:19.22
We need to be an agreement,
we need to be together.
00:15:19.25\00:15:21.57
Jesus said that
can two walk together
00:15:21.60\00:15:23.91
with out be in an agreement?
00:15:23.94\00:15:25.55
But we need to love those who--
00:15:25.58\00:15:27.85
and then may be
we will give them
00:15:27.88\00:15:29.24
the opportunity to do
the growing they are to do
00:15:29.27\00:15:32.14
and provide the environment
that they need. Amen. Amen.
00:15:32.17\00:15:36.53
Then there is
another kind of person
00:15:36.56\00:15:41.62
who doesn't understand
00:15:41.65\00:15:42.76
the principles
of Christian growth.
00:15:42.79\00:15:45.91
And some people
seem to think that,
00:15:45.94\00:15:50.62
when you come out of that water,
00:15:50.65\00:15:53.79
all your problems
are left in the water
00:15:53.82\00:15:57.57
and you are fully
grown and matured.
00:15:57.60\00:16:01.75
You are not gonna
have any more problems.
00:16:01.78\00:16:03.51
Smooth sailing into the kingdom.
00:16:03.54\00:16:05.80
There are lot of
preachers that preach--
00:16:05.83\00:16:07.40
usually they are late
at night on the radio,
00:16:07.43\00:16:09.33
when I'm out in a
road driving at night
00:16:09.36\00:16:11.52
I listen to some
of these preachers.
00:16:11.55\00:16:12.74
I call them the
prosperity gospel,
00:16:12.77\00:16:16.12
you heard them?
00:16:16.15\00:16:19.62
Any of you
struggling with financers?
00:16:19.65\00:16:23.87
I was struggling with financers
one time they will say,
00:16:23.90\00:16:26.60
and I sent a
donation in for $5,000
00:16:26.63\00:16:29.16
check in the mail.
00:16:29.19\00:16:31.59
And if you send me,
00:16:31.62\00:16:33.35
you will get
25,000 in a mail too,
00:16:33.38\00:16:35.22
you know what I'm talking about.
00:16:35.25\00:16:38.62
Prosperity gospel, its
not pie in the sky by and by,
00:16:38.65\00:16:42.96
its every thing
you want it right now.
00:16:42.99\00:16:45.91
Well, I want to
tell you Jesus said
00:16:45.94\00:16:47.64
that they are gonna be battles
to fight in this whole world.
00:16:47.67\00:16:52.20
Take up your
cross and follow me.
00:16:52.23\00:16:56.39
When you come out of
that water it's true.
00:16:56.42\00:16:57.99
That whole life
is gone, it's dead.
00:16:58.02\00:17:01.22
And you are a new
creature in Jesus Christ.
00:17:01.25\00:17:03.37
But you are going to face
a whole new set of problems
00:17:03.40\00:17:05.12
that you never saw before.
00:17:05.15\00:17:07.37
The difference is now you
got Jesus walking with you
00:17:07.40\00:17:10.46
and you are not by yourself.
00:17:10.49\00:17:14.09
I want to tell you a story
that illustrates us tonight.
00:17:14.12\00:17:18.08
I get more and more
reluctant to tell it,
00:17:18.11\00:17:19.97
because its--its about a time
in the history of our country
00:17:20.00\00:17:24.32
that we are not very proud of.
00:17:24.35\00:17:27.07
We embarrassed in the shame
during the time of slavery.
00:17:27.10\00:17:30.57
But I want to tell you
when people are oppressed
00:17:30.60\00:17:34.14
it bring out
illustrations of the gospel.
00:17:34.17\00:17:37.60
It seems like you
can't find any other way.
00:17:37.63\00:17:41.75
And this particular one
was during the time of slavery.
00:17:41.78\00:17:46.77
It was a slave
living on a plantation.
00:17:46.80\00:17:50.90
His name was Sam.
00:17:50.93\00:17:53.81
He was born there
00:17:53.84\00:17:56.22
and he is born
about the same time
00:17:56.25\00:17:57.93
that the plantation
owner's son was born.
00:17:57.96\00:18:01.83
His father was the top slave
00:18:01.86\00:18:05.19
and the owner and his
father were good friends.
00:18:05.22\00:18:08.42
And so he was good
friends with the son.
00:18:08.45\00:18:11.75
They even study
together, school work together,
00:18:11.78\00:18:15.06
they did everything
together, they played together.
00:18:15.09\00:18:18.54
So, when his father died,
00:18:18.57\00:18:21.60
this son took
over the plantation
00:18:21.63\00:18:26.81
and Sam was his right hand man.
00:18:26.84\00:18:30.37
Nothing changed,
Sam was a Christian,
00:18:30.40\00:18:34.97
he was always singing,
00:18:35.00\00:18:36.22
you know the old
spirituals about the toils,
00:18:36.25\00:18:39.34
the strife of life.
00:18:39.37\00:18:42.15
And the other fellow says
Sam, you are Christian, I'm not.
00:18:42.18\00:18:45.20
I don't have all
those kinds of strife
00:18:45.23\00:18:47.87
and problems and
toils in my life.
00:18:47.90\00:18:50.12
Why don't you just give
it all up and be like me?
00:18:50.15\00:18:52.53
You won't have
those problems either.
00:18:52.56\00:18:55.03
Poor Sam he doesn't even knew
how to answer that question.
00:18:55.06\00:18:58.52
Until one day
they were out hunting
00:18:58.55\00:19:01.46
and a flock of ducks flew over.
00:19:01.49\00:19:03.84
The man lifted his
shotgun pulled the trigger
00:19:03.87\00:19:06.58
and he got two
ducks in one shot.
00:19:06.61\00:19:08.64
One of them he killed,
the other one he nicked.
00:19:08.67\00:19:12.25
The wounded--that one
went right straight down,
00:19:12.28\00:19:16.20
the wounded one just
flattered to the ground.
00:19:16.23\00:19:18.36
As soon as he hit the
ground he began to scamper away.
00:19:18.39\00:19:22.23
Sam, Sam's job was
to go get the ducks.
00:19:22.26\00:19:26.98
So he had his bag in his hand
00:19:27.01\00:19:29.16
and he went chasing after
that duck trying to get away.
00:19:29.19\00:19:32.46
Chasing him down, he ran
right past of the dead one.
00:19:32.49\00:19:35.47
He finally
caught that wounded duck
00:19:35.50\00:19:38.91
he put him in the bag
00:19:38.94\00:19:41.52
and then he is walking
back pick up the dead one,
00:19:41.55\00:19:46.07
put the dead one in the
bag and all of a sudden.
00:19:46.10\00:19:50.48
Big smile broke out in his face.
00:19:50.51\00:19:53.85
He said, you know,
you are always asking me
00:19:53.88\00:19:56.01
how come I'm a Christian
and I'm singing about the toils
00:19:56.04\00:19:58.46
and strife of life and
you are not a Christian
00:19:58.49\00:20:00.14
you don't have those problems.
00:20:00.17\00:20:01.41
I never knew how to
answer you before but now, I do.
00:20:01.44\00:20:03.49
You see, you shot
two ducks you killed one
00:20:03.52\00:20:06.07
and wounded the other one.
00:20:06.10\00:20:07.39
You know, I went
chasing after the wounded one
00:20:07.42\00:20:10.23
because I knew I had
the dead duck in the bag.
00:20:10.26\00:20:12.53
I'm the wounded duck.
00:20:12.56\00:20:13.63
The devil is after me
00:20:13.66\00:20:14.69
and I'm trying to get
away as hard as I can.
00:20:14.72\00:20:16.42
You are the dead
duck, he has got you.
00:20:16.45\00:20:17.88
He is not worried about you,
00:20:17.91\00:20:18.94
because you are
in the bag already.
00:20:18.97\00:20:20.26
Some people think
they're better off
00:20:25.93\00:20:28.49
because they don't have some
of the problems that we have.
00:20:28.52\00:20:32.05
But one of these
days, Jesus is gonna come
00:20:32.08\00:20:35.52
and all those
problems will be gone, amen.
00:20:35.55\00:20:37.98
Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:20:38.01\00:20:41.05
I'm so glad I'm a
part of the family of God
00:20:41.08\00:20:45.77
and then there is
another kind of church member
00:20:45.80\00:20:48.74
that does not
understand Christian growth.
00:20:48.77\00:20:51.75
I don't think we have any here,
00:20:51.78\00:20:54.09
but just in case
somebody snuck in,
00:20:54.12\00:20:58.62
I'm going to talk about it.
00:20:58.65\00:21:01.10
I call them
fossilized church members,
00:21:01.13\00:21:06.50
because fossils don't
grow, they finished growing.
00:21:06.53\00:21:11.75
Not only they are not growing,
00:21:11.78\00:21:12.99
but they are not
helping other people
00:21:13.02\00:21:14.21
to grow, they are fossilized.
00:21:14.24\00:21:17.41
They have been in
church a long time.
00:21:17.44\00:21:18.94
They know all the
answers to all the questions
00:21:18.97\00:21:20.61
every Sabbath in the
Sabbath school class.
00:21:20.64\00:21:23.65
They may teach a class.
00:21:23.68\00:21:25.48
They may be deacons
and deaconesses and elders.
00:21:25.51\00:21:28.56
Oh, they know everything
they got--they are fossilized.
00:21:28.59\00:21:31.82
They are not growing
00:21:31.85\00:21:33.18
because they are not
helping other people to grow.
00:21:33.21\00:21:35.57
They are the ones who stand
00:21:35.60\00:21:36.63
on the sidelines
in evangelistic team
00:21:36.66\00:21:39.17
and they see
all the new members.
00:21:39.20\00:21:40.45
We are gonna
have them down here,
00:21:40.48\00:21:41.51
everybody will be
lined up front 25-30 people
00:21:41.54\00:21:45.60
and they are looking at him
and they are going to be saying,
00:21:45.63\00:21:50.10
do you think
they are gonna stick?
00:21:50.13\00:21:56.30
And you almost feel like
they hope they don't stick
00:21:56.33\00:22:01.79
because they view the
church as their exclusive club.
00:22:01.82\00:22:06.49
And that person has the audacity
00:22:06.52\00:22:09.35
to sit in my pew
for the last 24 nights
00:22:09.38\00:22:13.39
and I had to sit somewhere else,
00:22:13.42\00:22:16.29
and they park
in my parking line.
00:22:16.32\00:22:19.44
And they don't
dress the way we dress.
00:22:19.47\00:22:22.83
And they bring
stuff to the potluck
00:22:22.86\00:22:26.82
that we don't eat here.
00:22:26.85\00:22:28.88
I'm not talking
about unclean foods,
00:22:28.91\00:22:30.94
they know better than that.
00:22:30.97\00:22:32.80
You know what I'm
talking about they are just--
00:22:32.83\00:22:35.40
it would rather keep
everything like it is.
00:22:35.43\00:22:40.49
Fossilized members
00:22:40.52\00:22:42.28
and I hope we don't
have any this morning.
00:22:42.31\00:22:45.04
If I here any of
these sticking stuff,
00:22:45.07\00:22:47.42
you gonna get
another sermon from me.
00:22:47.45\00:22:51.00
Don't say it near me.
00:22:51.03\00:22:52.42
They look at the church
like it's an exclusive club.
00:23:00.06\00:23:03.54
And let's hold these
guys off for about six months
00:23:03.57\00:23:06.86
they can prove themselves first
00:23:06.89\00:23:08.70
because after all,
we have to consider
00:23:08.73\00:23:10.68
our reputation in the community.
00:23:10.71\00:23:15.73
When you had your
first child what was it like?
00:23:15.76\00:23:20.30
You remember
that, first born child.
00:23:20.33\00:23:24.92
You stop at the
window in the nursery.
00:23:24.95\00:23:28.45
May be mom had
never had a chance to go.
00:23:28.48\00:23:30.33
You know the big--they still
have the big glass windows,
00:23:30.36\00:23:33.54
impression owes
against the glass
00:23:33.57\00:23:35.04
and look at all
the babies in there.
00:23:35.07\00:23:36.44
They still do that.
00:23:36.47\00:23:37.76
Probably have TV
cameras on it now or something.
00:23:37.79\00:23:41.30
It's all digital.
00:23:41.33\00:23:44.51
Well, this is a
old fashioned hospital
00:23:44.54\00:23:47.11
and the momma
says before we go home
00:23:47.14\00:23:48.74
I want to look in the window.
00:23:48.77\00:23:51.25
So they get everything together
and wheel it over there.
00:23:51.28\00:23:54.88
She is looking in the window,
00:23:54.91\00:23:56.50
there he is all
purple and wrinkled up
00:23:56.53\00:24:00.41
and ugly looking
like a little prone.
00:24:00.44\00:24:04.90
New born babies are
not really that pretty.
00:24:04.93\00:24:09.14
I mean ours are
exception of course but
00:24:09.17\00:24:14.74
and he is screaming
at the top of his lungs.
00:24:14.77\00:24:18.55
He is shaking his fist
and he is kicking his legs,
00:24:18.58\00:24:21.56
face is ready as a
beat and dad goes wow.
00:24:21.59\00:24:25.99
Look at that guy.
Man, he is got a temper.
00:24:26.02\00:24:30.47
Must have got it form you?
00:24:30.50\00:24:35.02
He could grow up to be a
disgrace to our family name.
00:24:35.05\00:24:39.97
He could embarrass us.
00:24:40.00\00:24:42.64
And the mother
says, yeah you know,
00:24:42.67\00:24:45.43
he don't look very
intelligent either.
00:24:45.46\00:24:50.27
May be we should
leave him here till
00:24:50.30\00:24:53.15
he is old enough to
take a IQ test or something.
00:24:53.18\00:24:56.70
And then we will
decide what to do.
00:24:56.73\00:24:58.18
I mean, we don't want
him to embarrass our family.
00:24:58.21\00:25:02.44
Is that what happens? No.
00:25:02.47\00:25:04.56
Man, if you are like we
are, you resent the fact.
00:25:04.59\00:25:08.32
They have kept him back there
isolated from you for so long.
00:25:08.35\00:25:12.01
You can't wait to
get him or her home
00:25:12.04\00:25:13.99
and put him in
his bed, his own bed.
00:25:14.02\00:25:16.75
Get some good old
family germs all over him.
00:25:16.78\00:25:19.18
Should it be like that
with new believer in Jesus?
00:25:24.28\00:25:30.17
Can't wait to get
our arm around him,
00:25:30.20\00:25:33.17
bring him into the family.
00:25:33.20\00:25:35.35
Can't do it soon
enough. Put him on probation?
00:25:35.38\00:25:41.11
Make sure they are
not gonna disgrace us.
00:25:41.14\00:25:43.74
Hey, it's a risk.
00:25:43.77\00:25:46.05
That child could bring you--
00:25:46.08\00:25:47.86
nothing can bring
more pain to a parent
00:25:47.89\00:25:50.24
than a child
turning against them.
00:25:50.27\00:25:53.95
It's a risk, but you
don't even think about the risk
00:25:53.98\00:25:58.31
because of love.
00:25:58.34\00:26:00.17
Share the risk when
you bring in new people,
00:26:00.20\00:26:03.17
they may not behave
the way you want to,
00:26:03.20\00:26:04.71
and they can cause
more problems for the pastor
00:26:04.74\00:26:06.84
than you ever dreamed of.
00:26:06.87\00:26:08.57
But you don't
even think about it,
00:26:08.60\00:26:09.70
at least you shouldn't.
00:26:09.73\00:26:12.25
Not when a person is
ready to take their stand,
00:26:12.28\00:26:15.46
for all the things that they
have been learning about church.
00:26:15.49\00:26:18.42
It's not easy to
become an Adventist.
00:26:18.45\00:26:20.22
We have high standards
00:26:20.25\00:26:22.38
and anybody willing
to take their stand,
00:26:22.41\00:26:24.31
we should be willing to
take a risk. Amen. Amen.
00:26:24.34\00:26:27.22
And by the way,
here's a new one.
00:26:29.95\00:26:33.32
My wife just
reminded me this morning.
00:26:33.35\00:26:36.15
When our boy came home,
00:26:36.18\00:26:38.45
you know we spent nine months
getting ready for this guy.
00:26:38.48\00:26:43.20
We did all kind-- we
brought a little baby bed
00:26:43.23\00:26:46.70
from the flea market.
00:26:46.73\00:26:48.61
Sanded it down, getting
all those old things off of it,
00:26:48.64\00:26:52.22
paint it nice
and new and perfect.
00:26:52.25\00:26:54.88
Dena, decorated that room.
00:26:54.91\00:26:56.91
She went shopping and
bought all kinds of stuff.
00:26:56.94\00:26:59.53
I mean this went
on, I took classes.
00:26:59.56\00:27:03.27
I have to go there watching
her learn how to breathe.
00:27:03.30\00:27:08.08
And we really worked at it,
00:27:08.11\00:27:09.98
but then when we got him
home it was all done, right.
00:27:10.01\00:27:12.41
Put him in his bed we are done.
00:27:12.44\00:27:13.87
The work just started.
00:27:17.97\00:27:21.90
And sometimes we think
well, we have been working.
00:27:21.93\00:27:24.60
Building this
set and camera crews
00:27:24.63\00:27:28.09
and greeters and rushers
00:27:28.12\00:27:29.20
and we have been
coming out every night
00:27:29.23\00:27:30.50
and we are getting tired.
00:27:30.53\00:27:31.80
And now we got this new members
00:27:31.83\00:27:33.23
in our family, we are done.
00:27:33.26\00:27:35.53
No, you are not, folks.
00:27:35.56\00:27:38.30
And new members
you are not done either
00:27:38.33\00:27:41.05
because that's
older more established
00:27:41.08\00:27:42.87
one need help
just as much as you do.
00:27:42.90\00:27:45.72
We all need to
strengthen one and another.
00:27:45.75\00:27:47.54
This is a family of God.
00:27:47.57\00:27:51.08
You see about a year later,
00:27:51.11\00:27:53.71
not a year later this
father comes home from work
00:27:53.74\00:27:58.86
and mom is so excited.
00:27:58.89\00:28:00.21
She can't even
talk. She is gone.
00:28:00.24\00:28:04.28
He--he did it. He
did it, he walked.
00:28:04.31\00:28:07.09
He took a step today.
Oh, isn't that exciting time.
00:28:07.12\00:28:10.76
So dad just drops his
briefcase on the floor
00:28:10.79\00:28:13.39
and he bends over
and puts his arms out
00:28:13.42\00:28:15.61
and mom is out
there holding him steady
00:28:15.64\00:28:17.61
and dad is out there
coaxing him come on, come on.
00:28:17.64\00:28:20.44
Hey, he did it before so
he puts out that little foot,
00:28:20.47\00:28:23.44
he takes a step
right into his dad's arms
00:28:23.47\00:28:25.91
and always dad tosses
him up in the air wow,
00:28:25.94\00:28:28.73
he can do it, he can walk.
00:28:28.76\00:28:30.21
They bundling him up in
his coat put his shoes on
00:28:30.24\00:28:32.44
off to grandma
and grandpa's house.
00:28:32.47\00:28:34.40
All the way there he
can walk, he can walk.
00:28:34.43\00:28:36.32
They go in the grandma
and grandpa open the door
00:28:36.35\00:28:38.64
and there is
grandma and grandpa,
00:28:38.67\00:28:39.82
aunt, uncle, cousin
standing around there watching
00:28:39.85\00:28:42.28
and they have him there
00:28:42.31\00:28:43.34
standing on
carpet under his feet,
00:28:43.37\00:28:45.22
shoes on, coat
but he did it before.
00:28:45.25\00:28:47.74
He can walk, he can walk
00:28:47.77\00:28:49.24
and there is mom
holding him study
00:28:49.27\00:28:51.03
and there is dad
coaxing him come on,
00:28:51.06\00:28:52.65
you did it before,
come on just take a step.
00:28:52.68\00:28:54.62
He is there standing
looking around at everybody
00:28:54.65\00:28:57.33
and hey, he did it before.
00:28:57.36\00:28:58.69
He puts out that little foot,
00:28:58.72\00:29:00.12
wheels around in his
heel and falls to the floor.
00:29:00.15\00:29:04.07
And dad walks over to him
00:29:04.10\00:29:05.45
and he kicks him
across the route.
00:29:05.48\00:29:08.88
You idiot, I knew
you couldn't do it.
00:29:14.71\00:29:18.76
Should I wait a year to do this?
00:29:22.61\00:29:24.48
Sometimes we get new,
00:29:27.68\00:29:31.01
brand new Christians
just learning how to walk.
00:29:31.04\00:29:36.21
And they stumble
00:29:36.24\00:29:38.64
and we kick him
across the floor.
00:29:38.67\00:29:43.68
We do baptize them too soon.
00:29:43.71\00:29:49.28
We are grounded enough,
00:29:49.31\00:29:52.65
didn't give them enough
time to prove themselves
00:29:52.68\00:29:59.41
or may be just leave him
alone and not say anything.
00:29:59.44\00:30:07.21
How long you think it would
take a little baby to learn
00:30:07.24\00:30:09.12
how to walk if nobody
was there to teach him how?
00:30:09.15\00:30:15.18
Probably never so they tell us,
00:30:15.21\00:30:20.84
truth is he
didn't fall to the ground
00:30:20.87\00:30:22.77
because dad caught him
before he hit the floor.
00:30:22.80\00:30:27.18
And he stood
him back on his feet
00:30:27.21\00:30:29.81
and he said he
can walk, he can walk
00:30:29.84\00:30:33.73
and they did it again and again
and again until they got it.
00:30:33.76\00:30:37.69
If he didn't get it that night,
00:30:37.72\00:30:39.48
they bundle him
back up all the way home.
00:30:39.51\00:30:41.92
He can walk, he can walk.
00:30:41.95\00:30:43.39
Dad takes off the next
day, they practice all day long.
00:30:43.42\00:30:47.04
And when he's got
it, he is back to grandma
00:30:47.07\00:30:48.93
and grandpa's house again.
00:30:48.96\00:30:51.27
See it's hard to fall
when someone has their arm
00:30:51.30\00:30:54.26
around your
shoulder holding you up.
00:30:54.29\00:30:58.77
One of my favorite Bible verses
00:30:58.80\00:31:00.52
Hosea, 11 chapter, in Hosea 11
00:31:04.63\00:31:10.04
one of my
favorite pictures of God.
00:31:10.07\00:31:12.17
Verse 1 "When Israel
was a child, I loved him."
00:31:12.20\00:31:15.51
Verse 3, "It was I who
taught Ephraim to walk,
00:31:15.54\00:31:18.49
taking them by the
arms." What a picture of God.
00:31:18.52\00:31:22.90
He holds us up as we walk along
00:31:22.93\00:31:25.48
as we grow in
the grace of our Lord
00:31:25.51\00:31:27.97
and Savior Jesus Christ.
00:31:28.00\00:31:29.57
That's what it means to be
a part of the family of God.
00:31:29.60\00:31:32.41
We hold each other up.
00:31:32.44\00:31:35.20
It's hard to fall when
somebody is holding you up.
00:31:35.23\00:31:39.43
There was an article in
00:31:39.46\00:31:40.81
Readers Digest years
ago after World War II,
00:31:40.84\00:31:45.64
it's called the
Awesome Power of Love.
00:31:45.67\00:31:47.34
And they discovered that,
00:31:47.37\00:31:49.28
they discovered that
they were lot of babies
00:31:49.31\00:31:53.12
brought into orphanages
00:31:53.15\00:31:55.29
and all the
babies run into orphanage
00:31:55.32\00:31:56.74
under the age of two years old.
00:31:56.77\00:31:58.48
Few of them ever grew up
00:31:58.51\00:31:59.64
to live normal
healthy adult lives.
00:31:59.67\00:32:02.83
And they
couldn't understand why.
00:32:02.86\00:32:05.15
So they did a lot of research.
00:32:05.18\00:32:07.97
Doctors and researchers went
00:32:08.00\00:32:10.35
to all the different
orphanages trying to figure out,
00:32:10.38\00:32:12.18
finally they
found one in Germany.
00:32:12.21\00:32:15.35
All their babies grew up,
00:32:15.38\00:32:17.10
they live normal
healthy adult lives.
00:32:17.13\00:32:20.48
And so they can
converged on that orphanages
00:32:20.51\00:32:22.48
they had to feel
what are they doing,
00:32:22.51\00:32:24.22
that nobody else is doing.
What's the difference here?
00:32:24.25\00:32:28.59
They couldn't find anything,
00:32:28.62\00:32:30.28
food, the
schedule, everything is same.
00:32:30.31\00:32:35.93
But one day a
doctor saw an elderly lady
00:32:35.96\00:32:41.62
standing off in
the side of the room
00:32:41.65\00:32:43.98
with a baby in her arm
and he said, who is that?
00:32:44.01\00:32:47.91
Ah, it's nobody.
It's just old Anna.
00:32:47.94\00:32:51.09
Old Anna. What does
old Anna do around here?
00:32:51.12\00:32:55.47
Oh, she don't do anything.
00:32:55.50\00:32:57.41
She is just here and when
one of the babies get sick
00:32:57.44\00:33:00.41
we let old Anna hold it.
00:33:00.44\00:33:01.72
Is it possible?
00:33:06.14\00:33:08.92
The thing missing in
the lives of those babies
00:33:08.95\00:33:12.32
was the love of a mother?
00:33:12.35\00:33:15.58
So they did an experiment
00:33:15.61\00:33:17.86
and they went
around hiring ladies to be
00:33:17.89\00:33:20.56
mothers to the
babies in these orphanages.
00:33:20.59\00:33:23.73
That's all they
had to do all day long,
00:33:23.76\00:33:25.15
just love the babies.
00:33:25.18\00:33:26.76
We try to have a
job like that. Amen.
00:33:26.79\00:33:29.22
Love the babies all day
00:33:29.25\00:33:30.61
and years and years
later they went back
00:33:30.64\00:33:32.74
and discovered
that in those orphanages
00:33:32.77\00:33:35.06
where they hired
mothers to love the babies
00:33:35.09\00:33:36.89
they all grew up to live
normal healthy adult lives.
00:33:36.92\00:33:40.46
The awesome power of love
00:33:40.49\00:33:43.31
and if love is so
essential in order for us
00:33:43.34\00:33:45.50
to grow physically how much more
00:33:45.53\00:33:51.24
do we need love in
order to grow spiritually?
00:33:51.27\00:33:54.97
We have been doing
this for 35- 36 years now.
00:34:03.49\00:34:08.67
Sometimes we get
a chance to go back
00:34:08.70\00:34:11.43
a year or two later
to a church we have been.
00:34:11.46\00:34:14.83
And now, I have
to confess sometimes
00:34:14.86\00:34:16.96
it's with fear and
trepidation that we go
00:34:16.99\00:34:22.04
wondering are they
still gonna be there.
00:34:22.07\00:34:25.82
Some churches do really well,
00:34:25.85\00:34:28.07
and almost all their new
people are active and involved.
00:34:28.10\00:34:32.27
Some churches don't do too well
00:34:32.30\00:34:36.12
and they don't
do a very good job
00:34:36.15\00:34:37.60
of hanging on to their new ones.
00:34:37.63\00:34:40.14
And you know, it's not
that difficult to figure out
00:34:40.17\00:34:42.13
which ones do the best
and which ones don't do well.
00:34:42.16\00:34:46.09
Because it's the
cold formal churches
00:34:46.12\00:34:50.65
that have a hard time
holding on to their new members.
00:34:50.68\00:34:54.04
The warm,
friendly, caring church,
00:34:54.07\00:34:58.44
they usually hang on to them.
00:34:58.47\00:35:01.67
Now tell me,
00:35:01.70\00:35:02.73
both churches
00:35:06.95\00:35:09.27
where the new people came
in the program was the same,
00:35:09.30\00:35:15.22
preacher same, sermons same,
00:35:15.25\00:35:19.38
Bible same, singer same.
00:35:19.41\00:35:25.83
Length of time
they prepare the same.
00:35:25.86\00:35:30.78
The only difference was what?
00:35:30.81\00:35:34.33
The church where
they were left behind.
00:35:34.36\00:35:39.48
So I want to ask you,
what is your church like?
00:35:39.51\00:35:46.03
Is it a warm, friendly, caring
church or is it cold and formal?
00:35:46.06\00:35:51.69
Some people will come through
those doors and visit it--
00:35:51.72\00:35:54.74
visits last week
and they've said,
00:35:54.77\00:35:56.61
this the friendliest
church we have ever been in.
00:35:56.64\00:36:00.36
Ever since the first
time we've had people--
00:36:00.39\00:36:02.36
that we came we just
had people talking to us
00:36:02.39\00:36:05.09
and sitting with us and
bring their arms around us
00:36:05.12\00:36:08.62
and this is a friendly
church. I command you for that.
00:36:08.65\00:36:14.38
But I think we
still have room to grow.
00:36:14.41\00:36:18.92
Think we have room to grow.
00:36:18.95\00:36:21.04
What kind of a member are you?
00:36:21.07\00:36:23.84
You are friendly member?
00:36:23.87\00:36:26.86
Do you know the new people
00:36:26.89\00:36:29.27
that are about
to join your church?
00:36:29.30\00:36:32.14
You know their names?
Do you know what they do?
00:36:32.17\00:36:36.84
Would you recognize one if
you saw one out before you?
00:36:36.87\00:36:41.98
What kind of a member are you?
00:36:42.01\00:36:46.23
Do you go to church in
order to get a blessing
00:36:46.26\00:36:49.54
or do you go to
church in order be
00:36:49.57\00:36:51.15
a blessing to someone else too?
00:36:51.18\00:36:54.20
Do you seek people out
or do you wait for people
00:36:54.23\00:36:58.65
to come to you or worse yet?
00:36:58.68\00:37:04.30
You kind of go in and
make yourself rare and scarce
00:37:04.33\00:37:08.60
and then leave
criticizing the church
00:37:08.63\00:37:10.57
because it isn't friendly.
00:37:10.60\00:37:15.00
What kind of a member are you?
00:37:15.03\00:37:16.31
That's what I
want you to live with.
00:37:16.34\00:37:18.11
And no matter
how friendly you are
00:37:18.14\00:37:20.19
I think there are
things we can do to be better.
00:37:20.22\00:37:24.09
Let's be the true
family of God. Amen. Amen.
00:37:24.12\00:37:28.18
Jac's been talking about
00:37:28.21\00:37:29.33
becoming a part
of the family of God.
00:37:29.36\00:37:32.15
And want a rich invitation
00:37:32.18\00:37:33.89
that God gives us to
become part of His family.
00:37:33.92\00:37:37.62
God's inviting us
to become his children,
00:37:37.65\00:37:40.65
to be His sons and daughters.
00:37:40.68\00:37:44.09
What a rich, what a
very rich invitation
00:37:44.12\00:37:47.43
to be a part of his family.
00:37:47.46\00:37:49.40
My grandfather before--
00:37:49.43\00:37:51.19
many years ago before he
became ill he gave me this book.
00:37:51.22\00:37:56.14
It's a family tree
00:37:56.17\00:37:57.89
that was put together
by some one in the family.
00:37:57.92\00:37:59.67
I don't know who
but it lists the--
00:37:59.70\00:38:01.90
the ancestors of
the Bryson families
00:38:01.93\00:38:04.05
having come from Ireland
00:38:04.08\00:38:05.99
to America in
about 1730 or something.
00:38:06.02\00:38:08.76
William Bryson was
born in Ireland 1700
00:38:08.79\00:38:11.00
and came to America
00:38:11.03\00:38:12.86
and as you look
down through the,
00:38:12.89\00:38:14.30
through the list of the families
00:38:14.33\00:38:16.30
and the children
and where they came from
00:38:16.33\00:38:18.94
and I link over to
even my tree in this branch
00:38:18.97\00:38:23.79
I find up my ancestor
Jessie Montgomery Bryson,
00:38:23.82\00:38:28.04
who lived in North Carolina,
00:38:28.07\00:38:30.54
was a solider
for the confederacy.
00:38:30.57\00:38:32.62
Stole horse and food
from the northern armies
00:38:32.65\00:38:36.09
and was captured twice
and escaped both times.
00:38:36.12\00:38:39.35
After the war he
was in North Carolina
00:38:39.38\00:38:41.34
and the Southern
soldiers were being
00:38:41.37\00:38:43.41
shot up by the
northern occupying forces.
00:38:43.44\00:38:45.29
Finally his family says,
you got to get out of here.
00:38:45.32\00:38:47.18
He headed to the Colorado
00:38:47.21\00:38:48.26
where he eventually found
his wife Sara Praeter who--
00:38:48.29\00:38:51.36
they had nine children
00:38:51.39\00:38:52.56
and eventually they migrated
to Oregon on the Oregon Trail.
00:38:52.59\00:38:56.26
When they arrived in Moab,
Utah my grandfather told me,
00:38:56.29\00:39:00.06
Sara was ready to give birth
00:39:00.09\00:39:01.23
to the last
child the tenth child
00:39:01.26\00:39:03.41
and Jessie went
to find a doctor.
00:39:03.44\00:39:05.53
Finally he found him in a bar,
00:39:05.56\00:39:06.71
sobered him up and
brought him back to the camp
00:39:06.74\00:39:08.26
and she had already
given birth, it was too late.
00:39:08.29\00:39:11.98
You know, all of us
have rough family histories
00:39:12.01\00:39:16.31
with skeletons in the closet.
00:39:16.34\00:39:18.72
But its okay, it doesn't matter
00:39:18.75\00:39:21.33
what your family
background is like the skeletons
00:39:21.36\00:39:23.41
that may be in your closet
00:39:23.44\00:39:25.31
because we have
somebody in the family
00:39:25.34\00:39:27.11
who overseas that, who
erases that past in Him
00:39:27.14\00:39:31.00
and through His,
His friendship with us.
00:39:31.03\00:39:34.50
And God has invited us
to be a part of his family.
00:39:34.53\00:39:40.02
It says in Hebrews--
00:39:40.05\00:39:44.26
if can find the chapter
here says in Hebrews 2 Chapter,
00:39:44.29\00:39:48.80
"Therefore, in all
things He" that's Jesus
00:39:48.83\00:39:53.93
"had to be made
like His brethren,
00:39:53.96\00:39:57.39
that He might be a merciful
and faithful High Priest."
00:39:57.42\00:40:03.91
You see, Jesus
has called our brother
00:40:03.94\00:40:07.56
and if you are in Christ
if you are part of His family
00:40:07.59\00:40:13.76
then you have Him as your
brother advocating for you.
00:40:13.79\00:40:18.61
He is our advocate, He is
our judge, He is our hope.
00:40:18.64\00:40:26.23
What a Savior and His
father is called our Father
00:40:26.26\00:40:32.91
and of course the
third person of the God
00:40:32.94\00:40:34.32
had his the Holy Spirit
is called the Counselor.
00:40:34.35\00:40:38.08
When you are part
of the family of God
00:40:38.11\00:40:40.38
you are in good hands
with a marvelous heritage.
00:40:40.41\00:40:48.26
In this series that
Jac has been sharing,
00:40:48.29\00:40:49.93
we had people come to Christ.
00:40:49.96\00:40:52.47
They have given
their heart to Him.
00:40:52.50\00:40:54.82
They are prepared for baptism.
00:40:54.85\00:40:56.12
Some have been
baptized, some will be baptized
00:40:56.15\00:40:58.84
and in that baptism they
are joining the family of God.
00:40:58.87\00:41:03.03
Their names written
in heavens book of life
00:41:03.06\00:41:05.70
from the foundation of the world
00:41:05.73\00:41:07.56
and yet they finally recognize
00:41:07.59\00:41:08.96
that they are
part of His family.
00:41:08.99\00:41:10.87
And you too that are listening
can be a part of His family.
00:41:10.90\00:41:14.35
If you will give your
heart to Him in surrender
00:41:14.38\00:41:16.21
and prayer you can be a
part of the family of God,
00:41:16.24\00:41:19.71
the children of God.
00:41:19.74\00:41:22.96
And our Father in heaven
00:41:22.99\00:41:24.20
as Jesus tells us in John
14 is making a mansion for us.
00:41:24.23\00:41:30.34
In fact Jesus says, I go
to prepare a place for you.
00:41:30.37\00:41:32.53
In My Father's house are
many mansions or many rooms
00:41:32.56\00:41:37.56
and we will have a
place in the Father's house
00:41:37.59\00:41:40.71
for all the rest
of eternity, how rich?
00:41:40.74\00:41:45.60
Behold what manner of love
the Father has given unto us
00:41:45.63\00:41:51.35
that we should be
called the children of God.
00:41:51.38\00:41:57.64
If you had not
made that decision
00:41:57.67\00:41:58.96
to give your heart to Jesus
00:41:58.99\00:42:01.74
I would invite
you right now to--
00:42:01.77\00:42:03.91
to bow your head and to pray.
00:42:03.94\00:42:08.01
In fact, let's bow
our heads right now,
00:42:08.04\00:42:09.51
I will pray and you
could pray in your heart.
00:42:09.54\00:42:12.21
Father in heaven, we thank You
00:42:12.24\00:42:14.60
that You have invited us to
become a part of Your family,
00:42:14.63\00:42:18.06
to be a part of
the rich heritage
00:42:18.09\00:42:20.23
that was established
by the sacrifice of Jesus
00:42:20.26\00:42:23.44
and that You establish
before the world was created.
00:42:23.47\00:42:27.68
For those that are
listening right now on TV,
00:42:27.71\00:42:31.23
if you would like to give
your heart to Christ right now
00:42:31.26\00:42:33.29
and full surrender
just repeat after me.
00:42:33.32\00:42:36.17
Dear Father, come into my
heart through the Holy Spirit,
00:42:36.20\00:42:42.60
may Jesus sacrifice apply to me.
00:42:42.63\00:42:48.07
And I thank you
in His name, Amen.
00:42:48.10\00:42:53.16
If you pray that prayer with me,
00:42:53.19\00:42:56.40
then you too are now a
part of the family of God.
00:42:56.43\00:43:02.62
I heard an old, old story
00:43:02.65\00:43:06.69
How a Savior came from glory
00:43:06.72\00:43:11.16
How He gave His life on Calvary
00:43:11.19\00:43:15.87
To save a wretch like me
00:43:15.90\00:43:20.31
I heard about His groaning
00:43:20.34\00:43:24.24
Of His precious blood's atoning
00:43:24.27\00:43:28.70
Then I repented of my sins
00:43:28.73\00:43:33.59
And won the victory
00:43:33.62\00:43:37.85
O victory in Jesus
00:43:37.88\00:43:41.91
My Savior, forever
00:43:41.94\00:43:46.39
He sought me and bought me
00:43:46.42\00:43:50.01
Justin, this is
a privilege today,
00:43:50.04\00:43:52.31
to brought you to
this point of rebirth
00:43:52.34\00:43:54.85
and we baptize you in
the name of the Father,
00:43:54.88\00:43:57.13
in the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:43:57.16\00:44:00.27
And all my love is due Him
00:44:00.30\00:44:03.97
He plunged me to victory
00:44:04.00\00:44:08.65
Beneath the cleansing flood
00:44:08.68\00:44:13.89
Carrie, on this
special day we baptize you
00:44:19.98\00:44:22.09
in the name of the Father,
00:44:22.12\00:44:23.55
the Son, and the
Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:44:23.58\00:44:26.12
Of His cleansing power revealing
00:44:26.15\00:44:30.39
How He made the
lame to walk again
00:44:30.42\00:44:35.09
And caused the blind to see
00:44:35.12\00:44:39.59
And then I cried, dear Jesus
Come and heal my broken spirit
00:44:39.62\00:44:44.85
We baptize you in
the name of the Father,
00:44:44.88\00:44:47.29
and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:44:47.32\00:44:49.70
And somehow
Jesus came and brought
00:44:49.73\00:44:52.67
To me the victory
00:44:52.70\00:44:57.16
I heard about a mansion
00:44:57.19\00:45:01.04
He has built for me in glory
00:45:01.07\00:45:05.10
Veronica, because
Jesus loves you so much,
00:45:05.13\00:45:09.28
He gave His life for you
00:45:09.31\00:45:11.31
and He is coming soon
to take you to His home.
00:45:11.34\00:45:14.83
Well, as a pastor,
00:45:14.86\00:45:18.56
I baptize you for the
forgiveness of your sins
00:45:18.59\00:45:23.80
and for the
anointing of the spirit,
00:45:23.83\00:45:25.88
in the name of the
Father, and the Son,
00:45:25.91\00:45:28.00
and the Holy
Ghost. Amen. Amen. Amen.
00:45:28.03\00:45:32.25
O victory in Jesus Amen.
00:45:32.28\00:45:36.59
My Savior, forever
00:45:36.62\00:45:40.93
He sought me and bought me
00:45:40.96\00:45:45.53
With His redeeming blood
00:45:45.56\00:45:47.44
Alisha, because you love Jesus,
00:45:47.47\00:45:48.85
we baptize you in
the name of the Father,
00:45:48.88\00:45:50.92
and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:45:50.95\00:45:54.41
And all my love is due Him
00:45:54.44\00:45:58.37
He plunged me to victory
00:45:58.40\00:46:03.20
Beneath the cleansing flood
00:46:03.23\00:46:07.14
Frieda, because of
your love for Christ,
00:46:07.17\00:46:08.79
we baptize you in
the name of the Father,
00:46:08.82\00:46:10.98
and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:46:11.01\00:46:14.08
Our Father
00:46:18.84\00:46:24.04
Melinda, because you love Jesus,
00:46:27.57\00:46:29.76
we baptize you in
the name of the Father,
00:46:29.79\00:46:31.70
and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:46:31.73\00:46:33.52
Our father,
00:46:33.55\00:46:37.25
hallowed be
00:46:40.03\00:46:44.90
thy name
00:46:48.44\00:46:50.92
Tanya, because of
your faith in Christ,
00:46:50.95\00:46:52.61
and you are
requesting to be re-baptized
00:46:52.64\00:46:54.29
we baptize you in
the name of the Father,
00:46:54.32\00:46:56.37
and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:46:56.40\00:46:58.59
Thy kingdom come,
00:46:58.62\00:47:06.29
thy will be done on earth
00:47:06.32\00:47:13.72
Thomas, because of
your faith in Jesus
00:47:13.75\00:47:16.26
and your
willingness to obey Him,
00:47:16.29\00:47:17.85
we baptize you in
the name of the Father,
00:47:17.88\00:47:19.98
and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:47:20.01\00:47:23.04
So, Raymond, we baptize
you in the name of the Father,
00:47:39.77\00:47:42.41
and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:47:42.44\00:47:46.12
Give us this day
00:47:46.15\00:47:51.21
our daily bread
00:47:51.24\00:47:57.36
and forgive us our trespasses
00:47:57.39\00:48:02.94
Albert, because of
your love for Christ Jesus
00:48:02.97\00:48:04.97
we baptize you in
the name of the Father,
00:48:05.00\00:48:07.09
and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:48:07.12\00:48:10.25
And lead us not into temptation
00:48:15.35\00:48:22.00
but deliver us from evil
00:48:22.03\00:48:27.07
Margarita,
because you love Jesus,
00:48:27.10\00:48:29.40
He want to be your Savior.
00:48:29.43\00:48:30.46
We baptize you in
the name of the Father,
00:48:30.49\00:48:32.40
and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:48:32.43\00:48:36.49
And the glory forever
00:48:36.52\00:48:44.49
Brendon, because you have
00:48:52.79\00:48:53.82
given yourself
back to Jesus tonight,
00:48:53.85\00:48:56.56
we baptize you in
the name of the Father,
00:48:56.59\00:48:58.74
and the Son, and
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
00:48:58.77\00:49:02.02
When this is all over
00:49:24.36\00:49:25.85
when Jesus comes
and take us to heaven.
00:49:30.05\00:49:33.84
On the second day,
00:49:38.34\00:49:41.38
first day is saved for my family
00:49:41.41\00:49:45.33
and for Jesus, maybe Paul.
00:49:45.36\00:49:48.55
Second day, 6
o'clock in the morning
00:49:51.65\00:49:59.53
I'm gonna be standing
under the tree of life.
00:49:59.56\00:50:05.95
Right hand side when
you are facing the throne,
00:50:05.98\00:50:08.51
because it's on both sides
00:50:08.54\00:50:10.08
I want to see you there. Amen.
00:50:13.75\00:50:16.19
Oh, Lord,
00:50:19.79\00:50:23.01
it is been so good
00:50:23.04\00:50:24.41
and I just want to lift
up I preach all these people
00:50:28.15\00:50:31.99
standing here this morning.
00:50:32.02\00:50:35.27
Some have just become a
part of your church family here
00:50:35.30\00:50:41.72
and some brand new in Christ
00:50:41.75\00:50:44.99
taking their first baby steps,
00:50:45.02\00:50:48.09
others who have been
Christians for a long time
00:50:48.12\00:50:52.58
they are just
continuing to follow the Lamb.
00:50:52.61\00:50:57.34
Lord, I pray that you will
00:50:57.37\00:50:58.94
put a hedge around them,
00:50:58.97\00:51:01.24
keep the devil away.
00:51:01.27\00:51:03.94
Give them a chance to grow
00:51:03.97\00:51:05.10
in the grace of
our Lord and Savior.
00:51:05.13\00:51:09.95
Then those who are
already been around a while
00:51:09.98\00:51:14.70
I pray that You will specially
strengthen and power them.
00:51:14.73\00:51:20.16
Let us love each other, Lord.
00:51:20.19\00:51:23.55
Help us to grow
above the pettiness.
00:51:23.58\00:51:26.82
It holds so many churches down
00:51:26.85\00:51:30.21
and let's be a true
family of God. Amen.
00:51:30.24\00:51:35.87
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
00:51:35.90\00:51:42.48
With all my
strength, with all I am
00:51:42.51\00:51:48.57
I will seek to
honor His commands
00:51:48.60\00:51:54.89
I pledge allegiance
00:51:54.92\00:51:58.80
to the Lamb
00:51:58.83\00:52:04.13
I have heard how
Christians long ago
00:52:11.42\00:52:17.76
Were brought
before a tyrants throne
00:52:17.79\00:52:24.11
They were told that he
would spare their lives
00:52:24.14\00:52:30.51
If they would
renounce the name of Christ
00:52:30.54\00:52:36.88
But one by one,
they chose to die
00:52:36.91\00:52:43.48
The Son of God,
they would not deny
00:52:43.51\00:52:49.72
Like a great angelic choir sings
00:52:49.75\00:52:56.14
I can almost
hear their voices ring
00:52:56.17\00:53:02.05
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
00:53:02.08\00:53:08.82
With all my
strength, with all I am
00:53:08.85\00:53:14.82
I will seek to
honor His commands
00:53:14.85\00:53:21.24
I pledge allegiance
00:53:21.27\00:53:25.23
to the Lamb
00:53:25.26\00:53:30.48
Now, the years have
come and the years have gone
00:53:36.09\00:53:42.47
And the 'cause of
Jesus still goes on
00:53:42.50\00:53:48.66
Now, our time has
come to count the cost
00:53:48.69\00:53:55.17
To reject this
world, to embrace the Cross
00:53:55.20\00:54:01.52
So one by one
let us live our lives
00:54:01.55\00:54:08.02
For the One who
died to give us life
00:54:08.05\00:54:14.36
Till the trumpet
sounds on the final day
00:54:14.39\00:54:20.80
Let us gladly
stand and boldly say
00:54:20.83\00:54:26.78
I pledge allegiance
00:54:26.81\00:54:30.70
to the Lamb
00:54:30.73\00:54:33.57
With all my
strength, with all I am
00:54:33.60\00:54:39.53
I will seek to
honor His commands
00:54:39.56\00:54:46.00
I pledge allegiance
00:54:46.03\00:54:49.86
to the Lamb
00:54:49.89\00:54:52.20
To the Lamb of
God who bore my pain
00:54:52.23\00:54:59.00
Who took my
place, who wore my shame
00:54:59.03\00:55:07.00
I will seek to
honor His commands
00:55:07.03\00:55:13.60
I pledge allegiance
00:55:13.63\00:55:17.20
to the Lamb
00:55:17.23\00:55:22.41
I pledge allegiance
00:55:26.15\00:55:29.59
to the Lamb
00:55:29.62\00:55:32.53
With all my
strength, with all I am
00:55:32.56\00:55:38.52
I will seek to
honor His commands
00:55:38.55\00:55:44.95
I pledge allegiance
00:55:44.98\00:55:48.81
to the Lamb
00:55:48.84\00:55:51.49
I pledge allegiance
00:55:51.52\00:55:55.14
to the Lamb
00:55:55.17\00:55:58.12
With all my
strength, with all I am
00:55:58.15\00:56:04.18
I will seek to
honor His commands
00:56:04.21\00:56:10.46
I pledge allegiance
00:56:10.49\00:56:14.46
to the Lamb
00:56:14.49\00:56:16.83
I pledge allegiance
00:56:16.86\00:56:21.13
to the Lamb
00:56:21.16\00:56:27.21
To the lamb
00:56:27.24\00:56:34.49