Welcome back! And
thank you for joining us,
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if you're just now
joining us around the world.
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God has been blessing
abundantly. I don't know about
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you all, but I've been blessed
this last hour; haven't you?
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Hearing music that's bringing
honor and glory to Jesus's
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present truth - it's literally
gonna be heard about the world.
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We're so thankful for what God
is doing, and thank YOU, each
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and every one of you - some of
you coming not only from America
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but from around the world to be
here and enjoy this camp meeting
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with us. The music's been great,
the speakers are amazing -
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the subjects all on present
truth - all on the three angels'
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messages. We felt like this was
a time that it needed to be done
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because we feel like within our
own church, sometimes, that we
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take for granted the
three angels' messages. We kinda
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caught up in a rut of life, and
we forget that God has given us
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this movement, a message,
to bring present truth to be a
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light and a beacon on a hill
to this world. And it's a great
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responsibility, so, from time
to time, I pray, "Lord, give me
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that shot - whatever it is that
I need - that spiritual shot to
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wake me up so that I can go
be a vessel of honor for You."
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Tonight, it's with great
privilege that I get to- I
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shouldn't say introduce; I'm
sure most of you know him - but
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PRESENT to you tonight, Pastor
Wintley Phipps. Pastor Phipps is
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a pastor of the Palm Bay
Seventh-Day Adventist church
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there in Florida, but
he's literally known around the
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world; he travels and sings
around the world - sang for
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every president, I think, since
way back from Jimmy Carter, but
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God has given him a gift, and
it's an unusual gift, but not
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just the voice and the singing,
but his ability to meet so many
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people in, you might say 'high
places,' and influenced them
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with the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ. So I'm so thankful
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tonight to introduce- and also,
we ask him since he's not here
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very often, instead
of having other music,
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normally we do this and we
invite someone out to sing. I
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said, "Could we impose on
you to maybe be your own singer
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tonight?" So it's my privilege
to introduce Pastor Wintley
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Phipps. [crowd applauds]
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No need to fear
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When times of trouble come
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oppression storm
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beats at your door
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No need to fear
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No need to fear
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though evil seems so strong,
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their pride and power
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is not for long
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Be still my soul
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and trust in God;
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and place your life
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into His Hands,
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for He will never,
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never fail you
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And in the morning,
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you'll see His face
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No need to fear
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Don't fear
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No need to fear;
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the envy and the scorn
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of those who boast
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in what they own -
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No need to fear,
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for what remains
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when life's brief day is done,
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their glories are
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a setting sun
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But as for me,
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of this I'm sure,
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God will redeem
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my soul from death;
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and He will never,
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never fail me
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And in the morning
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I'll see His face
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[instrumental break]
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And He will never
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fail you
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No one can tear you
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from His love;
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and He will never
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forsake you
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And in the morning
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you'll see his face
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No need to fear
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Don't fear
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Will you bow your heads with me.
Our Father in heaven, as we open
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Your Holy Word, I ask that
You would cleanse me of all
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unrighteousness. Fill my life
with Your Holy Spirit's presence
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and power. Speak to me, through
me, and for me. And I promise
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You, Lord, I'll always give You
the honor, the glory, and the
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praise. In Jesus'
Name I pray, amen. Amen!
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I don't know about you,
but I love coming to 3ABN.
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[audience amens]
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I wanna thank my friend Danny
of many years. I think Danny
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knew me when I had
hair. [audience laughs]
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And thank Yvonne and all those
who give leadership. If you have
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your Bibles with you, I want you
to go to the Book of Revelation;
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Chapter 14, verse 13.
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The Book of
Revelation chapter 14, verse 13.
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Thank You, God.
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The Word of God says -
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May God add a blessing
to the reading of His Word.
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This Scripture we have read
inspired me to look once again
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at the life of one of my
favorite writers in the New
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Testament, the apostle Paul.
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His transformation on the road
to Damascus was nothing short of
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dramatic and breathtaking. Here
was a man who, because of an
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encounter with Jesus, went
from fanatical fundamentalist to
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radical believer. Here was a
man who went from being a raging
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maniac to a magnanimous preacher
of righteousness. Paul was a
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mighty vessel chosen by a
sovereign God, who went from
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being a bounty hunter for the
Pharisees to patriarch of the
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Christian church. Born of Jewish
parents, reared in Tarsus, Paul
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was schooled by the great
teacher Galileo. His personality
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was a force of nature. He was a
man who could neither be ignored
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nor denied. Paul was a
magnificent mix of some of the
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finest leadership qualities
a man could have. Of brilliant
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intellect, unflagging zeal
and determination, unbridled
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enthusiasm, unquenchable
optimism. If you wanted
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something done right the first
time, you gave it to Paul. But
00:12:23.41\00:12:29.94
when Paul met Jesus on the road
to Damascus, Paul was changed
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forever. He became a new
creation - a man with new
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motives. A man driven by one
desire: to be like Christ. To
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honor Christ. To live
for Christ. To sacrifice any
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advantage and privilege so that
he might exalt Christ. I must be
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honest with you - one of my
favorite scriptures in all of
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the New Testament is Galations
chapter 1 verses 15 and 16-
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written by Paul, where he says,
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But when it pleased
God, who separated me from my
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mother's womb (allowed me
to live), God called me by His
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grace to reveal His Son in
me. Oh, I love that scripture.
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To reveal the character of Jesus
in my life and in my character.
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Friends, the preeminent goal and
purpose of Paul's life was to
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be like Jesus. And brothers and
sisters, this ought to be the
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preeminent purpose of OUR
Christian lives - to resemble,
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reflect, and reveal the
character of Christ in our own
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lives and our character. And
over the span of his 30 years in
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ministry, Paul never wavered
from this spiritual trajectory.
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Beaten and stoned, whipped and
shipwrecked, hungry and thirsty,
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weary and pained, he languished
in prison cells, held in
00:14:25.96\00:14:30.97
dungeons in winter without
cloak or coat, batted about on a
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storm-tossed tea, bitten by
serpents, chased out of town by
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malicious people (who
will chase you out of town)
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[audience laughs]
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Paul - Paul - my brothers and
sisters, this was the preeminent
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purpose of his life from which
he never wavered to reveal the
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character of Christ in me. Paul
was even delivered in a basket
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over a Macedonian wall. But
he never wavered. "And it is my
00:15:12.64\00:15:16.95
prayer," said Paul, "that you
would let this mind be in you
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that was also in Christ Jesus."
Paul traveled to fertile fields
00:15:21.22\00:15:27.39
and barren lands with this
gospel. He thundered truth from
00:15:27.46\00:15:31.66
the crowded marketplaces of
Asia. He proclaimed the second
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coming on the jagged
crest of Mars Hill. He preached
00:15:36.60\00:15:41.40
righteousness by faith on the
steps of the temple of Diana.
00:15:41.44\00:15:46.21
His boldness stirred the
calloused hearts of men. Until
00:15:46.24\00:15:52.58
one day, the word reached the
emperor Nero - something had to
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be done about Paul. Through the
preaching of Paul, there were
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many in Nero's inner circle who
had converted to Christ. Some of
00:16:01.56\00:16:06.96
Nero's most hardened soldiers
were now followers of Jesus.
00:16:07.00\00:16:12.80
Nero decided that Paul had
to die, and because Paul was a
00:16:13.60\00:16:17.54
Roman citizen, it was
not permitted for Paul to be
00:16:17.57\00:16:21.44
crucified. So the sentence
was handed down - Paul was to be
00:16:21.48\00:16:27.78
beheaded. And as Paul stood
there before the chopping block,
00:16:27.82\00:16:32.05
his face was not grimaced
nor twisted by fear. It was not
00:16:32.69\00:16:40.73
gripped by uncertainty; instead,
his countenance was filled with
00:16:40.76\00:16:46.20
hope and joy, confidence,
and peace. Paul faced his death
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holding onto the promise in
Revelation 14 that all who die
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in Christ are not only safe, but
Jesus says He will raise them up
00:16:59.58\00:17:06.22
at the last day. As the sort
of the executioner was about to
00:17:06.25\00:17:13.46
come down upon the neck of Paul,
in words of triumpant joy, Paul
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proclaimed, "For I am now ready-
I'm now ready - READY to be
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offered in the time of my
departure is at hand; I've
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fought a good fight, I've
finished my course, I've kept
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the faith. Henceforth, there
is laid up for me a crown of
00:17:35.05\00:17:40.36
righteousness, which the Lord,
the righteous judge, shall give
00:17:40.39\00:17:42.99
me at that day: and not to
me only, but unto all them also
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that love His appearing.
And just like it says in our
00:17:47.46\00:17:53.30
scripture in the Book of
Revelation, blessed are those
00:17:53.34\00:17:58.34
who die in the Lord.
00:17:59.81\00:18:02.74
Paul closed his eyes
and died in the Lord.
00:18:03.51\00:18:13.12
And as the Scripture says,
he now rests from his labors and
00:18:14.62\00:18:21.96
his works follow Him. His
ministry still lives on today.
00:18:22.06\00:18:28.97
Brothers and sisters, this
scripture in Revelation is one
00:18:30.44\00:18:35.21
of the most comforting and
reassuring scriptures in all of
00:18:35.24\00:18:39.21
the Book of Revelation. Blessed
are the dead which die in the
00:18:39.35\00:18:46.55
Lord. In this scripture, God
offers to His children 3 things.
00:18:46.59\00:18:53.19
God offers those who are in
Christ, what I call a trinity of
00:18:53.56\00:18:58.23
gifts, He offers those who
belong to Christ 3 promises.
00:18:58.43\00:19:03.51
The first promise: that those
who die in the Lord are blessed.
00:19:03.91\00:19:09.78
Somebody say
amen. [audience amens]
00:19:09.84\00:19:13.01
Why? Because they are safe. Like
David said, "For thou wilt not
00:19:13.05\00:19:19.95
leave my soul in hell; neither
wilt thou suffer thine Holy One
00:19:19.99\00:19:26.29
to see corruption." So when you
die in the Lord, you're safe.
00:19:26.33\00:19:34.97
Secondly, God promises honor and
reward for good works. Your good
00:19:35.37\00:19:43.58
works are seen and noticed by
God. And thirdly, God promises
00:19:43.61\00:19:50.62
rest from our labors. Now, I
don't know about you, but the
00:19:50.69\00:19:56.89
older I get, the more
I see the need for rest.
00:19:56.93\00:20:00.70
[audience amens and laughs]
00:20:01.03\00:20:04.03
And may I say, rest is not a
promise sufficiently appreciated
00:20:04.07\00:20:11.61
by the young. The last thing
young people look for is rest.
00:20:11.64\00:20:19.68
Oh, but we old folk.
00:20:20.55\00:20:22.12
[laughter]
00:20:22.15\00:20:23.52
The older we get, the more
heavenly this promise of rest
00:20:23.55\00:20:28.99
is; the more precious it is. Now
notice I said the older WE get.
00:20:29.02\00:20:33.09
Because you see, when I was
young(er), I didn't need much
00:20:34.00\00:20:43.20
rest. As a matter of- can I
make an awful confession today?
00:20:43.24\00:20:47.38
I have a confession to make. I
have done some foolish things in
00:20:47.58\00:20:51.05
my life, but perhaps none more
foolish than the day I drove
00:20:51.08\00:20:55.45
non-stop 1,500 miles to
see my lovely Linda Diane
00:20:55.85\00:21:04.89
and her beautiful face.
There was no Facetime back then.
00:21:05.99\00:21:11.70
[eruption of laughter]
00:21:11.87\00:21:14.74
The only 'face time' I could get
I drove 24 hours with no rest,
00:21:16.24\00:21:24.21
just to see the face of my
Linda. Now, almost 50 years
00:21:24.48\00:21:28.58
later, I'm older and wiser now
and, these days I drive a couple
00:21:28.62\00:21:33.22
of hours and I start
lookin' for a hotel. You know?
00:21:33.25\00:21:35.89
[audience laughs]
00:21:36.19\00:21:39.46
But when you're in love, you
don't feel the need of rest. Can
00:21:41.56\00:21:46.33
I tell you something I've
learned about love and this is
00:21:46.57\00:21:48.50
just on the side, really; to
me, love is not emotion. Love is
00:21:48.87\00:21:53.04
much more than emotion. To me,
emotion is the booster rocket
00:21:53.07\00:21:58.88
that puts you into orbit. And
once you're in orbit, you gotta
00:21:58.91\00:22:04.59
make the best of the
trip. [more laughter]
00:22:04.62\00:22:10.09
And the Lord knew we would need
a booster rocket, because if
00:22:12.69\00:22:17.57
most of us knew what the
trip would be like, we probably
00:22:17.60\00:22:20.80
wouldn't go.
00:22:20.84\00:22:24.97
But God and His mercy left
us with enough power to make us
00:22:26.84\00:22:31.11
safely home, amen? And that's
just the way I see youth! Youth
00:22:31.15\00:22:36.28
is a booster rocket that
launches you into the orbit of
00:22:37.12\00:22:41.76
life. And God knew that we
would need that booster rocket
00:22:41.79\00:22:45.76
because if we only knew what
growing old was like, we would
00:22:45.79\00:22:51.67
ask God, "Let us start
with old age!" [laughter]
00:22:51.70\00:22:56.64
And let's work this thing back,
the other way. And as we get
00:22:56.67\00:23:01.88
older, the booster rocket of
youth falls off; the flame of
00:23:01.91\00:23:06.55
youth dwindles, and life becomes
a struggle; a harsh struggle.
00:23:06.58\00:23:15.62
Moving becomes
painful. [more laughter]
00:23:15.66\00:23:23.06
I like the quiet
chuckle. [eruption of laughter]
00:23:23.10\00:23:26.84
When you wanna shout,
that's the TRUTH, brother!
00:23:26.87\00:23:30.74
Moving becomes painful, walking
becomes laborious, we long for
00:23:33.04\00:23:38.98
rest. Rest from pain and
suffering; rest from injury and
00:23:39.01\00:23:44.79
ill health; rest from fear
and worry; rest from anxiety and
00:23:44.82\00:23:49.66
distress; rest from bills
and burdens; somebody say amen.
00:23:49.69\00:23:54.83
[Amen!] Rest from trials
and temptations; rest from the
00:23:54.96\00:24:00.50
demands of immorality and sin,
and I had to throw this one in-
00:24:00.54\00:24:05.17
rest from thieving,
wicked people! [Amen!]
00:24:05.24\00:24:09.84
If ever there was a promise from
Jesus, tailored for modernity,
00:24:12.41\00:24:17.75
tailored for the frenetic
lives of modern man; it is this
00:24:18.69\00:24:23.83
promise of rest. It is a lost
discipline - we get up early,
00:24:24.26\00:24:30.07
stay up late, pushing the
envelope, burning the candle at
00:24:30.10\00:24:34.74
both ends, and I'm guilty
as charged. I'm guilty, eh.
00:24:34.77\00:24:39.84
Last week, today, I was in
the Amazon. In the rainforest in
00:24:40.31\00:24:46.21
Manaus, Brazil and, three days
ago... Three days ago, brothers
00:24:46.28\00:24:53.05
and sisters, I was in Sao Paulo.
Wednesday, I was in Boston.
00:24:53.15\00:25:01.56
Lord Jesus, help
me. [audience laughs]
00:25:03.73\00:25:06.74
Yester- I went home, and then
yesterday, I was in Washington,
00:25:06.77\00:25:10.04
D.C. And God helped with my wife
this morning and flew to St.
00:25:10.07\00:25:16.64
Louis so I could come here. So
guess what - I'm goin' home...
00:25:16.68\00:25:25.35
to get some rest! [laughter]
00:25:26.32\00:25:30.96
And don't anybody - don't let
anyone - don't let anyone make
00:25:31.33\00:25:35.63
you feel guilty for gettin'
your rest. As a matter of fact,
00:25:35.66\00:25:41.77
brothers and sisters, I spoke
with a friend of mine, who is a
00:25:41.80\00:25:45.71
wonderful physician, the other
day, and he said to me that they
00:25:46.71\00:25:51.85
have found out from research,
brothers and sisters, that when
00:25:52.01\00:25:57.95
you get up in the morning,
people who lay in bed for
00:25:57.99\00:26:02.76
another 20 minutes - just relax
in bed - it recharged the onset
00:26:02.82\00:26:09.83
of all Alzheimer's. Research.
00:26:09.86\00:26:14.84
Ohh, I know what you gonna
be doin' from here. [laughter]
00:26:20.34\00:26:24.81
So when the wife says, "Honey,
come on!" you say "Leah, I just
00:26:30.39\00:26:33.02
gotta stay here a
little bit!" [more laughter]
00:26:33.05\00:26:37.09
Rest is a gift from God. I
think it was the philosopher
00:26:38.16\00:26:43.93
Paracelsus who said, - listen to
this - "Man is ill because he is
00:26:44.70\00:26:50.97
never still." Jesus said, "Come
unto me, all ye that labor and
00:26:51.01\00:27:00.32
are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest. Take my yoke upon you;
00:27:00.35\00:27:05.19
learn of me; for I am meek
and lowly in heart: and ye shall
00:27:05.22\00:27:09.52
find-" what? "rest... For my
yoke is easy, and my burden is
00:27:09.56\00:27:16.03
light." Now in our scripture,
God says we will rest from our
00:27:16.16\00:27:22.60
labors, and what is the labor
from which God promises rest?
00:27:22.67\00:27:27.71
Is it laying bricks? Digging
trenches? Well, there are at
00:27:29.48\00:27:34.95
least two kinds of labor I know
of: temporal labor, or manual
00:27:34.98\00:27:39.02
labor. Manual labor is the kind
of labor, you know, from which
00:27:39.05\00:27:43.16
you go to your home exhausted.
Now, I must say to you, manual
00:27:43.19\00:27:48.06
labor is good. Amen. I thank God
I've never been afraid of manual
00:27:48.10\00:27:56.74
labor. I remember as a student
in the seminary, getting ready
00:27:56.77\00:28:01.58
to pastor my first church,
we lived in the seminary in a
00:28:01.61\00:28:04.81
furnished apartment. And one
day it dawned on me as we were
00:28:04.85\00:28:08.22
preparing to make our first
church assignment to take it on,
00:28:08.25\00:28:11.95
we had no furniture...because
we were living in a furnished
00:28:12.49\00:28:16.86
apartment since we were married,
so I went down to the furniture
00:28:16.89\00:28:19.49
store, and I saw a beautiful
sectional...you know? I almost
00:28:19.53\00:28:24.83
fainted, however, when I read
the pricetag. At the time, back
00:28:24.87\00:28:30.11
then, was almost $4,000 and
I was only making $600 a month.
00:28:30.14\00:28:34.28
Some figures you remember. So I
decided I was gonna make my own
00:28:35.81\00:28:43.35
furniture. So I went down...
Well, first thing I did, I went
00:28:43.39\00:28:50.73
back to the store with a ruler.
With a tape measure. And I
00:28:50.76\00:29:00.47
walked and I said, "I wonder
if this will fit in my house."
00:29:00.97\00:29:03.74
[audience laughs]
00:29:03.87\00:29:07.64
And I measured every piece
carefully, and then I went- I
00:29:09.68\00:29:14.68
bought the plywood, I bought
the foam, and I built an entire
00:29:14.72\00:29:21.22
sectional. It was hard work..but
I got it done. All I needed was
00:29:21.69\00:29:28.76
the pattern. In these last days,
brothers and sisters, however,
00:29:28.80\00:29:33.80
there is another kind of
labor that God requires of his
00:29:33.84\00:29:38.07
children. The servant of God
calls it "spiritual labor." Look
00:29:38.11\00:29:45.35
at this. Spiritual labor, toil,
and burden bearing," she says-
00:29:45.41\00:29:50.45
what does it say? "SPIRITUAL
labor," what does it say?
00:29:51.35\00:29:55.32
"Spiritual labor, toil, and
burden bearing, is what will
00:29:55.82\00:30:00.93
give strength to the church of
Christ." Now, what is spiritual
00:30:00.96\00:30:05.77
labor? Spiritual labor is when
you work for the salvation and
00:30:05.83\00:30:12.24
transformation in the lives and
characters of others and also in
00:30:12.27\00:30:17.55
yourself. The servant of the
Lord says, "The great work of
00:30:17.58\00:30:22.78
life is," what?
"character-building."
00:30:22.82\00:30:26.72
"Character-building.
Character-building is the most
00:30:27.62\00:30:31.26
important work ever
entrusted to human beings."
00:30:31.29\00:30:37.27
Now, I'm givin' you
some new stuff tonight.
00:30:38.00\00:30:39.83
Character-building
is spiritual labor.
00:30:40.37\00:30:44.24
Soul winning, brothers
and sisters, is not just about
00:30:49.21\00:30:52.51
telling people the truth as
we know it; it is also about
00:30:52.55\00:30:56.45
helping people to grow, to
resemble, to reflect and reveal
00:30:56.48\00:31:01.52
the character of Christ.
Spiritual labor is helping
00:31:01.56\00:31:06.09
people to be restored into
the image and character of God.
00:31:06.13\00:31:12.37
Allow me to tell you tonight
how important character-building
00:31:13.44\00:31:18.54
is. Look at this: "We are daily
determining our destiny in the
00:31:18.57\00:31:27.25
future life by the cha-" it's
almost hard to say it, isn't it?
00:31:28.38\00:31:34.29
By the what? "By the character
we develop..." when!? "in THIS
00:31:34.82\00:31:44.37
life." And then look at this.
"When Christ shall come, he will
00:31:44.40\00:31:49.80
not change the character
of any individual. Precious,
00:31:50.17\00:31:57.15
probationary time is given to be
improved in washing our robes of
00:31:57.65\00:32:03.28
character, and making them
white in the blood of the Lamb.
00:32:03.35\00:32:08.16
So yes, brothers and sisters,
we have been called to warn the
00:32:08.62\00:32:11.89
world of the beast and its
image. Amen. We've been called
00:32:11.93\00:32:16.83
to warn the world that judgment
is in session. But we are also
00:32:16.87\00:32:22.97
called to warn the world that,
without the character of God
00:32:23.00\00:32:27.71
revealed in our lives, the soul
of the Christian is in peril.
00:32:27.74\00:32:34.18
Yes, we have been called to warn
the world of the man of sin,
00:32:36.45\00:32:40.46
but we are also called to
warn the world that it is the
00:32:40.49\00:32:44.36
character formed in this world
that determines our destiny for
00:32:44.39\00:32:49.80
eternity. Look at this. "Christ
Himself will decide who are
00:32:49.83\00:32:56.50
worthy to dwell with the family
of heaven." Amen! Amen! Amen.
00:32:56.54\00:33:03.61
"He will judge every man
according to his words and his
00:33:03.65\00:33:07.82
works. Profession is as NOTHING
in the scale." It is what? Who's
00:33:07.98\00:33:16.76
preaching this!?
[audience laughs]
00:33:16.79\00:33:20.26
Do you understand what
I'm saying? We don't hear this
00:33:20.30\00:33:22.83
enough. [Amen.] Character
decides our what? [Destiny.]
00:33:22.86\00:33:30.24
Too often we see laboring
for the kingdom as just public
00:33:30.31\00:33:33.68
evangelism. We see laboring for
others as proclamation, without
00:33:33.71\00:33:38.01
the call to character
transformation and restoration.
00:33:38.05\00:33:41.52
That's why we bring people in,
and before you know it, they're
00:33:41.55\00:33:46.45
back out. Proclamation
without the call to character
00:33:46.49\00:33:53.19
transformation and restoration
is an incomplete gospel.
00:33:53.23\00:33:58.67
Proclamation without
transformation is an incomplete
00:34:01.60\00:34:06.47
gospel. Listen, the servant
of God says, "We are to be
00:34:06.51\00:34:11.41
justified by faith, and judged
by our works." The very essence
00:34:11.45\00:34:19.32
of the gospel, brothers and
sisters, is the restoration of
00:34:19.35\00:34:22.82
the image and character of God
in man. So what is our spiritual
00:34:23.02\00:34:26.93
labor? It is to study the
character of Christ and then
00:34:26.96\00:34:30.70
conform our conduct and
our attitudes- yes, I said our
00:34:30.77\00:34:35.07
attitudes. I often jokingly tell
people, "You are not gonna be in
00:34:35.10\00:34:39.97
heaven lookin' at angels
sideways, saying to them, "Now,
00:34:40.01\00:34:43.58
what did you say to
me?" [eruption of laughter]
00:34:43.61\00:34:47.15
That's NOT happening.
00:34:48.28\00:34:50.09
What is our spiritual labor?
What is our work? We have- check
00:34:54.02\00:34:57.86
this out - "We have a great work
to do-" "We have a great-" what?
00:34:57.89\00:35:02.30
"work! to do," to what? "to
remove every defect of character
00:35:02.33\00:35:08.30
and be a constant light to those
around us, reflecting" what?
00:35:08.37\00:35:14.14
"the character of Jesus," who
is the... "light of the world."
00:35:15.61\00:35:19.15
And look at the next one. "Every
soul who is seeking to become a
00:35:20.98\00:35:25.15
joint heir with Jesus Christ-"
is that you? [Yes.] I said, is
00:35:25.22\00:35:29.02
that YOU? [YES!] EVERY soul
who seeks to become a joint heir
00:35:29.06\00:35:32.59
with Jesus Christ must consider
that his," or her, "special work
00:35:33.03\00:35:37.67
during this testing period is
to" what? "study the character
00:35:38.77\00:35:43.94
of Christ" and do what? "conform
to that character." He cannot do
00:35:43.97\00:35:48.78
this in his own strength.
[Amen.] But through the abundant
00:35:48.81\00:35:52.51
grace given of God, what can be
made? Daily improvements can be
00:35:52.55\00:35:57.65
made. Now, did you know that
without Christlike character
00:35:57.69\00:36:01.69
revealed in us, we cannot
even preach with credibility or
00:36:01.72\00:36:06.66
authenticity. Look at what
the servant of God says. "A
00:36:06.70\00:36:11.70
Christlike life is the most
powerful argument that can be
00:36:11.73\00:36:17.51
advanced in favor of
Christianity. Men will believe
00:36:17.54\00:36:22.01
not what the minister preaches,
but what the church lives."
00:36:22.04\00:36:27.32
Could that be one of the reasons
the world is not hearing us
00:36:27.38\00:36:31.25
today? You know, an old preacher
said to me, "Brother, you can't
00:36:31.29\00:36:35.16
talk what you don't know; you
can't lead where you don't go."
00:36:35.19\00:36:39.59
In other words, it is really
hard to sell people on what
00:36:40.23\00:36:44.00
isn't working for YOU. I'm
doin' my best to hold- to be
00:36:44.03\00:36:53.38
diplomatic in my language and in
my words. I heard a man say one
00:36:53.41\00:36:57.65
day, "Brother!" he said. "It's
hard for a bald man to sell
00:36:58.08\00:37:02.88
hair-growing cream." [laughter]
00:37:02.92\00:37:08.46
If your gospel, that you go
week after week listening to in
00:37:13.60\00:37:19.17
church, is not making
you more like Jesus...
00:37:19.23\00:37:23.84
If your faith isn't making
you like Jesus - and I'm talking
00:37:28.58\00:37:31.71
about when it counts - you
know, when you're stressed, when
00:37:31.78\00:37:36.89
you're hurt, when you're
disappointed; why would somebody
00:37:36.92\00:37:42.42
want to join what isn't working
for you? Just 'cause you say
00:37:42.46\00:37:48.33
it's right? How can we testify
to the liberating grace of God
00:37:48.36\00:37:53.80
while we're still in the grip of
Satan's power? No one will hear
00:37:53.84\00:38:00.68
us. Becoming like Christ,
revealing Christ - this is the
00:38:00.71\00:38:06.01
Christian's mission in
the world. Look at this - "The
00:38:06.05\00:38:09.98
Christian's mission in the
world is to" what? "reveal the
00:38:10.02\00:38:14.82
character of Christ, to
represent the Lord to the fallen
00:38:14.86\00:38:20.33
children of men." Too often,
churches - and we've been part
00:38:20.40\00:38:24.93
of them - they focus on what I
call the '3 B's.' The first B is
00:38:25.27\00:38:30.11
'believing.' Our idea of
evangelism is getting people
00:38:30.14\00:38:34.24
to believe what we believe.
We focus on the believing. The
00:38:34.28\00:38:42.25
second B we focus on is
'belonging.' We want to get you
00:38:42.28\00:38:47.39
to join. We want to get you in
that pool once you get your name
00:38:47.86\00:38:50.83
on the rows. Believing,
belonging, and the third B is
00:38:51.39\00:38:58.37
'behaving.' [audience laughs]
00:38:58.40\00:39:03.04
We want you to comport to what
our accepted norms of behavior
00:39:03.07\00:39:10.25
are; and we leave out the last
B - 'becoming.' We do not focus
00:39:10.28\00:39:18.25
on helping people to grow
to become like the character of
00:39:18.29\00:39:22.69
Christ. Because you see,
brothers and sisters, too many
00:39:22.72\00:39:26.03
who wanna be WITH
Him... don't wanna be LIKE Him.
00:39:26.09\00:39:29.96
And as I prepared for this
message and I studied, I found-
00:39:34.70\00:39:38.31
look at this. This blew me away.
This blew me away. "As a child
00:39:38.34\00:39:42.38
and youth," check this out,
"Jesus worked with His father
00:39:42.44\00:39:46.38
Joseph, and learned" what?
"the carpenter's, or builder's,
00:39:46.41\00:39:50.59
trade." This was significant!
"His trade was significant."
00:39:50.62\00:39:54.82
Why? Because "He was the
character builder, and as such
00:39:54.86\00:40:02.16
all His labors were perfect."
Look at the next one. "Into all
00:40:02.80\00:40:07.54
His secular labor He brought
the same perfection as into the
00:40:07.60\00:40:12.44
characters He was transforming
by his divine power. He is our
00:40:12.47\00:40:18.91
pattern." Brothers and sisters,
it was significant that Jesus
00:40:18.95\00:40:23.49
was a builder because He
came to build character. [Amen!]
00:40:23.52\00:40:30.86
How awesome is that? - to learn
to live like Jesus and help
00:40:30.89\00:40:35.30
others to grow, resemble, reveal
His character - that's the
00:40:35.33\00:40:39.87
greatest work you could be
doing. And we must learn to live
00:40:39.90\00:40:43.37
like the Lord. To live like the
Lord, we must learn to live IN
00:40:43.41\00:40:47.58
the Lord - live in the constant
grip of the Lord. So, being an
00:40:47.61\00:40:51.61
Adventist Christian means
more than just goin' to Sabbath
00:40:51.65\00:40:54.12
school, and attending church
services and potlucks, and...
00:40:54.15\00:40:59.92
and teaching Bible, or
giving our testimony... It means
00:41:00.59\00:41:04.99
studying the character of
Christ - conforming every day -
00:41:05.56\00:41:13.17
evermore to His character.
Scriptures tell us, "Blessed are
00:41:13.54\00:41:16.97
the dead which die in the Lord,
that they may rest from their
00:41:17.01\00:41:21.18
labors and their works to follow
them." The Bible NEVER said that
00:41:21.21\00:41:26.08
your works earn you a place in
heaven. But the Word of God DOES
00:41:26.11\00:41:33.72
say that our works will follow
us. Your works do not EARN you
00:41:33.76\00:41:43.16
heaven, but they will follow
you. Even after we die, our
00:41:43.20\00:41:46.53
works speak for us; they follow
us in our influence. Servant of
00:41:46.57\00:41:49.67
God said it this way, she said,
"The blessing of good works will
00:41:49.70\00:41:53.74
follow us into the eternal
world." You know, I've been
00:41:53.78\00:41:59.15
blessed for over 20 years
to minister to children whose
00:41:59.21\00:42:04.35
parents are in prison. I found
it in ministry over 20 years ago
00:42:04.39\00:42:09.72
because almost 70% of the
children who go to prison come
00:42:11.19\00:42:15.23
from the children of prisoners.
And I said, "We must do
00:42:15.26\00:42:20.07
something to be a blessing," and
one of our key efforts in this
00:42:20.10\00:42:24.54
ministry is building character
in the lives of these young
00:42:24.57\00:42:28.91
people. Because let me tell you
something, brothers, sisters -
00:42:28.94\00:42:32.71
any of you who own businesses,
you know we hire for skills but
00:42:33.78\00:42:37.99
fire for character. You
know wherever you see crisis,
00:42:38.02\00:42:44.13
wherever you see loss, wherever
you see setback, there is a
00:42:44.53\00:42:48.76
direct line to some deficit
of character. I've noticed
00:42:48.83\00:42:54.80
something- and I'm gonna ask God
for great wisdom as I share this
00:42:54.84\00:42:59.57
with you - I noticed something
since I've been doing this
00:42:59.61\00:43:03.18
ministry; I've actually heard
people suggest that they're not
00:43:03.21\00:43:07.32
going to invest in ministry here
in America because they get more
00:43:07.35\00:43:13.25
baptisms for their money
oversees. I've heard that.
00:43:13.29\00:43:19.23
Because, it's a- you know, it's
a bigger bang for their buck.
00:43:20.20\00:43:23.77
But please know we must
contribute to the work of God
00:43:24.07\00:43:27.54
around the world. But never
should we neglect ministry in
00:43:27.60\00:43:33.17
our own backyard. And so, you
know, God- as I study, God comes
00:43:33.21\00:43:39.95
up with these beautiful things-
I mean, shows it to me. Look at
00:43:39.98\00:43:42.52
this. I came across this
statement from the servant of
00:43:42.65\00:43:44.85
God. Here's why. "The youth
in this country require more
00:43:44.92\00:43:51.56
earnest spiritual labor than in
any other country." Did you see
00:43:51.59\00:43:58.57
that?! The youth in America -
in THIS country - require more
00:43:58.60\00:44:04.34
earnest spiritual labor than in
any other country we've ever yet
00:44:04.37\00:44:08.78
visited. Why? She said because
"the temptations for young
00:44:08.81\00:44:12.35
people in this country are
strong and numerous." So, yes,
00:44:12.68\00:44:22.32
one of the reasons we baptize
more abroad, says Ellen White,
00:44:22.52\00:44:25.36
is that the temptations for
young people in this country are
00:44:25.76\00:44:28.70
strong and numerous. Did you
know that people 70 years and
00:44:28.73\00:44:31.90
older read an average of an hour
a day? But people in America
00:44:31.93\00:44:37.21
today between the ages of 15
and 45 read an average of 7-10
00:44:37.24\00:44:42.21
minutes a day. We are looking
at the demise of long-form paper
00:44:42.24\00:44:47.78
reading. Everything is
being Twitter-ized. But I say we
00:44:47.82\00:44:54.16
should never neglect ministry
at home amongst our young
00:44:54.19\00:44:58.13
people! [Amen.] I have never met
a true disciple of Christ that
00:44:58.16\00:45:03.37
said, "Let me invest in ministry
where it is easier to reach
00:45:03.40\00:45:07.67
people." That kind of thinking
is not acceptable to God. God is
00:45:07.70\00:45:14.98
not counting heads; He is
weighing hearts. This is not a
00:45:15.01\00:45:19.31
business where you go only where
you get the best return. If
00:45:19.38\00:45:24.39
Jesus had that kind of thinking,
He would've told Noah, "Don't
00:45:24.42\00:45:28.59
waste your time." Preaching
for over 100 years... Nobody is
00:45:28.62\00:45:33.56
gonna listen to you. If Jesus
had that kind of thinking, He
00:45:33.60\00:45:36.63
would've never gone looking
for Paul! Or for me, for that
00:45:36.67\00:45:42.77
matter. Or for you. Aren't you
glad Jesus went looking for you
00:45:42.80\00:45:49.44
precisely because He knew
the devil had you? [Amen.] He
00:45:49.48\00:45:53.38
precised it because He knew
it would be hard to reach you. I
00:45:53.82\00:45:56.45
believe God will hold us
accountable if we abandon the
00:45:56.48\00:45:59.29
future of our young people in
this country because it's "too
00:45:59.35\00:46:02.49
hard to work for them." The Book
of James says, "Pure religion
00:46:02.52\00:46:08.60
and undefiled before God and
the Father is this: to visit the
00:46:08.66\00:46:13.60
fatherless and widows in their
affliction and to keep himself
00:46:14.04\00:46:17.71
unspotted from the world." I
believe the children we serve
00:46:18.04\00:46:21.44
with fathers in prison are
fatherless, and their mothers
00:46:21.88\00:46:26.78
are modern-day widows. And
neither should we neglect the
00:46:26.82\00:46:30.89
upper class. Listen to this: "If
our efforts are so conducted as
00:46:30.95\00:46:34.69
to include the upper classes,
we shall be more successful in
00:46:34.72\00:46:40.10
reaching the lower also." Amen.
But before I leave you, I want
00:46:40.13\00:46:46.63
to share with you two
perspectives...that have
00:46:46.70\00:46:50.17
helped me to keep living close
to the Lord. Jesus said, "Love
00:46:50.21\00:46:58.18
God with all your heart." The
Word of God says, "Don't lose
00:46:58.21\00:47:04.19
your first love." I want you
to know my life changed when I
00:47:04.22\00:47:09.56
started to understand that it is
important not just to love God,
00:47:09.59\00:47:14.33
but to be in love with God. I've
come to the point in my life
00:47:14.90\00:47:21.57
where I can unabashedly say
that loving God is my greatest
00:47:22.80\00:47:28.28
romance. [Amen.] So much so,
I can tell you honestly, when I
00:47:28.31\00:47:35.98
bow my head to pray, and I close
my eyes, there in the darkness
00:47:36.02\00:47:40.69
I feel like a blind woman
waiting on the arrival of her
00:47:40.72\00:47:45.43
lover. I can't see His face, but
I can sense His presence. And I
00:47:45.46\00:47:53.23
can hear His voice. And loving
God...is my life's greatest
00:47:53.27\00:48:02.71
romance. [Amen.] I want you to
know that helps me stay close.
00:48:02.74\00:48:12.55
"Blessed are those who die in
the Lord." You gotta stay IN the
00:48:13.76\00:48:17.29
Lord. [Amen.] But to stay in
the Lord, you got to live IN the
00:48:17.33\00:48:21.86
Lord. You gotta learn to live
LIKE the Lord. You gotta live
00:48:21.90\00:48:25.77
close to the Lord. You gotta
love the Lord with all your
00:48:25.80\00:48:29.07
heart. And then, finally, the
second thing that has helped me
00:48:29.10\00:48:37.45
stay close to the Lord - I was
a teenager working with a great
00:48:37.48\00:48:42.82
evangelist by the name of Dr.
E.E. Cleveland. And one day, in
00:48:42.88\00:48:49.66
the middle of one of his
campaigns, he said to me, "Son,"
00:48:49.69\00:48:52.06
Oh, I tell you, he said, "SON,"
he said. He said "I've learned
00:48:53.46\00:48:57.87
how to pray every hour on
the hour." That moved me and I
00:48:57.93\00:49:05.47
started trying to learn
how to do that, and I found it
00:49:05.54\00:49:07.78
difficult to remember every time
the hour was coming around. And
00:49:08.08\00:49:12.81
when people would buy these
expensive watches, I bought
00:49:12.88\00:49:15.05
these cheap digital watches that
would vibrate every hour, and it
00:49:15.08\00:49:19.09
would remind me to pray.
And after 3 or 4 years of the
00:49:19.12\00:49:22.99
vibration, I didn't realize
it, but I didn't need the watch
00:49:23.02\00:49:26.29
anymore 'cause I was praying
on the hour and IN the hour, and
00:49:26.33\00:49:30.17
before the hour. That man
changed my life because he
00:49:30.20\00:49:35.87
taught me the power of living
in constant, unbroken communion
00:49:35.90\00:49:43.21
with God. Tell you the truth,
I even went out and built an app
00:49:43.24\00:49:51.19
for myself. It's called "Divine
Alerts." Yeah, you can get it.
00:49:51.22\00:50:00.36
But I built it for me. Every
hour, it sends me a message from
00:50:00.40\00:50:06.00
the scriptures. Every hour,
it sends me a message from the
00:50:06.03\00:50:09.64
servant of God. It's more than
just a morning devotional. It's
00:50:09.67\00:50:16.21
learning hourly to commune with
God. And I've strengthened my
00:50:16.24\00:50:23.55
relationship with the
Lord so much because of hourly
00:50:23.59\00:50:29.29
communion. Before I leave here,
I'm gonna show with you some
00:50:29.39\00:50:31.96
things, the servant of God,
it says about hourly communion
00:50:31.99\00:50:34.46
with God; listen to this -
she says, "You may be in hourly
00:50:34.50\00:50:38.80
communion with heaven." Look
at this - "Christ wants us to
00:50:38.83\00:50:44.37
learn..." Thank you, God,
"the power of hourly, constant,
00:50:44.41\00:50:50.65
unbroken prayer.
Christ..." look at this, "has
00:50:51.38\00:50:57.89
provided means whereby our whole
life-" our whole life, "may be
00:50:58.19\00:51:07.26
an unbroken communion with
Himself." And so, I tell people,
00:51:07.30\00:51:16.50
"Everything else in life
is a distraction." When the
00:51:19.64\00:51:27.48
distraction is over, go back to
the most important thing in your
00:51:27.52\00:51:33.32
life, the most important thing
in my life, is communion with
00:51:33.36\00:51:37.79
God. Look at this: "It is only
by personal union with Christ,
00:51:37.83\00:51:41.86
by communion with Him daily,
hourly, that we can" do what?
00:51:41.90\00:51:46.47
"bear the fruits of the Holy
Spirit. It is by communion with
00:51:47.37\00:51:53.48
Him, daily, hourly - by abiding
in Him - that we are to grow in
00:51:53.51\00:52:02.05
grace." Hallelujah. "If you keep
Christ before you day by day,
00:52:02.08\00:52:07.62
and hour by hour, and moment
by moment, you will be trying to
00:52:07.66\00:52:14.43
exemplify His character." Hourly
communion with God prepares you
00:52:14.46\00:52:20.44
to join those who are covered by
that promise: "Blessed are those
00:52:20.47\00:52:25.87
who die in the Lord," because if
the enemy takes your life at an
00:52:25.91\00:52:33.05
inopportune moment, he may be
taking your life while you are
00:52:33.08\00:52:38.15
having communion with God.
00:52:38.39\00:52:44.23
And I give you one more.
"The true object of education is
00:52:49.96\00:52:55.44
to restore the
image of God in the
00:52:55.47\00:52:57.11
soul. In the beginning, God
created man in His own likeness.
00:52:57.17\00:53:00.81
He endowed Him with
noble qualities. His mind was
00:53:00.88\00:53:04.11
well-balanced; all the powers of
his being were harmonious. But
00:53:04.15\00:53:07.45
the fall and its effects have
perverted these gifts. Sin has
00:53:07.48\00:53:10.79
marred and well-nigh obliterated
the image of God in man. It was
00:53:10.82\00:53:15.09
to restore this that the plan of
salvation was devised;" did you
00:53:15.12\00:53:20.30
know that? "and a life of
probation was granted to man. To
00:53:20.33\00:53:24.67
bring him back to the perfection
in which he was first created;
00:53:24.70\00:53:31.01
this is the great object of
life - the object that underlies
00:53:31.04\00:53:36.31
every other." Before I leave
you, a young man- I read the
00:53:36.34\00:53:45.15
story of a young man who was in
a terrible car accident. He lost
00:53:45.19\00:53:49.49
his left arm. His family, to
encourage him, signed him up for
00:53:49.52\00:53:54.66
Judo class. They didn't think
he was going to do well, but the
00:53:54.70\00:54:01.20
Judo teacher said, "I will teach
him, and only teach him, one
00:54:01.24\00:54:04.37
Judo move, month after month.
One Judo move." They entered him
00:54:04.41\00:54:08.24
into the tournament. He won
his first matches. Everyone was
00:54:08.28\00:54:12.41
amazed. He went off, kept
going up, till he went to the
00:54:12.45\00:54:15.28
championship. And lo and behold,
he won the championship. On the
00:54:15.32\00:54:21.86
way home, he said to his
teacher, "How is it that I won
00:54:21.89\00:54:26.56
the championship and you only
taught me one move?" The teacher
00:54:26.59\00:54:31.83
said, "Well, you see, you have
mastered- almost mastered one of
00:54:31.87\00:54:36.87
the most difficult moves in all
of Judo, but more importantly,
00:54:36.91\00:54:40.18
the only known defense for that
move is that your opponent has
00:54:42.64\00:54:49.35
to grab your left
wrist." [audience laughs]
00:54:49.38\00:54:53.96
"And you don't have a left
wrist." I want you to know, the
00:54:55.26\00:54:59.93
enemy has many moves; he has
many strategies and tactics, but
00:54:59.96\00:55:06.03
we have our winning move.
We have a winning move. Be like
00:55:06.07\00:55:13.81
Jesus in character. Resemble,
reflect, reveal the character of
00:55:13.84\00:55:23.79
Christ. Let this be your focus
until you see Him face to face.
00:55:23.99\00:55:33.86
And should you die in the Lord,
He will raise you up in that
00:55:37.00\00:55:45.51
last day. Blessed are those who
die in the Lord. They shall rest
00:55:45.54\00:55:54.95
from their labors, and their
works follow them. Will you pray
00:55:54.98\00:56:03.09
with me?
00:56:03.12\00:56:04.46
My Father in heaven, I thank
you so much for this blessing. I
00:56:08.36\00:56:15.74
know the enemy did not want this
message preached, but in Your
00:56:15.77\00:56:19.91
power and in Your grace, I tried
to deliver it. Someone listening
00:56:19.94\00:56:25.68
today - this may be the
most important word they've ever
00:56:25.71\00:56:30.89
heard. Give them the commitment
and the desire to live in
00:56:30.92\00:56:38.63
Christ; to live for Christ. Till
the return of Jesus, may this be
00:56:38.99\00:56:48.94
our mission to become more like
Christ - to resemble, to reflect
00:56:49.34\00:56:55.48
and reveal the character
of Jesus. This is my prayer
00:56:55.51\00:57:00.85
tonight. Amen. [Amen.]
Amen. [audience applauds]
00:57:02.22\00:57:11.79