I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I wanna spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I wanna spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I wanna spend my life
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Mending broken people.
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Hello, Happy Sabbath
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and welcome to
3ABN's family worship.
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I am Chris Shelton
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and I'm here with my
husband Pastor Kenny Shelton
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and we are so thankful to
come into your home tonight
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and to have worship with you.
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And we have some
wonderful guests with us.
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And as I've said
on a prior program,
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we have to be on
our best behavior
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because to our right,
is Sister Mollie Steenson
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and she is the vice-president
and general manager of 3ABN,
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so we really got to
watch our P's and Q's here.
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I will, honey. Thank you. Yeah.
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It is a joy to be here
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and you just be yourself with me
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because I guarantee you this
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and people that know
me will tell you this,
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I am just myself with you.
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Amen. That's
right, that's right.
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So we love you, Sister Mollie,
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and I see the love
of Jesus in your heart
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and we like it when
you're here with us,
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we actually love it.
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And to my left,
somebody else I love,
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this is my sister-in-law, Tamie,
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and my brother-in-law, Bruce,
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and they work in the
donations department here,
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they keep busy
with all of the things,
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that you have a home
that you're sending in,
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they're taking care of it
and we really appreciate them.
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Do you like being here too, Tim?
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We're glad to be
here, absolutely.
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Good time of worship
together. Amen, that is good.
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Well, you know,
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I think we've got a
wonderful subject for tonight
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because I know that
there's a lot of people
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who feel a need
for something better.
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They're feeling a
need for the truth,
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they want to know
really, what truth is
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and I've always said, if
you ever pray and you say,
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"Lord, show me the truth."
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Your life is going to change
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and there's a lot
of people in this world
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that are looking for hope,
you know, we turn on the news
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and we see all of these things
that are happening in America
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and other countries
and it's heartbreaking
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and people are
asking, 'Is there any hope?'
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And so our
subject title tonight is,
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"How to become a Christian?
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How to become a
Christian?" Oh, wow.
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And I think it's not
only gonna help those of you
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who, maybe, have never looked
into becoming a Christian.
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I think it's also
gonna help those of us
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who are Christians that, maybe,
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we haven't looked at
all of the ramification
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of just what a
Christian really is,
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but before we go into our study,
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I'm gonna pass it over
to my sister-in-law, Tammy,
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'cause she's gonna lead
us, her and her brother, Kenny,
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they're gonna lead us
in some wonderful music.
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Okay, we've got a
dear lady with us,
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Marlene Hall,
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and she's gonna
play the piano for us,
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she's been playing
for most of her life,
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I would imagine.
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And she does an excellent job
and we're gonna start out with,
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I keep falling in love with Him.
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And we want you at
home to sing with us.
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Absolute.
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I keep falling in love with Him
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Over and over and
over and over again
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I keep falling in love with Him
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Over and over and
over and over again.
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He gets sweeter and sweeter
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As the days go by
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Oh, what a love
between my Lord and I,
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I just keep
falling in love with Him
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Over and over and
over and over again
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I keep falling in love with Him
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Over and over and
over and over again
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I keep falling in love with Him
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Over and over and
over and over again
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He gets sweeter and sweeter
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As the days go by
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Oh, what a love
between my Lord and I
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Just keep
falling in love with Him
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Over and over and
over and over again.
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You know what? Amen.
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These two little choruses,
because it was all selfishness
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because I sing these
two songs at camp meeting
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and so it was good on my
mind, it was familiar so...
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Well, it's also...
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The rest of you had to catch up.
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It fits right in
with our subject matter
00:05:08.80\00:05:12.14
and I just
wanna encourage people
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before we do the other
song, as you mentioned,
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'How to become a Christian'
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and people say, "Oh,
I've got that together.'
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But, you know,
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I believe the Holy
Spirit is gonna help us
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because it is a simple subject
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but yet complex and
it can be just as deep
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and as long as you wanna dig.
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There's more information there.
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So we pray that
it'll be a blessing today
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and that's the
songs fit right in, Tammy.
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Oh, good.
Absolutely. Absolutely.
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Everybody knows.
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Heaven came down and
Glory filled My Soul.
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I know everybody knows that.
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I can remember when I was,
maybe, five or six years old,
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me and my two
cousins, Doris and Loray,
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would sing a trio,
three parts, we were, like,
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five, six, and seven
and we were always saying,
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"Heaven came down and
Glory filled My Soul."
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So I know
everybody out there knows it,
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so no excuses for not
joining in and helping us
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'cause we need help, there's
only a few of us here today.
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That's right. Yeah.
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We do.
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Heaven came down
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And glory filled my soul
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When at the cross
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The Savior made me whole
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Made me whole
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My sins were washed away
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An my night was turned to day
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Heaven came down
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And glory filled my soul!
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Heaven came down
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And glory filled my soul
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Filled my soul
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When at the cross
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The Savior made me whole
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Made me whole
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My sins were washed away
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And my night was turned to day
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Heaven came down
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And glory filled my soul!
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Praise the
Lord. Amen. Thank you.
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Well, if you
break that song down,
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both of those songs, I
think it would really sum up
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what we're gonna
study about today.
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How to become a Christian?
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And to begin with,
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we're gonna jump
right into the scripture.
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Let's look at John, I
mean, chapter 8:30, 31.
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And, Sister Mollie, I'm
gonna throw it over to you,
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if you wouldn't
mind to read that for us.
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She can even
have an open prayer,
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if she would like to
do that first and then...
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Oh, absolutely, sure. Yes.
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Would you do that please for us?
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I would be delighted. Thank you.
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Thank you. Let's pray.
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Holy Father, we come
before you in the name of Jesus
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and we praise you
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and thank you, Lord, for
your presence that's here.
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We ask now, God,
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that you would
just touch our hearts
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and touch our lips
00:08:02.78\00:08:04.58
and let the
words that come forth,
00:08:04.61\00:08:06.45
Father, touch the needs
that those who are listening
00:08:06.48\00:08:10.09
and watching us today.
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And, Father, I
pray for everybody
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under the sound of our voice,
you will touch their hearts,
00:08:13.79\00:08:16.96
open their hearts, oh, Father.
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Our hearts cry today
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as through the
power of your Word,
00:08:20.83\00:08:22.83
we will be drawn closer to you.
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We will be
conformed not to this world
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but to your image and likeness.
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That's our
prayer, in Jesus' name.
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Thank you. Amen.
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Amen. Praise the Lord.
00:08:32.64\00:08:33.98
Okay, Well, the first
scripture we are looking at
00:08:34.01\00:08:36.61
is John Chapter 8:30, 31.
00:08:36.64\00:08:40.75
I'm going to read it to you.
00:08:40.78\00:08:43.35
And then I want to
expand on it just a bit
00:08:43.39\00:08:45.75
and then I'll
pitch it to the others,
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"As He spoke these
words, many believed on Him.
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Then said Jesus to those
Jews who believed on Him,
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If you continue in my word,
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then are you my
disciples indeed."
00:08:59.57\00:09:01.57
And, ladies and gentlemen,
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I've looked up
the word, 'believe'
00:09:02.97\00:09:04.71
and actually and I
love the amplifier.
00:09:04.74\00:09:07.54
I've got this amplified Bible,
00:09:07.58\00:09:09.14
I've talked
about it a few times,
00:09:09.18\00:09:10.68
as you can see the
cover's off, it is falling apart
00:09:10.71\00:09:15.22
and it's just written
there in all over the place
00:09:15.25\00:09:18.05
but the amplifier does that,
00:09:18.09\00:09:19.59
it just, kind of,
amplifies the word
00:09:19.62\00:09:21.39
and that word 'believe,'
00:09:21.42\00:09:22.76
when you're reading
it in the amplified,
00:09:22.79\00:09:24.76
it's instead of
saying, "Many believed on Him,"
00:09:24.79\00:09:27.63
it would say,
"Many believed, trusted,
00:09:27.66\00:09:30.40
relied on and adhered to Him."
00:09:30.43\00:09:33.00
It's more than just saying,
00:09:33.03\00:09:34.80
"Oh, yeah, I
give mental consent,
00:09:34.84\00:09:36.84
that I believe Jesus
really was a good guy,
00:09:36.87\00:09:39.71
really was even God's son
00:09:39.74\00:09:41.34
or really was the
Savior of the universe.
00:09:41.38\00:09:43.95
You adhere to Him, rely on Him,
00:09:43.98\00:09:46.45
being conformed to
His image and His likeness
00:09:46.48\00:09:49.62
and then it goes on to say,
"Then Jesus, then said Jesus
00:09:49.65\00:09:54.12
to those Jews
who believed on Him,
00:09:54.16\00:09:55.96
If you continue in my word."
00:09:55.99\00:09:57.96
That's not just reading
a scripture every morning.
00:09:57.99\00:10:00.50
That means hold
fast to my teachings
00:10:00.53\00:10:03.50
and live in
accordance with them.
00:10:03.53\00:10:05.67
It's more to within surficial,
00:10:05.70\00:10:07.77
this wall with
the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:10:07.80\00:10:10.17
of being a Christian
is not just surficial,
00:10:10.21\00:10:13.98
I mean, it takes our...
00:10:14.01\00:10:15.44
We must give
Him our whole heart.
00:10:15.48\00:10:17.41
Amen. Amen.
00:10:17.45\00:10:18.98
God is really the key,
00:10:19.01\00:10:21.52
God is looking
for a contrite heart.
00:10:21.55\00:10:23.18
He's looking for seriousness
and there's also three point,
00:10:23.22\00:10:26.76
you touched on one, the belief
00:10:26.79\00:10:28.69
and I think
'continue in my word'
00:10:28.72\00:10:31.16
is another one and 'disciples.'
00:10:31.19\00:10:33.29
All three of those
points, we're gonna cover here,
00:10:33.33\00:10:35.60
I wanna talk about
the part that says,
00:10:35.63\00:10:38.13
'my word' because I
found this little quote,
00:10:38.17\00:10:40.64
In The Faith I
Live By, and it says,
00:10:40.67\00:10:43.57
"The Bible is the great standard
00:10:43.61\00:10:46.34
of right and wrong.
00:10:46.37\00:10:47.78
Clearly defining
sin and holiness,
00:10:47.81\00:10:50.88
its principles
running through our lives
00:10:50.91\00:10:53.42
like threads of gold,
00:10:53.45\00:10:55.25
our only safeguard in
trial and temptation."
00:10:55.28\00:10:59.62
So I think as we come
in, we're learning to trust,
00:10:59.65\00:11:02.56
we're learning to believe,
00:11:02.59\00:11:03.93
we're learning to
fully lean on Christ.
00:11:03.96\00:11:06.16
And we're learning
it through His word,
00:11:06.19\00:11:08.03
through his word.
00:11:08.06\00:11:09.40
We've got to be
and I love how it says,
00:11:09.43\00:11:11.87
'if you continue' because a
lot of times I think people,
00:11:11.90\00:11:15.50
they'll study,
maybe, only once a week
00:11:15.54\00:11:17.47
when they go to church.
00:11:17.51\00:11:19.11
But 'continue'
needs to be a daily thing,
00:11:19.14\00:11:23.41
a daily appetite as it were.
00:11:23.45\00:11:25.35
We need to be
hungering for the word
00:11:25.38\00:11:27.48
each and every day.
00:11:27.52\00:11:28.98
That caught me 'the
Bible is the great standard
00:11:29.02\00:11:31.89
of right and wrong.'
00:11:31.92\00:11:33.59
That's what's wrong
with our world today,
00:11:33.62\00:11:35.89
is the Bible,
is not the standard
00:11:35.92\00:11:38.56
to so many people.
00:11:38.59\00:11:40.10
So they have no
standard of right and wrong.
00:11:40.13\00:11:42.60
It's what's good
for me, what helps me,
00:11:42.63\00:11:45.57
what puts me on top.
00:11:45.60\00:11:47.37
It's not what
the Bible says. Yes.
00:11:47.40\00:11:49.77
Good, very good point.
00:11:49.80\00:11:51.14
You know, you think
about that, when it says,
00:11:51.17\00:11:52.51
'if you continue' and
it's brought out here,
00:11:52.54\00:11:54.68
if we remain in the
word, if we abide...
00:11:54.71\00:11:57.55
Hold fast to my teachings...
00:11:57.58\00:11:59.28
Hold fast to,
and I like one thing.
00:11:59.31\00:12:01.88
When God said, "Stay in it.
00:12:01.92\00:12:04.45
Stay in it."
00:12:04.49\00:12:05.82
Well, that's
pretty simple for me
00:12:05.85\00:12:07.19
and all these other words
you say, 'stay in the word.'
00:12:07.22\00:12:09.22
I thought how
interesting to stay in the word
00:12:09.26\00:12:11.83
and when he said, 'a
disciple' I looked at that word,
00:12:11.86\00:12:14.16
the interesting disciple.
00:12:14.20\00:12:15.53
'Cause we, kind of,
we're disciples of Christ
00:12:15.56\00:12:17.90
but it always means a learner.
00:12:17.93\00:12:21.00
We are to be a learner
in the school of Christ,
00:12:21.04\00:12:24.24
we are eight people.
00:12:24.27\00:12:25.94
So we've started to, you know,
00:12:25.97\00:12:27.44
a class that will never graduate
00:12:27.48\00:12:28.94
from hopefully just in heaven,
00:12:28.98\00:12:30.31
we'll continue to learn.
00:12:30.35\00:12:32.15
And one thing I think
that helps in the days
00:12:32.18\00:12:34.78
that we're living in
00:12:34.82\00:12:36.15
'cause we're living in
such a technological world,
00:12:36.18\00:12:38.72
is you've got all of
these little devices,
00:12:38.75\00:12:41.72
I remember back in the
80s, when I was in college,
00:12:41.76\00:12:44.43
I was in the
Southern Missionary College.
00:12:44.46\00:12:46.39
And it was very expensive
to get the Bible on cassette
00:12:46.43\00:12:50.37
but all of us are busy
00:12:50.40\00:12:52.07
and if you feel like
you're too busy to stay in it,
00:12:52.10\00:12:55.54
you know, maybe, more
than a half hour to an hour,
00:12:55.57\00:12:57.97
you can continue to
listen to it now for free,
00:12:58.01\00:13:01.14
just download and
listen, it's a beautiful thing.
00:13:01.18\00:13:03.95
So...
00:13:03.98\00:13:05.31
Now that to me, that's amazing
00:13:05.35\00:13:06.72
when you think
about what Christ says,
00:13:06.75\00:13:08.32
'if you continue in my word,
00:13:08.35\00:13:10.09
' I found a
little something here.
00:13:10.12\00:13:11.45
Bruce, you may have
something, maybe add to this,
00:13:11.49\00:13:13.56
I thought was
interesting, I found...
00:13:13.59\00:13:15.22
I love Spirit of Prophecy,
so I always look at it.
00:13:15.26\00:13:18.06
I pray in the each
one of you, getting into,
00:13:18.09\00:13:20.83
along with the Word of God,
00:13:20.86\00:13:22.20
it always just
brightens that up,
00:13:22.23\00:13:23.77
it just illuminates
to help somebody like me
00:13:23.80\00:13:26.13
to be able to understand
the truth and you're thinking,
00:13:26.17\00:13:28.64
"If we do that,
well be a disciple,
00:13:28.67\00:13:30.04
we're gonna be
saved in the king.
00:13:30.07\00:13:31.41
You believed on Him, you know,
you're gonna be my disciples.
00:13:31.44\00:13:34.18
But it says, why is the
world in a shape that it's in?
00:13:34.21\00:13:37.61
Why is it?
00:13:37.65\00:13:38.98
This little comment
here, these three little lines.
00:13:39.01\00:13:41.38
Five Testimony, 433 says,
"But these divine utterances"
00:13:41.42\00:13:46.02
Jesus making
these utterances, says,
00:13:46.05\00:13:47.56
"If it finds no
place in the heart of one
00:13:47.59\00:13:50.49
who is of the world
and loves its pleasures."
00:13:50.53\00:13:54.70
The words that Jesus
said, just what you just read,
00:13:54.73\00:13:56.83
He spake, "Believe on Him."
00:13:56.87\00:13:58.33
You know, stay in the word.
00:13:58.37\00:14:00.07
But they find no law,
00:14:00.10\00:14:01.44
these are the
words of Jesus Christ.
00:14:01.47\00:14:03.77
They're to find
lodging, Bruce, in the heart,
00:14:03.81\00:14:07.38
in our heart, find a
place there, you know,
00:14:07.41\00:14:09.78
so it can grow and to spread.
00:14:09.81\00:14:11.81
But if our hearts
are somewhere else,
00:14:11.85\00:14:13.48
around the world,
things of the world,
00:14:13.52\00:14:14.98
it doesn't find lodging there,
we just don't want it there.
00:14:15.02\00:14:17.62
Do you find that
too? Yeah. That's true.
00:14:17.65\00:14:19.95
I thought it was interesting
00:14:19.99\00:14:22.19
to see what the test
of a disciple really is.
00:14:22.22\00:14:25.59
And if we go to
II Corinthians 5:17,
00:14:25.63\00:14:29.56
"If any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature.
00:14:29.60\00:14:33.03
old things are passed away,
00:14:33.07\00:14:35.27
behold, all
things are come new."
00:14:35.30\00:14:38.04
That's beautiful and, you know,
00:14:38.07\00:14:40.34
what I have found over the years
00:14:40.38\00:14:41.84
because there's a lot of people,
00:14:41.88\00:14:43.21
as you both are expanding
on that, prefer the world
00:14:43.24\00:14:46.95
and but we have a
lot of loved ones,
00:14:46.98\00:14:48.55
that I would love for them
00:14:48.58\00:14:50.05
to experience
what God has for them.
00:14:50.09\00:14:53.09
And so I've learned to pray
for conviction and conversion.
00:14:53.12\00:14:57.73
And you can do that
too, with your children,
00:14:57.76\00:14:59.86
with your spouse, with your...
00:14:59.89\00:15:01.66
And God allows the Holy Spirit
00:15:01.70\00:15:04.03
to continue to knock
on their heart's door
00:15:04.07\00:15:06.77
and say, "Hey, come over here.
00:15:06.80\00:15:08.14
We've got
something better for you."
00:15:08.17\00:15:10.31
Now we've looked at 'belief'
00:15:10.34\00:15:12.47
and we've looked
at the 'Word of God.'
00:15:12.51\00:15:14.81
Let's find out
what a 'disciple' is,
00:15:14.84\00:15:16.81
what is a disciple?
00:15:16.85\00:15:18.25
You think about
disciple... Okay.
00:15:18.28\00:15:19.61
There's two text,
I wanna throw in here
00:15:19.65\00:15:21.52
before we move on, if it's okay,
00:15:21.55\00:15:22.98
and then,
maybe, get a comment...
00:15:23.02\00:15:24.35
I've got one too.
You've got one too.
00:15:24.39\00:15:25.72
Let's throw
these in because to me,
00:15:25.75\00:15:27.09
it's just so important.
00:15:27.12\00:15:28.49
You know, not how fast you move
00:15:28.52\00:15:29.86
but how much of this
we're going to retain
00:15:29.89\00:15:31.86
because I find
that there's people
00:15:31.89\00:15:34.16
who will be watching right
now, they come to the point,
00:15:34.20\00:15:36.67
you mentioned,
praying for our children,
00:15:36.70\00:15:38.40
praying for our grandchildren.
00:15:38.43\00:15:39.77
We've prayed for
20 years for them,
00:15:39.80\00:15:41.24
we see nothing is happening.
00:15:41.27\00:15:43.41
We get a little discouraged
and then we stop and we said,
00:15:43.44\00:15:46.17
sometime we stop what?
00:15:46.21\00:15:47.54
One prayer, one prayer,
00:15:47.58\00:15:49.58
one more time we
go to God in prayer,
00:15:49.61\00:15:51.81
it would change that
child, that individual.
00:15:51.85\00:15:54.72
So let's not get
discouraged with it
00:15:54.75\00:15:56.65
but notice that when you're
talking about these words here,
00:15:56.69\00:15:58.85
Jesus said in
John 12:48, He said,
00:15:58.89\00:16:01.19
"The word that I have spoken."
00:16:01.22\00:16:03.36
The passage that
you read to begin with,
00:16:03.39\00:16:05.09
"The words that I have spoken,
00:16:05.13\00:16:06.80
the same shall judge
him in the last day."
00:16:06.83\00:16:10.03
So it's very, very
important about taking the word.
00:16:10.07\00:16:12.23
These words, He said,
"Many believed on Him."
00:16:12.27\00:16:14.40
Jews believed on...
00:16:14.44\00:16:15.77
"If you continue in the
word, you're my disciples."
00:16:15.80\00:16:17.17
He said, here notice
these words are gonna come back,
00:16:17.21\00:16:20.98
what Jesus has spoken the same
00:16:21.01\00:16:22.34
should judge
him in the last day.
00:16:22.38\00:16:23.71
And then John 8:47
says, "He that is of God."
00:16:23.75\00:16:26.92
So we're looking at
say, "Are you of God?
00:16:26.95\00:16:29.05
Are you of God?"
00:16:29.08\00:16:30.42
You say, "Well,
By the grace of God,
00:16:30.45\00:16:31.79
I'm one with Him."
00:16:31.82\00:16:33.15
Notice what it says,
00:16:33.19\00:16:34.52
"He that is of God,
heareth God's words."
00:16:34.56\00:16:39.33
That means He gives
audience to and He put...
00:16:39.36\00:16:41.96
Places Himself in a position
00:16:42.00\00:16:43.47
to where He can
hear the Word of God,
00:16:43.50\00:16:45.97
"Faith cometh by hearing
00:16:46.00\00:16:47.64
and hearing by the Word of God,"
00:16:47.67\00:16:49.54
and that word really
means 'two' in the Greek.
00:16:49.57\00:16:51.84
He understands, He that says...
00:16:51.87\00:16:54.71
Word of God.
00:16:54.74\00:16:56.08
He understands the word
because the Holy Spirit inside
00:16:56.11\00:16:58.55
helping Him to
understand the word.
00:16:58.58\00:16:59.91
Amen, amen.
00:16:59.95\00:17:01.28
And you want the word,
00:17:01.32\00:17:02.65
you want to know
what the word teaches
00:17:02.68\00:17:04.29
because when you become, we
talk about being born again,
00:17:04.32\00:17:07.89
when you do become
a disciple of Christ,
00:17:07.92\00:17:10.66
you're presented a situation
that you're not sure about,
00:17:10.69\00:17:14.53
you wanna dig into the
word to find out what it says
00:17:14.56\00:17:17.40
because one way or the other,
00:17:17.43\00:17:19.63
we're gonna be
judged by the word.
00:17:19.67\00:17:21.20
It's gonna come back.
You've got another passage.
00:17:21.24\00:17:22.87
Well, this is in
John 2 and it gives the...
00:17:22.90\00:17:27.44
It's in the amplified
00:17:27.48\00:17:28.81
and it gives the definition
of what a disciple is.
00:17:28.84\00:17:32.08
I'm not gonna read
the whole Scripture,
00:17:32.11\00:17:33.48
although we'll
probably read it little later
00:17:33.52\00:17:35.38
because it ties in
with something else
00:17:35.42\00:17:37.12
we're going to look at.
00:17:37.15\00:17:38.49
But it says, "And His
disciples believed in Him."
00:17:38.52\00:17:41.59
And we can all say...
00:17:41.62\00:17:42.96
Are we disciples?
00:17:42.99\00:17:44.33
Why, we believe in
Jesus but it takes it further.
00:17:44.36\00:17:46.80
It says, "Adhere to Him,
00:17:46.83\00:17:49.16
trusted in Him
and relied on Him."
00:17:49.20\00:17:52.67
See again, being a disciple,
it's not just mental assent.
00:17:52.70\00:17:57.41
It is a deep abiding
relationship with Him.
00:17:57.44\00:18:00.78
Oh, yes. Just stay with it.
00:18:00.81\00:18:02.28
Stay with it.
Stay with it. Amen.
00:18:02.31\00:18:04.55
I know there's been times
that I've held onto Christ,
00:18:04.58\00:18:06.95
when it seemed like
there was no one else
00:18:06.98\00:18:09.65
and I would have...
00:18:09.68\00:18:11.25
I can remember thinking
00:18:11.29\00:18:13.19
there would be
no hope without Him.
00:18:13.22\00:18:16.16
But you got to
know something about Him
00:18:16.19\00:18:18.96
to want to hold on to
Him, that's beautiful.
00:18:18.99\00:18:22.73
You know, we're
looking at big...
00:18:22.76\00:18:25.73
How to become a Christian?
00:18:25.77\00:18:30.47
Have any of you ever met someone
00:18:30.51\00:18:33.98
who in their latter years,
00:18:34.01\00:18:35.51
they've been in
church for years and years,
00:18:35.54\00:18:38.85
they did all the do's
and they didn't do the don'ts
00:18:38.88\00:18:41.92
and they finally,
00:18:41.95\00:18:43.99
had a revelation of
making Jesus Christ,
00:18:44.02\00:18:47.26
the Lord of their life
and they got born again...
00:18:47.29\00:18:51.49
And they didn't know...
00:18:51.53\00:18:52.86
But they didn't know, thy won't.
00:18:52.89\00:18:54.83
If you'd ask them,
00:18:54.86\00:18:56.40
they would have told
you they were a Christian.
00:18:56.43\00:18:58.73
They could have taken
a test and made a hundred
00:18:58.77\00:19:01.90
but they'd never
had that heart change.
00:19:01.94\00:19:03.67
Ever run did
anybody like that, Kenny?
00:19:03.71\00:19:06.17
I was one for
several years, I should know.
00:19:06.21\00:19:08.58
So I think a
good point would be,
00:19:08.61\00:19:13.92
how did you get born again?
00:19:13.95\00:19:15.48
What happens to you
when you get born again?
00:19:15.52\00:19:17.89
Is that a good question? It is.
00:19:17.92\00:19:19.25
And I think that's covered up,
00:19:19.29\00:19:20.62
some of our lessons will go down
00:19:20.66\00:19:21.99
because the thing is
once you say, 'Born Again,'
00:19:22.02\00:19:24.49
your life completely...
00:19:24.53\00:19:25.86
Changes. Turns around.
00:19:25.89\00:19:27.30
Bruce brought that,
00:19:27.33\00:19:28.66
"Old things are passed away,
behold, all things become new."
00:19:28.70\00:19:30.70
There's a
change that takes place
00:19:30.73\00:19:33.34
and I noticed in my own life.
00:19:33.37\00:19:35.17
I said this
before, I think it's good
00:19:35.20\00:19:38.31
because people need to realize
00:19:38.34\00:19:40.08
that all of us go
through tests and trials.
00:19:40.11\00:19:41.98
Yes.
00:19:42.01\00:19:43.35
We're not, they
say, "Well, it's just...
00:19:43.38\00:19:44.98
Everything's just going
fine, everything's going..."
00:19:45.01\00:19:47.08
There's things in our life,
00:19:47.12\00:19:48.45
that's brought us to the
point to where we are at now.
00:19:48.48\00:19:50.72
Experiences that God
has given us in His word.
00:19:50.75\00:19:53.96
Many of them,
hard lessons learned,
00:19:53.99\00:19:55.89
that we've by the
grace of God said,
00:19:55.92\00:19:57.46
"We're not going
to go back that way,
00:19:57.49\00:19:59.23
by the grace of God."
00:19:59.26\00:20:00.60
Difficult lessons.
00:20:00.63\00:20:01.96
So I understand, you mentioned,
00:20:02.00\00:20:03.33
'born again' of to the point of,
00:20:03.37\00:20:06.30
I said, "Well,
you know, for years
00:20:06.33\00:20:08.00
you could teach the young
married class which I did.
00:20:08.04\00:20:11.01
You can be a deacon,
then you become an elder,
00:20:11.04\00:20:13.78
you receive the little
plaques, you know, it says,
00:20:13.81\00:20:16.44
you know, a good teacher
does that all, this kind of
00:20:16.48\00:20:18.11
right here,
00:20:18.15\00:20:19.51
you can go all
through all those things
00:20:19.55\00:20:21.15
but never be born again.
00:20:21.18\00:20:22.92
That's absolutely right.
00:20:22.95\00:20:24.29
And the scared thing for
me and I won't take much time,
00:20:24.32\00:20:26.52
the scared
thing, I didn't know it.
00:20:26.55\00:20:28.82
That's right. That's
the lukewarmness of it.
00:20:28.86\00:20:31.39
Many people
say, I'm a Christian.
00:20:31.43\00:20:32.76
I'm doing, you say, all
these things right here.
00:20:32.79\00:20:35.70
I didn't know it.
00:20:35.73\00:20:37.07
That's how lukewarm you can get
00:20:37.10\00:20:38.93
because people
pat you on the back,
00:20:38.97\00:20:40.87
you're doing this right,
00:20:40.90\00:20:42.24
seems this is
right, the others...
00:20:42.27\00:20:43.61
You're going
through the emotion,
00:20:43.64\00:20:44.97
the head
knowledge but there was not
00:20:45.01\00:20:46.64
and I did not know it
00:20:46.68\00:20:48.08
until the Lord brought
things to my heart and my mind
00:20:48.11\00:20:50.35
because I began to pray.
00:20:50.38\00:20:52.01
I need the right
relationship with you.
00:20:52.05\00:20:54.12
Amen. Yeah.
00:20:54.15\00:20:55.52
Did I ever mention
00:20:55.55\00:20:56.89
that I was a second
grade Sunday school teacher
00:20:56.92\00:20:58.72
when I met Jesus
Christ, the Lord of my life?
00:20:58.75\00:21:00.62
No.
00:21:00.66\00:21:01.99
See, I was doing all the
do's and I didn't do the don'ts
00:21:02.02\00:21:05.76
but I had never made
Jesus the Lord of my life.
00:21:05.79\00:21:08.00
And that is a
concern on my heart,
00:21:08.03\00:21:10.00
of all other people that are
in the church is doing the do's
00:21:10.03\00:21:13.54
and not doing the
don'ts and professing
00:21:13.57\00:21:17.34
but never having
a heart change...
00:21:17.37\00:21:19.27
But were you, I'd be careful,
that you weren't hypocrite?
00:21:19.31\00:21:23.68
No.
00:21:23.71\00:21:25.05
So here's a
different people say,
00:21:25.08\00:21:26.41
"Well, you hypocrite,
because now you're saying,
00:21:26.45\00:21:27.78
you did through all
this and you didn't..."
00:21:27.82\00:21:29.95
I didn't know it
00:21:29.98\00:21:31.32
because I looked at
the do's and the don'ts
00:21:31.35\00:21:33.29
and trying to accomplish that.
00:21:33.32\00:21:34.79
And I didn't understand until,
00:21:34.82\00:21:36.59
till Diane walked by my
desk and said and told me,
00:21:36.62\00:21:39.86
"I got saved" and I said,
00:21:39.89\00:21:41.76
"Oh, you get
saved every summer."
00:21:41.80\00:21:43.90
And she said, "No,
you don't understand.
00:21:43.93\00:21:45.67
I made Jesus
Christ, the Lord of my life,
00:21:45.70\00:21:47.80
I gave my life to Him.
00:21:47.84\00:21:49.60
I love the Lord and
He's in my life now,
00:21:49.64\00:21:52.31
I'll serve Him"
00:21:52.34\00:21:53.68
and it was, like,
"Oh, I've never done that."
00:21:53.71\00:21:56.88
I go to church, I
teach Sunday school,
00:21:56.91\00:22:01.25
I don't curse and I don't swear
and I don't run with wild men,
00:22:01.28\00:22:05.95
the only wild man I
ever run with, I married,
00:22:05.99\00:22:08.42
you know, and so I
thought I was, you know,
00:22:08.46\00:22:13.53
I thought I was
doing the right thing
00:22:13.56\00:22:16.16
and I thought but have I not...
00:22:16.20\00:22:19.00
Had I gone to sleep, it
would not have been in Jesus
00:22:19.03\00:22:22.60
and I would not
have spent an eternity
00:22:22.64\00:22:24.54
in the presence of God.
00:22:24.57\00:22:25.91
It's not how good you are,
00:22:25.94\00:22:27.28
it's your relationship
with the Lord Jesus Christ
00:22:27.31\00:22:29.44
who will bring you into,
00:22:29.48\00:22:31.95
conforming to his
image and character.
00:22:31.98\00:22:34.22
I just heard the story.
00:22:34.25\00:22:36.35
Excuse me, I just heard
the story this last weekend
00:22:36.38\00:22:39.02
of a man that was a
pastor for 37 years and he said,
00:22:39.05\00:22:42.89
"I've just known the
Lord in the last year."
00:22:42.92\00:22:45.79
He said, "After being
a pastor for 37 years."
00:22:45.83\00:22:48.63
And people get...
00:22:48.66\00:22:51.53
I'm gonna be
careful as you always say,
00:22:51.57\00:22:53.27
I'm gonna be careful.
00:22:53.30\00:22:54.64
People get caught up
00:22:54.67\00:22:56.00
and can get caught up
with the do's and don't.
00:22:56.04\00:22:58.44
It's not that,
that's not important
00:22:58.47\00:23:00.38
because our character,
we're supposed to strive
00:23:00.41\00:23:03.28
to make our
character like Christ.
00:23:03.31\00:23:05.08
Everyday we should
be making headway with
00:23:05.11\00:23:08.12
but we're going
to make mistakes.
00:23:08.15\00:23:10.42
We can't get there on our works.
00:23:10.45\00:23:13.05
We can't go to heaven
on our works, we have to,
00:23:13.09\00:23:16.62
we're gonna make
mistakes but we have to strive
00:23:16.66\00:23:19.83
but sometimes
we get so caught up
00:23:19.86\00:23:21.80
in the do's and don'ts.
00:23:21.83\00:23:23.16
And I think, maybe, I
even did that with my children.
00:23:23.20\00:23:25.87
Some what, because
you wanna teach them
00:23:25.90\00:23:28.27
what you believe is right
00:23:28.30\00:23:29.64
but then it's so
caught up, don't do this,
00:23:29.67\00:23:31.64
you can't do this,
don't do, you know.
00:23:31.67\00:23:33.81
And so then you leave out
00:23:33.84\00:23:35.94
but you have to
love Jesus first,
00:23:35.98\00:23:39.01
and you have to
come to these things
00:23:39.05\00:23:40.62
somewhat on your own,
00:23:40.65\00:23:41.98
of what you feel
convicted to do and to not,
00:23:42.02\00:23:44.42
you can't shove it
down people's throat,
00:23:44.45\00:23:46.35
down your children's
throats or anybody else.
00:23:46.39\00:23:48.69
It is important what we do
00:23:48.72\00:23:50.63
but that's not what's
gonna get us to heaven.
00:23:50.66\00:23:52.89
That's right.
Have a relationship.
00:23:52.93\00:23:54.36
Because, you know,
Bruce, I, kind of, get...
00:23:54.40\00:23:56.63
I'm not confused about it.
00:23:56.67\00:23:58.00
Maybe, to this sense
but still question comes,
00:23:58.03\00:24:00.24
"Okay, do this, right?"
00:24:00.27\00:24:01.60
We're talking
about, we need to do this
00:24:01.64\00:24:03.17
because they're other
people I know have these things
00:24:03.20\00:24:04.87
because I kind of felt like,
00:24:04.91\00:24:08.81
at least in my own
life, we talked about...
00:24:08.84\00:24:12.25
You say an open hypocrite,
00:24:12.28\00:24:13.62
I wasn't trying to
purposely do things wrong
00:24:13.65\00:24:15.38
but I was ignorant.
00:24:15.42\00:24:18.62
Even though they had knowledge,
00:24:18.65\00:24:19.99
ignored the
scriptures and I think...
00:24:20.02\00:24:21.66
I thought I was
doing the best I could do,
00:24:21.69\00:24:25.39
you know what I'm saying,
00:24:25.43\00:24:26.80
basically, it was
self doing the things
00:24:26.83\00:24:29.16
but, you know, you wonder about
the end results of their...
00:24:29.20\00:24:32.53
I didn't know to do any better,
I hadn't had that experience
00:24:32.57\00:24:35.04
and I was, kind of, living up,
00:24:35.07\00:24:36.40
almost to the
like that I had that,
00:24:36.44\00:24:38.04
maybe, I was taught, maybe,
I didn't go far enough with it
00:24:38.07\00:24:40.18
but how does that
work with other people.
00:24:40.21\00:24:42.84
If you happen to...
00:24:42.88\00:24:44.51
Be careful, die in
the Lord, you know,
00:24:44.55\00:24:46.51
at that point in time
but you are still lukewarm
00:24:46.55\00:24:51.25
but you don't know
that you're lukewarm.
00:24:51.29\00:24:53.15
And you're striving
to do the right thing,
00:24:53.19\00:24:54.86
I know if you continue on God,
00:24:54.89\00:24:56.22
he's not gonna leave
you in a pitiful condition.
00:24:56.26\00:24:59.63
You know, we're just
one stand with this maker.
00:24:59.66\00:25:03.60
First, the blade
00:25:03.63\00:25:05.10
and then the ear
and then the whole core,
00:25:05.13\00:25:08.04
you know, I always call
this a progressive revelation
00:25:08.07\00:25:11.67
and really, my life changed
00:25:11.71\00:25:14.38
once I started doing
what we've been reading about,
00:25:14.41\00:25:16.44
once I started
eating of the word.
00:25:16.48\00:25:18.68
Praying more and
making a daily commitment
00:25:18.71\00:25:21.88
with my Lord and Savior.
00:25:21.92\00:25:23.39
Then my life changed and
then I began to understand,
00:25:23.42\00:25:26.89
"Oh, what Lord really meant."
00:25:26.92\00:25:28.36
We say, Lord of our lives,
00:25:28.39\00:25:29.99
we've said that for
years but what does it mean.
00:25:30.03\00:25:33.40
It means I'm gonna trust Him
00:25:33.43\00:25:35.40
even though I
don't quite understand,
00:25:35.43\00:25:37.27
it means I'm gonna obey Him
00:25:37.30\00:25:39.80
even though I really am not sure
00:25:39.83\00:25:42.10
that that's the way to
do it but he's my Lord.
00:25:42.14\00:25:44.67
He's leading, He's
guiding me and He...
00:25:44.71\00:25:47.48
That's a big change because now,
00:25:47.51\00:25:49.94
I'm not doing it
because of the do's and don'ts.
00:25:49.98\00:25:52.55
I'm doing it because
I love and I trust Him.
00:25:52.58\00:25:55.15
There you go. Absolutely.
00:25:55.18\00:25:56.52
There's a real difference.
00:25:56.55\00:25:57.89
So, you know,
the Bible also says,
00:25:57.92\00:25:59.45
"Thy way, O God,
as to the sanctuary."
00:25:59.49\00:26:01.32
That's what we're
talking about here,
00:26:01.36\00:26:03.46
when we're
talking about the word,
00:26:03.49\00:26:04.83
when we're
talking about believing,
00:26:04.86\00:26:06.19
when we're talking about prayer.
00:26:06.23\00:26:07.56
We're going through
the sanctuary articles
00:26:07.60\00:26:10.67
and we're learning to
love Jesus and we're...
00:26:10.70\00:26:13.77
Ain't it good that He
is just so patient with us.
00:26:13.80\00:26:17.54
Praise God. He is so patient us.
00:26:17.57\00:26:19.97
The statement she
made is not insignificant.
00:26:20.01\00:26:22.88
That was just the
opposite, when you said,
00:26:22.91\00:26:25.71
we have to believe
and we have to have faith,
00:26:25.75\00:26:29.92
even if we don't
understand something
00:26:29.95\00:26:32.65
because there are
things on this earth,
00:26:32.69\00:26:34.62
we will never understand
00:26:34.66\00:26:36.93
and many people have left
the relationship with Jesus.
00:26:36.96\00:26:40.20
They've left their
church because of bad things,
00:26:40.23\00:26:43.50
terrible things that
have happened to them
00:26:43.53\00:26:45.00
and they say,
"If God allowed this,
00:26:45.03\00:26:46.84
then how could He love us."
00:26:46.87\00:26:48.50
There are some things,
00:26:48.54\00:26:49.87
we will not
understand here on this earth
00:26:49.90\00:26:52.37
and that is a tough thing to do,
00:26:52.41\00:26:55.51
to believe when
you don't understand,
00:26:55.54\00:26:58.45
that's a tough thing.
00:26:58.48\00:26:59.81
That's when the faith kicks in.
00:26:59.85\00:27:01.18
That's not my thing, it takes
your whole life to get there,
00:27:01.22\00:27:04.15
to keep striving to
get there, is to say,
00:27:04.19\00:27:06.22
"No matter what,
God, I'm gonna believe,
00:27:06.25\00:27:08.56
I'm gonna stay
faithful, no matter what."
00:27:08.59\00:27:10.23
Amen. Just hold on.
00:27:10.26\00:27:11.59
So the experiences of life
00:27:11.63\00:27:12.96
really are the
character builders, aren't they?
00:27:12.99\00:27:15.43
That's right.
00:27:15.46\00:27:16.80
The good and the
bad 'cause everything...
00:27:16.83\00:27:18.17
Something's happened
there, you say are bad
00:27:18.20\00:27:20.57
but as a end
result, God has a way.
00:27:20.60\00:27:23.41
Folks know that and we
know but we need to be reminded
00:27:23.44\00:27:25.87
because bad
things are happening.
00:27:25.91\00:27:27.61
God will take those,
if you're a child of God
00:27:27.64\00:27:30.01
and He will reverse that
00:27:30.05\00:27:31.38
and turn it right around
to be the biggest blessing
00:27:31.41\00:27:34.48
you've ever had, if
you let Him finish out.
00:27:34.52\00:27:36.55
Yes.
00:27:36.58\00:27:37.92
And not get
discouraged, don't quit.
00:27:37.95\00:27:39.29
Don't blame the
church, don't blame the people,
00:27:39.32\00:27:40.66
don't blame the...
00:27:40.69\00:27:42.02
Stay, and what we
talked about in here,
00:27:42.06\00:27:43.39
we talked about just
say it, just stay with it.
00:27:43.43\00:27:45.16
Stay with it.
00:27:45.19\00:27:46.53
Is the whole thing very
simply put, stay with it,
00:27:46.56\00:27:48.60
don't give up
'cause He's coming soon.
00:27:48.63\00:27:50.90
You know, what
you're talking about...
00:27:50.93\00:27:54.24
The faith, a lot of
times we look at something
00:27:54.27\00:27:57.41
and we think about that,
00:27:57.44\00:27:58.77
"how could a loving
God," like you said,
00:27:58.81\00:28:00.18
"allow that to happen."
00:28:00.21\00:28:01.54
We were just part of
the evangelistic series
00:28:01.58\00:28:03.81
that went to London
00:28:03.85\00:28:05.41
and we toured
the Tower of London
00:28:05.45\00:28:07.22
and a lot of
good Christian people
00:28:07.25\00:28:09.48
lost their lives there.
00:28:09.52\00:28:10.85
Yes.
00:28:10.89\00:28:12.22
You know, were
they not right with God?
00:28:12.25\00:28:15.72
See, God looks at
things a little bit different.
00:28:15.76\00:28:18.43
We need to love Him unto death.
00:28:18.46\00:28:22.13
That's big.
00:28:22.16\00:28:23.57
But we can't do that
unless we're studying everyday,
00:28:23.60\00:28:27.04
unless we have a tight
connection to the vine.
00:28:27.07\00:28:30.77
We will never
come to that point,
00:28:30.81\00:28:33.17
where not my will,
just like Jesus prayed,
00:28:33.21\00:28:36.14
He didn't wanna go to the Cross
00:28:36.18\00:28:38.55
but He loved His Father so much.
00:28:38.58\00:28:40.78
He said, "Not my
will but thine be done."
00:28:40.82\00:28:44.59
So you're there and I can see
where some of these people were
00:28:44.62\00:28:48.19
at the Tower of London
there, and I can just imagine
00:28:48.22\00:28:52.19
what might have been
going through their mind
00:28:52.23\00:28:55.53
but it wasn't their will
'cause they wanted to live.
00:28:55.56\00:28:59.13
But they had to trust and
the seed of the many people
00:28:59.17\00:29:03.14
that have gone before us,
it produced more Christians.
00:29:03.17\00:29:06.51
Yes. So God
sees the big picture.
00:29:06.54\00:29:09.04
We're looking
through the glass darkly.
00:29:09.08\00:29:12.11
But He sees the big picture.
00:29:12.15\00:29:13.68
He's looking ahead where
we're gonna spend eternity.
00:29:13.72\00:29:17.29
Amen, Bruce, he had
something's gonna add.
00:29:17.32\00:29:19.12
I think you have a passage here.
00:29:19.15\00:29:20.49
I'm interested in. Yes.
00:29:20.52\00:29:22.29
Well, I just thought
this was interesting,
00:29:22.32\00:29:26.03
the true sign of a discipleship.
00:29:26.06\00:29:29.26
If you go to 1 John 5: 3 and 2:4
00:29:29.30\00:29:34.14
and I know we've
read this many times
00:29:34.17\00:29:36.77
but it's still binding,
"This is the love of God,
00:29:36.81\00:29:41.24
that we keep His commandments.
00:29:41.28\00:29:43.24
He that sayeth, I know Him
00:29:43.28\00:29:45.15
and keepeth not His
commandments is a liar
00:29:45.18\00:29:48.08
and the truth is not in Him."
00:29:48.12\00:29:50.02
That's heavy.
00:29:50.05\00:29:51.42
That's pretty heavy
00:29:51.45\00:29:52.79
but and I know
we've read it many times
00:29:52.82\00:29:54.56
but it's still binding today.
00:29:54.59\00:29:56.26
Amen. It sure it is.
00:29:56.29\00:29:57.63
Thank you. That's
solid. Absolutely.
00:29:57.66\00:29:58.99
Yes, it is.
00:29:59.03\00:30:00.36
And that, kind of,
separates the wheat
00:30:00.40\00:30:01.73
from the chaff
many times, you know,
00:30:01.76\00:30:03.73
'cause a lot of people
say, "Well, I love the Lord.
00:30:03.77\00:30:05.73
I'm following Him.
He's the Lord of my life."
00:30:05.77\00:30:08.07
But then when they
begin to study the word,
00:30:08.10\00:30:09.97
they're not willing to go
where the shepherd's leading,
00:30:10.01\00:30:13.68
so that can be a real test.
00:30:13.71\00:30:15.34
So the past, it
still comes back,
00:30:15.38\00:30:16.81
"He that is of God
hearth God's word."
00:30:16.85\00:30:21.15
And then the thought
and the principle is,
00:30:21.18\00:30:23.05
they're willing
to do those things
00:30:23.08\00:30:24.62
that he makes clear to them.
00:30:24.65\00:30:26.22
It brings joy to their heart,
00:30:26.25\00:30:27.62
brings joy to everybody's heart,
00:30:27.66\00:30:28.99
I love being around somebody
who's on fire, for Jesus.
00:30:29.02\00:30:30.93
Amen, yes.
00:30:30.96\00:30:32.29
May I like, when they come here
and start talking about Jesus,
00:30:32.33\00:30:33.93
I'm thinking, this is good.
00:30:33.96\00:30:35.30
God, let her talk
about Jesus than the weather.
00:30:35.33\00:30:36.97
You'll talk about Jesus
rather than work, right?
00:30:37.00\00:30:39.47
Even than the puppies
00:30:39.50\00:30:40.94
and all the other
things that go on.
00:30:40.97\00:30:42.74
We'd like to talk about...
00:30:42.77\00:30:44.37
If you get
together and you sit down
00:30:44.41\00:30:46.11
and you talk for 10, 15...
00:30:46.14\00:30:48.54
And Jesus is not
in the conversation,
00:30:48.58\00:30:50.05
we went the wrong direction
as far as I'm concerned.
00:30:50.08\00:30:52.51
Somehow, He needs
to be there always
00:30:52.55\00:30:55.48
because He's
supposed to be in us
00:30:55.52\00:30:56.85
and it should
be just coming out,
00:30:56.89\00:30:58.22
not trying to force somebody,
not trying to force it on,
00:30:58.25\00:31:01.09
not trying to make
somebody do anything,
00:31:01.12\00:31:03.29
it's just comes out.
00:31:03.32\00:31:05.79
You can't help it
because He's living within,
00:31:05.83\00:31:07.76
so I think that's how
to become a Christian,
00:31:07.80\00:31:10.40
we're talking about here, yeah.
00:31:10.43\00:31:11.90
And mentioning the
puppies makes me think of this,
00:31:11.93\00:31:14.57
no matter what we
do or what our job is,
00:31:14.60\00:31:18.81
we can use that to witness.
00:31:18.84\00:31:20.18
Amen.
00:31:20.21\00:31:21.54
Even puppies, we
can use that to witness.
00:31:21.58\00:31:23.65
We can, I had an instance
where it helped a little girl
00:31:23.68\00:31:27.12
that had a
severe O.C.D. problem.
00:31:27.15\00:31:29.58
And the mom cried later,
00:31:29.62\00:31:31.99
after she got
the puppy and said,
00:31:32.02\00:31:33.36
how it overcame, you know,
00:31:33.39\00:31:35.22
the problem with the little girl
00:31:35.26\00:31:37.13
and she had
improved but, I mean,
00:31:37.16\00:31:38.69
someone told me and it
was this lady's grandma
00:31:38.73\00:31:42.26
or this little girl's grandma.
00:31:42.30\00:31:43.90
She said, "This is
a ministry for you,
00:31:43.93\00:31:46.97
it can be a ministry for you."
00:31:47.00\00:31:49.30
I never ever
thought of it that way.
00:31:49.34\00:31:51.71
Now I think about
that, when people come.
00:31:51.74\00:31:54.04
If there's
something I can inject
00:31:54.08\00:31:56.38
and I don't
want to offend people
00:31:56.41\00:31:57.91
or make people feel
like I'm being critical
00:31:57.95\00:32:00.18
but if there's
something I can inject,
00:32:00.22\00:32:02.12
when I meet these people
that come to look at puppies.
00:32:02.15\00:32:04.82
I try to do it.
00:32:04.85\00:32:06.19
We can do that in
all capacity of life,
00:32:06.22\00:32:08.56
we can always inject something
00:32:08.59\00:32:10.49
Where people can
walk away and say,
00:32:10.53\00:32:12.29
"Well, they're Christians.
00:32:12.33\00:32:13.66
I know they're
Christians." Amen.
00:32:13.70\00:32:15.33
Sometimes, it's just
loving, just loving the people.
00:32:15.36\00:32:17.73
That's right. That's right.
00:32:17.77\00:32:19.10
You know, and I'm one
that I prayed to be a blessing.
00:32:19.13\00:32:22.47
I prayed for an open door
00:32:22.50\00:32:24.64
because I think
probably the quickest way
00:32:24.67\00:32:28.71
to close a door
is to force it out.
00:32:28.74\00:32:31.98
And try to push it on somebody
because you think they know it.
00:32:32.01\00:32:35.52
So I'm always saying,
"Lord, open the door."
00:32:35.55\00:32:38.49
And when you pray for
that door to be opened,
00:32:38.52\00:32:40.92
many times they begin to ask you
00:32:40.96\00:32:43.73
and then the Holy
Spirit's able to bring it out.
00:32:43.76\00:32:46.73
We find this some time
and go open for discussion,
00:32:46.76\00:32:49.30
you just talked about puppies
00:32:49.33\00:32:50.67
and you can talk about your work
00:32:50.70\00:32:52.03
and your work and
our work but many times,
00:32:52.07\00:32:54.00
we'll go somewhere or
something the other...
00:32:54.04\00:32:56.91
People ask, "What's your name?"
00:32:56.94\00:32:58.67
And I'll say,
"I'm Kenny Shelton,"
00:32:58.71\00:33:00.21
you know, and
sometimes she'll say to me,
00:33:00.24\00:33:02.48
"Honey, you should say
Pastor Kenny, so they know."
00:33:02.51\00:33:04.91
I said, "I don't wanna put them
00:33:04.95\00:33:06.28
in any kind of
an awkward position
00:33:06.31\00:33:08.42
to where they might feel,
I mean, pull a shade down."
00:33:08.45\00:33:11.99
I'd be careful what I say,
00:33:12.02\00:33:13.36
I want them to be
their self in a sense,
00:33:13.39\00:33:15.62
if they're too loud,
00:33:15.66\00:33:16.99
we can talk to them
about, hey, you know
00:33:17.03\00:33:18.36
but I don't want them to be,
00:33:18.39\00:33:19.73
and open up and
just and just talk.
00:33:19.76\00:33:22.26
That's what we
are. We're human beings.
00:33:22.30\00:33:23.83
Then you can get, have a feel
00:33:23.87\00:33:25.30
of where they're at in
their relationship with Christ
00:33:25.33\00:33:27.80
because I don't know about
you but when I was growing up
00:33:27.84\00:33:30.01
and somebody
came along and said,
00:33:30.04\00:33:31.37
"He's just pastor so
and so," I went like this...
00:33:31.41\00:33:34.08
You put on
your, your other face.
00:33:34.11\00:33:35.91
Yeah, I was
afraid to say anything
00:33:35.94\00:33:37.48
because it may be wrong
00:33:37.51\00:33:38.85
or I'm going
the wrong direction.
00:33:38.88\00:33:40.22
I didn't know
when you're just so,
00:33:40.25\00:33:41.58
I, kind of, like it just opened
and I realized there's times,
00:33:41.62\00:33:43.69
maybe, it's good to make
good introductions or whatever
00:33:43.72\00:33:47.39
but there's
times that we're just,
00:33:47.42\00:33:48.76
we're open and
00:33:48.79\00:33:50.13
because we're
looking for an opportunity
00:33:50.16\00:33:52.16
to present Jesus...
00:33:52.19\00:33:53.53
And sometimes it's intimidating,
00:33:53.56\00:33:55.36
you know, when you
say, "I'm pastor so and so,"
00:33:55.40\00:33:57.27
that intimidates
people sometimes..
00:33:57.30\00:33:58.63
Well, I've heard a lot of
times people go in, you know,
00:33:58.67\00:34:00.57
business and
lumberyards and different things
00:34:00.60\00:34:02.47
and they go in 'cause they...
00:34:02.50\00:34:04.31
Watch me here,
they go in with a idea
00:34:04.34\00:34:07.54
because they're a pastor,
00:34:07.58\00:34:08.91
they're supposed to
get 20 percent discount
00:34:08.94\00:34:10.78
and, you know what?
00:34:10.81\00:34:12.15
I just, I'm gonna
use the word 'hate'
00:34:12.18\00:34:13.52
because I think
in Bible's love list.
00:34:13.55\00:34:14.98
I just hate to hear that.
00:34:15.02\00:34:16.79
I do not like to hear that,
it doesn't matter, you know,
00:34:16.82\00:34:19.89
"He that is great
supposed to be the least."
00:34:19.92\00:34:22.39
You know, it's
supposed to be the least.
00:34:22.42\00:34:23.76
So we don't go in,
"Well, I'm pastor so and so.
00:34:23.79\00:34:26.06
Now will you give a discount."
00:34:26.09\00:34:28.06
No, if you were in
my store I'm saying,
00:34:28.10\00:34:29.66
I wanna raise it
up a little bit...
00:34:29.70\00:34:32.13
That'll be quite...
00:34:32.17\00:34:33.87
Since I'm here, and
since you're talking about me,
00:34:33.90\00:34:36.20
see, I was saying that
for the other side of the coin
00:34:36.24\00:34:39.87
because a lot of times people,
00:34:39.91\00:34:41.54
if they realize
that you're in ministry,
00:34:41.58\00:34:44.18
then they might open
their heart up to you.
00:34:44.21\00:34:46.51
You're absolutely right there.
00:34:46.55\00:34:48.02
Yes, and they have
questions, so there's still...
00:34:48.05\00:34:51.35
Oh, yeah, I don't think
they're right and wrong,
00:34:51.39\00:34:52.75
I think it's a matter of
just a feeling laid out there
00:34:52.79\00:34:55.46
because you're
wanting, I want to know,
00:34:55.49\00:34:57.53
you want to know,
do they know Jesus.
00:34:57.56\00:34:59.89
Right.
00:34:59.93\00:35:01.26
Every person I ever see,
I wonder if they, you know,
00:35:01.30\00:35:03.33
I'm talking to
several guys this week
00:35:03.37\00:35:06.00
and I could tell
where they're working...
00:35:06.03\00:35:10.21
Be careful with this
one here, I might be real,
00:35:10.24\00:35:12.67
the music that was
coming out of that little box
00:35:12.71\00:35:15.54
where they're working outside.
00:35:15.58\00:35:17.08
I realized their
ears were not in harmony
00:35:17.11\00:35:19.71
maybe, with heaven.
00:35:19.75\00:35:21.45
They, maybe, didn't know
that doing the best they could
00:35:21.48\00:35:23.59
but I knew right then and there,
00:35:23.62\00:35:26.02
that they probably were not
because it was an acid rock.
00:35:26.05\00:35:30.13
My ears just
can't, I can't stand,
00:35:30.16\00:35:32.03
my whole system
goes out of whack.
00:35:32.06\00:35:33.93
Maybe, some of
you like that at home
00:35:33.96\00:35:35.30
but it really does and then,
you know, later they come by
00:35:35.33\00:35:39.03
and they were doing some things,
00:35:39.07\00:35:40.40
you know, and I had an off day.
00:35:40.44\00:35:41.77
They said, "Well, what do you...
00:35:41.80\00:35:43.14
We notice you don't,
you know, you don't say,
00:35:43.17\00:35:46.51
you don't" and I got a
chance to witness about smoking,
00:35:46.54\00:35:50.38
about language, about music
00:35:50.41\00:35:53.45
and then without
condemning them at all.
00:35:53.48\00:35:55.88
So I'd like to
hear things that elevate
00:35:55.92\00:35:57.55
and make my mind clear
00:35:57.59\00:35:58.92
and, you know, and,
you know, when they left.
00:35:58.95\00:36:01.22
I was with them
for like three days,
00:36:01.26\00:36:03.89
when they left, all
three just, it has to be Jesus.
00:36:03.93\00:36:06.86
Hey, me, I'm not
that... it has to be Jesus...
00:36:06.90\00:36:09.76
All three workmen came
by and they came up to me
00:36:09.80\00:36:12.87
and they shook their hand.
00:36:12.90\00:36:14.77
They said, you know how?
00:36:14.80\00:36:16.14
How nice it is
to work with someone
00:36:16.17\00:36:19.67
that's, it's just
like, maybe, reasonable.
00:36:19.71\00:36:23.85
They couldn't use
the word like reasonable,
00:36:23.88\00:36:25.45
that you could talk with us
00:36:25.48\00:36:27.55
and fit in and
we felt so at ease.
00:36:27.58\00:36:32.79
I don't know if
that's good about,
00:36:32.82\00:36:34.16
that we felt so at ease,
00:36:34.19\00:36:35.52
that if we want
to say something,
00:36:35.56\00:36:36.99
we could do it and we
wanna thank you for that.
00:36:37.03\00:36:40.03
I thought, "Thank you,
Lord, for that opportunity."
00:36:40.06\00:36:42.46
So that's my
story. I'm sticking to it.
00:36:42.50\00:36:45.17
You made them
not feel intimidated.
00:36:45.20\00:36:46.84
I didn't want them to,
because you can't reach anybody
00:36:46.87\00:36:49.40
when you try and
some, they're intimidated.
00:36:49.44\00:36:51.57
They couldn't reach me
00:36:51.61\00:36:52.94
when they tried to
force me to do something,
00:36:52.97\00:36:54.48
my mind goes up, I'm done.
00:36:54.51\00:36:56.64
My-sister-in-law, Chris, here
00:36:56.68\00:36:58.08
had a wonderful idea when
I started selling puppies.
00:36:58.11\00:37:01.28
She said, I have a puppy folder,
00:37:01.32\00:37:03.65
that I give to
the buyer, she said,
00:37:03.69\00:37:05.69
"Why don't you put a
steps to Christ in that?"
00:37:05.72\00:37:07.92
But like you, I try
to get a feel first.
00:37:07.96\00:37:10.96
I don't want to
offend or make somebody mad.
00:37:10.99\00:37:13.86
So after meeting
people, talking to them,
00:37:13.90\00:37:16.36
then I ask the
Lord to help me to know
00:37:16.40\00:37:18.33
which ones that I
should slip that in and, maybe,
00:37:18.37\00:37:20.60
which ones that it
would, you know, infuriate,
00:37:20.64\00:37:22.74
not help at all.
00:37:22.77\00:37:24.17
So, I mean, those are things
00:37:24.21\00:37:25.64
we just have to
rely on the Lord,
00:37:25.67\00:37:27.08
to give us that feel of people.
00:37:27.11\00:37:28.61
You know, Bruce,
you find this in light.
00:37:28.64\00:37:30.18
It's not so much.
00:37:30.21\00:37:31.55
Would give him a scripture
and give him a Bible study.
00:37:31.58\00:37:33.42
I can remember years
ago, church over there
00:37:33.45\00:37:37.15
just in the beginning
in 3ABN, that was, kind of,
00:37:37.19\00:37:39.85
the church at
that point in time.
00:37:39.89\00:37:42.92
Of course, did
somebody mow the lawn
00:37:42.96\00:37:45.16
while I was a pastor
but I mowed the lawn.
00:37:45.19\00:37:47.33
You know, that time
didn't have the riding mower,
00:37:47.36\00:37:48.93
so push more had
big... so on and so forth.
00:37:48.96\00:37:51.47
This is good for all of
us, we need to, you know,
00:37:51.50\00:37:53.30
what Holy Spirit
can do is working
00:37:53.34\00:37:55.27
and so, you know, I'm down
00:37:55.30\00:37:56.64
in this big old
ditch and going on.
00:37:56.67\00:37:58.01
You can't hardly
stand, your feet go underneath
00:37:58.04\00:37:59.37
lawn mower, you know.
00:37:59.41\00:38:00.74
I'm fighting all
and doing all this
00:38:00.78\00:38:02.11
and pretty soon, you know,
I did it week end, week on.
00:38:02.14\00:38:04.35
Pretty soon the neighbor
across the street came over,
00:38:04.38\00:38:06.78
said, "You know, we noticed
00:38:06.82\00:38:08.45
that you do a good
job mowing the lawn.
00:38:08.48\00:38:11.75
And now, would you be
willing to mow my lawn for me",
00:38:11.79\00:38:15.02
because I'm on
the business evidently
00:38:15.06\00:38:17.33
and I said, "Do
you need help with it?"
00:38:17.36\00:38:20.93
They said, "Well, yeah, since
you do this, you know, this..."
00:38:20.96\00:38:23.26
I never said, "No, I'm
the pastor of the church."
00:38:23.30\00:38:24.93
I said, "Well, sure,
I'll be glad to help you."
00:38:24.97\00:38:27.34
So I started mowing
that one and mowing that one
00:38:27.37\00:38:29.14
and then the ones behind
us, they come in, they said,
00:38:29.17\00:38:31.91
"I know you're
mowing this one over here,
00:38:31.94\00:38:33.84
so it must be your
business, so you do."
00:38:33.88\00:38:35.48
And I say, "Well,
it's part of my business.
00:38:35.51\00:38:36.85
It is."
00:38:36.88\00:38:38.21
Well, ours is indeed
is one big real city,
00:38:38.25\00:38:39.91
you know, living
00:38:39.95\00:38:41.28
but can you mow this here.
00:38:41.32\00:38:42.65
So I was mowing all
kind of houses around
00:38:42.68\00:38:44.02
then we got to next block.
00:38:44.05\00:38:45.39
I couldn't do.
00:38:45.42\00:38:46.76
I told I can't do
all and he came by
00:38:46.79\00:38:48.12
and I was mowing
another guy down.
00:38:48.16\00:38:49.49
None of them ever knew
00:38:49.52\00:38:52.59
that I was the
pastor until finally,
00:38:52.63\00:38:54.23
they started asking, this
is after the whole summer,
00:38:54.26\00:38:57.13
they said, "This is
what you do for a living."
00:38:57.17\00:38:59.40
You know what?
00:38:59.43\00:39:00.77
Because I would
never take a dime.
00:39:00.80\00:39:03.64
I said, "You need help.
I'm glad to be able to do."
00:39:03.67\00:39:05.87
Little younger then, you know,
00:39:05.91\00:39:07.24
I'll be glad to do
that, they said, "This is...
00:39:07.28\00:39:10.75
Do you make a
living mowing lawns?"
00:39:10.78\00:39:12.51
No, I don't. "What do you do?"
00:39:12.55\00:39:14.22
So I'm pastoring
right there at that church.
00:39:14.25\00:39:17.09
"You got to be kidding."
00:39:17.12\00:39:18.45
Anyway, the
opportunities to witness,
00:39:18.49\00:39:20.79
the opportunity was
there, you could have maybe...
00:39:20.82\00:39:23.83
I could probably could get
out and hold of them and say,
00:39:23.86\00:39:25.69
"I'm the pastor there.
00:39:25.73\00:39:27.06
I don't do this" And not
saying this wrong do that
00:39:27.10\00:39:29.46
but may I felt
that they needed help
00:39:29.50\00:39:31.73
and so it was a good opportunity
00:39:31.77\00:39:33.10
to be able to witness.
00:39:33.13\00:39:34.47
He finally want to
come over and visit,
00:39:34.50\00:39:35.84
you know, doing
different things.
00:39:35.87\00:39:37.21
It was a good
opportunity to be a disciple.
00:39:37.24\00:39:39.11
At least I just
wanted, I'm a Christian.
00:39:39.14\00:39:40.98
We are to love
people, we're to help people.
00:39:41.01\00:39:43.45
Many times, helping people
00:39:43.48\00:39:44.98
is starting where
they need the help the most
00:39:45.01\00:39:48.15
and, you know, what a need
opportunity says hopefully,
00:39:48.18\00:39:50.82
it opened some doors...
00:39:50.85\00:39:52.19
Now, we're doing,
Brother Bruce, we're doing good
00:39:52.22\00:39:53.56
we're on the
first one still yet.
00:39:53.59\00:39:55.79
Mollie, we're in trouble.
00:39:55.82\00:39:57.69
I think that most people
appreciate the fact that,
00:39:57.73\00:40:01.50
they know that you care.
00:40:01.53\00:40:03.37
That's the
point, that's the point.
00:40:03.40\00:40:05.17
That's the whole
point. Willing to help.
00:40:05.20\00:40:06.53
And they're willing to listen.
00:40:06.57\00:40:07.97
Amen. Really if we don't care.
00:40:08.00\00:40:12.27
You know, if you met somebody,
00:40:12.31\00:40:14.08
even you were not a Christian.
00:40:14.11\00:40:16.38
And they were rough
and sharp with their tongue
00:40:16.41\00:40:19.81
and they didn't care,
they didn't help either.
00:40:19.85\00:40:21.55
You didn't feel
the love, I mean,
00:40:21.58\00:40:23.25
there's been people
that I've talked to,
00:40:23.28\00:40:24.99
that profess to be Christians
00:40:25.02\00:40:26.82
and they're just,
kind of, looking everywhere
00:40:26.86\00:40:30.06
but at you when
you're talking to them.
00:40:30.09\00:40:31.89
It's like, well, you
just really don't matter.
00:40:31.93\00:40:34.16
You know, would you
want to be a Christian
00:40:34.20\00:40:36.80
if that was the only
example that you've seen?
00:40:36.83\00:40:39.53
You know, what Pastor Kenny did
00:40:39.57\00:40:41.10
was he gave them
the Jesus example
00:40:41.14\00:40:43.17
because what did Jesus do?
00:40:43.20\00:40:44.97
First and foremost, He
got involved in their lives.
00:40:45.01\00:40:48.84
Secondly, He
ministered to their needs
00:40:48.88\00:40:52.55
and then, after He
gained their confidence,
00:40:52.58\00:40:56.22
He presented...
00:40:56.25\00:40:57.59
And they trusted Him,
00:40:57.62\00:40:58.95
then He could
invite them to salvation,
00:40:58.99\00:41:02.59
tell them about what it means
to be a Christian or whatever.
00:41:02.62\00:41:08.40
But first and foremost,
00:41:08.43\00:41:09.76
you have to gain
people's confidence
00:41:09.80\00:41:11.13
and I'm gonna use it right
00:41:11.17\00:41:12.57
saying, that'd be a true saying,
00:41:12.60\00:41:14.97
people don't
care how much you know
00:41:15.00\00:41:17.04
until they know
how much you care.
00:41:17.07\00:41:20.18
So first and foremost,
00:41:20.21\00:41:22.21
you were
ministering to their needs.
00:41:22.24\00:41:25.05
Then they gained
confidence in you,
00:41:25.08\00:41:26.68
then you tell them
about the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:41:26.72\00:41:29.55
One act of kindness
can do way more than preach
00:41:29.58\00:41:33.12
and, you know, sometimes,
00:41:33.15\00:41:34.49
just want to act of kindness
can bring somebody around
00:41:34.52\00:41:36.59
and start to
ask, why that you did,
00:41:36.62\00:41:39.66
what you did.
00:41:39.69\00:41:41.06
And find that you're a Christian
00:41:41.10\00:41:42.96
and then you
could start from there.
00:41:43.00\00:41:44.73
But where does all
this love come from?
00:41:44.77\00:41:47.07
Oh, okay. God.
00:41:47.10\00:41:49.44
It comes from God
00:41:49.47\00:41:51.01
but it doesn't
just happen overnight
00:41:51.04\00:41:52.87
'cause the many of us,
00:41:52.91\00:41:54.24
we didn't have that kind
of love toward each other,
00:41:54.28\00:41:56.81
toward other people growing up,
00:41:56.85\00:41:59.08
so it came from
God and from Him,
00:41:59.11\00:42:02.78
in dwelling in our hearts
and He begins to change us
00:42:02.82\00:42:06.25
and mould us and
that's what part of that,
00:42:06.29\00:42:08.59
being that disciple
is, shall we try another?
00:42:08.62\00:42:11.06
Absolutely. Praise the Lord.
00:42:11.09\00:42:12.43
Shall we find out
what a disciple truly is?
00:42:12.46\00:42:15.16
You gave us a definition
of what a disciple does?
00:42:15.20\00:42:18.80
Let's look at Acts 11:26.
00:42:18.83\00:42:22.04
And how about you
there, brother Bruce,
00:42:22.07\00:42:23.81
would you read that for us?
00:42:23.84\00:42:25.94
Acts 11:26, "And
when he had found him,
00:42:25.97\00:42:30.05
he brought him into Antioch.
00:42:30.08\00:42:31.91
It came to pass
that a whole year,
00:42:31.95\00:42:34.08
they assembled
themselves with the church
00:42:34.12\00:42:36.25
and taught much people
00:42:36.28\00:42:37.75
and the disciples
were called Christians
00:42:37.79\00:42:39.95
first, and adding on."
00:42:39.99\00:42:41.82
There you go.
They taught people.
00:42:41.86\00:42:46.06
They believed, they
continued in the word.
00:42:46.09\00:42:48.80
Good.
00:42:48.83\00:42:50.23
And they became a
disciple, which is a Christian.
00:42:50.27\00:42:53.67
Amen. It's beautiful.
00:42:53.70\00:42:56.24
And, you know, there are any of,
00:42:56.27\00:42:57.61
but to begin with, I mean,
00:42:57.64\00:43:00.18
there was a Greek and
Jews there in abundance.
00:43:00.21\00:43:04.51
It was interesting when
Paul went to these places
00:43:04.55\00:43:07.85
and we find it difficult,
00:43:07.88\00:43:09.22
I'm not sure how you
handle it with today,
00:43:09.25\00:43:13.19
all of the stuff that's going on
00:43:13.22\00:43:14.66
but I think
it's a good principle
00:43:14.69\00:43:16.22
that somehow we
need to look at it
00:43:16.26\00:43:17.73
or find something...
00:43:17.76\00:43:19.53
When Paul went and
he began to minister
00:43:19.56\00:43:22.30
and there was interest.
00:43:22.33\00:43:23.77
He stated you notice in
here, he stayed for a year,
00:43:23.80\00:43:27.14
many other places, he stayed
for a year and a half and more
00:43:27.17\00:43:30.27
because he was tying
00:43:30.31\00:43:31.64
and wrapping up the
work the way it should be
00:43:31.67\00:43:33.78
rather than get some
folks there, which is good.
00:43:33.81\00:43:36.21
When you're working
with churches and you can go
00:43:36.24\00:43:38.28
and you can hold meetings
like we've been doing, you know,
00:43:38.31\00:43:40.52
and then you have
other people there,
00:43:40.55\00:43:41.95
to continue to tie it
up and continue to train
00:43:41.98\00:43:44.22
and to teach
them, that's beautiful.
00:43:44.25\00:43:46.76
So many times,
00:43:46.79\00:43:48.29
if a person goes in
there and hold meetings
00:43:48.32\00:43:49.92
and then they leave
and there's no one there
00:43:49.96\00:43:51.53
to take care of
those precious people,
00:43:51.56\00:43:53.16
that we're looking.
00:43:53.19\00:43:54.53
I think work
education says on there,
00:43:54.56\00:43:56.70
that many golden
opportunities and privilege
00:43:56.73\00:43:58.77
and even souls are lost
00:43:58.80\00:44:01.00
because we
didn't stay long enough
00:44:01.04\00:44:03.87
or there wasn't
someone else to go ahead.
00:44:03.91\00:44:06.41
All of us working together,
each one doing our part
00:44:06.44\00:44:08.48
and I thought how wonderful
that is to think about it.
00:44:08.51\00:44:12.31
In fact, any...
00:44:12.35\00:44:13.68
I think in the Roman
rule, later it's named Cassyria,
00:44:13.72\00:44:16.75
I think it was Cassyria,
00:44:16.79\00:44:18.12
so there was a
change that took place,
00:44:18.15\00:44:19.89
but the Gospel never changes
00:44:19.92\00:44:22.16
and I think the
principle on which it was taught
00:44:22.19\00:44:24.29
and things that transpired.
00:44:24.33\00:44:26.63
I can learn from that,
I need to be reading that,
00:44:26.66\00:44:29.03
I need to, you know,
00:44:29.06\00:44:30.67
the book
'evangelism' is go over.
00:44:30.70\00:44:32.67
I've read many
times and I still go over
00:44:32.70\00:44:35.00
and I still underline
what's not been underlined
00:44:35.04\00:44:37.01
and I'm thinking why?
00:44:37.04\00:44:38.37
How could I have missed this?
How could I have missed this?
00:44:38.41\00:44:40.71
It's good but it
always comes back.
00:44:40.74\00:44:42.84
It's me, self-denial, no
matter what the line says,
00:44:42.88\00:44:46.18
self-denial,
self-denial, self-denial.
00:44:46.21\00:44:50.05
That's what it
is and so winning.
00:44:50.09\00:44:51.69
We have to love souls
more than we love the ease
00:44:51.72\00:44:54.72
and, you know, we wanna sit down
00:44:54.76\00:44:56.83
and let somebody else
do it so, I think in here,
00:44:56.86\00:44:59.93
when you're looking at
this disciple called Christians,
00:44:59.96\00:45:03.23
is because when we...
00:45:03.26\00:45:05.10
Christians, I would
say, what is Christian?
00:45:05.13\00:45:07.00
What does it really mean?
00:45:07.04\00:45:08.37
Does it mean to be
Christ like or doesn't it?
00:45:08.40\00:45:09.74
Well, it means to be Christ like
00:45:09.77\00:45:11.11
and that's how we find
how He worked with the people,
00:45:11.14\00:45:14.14
how He loved and we
look at His characteristics
00:45:14.18\00:45:17.71
and see how He was,
is how we are to become,
00:45:17.75\00:45:21.85
so we can't become like
Him unless we're beholding Him.
00:45:21.88\00:45:25.39
And so that's
where we learn to love
00:45:25.42\00:45:27.82
and I can remember
as a young Christian
00:45:27.86\00:45:30.03
and, maybe, there's ladies here,
00:45:30.06\00:45:31.89
maybe, you can
empathize with me but, you know,
00:45:31.93\00:45:34.60
we go through a lot of
changes during the month
00:45:34.63\00:45:37.33
and I can remember
saying, "Lord, you didn't say
00:45:37.37\00:45:40.37
that I was only to be a
Christian when I felt good."
00:45:40.40\00:45:44.11
Because there's
times, you don't feel good.
00:45:44.14\00:45:47.18
And you're, you know,
especially, when you're young
00:45:47.21\00:45:49.14
and you're
wanting to be a disciple,
00:45:49.18\00:45:51.21
you're wanting to be Christ like
00:45:51.25\00:45:52.81
but it just isn't there.
00:45:52.85\00:45:55.08
So I can remember pleading
with Him, saying, you know,
00:45:55.12\00:45:57.85
how am I to be loving and
kind, how am I to be sweet,
00:45:57.89\00:46:01.76
when I don't feel good.
00:46:01.79\00:46:03.53
I mean, you know, you
don't have the patience,
00:46:03.56\00:46:05.63
the kindness and the empathy
that just comes naturally.
00:46:05.66\00:46:09.86
And so that was a lot of
prayer but the good thing is,
00:46:09.90\00:46:13.03
we can pray about
anything and everything
00:46:13.07\00:46:15.37
and we can ask God for His love,
00:46:15.40\00:46:18.04
we can ask Him for his empathy.
00:46:18.07\00:46:20.41
We can ask Him for His
patience and put self aside...
00:46:20.44\00:46:24.68
Well I think,
Kenny will agree with me
00:46:24.71\00:46:26.75
that I didn't realize, I know
he didn't until we got older.
00:46:26.78\00:46:31.25
But our dad was disabled
with a heart attack at 35,
00:46:31.29\00:46:34.62
in massive heart
attack and back then,
00:46:34.66\00:46:36.66
there was nothing
to be done, you know,
00:46:36.69\00:46:38.66
and he was in constant pain,
00:46:38.69\00:46:41.43
he couldn't do
the things he enjoyed,
00:46:41.46\00:46:43.13
the simplest things and
yet he made people happy,
00:46:43.16\00:46:47.20
all of the time and
as I matured and grew up,
00:46:47.24\00:46:51.21
I look back at that and
I think, "How did he do?
00:46:51.24\00:46:53.71
How did he put
on that good face?
00:46:53.74\00:46:55.78
How did he make people smile
at church and laugh and joke
00:46:55.81\00:46:59.35
and make people feel
good about themselves,
00:46:59.38\00:47:01.55
when he was in so much pain?
00:47:01.58\00:47:03.92
And could do, I mean, nothing.
00:47:03.95\00:47:05.95
If you can do
nothing that you enjoy
00:47:05.99\00:47:08.62
and that's where he was at,
00:47:08.66\00:47:09.99
nothing that was
fun to him, he could do.
00:47:10.03\00:47:12.29
And yet he had enough
of the love of God in him.
00:47:12.33\00:47:16.40
To share, to make people
laugh, to make people feel good,
00:47:16.43\00:47:19.83
I'm afraid I would fall short.
00:47:19.87\00:47:22.27
If I was in his position,
I'm afraid I'll fall short.
00:47:22.30\00:47:24.74
Those days, you
know, that he couldn't walk
00:47:24.77\00:47:26.31
actually across the road.
00:47:26.34\00:47:28.11
Yes.
00:47:28.14\00:47:29.48
It wasn't there or
walk the street, 50 feet.
00:47:29.51\00:47:32.61
He couldn't go across the road,
00:47:32.65\00:47:34.98
he's had to lay down and take,
00:47:35.02\00:47:36.35
they call, nitroglycerin tablets
00:47:36.38\00:47:37.95
under your
tongue, I mean, years ago.
00:47:37.99\00:47:39.32
No bypass, no harsh
and nothing like that.
00:47:39.35\00:47:41.36
So it was, it was so I guess,
could have been so discouraging
00:47:41.39\00:47:47.10
especially, when your doctor,
I won't mention who it is
00:47:47.13\00:47:49.80
and he's passed away since,
but at that point of time,
00:47:49.83\00:47:52.57
he said, "Tommy, you
know, your heart is so bad.
00:47:52.60\00:47:55.44
You're never gonna get
well, there's nothing we can do,
00:47:55.47\00:47:57.74
at least half of it
is permanently damage."
00:47:57.77\00:48:00.08
And he said this, he said,
00:48:00.11\00:48:01.44
"You're really not
too good to anybody."
00:48:01.48\00:48:04.55
See, that was...
00:48:04.58\00:48:05.91
Oh, what a cruel thing,
00:48:05.95\00:48:07.28
you're not really
any good to anybody.
00:48:07.32\00:48:08.65
Says, you know,
I just recommend,
00:48:08.68\00:48:10.02
want you to go out and
try to get your little job,
00:48:10.05\00:48:11.39
maybe, at the gas station.
00:48:11.42\00:48:13.15
He said, "You'll
last a day or two
00:48:13.19\00:48:14.52
but you'll fall over dead."
00:48:14.56\00:48:15.89
Oh, my.
00:48:15.92\00:48:17.26
And, you know, dad came
out and said, "You know,
00:48:17.29\00:48:18.63
can you imagine saying that,
he said, but you know what?
00:48:18.66\00:48:21.56
I have a family.
00:48:21.60\00:48:22.93
I have children, I want
to live as long as I can
00:48:22.96\00:48:24.90
and, you know, I'll
try to make people happy."
00:48:24.93\00:48:26.70
He grew because
the grace of Christ,
00:48:26.74\00:48:29.14
above those remarks
00:48:29.17\00:48:32.37
and he realizes
other things going on
00:48:32.41\00:48:34.98
and when he had a decent day
00:48:35.01\00:48:36.34
that he could
make someone happy.
00:48:36.38\00:48:38.15
That's what he wanted to do
and bring joy to the hearts,
00:48:38.18\00:48:40.95
that's very interesting.
00:48:40.98\00:48:42.32
We have to learn to do that.
00:48:42.35\00:48:43.99
Not necessarily how we
feel but based upon God's Word
00:48:44.02\00:48:47.86
is how we conduct our
self because, some of us,
00:48:47.89\00:48:50.46
we acted the way we felt,
sometime, "Lord, have mercy.
00:48:50.49\00:48:54.46
Maybe, I'm the
only one that's..."
00:48:54.50\00:48:56.03
No. No, the Spirit of Prophesy.
00:48:56.06\00:48:57.80
You talk about that and
not just your physical feeling
00:48:57.83\00:49:01.10
but your spiritual feeling,
00:49:01.14\00:49:02.50
there will be times
that we don't feel it.
00:49:02.54\00:49:05.41
There will be times
that we don't have the love
00:49:05.44\00:49:07.68
that we have at other times,
00:49:07.71\00:49:09.51
we go ahead and
you do the actions.
00:49:09.54\00:49:11.61
Amen.
00:49:11.65\00:49:12.98
Because then it will
come, it will come around
00:49:13.01\00:49:14.92
and you will regain
that spiritual quality
00:49:14.95\00:49:17.75
and that love that you had.
00:49:17.79\00:49:19.65
You go ahead and
you do the actions,
00:49:19.69\00:49:21.32
even if you will feel it.
00:49:21.36\00:49:22.69
Yeah, act on principle but
I think acting on principle
00:49:22.72\00:49:26.56
and pray, pray, pray, you know,
because God has love, I mean,
00:49:26.59\00:49:32.53
we're talking here,
we're actually getting into
00:49:32.57\00:49:35.07
what it is like
to be a Christian
00:49:35.10\00:49:37.41
and what
Christianity is all about.
00:49:37.44\00:49:39.81
But it's emptying so
and letting Jesus come in.
00:49:39.84\00:49:42.98
And as you guys were
talking about your dad,
00:49:43.01\00:49:44.98
I'm thinking
about this young lady
00:49:45.01\00:49:46.75
that came to our
meetings in London.
00:49:46.78\00:49:49.32
She has terminal
cancer, she was just full of it.
00:49:49.35\00:49:53.99
They had
actually misdiagnosed her,
00:49:54.02\00:49:56.66
they had given her
diagnosis that's someone else's.
00:49:56.69\00:49:58.93
Someone else
thought they had cancer
00:49:58.96\00:50:01.10
and they were getting
treated where here she had it
00:50:01.13\00:50:04.03
and she wasn't getting treated.
00:50:04.07\00:50:06.00
And she, I mean, she
would leave our meetings
00:50:06.03\00:50:09.17
and just end up in the hospital,
00:50:09.20\00:50:11.17
out on the streets throwing up
00:50:11.21\00:50:13.01
but she would
come in with a smile,
00:50:13.04\00:50:14.64
she wanted to be
00:50:14.68\00:50:16.71
where the Spirit of God was
00:50:16.75\00:50:19.48
and she was always
loving, always kind,
00:50:19.51\00:50:22.48
always had a smile
and see that's our Savior,
00:50:22.52\00:50:25.92
as we look at our Savior,
00:50:25.95\00:50:29.16
He's just been beaten.
00:50:29.19\00:50:31.36
He's had a crown of
thorns put on His head.
00:50:31.39\00:50:33.80
He's had His hair pulled
out and He's laid out on a cross
00:50:33.83\00:50:38.80
and they're
about to nail His hands
00:50:38.83\00:50:40.80
and He says,
"Father, forgive them."
00:50:40.84\00:50:44.14
He's not even thinking,
00:50:44.17\00:50:45.51
"Oh, God, help me with the pain.
00:50:45.54\00:50:47.48
I need help with the pain."
00:50:47.51\00:50:49.41
He says, "Father, forgive them
00:50:49.44\00:50:53.01
for they know not what they do."
00:50:53.05\00:50:54.38
When you're
filled with the Spirit...
00:50:54.42\00:50:55.75
That's selfless.
00:50:55.78\00:50:57.12
The Holy Spirit,
00:50:57.15\00:50:58.49
wasn't that
Stephen, when he was stoned.
00:50:58.52\00:51:00.72
laying out this up against
them or you're getting hit with
00:51:00.76\00:51:03.46
big old rocks
and stone, you know,
00:51:03.49\00:51:05.76
but God gives you a vision,
you know, could see Heaven,
00:51:05.79\00:51:08.26
see the glory of God.
00:51:08.30\00:51:09.63
It takes over.
00:51:09.66\00:51:11.00
The Spirit takes over,
if that should come to you
00:51:11.03\00:51:14.54
or to me if God sees fit.
00:51:14.57\00:51:17.17
Never, never be afraid
00:51:17.21\00:51:19.07
of what the world
may throw at you because,
00:51:19.11\00:51:21.04
I know that the Spirit of
the living God will be there,
00:51:21.08\00:51:24.25
if He calls you to do that,
00:51:24.28\00:51:26.48
He will be with you
00:51:26.51\00:51:27.85
and will be
like some of the ones
00:51:27.88\00:51:29.22
who were being burnt
00:51:29.25\00:51:30.59
and they were
singing praises and so on.
00:51:30.62\00:51:32.62
I truly experience that,
00:51:32.65\00:51:34.52
one time I was in
terrible, terrible pain.
00:51:34.56\00:51:39.06
It was called childbirth...
00:51:39.09\00:51:41.53
Well, I'm not there.
00:51:41.56\00:51:42.90
And for hours 'cause it
was going on much longer
00:51:42.93\00:51:45.70
than it was supposed
to and I was constantly...
00:51:45.73\00:51:48.47
They were teaching you to focus
on a little dot in the room
00:51:48.50\00:51:51.24
but I didn't, I
would close my eyes
00:51:51.27\00:51:52.84
and I would see Jesus
00:51:52.87\00:51:54.98
and I would
sing hymns in my mind
00:51:55.01\00:51:58.78
and about 18 hour later,
18 and a half hours later,
00:51:58.81\00:52:03.79
I remember saying,
00:52:03.82\00:52:06.02
"Christ, I
can't see you anymore.
00:52:06.05\00:52:07.82
I can't focus,
the pain is so great.
00:52:07.86\00:52:10.79
I can't sing anymore."
00:52:10.83\00:52:13.46
And at that moment
when I prayed that prayer,
00:52:13.50\00:52:16.00
my mother was sitting next to me
00:52:16.03\00:52:18.53
and she began to sing,
00:52:18.57\00:52:21.54
that moment and I fell asleep.
00:52:21.57\00:52:25.14
I fell asleep for ten minutes.
00:52:25.17\00:52:27.44
I woke up, I
said, "The baby's here."
00:52:27.48\00:52:29.01
They're like, "Oh, no, honey,
00:52:29.04\00:52:30.38
you're just now
getting into your worst labor."
00:52:30.41\00:52:32.15
I said, "No, she's coming."
00:52:32.18\00:52:34.62
And she was, see,
00:52:34.65\00:52:36.52
when I couldn't take it anymore.
00:52:36.55\00:52:38.55
He taught me, that when
I couldn't take the pain
00:52:38.59\00:52:41.96
because of my relationship
and my focus on Him,
00:52:41.99\00:52:45.43
He was there to take it.
00:52:45.46\00:52:46.80
Amen. Praise God.
00:52:46.83\00:52:48.30
And I think that's to
me, that's how people were...
00:52:48.33\00:52:53.67
On the, the martyrs, sacred tree
00:52:53.70\00:52:56.27
or whatever it was
and they were being burned
00:52:56.30\00:52:57.94
and they were singing,
00:52:57.97\00:52:59.31
is because the
Holy Spirit, Stephen,
00:52:59.34\00:53:01.21
the Holy Spirit came down
00:53:01.24\00:53:02.58
and He takes that when
we can't take it anymore.
00:53:02.61\00:53:05.31
You can't lose by
accepting Jesus into your heart,
00:53:05.35\00:53:10.09
you cannot lose by asking
Him to come in and be your Lord,
00:53:10.12\00:53:14.62
to be your Savior, to
be anything and everything,
00:53:14.66\00:53:19.26
our hope in this world.
00:53:19.29\00:53:21.10
There's no loss in it.
00:53:21.13\00:53:22.50
No, absolutely.
Best thing we can do.
00:53:22.53\00:53:24.73
Will anybody
object if I take the next
00:53:24.77\00:53:28.24
because I have something
that keeps going in my mind...
00:53:28.27\00:53:30.74
Okay.
00:53:30.77\00:53:32.11
Because we titled it,
one of the first steps
00:53:32.14\00:53:34.38
in becoming a
Christian, is to believe in God,
00:53:34.41\00:53:40.42
believe in God
00:53:40.45\00:53:42.25
not believe in a "Higher Power."
00:53:42.28\00:53:44.89
There you go, yes.
00:53:44.92\00:53:46.69
A higher power that
could be anything under the sun
00:53:46.72\00:53:51.73
and is, to some people.
00:53:51.76\00:53:53.73
This says, we
have to believe in God
00:53:53.76\00:53:56.20
and it says it
singularly not plural.
00:53:56.23\00:53:59.53
So does that mean
there is only one God,
00:53:59.57\00:54:02.84
it doesn't say believe in gods.
00:54:02.87\00:54:04.71
That's right, that's right.
00:54:04.74\00:54:06.37
And they said, "Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ,
00:54:06.41\00:54:09.44
and thou shalt be
saved and thy house,
00:54:09.48\00:54:12.48
and they spake unto Him,
00:54:12.51\00:54:13.95
the word of the Lord
00:54:13.98\00:54:15.32
and to all that
were in his house."
00:54:15.35\00:54:17.75
Amen. That's powerful...
00:54:17.79\00:54:21.62
Can I expand the...
00:54:21.66\00:54:22.99
From the
amplified. Yeah, please.
00:54:23.02\00:54:24.36
Oh, yes. Please.
00:54:24.39\00:54:25.73
Big end to this amplified,
I've got it, verse 31.
00:54:25.76\00:54:28.86
Let me just read it.
00:54:28.90\00:54:30.27
"And they answered, believe in
00:54:30.30\00:54:32.90
and on the Lord
Jesus Christ, that He is"
00:54:32.93\00:54:35.87
and here's the
part that amplifies,
00:54:35.90\00:54:38.14
"Give yourself to Him,
00:54:38.17\00:54:40.34
take yourself out
of your own keeping
00:54:40.38\00:54:42.51
and entrust
yourself into His keeping.
00:54:42.54\00:54:45.91
And you will be saved
00:54:45.95\00:54:47.92
and this applies both to you
and your household this way."
00:54:47.95\00:54:51.45
Oh, I love it.
00:54:51.49\00:54:52.82
Give yourself to Him,
00:54:52.85\00:54:54.22
totally release yourself to Him,
00:54:54.26\00:54:56.46
praise God.
00:54:56.49\00:54:57.83
Amen. That's
what it's all about.
00:54:57.86\00:54:59.19
And what the
Amplified does for me,
00:54:59.23\00:55:01.73
is it keeps it
from being superficial,
00:55:01.76\00:55:04.67
it makes it a deep
personal relationship.
00:55:04.70\00:55:07.70
I agree with it.
00:55:07.74\00:55:09.87
I mean, just two illustrations
when you think about.
00:55:09.90\00:55:12.24
That was Paul,
you know, in prison.
00:55:12.27\00:55:16.14
He had Felix, presented Christ
and so to him and he just,
00:55:16.18\00:55:20.42
what he said,
00:55:20.45\00:55:21.78
"Come back another day
when it's more convenient."
00:55:21.82\00:55:24.32
And then he spoke to the jailer,
00:55:24.35\00:55:26.76
when he found out, you know,
that they were still all there,
00:55:26.79\00:55:29.29
all the people in the
jail were there because of,
00:55:29.32\00:55:32.23
as it were one man in there
because of what they heard,
00:55:32.26\00:55:34.43
so anyway, then the other
jailer come back and said,
00:55:34.46\00:55:36.97
"Oo, glory, was this, you know,"
00:55:37.00\00:55:39.93
What I hear is beautiful
and then went to the house
00:55:39.97\00:55:43.20
and it's pretty clear that Paul
then spoke to the whole family.
00:55:43.24\00:55:46.94
He had an
opportunity through the jailer
00:55:46.98\00:55:48.64
to go speak words of
truth to the whole family.
00:55:48.68\00:55:50.95
Whole family
said, this is beautiful,
00:55:50.98\00:55:52.31
we wanted to,
00:55:52.35\00:55:53.68
and so he baptized them all.
00:55:53.72\00:55:55.18
So how wonderful that
is when we see, you know,
00:55:55.22\00:55:57.59
this passage is just like this.
00:55:57.62\00:56:00.26
How God can work and
it wasn't just the jailer,
00:56:00.29\00:56:04.49
one of them was
open and receptive.
00:56:04.53\00:56:06.53
The other closed
the door and said,
00:56:06.56\00:56:08.30
"No, at more convenient time,"
00:56:08.33\00:56:09.70
that's what most people
are doing in the world today.
00:56:09.73\00:56:11.07
Yes.
00:56:11.10\00:56:12.43
Find another convenient
time, I'll wait till I retire,
00:56:12.47\00:56:14.30
I'll wait till
everything, my ducks rolling
00:56:14.34\00:56:15.94
or, you know,da-da-da,
00:56:15.97\00:56:18.21
you know, you may
never come to Him.
00:56:18.24\00:56:19.94
In my life, like Tammy said too
00:56:19.97\00:56:21.74
because there are
spirits working in this world.
00:56:21.78\00:56:24.11
There's a Spirit of God
00:56:24.15\00:56:25.71
and there's the
spirit of the enemy
00:56:25.75\00:56:27.38
and many people
are being deceived
00:56:27.42\00:56:30.29
thinking that
they're on the right track,
00:56:30.32\00:56:32.15
thinking that
they're a disciple of Christ.
00:56:32.19\00:56:34.59
But they're being
deceived by the wrong spirit,
00:56:34.62\00:56:36.86
so we have to go
back to the Word,
00:56:36.89\00:56:38.93
continue in the Word,
00:56:38.96\00:56:40.76
eating that Word
to know what truth is.
00:56:40.80\00:56:43.26
So... So how to
become a Christian?
00:56:43.30\00:56:44.93
Worship Him in
Spirit and in truth.
00:56:44.97\00:56:47.04
Trust God. Yes.
00:56:47.07\00:56:48.77
You don't have to do
anything, He's done it all,
00:56:48.80\00:56:51.17
keep that in your mind.
00:56:51.21\00:56:52.54
He's done it all.
00:56:52.57\00:56:53.91
All you have to
do is accept Him.
00:56:53.94\00:56:55.54
Amen.
00:56:55.58\00:56:56.91
Isn't that
beautiful and I like to say,
00:56:56.95\00:56:58.28
stay with it.
00:56:58.31\00:56:59.68
I'm not going to
get away from that one,
00:56:59.71\00:57:01.05
"Stay with it."
00:57:01.08\00:57:02.42
Because you have, He
said, "If you abide in me,"
00:57:02.45\00:57:04.65
that means you stay with it
00:57:04.69\00:57:06.02
and that means
a lose connection,
00:57:06.05\00:57:07.39
that means
it's... You're tied in.
00:57:07.42\00:57:09.39
We've just got 23 seconds left.
00:57:09.42\00:57:11.56
Can you just give
everybody a quick prayer?
00:57:11.59\00:57:13.40
Absolutely. Let's
pray and pray at home.
00:57:13.43\00:57:15.36
Bow your heads with
me, "Father in heaven,
00:57:15.40\00:57:17.10
thank you for your love.
00:57:17.13\00:57:18.47
Thank you for your Holy Spirit.
00:57:18.50\00:57:19.83
Thank you for this
time we spent together,
00:57:19.87\00:57:21.30
we give you praise,
honor and glory for decisions
00:57:21.34\00:57:23.47
that are made now,
00:57:23.51\00:57:24.84
that there's somebody out there
wants to become a Christian,
00:57:24.87\00:57:26.84
we thank you in Jesus name.
00:57:26.88\00:57:28.21
Amen. Amen.
00:57:28.24\00:57:30.48
God bless you and
we'll see you next time.
00:57:30.51\00:57:32.81