Participants:
Series Code: TDYFW
Program Code: TDYFW190012A
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:08 Mending broken people 00:13 I want to spend my life 00:19 Removing pain 00:24 Lord, let my words 00:30 Heal a heart that hurts 00:35 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:46 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:09 Hello and welcome to our Family Worship program 01:12 and it's Sabbath. 01:14 It's always on Sabbath. 01:15 Don't you enjoy the Sabbath hour? 01:16 Oh, I love the Sabbath. 01:18 And the body just automatically just kind of, 01:22 in fact, it's scientific. 01:23 It's actually been scientifically proven 01:25 that the body just kind of automatically winds down 01:30 around the seventh day. 01:32 It's amazing and God created us like that. 01:35 And it's always is a reminder when we were kids at home, 01:37 you know, around Sabbath evening, 01:39 we'd be doing all the running, doing all the, 01:41 you know, all these boys and little girls 01:43 around all this but in Friday evening, 01:45 you know, when Sabbath came before Sabbath, 01:48 in fact, everybody start winding down 01:51 and then we always had our family worship. 01:52 Yes. 01:54 Singing around the piano and sometimes the guitar 01:57 and then we'd talk and read scriptures and so. 01:59 It's a great time and as you said, 02:01 when Sabbath comes even though 02:03 we travel and we do a lot of things, 02:05 Sabbath is still somehow relaxes me. 02:08 It does. 02:09 You know, I don't have to worry about other things, 02:12 you know, in life going on just, 02:14 this is the Lord's Day. 02:16 Amen. This is the Lord's Day. 02:18 Amen. We got some speaking of family. 02:20 We've family here today. 02:22 I know we have a real family worship right here. 02:25 Why don't you introduce them? 02:26 Okay, let's start with this side 02:29 of the table here. 02:32 My brother-in-law, your brother, 02:33 Pastor Kenny Shelton, his lovely wife, Chris. 02:36 All right. Great. 02:37 It's good to be here. 02:38 Yes. Yes. 02:40 Good to be here. Excited to be here. 02:41 Yes. 02:42 We love... We love sitting here. 02:44 I know. 02:45 Oh, no, we love being with family. 02:47 Yeah. We love it. 02:48 Yeah. Yeah. 02:49 It's such a blessing. 02:51 And then we have our son, Jason Bradley. 02:52 All right. 02:53 And he's here with us too, 02:55 and we're just so glad you're here too. 02:56 I'm glad to be here too, 02:57 you know, family worships are always nice. 02:59 And family get-togethers are always nice, 03:02 especially when there's food involved. 03:04 Oh, my word. 03:05 Today, we're gonna surprise, Jason. 03:07 We're gonna be looking at some spiritual food. 03:09 Oh, that's good. That's good. 03:11 And I'm sure you can heat up physical food. 03:13 Oh, right, right. 03:15 Yeah, there you go, as well as the spiritual food. 03:18 Amen. Yes. 03:19 But today you kind of picked out the topic. 03:21 So I'm gonna kind of just sit back here 03:23 and follow you lead. 03:25 Okay? Okay, okay. 03:26 All right. 03:27 Well, a few weeks ago, 03:29 I was thinking, 03:30 what in the world could we talk about 03:32 on family worship and I prayed, 03:33 I said, "Lord, what would you have us to discuss?" 03:37 And in my head it popped in, stand firm. 03:42 Standing firm. Yes. 03:44 And it's a topic that, 03:46 you know, you hear that expression a lot. 03:48 But what does it mean to stand firm? 03:53 Stand fast, being steadfast, 03:55 all of these expressions really mean to stand firm. 03:59 So let's start there. Okay. 04:01 What does it mean to you to stand firm? 04:04 Well, coming from a construction background 04:07 Kenny and me, 04:08 I would say that when you build a house and, Jay, 04:11 getting ready to build a house. 04:13 And that the foundation... Oh, come on. 04:16 You can only stand firm 04:18 when you have a solid foundation. 04:19 Come on now, come on. Yeah. 04:21 Now, that's right. 04:22 To dig down in the basement, 04:24 which you dig the footings you're gonna have then, 04:25 you know, a couple feet wide and some depending 04:27 where you live maybe a couple feet deep. 04:30 And so you pour this concrete and it's on that level, 04:33 and Kenny takes a right tools. 04:36 He knows how to get out there and... 04:38 Oh, mercy. 04:39 What do you, Kenny do? 04:41 To site that, the line it... 04:42 Yeah, we got to transit the level. 04:44 Yeah. Okay. 04:45 No, I haven't. Not transient, but transit. 04:49 I think of transit, I'm from New York. 04:50 I'm passing the subway. 04:52 Our transit is really important because you wanna make sure 04:56 you're not building something crooked. 04:57 Oh, I love it. Oh, that's good. 04:58 So what happens I take the dummy and I call it, 05:02 I take the end we have a long pole. 05:04 And we mark like inches one, two, three, four, five. 05:08 And so Kenny starts at the end where you gonna build solid, 05:11 you want your house, the corner of it right here. 05:15 So I go to the other end and this transit will shoot it, 05:19 he sets it up. 05:20 It's got a bubble on it. 05:22 When it's exactly zero if it says 24 inches 05:25 that means there's 24 inches difference. 05:26 Okay. 05:27 So we have to compensate 05:29 when we're putting in that footing. 05:30 So when you talk about standing firm, 05:33 you want to stand firm but it has to be 05:35 on the solid rock in Jesus. 05:37 Come on, come on. 05:38 Somebody said to the cornerstone, right? 05:40 Yeah. Yes. 05:42 It's got to be level with the cornerstone. 05:44 That's good. Yeah. 05:46 It's good. 05:47 And you'd like it too that transit's very good 05:49 about making sure that building, 05:51 I want to pay, it's square, 05:52 not necessarily you'll be squared, 05:54 but you've got to have good corners and building 05:56 has to be square. 05:57 If it does, nothing works. 05:59 Oh, yeah. No hope. 06:00 It holds, if everything is out of whack 06:03 when you go to put it in there so you level 06:05 and then square of the building right 06:07 to where all the lumber 06:08 and everything fits properly even... 06:10 That means putting sheet rock on the inside 06:13 and doing everything on the outside, 06:14 the decking, flooring, everything, 06:16 nothing would fit right if you got it out of square 06:18 and out of level. 06:20 To be balanced, want to be balanced approach. 06:22 Let me tell you a little funny story 06:25 of your mom, right? 06:26 Oh, boring. Here we go. 06:29 She says could we build a porch out, 06:31 you know, the end of the house 06:33 was a walkout basement. 06:35 I'm looking at Jay right now. He's chuckling. 06:37 It's a walkout basement and I'd had the house built it 06:41 years ago but never did really put a porch 06:43 and I said, sure, we'll do it so we'll make 06:45 like a 20 by 20 porch out that way. 06:48 So it's the head of concrete below, Kenny, 06:51 and so I got the post and ended up 06:53 getting a big metal square that you can stick the post 06:56 in and tied down to anchor it good and solid, 06:58 and Jay and Mark was helping me. 07:00 And so we leveled it everything, we transit it, 07:05 got it all level made sure that when we started putting 07:07 the floor joists down that you walk out on. 07:10 It was perfectly leveled. 07:11 She comes home. 07:13 She opens the front door and she looks out. 07:15 I say, "What do you think?" 07:16 We finally got all the post up, got everything leveled, 07:19 got the outside plates on, 07:21 you know, the floor joist is across, 07:23 so what do you think? 07:24 She goes, "Looks crooked to me." 07:26 Was it nice floor joist, 07:28 it's something nice but you always have 07:30 to say something nice before, 07:32 you know, yeah, yeah, 07:33 so I said, "Oh, it looks really nice 07:35 but it just looks a little crooked here to me." 07:38 Yes, she said, looks crooked 07:40 and she was looking at like this of the porch. 07:42 I said, "Well, if you'll stand up straight, 07:45 may be it look straight. 07:47 Oh, my word. 07:49 Can you believe it, 07:50 we put so much work into making sure it 07:52 was exactly level. 07:54 He should have asked me... 07:55 Well, you know, the good point that, 07:57 the point is though, 07:58 we can't tell by looking at things. 08:00 Come on now, see I love this, make a spiritual application. 08:05 No, really so. 08:06 So when you're looking 08:08 at and we're talking spiritual now, 08:11 but you have to have the Word of God, 08:13 Jesus is that cornerstone. 08:14 That's right. 08:16 And so now, 08:17 everything is built off of that. 08:19 And so, but in our own human eyes 08:23 we can look and see things out of kilter, as we say. 08:25 Right. 08:27 See things that we can't go by our mind, by our eyes... 08:29 That's right. 08:30 We have to stay with the foundation. 08:32 So even though she said it, it made me wanted to doubt, 08:36 but I'd already, we'd already had the string tight. 08:39 We had a little level 08:41 and the little bubble said exactly 08:42 where it's supposed to be. 08:44 So I knew, even though what she said 08:46 was kind of convincing. 08:48 Oh, yeah, I bet. 08:49 She said it like this point almost was really nice, 08:51 but kind of crooked. 08:53 And I'm like, man, what are we doing? 08:55 Then I said, no, no, no, we built this right. 08:57 So that's a Jay. That's an excellent. 09:00 That's an excellent application 09:02 'cause you're talking about standing firm. 09:03 So she was the one that was tempting you, 09:06 you know, with her thought of tries. 09:09 But you stood firm because you built on the rock. 09:12 That's right. 09:14 You had the right level, you had the moral absolute. 09:16 If we're talking about spiritual, 09:18 you know, when you're talking about the squares, 09:19 and it made me think of the New Jerusalem, 09:21 what is Christ building? 09:23 A city, four squares. Oh, yes. 09:26 It will be perfect. Built on that solid rock. 09:28 Yes. 09:30 Amen. Amen. 09:31 This is good. He keeps getting deeper. 09:33 I love it. I love it. 09:34 I love the way he talks it to you. 09:36 I love it, yeah. That's good. 09:38 Philippians 1:27 says, 09:41 "Nevertheless, conduct yourselves 09:43 in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. 09:46 Then," this is Paul talking, 09:48 "then whether I come and see you 09:50 or hear about you in my absence. 09:52 I will know that you stand firm in one spirit contending side 09:57 by side for the faith of gospel." 10:00 Amen. 10:01 Now, to me, this whole idea of standing firm 10:06 and contending side by side, 10:09 we not only stand firm as individuals, 10:13 but we need to stand firm as a church. 10:15 Yes. 10:16 Contending side by side, 10:18 there's so much coming up against us now. 10:22 And this, there was a commentary here 10:25 that I like to share about what was written 10:29 with this scripture in the original Greek 10:31 and it signifies to hold on 10:34 and to remain firm at one's post. 10:36 Yes. 10:38 It's derived from the combats, 10:41 from war, from warfare, 10:43 in which each endeavor to keep his place 10:46 and to maintain himself in his seat 10:49 without going back or being shaken 10:51 by all the attacks of the enemy. 10:53 So it's all about standing firm in one place 10:57 contending side by side. 10:58 Amen. Yes. 11:00 So that we march forward. 11:02 Oh, yes. 11:04 You ever see those armies that are in step as they walk, 11:08 you know, they're all in step. 11:10 That's what God I think expects of His church 11:13 for us to be in step and to move forward, 11:16 standing firmly in the faith. 11:19 Amen. 11:20 And that to me is what this verse is saying. 11:23 So it says, "In the spiritual warfare, 11:26 we should never allow ourselves to be drawn 11:28 from that position in which God has placed us 11:31 and that all together, 11:33 like his faithful and valiant soldiers, 11:36 courageously repulsing the enemy, 11:38 we should always stand firm 11:40 without quitting either the faith 11:43 or the profession, 11:44 which by His grace we have made." 11:46 Amen. 11:48 That's right. Oh, that's good. 11:49 You know, as a good soldier, you're gonna stand firm, 11:51 you were talking about 11:53 all of these battles going on and, 11:54 and you mentioned that looked crooked 11:57 to you 'cause a lot of times, we're in... 11:59 We're nowhere in a spiritual warfare, 12:02 and sometimes we look and we think, 12:03 well, maybe that isn't so crooked after all, 12:06 maybe that's the way. 12:08 You know, but as a good soldier in Christ, 12:10 we have to come back to thus saith the Lord. 12:13 That's right. 12:14 Go back to the Word of God to stand firm no matter. 12:17 In other words, you can't trust what you see. 12:20 We're not, we're getting to a point 12:22 we can't trust what we hear. 12:24 You can't trust what we feel. 12:26 I mean, 'cause there's a lot of spiritual feeling out there. 12:29 There's a lot of spiritual warfare going on. 12:31 But is that the Spirit of God? 12:34 And how do we know? 12:36 That is a critical, critical piece. 12:39 You can't trust what you see, right? 12:43 Because Satan can impact our senses. 12:46 It's happening, yes. 12:47 We have to have an objective standard. 12:50 That's why, you know, this whole thing 12:51 about my truth and your truth and what is your truth, 12:56 it's all relative. 12:58 Truth is subjective. 13:01 You know, I really like this part about 13:02 not abandoning your posts because if you think 13:05 about somebody guarding an area or being at their post, 13:11 they're not allowing compromise to slip in. 13:13 Oh, come on, come on. 13:16 Abandoning your post and you allow an entrance, 13:19 a weakness in the line of defense, 13:22 and then that compromise slips in. 13:25 And then as a result of that compromise slipping in, 13:27 you're moving closer and closer into the enemy's territory. 13:30 Yes. 13:31 But if you stand firm at that post 13:33 and you allow the Lord to strengthen you. 13:35 Yes. 13:37 That's good. That's good. 13:38 But you're gonna be challenged. Oh, absolutely. 13:40 I mean, the good part was challenge 13:42 because we're talking about the porch again. 13:47 But there's nothing wrong with it 13:49 because when you do something you think is right. 13:52 You studied it out. 13:53 You've done all necessary steps. 13:56 Somebody is gonna come up to you 13:57 and say this is not the way you should do it. 14:00 And sometimes they are in a position 14:02 to where they have an influence. 14:04 And then you're gonna say, 14:06 I wonder if I did the right thing? 14:07 Well, as Brother Danny mentioned, 14:09 I know we did because the way we set it up. 14:13 We checked, we rechecked it, 14:15 I'm talking about study the word, 14:17 spiritual application. 14:18 We went back to the word, 14:19 even though they challenge that this is not the truth. 14:21 We studied it, we looked at it, we know that it is, 14:24 it might look a little strange to some. 14:26 But, you know, a lot of times it looks strange to people 14:28 because the Bible says spiritual things 14:30 are spiritually discern. 14:32 That's right. 14:33 If we're not on the spiritual page, 14:34 if we're not led by the Holy Spirit 14:36 of living God, 14:37 everything that a Christian puts out 14:38 there somebody's gonna say it's crooked. 14:40 That's right. 14:41 You know, and you have to know that is right and you go back, 14:45 I've done it many times because you're challenged, 14:47 you go back saying that, 14:48 I wanna make sure I did this right 14:50 because a lot is on this. 14:52 Right. 14:53 Look and say thank you, Lord, that's what it says. 14:54 And regardless if they say it's crooked or not, 14:57 God said this is the straight road. 14:59 That's right. 15:01 And we're in that time in world's history 15:03 where err is becoming truth and truth is becoming err. 15:08 And I mean, we have actually, 15:09 I've even seen the video where a pastor's up front 15:12 in front of his church. 15:14 And they took, he took his Bible 15:15 and threw it across the floor. 15:18 We don't need that anymore 15:20 because a lot of things are coming into the church 15:23 that the Bible, they want to say that it's old fashion. 15:27 It's not present truth anymore. 15:29 But how, you know, they've lost touch 15:31 with moral absolute. 15:33 And so it's very, very dangerous time 15:37 in which we're living in. 15:38 Yes. You can be sure. 15:41 Like when you said that to us, I keep going back. 15:45 She started it. She started it. 15:47 It's a good illustration. 15:48 It's a good example. 15:50 Reason that we stuck where we were is, 15:54 Kenny, and I have built many, many houses, 15:56 some churches, garages, 15:58 all of these and I did the same thing 16:00 I've always done and houses that we built. 16:02 You can go into West Frankfort every day, 16:04 house we built in 1972 is still standing over there. 16:07 And I used the same principle and it look straight, 16:09 you know, we used the same. 16:11 So when you use the same principles 16:14 even though which for a second it's like what? 16:18 And in your defense when you were looking out, 16:20 it's a walkout basement so everything is downhill, 16:23 it goes like this. 16:24 So standing up in the living room, 16:26 I could say as you were getting ready to step out, 16:28 we were on the ladder, 16:30 looking at eye level at this thing up 16:32 about 10 feet high. 16:33 She was standing looking out, 16:35 but she's had all of these other things to distract 16:38 to make it look like it wasn't there. 16:41 So I think what you're saying is you can't go by the eye. 16:45 Exactly. 16:46 You can only stand firm 16:47 if you know, you're on that solid rock. 16:50 If you use the same principle that you've always used before, 16:56 then I think you can be confident and say no, 17:00 that's it's straight. 17:02 So I said to her, no, it's level. 17:04 We can prove it to you, 17:06 I have the eight foot level here. 17:08 Yeah. 17:10 She could made a bubble I know on that. 17:13 At least for eight feet I can show you, 17:14 eight feet at a time 'cause I said, 17:16 well that she wouldn't understand 17:17 some of the other things. 17:19 But if I set that level up there 17:20 and that bubble is right in the middle, 17:22 that means it's leveled. 17:24 So what you're saying then is perspective. 17:28 So my perspective was off. 17:32 But I needed that objective tool 17:35 to give me the right perspective. 17:36 Yes. Yes. 17:37 Okay. There you go. 17:39 You were on the solid ground in that room, 17:43 but I was looking from a different perspective. 17:46 So I needed an objective tool to tell me 17:51 what the true condition of that room was. 17:53 Yeah. 17:55 And that's what the Word does for us. 17:56 You were open to the truth. Yes. 17:58 I've seen sometime too where you put, Danny, 18:01 we put the level on it, 18:03 but because of the surroundings of it. 18:07 That's what I was talking about. 18:09 It looks like it's still not and you look back 18:11 at the level again, the bubble's in the center. 18:13 Again, it's all those things 18:15 that sometime want to throw us off. 18:17 And sometime we don't stand so firm. 18:20 And then you test the bubble. 18:22 Yes. 18:23 Because you can test the Word of God... 18:25 Come on. That's right. 18:26 'Cause there are times that the bubbles can get off. 18:28 They do. 18:29 When your levels up and it falls, 18:31 they're usually glass 18:32 and they got little screws on there. 18:34 And so the way that you know if it's off 18:37 or not as you flip it over, 18:39 and if it shows the same reading, 18:41 in other words, you can flip the bubbles over, 18:44 you can change hands with the level 18:46 and see if it reads the same, 18:48 but you have to go back because even the bubble 18:50 has to be tested. 18:51 So have to try those spirits. 18:53 So you say okay, what if, 18:54 you know, something happened, 18:55 somebody dropped that, 18:57 something happened that it's off 18:58 but you can do that, 19:00 so you can test the Word of God, 19:01 but it will always come true. 19:02 Amen. 19:04 You can flip the Word of God over, ain't that right? 19:05 Flip it over this way or that way 19:07 or from this end to that end, 19:08 it's still gonna ring true at the time. 19:10 That almost reminds me of testing the individual too. 19:13 Are they the same in public as they are in private. 19:14 There you go. There you go. 19:16 Do they still have the same relationship with God 19:18 in private as they do in public. 19:21 I like that being able to flip that over. 19:23 That's great, and that's good to know 19:24 for when we build my house. 19:26 Yeah. 19:27 That's something I didn't know. 19:29 The thing with the room that I didn't tell 19:32 was it was just gonna be a porch. 19:34 So I built this big porch and get ready build it out 19:37 and she came out and said, 19:40 "Oh, this is gonna be so wonderful, 19:42 we'll be able to see the sunset, 19:43 I can set out here and just enjoy reading." 19:45 I say great. 19:47 She said, "Well, what are we going 19:48 to do about the flies?" 19:51 I said, "What do you mean, 19:52 what we're gonna do about the flies?" 19:54 She goes, "Well, you know, 19:55 I can't stand flies around my food or around me." 19:59 I mean, I've seen her knock her salad bowl on an airplane 20:05 with the guy next to her, 20:07 fly landed and she knocked everything and... 20:09 Oh, my goodness. 20:11 She was going 'cause she can't stand the flies. 20:13 So she said, "Well, now what are we gonna do 20:15 about the flies? 20:16 How are you gonna keep those out?" 20:18 I said, "Well, you don't," 20:19 it's just a front porch or just a big porch out here. 20:21 She goes, "Is there any way we could close 20:23 like maybe put a screen." 20:25 I said, "Big as this is, no, it's a devil." 20:28 So she's like, 20:30 "Well, how we're gonna keep the flies?" 20:31 It's a long story short, 20:32 it's closed in and then got the windows around it. 20:35 You still got a great view but now in that room is your? 20:39 Worship room. Whoo, Worship room. 20:40 Glory. Yes, it's wonderful. 20:42 Praise the Lord. 20:43 So he built protection, like the armor. 20:46 Come on. 20:47 The Lord's armor around this with the protection, 20:50 and we need to put on the armor of God, 20:52 the whole armor of God to stand firm. 20:54 Good. 20:56 And to know as you're talking about this 20:57 to even understand what truth is 20:59 because as I mentioned earlier, 21:01 you know, there's so much speculation. 21:03 Well, how do you know? 21:04 That's your thought. 21:06 That's your faith. That's your choice. 21:07 You know, but we need to go back like he said, 21:09 like is, like you can speculate upon the Bible, 21:12 it is thus saith, we have to go back 21:14 to the Word of God. 21:16 And this is good. 21:18 I love it. 21:20 Yeah, Praise the Lord. 21:21 Let's kind of... 21:22 Oh, go ahead. Okay. 21:24 Well, I was just gonna say this is good. 21:25 But nowadays, how do we put that into, 21:28 to where we are today? 21:29 May be that's where you're going. 21:31 Well, where I was... 21:33 We can, let's do that. 21:34 And then we'll come back to where I was going. 21:36 My point was, now today we have doctrine, 21:41 you know, but people are saying 21:43 because of the whole world around us, 21:45 nothing is solid. 21:47 Everything is changeable and so, 21:50 you know, they say, 21:51 there's 100 and some odd genders 21:53 when we all know, 21:54 a little kid knows there's two, right. 21:56 A little boy and a girl in the room without clothes 21:57 and they're embarrassingly know that something's wrong, 22:00 there's two genders, 22:01 but there's all of these things that, 22:04 you know, when you listen, even in political arenas, 22:07 arenas that everything is okay. 22:09 It's whatever somebody wants, and doctrine isn't important, 22:14 but that is now bleeding into the church. 22:16 The wounds of the world leading into the church 22:20 because there's people like, 22:21 well, you know, these things aren't really that important. 22:24 And so how do we, 22:25 how do we stand firm when it comes to doctrine, 22:29 and yet, they'll say, "Oh, that's all legalistic." 22:32 That's, you know, all the law stuff, all of this. 22:35 So how do we, the question is, 22:36 how do we stand firm in the doctrine 22:38 and yet show the love of Jesus and be balanced 22:41 as Jay talked about? 22:43 You're asking me? 22:45 Well, I'm asking anybody, you know, is it important, 22:48 in other words, how important is it? 22:50 And can we compromise some on doctrines. 22:53 You know, we are living in the 21st century. 22:57 You know, are we held to the same? 22:59 I would think that the question is 23:01 who's reigning supreme in your life? 23:04 You know, who are you serving? 23:05 What you have to have a standard. 23:07 You know, the Bible talks about living off principle, 23:10 not feelings. 23:12 What the world is doing as they shift due to feelings 23:16 and not just principles. 23:18 So it's a combination of the two. 23:20 I think somebody who's really good 23:21 to look at their story in the Bible is Daniel. 23:24 You know, when Daniel was in, he was in the government, 23:28 and he wasn't, 23:30 he didn't conform to the ways of the government 23:33 when the government was trying to trump God's law. 23:37 I mean, Daniel stood so firm, 23:39 that all of these people conspired against him, 23:43 people in government, and they couldn't even, 23:46 they couldn't bring him down. 23:47 They knew that they couldn't get him 23:48 because he was. 23:50 It says here in Daniel 6:5, 23:54 "Then these men said 23:55 we shall not find any charge against this Daniel 23:58 unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God." 24:02 They had to do something crooked to try and catch a man 24:06 that was serving the Lord and standing firm on principle 24:09 that they tried to catch him up 24:11 and then get him in the lion's den. 24:15 And it ended up falling back on them. 24:17 Yeah. 24:19 I think that's a really good example, 24:20 because when we're talking about, 24:22 you know, 24:23 how society is converging against, 24:27 really against Christians. 24:29 I mean, Christians are now being demonized 24:31 and looked at as weak or intellectually inferior. 24:35 And, you know, how do we stand firm 24:38 in the midst of all this political correctness, 24:41 in the midst of all of these things 24:43 that are converging against us? 24:44 How do we stand firm? 24:46 Daniel showed us he did not. 24:50 When these people, 24:52 these officials came up against 24:54 and went to the king and said, you know, before they went, 24:57 they said, how can we get him, 24:59 the only way is through his God because he stands firm 25:03 in everything that he believes in. 25:05 How can we get him? 25:06 The only way is through his God. 25:08 And every day, he was praying every day three times a day. 25:14 And he did not lower his curtain. 25:17 Once that law was proclaimed that you could not pray 25:20 to anyone else or worship anyone else. 25:22 But the king, he didn't stop, he stayed firm, he focused, 25:28 he prayed to his God, three times a day. 25:31 And I think living by principle, 25:34 that is the way we stand firm. 25:37 You know, you always talk about... 25:39 He's always talking about you guy's dad, 25:41 and how he taught you principles. 25:45 And you apply these principles to life. 25:48 That's what the Word does. 25:50 It gives us the principles to live by, 25:53 and they don't change. 25:55 They are timeless. 25:56 Principles are timeless. 25:58 Society might change, mores might change. 26:01 Morals do not change but mores change. 26:04 And so we have to live by the principles 26:08 and that's what to me standing firm is, living by principles. 26:12 When I would give dad, 26:14 and I know Kenny probably never gave him a hard time 26:15 but when I did... 26:18 When I gave him a hard time, 26:19 you didn't very much because, you know, 26:21 he didn't accept it. 26:24 But if I tried to reason with him, 26:26 he never sassed you but you could reason sometimes, 26:28 and I'd say but dad, I think such and such. 26:31 He said, "Son your opinion don't mean 26:32 a hill of beans to me." 26:35 Don't mean a hill of beans, right? 26:37 Did you hear that, Kenny? Oh, yeah. 26:38 Doesn't mean a hill of beans 'cause he wanted to based 26:40 on principle. 26:42 What's the principal? 26:43 Why are you saying where you're coming from, 26:45 is it a selfish motive? 26:47 Because he would say, "That's just me, myself, and I. 26:49 I'm not interested in me, myself, and I, 26:51 God put me in charge. 26:52 You're the kid, you're the child, 26:54 and I'm here to teach you what principle is." 26:57 But I don't care what you think unless it's, 27:00 you know, with the Bible, 27:02 your opinions and what kids that think at school 27:05 and you come home and said, 27:06 "Dad, the other kids are going." 27:08 He'd say, "Well, I'll tell you what." 27:09 We'd say, "Can we go uptown 27:10 'cause all these other kids are going." 27:12 And he would say, he'd say, 27:13 "Well, let me tell you something." 27:15 Because we thought, we'd say, "All the other kids are going." 27:17 He'd say, "No, not all the kids are going." 27:20 He'd say, the kids at 11, 8, 12 weren't straight. 27:23 Well, thank you, they're not gonna be there. 27:26 That was the end of the subject, 27:28 but with dad it's always principle. 27:30 It was principal and it's good because the Word of God 27:32 operates from principle. 27:33 You know, Ephesians 2:20, 27:36 there's three principles 27:37 when you're building on a firm foundation. 27:40 And that Scripture says is built upon the apostles. 27:43 And it's built upon the prophets, 27:46 and it's built upon Jesus Christ, 27:48 which is being the chief cornerstone. 27:51 So if we build on those three things, 27:54 we shall never go wrong. 27:56 These are the principle 27:58 that's what we're talking about today 27:59 is how can we be firm. 28:01 Thus be firm to the end. 28:03 And I'll share a story later on 28:05 we do the more talking about then, 28:06 because we come to that point 28:08 where we are challenged sometime with it. 28:10 Yes. And against odds. 28:12 Yes. 28:13 It's not going to work. 28:15 There's principle, you know, what you should do, 28:17 but everybody else has done something different 28:19 and you're challenged. 28:21 And sometimes even by the government. 28:22 And that's where I wanted to go next. 28:26 When have you been challenged in standing firm? 28:31 And how did you handle? 28:32 Well, you know, I don't, 28:33 here maybe just a good time just to quickly 28:35 and I could relate back some long years, Danny, 28:37 when I was in service that we went in, 28:40 I went in as a 1-A-O, conscientious objector, 28:44 be a medic, and went to basic training and so on, 28:46 and that's where you have to stand inspection. 28:49 You know, as a Sabbath day keeper, 28:51 I went and said, 28:52 I was the Seventh-day Adventist, you know, 28:53 but I'm the only one there among hundreds and thousands. 28:56 And it's about every Saturday is inspection, you know, 28:59 and the principle 29:01 that we grew up with was Sabbath, 29:02 the seventh-day Sabbath. 29:04 You don't do any work on that day 29:05 regardless if it goes against principles of God's Word 29:07 or a man says you don't do it. 29:09 So I just simply said, well, 29:11 it didn't mean 'cause you were a Christian, 29:12 you do everything right. 29:13 It was instilled in my mind that was what something 29:15 I want to do on the seventh-day Sabbath. 29:17 Right. 29:18 So I just simply said, then challenge 29:20 with the issue standing firm. 29:21 I just said, I'm not gonna stand inspection. 29:23 That's a lot of years ago, 29:24 a lot of time you just didn't say 29:25 I'm not gonna do that. 29:27 And they said, "Well, why not?" 29:28 And then they had to go through whole process 29:30 of how it came into service and so on, so forth. 29:32 So they said, well, you think, you're gonna get away with it, 29:34 you're not gonna get away with it. 29:35 You're gonna stand inspection. 29:37 And I just simply said, "You know, by grace of God, 29:39 I'm not gonna stand inspection." 29:41 And so finally they came to an agreement. 29:42 Juts quickly, agreement, 29:44 they said, "Well, I'll you what. 29:45 You think you're gonna get out of it but you're not. 29:47 We're gonna have you to stand inspection on Sunday." 29:50 So on Sunday in the barracks when everybody else 29:52 is kind of out of it. 29:54 They had a big night, doing whatever they do, 29:56 you know, in barracks and everything else there. 29:58 I'm supposed to be standing tall 29:59 and everything ready. 30:01 Well, when they came in, 30:02 they had an axe to grind anyway. 30:03 They want to find something wrong with the bed, 30:05 they want to find something wrong 30:06 with your footlocker, 30:08 and everything where everything was hung, 30:09 and they did their best to do 30:11 and I knew they were gonna do it. 30:12 So I did the best, I knew how to do, you know, 30:14 a couple times they took the bunk 30:15 and threw it upside down and you had to redo 30:17 and so on. 30:18 But then the guy would get right in your face, you know... 30:21 Anyway, God will honor, the whole point, 30:23 God will honor those 30:25 when you are put in a position to maybe go against the world, 30:29 you're butting against the world, 30:30 you've been talking about here things 30:32 that are going on in the world. 30:33 Now, world doesn't like you but against. 30:34 Right. 30:36 As a Christian to but against them, 30:37 they don't like that. 30:39 So he just simply said, well, I'll see you next Sunday. 30:41 You know and then I was ready again, 30:43 third Sunday come by, 30:44 looked at me and he was madder than a hornet. 30:47 I didn't know but he came at me, 30:48 and of course, that time they get right in your face. 30:50 His nose was against my nose, 30:52 you stand or you don't say anything to. 30:54 He said, "I don't know who in the world 30:56 that you think you are. 30:57 If you think that you're gonna make me come in every Sunday 31:02 to inspect somebody like you." 31:04 He said, "You're out of your mind." 31:05 He said, "You don't have to stand inspection anymore." 31:10 Okay. 31:11 Stand firm for what you believe and God will honor that 31:14 and reward. 31:16 So I was no longer a problem 31:17 because the guy just did not want to come in 31:19 on the wrong time and he... 31:21 Coming to the point he felt like I was making him. 31:24 Yeah. Right. 31:25 The other one told me I had to, 31:26 but see it gets reversed sometime. 31:28 Yeah. 31:29 Stand your ground, stand firm. 31:31 And for, I don't know for four or five months 31:33 I never had another inspection at all. 31:36 I just had to get out there for inspection day 31:38 and on Sabbath I didn't want to be around there anyway so... 31:40 God will do the work. 31:42 Thank you. 31:43 I remember a time I was on jury duty 31:46 and we had been in trial all week long 31:49 and the judge had told us, well, 31:51 we're gonna have to sequester you over this, 31:53 the weekend. 31:54 Well, I knew that week came at Sabbath 31:56 and I just kept praying about, 31:58 I didn't know what I was gonna do. 32:00 And at the last minute, I asked him, 32:02 if I can talk to him and so we went in the back. 32:04 And I wish I could remember what I said. 32:07 But all of a sudden it just started pouring out, this law, 32:10 that law, blah, blah, blah... 32:12 Religious freedom and ta-da, ta-da, ta-da... 32:14 Needless to say, we were not sequestered. 32:15 Amen. 32:17 They let us off, we got to go home and come back. 32:20 But you know, it was just amazing 32:21 because I wanted to be off, I knew it was important, 32:24 I asked God for help. 32:26 And he spoke through me to the point 32:27 that I don't even remember what I said, 32:29 but I can remember thinking wow. 32:32 Where that come from? 32:33 Yes, yes. 32:35 But it did, it really did and he stepped in and helped. 32:37 And another thing you asked a while ago, 32:39 how can we stand firm and still be loving? 32:43 And I was thinking of Daniel 2, there's a quote here, 32:46 but Daniel and God himself, but the quote, just finishing, 32:50 it's talking about the spirit that actuated Daniel, 32:53 but it talks here about whether with his brethren 32:56 or others he would not swerve 32:59 from principle while at the same time 33:02 he would not feel to manifest a noble Christlike patience. 33:07 And you mentioned God's the same yesterday, 33:09 today and forever and no one can argue 33:13 with what love that He has shown. 33:16 That's right. 33:17 What love He has given us, 33:19 and it makes a difference if we go to people in love. 33:23 Then they don't feel like they had been attacked, 33:25 they feel like you really care for them. 33:27 That's good. 33:29 That's good. What about you? 33:30 Was there a time when you did or did not stand firm? 33:33 Well, I think more of the times probably I didn't over my life 33:37 or you've misrepresented. 33:39 Yeah, sure. 33:40 Kenny and I used to play over 100 games 33:43 at fastpitch softball every summer, 33:44 you know, play doubleheaders two, three nights. 33:47 We work all day and then do that or weekends, 33:50 but we thought we were standing firm 33:52 because we told the guys on our team, 33:54 we're not gonna play on Sabbath. 33:56 You know, we won't play on Sabbath, 33:58 but what we would do is, 34:00 we would, Jay, if sundown was 8 o'clock Friday evening, 34:04 and we were playing in a tournament 34:06 at about two minutes till eight, 34:07 we'd take ourselves out of the game, 34:09 and then we'd go home. 34:11 But then Sabbath evening and for team, 34:13 more on we're playing the next, 34:14 you know, Sabbath and it was gonna be evening 34:16 maybe the game started at seven. 34:18 So we'd get in our ball suites 34:20 and drive out to the ball diamond 34:22 sometimes and sit in the car and wait till 8:01, 34:25 and then we can get out 34:27 and go put ourselves in the game. 34:28 Now that was very legalistic. 34:30 Yes. 34:31 It was very, you know, but we were trying to do, 34:33 we were raised kind of in a legalistic comrade books 34:35 we were loving but they still, 34:37 you know, a lot of things was do's and don'ts 34:39 more than the love aspect. 34:41 I think just for me I had to get older 34:43 and more mature and, 34:45 and after the loss of Melody's mother 34:47 and then I saw Melody, 34:49 11 years old willing to sing for her mother's funeral 34:52 when she had a broken arm, and cuts, and bruises, 34:54 and all these things. 34:56 I finally said, Lord, I want that kind of relationship. 34:58 When I asked for that child like relationship, 35:01 then I began to understand love and so. 35:04 Now, if we had do-overs, 35:05 which we don't go back 35:07 'cause we probably did more harm than good. 35:10 Sometimes because I knew we were right, 35:12 but the way we did it. 35:14 I remember one time that I got into this argument 35:17 when I was in about in the third grade 35:18 with the kid at school about Sabbath versus Sunday. 35:22 I went to public school, 35:23 so I took my Bible to school and we went outside recess, 35:28 and we were so upset at each other, 35:30 we got in a fight. 35:32 So I said, you're not going. 35:34 So here I'm thinking I'm doing some good showing him this. 35:37 Doing a Bible study, ended up in a fight. 35:40 And I ended up hitting him in the nose. 35:42 That sounds more you were at. 35:43 Yeah. 35:45 Good, Jason. 35:46 When I was a little kid, I had a friend, 35:50 he was of a different faith and he didn't believe in Jesus. 35:53 He didn't believe that Jesus was the Son of God. 35:56 And so he would say certain things about Jesus 35:59 and I was a little kid, 36:00 and I believed in Jesus and everything, 36:03 and he would say these things 36:05 and it would make me mad so I punched him in his face. 36:09 And then I make him take back what he said about Jesus 36:14 and then, I thought like I was fighting for the Lord. 36:18 I was so misguided in my approach. 36:20 I mean all of that is part of it. 36:22 As we, you know, we stand for... 36:24 It's not how much you know, it's who you know. 36:26 Right. That's right. 36:28 There you go. 36:29 We think, well, we know all the laws, 36:30 and we know the doctrine, 36:32 and we know all of this but without love, 36:33 this is sounding brass, 36:35 tinkling cymbal all that kind stuff you know, 36:37 because it's not there so as you get older, 36:40 I'm so thankful that God, 36:41 you know, has mercy and compassion. 36:43 Yes. Oh, I too. 36:46 It's easier for me to look back and see when I didn't stand... 36:50 If I didn't stand right, 36:52 I stood for something but you know, 36:54 but we all have to stand. 36:55 Our dad used to tell us, 36:57 "Boys, if you don't stand for something, 36:58 you'll fall for it." 36:59 Yes. 37:01 So, you know, when you find something 37:02 that you believe in, test it. 37:05 The Bible says try me, you know, 37:08 and so to the law and to testimony 37:10 if they speak not according to this word, 37:12 there is no light in them. 37:13 That's right. 37:15 And so, that's what we have to do. 37:16 So today, if I could have do-overs, 37:18 I'd go back and change but the good part is, 37:21 you don't have to go back and do anything differently. 37:24 You just, today, Lord, come into my heart, come in, 37:27 come in today, come in to stay, 37:29 come in my heart, Lord Jesus, old song says. 37:32 Yes. 37:33 And then say, Lord, You please forgive me. 37:35 And when we're sorry, 37:36 He's faithful and just to forgive us of our sin 37:38 and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 37:40 Now, we develop that relationship, 37:43 now we have something we can go tell. 37:45 When I first started 3ABN, 37:47 I would travel and go to churches 37:51 and it was like, what am I gonna say, you know, 37:55 but after a while now it's like, 37:57 what I have to leave out. 37:59 Yeah. 38:00 So much to tell because of experience 38:02 in relationship over the years in seeing God. 38:06 Now, it's like every time we go, we went last week, 38:10 you know, out of state and that was, oh, man, 38:13 I wish I had more time 38:14 I could share this to encourage the folk. 38:17 So thing is don't worry about the past. 38:19 Amen. Yes. 38:21 Just worry about today and in future 38:22 when you come to Jesus, 38:24 you know, you get to start brand new. 38:25 You do. 38:27 That's a blessing. 38:28 I remember there was a time, 38:30 the thing that stands out for me most 38:33 when I did not stand firm was, I was singing at... 38:38 A producer friend of mine asked me 38:40 to come and do a session. 38:42 I was out of the church at that time. 38:44 And she asked me to come and do joint recording session 38:49 with someone that she was producing 38:52 who was a psychic. 38:53 Oh! Well. 38:55 And so I knew as a Christian... 38:57 I would still consider myself a Christian, 38:58 even though I wasn't going to church 39:00 and I knew that wasn't to have any dealings with a psychic. 39:04 But I went and I sang on the song, 39:07 and at the end of the song, I was headed out. 39:11 And she said to me, the psychic, she said, 39:14 "Can I speak to you for a minute?" 39:16 So I thought she was gonna say thank you 39:18 for singing on this session. 39:21 So I said, "Yeah." 39:22 So she said, she began to give me a reading. 39:27 Well, have mercy. 39:29 And she would say to me, she would say, 39:30 she looked to the side and she would say, 39:33 "Okay, thank you, thank you." 39:35 And come back to me. 39:36 She was actually getting a word from a demon. 39:41 And I was standing there, instead of saying, 39:45 you know, what? 39:47 I've gotta go. Yeah. 39:49 I was like Eve. 39:50 I was mesmerized, and guess what? 39:56 I was standing at that tree 39:59 and listening to the serpent and beginning to... 40:03 She was telling me things that no one would know 40:08 and instead of me standing firm and saying, you know what? 40:14 Stop. 40:16 I have to go. 40:18 I stood there and I listened and when I left, 40:23 I felt I've got in a cab to go back to my apartment, 40:28 and I began to cry because I knew I let God down. 40:32 I knew that by standing there and listening to that, 40:36 I had allowed myself to get caught up 40:38 into what she was telling me. 40:41 I was Eve at that tree, but what you said, Dan, 40:45 is so true that we serve a God 40:48 who will forgive us if we don't stand firm, 40:50 if you make a mistake. 40:52 Yes. 40:53 Don't say, well, now I've done it, 40:55 I've done the worst thing and now God won't forgive me. 40:58 No, He wants you to come to Him and say, 41:00 Lord, I'm sorry. 41:01 That's why that song I sang just once more. 41:04 It means something to me 41:06 because I know I've made mistakes, 41:07 but I know that I serve a faithful God, 41:11 a high priest who have been touched 41:13 with my infirmities, 41:14 with the feeling of my infirmities 41:16 one was tempted in all points yet 41:19 without sin. 41:20 And so I can come boldly to Him, 41:22 where I can obtain mercy 41:24 and find grace to help in time of need 41:26 and that's what you can do. 41:28 If you have not stood firm, if you've made a mistake, 41:32 which we all do. 41:35 Thank the Lord that He is righteous 41:38 and He is sinless, 41:39 and He is pure 41:41 because if it was based on our righteousness 41:43 and our purity, we never make it. 41:46 So I just praise the Lord that we can in Him stand firm 41:51 and when we mess up, we can say I'm sorry. 41:54 That's a good part. Praise God. 41:55 That's right. 41:56 Yeah, the High Priest, amen. Have mercy. 41:58 He doesn't treat us the way we treat one another. 42:00 Yes, or the way we treat Him. 42:03 That's true. 42:04 But you realize how you got in that situation 42:07 is that from your own words 42:09 that you consider yourself a Christian, 42:11 but yet really you know you weren't. 42:13 In other words, you were doing things on your own. 42:16 In other words, you didn't test the bubble. 42:18 Your own perception, it was your own vision, 42:21 your own eyesight, 42:22 you were kind of justifying though you... 42:25 And that's interesting thing, you feel like you're Christian, 42:29 but really, no, you're not. 42:30 You're not living right, what it is? 42:32 Right. 42:33 But you delude yourself into thinking that... 42:35 Well, I still pray, well, 42:38 I still read my Bible sometimes, 42:40 well, I don't... 42:41 And at that time, 42:42 I wasn't working on the Sabbath, 42:44 but it wasn't about the works. 42:46 It was about my relationship and who was king in my life, 42:51 who was sovereign in my life, who was my Lord. 42:54 Not just my Savior but my Lord Jesus. 42:57 At the time I was not walking with Him the way I should 43:02 and that distorted my view of who I was. 43:06 So today that same situation you would like, 43:09 you wouldn't look in. 43:11 I wouldn't even go to sing for that person. 43:14 I wouldn't be in that, 43:15 that wouldn't even be an option. 43:17 Yeah, and as you were doing like, 43:19 Kenny and I, you were doing the music 43:20 the way we were doing. 43:22 At least should say me, I can't speak to him... 43:23 Yeah, I was there too. 43:24 Playing softball, 43:26 even doing a softball or basketball thing, 43:28 and we felt like we were, 43:30 but now you look back on it and you say, 43:32 oh, Lord, thank You for Your mercy. 43:33 Oh, yes. 43:35 We didn't have to worry about so much 43:36 when you were talking about worry about the bubble, 43:37 we didn't even have the level. 43:39 Yeah. 43:40 You know, if you think about it, 43:42 that's how far but we thought. 43:44 That's what lukewarmness will do. 43:46 You know, as Christians when we're lukewarm 43:48 we see with different eyes, 43:51 it's not spiritual eyes anymore, 43:53 it's actually the eyes of an enemy. 43:54 Doesn't want you out doing, maybe just horrible, 43:56 horrible things, 43:57 but he wants you infringing on those things 43:58 that you know better 44:00 that will lead you into worse things 44:01 as you submit it and give in. 44:04 So, you know, 44:05 you read and Ellen White talks about, 44:07 there's the mind that's not totally 44:09 given to Christ, the enemy has full control. 44:12 Have mercy. 44:14 Think about the mind that's not 100% 44:15 committed to Christ... 44:17 That's true. 44:18 The enemy has full possession and that bothers me, 44:20 that worries me. 44:22 Yes. Concerns. 44:24 When you said lukewarm, 44:25 that is so true because you're naked, 44:28 and wretched, and blind, but you don't realize it. 44:31 What you think you're seeing. 44:32 You're thinking, you see lot better than most people. 44:34 You know, I don't need anything, 44:35 I'm fine. 44:36 But you realize that, you know, later you realize it, 44:40 you were naked, and blind, and wretched. 44:42 It's a process. 44:44 It's a process of sanctification to get us 44:46 to the point where we can stand firm. 44:49 It's not something that happens 44:51 just maybe the first time you pray about it. 44:53 It's a day by day process, it's a change. 44:57 You said who was thought of your life. 44:59 I guarantee until you begin to really commit to prayer, 45:03 really commit to study the other things, 45:07 we're still ahead of God in your heart and mind. 45:09 It's with all of us, my life really changed, 45:13 your life can change 45:15 once you really commit to spending time with Him 45:19 before anything else. 45:20 Don't let the TV be turned on or these are really, 45:24 you've got to really watch, 45:27 and I like to study with them but we've got to be careful. 45:30 We put God first, we eat, you talked about food, 45:33 we eat of the Word 45:34 before we eat of any fleshly food, right? 45:37 When I say flesh, I mean physical food. 45:39 Yes. Thank you. 45:40 So we eat of God's words, 45:41 we pray first thing 45:43 because otherwise the enemy comes 45:44 in to steal, kill, and destroy. 45:46 He'll steal that time away from us. 45:47 Absolutely. 45:49 But your life can change 45:51 and you can become as Mrs. White says, 45:54 "God is looking for men and women who are straight 45:57 as steel, who will not bend 45:59 with everyone wind of doctrine." 46:01 And we're being hit with a lot of wind of doctrine 46:03 that is so close to the truth. 46:06 So close, why? 46:08 Because he was in the kingdom of heaven. 46:09 That's right. 46:11 He knows what the Spirit of God is like 46:13 and he imitates it nearly to a tee. 46:16 But there will be a percentage 46:18 that's all that we can be deceived by 46:20 if we don't go back to that course. 46:23 That's right. That's right. 46:24 1 Corinthians 16:13 says, 46:27 "Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, 46:30 show courage, be strong." 46:33 Why do you think these characteristics 46:35 are grouped together? 46:37 Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, 46:43 be strong, especially in these times. 46:46 Why do you think 46:48 these particular characteristics are? 46:50 Well, you have to be aware of your surroundings 46:53 and what's going on around you, 46:54 you know, even in the spiritual sense, 46:56 you know, there are things 46:57 that it's like that creeping compromise. 47:00 There's things that are packaged in a way 47:02 where it seems like oh, 47:03 this is good, where, you know, like, for example, 47:06 meditation, you know, 47:08 we're to meditate on the Word of God 47:10 not to empty our minds out and allow things to come in. 47:14 So we have to stay alert 47:16 on this slight twist of the enemy. 47:18 We have to stand firm in the faith 47:21 because we are to be unwavering in that. 47:25 You know, God is so faithful to us, 47:27 we need to be faithful to Him, 47:28 and we need to be taking in His Word. 47:32 You know, when you look at Christ's life, 47:34 and what He did when He was tempted 47:36 in all of those things, 47:37 He stood firm in His faith 47:39 and He knew the Word so well that when the devil 47:43 tried to throw in one or two 47:45 or three words that were different 47:47 than the original message, He didn't go for that. 47:51 So you have to stand firm in the faith, 47:53 you have to show courage and be strong, 47:55 because you know, 47:57 there's gonna be those scary times. 47:59 There are those scary moments. 48:01 You know, think about the time where Shadrach, Meshach, 48:03 and Abednego were about to get thrown 48:05 and they did get thrown into the fiery furnace, 48:09 but they stood firm and who was in there with them? 48:12 Christ. 48:13 Christ came down there, He's in there with them, 48:15 so when we stand firm, we're not standing alone. 48:18 When we're having to be courageous and strong, 48:20 we're not doing it alone. 48:22 Absolutely. 48:24 And when you summit and commit your life to Jesus, 48:28 and you're standing on the solid rock, 48:30 it gives you peace of mind. 48:32 Yes. 48:33 That in a troubled world is invaluable. 48:37 I would venture to say there are many billionaires 48:40 who would trade all that money for peace of mind, right? 48:44 Because you have the peace of mind because you know 48:48 that based on the Word of God, 48:50 so you continually go back to the Word of God. 48:53 And so, you know, our doctrines are important 48:56 because they are the glue that holds us together. 48:59 Otherwise you you're tossing to and fro, 49:02 you're going here and there, 49:04 and you always confused and always questions 49:07 and the Bible says, 49:08 we shouldn't be blown by every wind of doctrine. 49:10 Thank you. 49:11 So the only way that happens is to stay in the Word of God 49:14 to know what it is, 49:16 what the Bible says to say, Lord, 49:17 I'm willing to do that, 49:18 Lord, what do you want me to do? 49:20 I can tell you ever since we started 3ABN, 49:23 I've never once and I'm sure Kenny would say this, 49:25 never once ever doubted this was of the Lord 49:28 or this is what I'm supposed to do. 49:30 And anybody that knows me before 3ABN can tell you, 49:33 I went from here to there to there. 49:35 I jump on, you know, different things. 49:37 I did colporteuring for while, you know, 49:39 then got in construction, I tried insurance, 49:42 I do anything, 49:43 you know, when I was in school I would do, you know, 49:46 all I wanted to do is get out of school, 49:47 you know, so I can go play ball. 49:49 Some kind of do this, 49:50 do that and the other but when 3ABN came, 49:54 I've never looked back, never said it, boy, 49:57 I wonder if I really did the right thing. 49:58 Always, no matter what happened and most of the darts 50:03 come from within. 50:04 I don't have, it's not the Catholics, 50:07 and the Muslims and, you know, 50:09 people non-Christians out there 50:11 who were targeting 3ABN, or who hate 3ABN, 50:14 or make the phone calls, 50:16 and write the letters and have even come trying 50:18 to kill us physically. 50:19 And that's not, you know, 50:22 and I have had that on the outside, 50:23 but not so much inside but the spiritual warfare, 50:27 the verbal and all of this comes from within usually. 50:30 It's people who make claim, they're part of what you are, 50:35 but they hate 50:36 because you don't do what they say. 50:38 And so, I don't want to get in more detail about it. 50:40 But part of it is this, that when you stand firm, 50:45 expect you're going to have tremendous trial. 50:48 Expect you're gonna have tremendous attacks. 50:51 That's right. 50:52 But the devil can only attack you as much 50:55 as you allow him spiritually. 50:57 So the devil, you don't have to worry about him to say, 50:59 oh, boy, he's scared me. 51:01 No, get thee behind me Satan, you know, 51:04 in the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, 51:06 every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ 51:09 is Lord. 51:10 So you can have a peace of mind, 51:11 but when people come into physical 51:13 you can say, you know what? 51:15 I'm very thankful someone said not too long ago, 51:18 if I have to take 3ABN down to get to Danny, I will do it. 51:23 And I said, praise the Lord, because now I feel protected. 51:27 Yeah. 51:28 Because the idea was if I had to take 3ABN down to get 51:32 to Danny, then I'm like, oh, praise the Lord, 51:33 now I'm gonna take 3ABN down that's God's, 51:36 so, you know, hey, that's much better 51:38 than somebody saying, I'm going after Danny. 51:40 I'm just a human being you know, 51:41 I can fail and fall in many ways 51:44 but when you say I'm going to take 3ABN, 51:46 I would praise the Lord for that. 51:48 But, so my thing is when you're secure, 51:51 and you know you're in God's will, 51:53 there is a piece that money can't buy. 51:55 That's right. 51:57 And so, we don't lose sleep over what people say 52:00 or what they think or bad letter 52:02 or ugly things people say because you know, 52:06 you're doing what God has called you to do it, 52:08 and He has a plan for every one of you. 52:10 Those of you watching today, listening by radio, online, 52:15 God has a plan for your life. 52:16 There is no substitute for. 52:18 You can look all around the world. 52:20 A friend told me, he said, 52:21 I felt like he ended up singing in gospel group. 52:24 He said all my life is like the earth 52:26 was a bunch of footprint 52:27 and I would just go from one set of footprints 52:30 and say maybe this is mine, 52:32 then a little bit later, no, they didn't quite fit, 52:34 then I go to this one, maybe that footprint's mine, 52:37 but he said soon as I stepped into this, 52:40 that's what God called me to do. 52:41 Amen. Amen. 52:42 I am about 3ABN, I knew immediately that was it. 52:45 Am I perfect? No. 52:47 Do I make tremendous mistakes? 52:48 Yes. 52:50 But you know what? 52:51 I can fall back on the Lord Jesus Christ just like you can. 52:53 He's willing to forgive and forget. 52:55 Amen. Amen. 52:56 Good. Awesome. 52:58 I think we answered that question. 52:59 Why were those particular traits, 53:03 those characteristics in one place, 53:05 stay alert, stand firm in the faith, 53:07 show courage, be strong, 53:09 because we're gonna get attacked. 53:11 Yes. Oh, yeah. 53:12 That's why. 53:13 And I believe it that's why Paul said that 53:17 because he knew that 53:19 when you stand firm in the Lord, 53:22 you're going to be attacked. 53:24 Yeah, you're standing firm, we still need a voice. 53:28 Why? 53:29 When you stand firm, we say, sometime people say stand firm, 53:31 I'm just doing this but we have to be proclaiming 53:33 something too. 53:35 Right. 53:36 It's Luke 19:40 about Jesus, triumphal entry, 53:39 you remember when He came in on the donkey 53:41 and so on and so forth. 53:42 Yes. 53:43 And He said, if these people who were shouting 53:46 and excited about, 53:47 if they had held their peace, you remember this, 53:49 He said even the stones would cry out. 53:52 Yes, indeed. 53:53 You know, so we cannot, we stand firm for principle, 53:55 but we're not gonna be quiet. 53:58 Because we have a message to give to the world 54:00 and it's again, it said love message 54:02 all you want it is, 54:04 but it's a warning message of the coming of Jesus 54:06 and we need to be ready. 54:08 Just real quick, I think to stay alert, to stand firm, 54:10 to have the faith, to show courage, 54:12 the beautiful thing, 54:14 all those things are gifts of the Holy Spirit. 54:15 We don't have to... 54:16 Because If have look at that, I think, 54:18 I have none of those things but only through prayer, 54:21 only through the indwelling of His Spirit 54:23 can we even do that. 54:25 And I think how important this message is standing firm 54:28 for the time in which we live in because the days ahead. 54:31 I mean, if we're not faithful in these little things, 54:34 we'll never be faithful when there's much, 54:36 when our mediator steps down, he says it is done. 54:40 So we need Him to have strength in us. 54:43 Amen. Yes. 54:44 I have a quick statement, I'd like to read. 54:45 All right. 54:47 It's from Acts of the Apostles, page 431 and it says, 54:50 "God desires his people to prepare 54:53 for the soon coming crisis, 54:55 prepared or unprepared 54:57 they must all meet it and those only 54:59 who have brought their lives into conformity 55:01 to the divine standard will stand firm 55:04 at that time of test and trial. 55:06 When secular rulers unite with ministers of religion 55:10 to dictate in matters of conscience, 55:12 then it will be seen who really fear and serve God. 55:16 When the darkness is deepest, 55:18 the light of a godlike character 55:20 will shine the brightest. 55:22 When every other trust fails, 55:24 then it will be seen 55:25 who has an abiding trust in Jehovah. 55:29 And while the enemies of truth or on every side, 55:32 watching the Lord's servants for evil, 55:35 God will watch over them for good. 55:38 He will be to them as the shadow of a great rock 55:42 in a weary land." 55:43 Amen. 55:45 Stand firm. 55:46 Jason, you've got a closing thought. 55:48 Yes, you know, 55:50 perhaps someone out there has been searching 55:53 and they've been searching in all the wrong places. 55:56 If you've been out there and you've been searching 55:58 and you've turned to drugs, you've turned to alcohol, 56:00 you've turned to women or men or whatever it is or money. 56:05 These things cannot fill the void 56:07 that is in your heart right now. 56:08 These things cannot take the place of Christ. 56:11 Christ is the only one that can give you that peace, 56:14 that peace that passes all understanding, 56:17 that peace that you're longing to experience. 56:20 Whether you know it or not, you're searching for Christ, 56:23 but you're looking in all the wrong places. 56:25 So stop going to all of the wrong places 56:29 and start with Christ, you won't regret it. 56:33 Amen. Good. 56:34 We're getting it. 56:35 1 Thessalonians 5:21, it says, 56:37 "Prove all things and hold fast to that which is good." 56:41 Amen. 56:43 I was just thinking, you know, 56:44 I was kind of on the same page as him 56:46 because without Christ we can do nothing, 56:49 but with Christ we can do everything. 56:51 That same power that resurrected Christ 56:54 from the grave is there to give us life 56:56 anew on this earth today. 56:58 Amen. Amen. 57:00 Well, it's been a great program. 57:01 Yes. 57:03 I know I'm blessed, somebody else has blessed me. 57:04 Me too. Amen. 57:06 We're thankful to be here, we're thankful for you. 57:07 Thank you for your love, and your prayers, 57:09 and financial support of 3ABN 57:11 as we endeavor to take this great gospel 57:14 of the kingdom into all the world. 57:16 Well, Yvonne, I brought the program in today, 57:18 so I'm gonna let you take it out today. 57:20 You have 17 seconds, what do you gonna do with it? 57:24 I'm gonna read another scripture. 57:26 You got 10 seconds. 57:28 Ten seconds, well, I'm not, 57:29 I'm just gonna say thank you so much 57:32 for joining us and stand firm in the Lord, 57:34 you'll never regret it. 57:36 God bless. 57:37 Amen. |
Revised 2019-04-19