Thank you, folks. We're
very happy to welcome all of you
00:00:18.48\00:00:21.38
back tonight.
Appreciate you being here.
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You're going to be
blessed especially tonight
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as you listen to Steve Darmody
sing for us at this time.
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As I see the marks of sin
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I feel a sadness
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but there's a thought
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that always
brings a sweet release.
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Soon our Savior will be here...
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that day is drawing near
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when tears,
trials, and heartaches
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all will cease.
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Oh, how wonderful
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heaven will be!
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To be with Jesus
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throughout eternity.
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No earthly thing can compare
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to what is waiting for us
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there...
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Oh, how wonderful
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heaven will be!
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Oh, just think of
all the countless joys
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of heaven.
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A better land, a better life
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than we could know.
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We will be forever safe
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through His forgiving grace.
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This gift is ours
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because He loves us so.
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Oh, how wonderful
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heaven will be!
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To be with Jesus
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throughout eternity.
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No earthly thing can compare
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to what is waiting for us
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there...
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Oh, how wonderful
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heaven will be!
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Oh, how wonderful
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heaven will be!
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To be with Jesus
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throughout eternity.
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No earthly thing
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can compare
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to what is waiting for us
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there...
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Oh, how wonderful
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heaven will be...
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Oh, how wonderful
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heaven
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will
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be!
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Tonight our subject
is So Many Blessings
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I Can't Count Them.
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We have not the foggiest idea
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of what God does
for you and for me.
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And tonight
Maddy's going to sing
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a song about the goodness of God
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to you and to me. What
He does for us day by day.
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From the very moment
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I met Jesus there
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I had peace and joy
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within.
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Life is filled with meaning...
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gone are doubt and care.
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He's forgiven all
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my sins.
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God is good to me.
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Out of His abundance
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blessing like the rain
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comes pouring down.
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He renews my spirit,
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satisfies my soul,
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fills me with His love
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divine!
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God is good to me,
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and it all began
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when Jesus made His presence
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known.
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Gratitude o'erwhelms me
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making my heart sing
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for I am His and He
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is mine!
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When I wake each morning
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to my heart's delight
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He is waiting there
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for me.
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When I'm in His presence
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everything's all right.
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That's where I'm content
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to be.
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God is good to me,
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out of His resources
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blessings like the
rain come pouring down.
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He renews my spirit,
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satisfies my soul,
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fills me with His love
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divine!
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God is good to me,
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and it all began
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when Jesus made His presence
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known.
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Gratitude o'erwhelms me
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making my heart sing
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for I am His
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and He is
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mine!
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Our Father in heaven,
we come to You tonight
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thanking you for
all the wonderful things
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that You've done for us.
You've been so good to us.
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Lord, may we take note
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of what Your Word
says about Your blessings.
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May we surrender
our lives to You.
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And we ask that You
will give us the wisdom,
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the understanding that we need
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that we might learn
how to walk by faith
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and to please You
in all that we do.
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For this we ask in
Christ's name, Amen.
00:10:25.82\00:10:29.49
Have you ever had
someone say to you
00:10:35.76\00:10:37.83
when you were talking about
somebody else and they said:
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"Well, they have
lived a blessed life? "
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"They've been
blessed in a special way. "
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You see, I found
that in the Scripture
00:10:47.38\00:10:50.45
God wants to bless you.
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In fact, you're acquainted
with texts where it says
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that He's more willing
to give you the Holy Spirit
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than you are to give
good gifts to your children.
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It says that
God cares about you.
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He wants to bless
you in a special way.
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Promises that.
00:11:08.56\00:11:09.90
Well, if someone would
have just shared with me
00:11:10.60\00:11:14.67
years ago when I
was a young person
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what I'm going to
share with you tonight
00:11:18.34\00:11:20.28
it would have made a
marked difference in my life.
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I mean a very
definite difference in my life.
00:11:24.95\00:11:27.82
And so I hope that
each of you here tonight
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will listen carefully, and
I hope that you're blessed.
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And I hope that from this day on
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it will make a marked
difference in your life.
00:11:36.29\00:11:38.76
And particularly young
people. I hope this will
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be of great great help to you
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because God wants to bless you.
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He says this, Ezekiel 34:26:
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God says: "I'll make
them and everything around
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a blessing. " And He
promises that He will do that.
00:11:59.95\00:12:04.29
And as you read
through the Scripture
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you can see where God
made definite promises
00:12:07.26\00:12:10.73
and how He carried
out those promises.
00:12:10.93\00:12:13.90
Joshua: folks, the children
of Israel have gone through
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40 years in the wilderness.
00:12:18.23\00:12:19.70
They have now gone
into the land of Canaan.
00:12:20.57\00:12:24.21
They have driven out the
Canaanites and the Perizzites
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and Jebusites and all the
Hittites and all these people.
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Joshua is old.
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Come time for him to die.
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I want you to
listen to his words.
00:12:37.49\00:12:40.89
Now listen, folks:
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Of all the things that God
promised the children of Israel
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he's saying: "Not one
word of it has failed. "
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Think about that.
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Promised that He would
care for them, look after them,
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what He would give
them. And everything that God
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promised happened.
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I mean, Nehemiah
talks about this.
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Talks about what happened
to them as they were going
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through the wilderness
and how God cared for them.
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I mean, have you ever
been out in the Sinai desert?
00:14:00.14\00:14:03.51
Huh? Have you ever been there?
00:14:04.54\00:14:06.21
Folks, it won't even grow a weed
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let alone a cow.
00:14:10.35\00:14:12.11
I mean, nothing
there and yet it says
00:14:12.51\00:14:14.65
"you lacked nothing. " OK?
00:14:14.85\00:14:18.19
"Their clothes did not wear out
and their feet did not swell. "
00:14:18.39\00:14:24.33
Nothing they lacked!
00:14:24.53\00:14:26.83
So here you're
going down through time
00:14:27.03\00:14:28.93
and God promises
and cared for them.
00:14:29.13\00:14:31.10
Ask Solomon. Blessing the temple
00:14:31.30\00:14:34.77
and he's talking to
all the children of Israel.
00:14:34.97\00:14:36.91
These are his words:
00:14:37.31\00:14:39.27
Do you know what the Scripture
says about the days of Solomon?
00:14:50.59\00:14:54.09
Do you know what
it says about it?
00:14:56.29\00:14:57.89
It says that
gold was like stones.
00:14:58.89\00:15:04.53
I mean, they were
blessed beyond comprehension.
00:15:07.54\00:15:11.74
Very, very special way accord-
ing to all that He promised.
00:15:12.81\00:15:16.61
Listen to what He promised:
00:15:16.85\00:15:18.18
He said:
"Everything that God promised
00:15:25.89\00:15:28.02
everything happened. "
00:15:28.22\00:15:30.16
So what I'm trying
to get across to you
00:15:30.99\00:15:33.13
is if the Book here, folks,
00:15:33.33\00:15:35.46
promises it, do you
think it will happen?
00:15:35.66\00:15:38.60
Huh? You convinced of that?
00:15:40.14\00:15:42.50
The Bible says
that if God promises it
00:15:43.51\00:15:46.68
it'll happen
because the Scripture says
00:15:46.88\00:15:49.24
"God cannot lie. "
00:15:49.44\00:15:51.58
So what I'm telling you tonight
00:16:17.21\00:16:19.41
that God will
not fail on His part.
00:16:19.61\00:16:23.55
OK? God will not
fail on His part.
00:16:24.41\00:16:28.28
Promises certain
things to you and me.
00:16:28.68\00:16:31.79
He said: "God
promised it; hang on;
00:16:44.37\00:16:47.04
He can't lie. "
00:16:47.24\00:16:49.24
In fact, when Jesus was on earth
00:16:49.74\00:16:54.34
He sent the disciples out.
00:16:55.38\00:16:57.28
Now you weigh
carefully the way He sent them,
00:16:58.38\00:17:00.62
'cause this is the way
He sent them here in Luke...
00:17:00.82\00:17:03.08
Luke 22:35:
00:17:03.28\00:17:04.82
Didn't lack a thing.
00:17:28.11\00:17:30.15
God was more than
capable of taking care of them.
00:17:30.35\00:17:34.85
Do you think He's capable
of taking care of you tonight?
00:17:35.05\00:17:37.82
An old preacher was visiting
one of his parishioners...
00:17:38.82\00:17:43.66
an old lady.
00:17:44.06\00:17:46.39
When he got to the home
and he was visiting with her
00:17:47.50\00:17:49.60
he picked up her Bible.
00:17:49.80\00:17:51.13
And as he picked up her Bible
he began to page through it
00:17:52.23\00:17:55.57
and he found certain
texts that were underlined.
00:17:55.77\00:17:59.31
And then underneath the
text would be written the letter
00:17:59.51\00:18:01.98
T and P.
00:18:02.18\00:18:04.48
And he thumbed through it
and he saw these all the way
00:18:04.88\00:18:07.22
through the Scripture.
And finally he said to her,
00:18:07.42\00:18:09.88
he said: "What are these
texts that you have underlined
00:18:10.09\00:18:13.56
here in your Bible? " She said:
"Oh those are promises of God. "
00:18:13.76\00:18:16.26
She said: "Those
are all promises. "
00:18:17.13\00:18:18.96
And he said: "Well that's fine"
he said: "but what do these
00:18:19.36\00:18:21.26
letters T and P mean? "
00:18:21.50\00:18:23.20
She said: "Oh, that
means tried and proven. "
00:18:23.60\00:18:25.93
See? And it'll work!
00:18:26.94\00:18:28.64
Tried and proven:
the promises of God.
00:18:29.04\00:18:32.94
Now, what I am telling you
tonight is all, all the promises
00:18:33.38\00:18:39.18
in this Book -
listen to me carefully -
00:18:39.38\00:18:41.48
all the promises in
this Book are conditional.
00:18:41.88\00:18:45.52
Don't think they're not.
00:18:48.12\00:18:50.26
All the promises in
this Book are conditional.
00:18:50.66\00:18:55.06
If you and I
fill the conditions,
00:18:56.33\00:18:59.80
God will carry out His promise.
00:19:00.34\00:19:02.84
That's what you've got
to understand in your head:
00:19:03.94\00:19:06.68
that if you
fulfill the conditions
00:19:06.88\00:19:09.94
God will carry out His promise.
00:19:10.15\00:19:12.31
When I was a young person
if somebody would have just
00:19:12.51\00:19:14.98
made that clear to me, what
a difference it would have made
00:19:15.18\00:19:18.89
in my life. Listen... this
is what the Scripture is saying,
00:19:19.09\00:19:22.39
what God
promises to you and to me.
00:19:22.59\00:19:24.56
Deuteronomy 11:26:
00:19:24.76\00:19:26.56
A blessing and a curse.
00:19:34.37\00:19:36.94
That's what He's
setting there before you.
00:19:37.14\00:19:38.84
All right?
00:19:39.04\00:19:40.38
He said: "Here's the
blessing if you obey. "
00:19:48.12\00:19:52.02
That's the condition, right?
00:19:52.92\00:19:54.76
Yes, that's the condition.
"If you obey, gonna bless you. "
00:19:55.16\00:19:58.36
That's what He promises.
00:19:58.56\00:19:59.89
They're
conditional... all of them are.
00:20:05.27\00:20:07.90
But they're marvelous promises.
00:20:08.30\00:20:10.64
And the conditions,
folks, are not difficult.
00:20:10.84\00:20:13.98
They're not hard.
00:20:14.38\00:20:15.84
I have people say to
me: "Well, Brother Cox,
00:20:16.75\00:20:19.71
I don't know... " You
listen, God promises this:
00:20:20.98\00:20:24.65
See if you do that you're
going to receive the curse.
00:20:31.66\00:20:34.03
OK. you say: "Well, I've
lived a very very bad life. "
00:20:34.93\00:20:40.94
I talk to people and they
say: "Oh, the Lord could never
00:20:41.94\00:20:45.14
could never forgive me.
Could never forgive me...
00:20:45.34\00:20:48.24
I've done such bad things
that the Lord just couldn't
00:20:48.44\00:20:52.28
forgive me. " Well, you want
to see what the condition is
00:20:52.48\00:20:56.52
to be forgiven?
00:20:57.42\00:20:58.75
This is the condition;
this is what the Scripture says.
00:20:59.69\00:21:02.59
If you have lived
a very wicked life,
00:21:13.77\00:21:16.91
you have done a
lot of bad things,
00:21:17.11\00:21:19.31
all that God asks you
to do - the condition is -
00:21:19.51\00:21:22.98
is to come to Him
and confess our sins.
00:21:23.18\00:21:27.22
Confess your sins to Him.
00:21:27.42\00:21:29.12
What will happen?
00:21:29.32\00:21:30.69
OK... here's the promise:
00:21:31.45\00:21:33.96
Dear friend, I don't
care how bad you've been.
00:21:41.06\00:21:43.20
God's not interested in
keeping you out of heaven.
00:21:44.30\00:21:47.07
God's interested in
getting you in! Amen!
00:21:47.27\00:21:49.50
And so all He
just says to you is
00:21:49.87\00:21:51.84
"Come to Me; confess your sins.
00:21:52.04\00:21:54.41
And if you'll confess
them, I will forgive them. "
00:21:54.61\00:21:59.28
He is faithful.
That means God is on duty
00:21:59.68\00:22:04.95
24 hours a day. OK?
00:22:05.15\00:22:08.86
He's faithful; He's just.
00:22:09.06\00:22:11.76
He'll forgive your sins.
00:22:12.63\00:22:14.50
That's the condition. All
you've gotta do is confess them.
00:22:15.40\00:22:19.27
OK? You say: "Well...
00:22:19.97\00:22:22.40
I'm not real sure that
there's any hope for me. "
00:22:23.41\00:22:27.84
"Not real sure
that I could be forgiven
00:22:28.71\00:22:31.78
and that I could be saved. "
00:22:31.98\00:22:33.42
"I'm not sure that there's
really any hope for me. "
00:22:33.62\00:22:36.12
Well, what is the
condition for salvation?
00:22:36.52\00:22:39.59
You know? What do I
have to do to be saved?
00:22:41.42\00:22:44.83
What is the
condition for being saved?
00:22:45.03\00:22:48.56
Well, let's look.
00:22:48.76\00:22:50.10
That's the condition.
00:22:57.64\00:22:59.47
If you want to be saved you have
to call on the name of the Lord.
00:23:00.38\00:23:04.85
That's what it says.
00:23:05.88\00:23:07.22
Come to Him; call on Him.
00:23:07.25\00:23:09.02
Say: "Here I am, Lord. I'm lost!
00:23:09.22\00:23:11.39
I'm a sinner; I've
done all these bad things.
00:23:11.59\00:23:13.96
My life is a wreck,
Lord... I'm coming to You. "
00:23:14.16\00:23:16.83
And this is what
the Scripture says:
00:23:17.03\00:23:18.73
Promise: "shall be saved. "
00:23:18.93\00:23:23.90
Whoever calls on the name
of the Lord shall be saved.
00:23:24.10\00:23:28.97
Dear friend, don't tell me
tonight that you're too bad.
00:23:29.17\00:23:34.18
Don't tell me that
you can't do all this.
00:23:34.78\00:23:37.91
Those are not the conditions.
00:23:38.11\00:23:39.81
The condition is that you
call upon the name of the Lord.
00:23:40.02\00:23:42.72
Call on the name of the
Lord and you SHALL be saved.
00:23:44.29\00:23:48.76
That's the promise He gives you.
00:23:48.96\00:23:50.43
Well, you say:
"What about baptism? "
00:23:51.33\00:23:56.20
"I really... what's the
condition for baptism? "
00:23:57.77\00:24:02.37
I run onto
people that say: "Well,
00:24:02.97\00:24:04.77
you know, do I really
have to be baptized? "
00:24:04.97\00:24:07.78
Well, let's look and see
what the Scripture tells us.
00:24:08.18\00:24:10.58
That person who believes...
00:24:20.09\00:24:21.82
part of the step...
00:24:22.02\00:24:24.13
"and is baptized... "
Let's see. That's the condition
00:24:24.33\00:24:27.50
what's the promise?
00:24:27.70\00:24:29.03
So the Scripture is
very, very clear, folks.
00:24:31.70\00:24:34.24
All the promises
here - all of them -
00:24:34.44\00:24:37.84
are based on conditions.
00:24:38.04\00:24:40.38
All you and I have to do
is fulfill the conditions.
00:24:40.58\00:24:43.55
The condition is if
you want to be saved
00:24:43.75\00:24:45.81
call on the name of the Lord.
00:24:46.01\00:24:47.62
That's the condition.
00:24:48.52\00:24:50.09
If you want to be saved, then
call on the name of the Lord,
00:24:50.29\00:24:53.46
accept Him as your
Savior, be baptized.
00:24:53.66\00:24:56.12
Those are the conditions.
00:24:57.03\00:24:59.43
How often we try
to make our own. No!
00:25:00.80\00:25:05.80
All you've gotta do
is do what God asks.
00:25:06.00\00:25:09.14
Those are the conditions.
00:25:10.11\00:25:11.61
You say: "Well, what
about my daily needs? "
00:25:12.64\00:25:16.51
What about, you know...
what about such things as
00:25:16.95\00:25:20.92
food. Is that involved?
00:25:21.12\00:25:25.32
Does it involve what I eat?
00:25:25.82\00:25:28.86
Or what about
such things as shelter?
00:25:29.26\00:25:32.23
Or what about such
things as clothing?
00:25:32.63\00:25:37.17
Does that enter
into the picture?
00:25:37.37\00:25:40.04
Well, let's look
at the condition.
00:25:40.34\00:25:42.97
See what God
has to say about it.
00:25:43.17\00:25:45.01
Now what did it say?
00:25:53.42\00:25:55.25
"Well, I know this is what
the Lord would like for me to do
00:25:56.48\00:26:01.29
but my work
interferes with this. "
00:26:01.49\00:26:05.23
"I know this is
what God wants me to do
00:26:06.49\00:26:09.83
but if I do that
that's going to...
00:26:10.07\00:26:13.64
to affect my life too much. "
00:26:13.84\00:26:17.14
Seek what? "First
the kingdom of God... "
00:26:20.68\00:26:25.35
In other words, God
say: "If you want to have
00:26:25.75\00:26:28.45
food, if you
want to have shelter,
00:26:28.65\00:26:31.05
if you want to have clothing,
00:26:31.25\00:26:33.56
then seek first
the kingdom of God. "
00:26:33.76\00:26:37.36
And if you do that,
what's going to happen?
00:26:37.76\00:26:40.03
Let's look at the promise.
00:26:40.23\00:26:41.56
"Oh, " you say, "Well Bro.
Cox, that doesn't mean food
00:26:48.67\00:26:51.24
and that doesn't mean shelter
00:26:51.44\00:26:52.77
and that
doesn't mean clothing. "
00:26:52.81\00:26:54.18
Oh yes it does.
00:26:54.21\00:26:55.68
Oh yes it does. Just
read the text before it.
00:26:56.08\00:26:58.85
Listen to what it has to say.
00:26:59.25\00:27:00.75
"But seek first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness.
00:27:12.39\00:27:15.73
All these things" - right
there - "will be added to you. "
00:27:15.93\00:27:20.64
OK? So dear friends, let's get
our priorities right tonight.
00:27:21.77\00:27:26.54
If you want to be blessed,
00:27:27.64\00:27:29.81
if you want a blessed life,
00:27:30.25\00:27:31.91
then put God first.
00:27:32.11\00:27:35.08
Doesn't come
after everything else.
00:27:36.02\00:27:40.06
You know? Don't get through
with everything else and then
00:27:40.76\00:27:43.09
say: "Well, if there's any-
thing left for the Lord, OK. "
00:27:43.29\00:27:45.63
But seek Him first
and His righteousness
00:27:45.83\00:27:49.93
all these things
will be added to you.
00:27:50.37\00:27:53.54
Promises that.
00:27:54.47\00:27:55.90
Well, say: "Sure would
like to have a child. "
00:27:56.20\00:28:02.18
"Prayed for a child.
Does that have anything to do
00:28:04.18\00:28:08.55
with my serving the Lord
00:28:08.75\00:28:10.89
whether He'll give me a
child or whether He won't? "
00:28:11.29\00:28:14.16
Does that enter into it?
00:28:15.19\00:28:16.73
Now folks, I'm talking to
you about living it day by day
00:28:17.23\00:28:21.73
for the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:28:21.93\00:28:23.37
Have you been praying for
a child and haven't had one?
00:28:23.87\00:28:27.17
You'd like to have a child?
00:28:28.14\00:28:30.01
Well, let's see
what the conditions are.
00:28:30.41\00:28:32.67
So the Bible says:
"If you fear the Lord
00:28:43.79\00:28:46.59
and you walk in His ways..."
00:28:46.79\00:28:49.96
Let's see what the promises
are that God says will happen.
00:28:50.16\00:28:52.93
OK. He said: "If
you fear the Lord,
00:29:00.94\00:29:02.80
you walk in His ways,
when you sit down to eat
00:29:03.00\00:29:06.71
you'll be? happy... "
00:29:06.91\00:29:09.41
"and it shall
be well with you. "
00:29:09.61\00:29:13.92
Now listen... let's continue on
because the promise hasn't ended
00:29:14.12\00:29:16.92
here. We're continuing
in Psalm 128 verses 2 and 3:
00:29:17.12\00:29:20.99
You want children?
There's the promise right there.
00:29:31.93\00:29:37.14
All you have to do is fear God
00:29:37.61\00:29:40.18
and walk in His ways
00:29:41.21\00:29:42.94
and that's the
promise that He gives.
00:29:43.14\00:29:45.21
See, I'm trying to
get across to you, folks,
00:29:46.41\00:29:48.85
not one word of
that Book will fail.
00:29:49.05\00:29:52.65
Moses said: "You can't think
of anything that God promised
00:29:54.16\00:29:57.23
that's failed! " And
it won't fail for you
00:29:57.43\00:30:00.60
if you fulfill the conditions.
00:30:00.80\00:30:02.83
That's all God is asking of you
00:30:03.90\00:30:05.90
is just fulfill the conditions.
00:30:06.10\00:30:08.87
So if you're
concerned about having children,
00:30:09.07\00:30:11.87
then fear the
Lord, walk in His ways.
00:30:12.27\00:30:14.88
Have you read in the Bible
about a woman that did that?
00:30:15.08\00:30:17.45
Huh? You ever read in
the Bible about a woman
00:30:18.15\00:30:20.82
who did that? "Behold,
thus shall the man be... " What?
00:30:20.98\00:30:24.42
"blessed... " Who
what? "fears the Lord. "
00:30:24.62\00:30:27.76
OK. Have you ever
read about Hannah?
00:30:27.96\00:30:30.46
Hmm? Didn't have any children.
00:30:31.53\00:30:34.00
Felt terrible 'cause
she never had a child.
00:30:35.16\00:30:38.30
But she feared God.
00:30:39.67\00:30:42.00
She walked in His ways
and she pled with the Lord
00:30:42.50\00:30:46.34
and He gave her a
child. You remember that?
00:30:46.54\00:30:49.51
Named the child Samuel.
00:30:50.05\00:30:53.52
Yes. I Samuel 1:27:
00:30:53.72\00:30:57.59
She said: "For
this child I prayed!
00:31:07.70\00:31:09.70
And God answered that
prayer; gave me this child. "
00:31:09.90\00:31:13.84
And He'll do the
same for you, folks.
00:31:14.04\00:31:16.81
"Oh, " you say, "Well, I'd
like to live a long life. "
00:31:18.14\00:31:23.95
"I'd like to have the
promise of a long life. "
00:31:24.91\00:31:29.02
Well, that's conditional.
00:31:30.19\00:31:32.25
Did you know
that? It's conditional.
00:31:32.45\00:31:35.22
Let's see what
the conditions are.
00:31:35.42\00:31:37.23
That's the condition.
00:31:46.17\00:31:47.54
You want to live a long life?
00:31:47.74\00:31:49.40
Honor your parents...
young people particularly.
00:31:49.60\00:31:52.74
And I have some say: "Well,
my parents aren't very nice. "
00:31:53.41\00:31:56.01
Well, that may be true
00:31:57.35\00:31:59.85
but you still have an
obligation to honor them.
00:32:00.25\00:32:03.62
You don't have to
agree with their ways
00:32:05.35\00:32:07.36
if their ways are wrong
00:32:07.56\00:32:09.06
but you still
have to honor them.
00:32:09.26\00:32:10.83
That God expects. If you
want to live a long life,
00:32:11.63\00:32:14.33
honor your
parents, young people.
00:32:14.53\00:32:16.77
It has more to do with you
than you have any concept of.
00:32:16.97\00:32:21.97
Honor your parents.
00:32:22.84\00:32:24.31
This is what
happens if you honor them.
00:32:24.51\00:32:26.34
Let's look at the promise:
00:32:26.54\00:32:27.88
Said: "If you want
to live a long life,
00:32:37.09\00:32:39.52
if you want to have a happy life
that it might be well with you,
00:32:39.72\00:32:43.43
then honor your parents. "
00:32:43.83\00:32:46.43
It's a promise given to you.
00:32:46.73\00:32:49.53
You see, no one ever bothered
to explain all these things
00:32:49.73\00:32:53.64
to me when I was growing up.
00:32:53.84\00:32:56.57
Nobody ever told me all
these wonderful promises.
00:32:57.61\00:33:01.31
That if I would just do
those what God would do.
00:33:01.51\00:33:07.02
When I began to understand them
00:33:07.88\00:33:09.95
changed my life completely.
00:33:10.19\00:33:13.46
Changed it completely.
00:33:14.29\00:33:15.72
Financial help? You say: "Man,
00:33:16.96\00:33:20.63
it's a struggle all the time. "
00:33:20.83\00:33:23.16
"Can't seem to get ahead. "
00:33:24.67\00:33:28.40
"Constantly working; I
can't seem to get anywhere. "
00:33:28.60\00:33:31.31
Folks, don't misunderstand me...
00:33:32.47\00:33:34.91
I'm not trying to offer you
God just for financial help.
00:33:35.21\00:33:39.95
But I am trying to tell you
that if you will follow Him,
00:33:40.85\00:33:44.95
if you will
fulfill the conditions,
00:33:45.15\00:33:47.16
He will bless
you. Promises that.
00:33:47.36\00:33:50.03
Now I'm going to
share some things with you
00:33:50.53\00:33:52.89
that probably are going
to be kind of shocking to you
00:33:53.40\00:33:56.70
as far as what it takes
to be blessed financially.
00:33:57.27\00:34:00.94
But let me show you.
One thing that it says
00:34:01.27\00:34:03.71
very clearly that if you
want to be blessed financially
00:34:03.91\00:34:07.28
is you have to give.
00:34:07.68\00:34:09.38
Hmm.
00:34:10.35\00:34:11.68
You say: "What do you mean give?
00:34:11.95\00:34:13.82
I don't have
anything to give with! "
00:34:14.22\00:34:16.05
Well, let's look
and see what God says.
00:34:17.09\00:34:19.99
Let's look at the conditions.
00:34:20.19\00:34:21.69
That is a condition,
folks. In fact, giving
00:34:34.14\00:34:38.41
is the law of
heaven. Did you know that?
00:34:38.61\00:34:41.31
Giving is the law of heaven.
00:34:41.91\00:34:44.51
And you never can
get anywhere financially
00:34:44.71\00:34:47.95
if you don't give.
00:34:48.15\00:34:50.09
Won't work! Sorry.
00:34:50.49\00:34:52.69
If you give, you want
to see what the promise is?
00:34:53.09\00:34:56.39
This is what the
Scripture promises:
00:34:56.83\00:34:58.56
Huh! That's the promise:
00:35:11.27\00:35:14.54
that if you give, God
will bless you and it will be
00:35:14.74\00:35:19.01
given to you good
measure, pressed down,
00:35:19.21\00:35:21.65
running over.
00:35:21.85\00:35:23.69
The very same measure that
you use in giving to others
00:35:33.50\00:35:38.00
it'll be given back to you.
00:35:38.20\00:35:39.97
That's the promise.
00:35:41.07\00:35:42.87
So if you want to
get ahead financially
00:35:44.14\00:35:47.71
give. Say: "It's crazy! "
00:35:48.31\00:35:53.11
I know it is... but it's true!
00:35:53.42\00:35:55.95
It works... it works.
00:35:56.35\00:35:58.82
Now there's another thing that
I want to tell you that works
00:35:59.82\00:36:03.29
concerning finances. You
may not have understood it
00:36:03.53\00:36:07.30
but I can tell you right now...
And let me tell you something:
00:36:07.50\00:36:09.76
I don't know very many things
00:36:09.96\00:36:12.90
that are good or I
can say are really nice
00:36:13.34\00:36:17.51
about old age. You know?
00:36:17.71\00:36:20.08
I can't really enumerate
a lot of things that old age
00:36:20.28\00:36:23.95
does for you. But one
thing it does do for you
00:36:24.15\00:36:28.22
is it gives you the
ability to look back
00:36:28.62\00:36:31.62
and see how
things have taken place.
00:36:31.82\00:36:34.49
You see, you can do that.
00:36:35.42\00:36:37.16
And I can tell
you over the years
00:36:37.36\00:36:39.36
I have watched and I have seen
this principle over and over...
00:36:39.56\00:36:43.77
And I've seen people
struggle over it and say:
00:36:43.97\00:36:46.60
"Oh, I can't do that"
00:36:46.84\00:36:48.34
and I've seen other people that
said: "Oh, I don't understand
00:36:48.54\00:36:51.47
how this is going to
work" and they did it anyhow
00:36:51.67\00:36:53.78
and how God
abundantly blessed them.
00:36:53.98\00:36:57.25
Let me tell you what it is.
00:36:57.98\00:36:59.31
Sabbath. If you want
to be blessed financially
00:37:01.98\00:37:07.09
keep the Sabbath.
00:37:07.49\00:37:09.02
I'm dead serious.
00:37:11.09\00:37:12.66
I've seen people say:
"Oh, if I was to keep Sabbath
00:37:12.86\00:37:16.06
I'd lose my job! "
00:37:16.26\00:37:17.60
You might... you might.
00:37:17.97\00:37:21.10
But let me tell you
something: if you do,
00:37:22.07\00:37:24.74
God will bless you.
00:37:25.14\00:37:27.88
Now let me explain
a principle to you.
00:37:28.28\00:37:31.08
God never asks
you... God NEVER asks you
00:37:31.58\00:37:35.55
to do something that
it costs you that God
00:37:35.75\00:37:39.42
in turn won't repay.
00:37:39.62\00:37:41.19
You remember the time when
Jesus was speaking to the crowd?
00:37:43.19\00:37:45.89
And there were so many of them
they had backed Him clear up
00:37:46.80\00:37:50.87
to the shores of
the Sea of Galilee.
00:37:51.07\00:37:52.70
And they were right in His face
00:37:53.10\00:37:55.07
so close to Him He couldn't talk
00:37:55.37\00:37:57.24
and so He asked Peter
if He could use his boat.
00:37:57.44\00:37:59.64
And He stepped in Peter's boat,
00:38:00.08\00:38:01.91
had Peter row back
from the shore a little bit,
00:38:02.11\00:38:04.38
and then He could see the
crowd and He spoke to them.
00:38:04.58\00:38:07.68
When He finished
He said to Peter:
00:38:07.88\00:38:10.19
"Cast in your net. "
00:38:10.39\00:38:11.72
And Peter said: "What
are You talking about, Lord?
00:38:12.32\00:38:13.96
We just fished all night
and didn't catch anything. "
00:38:14.16\00:38:16.29
Now folks, the Sea of
Galilee is perfectly clear.
00:38:16.83\00:38:21.30
They only fish it at night.
00:38:21.50\00:38:23.70
OK? They had
fished all night long.
00:38:24.10\00:38:26.84
"There's no fish
there... you can look and see! "
00:38:27.04\00:38:29.90
And Peter said:
"Nevertheless at Your word
00:38:30.94\00:38:34.28
I'll throw in the net.
" And he threw in the net
00:38:34.44\00:38:36.54
and they caught so many fish
that the nets were breaking.
00:38:36.75\00:38:39.38
Now do you understand
what was happening here?
00:38:39.78\00:38:42.52
Do you understand
what's happening here?
00:38:42.92\00:38:44.52
All Jesus is doing is
paying Peter for using his boat.
00:38:44.92\00:38:49.39
See? That's what's
happening here, folks.
00:38:51.59\00:38:53.83
And so you need to understand
00:38:55.00\00:38:57.80
that when God
simply says "Do this! "
00:38:58.00\00:39:01.20
I don't care if it
costs you. God will repay.
00:39:01.40\00:39:05.07
It says He is a rewarder
00:39:05.27\00:39:07.91
of those that
diligently seek Him.
00:39:08.11\00:39:10.75
So if you keep the Sabbath,
what's He going to do for you?
00:39:11.51\00:39:14.55
OK... look...
00:39:14.75\00:39:16.42
here's the condition:
00:39:16.62\00:39:18.82
That means don't
trod it underfoot.
00:39:21.72\00:39:24.16
Don't treat it with disrespect.
00:39:24.36\00:39:25.99
He said: "If you stop
doing what you want to do... "
00:39:29.56\00:39:32.33
OK?
00:39:32.53\00:39:34.84
Those are the conditions.
You don't trod the Sabbath
00:39:41.51\00:39:44.28
underfoot. You don't do your
own pleasure on His holy day...
00:39:44.48\00:39:47.88
on the Sabbath. You
call the Sabbath a delight,
00:39:48.08\00:39:50.49
the holy day of the
Lord and honor Him... " OK:
00:39:50.69\00:39:53.76
He said: "This is not a day
00:39:59.89\00:40:02.73
that you are to
use for yourself. "
00:40:02.93\00:40:05.30
And let me get something clear.
00:40:05.50\00:40:07.07
I had someone tell me that,
they said: "Oh, it doesn't make
00:40:07.47\00:40:10.51
any difference
which day you keep. "
00:40:10.71\00:40:13.88
"You can keep any day.
Whichever day you want to keep
00:40:14.08\00:40:16.51
for the Sabbath that's OK. "
00:40:16.75\00:40:18.88
Let me tell you
something tonight:
00:40:19.28\00:40:20.92
that is OK - OK? provided
00:40:21.12\00:40:26.02
you're the one
that calls the shots.
00:40:26.22\00:40:28.49
OK? Provided you're the
one that's calling the shots.
00:40:29.79\00:40:34.30
But if God's the One
that's calling the shots,
00:40:34.50\00:40:37.17
then it makes a
great, great difference.
00:40:37.37\00:40:39.80
See? Because it's His day... OK?
00:40:40.64\00:40:43.81
So He said: "If you'll
quit walking on the Sabbath,
00:40:44.01\00:40:46.68
if you'll treat it with
respect, if you'll honor Me
00:40:46.88\00:40:49.64
not doing your own ways... "
00:40:49.84\00:40:51.18
What's He going to do for you?
00:40:51.35\00:40:52.85
Let's look at the promise.
00:40:53.05\00:40:54.68
You want to make the Lord happy?
00:40:58.99\00:41:00.36
Dear friends, if you
want to get along financially,
00:41:19.24\00:41:22.48
then keep the Sabbath.
00:41:22.98\00:41:25.05
God won't fail.
00:41:26.01\00:41:28.65
OK. One other thing if you
want to prosper financially.
00:41:29.78\00:41:34.79
Then the Bible says
if you want to do that
00:41:35.12\00:41:37.56
then you need to
return the tithe.
00:41:37.76\00:41:41.36
Scripture is very clear on that.
00:41:42.53\00:41:44.30
I can tell you right now...
00:41:45.33\00:41:47.87
I've had people say:
"Oh, Brother Cox. What are you
00:41:48.07\00:41:49.84
talking about? " I've
had young couples to me...
00:41:50.04\00:41:51.71
come to me and they say:
"Oh, Brother Cox, we're in
00:41:51.91\00:41:54.28
terrible financial
shape. What can we do
00:41:54.44\00:41:56.85
to get out of this
condition we're in? "
00:41:57.05\00:41:59.28
And I say: "Return the tithe. "
00:41:59.48\00:42:03.15
And they say: "What do you mean
00:42:03.39\00:42:04.72
return the tithe? We don't
have enough to live on now! "
00:42:04.82\00:42:07.26
If you want to get out of
debt, return the tithe. Amen!
00:42:08.22\00:42:12.33
That's a promise. Let's
look... here is the condition:
00:42:12.93\00:42:18.20
Folks, I mean here
God's coming out and saying:
00:42:26.17\00:42:28.71
"OK... if you don't
believe Me, try Me. "
00:42:28.91\00:42:30.48
"Just try it if
you don't believe Me. "
00:42:30.88\00:42:34.12
That's what He's
saying. That's the only promise
00:42:34.48\00:42:36.58
I know in the Scripture
where God uses those words
00:42:36.79\00:42:39.49
and says: "Try Me. "
00:42:39.69\00:42:41.16
"Try Me... see if it's right. "
00:42:41.36\00:42:44.03
OK, that's the condition.
Let's see what the promise is.
00:42:44.23\00:42:47.13
You want to be blessed?
00:42:59.41\00:43:01.58
Then return the tithe to Him.
00:43:02.58\00:43:04.68
He says: "If you do that,
I'll pour out a blessing on you
00:43:04.88\00:43:07.82
that there won't even be room
enough for you to receive it. "
00:43:08.02\00:43:10.32
That is a promise that He gives.
00:43:12.29\00:43:14.89
"And I will rebuke the
devourer for your sake... "
00:43:15.09\00:43:18.86
He said: "I'll bless you in
a very very wonderful way. "
00:43:29.10\00:43:33.04
What does the Scripture mean
when it talks about a tithe?
00:43:33.24\00:43:35.54
The word tithe means a
tenth... that's what it means.
00:43:37.85\00:43:41.28
If I make a dollar,
then a tithe is ten cents.
00:43:44.09\00:43:48.92
If I make ten
dollars, a tithe is one dollar.
00:43:49.32\00:43:53.43
If I make a hundred
dollars, a tithe is ten dollars.
00:43:53.63\00:43:57.27
A tenth. And I can tell
you a little secret tonight:
00:43:58.03\00:44:01.57
nine tenths... mark my word...
00:44:03.61\00:44:07.68
nine tenths with God's blessing
00:44:07.88\00:44:11.95
will go farther than
ten tenths with His curse.
00:44:12.15\00:44:15.52
Amen! In fact, I was
talking to a fellow, and he
00:44:15.72\00:44:19.09
told me that one night he
was preaching on this subject
00:44:19.29\00:44:21.76
and this fellow came
up to him and he said:
00:44:21.96\00:44:24.33
"Ah, " he said, "you don't
have to pay tithe to be saved. "
00:44:24.53\00:44:28.00
And my friend said to him:
"How did you arrive at that? "
00:44:29.03\00:44:33.03
He said: "Well, the thief on
the cross never paid any tithe
00:44:33.34\00:44:36.64
and he'll be saved. "
00:44:36.84\00:44:38.17
And my friend said
to him, said: "Yeah, "
00:44:38.71\00:44:41.78
said, "that's true. " He
said: "That's very true. "
00:44:41.98\00:44:44.65
He said: "Just one difference
between you and the thief
00:44:44.85\00:44:47.52
on the cross. " And
he said: "What's that? "
00:44:47.68\00:44:50.32
He said: "He was a dying
thief and you're a living one. "
00:44:50.52\00:44:53.96
Great, great
difference there, you see.
00:44:57.03\00:44:58.63
So what I'm trying to say
is just the promises of God
00:44:59.69\00:45:03.47
are given to you, folks.
00:45:03.67\00:45:05.23
And He just simply
says: "Return a tithe unto Me
00:45:05.63\00:45:10.01
and I will bless
you abundantly. "
00:45:10.21\00:45:12.44
When it says it's holy
to the Lord, dear friends,
00:45:24.09\00:45:26.86
then that simply means
it doesn't belong to you.
00:45:27.06\00:45:29.86
In fact, you don't GIVE
tithe, you RETURN tithe.
00:45:30.06\00:45:34.40
See, it's not yours.
Never has been; never will be.
00:45:35.20\00:45:38.37
And what God says to you and me
00:45:39.33\00:45:41.67
"If you're a good steward
and you return the tithe, "
00:45:41.87\00:45:45.97
He says, "then I'm
going to bless you. "
00:45:46.17\00:45:48.28
And He will, dear
friends... abundantly.
00:45:48.48\00:45:51.65
Abundantly!
00:45:51.85\00:45:53.25
I've given
tithe... I've returned tithe
00:45:53.65\00:45:58.55
when it took
every cent that I had
00:45:59.79\00:46:03.26
and God has
never failed... NEVER!
00:46:04.23\00:46:08.80
He won't fail at all.
00:46:09.00\00:46:11.07
There's marvelous stories in the
Bible about it if you read them.
00:46:11.47\00:46:14.67
Did you ever read about Jacob?
00:46:15.47\00:46:19.01
Huh? You remember the time when
he was fleeing from his brother
00:46:19.21\00:46:22.01
Esau and he gets out
here on the plains of Bethel
00:46:22.21\00:46:24.48
and he lies down
and he has this dream?
00:46:24.68\00:46:27.15
You remember that?
00:46:27.35\00:46:28.68
And in that dream he sees this
stairway going up into heaven
00:46:29.22\00:46:32.19
and he sees angels going
up and down on that stairway.
00:46:32.39\00:46:35.02
And when he woke up the
next morning he said: "Oh, "
00:46:35.22\00:46:36.93
he said, "this place
must be the house of God. "
00:46:37.13\00:46:39.29
And he set up an altar
there and he worshiped the Lord.
00:46:39.79\00:46:42.36
And he said to the Lord this...
this is what he said to Him:
00:46:42.76\00:46:45.87
You remember that, don't you?
00:46:54.28\00:46:55.61
Said: "I'll return a tithe to
You of everything You give me. "
00:46:55.91\00:46:58.88
And so he goes on down
to his Uncle Laban's house.
00:46:59.28\00:47:01.92
Uncle Laban has two daughters:
00:47:02.88\00:47:05.15
Rachel and Leah.
00:47:05.79\00:47:07.46
Rachel is
beautiful; Leah is ugly.
00:47:08.99\00:47:12.46
And you know who
Jacob fell in love with?
00:47:15.06\00:47:17.47
Rachel.
00:47:18.30\00:47:19.63
You know who he
spent his life with?
00:47:20.94\00:47:22.64
Leah. OK?
00:47:23.51\00:47:25.27
But nevertheless, he
fell in love with Rachel.
00:47:25.47\00:47:28.28
And so he goes to
Laban and he says:
00:47:28.68\00:47:31.71
"What do I have to do to have
the hand of your daughter? "
00:47:32.11\00:47:34.58
And he said, "Oh, " he said:
00:47:34.98\00:47:36.69
"not much. Just work
for me for seven years. "
00:47:36.89\00:47:40.06
Jacob said: "OK. "
00:47:42.39\00:47:44.13
So he worked for him for
seven years and came time.
00:47:44.69\00:47:49.00
He said: "I've
worked for you 7 years.
00:47:49.20\00:47:50.57
I want my bride. "
00:47:50.67\00:47:52.07
And so they had the wedding,
but over in the Middle East,
00:47:52.27\00:47:54.87
you know, they wear veils.
00:47:55.07\00:47:56.64
And so they had the wedding
00:47:57.01\00:47:58.34
and Jacob gets his bride home
00:47:58.44\00:48:00.11
and she takes off the
veil and lo and behold
00:48:00.41\00:48:03.35
he has Leah not Rachel.
00:48:03.55\00:48:05.21
And he said: "I didn't
work seven years for you! "
00:48:05.95\00:48:08.38
Takes her by the arm and
takes her back to her father.
00:48:08.88\00:48:11.22
Said: "Listen, I
worked 7 years for Rachel. "
00:48:11.42\00:48:14.46
He said: "Well, sorry... there's
a custom here in our country
00:48:14.66\00:48:16.86
that the oldest
daughter has to marry first. "
00:48:17.06\00:48:19.46
Said: "I'll tell you what:
work for me for seven more years
00:48:20.00\00:48:22.70
and I'll give you Rachel also. "
00:48:22.90\00:48:24.60
Jacob says: "OK. " So
now folks, he's worked for
00:48:25.73\00:48:28.67
for 14 years. His
total pay has been 2 women.
00:48:28.87\00:48:32.47
You know, I don't know
how good of bargain that is.
00:48:35.71\00:48:37.95
But nevertheless
00:48:40.22\00:48:41.55
Laban calls him in.
He says: "Well now Jacob,
00:48:42.75\00:48:45.82
if you're going to stay here and
if you're going to work for me,
00:48:46.02\00:48:48.16
I guess we need to work out
some financial arrangement...
00:48:48.36\00:48:51.06
arrangements and pay. "
00:48:51.26\00:48:52.66
And Jacob said: "OK. "
00:48:52.86\00:48:54.23
And Laban says: "I'll
tell you what, " he said:
00:48:54.73\00:48:57.37
"I will give you
all the spotted sheep,
00:48:57.57\00:49:01.74
all the spotted cattle,
all the spotted donkeys.
00:49:01.94\00:49:05.01
Anything that's spotted
I'm going to give to you. "
00:49:05.41\00:49:07.88
Jacob says: "Fine. "
That is really generous
00:49:09.64\00:49:11.88
on the part of Laban since
all his cattle are black angus.
00:49:12.08\00:49:14.75
There's not a
spotted one in the bunch.
00:49:16.45\00:49:19.12
And so God said: "Jacob,
00:49:20.96\00:49:24.03
go out there and
cut down this cane.
00:49:24.96\00:49:28.00
And every place
that the cattle drink -
00:49:28.66\00:49:31.13
in the ponds, the
rivers, the troughs -
00:49:31.43\00:49:35.07
everywhere they
drink you lay that cane
00:49:35.27\00:49:38.04
and cross it and
lay it in there. "
00:49:38.44\00:49:40.88
He went out, cut the cane
down and laid it in there.
00:49:41.24\00:49:43.38
And when the
cattle started calving
00:49:43.95\00:49:46.38
the next spring
they were spotted.
00:49:46.58\00:49:49.28
Spotted.
00:49:50.39\00:49:51.72
Laban came out and said: "What
in the world's going on here? "
00:49:51.75\00:49:54.19
"You know, this can't be.
Fence is broke or something. "
00:49:54.39\00:49:57.46
You know...
said: "This can't be! "
00:49:57.66\00:49:59.39
"So, " he said, "next
spring it'll be all right. "
00:49:59.79\00:50:03.67
Next spring they
were spotted again.
00:50:03.87\00:50:05.30
Laban called Jacob
in and he said: "Listen,
00:50:06.20\00:50:09.04
I've been thinking this
thing over, " and he said:
00:50:09.24\00:50:10.64
"I'll tell you what.
I've decided I'm going to take
00:50:10.84\00:50:12.91
the spotted ones and I'm going
to give you the solid ones. "
00:50:13.11\00:50:15.91
And Jacob said: "OK. "
00:50:16.41\00:50:17.98
God said: "Jacob, get
that stuff out of the water. "
00:50:18.18\00:50:20.42
You can read it!
00:50:21.52\00:50:22.92
I mean, God promises there.
00:50:23.49\00:50:25.82
I can read to you
in the Word of God
00:50:26.02\00:50:27.96
when he's talking
to his wife Rachel.
00:50:28.16\00:50:29.96
He said: "Your
father has changed my wages
00:50:30.73\00:50:34.43
ten times... " What he said...
00:50:34.63\00:50:37.70
and God did not
permit him to harm me. "
00:50:37.90\00:50:41.10
But I can tell you, when
he was changing his wages
00:50:41.30\00:50:43.71
he was not raising
them... he was lowering them.
00:50:43.91\00:50:46.31
OK? And when he
left Laban's house
00:50:46.51\00:50:49.94
he was an extremely wealthy man.
00:50:50.15\00:50:52.81
Why? Cause he said: "Listen,
00:50:53.01\00:50:55.05
of anything You give me
I'll give a tenth to You. "
00:50:55.25\00:50:57.92
And he honored God and
God blessed him. Friend,
00:50:58.42\00:51:02.09
tonight He'll do
the same for you - Amen!
00:51:02.29\00:51:05.56
if you and I are just faithful.
I'm just sharing with you
00:51:05.86\00:51:08.50
blessings that
God will give you.
00:51:08.70\00:51:11.33
If you fulfill the conditions,
those are things that He says
00:51:11.53\00:51:15.00
He will do for you and for me
00:51:15.20\00:51:17.64
if we just follow the
Lord in it. He promises!
00:51:17.84\00:51:21.38
Jesus made it very clear
00:51:21.58\00:51:23.45
that we are still to
return the tithe today.
00:51:23.85\00:51:26.82
Matthew 23:23, He's
speaking to the Pharisees
00:51:27.22\00:51:30.29
and the scribes
and so forth. He said:
00:51:30.49\00:51:32.29
Now, folks, those were
the smallest means of exchange
00:51:39.86\00:51:43.10
they had back then. And
so He said these scribes
00:51:43.30\00:51:46.43
and Pharisees...
they were very very
00:51:46.63\00:51:50.11
minute about
paying everything. OK?
00:51:51.17\00:51:54.34
But watch what He says:
00:51:54.64\00:51:56.18
He said: "Oh, you're
faithful in paying your tithe
00:52:01.02\00:52:03.49
but you've neglected the
weightier matters of the law
00:52:03.69\00:52:06.12
such as justice
and mercy and faith. "
00:52:06.32\00:52:09.26
He said: "You forgot those. "
But listen to the words of Jesus
00:52:09.66\00:52:12.86
Jesus made that
just as clear as a bell:
00:52:21.50\00:52:24.37
that you and I still
are to return our tithe.
00:52:24.57\00:52:29.24
Blessings that God
gives to you and to me.
00:52:29.64\00:52:33.52
Deuteronomy
28:2, listen carefully:
00:52:34.58\00:52:38.02
All these
blessings shall come upon you
00:52:50.10\00:52:53.47
and overtake you.
00:52:53.87\00:52:55.50
You want to live a blessed life?
00:52:55.70\00:52:57.11
There's the opportunity, folks.
00:52:59.01\00:53:00.81
All God is
saying to you tonight is
00:53:01.58\00:53:03.75
"Fulfill the
conditions... I'll bless you. "
00:53:04.15\00:53:07.35
"I'll bless you in a marvelous
way like you can't believe! "
00:53:07.75\00:53:11.85
If you and I will
just follow what He says
00:53:12.25\00:53:14.72
He's gonna bless you
now... here, this life.
00:53:15.69\00:53:19.53
Promises it.
00:53:19.93\00:53:21.33
But above all that
00:53:21.53\00:53:23.47
you fulfill those
conditions, dear friend,
00:53:23.87\00:53:27.04
and you'll not
only be blessed here
00:53:27.24\00:53:29.14
but you'll be
blessed for eternity.
00:53:29.34\00:53:31.14
Marvelous!
00:53:31.54\00:53:33.07
Matthew 25:34:
00:53:33.48\00:53:35.31
He said: "Oh, all you
people that have walked with Me,
00:53:42.35\00:53:44.59
by faith you followed, Come
all you blessed of My Father"
00:53:44.79\00:53:49.09
Promises that to you.
00:53:55.86\00:53:57.37
God won't let you down.
00:53:57.57\00:53:59.47
When I went to the Seminary
00:54:01.37\00:54:03.94
I had stayed out
of school for a year.
00:54:05.21\00:54:09.24
I had sold books all that year.
00:54:10.65\00:54:14.05
By selling books I
had made enough money
00:54:14.92\00:54:17.72
to pay for my education.
00:54:18.12\00:54:20.26
I had enough to
pay for my education.
00:54:20.96\00:54:23.02
My wife was going to work
00:54:23.93\00:54:27.50
and she was going to make
enough to pay for our housing
00:54:27.70\00:54:30.17
and our food and so forth.
00:54:30.37\00:54:31.70
That's how we
intended to go to the Seminary.
00:54:31.83\00:54:33.67
We got to the Seminary and
everything was going along fine.
00:54:34.47\00:54:38.57
But oh, it came December -
00:54:40.28\00:54:44.58
month of December -
and we were out working
00:54:44.78\00:54:48.25
with one of the churches.
00:54:48.45\00:54:49.78
And that night my
wife got very very cold
00:54:51.19\00:54:56.83
because we were
outside in what we were doing.
00:54:57.73\00:55:00.30
And when we got back
home she got a sore throat.
00:55:01.03\00:55:06.33
We didn't think much about it.
00:55:06.74\00:55:09.14
Gave her
medicine and stuff for it.
00:55:09.54\00:55:11.67
But she had strep throat,
00:55:11.97\00:55:14.41
and out of the strep
throat she developed a very very
00:55:15.58\00:55:21.52
serious condition and they
had to put her in the hospital.
00:55:21.72\00:55:25.79
And the doctors
came and told me that
00:55:27.36\00:55:31.96
the mitral valve in
her heart had been damaged
00:55:33.26\00:55:36.67
and that she would
be flat on her back
00:55:37.47\00:55:41.27
for six weeks.
00:55:41.67\00:55:43.71
And then when she came
home she could not work
00:55:44.44\00:55:47.01
or do anything
for another six weeks.
00:55:47.21\00:55:49.41
And so I went in
and had a seat by her.
00:55:52.25\00:55:55.05
We talked, and I said: "Honey,
00:55:55.75\00:55:59.05
I'm going to drop out
of school and get a job
00:56:00.06\00:56:04.06
so that we can
continue to make it.
00:56:04.46\00:56:06.63
And when you're back on
your feet well then I'll try to
00:56:06.83\00:56:09.66
finish up the Seminary. "
00:56:09.86\00:56:11.33
And I'll never forget.
She looked at me and she said:
00:56:12.03\00:56:14.30
"You know,
we've been faithful. "
00:56:14.50\00:56:17.31
She said: "We've been faithful
in returning our tithe. "
00:56:17.67\00:56:20.78
She said: "We've tried to
do what God wants us to do.
00:56:20.98\00:56:23.45
Why don't you
take Him at His word? "
00:56:23.65\00:56:25.88
And I said: "What do you mean? "
00:56:27.12\00:56:28.45
She said: "Why don't
you just stay in school?
00:56:28.48\00:56:30.12
See what the Lord does. "
00:56:30.52\00:56:32.09
Well, you know, I have to
admit that's a little difficult
00:56:32.92\00:56:37.66
for me. I'm not... I
don't know if you understand
00:56:37.86\00:56:41.03
cholerics by nature, but
I'm choleric by nature...
00:56:41.23\00:56:44.37
And finally I said to
her: "OK, I'll do that
00:56:44.67\00:56:48.27
but I'll tell you what. " I said
"I'm going to go sell the car. "
00:56:48.47\00:56:50.81
And I said: "I'll
walk to the Seminary
00:56:51.71\00:56:53.71
each day and back.
That's the least I can do. "
00:56:53.91\00:56:57.78
So I went out and sold the car
00:56:58.35\00:57:00.05
and we lived on
that for a while.
00:57:00.25\00:57:02.12
But soon that was gone.
00:57:02.52\00:57:03.89
And I expected
any time, you know,
00:57:03.99\00:57:06.32
to say: "Well, I've
gotta go back to work here. "
00:57:06.52\00:57:09.09
Folks, let me tell you:
00:57:10.93\00:57:13.03
I went down to the post
office or to the mailbox
00:57:13.90\00:57:17.10
day after day.
Here would be letters
00:57:17.93\00:57:21.87
from all different
places in the United States -
00:57:22.90\00:57:26.01
not one place but all
over the United States -
00:57:26.41\00:57:29.01
no names on them,
no letters in them
00:57:30.05\00:57:33.52
just money.
00:57:33.72\00:57:35.05
Just money.
00:57:35.78\00:57:37.12
I'd open it up and
here'd be an envelope
00:57:37.22\00:57:39.19
and in it would be money.
00:57:39.39\00:57:40.79
I didn't know who
it came from at all.
00:57:40.99\00:57:44.03
I can't remember
in that whole time
00:57:44.23\00:57:46.19
ever getting a letter
that there was money in
00:57:46.39\00:57:50.50
that somebody put their name to.
00:57:50.70\00:57:52.30
I didn't know who it
was coming from or where,
00:57:52.50\00:57:54.57
but it came from all
over the United States.
00:57:54.77\00:57:56.37
I graduated from the Seminary;
00:57:57.21\00:58:00.38
I graduated
totally free of debt...
00:58:01.04\00:58:05.28
hospital bill and everything.
00:58:05.48\00:58:08.52
Now you can't convince me
00:58:09.32\00:58:11.35
that God won't do what He says.
00:58:11.75\00:58:13.99
If you will just
take Him at His word,
00:58:14.39\00:58:17.36
believe Him, He will bless you
00:58:17.56\00:58:20.23
in a very very wonderful way.
00:58:20.43\00:58:23.23