Can you believe it?
00:00:02.12\00:00:03.49
Can you build your faith on it?
00:00:05.07\00:00:07.04
The promises of
God's Word are sure.
00:00:08.18\00:00:12.19
They do not fail.
00:00:12.39\00:00:15.14
This book has
stood the test of time.
00:00:17.23\00:00:20.94
Our Father in heaven,
we come to You tonight
00:00:29.83\00:00:32.30
thanking You for
all the wonderful things
00:00:34.44\00:00:37.61
that You've done for us.
You've been so good to us.
00:00:37.91\00:00:40.59
Lord, may we take note
00:00:42.18\00:00:44.63
of what Your Word
says about Your blessings.
00:00:45.98\00:00:48.79
May we surrender
our lives to You.
00:00:49.93\00:00:52.39
We ask that You
will give us the wisdom,
00:00:53.51\00:00:56.06
the understanding that we need
00:00:56.36\00:00:58.31
that we might learn
how to walk by faith
00:00:58.61\00:01:02.82
and to please You
in all that we do.
00:01:04.10\00:01:07.89
For this we ask in
Christ's name, Amen.
00:01:08.49\00:01:11.94
Have you ever had
someone say to you
00:01:18.24\00:01:20.57
who, when you were
talking about somebody else, and
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they said: "Well, they
have lived a blessed life? "
00:01:23.20\00:01:25.84
"They've been
blessed in a special way. "
00:01:26.04\00:01:29.10
You see, I've found
that in the scripture
00:01:31.15\00:01:33.20
God wants to bless you.
00:01:33.50\00:01:35.84
In fact, you're acquainted
with texts where it says that
00:01:36.24\00:01:39.03
He's more willing to
give you the Holy Spirit
00:01:39.13\00:01:41.53
than you are to give
good gifts to your children.
00:01:41.63\00:01:43.91
It says that
God cares about you.
00:01:44.31\00:01:47.31
He wants to bless
you in a special way.
00:01:47.51\00:01:50.69
Promises that.
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Well, if someone would
have just shared with me
00:01:53.25\00:01:57.55
years ago when I
was a young person
00:01:57.95\00:02:00.67
what I'm going to
share with you tonight
00:02:00.80\00:02:03.03
it would have made a
marked difference in my life.
00:02:03.90\00:02:07.34
I mean a very
definite difference in my life.
00:02:07.55\00:02:10.62
And so I hope that
each of you here tonight
00:02:11.02\00:02:13.45
will listen carefully and
I hope that you are blessed.
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And I hope that from this day on
00:02:16.65\00:02:18.90
it will make a marked
difference in your life...
00:02:19.11\00:02:21.54
and particularly young people.
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I hope this will be a
great, great help to you
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because God wants to
bless you. He says this...
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Ezekiel 34:26:
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God says: "I'll make
them and everything around
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a blessing. "
00:02:42.61\00:02:44.28
And He promises
that He will do that.
00:02:44.48\00:02:47.03
And as you read
through the scripture
00:02:47.33\00:02:49.82
you can see where God
made definite promises
00:02:50.03\00:02:53.33
and how He carried
out those promises.
00:02:53.53\00:02:56.52
Joshua. Now folks,
the children of Israel had
00:02:56.82\00:03:00.18
gone through 40
years in the wilderness.
00:03:00.28\00:03:02.42
They have now gone
into the land of Canaan.
00:03:03.44\00:03:06.98
They have driven out
the Canaanites and the
00:03:07.18\00:03:09.87
Perizzites and the
Jebusites and all the Hittites
00:03:09.97\00:03:12.38
and all these people.
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Joshua is old... it's
come time for him to die.
00:03:14.33\00:03:20.12
I want you to
listen to his words.
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Joshua 23:14:
00:03:23.82\00:03:26.23
What? Now listen folks.
00:03:38.08\00:03:41.39
"Not one thing has failed. "
00:03:41.59\00:03:44.56
Of all the things that God
promised the children of Israel
00:04:02.25\00:04:05.95
he's saying "Not one
word of it has failed. "
00:04:06.25\00:04:09.37
Think about that.
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Promised that He would
care for them, look after them.
00:04:12.30\00:04:14.63
What He would give
them. And everything that God
00:04:14.73\00:04:17.62
promised happened.
00:04:17.82\00:04:19.60
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.
00:04:28.85\00:04:31.08
Nehemiah the 9th
chapter verse 21:
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I mean, have you ever
been out in the Sinai desert?
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Huh? Have you ever been there?
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Folks, it won't even grow a weed
00:04:49.25\00:04:52.91
let alone a cow.
00:04:53.21\00:04:54.90
I mean nothing
there and yet it says
00:04:55.20\00:04:57.43
"You lacked nothing. " OK?
00:04:57.63\00:05:01.54
Their clothes did not wear out
and their feet did not swell.
00:05:01.84\00:05:07.12
Nothing they lacked.
00:05:07.33\00:05:08.78
So here you're
going down through time
00:05:09.18\00:05:11.57
and God promises
and cared for them.
00:05:11.77\00:05:13.86
As Solomon is blessing the
temple and he's talking to all
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the children of
Israel these are his words...
00:05:18.73\00:05:22.09
I Kings 8:56:
00:05:22.39\00:05:25.75
Do you know what the scripture
says about the days of Solomon?
00:05:33.51\00:05:36.99
Do you know what
it says about it?
00:05:39.03\00:05:40.69
It says that
gold was like stones.
00:05:41.59\00:05:47.54
I mean, they were
blessed beyond comprehension.
00:05:50.17\00:05:54.56
Very, very special way according
to all that He promised.
00:05:55.51\00:05:59.47
Listen to what He promised:
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'Cause he said
everything that God promised...
00:06:08.40\00:06:10.53
everything happened.
00:06:10.73\00:06:13.36
So what I'm trying
to get across to you
00:06:13.70\00:06:15.84
is if the Book
here, folks, promises it
00:06:16.04\00:06:19.40
do you think it'll happen?
00:06:19.60\00:06:21.36
Huh? You're convinced of that?
00:06:22.48\00:06:25.15
The Bible says
that if God promises it
00:06:26.25\00:06:29.29
it'll happen
because the scripture says
00:06:29.50\00:06:32.12
God cannot lie.
00:06:32.32\00:06:34.56
Hebrews 6:17:
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So what I'm telling you tonight
00:07:00.13\00:07:02.16
that God will
not fail on His part.
00:07:02.31\00:07:06.03
OK? God will not
fail on His part.
00:07:06.53\00:07:11.33
Promises certain
things to you and me.
00:07:11.63\00:07:14.41
He said: "God promised
it... Hang on; He can't lie. "
00:07:26.90\00:07:30.94
Back when Jesus was on earth
00:07:33.12\00:07:37.36
He sent the disciples out
00:07:37.66\00:07:39.85
and He weighed
carefully the way He sent them.
00:07:40.96\00:07:43.42
'Cause this is the way He
sent them here in Luke 22:35.
00:07:43.62\00:07:47.79
Didn't lack a thing.
00:08:10.93\00:08:12.96
God was more than
capable of taking care of them.
00:08:13.17\00:08:17.65
Do you think He's capable
of taking care of you tonight?
00:08:17.85\00:08:20.68
An old preacher was visiting
one of his parishioners,
00:08:21.70\00:08:26.45
an old lady. When
he got to the home
00:08:26.75\00:08:31.46
and he was visiting
her he picked up her Bible.
00:08:31.66\00:08:33.73
As he picked up her Bible
he began to page through it.
00:08:34.86\00:08:37.81
And he found certain
texts that were underlined
00:08:38.11\00:08:42.03
and then underneath the text
would be written the letters
00:08:42.24\00:08:44.80
T and P.
00:08:45.00\00:08:47.30
He thumbed through it
and saw these all the way
00:08:47.50\00:08:50.02
through the scripture.
Finally he said to her, he said:
00:08:50.12\00:08:53.07
"What are these texts
that you have underlined here
00:08:53.28\00:08:56.75
in your Bible? " She
said: "Oh, those are promises
00:08:56.85\00:08:58.34
of God... " She said:
"those are all promises. "
00:08:58.44\00:09:01.73
He said: "Well that's fine," but
he said "what do these letters
00:09:02.03\00:09:04.45
T and P mean? "
00:09:04.55\00:09:05.92
She said: "Oh, that
means tried and proven. "
00:09:06.03\00:09:08.91
See... And it
worked! Tried and proven.
00:09:09.11\00:09:13.89
The promises of God.
00:09:13.99\00:09:15.89
Now, what I am
telling you tonight is all...
00:09:16.09\00:09:20.05
all the promises in this Book -
00:09:20.35\00:09:22.99
listen to me carefully -
all the promises in this book
00:09:23.19\00:09:26.77
are conditional.
00:09:26.87\00:09:29.25
Don't think they're not.
00:09:30.85\00:09:33.03
All the promises in
this book are conditional.
00:09:33.66\00:09:37.85
If you and I
fill the conditions,
00:09:39.24\00:09:42.59
God will carry out His promise.
00:09:42.99\00:09:45.67
That's what you've got
to understand in your head:
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that if you
fulfill the conditions
00:09:49.76\00:09:52.61
God will carry out His promise.
00:09:52.81\00:09:55.22
When I was a young person
if somebody would have just
00:09:55.42\00:09:57.98
made that clear to me, what
a difference it would have made
00:09:58.08\00:10:01.59
in my life.
00:10:01.69\00:10:03.33
Listen: this is what
the scripture is saying...
00:10:03.63\00:10:05.13
what God
promises to you and to me.
00:10:05.33\00:10:07.44
Deuteronomy 11:26:
00:10:07.64\00:10:09.14
A blessing and a curse.
00:10:17.08\00:10:19.74
That's what He's
setting there before you.
00:10:19.85\00:10:21.64
All right.
00:10:21.74\00:10:23.11
He said: "Here's the
blessing if you obey. "
00:10:30.97\00:10:34.63
That's the condition, right?
00:10:34.83\00:10:37.47
Yes, that's the condition.
If you obey, going to bless you.
00:10:37.77\00:10:41.11
That's what He promises.
00:10:41.31\00:10:42.68
They're
conditional... all of them are.
00:10:48.03\00:10:50.61
But they're marvelous promises.
00:10:51.01\00:10:53.36
And the conditions,
folks, are not difficult.
00:10:53.66\00:10:56.68
They're not hard.
00:10:56.99\00:10:58.72
I have people say to
me: "Well Brother Cox,
00:10:59.22\00:11:02.65
I don't know. " You
listen. God promises this.
00:11:03.72\00:11:07.48
He said: "You do that, you're
going to receive the curse. "
00:11:14.19\00:11:16.87
OK. You say: "Well I've
lived a very, very bad life. "
00:11:17.37\00:11:23.36
I talk to people and they
say: "Oh, the Lord could never
00:11:24.16\00:11:27.86
forgive me. Could never forgive
me. I've done such bad things
00:11:27.96\00:11:32.69
that the Lord just
couldn't forgive me. "
00:11:32.89\00:11:35.82
Well, you want to see what
the condition is to be forgiven?
00:11:36.22\00:11:41.70
This is the condition.
This is what the scripture says.
00:11:42.04\00:11:45.28
That's the condition.
00:11:51.03\00:11:52.47
If you have lived
a very wicked life,
00:11:56.50\00:11:59.67
you have done a
lot of bad things,
00:11:59.87\00:12:02.12
all that God asks you
to do... the condition is
00:12:02.15\00:12:05.79
is to come to Him
and confess our sins.
00:12:05.99\00:12:10.02
Confess your sins to
Him. What will happen?
00:12:10.23\00:12:12.85
OK... here's the promise:
00:12:14.18\00:12:16.74
Dear friend, I don't
care how bad you've been.
00:12:23.88\00:12:25.94
God's not interested in
keeping you out of heaven.
00:12:27.15\00:12:29.87
God's interested
in getting you in.
00:12:30.07\00:12:31.76
And so all He just
says to you is "Come to Me.
00:12:32.60\00:12:35.34
Confess your sins.
And if you'll confess them
00:12:35.37\00:12:39.17
I will forgive them. "
00:12:39.37\00:12:42.36
He is faithful.
That means God is on duty
00:12:42.66\00:12:47.76
24 hours a day. OK?
00:12:47.97\00:12:51.33
He's faithful; He's just.
00:12:51.57\00:12:54.34
He'll forgive your sins.
00:12:55.36\00:12:57.29
That's the condition: all you've
got to do is confess them.
00:12:57.69\00:13:01.40
OK. You say: "Well,
00:13:02.60\00:13:05.37
I'm not real sure that
there's any hope for me.
00:13:05.77\00:13:10.63
Not... not real sure that
I could be forgiven and that
00:13:11.49\00:13:14.68
I could be saved.
00:13:14.78\00:13:16.15
I'm not sure that there's
really any hope for me. "
00:13:16.31\00:13:19.00
Well, what is the
condition for salvation?
00:13:19.20\00:13:22.34
You know, what do I
have to do to be saved?
00:13:23.84\00:13:27.62
What is the
condition for being saved?
00:13:27.82\00:13:31.35
Well, let's look.
00:13:31.55\00:13:32.92
That's the condition.
00:13:39.99\00:13:42.19
If you want to be saved,
you have to call on the name
00:13:42.49\00:13:46.59
of the Lord.
That's what it says.
00:13:46.69\00:13:49.68
Come to Him; call on
Him. Say: "Here I am, Lord.
00:13:49.88\00:13:52.81
I'm lost; I'm a sinner;
I've done all these bad things.
00:13:53.01\00:13:56.77
My life is a wreck,
Lord. I'm coming to You. "
00:13:56.97\00:13:59.60
And this is what
the scripture says:
00:13:59.80\00:14:01.38
Promise: "shall be saved. "
00:14:01.58\00:14:06.53
Whoever calls on the name
of the Lord shall be saved.
00:14:06.83\00:14:11.85
Dear friend,
don't tell me tonight
00:14:12.15\00:14:14.26
that you're too bad.
00:14:14.66\00:14:16.81
Don't tell me that
you can't do all this.
00:14:17.31\00:14:20.71
Those are not the conditions.
00:14:20.81\00:14:22.18
The condition is that you
call upon the name of the Lord.
00:14:22.36\00:14:25.71
Call on the name of the
Lord "and you shall be saved. "
00:14:26.73\00:14:31.52
That's the promise He gives you.
00:14:31.82\00:14:33.19
Well you say:
"What about baptism?
00:14:34.12\00:14:39.16
I really... What's the
condition for baptism? "
00:14:40.40\00:14:45.05
I run onto people who say:
"Well, do I really have to be
00:14:45.35\00:14:49.76
baptized? " Well, let's look and
see what the scripture tells us.
00:14:49.86\00:14:53.25
Mark 16:16:
00:14:55.14\00:14:57.00
That person who believes
- that's part of the steps -
00:15:02.65\00:15:06.68
and is baptized - let's
see, that's the condition -
00:15:06.88\00:15:10.27
what's the promise?
00:15:10.37\00:15:11.74
So the scripture's
very, very clear, folks.
00:15:14.47\00:15:17.03
All the promises
here... all of them...
00:15:17.23\00:15:20.57
are based on conditions.
All you and I have to do is
00:15:20.77\00:15:24.72
fulfill the condition.
00:15:24.82\00:15:26.43
The condition is if
you want to be saved
00:15:26.63\00:15:28.53
call on the name of the Lord.
00:15:28.73\00:15:30.56
That's the condition.
00:15:31.78\00:15:33.15
If you want to be saved, then
call on the name of the Lord,
00:15:33.18\00:15:36.34
accept Him as your
Savior, and be baptized.
00:15:36.44\00:15:38.89
Those are the conditions.
00:15:39.29\00:15:42.34
How often we try
to make our own. No.
00:15:42.84\00:15:48.54
All you've got to
do is do what God asks.
00:15:48.84\00:15:51.91
Those are the conditions.
00:15:52.89\00:15:54.51
You say: "Well what
about my daily needs? "
00:15:55.79\00:15:59.23
What about you know...
what about such things as
00:15:59.43\00:16:03.67
food? Is that involved?
00:16:03.87\00:16:08.04
Does it involve what I eat?
00:16:09.27\00:16:12.12
Or what about
such things as shelter?
00:16:12.42\00:16:14.85
Or what about such
things as clothing?
00:16:15.25\00:16:19.88
Does that enter
into the picture?
00:16:20.18\00:16:22.76
Well, let's look
at the condition.
00:16:23.16\00:16:25.76
See what God
has to say about it.
00:16:25.96\00:16:27.80
Matthew 6:33:
00:16:27.90\00:16:30.61
Now what did it say?
00:16:36.16\00:16:38.12
"Well I know this is what
the Lord would like for me to do
00:16:38.52\00:16:44.07
but my work
interferes with this. "
00:16:44.28\00:16:47.99
"I know this is
what God wants me to do
00:16:49.36\00:16:52.74
but if I do that that's going to
00:16:52.84\00:16:57.50
affect my life too much. "
00:16:57.70\00:16:59.92
Seek what? "First
the kingdom of God. "
00:17:03.47\00:17:07.88
In other words God says:
"If you want to have food,
00:17:08.18\00:17:11.97
if you want to have shelter,
00:17:12.10\00:17:13.82
if you want to have clothing,
00:17:14.02\00:17:16.41
then seek first
the kingdom of God. "
00:17:16.61\00:17:20.21
And if you do that,
what's going to happen?
00:17:20.41\00:17:22.84
Let's look at the
promise. The promise is:
00:17:22.94\00:17:26.28
Oh you say: "Well Brother
Cox that doesn't mean food
00:17:31.74\00:17:34.09
and that doesn't mean shelter
00:17:34.19\00:17:35.56
and that
doesn't mean clothing. "
00:17:35.59\00:17:36.96
Oh yes it does.
00:17:37.11\00:17:38.60
Oh yes it does... just
read the text before it.
00:17:38.90\00:17:41.71
Listen to what it has to say.
00:17:42.01\00:17:43.62
Matthew 6:31:
00:17:44.32\00:17:46.94
"But seek first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness.
00:17:54.93\00:17:58.85
All these
things... " right there...
00:17:59.05\00:18:01.30
"will be added to you. "
00:18:01.50\00:18:03.61
OK? So dear friends, let's get
our priorities right tonight.
00:18:04.81\00:18:09.79
If you want to be blessed,
00:18:10.29\00:18:12.92
if you want a blessed life,
00:18:13.12\00:18:14.86
then put God first.
00:18:15.07\00:18:17.71
Doesn't come
after everything else.
00:18:18.80\00:18:22.76
You know, don't get through
with everything else and then
00:18:23.06\00:18:25.83
say: "Well if there's anything
left for the Lord, OK. "
00:18:25.93\00:18:28.38
"But seek Him first
and His righteousness
00:18:28.68\00:18:32.94
All these things
will be added to you. "
00:18:33.14\00:18:36.50
Promises that.
00:18:36.90\00:18:38.53
Well say:
00:18:38.56\00:18:42.78
"Sure would like
to have a child. "
00:18:42.98\00:18:45.56
Prayed for a child.
00:18:46.88\00:18:48.73
Does that have anything to
do with my serving the Lord?
00:18:49.86\00:18:53.34
Whether He'll give me a
child or whether He won't.
00:18:54.34\00:18:56.93
Does that enter into it?
00:18:57.82\00:18:59.46
Now folks, I'm talking to
you about living it day by day
00:18:59.97\00:19:04.57
for the Lord Jesus Christ.
00:19:04.77\00:19:06.30
Have you been praying for
a child and haven't had one?
00:19:06.70\00:19:10.04
You'd like to have a child.
00:19:11.17\00:19:12.96
Well, let's see
what the conditions are.
00:19:13.26\00:19:15.43
So the Bible says
if you fear the Lord
00:19:26.51\00:19:29.40
and you walk in His ways
00:19:29.60\00:19:32.79
let's see what the promises
are that God says will happen.
00:19:32.99\00:19:36.33
OK, he said: "If
you fear the Lord,
00:19:42.87\00:19:45.48
you walk in His ways,
00:19:45.69\00:19:47.78
when you sit down
to eat you'll be happy
00:19:47.89\00:19:51.79
and it shall be well with you. "
00:19:52.17\00:19:56.75
Now listen, let's continue
on because the promise hasn't
00:19:56.95\00:19:59.50
ended here. We're continuing
in Psalm 128 verses 2 and 3:
00:19:59.60\00:20:03.91
You want children?
00:20:14.37\00:20:16.12
There's the promise.
00:20:16.52\00:20:18.10
Right there. All you
have to do is fear God
00:20:19.27\00:20:22.76
and walk in His ways
00:20:23.16\00:20:25.79
and that's a
promise that He gives.
00:20:26.09\00:20:28.00
You see, I'm trying to
get across to you folks
00:20:29.13\00:20:31.66
not one word in
that Book will fail.
00:20:31.97\00:20:35.41
Moses said: "You can't think
of anything that God promised
00:20:37.01\00:20:39.96
that's failed. " And
it won't fail for you
00:20:40.16\00:20:43.15
if you fulfill the conditions.
00:20:43.35\00:20:45.68
That's all God is asking of you
is just fulfill the conditions.
00:20:46.18\00:20:51.52
So if you're
concerned about having children,
00:20:51.77\00:20:54.76
then fear the
Lord, walk in His ways.
00:20:54.96\00:20:57.68
Have you read in the Bible
about a woman that did that?
00:20:57.78\00:21:00.16
Huh? Have you ever read
in the Bible about a woman
00:21:00.66\00:21:03.78
who did that? "Behold,
thus shall the man be... " What?
00:21:03.98\00:21:07.18
OK. Have you ever
read about Hannah?
00:21:10.76\00:21:13.31
Hmmm? Didn't have any children.
00:21:13.61\00:21:16.94
Felt terrible 'cause
she never had a child.
00:21:18.08\00:21:20.92
But she feared God;
she walked in His ways
00:21:22.84\00:21:27.14
and she pled with the
Lord and He gave her a child.
00:21:27.44\00:21:31.54
Remember that?
00:21:31.65\00:21:33.02
Named the child Samuel. Yes.
00:21:33.11\00:21:37.89
I Samuel 1:27:
00:21:38.09\00:21:39.99
She said: "For
this child I prayed.
00:21:50.41\00:21:52.56
And God answered that
prayer... gave me this child. "
00:21:52.76\00:21:56.72
And He'll do the
same for you, folks.
00:21:56.92\00:21:59.62
Well you say:
"Well I'd... I'd like to,
00:22:01.18\00:22:04.96
you know, live a long life. "
00:22:05.16\00:22:07.12
"I'd like to have the
promise of a long life. "
00:22:08.26\00:22:12.01
Well, that's conditional.
00:22:13.00\00:22:15.07
Did you know that?
00:22:15.37\00:22:16.80
It's conditional. Let's
see what the conditions are.
00:22:17.00\00:22:20.01
Deuteronomy 5:16:
00:22:22.47\00:22:24.29
That's the condition.
00:22:28.89\00:22:30.32
You want to live a long
life? Honor your parents.
00:22:30.52\00:22:33.49
Young people particularly.
00:22:33.79\00:22:36.16
And I have some say: "Well
my parents aren't very nice. "
00:22:36.46\00:22:38.78
Well that may be true
00:22:39.92\00:22:42.72
but you still have an
obligation to honor them.
00:22:43.02\00:22:46.31
You don't have to agree with
their ways if their ways are
00:22:48.20\00:22:51.01
wrong... but you
still have to honor them.
00:22:51.11\00:22:53.70
That God expects.
00:22:54.10\00:22:55.93
If you want to live a long life,
00:22:56.03\00:22:57.50
honor your parents,
young people. It has more to do
00:22:57.70\00:23:00.98
with you than you
have any concept of.
00:23:01.18\00:23:05.40
Honor your parents.
00:23:05.96\00:23:07.33
This is what
happens if you honor them.
00:23:07.46\00:23:09.20
Let's look at the promise.
00:23:09.23\00:23:10.60
Said: "If you want
to live a long life,
00:23:19.80\00:23:22.23
if you want to have a happy life
that it might be well with you,
00:23:22.43\00:23:26.25
then honor your parents. "
00:23:26.38\00:23:29.41
It's a promise given to you.
00:23:29.71\00:23:32.41
You see, no one ever bothered
to explain all these things
00:23:32.62\00:23:36.45
to me when I was growing up.
00:23:36.55\00:23:39.28
No one ever told me of
these wonderful promises.
00:23:40.33\00:23:44.13
That if I would just do
those what God would do.
00:23:44.23\00:23:49.97
When I began to understand them
00:23:50.27\00:23:52.72
changed my life completely.
00:23:52.92\00:23:56.28
Changed it completely.
00:23:56.79\00:23:58.53
Financial help? You
say: "Man, it's a struggle
00:24:00.01\00:24:04.70
all the time.
Can't seem to get ahead.
00:24:04.90\00:24:10.80
Constantly working... I
can't seem to get anywhere. "
00:24:11.10\00:24:14.26
Folks, don't misunderstand me.
00:24:15.18\00:24:17.57
I'm not trying to offer
you God just for financial help
00:24:17.97\00:24:22.77
but I am trying to tell you
00:24:23.17\00:24:25.38
that if you will follow Him, if
you will fulfill the conditions,
00:24:25.58\00:24:29.73
He will bless
you. Promises that.
00:24:29.93\00:24:32.81
Now I'm going to
share some things with you
00:24:33.21\00:24:35.63
that are probably going
to be kind of shocking to you
00:24:36.03\00:24:39.59
as far as what it takes
to be blessed financially.
00:24:39.89\00:24:43.44
But let me show you.
00:24:43.74\00:24:45.11
One thing that
it says very clearly
00:24:45.29\00:24:47.55
that if you want to
be blessed financially
00:24:47.75\00:24:50.18
is you have to give.
00:24:50.38\00:24:52.17
You say: "What do you mean give?
00:24:55.05\00:24:56.58
I don't have
anything to give with. "
00:24:56.88\00:24:58.87
Well, let's look
and see what God says.
00:24:59.84\00:25:02.86
Let's look at the conditions.
00:25:03.06\00:25:04.43
Luke 6:38:
00:25:06.23\00:25:08.11
That is a condition, folks.
00:25:16.81\00:25:19.40
In fact, giving
is the law of heaven.
00:25:19.50\00:25:23.14
Did you know that?
00:25:23.34\00:25:24.71
Giving is the law of heaven.
00:25:24.91\00:25:27.30
And you never can
get anywhere financially
00:25:27.50\00:25:30.70
if you don't give.
00:25:30.90\00:25:32.69
Won't work... sorry.
00:25:32.99\00:25:35.36
If you give, you want
to see what the promise is?
00:25:36.28\00:25:39.08
This is what the
scripture promises:
00:25:39.39\00:25:41.35
Huh. That's the promise:
00:25:53.95\00:25:57.05
that if you give
God will bless you
00:25:57.35\00:26:01.02
and it will be
given to you good measure,
00:26:01.22\00:26:03.43
pressed down, running over.
00:26:03.63\00:26:05.89
The very same measure that
you use in giving to others
00:26:16.30\00:26:20.90
it will be given back
to you. That's the promise.
00:26:21.03\00:26:25.45
So if you want to
get ahead financially
00:26:26.98\00:26:30.46
give. Say: "That's crazy! "
00:26:30.66\00:26:36.14
I know it is but
it's true... it works.
00:26:36.44\00:26:40.23
It works.
00:26:40.53\00:26:42.03
Now there's another thing that
I want to tell you that works
00:26:42.53\00:26:45.76
concerning finances.
00:26:46.06\00:26:47.67
You may not have understood it
but I can tell you right now...
00:26:48.07\00:26:51.41
And let me tell you something:
I don't know very many things
00:26:51.62\00:26:55.61
that are good or I
can say are really nice
00:26:55.91\00:27:00.31
about old age.
00:27:00.51\00:27:02.21
You know, I can't really
enumerate a lot of things
00:27:02.51\00:27:05.99
that old age does for you.
00:27:06.09\00:27:08.48
But one thing it does do for you
00:27:08.68\00:27:11.02
is it gives you the
ability to look back
00:27:11.32\00:27:14.51
and see how
things have taken place.
00:27:14.71\00:27:17.54
You see, you can do that.
00:27:18.26\00:27:19.94
And I can tell
you over the years
00:27:20.24\00:27:22.09
I have watched and I have seen
this principle over and over.
00:27:22.30\00:27:26.59
And I've seen
people struggle over it
00:27:26.80\00:27:28.74
and say: "Oh, I can't do that. "
00:27:28.94\00:27:30.75
And I've seen other
people that said: "Oh, I don't
00:27:30.95\00:27:33.74
understand how this is going
to work" and they did it anyhow
00:27:33.84\00:27:36.50
and how God
abundantly blessed them.
00:27:36.70\00:27:39.93
Let me tell you what it is.
00:27:40.24\00:27:41.90
Sabbath.
00:27:43.90\00:27:45.94
If you want to be
blessed financially,
00:27:46.24\00:27:49.95
keep the Sabbath.
00:27:50.26\00:27:52.02
I'm dead serious.
00:27:53.76\00:27:55.37
I've seen people say:
"Oh, if I was to keep Sabbath
00:27:55.67\00:27:58.85
I'd lose my job. "
00:27:59.06\00:28:00.43
You might.
00:28:00.69\00:28:02.24
You might.
00:28:02.64\00:28:04.01
But let me tell you something:
00:28:04.49\00:28:06.19
if you do, God will bless you.
00:28:06.39\00:28:10.08
Now let me explain
a principle to you.
00:28:11.24\00:28:13.87
God never asked
you... God NEVER asked you
00:28:14.37\00:28:18.36
to do something that it cost you
00:28:18.39\00:28:21.45
that God in turn won't repay.
00:28:21.65\00:28:23.96
You remember the time when
Jesus was speaking to the crowd
00:28:25.95\00:28:28.83
and there were so many of them
00:28:29.24\00:28:32.05
they had backed Him clear up to
the shores of the Sea of Galilee
00:28:32.25\00:28:35.50
and they were right in His face,
00:28:35.80\00:28:37.84
so close to Him
He couldn't talk.
00:28:38.14\00:28:39.96
And so He asked Peter
if He could use his boat.
00:28:40.16\00:28:42.39
And He stepped in Peter's boat,
00:28:42.69\00:28:44.70
had Peter row back
from the shore a little bit
00:28:44.90\00:28:47.19
and then Jesus spoke.
He could see the crowd
00:28:47.39\00:28:49.46
and He spoke to them.
00:28:49.57\00:28:50.94
When He finished
He said to Peter:
00:28:51.01\00:28:52.97
"Cast in your net. "
00:28:53.17\00:28:54.54
And Peter said: "What
are You talking about Lord?
00:28:54.80\00:28:56.73
We just fished all night
and didn't catch anything. "
00:28:56.93\00:28:59.02
Now folks, the Sea of
Galilee is perfectly clear.
00:28:59.42\00:29:04.11
They only fish it at night. OK?
00:29:04.41\00:29:08.03
They had fished all night long.
00:29:08.26\00:29:09.63
"There's no fish
there... You can look and see. "
00:29:09.82\00:29:12.50
And Peter said:
"Nevertheless it's Your word
00:29:13.65\00:29:17.17
I'll throw in the net. "
00:29:17.27\00:29:18.64
And he threw in the net
and they caught so many fish
00:29:18.83\00:29:20.84
that the nets were breaking.
00:29:21.04\00:29:22.46
Now do you understand
what was happening here?
00:29:22.66\00:29:25.34
Do you understand
what's happening here?
00:29:25.64\00:29:27.39
All Jesus is doing is
paying Peter for using his boat.
00:29:27.89\00:29:32.19
See? That's what's
happening here, folks.
00:29:34.11\00:29:36.60
And so you just...
you need to understand
00:29:37.93\00:29:40.96
that when God
simply says "Do this"
00:29:41.16\00:29:43.67
I don't care if it
costs you, God will repay!
00:29:43.97\00:29:47.92
It says He is a rewarder
00:29:48.15\00:29:50.69
of those that
diligently seek Him.
00:29:50.89\00:29:53.55
Amen. So if you
keep the Sabbath,
00:29:53.85\00:29:55.83
what's He going to
do for you? OK, look:
00:29:56.03\00:29:59.56
here's the condition.
00:29:59.76\00:30:01.49
That means don't
trod it underfoot,
00:30:04.48\00:30:06.66
don't treat it with disrespect.
00:30:06.86\00:30:08.79
He said: 'If you stop
doing what you want to do. " OK?
00:30:12.30\00:30:16.46
Those are the conditions:
00:30:24.36\00:30:25.73
you don't trod
the Sabbath underfoot,
00:30:25.76\00:30:27.76
you don't do your own
pleasure on His holy day,
00:30:27.96\00:30:30.64
on the Sabbath, you
call the Sabbath a delight,
00:30:30.84\00:30:33.35
the holy day of the
Lord and honor Him, OK,
00:30:33.55\00:30:36.66
He said: "This is not
a day that you are to use
00:30:42.71\00:30:47.14
for yourself. " And
let me get something clear.
00:30:47.24\00:30:49.71
I had someone tell me
that they said: "Oh it doesn't
00:30:50.11\00:30:53.10
make any
difference which day you keep.
00:30:53.20\00:30:56.59
You can keep any day.
Whichever day you want to keep
00:30:56.89\00:30:59.33
for the Sabbath that's OK. "
00:30:59.43\00:31:01.64
Let me tell you
something tonight:
00:31:01.94\00:31:03.78
that is OK... OK?
provided you're the one
00:31:03.98\00:31:09.77
that calls the shots.
00:31:09.87\00:31:11.40
OK? Provided you're the
one that's calling the shots.
00:31:13.18\00:31:16.96
But if God's the One
that's calling the shots
00:31:17.16\00:31:19.97
then it makes a
great, great difference.
00:31:20.17\00:31:22.51
See? Because it's His day.
00:31:22.91\00:31:25.67
OK. So He said: "If you'll
quit walking on the Sabbath,
00:31:25.97\00:31:29.50
If you'll treat it with
respect, if you'll honor Me
00:31:29.80\00:31:32.46
not doing your own ways... "
00:31:32.66\00:31:34.09
what's He going to do for
you? Let's look at the promise.
00:31:34.29\00:31:37.44
You want to make the Lord happy?
00:31:41.69\00:31:43.08
Dear friends, if you
want to get along financially,
00:32:01.22\00:32:05.71
then keep the Sabbath.
00:32:05.81\00:32:07.88
God won't fail.
00:32:08.95\00:32:11.40
OK, one other thing if you
want to prosper financially.
00:32:12.80\00:32:17.42
Then the Bible says
if you want to do that
00:32:17.66\00:32:20.30
then you need to
return the tithe.
00:32:20.71\00:32:23.92
Scripture is very clear on that.
00:32:25.29\00:32:27.02
I can tell you right
now I've had people say:
00:32:28.14\00:32:31.90
"Oh Brother Cox, what
are you talking about? "
00:32:32.00\00:32:33.37
I've had young couples
come to me and they say:
00:32:33.40\00:32:35.49
"Well Brother Cox, we're
in terrible financial shape.
00:32:35.69\00:32:38.72
What can we do to get out
of this condition we're in? "
00:32:38.93\00:32:42.14
And I say: "Return the tithe. "
00:32:42.44\00:32:45.77
And they say: "What do you mean
00:32:45.97\00:32:47.34
return the tithe? We don't
have enough to live on now! "
00:32:47.45\00:32:50.01
If you want to get out of
debt, return the tithe. Amen!
00:32:50.32\00:32:54.80
That's a promise. Let's look.
00:32:55.49\00:32:58.63
Here's the condition:
00:32:58.93\00:33:00.79
Folks, I mean here
God's coming out and saying:
00:33:09.02\00:33:11.53
"OK, if you don't
believe Me try Me...
00:33:11.73\00:33:13.39
Just try it if you
don't believe Me. "
00:33:13.80\00:33:16.62
That's what He's saying.
00:33:16.85\00:33:18.22
That's the only
promise I know in the scripture
00:33:18.35\00:33:20.67
where God uses
those words and says:
00:33:20.87\00:33:22.99
"Try Me; try Me...
see if it's right. "
00:33:23.19\00:33:26.85
OK, that's the condition.
Let's see what the promise is.
00:33:27.08\00:33:29.93
Do you want to be blessed?
00:33:42.30\00:33:44.43
Then return the tithe to Him.
00:33:45.53\00:33:47.56
He says: "If you do that
I'll pour out a blessing on you
00:33:47.86\00:33:50.76
that there won't even be room
enough for you to receive it. "
00:33:50.96\00:33:53.36
That is a promise that He gives.
00:33:55.11\00:33:57.71
He says: "I'll bless you
00:34:12.04\00:34:13.64
in a very, very wonderful way. "
00:34:13.78\00:34:15.94
What does the scripture mean
when it talks about a tithe?
00:34:16.14\00:34:18.37
The word tithe means a
tenth... that's what it means.
00:34:20.84\00:34:24.18
One tenth. If I make a dollar,
00:34:24.72\00:34:28.25
then a tithe is 10 cents.
00:34:28.70\00:34:32.05
If I make ten
dollars, a tithe is one dollar.
00:34:32.55\00:34:36.28
If I make a hundred
dollars, a tithe is ten dollars.
00:34:36.58\00:34:40.18
A tenth. And I can tell
you a little secret tonight:
00:34:40.58\00:34:44.54
nine tenths - mark my words -
00:34:46.94\00:34:50.67
nine tenths with God's blessing
00:34:50.87\00:34:54.96
will go farther than ten
tenths with His curse. Amen!
00:34:55.16\00:35:00.06
In fact, I was talking to
a fellow and he told me that
00:35:00.29\00:35:02.78
one night he was preaching
on this subject and this fellow
00:35:02.98\00:35:06.09
came up to him and he
said: "Ah... " he said,
00:35:06.19\00:35:08.05
"you don't have to
pay tithe to be saved. "
00:35:08.25\00:35:10.69
My friend said to him:
"How did you arrive at that? "
00:35:12.13\00:35:15.91
He said: "Well the thief on
the cross never paid any tithe
00:35:16.21\00:35:19.47
and he'll be saved. "
00:35:19.67\00:35:21.13
And my friend said to him, said:
00:35:21.53\00:35:24.08
"Yeah... " he
said, "that's true. "
00:35:24.28\00:35:25.81
He said: "That's
very true. " He said:
00:35:26.01\00:35:28.34
"Just one difference
between you and the thief
00:35:28.44\00:35:30.32
on the cross. " And
he said: "What's that? "
00:35:30.42\00:35:33.18
And he said: "He was a dying
thief and you're a living one. "
00:35:33.38\00:35:36.82
Great great
difference there, you see.
00:35:39.77\00:35:41.64
So what I'm trying to say
is just the promises of God
00:35:42.52\00:35:46.44
are given to you, folks.
00:35:46.55\00:35:48.22
And He just simply
says: "Return a tithe unto Me
00:35:48.62\00:35:52.80
and I will bless
you abundantly. "
00:35:53.00\00:35:55.32
When it says "it's holy
to the Lord, " dear friend,
00:36:07.02\00:36:09.76
then that simply means
it doesn't belong to you.
00:36:09.96\00:36:12.73
In fact you don't give
tithe... you return tithe. Amen.
00:36:13.03\00:36:18.05
See, it's not yours.
Never has been; never will be.
00:36:18.19\00:36:21.27
And what God says to you and me:
00:36:21.77\00:36:24.49
"If you're a good steward
and you return the tithe, "
00:36:24.69\00:36:28.86
He says, "then I'm
going to bless you. "
00:36:29.06\00:36:31.30
And He will, dear friends...
abundantly! Abundantly.
00:36:31.50\00:36:36.01
I've given tithe -
I've returned tithe -
00:36:36.76\00:36:41.27
when it took
every cent that I had
00:36:42.54\00:36:46.34
and God has never failed.
00:36:46.84\00:36:50.31
Never. He won't fail at all.
00:36:50.61\00:36:54.05
There's marvelous stories in the
Bible about it if you read them.
00:36:54.39\00:36:57.76
Did you ever read about Jacob?
00:36:58.17\00:37:01.91
Huh? You remember the time
when he was fleeing from his
00:37:02.21\00:37:04.56
brother Esau and he gets
out here on the plains of Bethel
00:37:04.66\00:37:07.40
and he lies down
and he has this dream?
00:37:07.50\00:37:10.09
You remember that?
00:37:10.19\00:37:11.65
And in that dream he sees this
stairway going up into heaven
00:37:11.95\00:37:15.06
and he sees angels going
up and down on that stairway.
00:37:15.16\00:37:17.85
And when he woke up the
next morning he said: "Oh, "
00:37:17.99\00:37:19.90
he said, "this place
must be the house of God. "
00:37:20.10\00:37:22.30
And he set up an altar
there and he worshiped the Lord.
00:37:22.50\00:37:25.29
And he said to the Lord this...
00:37:25.49\00:37:27.53
Listen... this is
what he said to Him:
00:37:27.73\00:37:29.30
You remember that, don't you?
00:37:37.08\00:37:38.57
Said: "I'll return a tithe to
You of everything You give me. "
00:37:38.87\00:37:41.74
And so he goes on down
to his Uncle Laban's house.
00:37:42.04\00:37:44.86
Uncle Laban has two
daughters: Rachel and Leah.
00:37:45.26\00:37:50.32
Rachel is
beautiful; Leah is ugly.
00:37:51.59\00:37:55.63
And you know who
Jacob fell in love with?
00:37:58.14\00:38:00.53
Rachel.
00:38:00.83\00:38:02.35
You know who he
spent his life with? Leah.
00:38:03.55\00:38:07.24
OK. But nevertheless
00:38:07.54\00:38:09.59
he fell in love with Rachel.
00:38:09.79\00:38:11.48
And so he goes to
Laban and he says:
00:38:11.69\00:38:14.64
"What do I have to do to have
the hand of your daughter? "
00:38:14.74\00:38:17.56
And he said: "Oh...
" he said: "not much.
00:38:17.76\00:38:20.74
Just work for me for 7 years. "
00:38:20.94\00:38:23.18
Jacob said: "OK. "
00:38:25.42\00:38:26.85
So he worked for
him for seven years.
00:38:27.25\00:38:29.37
It came time and he said:
"I've worked for you 7 years.
00:38:31.08\00:38:33.37
I want my bride. "
00:38:33.48\00:38:35.00
And so they had the wedding.
But over in the Middle East
00:38:35.20\00:38:37.84
you know they wear veils.
00:38:37.94\00:38:39.54
And so they had the wedding
and Jacob gets his bride home
00:38:39.74\00:38:43.06
and she takes off the
veil and lo and behold
00:38:43.36\00:38:46.27
he has Leah not Rachel.
00:38:46.47\00:38:48.14
And he said: "I didn't
work 7 years for you! "
00:38:48.44\00:38:51.26
Takes her by the arm and
takes her back to her father
00:38:51.66\00:38:54.14
and says: "Listen, I
worked seven years for Rachel. "
00:38:54.25\00:38:57.28
And he said: "Well sorry.
There's a custom here in our
00:38:57.48\00:38:59.37
country the oldest
daughter has to marry first. "
00:38:59.47\00:39:02.27
Said: "I'll tell you what:
work for me for 7 more years
00:39:02.67\00:39:05.57
and I'll give you Rachel also. "
00:39:05.77\00:39:07.56
And Jacob says: "OK. "
So now folks, he's worked
00:39:08.69\00:39:11.38
for 14 years. His
total pay has been 2 women.
00:39:11.48\00:39:15.54
You know, I don't know
how good a bargain that is.
00:39:18.48\00:39:20.80
But nevertheless Laban
calls him in and he says:
00:39:23.03\00:39:27.97
"Well now Jacob, if you're
going to stay here and if you're
00:39:28.07\00:39:30.01
going to work for me, I
guess we need to work out some
00:39:30.11\00:39:32.84
financial
arrangements and pay. "
00:39:32.94\00:39:35.60
And Jacob said: "OK. "
00:39:35.80\00:39:37.36
And Laban says: "I'll
tell you what... " he said,
00:39:37.77\00:39:40.37
"I will give you
all the spotted sheep,
00:39:40.57\00:39:44.31
all the spotted cattle,
all the spotted donkeys.
00:39:44.51\00:39:47.92
Anything that's spotted
I'm going to give to you. "
00:39:48.13\00:39:50.98
Jacob says: "Fine. "
That is really generous
00:39:52.17\00:39:54.80
on the part of Laban since
all his cattle are black angus.
00:39:54.90\00:39:57.71
There's not a
spotted one in the bunch.
00:39:59.24\00:40:02.09
And so God said: "Jacob,
00:40:03.90\00:40:06.73
go out there and
cut down this cane
00:40:08.01\00:40:11.31
and every place
that the cattle drink -
00:40:11.52\00:40:13.86
in the ponds, the
rivers, the troughs...
00:40:14.06\00:40:17.91
everywhere they
drink - you lay that cane
00:40:18.11\00:40:21.20
and cross it and
lay it in there. "
00:40:21.40\00:40:23.78
He went out and cut the
cane down and laid it in there.
00:40:24.09\00:40:26.38
And when the cattle
started calving the next spring
00:40:26.68\00:40:30.57
they were spotted. Spotted!
00:40:30.80\00:40:34.23
Laban came out and said: "What
in the world's going on here?
00:40:34.46\00:40:37.07
This can't be. Fence is
broke or something you know. "
00:40:37.37\00:40:40.85
Said: "This can't be. "
00:40:41.05\00:40:42.54
So he said: "Well you know, next
spring it will be all right. "
00:40:42.74\00:40:46.48
The next spring
they were spotted again.
00:40:46.68\00:40:48.21
Laban called Jacob in and
he said: "Listen, I've been
00:40:48.61\00:40:52.35
thinking this thing
over, " and he said,
00:40:52.45\00:40:53.82
"and I'll tell you what:
00:40:53.85\00:40:55.22
I've decided I'm going
to take the spotted ones
00:40:55.25\00:40:56.68
and I'm going to
give you the solid ones. "
00:40:56.88\00:40:58.96
And Jacob said: "OK. "
00:40:59.16\00:41:00.82
And God said: "Jacob, get
that stuff out of the water. "
00:41:01.02\00:41:03.61
You can read it!
00:41:03.91\00:41:05.45
I mean, God promises there.
00:41:06.24\00:41:08.72
I can read you in the Word
of God when he's talking to
00:41:08.93\00:41:11.69
his wife Rachel. He said: "Your
father has changed my wages
00:41:11.79\00:41:17.44
ten times... "
00:41:17.74\00:41:19.92
That's what he said... "and God
did not permit him to harm me. "
00:41:20.02\00:41:24.07
I can tell you: when
he was changing his wages
00:41:24.37\00:41:26.59
he was not raising them...
he was lowering them. OK?
00:41:26.79\00:41:30.44
And when he left Laban's house
00:41:30.68\00:41:33.01
he was an
extremely wealthy man. Why?
00:41:33.21\00:41:36.49
'Cause he said:
"Listen, of anything You give me
00:41:36.79\00:41:39.49
I'll give a tenth to You. "
00:41:39.70\00:41:41.07
And he honored God in
that and God blessed him.
00:41:41.54\00:41:44.40
Friend, tonight
He'll do the same for you.
00:41:44.60\00:41:47.95
Amen. If you and
I are just faithful.
00:41:48.15\00:41:50.17
I'm just sharing with you bless-
ings that God will give you.
00:41:50.27\00:41:54.27
If you fulfill the conditions,
those are things that He says
00:41:54.37\00:41:58.11
He will do for you and for me
00:41:58.31\00:42:00.61
if we'll just
follow the Lord in it.
00:42:00.81\00:42:02.66
Promises.
00:42:02.86\00:42:04.23
Jesus made it very clear
that we were still to return
00:42:04.26\00:42:08.35
the tithe today.
00:42:08.45\00:42:09.82
Matthew 23:23... He's
speaking to the Pharisees
00:42:10.01\00:42:13.10
and the scribes
and so forth. He said:
00:42:13.30\00:42:15.15
Now folks, those were the
smallest means of exchange
00:42:22.65\00:42:25.99
they had back then.
00:42:26.19\00:42:27.56
And so He said these
scribes and Pharisees
00:42:27.75\00:42:30.27
they were very, very minute
00:42:30.47\00:42:34.78
about paying everything. OK?
00:42:34.98\00:42:37.54
But watch what He says:
00:42:37.77\00:42:39.14
He said: "Oh, you're
faithful in paying your tithe
00:42:43.66\00:42:46.15
but you've neglected the
weightier matters of the law
00:42:46.35\00:42:49.01
such as justice
and mercy and faith. "
00:42:49.21\00:42:52.15
He said: "You forgot those. "
But listen to the words of Jesus
00:42:52.65\00:42:55.80
Jesus made that
just as clear as a bell
00:43:04.42\00:43:07.25
that you and I still
are to return our tithe.
00:43:07.45\00:43:12.04
Blessings that God
gives to you and to me.
00:43:12.54\00:43:16.36
Deuteronomy
28:2... listen carefully:
00:43:16.76\00:43:20.94
"All these
blessings shall come upon you
00:43:32.56\00:43:36.63
and overtake you. " You
want to live a blessed life?
00:43:36.83\00:43:40.01
There's the opportunity, folks.
00:43:41.79\00:43:43.81
All God is saying
to you tonight is:
00:43:44.31\00:43:46.68
"Fulfill the
conditions... I'll bless you...
00:43:46.98\00:43:50.21
I'll bless you in a marvelous
way like you can't believe. "
00:43:50.61\00:43:54.54
If you and I will
just follow what He says,
00:43:54.94\00:43:57.66
gonna bless you
now... here, this life.
00:43:58.76\00:44:02.51
Promises it.
00:44:02.81\00:44:04.18
But above all that, fulfill
those conditions, dear friends,
00:44:04.32\00:44:09.84
and you'll not
only be blessed here
00:44:10.04\00:44:12.03
but you'll be
blessed for eternity. Amen!
00:44:12.23\00:44:14.57
Marvelous! Matthew 25:34:
00:44:14.77\00:44:18.11
He said: "All you people
that have walked with Me,
00:44:25.18\00:44:27.58
by faith you followed, come
all you blessed of My Father, "
00:44:27.78\00:44:31.97
Promises that to you.
00:44:38.70\00:44:40.26
God won't let you down.
00:44:40.46\00:44:42.62
When I went to the seminary
00:44:43.86\00:44:47.05
I had stayed out
of school for a year.
00:44:48.31\00:44:52.17
I had sold books all that year.
00:44:53.44\00:44:56.98
By selling books I
had made enough money
00:44:58.12\00:45:00.63
to pay for my education.
00:45:00.93\00:45:03.14
I had enough to
pay for my education.
00:45:03.44\00:45:05.96
My wife was going to work
and she was going to make enough
00:45:06.88\00:45:11.74
to pay for our housing
and our food and so forth.
00:45:11.94\00:45:14.51
That's how we
intended to go to seminary.
00:45:14.71\00:45:16.56
We got to the seminary and
everything was going along fine
00:45:16.96\00:45:21.25
but oh, it came December...
00:45:21.75\00:45:27.37
the month of December...
00:45:27.67\00:45:29.04
and we were out working
with one of the churches.
00:45:29.29\00:45:32.45
And that night my
wife got very, very cold
00:45:33.95\00:45:39.74
because we were
outside helping them.
00:45:40.94\00:45:43.32
And when we got back
home she got a sore throat.
00:45:43.72\00:45:48.49
We didn't think much about it.
00:45:49.90\00:45:52.12
Gave her
medicine and stuff for it.
00:45:52.42\00:45:54.49
But she had strep throat,
00:45:54.80\00:45:57.35
and out of the strep throat
she developed a very, very
00:45:58.26\00:46:04.18
serious condition and they
had to put her in the hospital.
00:46:04.38\00:46:08.82
And the doctors
came and told me that
00:46:09.98\00:46:15.30
the mitral valve in
her heart had been damaged
00:46:15.70\00:46:19.60
and that she would
be flat on her back
00:46:20.00\00:46:24.09
for six weeks.
00:46:24.49\00:46:26.47
And then when she came
home she could not work
00:46:26.87\00:46:29.80
or do anything
for another six weeks.
00:46:30.00\00:46:32.57
And so I went in
and had a seat by her.
00:46:35.13\00:46:37.83
We talked.
00:46:38.23\00:46:39.74
And I said: "Honey, I'm
going to drop out of school
00:46:40.04\00:46:44.85
and get a job so that
we can continue to make it.
00:46:45.15\00:46:49.48
And when you're back on
your feet well then I'll try to
00:46:49.69\00:46:52.37
finish up the seminary. "
00:46:52.67\00:46:54.33
And I'll never forget.
She looked at me and she said:
00:46:54.73\00:46:57.21
"You know,
we've been faithful. "
00:46:57.41\00:47:00.06
She said: "We've been faithful
in returning our tithe. "
00:47:00.46\00:47:03.75
She said: "We've tried
to do what God wants us to.
00:47:03.95\00:47:06.45
Why don't you
take Him at His word? "
00:47:06.66\00:47:08.84
And I said: "What do you mean?
" She said: "Why don't you just
00:47:10.09\00:47:11.99
stay in school? See
what the Lord does. "
00:47:12.09\00:47:14.95
Well, you know, I have to admit
00:47:15.35\00:47:19.31
that's a little
difficult for me.
00:47:19.51\00:47:21.44
I'm not... I don't know if you
understand calorics by nature
00:47:21.64\00:47:25.18
but I'm caloric by nature.
And finally I said to her:
00:47:25.38\00:47:30.07
"OK, I'll do that. But
I'll tell you what... "
00:47:30.27\00:47:32.16
I said, "I'm going
to go sell the car. "
00:47:32.26\00:47:33.92
And I said: "I'll walk to
the seminary each day and back.
00:47:34.32\00:47:38.60
That's the least I can do. "
00:47:38.80\00:47:40.71
So I went out and sold the car.
00:47:41.01\00:47:42.97
And we lived on
that for a while.
00:47:43.17\00:47:45.13
But soon that was gone.
00:47:45.34\00:47:46.75
And I expected any
time, you know, to say:
00:47:47.05\00:47:49.78
"Well I've got to
go back to work here. "
00:47:49.88\00:47:52.14
Folks, let me tell you:
00:47:53.32\00:47:56.25
I went down to the post
office or to the mail box
00:47:56.66\00:47:59.90
day after day.
00:48:00.10\00:48:02.87
Here would be letters from
all different places in the
00:48:03.07\00:48:07.34
United States - not one place
but all over the United States.
00:48:07.44\00:48:11.85
No names on them; no
letters in them... just money.
00:48:13.94\00:48:17.68
Just money.
00:48:18.71\00:48:20.16
I'd open it up and here'd be
an envelope and in it would be
00:48:20.46\00:48:23.08
money. I didn't know
who it came from at all.
00:48:23.18\00:48:26.95
I can't remember
in that whole time
00:48:27.09\00:48:29.13
ever getting a letter
that there was money in
00:48:29.33\00:48:33.41
that somebody put their name.
00:48:33.61\00:48:34.98
So I didn't know
who it was coming from
00:48:35.01\00:48:37.23
or where, but it came from
all over the United States.
00:48:37.33\00:48:39.27
I graduated from the seminary.
00:48:39.67\00:48:43.62
I graduated
totally free of debt.
00:48:43.95\00:48:48.48
Hospital bill and everything.
00:48:49.34\00:48:51.69
Now you can't convince me
00:48:51.99\00:48:54.29
that God won't do what He says.
00:48:54.59\00:48:56.90
If you will just take
Him at His word, believe Him,
00:48:57.20\00:49:01.48
He will bless you in a
very, very wonderful way.
00:49:01.62\00:49:06.23
All you may need
00:49:11.49\00:49:15.07
He shall supply.
00:49:15.17\00:49:21.09
God will take care
00:49:21.79\00:49:25.78
of you.
00:49:26.18\00:49:32.13
Nothing you ask
00:49:32.63\00:49:37.00
will be
00:49:37.30\00:49:39.80
denied.
00:49:40.00\00:49:44.54
God will take care
00:49:45.04\00:49:49.68
of you.
00:49:49.98\00:49:55.49
First question says:
00:49:57.91\00:49:59.85
All the things that I
have shared with you tonight
00:50:03.57\00:50:06.42
will not happen
00:50:08.02\00:50:09.65
if you haven't given
your heart to Jesus Christ.
00:50:10.45\00:50:13.17
Totally impossible, folks,
00:50:13.67\00:50:15.52
unless you've surrendered
your heart to Jesus Christ.
00:50:16.03\00:50:18.97
So tonight if you understand
how much God loves you,
00:50:20.37\00:50:25.02
what He wants to do for you,
00:50:25.22\00:50:26.65
then won't you reach
out in faith and accept Him
00:50:27.75\00:50:30.03
this evening?
Give Him your life?
00:50:30.13\00:50:31.73
Second question says:
00:50:33.04\00:50:34.46
Absolutely conditional.
00:50:38.75\00:50:40.25
Conditions aren't difficult.
00:50:41.59\00:50:43.45
Oh they may go against your
nature, don't misunderstand me.
00:50:44.51\00:50:48.02
If your nature is selfish,
00:50:48.98\00:50:50.74
gonna be a little
hard to give, isn't it?
00:50:51.04\00:50:53.42
But if you surrender your heart
00:50:53.62\00:50:56.23
the Holy Spirit
will change that.
00:50:56.43\00:50:58.96
See, that's the work of the
Holy Spirit. He'll change you...
00:50:59.26\00:51:01.93
make you different.
00:51:02.13\00:51:03.50
"Give and it shall
be given unto you. "
00:51:03.57\00:51:05.86
If you understand that
the promises are conditional,
00:51:05.96\00:51:08.66
put a check by #2.
00:51:08.86\00:51:10.57
Third question:
00:51:11.07\00:51:12.48
Baptism is a public declaration
00:51:16.52\00:51:19.73
of your
acceptance of Jesus Christ.
00:51:20.03\00:51:22.26
It's really
you're saying publicly
00:51:22.36\00:51:24.87
"I have accepted
the Lord Jesus Christ
00:51:25.17\00:51:27.72
as my personal Savior. "
00:51:27.93\00:51:29.90
And as you're baptized it means
00:51:30.20\00:51:32.45
that all your sins have
been buried... washed away
00:51:32.65\00:51:36.08
and in God's eyes
you are perfectly clean.
00:51:36.38\00:51:39.75
What baptism does.
00:51:40.05\00:51:41.62
If you'd like to
follow Him in baptism,
00:51:41.92\00:51:43.92
then put a check by #3.
00:51:44.12\00:51:45.75
Put your name, your
address on it as Maddy sings.
00:51:46.05\00:51:49.13
God will
00:51:50.15\00:51:54.38
take care of you.
00:51:54.58\00:51:59.77
Through every day
00:52:00.17\00:52:05.12
o'er all the way.
00:52:05.52\00:52:11.13
He will
00:52:11.84\00:52:15.60
take care
00:52:15.91\00:52:18.89
of you...
00:52:19.09\00:52:25.01
God will take
00:52:25.77\00:52:29.11
care
00:52:29.51\00:52:32.64
of
00:52:32.95\00:52:36.26
you.
00:52:36.46\00:52:42.44
Let's bow our heads
for a word of prayer.
00:52:43.04\00:52:45.28
Father, we thank
you for Your Word.
00:52:45.48\00:52:49.54
Thankful for what
Jesus does for each of us,
00:52:49.84\00:52:52.70
the promises that You give us.
00:52:53.70\00:52:55.48
Lord, may we just
each one here tonight
00:52:55.98\00:52:58.54
humbly accept Your will...
00:52:59.61\00:53:04.36
Your desire in our lives.
00:53:04.67\00:53:06.85
May we walk with
You in all that we do
00:53:07.25\00:53:09.90
and may we each enjoy
the privilege that's given us
00:53:10.30\00:53:15.00
of walking in Your presence.
00:53:15.50\00:53:18.23